Cows and bowl painting 20180728

After painting their bowls this morning, the highlight of today was a trip to Annapurna farm so we could watch the milking.  At first Lucille and Eloise got very upset by the large dogs which had loud barks but were otherwise OK.  They found some of the cows a bit difficult as well as they wanted to get close to us and were very large.  They saw a chicken just out of the egg which they all thought was wonderful.  Maybe because it was more their size!

It gave me a chance to get a good look at the new ponds on this farm.  They are huge and I don’t think we have enough land for something similar in Buddha Garden.

Another evening out 20180727

The family went to a paper weaving workshop this morning and made some lovely bowls. 

I had a session at Udavi school and during today have managed to finish the weekly video.  Did some babysitting this evening and had a delightful time talking with my grandchildren. 

Lots of different things 20180726

Managed to hire an auto rickshaw from the Visitors Centre this morning and we used it to go to the Sound Garden.  This was much enjoyed by all.  This afternoon they went with Rajan to the Irumbai Temple where Rajan’s sister told them all about it.  Then we went for a meal at Sivakala’s which was really lovely.  Good food and the children got flowers in their hair and henna designs on their hands. Somehow I also managed to get to my yoga session.

So much is going on I am in the state of not knowing what I did yesterday unless I look at the video clips!!! 

Out and about 20180725

Went out early with Mary and co to the Ashram to see if we could visit Sari Aurobindo’s room.  And we could and did!  The children were very good and sat very still and quiet.

Then we went shopping (of course!) which included going to Singapore metal house to get several tiffin carriers for Mary.  I came back to go to a session at Udavi school and then try to catch up on all my admin stuff that I’m finding hard to fit in with all these other family activities.

In a shop! 20180723

Had a lovely day today starting with a visit from Mary and co, a trip to the chickens and then a chat with Sivakala about the food they wanted.  Then we went to the Visitors Centre and I took the children around the shops while Justin and Mary found out a bit more about Auroville.  The picture is of us altogether in one of the shops.

Then I had a session at Udavi and Mary came to collect me so we could go to Certitude playground together.  Then we all went and had dosai at the Neem Tree.

Perhaps not surprisingly  I feel rather tired.

Buddha Garden and Pondy

First thing this morning the children came and we looked around some more in Buddha Garden.  Collecting eggs was one highlight.  I am finding it quite difficult to take pictures of them when I am also involved with what they are doing.

In the afternoon we went to Pondy where all the children all had a wonderful time in the shops which they seem to have missed.  Two of them bought the sandals in the picture which will be much easier to take on and off when they need to.  We had a meal at Le Promenade and then walked along the Promenade by the sea in the cool of the evening.

Lovely day 20180721

Had a lovely day today showing Mary and co around Auroville.  First we went to the Solar Kitchen which is where this picture was taken.  While we were doing that Mary and Justin were sorting out electric mopeds.  They are going to manage three children on two bikes which I think is very brave of them.  Then we went to Foodlink and Pour Tous by which time the children looked like they were not going to be able to stand up for much longer.  So we all went off to our various places for lunch.

In the afternoon we eventually met at Certitude sports ground – Mary had got confused about where it was and couldn’t remember the name.  I couldn’t stay very long as I was going to yoga but they found dosai at the Neem Tree which is gluten free and which all the children love.

Arrival 20180720

What a day.  Finally Mary and co arrived about 7.00pm after 24 hours travel.  No wonder the children looked a bit bug eyed!  Despite that they seemed happy to be here and were interested in everything around them.

I got to their apartment early and got this food ready for them.  Which is nothing compared with the amount of special food which  Mary brought with her.  Apparently its enough to have at least one spaghetti meal each day they are here should it be necessary.

Very excited 20180719

Big surprise that Mary and co are arriving tomorrow and not on Monday as I thought.  I don’t know how I managed to get the dates mixed up!  I think in the beginning she was coming on the 23^rd and then changed the date when she changed the airline she was coming on.  Fortunately I have already got quite a lot of stuff ready.

Went to a really good yoga class today (where this picture was taken).  I am liking it more and more and my body feels very different. 

Shapes 20180718

I really like this picture.  The shapes and colours seem to make a very harmonious whole.

Yet another pineapple plant!

Weeding festival 20180717

We are doing such a lot of weeding at the moment and the pineapple beds were no exception.  As the picture shows you need gloves to do the job as pineapple leaves are rather spiky.

I love these colours 20180716

I finished another video today which I have scheduled for while I am away entitled ‘green’.  It’s a sort of meditation on all the different shades of green which you find in Buddha Garden. 

Today’ picture is of a pineapple leaf and I just love the colours on it.

Getting excited 20180714

Took this picture for Mary today so she has the information needed to get a plug adaptor suitable for India.  I am getting really excited about her coming here.

Had a very active yoga session which at one moment made my back very painful.  It was like a strike of lightening went up back and for a moment I couldn’t move my legs.  Everything feels OK now and it feels like my body may be readjusting itself.

Green 20180713

I am creating a video on the theme of ‘green’ and today went around Buddha Garden and took a lot of relevant clips and photos.  I love this close up of a spiky Soursop fruit.

There are many ways to bring everything together and its going to be very interesting doing it.

I love this 20180712

Went to yoga this evening and saw this lovely Kolam made by Grace.  Gorgeous.

Lost forever 20180711

My sinuses and neck hurt today, I think as a result of the yoga yesterday and probably working too hard today.  As a result I’ve been feeling a bit foggy and deleted some clips which I took this morning by mistake.  I really must be more careful, as once gone they are gone forever.  Maybe I shouldn’t be in such a hurry to delete the files off the SD card, but should delete two or three days in arrears or something like that.

