ARTWORK BY NIHAL (ND)

My Artwork - my new hobby- “It is never too late”

Nihal D Amarasekera

The Bee

This is perhaps a reminder of my first biological drawing. It was done in an airy classroom of the 6^th form. I used the book of biological drawings by Maud Jepson to help me get the correct proportions.  I am fascinated by the work ethic of the bees. The colony is a wonderful community working for the benefit of all.

This is an excerpt from a poem by Isaac Watts, parodied by Lewis Caroll in Alice in Wonderland.

 How doth the little busy bee

Improve each shining hour,

And gather honey all the day

From every shining flower!

 

How skilfully she builds her cell!

How neat she spreads the wax!

And labours hard to store it well

With the sweet food she makes.

 

Kingfisher

Wherever we lived during my childhood we were never too far away from water. My father introduced me to fishing in fresh-water lakes and ponds. This was a magical time in my life.  Fishing is an exercise in patience. Amongst many other things It teaches composure, humility and diligence. Often, I sat silently on a rock waiting for the ‘bite’ that never came. My gaze often fell on a kingfisher doing the same as me. For the bird it was to stay alive and feed the young. His dives were swift and precise but it was his tremendous patience that caught my eye and taught me to bide my time. A lesson well learnt.

 

 

Black hooded Oriole

These colourful birds are found in a vast area extending from Pakistan to Vietnam and Indonesia. It is related to the golden oriole, a well loved bird in Sri Lanka. The black hooded orioles are often found close to human habitation. They are common in Sri Lanka, build their nests on trees and feed on insects. There is a folk tale that a daughter of a Bengali Merchant was mistreated by her mother-in-law. In sheer desperation she covered herself with turmeric and soot and killed herself. A Goddess resurrected her to a black hooded Orioles ….. so the story goes.

 

European Bee-eater

This is a small colourful bird common in southern Europe and North Africa. It is seen in the UK in the summer feeding on insects in the pastures and meadows. Bee-eaters lay their eggs in tunnels in sandbanks. They rest patiently on overhead wires and predate the bees on the wing.

 

The Spider

Although I am an arachnophobe I have always loved the way spiders weaved their webs so beautifully and intricately. I remember a large black spider just outside my window when I was studying for the University Entrance exam in 1960/61. I saw him grow in confidence, size and aggression. It looked after the web and kept it so clean, neat and tidy. Whenever there was wind damage it was repaired expeditiously. In the same way spiders snare those hapless flying insects they get grabbed by hungry birds.  Even in nature no one gets away with murder. Once I heard an almighty kerfuffle just outside my window and that was the end of my companion spider.  The spider web was in tatters and the hapless creature was snatched by a bird. This was the day I received my letter inviting me for a viva voce examination. I was too euphoric to commiserate but I still remember it to this day. It changed my world forever.

The Cheetah

The fastest land animal with a top speed from 68-75 MPH. They grace the wilds of the Serengeti. I love this cat for its sheer beauty and elegance. Its fast running style is so very graceful. The cheetah looks so innocent and shows a febrile nervousness just like a purring house cat. It certainly hides its sinister motives very well.

Parrot

I see them often in London’s Regents Park.  They are found in large hordes, screeching incessantly. Some consider them as vermin. There are many who feed the parrots. Although at first they were visitors from Spain and North Africa now due to the warmer winters they are resident in and around London all year round. I remember some kept Parrots as pets in cages in Sri Lanka. They learnt to speak very well and sometimes became cheeky too. Here’s a true story: Radiology has been my life for 30 years.  The department of a vast collection of high voltage equipment is a veritable fire hazard.  The fire drills are a regular occurrence for all. The equipment is tested regularly. Over the years I got to know the firemen. The Fire Chief was an interesting bloke with decades of experience and a multitude of stories. After his drill I often offer him a cup of tea and listened to his tales. 

The firemen were once called to a 5 storey block of flats, well past midnight, by a lady in distress. They all went with their lights flashing and sirens sounding. When they reached their destination fortunately the apartment fire alarm has woken everyone and the occupants had gathered outside the building.  The fire was raging in the 5th floor and they went into action straight away. Meanwhile, some of the firemen went up into the building on foot just to make certain everyone has been evacuated and no one was injured or left behind. 

