Stunningly beautiful: a sunset view from Kerala houseboat, our home for a day and night

Lois and I were very moved by an email this week from Mary Jane Colley, a guest on a Watermill creative course last year, full of thoughtful insights about how, in these turbulent times, we must all pull together to make our world a better place.

Mary Jane was responding to our March Watermill newsletter which, among other topics, talked about how our recent holiday in the southern Indian state of Kerala inspired us to even greater efforts to care for our guests and add to the sum total of human happiness…

Kerala is beautiful: palm-fringed waterways, rice, tea and rubber plantations, elephants and egrets, charming and ecologically sensitive hotels, wonderful food and, above all, smiling service from the dozens of people who looked after us during our stay. Kerala is not rich by European standards, but there’s an entrepreneurial buzz in the air and an infectious spirit among young people, seeing boundless opportunities for advancement.

Another world

It’s a far cry from Europe, where ageing populations and economic inertia are leading to decline and despondency. Indeed, as the eminent economist (and former Italian Prime Minister) Mario Draghi has warned, unless we pull our competitive socks up, Europe will be part of the Third World in a decade or so’s time, overtaken by burgeoning economies like that of India, with Kerala in the vanguard. As we said in our newsletter: “We’ve been inspired and rejuvenated by our Kerala experiences, and we hope to pass on that infectious joie de vivre to all our guests on our creative courses this season.”

Mary Jane commented:

“A fond hello from across the pond. Can you feel the rumbling from our side of the pond? I feel it’s rippling round the world!

 “My parents were German-Russians. My ancestors lived in the Schwaben area of Germany when Katherine the Great lured them to Russia with promises of rich farmland. Needless to say, that didn’t happen. My parents fled Russia in the early 1900s with their German heritage solidly intact. I grew up listening to their horrible stories about the Bolsheviks and Hitler. I have relatives who were unable to escape Russia and ended up in Siberia.

“Growing up as first generation in democracy, I took it for granted and trusted the system. Many of us fell asleep on democracy and are now getting a taste of what Europeans have tasted many times with oppressive leaders.

“I struggle feeling so powerless at what is happening. My best recourse now is to take care of things that need tending to, be kinder and strengthen relationships. When I read the last newsletter, I decided to say hello and thank you again.

 “My trip to the Watermill was a life-changing experience, not only a wonderful week of food and fun but a chance to revisit Europe. The short week with you and Bill left a last impression of people who just care. 

 “Your newsletter words reminded me that our many of our struggles are universal. The young have taken for granted what remains of the foundations and have not connected with the reality that it crumbles without attention. Our universe requires attention, and we must be a little less selfish if it is to survive. Bureaucracy can become oppressive. Sometimes it all just seems overwhelming!

 “We alone cannot fix anything, but a dripping drop of water over time leaves its mark. Drops of water are drawn together when they are close enough, eventually they can create a river. Oh, that beautiful river running behind The Watermill. I was there one afternoon after a downpour made that stream into a muddy, rushing torrent sweeping all kinds of debris down its course. You are doing good work and making a difference!”

Come and join us for a Watermill creative holiday: caring, compassionate, creative, convivial.

We’d love you enjoy the watermill a much as we do