Ruth is a poet from the U.K.
A guest of Mysore Bed and Breakfast who has become a good friend.
Not only that she’s actually published books of poetry and some of her poems are about India and her early years living here.
Check Ruth’s latest poem, you’ll realise why I show this image.
Maïlis has been with us now for almost two months. She’s really got into Mysore, become part of our little community and created a wide range of exciting experiences for herself.
I was invited by her wonderful new friends Pravallika and Cade to visit and find out where they’re learning to carve.
At this family workshop they’re famous for carving significant statues and especially Rama for the new Ayodya Temple
But there was a great big surprise waiting for me.
Maïlis as her very first project had carved our Lucie in stone
How wonderful is that?
Just one month ago Lucie gave up, she’d had too much after managing so well with a painful hip and difficulties with her kidneys. She was strong and brave and her gentle friendly nature had helped her connect with thousands of our guests.
… and a cat
A fantastic image of our precious family member which now has pride of place in our upstairs lounge.
We’re all impressed.
What a fab group from Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka, Germany, UK, USA, France….
Sharing their perspectives and savouring our similarities and differences.
I’ve been wondering about Doge… why we have it? What does it mean? I realise now it’s not actually a spoof, it is unfortunately real but it’s also a means of checking that we’re properly concentrating.
That we’re awake
.. and hopefully not complete idiots.
It’s actually a joke, in the most serious sense
So have you worked out how to pronounce it? Don’t lose this opportunity for a knowing smirk.
I was thinking on the lines of doggy.

But no there’s something better.
More on the dodgy dog. Sorry to our canine friends….
Footnote
So what is Doge.
Some might say it’s one of the initiatives to fulfil the coup currently happening in the US
Officially it’s…

…
The head honchos is a certain Musk.
or what does it say on the cake?
For our other member of the family
And again two days later.
Today’s conference reminded me of some of my innovations in the 90s
I was inspired by Negroponte’s book ‘Being Digital’ to explore the Internet … and develop projects to help others to do it … before it became monopolised by big business.
A friend Dave and I would use the Commodore Amiga (much more than a games machine) in the late 80s and gopher to visit US Sheriff’s offices wanted lists.
It got me thinking. As Negroponte stated in ‘Being Digital’ we were going through a revolution as significant as the invention of the printing press.
Often my thing was ‘how do we engage people so they’re actively involved?’
Here was a great inspiration
….
My senior role in government with Kirklees Council — who were very supportive of ‘wild thinking’ — had already provided me with the opportunity to innovate.
Here was another possibility: a creative challenge ..
Cyber Coffee Mornings.
Within a year of the introduction of the world-wide-web we hit the local community and throughout the teams in government introducing them to this revolutionary new way to access the internet.
Invading these community events with lengths of phone leads, modem, over head projector, LCD panels (what we’d use before digital projectors became available) and a Toshiba laptop.
Cyber Citizens
Was the group that took it to the wider community.
The innovative projects came thick and fast.
We were the first Social Services (social work) department in the U.K. web site in the country and electronic information service
Disabled People’s Electronic Village Hall an idea borrowed from north Europe. This was a community project to promote access to learning about computers, becoming confident and surfing the net.
To help all this along we had ..
An EU — European project to share experiences between Athens, Crete, Manchester and Kirklees.
An exciting time
I initiated the projects but they worked because people got involved including students from the university to make them a success
I was also privately sponsored by Pedigree Petfoods (MARS) to provide a workshop to veterinary nurses throughout the country.
…
Footnote
Reflection
For many this was an opportunity to make money
But not for me … as usual my motivation was to serve the community.
This image relates to a dog a cat and a woman in my life. All of them my queens.
Manjula lit up our lives, even now when her presence is much more mystical.
She wanted to return as a tree to shelter and support us.
The physical manifestation is now just the man and the cat and still thrilling.
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.
