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Steve

Surprise #3

Surprise number 3 was my brothers-from-other-mothers Pavel and Rajeev deciding to spend the curfew weekend (which includes Monday) with me.

From going to the gym on 11th floor at gone 10pm to starting to cook a tasty dinner at well after midnight, the weekend got off to a great start.  After a few drinks and talking until very late, Saturday started gently at well after 11am with a cooked breakfast followed by more natter whilst preparing Chinese dishes from scratch; lovely fresh produce and the smell of freshly crushed garlic was especially nice.

Partaking of lunch was followed by more natter, and before we knew it we realised we’d been in the kitchen for over six hours.  As I said to Rennie later on, it was another one of those mindfulness moments; something to absorb in the here and now rather than letting it pass like a video.

The afternoon faded in to evening with conversation on the balcony whilst bathed in balmy breeze even under heavy cloud, and 8pm saw us head back up to the gym and sauna before another meal – for which a fourth surprise was in the offing.

Steve 

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Steve

Surprise #2

At 12:30pm on Friday the doorbell rang just as I had finished a business call.  What did I find on opening it?

Our lovely neighbour Gabriella bearing delicious home made Minestrone soup, fresh rustic bread, a chickpea salad, home made raita, and a freshly sliced apple.

“Just making sure you don’t go hungry”.

Once more I felt loved and cared-for.

Steve 

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Steve

Surprise #1

Found between 01:35am when I returned home from accompanying Rennie and our children to the airport, and 05:12am when I went for a shower before bed.  I felt – and feel – very loved and fortunate.

Steve

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Steve

Šťastnou cestu

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Šťastnou cestu (“Shtyastnow tsestuh”) is the Czech wish for a happy journey and the one that I called out to Rennie and the children on passing them in the minivan after dropping them off at Colombo airport at about 00:50am on Thursday morning. 

Winding back a few hours, I was rather pleased that the cab company we chose after our usual driver was unable to take us has an SMS service not only to confirm the booking but to confirm when the cab is dispatched and what it is.  In our case the booked cab was a Toyota KDH minivan to ensure plenty of space for ourselves, three hold bags and four cabin bags – but the SMS advised that a Toyota Axios was on its way for the midnight pickup.

What?  A Toyota Axios.  Similar in size to a Ford Focus there is no way that we and the baggage would fit inside!  I called the taxi company and they confirmed a mistake, but advised that no minivans were available at short notice so would two Axios vehicles be fine?  I agreed that yes, this would work.

In the event though, they did manage to schedule the requested minivan so we travelled together and with baggage in the same vehicle.  With curfew starting at 11pm the roads were deserted and the journey to the airport quick and without drama. 

Rennie will write about the journey for herself and the children but I felt both thrilled for them and the prospect of what was ahead, and flat that I was alone and returning to an empty apartment rather than the one full of the vibrancy of family life. 

There were some surprises ahead for me though, the first of which followed soon after my arrival at home.

Steve

Steve

PCR Testing for Travel

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With departure from Colombo scheduled for the delightful time of 03:45am on Thursday, 8:00am sharp on Tuesday saw Rennie and the children taking their PCR Tests in the apartment tower reception in order to meet the Qatar transit requirement that they be within 48 hours of departure. 

The personnel taking the tests were gentle, but the pictures tell the story of this distinctly unpleasant procedure.

The test results were confirmed negative later in the day so preparations for travel could continue.

Steve 

Rennie

Getting ready for travel to Europe

Monday to Wednesday 17.-19.5.2021

Yesterday we got our tickets confirmed so we can get ready for 3 months in Europe.

  • All paperwork to print and fill (tickets, consent form for Qatar Airways, health landing forms for Czech Republic)
  • Arrange and undergo PCR tests within 48 hours before departure
  • Cook some dinners for Steve for the freezer
  • Do some shopping to fill cupboards and fridge
  • Get some presents for people to take with us (tea, spices and tropical fruit)
  • Pack for all 3 of us
  • Manage workmen who were repairing the ceiling by the kitchen after fitting a new central air-conditioning unit for the lounge, and cleaning the mess
  • Carrying on as normal with kids online schooling and Steve working from home
  • Saying good bye to my friends I may never see again (they are moving abroad)
  • Remotely supporting two women before and during their births (the last one on my books birthed on Tuesday 18th of May)
  • Trying to keep cool and calm when on Monday, the travel agent contacted Steve informing him the Czech Republic had banned all travels from Sri Lanka; untrue as Czech citizens still have right of entry but we then had to prove I had it despite no Czech passport and an expired ID card.  Steve emailed a copy of my birth certificate and our marriage certificate ( to show change of surname).  These were accepted by Czech immigration and an “OKTB” (OK To Board) status awarded.  Phew  
  • Arrange taxi
  • Wash and iron all bedding, and clean the house so Steve has it nice and clean. 

