tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57452622081220836032024-02-08T20:53:45.995+05:30Retreat to Sri LankaThis blog aims to follow my progress in owning a piece of paradise in Sri Lanka. Expect frustrations to be shared and happiness to be expressed.Dawn Metcalfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469994030330668612noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745262208122083603.post-41754370838060835612015-07-04T05:12:00.000+05:302015-07-04T05:13:25.713+05:30We're not blogging much these days but...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
you can see photos and keep up with developments at<br />
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facebook.com/iwuraonline<br />
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See you there I hope!</div>
Dawn Metcalfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469994030330668612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745262208122083603.post-76463637547006791832014-08-07T10:24:00.000+05:302014-08-07T10:24:31.517+05:30A short video of the neighbourhood<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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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! </div>
Dawn Metcalfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469994030330668612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745262208122083603.post-45145890199124639882014-08-04T17:12:00.001+05:302014-08-04T17:13:46.658+05:30Pictures on Instagram @metcalfe_dawn<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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. </div>
Dawn Metcalfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469994030330668612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745262208122083603.post-39415635231317934812014-07-20T15:06:00.000+05:302014-07-20T15:06:01.591+05:30Sleepy Puppy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elle relaxes after a long day dealing with snakes and her newest neighbours/</td></tr>
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Dawn Metcalfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469994030330668612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745262208122083603.post-52263636000133235712014-07-20T05:32:00.001+05:302014-07-20T05:32:34.862+05:30The puppies "found" a snake. Look away now if you are very keen on snakes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Dawn Metcalfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469994030330668612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745262208122083603.post-47226043047501858272014-07-17T19:29:00.000+05:302014-07-17T19:32:34.587+05:30The puppies fight. A lot.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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!<br />
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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.<br />
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Dawn Metcalfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469994030330668612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745262208122083603.post-5371725681589813932014-07-05T03:54:00.001+05:302014-07-05T03:54:42.982+05:30An Irish nun brings silk to Sri Lanka<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
http://archive.catholicherald.co.uk/article/7th-february-1992/7/eithne-treanor-on-how-a-remarkable-irish-nun-has-b<br />
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written by a friend of mine years ago.</div>
Dawn Metcalfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469994030330668612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745262208122083603.post-70923870539565621602014-07-03T11:04:00.000+05:302014-07-03T11:04:47.820+05:30Some flowers around Iwura today<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Dawn Metcalfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469994030330668612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745262208122083603.post-51882039322174360332014-07-02T11:05:00.000+05:302014-07-02T11:05:00.717+05:30Boris the yoga frog<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Dawn Metcalfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469994030330668612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745262208122083603.post-51822065092218126662014-07-02T10:59:00.000+05:302014-07-02T10:59:11.662+05:30Everything here comes back to coconuts!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Dawn Metcalfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469994030330668612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745262208122083603.post-66854334002259797332014-07-01T18:16:00.000+05:302014-07-01T18:16:42.291+05:30Down the garden path to Boris<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Dawn Metcalfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469994030330668612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745262208122083603.post-88927036285907088522014-07-01T17:51:00.000+05:302014-07-01T17:51:59.721+05:30We're going to need a gun!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Dawn Metcalfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469994030330668612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745262208122083603.post-62986186824823293112014-07-01T17:24:00.000+05:302014-07-01T17:24:45.090+05:30Morning in Iwura<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Dawn Metcalfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469994030330668612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745262208122083603.post-45336596759189208222014-06-30T21:47:00.003+05:302014-06-30T21:47:54.117+05:30Photos from the new phone<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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. <br />
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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!<br />
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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.<br />
