Tuesday 14th December 2020

All the boxes were stucked up in the corridor and we were waiting for the van with two drivers to help us. Our friend Pavel came to help us too, his organizational skills and experience may be useful as Steve can only be in one place at a time.

A trolley borrowed from the shop on 5th floor came handy and all the boxes, bags, suitcases table and two chairs were carried downstairs to just fit in the van. How much stuff?! We arrived in Sri Lanka with just suitcases and cabin bags – nine in all!

At the other end (just under 2km away on coast) the van was too tall to fit in the basement car park, so they had to unload from the rear car park.  An army of maintenance workers appeared and formed a line to the elevator, and within minutes, everything was in the new apartment. 

Steve came home to have some food and pack the last bit which was fridge and freezer and wash it spotlessly. In the meantime, kids finished their online learning for the day, I washed 5 washing machine loads with bedding and towels and we were able to leave in an Uber at about 4pm; me and Emi in a 6 seater with all the remaining boxes and boys in a normal car with two plant pots of Aloe Vera and things in the boot, and a couple of cases piled up on one side of the rear seat.  One box broke on lifting in to my car, but thankfully the only casualty was a broken bottle with a small amount of vodka left in it.  The bottle of wine gifted by our friend Mala dropped to the ground too from chest height but somehow bounced on the block paving and survived!  Amazing – and we enjoyed it with our first meal in the new apartment; Japanese takeaway ordered by… Mala!  She is so kind.

On arrival we had a few trips with the boxes in the lift to the 3rd floor and Misa had the honor opening the door of the apartment for the first time. Space, fresh air and light is the first impression you get. Christmas decorations and lights are everywhere in the public areas of the building, which is magical.

Kids were straight into their bedrooms and organizing it to their liking. I started the kitchen and Steve the master bedroom and setting his new office and  d e s k!  In fact, the kids now have desks too and home working and schooling has already become hugely easier than what we have struggled with since March around one dining table.

It was a jolly and productive atmosphere where we knew change is good, and it will hopefully help us to enjoy life in Colombo even more. 

Rennie