The Wanderer Returns

Hello readers, I'm back home in the UK after an eighteen hour journey from India, including a four hour stopover in Dubai. A stinking head cold, a sore throat, and jet lag have turned my brain into mush. Yet, I feel this strange compulsion to talk to you - I've got this blog is well and truly under my skin.

So, what shall I tell you about? I've already talked about the show and the pre show viewing at mum's place. Here are a few more pictures.

Frances Rao missed the exhibition and came home a few days later to make her choices - here she is with Jackie Pinto who wears Caprilicious all the time - well, almost!

I lost a load of my usual friends and clients to coughs and colds and travels, but new ones soon took their place. Sheela, Rachel and Aishwarya came to help and stayed as long as they could to help show the jewellery off. And then, all of a sudden, it was done and the rest of the holiday loomed before me.

After a few days of resting up, I flew to Jaipur. I've always wanted to visit the land where semi precious stones are cut and polished, and silver wholesalers supply the rest of India. Having been let down by my sister who was meant to be accompanying me but had other fish to fry (or is that other cakes to bake??) I went on my own, armed with gen from my friend Rashanta. My mother was terrified, but didn't dare say a word - she must have kept her fingers crossed all the time I was away.

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I stayed at the comfortable family run Umaid Mahal, and tramped around the wholesale jewellery bazaar for a couple of days until I found what I was looking for and even made some new friends to go sightseeing with.

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 I met the lovely Mark Hampshire, an energy therapist from Drumkeeghan, Donegal Town, who helped while away the time during the long evenings and dinners in the hotel terrace restaurant.

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Wholesale Cabochons

The side streets of the Chameliwala Market!

Hawa Mahal

Lounge Lizards! Chilled out amid the chaos and traffic in Johari Bazaar

The peacock is everywhere

Photo credit to our guide who is used to honeymooning couples

Chaos in Bapu Bazaar

Puppet show

Hall of Mirrors at Amer Fort

Spoilt for Choice

Chaos complicated by camels who aren't the friendliest beasts

Shops on either side of the Hawa Mahal

The City Palace

Amer Fort

Don't miss her stripy socks and the silver anklets worn over them

Jal Mahal

At least their junk isn't made in China

Which one's Del Boy??

Going cross eyed from squinting at the flower tied to his nose!

That's me for this week folks. I'm off to get my head down and hopefully will be fit to go to work on Monday. I have yet to unpack all the stuff I bought in Jaipur. While we were sat in the airport waiting for our flights, I said to Mark, my energy therapist friend, 'let me show you my booty from the jewellery stores' and he looked at me quizzically. 'Booty has another meaning these days', he said - I hope he didn't think I was about to show him my bottom - that would certainly have been a shock to his system!
I will show you my booty next week when I've had time to take some pictures- and I absolutely do not mean my bottom! Have a great week and I'll catch you next week, same time, same place
​xx