Having a laugh

Today we had the garden session at Udavi school and continued to move the stones from the old garden to the new one.  This picture really makes me laugh as although it is true that the stone was quite heavy it was actually sitting on the wheelbarrow when this picture was taken.

There was a lovely atmosphere and I think everyone enjoyed themselves.  I know I did.

I was told by a somewhat agitated person from the visa office today that I have to go to their office on Monday.

Mmmmmm mangoes

This is our mango tree in Pryog orchard with all the beautiful mangoes still hanging there and looking wonderful.  We are all eyeing them up to see which ones we want and hoping they will be ready for eating soon.  They look wonderful.

They seem to be taking a long time, but there is no point in harvesting them too soon as they won’t get properly ripe.

Still at it

Every morning after breakfast there is a lot of activity around Ganesha.  First there is the washing and then oiling and after this the putting on of new marks with coloured powder.

This morning Vasantha joined Sivakala, but by the time I got my camera Vasantha had disappeared.  Ganesha must feel well loved.

Turning green

With even the little rain we have had over the last week many plants are turning from brown to green.  This picture is of the aloe vera plants we replanted a few days ago.

Birthday party

I really like this picture I took of Magzhiran’s birthday party last week.  By the time of the party he was almost asleep on his feet and could barely blow out the candles.

Had a very quiet day today but still feel tired.

Strong girls

We have twice as many girls as boys in the new Udavi school class.  I was very pleased indeed to see how the girls worked together, even on the heavy jobs like moving the granite pillars.

Forgot it was not a work day today and got up really early! Have talked to a lot of people and we have had a very good shower of rain.  A different sort of day which has felt really good.

A place to sit

Had the first class of the new academic year in the new Udavi school garden.  I just finished writing the book on Wednesday and managed to get it printed and ready for the class today.  This is the corner where we are going to sit to read and write in the book.  The white is the pile of new books which I eventually distributed to the students.

How I have changed.  When I started Buddha Garden having a place to sit was the last thing I thought about.  Now we are starting Udavi school garden it was the first thing I thought about today.

The birthday boy

As it is Magzihran’s birthday there was a special puja for him in front of Ganesha this morning.  There is going to be a party tonight but last I saw he was looking too tired to enjoy it.

We did a wonderful job this morning moving the cement rings from the Pryog orchard to just outside my door.  We even had the time to plant all the medicinal plants that we are going to grow there.

Colour coding

Because of the research we have had a lot of new fences put up around the research beds, each one with its own lockable gate.  Today I found the time to colour code the locks and keys which I find always makes it easier when I have a bunch of keys to deal with. 

I also finished the book today and very pleased to do so on midsummer day.  Just as well because my first lesson with it is on Friday.  Now it is finished I feel a new lightness in my being.  It was a challenging book to write even although it was quite short.

Puja continues

What I didn’t realize was that once Ganesha had been installed for the following 48 days there had to be a daily puja.  Fortunately Sivakala, Sangeeta and Vasantha are very keen to do it and today it was Sivakala’s turn.

In the picture she is rubbing sesame oil over Ganesha.  Then she will put on fresh flowers and a dhothi.

Another edit for the book

I feel whatever it was in my stomach is leaving me now.  Amazing how it happened very suddenly – one minute I had a rather sore and sensitive stomach, next minute I felt much better.  I’m sure that being able to eat more has helped.

Felt so much better this afternoon I got the book out for another edit.  Wasn’t able to get much done because someone came to talk and talk and talk….. The picture is from the book.  

Getting better

Felt much better today.  It is clear that I really needed the rest I had yesterday!

This is the picture from the same day last year when I sent off the last of my papers from here to the UK.  Funny because I have been thinking about what I will do if my visa doesn’t come through or is refused.  If it doesn’t come through I can get a new one in the UK which, while time consuming to do will be OK.  If it is refused I wonder if it will be a sign that now is the time to do something else.

Hopefully the renewed visa will come through at the end of this week as promised.

A day in bed

Been ill today with stomach problems and have spent the whole day in bed.  Fortunately I had a good book to read.

Couldn’t help wondering whether the illness was a result of the stirring up of the energy here.  The symbolic clearing of the space and installation of Ganesha.  Or maybe its just because I needed the rest.

This picture was taken just after Ganesha’s eyes were opened when I definitely felt some energetic changes going on.

Ganesha installed

In a wonderful Indian extravaganza of sight sound and smell Ganesha was installed today.

