Category: differently observed

Catching up with Kaveri

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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.

Does anything ever go smoothly, anywhere?

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.

Outta here.

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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.

Parks, people and other things in London

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Another update for friends in India, showing similarities and differences, same and different.

Clean.
Sports
Last week a music concert here for thousands. No sign of it now.
Finsbury Park. people and no litter.
Sleeping policemen aka road bumps
Here too
Portable toilet for construction workers. No other peeing in the street
No builders waste in the street. All goes in the skip.
Mobile cycle repair.
On one back street I saw three dumped plastic bags and this sign. It a limited problem but I feel it’s cultural hence the different languages.
Dog poo is also picked up
We’re taught this as young children. It’s reinforced by parents, at school, on the TV.
Different
Bicycles
Bikes
And people
Gorillas pop up everywhere. I’m here with my sons oliver in the middle and Ben on the right.

Next stop Bristol

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Sally in Bristol.

Sally first visited us at Mysore Bed and Breakfast, years ago. She now leads textile tours of India.

Exploring the city, finding magic, public arts and engineering innovations.

Magical art found all around Bristol
Banksy Street Art
Engineering marvels by Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Camera Obscura

Pictures of England Part two shopping

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Turkish Bakery

One for Kaveri. The pavement (sidewalk) is smooth enough for skating unlike in Mysore.

My favourite shop for discounted clothes, shoes lots of things.
Pizza that evening
I spent more in twenty minutes in the supermarket than in over two months at our local veg and fruit shop.
I used to take Cadburys roses chocolates back to MAnjula who would share them out to friends and their children. The cheaper bigger tins will not be available until December so there’s none to buy for Kaveri’s school. What a shame.
The cat welcomes me with a hiss.

Later that day, outside Poppy’s flat

The three police cars with flashing lights have circled a woman pedestrian who’s lying on the road, injured after an accident with a two wheeler. Three police are directing the traffic, one is interviewing the two wheeler rider and two more are giving First Aid to the injured woman.

It’s all calm.

Everyone did as asked and all went smoothly.

I didn’t take photos of the immediate situation or hang around, out of respect.

Pictures of England ….

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For friends in India.

Occasional photos to show what it’s like in England.

Step one London.

Aerial view as I arrive. There’s lots of well known places in the photo. Including the river Thames and Tower Bridge.

Ben, Alice and Poppy live in north London

The roads are busy

A cycle lane separated from the other traffic by a simple white line.
It works as the motorised vehicles stick to their lane

First impressions on arriving on Thursday. Manjula realised how diverse London is on her first visit. The local shop near our friend Gina and Angus’s house was run by Punjabs

Hire cycles are everywhere.

Here on Haringay Green lanes it’s residents include people from Poland, Turkey and Asia, including India.

The Post Office is an ordinary shop
And it’s busy just like in India
Some new drivers add these signs on their car to show other they’ve inly recently passed their test. Available in the post office.
The equivalent of 300 rupees for a plastic rule! It’s not cheap in England.

Next: Shopping locally.

Grandad poo

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Lady at corner shop complained about Kaveri not calling me uncle. Honestly it’s ok!

If only she knew what my granddaughter Poppy called me🤔🤭🫣

I’ve found this Birthday card from two years ago.