A short video of the neighbourhood

I made this last night as I went for a pretty fantastic massage in the nice hotel 10 minutes away. Met the GM of the hotel too and I hope we'll be able to get involved in a scheme to help the local environment and people. Hurrah! 

Pictures on Instagram @metcalfe_dawn

We've been taking more photos than usual i.e. some photos and have discovered the joys of instagram so if you'd like to see some pictures please follow metcalfe_dawn and they'll be there. I can promise you one of an elephant in a restaurant and a lizard too.

Sleepy Puppy

Elle relaxes after a long day dealing with snakes and her newest neighbours/

The puppies "found" a snake. Look away now if you are very keen on snakes

The puppies fight. A lot.

I didn't realise how much until I started to video things and then I realised they were always trying to outdo each other in order to get food or attention. I'd like them to chase crows for this but am too lazy to train them. As you'll see from the attached, I'm too lazy when here to even get gloves!

They are nice to each other a lot too though. And they kill bad things at times too.  And this technique seems to have stopped them from fighting too much.

An Irish nun brings silk to Sri Lanka

http://archive.catholicherald.co.uk/article/7th-february-1992/7/eithne-treanor-on-how-a-remarkable-irish-nun-has-b

written by a friend of mine years ago.

Some flowers around Iwura today

Boris the yoga frog

Everything here comes back to coconuts!

Down the garden path to Boris

We're going to need a gun!

Morning in Iwura

Photos from the new phone

I arrived this morning as usual for the beginning of Ramadan. I'll be travelling back and forth a bit  as  I  have to be in Dubai for bits of the month. Last night as I left for the airport I even questioned the wisdom of this trip but an upgrade to a seat in the front of the plane surrounded by the South African cricket team made it fairly painless. 

This morning the internet when I arrived so I've spent the day taking photos and reading and thinking and listening to great podcasts. All on my new phone!

I'm pretty bad at taking photos - it's never been anything I was interested in - but knowing what other people can do with the same technology I'm inspired to at least try. You can see the results below for what they're worth. I have noticed that I look more carefully when taking photos though so maybe I should do it more. But the results don't come close to capturing teh place. I'm going to try video next.

Ramadan Kareem everyone.

We're baaack. Again!

Well, not really. Not yet back at Iwura (but soon I hope) but back to the blog at least. Our new friend Matthias is staying and he has taken some photos. Thank you Matthais. So I thought I'd share them here. What a difference a year makes! The garden is coming along leaps and bounds and the flower tower is now a nice thing and not a monstrosity. There are no pits or craters and soon, soon, soon, there might even be a BBQ or a pizza oven. Or both. If anyone reading knows how to build either please let me know?