December 2024

I want to introduce you to Ravindu. Just graduated from the College of Technology in Kandy in agriculture and tasked with executing the scatter-brained, over-ambitious vision for the Tekanda Estate held by its owners (well, one of them). He has taken over from Wije as the Estate Manager - he of the polished shoes and crisply ironed shirts. Wije, already in semi-retirement, decided probably quite wisely that at his stage in life there were less stressful ways to spend his time than guarding the Tekanda Estate crops from marauding wild boar, peacock, monkey and porcupine while dealing with Sri Lanka's very own Basil Fawlty.

So, at the tender age of 23, Ravindu finds himself running the estate with just his wit, work ethic and his family's experience of tropical agriculture. And honestly, within a few weeks, it was as if the fairy godmother of horticulture had arrived and waved her hoe across the land. Our kitchen garden is utterly transformed. Half-dug drainage ditches are now terraced with coconut husks. We have hand-built steps made with the off-cuts of our cinnamon harvest. We have anti-peacock scarecrows and flags and passion fruit vines trained along string just out of the reach of the monkeys. Then he was on to our new fruit tree orchard; lime, lemon, avocado, mango, guava and soursop all planted with protective fences and nourished with coconut husk and nitrogen rich gliricidia leaves. And then a moment of undiluted joy familiar to vegetable gardeners the world over, Ravindu arrives at the Lodge kitchen and hands to the chef armfuls of kankun (water spinach), okra, tomatoes and radish; leaves dripping with the overnight rain and fresh soil clinging to the shining roots. 

My co-pilot (well, captain) had a little mishap last month. Charlie and I were making up the numbers with some guests at the beautiful new Padel courts established and managed by Portuguese Nuno and his wife in Unawatuna. We were just getting into our stride when TWANG Charlie went down like she had been sniped. She then did her best to re-enact the scene from National Lampoon's European Vacation when Eric Idle is run over by the Griswalds and gets up declaring he is 'absolutely fine! Just a flesh wound!' However, it soon became clear her calf muscle was no longer tethered to the ankle and the two ends of her Achilles tendon were flapping about like a torn spinnaker in a storm. And so began another trip to the Asiri Hospital, Galle. We've done plenty of the minor A&E stuff; the odd surfboard fin cut that needs a stitch etc, but we both knew this time we'd be giving the place a proper run-out. 

There is something wonderfully reassuring about the Sri Lankan medical profession. The nurses are all immaculately dressed in brilliant white starched uniforms, pocket-watch pinned to the chest and then the whole ensemble topped with traditional hats. It's a bit like being transported to the 1950s. Bedside manner is courteous but business like. 'Does this pain you, madam?' Cue Charlie leaping a foot off the bed.  A respectful nod signals acknowledgement of the answer.  Then what appeared like half the hospital staff at different stages of their training were summoned by the triage doctor to have a good feel of the back of Charlie's leg so they knew what an ankle without an Achilles felt like.  Within 15 minutes of our arrival at hospital we were in consultation with the resident rockstar, Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr DS Kumara. Honestly, five minutes into the consultation,  I was all for asking for a couple of new knees, hips and ankles while he was scrubbed up and ready to go. Having finished his training in Melbourne, 'DS' had spent three years putting back together the Australian international (cricket) fast bowling attack. And as I tried to explain to Charlie, if DS was good enough to re-attach Mitch Starc's ankle ligaments, with the greatest respect to Charlie's burgeoning Padel career, he was probably up to her Achilles tendon.

So, while the last couple of months have not been entirely straightforward for Charlie, a full Lodge of wonderful guests from all corners of the globe, our hard-working and good humoured team, and the warm tropical sun have made Tekanda Lodge the ultimate spot for a bit of rest and recuperation.  

We have some availability from early February onwards, so if you are thinking of planning an escape from the grey, do let us know.  July and August are starting to fill up so please get in touch if you are considering a trip over the European summer holidays.  And finally, in early January we will be opening bookings for the Christmas 2025 week, so let us know in advance if you would like to register your interest. 

Wishing you all a very happy holiday period and a wonderful start to the New Year!

Richard and Charlie