Thank you

Well I just quickly have to say a massive thank you to everyone who read the blog yesterday from the U.S of A. I had the most reads ever in all time history and as I said in just over 2 hours there were over 500 of you online so a big huge THANK YOU to every one of you from the States. I am absolutely blown away! Right that's it- I'm celebrating with a champagne breakfast today...yoga will have to be put on hold. Stuff it.
Lots of love from the undeniable Queen of The Suburbs in Bombay.

Congrats

Awwww a big congratulations to India's most famous Bollywood Royalty couple Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Absishek Bachchan with the birth of their daughter just under a week ago. They haven't announced her name or released any photos but one can only imagine the wee tot will be genetically blessed with a mother regularly called "the most beautiful women on earth". How tough...
I also had a gorgeous cousin of mine tie the knot over the weekend on the other side of the world and really wanted to congratulate the beautiful couple. She's an ex beauty pagent winner and he's model material himself so I spose their little munchkins (no pressure) will also be blessed. I was very sad to not be able to be there myself but I just couldn't juggle everything right at the moment to get the four of us over their way. Very dissapointed. But also very proud. Awww...I'm really bloody showing my age now aren't I? Might just shut up while I'm ahead.
And a huge thank you to the 500 odd readers from the U.S.A that logged onto the page over lunch time. Very impressed. Merci beaucoup darlings! It's all just LOVE, love, love at the moment isn't it?
Queenie xxxx

Saturday night gone

Out and about in Bandra Bandstand

Saurday night was fabulous. I donned a black number with my sky high Jimmy's -of course. Hair was out and lots of black kohl on the eyes to give me that smoky mysterious look. Of course once I open my mouth all mystery is lost...forever- but it's fun to play dress up. HRH looked pretty fine himself with his black on black sharp as a knife look too.
Bandra Bandstand thankfully offered us the teeniest of teeny breezes that evening so that we could comfortably nibble, sip and mingle.  And so we did. The apartment (which makes mine look like a friggin kids size shoe box) was gorgeous. There were candles and flowers everywhere and all the doors were open leading onto the super sized wrap around balcony. The beautiful white columns shone in the moonlight and it all felt very romantic. Sort of Arabian nights meets Mumbai magic...you could have said.
There were over 80 gorgeous people there ranging from expat's to Mumbai locals to extended family members. And I met some fascinating people. A famous gossip magazine editor, an amazing man who was part of the fight for freedom in South Africa (I was actually in tears listening to his stories), Spanish wine importers, various businessmen from just about every field, stunning art gallery owners from the super cool south and of course lots of interesting ladies who do volunteer work for various NGO's.
Our hostess runs a chapter for a globally organised NGO that does amazing things for rural children in desperate need of reading materiel and a space to do it. She is a very generous, intelligent and of course beautiful woman who I am so glad to have met here in Mumbai.
Of course said hostess had one or two cocktails in circulation and the bartenders just kept refreshing my glass willy nilly so before you knew it we had a group on the dance floor including "moi". Suddenly that ever pleasant breeze seemed to just vanish and within an hour all that toe tapping madness caught up with me. I walked into the bathroom to freshen up a little and mop my brow daintily as one does in India. Indian women are annoyingly composed and ALWAYS immaculately turned out so you can imagine my horror when a rabid raccoon peered back at me in the mirror. Argh. I literally let out a scream. Of course the bathroom attendant (yes as you do in India) came to see if all was well with "madam" and I quietly reassured him that it was all good. It was then I realised that there was no toilet paper left in this particular bathroom...oh shit. I had streaks down to my cheeks. Black long smudges. I looked like Alice Cooper. No. Can't leave. I had to throw water over my whole face and scrub with my bare hands to remove the black traces staining my face.

Queenie as the clock strikes midnight

Of course it was dark in the room we were dancing in so that's why no one had noticed. When I walked out of the bathroom my face now had RED smudges all over from the scrubbing and all my make up had washed off. I looked quite possibly worse. Checking my wrist I saw it was 3 am. Perfectly fine hour to leave. I located "HRH" who seemed pinned in a corner by a very large Scottish man. I whispered into his ear without making eye contact that it was time to leave. Luckily he got the hint quick smart and after discreetly thanking our hostess with the mostess and her hubby we left. Well that will teach me right for wearing all that mascara and eyeliner and eye shadow. Forget mysterious from now on love.

