What Price Serenity??

Back home at last!

Hello readers, thanks for joining me this week. We are back safe and sound, dog tired, mentally exhausted, both a few pounds heavier, another successful exhibition behind me, and a streaming cold to boot. Another holiday is in order - asap!! The kittens are happy to be back home, and are showing their pleasure by racing around, systematically wrecking the house and then collapsing in an exhausted heap.

I should have guessed that this holiday was going to be chaotic - our flight to Dubai was delayed, and then only three of our four bags arrived in India. After an anxious wait, the fourth one was delivered to the house the next day - but not before my aunt took some pleasure in telling me about how someone's cousin's wife's sister's bag had gone missing forever, causing my mother anxiety on my behalf -'what will you do, OMG, OMG' she went, until I was a bit short with her (that's an understatement, by the way) and I went off to chew my fingernails secretly in the toilet, while I pretended a serenity I did not feel.

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I've known these girls since 1976

During the three weeks of this manic holiday, my friend's daughter had a three day partnership celebration, my cousin had a 50th birthday, and we had our own wedding anniversary to mark. There were also reunions - friends whom I hadn't met for years and years descended on Bangalore in dribs and drabs all in the same three weeks, and there were a couple of little parties - one organised by my school mates, and another by class fellows from medical school.

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Itsy Bitsy

Itsy Bitsy, Banashankari

Itsy Bitsy, RMV layout

I ran a couple of jewellery making workshops for Itsy Bitsy at two of their stores across Bangalore - and anyone who knows the traffic there will feel sorry for the guy who drove me across town. The workshops themselves were a doddle when compared to the logistics of actually getting to them, where I met some lovely ladies.

Preparations for the exhibition carried on through all of this - and then, as if this wasn't enough, my mother suddenly needed an operation - which was scheduled for the afternoon of day prior to the exhibition. 
The entire extended family swung into action with suggestions and concern and I had to navigate the minefield of doing what was right by my mother without offending the rest of the clan.

The smiling face of murderous intent!

This of course was also the time assigned to the setting up of my stall, and for a moment I thought I would have to cancel the entire enterprise.
 My mother however, was made of sterner stuff - no way would she agree to my exhibition being cancelled. 

Instead, I set up (or tried to) in the morning, well before the operation was scheduled - unfortunately Mr Pinto, who was meant to supply the tables for the exhibition partied a bit too hard the night before, and forgot all about my request for an early delivery - the phone lines were smoking hot that morning, I can tell you - and my blood pressure sky high. Although I am smiling in the photograph, the pose coaxed out of me by Rachel, murder was not far from my thoughts! I stayed entirely silent, in case I let slip a few choice swear words, turning the air blue around me, frightening away my new friend Rachel.

Eventually, just after mid day, Mr Pinto arrived - a plump little moustachioed man, chauffeured on the back of his daughter's motor scooter, perspiring and apologising with equal profusion, carrying the table cloths I needed before I could lay my jewellery out - he was so upset that even I felt sorry for him by the time he'd finished with the apologies. He came good, and even delivered an extra couple of tables that I suddenly found I needed the next day, without charge and on time - thank you Mr Pinto, all is forgiven!

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Once I was three quarters of the way set up for the next morning, I set off for the hospital to be an anxious relative (now I know how that feels,  usually being on the other side of the coin), driving all the way to where mum was having her operation, just about ready to pass out myself, having had very little to eat all day other than a couple of sugar hits - which went straight to my hips, rather than do me any good. 
And after all that fuss, the operation that was meant to be at midday was done at half past three - now I know how that feels as well!
The sign by the lift exhorted us to be patient and speak softly - or did it??

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Before the crowds arrived

And then the exhibition - I was exhausted well before it even started, but perked up greatly when people arrived and began to compliment the jewellery. This time I really felt the love, as last time around I had a lot of support from my (very large) extended family and friends, whose job it was to say nice things about Caprilicious. 

This year I was at the mercy of strangers - and the response was overwhelmingly, heart-warmingly, exceedingly wonderful! Some of the family came too and were uniformly complimentary - I am very grateful, of course I am. My cousin Brindala worked hard behind the scenes, even handing out fliers to guests at her brother's 50'th birthday bash - and some of those guests did turn up.
Rachel Chitra, whom I met through this blog worked tirelessly - I heard her telling everyone that I was the designer - was that why everyone was so complimentary? - or perhaps I just have a naturally suspicious mind! Anyway, whatever the reason, people bought a load of stuff and said a lot of complimentary things, and I was tired, but very happy at the end of it all.

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My sister and her family turned up to see my mother, bearing macarons and cake. Mona has decided to set up in business and is in the early, exciting stages of sourcing equipment, making menus and getting started in her own business Em'ali, dealing in specialty cakes and breads in Pune, India, where she has decided to spend the rest of her life, having lived a nomadic lifestyle so far with her husband being in the Indian Army.

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Jackie Pinto, the editor of Indulge, Indian Express decided that she loved Caprilicious, she was the first visitor to the exhibition, then came back for more again and yet again. She is now my brand ambassador in India! She introduced me to the owner of Ffolio and I ended up placing some of my jewellery in this extremely well known, extremely popular and exclusive boutique where even the air you breathe seems rarefied.

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And finally, here are a few earrings that Bangalore was not ready for yet. The idea was to create asymmetry that was pleasing to the eye by using similar elements, in a different order - almost tricking the brain. After all, nature is asymmetrical - well, that was the theory. But the practicality might have been that they were a bit too avant garde?? - let me know what you think.

I have been on the blower every day, and mom seems to be making a good recovery. Ms Muse should be back sometime next week from her extended holiday - I am keeping everything crossed that I won't have to send someone after her and she keeps her promise to return.
That's all for now, have a fabulous week and I'll catch you next Friday, same time, same place
xx

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