Sunny ideas on a grey day 20191024

I spent some time with a volunteer and Rajan talking about the Garden of unseen helpers.  Which will be an area dedicated to looking at how insects and micro organisms help in the food growing process.

I had the idea to turn the central area into a display about decay on one side and a display about pollination on the other.  As these are the two main cycles that really help when growing food.  The other area with the fruit and wood trees will be a green meditation area.  The volunteer had the good idea of putting in somewhere where people can lie back and look at the green tree canopy.

I feel I am buzzing again…… and of course with more work to do.

Intense work 20191023

Went to the school again today and very pleased as to how my text/drawing book seems to be coming quite clear.  Although I haven’t actually put anything down on paper yet.

Spent a lot of time talking to people today as I went to New Pour Tous.  I managed to finish the report and feel very pleased about that.  But tired as well as I have found writing it to be very intense.

It was lovely to see the sun again after all the recent grey days and I wish that I had taken a photo.  This picture is one I took the same day last year.  It was part of getting ready for Ayudha Puja which was later than it was this year.  I had just been bitten by a dog and my leg was very sore.

New job 20191022

Cooked breakfast for the first time today.  I think I will be able to get back into cooking again if needed.  So far we haven’t found anyone else to do the cooking since Sivakala left. 

Apart from the grinder exploding it was OK.  Realized eventually that we have a grinder rather than a blender which means that I have to make sure there is not too much liquid in the device.  Otherwise it explodes everywhere like it did today because it doesn’t have a very secure top.

Before I cooked I was taking pictures of ladies finger and saw this on the plants.  I call it 'cuckoo spit' and it holds the eggs of an insect, although I don't know which one.  In this wet weather there is a lot of it around on ladies finger plants.

Wet, wet, wet 20191021

This is how the rebuilding now looks in Buddha Garden – grey, wet and abandoned.  Presumably it is too wet for the builders to work, although maybe extra time off just before Diwali on Sunday will be very much appreciated.

Had a wet time in the garden followed by starting a report that is now if not exactly urgent needs to be done.

Indescribable day 20191020

I don’t know how to describe today.  I spent the morning doing the last edit of my book.  At first I felt quite sick, (with what I don’t know) but as I continued I realized that the book is OK.  I was very glad and relieved to finish it before lunch.

I should have had a nice restful afternoon but suddenly there have been a lot of little jobs to do.  This includes finishing a poster to use for this week with the school projects.

Vivek left unexpectedly this morning to go to Delhi to see his very sick brother.  So I will have to look after the house in his absence.

The picture is of the grey wet view that I have had all day from my window.

Good work 20191019

Went to my Goshin Tai So class this morning and once again it was very powerful.  I felt I experienced something relating to my creativity and how to protect it.  While meditating had a gorgeous light show under my eyelids.

Then spent the rest of the day doing intensive stuff on the computer.  This included the video which I even got uploaded.

Which leaves a clear day tomorrow to do the last read/edit of my book before it goes to be laid out.  Right now I don’t feel like reading my book again.

Change in the air 20191018

Sunny today thank goodness although rather steamy as well because it is all still very wet underfoot.

Spent a lot time cycling here and there which included a trip to Udavi school for a session there.  We talked about one of the posters and I felt there were ideas about the drawing book.  Although at the moment they haven’t crystalized so its difficult to say what they are. 

This grass hopper hit me on the legs as I was walking around and then looked up at me as I took this picture.  The grass hopper is a powerful symbol of change, freedom and balance. The way he hit my legs was as if he wanted me to take notice.

Extremely wet 20191017

Had two meetings today, each of which had a very irritating person for me to deal with.  Feel I have ground my teeth down quite a lot!

Very very wet and muddy.

Amazed at the things I managed to do in the yoga class.

CAtch up 20191016

As I had a school session today I didn’t go to Buddha Garden.  Instead I used the time to catch up on a lot of computer work.  I am really pleased as this included writing two reports that have been pending for a long time.

