In the nicest possible way.
Cycling and yoga guests from Germany, students from Kaliyuvamane, more cyclists from warm showers, and celebrating my birthday.
Takingover
Delayed.
Christmas gift giving was delayed as Kaveri and I were otherwise engaged on the day itself.
We combined it with my birthday on New Years Eve and Sowbaghya created a lovely day.
Great to feel the love of friends here and away and to share special time with Kaveri.
Duty Done
Not satisfied with one, here’s number two
Kaveri and I appearing yet again.
Her alter ego altered from Christmas girl to Elfie.
This time for the 100 children at her school Kaliyuvamane.
Elfie leaped ahead, to translate the mumbles of Santa to explain the most important gift we can give is at no cost, which is to care and be kind.
We jointly prepared 100 bags of sweets for the students.
A great opportunity to apply the times tables (bits of them anyway) working out systems to fill them, fold them, then pile and pack them.
Adam Smith would have been proud of our ingenuity and innovation.
A combo of system, specialism and adaptability. Ok it’s small and simple but helped me realise —- Doing projects is the learning way forward.
So I could explain that there are thousands of us helping share his caring message, as there’s too many daytime events for him to get round them all, all at once. I’ve never met him I just get requests to appear so I don’t know if he’s real or not.
Don’t ask me how he manages go fill so many stockings in one night.
As Kaveri doesn’t get a holiday from school our Christmas Day is postponed to New Year’s Eve, when she’ll be on Sunday holiday. Coincidentally it’s someone else’s birthday.
Merry Christmas
….
Yes, it’s true Santa aka Father Christmas appeared at the children’s market. But then we did it again
We’re reliably informed that there are many helpers appearing as Santa, around the world.
Our very own Father Christmas aka Santa said: “I received a message asking me to appear at two events on behalf of Santa. I’ve never met him and don’t know if he’s real or not. I don’t care about that. What’s important is not that we give presents but that we share kindness and show everyone to ‘be kind’. All the young people I’ve met already know to BK.”
A new career begins
I’m helping out at Kaliyuvamane, the alternative ‘free’ school where Kaveri attends.
Our morning session with members of the teaching team
Then I was hijacked by Kaveri and some of her classmates
to cover a lesson as their teacher was on leave
Did someone set me up?🤭🤔🤪
It was an education! To put it mildly. I now promise to properly prepare for when a similar situation arises again.
I’ve facilitated workshops for adults for many years — that’s nothing compared to working with young people.
I realise what a challenging job the teachers have and how difficult it is to make a class interesting and responsive to the diverse needs of the students. ….. as a one off, let alone day-in-day-out!!!
Well done all.
It was a fab day, helping me realise I’m right to support Kaveri and now the school itself to meet the needs of 100 children.
All in Manjula’s name
Grief gravy
For those in it, who’ve met that new lifelong friend or just want to know a bit more, there’s tons of my reactions and reflections on this site.
I’ve also found this ted talk which is good
.
Great conversations.
I collected Kav from school to visit the dentist, followed by a treat and a shopping trip.
I have no control
I love our conversations. Her English is developing at a pace.
This week we discussed: ‘I’m being positive not negative’. I’m not sure where that came from — probably from one of mother hen nags.
Separately.. Coming of age, old man (grandad/dad) ‘going round the houses’ eggs, mammals, babies, pregnancy, (not too much detail mind) eventually using the local term ‘date’ only for madam to say: ‘you mean period.’ I’ve so much to learn
Our mini team
Kaveri and I drew a picture to show what we’d done together since we met over a year ago
Film night and pizza
We were ‘frozen’
With Kaveri, auntie, uncle and Sally
The morning after lie in, enticing her with fave fruit.
Careless treeless.
When is someone going to get a grip and do something about the wanton destruction of our wonderful trees?
We’ll regret it but by then it will be too late.
This teams job is to trim trees but were stopped removing it. The house owner needs some advice to check that the tree roots are not irreparably damaging his house beyond his driveway.
If we get it wrong people die and trees are unnecessarily destroyed.
What’s the answer?
Specialist advice?
Education of the benefits of retaining trees.
Tree protection?
Me and MYCycle 