And the Show Did go On

Hiya folks, I hope you have as much sunshine in your life as I'm getting out here in India. I've been chilling and relaxing so much that it seems impossible to believe that only a couple of weeks ago I was running around like a headless chicken, tying up loose ends before I flew out to visit with my family.
Every year since 2014 Caprilicious comes with me to India, and I have a little show at Raintree, which is the ideal venue, right in the middle of town, in a sprawling Raj bungalow, with loads of parking space and a cafe'. This year, unfortunately, I was forced to cancel my show at Raintree at the last minute.

Demonetisation

I'm not sure if you know about the monetary situation in India. In a nutshell, there isn't any! Well, in an effort to wipe out the black economy, the authorities suddenly withdrew all bank notes in the larger denominations and replaced them with brand new ones.
​Unfortunately, India is a cash economy and very, very large. The Reserve Bank of India could not keep up with the demand for the exchange of old for new, as they couldn't print the notes fast enough. Baffled citizens were rendered cash-less overnight and have formed serpentine, disgruntled queues at banks and ATMs ever since.
Eventually, the ATM's ran out of money and cash from them was rationed to about £25 a day per person. Citizens are reduced to looking for alternative ATMs, and don't have the time to do a days work to earn the money they aren't allowed to handle! No one wants to use the small cash reserves they have as one never knows when it will be needed. 
The rich get by, (as they always do) by using their credit cards, but the poor people who cannot get or do not have credit cards suffered, and are still in a lot of pain.
​To be able to accept credit cards, one needs a card reader, and I was unable to get one for love nor money as Caprilicious is not registered in India and basically operates as a pop up shop once a year with me as sole trader.

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​My mother who is 89 this year, stepped in. She had a little gaily coloured marquee set up on the terrace outside my room, and I sent out invitations to a small number of people from whom I could accept cheques with no fear of them bouncing. I brought only a limited number of pieces with me as I did not have to fill an entire room with jewellery, just a little alcove.

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 These pictures were taken before people turned up in a steady trickle. A lot of the folks who came are Caprilicious enthusiasts from earlier shows and new soon-to-be-regulars who have waited for me to come to Bangalore, having seen their friends wear Caprilicious designs. I am pleasantly surprised by the response to my invitations on Facebook and email. 
Once the show is done and dusted tomorrow, I have another adventure planned - I have been gifted a holiday to Sepang, a resort in Malaysia. The person who was meant to go was unable to due to personal circumstances and I was offered a four night stay in a Gold Coast Resort. 
​I will catch up with you when I get back from Malaysia, next weekend. Have yourselves a fabulous week, and I'll catch you soon,
Until then
​xx