More memories of Sri Lanka Negombo

We stayed in our rented Dream house in a small village, called Kammala, which is near Waikkal. The nearest large hotel is The Club Hotel Dolphin where we had stayed previously, (3 times ) with the family.

 

Club Hotel Dolphin

 

 I have grown very fond of this village,
 and have begun to venture further afield and find my way around the surrounding districts, in both a more confident and an adventurous manner.   

I HEAR and I forget. I SEE and I remember. I DO and I understand.

My photographer friend and fellow traveller on this trip, Charlie,  planned a couple of visits to Negombo. Approximately 9.5 km away.
The safest and dearest mode of transport for 2 persons is the local taxis. Usually air conditioned and with 6-8seats.
The most convenient and best price mode of transport (and the most dangerous and exciting) is the Tuktuk. These are based everywhere, so it is never a problem to find one at any time.

 

Hence, we got a Tuktuk to the station. 1500 SLR  Then caught the train to Negombo  35 SLR (approx. 15 pence)  The English pound is roughly worth 200 SLR. 

You cannot create experience. You must undergo it!

 

First purchase was a Dongle to enable Charlie to continue writing his blog. www.wildlife in a suburban garden.com

We purchased Sarongs and shirts with Sri Lanka printed on them!  WHY?

Typical shopping place in Negombo

Vegetable stall, near the fish market.  Very cheap compared to English prices! Bananas  50 pence for nearly 3 kilos. We bought quite a few bananas on our stay to encourage the birds on to the bird table back at the Dream House.

Fishermen (and ladies) shaking the fish from the nets.

Fish Market. Every one should visit this place. Very busy and interesting!
  

 

On the train. cheap and can recommend this means of transport. Very interesting!

Another means of Transport!

We did travel on a couple of buses. Wouldn't recommend this though! They were absolutely packed. We didn't really know if we were on the correct bus as nobody seemed able to speak English on this service. You pay your fare (30 SLR  -  12 pence) when getting off  the bus.

 

The National flower of Sri Lanka.  The Water Lily.

 

Learning is a Treasure that will follow its owner everywhere. 

Chinese proverb.

 

 

 

 

 

   

Spring is just around the corner!

Today, with help from my Grandson, Tom - I feel quite pleased with the days work! Tom follows in his Fathers footsteps and is a great help when engines don't start, and he is able to resolve the problems! This is a common fault with most machinery in the Spring of course because  they haven't been started for a few months. Although I had charged the batteries on the 2 ride on mowers, the engines wouldn't start for me. However, eventually , with the aid of replacement fuses, improving the connectors on some wiring, the use of some heavy duty jump leads, and a gentle tap here and there, away we went - and I was cutting grass this afternoon! Plenty wet enough really  -  but it felt good to be able to make a start on the grass.

It was a treat to have a nice, dry day. I did go out with the camera this morning, and took some quite interesting photos.  I am surprised at the clarity and quality of shots taken from quite a distance away.
Arthur and his Suffolk prize rams were approximately 4 to 500 yards away.

 

This is the greater spotted woodpecker that I am trying to get a good photo of. When I saw it this morning I wasn't sure if it was a branch or a bird. It was about 150 yards away, I guess!  It is marvellous what a difference it makes looking through a 500mm lens on the camera - and the branch turned out to be a Woodpecker!  I will of course get a good photo soon. One where it is posing up close for me!

This sparrow was quite obliging and I thought took a good photo!

 

 

Tomorrow - perhaps another bonfire, if the wind is not blowing my neighbours way! 

Thought of the day

By the time you pass sixty years you are supposed to have finally got your head together, but then your body starts falling apart.

I am one of many, many people that has Sciatica.
Sciatica starts in the lower back, and travels down the sciatic nerve and down the leg. Sometimes the pain is almost unbearable. The discomfort and sharp pains certainly restricts a lot of daily jobs. I started with the acute pain after my holiday in Sri Lanka. I blame sitting  / slouching on the 'plane for 12 hours. Pulling and carrying luggage , for what seemed to be miles at Gatwick airport, and then a further 4 hour coach journey back to Exeter. I have been informed that sciatica can last for a long time. Many weeks, if not months. God help me and all who are also suffering!   I have watched supposedly beneficial exercises to do - on You Tube. I do try them, and yes, I think that some exercises do help the discomfort and the pain.

However, life goes on, and today I have done a few more jobs .At  least the weather has been cold but dry.

I drove the quad and trailer to the woods and brought back a thick branch to support a log for another bird table. I placed it in a good spot to take more bird photos. Usually the sun will be behind me, and I can sit in amongst some fir trees in my portable hide. I have drilled holes in the log for the peanuts, and fingers crossed, the woodpecker and other birds will find them.
I will test it out tomorrow.

