Tag: Kaveri

a man, his dog a girl and a tree

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Yesterday evening as I was waiting outside a shop selling dots for one’s forehead —

—Manjula used to give them as gifts as we travelled through England—

A woman asked where she was.

I pointed to, inside the shop and after a perplexed reaction, realised she wasn’t asking about the little girl (Kaveri) or Manjula, for that matter, but the dog (Lucie).

The girl was stocking up for the return to school.

I’m well known in my area and in Mysore generally but usually because of my appendage.

I am nothing, not even a number.

…

I once walked into a hotel (restaurant) right on the other side of the city, for the waiter to ask me where’s the dog. He also lived in Siddarthanagar.

So I’m well known for who I’m with …

As of this morning, as I realise, I stick out like a sore thumb as generally there’s rarely other firangis (foreigners) here. There’s a new appendage.

A tree

As I was tossing and turning in the midst of my AWOL, nightly sleep I realised there was only this morning for me to be able to decorate the tree for Christmas.

Kaveri will be going back to school.

Kaveri is here for less than 24 hours and we’ve decorated it together for the past three years since we met. I’ll not see her again until a few days after Christmas Day when we’ll belatedly celebrate Christmas.

A bit too late to do the tree

Plus our usual totem is now too big and heavy for the hall aka lounge.

What to do?

Easy

Get up before the girls and after walking as man and dog, I go out again, to the nearest ‘nursery’. It’s run by guys from UP on the roadside. I haggle with them from the Firangi-Gora (white) — tax – price, to something resembling the price a local would pay. About half.

Then as I’m trudging home— convincing myself that I’m exercising my muscle diminishing 60+ years arms —- with very regular rests. I realised I’m another spectacle of the foreigner ‘variety’ who is entertaining the locals, especially the men at the chai shop and the women sweeping the streets. They’re interested as no one can possibly work out why the rich foreigner is carrying a tree and not using an auto rickshaw.

A wonderful young man, rescues me from the ordeal of the last stretch, stops for me to balance precariously on the back of his bike and gets me home.

I’ve become the foreigner, not only with dog and girl but now the tree

It suits me

…

Ok it doesn’t look very heavy but the weight is in the pot.

It’s now decorated.

But now the cats eyeing it up, for a potential attack thankfully for the moment she seems satisfied with the empty decoration boxes.

I’m back in Mysore

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To meet my queens (both sets)

What’s one of the first things they want to do on my return?

Go for a walk

After a lovely time in Italy with Maria

With plenty of lovely food …

They want pizza….

And presents

and to watch the movies…

I’m so lucky to have them in my life…

Who’d have believed it…

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Four years ago, Lucie is scrounging. Nowadays her access to street food is severely restricted as she’s getting on and sometimes had digestive issues. But this is the beginning of another story.

It was to be another two years before I met another light in my life.

A year later..

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It’s been that long since Kaveri joined Kaliyuvamane

From the very beginning —-Sarvesh (Multi-lingual, typical talented Indian) and I (mono-lingual.. you know the stuff!!) explained to her mum Chandrika the pros and cons of the school:

— it’s small, free to parents, with a good track record from not following the education sausage factory model

— It’s residential, and you’ll only see Kaveri at home a couple of times a month although you can visit as often as you wish.

— as it’s outside the system she can’t easily (if at all) rejoin a mainstream education (it’s an alternative/free school) until age 16

Chandrika and Mani had visited this and one other school I’d suggested and been invited to suggest others.

We did emphasise it was her decision.

She chose Kaliyuvamane.

Personally I liked the school its approach to education and life in general. I think it’s been a great success. The fact that it’s residential, also helps.

BUT over the past few months Kaveri’s mother has changed her mind. She, in any case has difficulty sticking to one thing. She decided to take Kaveri out of the school.

She misses her and wants her to help around the house. Neighbours, employers and others, we don’t really know who, criticise her for ‘giving-up’ her daughter.

