A short (ish) 30 minute walk —— (the full loop will reopen in Feb 2026) from Harringay Green Lanes overground or as I’ve now discovered an even shorter walk (10 minutes) from Manor House Underground station —- gets you to the wetlands and their great cafe.
I’ve visited almost everyday of my recent visit for their sourdough melted cheese sandwich and make friends with the wildlife.
I’ve marvelled at the birds, especially the family of swans with their rapidly growing seven dusky grey cygnets
I’ve met a lovely mix of people here, including the wonderful hosts.
My 10.30am docs appointment hadn’t begun by 11.10 so I legged it to go see the Maharaja (he’s also the MP and I’d had a message inviting me just this morning) for 11.30
Of course it wasn’t exactly a timed appointment. It isn’t with a doc so it’s hardly likely to be with Royalty — now, is it?
We’re gathered in the outer office.
Groups and the odd individual — yes I’m the oddest — waiting to see the boss.
After 90 minutes he actually stops seeing visitors in the office and comes out, for it to become an orderly-free-for-all, we take it in turns to plead our case.
It’s my week to be tested and my friendly neurologist in addition to the many tests she’s imposed, has suggested I get my hearing tested.
But of course whilst I’ve complemented the staff here on doing sterling jobs, it’s efficient and easy-going.
A challenge to create and maintain especially in a large institution of any kind.
I still can’t resist taking the piss.
Remember I’m here for a hearing test.
I’m in a waiting room at the audiology clinic at the institution.
Look at the photo.
We’re maybe 200 metres from the entrance door.
I’ve spent a week dropping drops in my ear and fresh from the ENT physician with a nifty, teeny vacuum cleaner to suck out the wax
Yes I’m in the audiology block waiting to have my hearing tested— that’s assuming I can hear security yelling out my name from the door 200 metres away .
This couldn’t be made up. It’s like a comedy skit.
So, precisely on time, the rain has started with its heavy patter on the ( temporary plastic) roof.
Yes the ‘hard of hearing’ might have a challenge to hear their name called out for the HEARING test.
But let’s be fair. In India everyone turning up at a clinic will have at least one member of the family with them to help out.
So I hope that when they call out the name for the lonely old Firangi (foreigner) to go for his test, they’ll put extra effort in to ensure he can hear it.
Maybe they’ll call
Stephana Farrella
But that for another time as it’s part of one of Manjula’s tales.
—
How come exactly one week ago I walked straight in to the doc, this week there’s tons of people.
BUT do not let my stupid desire to have a joke at everything camouflage the fact that it’s a great place and the staff who include students from Kerala and other states do a fantastic job.
It involves a lot of testing and not just the outer ear.
I’ve made innumerable contacts with education institutes but options were few as I couldn’t do the PhD I wanted to (due to my masters) and the idea of another and full time masters felt too much.
My first interest was to pursue an art course. We’ve also organised wonderful creativity days at Kaliyuvamane and the NGO for visually impaired young women.
It’s one of those things I’d failed to do and always held an interest.
Getting people to work together and actively engage in their locality is a critical part of participative democracy.
In the 90’s I was asked to focus on the town of Holmfirth in West Yorkshire to consider how individuals and local organisations could work together to service and support each other.
As the project developed I was interviewed by a local reporter.
I was asked what initiatives would we establish and what projects are likely to work. “We don’t know until we try. We’ll use action research, suck it and see.”
“So,” said the reporter, “it’s as if you’ll throw a series of custard pies and see which ones will stick?” .
I like the analogy.
That’s about it. Spending time on research is too slow, it’s best to dive in there, changing and adapting as you go along.
We also brought our Internet workshops to the town A great success wherever we introduced it, including to young people in Leeds and veterinary practices throughout the U.K.!
Footnote.
Background
Representative democracy is our current system but wherever possible we should be participative, helping people be active participants and not passive recipients of the decisions others make on their behalf.
Voting is necessary but what does it mean on a day to day basis? it might involve single issue campaigns, volunteering to serve, joining measures the council’s introduce to garner your opinion.
The council/local authority/corporation called Kirklees Metrolotian Council I worked for, in West Yorkshire, brought in great innovations.
As well as reaching out to engage we tried to support people to have the confidence and competencies to take their part.
That was over thirty years ago and such experiments are struggling as the government role is decimated.
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.
Ganesh, originally bought from the stone carvers in Tamil Nadu with representations of — (from the left) the moon, earth and sun.
I’ve adapted one of his key stories to share with Kaveri and Radhika.
It traditionally goes like this …
Ganesh and his brother have a race round the world to prove who’s fastest.
If we were asked to predict who would win we’d think his brother, as Ganesh aka Ganpati isn’t lithe and doesn’t look fit. Plus .. He eats a lot!
His brother is shocked to find Ganesh already there when he breathlessly reaches the finishing line.
It turns out Ganesh raced around his world (his parents) and his brother raced around the whole world (planet earth).
My addition.
There’s no right or wrong here, both raced around important worlds. Fact is — we occupy many worlds— at school, where we live, amongst our friends, work. It’s important for us to realise these different worlds — an understanding of which — helps us realise how people see things differently.
Only then … can we — Be Kind— (a regular message to Kaveri), as that depends on us understanding how each person sees things. No point ‘being kind’ in ways that ‘the other’ person doesn’t value or recognise.
Manjula’s Library
Factoid !?
Kartikeya ), also known as Skanda, Subrahmanya, Shanmukha and Murugan, is the Hindu god of war. He is generally described as the son of the deities Shiva and Parvati and the brother of Ganesha.
Lifted off the t’internet
All images are in Mysore Bed and Breakfast but non of his brother as he’s still racing around the world.
Me and MYCycle 