Our fun activities since returning to Mysore include:
Skating
Kaveri has progressed to new skates and uniform, again with the Elite Roller Skating Academy
…
Swimming
classes again at our local pool.
and a local dance centre has organised their very own summer camp.
With a day out
Friends, Romans, Countrymen .
No it’s not another posting about Shakespeare or Caesar —- it’s about a different inspiration —-
Manjula
As we approach the anniversary of Manjula’s partial departure five years ago (she is of course very much with us) I want to remember her beautiful wonderfulness and recall the good we’ve done together, in her name.
And so it’s also about you: ‘Manjula’s Kind’ friends who have given cash or help-in-kind or moral support to help me through the grief gravy and to take action.
Amongst these are (please follow the links for more information):
– granite benches and garden in our nearby park in Siddarthanagar in partnership with the MCC
-creativity days for 40 visually impaired young women,
– five events/workshops at Kaliyuvamane, (a ‘free/alternative school) for 100 children, there’s many mentions on our sites, here’s two … 1 and 2
– sponsoring a young girl who now attends Kaliyuvamane. The famous Kaveri who’s peppered throughout our sites and dominates my life.
– donating cycles
And many more actions
Thank you so much
Stephen
With Manjula
about Shakespeare …
….
More on Shakespeare
…. As it’s astonishing how his work as affected our use of the English language.
On Quoting Shakespeare
If you cannot understand my argument, and declare “It’s Greek to me”, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you claim to be more sinned against than sinning, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you recall your salad days, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you act more in sorrow than in anger; if your wish is farther to the thought; if your lost property has vanished into thin air, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you have ever refused to budge an inch or suffered from green-eyed jealousy, if you have played fast and loose, if you have been tongue-tied, a tower of strength, hoodwinked or in a pickle, if you have knitted your brows, made a virtue of necessity, insisted on fair play, slept not one wink, stood on ceremony, danced attendance (on your lord and master), laughed yourself into stitches, had short shrift, cold comfort or too much of a good thing, if you have seen better days or lived in a fool’s paradise -why, be that as it may, the more fool you , for it is a foregone conclusion that you are (as good luck would have it) quoting Shakespeare; if you think it is early days and clear out bag and baggage, if you think it is high time and that that is the long and short of it, if you believe that the game is up and that truth will out even if it involves your own flesh and blood, if you lie low till the crack of doom because you suspect foul play, if you have your teeth set on edge (at one fell swoop) without rhyme or reason, then – to give the devil his due – if the truth were known (for surely you have a tongue in your head) you are quoting Shakespeare; even if you bid me good riddance and send me packing, if you wish I was dead as a door-nail, if you think I am an eyesore, a laughing stock, the devil incarnate, a stony-hearted villain, bloody-minded or a blinking idiot, then – by Jove! O Lord! Tut tut! For goodness’ sake! What the dickens! But me no buts! – it is all one to me, for you are quoting Shakespeare.
Bernard Levin
….
I was so impressed by this teacher in the USA who used Shakespeare to help teach young children whose first language wasn’t even English.
and here’s another one for free as it resonates with how we often behave, putting things off, rather than taking action.
Lucie from Normandy is a workawayer staying at Mysore Bed and Breakfast and finding time to visit Kaliyuvamane to share her language skills.
It’s been that long since Kaveri joined Kaliyuvamane
From the very beginning —-Sarvesh (Multi-lingual, typical talented Indian) and I (mono-lingual.. you know the stuff!!) explained to her mum Chandrika the pros and cons of the school:
— it’s small, free to parents, with a good track record from not following the education sausage factory model
— It’s residential, and you’ll only see Kaveri at home a couple of times a month although you can visit as often as you wish.
— as it’s outside the system she can’t easily (if at all) rejoin a mainstream education (it’s an alternative/free school) until age 16
Chandrika and Mani had visited this and one other school I’d suggested and been invited to suggest others.
We did emphasise it was her decision.
She chose Kaliyuvamane.
Personally I liked the school its approach to education and life in general. I think it’s been a great success. The fact that it’s residential, also helps.
BUT over the past few months Kaveri’s mother has changed her mind. She, in any case has difficulty sticking to one thing. She decided to take Kaveri out of the school.
She misses her and wants her to help around the house. Neighbours, employers and others, we don’t really know who, criticise her for ‘giving-up’ her daughter.
It’s been a stressful period to put it mildly.
You’d be forgiven for thinking she’d gone stark raving mad. Everything about Kaveri and her life as improved dramatically. She now the average size for her age, progressed in all her education, had a great confidence, a real star at the school. Ticks in all directions.
So we invited Chandrika, her mum and sister over to my house to decide.
Chandrika has agreed to keep Kaveri at Kaliyuvamane. Thanks to everyone in the team, and at Kaliyuvamane. Not forgetting the significant help from Sarvesh, in Australia.
Creativity from Manjula’s Mysore and her friends
At Kaliyuvamane with a focus on hands
Thank you to Antoinette visiting from New York who designed and delivered the workshop.
Help Required.
Kaveri will spend much of the Summer school holiday in April and May with me at Mysore Bed and Breakfast
She’s a great kid and nearly ten.
It’s fun.
Last year Ilaria helped me provide activities and be ‘chaperone’. More here.
We had all sorts of activities … skating, swimming, crafts, cycling and a bit of seaside. We’ll do similar this year but need help.
Can you (needs to be a woman) come and stay preferably for a minimum of three weeks. Accommodation provided and meals. Last year Ilaria came as a workaway volunteer. We tailor it to try fit in everyone’s needs and preferences.
Write if you wish to find out more.
Tours@mycycle.co
Not satisfied with one, here’s number two
Kaveri and I appearing yet again.
Her alter ego altered from Christmas girl to Elfie.
This time for the 100 children at her school Kaliyuvamane.
Elfie leaped ahead, to translate the mumbles of Santa to explain the most important gift we can give is at no cost, which is to care and be kind.
We jointly prepared 100 bags of sweets for the students.
A great opportunity to apply the times tables (bits of them anyway) working out systems to fill them, fold them, then pile and pack them.
Adam Smith would have been proud of our ingenuity and innovation.
A combo of system, specialism and adaptability. Ok it’s small and simple but helped me realise —- Doing projects is the learning way forward.
So I could explain that there are thousands of us helping share his caring message, as there’s too many daytime events for him to get round them all, all at once. I’ve never met him I just get requests to appear so I don’t know if he’s real or not.
Don’t ask me how he manages go fill so many stockings in one night.
As Kaveri doesn’t get a holiday from school our Christmas Day is postponed to New Year’s Eve, when she’ll be on Sunday holiday. Coincidentally it’s someone else’s birthday.
I’m helping out at Kaliyuvamane, the alternative ‘free’ school where Kaveri attends.
Our morning session with members of the teaching team
Then I was hijacked by Kaveri and some of her classmates
to cover a lesson as their teacher was on leave
Did someone set me up?🤭🤔🤪
It was an education! To put it mildly. I now promise to properly prepare for when a similar situation arises again.
I’ve facilitated workshops for adults for many years — that’s nothing compared to working with young people.
I realise what a challenging job the teachers have and how difficult it is to make a class interesting and responsive to the diverse needs of the students. ….. as a one off, let alone day-in-day-out!!!
Well done all.
It was a fab day, helping me realise I’m right to support Kaveri and now the school itself to meet the needs of 100 children.
All in Manjula’s name
Kaveri and I drew a picture to show what we’d done together since we met over a year ago
Me and MYCycle 