HOME sweet HOME?

I'm back and yes...still alive

Hello gorgeous people and of course Happy Diwali to you all. Our family trip to Oman was fabulous. We all love love love'd the place and will definetly be back there asap. The Shangri La resort we stayed at had a premium location with it's own private bay just out of Muscat. And with the beautiful backdrop of the desert the crystal clear waters seemed like something out of a movie set.
The wee princes were in absolute heaven... they had freedom to run all over the resort safely. But more importantly there were more than six different swimming pools and a great beach to snorkel in that was teeming with tropical fish. Of course another winner was being able to ride on camels up and down the beach every evening. What kid wouldn't like that?

Shangri La Oman

It was really heavenly being on a resort for a week and away from the hustle and bustle of that mega city we now call home. I don't know if I've ever really appreciated a resort as much! One thing Oman was great for was a feeling of really being on holiday. Really being able to relax. And when I say relax I mean I couldn't keep my eyes open. I slept like a baby any where I could find. Every time I opened my book to read a chapter I was out like a light by the bottom of the page. Ahhh bliss. Now that's a holiday. Of course the frozen daiquiri's probably had a bit to do with it too I would say..!
By day two of our wee sejour Prince M and Lil' G had tanned up to the most divine caramel colour and poor old "HRH" was burn't. As for moi? Well if I wasn't asleep I was probably dipping in the ocean or sipping on a cocktail in the shade. So no burning my white ass thank god. But alas, all perfect things have to come to an end and so did our good times. By day three my LV wallet had gone missing. It was unfortunately full of cash to make things worse. I just felt awful. I hate losing things and it put me all out of sync for the rest of the holiday. I was so mad at myself...and then of course I began to lay blame. I just couldn't F'en believe I could have been so careless. Perhaps I was drugged and robbed on my sun lounger? Perhaps the truth was more like...drunken lady misplaces wallet in trash can and sleeps through the following day whilst bins are being emptied? I'm just not sure. Hmmmm. No comment. I was probably robbed let's just leave it at that!

Gimme a Margharita and my purse back too?

But I was so mad after that. So mad that I needed to sleep it off. Oh well you win some you lose some I guess. And you know you've had a fab holiday when even after losing alot of $$$$$ and your fave LV wallet you still look back on it and say you had a good time. So I just had to say "au revoir" to my purse. No big deal. It could have been worse right?
Our family really needed that holiday...it felt really appreciated by each and every one of us. We all marvelled at the tranquility and peace, the space and freedom, the cleanliness and quiet roads.It was a breathtaking view every day from my sun lounger (even though I most probably slept through half of it!) but that's what a holiday is all about...taking a break. Oman gets the Queenie tick of approval. But you know what?
We loved every second of Oman and all the great things about it that we don't have in Mumbai- but even after all of that we were still very happy to come home. And pretty damn okay with calling Mumbai home.
For now this is our home so we might as well make the most of it and be happy with what we DO have.

Mumbai...our home

Of course a new LV purse has also now been added to my christmas wish list...c'mon I can't live without ALL my worldly items.
A big thank you to all of the loyal readers still hanging in there after the more than week long of silence. You guys are pretty fantastic! Thanks again.

Queenie xxx

I'm alive

Hello everyone,

Nothing to fear Queenie IS alive and well and kicking- I'll have you know. Holiday fever is well and truly over. It was all pretty fantastic except for one or two minor hitches which I will share with you asap. But for now I leave you with this little gem. Shared with me by my very dear friend from France. He must be suffering with the rugby World Cup loss. Poor darling. Well in life there can only be ONE winner...
Talk soon. Promise.
Queenie

Mocktails just don't hit the spot

Hello Trinidad Tobago and you beautiful people from Sri Lanka! Woohoo. Thanks for reading. Well today I had this song on my mind as I left the house. Don't know why! So I thought I would share it with you because that's what they say you do when you have a blog. Hah that's so funny because ya know I never thought I would ever have had of these things... but- you guys seem to enjoy reading it so who am I to spoil the fun? Oh god.  Is that really Chevy Chase in the video clip? The eighties were good for so many reasons but I just don't know if he was one of them... Although you could almost say he's taking the piss out of himself in this one. Perhaps he's a genius? Yeah probably.
Right I'm off for a virgin bloody Mary folks. (Grumble grumble).  A morning mocktail. It just doesn't sound as appealing. Maybe I'll go get into my yoga outfit and let everyone else have a laugh today? Sons of bitches. Yeah, yeah I know. You can't say that in a blog... 

The monsoon is over

Queenie without the cocktail day?

That's right folks the monsoon is over so perhaps it's time to hit a dry patch? Yes you heard me right...I am suggesting a period of time without the assistance of cocktails, champagne or vino. This will be tough, awfully boring- okay perhaps even a struggle but I'm giving it a go. Let's just take baby steps for starters and tackle the upcoming weekend. It'll be a breeze. (Hah right!)
Today I stocked up on some great things to do with the kids over the weekend like painting our own dhiyas and making our own clay models. To be honest I'm actually really looking forward to it. I love hanging out with the wee princes. They are quite possibly my favourite people in the world. Each so different but both pretty damn special. Awwww that sounded like a scene out of a bad american sitcom.
Bandra was lovely today. I was on foot which I bizarrely enjoy every so often. The street was actually quiet, green and sunny. I walked past little kids playing marbles, boys balancing way too many people on one bicycle and a bus full of people that waved to me. The high light was stopping and marveling at the little old man doing ironing for people at his stall. He was using a really old iron one like the type "QM" collects as antiques with real hot coals in it to heat it up. He was doing an amazing job with the antique iron- better than the flash one I bought at Croma would do- I mused.
A quiet peaceful day...no cocktails at Sancho's for me. No glamourous shopping trip. No it was a pretty great day though. I think we all need those uneventful zen like days in our lives. It suited me just fine merci beaucoup.


Queenie

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