Sowbaghya is so happy this morning.
Lucie appeared in a dream
She was missing so SB was looking for her.
She saw Lucie appearing in the distance amongst the gods but disappears as she approaches.
So we both went out looking for her in a field but couldn’t find her again.
SB wakes up calling Lucie
We love Lucie who’s still with us.
We love Lucie and she loves us.
the biggest buddies: Manjula, Lucie and Ina
I think it was some time coming but she persevered and we had that bit longer together.
This was expected and I realise now that it had been for some time. I left the republic day celebrations with Kaveri at her school to catch up with Kaveri at the vet hospital after Mailis our guest from north France was kind enough to help.
Life was full of friends, and as I first thought a cheeky owl on our evening walks. We have lovely images of the girls from our rich Indian family
Whether it’s that special woman in our life that we love or our canine companion of 15 years, how can we ever anticipate and of course never replace. We cherish our lovely memories and deal with the heartbreak.
We returned to the field where Lucie was buried amongst other loved pets to do a Puja to help her soul continue on its journey to its next manifestation. We hope to meet again.
In times past
Lucie invaded the single room dwelling where Kaveri used to visit her grandparents
Its been four years since Lucie has had problems with her Liver, early days one and two
Billet Doux adopted me but before I was able to introduce her to Lucie there was a sudden second invasion. The two became friends, but not the closest, you’ll understand.
I return from visiting Europe to be greeted one last time, both Manjula and Lucie gave a wonderful welcome, now there’s the addition of Kaveri, Sowbaghya and Radhika.
so many birthdays
August was the time of endless eating cake, to celebrate Manjula’s birthday and since first opening we welcomed Ina our family member from Australia, who would visit every year.
We never knew Lucie’s actual birthday but it somehow didn’t matter (she’s a dog!) as she shared absolutely everybody’s.
Even in the midst of the mayhem of Manjula’s Library Lucie take it all in her stride and acts as a calming influence
I actually think it was Lucie taking over, and maybe Billet-Doux was biding her time.
She might however choose not to come on holiday again. She’s loved visiting Wayanad and Kannur, a real love for Kerala and her local friends. Varnum has become a favoured place for Lucie and the girls, and not just because of the water!
She’d always get in the middle of things even on the days when Sowbaghya asked the gods to bless the tools
And of course on holidays we organised for Kaveri’s break from school
Lucie (the old woman) would also join the young things to reflect at our monthly meetings
And in our dreams
It might be time to commission another painting.
PS
Who’d have believed it, the painting wish has taken a different form.
Lucie departed on Sunday 26th January
That afternoon we buried her in a lovely field
Today we returned to do 11th day puja to help her spirit find its new home
Then lunch back at home
It’s very sad to lose such a wonderful friend, I miss her—-
—-being at home when I return, going on walks together and just being in my life.
Billet-Doux also misses Lucie
She’s such a famous dog with everyone asking about her.
I’m in tears as I prepare to walk to the photo shop. Sowbaghya and I have sorted through many photos
We want photos for outside the house and the planned puja — as many people are asking where’s Lucie?
As I set out I pass her leads and then notice her water needs filling.
My dear Lucie.
We met when someone had dumped you, your brother and sister at the end of our street.
We’ve had so much fun together. Almost from the very first moment I came to live in Mysore.
It didn’t take long for you to realise where the kindly Firangi, — who fixed your skin problems and regularly fed you — came from, so you all followed.
The man who lived downstairs was less keen on the black — India street dog and her siblings— setting up home under our tree. This was… Exactly where you came to rest on Saturday when you were feeling ill and went back to that same tree.
We’d chase and roll around in the park, with Vis another street dog becoming a friend.
In time I found homes for your brother and sister. You had the op at People for Animals, with a neat ‘bite’ taken out of your ear so you wouldn’t be re-captured and spayed again. (When I first visited India I wondered why many street dogs had a bite taken out of an ear. — it wasn’t another dog! ) 🤭
You became part of our wonderful family
Whenever neighbours saw me without you, they’d want know where you were. I even went to a hotel miles away on the other side of the city where a waiter asked where you were! He also lived in Siddarthanagar
It’s not surprising that you were so well known as we walked through the layout four times every day.
Now I have to go to the bakery, cafe and chai shop on my own.
When Manjula’s spirit moved on we had a lovely portrait painted of you both
I miss you both so much, hope you find each other, in your new lives. I’ll catch up with you eventually but in the meantime, I’ll now introduce you and share you both with even more people.
Friends from around the world are sending their love and sharing their memories.
Billet-Doux is still looking for you here and expects our walk last thing at night with the owl flitting above us
Missing you. Our life was ….
