Bollywood montage part 2

More colourful antics from our weekend

On Saturday night fever and Sunday perambulations

It's lashing it down out there, I can barely see through the rain laced windows. The wind is howling around the house making whining sounds down the chimney.

Fortunately the fire is happily crackling away and I have my mug of Assam tea and my computer, as well as grumpy cat and soggy dog for company - lovely.

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It took until lunch time on Sunday before the house returned to some semblance of normality. I succumbed easily to persuasion from the boys as they pleaded that we leave our home still wearing it's brightly coloured decorations. 

A  shockingly cerise pink covered table  jostles for attention with a vivid red, yellow and black elephant throw. Both are adorned with purple and orange flowers all announcing their presence.

 The small table in the lounge looks resplendent in shades of gold and fuchsia while highly reflective charger plates of royal reds and purples sit in silent splendour.

All the little white lights Himself hung (and there were hundreds of them) are still there and seeing how dull and dark today is turning out to be, I think I just might go and switch them on to jolly up my morning!.......... Do you know, it has, it definitely has :)








The children at our party looked so cute, all dressed up and sparkly, either in turbans with 'rubies' and feathers or in saris and sequins. I know that they love dressing up, and it seems so do their parents!

Now, in the silence our my home with all my boys at work or school, I look back and think that Saturday went very very well.

And the winner of the adult cosplay? 

Himself! and as with tradition, the winner gets to select the theme for next year's party.........

 The theme? 

Drum roll please....................

The swinging 60's!

Just think of the flares, the hot pants, the midi skirts, the maxi dresses, the beards and the  sideburns and oh yes - the music!!

Ooohh bring it on! 

(well, may be NOT the hot pants :)  )

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On Sunday, once we'd rediscovered our house and put the vacuum cleaner and the dishes away, we donned our boots and coats and headed for the hills to our favourite woods up in the Dales. We felt refreshed after we yomped up the hill in record time and at the top we stopped for lunch and to get our heart rate back down to normal and our breathing less ragged. 

With all the rain we've been having lately, the rivers although not at their fullest were still swollen and the fields were quagmires pitted with deep hoof holes made by horses and cows.  We stopped at the river for a last mug of tea before returning to the car is almost complete darkness. 

While we were sitting there, watching the water surge by, marvelling at the strength of it, I noticed a tree filled with detritus and on closer inspection it proved to be debris washed down during the last flooding. That tree is in the mid distance to the left of Himself......notice how high it is. We left quietly and in awe of the natural power of water and that only a few days ago, where we are sitting would have been 3 meters under water.....

Time to go............

A lovely weekend, and as usual it whizzzzzzed by but never mind, got another weekend coming up again in about...erm...5 days time!

Woo Hoo!!

A final colourful glimpse of our Bollywood night.

Jai-ho!

Last night Bollywood came to town. We painted the night red and cerise and fuchsia and turquoise. We sparkled in golds and silvers and shimmied in saris and salwar kameez, we were even graced by a visitation from Ganesh. The house was filled with exotic sounds and fragrant aromas. And we had a lovely evening.

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Earlier in the same day we had been out sorting a few last minute things when we stopped at little cash and carry store on the way home. One we had never used before where the assistants were incredibly helpful and went out of their way to oblige, offering to do the henna for my hands which I most gratefully and happily accepted. A very pretty young girl in a sparkling green and black sari painted my hands explaining how to look after the henna and how to extend and preserve these beautiful temporary tattoos.

The darkened henna, as dried, began to crumble off exposing the more delicate turmeric shades beneath

Later on during the evening, Youngest took a photograph of my decorated hands.

I will be wearing these badges of our wonderful celebration of Samhain for up to three weeks 

before they gently fade away

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More about our celebrations tomorrow, it's late and I've spent a happy (long) evening sorting out the pictures and now it's bedtime and I am rather tired, seeing we had a rather late night - g'night.

Cinderella shall go to the ball

Am I ready? Am I heck! Bollywood night here we come ready or not :)

Our house is filled with part made costumes, sequins and ribbons. There are brightly coloured garlands tumbling out of vibrant bowls in shades of shocking pink and lime green. A freshly washed dhoti waits to have it's final decoration stitched on. I have learnt how to wrap a turban in a Rabari style. The boys Sherwanis are waiting to be finished. Fortunately I have been lent a Salwar Kameez but  due to a catalogue of  mini misundertandings - I still don't have it, let alone know if it will fit me. Himself is collecting it for me this evening while I am at work - finger's crossed!

