Strong healthy and reinvigorated, Haley and I have had a surge of energy since the disturbingly potent antibiotics for which Haley and I suffered just about every side effect there was. Nevertheless, we pushed on through to the end and are now completely better. I had forgotten how it felt to not feel sick after a meal and suddenly energy which had been in such short supply was coming out my ears.

The hospital trip was a new experience in itself. We arrived for our five o clock appointment at Hemman hospital. It was clear as we said our names that the doctor was not even in the building as the receptionist gave an 'aaayoo, please just wait one minute'. One minute in Sri Lankan terms could be days. An hour later and a request into wondering how long the doctor would be and we are told 'just one minute, he is on his way'. Another half an hour later and we are directed to the hospital down the road which is crammed with sick people. Haley and I spotted a stray cat roaming around and I stood up for a man who looked like he should be laying on a stretcher rather than be seated on a plastic chair with screaming babies and mothers surrounding him. All went well though and after being thoroughly prodded and examined, we left feeling relieved that we were not being eaten from the inside out by a Sri Lankan worm or something of the like.

Last week the monsoon season decided to show its full force as our house was drenched from top to bottom. Water leaked out from under the door of our 'drying' room and a whole corner of our room was sectioned off as the flooded zone. The rain brings with it many different creatures from the rainforest who have gotten confused about where their natural habitat is. The boys found a dead python by their house and I encountered a huge black scorpion (also dead thank God) on the way to school. A deadly centipede also found its way into our house and crawled across my little toe. I wiggled it off thinking it to be a cockroach, however when we found out what the toe invading culprit actually was, an expensive measure of insect killer was sprayed. Besides insects, Haley and I also ran into a bull on the way to our weekly tutoring sessions with Satchini and Chachini. Whilst making the walk in the dark round to their house, a dark figure with horns loomed up like the devil himself on steroids. After a stricken moment or two wondering whether this was a dangerous beast, we took a wide turn and made it past safely with the bull seemingly happy to let us past into his owners house.

The weekend was lived cheaply as we are preparing to go Travelling in now less than three weeks! Haley and I made the trek up to Rumasala hill for a well wash and a chat with Lila and Lakshmi's mother. The incoherent globble that we used to hear coming from Sri Lankan's mouths is now beginning to make sense. We could just about make out her asking us if we are sisters and wondering where our children were; 'Not yet born Lila, not yet born'. On our way back down the hill we also made a new friend who had seen us on our previous treks. Moments later we were awkwardly bonding in basic Singhala over a coconut and sweet ginger tea in her house.

A trip to the post office also reassured me that I have not been forgotten, as it always does. I waited for the post office men to finish their curry and was then summoned into a room where they ripped open my parcel I had gone to collect and began passing its contents round for everyone to have a peer at. I was then questioned as to why the parcel was from Spain, was I going to Cambridge? Oxford? Was I married? (Not yet but I have a husband to be waiting for me in England, always the answer) did the children I taught like me? Where do I live? I was half expecting them to open the chocolate I had been sent and eat it.

The primary school exams begin in Mihiripenna next week, so it was with regret that the English teacher told us that we would not be needed Thursday or Friday next week. He said we could still come into school if we thought we would get bored. Jamie told him out of politeness that we probably would be bored but we may go and visit somewhere instead. So we are off on a hiking expedition in Ella for the weekend which should be stunning.

Letters are being irritatingly slow to arrive but if you have sent me one, I am checking as often as I can without being banned from Govinda's land. I hope you are all getting festive, feel free to send me photographs it is my favourite thing to receive,

Lots of love to family and friends xxx