Absolutely
Democracy must move beyond a representation model to one where everyone is actively engaged. That’s our ‘work’ of the future.
Unfortunately all our societal systems and social structures are designed to maintain our status quo.
That is a life with stratified levels of inequality and exclusion and the mindsets resulting in mental and physical restraint that disempowers and keeps us ‘in our place.’
Lifted from my Facebook
For those who don’t.
Well I’m feeling it at the moment.
It’s one thing after another.
…
Registering with the Foreigners Registration Office is always unpredictable and stressful.
It’s extra this time as I’m not knowing where
my next visa will come from
…
Owner wants his house back, after sixteen years, it’s the house I’ve lived in for the longest, in my whole life.
It’s where MAnjula created our home, introduced it to the world as Mysore Bed and Breakfast and where she lit up my life like a smiling sunbeam for nine years. It’s where we sited a blue plaque (as a famous person lived here), her library and entertained thousands of people.
A museum even jokingly claimed it as their annex because it’s a living breathing art gallery from around India.
…
Continuing to sponsor and support eleven year old Kaveri in spite of her mother and new partner sabotaging us, by changing schools, days of absence and inability to help
As MAnjula would say ‘we’ll see’.
What is this idiot doing?
It’s a dog.
Here’s the mould Sharath first created.
The discolouration in the piece I’ve bought is in a similar position to Lucie’s white/grey patches.
After visiting and living here for twenty years, I realise that I’m absorbing the different ways.
It even affects my English.
When I see something misspelt it takes some time to adjust my set— shifting from a little doubt to eventual realisation — it is actually wrong and what the correct spelling is
I’m cycling this morning around the base of Chamundi hill. I saw vehicel painted on a lorry, and it felt wrong minutes later I knew the solution
vehicle.
But I didn’t know straightaway. Years ago I would have.
The time it took to convince myself is the sign of a 68 year old falling behind but also adjustment (and confusion) due to different behaviours.
Globally it also happens.
The behaviour of leaders creates a shift to a new normal. Extremes become the middle — as what was unusual and frowned upon becomes acceptable.
Just look at Trump his publically outlandish behaviour gives permission to others to do the same.
Not only that
The behaviour of other leaders before him who’ve shifted but kept it hidden can now be more open about how they’ve been behaving.
The bullies become the norm.
Look around, it’s everywhere.
….
I think we adjust to different norms of behaviour whether it’s spelling or locking up ‘the other’ and our care, compassion and tolerance diminishes.
We managed to fit in homework of Maths and Hindi (I was delegated to doing some illustration), skating, shopping for Rakhi
and a new comb (my morning duties include hair combing, so the comb has suffered), supper and we fitted in a the angry birds movie. Lots.
I think I spotted real blissful looks from Kav at some sloppy bits.
Night time story this week has been.
Incredible insights into slavery, disability and a woman pharoah. The last, nicely timed to follow a discussion on the pyramids.
Already and it’s only Tuesday
This week we start a new arrangement.
Kaveri is now staying alternate weeks between the home MAnjula created and home with her mum Chandrika
That’s after ..
.. a Great weekend together
It’s involved buying new shoes, maths, animals, angles, English, Hindi (I was not involved with that one), breakfast, more and more.
It’s exhausting.
I’m feeling it but also realising how Sowbaghya is stepping up by preparing breakfast, lunch and dinner and finishing my pathetic attempts to comb Kaveri’s hair.
It reminds me of … what a challenge it is and my own long hair in the 70s.
and another thing … the curriculum, text books, homework have made mistakes about turtles and tortoises. It’s sort of understandable but can’t correct it for Kaveri as she’d then answer it wrong in her homework or test. . Now there’s a lesson, of sorts.
A tortoise might be a type of ‘turtle’ and a reptile but it doesn’t live in water but on land!!
Here’s thanks from AI searching the net.
Yes, all tortoises are turtles, but not all turtles are tortoises. Tortoises are a type of turtle that are specifically adapted to live on land, while the term “turtle” generally refers to reptiles with shells that can live in both aquatic and terrestrial environments.
Here’s a more detailed explanation:
The homework had got tortoises going in the water.
In August Manjula would have been 52.
We have traditions in the U.K. to commemorate and recognise significant people’s contribution by installing a blue plaque on the house where they lived
Like this one ….
So we just had to get one for MAnjula
MAnjula remains in our home in Mysore in so many ways, this seemed like a fitting tribute to our precious …
We love and miss you MAnjula. You’re here in our hearts and guide us in everything we do.
Manjula was our sunshine and a …
We’ll do more to remember her on her happy birthday.
… about my purpose.
It was pretty clear this weekend.
I’ve adopted an extra grand daughter and this was our first weekend together since my return from holiday
Thank you Kaveri.
You are IT
I’m adjusting to the time difference (this weeks excuse for inability),
But it’s not easy ..
It’s the second morning I managed to drag myself up early for yoga, I’m waiting for the teacher at the gym with three other women when another male student walks in to speak to the women in Kannada. The local language.
Our gentle giant then leaves.
After a few minutes they get up to leave, and when I ask they tell me it’s cancelled.
I was obviously too pale and linguistically ignorant for him to tell me.
Later that morning is my next challenge.
Billet-Doux clambered through the hall (lounge) window, jumps down and drops the rat which scurries away. A gift?
Sowbaghya shrieks so she doesn’t like the surprise.
I tolerate the louder and louder squeaks coming from under the divan.
I have to take action with the help of a lathe stick .
…
But then Facebook brightens my day. The Donald —whilst destroying the US fabric — entertains.
PS in the middle of the night Bullet-Doux who’s supposed to be sleeping but she’s faffing around. Next I hear squeals and investigate under the bed.
The queen is eating a bat!
I can’t imagine what might happen next.
Me and MYCycle 