Sharing our new home.

April 11, 2026April 11, 2026 SFLeave a comment

We haven’t quite finished moving yet as there’s much moving to do within the house itself.

The moving that’s necessary is distributing things within the house, emptying the garage, getting rid of more excess (selling art and whatever remains being hung) and I suppose generally diminishing the chaos.

Here’s photographs of the main rooms and guest bedrooms.

Guest bedrooms (en suite)

First guests have been and given it the thumbs up.

…

Library and study

Photos to come later

Sit out and garden, Out front. Tibetan flags

Terrace (what could go here?) on the first floor

Halls (aka lounge or living rooms), there’s two and a dining area

It will, of course, continue to be sharing our home….. with other species too…

Our first guests at the new Manjula’s Mysore

March 28, 2026 SFLeave a comment

We’re almost moved in — well sufficiently to welcome our new guests.

Kurt and Loe from Belgium, the very first guests and returners, having first visited us a few years ago. How cool is that? Complete with a soon-to-be new family member.

Luca, a ‘warm showers’ guest, has reached the final stage of his fund-raising cycle ride for a school in Bangalore.

First move.

February 8, 2026 SFLeave a comment

Into the new house.

Shifting Manjula’s library to our new house. The team were fab.

Manjula loved the joke

After acknowledging a job well done —— we realised the light switch was trapped behind the shelves.

Celebrating later at home.

Factoid

We opened Manjula’s library after her spirit left for its search.

She’d joked that my constantly bringing books home would lead to her setting up the house as a library when I stop guiding tours at age 75.

So as we never reached there together I set it up in her memory

And now it’s the first bit to establish itself at the new house.

We shared our love

September 9, 2025 SFLeave a comment

In many ways ….

and Through our home as Mysore Bed and Breakfast

So why is he posting this ???

Our owner wants the house back and as the word has got out our family of friends from around the world have asked me to share this reminder.

Please follow the link for more

and see below

For a tour of our house.

Jorinda and Joringel

July 22, 2025 SFLeave a comment

By the brothers Grimm Illustrations by Paula Schmidt

A gift from Alan for Manjula’s Library.

Thank you Alan.

A helping hand

May 24, 2025May 24, 2025 SFLeave a comment

I led an unusual cycle tour today on Srirangapatnam.

Four teenagers, ok one isn’t yet but no one would know. Were invited to join me for a cycle tour ostensibly to better understand how to be a guide.

My objective which alines with my latest thinking on how we might better prepare young people to be more rounded and better active citizens as they mature.

I’d hoped that the day’s adventure would help improve their confidence, communication and assertiveness.

Big ask but a tiny step.

Coincidentally Kaveri asked me why a horse had blinkers. I lost no opportunity to use the analogy in how it’s important for them to get a wider view.

I delivered the standard tour with more emphasis on how they should manage it, rather than the content.

SB the ever present aid and family member was her usual great support.

After the tour we visited the recently opened car museum

The museum included a similar Mercedes to one I owned in the 90s, my wonderful inactive Ambassador and a candlestick telephone like one at home.

…

I’ve invited them to continue with this journey, if they wish, so that within a year ( much less!) they should be able to lead a tour.

Who knows where it might lead —- greater personal competencies at least.

If it happens— I’m open to them leading tours and maybe taking over and expanding. I have absolutely no expectations.

They’re all very different characters but of course, all have potential.

I was happy with the day.

Remembering MAnjula

May 9, 2025 SFLeave a comment

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 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.

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.

You could say that ….

Our annual trip

April 19, 2025 SFLeave a comment

I’m away with Kaveri for a few days with Naveen and his mum Sowbaghya.

Manjula’s Mysore supports their education and now we’re on holiday together.

Shabaz, our wonderful friend always on hand to make it a great success.

This might become a new thing!

If we don’t get lost

Button Madness

April 14, 2025 SFLeave a comment

A new summer school holiday activity — Button Masala.

Incredible creativity and innovative design from cloth, button and rubber band!

A great addition to the swimming, summer camp, reading, storytelling, crafts, skating, seaside, badminton, cycling, TV and phone that’s become a staple of Kaveri’s school holiday

A really cool event presented by the creator of Button Masala —Amuj Sharma and supported by Sri Vidya MR of the Anubhuti Trust.

Love

April 13, 2025 SFLeave a comment

Marginalian

Comes up trumps again with great literary, political and philosophical connections.

I like her quote from Simone de Beauvoir

What then is love? Not much, not much; I come back to this idea. Sensitivity, imagination, fatigue, and this effort to depend on another; the taste for the mystery of the other and the need to admire… What is worthwhile, is friendship… this profound mutual confidence between [two people], and this joy of knowing that the other exists.

“The ancient Greeks, in their pioneering effort to order the chaos of the cosmos, neatly taxonomized them into filial love (the kind we feel for siblings, children, parents, and friends), eros (the love of lovers), and agape(the deepest, purest, most impersonal and spiritual love).”