Put out the light, and then put out the light
Happy days are here again. When our knowledge society makes it possible to plan work- and life-stoppages well in advance of the event – because all the information we need is out there. And there is no need for you to fret or fume or frustrate yourself wondering when the next power cut or power outage or “technical difficulty” is going to be. So knock back, down tools, chill out, rest, relax, and take it easy, folks! We’re all going nowhere – fast… The pessimist sees the tunnel. The bad news is mostly elemental these days. For starters, there’s the gathering gloom of an impending islandwide round-theclock blackout girding its loins for strike action. And while lightning aid is coming in (in, er, ever-lightening tranches), developmental assistance is being swallowed up by the black hole of, um, ‘project-management costs’ (let’s say) – so much so that former finance ministers are muttering darkly into their five per cent (I mean, five o’clock shadows) that this is simply throwing good money after bad. Then there are those awful diaspora types – acting in collusion with traitors, deserters, and human traffickers – to discredit our blessed isle in the eyes of the closely watching world by engineering vessels full of ‘boat people’ to a land ‘Down Under’, which is very naughty of them… and not a little ironic. Following closely on the thunderhead of this illconceived venture are the rains that failed and the lack of foresight of politicians who failed to legislate against a possible drought. The optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel. If only our visionary types had seen Camelot instead of mucking about with Chinthanas, they would have ensured that “a law was made a distant moon ago here” that “July and August cannot be too hot” and that “there’s a legal limit to” the dry spell. They should have stipulated that droughts “are forbidden till December” and that the monsoon “exits March the second on the dot”; while “by order” sunshine “lingers through September”. “I know it sounds a bit bizarre”; but in Camelot (“Camelot!”), that’s how conditions are! Our parliamentarians could have passed a law that “the rain may (n)ever fall till after sundown” and that “by eight the morning fog” – to say nothing of the evening smog – “must disappear”. If they had, “in short, there’s simply not a more congenial spot for happily-ever-after-ing than here”… in our very own and rather fantastic Camelot! The realist sees that the light at the end of the tunnel is the headlight of an express train thundering towards the observer.
That there would be a price to pay for wastrel selfindulgence was evident to the more perspicacious of us around Vesak. The spectacle of a well-lit city and extravagant carnival-like atmosphere through the citadel that we call a circus today had the critics gnashing their teeth and reaching for the calculator and the cutoff switch. A day would come, they reasoned, when the plebs would have to pay for all this bread. Those with a vision discerned that the writing was on the wall as far back as the day when the powers that be pulled the plug on hydro and invested all their faith and hope in thermal. Given the blown fuse now and a ministering angel strategically missing in action – wasting his sweetness on the desert air, out of sight somewhere, maintaining a low profile until the storm has blown over – all that we consumers can do is to exercise charity. And pray for a stiff offshore breeze to introduce just that right note of balminess into our insular air to prevent any precipitate thought of protests and revolts. (Of course, that revolution won’t be televised, folks – didn’t you know there’s a timely power cut on?)
The pragmatist knows that due to the world energy crisis, domestic inefficiencies, and the rising cost of electricity, the light at the end of the tunnel has been switched off until further notice.
And so we weep and wail and languish awhile, hoping that our consignment to outer darkness will not last more than a week or so. In this stygian atmosphere, there’s still our cricket and them ministering clowns for light relief mixed with dark thoughts about match fixing and fuel bills that keep escalating no matter the restricted power supply. We are a resilient nation. We will weather this too. War then; now crime waves, rising costs of living, rampant corruption around every corner, malicious international conspiracies around us everywhere – we smile knowingly, wink a sly eye, and grin and bear it all. That, if nothing else, is the unique characteristic of our island race. Complain loudly, cringe inwardly, criticize all but self… and carry on. Ignorantly! Regardless! Apathetic! We might as well live… the alternative doesn’t bear contemplation.
The Fun Factory is quite simply a haven for both children and parents, providing “educational entertainment-just for fun” seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. From a large jungle gym with a ball pit to a quiet library corner and dramatic arts area, complete with an exciting selection of fancy dress costumes, the Fun Factory caters to young children.
Parents relax in the knowledge that their children are in a safe environment. For founder and owner Geesha Tuerk and her team, this is a priority and therefore all the equipment is sterilised on a daily basis and the maximum capacity of 50 children is never compromised.
