Reflective Space
Last Friday. 5 for 6 at Mysore Bed and Breakfast 29th September.
Share your thoughts, experiences and insights.
This is an open meeting for young adults and the young at heart. Meeting itself 6-8, beforehand for drinks, cake, browse the library.
Any questions or suggestions contact Stephen.
The ‘closed’ membership group is likely to start in the new year.
Please check our previous announcement for more details.
Never imagined I’d be sitting in my lounge in Mysore quoting Shakespeare. It’s from Measure for Measure.
“Our doubts are traitors
And make us lose the good we oft might win
By fearing to attempt”
I’ve lifted it from a book by Rafe Esquith ( Teach like your hair’s on fire ) one of the wonderful books I’m reading about education. Some are analytical or like Rafes: stories of innovations to help motivate children to learn.
I’m certain many of us can recall examples of how our doubts or fears have stopped us making decisions or taking action. All of us hopefully will remember when we did have the courage of our convictions and acted successfully.
I often remember when I first started working in local government in the U.K. I thought it idiotic and time-wasting that certain powers hadn’t been delegated to officers (from the politicians : councillors/corporators). We would go to formal committee for what, to me, seemed small decisions. My senior colleagues ridiculed the idea. We’ve tried that before laddie (it was Yorkshire but I was 30!) 🤔 I did it and I got it. Result. 😛
The doubts and doubters didn’t win over.
It’s a special day (Raksha Bandhan) when sisters give a bracelet known as a Rakhi
It symbolises brotherly love and a promise of protection, bringing good fortune.
Radhika is Kaveri’s auntie but they’re really like sisters.
I’ve got to know Radhika quite well over the past year, especially during the school holiday when she came with Kaveri and I for swimming, skating and often stayed at the BnB.
We’ve all been on holiday together to Kerala. Twelve of us, the first time and we’ll return in October with Kaveri, her mum Chandrika and Radhika. .
Radhika passed her exam this year, got a high-scorer award and is now at PUC- Pre-University College.
Ina was already at our house as I returned from the U.K.
Ina was an early guest who returned to visit every year bar the coronavirus blot on our landscape. She quickly became a close friend of Manjula helping us celebrate our engagement in 2015. They would mostly hang out together and she’s the guest who’s stayed the most and longest.
We’ve also become good friends. She’s also lost her loving partner and been a great support to me.
Ina has seen Kaveri two years running and appreciates how she’s progressed.
Ina has a strong Scottish accent even though she’s lived in Australia for almost seventy years, having escaped Britain, on a ship, to settle there as a young girl with her family.
Ina, is most definitely one of Manjula’s kind. Thoughtfully helping, all around her, emanating a positive energy, appearing to be decades younger than she is but we don’t mention age.
Her initial visit was to meet a Tibetan monk, for the very first time, that she’d sponsored since he was a child.
She regales with stories of her family and her great times looking after her grand kids.
As she says herself
I couldn’t agree more. I’m still learning
Ina leaves at some ungodly hour for the flybus to Bangalore airport for a week in Singapore en route to home in Australia after our last meal together at Olive Garden
She’s supposed to have gone but I thought I heard her calling out downstairs. Now that’s worrying.
I look forward to her return next year
Manjula once told me that she wished to be reincarnated as a tree
This book reminded me of that
So if you ever see me talking to a tree….
You know.
First Sunday after returning home.
When Kaveri visits we’ve started going to swimming pool Sunday morning but we’ve got timing wrong or they’ve changed the rules.
Women and children only.
How is that possible with an old man and in India?
As you can see it’s a bit empty.
But this being India, I managed to get in for half the session.
I’m not altogether sure what’s the biggest attraction. Swimming or bakery.
I think we know.
I’ve missed not seeing her for almost six weeks followed by a flurry
On the drive home she spelt words after giving me a series of drawings, at least one for each week we missed seeing each other.
I’ve visited the school twice already this week. As a ‘family’ visit with scotaussie Ina and to attend the Independence Day celebrations with French Paul.
This weekend we’ve started with skating, she worried that she may have forgotten it, (no chance) a monsoon landing and hilarious walk home
Followed by opening the giant parcel I brought on the plane and Kaveri’s first Lego build.
I was so impressed by Kaveri quickly getting into following and implementing the Lego instructions. She clearly has never experienced anything like it before. I must also admit that I’ve cracked it, and have successfully bought clothes for a nine-year old. We all know it’ll not last.
Ina’s patient tolerance, knows no bounds.
As we know—— Travel brings so many benefits—- broadening horizons, being challenged, learning outside our comfort zones, time for reflection, meeting new people….. blah blah
One overriding lesson, is from comparing and contrasting the two countries. I now know India is way ahead in so many ways.
At the airport as I await my flight, there’s women in sarees, and shalwa but just one man (me) in Kurta.
As Indian kids would say Hi-Bye.
Rubbish weather, high prices, useless government, the kingdom is collapsing.
But it’s also magical
On this tour I’ve found ….
Unicorns in Bristol
Gorillas in London
Monsters at WOMAD
And wonderful friends everywhere …
Fab
Me and MYCycle 