Finished at last

Today after work time Rajan, Mani, a volunteer and myself went to finish the Transition school garden.  This involved finishing off the drip irrigation and planting the seedlings that we took there over a week ago.

We have been waiting some time for the fence and gate to be finished and we heard yesterday that it was.  I’m so relieved we have finished the irrigation system and the planting as I don’t think those seedlings would have lasted much longer.

Unfortunately it has all cost more than the money that was allocated.  So first job of the New Year will be to find some more money for it.

Interesting times

It was Farm Tour day today and I had two interesting conversations.  One was with a group of Japanese who have their own farming/community project in Japan.  The other was with an American who wanted to talk about the possibility of bringing a group of school students to Buddha Garden next June.

I find that much less stressful now (in fact I feel like the volunteer in the picture!) I don’t have to expend a lot of energy taking them around and talking about Buddha Garden.  They get the basic stuff from the audio guide so ask more interesting questions.

Good conversations

We had an extra session today which had a wonderful effect on the place.  Its amazing what can get done when you have a group of people focused on a particular job – in this case clearing up two orchards.

Had two really good conversations, one with someone who has a farm in the Orkneys and was in Buddha Garden about three years ago.  Suddenly I have a lot of different places to visit if I want to.

VIP visitation

Had a surprise visit from the Secretary of the Auroville Foundation today.  At times like these I always miss Vivek who knows the right things to say to such people.  He seemed quite interested and to enjoy his visit.

The picture is of some new beds that we made in the cashew area.  They are what we call ‘temporary beds’ that we use in the cool season when there are a lot of people and we can manage them.  Other times of the year we plant them either with a green manure or something like pumpkins that don’t need a lot of looking after.

Little helper

Magzhiran helping with maize seeds.  He’s starting to grow up very quickly.

Traffic jam

I took this picture at the Visitors Centre car park at lunch time. The traffic wasn’t moving!

Horrible.

A trip to the city

Rajan and I went to Pondy today to get various things needed in Buddha Garden.  Mattresses, bedding and buckets being just three of the things we got.

There was time for me to go to Casablanca to get a new pair of sandals.  Just as well as I fear my present ones are going to fall apart soon.

New shoes for the new year.

Wrong time

Lesley has given me some money towards my air fare as a Christmas present.  I am so very, very grateful.  What a wonderful start to the new year.

The picture is of the decorations for the end of term function at Udavi school.  Unfortunately I got the wrong date so we were the only people there!  Its happening tomorrow night when I don’t think I will be able to go.

Unity in action

This is what unity means to me.  The feeling you have when you work together.

A lovely feeling to have on the winter solstice which is the end of the year for me.

Very pleased indeed

The picture shows the new mandala in the stone circle which was made by the student group who have been coming to Buddha Garden over the last seven to eight weeks.  I was surprised and pleased with their design.

I was also extremely pleased to have finally sorted out the SD cards so they play properly in our MP3 devices.  Giri brought me a card reader for my PC and that has made all the difference.  I am so pleased and relieved because that means we now have six devices and not too much money spent.

Finishing at last

I was so very, very pleased when the workers turned up today to finish the cabin refurbishment.

It’s a relief to have the space getting ready for all the people who have booked to come here over the next few weeks.

New face

Another Farm Tour day and more people came than last week.  We have to find some more devices although we managed not to run out.

Sangeeta asked if she could help.  I think she looks very professional

Thinking of Edwin

After staring at my computer screen all day I managed to get everything done that needed to get done.

As I was cleaning yesterday I thought of Edwin who died around this time of year.  The picture is of his painting that he gave to us while we were in Africa.

Deep cleaning

Vasantha came and helped me clean everything this morning.  Things have got really grubby as a result of the monsoon that brings in all the insects and me not keeping up with the cleaning too well.  It was really good having that help and I felt that I was able to do everything without exhausting myself.

Which is just as well as I have a huge amount of things to catch up on.  I love doing this sitting in my clean room though.

More busy than ever

Today I went to two schools.  In the morning I got wet during an unexpected shower when I went to Transition.  In the afternoon the session was cut short because they all had to go and practice dancing for the Christmas program they are doing next Friday.  After that I cycled round to various places and the Solar Kitchen to do my shopping.

Didn’t realise how tired I was until I got one of my ocular migrains that I haven’t had for years.  I must be more careful with myself…

Second day of the new project

We had four people turn up to use the audio companion.  This after our first advertisement about it. We didn’t have enough working devices so I had to do the tour in person.  Got some very positive comments.  Someone suggested that for those who want, we can download the files onto their smartphone with Bluetooth.

