HELP WANTED

Do you speak and write good English and Kannada?

Confident with all sorts of people and good at building relationships?

Experience of social media?

Can bring the woman’s perspective?

Able to challenge and change?

Willing to learn?

This role is open to women, of any age residing in or near Mysore. The successful candidate will be familiar with computers, using social media, writing content and confident with people from different backgrounds with an open attitude and interest in meeting new challenges.

..

Based in Mysore this is an opportunity to work with and assist Stephen. He’s a YIndian, Yorkshire (it’s in England) by birth and Indian by marriage. Together with Manjula, he set up Mysore Bed and Breakfast and MYCycle tours.  

Over the next year, he needs help in researching for a book to share their story, publishing and promoting it (mailing list, mailouts, online presence) and other things that will arise depending upon the interests and ability of the person.

This might include: interviewing people and transcribing, researching a locality, writing for the internet, creating an online community linked with Mysore Bed and Breakfast, assisting with other aspects of the business such as the Homestay and cycle tours.  

What do you gain?

Recognition of your abilities and experience, learn new things. 

It depends on you.

Stephen has a range of experiences and his approach is to learn from each other.

Expenses are covered.

Further details to be negotiated and agreed.

Please note: Manjula is unfortunately no longer physically with us but is, in spirit. The business will continue in her memory but is likely to be closed for most of this year due to the pandemic. If you’re interested to discuss and find out more:

..Contact Stephen on tours@mycycle.co or voice/txt 9886705179

For more details of who they are and what they do:

www.manjulasmysore.in

www.meandmycycle.com

there’s also presence on Instagram, twitter (meandmycycle) and Trip Advisor (mysore bed and breakfast and mycycle).

Manjula and Stephen

Spot the mistakes in this posting and you’ll begin to see how and why he needs help.

If you re interested, here’s more detailed information.

For this to be successful, we share equal responsibility to determine if you have the skills and aptitude, that it’s an appropriate and suitable placement and determine whether we can work together. It’s essential to be absolutely honest and realistic.

Here’s a few ideas of what is required to help you decide if it’s a suitable opportunity for you. Some  of it will require you to be present in Mysore

Create an action plan.

A simple initial project: interview a local maid in Kannada, write up the interview, create post in English, link to other postings about maids in India.

Visit our two web sites, Instagram and Twitter, provide a report analysing them, what works, what doesn’t and what you would do to improve their impact and following.

Role, together with Stephen,  might include some or all of the following, subject to negotiation and agreement:

  • create summary pages highlighting current ‘top’ blog posts, these might in due course become newsletters to mail out: Manjula, life in India, Tips for Tourists: first timers, old hands, Maid in India, Why India is like is it like this
  • target audience
  • create e-mailing list from gmail account
  • set up form for site visitors to join the mailing list
  • grow the followers: twitter, facebook, instagram, web sites
  • suggest ways to promote offline
  • e mail : target audience 3/4 times over the year
  • interviews: friends, family
  • promote book
  • investigate how to self publish: Ebook, POD

What questions do you have? What do you need to know to help you decide if its something you will enjoy, suits your skills and you will learn from?

How will you be able to bring the woman perspective in you’re not a woman?

Can you base yourself in Mysore if you don’t already live here?

What do you want to get out of an internship?

Feel free to contact me with any of your questions.

Stephen

tours@mycycle.co

Publish and be damned – a plan is forming.

Five things lead to a plan

First, a cow peed on the Rangoli.

Missing Manjula. Second Christmas and birthday without her

Next, a dragonfly flew into the hall, circled me and landed on Manjula’s penant that we bought on holiday in the U.K.
Immediately afterwards, a sepia coloured butterfly as a few days earlier also kept circling me.
Some believe that Dragonflies and Butterflies are messengers of love from your dearly departed.

At today’s writers group a presentation from editor Karthika helped clarify what is possible.

I’ve committed to Manjula to write our story with a working title of Full Full. I’ve completed the first draft of many and feels like I’m building the Taj Mahal out of matchsticks. This will take sometime.

Target date March 2022 to complete story

Launch book by August 2022 on what would have been Manjula’s 49th Birthday

Identify Editor, First Readers, Community Publisher advisor,

Create 2000 person mailing list and feature blog posts to help create interest.

Self publish POD and E book with 1000 sale target

Available in Hebden Bridge U.K. and silverfish (mysore) local bookshops.

Next: consider… additional chapters, Children’s book, Online interactive version

Non work station notebooks and printed draft. I have a fountain pen and blank paper. I must be a writer.

Missing my love.

