Duty Done

December 25, 2023December 26, 2023 SFLeave a comment

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.

A wonderful day and I’m so proud of Kaveri.

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.

Merry Christmas

December 24, 2023December 26, 2023 SF1 Comment

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Yes, it’s true Santa aka Father Christmas appeared at the children’s market. But then we did it again

We’re reliably informed that there are many helpers appearing as Santa, around the world.

Our very own Father Christmas aka Santa said: “I received a message asking me to appear at two events on behalf of Santa. I’ve never met him and don’t know if he’s real or not. I don’t care about that. What’s important is not that we give presents but that we share kindness and show everyone to ‘be kind’. All the young people I’ve met already know to BK.”

Getting addicted

November 5, 2023November 5, 2023 SFLeave a comment

There’s most definitely withdrawal

But it’s pleasurable

The evidence is …. In my Hanging out with Kaveri and her ‘sister’ Radikha.

I’d collected Kaveri from school to go to a Mysore Storytellers event but rain put a stop to that.

So we had movie night instead, with all the girls.

Chess lesson after receiving a new book to learn in ten minutes. I ask you. Ten minutes ….. I began learning chess at Kaveri’s age and still picking it up.

The wonderful people that provided the ice cream for this year’s event on Manjula’s Birthday in August, promoting creativity at Kaveri’s school

Then back to school

I only get 24 hours but it’s wonderful.

Tipping point (and disconnection).

November 1, 2023 SFLeave a comment

I’m rereading this book.

“Transactive memory is part of what intimacy means….. it is the loss of this kind of joint memory that helps to make divorce so painful. .. They once were able to discuss their experiences to reach a shared understanding…. The loss of transactive memory feels like losing a part of one’s own mind.” Page 189

I can vouch for that and more, having ‘lost’ the two women Liz and MAnjula—Manjula and Liz, that were so critically important to me in my life.

There’s much in this book to recommend it.

Now in Manjula’s library

Manjula’s Garden Glows

October 8, 2023October 9, 2023 SFLeave a comment

As part of this year’s illuminations.

Our house is also full of plants.

The next night in its stormy rain glory.

My Indian sister.

August 30, 2023 SF1 Comment

It’s a special day (Raksha Bandhan) when sisters give a bracelet known as a Rakhi

It symbolises brotherly love and a promise of protection, bringing good fortune.

Radhika is Kaveri’s auntie but they’re really like sisters.

I’ve got to know Radhika quite well over the past year, especially during the school holiday when she came with Kaveri and I for swimming, skating and often stayed at the BnB.

We’ve all been on holiday together to Kerala. Twelve of us, the first time and we’ll return in October with Kaveri, her mum Chandrika and Radhika. .

Radhika’s real brother gave her a giant pink teddy that’s now moved in here.

Radhika passed her exam this year, got a high-scorer award and is now at PUC- Pre-University College.

I’ve also promised to help and protect as her ‘godfather’.

Bringing MAnjula home

August 29, 2023August 29, 2023 SFLeave a comment

Manjula appeared behind my cycle as well as in our hearts on what would have been her 50th birthday.

We celebrated with 100 children at Kaliyuvamane

Today I brought her home.

We cycled through the countryside, along the national highway, through the suburbs and on my cycle route around Chamundi Hill.

Stopping to chat as people wondered what it was all about.

It’s about our love and her kindness

… and now we’re back home at Manjula’s Garden

Meet a friend — Ina

August 28, 2023August 28, 2023 SFLeave a comment

Ina was already at our house as I returned from the U.K.

The lunatics had taken over the asylum. We have a similar sense of humour but that doesn’t necessarily travel well. 🤔🤭 sorry to Charles, the Canadian giant. He gets it.

Ina was an early guest who returned to visit every year bar the coronavirus blot on our landscape. She quickly became a close friend of Manjula helping us celebrate our engagement in 2015. They would mostly hang out together and she’s the guest who’s stayed the most and longest.

We’ve also become good friends. She’s also lost her loving partner and been a great support to me.

Ina has seen Kaveri two years running and appreciates how she’s progressed.

Ina has a strong Scottish accent even though she’s lived in Australia for almost seventy years, having escaped Britain, on a ship, to settle there as a young girl with her family.

Bonding over chai and a phone on Manjula’s birthday.

The second celebration of what would have been Manjula’s 50th birthday. Satish is photographer

Ina, is most definitely one of Manjula’s kind. Thoughtfully helping, all around her, emanating a positive energy, appearing to be decades younger than she is but we don’t mention age.

Her initial visit was to meet a Tibetan monk, for the very first time, that she’d sponsored since he was a child.

She regales with stories of her family and her great times looking after her grand kids.

We keep remembering celebrating Manjula’s last birthday.

Fun together, Ina with Kaveri and Radhika. Aroma Bakery after swimming.

As she says herself

I couldn’t agree more. I’m still learning

Demonstrating the new balancing pod thing, whilst worrying Paul from France

Visiting Chandrika and Mani, Kaveri’s mum and dad.

Ina leaves at some ungodly hour for the flybus to Bangalore airport for a week in Singapore en route to home in Australia after our last meal together at Olive Garden

She’s supposed to have gone but I thought I heard her calling out downstairs. Now that’s worrying.

I look forward to her return next year

wonderful images from Manjula’s Birthday event

August 25, 2023 SF2 Comments

on what would have been Manjula’s 50th birthday we held a creativity day for the 100 students at Kaliyuva Mane School

Why do we do it?

To remember and celebrate Manjula by continuing her good kindness.

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Please check the wonderful photographs of our latest event

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Faizan is the official photographer and film maker of Manjula’s Mysore. A great friend of both Manjula and Stephen

He often presents us with a problem. His still shots are too good — we want to see them all.

So here they are — of the day we worked with the team at Kaliyuva Mane on the 21st August, on what would have been Manjula’s 50th birthday — to help support their work with these wonderful children.

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