So far I haven’t been able to do that on my tablet so I suppose that will mean more fiddling about to do at the weekend.

How can I get more devices without spending too much money?  I can’t get the cheap devices to work how I want to and the other ones are too expensive.  I will have another go at getting them to work this weekend.

Lovely surprise

Had a very unexpected surprise today. A parcel arrived with this book inside it.

It came from the friend of a friend who visited me on Sunday.  He told me about the book which had really affected him and I was so surprised and happy to receive it.

Now all I have to do is find time to read it!

Misty morning

Had our first cool season mist this morning.  The picture doesn’t really do justice to that magical feeling as the sun burns through.

First day new project

Did the audio guide for the first time today morning.  Miraculously all the devices worked and people seemed to enjoy it.  Also had one person sign up for the course which starts with the audio tour.  Have got to sort out how to handle the financial aspect of it.

The afternoon has been spent cutting grass in the Pryog orchard, talking with Rajan and then trying to catch up with all the admin.

Busy

Managed to get a lot of admin jobs completed today as well as cleaning and doing my hair.

This day last year I made myself a foam roller which is what the picture shows.  I hardly do any exercises at home now but instead go three times a week to classes.  I am going through one of those periods when I just don’t seem to have the energy to get myself doing yoga on my own.  Hopefully the internal motivation will return.

Not particularly restful as I had to talk to quite a few people who needed help. Feel that I am just about ready to start the new working week.  Hope that it won’t be too impossibly busy!

With people

Busy with people for most of the day.  First talking to three planning students from Canada.  Then going with friends of friends around Buddha Garden and the Visitors Centre.

In the afternoon found out more about the new entrance from Vivek who had been talking to Aurovilian and non Aurovilian neighbours.  It is not going to be completed as quickly as we thought and the whole way the entrance is designed may have to be changed.

Felt I had been more busy than on an ordinary work day!  Did not get all the admin work completed that I wanted to do.

Coincidence

Despite doing a lot of other work this morning we had time to go to the stone circle this morning to finish the clearing up. We got all the granite pieces together to make a fire circle and rebuilt the fire pit.

Then Vivek told me there was going to be a celebratory meal this evening around the fire for the research team.  I thought this had been organized in advance but apparently it wasn’t thought about until this morning. I knew nothing about and yet I ended up getting the place ready!

At such times when things come together like this it feels very right and in tune with the energy of this place.

Cool

It felt like the weather changed today.  Nice and cool and not much sun.  Looking at the weather map it seems like the rain may have stopped.

Had a meeting with a group of farmers today to look at the irrigation research.  That meant a lot of clearing up to do and the farm looked very nice and tidy at the end of it.

School groups

Had the first group from Deepanam come to Buddha Garden where they planted beans and had a look at the mandala they are going to do in the stone circle.  Then raced off to the second group at Transition school.  They were working hard at doing the second lot of beds which should be ready for planting next week.

I really enjoyed it.

Emotionally draining

Had a Farm Group meeting today where we talked about maintenances which is always difficult.  The conversation brought up the difficulties we are having with Pierre in Buddha Garden. 

I hope very much that this starts a process where our difficulties can be resolved.  A lot has to happen though to achieve this.

It was nice to think of all my grandchildren and get them things for Christmas

Still hard work

Talked to Pierre about the volunteer and he said that he didn’t say ‘yes’ but said they must ask me.  Either he or his volunteer is lying.

Pierre did give me an old Sony smartphone.  Thought I might take it for myself as it’s the right size and my larger one can be donated to the project.  Got it all set up only to break all my nails trying to get the sim card tray out.  Couldn’t manage to do it and as a result it seems to be unusable as a phone which is presumably why Pierre hasn’t used it in three years!

Giri brought his old smartphones and this afternoon I have got three devices working.  My tablet and two Sony devices from Giri and Pierre.  One other device that Giri brought seems to have given up the ghost after I took out the battery.

Very pleased though because this hasn’t cost us anything.

Down and up

Felt very undermined this morning when someone who is staying in Pierre’s part of the garden came with a new volunteer who will only stay for three days.  I had already explained to this potential volunteer on email that it wasn’t possible to stay for such a short time.  According to Pierre’s volunteer Pierre had said it was OK for him to do so.

I felt very cornered and undermined.  Pierre knows this isn’t how we run things and I got so upset by it.  Fortunately had a lot of work to do on the audio guide.

Eventually gave up trying to get the cheap devices to take the audio guide.  Talked to someone at lunch whose daughter comes in contact with a lot of old phones.  As a result have put a request out to the community for old smartphones that I think will work better.