Geesha started the Fun Factory for very personal reasons. Her own two boys Jano and Kiall would give her regular heart attacks every time they used a public play area. “Everything is so unclean! No one here bothers to clean up after kids use something. How are children meant to play on things that other children have probably licked and, even worse, urinated on? I finally decided enough was enough and set up the Fun Factory.”
Originally launched in Union Place in August 2010, the Fun Factory has grown into a venture that holds a membership of over 1900 kids! Geesha is immensely proud of what she has accomplished in taking childcare to another level. The Fun Factory shuns the insular culture encouraged by computer and video games that so many kids are hooked on today. Instead it provides a more organic environment for children in which they are free to “just play and be kids.”
Geesha’s establishment promotes parent-child interaction instead of just raking in the cash. “If you’re leaving your kids in our supervision, it’ll cost you more and you can only do it for a maximum of four hours. We prefer it when our parents play with their kids here, and discourage them from leaving the kids as much as possible. I’ll never lose sight of how important that
Minds Alive offers a ‘camp’ experience for 6-10-year-olds in a more intimate group of up to 10 children. Fun activities are planned each day including cookery, arts and crafts, as well as karate and dancing Minds Alive will run from August 6 to August 10 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. The programme is available at a weekly rate of Rs.5000 and at a daily rate of Rs. 1000. For more information, contact Maria d’Almeida on 0777485994.
MusicMatters is situated smack in the middle of Colombo 7, on D.S. Senanayake Road. Their programme Music for Children & Teens, tailored specially for kids, could be the perfect musical outlet for the holidayweary child. Conducted in age groups of 5-9, 10-14 and 15-19, sessions are conducted once a week in a two-hour slot. Call 0112686615 for more information.
The Playhouse Kotte is the theatre production and training arm of the Lanka Children’s and Youth Theatre Foundation. Their ‘Let’s Make a Play’ programme from August 20 - 24 is open to children aged from 7-15. Conducted by Kaushalya Fernando, Dr. Chandana Aluthge and Mayura Kanchana Perera, they aim to develop the mental and physical wellbeing of children through drama and theatre.
A Creative Writing Workshop for 8 – 12-year-olds, conducted by Prof Neluka Silva, founder/director of Kids @ Play, a children’s drama group, will focus on how to create and develop a plot and finally weave these elements into a story form. It will be held on Saturday, August 4 from 4.30 p.m. – 6.30 p.m. at Kithu Sevana, Bullers Road, Col 7 (opp the British High Commission). For more details, call 0777571595.
Prof. Neluka Silva will also conduct a two-day workshop for 8 – 12-year-olds bringing together drama and creative writing as the participants explore drama games, movement, voice and physical exercises, as well as the elements of crea- tive writing to devise stories. It will be held on Wednesday, August 22 and Thursday, August 23 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kithu Sevana. Those interested can register by calling 0777 571595.
Milk and Honey will be holding a one-off creative writing workshop on Saturday, August 18 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon at their café in Barnes Place. The workshop is for 8-12-year-olds. Call 0112696286 for further details.
The Performance Intensive, under the guidance of Ruhanie Perera (Creative Director, Floating Space), is designed to offer opportunities to explore voice and breath, acting technique and movement as approaches to performance; or build on one of these approaches over four days from August 1-4 (12-15 years and 16 and above) at the Goethe Institut, Colombo 7. You can also pop in for one session, just to see how you like it! For more information call Ruhanie Perera on 0773020269.
Let your 6-8-year-olds dabble with cooking in a safe environment under the guidance of Damayanthi, a trained cook and a patient guide. At her lessons, they will learn the basics of cooking and even more importantly, how to do it in a safe manner with instructions on how to handle kitchen equipment with caution. Damayanthi’s classes can be tailor-made to fit your date and time needs for a group of six or more. Call her on 0777649601
Having enjoyed years of success, the Kollupitiya Methodist Church’s annual Vacation Bible School will take place this year from August 13 -18.VBS offers children of all denominations and faiths from the ages of 4-16 the opportunity to engage in a week of activities centred around Bible study. The week includes handwork activities, which will be exhibited for parents on the final day of camp, singing as well as listening to and engaging with selected speakers. For more details, call Daniel Muttiah, 0776966201.