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so as we wait to move into our home, I've just been pottering around while M has been super efficient in finding out the best gym in terms of proximity and facilities, yoga classes and hiring us a car before we actually buy one. Speaking of cars, I feel I must post a picture of our hire car here, yes you may well wonder with me why in heaven's name did M decide to trade in his beloved Porsche (I'm convinced he loved it more than me ;-)), for what can only be described as the P.I.M.P. mobile, replete with neon strip-lights and darkened windows!!!
Other than that, we had a nice and relaxing weekend away from the city at the beach in Beruwela. Been to my first yoga class, which was on the roof terrace of an old house! And went to watch the England vs. Trinidad & Tobago match at the Library bar, which was fun for the last 15 minutes, when the goals were scored. Football fever is on here too, and you find bunches of expats glued to the large-screen tvs across the hotels! I didn't feel far from a pub in London, when the fans started singing 'it's comin' home....' ;-).
So after one week of searching, and looking at over 25 houses, we have come to the realisation that the colonial house of our dreams doesn't really exist in Colombo anymore. Most of them have been converted to high-end restaurants, or cafe's or spa's. And people who do or may have the few remaining of these properties available, advertise them annoyingly in the papers stating: FOREIGNERS ONLY! The main issue is that the landlords in Sri Lanka don't want to rent their properties to Sri Lankans. Some come right out and say that they only want foreigners, by which they mean only WHITE skinned people, so the fact that I'm British or that M is Swiss/Sri Lankan doesn't help. I had never thought that I would face racism in the sub-continent, but the fact that 50% of the available properties are out of our hands because of the colour of our skin, or because one of us is Sri Lankan is quite frustrating for us. I'm sure if this had happened in the UK or anywhere else in the world, it would cause an outrage... but well, when you are in Rome...The reason they don't want to rent to Sri Lankans is that the law here is totally on the side of the tenants, which means that landlords are weary of people just staying on in their properties and never vacating them, and with the fact that even the authorities will not support them.
We will persevere, and if nothing else works out, we have the very generous offer of M's parents, who have a house in the heart of Colombo, just the small matter of getting rid of the current tenants ;-). Although, I think even Thatha has only ever rented his property out to the British High Commission!!! Oh to be a foreigner.
