Sunday, 30th September 2012

Saturday, 29th September 2012

Friday, 28th September 2012 - Kalutara to Colombo

Thursday, 27th September 2012

Wednesday, 26th September 2012 - Kandy to Colombo to Kalutara

Pen and ink with Watercolour

Tuesday, 25th September 2012 - Kandy

Monday, 24th September 2012 - Street Life in Kandy

Our first night at The Hotel Suisse in Kandy. Seems like we have been here for ages. Tim by woken at 4am by a mosquito - just the one very noisy one. 9am and time for breakfast. I had a pulverised fruit. Tim was more adventurous. To be honest I was still full of curry from the day before.

After a planning meeting we got a tuk tuk 6,000 rupees (I think the hotel takes a cut). They are little three wheeled vehicles, bit like being driven around by a lawn mower. To The Royal Botanical Gardens we went. They are suffering with draught so it was not was lush as it could have been. The trees were amazing but the monkeys and chipmonks were more entertaining. I was a bit unsure about the huge bats flying around the treetops. We seemed a little vulnerable walking beneath. I sampled another fresh tropical fruit juice which is so thick the straw stands up. Tim had tea served with warm long life milk - interesting. Many happy sweaty hours later we returned to Kandy by tuk tuk this time 3,500 rupees.

Merrily wandering the streets fending off invitations to buy almost anything we ended up in The Pub verandah people watching while being refreshed with Lion Larger and a snack of battered yummy prawns.

Dinner was a few snakes from a bakery costing the mighty sum of £2 including cakes.

Street Life in Kandy

Pen and Ink

Sketchpad

Sunday, 23rd September 2012 - Palms to Kandy

Hello

We left our hotel in Colombo at 6.15am in a taxi to Kandy Fort station. Our bags were carried and doors opened - all very lovely. I followed along behind Tim, he has a sixth sense for direction into the station. Along a long platform and waited for our Expo Train. It was like something out of Agatha Christie. I expected Poiret to turn up. Hopefully no murders. We boarded our train for the princely sun of 3600 rupees. This included hot flannels to wipe your sticky bits, a sweet, breakfast (curry based), tea or coffee and a sleep. I caught a bit of the scenery below. Loads and loads of palm trees interspersed with buffalo and herons. This took 3 and a half hours.

Parlms to Kandy

Pen and Ink

Sketchbook

This is all rather for me to remember but you may be interested too.  We were acosted (in a friendly manner they are very gently folk the Sri Lankans) and took a taxi to our next destination Hotel Suisse. Arriving at 10.30 we were happy to drop our bags but had to wait only a short while for our room on the third flor to be ready. Very huge it is too. I showered while Tim slept. We ventured out into the wilds of Kandy. It was very hot and humid. My hair is intersting. We bargained in the market and came back to the hotel and I swan in the pool while Tim wrote postcards. We are just off out for dinner so I have to leave you but what a fantastic day. I love being on holiday.

Saturday, 22nd September 2012 - Muscat Airport

Oman airways took us to Muscat. We had great seats well planned by Tim. Harsh that they make you walk through business class so you can see what you are missing. It was very busy, yes with people but more with service. Hot flannels, followed by white wine (there was a choice but that was mine) then breakfast followed by coffee. I watched Men in Black 3 then went to sleep. I had an hour and a half of fidgeting before we transferred to the next Oman plane which was not a patch on the first one but we did get curry for breakfast.

We had an hour or so to wait between flights so I sketched the planes which looked likes sharks all lined up.

Muscat Airport

Pen and Ink

Sketchbook

We arrived in Colombo and were met by an old student of Tim's Chandana who drove us to our hotel in Colombo. Bit like Lydd airport being in London. After a swift shower Chandana took us out for dinner - guess what we had curry. I do like curry. Good thing too. We were shown a few sights through manic traffic. There seems to be no regard as to lanes. The cars, busses, bikes and tuk tuks all merrily weave in and out of each other. 

A charming start to our holiday.

Friday, 21st September 2012 - Just Need Zipping Up

Packed and ready to go..........I am soooooooo excited. I look forward to keeping you all informed in great detail of our escapades.

Just Need Zipping Up
Watercolour
Bockingford 140lb not

Thursday, 20th September 2012 - Stone Therapy

Harriet has a cold and Hetty is teething - loads of them all at once. They came to play for the day. I was meant to relieve Harriet of Hetty but she wanted her Mum. They played with the stones in the drive while I cleaned my rooms. We walked into the village and got bacon from the butchers and ice cream from the village shop. Hetty and Harriet played on the swings and the scary slide.

I have started packing. My sketch books are in. Do I need anything else?!?

Stone Therapy
Watercolour
Bockingford 140lb not

Wednesday, 19th September 2012 - Repair

The boiler man came and fixed our dripping outlet valve.

Repair
Watercolour
Bockingford 140lb not

Tuesday, 18th September 2012 - Great British Bake Off

Harriet and Hetty were dropped off by Brett early this morning to help me with finding the best room for Dad at Halden Heights. Thank you so much for taking the day to spend with me. They helped me with cleaning the guest rooms - Hetty tested the apples.

The afternoon was spent at Rye Memorial with Dad for Mum's birthday. Harriet made Mum a birthday cake. It came out a little larger than planned. Hetty helped Mum open her presents.

Great British Bake Off
Watercolour
Gerstaecker 140lb not

Monday, 17th September 2012 - A Pair of Pears and a Serviette

Sarah and I went to our new evening art class. There were 12 students who have been before, some for many years and us. I enjoyed it very much and think it is just what I was looking for. Of course Sarah agrees with me.

A Pair of Pears and a Serviette
Pencil
Sarah's Cartridge Paper

Sunday, 16th September 2012 - The Black Pig

We worked our little socks off this morning. I think I would have imploded without Tim's help and support.

This evening we went to Hawkhurst for a drink with Tony, Wendy and Jill. A couple of glasses of wine was just what I needed.

The Black Pig
Pen and Ink with Watercolour
Gerstaecker 140lb not

Saturday, 15th September 2012 - Hidden Potential

Tim and I wandered with Mike, Pippa and Bertie to The Woolpack for a buzzing coffee followed by a walk by the railway in the sunshine. Really rather pleasant.

I have done a lot of cleaning today. Tim and I laughed or it may have been hysteria over various incidents that have occurred over the last few days.

We went for a therapeutic drink at The Bell and Jorrocks and a restorative session with Dr Who

Hidden Potential
Pen and Ink with Watercolour
Gerstaecker 140lb not