Bonne Fete!!

"Joyeux quatorze juillet" a tous mes amis francais!!! Off for dinner with our very good friends tonight, to let off fireworks with all the kiddies and drink champagne...of course I will have to pass on the champagne.
Anyhow more importantly I wish to condemn whoever the despicable people were that were responsible for last nights attack on Mumbai...it is the most cowardly action to take against another human being and you deserve exactly what will inevitably come your way. My heart and thoughts go out to anybody who has been affected by these attacks and I wish everyone the best of luck with picking up the pieces today. I dedicate this my most treasured hindi song (played at my wedding) "Khabhi Khabhie" to the people of Mumbai because sometimes in life it is important to spread the love. And when I hear this song I am filled with love. To you the people of Mumbai...
If anyone out there would like to download this song it can be found on the right hand side bar titled "Queenie's absolute must haves" and purchased through Amazon.com.

Kindest regards from Queenie and the family

It's raining it's pouring...

Woke up this morning to a real downpour...what a relief! Apparently they have had no rain here for a long time. Perfect day to watch a movie I thought- so I did. "Les petits mouchoirs" a frenchie of course. Has anyone seen it? It is fantastic! I laughed out loud and then cried even louder... just fabulous. Marion Cotillard the oscar winner for the "Edith Piaf- La vie en rose" is in it along with other well known french actors like Jean Dujardin etc... Good old Marion looks like she's been on a juice detox her whole life...with that bloody typically french "perfectly thin" look. Damn them for it. But...we are now all very excited about our trip to Cap ferret- since this movie was based there! Check out the right hand sidebar (Queenie's ABSOLUTE must haves) if you're interested in the movie I found it on Amazon.com with english subtitles.

As for Queenie?  Well I'm still alive...just barely. I'm entering into day 4 of no food (or more importantly no alchohol) today. Admittedly the juices are quite delicious...they have to be considering that's all I'm allowed atm. This god forsaken detox better work miracles for me. I want to feel cleansed after all this...purified like an irishman after confession.

Okay, so yesterday my youngest little prince said "Mummy my arm is sore from where I had my injection..." He said that to get a bit of attention because he then followed on with: "I think I need a foot rub!" Absolutely impossible that his arm could be sore from his vaccination as he finished them all in early june. But while I'm on this topic I have to say that we did have to have quite a few vaccinations before heading to India. It's a little different to just going to India on holiday...when you are moving to Mumbai for at least 2 years and intend on travelling all over -you really do have to consider vaccinating against most things they recommend. I had to have hep A, typhoid, a tetanus booster, rabies...and still need japanese encephalitis which I will get done once I arrive in Mumbai. Plus there's the malaria issue. We can't take anything for it when we're there for longer than 3 months...so will just have to be pretty diligent with the repellant (I wonder if Chanel does a parfum with repellant now? Safari chic? Would be good...) and cover up. Apparently during the monsoon season you have to close all doors and windows from dusk till dawn...well "HRH" won't be heading out onto the balcony for his evening ciggies anymore. Diddums...I will at least have Mumbai to thank for helping "HRH"  to give up cigarette smoking!

Right, I'm off to download  "Les petits mouchoirs" (just discovered the title in english is "Little white lies") soundtrack...it is bloody brilliant. David Bowie, Janis Joplin and this is the opening song...(see video) Have a listen everyone...it's old news here in France with all my french friends but a girlfriend said she was only just off to see the film at the cinema in Sydney!

And also have to say a big warm welcome to all the new readers in Brazil, Kenya, Costa Rica, Belgium, China,Mauritius, Korea and Germany...but still the overall highest readership for yesterday was the U.K followed closely by France- woohoo! Allez les bleus! Come on India you can do better!
P.S Am sorry for the rather tame updates as of late...it's the detox. Seems to have this calming effect you see! This saturday though (when we head to Cap Ferret) I am sure we'll all be in for  more trouble...you know in MY books tame does = lame.

I'm breezin...

