My very first driving class!

On Saturday, persuaded by my friend Kumari, I finally enrolled myself in a driving school….. and on Sunday I had my first lesson. Ekanayake was my instructor and a very kind man he was too. He patiently introduced me to the various ‘thingys’ I would need to use let me have a go at ‘driving’. Yup the vehicle actually moved with me at its ‘controls’!!!! What a thrill!

I quite often forgot that I needed to use the clutch when changing gears and most of the time forgot that my right foot was resting on the accelerator and not the brakes. Hopefully I’ll manage to get all of that sorted out. I’m quite pleased that I didn’t kill anyone or anything (yet). Seeing that I was on a large open ground with not even a lamp post to leap out at me, that’s not much to write home about, but still….. I’m pleased.

My next class is on Wednesday after work. Wonder whether I will remember anything by then.

The Feast of St Anthony on 13th of June

Yesterday was the feast of St Anthony. Our family, as usual, met up for lunch and then proceeded to the church by about 3.30 p.m. before the roads were closed to traffic to safeguard and make way for the thousands of people who make their way to the Kochchikade Church of St Anthony.

This annual feast draws crowds from all races and religions and from all walks of life. This is definitely a place where all differences are accepted. Everyone mingled within the church….. the poor, the rich the feeble and the healthy, young and old, all one in their love for this humble saint. The place was teeming with people and once the roads were closed all you could see, whichever way you looked, was a sea of heads waiting patiently for the procession to start at 5.30pm.

People were dressed up in all their finery. The Tamils were about the most colourful of all in their vibrantly coloured sarees edged in gold, wearing gold in their ears, noses around their throats and on their arms, exuding a sense of drama and excitement.

The pavements were full of vendors selling everything from food and drink to shoes, trinkets, pictures, little statuettes, hats and toys of all sorts. There were people giving out pictures of St Anthony, distributing buns, bread, food and drink all in the name of the Saint. An atmosphere of such celebration and good will prevailed that you felt you to could reach out and touch it.

We went into Church, said our prayers, lit some candles and then walked towards St Lucia’s Cathedral from where the statue of St Anthony, carried high upon a carriage of flowers starts its journey along a road lined by people and long, long strings of crackers.

In front of the carriage walked priests from various churches while the people flocked around the slowing moving vehicle throwing pori, flowers and garlands, many of them crying out their pleas to the Saint on his Feast Day in the absolute faith of receiving his blessings and protection.

Once the carriage arrives at the road leading to St Anthony’s church, naval offices in full regalia carry white thick ropes enclosing the carriage and the priests and slowly escort the statue through the throngs of people upto the church, where school bands, cultural dance troupes and religious dignitaries await. The carriage then joins this waiting procession to carry on with its journey along a designated path around the Kotahena area past thousands of people who wait to watch the colourful pageantry pass by.

Services provided by the Government Post Office located at the World Trade Centre, Colombo 1

I just went to the post office on the ground floor of the World Trade Centre with Margi. It was 11.30 a.m. In case you wondering why I mention the time, do read on. Margi had 235 letters to be franked and posted off and she had driven all the way from Moratuwa to do this.

There was a lethargic looking lady who was at the counter. We were happy that apart from a couple of others, we were about the only customers in the post office at the time. When we told her we wanted our letters posted, she put them on a side and told us to come after 3.00 p.m. cos, it was a ‘busy time’ (the two other people at the registered post counter were already being served by the lady at that counter). She also came up with the gem that it was “lunch time” Help! Lunch at 11.30 a.m.!!! WONDERFUL isn’t it??? If we had come in at 10.00 a.m. it would have been tea time and after 3.00 p.m. the place would have been closed!

I looked around wildly looking for this huge impatient crowd behind me waiting to be served. Not seeing anyone there, I double checked with Margi, just in case I’m going blind in my old age. Nope… nary a soul (unless they were invisible). So I queried, very politely too, looking around very pointedly at the empty place, ‘busy time’? Lunch time? It’s 11.30 miss.

Margi meanwhile, equally pointedly looked towards the Post Master’s office. Now I don’t quite know whether he would have supported the lady or not, but seeing two very determined people in front of her, she surrendered and asked a peon whether he would do the franking for us, (forbid the thought of her actually soiling those hands by using the machine sitting right in front of her) The peon obliged…. …… it took all of about 3-4 minutes to do the job.

Thank goodness there are still a few people actually working in the government departments in return for the salary which they are paid!

DBU's Hats on Dance

Last Saturday, after quite a long time, I had an invitation out for the evening. Yes, my social life does seem to have dwindled! Anyway, I was looking forward to the evening tremendously especially since it was to be an evening with a difference. The DBU was having a ‘hats on dance evening’. I thought it sounded quite fun. So I had double the pleasure, one of anticipating the evening and then actually experiencing it. The Burghers do really know how to enjoy themselves, and I was so glad I was invited along.

Everyone came in hats of all shapes and sizes. My escort had on a cowboy hat and won the competition for the best hat in the gents category. He was an easy winner actually……. you don’t have too many kinds of hats for men. But for the ladies… oh my! The hats!

There were hats decorated with flowers, fruit, bows and ribbons and netting and everything in between. I’m sure the judges had a VERY hard time picking out a winner; So much so in fact that they picked three! The clear winner was this delicious pink concoction which the Queen of England would be proud to place on her head. The lady who wore it, carried it like a queen herself…..very impressive indeed. I later head that she is a frequent patron of the races in Nuwara Eliya (where fashion is at its peak during the season!). Lots of her friends had borrowed her beautiful hats for this occasion.

The music for dancing was also absolutely fantastic. They played loads of waltzes, Viennese waltzes, quick steps, jives and cha chas and rumbas and even a some of sambas and salsa’s. Lovely!

Apart from the dancing, they had a ‘Sexiest Leg Competition’. Yes. I did say leg (the one!). They got the grand dame who won the hat competition and another lady to do the judging of that one. All the gents came onto the floor, rolled up their right trouser leg and paraded around for the ladies. There were fat legs, skinny legs, hairy legs, legs in various shades and shoes. I really don’t know how they managed it, but the ladies picked a winner after quite a while of the gents waltzing away showing off their sexy ‘leg’. What fun we had with that competition!

All in all it was a lovely evening, with great company, good food, wine, music and dancing!