WHEN OUR FRIENDS CAME TO PLAY

August was a very special month for us. First there was the long-awaited arrival of our belongings from home. It actually took us a little by surprise. One moment we were sitting having dinner, the next moment the phone rings and we hear that everything was on it's way from Colombo to our door. And it's only taken 7 months! So in the space of a couple of hours our house went from quiet and calm to a madhouse of action and boxes, right in time for . . .

. . . the much anticipated arrival of mum, dad & grandma, whose plane landed four hours after our boxes arrived on our doorstep. To add to the chaos, Prince rings at midnight to say that the road to the airport has been closed for a minister and he wasn't being allowed through to pick up everyone. Finally, Prince and his friend got through in time to find my family but then they all had to wait again because Prince wasn't allowed to bring the van in to get them. Finally, all the fuss of the minister subsided and everyone was allowed to leave the airport.

Well, it should be needless to say that we had a wonderful time with mum, dad and grandma. Lots of swimming, eating, shopping (well, for mum & dad anyway), relaxing and sight-seeing. The boys were particularly happy to be showered with all the love and affection of their grandparents again. We were very sorry to see them go again when the fortnight was over.

However, there was no time for things to slow down. The day before my family left, we had a group of 19 people arrive from Australia for us to look after . . . or did they look after us? Probably a bit of both really. These guys stayed for 10 days and did all manner of activities; work and play. Too much to go into great detail, except to say thanks to them all for sticking, stacking, packing, talking, teaching, playing, giving, looking, recording, painting, gluing and most of all for caring.


So, thanks for the memories . . .