







Radhika and Kaveri’s adventures on the farm.


Lucie got more than she bargained for twice in the day.


As did the fireflies captured by the girls








Radhika and Kaveri’s adventures on the farm.


Lucie got more than she bargained for twice in the day.


As did the fireflies captured by the girls
We’ve returned to Varnam homestay

Introduced to us by previous guests (there’s been a bit of to and fro, with guests visiting both here and Mysore Bed and Breakfast.) and especially Antoinette (aka the Queen, who’s retained her head) it’s our second visit this school holiday.


I didn’t want to risk driving the radical red so far so Anjum drove us in his taxi.






There’s plenty of entertainment.




Including self-made



BUT ITS BEEN A SHOCK
…
This morning Lucie and I went for a walk on the other side of the lake but it didn’t go to plan.
Lucie slipped down a bank, touched the electric fence and ended up on the other side. It was a joke, an episode of ‘Laurel and Hardy’.

Comedy from silent movie days.
I created a barrier with palm leaf and hauled her back through the fence, with a ‘thank you’ nip for my trouble.

The girls have now found the beginning of the next day.
Just to ensure you got it….. the following activities have formed this year’s camp for Kaveri …
Swimming, skating, trying out new things…









and dropping into the summer camp organised by Manjesh of Chirayu Dance Institute here in Siddarthalayout.














That’s not to mention, watching movies, walking Lucie, visitors to Aroma for treats, pestering for one thing or another, especially screen time.


Predominantly staying at Mysore Bed and Breakfast with auntie — sorry sister — Radhika, but what is the old git doing?



Apparently traditionally thanking the guests for joining the final celebration of Chirayu’s Summer Camp.




Visiting Leela vet hospital as Lucie, the old dear has developed a limp. Dodgy Joints? not to mention it’s too hot for her!!
Tomorrow is someone’s tenth birthday.
There’s already too much screen time





Who knows what ….. if it wasn’t restricted!!

Our fun activities since returning to Mysore include:
Skating









Kaveri has progressed to new skates and uniform, again with the Elite Roller Skating Academy
…
Swimming




classes again at our local pool.


and a local dance centre has organised their very own summer camp.
With a day out


Four years ago, Lucie is scrounging. Nowadays her access to street food is severely restricted as she’s getting on and sometimes had digestive issues. But this is the beginning of another story.

It was to be another two years before I met another light in my life.

It’s the third year since meeting Kaveri.
School holiday is a great opportunity to spend wonderful adventures together.
In our first week, this year we’ve visited Kodagu, Kannur and Wayanad. A great mix of countryside, sea and sand.











Kodagu in the western ghats is a couple of hours west of Mysore.














I’ve been many time to Kannur, further west in Kerala, and taken quite a few friends. Radhika Kaveri’s sister (auntie) couldn’t join us as her mother had an accident and needed support. Lucie a French workawayer helped out at the school and stepped into the breach. A great help.







Finally Shabaz our wonderful friend from Kannur dropped is Wayanad for a final night before returning to Mysore.
Friends, Romans, Countrymen .

No it’s not another posting about Shakespeare or Caesar —- it’s about a different inspiration —-
Manjula

As we approach the anniversary of Manjula’s partial departure five years ago (she is of course very much with us) I want to remember her beautiful wonderfulness and recall the good we’ve done together, in her name.
And so it’s also about you: ‘Manjula’s Kind’ friends who have given cash or help-in-kind or moral support to help me through the grief gravy and to take action.

Amongst these are (please follow the links for more information):
– granite benches and garden in our nearby park in Siddarthanagar in partnership with the MCC

-creativity days for 40 visually impaired young women,
– five events/workshops at Kaliyuvamane, (a ‘free/alternative school) for 100 children, there’s many mentions on our sites, here’s two … 1 and 2

– sponsoring a young girl who now attends Kaliyuvamane. The famous Kaveri who’s peppered throughout our sites and dominates my life.


– donating cycles
And many more actions
Thank you so much
Stephen
With Manjula


Share it…..

and in my case, consult the problem solver.
It’s … Sowbaghya’s new role.

Not satisfied with one, here’s number two
Kaveri and I appearing yet again.
Her alter ego altered from Christmas girl to Elfie.




This time for the 100 children at her school Kaliyuvamane.

Elfie leaped ahead, to translate the mumbles of Santa to explain the most important gift we can give is at no cost, which is to care and be kind.






We jointly prepared 100 bags of sweets for the students.
A great opportunity to apply the times tables (bits of them anyway) working out systems to fill them, fold them, then pile and pack them.

Adam Smith would have been proud of our ingenuity and innovation.

A combo of system, specialism and adaptability. Ok it’s small and simple but helped me realise —- Doing projects is the learning way forward.

So I could explain that there are thousands of us helping share his caring message, as there’s too many daytime events for him to get round them all, all at once. I’ve never met him I just get requests to appear so I don’t know if he’s real or not.
Don’t ask me how he manages go fill so many stockings in one night.

As Kaveri doesn’t get a holiday from school our Christmas Day is postponed to New Year’s Eve, when she’ll be on Sunday holiday. Coincidentally it’s someone else’s birthday.