Galle this morning

Mike was giving Joe breakfast and I was bringing Luke downstairs when we heard the bombs explode. There were so many that it was hard to believe they were bombs – somewhere between 5 to 10. Our whole house shook – you could see the wooden lattice shaking about 5 cms. We could see the rising grey cloud plumes. We could hear cross fire very close.

We quickly moved into the central room in our house where we felt safer. The neighbours came round and told us what the local news was saying, which was later confirmed by a phone call to us from the British High Commission.

Apparently 5 fishing boats carrying LT ‘TE terroari’ts - entered the port area (on the other side of the harbour outside fort). Some suicid’rs bombed naval ships and others landed successfully – so terroari’ts are now roaming at large, but they’re only after mil’iytary targets. There is a curfew and we are not allowed out. We have heard that local Sinhalese are looting Tamil shops in town. All the Tuk Tuk drivers have vanished, but our neighbours are here. As we live in Fort we feel safe as the police will easily have blocked off the 2 gates and not be letting people in or out.

The Brit High Commission contacted us within 2 hours, to check our location and situation, and to ask re other Brits we know. We have given them all their telephone numbers.

Just heard more explosions and gun fire and it sounded to be outside our house. A bit scarey. I was shaking earlier.

Everyone we know is at home, and safe. There is a single girl in Fort from WV and she may come and stay later.

We just want to reassure you that they never attack foreigners – never, so we are completely safe. They only ever attack mil’aytary targets. It’s just so so sad for the country. We pray that now it’s hit the south, there will be local pressure on the Gov’earn’meant to achieve real peace. Our neighbours say it is either that, or full scale wr.

Chris and Carl who run the very posh Galle Fort Hotel opposite have said if we feel safer there we can go and stay there. Seems easier here with kids but we may go for coffee and a brownie later! Wonder if they will let us use their pool today. They’ve just lost a lot of business as they were fully booked for the next couple of months. We are entering the normal tourist season.

Our house helper didn’t come, so hopefully she heard the news before she got to Galle and got home quickly and easily. Our friend's house helper came and used our phone to check her daughter is OK, who works near the base. She managed to contact her and she is fine.

Next door say the local news says all is under control.

Joe is running around saying ‘It’s bombs, it’s shooting, someone has been killed … ‘What’s that?’' when he hears the noises. He has NO concept of what that means, but it doesn’t feel very cute. We are saying, it’s not a very good noise. Luke is sleeping well.

Otherwise, we are already all packed up and ready to move to Colombo on Friday. Don’t know if we will manage it that soon now. Now we are leaving Galle we feel quite sad to go.

We found a couple of apartments in Colombo within walking distance from Mike’s work that would be OK. One is next door to a friend with a 2 year old, so that would be great, it has a very small pool on the roof and the apt is on the 8th floor so just a couple of flights of stairs from the pool. The other one doesn’t have a pool but is posher, 5th floor, next to some of the best restaurants in Colombo, and a nice shop, so more the same feel as where we live now – touristy. We don’t really feel comfortable living somewhere posher as we are already so rich compared to locals and now have Sri Lankan friends in Galle who will come and stay when they are in Colombo.

We will probably live in a hotel or one of Mike’s employer’s empty apartment/ Team Houses for a week or 2 from the weekend while the apartment contract goes through. We may look at houses, but think it’s unlikely we’ll find somewhere. It’s very very hard looking at houses with Joe and Luke on my own! I got very hot and bothered and sweaty and stressed yesterday, just viewing 3 apartments. The empty WV houses were a dead loss for us – either wouldn’t take kids, or the contract had expired already anyhow.

Anyway, right now we can’t go anywhere.

Leaving Galle

We have successfully completed our 1st year in Sri Lanka! Mike has completed 70% of his projects already - clinics, houses, waste water treatment and more! Mike's contract has been extended for another year, and we have recently discovered that he has been transferred to Colombo to become National Water and Sanitation Manager. He thinks this is a good job transfer, he is looking forward to the work, and he will also continue with his work in the district nearest to Colombo - Kalutara.

He starts work on 23rd October! We are looking at houses tomorrow that are vacant from staff recently leaving. We hope this will save us the arduous and sweaty job of finding a new home from scratch. We also hope it means we can move up quickly so that Mike doesn't have to work away from home. We will definitely be moved by 2nd November, which is when our contract on our Galle house expires. We have already pretty much packed, and may move next weekend (20th).

We are looking forward to all the perks of being in the capital - supermarkets (broccoli, cereals, better meat etc), other good shops and restaurants, tots groups, and more of a social life for adults too. We will miss Galle though, and plan to visit our friends here often!

We have enjoyed possibly our last weekend with Penny, a friend of James - Sarah's brother, who has been doing volunteering work in Sri Lanka for 3 months. We had a great time enjoying our local sights.

Joe had his first cup of tea at a tea plantation - Oolong Sapphire - now you can't buy that in Tescos.

Mike took Joe out on his bike for the first time. Joe was quite apprehensive at first, but by the end was shouting Faster! and was waving at everyone he knew.

Luke is smiling away - what a beauty.