Tag: fun

Maïlis has become a great friend

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After staying with us in 2025 and 2026 

Initially here for yoga conference she soon branched out to all sorts of activities — stone carving, chanting, Kannada and Sanskrit — she returns to France next month to continue her studies to become a doctor. 

She’s a great example of why we do this. Making new friends from India and around the world and together doing good in our community. 

She’s joined our ‘family’ in so many ways. Probably the most important is how she helps us with Kaveri. 

Kaveri is one of the young people we support in the community. She stays with us alternate weeks and Maïlis has been her chaperone this year. Ensuring that each evening and night there’s a woman available also staying who can guide, support Kaveri and generally available to help ensure she’s happy and safe. 

We’re asking our women friends if they can help us and become a chaperone, like Maïlis.  That’s being here and staying overnight when Kaveri does. It doesn’t pay but there’s somewhere to stay and sometimes a meal to share, most importantly you’re making an important contribution. 

You can get involved as little or as much as you can. 

Want to find out more?  Help us broaden Kaveri’s horizons through the diverse people she meets.

SB rises to the challenge

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Climbing trees

Finding and moving house

Looking after Kaveri

Shopping

Welcoming Guests

Eating

Activity

Tolerance

Robustness

Nursing

Holidaying

Mango cropping, making Lassi and clearing up afterwards

Thank you Sowbhagya

Puppy training

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Somehow, I don’t think my trademark— facilitating — is going to work in this situation.

After two days of chaos, we need a new approach. So ….

… we cleaned up the mess

Sowbaghya did a sterling job with my pathetic assistance.

Then some changes..

meals at regular timings, immediately clearing up their mess as soon as they deposit it, more suitable food for young pups, visiting the park to play and poo, and positive encouragement.

Footnote

I keep getting stopped in the street by people in our community who spotted us in ‘The Star of Mysore’

Plus odd stares as we walk into the park with the nameless

Bring on the Cake.

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The delicious cake complete with family.
Manjula’s Memory Tree decorated with hanging messages and wishes.
Delicious cake didn’t last long devoured by, from left : SB, Ina, Stephen, John and Satish.

Not forgetting Lucie being spoilt by Ina.

And then again, not satisfied with one we had to have another.

This time following the theme of the radiant sun that Manjula brought into our lives and still appears exactly when it’s needed.

Ina worrying the sun is about to explode

Gathered today on Manjula’s bench, next to Manjula’s garden, eating Manjula’s radiantness cake and celebrating her wonderfulness on her 51st birthday celebrations that have already gone on for a week. we have Kaveri, Radhika, Maria, John, Ina, Lucie and Stephen.

Please note Ina is naughty, bribing Lucie for affections with cake.

Italian crazy hair accompanies us to deliver Kaveri back to school.

That’s after Mr No experience was coerced into decorating Kaveri’s palm

Next day

SB couldn’t miss out and had to have more cake….

Yes that’s two pieces. One was supposed to be for her son Naveen.

Delayed.

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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.

Meet an important person

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Please say hello to Kaveri

Over two years ago I asked friends to keep an eye out for a young girl who I might support in Manjula’s name.

There’s no shortage of children experiencing challenging circumstances here in India. I wanted to find someone with a similar background to MAnjula but no one came forward.

Then one day in the park opposite our house I heard a helloooooo.

My first introduction to Kaveri

Shortly after that first meeting I was using Manjula’s ‘flash cards’ to discover how much English she knew.

This video shows how she responded by turning the tables on me

I was impressed with her confident assertiveness with a foreigner she’d only just met.

Yesterday Sowbaghya who has become indispensable at Mysore Bed and Breakfast and Radikha Kaveri’s aunty who’s more like a sister and I were reflecting with kaveri on how she’d changed over this last year or so.

I’d clearly spotted a smart cookie, confident and assertive a good communicator. She’s carried along that same track

Yesterday reading a pictorial version of the Little Prince she was confidently tackling unfamiliar words switching to phonetic pronunciation where necessary.

She’s important in my life for many reasons not least for helping me manage my grief. Growing to help me fill the space around it.

I look forward to our continuing time together and helping her continue to grow her beautiful character.

K k k kaveri is kicking.

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In the past week Kaveri has attended a market with children selling their artistic creations, meeting the rich mix of Mysore Bed and Breakfast guests, attended a classical (grand) piano concert, and today visited three child focused alternative schools we’re considering for next year.

She left people impressed with her articulate English, and friendly confidence.

What a star.