Whilst the photo in the entry was taken
today, at the Heritance in Negombo, I just wanted to close off the stay in
Ratmale from 7th to 17th April on a note of explanation
and closure until the next visit on the 21st of May!
This was without doubt the warmest and
most humid period that I have stayed at in Ratmale, and look forward to a stay
of a different climate in a month, once the 6 month dry winds return, where
hardly a paper can be kept around without being subjected to flying in the
wind!
I have a huge leap to get over, to make
Sirisena get off of his lethargy and begin to carry out my orders, first to
finish the room I have started. Ranga’s help in filling in the earth inside was
a great relief as that task will take twice as long once the walls are raised.
Clearing the brush and revealing fruit,
mainly oranges, meant that the whole area must be cleared as soon as possible
so that a proper arrangement can be made to ensure ALL plants have sufficient
moisture during the lean dry months ahead till the next rains come in earnest
in November, a long time away, and a matter of life and death for the plants I
am so desperately trying to establish on the land.
The photos speak for themselves of the
week’s activities at Ratmale, with daily surprises, never to be repeated, but different
ones to be expected. Each day I miss, will not be repeated either, so I have to
seriously plan ahead for those who may wish to be surprised, like I have over
all these years, be it a sunset, that changes colors in seconds, and once could
lose it if one just delays minutes!
I remember, I was distracted by someone
visiting me, not to take in the visit of the Rock Squirrel with its little one,
and therefore missed the great opportunity, with little once actually falling into
the water in the pond on its travels, but which managed under guidance of its mom
to be able to get back on land and quietly disappear!
I believe the value in the place is for someone,
preferably a couple with NO children who take the place for a week a month, where
they really appreciate the surroundings to appreciate the amazing life outside the
verandah, all of which could be viewed, simply by sitting on the rocking chair and
waiting for the next episode.
One must be ready, with the binoculars, note
pad, bird book, in order to identify all species, and more to the point, to also
understand the calls of the wild!