Peach Martini satisfaction

It's now a good laugh in hindsight. What a great night once again full of tears, laughter and dancing with wonderful new friends. Thank you. I am loving the wonderful memories and new adventures to be had here. It's not always champagne and caviar but samosas and peach martini's suit me fine.
Queenie x

Yogi's breakfast

Yes darling make that a shot of wheatgrass

I finally made it to yoga this morning after months of saying I would! And it was fantastic. It was a beautiful morning in Mumbai today and after I dropped the kids off "HRH" and I decided to go to the Yoga house for breakfast. Mornings at the Yoga House are lovely with the ocean breeze and a nice cup of chai tea. When we arrived I bumped into some friends who somehow persuaded me to do the 8am Iyengar class. Well my muscles hadn't been worked like that in a very long time and before 15 minutes was up I was sweating and struggling to keep up. Guess I have a bit of catch up to do... damn it. The other ladies all looked so serene and relaxed. What the hell? Well I'll show them. Having said that I may need some serious muscle relaxants before class. I wonder if thats a big NO NO in the yoga world? Hmmmm.

This will be Queenie before you know it

After class I joined "HRH" on the deck (he looking smug and content with the Indian Times- me looking rather "flushed") and I settled in for some beautiful banana and almond porridge, a glass of coconut water and a shot of wheatgrass. I downed the shot of wheatgrass like a pro- you could say I've had a bit of practice with shots. And not of the wheatgrass kind.

So I left the yoga house with a twice a week month pass. Let's see how I go. If I end up looking anything like the super sexy Maud- then me and my cellulite will be very happy. Must focus. Must apply oneself. Must succeed. Must get long lean thighs like the instructor. 

The ever hopeful Queenie x

Le Mill

LOOOVE Jade Jagger's jewellery line

Popped into "Le Mill" a fab design concept store in South Mumbai today and was seriously drooling over the new Jade Jagger jewellery collection. Gimme gimme gimme. In case you don't know where "Le Mill" is- it's tucked away amidst the chaos of Mumbai's dockyards, behind Crawford market in what we could only describe  as Mumbai's equivalent to the meat packing district in NY. I could very easily of walked out the door with an Isabel Marant dress or Philip Lim top but common sense prevailed (or not!) and I managed to drag myself out with out making too much of a dint on the much heiled visa card. Anyhow just thought I'd share that with you all. Go snap up some of Jade's goodies- they are delictable.
Off for a quiet chardonnay on the balcony with the hubby. As you do on a thursday night at home in Mumbai. Tiddly winks are watching the X Factor of course which I have to admit to also quite liking. Gulp. Did I just say that?
Queenie x

Footloose and fancy free

Good morning mes chers amis! Today I felt inspired by this classic song. I don't know what it is about the eighties... but there's something about the music from back then that just makes me want to shake my butt. I'm feeling pretty damn good today. "HRH" and I are in a good funk, which when you've been together for over a decade is pretty great stuff. Sun is shining (albeit a little too ferociously) and I've just had a scrumpticious breakfast. The simple joys in life are SOOOOO good.
Right I'm off to repent my sins and be a parent helper in LIL G's class. Mother of the year I may not be...but at least I give it a shot darlings. I'm ready for those little 5 and 6 year old tyrants. Bring it on...playdoh doesn't scare me!
So, go out and shake your butts today my friends. Life is good or at least better than someone else's out there. You can always count on that.
Queenie x

The prodigal Queen returns...

