Ranaviru Fund

Let me start by saying that I don’t believe in war, I’m more in the camp of Gandhi and Mandela who showed that although difficult you can achieve what you want through peaceful means. In short I don’t support the LTTE neither do I believe in a government that spends billions of dollars bombing it’s own people.

And every war takes it’s toll on people, leaving them mutilated, suffering and traumatized for life. The Ranaviru Fund is an effort by a few friends, some of whom I know and trust, and tries to provide some relief to those suffering.

Apparently one of the biggest needs for the veterans are gel socks and is used by amputees to help reduce their pain when the amputated stump rubs against the artificial limb. Unfortunately they cost money and they instead have to do with regular cotton socks which are ineffective in reducing pain and also wear off easily.

This is where we can help. A single gel sock costs about $10 and for the cost of a typical meal we can help reduce someone’s pain for at least a year. So take 5 minutes of your time to visit http://www.ranavirufund.org/ and make at least a $10 donation through PayPal.

Australia Day BBQ

A few pictures from the Australia Day BBQ, it was quite sunny luckily there was a nice breeze to keep us cool in the shade.

Getting ready.. Josh is wondering what everyone is up to.

 

Yummy…

 

Let’s eat!

 

Chathu couldn’t stop laughing for no apparent reason..

 

Josh and the twins.

 

Couldn’t fit everyone into the bench at once.

 

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Joshua and Rafael can play as much video games as they like

Sorry about the long break from posts. Just after Christmas, Rafael came down with the chicken pox which wasn’t so bad. He had a few spots for a couple of days and then it subsided.

The new year started with Imara getting it and that was bad, she’s just now fully recovered from it. So all in all it kept the father very busy.

So hopefully things are going to be a little easier on the poor dad, oh and we have Imara’s mum come down for a year.

Anyways back to the point. Over the holidays I bought an XBox 360, I did want a WII but they were too expensive and the XBox was on sale. Joshua is just two and too young to play with it but he likes us to put on the fish game for him.

Coming from a Sri Lankan background and never having played much video games I had been debating with myself and Imara too had her doubts on the kids playing video games but this informed article on Video Games has laid that to rest. Video games are good for the kids.

In fact I might start playing more games as well as reading more books whenever I do find the time.

Went shooting

So we went clay shooting yesterday with Adam Tyler (an Athen’s Olympic Bronze medalist and two time Commonwealth Gold medalist) showing us how it’s done.

After playing Counter Strike with the guys at office it felt good too hold a real live Beretta shot gun. Got four of the first five shots in the first round.

Here’s one where I hit the clay.

The Melbourne Unique World team!

Melbourne

It’s been nearly four months since I moved to Melbourne and having been in Sydney six months prior, Melbourne was indeed a welcome change.

Although it’s very easy to forget how beautiful it is here. My favorite part of the daily commute is the ten minute walk through Fawkner Park (named after Melbourne’s co-founder).

Here’s a bird’s eye view of Fawkner park.

A few from today’s morning walk.

 

 

On sunny days we grab our lunch and head downstairs to have it at the park. It’s no wonder Melboune has consistently been at the top spot in the World’s Most Livable Cities list over the years.

Someone turns two

It was Joshua’s 2nd birthday yesterday. All the kids had a blast at the local Playzone. Check out the rest of the pictures.

Rafael’s first steps

Rafael took his first steps at home yesterday and unlike Joshua who had an audience to cheer his first step, Rafael had only his mamma to congratulate him.

I’ll try to get a video the next time he does it again. He’s a month ahead of when Joshua started walking.