English Blog – Page 29 – Project Salad

Steve July 31, 2021

English Blog

Taking Mum for a ride

I get my motorcycling genes from my mum, who along with some of her siblings got it from her father and grandfather. Ever since I purchased my Thruxton R I have wondered if Mum would like a ride, the last time she rode pillion being with me on my Honda Hornet approaching twenty years ago.

When asked, Mum replied “All right then!” so donning Rennie’s riding gear and one of my helmets, and with an easy swing of one of her legs over the seat, off we went. The date was 18th July – less than a week before her 82nd birthday.

I felt so proud – and so aware of the responsibility that I held as we rode for forty minutes or so over to the church where Mum’s parents are laid to rest. Her Dad would have been so proud too. Afterwards we rode over for a cuppa with her sister before heading home, the route including climbing Fish Hill at Broadway with its alpine-like curves.

What a treat. A very special day that I will treasure to the end of my days. Thanks for trusting me, Mum!

Steve

Steve July 31, 2021

English Blog

Cooked Breakfasts

It struck me when looking through photographs of this trip how many cooked breakfasts we had enjoyed. It is a wonder we are not putting weight on!

Steve

Steve July 31, 2021

English Blog

Liverpool

The first job for me to do after Rennie and the children arrived was to head off to Liverpool for fast track new passports for the children so that we can all have our Sri Lanka visas in time for our return.

I took my Honda motorcycle to save time and whilst much of the ride needed great caution still enjoyed the run up the A41 from Telford via Chester to Birkenhead before taking the Queensway Tunnel under the Mersey. Afterwards I enjoyed a walk around the harbour with its contrasting architecture before heading back to Mum and Dad in Warwickshire for the night and an early ride in to the office in Staines the next day.

Steve

Steve July 31, 2021

English Blog

Nimble fingers

In her last post Rennie mentioned PCR tests being in the Cheltenham apartment post box, but us not having the key. Not only that, but the slot was very narrow, being the same height as each PCR box – and there were six of them to retrieve.

This proved no problem at all for Misa with his nimble fingers, a spatula and a bread knife! Here he is with the first three boxes before going back for the others.

Steve

Rennie July 31, 2021

English Blog

Quarantine in Cheltenham

Saturday 3rd July – Friday 16h July 2021

Being back in the UK, my home since 1997, for some reason I feel like a visitor or a tourist in my own country, as we have nowhere to go; a family of 4, our friends, are living in our house and with the majority of the population holidaying at home because of Covid-19, suitable hotels were fully booked.

We were lucky as Steve’s lovely aunty Di let us have her apartment for the first 15 days of our UK stay as we had to quarantine after our arrival and so needed a self-contained place to be.

Steve picked us up from Heathrow taking it via motorway services for ham and cheese sandwich and via our home village for the boys to jump on the motorbike, all meeting up in Cheltenham; a 3-bedroom apartment right in the centre, walking distance from the promenade. How lucky we were – well, not-so the first 5 days stuck in the apartment unable to even go and take the rubbish out as Steve took the keys when he went away for a few days!

Once the “test to release” on day 5 came back negative we went for a long evening walk. 6 days being stuck in the apartment – what a strange feeling being out and free – I actually felt I should not be out at all.

During the first 3 days we chilled and watched Tv as we had no internet. All we did was walking from the bedroom to the sitting room, to the kitchen and the fridge and back to the sitting room and bedroom – how unhealthy and how tedious. Steve was trying to work while shopping for us, sorting other issues such as internet, no keys for the post box where all PCR test kits were sitting, and arranging new passports for kids with face to face appointments.

Once we were free on day 6, we were able to see people who came to visit us (parents in law, our neighbors from our village Ali and son Alex, Emilka’s best friend Eleanor and her mummy, and my best friend Veronika). We explored the beautiful town of Cheltenham with all the shops on offer – we were like Alice in Wonderland to be honest. Cheltenham Music Festival was happening over the weekend, so we had a small taste of that too. I cooked and baked and washed and cleaned – like any other day; no change there.

We had to take day 2 and day 8 PCR tests and send it for processing to a private company – all results were negative, which was reassuring.

On our 13^th day we had to pack up and move out of our lovely apartment into a not so exciting Travelodge in Stratford upon Avon, our next destination for 7 nights.

Rennie

Rennie July 31, 2021

English Blog

Goodbye Czech Republic, hello UK

Wednesday 30^th June – Saturday 3^rd July 2021

After six weeks our time in Krnov was over and we said goodbyes to our friends and family again.

I hate goodbyes.