It's the return of the prodigal QUEEN

Well, well, well. Look who the cat dragged in. If it isn't Queenie herself gracing us with her presence. Yes I know- once again I've been bad. Tut tut. But being bad is just so much fun so the chances of it stopping are p-r-e-t-t-y low. Now what's new in my world? Hmmm let me see.
So let's get down to it. Friday started off rather slow and then just snow balled into a really stand out afternoon AND evening. Where to start? Well...This is where the dream sequence audio plays and the screen gets all misty...
A b'day lunch for a fellow girl from "downunder" at Bungalow 9 of course. I arrived a tad late- but just in time for the free flowing champagne to make it into a glass in front of me. There were about twenty of us in all and boy did we have a laugh. You see, when you're an expat in an intense place like Mumbai you need these secret get togethers to cope with the seriousness of life. We had hired the whole place out (you never can be too careful you know- I mean ANYONE could have seen us!) and thank god we did. Because I don't think that the place would have had enough wine to serve the other patrons if not! By the time I got up to leave I had a) probably spent the equivalent of a months rent, b) eaten way too much for my poor body to cope with and c) wasn't quite too sure what my car looked like anymore! As you do. As you do. All b'day celebrations have to go off with a bang or not at all I say...

It's all champagne and caviar

By the time I got home it was already 5pm. Shocking I know.
I had just enough time to walk in the door, have a quick bite to eat, look myself in the mirror guiltily, peck "HRH" on the cheek and then the girls were off out again for friday night drinkies at Esco bar and the Elbo Room. We danced, laughed and after much deliberation decided on some pizza and nibbles for dinner. I met some really funny, somewhat fascinating people that night. Of course I'm not one to name drop but some of the interesting people I met were: a very well known Australian cricketer (in all honesty he was a bore) and his sleazy manager ( this conversation lasted all of 35 seconds) a finalist from the Indian survivor show that had just been shot in Indonesia or Bali or something, a hotelier and of course the owner of the Elbo room himself (No not Dino the Bollywood star either before you ask...he has bad skin btw but that's a whole other topic darlings!) a gorgeous young clothing designer and her european hubby and yes then of course the bar was full of all of its usual expat suspects. Needless to say I got home far too late for a respectable mademoiselle like moi. And was a write off the next day. But it was date night (pre planned and promised HRH) so I managed to scrape myself off the floor and get it together enough to go out to the movies. What did we see I hear you asking? "IN TIME" with J.T and Amanda Seifried. And it was seriously cool. Loved the very unique concept and was pretty damn impressed with Monsieur Timberlake's acting skills. I mean he's leading man stuff now isn't he. How'd that happen? How greedy is the guy? He can sing, dance up a storm, act... C'mon it's time to leave a lil something for the common man Justin ;-)

Pretty damn cool movie tbh

That brings us to Sunday. Ohhh yes- the 5 hour brunch. Great day. Great Apple Martini's. Once again we were pretty numerous. There were at least 20 of us at the table. Now where were we again? Ahhh yes, the Westin. Kids had an absolute ball. Running around in a pack with their friends terrorising unsuspecting Japanese tourists at the dessert table. Trust me it was a riot. We ate and drank like it was christmas. By that stage I didn't even remember my own name let alone what month it was....so no harm done. But when we arrived home at 6pm and discovered it was nearly dinner time we all looked at each other feeling rather muddled. As only you can in Mumbai.

Anyhow that was the weekend at a glance. You could say it was a rather social affair. I'm bloody knackered just talking about it. Upcoming events include a good friends house warming this saturday at her stunning apartment in Bandra Bandstand. And the arrival of my gorgeous french friend coming to help out on the hotel project in Rajasthan. I hope the bloody french immigration department stamp his passport quick smart. Poor thing he's been waiting a while now. Oh and our outdoor furniture arrives this weekend. That's definetly reason to celebrate. And now we'll have somewhere to plant our derriere's there's all the more reason!
Thanks to all of you who have stuck through my absence and still keep reading! Amazing. Merci beaucoup mes amis! I promise to write far more often...No seriously it's the truth ;-) Will be back before you even notice. Think I need to catch up on a little shut eye.
Queenie xxx

Secret Squirrel but why?

Time to come clean John

What I want to know is why John Abraham is keeping his girlfriend such a big secret from everyone? I mean what's the big deal?  Okay so she has a degree, is in banking and not in the entertainment industry. But so what? Perhaps they're doing it all to create even more hype about themselves? Because that's all they've achieved...more interest in this super secret affair. Nice work on his agent/managers part. But look we all know Priya Runchal and John Abraham have been seen around town together so there's really no secret at all. Maybe they like the idea of playing make believe? Hmmm who knows?