Life’s lessons

The illusion of control.

I expect I’m doing my usual and stating the bleeding obvious. 

In this unwelcome necessary extraordinary extended period of reflection and potential growth, I realise the greatest challenge. 

Yes it’s about loss and grief, goes without saying, I suppose. 

There’s been many but especially three (many more of course but three for listing here) . Losing someone through splitting up with a lover, second losing Manjula when she died.  Now I’d count my tonic to deal with the grief as the third. It’s not loss but deep down it’s the equivalent. 

So why do I put them together? 

They represent times when I felt unable to do anything … actually experiencing powerlessness, learning lack of control in some situations.

That realisation comes … After a lifetime of reinforced messages that it’s up to us, we’re masters of our own destiny and in control. 

The third example is having the wherewithal to support and guide Kaveri but to realise how handicapped I am in the face of a completely dysfunctional family who don’t understand or care. 

Well done, Farrell — that’s another fine mess you’ve gotten us into (only yesterday, Kaveri was asking about Laurel and Hardy) — But of course it’s about regaining one’s equilibrium, being positive and constructive, working out the way that works and the benefit I can gain from another of life’s lessons. 

So in a different way, it does depend on how we take it and manage the situation — critically it’s in the eyes of the beholder—and mostly about our relationships. 

So as I said bleeding obvious. 

I send this to you because you might not believe it but you are very important 

As Kaveri knows, BK 

Manjula’s flowers.

Matching Money

Kaveri is already an ace negotiator

I’ve now agreed to match whatever she saves this (financial) year, with the equivalent each year up until she reaches 21.

We’ve started counting her savings and placed them in a box at my home

That’s now over 5,000Rs from the two years I’ve known her, from selling bracelets at the kids market and generally extorting from the foreigners. 🤔🤭🙂

It’ll be put into a protected account so no one else can get their grubby hands on it.

One of the many many lessons I learned from Manjula is how she experienced people, particularly men but not exclusively, and also family members (and first husband) who would take her money, gold and send her out to the moneylenders to borrow more.

We will have protections in place, help educate Kaveri and hopefully the strong woman I know she will become will help safeguard her as an adult.

Plus she’s astute at reminding me of my ‘pearls of wisdom’ when I forget to follow my own advice. So we’ll also keep an eye on each other.

..

So Kaveri… the savings are for you to choose how to use BUT it’s a waste to spend on parties. Leave that until you’re rich.

Here’s how we arrived here —- from Facebook

Let them eat cake

The third cake saw the gang celebrating Manjula’s birthday at a Mysore micro brewery.

Maria can’t believe we’ve devoured so much cake.

We continue to celebrate Manjula’s birthday for a whole week and onwards.

and recognise our support for our Tibetan friends through decorating our house

Bylakuppe one

We visited Bylakuppe, the largest Tibetan settlement in India.

Our good friend and monk Dorjee and his sponsor for many years Ina helped us understand more.

We learned so much about the Dalai Lama escaping from the Chinese invasion of Tibet and the subsequent oppression

Thank you to Kaveri, Radhika, Dorjee, Ina, Sowbaghya, John, Maria.

We had a lovely day.

Bring on the Cake.

The delicious cake complete with family.
Manjula’s Memory Tree decorated with hanging messages and wishes.

Not forgetting Lucie being spoilt by Ina.

And then again, not satisfied with one we had to have another.

This time following the theme of the radiant sun that Manjula brought into our lives and still appears exactly when it’s needed.

Ina worrying the sun is about to explode

Gathered today on Manjula’s bench, next to Manjula’s garden, eating Manjula’s radiantness cake and celebrating her wonderfulness on her 51st birthday celebrations that have already gone on for a week. we have Kaveri, Radhika, Maria, John, Ina, Lucie and Stephen.

Please note Ina is naughty, bribing Lucie for affections with cake.

Italian crazy hair accompanies us to deliver Kaveri back to school.

That’s after Mr No experience was coerced into decorating Kaveri’s palm

Next day

SB couldn’t miss out and had to have more cake….

Yes that’s two pieces. One was supposed to be for her son Naveen.

Celebrating Manjula

We begin remembering Manjula on what would have been her 51st birthday.

Here are our current guests Ina— the stalwart— who has visited us at Mysore Bed and Breakfast, almost every year for at least a month (with a break during the pandemic) and John, also a ‘glutton for punishment’ as he’s a returner —who we haven’t yet scared away — Settling in and helping us plan our rememberances.

Vasanth, Sowbaghya and I visited the nursery to get birthday flowers for Manjula’s garden. Unfortunately I didn’t get a photo of Priyanka, the friendly young woman shopping there. She donated a plant, on hearing why we were there..

How cool is that?

John

made a lovely ‘short’ of our first stage. . 🤭🤪

Next …. SB arrives with the first of three, yes three cakes….

and the family hanging out in the park ….

Neighbours appreciating Manjula’s bench.

Reflective space

What is it?

An opportunity to meet to share your thoughts with other young adults (and one or two who are just young at heart)

Our monthly meeting is a way to connect and share with other open minded people ….

Reflect on what’s happening in the world, consider what the future holds, support each other, share the mistakes we’ve made and lessons we’re learned, be more active and less passive.

…and stroke a dog (Lucie) and a cat (Billet-Doux). If you’re lucky, there maybe cake.

Interested?

Check the links on this page for more information.

https://meandmycycle.com/2024/07/17/whats-to-talk-about/

https://meandmycycle.com/2023/09/11/who-we-are-and-what-we-do/

Send an email to Stephen with any questions. He’s on tours@mycycle.co

Join the WhatsApp group. https://chat.whatsapp.com/CReQUVWoPWNJlybLbPsFTi to get notice about future meetings.

We’re part of Manjula’s Mysore everything we do is in her name and memory

which provides ….

– a monthly reflective space

– individual meetings and smaller focus groups, (on request)

– access to Manjula’s library

– opportunity to suggest innovations and help implement them

Mysore Bed and Breakfast and mycycle tours.

from Stephen

The not-so-young one.

Manjula is still with us, even though her beautiful spirit has gone to find a new host.

Reflecting Again and again

Blossoming

When will it fulfil its destiny?

The flower would appear each year at this time, carefully nurtured by MAnjula.

Eagerly anticipated, she’d predict what night it would blossom only to fold in on itself by the morning.

A short intense appearance not unlike MAnjula who dramatically changed my life.

The aroma even reaches into the house
I know I know the old git is an unwelcome distraction from the beautiful pair below…

It’s all no accident as she radiated the sun herself, through her smile, her presence every inch of her being. Two queens together.

What’s to talk about?

Whatever you want.

Reflective space is Our monthly meeting of young adults to discuss anything of interest.

What a wonderful group of people, with a wide range of experience and interests.

Our special guest was Sarvesh visiting from Australia.

We discussed education, medicine, culture and much more.

We ‘d reconvened after a gap of two months due to me being pre-occupied with school summer holiday and my own holiday to Europe.

Next month our special guest is Maria. We want find out about her and what she does so we expect it will cover women’s empowerment and support for children, as she has experience in those fields.

Meetings will now be held each month.

If you want to join a future meeting write to Stephen at tours@mycycle.co