On Wednesday, we said goodbye to cousin Jaruska and her children after Emilka had a sleepover in their place. In the evening we had a lovely dinner with Nikolka, Martin and Adamek in their house, with the three of us having a dip in their 37.2C warm jacuzzi to top it off with.

On Thursday, we had our pre-travel PCR in the morning and on our way home walked to say goodbye to family Hradilovi (Magda, Jarek, Oliver and Tamarka), who have been our main source of activities, warm clothes for kids, occasional taxi services and delicious cappuccinos for me. We had met some of my grammar school friends in a coffee shop in town (I realised we are celebrating 30 years since we graduated from grammar school) and in the evening we visited my brother’s house and his lovely garden eating chargrilled potatoes and sausages, harvesting fresh garden green peas and spending last moments with both cousins, aunty and uncle.

I had been slowly packing for the last 4 days, trying to evenly distribute the weight. I didn’t succeed as our suitcases were 20kg, 22kg and 33kg but we can only have 23kg in each one plus 23kg in the generous British Airways hand baggage allowance. My plan therefore changed to repack in our Prague airport hotel at the last minute.

On Friday at 6.45am my brother picked us up (yes, the 33kg suitcase was pretty heavy to lift!) and with my mummy in the passenger seat we drove to Ostrava Svinov to catch a fast train to Prague. We had an emotional goodbye, which I hated especially not knowing when I will see my mummy next. We were hoping she would come with us to the UK for some time, but she feels her health and being in constant pain does not allow her to do so.

The train journey was easy, with only 10 minutes delay. Misa and Emilka enjoyed rolls with ham and the chicken schnitzels their lovely grandma fried for them and I had a coffee and my usual yogurt with fruits. Once in Prague, we took it slowly and somehow lugged the heavy suitcases to the Airport Express bus stop and using my tiny remaining mobile phone credit I contacted the airport hotel to ask the receptionist for a shuttle bus from the airport station, which came in 10 mins. Great service.

We had some lunch once checked-in to our room in the Holiday Inn (more rolls and schnitzels) and as it was raining, we chilled waiting for the clouds to go away. By 4pm the rain stopped, and we were able to take a little sightseeing trip to the city – Charle’s bridge, Old Square with the Astronomical clock and Venceslav Square were a must to see. The kids had McDonald’s for dinner (they regretted that decision as soon as they ate it) and Czech trdelnik – full of sugar! I had noodle soup and a coffee with apple strudel, this combination never disappointing. Our night in the hotel was restless, but a 2-hour long breakfast with my friend Eva, known from before my wedding while working in Prague, was a nice end to our stay in Czech Republic. With ease I managed to repack our 3 suitcases ending up with 20kg, 23.8kg and 22kg, but with heavy kids’ rucksacks to compensate. A shuttle bus took us to an airport full of holiday makers where we were one of the first in the queue for our British Airways flight. We had to scramble through passport control unable to maintain social distancing, despite informing a police officer to sort it out. I bought myself a much-needed perfume in duty free and went to sit by gate B2.

We were sitting in row 9 in a nearly-full plane and boarding and unloading was very civilised by 5 rows at a time, with people surprisingly following announcements and being respectful. The flight was only 1.5 hours with a tail wind and at Heathrow Terminal 5 we somehow ended up by pure luck in a short queue for the passport checking and with a very pleasant man to deal with us. Suitcases were on the belt and kids put them on a trolley by the time I used the toilet and in no time we were cuddling daddy Steve who was waiting for us. A large Costa Coffee cappuccino was bought straight away, and we drove to the motorway services at Beaconsfield for Steve to buy some sandwiches and crisps for the three of them – English lunch!

It was a very strange feeling, and all three of us agreed that it felt like ages since we last sat in our car. Steve said it felt surreal to be driving the car, collecting his family, all the time as if we had never left England. We took the journey to our accommodation in Cheltenham via Ettington so that the boys could jump on to Steve’s Honda Hornet motorbike, thus giving us two modes of transport but with care, only needing one parking space in the basement garage. I drove the car with Emi to our quarantine location, a three bedroom apartment very generously lent to us by Steve’s Uncle David and Auntie Diane; we were very fortunate to have such a perfect place, especially given that we’d struggled to find anywhere else, everywhere being booked up with British citizens taking their summer holidays at home.

Welcome back to the UK. Welcome home. A very surreal feeling indeed as Steve had commented.

Rennie

Rennie July 31, 2021

English Blog

Krnov

20^th May – 2^nd July 2021

6 weeks in Krnov with one week in isolation flew by so fast I can’t believe it. I came home-home with no expectation what I wanted to do and who I wanted see; all I knew I wanted was to spend some time with my mum and take it day by day.