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Ramadan Kareem everyone.<br />
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Dawn Metcalfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469994030330668612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745262208122083603.post-55693346105109427132014-06-11T23:28:00.002+05:302014-06-11T23:28:26.505+05:30We're baaack. Again!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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?<br />
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Dawn Metcalfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469994030330668612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745262208122083603.post-85636381902134657942013-04-29T06:11:00.003+05:302013-04-29T06:12:37.444+05:30Arrived!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Although the flight was delayed by almost an hour I spent it very happily chatting to a guy who works with FlyDubai on the ground doing something technical and whose whole family seem to be pilots.<br />
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I whinged quite a lot about previous flights and how it is unfair that Matt's flights always take on time and I never quite manage to arrive in the dark because of delay in the flight or at immigration.<br />
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I don't know how Mark (FlyDubai guy) managed it but I slept the whole way, the staff were charming, we parked next to the airport so there was no bus and there was literally no queue at immigration.<br />
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So I arrived in the dark and, by the time I had unpacked and found a jumper, I was all wrapped up and watching the sun rise with the puppies (who remember to sit, go down and give the paw!). It's now 6am and I'm going to walk on the new grass in the gradual light and then treat myself to a fabulous shower before a short nap. Then I've got to get to work for a while - I'm quite looking forward to it!<br />
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I haven't spoken with Brayen and Julia yet but they are apparently getting aruyvedic treatment and, although the injuries look very painful, they are not in any way life-threatening and both should be completely recovered soon. I'll speak with them later today and find out how they are. I'm not sure exactly where they are and may even visit them if I can be of any assistance.<br />
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If you are good at talking pictures please consider yourselves invited (Jamie? Harry?) as I would love someone to capture the light here - every photo I take is a disaster!</div>
Dawn Metcalfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469994030330668612noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745262208122083603.post-38635426206459736522013-04-28T20:48:00.000+05:302013-04-28T20:48:23.352+05:30Accident!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So I'm off to Sri Lanka in a few hours to get some work done, see the puppies and chill a little.<br />
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Sadly I won't be able to see Brayen and Julia as they had a motor-bike accident (no broken bones thank God but bruised, scraped and battered so off to get some aruyvedic treatment with the family).<br />
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Luckily Brayen's family are nearby and were able to step in. This means that I won't be left entirely bereft when there (and, of course, I always have the trusty Ramesh to get me places) and they were able to make sure the grass got planted. We have grass!<br />
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Not everywhere. But we have grass. And sprinklers so we don't have to water it.<br />
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To say I'm excited would be a crazy understatement!<br />
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No more sleeps and I'm there...<br />
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Dawn Metcalfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469994030330668612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745262208122083603.post-50072078110974400142013-03-29T18:52:00.000+05:302013-03-29T18:52:43.538+05:30More on the flower tower<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It feels hotter here than in the UAE but that's probably because it's been remarkably chilly in Dubai recently. I mean, the weather has actually been pretty fabulous with lunches outside and drinks outside in the evening equally lovely. </div>
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Here it seems hot and I feel for the workmen doing the outside walls but am, nonetheless, delighted that the outside is finally finished! Now all we have to do is plumbing, electricity, tiling, putting in mirror and shelves etc. fixing the steps and then finishing it all off by planting flowers in the "pots" built into the building and more around the flower tower itself. And most of the decisions about that can be made this trip. Those of you who know me will not be surprised to hear I've made a list! </div>
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I feel like these workmen have been maligned by me. It hadn't occurred to me how difficult it must be to get all the tiles to match up when they aren't uniform shapes and how much time it must take. They were actually here early this morning and caught me in the shower!</div>
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1) we're also hoping to cover the back wall with sugar cane. Unless anyone has better ideas? </div>
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2) there seems to be a much pronounced noise of crickets and a reduction in the cawing of crows</div>
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3) we've had an influx of white seeds from one of the trees </div>
