Category: Life in India

Kaveri and me

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We’re at one of our fave eateries this evening — Depth and Green— for a great mix of food, drink and experience.

We both had a lovely green smoothie — delicious, with humous and toast for her and sandwich with egg and cheese and veg for me.

A young woman (I wasn’t organised enough to take photos) walked over to introduce herself.

She’d been watching us and was so impressed with how we related , wanting to know something about us and our magic.

We recalled our first meeting in the park opposite my house in Siddartha layout. Kaveri had been visiting her grandmother who was night-watch woman at a construction site next to the park.

That was five years ago. Wow. It’s hard to believe.

It’s disputed but I recall her saying helloooooo as I crossed the park. She reckons I said hello first. Whatever.

…

I explained, to the young woman, that my wife MAnjula had died seven years ago. She wanted me to help others from a similar background to her. So I appealed for any suggestions for young people I could support. None came forward, until the fateful day I met Kaveri.

She was impressed how we’d created such a positive bond.

We acknowledged how people might misunderstand our situation (old man and young girl hanging out together) but it made her happy to meet us and realised what a positive caring relationship we had.

My role (and that of the other director) in supporting Kaveri is on behalf of our business ‘Manjula’s Mysore’ which has an agreement with her mother and active involvement of her grandmother and auntie.

Footnote

When people get to know my background :

Qualified social worker from over forty years ago.

Manager of social (welfare) services in U.K. including teams of social workers, assessors and carers

Experience working with children and families, intervening to support and protect children, in some senses a ‘policing’ role on behalf of the state.

Risk assessment of families, ensuring they’re supported when experiencing difficulties and intervening to ensure the children are safe

Assessing prospective adoptive parents

Delivering workshops and providing consultancy on values and ethics, guiding businesses to socially responsible (CSR)

Working with Hindu, African-Caribbean, Bangladeshi, Sikh, white working class and disabled people’s communities

Plus I’m supported by a network of childcare professionals and we’re operating on behalf of our company subject to the agreement it has with Kaveri’s mother.

… they realise this is a professional set up with Kaveri’s development and safety as our utmost priority.

So there’s much more to our Manjula’s Mysore’s involvement over the past five years.

In India, nothing is quite as it seems.

Our successful support of Kaveri involves money, skills and help-in-kind from our business and contributions from past guests from around the world. .

Manjula’s Mysore’s Corporate (CSR) Responsibility has now included: creativity days in schools and for forty visually disabled young women, gifting bicycles, teaching/presentations, memorial garden, cycle tours,, accommodation, ‘reflective space’ for young adults, our care for our community.

Pitru Paksha

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Shared love and shining memories of Manjula, Lucie and Ina, whose love remains with us.

Thank you to Sowbhagya and Satish, for remembering and honouring our precious family.

While I’m not at home.

Footnote from the Internet.

Pitru Paksha is a 15-to-16-day Hindu observance dedicated to honouring departed ancestors through sacred rituals, prayers, and food offerings.

Last few days.

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A few friends got together to say farewell to Farrell.

I’ll be away for a few months so we arranged an early birthday gathering.

Thank you so much to my wonderful friends and yes it’s the young ones I’ll miss the most.

The Directors of Manjula’s Mysore who as part of being a responsible business organised ways to support young people in memory of Manjula

Radhika and Kaveri who’ve been my main family here for over three years.

Plus the new addition Kush

And another new friend …

We have a lion at our gate.

Friends from Bangalore also came to say bye.

Footnote

I plan to be back in January when we’ll share important news. In the meantime I’ll use my exile to explore more countries and myself.

What’s the first classroom of the day?

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After leaving home the first space they enter for many students is the ubiquitous van.

As we know our children (aka future adults) are constantly learning

Through observation, sounds sights, our behaviours show them ways to be —- not always thought through or the best examples.

Imagine for a moment what they pick up from that first space in the morning after leaving home.

Is it calm, kindness, helpfulness?

Maybe but most likely in that van —- they’re recklessly sped around, constant horn, regular screeching, aggressive insensitive behaviour of a seemingly uncaring driver.

Please note: vans posed by models. They maybe the best behaved, we don’t know.

Not all the apples are bad.

So let’s not assume they’re all the same —

I’ve observed careful, safe drivers

—- but too many demonstrate the worse road behaviour.

So often our children are transported in a bad van and shown the worse behaviour.

So should we be surprised if we are creating future inconsiderate aggressive pushy people on the roads and maybe elsewhere?

What can we do about it?

Challenge bad behaviour when we see it?

Discuss this with our children?

Kaveri isn’t taken to school in a van.

But when we walk the streets, or she rides pillion, or cycle, we both notice and comment on both good and bad behaviour on the road.

My duty is to help her observe, evaluate and ultimately think for herself

…

We often forget that everything is an experience that we can learn from.

Florian can be relied upon ..

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.. to create a great evening.

This time to say farewell to Maïlis.

For two years running Maïlis has been our lovely guest. She is at risk of becoming ‘part of the furniture’. In a nice way obviously.

Our crew with flavours (and languages to match) of France, India, Germany and England…

A relief from Bangalore… ?

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I expect it is a relief to escape the traffic.

Ashish came on one of his timely (they always are) visits. He’s a best example of how friends introduce us to new friends, originally brought to us by Anna, this time he kindly introduces to another new friend — Nesan

It’s one of the great benefits of sharing our home.

As usual laden with gifts and treating us all. He stocks us up with an incredible range of goodies.

Luka was overcome with excitement,

After our visit to the Nursery for garden additions.

We joke about getting away from Bangalore but we all value the change, so perhaps it’s time for a holiday once the court thing is resolved.

Fact is the traffic is getting too much in Mysore!

An art conversation and kind offer.

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This was my response to the message posted in our local Mysore community….

I’d love it, but I just can’t. To me .. It reflects different dimensions, feelings or moods. MAnjula my wife who sadly died seven years ago would reveal all


These layers.

Starting from the left Her smile, shining like the sun would infect everyone she met. The middle is her action, being there always helpful and determined. The third her calmness in whatever situation. The style reflects her embracing the tradional and the modern.  Wrapping it all up would be her attention to being present and attentive.

I can’t take it as I’ve just moved and already have too much art

https://meandmycycle.com/2026/05/08/behold-beauty-in-so-many-ways/

…

The full message …. posted to our local WhatsApp group in Mysore.

Dear Art Lovers,

This is not an easy message for me to write.

There is a piece of art that has been a meaningful part of my journey for a long time. It has quietly shared my space, witnessed many chapters of my life, and carried a presence that words often fail to describe.

However, life has brought me to a point where I can no longer hold on to it. While letting it go is difficult, I feel that this piece deserves to continue its journey with someone who truly connects with it and appreciates it from the heart.

I don’t want to place a price tag on this artwork. Some things cannot be measured by a fixed number. Instead, I would love to hear from those who feel genuinely drawn to it.

If this piece speaks to you, I invite you to send me a personal message sharing:

• Why you feel connected to this artwork.

• What story, feeling, or memory it awakens within you.

• And what amount you would be comfortable offering for it.

Over the next few days, I will read each message with gratitude and care. My intention is not simply to find a buyer, but to find the right home for this piece—someone who will cherish it as much as I have.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for honoring the journey of this artwork.

It is a canvas painting on a wooden frame. 

Dimensions 28 by 58 inches.