Hello from the Chandrasevana Arts Centre at Siri Madura

 Pic is Eilidh Graham with participants from Sukitha orphanage at the Creative Arts Day 

Dear Friends,
This blog was begun just after Xmas  but I was sick for a short while and didn't complete it. All Ok now and I was well looked after with people bringing me food and making sure I was OK. Missed the New Year celebrations which was probably good for Zigger as the firecrackers figured loud and long.

Internet !!

Yes we now have our own Internet access and Skype - without a web cam as yet but its great. Might mean I get to bed a bit later perhaps. It has been very difficult to get online using the hotel WiFi system.This is a temporary dial up system but the Wifi will be with us "soon ". It seems the company  had run out of the hardware and is waiting for supplies. Ill then have TV as well , though not expecting to want to use it much until the rainy season .

Weather
Well this is supposed to be the dry season but we've had rain and dullness all over Xmas which is not good for the tourists.We seem to be having heavy rain every day after about 5.0pm which is not how it should be in the dry season but there's plenty to do here for the tourists.

People are off in the tuk tuks ( a 3 wheeled 2 stroke engine with a cab that takes up to 3 thin people or 2 and small dog! )to the turtle sanctuary and the gem mines and Galle street festival and the cinnamon maker on the lake and further afield to Kandy and tea plantations and National parks and Elephant reserves.

And the people are smiling as usual trying to keep the visitors happy

Paying Guests.

The first guests came to stay on the first floor and  killed a rat we've been trying to get rid of for weeks, and I learned what old houses sound like when 4 adults are stomping around above my head  throwing boots at a rat in the middle of the night! Shortbread biscuits
Well the oven wouldn't stay lit !! so my star biscuits and mince pies are still in the fridge waiting to be cooked !update - oven now repaired and biscuits cooked and eaten !
.

I find the contrast between those who live in  nice houses with electricity and a car and usually several motor bikes outside and those who only next door are living in a wooden shack with an outside standpipe and no electricity quite strange.
Many of  the older Sri Lankans seem to prefer the simpler way of living and it is what they are used to and I guess less stressful and much cheaper.
Pic- Sorry about the underwear but the thought you might like to see the shy dog who lives in the outside loo
Creative Arts Days

We've had our first Creative Arts day which was amazingly successful - 10 residents of Sukitha orphange aged between 12 and 42 years came and loved the day. They all have a handicap of some kind though difficult to tell with some who simply have no means of support and no families. 

With the theme of Myself we made name banners to hang round the hall, each person painting their Sri Lankan and their English initial and decorating the pennants. After 5 weeks of 10 participants per week the place will look much friendlier as its rather austere at present. A wishing tree sadly revealed what few hopes for the future the women have.

The day cost 50 pounds including refreshments and lunch and transport for 16 people and all expenses.

Well worth it as you can see from the pictures. --

 

Hanging the  laminated hopes on the wishing tree.

Sisera who is the night guard come all rounder who was a great help all day.

We are trying to get everyone involved in Siri Madura to make their own pennant with their Sinhalese and English initial.

 

Cahli the adult in this picture  helps us translate and brings her severely disabled daughter ( next to her) who seemed to enjoy the day.The man is the driver of the bus the participants came in. 
So Activities have actually begun and the Centre is more or less fit for purpose. Quite a lot of work still to be finished but its much more clear how we can use it now.

These days will be every Wednesday for 5 weeks till all the Sukitha residents have attended. Of course they will want more but that's the funding limit at the moment. I 'm keeping careful track of the money and making a record for the charity of all activities.

Film Evening 

Our next  venture is a film evening so that local people and the families of people who worked on the restoration can come and see the house and learn what we are about. A trio of local musicians and a Mr Bean film and some home made biscuits is the current plan for that. And I hope to be able to give you news of the Kandy dancing as soon as the outside space is finished and also about the IT training. We now have 4 reconditioned computers and once the installation of the airconditioning is complete a training room to keep them in.

Donations 

Some of you have asked if you can send things. Of course a great deal of equipment and all sorts of goods will be welcome. However we can buy everything we need here and postage from UK is very expensive so you need to balance out the cost of posting. Sea mail is cheaper but it takes several months and involves us in a trip to Colombo ,costing about  60 pounds  and a day at the customs sheds to collect it. So it needs a lot of thought before you decide to send any goods. 

 

I hope  you have enjoyed the festive season and wish you all the best for 2011.

Many thanks for your continuing support.

Love from Eddi and Zigger.
January 6th 2011.