Detox going well...have only had juice for 3 days now. (Ok I had a bloody apple and some melon out of desperation...!) But feels good knowing I'm having a cleansing. Out with the old and in with the juice...as they freakin' don't EVER say! But it's a new phase in my life. Lot's of new things on the horizon...namely India for one. Really looking forward to my hindi lessons...will share as many swear words with you as I can. I suspect that's about all I will learn in the first few weeks in Mumbai!
Anyhow it is a sublime day here in France. The kiddie winks are down at the pool with some friends (nattering away in their near perfect french), I wonder how long it will take them to learn hindi?  Probably a few bloody weeks knowing them! Lucky devils.
Well it's so beautiful and sunny here. Warms the soul. Makes everything just feel so fine and dandy. Everything is- isn't it? Apart from the fact that I would murder a steak...probably a whole cow in all honesty! Anyhow, must take my mind off food. Back to my book and ipod...here's what I'm listening to right now as I stare out at the azure waters...Perfect song for this sunny day. Garcon? A glass of water please. Make it a bottle actually, what the hell let's go all out! Oui c'est ca. Merci!
P.S. A big hello to you all from the U.K and U.S.A! You had by far the most readers yesterday! Woohoo!

Just another sunday in the south of france

The morning after our "big night out" I got a call from "HRH" and he sounded very meek and apologetic meaning only one thing...he'd been arrested! This kind of occurence would shock most people but knowing "HRH" and his difficulties with the french language he always seems to get into such misunderstandings for one reason or another. I will NOT get into the details but let's just say it involved our friend "V" of course (found in the adjoining cell) and something to do with an African transvestite from Paris and his/her rather ugly chihuahua. Apparently "V" had a rather large bite mark on his face...Lord help us.
So after "HRH" spent all day yesterday trying to make up for his "faux pas" and I took the little princes out to see Transformers 3 in 3D (surprisingly enough I enjoyed it)...I got thinking. And woke up on this fine sunday morning  in the south of france convinced I would begin a juice detox.
I have never done one of these detox's EVER but am going to give it a go. I'm not allowed meat or cheese or fish or wine...I'm not f*#@ing allowed anything! Except juice. Blah. Carrot, Apple and ginger. Yuck...but I am hell bent on proving I can do this. Since lunch time yesterday I have had NOTHING but juice. And in all honesty it's proving to be pretty damn tough. As I watched the wee princes chowing down on their delicious pizza for lunch I had to slowly sip away...normally that wouldn't bother me except this time I can't quite taste the vodka!
Why I hear you ask would I think of doing this? Well let's face it my insides could probably do with a wee cleansing and lets not forget the fact that I have Cap Ferret in a week with all my gorgeous friends. It'll be no fun at all if I walk around covered up head to toe due to the fact that the cut out bikini looks so awful. No it's decided. I'm doing this juice detox! Plus I am going to have to change my diet dramatically in India...I don't want to be the vulgar fat girl in the corner who eats meat at every meal! No, no, no. I want to be able to go vegan every now and then especially out of respect to some of the hindu festivals and beliefs. I'm not only doing this for my ass but out of respect for the hindu culture! So bring it on....
Yes garcon? I'll have another one of those carrot, apple and ginger juices s'il vous plait. No, no vodka thank you. No, no rum either...that's fine. Oui, just the juice. Merci beaucoup.
And PS don't forget to click on "Join this site" on the right hand sidebar to find our page easier next time! Hello to you all in Croatia, India and Sweden too...thanks for reading!

Last night

Last night was a very long night...where to start?
Our friend "V" and his girlfriend own the most fabulous restaurant that has become very "du moment". Last night we were treated to their best table located on the private dining deck with views over the entire bay and port area. It was honestly breathtaking watching the sun set, sipping on champagne, eating fresh oysters surrounded by some of my nearest and dearest in France...oui, la vie est belle!
My very talented friends who are both architects were present along with our good friend the interior/exterior designer and of course "HRH", "V" and his partner (the restaurant owners) and myself. As expected the food was divine...(especially the oysters!) and also as expected after 3 Gin Fizz's (and several bottles of champagne) I was well on my way before the entrees had even arrived!
Cut to the end of the meal- and everyone has decided they ARE ALL coming to India as well...our friends the architects have practically signed the contract to overseee the plans for the hotel in Udaipur and my designer friend has booked a flight to come and assist as project manager in September!
I am thrilled of course, as you can imagine the idea of having more friends along to share in our Indian adventure the better. But I never imagined they would ALL be keen to come along and so soon into the piece! The wine flowed, trays of food came and went and all in all it was just fabulous.
But...that's not where the night ended is it?