Unbelievable

This message popped up
Simon and I were part of the team that created an event called Prince’s Seeing is Believing for business representatives from the U.K.
My response
India can be astonishing in so many ways. At precisely the time I’m writing about the first visit of the Seeing is Believing event in Mumbai, to a crèche on a construction site, I get the message from Simon.

We were working for Business in the Community and organising a Prince’s Seeing is Believing event (named after the Prince of Wales) to help leaders realise how their business could be more responsible. In 2006 it included this event, a conference on sustainability organised with the Bombay Chamber at the Taj and a week of workshops for smaller businesses.

We also had a wonderful time falling in love with India and it’s people.

Floaters

The type that we elders 😉 have in our eyes.

I’ve had a squashed fly looking floater a few years ago. The ophthalmologist in the U.K. said it would be no problem but to have my eyes checked if more appeared. One did in my left eye yesterday. It’s like a squashed mosquito. It makes it difficult to hit flying things with our electric tennis racquet.

Called the hospital, arranged an appointment for next morning (cost 260Rs) when they spotted a hole in the retina, followed by a second consultation (300 Rs) and then laser (1500Rs) to put a finger in the dam (seal the hole). Total price 2060 or around £20. All done and dusted by one o’clock.

Now before you Firangis swoon over the speed and price. In a commercialised service, as we have here, (think USA) you’re not quite sure if you’re getting what you actually need. I am however impressed with this hospital’s treatment of me and the Manj. I’m not casting aspersions but you never really know.

and the price may seem cheap but when some only earn 200 rs for a days work, it’s a lot to pay. Their access to service is severely restricted.

As someone born and bred in a country with the National Health Service, which has its faults— especially as the incompetents (politicians) are actually trying to destroy it — it still gets my support.

Really?

Could this get anymore awkward?

I blame myself. Nurse Farrell is trying to rehydrate Lucie. It’s a drip set up for water under her skin that will then spread into her body.

So it’s relatively straightforward and not intravenous. It’s twice a day and there’s lots of water.

Between us though we manage to add complexity.

Last night, after a major spillage of half the water it was relatively easy-going.

Next day, not so good.

First thing today Lucie decides to do a big shake as if she’d just stepped out of a river, presumably because the bad bad nurse dropped a smidgeon of water on her fur. So needle came out and I had to replace it and jab her again.

Next she was standing rigid, clearly uncomfortable, I got her to sit down. The early puppy training of SIT! being useless so it entailed manhandling. Eventually I get her to lie down without knocking the needle out but on my feet.

I’m now stuck here watching the interminable drops expecting it to last an age.

I have time to catch up with my writing. 🙂✍🏽🚴🏽🗄🧷🖌☮️🚭🔔 and realise there’s soooo many emojis.

But I’ve still not had my breakfast!

Do we really need to do this twice everyday? It’s taking hours. I’ll plan better with my paraphernalia around me…..

This was how the professional did it yesterday. Doc Bhagya.

So who’s the drip?

Update

The merciless drip drip dripping took three hours and we’ve now created a camel, perhaps more accurately a dromedary.

Evening drippping completed in 40 mins morning torture must have been something else problem. Only issue this eve was jittery ness from fireworks.

Farrell Factoid: Lucy has had both liver and kidney issues this year, primarily shown through, vomiting and ‘loose’ motions. She seems quite good in herself and most recent blood test suggests kidney situation has stabilised. This all might be due to age or Tick fever earlier this year.

kindness too

two strangers appear at the house with offerings

meet Sahana and Tapan

who brought a wonderful tasty meal

such kind, thoughtful people here in Mysore

and such kind considerate friends Tom and Amy (seen here on the right with Manj and I from the big photo album) who arranged the whole thing from the south coast of England. How lucky am I?

As part of the deal Lucie and I have found two lovely new friends. We’ll be hearing more about Sahana and Tapan…

Absolutely super, thank you Tom and Amy, I look forward to seeing you soon.

Happy Diwali

Sowbhagya came on Sunday to prepare the house and draw rangoli

Find more here

This is the first we’ve celebrated since MAnjula escaped.

We had a little rain over night and I love the new version of the Rangoli

Sowbhagya wanted to wash it away but I said leave it, I like the traditional and the modern.
communities celebrate Diwali on different days Saturday was for Jains and those from Tamil Nadu, today, Monday is for locals from Karnataka.

Harder for Lucie

It’s hard for us all

This was relative calm after she’d objected to being prodded, and held on her back with legs in the air. So unladylike.
The foggy scan.

The vet thinks her kidney is smaller and misshapen does potential for renal failure. Poor Lucie.

Next step is special diet and another blood test in two weeks.

None of us are happy.