Today, I sowed my tomato seeds, and a couple packets of flower seeds. There were 4 varieties of tomatoes in one seed packet. I have had this assortment in the greenhouse before, and to have a variety is quite a good idea. I've forgot the names, but there are Yellow, Large, Gardeners Delight and Ailsa Craig.

Because the weather is still cold and Winterish, I stayed indoors this afternoon and made some pickle.
An easy recipe -   - 1lb cooked beetroot - then  cook together 1lb of cooking apples - 1/2lb (half) onions - 1/2lb brown sugar - 1/4pint of malt vinegar.  Looks and tastes good!

Jimmy is still looking for his nuts. I do like to take his photo!

Jimmy posing.

Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful!

Fox's. To feed or not to feed?

We feed the foxes most nights with any food scraps that are available. They seem to enjoy any thing, from meat. bones. bread or any stale cake. I usually go out into the garden, and adjoining meadow, at about 7.30pm (weather permitting)  There are always 4 or 5 foxes waiting for their scraps. They have become quite tame and confident with us. I wear a lamp on my head, which is very bright. This must be the sign that the foxes wait for, and their eyes are the first visible sign that they are watching and waiting for their treats. Many people will not agree with foxes being encouraged to come into their garden to be fed. I question it myself, but when I am actually throwing them the scraps and watch them, I know that I would hate to see this lovely animal disappear from our Countryside.

 

Spring is definitely not far away.

 

 

Polyanthus in the garden.

 

 

Lovely to see the daffodils 

 

 

Helleborus   -  Christmas Rose

 

 

Prunus  -  Cherry blossom

 

I had a ploughman's lunch the other day.  He wasn't very happy!

Ground drying up a bit.

At last. I have been able to get into the garden. There has been tree trimmings to take to the bonfire. Logs and branches to take to the saw bench and log splitting .area. I did have a brief session with the heavy hoe. but the ground is still too wet for that job. I recently purchased a  petrol Yamaha quad, and a small trailer. What a good investment!  Much better than the wheelbarrow. The ground is still too waterlogged in places for the small Iseki tractor.

                                                              Yamaha 'big bear' quad.

 

Yesterday (Thursday) Joan and I caught the X38 double decker bus to Plymouth. We went to the Plymouth Theatre at 2.30 pm, to see The Lion King. What a marvellous , spectacular show! We loved it! There were many children, with Parents, and Grandparents. A lovely family show, but very moving for all ages. When the curtain rises, all the animals come on to the stage by walking down the isles, both sides of the theatre, up the steps and on to the setting. It really is impressive, and we found this scene and the African singing to be very moving indeed. I don't know why it brings tears to the eyes - but it does. We enjoyed the whole show, and would recommend it to everyone,as a show not to be missed! 

 

 

 

                                                 More bird photos taken from the hide.

 

 

 

Great Tit

  Black crown, white cheeks and a black band down the centre of yellow underparts.  

 

Mr. Pheasant

 

Mrs. Pheasant

 

 

This would be dinner for some people!  But they are safe with us! 

 

Just another day

Yesterday - Monday - it rained again all day. I did very little outdoors. My hardest job I think, was bringing in the wood for the wood burning Rayburn. This is a continual job, but the Rayburn provides us with constant hot water, is always ready for cooking, and keeps the house warm as well. It also helps with the central heating. The other heater for the radiator's is an outside oil heater. I tell myself that it is important to keep warm when you are old!

Today , Tuesday, has been a better day. I have been in the hide near the house and took a few more photos of our regular bird visitors.

House Sparrow  -  male

House Sparrow  -  female

Greenfinch  -  male

Robin

I'm not sure!  Is it a female blackbird?

Is this a female Blackcap?

 

Chaffinch  -  male

My unused Roller  -  unisex!

Sunday and a lovely day.

The weather today has been a treat for us. We have cut up most of the trees that were blown down in the high winds. The clearing up won't be completed until the ground has dried up quite considerably.

Nick in action

 

Just a little thing to remember the Hawthorn tree!

I think he is going to carve a 'bear' next time!

 

 

It has been a long time since we have had such welcome blue, cloudless skies as today.

But - more flowers are showing daily. Crocuses, daffodils, and the cultivated primroses are looking lovely. Spring is getting nearer every day!

 

 

I had chance to sit in the hide this morning and take a few more of the more regular visitors to our bird table. I saw, but didn't film the Great Spotted Woodpecker. That is my next challenge.

 

 





 

Greenfinch. 

 

 

Nuthatch

Helpers  (or watchers)   Tom, Charlie and Fidget.