The family grows

No not (just) the car.

It’s important to recognise and realise how much my adopted family here in India as helped me survive the most difficult years in my life.

Sowbaghya is so critical to my life here in Mysore

She’s project managed and coordinated the rejuvenation of the radical red, that is now attention seeking in and around Mysore and Srirangaptnam

That’s the tip of the mountain of help she has been.

Sowbaghya is important to me and has kept me and the business going.

Thank you Sowbaghya for all your help.

I firmly believe that grief is always with us but becomes more manageable as we fill the space around it with important valued people and ‘things’ we do.

The next member of the family, everyone knows, the irrepressible Kaveri. Grief manager extraordinaire.

I can’t begin to list what she does for me.

She makes me smile (and cry.)

She’s cool.

She’s a big thing.

Our mini team is complete with Kaveri’s ‘sister’ Radhika, a wonderful young woman.

I look forward to witnessing her develop and we growing together through the years.

Oh ….. Trishalla and Eregowda, have been a great support through difficult and remembering times, you’ll have to wait to see where that leads.

A special mention for: Sarvesh, Vasanth, Satish, Tanuja and their families.

We’ve all worked together to cherish and continue Manjula’s radiance through our projects: events, school, community meals, creativity days, supporting Kaveri, and making Manjula’s garden in the park.

Not to forget our guests who have become family and my very own DNA family folks in the U.K. and Canada

Ina, our every-year guest who was a big buddy of MAnjula and now me, in front of the banner created by other guests.

There’s not only humans in my family…

Wayanad

We’ve returned to Varnam homestay

Introduced to us by previous guests (there’s been a bit of to and fro, with guests visiting both here and Mysore Bed and Breakfast.) and especially Antoinette (aka the Queen, who’s retained her head) it’s our second visit this school holiday.

Ready to go.
On the way

I didn’t want to risk driving the radical red so far so Anjum drove us in his taxi.

There’s plenty of entertainment.

Including self-made

BUT ITS BEEN A SHOCK

This morning Lucie and I went for a walk on the other side of the lake but it didn’t go to plan.

Lucie slipped down a bank, touched the electric fence and ended up on the other side. It was a joke, an episode of ‘Laurel and Hardy’.

Comedy from silent movie days.

I created a barrier with palm leaf and hauled her back through the fence, with a ‘thank you’ nip for my trouble.

The girls have now found the beginning of the next day.

Summer Camp four 2024

Just to ensure you got it….. the following activities have formed this year’s camp for Kaveri …

Swimming, skating, trying out new things…

and dropping into the summer camp organised by Manjesh of Chirayu Dance Institute here in Siddarthalayout.

That’s not to mention, watching movies, walking Lucie, visitors to Aroma for treats, pestering for one thing or another, especially screen time.

Making me a bracelet as last years is about to fall off.

Predominantly staying at Mysore Bed and Breakfast with auntie — sorry sister — Radhika, but what is the old git doing?

Apparently traditionally thanking the guests for joining the final celebration of Chirayu’s Summer Camp.

Visiting Leela vet hospital as Lucie, the old dear has developed a limp. Dodgy Joints? not to mention it’s too hot for her!!

Tomorrow is someone’s tenth birthday.

Summer Camp 2024 two

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

Who’d have believed it…

Four years ago, Lucie is scrounging. Nowadays her access to street food is severely restricted as she’s getting on and sometimes had digestive issues. But this is the beginning of another story.

It was to be another two years before I met another light in my life.

Summer Camp 2024 – one

It’s the third year since meeting Kaveri.

School holiday is a great opportunity to spend wonderful adventures together.

In our first week, this year we’ve visited Kodagu, Kannur and Wayanad. A great mix of countryside, sea and sand.

Kodagu in the western ghats is a couple of hours west of Mysore.

I’ve been many time to Kannur, further west in Kerala, and taken quite a few friends. Radhika Kaveri’s sister (auntie) couldn’t join us as her mother had an accident and needed support. Lucie a French workawayer helped out at the school and stepped into the breach. A great help.

Finally Shabaz our wonderful friend from Kannur dropped is Wayanad for a final night before returning to Mysore.