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.