I took some still pictures as well and this picture reminds me of the clips I lost.

Kolam 20180710

Grace made this beautiful kolam outside her house after going to a special kolam masterclass over the weekend.  I took the picture when I went to yoga today.

When Mary comes I am planning that the whole family goes to one of Grace’s kolam classes.  Although they will do something a lot simpler than this.

Wood 20180709

I went to a session in the Udavi school garden today. While there I realized that the tree which had recently been cut down had this beautiful pattern on one of its cut sides.  It also had a lovely bark pattern and was nice and comforting to sit on. 

There was something lovely about sitting on a tree and wood being under me.

New flowers 20180708

We had two new volunteers arrive today and when I took them down to the cottage I saw this lovely shower of flowers.  I thought they might be amla but they are not.  I have no idea what they are.

Wrote an article today which felt a very one dimensional way of communicating after all the video editing.  I also made an extra video which I have arranged to be published while I am on holiday. 

New Alignment 20180707

This is how I felt after my yoga class.  As if all the strands of my body had broken and were squiggled like an unraveled ball of wool.  I lay on my bed and felt very hot as my whole being tried to realign itself.

Wonky 20180706

I had to laugh at this picture, taken unintentionally but expressing exactly what I feel about these students.  Oh they are difficult!  They don’t listen and don’t seem to be taking anything in.  Although as can be seen from the photo, there was some work completed.

I just have to remember their age with raging hormones and big internal changes.  The class that were like this last year are fine this year.  So I’ve just got to be patient.

Alignment 20180705

One morning recently I was lying in bed and touched the side of my body.  I felt as if I had a lot of little magnets inside me that were all aligning themselves.  I felt my body strong and firm.

This image came very strongly during the yoga class I went to this evening.  In this picture I have tried to show how it feels as if a lot of little magnets are aligning inside me.

New path 20180704

We got the JCB to come in today to clear the last area of New Horizon to make a new fruit orchard and dig 66 holes for 66 new fruit trees.  At the same time they opened this new path so it is now easier to get to the new land.

I felt it was all very symbolic for me given that I feel I am taking a new path.  Although I note that this new path is an extension of an old one.  Going to a new place within Buddha Garden rather than a new place outside.  Is this a sign to me as to where my new path is??

Someone told me today that she felt that one of the videos I made recently spoke to her.  And that as a result she has changed her ideas.  I was very touched.

The space 20180703

This is how I envisioned the space left now Andre and Ross are no longer with us.  Had another idea of how to develop this while at my yoga class.

Had a lot of fiddly jobs to do today.  Like following up on the bank who haven’t yet sent my new bank card.  Apparently Emma’s card hasn’t arrived either so I hope her address is not one where they are all going to go missing.

Good rain 20180702

Had a really good rain last night.  No wind so it didn’t blow into my room as often happens this time of year.  And we had a nice cool night which made sleeping easier.

I came across this puddle that sparkled as the heavy drops from the trees dropped into it.  Unfortunately I couldn’t capture a photo of the ripples but this shows a bit of the sparkle of the water which was very beautiful.

Mind full of weeds 20180701

I spent a lot of time on the weed video today which included going out and getting more clips. As the picture shows, they are often very beautiful plants.  I have got the video into a first draft that I have sent to the rest of the team.  Vivek thinks I should include more material.  But this would require a voice over and/or animations and would make it into a completely different sort of video.

I also worked out how to make a scale diagram on one of my art softwares.  Although unfortunately I then realized that Rajan hasn’t given me all the information I need to do it.

I feel I have been very busy but haven’t had time to do everything that needed to get done.  Oh dear.  That means I start the week with several things on my do list left over from last week.

More students 20180630

Today I went to another school session with a group who seem to find it difficult to find time for gardening.  They explained to me that they take their school leaving exams this year. This means they have a lot of work and I (and they) fear that this probably means they are going to have to miss some garden sessions.

They worked well at this session and marked out two beds.  All the boys seem to have grown beyond my recognition!

I’m not sure how long I can keep up going to four sessions a week.  But I think I need to keep doing this until I’ve got them all started and the irrigation system has been installed and is working.

Students! 20180629

Had a busy day today which included a session at Udavi school with the new students.  They seem to find it impossible to sit still and listen.  Ravikrishna injured himself playing football so we couldn’t move stones or do heavy work. 

Still we got a bed marked out and they seem to be one of the best groups for getting on with writing their diaries about what we did.

Gold 20180628

I went to the Town Hall today and saw these beautiful yellow flowers.  They seemed to glow like gold. 

They are what I call Indian laburnum which is also known as Amaltus or golden shower.  Mother’s name for it was ‘Resolution’. The flower reminded me of Andre and Ross but I think there is a message there for me as well as I feel a new cycle beginning.

Feeling a gap 20180627

I heard today that a friend Andre died this morning.  With another friend Ross having died on Friday two of the people I first met when I came to Auroville are no more.

I have been feeling a big gap where Ross used to be.  Even although we weren’t ever particularly close and I rarely saw him during these last years.  He was there when my husband died so I have been thinking about that as well.

The picture is of the first jackfruit I have had this year.  Unfortunately I ate too much and made my tummy rather sore.

Weed fest 20180626

Now we have a few more people coming in the mornings we can make more of an impression on the weeding.  This picture is of nut grass which is all too common at the moment in Buddha Garden.

Went to a Farm Group meeting and felt very out of tune with everyone there.  Is Auroville still my place? I feel really depressed to feel so out of step with everyone.