Memories

Getting a toy car that turns when it hits an obstruction and has a passenger that turns around to take flash-photographs one birthday, a Meccano set the next year and a bicycle which he needs to hold right at the start as it didn't come with training wheels, the year after. Does life get any better?

Trips to the beach, Mt Lavinia or Wellawatta on a Sunday morning, being a little scared of the sea, but not enough to spoil the fun.

Getting a whack because I put a car headlamp bulb into a mains socket, thereby learning the difference between AC and DC; being consoled later on.

Waking up to be told he'd gone to buy us a TV, getting a 12" Black and White set, which was was still the bleeding edge of technology at the time. Letting all my friends in the neighborhood come over to watch; so many, right at the start, that some sit outside on the wall and watch through the window.

Getting out first VCR later on, along with the option to rent 5 tapes a week and being taken to chose the selection for the week on Saturdays. Watching 'Aliens' about once a month because the guy at the video shop keeps recommending it to him every time he goes alone and enjoying it every time!

Borrowing a book from a friend on how to build my own radio one evening, in tears the next morning because he wouldn't take me into town to get the diode and tuning condenser I needed to get going. Finally being taken to Nugegoda, getting the stuff, building the radio and enjoying the barely audible sounds of SLBC so much on the crystal set that, in reality, he built for me.

Seeing a Sinclair ZX81 on a bus, finding out how much it costs, asking for one and being so surprised when we set off for Kirullapone to actually buy one; finding out later on that everybody else has a Spectrum with 16 or 48 K RAM, but not minding anyway, knowing that this is the best he could afford!

Asking for a basic Origami book as a birthday present, going to the bookshop in the rain, picking the book I want and being asked if I'm sure it's enough! Keeping it safe from the weather on the trip home and feeling contented making paper animals after a shower and hot coffee!

Buying Blakes' 7 and 2001 for me, even though he can't stand science-fiction himself; how he was so irritated by programs like 'Dr. Who' and tried to convince me that I'd benefit a great deal more if I watched the news instead.

Always asking for a turn at the wheel, getting short practice runs with an 'L' board, and him pulling aside one evening and letting me drive home all the way from Dehiwala.

Going on trips in the Austin, different breakdowns on each trip; broken axel on one, silencer leaks another time and engine mount failure on a third. Learning how clean spark plugs, change tires and how to cut-out a carburettor gasket from an old file cover in the process.

Most school concerts or prize givings being followed by dinner at a Chinese restuarant, getting an order of 'firework prawns' if he's in a very good mood!

Being taken to watch 'Tron' followed by dinner, then getting to watch 'Missing in Action' aftewards becuase he thought Tron was boring!

Being driven to a job interview and having to insist that I can manage from there on, that he doesn't need to come and sit at the reception with me.

Trips to Kataragama, where we would stop at Hambantota rest-house. Sea baths during the day, reading in the evening with the sound of the sea and fishermen as background music, fried fish course for dinner on the last evening of the trip. Sometimes returning to Colombo via Nuwara-Eliya or Kandy - that's taking the scenic route!

Getting home early Saturday morning, barely sobered up after a night out clubbing, to find him up watching TV; getting a cup of tea to drink before I go to bed.

On a hospital stretcher, after a pretty serious car accident that is undoubtedly my fault as the other party is a wall, finding out that he is actually more scared and relieved than angry, then realizing that everybody else will have the same reaction!

On weekend visits he watches F1 Racing with me, even though he isn't really a great fan of the sport.

Our trip to India for a PET scan and squeezing in a bit of shopping as he says he feels fine. Me remarking after we return home that a security guard at the airport was the only REALLY pretty girl I saw on the whole trip; being surprised to learn that he noticed too and agrees!