Floods

After very heavy rain yesterday and especially overnight woke up to floods this morning.  This is what it looked like at our entrance even after Rajan had gone and dug out the water channel that takes the water away.  The ponds are all overflowing.

And its brighter.

Rain and more rain

Given the amount of rain we have had today I’m amazed that we got anything done in the garden.  But we did.

It’s the tail of the cyclone going over so we have heavy showers and we just dodge out to do things between them.  Everyone else has managed to find a job to do in the dry.

Everything feels more relaxed now.  Seeds have been replanted and I think everyone feels better. 

A good clear out

I worked with some really good volunteers today who were able to take out the roots of trees that weren’t needed in the Guava area.  This volunteer managed to take out a very difficult tree root that had entwined itself around a water pipe.  Its nice to be able to see the whole water tank again.

Spoke to Rajan and he does realise it was a reaction to Vivek’s explosion.  Talked about how it is a learning situation for him and no need to go to bed with it.  It’s a learning situation for me too.  There is no need for me to try and make it right for everyone here.  People have to understand what it means to be in Buddha Garden and those who don’t understand the responsibilities have to go.

Even more difficulties

Got up this morning to find that Rajan was still in bed and couldn’t find out from Sangeeta what was wrong.  She muttered something about ‘head pain’.  I think it was a reaction to Vivek’s explosion yesterday although Vivek said ‘no’.

Made the morning work very difficult as Giri isn’t very organized and the research ladies finger ended up getting mixed up with the others.  Also had to organize the student group and try to do all the picking organization as well.

Why am I the only one that keeps going even when ill/not feeling good????

More difficulties and more rain

Vivek very cross this morning when he found out that Rajan and Giri were not doing the micro-greens as he had requested.  Had quite an explosion in the nursery pointing out it’s a complete waste of very expensive seed.  Managed to sort out  some micro-greens for us though which were lovely.  They seem to last a long time without water and without drooping. I’d talked with Rajan and Giri about it but didn’t feel to do anything as I don’t know enough about the project.

While I was doing grass cutting in the guava patch I felt enveloped by Peter’s love.

More rain which at least means the ponds are filling up.

Difficulties on a grey day

Had a very difficult morning with people turning up to stay at the same time I was having difficulties with the technology for the  audio guide.  I was so annoyed as the speaker worked fine yesterday but seemed to have run out of battery today.  I was surprised but Rajan said that he had used it a lot.

What seems to be apparent to me is that I am going to have to sort this one out.  Another job for Priya!! Giri and Rajan are full of ideas but don’t come up with solutions that work.  I don’t want to use devices where you have to spend half an hour sorting them out and then they don’t work properly unless you understand them.  I think this means we can’t use these cheap devices but must spend more money to get something better.

The rain has returned and it is grey and wet.  Peter’s death day but didn’t feel anything special.

Picture for the book

Very pleased indeed to have finished formatting and updating the A5 book for the new course on food growing.  It took me ages to get the page numbering correct and I’m still not entirely sure how I did it.  Its now gone off for printing.  This is one of the pictures I took to demonstrate what small seedlings look like.

I also did a lot of other jobs like sorting out the audio files for download.

Oh I am tired again! Although I am really pleased I have finished that book as reading the same stuff over and over again was starting to get very boring.

More grass cutting

Spent a lot of time this morning cutting grass in two places.  First was Udavi school (in the picture) where we have at last finished the jungle grass.  Rajan put the blade on the machine and this is much better for long grass.  I used it for the rest of the jungle grass in the stone circle and even there it was much easier.  It showed how much clearing up we have to do though.  I found a mattress in the grass which I’m sure was not put there by anyone here.

I’ve also got the machine for the audio guide working.  It wouldn’t play the files in the correct sequence until I renumbered them.

Oh I am tired!

Creativity in action

Had two school sessions today and at both of them we planted seeds.  At the first one I realized that I had forgotten to bring the labels so the students would know which seeds had been planted where.

I needn’t have worried.  One of them created the above label using pegs and sticky paper.  I love it when students can be so creative.  Why do most of them seem to lose it when they get older??

Soooooo busy

Spent more time grass cutting today in the stone circle which is starting to look very good indeed.  Its amazing how when all the grass is cut the place looks so big.

Managed to put the audio guide onto the SD card in the new player, but it won’t play.  All we seem to be able to get is the radio.  I have given it to Rajan to play with and am very mindful of Vivek’s advice not to get a cheap player.  Although the shop where we bought this one didn’t have anything more expensive.

