Chiconia meets Kolkata

Today is Chippy’s birthday.

So, as it’s freezing cold and pouring with rain, we decided it was a day to stay home and have some more domestic fun.

I had made her a bag, we got her some flowers, there is a gathering and a feast arranged for tonight.

Part of the feast involves a large batch of carrot cake cupcakes which are currently making the house smell divine, as well as a pasta dish, butter chicken samosas, chola bhatura, spicy chicken wings and various other lavish goodies.

Take me to the sangeet!

And as part of the fun, she had a rootle in her wardrobe and pulled out some saris so we could play dress-up. You hear stories about how insecure they feel to wear and how difficult it is to walk. Which is nonsense. The safety pin is your friend, and it’s a matter of the correct pleatings, foldings, tuckings and underpinnings.

None of her cholis (blouses) fit either of us as we are no longer the sylph-like damsels we used to be (plus it’s only 8°C today, no weather for bare midriffs), but we paired up in long sleeved black tops and she demonstrated how to arrange my orange and cream paisley patterned sari and then enveloped herself in teal silk with a slightly lighter border. Do we not look sensational?

Now, I don’t want to be a sad Indian wannabe, and this elegant style of dress is not my cultural heritage, but I’ve always felt it was beautiful and dignified, and wanted to give it a try. And I do feel Chippy as a native of Kolkata is entitled to share it with me if she feels it’s appropriate, and I’m honoured to be allowed to. I’m even more honoured that she’s made me a gift of this particular sari and the petticoat that goes under it, together with a choli that, while it doesn’t (yet) fit, can be adapted with an insert and some embellishment to look quite respectable. I shall be lengthening it to spare the world sight of my middle-aged spread, but that too is quite acceptable. Who knows when I’ll ever be able to wear the whole ensemble, but knowing Chippy, we’ll come up with something!

This afternoon, we will be frosting the cupcakes, then carrying out the unboxing of Chippy’s own version of Aretha. She bought the same machine at virtually the same time, but hasn’t got round to even opening the box, so I’ll be taking her through that, and I do believe she’ll be kicking herself she left it so long…

Sadly, this is our last day here, we’re already checked in for tomorrow’s flights, but we’ve had a marvellous time, and are already planning our next get-together (Dale, take note, we’re aiming for NH in early Feb next year, and maybe third time lucky).

I’m sorry to go, but I’m also looking forward to seeing my furry black companion again; hopefully he’ll forgive us in due course, helped along by lots of extra treats. It’s another long day in airports and airplanes, but worth it.

That’s it from me for now. I expect there’ll be plenty of photos to sort through and probably another post will be forthcoming on the party itself, but for now, Chiconia out.