Clearing

Ganesha will be installed tomorrow so we cleared out the rings that were in front of the granite slab where he will sit.  Cactus were put in pots and stones put in piles for use in the future.  It felt like a most wonderful clearing right in the middle of Buddha Garden.  Hopefully it cleared a space for more people to come and be part of the place.

This is where the rings were brought to just outside my place.  I think we will use them for growing different sorts of medicinal plants and herbs. 

Research

Today we planted the first three research beds.  Its quite a job and will need to be differently organized next time.  We must make sure that all the seedlings are planted at the same time so they are more or less the same size when planted out on the bed.

Too much talk

I went to two social meals today.  Lunch with 20 people from Sunlit future and evening meal with 6 people from Auroville Consulting.  We also had a Farm Group meeting which meant more talking.  And no pictures.

New antenna

My wifi stopped working last night and still wasn’t working this morning.  Phoned up Smartnet and it seems that the antenna was broken and had to be replaced.

No one had any idea why it broke, but according to the technicians it definitely had not been struck by lightning. 

A different day

Had to do the watering today but with the new solar system it can be done much faster.  I was finished by 8.00am.

Took the opportunity to do some different things.  As it was cooler I went to see Auroculture – first time for a month.  Cleaned my bike – first time for a year. Thought about how I am going to use the cement rings for a display garden.  Started to sort out how I am going to get my house white washed while I am away.

A good day.  It was quiet in a way that provided space to do and think about these other things.

Research woes

The research team from the UK are in Auroville at the moment and want to start the research in Buddha Garden next week.  This means that we need to have three beds ready to plant by Monday.  There were supposed to be three people come today to do the work on the three beds, but as none of them turned up Rajan and myself with his nephew and a niece  started the work ourselves.  Vivek was very annoyed and I think at the same time quite touched to see us all working away on a Saturday.  He said the research is not supposed to interfere with our work.

This afternoon the men turned up.  Although not all the work is finished I think enough has been done so we can get the planting done on Monday.  

The new book

Got my first copy of the new book today.  Its good to feel a physical copy in my hand. I think it will help with the last of the editing on it.

Ants

Ever since the rain came I have from time to time been over run with ants.  Like the ones here in my bathroom.

They come in the mornings and evenings and aren’t around at other times.  Hopefully they will disappear when they have found a nest.  Lets just hope its outside rather than inside the house.

Rain

Rain glorious rain last night.  Enough to make puddles and for everywhere to be wet this morning.

And so much cooler.

Beautiful moment

Several years ago these two people met in Buddha Garden.  Now they are living in a community in Japan and have just had a baby.

Very special.

More pictures

I decided not to do any writing work on my book today.  If I have a rest from what I have written I will be able to see it with fresh eyes. I will hopefully see what needs to be done to it more easily.

It needs one or two more pictures and so I went out and did that in the evening.  The picture for today is another one that demonstrates ‘adaptation’.  

I seem to have lots of pictures about adaptation. I wonder if there is a message for me in that.

More struggle

I have spent all day struggling with the book but feel that I have at last got the shape for it.  I am very pleased indeed with the first part.  Its been a hot sweaty day doing it.

I took this picture to demonstrate ‘adaptation’ as the two trees grow towards where there is more light.

Struggling with the book

Its been a real struggle working on the book for most of today.  It has included looking up suitable pictures on the internet.  In trying to find a suitable picture to describe ‘diversity’ I came across this picture of budgies.

The picture makes me laugh which its nice to do at the end of an extremely tiring day.

Dried to a crisp

I lose my energy very easily in this heat.  Although what needs to get done seems to get done, but am not always clear how. Seems quite miraculous in some cases.

Now my yoga classes have stopped I have to depend on myself to keep going with my practice.  Have decided that at the very least I will make myself do one asana a day. I think I can do that minimum however I feel and once I get started it usually flows quite easily into doing more.  Then everything within me feels good.

Only white flowers

I am finding it hard work writing this book.  It never seems quite right.  Today I decided to add more pictures and this evening went out trying to find pictures of vegetable plant flowers.  There weren’t that many and they all seemed to be white – is this a feature of vegetables that grow at this time of year?

I also went to take the photos in the evening.  Not a good idea as there is often a breeze at this time of day.  Which meant that quite a lot of the pictures were rather blurred.

Tired

Spent a lot of today finishing off and eventually sending the education proposal to SAIIER who will hopefully fund it.

I wanted to finish off the book as well but felt too tired.  Rajan also very tired and thinks it is probably the heat. Found out today that poor Sam has got scarlet fever so he is obviously very tired as well.