Houston we have Contact!

Arrived safe and sound after a long journey. Tired and tearful and very much in need of sleep. Who knew that a lack of sleep and heat could have the same effect as wearing 'everything here is rubbish' glasses! Given half the chance I'd have jumped on the nearest plane back home, even the prospect of another 11 hour flight would've put me off! But thankfully I received something much better than an immediate return flight - and that was a reassuring text from Abi McFabbie who let me know that the culture shock syndrome was normal, that we shouldn't panic and that it would pass and so it did.

A good bowl of homemade veggie soup and a good night's sleep and the world... well at least this little part of the world looked much much brighter! Purdy from Unique Travel gave us an induction/ welcome day and handed us the mecca of all things travel - a converter plug (the ones we brought didn't fit) So now not only are our spirits restored by so are our phone/ laptop & Ipod batteries - We're beginning to feel connected in more ways that one.

Best thing about today was a 'hello' visit to the school. We were touched by the welcome we received, two of the children greeted us with a traditional welcome and this was followed by a guided tour. Every class we were shown was fully of bright eyes, twinkling with much curiosity at what turns out to be their first glimpse at UK volunteers. Their curiosity and the enthusiasm of the teaching staff was infectious and our nerves disappeared and language differences didn't seem to matter that much. Children are children the world over, friendly, shy and cheeky the school has them all and I'm so exited about getting started.

Currently we're sitting in down town Negombo having decided to take shelter from the heat. Travelling for the first time here in a Tuk Tuk - quite the best way to experience the hustle and bustle.

The only other significant first impression I've yet to mention is the heat. I have never been as 'moist' as I've been the last two days. In fact it seems pointless getting dried after a shower! Matthew has started calling me the Wicked Witch of the West because I keep saying 'I'm melting'... He's just lucky that he and the heat have made friends quickly. I'm sure it won't take me too long to catch up.

Off to have a wander around the shops to have a root around for essentials.

One Potato,Two Potato...

Finished work on Friday and have been counting big sleeps until we start travelling. Bleugh - a 22 hour journey!! Leaving here at 10am and arriving in Sri Lanka the next day at 8am. In the meantime, there's been lots of packing, re-packing and making organised piles which has made our cats suspicious. I always thought cat's don't have emotions but after a successful root around in the garage I stepped back into the house with two very dirty cat boxes to be met by a look of horror from one cat and disgust from the other. ~Twang~ that'll be a pang of guilt for two. Matthew jumped ship and left for his Dads to avoid the accusatory jury for the rest of the weekend.  

It's a funny feeling leaving home for a month, particularly if you are the owner of an over active imagination like mine. I heard a scurry on the roof this morning and thought - mice! Nothing proportionate like, ah a little field mouse having lost its way from the bounty of the summer fields. No, No... I was more thinking of said little field mouse scribbling tiny invitations to a summer party at my place. With the note ending 'Bring all your friends'... And what with no cats in the house to act as door bouncers to keep order, I imagined by the time I come home that my house will be overrun by the mouse mafia of Aberdeenshire claiming squatters rights and expecting compensation when they are forced to leave.

Actually, its just occurred to me - perhaps my disgruntled cats have given the mouse an invite as insurance. Damn my imagination!!

Mice aside, it's been a fraught weekend for more than one reason (some real, other imaginary) amongst which is me waving my eldest son off on his own adventure. He's going trekking in India. As proud as I feel to know he has more confidence than his father and I combined, there is a part of me who sees him as a 10 year old. And however crazy that is, it leaves me with a feeling of being fearful. I'm not altogether sure if I'm fearful for him or for myself. He's a very capable chap, reliable, affable and awash with common sense - so I know he'll be absolutely fine. What I suspect I'm reacting to, is a little part of my consciousness that knows he's leaving a boy but will come home a man - independent and separate. It seems my eldest son and I have reached another milestone.

This makes me doubly glad to have Matthew with me on our own big adventure. And Matthew before even leaving home, Matthew has started to come into his own. He's turned out to be a ruthless suitcase packer. Having agreed a few weeks ago that we'd only pack a weeks worth of clothes, I tried to sneak some extra tops! He was having none of my pleas and wouldn't listen to perfectly good justification that women need extra things. He even caught me rolling up two tops together to try to pass them off as one! I childishly ended up calling him 'the suitcase police' and flounced out the room in frustration.

Little does he know that I've taken advantage of the fact he's at his Dad's for the weekend and snook in two extra tops! Here's hoping he won't read this until after we've left, otherwise I may be forced to wear several extra layers on the flights.

Deep Breaths... Deep Breaths... Deep Breaths

Even tho' some of you might know me, I thought I'd introduce myself to you anyway (this is assuming that my blog will attract a readership and there is an actual 'you'). In theory, writing an intro' shouldn't be a problem, it's been suggested that verbosity is a gift with which I have been bountifully blessed. Much to the dismay of those around me!

Turns out its a bit more tricky that I imagined. Every time I've tried to composed a paragraph about myself it reads remarkably like a rehearsed script from a 'Miss World' interview -

Hello.... My name is Ellie von Squeak. I've just turned 40 (some wrinkles but nothing a bulldog clip to the back of the head wouldn't cure). My hobbies are reading; writing; eating; and stealing rocks. I have a slight obsession for stationary, particularly pens. I acquire... erm I mean collect unusual rocks, oh and postcards from far flung exotic places. I don't like coffee or tomatoes (separately or combined). Oh yes, and my one wish would be for.. ah let me see, world peace!

You can see my point, yes?

So moving swiftly on, the reason I'm starting this blog is because I've heard there is a great virtual community of people who enjoy having a voyeuristic look into the cut and thrust of other people's live and what with me being a latent megalomaniac - I thought this would be a perfect partnership!

That ^^ and the fact I'm winging my way to Sri Lanka with my youngest monkey... on holiday, well to volunteer really with a wee bit of holidaying.. but mostly its about the rocks! I heard that Sri Lanka has more types of gemstones than any other country and that was me sold.

With one week to go I feel primed and ready for action and am very much looking forward to getting to know new people! Someone? Anyone? Oh and blogging about it.

To Squeak or not to Squeak...

**Removes Hat... Tugs forelock and looks awkward**

"hello"...