Another day has dawned, and it is far too hot and sunny for the time of year. Where is all our much needed rain, for goodness sake ? Alison and I sat on the terrace for our first coffee of the morning, then beat a retreat indoors, as it was already too hot and sticky at 7.15.
We had a lovely evening last night, welcoming a group of Alison’s friends home. Since most of the guests are also our friends, it was a lovely, relaxed, happy evening. Great wine.
The ayurvedic-termite-exterminator-wala is due here about 10 o’clock, so let’s see what happens. The wretched creatures have chomped through boxes of papers, so I am trying to salvage what I can.
Right, fast forward to nearly 6pm, and in all honesty I should take back that opening line about the weather. I went with Alison to Sharpurjat, for her fitting with Sonam. Tea, chat, looking at first ideas for his next collection - all great fun. We went for lunch in Hauz Khas. Equally great fun. Hours of dosas and chat later we emerged into pouring rain, but since I wanted to check out one of the antique shops there, we dashed through the rain to Nikhil’s shop.
And then the heavens opened. Thunder, lightening, a real honest-to-goodness crash, bang, wallop kind of storm. Within moments the little streets of Hauz Khas were water-logged,as you can see.
We made a dash for it, but within a couple of minutes, the traffic came to an ill-tempered standstill. No-one moved, no-one gave way, so everyone was blocked as a result. Soaked to the bone already, I got out and stood in the pouring rain & did what comes naturally to me – the bossy Memsahib bit. Suffice it to say that we got out of the jam quickly, though Sonam’s car will take days to dry out, I fear.
I have posted a lovely story about cheetahs being reintroduced into India, in my Green India section, and there are masses of CWG updates. One of the Games stories even gives me my phrase of the day – “keeping a hawk’s eye” on things. Move over eagles.
We are off into the rain again in a few minutes, to go see “Salt” with Eden and Cal at Vasant Kunj, so once more into the breach etc etc.
