-The pictures and musings of James Purves
Archive for year 2004
2004-12-31 16:24:00
Dec 31st
Another mentionof Mum and Dad’s church in Colombo, this time on the BBC.
2004-12-30 22:52:00
Dec 30th
Mum and Dad’s name seems to be spreading round the web like wildfire. They’ve had 2 appearances on the CNN missing person’s website, several mentions on the Church of Scotland Website (mention 1, mention 2), Mum appeared and was named on Reporting Scotland at 6.30PM on BBC1 in Scotland although I didn’t see it myself, they’ve had a write-up in Dollar’s local paper – the Wee County News although again I haven’t seen a copy of the article. If anyone finds any articles on the web or in print please send me a copy (james_at_dancingwithloons.com), or leave me a message in the guestbook – thanks!
2004-12-30 09:42:00
Dec 30th
Sitting on the tube yesterday reading the Metro as is my want and find on page three that the hotel I was staying in exactly this time last year was one of the worst hit by the tsunami waves. Thought I’d share the photos, looks like my room is now under water!
The most memorable feature of the hotel was the set of women who stood at the beachfront selling sarongs, Dad took quite a few photos of them last year (see the Sri Lanka 2003 gallery). They were mentioned in the news story too:
One witness reported: “Somebody said they saw the girl who sold sarongs frantically trying to save her sarongs after the first wave – because they were her livelihood – only to be swept away in the second”.
2004-12-27 21:21:00
Dec 27th
Been a bit of a nightmare 24 hours as I’m sure you can imagine. Got woken on Boxing day morning with the news of a natural disaster in Sri-Lanka with no real details. Then spent the next 10 hours camped out in front of the TV glued to the 3 digital news channels all telling different stories of earthquakes, tidal waves and thousands dead. Kept phoning all the contact numbers I had for Mum and Dad as well as the Emergency Disaster helpline but couldn’t get through to any of them…
Eventually managed to get through to a random family that ended up staying in my parents house after getting stranded and was able to ferry messages back to the UK to their family (most of whom didn’t even realise anything was happening) which was great for them but just left me even more worried…
At about 8PM UK time, Mum and Dad finally managed to get though on the phone very briefly to let me they were safe and well – very tired and a bit shaken but safe and well. Turns out they had set off for a holiday from Colombo in the West-Coast of Sri-Lanka to a hotel in the East-Coast (the worst hit area) and were en-route when the tsuami hit. Not knowing anything was wrong they pushed on for an 8 hour drive to find the East Coast littered with debris and several feet under water. After trying to push onto the hotel and finding it closed they turned round and started to head home and eventually managed to get a room in a hotel on high ground.
They’ve now managed to get back to Colombo and have already turned the manse into an aid station and collection point (no surprise). As a family we were all in Jamaica when Hurricane Gilbert devestated the island so I guess that must have prepared Mum and Dad for something like this a bit better than most. They’ve been able to start getting some relief for the east and southern coasts organised and more is on its way.
Haven’t heard what the situation in Colombo where my parent live is like, I think the house, church and neighbourhood are OK but they are only 20m from the sea so haven’t had that confirmed.
Just really, really glad they’re OK! (More news when I get it!)
2004-12-23 22:06:00
Dec 23rd
Added some photos from Saturday night in Kingston, I was mostly sober all night and yet in every single one of the photos I’ve got red and bleary eyes! Must have been fast asleep for half of it!
In case I don’t post again: MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
2004-12-23 00:40:00
Dec 23rd
Matt bought the flat a Christmas Tree last night and between me and him we managed to rustle up the odd decoration or two… not looking too shabby I don’t think although it could do with a few chocolate decorations…
Following on from my earlier update, it turns out Damien Duff from Chelsea was also in The Works in Kingston on Saturday and managed to get into a fight with a Champagne wielding yob – they are rather posh in Surrey! He’s the story in more detail.
2004-12-22 15:29:00
Dec 22nd
Quick update on the week so far:
Went to Kingston on Saturday with Sian for Christmas shopping and hten back into Kingston later that night for drunken night out with Sian, Vik and Alan. Had fun going round varous pubs in the rain before ending up in The Works. Reminded me a bit of Equinox in Leceister Square (full of 16-year olds who are trying too hard) and its not really my type of music but the chessy room was a good laugh. Highlight of the night was waiting for a mini-cab in the pouring rain and low-light was definitely Gary Lucy from Holioakes being introduced to a crowd of screaming girls.
Had a pretty chilled out Sunday, went out for lunch with Sian and my cousin Ali and her husband Michael, quite nice to catch up on the family gossip but I’m sure Sian and Michael must have been bored to tears.
This week at work is much better than last week, finally beginning to settle in and do something useful, still managing to pop out for long luch breaks to finish Christmas shopping so not too busy.
Matt dragged me out for a run last night and I’m glad he did although it show just how little exercise I’ve been doing lately – gonna have to make a proper New Year’s resolution this time – yeah right!
Oh and before I forget – big congratulations to Oz who got engaged to the lovely Paula last week!
2004-12-20 14:00:00
Dec 20th
Sian and I saw a very begraggled looking Sir Ian McKellen in our local (The Grapes) weekend before last. He was growing a five-day beard so imagine my surprise to see he’s turned up in a London panto!
2004-12-15 23:06:00
Dec 15th
First day in the new office yesterday, went pretty well. Managed to get a good feel for the team, obviously good to be working with Jeremy again. 20 blokes in the team and so far they’re a bit quiet but I’m sure that’s just cos they’ve got a ton of deadlines to meet before Christmas and the last thing they need is some young upstart asking dumb questions.
Met up with the eSPEAR grads last night for their Chistmas dinner, started with dinner and cocktails at La Perla Bar and Restaurant and then moved on to The Porterhouse, a good night but headed home early to be bright and bushy tailed at the new job – yeah right who am I trying to kid!
Big pile of stuff to read today, best get on with it…
2004-12-14 23:28:00
Dec 14th
Made the most of my last day off before starting the new job tomorrow by sorting out all my holiday photos and sticking some of the best ones up in the pics section. There’s a bunch of galleries
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Sydney – First stop on the tour, lots of touristy photos (pretty dull). -
Skydive – Still can’t believe I did this but added both the official diving photos as well as the ones Mark took from the ground, can you hear me scream? -
South Island – A combination of photos Mark and I took during our 6 days in South Island. Nikki and Sheila from Glasgow Uni days also make a guest appearance. -
Franz Joseph Glacier – I’m afraid the photos don’t do this big dirty block of blue-grey ice any justice! -
Wellington – Mostly photos of drunk people and a few touristy shots thrown in. -
Melbourne – Last stop on the trip to visit family and do a bit more sight seeing, again the photos don’t do The Great Ocean Road justice, but at least I’ve got the memories…
Wish me luck for tomorrow, don’t think UBS know what’s coming!
