Kaveri suggested we cycle to school. So after a ‘dry run’ on Sunday and a potential wet one yesterday we finally launched today.
We’ve cycled together for over three years and she was confident cycling before we met but it’s provided an opportunity to improve our safe cycling.
Between this and pillion on my Enfield like me, she’s pointing out all the reckless incorrect road behaviour.
That’s my girl
It seemed a little hectic this morning. Malis staying with us but not to be seen — yet. Cats fighting in the house in the middle of the night. Kaveri doing last minute revision (maybe) and off to school early for yoga and exam with sports after school.
Kaveri and I had planned to cycle to school this week but that’s delayed to Thursday —- we can’t have too many changes in one day!
Sowbhagya still holding us all together — has now left to do home cooking for her business and will return later.
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Last night we attended a great new event, it’s where we got a thali of fruit… fab!
Great venue, we met the owner and an old friend Sham Sunder the environmental sustainability head of Crest at NIE – National Institute of Engineering who I first met — on a great cycle ride that he arranged — shortly after arriving in Mysore
Held at the Nityotsava Convention Centre
We’ve shifted from enlightenment street (Moksha Marga) to
Yes, she’s most definitely with us
Images of MAnjula are all around the house, as is her memory wall,
Billet-Doux and messengers.
and her latest portrait from our favourite artist
And lots of Mangoes
Helping us connect with our new community
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We’re at
https://maps.app.goo.gl/eyHFxUAiRUaQd7RW8?g_st=ic
The mouthful of our actual address is…
No. 179, 10th Cross, 2nd Main, Gokulam 3rd stage, Mysore – 570002
I had the pleasure of meeting Kaveri from school and spending some time with the women of the family.
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Kaveri and I first visited the new babe.
His mum Radhika (her auntie) Kaveri and I have spent much time together over the past few years, especially in school summer holidays when they’d go to swimming lessons, stay with me and we’d have vacations in Kannur and Wayanad.
Grandmother is forever avoiding my camera.
Next I visited Chandrika’s (Kaveri’s mum’s) new home for dinner
I used the opportunity (hobby horse —soap box) to emphasise we should help Kaveri to be strong, a good communicator, and be kind. This was more important than stuffing her full of facts, in order to pass exams.
Kaveri was the full on interpreter.
We needed to encourage, support, even put pressure on Kaveri — who can be a bit lazy— to do better
I explained that my current meetings with advocates were to enable me to stay in India My priority being continue to support Kaveri for ten years into adulthood.
I am so proud of Kaveri, MAnjula is sooooo pleased.
Our garden provides enjoyment.
I’m sitting out in it now awaiting someone from the MCC to take away the waste.
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It’s not only for sitting out.
It’s also provided hundreds of Mangoes for friends, family and neighbours (plus squirrels, birds including parakeets, and fruit bats) to share.
There’s still the later fruit smashing into the ground around me now. — They were too high to reach and crop.
We already know the MCC horticultural department and the commissioner from our partnership to creating Manjula’s memorial garden (see below).
We hope they can pick it up. We don’t want to see more waste dumped by the roadside.
So we went bowling
Playing games
Eating and.. shopping
Go on stick it up him.
Maïlis, Sowbhagya, and Tilak. —- Let loose on the roof — gathering the Mangoes.
Just a part of today’s crop.
They can’t get enough.
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And next …. Variety counts.
I’ve lost count, how many I’ve had today.
I’m slowly learning mango farming. Well reaping the product at least.
We’ve had streams of friends and neighbours on PYO – pick your own and donated kilos of the beauts.
We’ve moved on from the hook on a stick, to the giant butterfly net (not) and used two types of blades to get to a tool standard that works for the reachable ones
I’ve created an extra long pole (metal curtain rod and bamboo) to help reach to the top of the tree and its outer perimeters. The ‘unreachable’ ones are a challenge. The first extension broke, the next couldn’t quite reach
We’re not complaining. Well the old woman that cleans is… as I’ve not achieved the usual standard (I’m certain that’s not true)
Next stage is for someone to climb the tree. Two requests (farmers and experienced friends) haven’t worked out but maybe the grandson might step in.
BUT
We have collected hundreds of mangoes (this is one productive tree) and I’ve ordered a professional telescopic pole.
Delicious breakfast, family from round the back came for Mangoes (but they’re getting harder to reach) and Luca tucking in.
We’re sharing caring types —- some to our human friends, others to fruit bats, squirrels and insects, some have lost patience with me and dived to smash their mango brains on the ground.
The latest wonderful creation has arrived from Aadirika aka —Mostly beautiful Maya— (check Instagram) has now created three fab memory portraits of MAnjula
All to be found at Manjula’s Mysore.
Out third
Thank you Aadirika, for your intimate understanding of what MAnjula meant to me and representing our wonderful life here in Mysore.
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Manjula (obviously), Lucie our first dog of the family of over 15 years, Kaveri, walking Luca — our latest addition and in the tree. —- Billet-Doux my sweet (love) letter sent by Manjula, a few years ago. Plus the dragonfly and old man with his head in the clouds.
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Did you find them ?
Me and MYCycle 