Season’s greetings from the UK

I feel like a pompous, ignorant, uneducated fool.

At least I can comfort my self that yes; I did know that England at one point ruled India. Why, when and how is the bit I am not too sure on.

It is easy to throw my anger at my school, why did I not have a decent history lesson or a decent any lesson for that matter. Why was every class dominated by unruly pupils, the worst culprit being now quite big in the porn industry and the other culprits riding the benefit systems.

Its easy to blame the school and then I could blame the TV maybe they should stop running all these documentaries about forensic evidence of Christ and how a tennis racket is made and run something that might educate us Brits in something that happened not so long ago.

Exactly what did I learn in History? I cannot think of a single thing not one, vague recollections of medieval torture. I remember the great British plague and the great British fire every thing in history seams to be the Great British something. But what about the great British reign of India?

There have been hints of it as I grew up I guess, Mary Poppins for example, how the British economy was built on the East India Trading Company, Pirates of the Caribbean and also spotting Indian fabrics in stately homes.

I have a theory. Maybe what I did learn in history disturbed me so much I just blotted it out of my mind to protect my self from the cruelty of early Britain. I mean if having a king who killed his wife’s and divided religion even more wasn’t bad enough. But the truth is I have not had any formal lessons in any thing to do with the British Empire.

Recently a friend in India stated that that the Indians have a soft spot for the English because of the reign. It made me think. Why the soft spot? What on earth did we do except exploit recourses, labour and divide and rule with some devastating consequences. And of course shoot men, women children and tigers.

I guess there are always the trains, science and languages and it certainly made the stuffed animal collection grow in the Natural History museum, but really, was it worth it? To me it looks like the English came, wrecked, hung on for far too long and ran away with their tail between their legs.

I have not yet studied it fully and I know it will not be a pleasant learning, and what I have so far have found has made me feel uncomfortable being a Brit who is enjoying learning about Indian culture to find that possibly a late ancestor was overseas pinching ivory and exploiting the land and its people. Not a nice feeling.

My boyfriend is constantly reminding me of the fact that I am not Indian; I have never understood that until now, “of course I know I’m not Indian! what do you mean?” I ask him.

The rose tinted glasses have not slipped from my Indian closet, they are not firmly on my nose either, and however they have fallen off at my English one. And it has certainly stirred up some horrid memories from my school days!

My blog is being made more public thanks to a cross-dressing site.

I was browsing the Internet when I suddenly found my blog in a cross dressers website!

At first I was a bit horrified, do I look like a man? In certain photos, I guess I do! I’m female! Honest, I know, I have given birth after all!

However my horror did not last long as I began to think about it a bit more. After all, I have made use of the term “coming out of the closet” which in some cultures states that you are reviling your secrets and mostly in the UK states you are opening up about your homosexuality, which at this point I would like to point out that not all cross dressers are homosexual.

Putting my self in another set of shoes I thought, there is not a lot of difference between me and a cross dresser. There’s this obsession, that’s not quite the norm, which you find hard to talk about hard, and hard to find people with similar interests and always at the back of your mind what everyone else thinks.

It must take some courage trying to tell your family that as their son you like noting better than getting a nice dress on, stiletto heels and hitting the town armed with a handbag and lipstick.

If I’m honest, where my family are concerned I am well and truly still in the closet when it comes to coming out with my saree obsession. My dad sort of knows about the fact I like sarees, and I think he likes it because India had a huge influence on the Beatles, my dad is Beatles mad, and of course, I think my dad is a closet hippy. My mum draws a blank on the subject, when I told her I wanted to wear a saree to my brothers wedding resulted in the finger waving and “If you ever….” (Words of disownment followed as it does overtime I do something that mother does not approve of)

When you do not have the support behind you from your own mother, I feel that you are made to feel slightly outcast from what you feel is, and should be a part of you. I have the disapproval of my mother sat on my shoulder like a little red daemon, the sort you used to see in the old cartoons nagging at me saying that I shouldn’t be wrapping that saree, I should be wearing things that are more ordinary. (Apparently)

So I call my self a cultural cross dresser, who favours the Asian fashion, sarees in particular. When I do venture out in a saree I get a lot of complements, I just wish my mum could hear them I’m sure she will suddenly find herself proud of her tom boy daughter all of a sudden and encourage the wearing. The odd thing is, if my mum was out and about and happened across a man in a dress, she would be singing his praises and be full of complements, of course, if he looked good!

As said before I have the support of my readers, those on twitter and those that complement me when I’m out and about in the saree so thank you.

I wrote on their blog

“Hello, Thank you for supporting my blog! I’m having a lot of fun writing it. I am a self confessed cultural cross dresser and sort of nearly almost just slightly in some ways face the same issues some of your more shy members may suffer with whilst expressing their individuality. Keep up the good work”

Non Indians in Sarees

Angelina-Jolie has forgot to put on her blouse. In all fairness I think it was for a movie

Anna Kournikova, wow, its a shame she did not wear it when she plays tennis I love the shoes!

