Joseph is walking . . .

Joseph is walking!!!! . . . well almost . . . He’ll happily walk a couple of metres unaided, taking up to 30-40 steps at times. He’s still his usually smiley giggling self. If there’s a choice between inside and out, then it’s out, and if it’s between natural landscapes and a main busy roads, he’ll almost forcibly drag us to the main road. His repertoire has increased to telling us when he sees a tuk-tuks, bikes and buses.

Grandad Mike will be pleased to hear that he even loves boats now and the sea . . . a sailor in the making.

Sarah is doing well. She’s interviewed a few Sinhala language teachers, one of whom didn’t really speak English, which is encouraging . . .
It’s still tricky entertaining Joseph for hours on end, but he’s now enjoying the sea and beach

She’s pleased to have found a house for us – ideally located close to my office and the best place in town to buy coffee

Sarah has also got us a good deal on membership of a local leisure club and keeps pointing out all the different activities I can do to get fit . . . just what can she mean???

I was chuffed to buy my first ever pair of Rayban sunglasses this week – they promised they were not fakes, and at £7.50 complete with a guarantee, I was convinced. I am currently composing a bewildered letter to Rayban asking why they designed glasses that dye my face black whenever I wear them . . .

Work has been very good. I’ve been busy writing contracts, issuing invitations to tender, assessing returned tenders, awarding contracts, and instructing poor performing contractors and consultants to get their acts together

This has meant travelling to different parts of the country each day, and has meant I’ve hardly seen Sarah and Joseph all week. I am keen to get more authority delegated to the field. Until recently, there’s been a shortage of top quality regional engineers due to the brain drain to western countries, so head office have vetted most regional work. However, with quite a number of recent recruits, I’m looking to change this, making life easier for all of us.

We’re working hard to be more efficient and innovative as a significant amount of pledged donors money has been withdrawn due to the Los Angeles Hurricane Katrina and Pakistan earthquake disasters

All staff in the southern offices gained a much needed rest on Wednesday afternoon with an inter-office cricket match, and with great thanks to me (for not participating) . . . my office won!

Amusing news of the weekend is that a group of us went in pursuit of an elephant ride that came with high commendation. After a long trip, with much searching to find the right location, and many stories of how exciting and excellent the trip would be . . . we finally got to the booking desk to be told . . . the elephant had just died . . .





1700 people died on this train as many boarded thinking they would be safe from the tsunami















There were over 10 houses on this plot before the tsunami. Hardly a trace remains.





There's more photos of our earlier weeks on the posts below if you want to see them