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4) Brayen and Yuliya successfully got me an extended visa. Hurrah! </div>
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No photos yet as although I am taking them I'm struggling with sharing. I'll probably do so when back in Dubai. In any case, they aren't great - I wasn't blessed with a good eye but I'm hoping to get others, with more talent and knowledge, to take some better ones soon. You'll be especially amused/annoyed by my attempt to capture what the white seeds look like in case someone can tell me what they are?</div>
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Dawn Metcalfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469994030330668612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745262208122083603.post-15268714859825093972013-03-28T07:41:00.001+05:302013-03-28T07:41:42.023+05:30Today, Matthew, I'll mostly be....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's 0541 in Dubai so 0711 here and I'm now safe and sound on the terrace. The puppies have been petted (and then ignored as they tore my dress - do dogs need to get their nails clipped? I'm sitting on the terrace having unpacked and had a bit of a chat Bryan and wandered around looking at trees and the progress. I am now relaxed. </div>
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It is slow but steady. I can't help feeling that it should be possible to do more than one thing at a time but it does like everything is very time-intensive. It's going to take Brayen and Yuliya a few hours to get to Colombo and update my visa. I couldn't bear queuing at the airport after what was not a great flight as there was a drunk man shouting on the plane.</div>
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The outside washroom remains enormous but is being transformed into what will be a "tower of flowers". If the workmen actually turn up today we may even finish the external tiling. And then everybody goes off for a few days for Easter. </div>
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I'm giving myself today off to relax (listen to the Archers, write this, have a shower outside, read my book, do yoga, eat fruit, get chilly and put on a jumper), watch this episode of <a href="https://www.itv.com/itvplayer/coronation-street/27-03-2013" target="_blank">Corrie</a> (my dirty little secret!) and then tomorrow I'm going to do a day of work. I'm looking forward to it as I've got some interesting things to prepare. There will likely be quite a lot of noise as it's Easter and there are likely to be lots of celebrations. </div>
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Matt arrives on Saturday so I will have delicious food and cocktails and we can drink the bottle of champagne I bought and read books and talk nonsense and do yoga and get to know each other and plan out the garden and hang out. Hurrah! I might even really try to get the dogs to chase the crows this time. They are so cheeky! Oh, yes and we might do a video for a TV show. Hmmmm.......</div>
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Dawn Metcalfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469994030330668612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745262208122083603.post-74944568528025442772013-03-12T20:59:00.003+05:302013-03-12T20:59:59.894+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We have a Facebook page! You can see the pretty photos here. https://www.facebook.com/iwuraonline</div>
Dawn Metcalfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469994030330668612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745262208122083603.post-39653677970031961722013-03-01T14:11:00.000+05:302013-03-05T18:10:35.677+05:30The bomb site <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">It's lunchtime. 4 hours since work started and 8 hours since I got here and saw <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/102763061807650953542/130201TheBombSite" target="_blank">this</a>.</span><br />
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Biryanis for all are on their way. Possibly with two more rakes to assist in the raking of the ground.. I doubt it though as I personally tried three places and all sold the business end of a rake but none the handles. Quite frustrating. Especially when the ice-cream you're adding to the biryani bribe is melting in the back of the tuk-tuk. Ramesh, the tuk tuk driver, is a very nice guy who earnestly wants to do well. His utter lack of English and nerves make him a little difficult at times, however and if he had asked me one more time if I really needed a handle for the rakes (each!) I might have lost it.</div>
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While they've been working with some <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/102763061807650953542/130301TheBombsite3HoursLater#5850278345590881570" target="_blank">great results already</a>, I've been to the bank, met with my lawyer, written a long letter, made a lot of decisions and did a lot of discussing. Bought vegetables and limes and ice and now I'm starting to flag. I've had 2 hours sleep in 31 and today has been quite stressful as I really didn't want to sit in a building site for the next few days which are supposed to be about relaxing after a busy month.</div>
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That starts when all of the very good workmen who have been here today leave tonight, not to come back until Monday. And it really starts when M and J arrive tomorrow. </div>
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My toes remain in the most disgusting unpedicured state ever as I have been too busy to get to a salon. I did get the skin nibbling fish treatment for a few minutes whilst waiting to speak to my lawyer (now, you don't get that in Dubai!) and was genuinely disturbed by how many fish could nibble at once. It felt quite peculiar and I want to go back there and do it again after the pedicure that I will be enjoying with J tomorrow.</div>