The fire chief went up to the 2nd floor and entered the flat nearest the stairs. The door was open. He went from room to room and finally into the kitchen. As soon as he stepped in he encountered a verbose parrot screaming obscenities. This was the last thing he wanted in this powder keg situation. He wanted to leave the parrot to perish in the fire. After scanning the rest of the floor he was about to leave when on second thought he decided to save the parrot. As he picked up the cage the parrot shouted “F….off”. He ignored the comment and walked down with the cage.  By the time he reached the ground floor the parrot was more conciliatory saying “who's a clever boy then?” 

Robin Redbreast

There is a Robin who arrives in our rear garden every summer. They are friendly birds. Whenever I get to the balcony the Robin starts to sing. Although I am told they will arrive and feed from your hand if peanuts are on offer I haven’t had such luck. Robins are commonly seen on Christmas cards perhaps for their friendly demeanour and in anticipation of spring. 

My father

I am a chip off the old block!! Not only in the way I look but also in my mannerisms, likes and dislikes. Although he always worked in towns and cities his love for villages and the country life never left him. While in our ancestral home in Kegalle we loved being among peasants in the countryside. Many local children were ever willing to join me and be friendly. Father was happiest with his hook line and sinker fishing by a murky pond. Never caught much but stories abound of the ones that got away. 

Dragon fly

A silent assassin of exquisite beauty with a short life of 6-8 weeks. Alfred Lord Tennyson was so fond them and wrote this poem: 

Today I saw the dragon-fly
Come from the wells where he did lie.
An inner impulse rent the veil
Of his old husk: from head to tail
Came out clear plates of sapphire mail.
He dried his wings: like gauze they grew;
Thro’ crofts and pastures wet with dew
A living flash of light he flew.

 

Sumathy, Lucky Abey and Sanath Lama

The portraits of great men tell their own story. Hence I have resisted my desire to wax lyrical about their instinctive flair, illustrious careers and their many achievements thus sparing them embarrassment. I offer them my very best wishes. 

Dondra lighthouse at dusk

This is my first landscape painting and realise the difficulties in getting the natural beauty of the sky and the sea and the exquisite spectrum of colours in the evening light.

This is however a reminder of my years working in the Central Blood Bank in Colombo. Every year in July there is a festival at the Devinuwara Temple. The Blood Bank sent its staff to collect blood during the festival.  There was a van with a fridge that went with us and also another van to take the PHI, attendants and labourers. I travelled in my rugged and reliable 1954 VW Beetle. One of the PHI’s was a relative of the lighthouse keeper and he arranged for me to stay in his posh bungalow which was built and maintained by the British government. I remember climbing the lighthouse and watching the sunset.  We chatted away with plenty of liquid refreshments until the wee hours of the morning. We talked about the history of the Vishnu temple built in 600AC and then rebuilt by King Rajasinghe after it was destroyed by the Portuguese in the 16^th Century.

I owe the Central Blood Blank so much. On my many visits to Sri Lanka, I always went to see the old Central Blood Bank. The ravages of time took its toll on the bricks and mortar and the wonderful people who worked there. Many retired and others moved on. The boss, Dr Percy Goonewardene died in 1975 which was a sad loss for the National Blood Transfusion Service. I have often wiped a tear hearing of the demise of the staff who enriched my life all those years ago. It breaks my heart to know that of the PHI’s, attendants, labourers and drivers, none of them are alive today. I have fond memories and tremendous affection for the CBB. Those 4 years changed my life for the better.  I look back with much affection. The CBB has lost its name and has moved to Narahenpita and none of the old staff work on that site anymore. The enchantment of those years in that great institution will remain with me forever. 

D.S Senanayake

Don Stephen Senanayake became the first Prime Minister of Ceylon and remained PM from 1947 to 1952. He died from tragic accident when he fell off a horse. He is considered the Father of the Nation. I do not remember the day we got our Independence and Freedom after nearly 600 years of subjugation and foreign occupation. But I do remember the day D.S Senanayake died and recall the nation’s grief and the state funeral.

Since entering the Legislative Council in 1922 he has served the country in various important posts while struggling for independence from British Rule. He refused a Knighthood in 1946. D.S Senanayke is remembered for starting the Cooperative Societies and introducing the Gal-Oya Scheme. He learnt much from that school by the sea  and earned the respect of all communities and religions and helped enormously to strengthen the unity of the country. This together with his gentlemanly politics, statesmanship, honesty and integrity there are lessons to be learnt here.