WYE VALLEY TSUNAMI FUND

Tuesday Morning...

Yesterday Sam and I went south having loaded up with more drinking water bottles, toys, books pencils etc for the refugee camp at Weligama some 25 miles south. We had a fantastic reception at the camp and everybody was so well behaved and appreciative. Tomorrow we are going back with food parcels. There are 70 odd families there and living mainly on rice and curry, bit boring after three months. So we will be making much carrier bags containing fresh vegetables, milk powder, coconut milk, a coconut, biscuits, noodles etc. Should be fun. Going to try and make up 100 packs.

On our way back we gave out more goodies. It is really difficult knowing what to do really and it cheeses me off that we can not do more in the time available but the time has flown by. Can only try and spread a little joy and happiness. People so fantastic and we have had no agro at all.

Also went to another school and I did not bond the principal. Said to Sam when we can out what did you think, he asked me the same question at the same time, and we both said 'a crook'. Not bad seeing I didn't have a clue what he was saying. He had a long list of needs that could only be brought from 'the government approved list'. My view is as the government don't seem to pay much to certain schools they don't have voting rights. More likely the principals list of approved suppliers where he gets a back hander .Anyway all the kids looked happy, in uniform and the majority had shoes. Wish I could speak the lingo, then I would have some real fun, but may end up behind bars so perhaps it is just as well I don't.

Have had fantastic thunder storms the last few evening just after dark. Proper rain to say the least they lasts hour our two and by morning all dried up and sun splitting the tress again.

Sally spent yesterday with Sam wife (Wasthantee) administering reflexology to her (bad elbow but sorted out by Sally as was really a problem in her shoulder) and her 65 year old mother who has lost the feeling in her left arm and hand. Today Sally going shopping with Wasthantee as she need some kitchen equipment. She and Sam have been cooking on large scale and taking food the needy.

The wood carvers shop is well underway and will hopefully be finished today. We have to see him this morning as he is going to carve the plague for the front. Brilliant.

We also will be sorting out another Tuk tuk man here whose vehicle was badly damaged. He has a wife and children and is really struggling. He has been fully checked out by the people from Friends of Unawatuna.

Also trying to get a price to build a toilet block and boundary wall to a school. The toilets are stinking holes in the ground. The boundary wall has been washed away by the sea and the school grounds are wide open. At night the local low life (the have some here) use it for drug dealing, having there wicked way with ladies of the night either with their agreement or not. The waste products of their pleasure are left behind and the children believe them to be balloons. Not too good. Should have the price before we leave. That would be a really good thing if we could get it sorted.

We have only a few days left and such a lot still to do.

That is all for now folks

Sally and Kelvin