Butchers

Unnecessary butchering of trees

Three trees chopped down in little over a day.

One tree fell because of a rain storm so they’re concerned more will fall. it’s important to protect people but let’s get the balance right and check with those we can trust, who know what’s best.

Only cut when and where it’s necessary.

Staff shouldn’t be given tree rein.

I failed to save at least one tree that didn’t need to be cut.

I’ve been advised that there’s no need to chop down the trees. Just trim the branches and reduce the ‘crown.’ So it doesn’t get waterlogged and top heavy when it rains, then it’s less likely to break and fall over .

I’ve seen a small chain saw at the end of a stick that’s ideal for the job.

It needs someone with the relevant skills and authority to take charge.

Do we care? Who is accountable? How do we stop it happening again?

Immersion — Visarjan

We take Ganpati aka Ganesh and his mum Gowrie

To Paschimavahini, the river kaveri near Srirangaptnam.

Vasanth and Sowbaghya (and their able assistants Ravichandra and Naveen) doing the honours to immerse mum and son.

That’s after puja at home aka Mysore Bed and Breakfast

The one that’s hiding is Radhika Kaveri’s ‘sister’.

Garima and Trishalla joined us, after spending wonderful time together at this week’s children’s theatre event. Here with the irrepressible Kaveri.

Antoinette, from New York, regular guest of Mysore Bed and Breakfast provided more photos. Including catching me in a regular pose of bossing Kaveri. 🤔🤭

And finally from Vasanth…

Gowri-Ganesh-Chaturthi

Each year MAnjula would carefully prepare puja for Ganesh and his mother Gowri

Manjula preparing for puja in 2015 a very significant year, when we got engaged.

Ganesh in 2015 the version on the left was taken to be immersed in the river Kaveri later that week.

This year I was invited to Kaveri’s school to join the celebrations.

Afterwards we did our own thing at home

All thanks to Sowbaghya with help from her assistant.

Next we’ll work out which day we can immerse him in the river.

As per,… doing nothing.
It’s nice ….. really.

Kaveri becoming a sharp English teenager.

… Whatever…

She’s always with us

Electricity in India.

Helpful insights

Sockets and plugs are the old English system with three and two pin, as below…. it’s 240 volts.

It’s easy to buy a low cost converter in India like this …

So it’s unecessary to buy one of those expensive fly-anywhere-converters

We ask our guests to use the USB phone chargers in the adapters in each of our lounges. …

There’s regular power cuts. It’s not a problem for long but at Mysore Bed and Breakfast we have a UPS — uninterrupted power supply, on each floor, (assuming it’s working) 🤔.

Do feel free to ask any questions.

Stephen.

Anjali gets married.

Since Punith introduced us I’ve realised how much Anjali is a real star

She got married today. Every wedding is same but different, down to caste, experience, attitude and get-on-ableness of the generations, so it’s not unlike absolutely everything else in consistently inconsistent India.

Even in the midst of planning a wedding and balancing the interests/preferences of in and out laws Anjali was instrumental in making our creativity day for the children at Kaliyuvamane.

Thoughtful dad.

There was a great mix of people and more recently found great friends.

They were obviously also having fun

Guess which twit forgot to put his kurta on?

Congratulations to Anjali Sakleshpur and Veethahavya Kootanoor Sheshadrivasan

Any ideas why we share our home?

You’d be correct in assuming it’s to celebrate MAnjula and help more people meet her.

It’s also ..

.. because it’s life affirming and fun.

… meeting new lovely lively people,

what’s not to like?

Thank you to our latest new friends from near Barcelona (one of my favourite cities) for spending time here and we getting to know you….

… that’s Martina, Jana, Marta and Angel

Jana created a lovely image and wrote a beautiful message, for me. Fab!
I’ll need to learn Spanish. Those who know me, realise I’m ace at languages! 🤪

Bringing MAnjula home

Manjula appeared behind my cycle as well as in our hearts on what would have been her 50th birthday.

We celebrated with 100 children at Kaliyuvamane

Today I brought her home.

We cycled through the countryside, along the national highway, through the suburbs and on my cycle route around Chamundi Hill.

Stopping to chat as people wondered what it was all about.

It’s about our love and her kindness

… and now we’re back home at Manjula’s Garden

Our quiet relaxing park

Exotic birds
Billet-doux
Lucie

I have an uneasy feeling.

Conflict could happen.

One of our benches

Locals have made an addition, it’s becoming a lounge.

Our love for MAnjula

Billet-Doux decides to wind up the crows.

But it’s not with those species that problems arise.

As a fracas begins and grows and grows as more self important neighbours choose to bully one side.

I’ll find out later what it’s about

Sounds like they’re resolving it physically now. Good job the do-gooders got involved to calm things down, not.

No different from Britain. Except caste and community might have an influence.

We’ll find out.

It’s not often I notice such happenings but things quickly flare up and get-out-of-hand.

Later

I’m (un)reliably informed that the police do pick up the phone, as they appeared , presumably to bang heads together.

Meanwhile the birds, dog and cat co-exist.

Except

radhika’s puppy

Comes to wind up Lucie

Did we get the timing wrong?

First Sunday after returning home.

When Kaveri visits we’ve started going to swimming pool Sunday morning but we’ve got timing wrong or they’ve changed the rules.

Women and children only.

How is that possible with an old man and in India?

As you can see it’s a bit empty.

But this being India, I managed to get in for half the session.

I’m not altogether sure what’s the biggest attraction. Swimming or bakery.

I think we know.

Business licence renewed for Manjula’s pride

Mysore Bed and Breakfast

Look at the name on the last trading permit. Just visible in the shadow of the receipt.

It’s since been corrected from 🍞 to 🛌

New one issued in a jiffy. When things work in India they really do

Zonal office number nine of the Mysore City Corporation.

I had to pay a penalty as my application was late. Should have submitted it at the beginning of the financial year. I didn’t as we only reopen now so not been trading.

Next I have to register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office.

I’m hesitant as I wish to hang out in the glow of: it-all-worked-well a little bit longer.