The food is sorted - I have........... well sort of............. umm............ sorted it, well, I've thought about it........The house needs tidying and decorating, the list goes on.

When's all this for? Saturday.....day after Friday, which is the day after Thursday, which is tomorrow.... and in those few days I have a knit and natter evening, a bonfire party to go to (only just received confirmation this morning that it is going ahead!), shopping and cooking for the party and - oh yes - and still go to go to work............ something has just got to give - hmmm, me thinks it will be work! Now why didn't I think of that earlier :)

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The multicoloured jolly throw has finally gone to his new home. He seemed to be well received as he was stroked and patted and hugged. I took a few last photos of the blankie as he posed on the settee and then by the fire just before he said his last good byes.

The blankie showing his best side, or is this his best side?

Last cosy look as he waits to be taken to his new home.

I have just realised I have given this blanket a gender..................good grief - is this normal?? 

Actually most of our inanimate objects have a gender or a name, it just looks strange now I've see it written down! 

Oh well. 

(shrugs shoulders, if other folk have realised I am odd, surely it is time I accepted that I am!)

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Just remembered that I was going to henna tattoo my hands and feet - now where did I put that henna kit?

October - October, time to reflect

A thought...
noticing the quickening of the year and the lessening of light

A sound...
the crackle of the fire as it sparkles into life

A taste...
of curries, of heady spices and sensuous flavours tantalising the taste buds and hinting of celebrations to come

An image...

Tumbled and polished by a relentless sea, the pebbles lie in wait 'til the next tide

A scent...
of incense as it wraps it's spell around the room and into my thoughts

A word...
or two written by youngest when sending me a text......... we are going tikcle teeting soon =) 

(note to self - keep this safe for future heart warming and work on Youngest's spellings!)

A touch...
holding his tender-rough hand after we'd been apart a few days

A gift for me...
Lilies - un-requested and spontaneous, their scent warming the room  

A post you may have missed..

My little music man 

Salty air and shaggy ponies

10.10.10

That was October, gone but certainly not forgotten - so much to remember, heart warming moments and sea air filled lungs, lengthening nights and cooler days, russet coloured hill sides and increasingly bare trees - the season's are changing and the year moves on.

The circle

The house is dark and sleepy. Only the cat sees me as I walk quietly through. She blinks reflective-eyed as I move on silent feet. I am the only one awake and I want it to remain that way.

The clocks have turned back and the night closed in like a hastily drawn curtain forcing winter closer. Small comical ghouls flit through the night in their brand name costumes cheerily calling trick or treat not comprehending nor caring for the ancient reasons for their fright-night fun.

It is the beginning, not the end. 

The circle has been completed and starts again. 

A new year, winter is approaching - clearing, cleansing the land. 

Seeds fall and lie dormant waiting for warmer soil and brighter skies. 

Trees shed their tired leaves, resting themselves, refreshing themselves for the coming spring.

Year end - year beginning.

Time to celebrate.

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Himself, not dressed to fright this year (I 'kindly' donated his costume to Eldest) had fun handing out sweets to the village monsters, most of them we know so a goodly banter was had at each visitation. At one point we were surrounded as groups of ghouls and pretty witches came to both back and front doors, we duly laughed and congratulated and teased the beauties and beasties and handed out sweet homage to their appearances.  Our boys were staying with a friend - relieving the occupants of their sweet-booty in a neighbouring village. When they finally came home, successful and tired, both spoke alternatively, simultaneously, randomly and in tandem of their successful evening. A pile of grubby pirate and devil costumes dropped next to the washing machine confirmed their antics. 

Year end - year beginning.

Time to celebrate.

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Next weekend we have our celebration - we have family and friends over and fill the house with food and music. Last year our theme was 'Pirates' and a swashbuckling affair was definitely had. This year things are a lot more refined as we are having a 'Bollywood Night'.  

Oh what glamour, the sparkle, the starlets and the heros. 

And the food, and the food! - heavenly scented foods, spicy, sumptuous and succulent. 

All palates and tastes will be catered for - hot or cool, vegetarian or raving carnivore! Oh what fun :)

Year end - year beginning.

Time to celebrate.

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Outside I can hear stirrings, a new day threatens to waken, the occasional bird song, the milk man clanking and clinking the milk bottles as he tunelessly whistles while a car or two drive through the village fairly noiselessly. A peep through the curtains confirms it is still dark - I might try and catch a bit more sleep - life is back to normal this week - work and school demands time and energy.

Year end - year beginning.

Time to celebrate.

But not now, my pillow calls.

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