Find out date - 24/25?

The latest constellation on the carousel at Mandala is about to come to a close. And we have new bold Yves Klein blue shutters.. another miracle of intention and practicality. As the incroyable French arrival Denis Baillot, with careful precision and patience measured up doors and the situation and has painstakingly sanded, cleaned, rebuilt, and painted. The green peely paint is no more and we’re good for the next 5 years.

I’ve been back to the hardware shop more than I ever imagined necessary for brackets, screws white spirit and bits of wood. God I’ve come to love the woodyard, and the scent of sawdust, precision and testosterone fuelled care.

Gayatri Room has turned orange and Shiva now has a blue wall under the careful paintbrush of Claudia. Slowly, slowly colour is taking over and it’s fantastic when friends arrive who knew the house before and love the difference.

Christina-Dorothea, Denis and I share dinners in Franglais, Google translate in hand, cooking for each other and feeling the nurture. It’s fantastic to eat ratatouille and rosti, not to mention sneaky glasses of lunchtime wine ( I blame the frenchman), as we began to be a bit sociable amidst the new year questions of what to create. Tres Bonne.

I saw this from Seth Godin and it’s got me thinking about what’s easy and where a preference for risk helps create the previously impossible or unthinkable.

“Decisions are easy, choices are hard.

A good decision is our best analysis of the facts, options and risks. If it’s too close to call, flip a coin, because it’s too close to call.

On the other hand, a choice involves understanding our priorities, evaluating our preference for risk and sometimes, changing our minds. None of these are easy. If we face a difficult choice, it’s helpful to stop thinking about it as a decision. It’s a choice. Decisions are strategic, choices are personal”

So the latest risk is a GoFundMe for Mandala. Anything you would be willing to chip in would be appreciatively spent. Yes, No and Maybe are all wonderful responses. I’m aware of the excess of kindnesses I’ve received and many ways people have already supported this crazy vision.

Pics of the transformed front door and more to follow. Denis made a hero’s journey from Montelimar on trains buses and boats. I can’t tell you how satisfying it is to see each shuttered window appearing - as for the blue door - it’s thrilling. I’ll put the current simple website in the chat and intend to share what’s already changed on 14th February. We’ve been on it.