What a Wonderful family and friends we had. .
Until the next time
love
from us all and especially Sowbaghya, Billet-Doux, Kaveri, and Stephen.
Last Sunday was already busy.
The BnB was full.
Two sets of guests leaving and two more arriving. Four of us visiting Kaveri’s school for the republic day celebrations.
Kaveri was superb as the narrator of the skit.. surely a coincidence that it had a demo against the English, demanding they leave the country.
🤪🤔🤭
Of course it was.
It was not to be a quiet day.
Mailis kindly agreed to go with our driver Akram to take Lucie to the vet hospital, whilst I fulfilled my Kaveri duty.
…
Lucie has attended daily for the past week to be put on a drip (clean out her kidneys?) and be pumped full of drugs. It was worth a try but it’s not made much difference and then on the Saturday evening she seemed far far worse. She had difficulty standing or walking or did endless turns to lower herself and sit down. She even slipped out of the house and through the gate, which has not been allowed for some time now.
I looked all over to for her. Eventually finding her at the front of the house, beneath our lovely tree on a pile of leaves.
Exactly the sort of tree that MAnjula imagined being reincarnated as, because it sheltered and supported people.
She was always — attentive, present and above all — kind
I expect it was looking for the comfort that attracted Lucie but I imagine her collapsing as she’d lost the energy to do much else. She knew and had gone to ground.
And … Manjula continues to support us all.
…
I thought I just heard Lucie clicking as she dragged herself up the stairs.
Not to be.
I explained to Kaveri that her good friend was finding life too much. I left her in tears — but comforted by each other —-at the end of her star performance
We grow closer with every shared experience
I leave for Leela the animal hospital. Madan, the founder reveals that we could continue to wash out her kidney (or liver? I’m already in a daze) but that seems pointless. He’s being kind.
It’s time.
She’s even had a couple of fits.
I sign the document. I continue to hold and comfort her. I want to be with her as it’s best. She relaxes and her eyes glaze.
Goodbye my precious friend.
It’s been a year since she’s found the stairs a little challenging. I would joke about installing a stair-lift! — we’d worked it out, but for no longer.
…
We all have to adjust, again
Sun 26 Jan
I get home to less.
An abnormal day, amongst the multitude of such days.
But today another family member departed
As I returned home I slowly realised Lucie would not be here to greet me.
Sowbaghya had earlier invited our team to pay their respects and fill the house with love, as Lucie began to reach her last legs. This was, while I was being an attentive ‘parent’ to Kaveri at her school.
That’s two.
I’m missing too much …
… there’s a gap which far exceeds their size. Their imprint is ginormous
Well if ‘last’ years birthday is anything to go by I’ve fully localised.
31st December can seem a weird day for a birthday. Or maybe not.
Endings and beginnings
There’s always multiple celebrations
It was wonderful.
A steady stream of lovely friends making it a day to remember.
Plus my girls were here (kaveri and Radhika) having missed Christmas together, we shifted Christmas to the morning and began my birthday at noon 12.35 sharp 🤭
and Rinkal and Sheetal are seriously becoming an integral part of the team. Welcome to you.
Next morning
Happy New Year.
Even in our first year we were no 1 in Mysore on Trip Advisor but there were no contact details. Guests couldn’t quite believe it
As they realised, I’m Yindian, (Indian by marriage, Yorkshire by birth) the Yorkshire bit means I’ll not spend money unnecessarily. (that’s one way of putting it)..
We’d also joke that we only wanted guests that would put the effort in and find us!!
Our Facebook entries also meant we were on Google. All that helped.
AirBnB was our other big thing. We’re still on it but sometimes forget as most guests come as returners, byword of mouth or recommendations.
Just to prove it, here’s some of the reviews from our lovely AirBnB guests.
We can assure you, that we don’t chop people’s heads off
Yours, Alice
The last few weeks have been quite difficult.
In Didion’s book ‘a year of magical thinking’ (well it lasts for longer than a year … like forever) she writes about the vortex, I call it being bushwhacked.
One is ….
Attacked for no apparent reason, as the sadness arises — mainly due to recollections that appear — as if from nowhere.
There’s also a regular hidden sadness that surfaces as intolerant anger.
Sorry everyone.
I’m dealing with CBB — can’t be bothered — but it’ll get sorted.
Here’s the letter I wrote to MAnjula after she slipped through my fingers.
I stumbled across it today. It was as I began my journey through the tunnel of love paddling the thick grief gravy and I remembered….
Manjula the ever-smiler, radiated love like the rays of a sun.
When I can —- I recall the wonderful light she brought into my life — puts the awful loss and memories of her slipping away, into the shade.
Me and MYCycle 