AJ, a young man in his early 20’s and working in Canberra, Australia arrived on a holiday in February to Malaysia. Born in Malaysia but having migrated with his parents to Australia, AJ misses Malaysian food and the affection of his extended family. A visit to his eldest maternal aunt - namely me (Thaya) was therefore a must. Knowing how much he loves home made dosais, I prepared this dish with chicken curry for him. We spent the day eating and catching up on news about his family (my sister’s family) and his recent work in the renewable energy sector.

As J, a dear friend, walked up the slope, I reached out to help her. We realised she had lost the “fire” she used to have. J was a spirited person full of energy and on the go, even into her late 70’s. But she had had a stroke five months ago, and we hadn’t known about it. It wasn’t a bad one, nonetheless a big shock for her. J sat down with us on our patio and told us about the challenges ahead of her. Lifestyle changes were imminent - she was advised not to drive her car anymore. She had to reduce her goings out. We spent the evening over tea listening to her and then offered suggestions on how to cope. When we dropped her off at her home, she appeared very comforted.

As we get on in age some of us are making the effort and the time to see old dear friends. My husband’s Singaporean friends from university days- a couple - Satku and Rose, did just that. We first met up with them over dinner at a restaurant in Kuala Lumpur. A few days later they joined us for lunch at our Home.

As they got out of their taxi, they first inspected the Tree Posters outside our Home. Then walking through the gates they said “Let’s take a look at the garden. They remarked” What a nice combination of leaves..hmm the Lotus Pond..the flower in the pot is in bloom for us!“ Then walking round to the side of our home, “Thaya you have surrounded yourself with Lotuses!” Walking next into the house, we headed for the patio. Satku picked up the guitar and began strumming it. Lunch followed, lots of chat and more strumming of the guitar into the afternoon.

Deep and meaningful chats between two people is a rarity unless we make the effort and the time.

A dear friend dropped by for lunch and a D & M chat over a shared ice cream into the afternoon. I had asked her over as I had things I wanted to share. She left some 3+ hrs later leaving me with a deep sense of comfort with an afternoon well spent. It was also a mutually heartwarming afternoon.

Becky and EeLeen my daughter’s dear women friends had come home from Singapore to see their parents. A visit to us is often a priority for the young women. Janet and Juliaane who live and work in P.Jaya do the organising to meet up at our home. We met up for brunch. I cooked 3 dishes - roast chicken drumsticks, a salad and fried roti canai which is a favourite with the young women. Janet brought along some popiah. This visit our chats also covered the happenings in our garden and home involving the resident and visiting sentient beings. The resident wildlife and those that came and went. I also shared stories of “other beings”. All of which totally surprised and drew the keen interest of the young women who have known our home for more than 30 years.

“The Voice of the Earth?”. Yes indeed. A talk to celebrate Earth day 2023 by educating children and their parents. I presented the talk beneath the mature trees on the street in front of my home DayAnidhi Earth. Eight (8) children, four parents (4) and one (1) grandma, a total of 13 people from my neighbourhood came along that morning and participated in a small activity, all of which were conducted under the trees. It took 40 minutes - planned thus in view of the attention span of the children between 6-12 years of age. The talk was also planned for a group of 12 persons.

Five women friends ( my 30++ year old daughter and her girl friends) who were school mates got together for dinner at Dayanidhi Earth - our Home. My daughter cooked. It was as always an enjoyable night.

We were grateful to a doctor for his care…what better way than to express it through a dinner invite to him, and his wife, to our Home/ The Lotus Garden Sanctuary. They said the home, the dinner, and the sit-out on the patio looking into the garden were lovely. We found it a soul-satisfying time.

It had been years since I had met Sue Ann’s mother. Sue Ann is my daughter’s friend from childhood. She called to visit us with her mum. Sue Ann was also starting a new job soon. We caught up over brunch. My daughter’s close friends have been a part of our lives through their school years and adulthood. We have a personal relationship with them, irrespective of our daughter. It is a blessing we are grateful for.

Ee Leen never fails to come by to see us when she is in Malaysia. She is another of our daughter’s dear friends. She came along with Janet and Julianne - also close friends of our daughter. They brought lunch along, and we had a meaningful time catching up with all three women sharing their work and life challenges. They are all in their late 30s.

A first class on “Compassion for the Earth Being” was conducted at the DayAnidhi Earth Garden Sanctuary as a prelude to a piece of artwork asked of 3 neighbourhood children for Earth Day 2022. The 3 children were exposed to informal teaching sessions related to the Earth, the environment, wildlife, and more from July 2020 to March 2022 with Earth Carer and Founder of Dayanidhi Earth, Thaya Kulenthran.

Seven-year-old Daniel curious came for an afternoon play at the DayAnidhi Earth lotus pond along with his grandparents, Jack and Lillian. Daniel needed some guppies for his fish tank. He learned that he could only take a few fish,  about ten, and not as much as he wanted to. It was a lesson in compassionate harvesting. There was afternoon tea later.

Jack was my classmate at King George V School, Seremban.