Happy Birthday Manjula

August 21, 2021August 21, 2021 SF1 Comment

Today Manjula would have been 48 and it’s yet another reason to celebrate and thank her for the time we were together (we still are).

Manjula sent messages with her love and for me to know all is well on her soul’s journey to her new life. She’s most definitely not a ‘hungry ghost’.

Here’s a video message from my love. Previously we’ve also heard from her via messengers

We’ve done a few things that Manjula would like and maybe make her giggle. Like the remembering garden. we’ve just planted in the park opposite our house.

She’s left audio and video recordings which I’m using to help write our story. We’ll release some of the videos in 2022

So what’s a hungry ghost? One of the tales that will be featured in our story, to be published before we reach what would have been her 50th birthday.

Yet another day in the park

August 20, 2021August 21, 2021 SFLeave a comment

Creating a garden for MAnjula

There’s been two sorts of reactions to the garden which might provide some insights into people’s view of life, more later.

Lucie just did her own thing, happy not to be all alone with me.

Independence Weekend

August 15, 2021August 15, 2021 SFLeave a comment

I’m meandering locally.

A lovely family round the corner kindly donated some plants for Manjula’s garden. Lucie didn’t want to leave.

Sunday morning puja for a newly opened Ayurvedic Centre with the help of Satish’s kids Sukrutha and Pranav and I’ve forgotten the name of the enchanting two-year old.

These guys will have bought their flowers but you can begin to realise why people scour the area to nick flowers in the morning.

Today is Independence Day, we also have a flag (Indian) outside our house but without the dashing hero.

And something else

August 14, 2021 SFLeave a comment

Shopping with a purpose

August 13, 2021August 14, 2021 SFLeave a comment

Don’t consider Tanuja and I to be sensible shoppers.

If our trip to the nursery is anything to go by, we’re the sort to go to the supermarket for staples and come back with puddings, the exotic rather than the plain, the icing while neglecting the cake.

We’ve got a great selection of flowers but our eyes were distracted by the shapely coloured and aromatic roses.

The problem is, as we knew, but didn’t care, they’re not a lot of use for the new Manjula’s garden in the park.

Why? you might ask.

Because people pick the flowers in the morning for their puja rituals.

So I thought I’d create a mini rose garden inside our gate.

I wish I’d done it for Manjula a few years ago as she would have loved it.

I started writing this post in a light-hearted jokiness way, only to realise this…..

I placed some of the roses out the front door but inside our gate. Within less than one day someone had stolen the roses.

Clearly these people haven’t any thought that the flowers are there for the enjoyment of all, rather than the selfish ritualistic needs of a few.

We’ve yet to plant out our flowers in Manjula’s garden and I seriously wonder if any of the flowers will survive, if I don’t employ a 24/7 guard.

It’s even worse with the roses in the next park. They are carefully nurtured by the gardeners but people go in and steal the whole plant.

We need some English old fashioned park signs ‘don’t pick the flowers.’

Another case for the missing dharma detective.

Mysore meandering again

August 11, 2021August 12, 2021 SFLeave a comment

Mysore’s magic continues to show itself in special ways.

The party girls out and about after my early morning yoga.

lunch in Indra Paras Hotel where the owners and staff were happy to see me and surprised I’d been in Mysore all this time.

The hotel owner thought I’d put on weight, so I blamed the pandemic and not the cream cakes from Sapa. Might have to hit that on the head though.

MAnjula’ bench (no 4) at my favourite museum in the old House used by the British after the fourth war of Mysore in 1799. It’s-now complete with sleeping Buddha.

and more gardening back at home, with other people randomly helping our gardener …

Our local shopkeeper wondered why I was so red, it’s hanging out in the park vaguely directing the garden creation, with very little actual work.

I found her

August 10, 2021August 10, 2021 SF1 Comment

Exactly two years ago I appealed for Cinderella.

Manjula had some beautiful shoes but her feet were so tiny finding someone they would fit was a real challenge.

Well I’ve found another Cinderella, or at least a lovely young woman who also has teeny feet.

It’s so fitting (ha ha) that the artist who has connected so well with MAnjula and now painted two beautiful portraits should be the one to take her shoes.

I’m so pleased to find this happy solution.

Farrell Factoid

It’s taken two years as most Indian women don’t have such teeny feet.

My feet are also quite small at six and a half, not that anyone has ever offered me small shoes. 🤭

one wasn’t enough

August 9, 2021August 10, 2021 SFLeave a comment

At Christmas I gave myself a wonderful gift

It was such a characterful portrait of beautiful Manjula. The enigmatic artist knows MAnjula, connected and found her spirit.

I just had to have another.

I may seem greedy but I just can’t get enough of MAnjula (you may have worked that out) and especially how Priyanka brings out many facets of my beautiful wife.