During all the tasks, we even managed to do some swimming at the roof top, enjoy balcony coffee time watching the sunset and with kids having next door’s children come and play with them. 

We were ready to go. 

Rennie

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Rennie

Summer plans

Tuesday 18th May 2021

As soon as we decided to accept the opportunity to extend Steve’s contract for another year or two in Sri Lanka, we got the ball rolling.

Our children are most likely to online school to the end of this academic year as Covid-19 cases in Sri Lanka are rising, so we made the decision for me and the children to travel to Europe as soon as we could.  All the women I am supporting have had their babies by now so I am able to leave Sri Lanka for a few months without issue.

Looking into Covid-19 testing costs, quarantining (in all three countries) and property renting in the UK (our house has friends looking after it and Steve’s brother and fiancee are with his parents) the cost was astronomical and the total time “wasted” a month in duration so we realized that it may not happen.  There was also the backdrop of continually changing rules and regulations and a complexity beyond what international travel used to be.

We spoke to my mum and Steve’s parents so explain that our travel was not a certainty but then on Wednesday my mummy had a health scare with her blood so I decided that I had to go to support her.

We rethought our priorities and on Saturday Steve asked the company travel agent to book us flights.  To keep it as simple as possible, this was for me to travel to Czech with the kids on 20th May for 6 weeks and then on to the UK on 1st July – landing shortly before Steve arrives directly from Colombo.  We would then quarantine together in the UK before enjoying our time in the UK, returning to Sri Lanka for arrival on 29th August.

There is plenty of opportunity for obstacles and change, so let’s see how it works out.

See many of you in Europe!

Rennie

Rennie

Secondment Decision

Sunday 2nd May 2021

Steve’s secondment contract finishes in early August so we were standing in front of a decision to renew it and stay in Sri Lanka for 12 or potentially 24 months extra, or return to the UK.

We each jad time to think and decide of the past weeks, playing with in our heads with so many “what if?” scenarios; kid’s schooling and preparation for GCSEs, Asian travel possibilties opening up or not, Covid restrictions, parents in the UK and my mummy in Czech, friends (new and old), jobs (mine and Steve’s), life here in Sri Lanka, opportunities (missed and gained), the weather, the list was endless.

So many sleepless nights, so many conversations with people and family members, trying to wait for the right moment to “feel” what the right answer was. The easy option would be to return back to the UK but this would be to miss out on so much – especially for the children’s development and open-mindedness. We also try to live our lives by the motto “Do what is right, not what is easy” – or as Martin Luther King said, “There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right”.

We had many “family meetings” analyzing and discussing, culminating on a Sunday evening in us each writing down a list of prons and cons and then presenting our feelings and findings to the rest of the family, unineterrupted. The outcome was unanimous. We stay.

I somehow felt a big boulder lifted from my shoulders, and my head cleared knowing where we were now going. Well, at least we think we know where we are heading as the Covid-19 uncertain times continue.

Sharing this decision has gained frowns and encouragement in equal measure but believe me; it was the hardest decision yet of our lives to make.

Summer plans in Europe were the next step, as none of what we originally planned was able to materialise.

Let’s see where the journey takes us.

Rennie

Steve

Spoiled with sunsets

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A few images from recent evenings. Truly beautiful.  Above is the sunset from 17th May, and below the 18th.

Steve

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19th May below to complete the set over three consecutive evenings.

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Steve

Rain at sea

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Leading up to sunset on 9th May I watched this band of heavy rain progress across the horizon.  A few hours later we were hit with our own rain of epic proportions and high winds.  Our apartment tower is the first obstacle for 2,100 miles (3,300 km) and boy, did we feel it!  The kids ended up sharing our bed because it was quieter than in their rooms and a few hours later when we called it a night, we ended up in Misa\’s bed!

Steve

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