Father Christmas Trip!

We went to Lapland to visit Father Christmas! An excelllent day trip organised by Santa Holidays. We set off from Luton at Daft-O'clock in the morning. the only day light we saw on the whole trip was from the plane on the 3 hour flight to north of the artic circle! On the flight we had films and a sing-song!

At Luton we met the Wilkinsons. Lucy is in Sam's year and his older sister (who's name I forget!) is in Charlie's. It made the day alot easier, albeit folk assumed we were a family!


We were provided with boots cover-alls and helmets to keep us warm. We enjoyed a skidoo ride over frozen lakes and snow covered wilderness before arriving at the small village of Enontekio. Here we had a warm lunch and visited a snow castle. We also went sledging and rode on a reindeer pulled sleigh.


The highlight of the day was meeting Santa himself! He knew each of the children's names as they arrived to see him and had a wrapped and labled present for each. We were all very impressed!

A long day ended with a coach trip back to the airport and a long, sleepy flight home.

An excellent day - thoroughly recommend it to any one!

Sri Lanka trip

At the end of November and ito early December I returned to Galle in Sri Lanka after Phil Pauli and I had first visited in February after the Tsunami.

First I visited Gwylim in Bangalore, India, enroute to Columbo and then on to Galle. A drunken two days eating excellent food and drinking fine beer. Bangalore an interesting place. Gwil described it as 'India-Lite'! If this is a easy version lord knows what hard-core India is like. Have to go find out one day!

Whilst in Bangalore I had a shave, haircut and full head massage. Excellent! And all for £6!

At the School in Galle much had changed. First the Headmaster proudly showed me all the items our money had bought for the children earlier in the year.

the teachers showed me all the development that was going on. they are having a new classroom block built. Most of their support has come from various Lions clubs in New Zealand.

After the tour we took the monies that I had raised via The Queens Head and the School, into Galle to shop for some more items. We bough fans, a book shelf and a cdrom for the computer amoungst other things.

I also took some time for myself to see some of the Southern end of Sri Lanka. I had a driver - Siri - who took me to various Budist temples. This one was Huge!

I also visited the Southern most tip of the Island where the Dutch had built a magnificent light house.

One thing that was most obvious was the amount of houses, and more importantly boats that had sprung up. A lot of regeneration is going on and I saw only a few people still living in tents.

This guy made me laugh! The boat is called 'Day Off' and it looks very much like he is having the day off!

Before leaving I had a chance to go diving (for the first time!). I got 50 minutes underwater. A fantatstic experience.