Somehow, I don’t think my trademark— facilitating — is going to work in this situation.
After two days of chaos, we need a new approach. So ….
… we cleaned up the mess
Sowbaghya did a sterling job with my pathetic assistance.
Then some changes..
meals at regular timings, immediately clearing up their mess as soon as they deposit it, more suitable food for young pups, visiting the park to play and poo, and positive encouragement.
Footnote
I keep getting stopped in the street by people in our community who spotted us in ‘The Star of Mysore’
Plus odd stares as we walk into the park with the nameless
People for Animals appealed for people to adopt their rescue dogs
We know PFA from when Lucie was a pup. They spayed her and made the tell tale notch in her ear so she wouldn’t be picked up in the street and operated on again.
We chose two new friends
and appeared in the ‘Star of Mysore’
But what should we call them?
….
We’ve had the following suggestions. (Some more than once)
Ging (Ginj)
Luce (Luca)
Edwina (teddy bear)
Kappu
Shunti
Ginger (Rogers)
Fred (Astaire)
Inji (ginger)
Kari (black)
Tom
Hebden and Bridget ( a play on Hebden Bridge, where I’m from in the UK)
Amy and Vince (amor vincit omnia)
Blackie and Cinnamon
Black and Decker
Karrupa or Karuppan
Inji —- Together becoming …. Karrupinji
Pepper and Paprika.
Black and Tan
Ranelot and Bufolet
(french children’s book names for Frog and Toad)
Marquise de Merteuil and Vicomte de Valmont
(from Dangerous Liaisons to match Billet-Doux, our cat’s name)
Paddington
Spike
Summer
Shadow
Biscuit
Cheech and Chong
Luca
Lucia
Babu and Bibi
Ping and Pong
Jean-Philippe and Marie-Chantal .
ginger
Venus and Pluto
Bingo
Tofo
Coco
Tango
Momo
Milti
Millu
Broono
Blacky
Browny
Pancho
Jasmine
…
Thanks for your thoughtful suggestions
If there’s any strong favourites, let me know.
I’ll discuss with Captain Kaveri, ably assisted by General SB
Maïlis has been with us now for almost two months. She’s really got into Mysore, become part of our little community and created a wide range of exciting experiences for herself.
I was invited by her wonderful new friends Pravallika and Cade to visit and find out where they’re learning to carve.
At this family workshop they’re famous for carving significant statues and especially Rama for the new Ayodya Temple
But there was a great big surprise waiting for me.
Maïlis as her very first project had carved our Lucie in stone
How wonderful is that?
Just one month ago Lucie gave up, she’d had too much after managing so well with a painful hip and difficulties with her kidneys. She was strong and brave and her gentle friendly nature had helped her connect with thousands of our guests.
… and a cat
A fantastic image of our precious family member which now has pride of place in our upstairs lounge.
We met when someone had dumped you, your brother and sister at the end of our street.
We’ve had so much fun together. Almost from the very first moment I came to live in Mysore.
It didn’t take long for you to realise where the kindly Firangi, — who fixed your skin problems and regularly fed you — came from, so you all followed.
The man who lived downstairs was less keen on the black — India street dog and her siblings— setting up home under our tree. This was… Exactly where you came to rest on Saturday when you were feeling ill and went back to that same tree.
We’d chase and roll around in the park, with Vis another street dog becoming a friend.
In time I found homes for your brother and sister. You had the op at People for Animals, with a neat ‘bite’ taken out of your ear so you wouldn’t be re-captured and spayed again. (When I first visited India I wondered why many street dogs had a bite taken out of an ear. — it wasn’t another dog! ) 🤭
You became part of our wonderful family
Whenever neighbours saw me without you, they’d want know where you were. I even went to a hotel miles away on the other side of the city where a waiter asked where you were! He also lived in Siddarthanagar
It’s not surprising that you were so well known as we walked through the layout four times every day.
Now I have to go to the bakery, cafe and chai shop on my own.
When Manjula’s spirit moved on we had a lovely portrait painted of you both
I miss you both so much, hope you find each other, in your new lives. I’ll catch up with you eventually but in the meantime, I’ll now introduce you and share you both with even more people.
Friends from around the world are sending their love and sharing their memories.
Billet-Doux is still looking for you here and expects our walk last thing at night with the owl flitting above us
Our friendly owl
Missing you. Our life was ….
What a Wonderful family and friends we had. .
Until the next time
love
from us all and especially Sowbaghya, Billet-Doux, Kaveri, and Stephen.
Ina from Adelaide was Manjula’s closest friend., amongst our guests
It was as if there was an essence of MAnjula wafting back here with me, as she regaled me with the stories of the times they’d spent together. More dimensions of my wonderful were revealed.
They’d sometimes, maybe usually arrange for Ina to visit when I was away.
I can’t think why.
After first visiting in 2014 she was back in 2015, shortly after we got engaged and then each year with breaks solely due to the pandemic.
In 2018 we had a great time (yes I was allowed to be here) celebrating Manjula’s 45th birthday, also hosting our first ‘ workawayer ‘ Willian from Brazil.
During this visit which lasted two months! The longest ever. 👍🏽🤔🤭🙂
We went to a traditional dance to share with MAnjula. Then made a special celebration of Manjula’s Birthday as Ina had missed our big event in August on her birthday itself.
Helped out with the kittens
Led Lucie astray.
… revisited places on Srirangaptnam close to MAnjula and I, that had featured in our wedding.
Ina together with reading ‘a pocketful of happiness’ by Richard E Grant has helped me realise — as oddball in Kelly’s Heroes would say: “less of those negative waves man,” —- that I’ve allowed the grief gravy to engulf me leaving angry bitter negativeness in its forever trail.
So I’m going to sort it and get myself back on track to rewrite our story with one or two innovative tweaks.
Ina’s farewell note:
Stephen having Manjula in my life was one of the best things that happened to me, I still think of her a lot and she continues to be a great inspiration.
Tears again
Thoughtful as ever. She even finds time to wash and leave behind clothes as bedding for the kits.
Lucie is exhausted after reading too many of the children’s books in manjula’s library. Some of our favourite authors are Oliver Jeffers, Neil Gaiman, Michael Foreman.
Interested? Contact Stephen, Sowbaghya or Survesh tours@mycycle.co