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My next task is to find out how to do that and to try to make an appointment. Everybody I've met so far, bar maybe a few people, seem not to want to plan more than about 3 seconds ahead. I find it infuriating but recognise that that very fact is part of why I love it here. It forces me to slow down.</div>
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Still, can't wait to see what they'll have done by nightfall. There will be pictures soon....</div>
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Dawn Metcalfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469994030330668612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745262208122083603.post-78186613485307100792013-02-01T17:53:00.002+05:302013-02-01T17:53:19.549+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Finally in SL with bloods done and an enforced holiday because tomorrow is Saturday and a local festival. The journey over was fine but it's been a very hectic few weeks and I'm tired. New and annoying driver which is no different from my daily life but now at home sitting on the terrace smelling stock simmering for tom yam soup tomorrow, listening to the birds and music from the local festival (yet to get annoying) and looking at the water and the newly purchased, in honour of Feb 4, Sri Lankan flags blowing in the wind. Is it me or there are<a href="http://www.sltda.lk/festivals_and_cultural_events" target="_blank"> a lot of Sri Lankan festivals</a>? </div>
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Dawn Metcalfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469994030330668612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745262208122083603.post-87663411625028358682012-12-15T19:59:00.000+05:302012-12-15T19:59:17.727+05:30It's been a while and things have happened.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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So, it's been a long time since I've posted. Mostly because on the few occasions I've made it to Sri Lanka I've focused on relaxing and all the progress has been made in my absence. So you can see what's happening Brayen and Yuliya have sent some photos. We're not finished yet but it's really getting there now and we've even got guests staying at the moment.<br />
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Some of the colours seem to have come out weird but I've no idea how to fix that so, to see it for real, I guess you'll have to get on a plane and come visit!</div>
Dawn Metcalfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469994030330668612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745262208122083603.post-26008822105665643972012-08-21T15:44:00.002+05:302012-08-21T15:44:57.298+05:30It's been forever<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A couple of friends were kind enough to notice that I haven't posted for ages and this is because I lost my camera. Inexcusably. And irritatingly enough it happened just as real progress has been made. Of course I still have my iPhone but I've been useless at remembering to carry it as well as my local phone and, in any case, I then had to work out how to share them.<br />
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I think I've figured this out now as there will be even more progress in my absence (from Friday) and I wanted to capture what it is like now. However, you'll have to click h<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/102763061807650953542/IwuraAsOf21August2012#" target="_blank">ere</a> for the latest pictures as I don't seem to have posted them to my account and so can't embed it. If you have any idea how to fix this please let me know!</div>
Dawn Metcalfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469994030330668612noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745262208122083603.post-45831636948274829372012-08-05T09:01:00.001+05:302012-08-05T09:01:42.633+05:30Swings and Slides<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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There has been great progress on the house in the last few days. I've got used to having water and<br />
electricity (well, mostly having electricity) and am even blasé about having hot water showers now.<br />
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The internet appears to be working correctly at last (although what package I'm on and how much it costs appears to be a big secret).<br />
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The puppies are growing nicely and will be having their next set of vaccinations early in the week. Elle has suffered no long-lasting ill effects from having Brayen's scooter sat down on her paw. Dee continues to be the much naughtier of the two and so getting great use out of the hang-dog look she has made her own. Both are learning to sit and come when called.<br />
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The house is now perfectly functional and, even if things aren't painted or covered, they are there.<br />
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Outside it's a different story as the work being done on shelves, screens, tables and, of course, the fence continues. So we're back into building site mode for a little while at least.<br />
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At the end, however, it'll be worth it I hope. And soon we'll be able to get the swing fixed and the slide and ladder into the lagoon sorted out. I'll post pictures when it happens!<br />
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Btw, I don't think the captions come out on the photos if I embed them like this so if you want to see the album you can click <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/100962707179505090108/SwingsAndSlides" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>Dawn Metcalfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14469994030330668612noreply@blogger.com0