Great to see an Indian take on the traditional circus.
Complete with animals, thankfully animatronics or costume.
It was the circus we visited.
Category: Life in India
Elite Skating
Adithya the coach of elite academy
has been a fantastic help with Kaveri.
Kaveri has changed to a ‘day’ school, spends alternate weeks at mysore bed and breakfast, can therefore now attend the academy on a regular basis.
Today we were at the heats for state races.
Kaveri got a silver.
And was able to spend quality time with friends.
Kaveri has shown she can concentrate, focus and achieve through her time at the academy. I needn’t have worried.
Factoid
In her final race she gestured for her friend to pass her for third place, as she hadn’t been placed before. That’s my girl.
ayudha puja
It’s the ninth day of the ten day Dasara festival, the biggest event in Mysore’s calendar.
Today we follow a hallowed tradition of asking the goddess to bless our weapons for battles over the next year.
Nowadays we put forward our tools, mainly our vehicles.
So after a fair amount of faffing about (careful preparation) we do the required Pūjā.
We had a team of two knowledgeables namely Sowbhagya and Kaveri.
The ‘has-been’ well he’s always been a spare part.
But I’m — Not the only one getting lost.
Big surprise today. The red peril, her highness ‘the radical’ enjoyed her first flyover.
Next stop: Siddarthanagar
I collected Kaveri from her grandmothers and brought her home with me for the week.
It’s Dasara school holiday and I’ve already buckled down to help with her homework.
Today we visited the flower show and the food mela. 
Yesterday
Art again and again
As part of the festivities we attended a fabulous art show at the Art College just across the main road.
Our no 1 pull was to see Pravalika’s wonderful piece of art.
With tons more to appreciate.
I stopped myself from buying anything. There’s already too much to fit into the new house.
But how about a bird for the tree?
Homework
Kaveri returned to my home yesterday after a week with .. grandmother (aka mummy), grandfather, and the very pregnant Radhika (auntie aka sister)
Followed by dinner with Florian
Next day— the ordeal of homework with me (helping!)
It was the usual basic facts but the bit I didn’t know was Mahavira’s Jain teachings….
It’s pretty cool.
Mysore Moments.
I find myself in interesting situations.
That’s the nature of India.
Meeting women from famous families, telling stories at events, Hindu/Muslim mixed marriages, life is a rich mix of experiences!
Especially at the moment with our annual event
Attending Kaveri’s Dad’s (he’s deceased) nephews Muslim wedding. Kaveri is Hindu.
I shared a love story but got no photos.
Awards Ceremony for Asha my yoga teacher.
…
I missed taking photos of the women.
Daughter of a Kannada novelist known as Triveni and sister of the founder of a change-making low cost airline.
Elvis has left the room
It’s actually Ganesh who’s left to go swimming in the river kaveri.
He rested with us, had his fill
and now he’s gone.
Followed by lunch at Poojari’s where MAnjula and I used to go.
Moving on too
This is a big emotional and practical step.
We’ve found one option that we could make work here. Do take a look.
…
This is an invite for our friends far and wide to get involved. Guests from the past and those that might join us in our new form.
What do you think?
A lovely French family that recently visited emphasised the proximity to the centre, quiet area, great decor and good communal space. Got it!
We need storage space including for cycles and car. Some of the current accumulation will have to go.
Now there’s a challenge.
But of course with any momentous change we need to do our research.
Here’s another option for us to consider …
Anjali found it for us. Its advantage is it’s independent, with a garage, and its rooms are a bit small — We can make it work though.
Sowbaghya and I are leading the team of investigators (that includes you) — of course, I draw MAnjula in as it’s for her too.
Let us have your suggestions and know what you think.
Our friend Ina
all our guests become friends but…
… Ina was very special, having visited us annually for ten years
It’s August and at this time, we’re used to Ina’s Scottish accent — quite how she had such a strong accent after living almost seventy years in Australia, we don’t know — sing songing through the house.
Manjula and Ina became great buddies.
Hanging out together and going on day trips
…
Her first trip here was to visit the Tibetan Buddhist Monk Dorjee
at the settlement .. Bylakuppe, who she’d sponsored as a child but never met before.
Last year we had another outing to our own slice of Tibet, with our very own guide.
She so treasured our times together, especially the year MAnjula and I were married and the celebration of her last birthday that year, in August 2018
Sadly her spirit left her body in 2024 shortly after her last visit.
We fondly remember her kindness, her indomitable spirit
when she took over Manjula’s Mysore and let her presence touch everyone she met and now lingers on in her/our home.
We miss her dearly, and now she joins the motley bunch of my MAnjula and Lucie who we will remember every year through our puja to help their spirits in their way, until we all meet again.
Me and MYCycle 