Ashley Judd wonderful saree. Stunning

Lady Kingsley, thanks for trying but I feel you may of needed some help!

This is Camron Diaz, the saree is wasted in this pose, I would love to see what it looks like upright!

Julia Roberts in the film eat love pray, I would love to know what saree she would choose with out a wardrobe team choosing it for her

JR again

Jessica, where has your petticoat gone?

The late Lady Di not in a saree, but in a slawar, just a bit of name dropping but I brought a saree off Geeta Sarin a designer who designed a salwar for Lady Di..Not this salwar mind

Liz Hurley and son. It was Liz's destiny to wear sarees, doesn't she look great!

Liz Hurley again, the right way to wear a saree thank you

Madonna, I wonder what it would of looked like if the flash was not so harsh

Pamela Anderson. No Never again, please no, a more modest blouse even with that size chest and it could of looked allot better

Patricia Arquette Love it

Dear Pussy cat dolls. Thank you for bringing the saree to the uk teenage public attention. Next time don't make them look so trashy

Victora Beckhams tiny frame is lost under all that heavy material. Still stunning.

Alyssa milano.....What are you doing to that poor saree


 

Helen Mirren. If this photo does not make you want to wear a saree, nothing will. Save the best till last I say. I love it such a brilliant choice and she wears it so well.

I do not follow what the celebs do....However....

Just seen on facebook that brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie will tie the knot in Jodhpur and there is a poll out on if she is going to wear a Lhenga or saree. I just wanted to point out, what when I wear a saree on my wedding day (if I have a wedding day of course) it was not because Angelina did!! I thought of it first! I am already cringing with the thought of people saying “oh- just like A.J” Save me.

On one hand it would be great if she did get married in Indian attire, it will really open everyone’s eyes to wonderful world of Asian wedding fashion. I just would not like anyone associating me with what the celebrities do. I’m wearing a saree because I want to and not because of some fat lipped actress!

www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/IndianSarees

My re-homing obsession

As you all are aware, I have a very special relationship with ebay and sarees

Here is a picture of a blouse I have recently brought

It is very detailed with gold spun wire thread and black sequins, and it is very heavy. I was keeping my eye out for a plain black chiffon saree for it . However....

I found this on ebay and I have a day to decide to bid for it or not. They are asking allot of money for it it looks soft and silky and looks like it may go with the blouse. What do you think?

Also beginning to wonder...When will I stop buying?!? I will always go for a bargain however anything more than £5 I do put some thought into before I buy!

Below are some photos of those I have not brought, but wanted to, just to show I do exercise some self restraint!

However I am seriously thinking about these two

I fancy owning a blue one at the moment. But Im sure this obsession will not stop until I get married in one! And that could be some time comming!

Three hours and its gone...What do you think?

I found this on ebay, and have not seen a saree quite like it
Can't decide if I should add it to my collection. It would be nice to have some vivid colours for a change

And I guess a black blouse may tone it down alittle.
Thoughts welcome!?

Facebook

I have never got on with facebook but I am giving another chance shwetika22@gmail.com. Please don't expect anything exciting. Just hoping to get a few saree nuts together, might see you there!

Where do I put these!?!? And an outing in vampire black saree

Christmas has come early for me in the form of FOUR new sarees. It of course came as no surprise as I had brought them myself off eaby. They are all seconds so four more sarees have found a nice new home where I hope they will be happy and worn often.

This one is soft silky and surprisingly heavy. It has a lovey wide border and the blouse is very long, I’ve never had a blouse quite like it I love it, in fact I am wearing it now! I would love to keep it on all day but its wet and raining outside and it would totally ruin the bottom of the saree.

I am still experimenting with white at the moment I think it looks great, however if you can’t tell from the photo I have found a flaw right where it sits across my chest where the fabric has been pulled and it is very noticeable more like a rip. I think this one is polyester as it has that sticky sensation when you try to work, the fabric does not flow nicely at all, I will have to avoid such purchases in the future. But I will be wearing this for Holy next year and see how many colours I can get splatted on it!

This is my first crepe saree, and what can I say, it is wonderful, the fabric is so smooth and light, and this one has a slight shine to it. It’s extremely plain which I think is in at the moment. The blouse doesn’t have any sleeves which I’m not used to and I’m worried with me being Caucasian it makes me look like I’m wearing a toga! The blouse also has a low cut blouse at the back fantastic. It took me a few hours to get it on as it was pre-stitched in to a waist band which was for an extremely slim person. I managed to pick it out and in doing so I found a lot of stains so will spending the rest of the day finding out how to wash crape. Ela any advice always greatly received. Also it does not have a fall stitched into it so will have to do that before I wear it out.

The fourth one in currently in the washing machine.  Its maroon in colour and very heavy. The blouse is wonderful, it has a high neck however it looks rather dated and was probably fashionable in the 70’s which is great as the vintage look is really in at the moment. Over in the UK anyway.

