Ground rules

I have now managed to get a connection at home so here is a progress report, putting things into context a bit and being rather more serious than usual.


Life and work here is one of contrast. Colombo is a green city, relatively uncrowded and easy to live in. Food is great and although prices are steep due to high inflation and the situation here, there are many nice places to hang out - and you can even get beer! Now, if you have ever been based in Chennai you know that is a change!

However, not far underneath the surface is another reality. In another world, the north of the island is in the grip of fighting and in Colombo bombings are sadly a fact of life. On Friday, we were out of the city when phone calls started coming with news of an attack in the busy Fort area of Colombo. Phones were buzzing as details and reassurances were sought, and calls from concerned relatives overseas even reached us. But I want to be clear – this blog isn’t about that. While I chat about life and work here, there is a very serious side that is not up for public discussion.

But there's plenty that is..............