How long will I love you?

August 16, 2021 SFLeave a comment

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. 🌞

Independence Weekend

August 15, 2021August 15, 2021 SFLeave a comment

I’m meandering locally.

A lovely family round the corner kindly donated some plants for Manjula’s garden. Lucie didn’t want to leave.

Sunday morning puja for a newly opened Ayurvedic Centre with the help of Satish’s kids Sukrutha and Pranav and I’ve forgotten the name of the enchanting two-year old.

These guys will have bought their flowers but you can begin to realise why people scour the area to nick flowers in the morning.

Today is Independence Day, we also have a flag (Indian) outside our house but without the dashing hero.

And something else

August 14, 2021 SFLeave a comment

Yoga challenges.

August 14, 2021August 14, 2021 SF4 Comments

The old man went to yoga at 6.30 am on Wednesday only to discover start time had shifted to 6.00am

Doh

He went out today, saturday, up early at 5.00 so as not to mess up.

“I’m sitting in the yoga room all on my own, by 6.00 at 6.30 the receptionist comes in to say there no yoga as there’s a curfew. “

Double Doh

Back at home SB has already arrived due to the curfew and reminded me that we’d discussed it yesterday.

I give in, my idiocy evolves to decrepitude.

So why was the gym open?

Life is so confusing.

Shopping with a purpose

August 13, 2021August 14, 2021 SFLeave a comment

Don’t consider Tanuja and I to be sensible shoppers.

If our trip to the nursery is anything to go by, we’re the sort to go to the supermarket for staples and come back with puddings, the exotic rather than the plain, the icing while neglecting the cake.

We’ve got a great selection of flowers but our eyes were distracted by the shapely coloured and aromatic roses.

The problem is, as we knew, but didn’t care, they’re not a lot of use for the new Manjula’s garden in the park.

Why? you might ask.

Because people pick the flowers in the morning for their puja rituals.

So I thought I’d create a mini rose garden inside our gate.

I wish I’d done it for Manjula a few years ago as she would have loved it.

I started writing this post in a light-hearted jokiness way, only to realise this…..

I placed some of the roses out the front door but inside our gate. Within less than one day someone had stolen the roses.

Clearly these people haven’t any thought that the flowers are there for the enjoyment of all, rather than the selfish ritualistic needs of a few.

We’ve yet to plant out our flowers in Manjula’s garden and I seriously wonder if any of the flowers will survive, if I don’t employ a 24/7 guard.

It’s even worse with the roses in the next park. They are carefully nurtured by the gardeners but people go in and steal the whole plant.

We need some English old fashioned park signs ‘don’t pick the flowers.’

Another case for the missing dharma detective.

Mysore meandering again

August 11, 2021August 12, 2021 SFLeave a comment

Mysore’s magic continues to show itself in special ways.

The party girls out and about after my early morning yoga.

lunch in Indra Paras Hotel where the owners and staff were happy to see me and surprised I’d been in Mysore all this time.

The hotel owner thought I’d put on weight, so I blamed the pandemic and not the cream cakes from Sapa. Might have to hit that on the head though.

MAnjula’ bench (no 4) at my favourite museum in the old House used by the British after the fourth war of Mysore in 1799. It’s-now complete with sleeping Buddha.

and more gardening back at home, with other people randomly helping our gardener …

Our local shopkeeper wondered why I was so red, it’s hanging out in the park vaguely directing the garden creation, with very little actual work.

I found her

August 10, 2021August 10, 2021 SF1 Comment

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. 🤭

one wasn’t enough

August 9, 2021August 10, 2021 SFLeave a comment

At Christmas I gave myself a wonderful gift

It was such a characterful portrait of beautiful Manjula. The enigmatic artist knows MAnjula, connected and found her spirit.

I just had to have another.

I may seem greedy but I just can’t get enough of MAnjula (you may have worked that out) and especially how Priyanka brings out many facets of my beautiful wife.