To Pondy

Went to Pondy this afternoon and bought a lot of things for the school programs.  We also bought a very cheap MP3 player for the Audio Guide.  I hope it works.

The picture is of a very busy road in Pondy that we had to cross twice.  Terrifying even when I had Rajan’s help.

Clearing up

We made a start on clearing up the stone circle today.  What a job! There is wood all over the place and several piles of sticks and other things that have been left for ages so are going to take some time to clear up.  Not to mention a huge amount of very tall grass that has to be cut.

Worked very hard at the grass cutting.

Lost with a puncture

I’ve got tinnitus which might be caused either by too much ear wax or from being so pressurized yesterday. 

Another busy day when I went to Udavi school to start off a new class in the new garden.  It’s a class I had before so they know what to do although two of the girls didn’t want to do very much.  When I left the school I found my bike had a very bad puncture and was completely flat.

So I walked to Aurovelo but they won’t mend punctures.  Walked towards what I thought was the Solar Kitchen and the puncture repair place but got completely lost.  Eventually emerged at the back of Edeyenchavadi but the road looked completely different on foot.  I came back and everything seemed different as I walked along.  

Too busy again

What is it about Sundays? Once again I have found myself working too hard and feeling very pressurized.

Spent a lot of time working on the map for the audio companion for the Farm Tour.  When it was printed out I realized that I had done everything upside down.  Fortunately it wasn’t too difficult to get it all the right way up.

I also spent time writing up stuff for the food growing course and have sent the posters to be printed.  Started to resize the book but it all took much longer than expected.

Feel so tired and a new week starts tomorrow!

At the opticians

Woke up feeling quite frazzled which I suppose is not surprising considering everything that happened yesterday. Felt better after doing all the housework.

The picture shows the people at the opticians trying to find new frames that would fit my lenses.  In the end there was only one frame that fitted and of course that was the expensive one.  I could have had cheaper ones but it would have meant a lot of work making the lenses fit and I was worried they might break.

A lot happening

The picture is of a cabin we are in the process of refurbishing.  I am amazed at how quickly it is coming up but apparently there were four people working on it.  At the same time we are clearing the cashew area and the last undeveloped piece of New Horizon so that the area can be ploughed.

I also went to two schools today.  I was the late for the second one as I got held up at the first one because the City Transport wouldn’t come.  As a result I had to wait for Rajan to come and get me.  Then later in the afternoon we went to Pondy and I had to spend a lot of money buying new frames for my glasses.  The ‘old’ ones (only a few months old bought in the UK) couldn’t be repaired so I had to have frames the fitted the lenses as much as possible.  I tell myself it would have been much worse if I had had to buy lenses as well!

Tired

Worked very hard today at the grass cutting.  The person who was doing it is sick and I can see it won’t get done unless I do it. 

After finishing place looked fabulous.  And it wasn’t just me that said so!

Making a map

Was very excited today to learn how to make a map using a GPS app.  It took a bit of time to get the app working (I hadn’t switched on the GPS on my phone properly), but I loved doing it once it started to work.  Have still got a lot to learn about the best software and spent a lot of time fiddling around with it.

In the end the best I could come up with is the above, but it will be fine as a basis to use in my art software.  This is the map I am doing for the Audio Guide.

Cashew trees

Recently we have been doing a huge cleanup in the cashew area so that we can get it ploughed.  This has included pruning the trees like this one so that they now look very different.

With all the lower branches cut like this it will be much easier to do the picking.  Although I have very mixed feelings about the pruning as I think it would be nicer for the tree if it was left to grow naturally.

Catch up day

As I didn’t get a chance to catch up with everything yesterday I have had to do it today.  And ended up with a bit of a headache.  A lot of people are suddenly coming and we still haven’t refurbished the cabins.

I have had to put someone in this one even although it isn’t quite finished.  Fortunately the volunteer is someone who works for the Alaska wildlife agency and spends from May to September each year out in the wilds counting various sorts of wildlife.  So I presume she will be able to cope here.

Audio companion finished

Have spent all day working very hard to get the audio companion finished.  I am pleased with the result.

I found that I needed to go outside at regular intervals and took the opportunity to go and look at the ponds.  Which are now nicely full.

Work interrupted

Had planned to take a lot of stuff to Transition School today for their vegetable garden.  Couldn’t do so because the approach roads were so bad the van would probably have got stuck.

Will just have to be patient and wait until everything dries up a bit.

Mud

After hours of rain our two approach road are like quagmires of mud with an overloaded lorry stuck on one of them.  This is the other road which is just about passable although it has had a JCB on it churning everything up.