The three musketeers went into the city to negotiate for a new piece of art we’d seen the day before
Their mission was to get a good discount on the asking price
They were a great success🙂
The winning Musketeers are Kaveri with her two new friends: Naimishambha and Pragathi, lovely, confident girls.. daughters of Deepak who works with our friend Florian.
They’re seen here with Maïlis, Sowbhagya and Stephen
It’s got pride of place in our new lounge, highlighting Manjula with her pals Lucie and Ganesh
I’m slowly learning mango farming. Well reaping the product at least.
We’ve had streams of friends and neighbours on PYO – pick your own and donated kilos of the beauts.
We’ve moved on from the hook on a stick, to the giant butterfly net (not) and used two types of blades to get to a tool standard that works for the reachable ones
I’ve created an extra long pole (metal curtain rod and bamboo) to help reach to the top of the tree and its outer perimeters. The ‘unreachable’ ones are a challenge. The first extension broke, the next couldn’t quite reach
We’re not complaining. Well the old woman that cleans is… as I’ve not achieved the usual standard (I’m certain that’s not true)
Next stage is for someone to climb the tree. Two requests (farmers and experienced friends) haven’t worked out but maybe the grandson might step in.
BUT
We have collected hundreds of mangoes (this is one productive tree) and I’ve ordered a professional telescopic pole.
Delicious breakfast, family from round the back came for Mangoes (but they’re getting harder to reach) and Luca tucking in.
We’re sharing caring types —- some to our human friends, others to fruit bats, squirrels and insects, some have lost patience with me and dived to smash their mango brains on the ground.
The latest wonderful creation has arrived from Aadirika aka —Mostly beautiful Maya— (check Instagram) has now created three fab memory portraits of MAnjula
Our first Second
All to be found at Manjula’s Mysore.
Out third
Thank you Aadirika, for your intimate understanding of what MAnjula meant to me and representing our wonderful life here in Mysore.
Who can you spot in this latest portrait?
…
Manjula (obviously), Lucie our first dog of the family of over 15 years, Kaveri, walking Luca — our latest addition and in the tree. —- Billet-Doux my sweet (love) letter sent by Manjula, a few years ago. Plus the dragonfly and old man with his head in the clouds.
. …. Friendly lovely honey puppy looking for a home.
We’re regretfully looking for a new home for Gingee and we’ll be very sad for her to go.
It was a mistake to adopt two dogs (Stephen’s idea!). It’s too much for us as well as our business (BnB and cycle tours) and looking after Kaveri.
Kaveri with Gingee and Luca.
Gingee is a great character. She’s had all her jabs (inoculations) and comes complete with lead, collar, bed and additional vet fees to sterilise her.
We’re in Siddarthanagar at Mysore Bed and Breakfast.
Do come and meet her and see if she can join your family. All injections are completed, with collar, lead and bed. Plus some food and vets bills covered. We’re in siddarthanagar in Mysore
Juggling the duties has proven too much. We can manage one!!
Luca we’re keeping as he’s the image of my lovely Lucie who died last year.
Gingee is a honey colour.
Recent guests of Mysore Bed and Breakfast, from Germany, playing with the dogs. Kaveri with Luca and Gingee When first adopted, a few weeks ago.
… 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.
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 