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Steve

Today’s Presidential Election

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Updated after a walk this afternoon.

Sri Lanka goes to the polls today for a presidential election.  Thirty-five candidates and a ballot paper two feet long, though with two deeply divisive candidates as the clear front runners.  The chance of some sporadic disturbance is high enough to have prompted an SMS alert to every mobile telephone subscriber in the land.

Although there has unfortunately been some violence elsewhere on the island, the greater likelihood of any trouble in the city is after the result is known, this being tomorrow if one candidate gains more than 50% in the first count, or on Monday if second choices also need to be considered.  Advice is to stay local and minimise the chance of becoming caught up in any disorder, so that’s what we’re doing; after French homework, a gym workout for myself and a family swim we went for a walk as I needed a hair cut and as always the kitchen cupboards don’t fill themselves.

What we found was total calm and near deserted streets with most folk apparently having left the city or staying at home.  Such a strange feeling with no Saturday hustle and bustle, constant blaring or horns and noisy buses.  Just silence interrupted by the occasional passing vehicle and the patter of rain on the walk home.

Steve

Steve

Lest we forget

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Today, we joined the act of remembrance at Liveramentu Commonwealth War Graves, Colombo, and a reception afterwards.  A moving service, and time for quiet reflection.  Many questions from the children, and comment from Emilka that so many of the dead were aged from 18 to 21 years.  Lest we forget.

Steve

Steve

A tuk tuk for the English

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I took Míša for a hair cut on Sunday, afterwards deciding to take a tuk tuk home rather than make the ten minute walk as it was still raining.  Ushered to the first unhired tuk tuk in the rank, this is what we found!  The driver was delighted to have English passengers, and thankfully didn\’t remind of the disappointment in the Yokohama International Stadium yesterday! We therefore forgave his writing of England on the Union flag rather than the Cross of St. George.

Steve

Poolside Fun

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Sunday afternoon was the poolside birthday party at the Hilton Residencies of one the children’s friends from school; much energy expended by the children and a chance to relax and talk for the parents – though plans to join the kids in the pool later on didn’t come to fruition when with the heavens opened and lightning passing overhead, it was closed.  We’re sure there will be other opportunities, especially with the delicious buffet on offer.  Particularly enjoyed was the amazing nine-hour slow roast lamb that just fell off the bone, and the freshly fried spicy rice that accompanied it.

Steve

Jaffna Mud Crab Curry

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With tamarind being one of my favourite curry ingredients, I was keen to try the Jaffna mud crab curry on the restaurant menu yesterday evening.

Of complex flavour, being both fiery and sweet and with layers of deliciousness in between from fennel and mustard seed, green chillies, black pepper, and of course the tamarind, it easily lived up to my expectations.  Thank heavens though that as in any decent restaurant serving crab, aprons were provided!

I’ve long wanted to visit Jaffna as I much like the distinctive flavours of the curry from this Northern tip of the island, so hopefully we’ll get the opportunity for a family trip – although I think I’ll be the only one eating at this end of the Scoville scale!

 

Steve

Noodles!

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The children\’s Czech friend Nela stayed with us for a few days last week, fitting in so well that both Rennie and I felt that we had three children in our family!  She and Míša were delighted on Saturday when on helping with some shopping we happened across a Maggi noodle promotion in a local supermarket.  Food is never to be passed up, is it?

Steve

Emi’s turn at the hairdresser

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Wanting long hair, Emi put off a visit to the hairdresser for as long as she could, but on Saturday agreed that the time had come.  With a request from the chair to straighten her hair and only snip off the bare minimum, quite a different girl left the salon.  I don’t have a “before” picture, but the one Rennie took in a tea lounge a couple of weeks ago gives a good idea!

Steve

Pizza Friday

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With planning for next year in full swing and long days in the office last week, Friday’s simple pleasure was going in more casually dressed and then leaving at sixish to meet Míša and Emi along with their friend Nela for pizza.  The working week was instantly replaced by chatter and laughter – and then “eyes down, look in” when what’d been ordered, arrived!  Variations on Margherita as requested by the children and a customary spicy devilled chicken for me.

Rennie was at a friend’s baby shower so missed this fun, but by all accounts had plenty of her own.

Steve

A short, sharp shower

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There are three minutes and one second between first photo and last.  The speed that the curtain of rain moved across the city with was incredible.  From first seeing it coming it was already half way to me by the time I could get my smartphone out, and when it arrived it was just whoosh.  No spots on the glass first.  When gone it was like someone just turned the shower off!

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