Category: Manjula’s Kind

Sowbaghya — making changes

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Sugar … I’ve spelt it wrong again it’s Sowbhagya or SB …

who’s useless?

Those of you who have visited us since 2019 will have met SB and know her trademark humility. Don’t let that confuse you, she can be full on. 

SB with Lucie

Sowbhagya was first introduced to our community (family) through great friends Justin, Heejung and their boys

when they lived in Mysore. They have now moved to South Korea. 

Ina a guest who became great friend from Australia with SB

After MAnjula died Sowbhagya came to work at Mysore B and B so she’s been with us for seven years — but now things have moved on — a lot. 

SB’s birthday

She’s now a Director of the business, and fully looking after the house, recently she’s helped find our new base at 179, shifted over 17 years of accumulated clutter. In the new season, later this year, she’ll take a lead with the guests. 

If that’s not all she helps coordinate a chit fund, runs her own catering business and brought up her son Naveen (now 18) as a single parent. 

You’ll have met Naveen in previous postings. He’s turning out to be a thoughtful confident young man. 

One of our activities.

Another critical role has been helping with Kaveri who we sponsor in Manjula’s memory. 

In this way she’s blazed another trail which Kaveri is following. SB created for herself the opportunity to meet and work with a wide range of foreigners before she even came to Mysore B&B. This has helped broaden her experience and horizons.

Watch this space for how Kaveri is already following that path and growing through meeting the foreigners and guests from throughout India.

So as you can tell. She’s open to challenges, she’s decided it’s time to formalise her divorce (she’s been separated from her husband with little if any contact for over 15 years) and start a new chapter in her life. 

That might include trips abroad as Kaveri’s chaperone as she’s just obtained her very first passport. 

So there you are — an important member of our team, helping hold it all together. 

This best wishes for the continuing journey is ..

From Maïlis, Stephen, Kaveri, Billet-Doux, Luka and many guests. 

SF/2026

Lucie’s death anniversary.

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We remembered MAnjula and Lucie today in the field where we buried Lucie.

Lucie is buried under the plant.

Wonderful that guests Maïlis (who was there helping support Lucie on her last day) and Maria and Ani were with us.

Also our loyal team members Satish, Akram and all put together by Sowbaghya.

And then there were dogs waiting to pounce …

They were actually very patient.
Satish carrying one of the matching plants that we’ll have at home as part of our memorial.

Umesh has set it up as

Bow Wow pet resort and cemetery

a place for dogs to go holiday while we go on ours … plus somewhere to bury our pets, and a final resting place for dogs found on the roadside.

More details and how to support Umesh’s work.

honey puppy wants a home

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. ….
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.

Sharing

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I wasn’t feeling well this week and so Kaveri wrote me a note

How kind and thoughtful is that?

… and then I stumbled across this study which reaffirmed what we know —- how relationships are critical to a happy sustainable, satisfying life.

What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness (Robert Waldinger | TEDxBeaconStreet)

Here’s my girls …

My Indian wife and daughter.

Farrell Factoid Footnote

Kaveri isn’t actually my daughter but it’s as if I’ve ‘adopted’ her and support her on behalf of my beautiful caring compassionate wife

Our friend Ina

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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.

Kaveri

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It’s May and we’ve just celebrated Kaveri’ birthday.

She’s now 11 and she is a star

The past month’s activities included: seaside holiday, skating, swimming coaching and summer camp.

KaverI is now at her mother’s and we hit the uncertainty of whether Chandrika, her mother, will change her school. Kaliyuvamane the alternative residential school she’s attended for two years has helped her grow socially, intellectually and physically.

We can make either options work but the residential school has had the continuity that her home will not provide.

I worry that it maybe beyond Chandrika’s ability if Kaveri is shifted to the day school but we’ll do our best.

Meanwhile

I’m relaxing in Manjula’s Memorial Garden and toying with the idea of revisiting our memoir.

Can I revamp and rewrite? Do

I have the energy and the ability?