We’re off back home
Category: our story
A fitting end to
a wonderful few days
It’s raining and pouring, thunder and lightening, most have left — the remaining fragment of Kaveri, Sowbaghya, Rhadika, SB Naveen Ks, Stephen and Lucie — are here for one more night.
A fond farewell
Sadly one person was missing
But we all reminisced and felt her hug and presence in our hearts
Mycycle Tour
It’s been very quiet for the past two years factoid we’ve been closed but we’ve been fortunate to have a few friends to stay and occasional tours of Srirangaptnam.
Watch this space for news about Mysore Bed and Breakfast and MYCycle Tours.
The days after, three years ago
Doing my duty…
When one suffers such loss that forms a trauma and it’s aftermath, it’s an extra challenge to focus on the positive.
It’s especially difficult at anniversary time. There’s a preoccupation with the loss, the guilt, a blaming.
In this month there’s also helpful reminders of good, our wedding ceremonies.
Some might wonder why I follow so ‘religiously’ the traditions. It’s simply my love and devotion for MAnjula.
The day afterwards brings out memories of when she was laid to rest on her bed, outside our house with the tell tale symbols of the smouldering wood informing the neighbourhood what was happening. Next we’d go to the industrial shed-oven aka crematorium and before that a puja by the side led by Manjula’s brother.
A kindly neighbour brought Bhagavad Gita to help emphasise our duty not to become too attached to our loved ones and to help their soul spirit move onto another body.
Here’s me doing precisely that…..
Do follow the link and check the video at the end where I’m at one of the most significant places on Srirangaptnam; visited on every cycle tour over the past ten years.
This week
March is a month of significant memories.
It began with our wedding at the city corporation, followed a few days later with a celebration on Srirangaptnam.
Two years running she was admitted to intensive care and sadly and devastatingly died three years ago on the 23rd.
We do Pooja on that anniversary, help her on her way and remember fantastic times with a wonderful woman.
Here’s a video memory created by our good friend Tom, Manjula showing one of her many skills and most importantly her kindness of giving.
A visit to Kannur
I’m sitting with Lucie in our room, at Chera Rocks, which opens directly onto the beach.
It’s been another hot day which cools slightly as we pass 4 0’clock.
We have been visiting our wonderful friends Sally and Shabaz, before Eastenders Sally sadly returns to the U.K.
Together we’ve retraced Manjula and my steps during previous holidays, including Manjula’s deep desire 😉 to visit the drive-on-beach.
This morning Sally and I walked along the beaches to visit Rosie and Nazir of Kannur Beach House and share my photos of Manjula.
Manjula and I in Kannur to celebrated our engagement in 2015
It’s time for a last swim. We return to Mysore tomorrow.
We did it, followed by a shared shower, Lucie thinks it was all too much. She waits until carefully positioned next to cascade her water drops on my clothes and bag. Ha bloody ha …
Wedding part two
The morning after the reception.
Timings are followed exactly (9.00 to 9.30 am) unlike the night before when things hadn’t started almost two hours after the advertised time.
The knot is tied and I’ve poured milk, gently thrown rice and had tiffin.
Behind the scenes in the choultry or wedding hall is the sort of place where Manjula started working.
Summer arrives early in Mysore
For the first time in twelve years I’ve spent part of the winter in the U.K. yes it is different from the summer. 🤭
It’s quite a contrast from the cold wet misery alternating with the pure gray ness to be back in Mysore where yet again the Summer arrives early.
The tree outside our house has already lost it leaves and they’ve returned within the week. But that’s all happened at the end of January instead of March/April.
But the plants around the house are good and Manjula’s garden, less than a year since we planted it, in the park opposite, is looking wonderful with her granite benches standing guard.
It’s in the shape of a ‘m’ or om but you can’t see that without climbing a tree or using a drone.
Here’s a short video to show you more.
Imperfection
After I’d asked for a sign a messenger came to visit. Thank you Manjula.
Within a day or so the bullock’s head holding Manjula’s pennant fell off the wall and broke.
It probably wasn’t a sign just a clumsy Yindian, yes it was the idiot from Yorkshire that probably dislodged it.
Some time later I was introduced to Wabi Sabi by my friend Kamakshi
and my daughter-in-law Alice, son Ben and granddaughter Poppy gave me a present to fix things the Japanese way
I seem to be being pushed and prodded so I gave it a try,
ta ra ta ra
I can do imperfection (we’re good at that in Yorkshire too)
and now it’s fixed imperfectly
Me and MYCycle 