We happened to mention to one of our hosts that Russell would like to buy a new suit and before we knew it we were picked up by Dr.Dilmindi and transported through the chaos that is Colombo peak hour, to Hameedia, “tailors for 60 years.”
Wow, four floors of men's wear and shoes and sales people flocking around like we were visiting royalty.
After the first suit was nigh on perfect and only required pants to be taken up (“which would be done by tomorrow Madam”), Russell decided to indulge in another one plus the three shirts and a tie. All for the price of his last suit in Adelaide and the salesman very kindly threw in two “T20 in Sri Lanka” mugs!
Back at the hotel we glammed up for the official Inauguration Ceremony.
This is a very big deal and not to be taken lightly, Russell as guest of honour was at the front of the official procession and took part in the special lighting of the candles (not sure of the correct term) before taking his place on stage.
The Secretary to the Minister of Health was the 'special guest' as opposed to the 'guest of honour' and his wife and I were both presented with a basket of flowers.
(This is afterwards in the jacuzzi… Lol)
Essentially this was the conference opening session and culturally it was quite different to home. Multiple photographers were running around up on stage and to every vantage point continuously. Phones were going off in the audience with alarming regularity and there were so many flowers on stage it could have been a funeral, Russell almost needed to stand on a stool to be seen.
The most hilarious thing though was the constant texting between the 'special guest' (seated next to Russell on stage) and his wife, seated next to me in the front row.
At one point I looked at her screen and it said…” You have to look interested otherwise it will not be good!”
I did my best to look interested just in case but could really only understand Russell's talk.
Russell also became an honorary fellow of the Sri Lanka College of Venereologists as well and presented with a silver scroll and parchment.
The soirée continued with cocktails and traditional food outside which was very pleasant.
Pleasant that is, until about 4 am, when several of the guests were struck down with the old V and D! As I write, Russell is languishing abed (after crawling out to deliver his lecture this morning) and one of the English visiting speakers is in hospital being re-hydrated!
Meanwhile, I've had a pedicure and am about to go out for my Saree “fit on.”
Bye for now 🙂
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