Clean 20180428

Vasantha came this morning to help me do a deep clean of my room.  It really helps when she is here as she can help me move the furniture around and its just generally more fun doing it with someone than on my own.  Especially in this heat.

We moved a LOT of dirt as with the hot weather there is a lot of dust and the insects work overtime.

Phew.... 20180427

Busy day with a postponed meeting this morning which ended up with an intense discussion between the three of us about what we should do with the Farm Group farm. 

This afternoon I went to JIPMER hospital as part of their Green Plantation initiative.  I loved how they lit the lamp at the beginning.  I even got a certificate which I had to go up and get!  They see me as a ‘guide’ for what they are doing.

It is nice to know that some people are inspired by Buddha Garden.

Last day at school 20180426

Today was the last day at Transition school with this group.  We completely cleared up the beds and put a very heavy mulch on top.  It was so hot and towards the end the students were really suffering.  But they kept at it and we even had time to make a compost heap at the end.  Although Karin, the volunteer I took with me, finished it off.

I have really enjoyed working with this group and hope that the one next year is as good.  They are called the Cheetahs and there will be 20 of them.

Have found a way to deal with the jiggle on the video with a video stabilization tool.  But it can only do so much so I think I need a tripod as well.

Gloopy stuff 20180425

For the first time I used the new equipment to look at some of this week’s video clips.  It is wonderfully quick although the super big screen shows all their imperfections, mainly that there is jiggle because the phone is hand held.  I DO hope this doesn’t mean that I now have to spend a lot of money on a new camera! 

Also tried out some of Mani’s gloopy stuff – in this case dried and ground up papaya leaves on my hair.  Its supposed to be very cooling and it did feel like that.  Mani is really enthused and has lots of ideas for different sorts of mixtures that will do different things for hair.  I notice, however, that as he has shaved off all his hair for the summer he is not going to be sitting around with green stuff on his head!!

All set up 20180424

Spent a lot of today working on and getting used to the new computer.  This involved rearranging the room which I have managed to do using existing furniture.  Not sure how long term it will be but gradually I feel myself getting more used to and settling with it.

This afternoon decided I would bite the bullet and get a new keyboard as the old one refuses to work and probably cannot be mended.  Managed to get one from nearby Kuilapalayam which meant I didn’t have to waste time going to Pondy. Its not exactly what I want, but once again I feel I am gradually getting used to it.

New equipment arrived 20180423

The new computer and the large monitor arrived today and Bharati came and set it up.  Its all lovely but is going to take a bit of getting used to.  Already the old keyboard for the monitor has stopped working so I suppose I will have to get a new one after all.

All dressed up 20180422

This is Rajan and Magzhiran all dressed up and ready to go to FOUR different marriages this morning! 

Sleep needed 20180421

Sooooo sweet…. But probably not if you are Mum and its 4.00am.

Once she wakes up at some unearthly hour in the morning Elsie will only go back to sleep if she can lie on top of Mum.

In hibernation 20180420

Here is the New Horizon orchard again after a lot of the trees have been weeded and mulched.

It feels like the place is in hibernation for the summer and will reawaken when we get some rain.

At last! 20180419

I have been wanting to cut the grass in the New Horizon orchard for ages.  Finally I got the time to do it today and its transformed the place.

We can now see the trees and what needs to be done.

What is this?

We have had this on our beans for some time.  I found out today it is probably mealybug which is very prevalent around this time of year.  In the past we have had it on our papayas.

The fact that the plants are producing a lot of beans says a lot about our plants.  Over the years they have learnt how to deal with this pest.

No photos again 20180417

Another day when I rushed out and took a whole lot of video clips but no photos.  As a result picture for today is of granddaughter Elsie as I spoke to her on the internet earlier.  Lovely to talk to her after quite a long time.

Focus on video 20180416

Have just organized to create another computer setup for making videos.  It means spending more money on a computer than I have ever done in my life before.

It feels like I am doing the right thing but I still feel a bit nervous about it.  As I am focusing on making videos I don’t seem to be taking many still photos.  This is the only one I took this morning to put up on Facebook!

Another video completed

Very pleased to have completed another video about Auroville’s 50^th birthday in February.  Initially I had a lot of trouble trying to do this on the Windows software and gave up in the end.  I’ve tried to be more ‘artistic’ than on the previous video which given it was a ‘what we have been doing’ piece was pretty straightforward.

I feel I am learning all the time and its much more enjoyable and interesting than it was.  Ideas are continuing to bubble up.

Its getting hot!

First video completed 20180414

Am very pleased to have not only finished, but uploaded the first of what will be weekly videos on Facebook.  The picture  is of the opening screen of the video.

Am getting on pretty well with the software, but the poor computer struggles at certain parts of the process.  Like when it exports the finished video.

Its been a lovely day for getting down to some proper work as its Tamil New Year and a public holiday.  Its felt really quiet.

Lots of ideas 20180413

Had a Green Group meeting this lunch time that inevitably has led to a lot of note and letter writing that has to be done.  The picture is of all my notes in my notebook!

At the same time I have a lot of ideas bubbling up about all sorts of interesting projects it would be good to do.

