By next season (October 2026 onwards) we will be in a new home.
It’ll prove to be challenging — leaving the home that I shared with MAnjula, that we created together. But it’s a positive change and MAnjula would approve.
We’ll continue to share our home with our community from around the world and new friends who find us.
A first step will be to reduce the ‘clutter’ here at home.
Already friends have been eager to pick souvenirs from our home. Furniture, paintings, and Knickknacks as their mementoes.
We continue to invite our community of guests and visitors to spot things they’d like.
Soon I’ll start posting specific things that are available to buy.
The house hosts her presence in every room (and outside).
Sowbaghya and I have kept the Bed and Breakfast as she envisioned it and even have a library named after her.
Our children’s and education section.
Our guests love meeting her. she even gets mentioned in our guest book
images of MAnjula and Lucie decorating the fan switch!!
At least once a year I bring out this image in memory of my beautiful MAnjula. It’s just for a few days. I started by cycling her around Mysore, at other times she’ll be in the memorial garden we created for her in the park or resting in our drive. Otherwise she’s stored in the Garage.
Unfortunately, you can’t please all the people all time. Some people you never can.
My insensitive neighbour complained that the image of MAnjula was outside and should be indoors. It’s a Hindu rule. I know there’s no such rule or if there is it’s often not followed. People remember their loved ones with posters around the streets or images in the newspaper.
He represents the brahminical elitism that can sometimes rear its ugly head (read your ‘games people play’). He’s even complained about the boys and girls sitting on the park benches that I’ve installed. It’s as if the Firangi (foreigner) is responsible for people’s behaviour. His prejudices are mildly entertaining but we generally ignore him.
PS
As AI tells us on the internet
The saying “Guest is God” (Atithi Devo Bhava in Sanskrit) is a core principle in Indian culture, emphasizing the importance of hospitality and treating guests with respect. While the saying is rooted in tradition and spiritual significance, the reality is that it’s not always a practical or realistic expectation, especially in modern life.
Manjula complained about me filling the house with art and books —- and we were running out of space.
She decided that when I was seventy-five (that’s right, i’m —not yet) and stopped leading MYcycle tours (big assumption there) we’d open the house as a library.
In her memory I closed one of the bedrooms to reopen it as ‘Manjula’s Library’
Just one of the bookcases
There’s now hundreds of fiction and non-fiction books in English, including those about education, India, history, philosophy, for adults and children.
It’s an idiosyncratic mix already used by our guests, the members of ‘reflective space’ and the time I spend with young people.
My own favourites are the picture books.
It changes by the day ….
… check out the new arrivals.
Yes, it’s not JUST books, we now have a selection of cool badges.
There’s a short chapter on ‘the language of love’ my reaction is not surprising, given the subject.
It happens ‘sometimes’. …
There’s a physical tightening of the stomach and a sort of shift in the eyes and forehead leading to the feeling of tears welling and a teeny moisturising of the eyes. I’m still making my way through the fantasy fairground tunnel of love slowly through the thick mud of grief gravy. Whilst I’ll never get to the end I need to ensure I break into the positive memory zones and rediscover tolerance.
On the way I’m reminded of previous moments of our wonderful life that I was lucky enough to share with my MAnjula.
Her love was constant (probably) and consistent built on her strengths of attentiveness and presence. I love her more as I’m share more of its layers passing through this crazy tunnel.
I realise that I’ve written this with John Lennon’s Woman playing in the background and it all started with you are my sunshine.
Lyrics below
Woman I can hardly express My mixed emotions at my thoughtlessness After all, I’m forever in your debt
And woman I will try to express My inner feelings and thankfulness For showing me the meaning of success
…
Woman I know you understand The little child inside the man Please remember, my life is in your hands
And woman Hold me close to your heart However distant, don’t keep us apart After all, it is written in the stars
…
woman Please let me explain I never meant to cause you sorrow or pain So let me tell you again and again and again
I love you, yeah-yeah Now and forever I love you, yeah-yeah Now and forever I love you, yeah-yeah Now and forever I love you, yeah-yeah Now and forever
——-
You are my sunshine
You are my sunshine My only sunshine You make me happy When skies are gray You’ll never know, dear How much I love you Please don’t take My sunshine away
The other night, dear As I lay sleeping I dreamed I held you In my arms When I awoke, dear I was mistaken So I hung my head and cried
You are my sunshine My only sunshine You make me happy When skies are gray You’ll never know, dear How much I love you Please don’t take My sunshine away
Reflective space is Our monthly meeting of young adults to discuss anything of interest.
What a wonderful group of people, with a wide range of experience and interests.
Our special guest was Sarvesh visiting from Australia.
We discussed education, medicine, culture and much more.
We ‘d reconvened after a gap of two months due to me being pre-occupied with school summer holiday and my own holiday to Europe.
Next month our special guest is Maria. We want find out about her and what she does so we expect it will cover women’s empowerment and support for children, as she has experience in those fields.
Meetings will now be held each month.
If you want to join a future meeting write to Stephen at tours@mycycle.co
Manjula’s Mysore continues to provide accommodation by sharing our home to guests visiting Mysore, together with our guided cycle tours.
We’re also experimenting with how we can support the learning of young people through reflective space events at Mysore Bed and Breakfast.
As all good businesses should, we also find ways to help the wider community, as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility.
To this end we have supported, in the name of MAnjula, the education of a young girl and boy, gifted bicycles, arranged holidays, provided meals, and more.
We continue to keep our eyes and ears tuned into future opportunities to do good in Manjula’s name.
We are not affiliated with any other organisations but have collaborated with others to find and serve our local communities. This has included Polar Bear Ice Creams, Aroma Bakery, CAVA, and community organisations.
We thank them for their invaluable help in reaching out to our communities.
Me and the dogs sorting out the children’s section of the library.
Fact is Lucie has scarpered. Nowhere to be seen, but frankly , it’s no loss as she can’t read anyway.
Billet-Doux is present, after a fashion.
Books are slowly finding their way to the shelves.
Manjula’s Sari’s protect the books from the get-everywhere dust.
Thank you to Judith Gilliland of the USA for the donation of the books you authored which started our library years ago.
I’ve now sorted over 150 young children’s books but I don’t agree with that classification as they’re for ALL ages. There’s many others: novels, india, management, thinking, politics, history, philosophy, uncategorisable for another day.
Lucie appears at the precise moment the work is over.
Meanwhile, it’s catching, Sowbaghya doing her own thing.
Me and MYCycle 