In Kannur for our last holiday together. It was also the place of our first. 🙂
oh
you’ll not see such photos generally, bit physical 🙂
I’ve just been to sell the portable oxygen concentrator I bought to enable Manj to go on holiday.
When you meet up with an old friend, maybe after one year of absence, maybe after five years, maybe 10, chances are the conversation will pick up right where it left off, some time ago. Seamless. Timeless. Effortless. Those conversations between old friends are that way. There is no difficulty with restarting the long-held warmth, nor is it necessary to raise your defenses to protect yourself from someone that wishes you ill will.
Old friends are one of the blessings of life.
Steven is an old friend that I just have met. For the first time, but not the last.
If your plans allow to spend time with Steven, you will find that he truly likes people, and from there, his tour by bicycle begins. There will be no canned speeches, no delivery that was practiced to a flat consistency, but a delivery that incorporates the here and now. Be prepared to laugh at yourself, laugh (and contemplate) the “Consistent Inconsistency” of the Indian culture, observed by a sharply witted (and ?proper?) Englishman, that has lived in India for 15 or so years. Expect the wry, dry musings that simultaneously cause you to think.
Although I have been in India three times, Steven’s insight into the life here, starting with a primer of the history of Mysore, to the modern-day living details of the lives of his neighbors, has given me a new appreciation for the real people here. He will tailor your time with him to fit your desires and abilities. (Thanks again, Steven, for allowing a guy with a brand-new titanium hip replacement to get along just fine).
I would not have expected less from a guy from Yorkshire…
Alan Jewell
Eight months and my love grows stronger. Bittersweet: bitter hole but sweet sharing my memories of Manjula with this week’s guests.
our photos on flickr are now up date with guests’ photos.
To find yours check the album for the correct date.
Spot the cheeky monkeys and someone with underpants on his head. Why?
Manjula is very much with us and will always be.
I’ve been drawn into her web or her to mine.
Charlotte has been with us for a few days before starting her yoga retreat.
It’s been great: providing insights into India and sharing our stories, as part of the healing process and celebrating my beautiful Manjula. I think I’ve covered  everything. Charlotte has been very tolerant. It’s been a great pleasure and an incredible help to improve our story through its telling.
I now need to write it down!
Charlotte is on a big trip and is beginning a new chapter in her life. We’ll see her again.
It’s so easy to fall into the quagmire pit of negativeness. Dwelling on the sadness of her last few weeks,the whipping stick of blame or the grief of how much I miss her. She is of course happily still with us in so many ways. I am so fortunate to have fond memories that I cherish and as the brain gets more befuddled I have lovely videos of Manjula talking to me and you. I came across one yesterday on a posting about us both coming to terms with the changes. You can find it here with her lovely humour even at the most difficult of times. I love you Manjula
Tipu is of course the Sultan who’s capital was at Srirangipatnam, featured on our most popular cycle tour, our cycle tour guests know much of him and the links back to Europe and the USA. He’s a great example of how military leaders have a mixed reputation. He did some great things and some not so great.
But how cool is this?
Jim and Riki, recent guests were at a presentation in Cambridge, UK recently by Ursula Sims-Williams (Lead Curator, Persian Collections, British Library). Check her blog for more info about Tipu… here and here
Temper Tantrums? Solution available for Gorrillas. Or so I thought until I received a complaint from GRrrrrr the Get Real campaign who believes I’ve besmirched the reputation of Ishmael.
Look closer
it’s just a 
Me and MYCycle 