Those who know me understand that I am an active person who just can’t sit at home. I needed people and to be active after the 5 days in isolation as instructed by authorities, however no one checked on us. My mum was happy to have us with her at home, so the kids stayed on gadgets most of the time (their choice) and I ran around. I was hoping mum would be venturing on trips with us, but she preferred to stay in the safety of her home; knowing Covid is around and being in pain made her understandably grumpy with herself.

What have I/we done in these past 6 weeks that I/we am/are grateful for?

*Undergoing 5 days of quarantine, whilst mum stayed with my brother.

*Post travel PCR from Sri Lanka and pre travel PCR before UK.

*Baking several times at home (sourdough rolls, bread, cinnamon buns, wedding cakes, curd cheesecakes).

*Cooking lots of easy vegetable or chicken soups.

*Kids managed 4 weeks of online schooling starting at 7am each day live with their class joining their third period (there is 3.5 hours time difference) and sometimes starting at 4.30 taking their exams in real time.

*We went to a “Sweet pleasure” afternoon to celebrate baking and culinary skills.

*Making dinner each day was a quick affair (pasta, curry, baked meat or fish). A few times grandma made Czech specialties (dill sauce with boiled eggs and potatoes or Schnitzels).

*Climbing several times the 219 steps to the church on top of Cvilin hill, and back.

*Visiting my brother and his family spending precious time in his beautifully kept garden and swimming in his warm swimming pool.

*Taking Emi several times to horse ride.

*Walking 5km with Misa from Larysov – Bykov to Krnov.

*Visited my aunt Jarka who lives on her own.

*Watching Tv with my mummy.

* Traveling around Krnov and its surrounding, keeping active climbing towers and hills, riding a scooter or bike with Magda and her family.

*Attended Zumba lesson twice – it felt so good!

*We went to try goulash my brother and 4 other friends cooked above fire in a pub competition (they were third from six teams).

*Celebrating Nikolka’s birthday in a Greek restaurant for lunch and a sweet shop for a treat.

*Driving to Hrad (castle) Helfstyn meeting my friends from university.

*Attending a farmer’s market in town to support local businesses.

*Organizing and getting my new ID and passport.

*Travelling to Olomouc by train to see my university friend.

*Sitting in the garden drinking coffee with a treat.

*Seeing/visiting some of our neighbours for a chat and drink.

*Walking to and from town numerous time.

*Going for a 4 day train trip to the south of Moravia to visit my midwifery friend and her family.

*Meeting friends and/or family members in the town square for coffee and a treat.

*Misa cutting the grass for grandma with cousin Kuba

*Taking my good friend for a birthday lunch to a new bistro and baking her a birthday cake.

*Organising/applying for kid’s birth certificate as they wish to have dual citizenship.

*Helping my brother at his inherited house mowing the lawn – we took the 2 king coconuts we brought from Sri Lanka with us as it was the perfect occasion for them to try; so refreshing out of the fridge. We also made a breakfast for them – home baked croissants and sourdough ham and egg rolls which they appreciated.

*Going to Prague by train with my friend Magda, staying the night by Vltava river, attending an outside theatre.

*Taking mum for her consultant appointments.

*Driving mum and kids to Opava to Tesco and Decathlon for shopping.

*Food shopping, washing, cleaning, and doing general housework.

*Spending some valuable time with Nikolka (my so called/adopted/lovely step sister) and her angelic son Adamek, sometimes having a cheeky coffee just the two of us in town

Witnessing my mum vulnerable, fragile and in pain was heart breaking, but she admitted, that she did move around more than usual when we were with her and felt she would have become more active with time. The summer is in full swing, and I hope she will be able to become more active with going for walks in the forest, spending time with my brother and looking after Adamek.

We are hoping to be back in summer 2022, but praying some friends and family members will come and visit us in Sri Lanka – we are already starting to make some plans.

Rennie

Rennie July 31, 2021

English Blog

Rennie’s Covid-19 vaccination

India gifted Sri Lanka with 1 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccinations against Covid in February 2021 and naturally the first in line were health care professionals, soldiers, policemen and politicians. The general public was able to get it standing in long queues in vaccination centres which were set up around the country. I was lucky enough to be given the first dose while I was in a maternity hospital supporting one birthing Sri Lankan mummy on 23^rd February 2021. I had a slight reaction to it with body ache, arm ache and high temperature for about 2 days, but nothing sinister.

In this first round of vaccination 600,000 doses were given so we correctly guessed I will not be lucky enough in the second round as only 400,000 vaccines were left for the essential workers.

