Tag: Manjula

Precious moments

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After watching Ina’s family’s celebration of her life, (funeral).

I’m reminded to try and always leave meeting someone with warmth and care as it might be the last time we see them. I did with Ina but still need reminding to always be attentive, kind and share compassion.

Ina connected kindly with everyone she met, including Billet-Doux
Ina brought cuttings of Manjula’s fave plants
Ina was a Buddhist.
Sensitive to ageing Lucie, Ina bought her a special mattress
Tanuja, Ina and Sowbaghya
That’ll do nicely, Lucie appreciates her comforting gift (having taken over the downstairs floor) and can pretend she’s the queen, when the cat’s not around.
The two big buddies. Manjula and Ina who just might already be having a gas, a great time together, as souls who will reconnect.

There’s more about Ina here

Each year we will do Puja for MAnjula and Ina to help their spirits ‘on the way’ to their new lives.

Let them eat cake

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The third cake saw the gang celebrating Manjula’s birthday at a Mysore micro brewery.

Maria can’t believe we’ve devoured so much cake.

We continue to celebrate Manjula’s birthday for a whole week and onwards.

and recognise our support for our Tibetan friends through decorating our house

Celebrating Manjula

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We begin remembering Manjula on what would have been her 51st birthday.

Here are our current guests Ina— the stalwart— who has visited us at Mysore Bed and Breakfast, almost every year for at least a month (with a break during the pandemic) and John, also a ‘glutton for punishment’ as he’s a returner —who we haven’t yet scared away — Settling in and helping us plan our rememberances.

Vasanth, Sowbaghya and I visited the nursery to get birthday flowers for Manjula’s garden. Unfortunately I didn’t get a photo of Priyanka, the friendly young woman shopping there. She donated a plant, on hearing why we were there..

How cool is that?

John

made a lovely ‘short’ of our first stage. . 🤭🤪

Next …. SB arrives with the first of three, yes three cakes….

and the family hanging out in the park ….

Neighbours appreciating Manjula’s bench.

Bringing MAnjula home

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Manjula appeared behind my cycle as well as in our hearts on what would have been her 50th birthday.

We celebrated with 100 children at Kaliyuvamane

Today I brought her home.

We cycled through the countryside, along the national highway, through the suburbs and on my cycle route around Chamundi Hill.

The countryside behind Kaliyuvamane
Layouts are planned
New friends Preetham and Preeti
Whoops
around the backside of Chamundi Hill
Chai stop at Lalithdripura
Breakfast stop
Back home at Mysore Bed and Breakfast

Stopping to chat as people wondered what it was all about.

It’s about our love and her kindness

… and now we’re back home at Manjula’s Garden

Back home in Mysore

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What’sapp between Ani and I

Manjula keeping her watchful eye, caring kindness and wonderful presence.
Ani arrives back from the US en route to Bylakuppe. After retiring as psychologist in the US she became a Tibetan Buddhist nun

Sowbaghya is in charge, looking after the house and menagerie while I’m away.

Waiting to go for a walk, together.
Even growing cucumber
We’ve been waiting to see the beautiful flower, Manjula’s favourite but missed its full glory.

So here, from a few years ago, are the two beauties together

She loved it and we her.

Manjula’s Mysore News : October 2022

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STOP PRESS CHECK THE VIDEO

Manjula’s Mysore is now the name of the new business. and we’ve already done a few things…

A fun day of activities for forty young visually impaired women on what would have been Manjula’s 49th birthday. Please Check the video created by Faizan.

We’ll always do something on her birthday

Created a garden in the park opposite.

A holiday in Kannur for our extended team

Reopened mysore bed and breakfast and mycycle tours. This month the MCC : Mysore City Corporation issued a business licence and so we’ve officially welcomed our first guests.

The new business has allowed Stephen to get a business visa, to continue to stay in India. So far he’s not been able to get an OCI (overseas citizen of india) and most importantly it’s another way to celebrate MAnjula

Manjula’s Mysore is a three year project to do good as MAnjula would have wanted

Knock Knock

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I’ll often joke to our guests that there might be a knock at the door….

Well there was for…,

Jony, Sue, Chris and Ruth

It wasn’t the secret police but a return visit from me.

Jony kindly put me up after passing through WOMAD on my tour of the south west that included Dorset, Trowbridge, Kingsclere and Bath.

…

I was also hanging out with other critical friends in Kingsclere.

At the home of Stephen who edits

After Dorset I was

Resting and reading about …

At Ruth’s in Bath and reading from her latest book of poems, all about India….

That’s Ruth the poet.

I think I’ll export some to India

I have…. What next?

…..

Thank you all for you care and kindness

I’m so happy to have created something special with MAnjula which continues to grow our wonderful family.

Check out the next posting to see how we continue to celebrate Manjula and continue to grow our family.