Thread by @dinidu

Finishing hour fifteen in a fuel queue. No ETA. Bloody humid. Met a nice girl called Malsha who is a kindergarten teacher. Offered her shelter from the rain in my front seat and in return she offered me tea. Not seeing a ring on that finger.

Malsha left at one point and her father tagged in for her. Bonded with uncle and gave him a crash course on floating exchange rates and then on free markets. Man is a convert now. Best outcome. Uncle angry that Malsha's Scooty Pep is all she can afford. Also Malsha single.

Now only Malsha's Scooty Pep remains. I got a friend to drop me off a large Portello bottle. I'm going to have another nap. If I'm here tonight as well we might do a drinks party. The trash can in the Toyota Roomy can hold ice. No sign of fuel still. Daraz USB fan is nice.

Have to be in Colombo by 0800 or so tomorrow, so plan currently is to stay here till 0500 latest and then go dip into the reserve at home which is enough to take me to Colombo and bring me back. Hopefully will have some fuel before that.

Maternal grandmother's brother had seen me on his way to the bank and dropped off a sandwich and a beef bun. Ever notice how western folks go for tender cooked beef and we go more for chewy fried? Devilled beef - that. Good with some Gal Arakku.

Portello is such a pukka drunk. Massively underrated like Gal Arakku or me. Friends used to shun Gal Arakku when we were in school. Gal Arakku neat is excellent. So is Rockland Dark Rum with Highland Chocolate Milk. But can't have chasers in this economy. I poor people drink now.

Poor people drink is when you skip a meal before the drink and go in neat. Best bang for buck, and if you know when to stop you'll have plenty left over for next day. Whack whack whack three shots like old uncle outside Wine Stores and then fifteen minutes later you're out cold.

Sorry also, this story about ample fuel flow feels bullshit. This is the main road for Puttlam. Only saw one 3,300l tank the whole day driving through. Four sheds in a five-km radius all empty.

Must admit staying in this fuel queue is the most committed relationship I've been in a decade and then some. Take than ex girlfriend who claimed I had a foot out the door since day one.

I *can* commit. Just to a fuel queue.

Uncle is back. Uncle pondering going to see Nattandiya where he has heard has fuel. Malsha has told him not to go chasing rumours and I concur, as does the Malli in the bike in front. Malli has learnt his lesson yesterday. I narrate story of two others who left me last night.

Can see what appears to be an LC200 in my mirror about 200m back. Imagine running that bigass thirsty engine in this economy? Should have stuck to a reasonable diesel, bud. The 3.3 twin-turbo V6 in the LC300 seems the bomb. That's the one you guys have in silver, right @USEmbSL?

Had a solid nap. Still no fuel but now a bit of heavy rains and first few drops woke me up. Powered on the engine for a few minutes. Almost all bikes have been abandoned now by their owners (including Malsha/Uncle and front bike Malli). Still no sign of fuel though. Hour sixteen?

Turns out I can't count. Shocker. I came here at 2000 last night, and it's 1533 now. So I'm actually in hour 19! Adding used to be my one strong skill which Gota has clearly taken from me.

Mother's will weak. She wants me to return if there is no fuel by 1800. I shall not leave!

Taking audience questions. So @adrijabose wants to know how I charge my phone.

I turn the car on to that bit where the engine isn't running but the power comes on? That turns the car into a bigass power bank. Now the only reason I'm doing this is because my original... (1/2)

battery died less than 48 hours ago so I have a crispy new battery in place and I'm feeling cocky. Otherwise I won't risk it this much. The USB charger powers the phone and the fan every few hours.

Also I did my own battery replacement so #humblebrag (2/2)

Good question Adrija!

@nirmali15 wants to know what I do for food and bathroom needs.

I have plenty of food and a big Jambu bag. I drink very little water. I have a very strong bladder Nd horrible hydrarion habits. Hit a tree last night and then dropped by home in the morning. Shop-pee just now.

Malsha came with uncle on a different bike and they're going back. Malsha and I had a sad wave and uncle and I had a happy wave. Uncle has found Dhana and @advocatalk videos on YouTube. Such a win! Malsha said she'll add me on Facebook. Bye Malsha, till we meet again 💔

Hour twenty. I can see wills around me shatter like fine China in a shop with a bull. I persevere. Plans for my drinking party are now in place. We'll start late-ish. There may be others in other vehicles. I think I should nap again. My strong bladder and my napability FTW.

Malsha added me on Facebook. Nice girl. How isolated lives we live - zero mutual friends.

A small crowd forming near the filling station. I want to go and see what the scene is but I don't want to leave the cozy comfort of the vehicle. I'd kill for a tea bun and some tea though.

As hour 22 passes, the crowd at the pumps have dispersed. Still no fuel though - so we wait. Can't do my short stroll because of a drizzle. Need to make dinner plans. Beers would be much later. Maybe another nap is called for.

Malsha called to see if it's true that fuel had come - I said not yet. She also reminded me she added me on Facebook so I said I'll check. Very sweet, asked about dinner plans. Food was sorted for me.

Twenty third hour coming to a close. Need a shower. Peed to a tree. Tad humid.

Just to clarify - I've peed four times since last night.

Peed to a tree last night.
Peed at home in the morning.
Peed at a shop today.
Peed to a tree a while ago.

If you like @sumudhuj thought I'd only gone once - no no, I'm not THAT unhealthy. Physically, at least.