Vanshika and her younger sister Samiksha with their gifts from Manjula
Vanshika was the first to borrow books from the library. She was worried that her English wasn’t perfect, well it’s much better than this Yorkshireman’s.
Manjula gives again
Category: Manjula Gives
Manjula’s library.
Latest delivery to the children’s section.
The board books in the centre use more appropriate local images for the traditional English rhymes still shared with ‘early years’ children in India.
What do you think?
I’ve ordered extra as gifts from Manjula to some of the children in the immediate locality.
Manjula gives again.
Three Princesses
and a Sun with a beard
with thanks to Desai Somesh, Rita’s dad who took the photographs.
Remembering Manjula.
It’s all go..
We use any and every opportunity to recognise and remember, what would have been Manjula’s 48th Birthday is extra special.
On monday afternoon, 23rd August (postponed from Saturday due to a curfew) we have open-house for friends to drop-in for a drink and cake or sweets, to visit the garden we’ve just planted, see Manjula’s two painted portraits and have a chat.
Just in case 
the party girls get everywhere
Happy Birthday Manjula
Today Manjula would have been 48 and it’s yet another reason to celebrate and thank her for the time we were together (we still are).
Manjula sent messages with her love and for me to know all is well on her soul’s journey to her new life. She’s most definitely not a ‘hungry ghost’.
Here’s a video message from my love. Previously we’ve also heard from her via messengers
We’ve done a few things that Manjula would like and maybe make her giggle. Like the remembering garden. we’ve just planted in the park opposite our house.
She’s left audio and video recordings which I’m using to help write our story. We’ll release some of the videos in 2022
So what’s a hungry ghost? One of the tales that will be featured in our story, to be published before we reach what would have been her 50th birthday.
How long will I love you?
My friend Zetta posted about a funeral today Where they played: How long will I love you? Sung by Ellie Goulding. So I listened to it
Today, before a small piano concert at a friends house here in Mysore I was introducing Manjula to a few more people.
Yes, I’ll introduce Manjula anywhere and everywhere. I was talking about the new garden we were creating to help celebrate her.
I explained that it’s over two years ago that she died, sometimes that feels a long time ago, others as if it was yesterday.
I know there is no limit to my unconditional everlasting love and liked the song.
…
How long will I love you?
As long as stars are above you
And longer if I can
How long will I need you?
As long as the seasons need to
Follow their plan
How long will I be with you?
As long as the sea is bound to
Wash up on the sand
How long will I want you?
As long as you want me to
And longer by far
How long will I hold you?
As long as your father told you
As long as you can
How long will I give to you?
As long as I live through you
However long you say
How long will I love you?
As long as stars are above you
And longer if I may
How long will I love you?
As long as stars are above you
Yes, it’s forever, in this life and any others. 🌞
And something else
Shopping with a purpose
Don’t consider Tanuja and I to be sensible shoppers.
If our trip to the nursery is anything to go by, we’re the sort to go to the supermarket for staples and come back with puddings, the exotic rather than the plain, the icing while neglecting the cake.
We’ve got a great selection of flowers but our eyes were distracted by the shapely coloured and aromatic roses.
The problem is, as we knew, but didn’t care, they’re not a lot of use for the new Manjula’s garden in the park.
Why? you might ask.
Because people pick the flowers in the morning for their puja rituals.
So I thought I’d create a mini rose garden inside our gate.
I wish I’d done it for Manjula a few years ago as she would have loved it.
I started writing this post in a light-hearted jokiness way, only to realise this…..
Clearly these people haven’t any thought that the flowers are there for the enjoyment of all, rather than the selfish ritualistic needs of a few.
We’ve yet to plant out our flowers in Manjula’s garden and I seriously wonder if any of the flowers will survive, if I don’t employ a 24/7 guard.
It’s even worse with the roses in the next park. They are carefully nurtured by the gardeners but people go in and steal the whole plant.
We need some English old fashioned park signs ‘don’t pick the flowers.’
Another case for the missing dharma detective.
I found her
Exactly two years ago I appealed for Cinderella.
Manjula had some beautiful shoes but her feet were so tiny finding someone they would fit was a real challenge.
Well I’ve found another Cinderella, or at least a lovely young woman who also has teeny feet.
It’s so fitting (ha ha) that the artist who has connected so well with MAnjula and now painted two beautiful portraits should be the one to take her shoes.
I’m so pleased to find this happy solution.
Farrell Factoid
It’s taken two years as most Indian women don’t have such teeny feet.
My feet are also quite small at six and a half, not that anyone has ever offered me small shoes. 🤭
Me and MYCycle 