Summer Camp 2024 – one

April 6, 2024April 24, 2024 SFLeave a comment

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.

You know who you are.

March 19, 2024 SFLeave a comment

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

One of our creativity days, this one facilitated by Antoinette.

– 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

What can be done?

March 16, 2024March 16, 2024 SFLeave a comment

Share it…..

and in my case, consult the problem solver.

It’s … Sowbaghya’s new role.

and consult the books in Manjula’s library

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

….

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.