Busy, busy, busy

This is the home of the Shakti Project- that roller door in the middle- up above has come about through the generosity of many friends across the world, how can we say thank you eneough?
We [mostly that is Ramsingh and a few others - i am a very minor helper at the moment with so many other irons in the fire as well] will continue to share the generosity of the Shakti Friends with the kids and help get the a brighterfuture that an education can assist in doing.

Please say a prayer for Mukesh, he is a young man who was one of the first kids picked up off the street 9 or 10 years ago in a gesture that has grown into Shakti Project, he is often an inspiring teacher for me- his aceeptance of what life brings...we were serving lunch one day- it was boiling, really boiling hot and the power went out the little relief that the fans brought disappeared and immediately I felt like fainting. Mukesh who at the moment was leaning over a boiling cauldron of hot dal just looked up and smile "What to do this is the life? it is how it is..."
Anyway almost 2 weeks ago Mukesh was on the way to his wedding when his car rolled over- everyone was alive, everyone was fine- he has a cracked bone in his neck and no movement in his left hand and leg.
His reaction from his hospital bed is "good news everyone is OK."
I am in shock still when I think of him and having a real glass half empty moment- "how can you say that?? You are half paralysed and don't know if that will change?"
I understand it is what it is but am really struggling to live up to his acceptance of what life brings, his example of accepting what he has too and getting on with things.
Send your best thoughts for Mukesh and also perhaps his example is a little lesson for us all.
I really appreciate our staff at the hotel- they are a verynice bunch of guys, there are many things we ask of them and they good naturedly get on with, little touches like the flowers on the table though remind us of how lucky we are to have them- and their thoughtfulness around.

few visitors in the backgarden, it was almost a desert when we arrived we now have a nice lawn, flowers and lovely cooling pool....

i have been helping a friend, she was here recently and bought some clothes to sell in the markets in Sydney- they went really well so she asked for some more and more and now it is starting to develop into a label - I am becoming the house designer she is selling and doing all that stuff in Australia.

Rather exciting- i have designed many clothes over the years, fed my boys from the sales when they were very young. Here because we have some good tailors next door that we have discovered to work with, I only have to do the design work, they handle the cutting and stitching, when we have something we like we show my mate and then they make it. Praveen is local liason and handles dispatch- it is all going rather well and I get to do the fun part of design and checking production! a surprising development but good....

busy but my studio work is still cooking, tour next week for some fun- I get to see lots of interesting places and friends as I share them with my group- fun...

This is part of an email a mate sent, I have pinned it on the wall- OH Universe your timimg is impecable!!

Quotation: 'May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others.. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are.. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us..'

do enjoy it too.

Last but not least this gorgeous little darling [merely the size of my hand!!] was expiring on my living room floor- amazing. not sure I would have been quite so keen if he was scittling around the room I must admit.