Just as well I didn’t have to go to Buddha Garden as it was raining when I got up.  But the rain had more or less stopped by the time I had to go to the school.  I really enjoyed the teaching.  They are a good class this year and I feel I have got the material more under control with the posters.  While teaching I got an idea for how to re-model the student colouring book.

Thought I'd lost it 20191015

Woke up to rain today which I suppose I should have expected given that most people around here see this as the first day of the monsoon.  Although this was not real monsoon rain as it was very gentle.

I could not find my mac anywhere.  I was very upset as it was quite expensive and I love it as it keeps the wind out in the UK and the rain out here.  So I wear it everywhere I go.  After a lot of looking I eventually found it in my suitcase under the bed.

I had two meetings today, both of which were not very uplifting but didn’t drag me down too much.  No hope of doing any  writing although I did get my posters printed out for the school session this morning.  Went to Grace’s yoga in the evening which was lovely.  First time since I have got back.

Students 20191014

A busy day but not too pushed.  Would like to have more time for writing. Although my main writing project at the moment is getting the book published and that is happening.

Rajan sent me these pictures of a group we had last week.  But although the group we saw was successful another group was cancelled at the last minute.  The organization between the school, the company organizing the tour and us wasn’t very good.  Apparently the group which cancelled had parents who thought their children should never to have to do anything they didn’t want to do.  They didn’t want to come to Buddha Garden because they were ‘too tired’.

A day off!! 20191013

Despite doing some work today I felt I had a day off.  Because I didn’t have to sweat over doing the video which I more or less finished yesterday.

I went out for two bike rides to find back ways/cycle paths to Pitanga and Buddha Garden.  I now have much nicer ways of getting to both places.

I love this corner of my room.  It includes something from everywhere that is important to me.

Hot and shaky 20191012

Went to a new session today which was described as ‘Japanese Chi Kung’ or Goshin Tai So.  I found it very powerful and I think might be just what I need for my eating problems.  Although today I ended up feeling very shaky – doing too much of it I think.  It’s a seven week course after which I will be able to do the whole sequence on my own.

I managed to get the video almost finished and ended up VERY tired.  But it least it means I can have a bit of break tomorrow.  I want to find out how to get to Pitanga via the back paths and I’ve got to do that in the light.

I rook this picture a few days ago and it shows the canopy of trees in the end orchard which we have now taken back from Pierre for our Garden of Unseen Helpers.

Lovely surprise! 20191011

Today the parcel from Emma arrived.  As well as the clothes I’d ordered she also sent this lovely tin and two Christmas decorations painted by the children.  They are lovely to have in my room.

I seem to be getting overwhelmed with ‘must do’s’ especially as I went to one of the school projects today.  But I did take some time this afternoon to do some posters for next week’s school work which I really enjoyed doing.

Busy 20191010

I seem to be so busy……. With a lot of cycling around.

I took this picture because I like the patterns that the string made.  We strung up this snake gourd this morning after planting them yesterday.

Feel I’ve got a bit ungrounded. 

A lot to do and sort out 20191009

So many things to do and I didn’t take any pictures today….. so I’m using one that I really like from the puja. I managed to do quite a lot of video clips as a new team came today to cement in the metal pillars.

Two pre newcomers have come back and I am SO pleased as it makes everything much easier in the garden.  We also had someone come to finish off the grass cutting that he started.  After all that effort yesterday the student group cancelled today.  It was all such a muddle.  There are a lot of different people involved and there seems to be a clash between students/parents who seem to feel they don’t need to do anything they want to do and teachers/course designers who want them to learn something.  Apparently the students were complaining about the food!  Things haven’t been made better for us because different people have contacted some of us and it has been difficult to get a clear picture.

I said next time they have to write to us by email and we will have a clear schedule of payment.

On edge 20191008

The picture which I call ‘the exact point’ shows the string framework the builders have put up to mark where the new metal pillars are going.  The pillar is going to go where the two lines cross. 

There’s a precision about it that I really like and which we rarely see in our work in Buddha Garden.

