Visitors

So far 3 different couples have visited me. The first had considered buying this place but then decided to go for coconut living instead. The second are Lankalogger and her husband who came round for negroni bringing home made bread and laughter. 

And the third were a random couple of teachers on holiday from Israel with lots of interesting back story who were wandering around the neighbourhood when some of the kids who live nearby spotted them and, we assume, decided they needed to get to the other foreigner's place. 

Anyway, obsessed as I am, I showed them around and they were here to see the outside lights all work (and dim!), the first table made and all the fans working. They also witnessed the return of the water and the hob entering working condition. They seemed to love the place and I was enjoying having people around so I asked them if they'd like to hang out or even cook. They agreed to go and get ingredients (my kitchen here bearing a very strong resemblance to my one in Dubai in the sense that there is no food in either) and come back and cook the inaugural dinner which turned out to be an Israeli dish with a name my brain resolutely refused to remember. If anyone out there is an expert and can help it was made with lots of tomatoes, garlic, onions and chill and eggs were cooked on the top of it. You eat it with bread and, in this case, beautifully seasoned courgette/cucumber things. There's a picture here that might help with identification. Or if Bea and Micky, having completed their holiday with no internet access at all, are reading this perhaps they'll let us know. 

It was great fun hanging out with them eating and looking out at the beautiful view constantly changing in front of us. They had great ideas for improvements to the place and further refined my thinking on lots of fun ideas like fire pots and hammocks. We had been drinking and I asked Bea to write them down so we didn't forget. I am horribly bossy at the moment it seems. Nonetheless, they are coming back through Negombo in a little over a week and have promised to pop in and say hello. By then they should see a big transformation and I can't wait!

Perhaps best of all they brought some spices and some salt so I have now been given bread and salt as well as boiled coconut milk so we are set up for prosperity and good fortune from all sides.

UPDATE: Lankalogger very cleverly found the name of the recipe.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakshouka