SB was all prepared for todays big puja.
After our ‘family’ weekend, that’s Me with the girls…. Kaveri, her mum Chandrika, sister (aka auntie) Radikha together with Lucie at Chera Rocks in Kannur,
We introduced body boards to the beach, work and play. A fun weekend together.
Please say hello to Kaveri
Over two years ago I asked friends to keep an eye out for a young girl who I might support in Manjula’s name.
There’s no shortage of children experiencing challenging circumstances here in India. I wanted to find someone with a similar background to MAnjula but no one came forward.
Then one day in the park opposite our house I heard a helloooooo.
My first introduction to Kaveri
Shortly after that first meeting I was using Manjula’s ‘flash cards’ to discover how much English she knew.
This video shows how she responded by turning the tables on me
I was impressed with her confident assertiveness with a foreigner she’d only just met.
Yesterday Sowbaghya who has become indispensable at Mysore Bed and Breakfast and Radikha Kaveri’s aunty who’s more like a sister and I were reflecting with kaveri on how she’d changed over this last year or so.
I’d clearly spotted a smart cookie, confident and assertive a good communicator. She’s carried along that same track
Yesterday reading a pictorial version of the Little Prince she was confidently tackling unfamiliar words switching to phonetic pronunciation where necessary.
She’s important in my life for many reasons not least for helping me manage my grief. Growing to help me fill the space around it.
I look forward to our continuing time together and helping her continue to grow her beautiful character.
It’s that time of year when we remember our beloved, who’s body has left us
An event that’s… Celebrated in communities and religions throughout the world.
Before eating we all left the house for Manjula’s spirit to enter our home and eat. We don’t want her being hungry.
The lunch was reminiscent of the wonderful shared meals created by MAnjula for our friends and guests.
Well done to Manjula’s team.
No star, one, two, three
I was stopped on my usual cycle route this morning. An order prohibiting an event with a party political tint was the reason.
First the police officer stopped me. Star one and two got involved. I couldn’t go past.
I’m cycling and clearly nothing to do with the political agitation or whatever it is. The police act as a parent (or at least want to enjoy bossing the foreigner) and show no mental flexibility. I respond as an adult. (Psychological Reference: transactional analysis and the book: ‘games people play’) not as a ‘child.’
I don’t even want to go up the Chamundi hill (the subject of the order) I want to go around the bottom and backside (Indian English not double entendre).
So I reach out to third star.
He sees beyond the conventional level of following the rules aka orders and let’s me through. He’s clearly established the principles in his head which guides his decisions and actions. (Another psychology connection) and rests at advanced post-conventional level. Please see below and Kohlberg’s Theory of moral development.
Either that, or the mention of my Indian wife, did the trick. 🤔🤭
I hope we can help the children at Kaliyuvamane to develop core values and principles exactly like the three star policeman .
Or at least help Kaveri to reach the top level.
I also look forward to the overdue campaign to take car drivers beyond ‘pre-conventional.’ As many haven’t even achieved that level (of following the rules) as yet, it’s maybe too much to expect.
Lunch at Kaliyuvamane
They’ve also got a farm.
…
Beforehand I slipped in the back door of the city corporation to pick up my letter renewing permission for manjula’s garden in the park opposite our house
That’s me boring an unsuspecting group of students at Cresta College
I’m currently connecting with colleges and the famous school of Kaveri to try figure out my next steps in India.
This event arrived at exactly the right timing for me.
Just as I’m investigating ways I might get involved with Kaliyuvamane school beyond my support for Kaveri.
It easily fitted my view that we should look to support children’s learning beyond established subjects. That would be to be better communicators, critical thinkers, develop the necessary competencies to manage life, and find their own passions.
Goats surf the net to find scrumptious garden.
One or two we can tolerate. But a whole bunch aka tribe, trip or flock munching on Manjula’s garden is a bite too far.
I don’t know how they found the garden or got inside. Maybe they did find it on the net or the two that found it last week, passed the message on.
They were chased out of town (ok the garden) with my big stick and shrill whistle. They conveniently led me straight to the owners.
Who knows how the ‘farmer’ can stop it happening. I’ll use the same aversion therapy if it happens again but I’ll complain to the council/Corporation. Their neighbours know this and have passed it on. Any more problems and they may have to shift them.
As part of this year’s illuminations.
Our house is also full of plants.
The next night in its stormy rain glory.
Me and MYCycle 