Feel I have got a lot of work done today which has included getting the leaflet printed for the students tomorrow.

DAy off ha ha ha 20191007

It’s a public holiday today (Saraswati Devi Puja) so quite a few places are closed and there wasn’t any point in picking anything on the farm.  Rajan said that I didn’t need to come in early but there was going to be a puja.

So first thing I finished off the front and back cover as much as I could.  I then went to Buddha Garden to find everyone in the middle of cleaning out the store room and washing the tools.  We cleaned and cleaned – it took ages.  When the time came to do the puja there were very few people left.  Still it was a good job done I think.

I managed to get a lot of photos and I love this one of the pumpkin that was smashed at the entrance.  It helps keep out all the bad energy.  I like the colour. Vivek is coming back this evening.

Quiet day 20191006

Did the video fairly early this morning but it took AGES to upload.  I had to have two goes at uploading it on Facebook and uploading it to YouTube took two hours or more.  At least its done now. 

I started doing the cover for my book but I obviously need some more pictures.

Its been a very quiet day and I have spoken to hardly anyone.

Life is red 20191005

Got up early and worked on the leaflet which I finished.  At the end I felt very hot and sweaty but that might have been the humidity rather than the writing effort causing it. 

Went shopping and then to Buddha Garden to talk to a group from the Ashram School.  One of teachers who was very small and old hugged me and thanked me for the work I did in Buddha Garden.  She said that she was sure the place sustained me.  I realized this was meant to be the last sentence of the leaflet.  “We work to sustain the earth as the earth sustains us”.  I put it in as soon as I got back.

Afterwards I went and bought myself a red skirt at one of the shops in the Visitors Centre.  I think I may be turning a corner.

Physically tired 20191004

Had quite a busy day with working first thing and going to a meeting this afternoon.  At least I didn’t have to write the notes.  I did a lot of cycling.

Now the builders are digging very big holes around the house for the new pillars that will hold up the new roof.

Rocky path 20191003

Have just heard from Tim that there are a lot of layout mistakes that need correcting.  In practice that means he needs to go through the whole thing.  Which will of course cost more.

I think I will just have to grit my teeth and pay.  I don’t see those sort of mistakes very easily and I am not confident I could do a good job.  I want to end up with a good book that looks good.

Hopefully I will be able to find enough money.

Another very quiet day on the farm where I took this picture in the nursery. 

Holiday 20191002

Woke up this morning with an idea for a leaflet for the increasing number of students coming to experience Buddha Garden.  Its ages since that has happened to me when something finished drops into my head like that.

Started work on it today and despite knowing what there is to do it took a lot of effort.  By bed time my mind was jumping around like a jumping jack.  It was hot and I found it very difficult to sleep.  Which was a pity as for the last few nights I have slept much better.

As it was a holiday nothing much happened on the building.

Book is on the way 20191001

This afternoon I went all the way to the other side of Auroville to see Jana about the book layout.  At the time it seemed such a faff but I’m glad I went.  We got the editing sorted out and I am now happy with how it looks.  Next job is to get Tim to do the final edit and then the galley proofs printed.  I will have a last look through and then its off to the printer and uploading all the digital versions.

When would be an auspicious day on which to launch it?

Up and down 20190930

Felt tired and out of sorts when I got up but have gradually calmed down throughout the day.  Building started this morning at the same time as a shower of rain.  Was the rain significant?  Who knows!!!  The group was fine with some nice surprises.

Enjoyed my yoga class a lot.  I do like how I only have to go across the road to get to it.

So tired 20190929

Have felt very tired all day.  Got some washing done first thing and loved using the machine to do it.  Eventually found the keys I needed to get onto the roof where the clothes dry.  Managed to finish the video and would love to do the back cover as well.  But just too tired.

Have been sent the first chapter of the layout but don’t like it as all the writing seems too close together.  Bindu suggested looking at various possibilities online, so will do that.

Hope I can manage the student group tomorrow.