My assets...

Just inspected my ass as I was walking out the door for our "big night out" and have realised the situation is far worse than I first thought. It's dire. I could either a) invest in some of those awful spanx contraptions or b) wear 12 inch heels to elongate my legs (tricking everyone into thinking I'm a glamazon) or c) forget it all and just get drunk before I leave, solving all my problems in one foul swoop! Yes I know I'm terribly politically incorrect...so bloody sue me. Garcon? Get me 2 drinks please...oui, oui j'ai dit deux!

To detox or not to detox?

Sooo looking forward to a night out with some of my hilarious french friends this evening. Especially my very close friend "V". Unfortunately we always seem to get into trouble whenever he's around... I wonder why? All the local socialites around town seem to call him "The Pimp" whatever the hell that means. I've certainly never seen any prostitutes hanging around him so am completely baffled as to how he got that nick name...
Anyhow must remember not to overindulge tonight...possibility of that? Zero, in all honesty. The food is always too delicious and the cocktails just seem to keep appearing on the table. I take no responsibility for any of it.
Hmmm what to wear? So bloody hot out there that you could get away with a bikini and not much else  ;-)
How the hell will I cope in Mumbai? Those saris can get quite heavy...perhaps a salwaar kameeze is a little lighter?
Will fill you in on what we get up to tonight of course. Can only imagine!
Seriously considering a detox pre Cap Ferret and post big night out though. Bloody boring I know, I know...
P.S Hello to you all from Germany, Sudan, Botswana, Dubai and now Nigeria too!

Gym?

Mumbai...wow, really? I'm actually starting to get quite nervous/excited about it all. Twenty seven days till we arrive apparently. S#*t. This is really going to happen...it has all seemed like a dream up till now. Like I have been sleep walking my way through all the preparations leading up to our new life.
On arrival we will have to find somewhere to live, attend the boys school orientation day, join our leisure club of choice (toss up between "Waterstones" or Breach Candy club), then we will need to have our container delivered, pick up our two cats from the airport, secure a driver and house keeper, fly to Udaipur to begin design approval meetings for the hotel and catchup with our business partners. All pretty straight forward...well here's hoping. Fingers crossed. So many questions. So many variables.
My mother (Queenie's mother or "QM") and her partner and my darling brother have all informed us that they can make it to Mumbai for christmas. So, as you can expect we are over the moon! I'll also have to start organising the itinerary for their 3 week sejour once I get settled. Will probably do a week in Mumbai for christmas etc and then fly down to Udaipur to show them the building site. We will then head onto Jaipur, Agra- to see the Taj Mahal (bien sur) and then hopefully onto Varanasi with them. I am especially looking forward to going to such a spiritual place with my family...will be amazing for the little princes to share it all with their loved ones.

We are off to Cap Ferret again this summer! Next week we will be renting a gorgeous beach house with our french friends and have quite a few others flying over from London to join in the festivities. Some right characters they are too...we have my glamourous gilfriend who is an actress, we have our friend the scientist (rather mad with a penchant for punk music), the fabulous couple who are both well entrenched in the British fashion industry and my girlfriend from high school who owns her own ad agency in London. It is going to be absolute madness...I can only imagine. Most of us will be in need of a serious detox after that week I can assure you. My liver hurts just thinking about it all.
And perhaps I should do a little exercise before our "vacances a Cap Ferret?" That would mean heaving myself up off my sun lounger and going to the gym...Hmmmm. They might have a gorgeous personal trainer just waiting to whip me into shape? After two kids my ass has certainly seen better days. Maybe the cut out bikini wasn't the best purchase after all? Oh shit. It's all too much for me right now. Stuff it. I need another drink. Garcon? Where the hell did he get to?
Oh and just as an aside...I am absolutely disgusted at the entire "Casey Anthony" case. Absolutely revolting. Some people just do not deserve to be parents in this world. Namely: Casey Anthony. Karma is all I can say for now. KARMA. Makes me so mad!!! NOW I need a bloody drink...for sure.