Barber

A local barber has heard about my reluctance to wait at barbershops and came home with his tools. His name is “Thambili’ Sinhalese for king coconut! He did a quick and nice job with my hair. He was also quick to point out that I have very few hair and most of that is grey!

Renuka’s Team

Help for house hold is easily found in this part of the country. When tea plantations near urban areas were closed many years ago most worker families decided to remain in Sri Lanka where they were born rather than to leave for South India from where their ancestors were brought by the British. These families are getting integrated to native population gradually and very successfully. Many of them find work in local households.

Renuka has a team of helpers. Selva is live-in help. He does some cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping and gardening. He goes home once a month. Achchi comes to help with cleaning a few times a month. Kanthi is a very good cook and has spent many years abroad. She comes a few days a week for a few hours a visit.

Booly

Booly is a stray dog but liked by most people in this neighborhood. Booly visits us some times for a snack.

Birds

We live just below the Hantane natural watershed forest reservation. Naturally, we find birds everywhere. Frequent visitors are parrot, spotted dove, greater coucal, kingfisher, woodpecker, magpie, myna and babbler. Renuka feeds them at least twice a day. We like watching them sharing and competing for food.

Sunset

When the sky is not fully clouded, we enjoy a beautiful sunset. Conical mountain on the right is Alagalla (Yam Rock). The mountain with a flat top on the left is Batalegala (Bible Rock).