Friday,31st March 2023

When Misa and Emilka were born in 2006, starting school seemed a distant prospect.  Something that every other family dealt with, but not yet ours.  Well, here we were on Friday with secondary education not only started but completed in the blink of an eye.  Over sixteen years passed since our children were born, and two young adults coming home from secondary school classes for the last time as you can see, here.  It was emotional for each of us.

Their cohort at the British School in Colombo has been one of tight-knit friendships to the point of becoming family.  Learning with each other, looking out for each other, having fun with each other, celebrating events with each other, successes with each other, and through life’s twists, turns and sadly, tragedies, supporting each other . 

Special friendships, but in our case made knowing we were expatriates and that the day would come to return to the UK.  This prospect had been pushed to the backs of our minds all along, but has now rapidly come to the fore with just a dozen weeks to go before we physically leave behind friends, colleagues and Sri Lanka’s charm and warm embrace.

I have written previously of the particularly special bond between all the children in her class, and their incredible history teacher Miss Judith.  You will find the more recent blog post here as well as further insight at the foot of an earlier post, here.   A very well-read lady, she surprised each child with a book from her personal collection at home, chosen with great care to be meaningful and appropriate and inscribed in her immaculate handwriting with a personal and touching message.  She has a gift for her subject and is a gift to the planet.  What a wonderful, wonderful lady.  We pray that this bond never be broken.

Following dinner table discussion on the subject some weeks ago, we are taking care to be tolerant of each other and congnisant that not only are we we each unique as human beings but we have a mix of common and unique challenges lying ahead, too. 

Whilst Rennie and I start to turn to the practicalities of returning a family to the UK, the children have to focus on final preparations for IGCSE exams starting in a month’s time, the results of which will shape their immediate futures and play a significant role in the rest of their lives.

On Friday evening Misa chose to handle his emotions by spending the evening with one of his close friends, whilst Rennie took the opportunity to join a Czech friend and his Sri Lankan girfriend at the Lionel Wendt centre for a classical concert.  I chose to remain at home with Emi and host our dear friend Aruna, who in typically thoughful style turned up with pizza from Rocco’s (Emi’s favourite) to mark the end of school life.

One more chapter read, its secrets now woven in to the fabric of our lives.  As the story builds to its climax, best we read slowly and truly enjoy the chapters that remain.

Steve