It’s been a stressful period to put it mildly.

You’d be forgiven for thinking she’d gone stark raving mad. Everything about Kaveri and her life as improved dramatically. She now the average size for her age, progressed in all her education, had a great confidence, a real star at the school. Ticks in all directions.

So we invited Chandrika, her mum and sister over to my house to decide.

Discussions with grandmother, Radhika and Chandrika.
Trishala and Eregowda very much part of Manjula’s Mysore team. they initiated this meeting and together with our man in Australia brought us to a happy resolution.
From right, Radhika (auntie) , Chandrika (mum) and moi.

Chandrika has agreed to keep Kaveri at Kaliyuvamane. Thanks to everyone in the team, and at Kaliyuvamane. Not forgetting the significant help from Sarvesh, in Australia.

Weekend visitor

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Fourteen hours continuous sleep

After a busy Saturday providing drink, snacks and art at a Padma farm event as member of a team of students from Kaliyuvamane.

Waking to breakfast with our guests from Switzerland

Even earlier, in the morning, Sarvesh had facilitated a meeting between me and Chandrika, Kaveri’s mum to try get her -back on track- to keep Kaveri at the school.

Fingers crossed we’re getting there.

The absolute helpful stars being Radhika,

Kaveri with grandfather, grandmother and Radhika.

who Kaveri calls her sister (actually Auntie and a wonderful friend to us all), and Sarvesh

Saying farewell to Amanda from Switzerland.

Next grandmother travels by bus across city and takes her shopping.

And finally Anni becomes hair stylist.

It feels like I’ve seen Kaveri for about five minutes this weekend (as she falls asleep again in my lap when we go back to school in the auto) but I’m happy that she’s had a great time.

She joins the pantheon of stars in my life.

The brightest star at our first wedding anniversary.

Getting addicted

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There’s most definitely withdrawal

But it’s pleasurable

The evidence is …. In my Hanging out with Kaveri and her ‘sister’ Radikha.

I’d collected Kaveri from school to go to a Mysore Storytellers event but rain put a stop to that.

So we had movie night instead, with all the girls.
Chess lesson after receiving a new book to learn in ten minutes. I ask you. Ten minutes ….. I began learning chess at Kaveri’s age and still picking it up.
The girls out walking
A final Ice cream at Polar Bear

The wonderful people that provided the ice cream for this year’s event on Manjula’s Birthday in August, promoting creativity at Kaveri’s school

Then back to school

I only get 24 hours but it’s wonderful.

Gowri-Ganesh-Chaturthi

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Each year MAnjula would carefully prepare puja for Ganesh and his mother Gowri

Manjula preparing for puja in 2015 a very significant year, when we got engaged.

Ganesh in 2015 the version on the left was taken to be immersed in the river Kaveri later that week.

…

This year I was invited to Kaveri’s school to join the celebrations.

Afterwards we did our own thing at home

All thanks to Sowbaghya with help from her assistant.

Next we’ll work out which day we can immerse him in the river.

…

As per,… doing nothing.
It’s nice ….. really.

Kaveri becoming a sharp English teenager.

… Whatever…

She’s always with us

Missing

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… her, as she’s back at school

A nine year old and a sixty six year old being together for over two months is a wonderful mix of experiences and emotions.

At times it’s been a challenge but wouldn’t change it…

On the way to school she asked if I’d visit this Sunday; within minutes — after being greeted by friends — it had changed to ‘a’ Sunday.

I will visit this Sunday and exchange pictures.

Here’s mine.

Thank you Kaveri for being you and invading my life.

March 2023 update

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We continue to celebrate and recognise beautiful Manjula with …..

Filmmaking
Our ‘making connections’ dialogues with young friends
Storytelling
Hanging out, having fun.

Next…..

Is Manjula’s fourth death anniversary and …

We’re already … Meeting and preparing with crafts and more books for Kaveri’s second Summer Holiday.

And Manjula’s library is getting used…