Chamak Challo

We were on the way home from school drop off today and my driver was listening to this and singing along... how sweet. SRK is kinda cute too I spose. (Thats Shahrukh Khan in case you didn't know!) Now when I say cute I mean as in like a newborn lamb- not as in Sonny Bill Williams the ridiculously hot ALL BLACK. C'mon no one quite measures up to SBW. Don't get me started...ohhhh that reminds me I have to keep an eye on the tv this weekend. My adopted team the "ALL BLACKS" will be taking on Australia. They're both quite possibly two of the most stunning places in the world....but the kiwi's are just better looking. So at the end of the day I'll be betting on black. I always do. Wink wink and yes I'm laughing right now...

Why buy one when you can buy two?

The undisputed Queen of the Suburbs

Just got home after purchasing two fantastic cocktail dresses from Ranna Gill. I only discovered this morning that I had a charity soiree to attend this evening...and the thought of heading down into the city was not appealing. So I hit Khar West of course. I started in Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna but wasn't overly impressed and at 16,000 rupees for a dress I decided to pass. I kept walking through to Ranna Gill and committed to removing my own clothing and actually trying some things on. I tried on seven dresses and liked 6 of them...where does that ever happen? When I say like I mean "would actually want to own." So I settled on an emerald green one for saturday night and a black one for this evening. At the uber reasonable price of 7000 rupees a dress I probably should have got all six...I know. But you know- India is changing me.... small steps but still steps none the less darlings. Anyhow I'm off to do art and craft with my little angels at the orphanage. And no need to worry the fendi is safely hanging on it's hook this afternoon. I'm quite happy with my big bazaar fashion statement. LOL.

Ranna Gill Store in Khar West

Thanks again to all you new readers from Switzerland, Indonesia, Belgium and United Arab Emirates.

Queenie the undisputed "Queen Of The Suburbs".

Street cred

Pani puri...mmmmmm

So I'm going well- at least I think I am? I mean, I did actually go to the gym yesterday (which was a struggle admittedly)  and I was very proud of myself for not having any vino with dinner last night. Sooooo...That meant that I could head out with the girls today to feast on delicious street food...yes you heard me right everyone. You can eat the street food in Mumbai and before you ask- no you won't get sick. (They use mineral water btw.) Anyway I just want to say that you haven't lived till you actually eat the street food here. For one, it's god darned delicious and secondly what a fun experience to share with others.
The five of us rocked up to "Punjabs" sweet and street store in Pali Hill. I had about six "pani puri" (OMG freakin delicious!) which are crispy hard puri that have been puffed up and then filled with chick peas and spicey water. Sounds bizarre but you have to taste it to believe me!
You stand at the little bar and order as you go. People chat and eat and watch it all being made before them...it's so vibrant and alive and buzzing. Next we ordered some "aloo chat" which were crispy little hard puri (about the size of a cracker) with small dices of potatoes and chilli and coriander with a light drizzle of chutney. They were so addictive, so light, so tasty. Mmmmmm.
It was such a laugh sharing food together on the side walk, trying not to spill it on ourselves, having a good gossip and watching all the locals smirk at us. We were hysterical I tell you. After the aloo chat I ordered a serving of "sev puri"- and I am seriously drooling right now just thinking about them. Sev puri are cracker style (canape size) puri with potatoes, crispy onion, chilli, coriander and drizzled with fresh natural yoghurt. They are the most ridiculously decadent appetisers. Quite honestly... "Stop the Bus" delicious. Then- as you ventured further into the store off the side walk you were surrounded by hundreds of different types of sweets. I nearly caved in and bought a box of vanilla barfi...bloody wish I had to be perfectly honest.

Sev Puri OMG

So after all that eating and laughing we managed to pile into the "Minx's" car (yes I think I have just introduced you to a new character...I'm going to call her the Minx- she's fab and has a diamond the size of everest on her finger but more about her later) so we headed off to peruse some Pali Hill clothing stores. Well we didn't get far before we had an incident. I'm still laughing now. Sorry but I really can't help myself. Ok where was I? Oh right, so "Sexy Sporto" (yes that's ANOTHER new character I might just call her "SS" she's a wee pocket rocket if you ask me!) okay so "SS" picked up a lovely wee white frock and asked the shop assistant where to try it on...the shop assistant then said that there was to be no trying on of the clothing.  "SS" who is rather fond of defending her cause (so am I if the truth be told) started to look around incredulously. "SS" then smiled and announced she would be smarter then the a-v-e-r-a-g-e bear and whip the dress on  over her clothes. The rather "rotund" shop owner cleared her throat and then said that was also not allowed madam!

THANK GOD FOR SPANX HUH?

Well the two ladies nearly got into a fisty cuffs right there while the rest of us sniggered in the background. "SS" held the dress threateningly up over her head and said she was trying it on and come and stop me if you dare. Everyone held their breath as the chubby store owner moved to get out of her seat to stop "SS" and watched in agony as she got her left foot caught on her handbag, she lurched forward spilling her masala tea all over the desk, then in slow motion she slid off the side of it landing ass up in the middle of the store revealing her very tight beige coloured spanx much to her (and probably more so to OUR) horror. She looked up and uttered the words "GET OUT NOW" with her hair partially covering one side of her very reddened face. "SS", Minx, the rest of the girls along with myself trotted meekly out the door barely containing our laughter. Oh my god I couldn't believe how hard we all laughed...so hard we all ended up needing a beverage to cool our insides. So the next stop was "Sancho's" for a much needed watermelon margherita....aaah. And that felt good.
Till next time- Queenie

Oh man

The Queen of The Suburbs takes Oman 

So we're going to Oman. That's so fantastic...isn't it? Ahhhh no, no it isn't. What the hell Queenie- what do you mean? Sun, sea (and the red one at that!) and a 5 star resort??? Ummmm hello...Yes, but that means I will have to unveil my "derriere" in public. Seriously. This calls for action. No more cheese naans and I'll have to "up" the gym from "try to make it once a week" to a daily torture regimen.
All going well-I will be a slimmer newer version of myself in three weeks time and on the way to Muscat. I'll need a gorgeous sunhat, a new indian kaftan (Camilla eat yer heart out baby) and of course some good books to read. I'll be making sure the latest "VOGUE" also makes it of course darlings. Got to love Diwali huh? The shame of it all will be missing all the Diwali parties that will be taking place in Mumbai. But I'm sure I'll survive. Just.
P.S Head is a tad sore this morning after night out with the girls to Dome in the city and then AER bar at the Four Seasons. We sat round the pool on the rooftop at Dome with a view of the Queen's necklace...it was sublime. For a moment there I thought I was back in L.A with friends at the W. AER bar was fab although the models proved bloody annoying after a while- you just wanted to scream out "Eat a steak!" We were up soooo high that my ear's popped on the way back down in the lift...which was a laugh. Although let's remember it was 3 am and we had consumed one or two cocktails so by that stage I was finding the buttons on my shirt amusing...Ahem. Yes, well no comment.

Hello to everyone from Singapore, Egypt and Poland thanks again.

Queenie x