Ganesh goes for a swim

Preparing to take Ganesh and his mum Gowri to the river.

So where’s the Ganesh we bought last week?

The Ganesh we first bought and fell in love with has been added to the extensive home collection.

Can I come too?

Here’s more details from five years ago

We’re big on Ganesh throughout the year and found a workshop carving wooden statues from three years ago.

Age showing through increasing inability.

Big announcement.

The old man has managed to send money from his bank account to pay for a book by something called UPI should I be proud or ashamed?

Maybe the shave helped.

It’s taken ages and I mean months to work it out. I think I need a lie down before I advance to QR Code.

Three Princesses

and a Sun with a beard

Ritu brought her lovely painting of Manjula’s and Stephen’s home

with thanks to Desai Somesh, Rita’s dad who took the photographs.

Remembering Manjula.

It’s all go..

We use any and every opportunity to recognise and remember, what would have been Manjula’s 48th Birthday is extra special.

On monday afternoon, 23rd August (postponed from Saturday due to a curfew) we have open-house for friends to drop-in for a drink and cake or sweets, to visit the garden we’ve just planted, see Manjula’s two painted portraits and have a chat.

We’ve now got two paintings by Cinderella, more here and here
Karan a student at CAVA Art College is creating something to entertain.
Tom and Amy helping out
by kindly sponsoring the meals for the elderly people living in the Ashram (not the children’s home!)
Tanuja, one of the MyCycle Directors, helping plan the garden with a little shopping trip
It’ll look better in a couple of years 😉
planting a special tree for Manjula
Sowbhaghya with her new T shirt
Satish, MyCycle Director, nearly working.
earlier photo (we’ve had no international guests for over a year) of one of the three benches in the park,
As we reach the end of the day on her birthday it’s been raining for hours. So an earlier photo.

Happy Birthday Manjula

Today Manjula would have been 48 and it’s yet another reason to celebrate and thank her for the time we were together (we still are).

Manjula sent messages with her love and for me to know all is well on her soul’s journey to her new life. She’s most definitely not a ‘hungry ghost’.

Here’s a video message from my love. Previously we’ve also heard from her via messengers

Manjula captured my heart

We’ve done a few things that Manjula would like and maybe make her giggle. Like the remembering garden. we’ve just planted in the park opposite our house.

She’s left audio and video recordings which I’m using to help write our story. We’ll release some of the videos in 2022

So what’s a hungry ghost? One of the tales that will be featured in our story, to be published before we reach what would have been her 50th birthday.

How long will I love you?

My friend Zetta posted about a funeral today Where they played: How long will I love you? Sung by Ellie Goulding. So I listened to it

Today, before a small piano concert at a friends house here in Mysore I was introducing Manjula to a few more people.

Yes, I’ll introduce Manjula anywhere and everywhere. I was talking about the new garden we were creating to help celebrate her.

I explained that it’s over two years ago that she died, sometimes that feels a long time ago, others as if it was yesterday.

I know there is no limit to my unconditional everlasting love and liked the song.

How long will I love you?
As long as stars are above you
And longer if I can
How long will I need you?
As long as the seasons need to
Follow their plan

How long will I be with you?
As long as the sea is bound to
Wash up on the sand

How long will I want you?
As long as you want me to
And longer by far
How long will I hold you?
As long as your father told you
As long as you can

How long will I give to you?
As long as I live through you
However long you say

How long will I love you?
As long as stars are above you
And longer if I may

How long will I love you?
As long as stars are above you

Yes, it’s forever, in this life and any others. 🌞

I found her

Exactly two years ago I appealed for Cinderella.

Manjula had some beautiful shoes but her feet were so tiny finding someone they would fit was a real challenge.

Well I’ve found another Cinderella, or at least a lovely young woman who also has teeny feet.

It’s so fitting (ha ha) that the artist who has connected so well with MAnjula and now painted two beautiful portraits should be the one to take her shoes.

I’m so pleased to find this happy solution.

Farrell Factoid

It’s taken two years as most Indian women don’t have such teeny feet.

My feet are also quite small at six and a half, not that anyone has ever offered me small shoes. 🤭