Saturday, April 16, 2011

Simple pleasures

It is a quarter to twelve and I stepped out of the house a few minutes ago to find the entire landscape bathed in a brilliant moonlight. I stood savouring the scenery and the cool breeze of the night. There is something about the glow of the moonlight that lends even the most commonplace scenery an air of romance and mystery.

It brought back memories from a long time ago.

There is nothing I enjoy more than a good conversation, a rare and prized commodity in this country. A friend once said that the only conversation to be had in Colombo is about women, the latest deal or cricket. Fortunately I have a small circle of friends who I can converse with, one of whom lived with his maiden aunt down a lane on the seaside of Bambalapitiya.

It was an old rambling house that was falling to pieces with a small garden. I used to go over on the eve of the poya day carrying a bottle of Rockland Gin or Gilbey's Lemon Gin. He would generally have a kottu rotti or some other nibbles handy and we would take two chairs out to the garden and chat late into the night.

The roar of the ocean, the stiff sea breeze, the coconut trees swaying to the front of us, the gaunt outline of the old house behind us and the entire scene bathed in the ghostly glow of the moonlight; with the alcohol, flowing as freely as the conversation, those evenings had an atmosphere that I have not experienced since.

Sadly, the passage of time has taken those simple pleasures beyond reach. The Marine Drive devoured most of the garden of that old house, the house itself was later knocked down and the land sold; my friend migrated to Australia and I do not know what became of his charming old aunt.

I wish I were typing this post out in the yard under moonlight rather than in my room, I think I shall pull out a chair and spend some time outside now and ponder on the magic of mother nature.

12 comments:

Jack Point said...

Thanks Dee:)

Cadence said...

For some reason, the way uv written this made me remember Nihal De Silvas writing :)Luverly.

Serendib_Isle said...

Lovely. I love the moonlight and the sea; I too used to live by the sea in Dehiwala for a while. My attraction to moonlight is attributed to lunacy though.:D

Jack Point said...

Ha ha Serendeib, thats a good line, I must remember that, I may have a use for that one.

Cadence, Serendib,
I've not been very happy with my writing style of late, although I am quite pleased how this turned out; thanks *blush*

Delilah said...

so unlike you. love it though.

also, on the same day you wrote this i sat on the porch of a place far out of colombo and watched the moon. it hung so low and huge, bathing everything in its silver light. just beautiful.

Jack Point said...

Delilah, it was really magical wasn't it?

After I finished writing the post took a stool out and sat outside listening to Chopin for about three quarters of an hour, enjoying the atmosphere.

Also I'm not quite as hard headed a beast as you imagine me to be .....;)

Lady divine said...

a very different post from you...

luved it! :)

Delilah said...

yeah it was and i never said you were :P also, your post has now made me feel nostalgic all over again. sigh.

. said...

Hello There, this is such a relatable, beautiful and nostalgic post,... very much like my style of thought !

Jack Point said...

Maya, thanks for visiting, glad you liked the post.

LD, Delilah,

:)

santhoshi said...

Nice Jp.
Moonlight is associated to romance!! point to ponder.

Jack Point said...

Indeed Santhoshini. Nothing quite like a moonlit stroll on the beach.