“MEMORIES-PLUS” – By Des Kelly

    Not everyone has the “gift” of remembering the good old days, as we call them, but whoever wrote this little story remembers plenty. It is a shame though, that he/she forgot to take the credit for writing such a memorable little true story, about life in general, in Ceylon(I think), so many years before the Island’s name was changed to Sri Lanka. I base this possibility on the fact that I remember most of what was written, and while full credit is given to the unknown author of this very interesting haven of memories, I take pleasure in reposting it for all e’Lanka members. 

I must also thank my good friend, Dayal Cooray, for posting it, in the first place.

  Desmond Kelly.
(Editor-in-Chief) e’Lanka. 

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A CEYLONESE AND WHAT A WONDERFUL LIFE IT WAS! (Shared as received by Dayal Cooray)

Source: Facebook

I was weened on LACTOGEN powdered milk when I was a baby, I was also given WOODWARDS GRIPE WATER, now I am past my teens.

Woke up this morning, I was sleeping on a mattress made by ARPICO. I listened to Reddifusion, because my GRUNDIG radio was broken. Washed my face with RANI SANDALWOOD SOAP. The clothes were washed in SUNLIGHT SOAP. Brushed my teeth with PEPSODENT. Put BRYLCREAM and combed my hair. I put a dab of GOYA powder on my face. I put on my VELONA banian. I wore my HENTLEYS shirt since my BROADWAY shirt was being dry cleaned at SITLANIS.

I put on my BATA shoes. I walked through the hall which was being polished with CARDINAL POLISH. I then had a breakfast of toast with CHIVERS MARMALADE and another slice with LYLE’S GOLDEN SYRUP and washed it down with HORLICKS. I then took a tablespoon of RADIO MALT and another teaspoon of FERADOL. I cut my finger, so I put some DETTOL which I had bought at the CITY DISPENSARY. While I was there, I also got some PERTUSSIN for my cough and also PHILIPS MILK OF MAGNESIA for my stomach ache.

I had a headache, so I put on some 4711 EAU DE COLOGNE on my head and took an ASPRO. I then got on my RALEIGH sports bicycle and went to SENEVIRATNAS in PETTAH to buy a toy for my nephew.

While there I stopped at the FIREWORKS PALACE and bought some sky rockets. I also went to the RUPEE STORE and F.X. PEREIRAS and did some shopping. At lunch time I had buriyani at PILAWOOS and bought some house paint at CEYLON PAINT SHOP in Pettah. I then went to the FOUNTAIN CAFE and had a KNICKERBOCKER GLORY. Since I was planning for a party, I ordered the ice cream from ELEPHANT HOUSE and the short eats from PERERA AND SONS and GREEN CABIN.

I also had the servant go to the market and buy some UNDERCUT beef. I smoked a CAPSTAN cigarette because by then I had given up on smoking the butt end of my Dad’s FOUR ACES and went to ALERICS for another ice cream. I parked my bike and got on my VESPA and bought some flowers from BOWERS FLORIST. The sewing lady was using our new NECCI SUPERNOVA AUTOMATICA sewing machine while seated under the USHA ceiling fan.

I drank some ORANGE BARLEY, since there was no LANKA LIME and listened to my favourite and only channel – the Commercial Service on RADIO CEYLON. The servant was putting on an TUNGSGRAM bulb, so I poured a drink of BLACK AND WHITE scotch whiskey and ate some CHEESELETS. I also had some PEAK FREAN biscuits with some KRAFT cheese. I was getting a cold so I rubbed on some VICKS VAPO RUB on my chest.

I then wore my new suit from SHEWAKRAMS and went to the 20th CENTURY CLUB down Dawson Road and met some friends who took me to the GALLE FACE HOTEL where we drank some LION LAGER. We then went to the balcony of the SAVOY THEATRE where they were showing THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH. We ended up at LION HOUSE for egg hoppers.

I finally went home and rubbed some TIGER BALM on my body and drank some BOVRIL and went to sleep on my ARPICO mattress and dreamed of going to America, where there are none of the things mentioned! That was another era and lifetime!