New book 20180412

Went to my last yoga class until August as all the Iynegar teachers are away.  Afterwards I went to Tim’s book launch.  I bought a copy for the grandchildren and have several ideas about how the content could be modified to get children more engaged.

Sudden beauty 20180411

I was picking the last of the tomatoes this morning.  I looked down and saw this beautiful flower.

It was a ‘weed’ (ie a plant growing in the wrong place) and I think is the Indian equivalent of Morning Glory.  Sometimes known as the Easter flower it has a lot of Easter symbolism in it.

Wonderful help 20180410

Had a really good conversation with a volunteer this morning about how to edit videos.  I seem to have been struggling for so long trying to do it but then suddenly here is this person ready to answer all my questions.  It was SO useful. She surprised me by saying that videos mustn’t be too long. One to two minutes if fine because that is the nature of most people’s attention span!

I think I can manage to do that once a week but lets see.  After all the help she gave me I am really sorry the only picture I have got of her is very hazy.  But it does show that as well as talking we managed to mulch one of the beds ready for summer.

Its wonderful how help like this comes when I need it.

First harvest 20180409

Back to ‘normal’ – whatever that is – today and picked this first harvest of the new bassella spinach.  It looked, felt and tasted delicious.

Spent some time successfully working on my latest video.  At last I have found a video editing software that seems to work.

Sound garden 20180408

Went around various places in Auroville today on Sylvia’s last day in India.  We found this ‘sound garden’ near Svaram (a unit that makes musical instruments) which consisted of interesting installations making different sounds.  I just loved this one which made ‘sounds of storms’ – it really made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.  It will be a fabulous place to bring the grand children.

I am writing this mid afternoon and I am already missing Sylvia!

Headlong into summer 20180407

I love this picture of Rajan and Magzhiran who I think is now leaving the terrible twos and will be three very soon. 

Found out today that my yoga teacher is leaving next week and won’t be back until the end of August.  Sylvia leaves tomorrow evening.

As the weather gets hotter it seems that I am careering headlong into summer with fewer things happening and people around.  I have already got my list of things that I will do in this quieter time and try to keep my motivation up for doing yoga on my own.

A bucket of red 20180406

Picked a LOT of these chillies this morning which we are going to use for drying.

However many times I see them I never get tired of the colour.  Its like it dances.

Unexpected quiet day 20180405

There was a strike today, something to do with objections as to how water in the Cauvery river is being shared -  so had an unexpected quiet day. I used the day for all the catch up work I have to do after having been away.  The picture is a map of Selvam’s farm which I am going to use in the new proposal.

I got a lot done but didn’t get around to doing this piece of writing today.

School harvest 20180404

I continue to be amazed by how much is coming out of the Transition School garden.  There is lots for everyone in the class to take home.

Father and son 20180403

Love this picture of Magzhiran going off to work with his father with his special small mumtie – a digging tool that we all use here.

Hot again 20180402

Its been so beautifully green and cool staying in the hills.

Now I’m back it feels very hot and of course it is very dry and brown.

Last day in Yercaud 20180401

Slowly over the few days we have been here as we have walked around I have felt myself absorbing the vibration of this place.

It has felt very mellow and I like it very much.

Lakes and parks and rain

Went for a long walk this morning down to the large lake and then to a nearby park.  Parts of the lake are lovely but part of it is choked up with overgrown plants and huge amounts of rubbish.  It was such a pity.

Then miraculously it seemed it rained this afternoon!  Proper rain that made a noise on the roof not just a little drizzle.  They will be very glad on the coffee plantations where the coffee is in flower and needs the rain to set the flowers and grow the beans.

Felt that I am starting to absorb this place and of course it is lovely still being cool.

Wandering around

I really enjoyed myself wandering around the town with Sylvia this morning.  We saw this picture which we thought was very true.  I don’t know whether it was because I was with Sylvia or because it doesn’t happen here but it was really good to walk around and not get constantly bugged by people.

It is Good Friday so church bells were much in evidence as there are many Christian churches and big schools here.  It is also full moon and a festival called Uthiram.  So there was a procession with music and dancing at the temple as well.

Later we walked around another part of town that was very quiet and a small village near the top of one of the hills on which this town is built.

To Yercaud

Despite all my worries and reservations my friend Sylvia and I managed to get away and drive to Yercaud.  This is the nearest Hill station to Auroville and as we went by taxi it was a relatively easy journey.

When we arrived we went to a place I had found online that promised a nice garden.  Unfortunately the garden was being built on (completely!) and the place was like a building site.  We found somewhere nice but it is more expensive than planned.

I really enjoyed having this room all to myself and being cool.

Teaching

Had a lovely time this morning at Transition school I continue to be really pleased with the garden that is still producing a lot.  Sylvia came with me and ended up doing a question and answer session with the students.  Somehow they got into a quite intense discussion about witches.  Sylvia said they often enjoy witches at this age and it isn’t the first time she’s had a discussion like this in class.

Had a lovely session ‘sound bath’ just listening to sounds that took me on a journey through my body.  Beautiful.