The third death anniversary of Manjula. We try to do all the right things.
Signs are posted next to M’s garden to explain that we’ve created it in her memory. (It’s even in the shape of a ‘M’.) A large image of MAnjula is positioned at our gate, Hindu’s recognise immediately what it’s about. We’re inviting her to come in. We all take it in turns to do puja, a request to the gods and wishes to MAnjula to help her on her way. Who nows? Maybe she’s already found her next body but We play safe and do the ceremonies in case she hasn’t I close the hall (lounge) door behind me as we all leave the house. This is to allow Manjula’s soul spirit to eat. We’ll gently knock on re-entering so she knows to go. Sowbhaghya, who now tries her best to hold it all together is ably assisted by Tanuja and Satish the director’s of the new company: ‘Manjula’s Mysore’ to create a great day, remembering and helping MAnjula on her way. Over the years friends have created a MAnjula memory tree.
Ina the Scottish Australian who became a great friend of ours and especially Manjula calls and arranges to visit later in the year.
Thank you MAnjula for being the all-embracing you, we all miss and cherish you while continuing to feel your presence.
I have another bright idea, I might regret it.
By the end of the day and unusually for this time of year it rains.
Useful sources of information to help us think things through
They’re videos, personally, I need a rest from reading books.
Posted 20th March 2022
The first featuring a British comedian, is about the pandemic but I’m not a believer in conspiracies. That doesn’t mean that we’re not manipulated. The pharma companies are bleeding us, should be regulated and their profits limited.
His videos are about sharing information to help us form our opinions and realise how the world works.
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I’m really impressed by this writer. His book Sapiens helped me rethink the development of humans and to realise how significant storytelling is in how we lived in our earliest days, and now, how integral stories are to our identities, to our collaboration, which affects every aspect of our lives
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This video is about the Ukraine but reveals his thinking about what the current situation reveals about all our societies, being both positive and hopeful.
India stimulates all sorts of reflections like …. What’s the purpose of the line?
a boundary, a border, between in and out? Here and there? Normal and abnormal? The limen … an important guide, the threshold, between one world and another.
If India is anything to go by, it may have no use, other than helpfully creating ‘purposeful’ work.
I pity the poor guy — with his trusty leaf blower and a hanky round his mouth, — who momentarily shifts the dust from the road and into a cloud to probably help the paint stick,
On both our trips to England, Manjula was amazed and intrigued at how the traffic stayed within the lines that marked the lanes.
This is possibly my favourite but it’s impossible to choose.
We have great friends from here including Punith, Karan and a couple of the wonderful lecturers.
Today, new friends, Fab students gave me their precious time and wonderful insights. Which carried on in the evening with great entertainmentAnd to prove I’m Indian I just had to take a selfie.
The Heart and the bottle by Oliver Jeffers. This picture book story is part two of a series of three of my postings, number one is grief gravy. If you visit and read each one you’ll realise it reflects something of my recent journey which many of us share.
His stories and artwork are wonderful. My granddaughters favourite was the one about the crayons writing letters to the child.
whose head was filled with all the curiosities of the worldwith thoughts of the starsshe took delight in finding new thingsIt might never have occurred to the girl what to do had she not met someone smaller and still curious about the world.
Manjula and I have given many away as gifts. All his books are also available for our guests and friends at Manjula’s Library in Mysore Bed and Breakfast.
Look out for the third posting in this series, revealing more of my journey.
I refer to more of Oliver Jeffers’ wonderful books in other postings. Do look out for his work for the children and adults in your life.
There are signs everywhere of the man-made environmental damage resulting from not anticipating the consequences, concentrating on short term gains and our lack of care.
Even seas go missing. Due to all the above combined with local and global pressures.
All around the world, including in our backyard in Karnataka with the Kaveri river, there’s conflicts about water being taken from rivers and little being left for the communities further down.