Back from our weekend away

SB was all prepared for todays big puja.

Today!
I’m uncertain my T shirt was appropriate wear.

After our ‘family’ weekend, that’s Me with the girls…. Kaveri, her mum Chandrika, sister (aka auntie) Radikha together with Lucie at Chera Rocks in Kannur,

We introduced body boards to the beach, work and play. A fun weekend together.

I can’t believe it

Goats surf the net to find scrumptious garden.

One or two we can tolerate. But a whole bunch aka tribe, trip or flock munching on Manjula’s garden is a bite too far.

I don’t know how they found the garden or got inside. Maybe they did find it on the net or the two that found it last week, passed the message on.

They were chased out of town (ok the garden) with my big stick and shrill whistle. They conveniently led me straight to the owners.

Who knows how the ‘farmer’ can stop it happening. I’ll use the same aversion therapy if it happens again but I’ll complain to the council/Corporation. Their neighbours know this and have passed it on. Any more problems and they may have to shift them.

Wonderful story

I’ve just finished reading.

Brian Selznick combines art and words to provide a surprising and insightful story. Strongly recommended

Some might consider them children’s books. If so, this child loves them. we have all his books at Manjula’s Library at Mysore Bed and Breakfast.

Kaveri and other guests have also loved this obviously young persons book.

I liked it!

Bringing MAnjula home

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.

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

Missing

… 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.

Getting it

Poor Sowbaghya has to listen when Lucie has shown me the paw and Billet-Doux treats the place like a hotel.

Are they giving me a not-so-hidden message?

OK, I’ve bored her, explaining how (she knows) I read a lot, so have a broad knowledge (superficial) of many things.

That includes what to do about my current situation.

The problem is : we know stuff but do we act on it? We may have received the information but it’s not sunk in or led to the necessary change.

It’s as if I’m in an automatic Photo Booth that’s lead lined or surrounded by an (iron) curtain that stops the information getting through. I get it but not enough as it does not lead to action.

For example Kanchana gave me the ‘secret’ book and Tom has provided all sorts of positive insights—many others have helped— but it’s not led to the realisation of awareness and ‘action.’

You know the sort of stuff.

Well it began to fall into place this week. The timings right on the fourth anniversary of losing MAnjula

For more than four years there’s been a volcanic reaction, starting with the denial, then the acute shock of loss followed by the slow constant grinding down of grief.

Leading to anger and intolerance, to myself and others. it’s all so wrong… that negativeness is not what MAnjula (aka Full Full) and I are about.

It’s had its ups as well as downs and I’m generally quite robust (or so I thought) but the biggest challenge is the blame, the guilt, the what-ifs, wrapped up in depression. I have the overall feeling that I’ve let Manjula down and now I can’t do anything about it as she’s not physically with me anymore.

But I can …

learn to forgive myself, let the past be there, continue to celebrate MAnjula and as Louise says

“Life is really very simple. What we give out, we get back”

I really believe that but now need to act on it.

I remind Kaveri to ‘be kind’ and I need to listen and act on it myself and with myself

Did someone speak?

Hay’s book appeared in Manjula’s library, on the 23rd March, a gift from Rakesh

Speak to the paw.

Farrell Factoid

Goes without saying, listening is an integral part of this process. This popped up today.