As I was hoping to go to the Czech republic and the UK in summer, I was certain I would be able to get the second dose in Europe. I was right. On Friday 25^th June, as my small birthday present, my sister-in-law Jana who works in hospital, arranged for me to be given a second dose of AstraZeneca vaccination in Krnov. No side effects at all this time.

Once I reached the UK and switched my UK SIM card on, I found that I had 6 voice messages left in the last 3 months from the UK Covid vaccination centre urging me to come for vaccination. I called them to let them know the status of my vaccination so they can update their records. I need to go to my GP surgery with my “Covid pass” so they can update their records and I hope it will be simple enough for them to accept my vaccination given in different countries.

Let’s hope we will tackle the life with Covid around us and life especially travelling, will get easier.

Rennie

Rennie July 31, 2021

English Blog

My birthday celebration

Friday 25^th June 2021

It has been a long time since I celebrated my birthday in the Czech Republic. I can’t even remember.

My pre birthday trip to Prague was a beautiful start to the celebration (with a bonus of a 15 mins Thai foot massage as a treat from my friend Magda) leaving me on high from being in a lovely city.

On the morning of my birthday Emilka and mummy made me my favourite luxury oat pancake with fruit and yogurt with a cup of coffee. We went shopping for the afternoon BBQ at my brother and I was marinating meat and preparing salads all afternoon. My mummy made me a typical Czech layer birthday cake with custard cream, and 12 members of my family congregated at my brother’s garden that afternoon.

We ate, drank, talked, and had fun with an iron wheelbarrow as the main accessorise of the celebration – we had so much fun with Emi setting it up and spontaneously grabbing the wheelbarrow to give Adamek a ride. It proved my point, that we do not need technology and mobile phones to have fun.

I had some nice presents for my birthday – dresses from my mummy, a purse from my brother’s family, earrings and pendant from Nikolka and Martin and a chocolate with nice sunflower from my nephew Jiri and his girlfriend. Steve bought me a new mobile phone with good camera, as my old one is on it’s last leg with a screen shattered for the last 3 months.

Happy birthday to me, thank you mummy and my family for celebrating with me, priceless moments.

Rennie

Rennie July 9, 2021

English Blog

Pre-birthday treat – trip to Prague

Wednesday 23.-24. June 2021

During lockdown and being a proud Czech, I often talk about the beautiful city of Prague and was hoping to visit this magnificent place with 100 red roof tops whilst in Czech.

My friend Magda loves Prague so was my event organizer.

She booked a hotel by the river Vltava with a view onto Hradcany called the Dancing Hotel – right in the center. I always admired that tall elegant building, but never have imagined I would stay there.

An early pick up at 4.15 to catch a 5.05 train from Opava took us to Prague, and we arrived for breakfast just before 9am – I would make a lecture if I was starting at 9.30.

As our first stop, a walk in park Grebovka and visiting my friend’s apartment, who lives in Sri Lanka too and played with her happy daughter while eating pancakes with blueberries. It was the perfect time to check into our hotel afterwards and have tea looking at Hradcany and to begin our afternoon long walk around the town – Charles Bridge (I touched the bronze statue with my left hand and made a wish), Old town square, Kampa, Venceslav’s Square, the shopping mall and Naplavka by the river. I enjoyed my favorite “trdelnik” while Magda ate her favourite ice cream relaxing in a park near Svetozor Arcade and reminiscing.

Back to our hotel, with dinner in a swanky restaurant on the top floor and our walk to Vysehrad for an outside theatre performance, a comedy about relationships featuring IKEA as a sponsor. We walked home in a not so moonlight lit Prague, but still it was magical. I can tell you, we each slept like a log after so many kilometers in our feet, not even waking up to the storm outside.

The next morning was one of my favourite parts of a hotel stay – a buffet breakfast. I loved it and made sure I ate for two like always – we stretched it for 2 hours, just delicious.

As a special birthday treat, Magda paid for us to have a 15mins Thai foot massage drinking green tea – wonderful. We walked up to the top of Venceslav’s square in lovely sunshine and enjoyed the not so crowded Prague feeling it differently this time – and I am not sure why.

I met one of my best friends, Radka, for coffee and we talked for 2 hours solid, catching up on our news while Magda went for a walk on her own. Radka walked with us to the train station and waved us off on our Regio Jet train. We managed to collect an 80 mins delay due to work on rails by the time we reached Opava so we were home at 10pm. I was full of stories and memories sharing it with mum and the kids.

I had a lovely time in Prague; how privileged I was to be there. I felt free, just walking down the streets and remembering my past in the present moment – such a strange feeling, but priceless.

Rennie

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