Last night I went out with the boyfriend and his parents for dinner. I was in the mood for wearing a saree so my Vampire black one got another airing and a lot of complements.

It is very light and if it wasn’t for the itchy metallic thread in some places you would feel like you have nothing on! I still think the blouse is lacking something around the sleeves. What do you think?

I will now spend the rest of the day trying to find some room to put them all!

Thanks for reading!

Asian bride show anybody?

Bit of a long shot but is anyone going to the Asian Wedding show in Wembley 22^nd – 23^rd Jan 2011?

http://www.asianbrideshow.com/

The saree is not here

Hopefuly tomorrow. Utsav have emailed me asking for feed back for the 2nd saree they sent me. I am still waiting for them to resolve the issues I had with the first saree. Time to draft another email I think!

Snow!

When I was a kid, it snowed a lot, I must have been 8 when the last deep snow hit, I can remember being cold, but I remember having fun. What I do not remember is the whole country shutting down. The recent snow has left me stranded in my home town for over a week unable to get to work. My sons school has been understandbly shut, so even if I could get to work, I would struggle to get to work still. I was watching the news and a canadian torest stated that this is the sort of snow you brush away with a broom, not the sort that should shut down a whole country. And he is right, however the snow in my drive and up the road needs a shovel and I have been shoveling!

Still its better than last year when it snowed. There were not grit and I spent the day going out and rescuing the elderly who had fallen over in the ice.

This year there is grit but they have not put it on the pavements because to be honnest its not too bad at the moment. They have sent a few JCB’s up and down the road and blocked my drive up again however at least the roads are a bit safer now.

My son enjoyed his day of sledging down the hill however by the time we got home he was so cold and so upset with being cold he didn’t want to do it again!

Now its starting to thaw out things are returning to normal now and Im back at work which is nice.

Still quite on the saree front however have brought another second of ebay, its crape, havn’t got a crape one and its got a vest like top with no sleeves, has been pre stiched with a waist band so will have fun removing that!

The silk one I brought of ebay is being held hostage by boyfriend who has found someone to stich the blouse for me I will not see it until christmas. Never mind!

Its gone quiet on the Saree front

Its quiet because I find my self working for a living once more, which is nice, too much to do in no time at all 2 weeks ago I was sat around doing nothing, now it all comes in at once! Can't win!

But at home I have been knitting with recycled sari material. I'm new to knitting, and don't know much about it only that I think I am enjoying it but at the same time don't want to do anyting too complicated.

Once this is finished I hope it will resemble something like a hot water bottle cover!

I also put all my sarees out on the bed and took a photo of them

I just had enougth bed to put them on!

I have been waiting patiently for a response from Utsav. Nothing on that front and I'm not getting my hopes up either. Hope to write about something more exciting soon!

Utsav sarees? Ive had better purchases on ebay!

http://www.utsavsarees.com/ . What an amazing website full of every saree you can think off. Some affordable, others not so, but a wonderful collection. The amount of hours I have spent window shopping on that site are too embarrassing to admit to. However, the relationship I have with this website is slowly coming to an end. What did I do wrong do you ask? I placed and order I tell you.

It was not my first order. My first order was for my “Bollywood” saree. It took a lifetime to come to my door and it arrived a different colour than advertised however the photo and image policy covers slight colour variation so I was sort of expecting a slight colour variation. How it was described as olive green and ended up Florissant green is beyond me.

It was my second order that I was most up set about. Black Printed saree with velvet work and matching blouse see how the matching blouse is in bold.

The saree was spot on when it turned up totally as described and pictured in the advertisement, very happy with that, a lovely saree fit for the black tie event I brought it for. However the blouse, not so back tie. It’s a plain black piece that is not even made out of the same material as the saree. No detail in it what so ever. Not even a matching trim. I was most up set. The pain black blouse totally understated the whole saree and turned what should have been a formal piece fit for the stage into a casual weekend saree. I made my complaint and the response I got was in the lines of

If I want a blouse in matching fabric I will have to pay the stitching charges and the shipping charges.

Little bit confused here as. If they sold it to me as matching blouse available surely they should of send me the available matching blouse in the first place.

Of course I have emailed back a response and will keep you all up dated.

This is not my first run in with this establishment. They came to London once and I witnessed some very underhand things going on in a back room of a hotel. You will find this experience at http://www.complaintsbord.com/ if you are interested. Search Utsav, some very interesting comments there – even a response!

I’m sure that a response from Utsav will be a positive one, however not a quick one.

Ela has already directed me to www.sarishop.com which is in no way to be confused or attached to in any way to Utsav sarees. Are there any others out there where a good service can be recommended?

VW Bora / Golf 2001 Turn signals and indicator faults

VW Bora / Golf 2001 Turn signals and indicator faults

To all of my regular readers I'm sorry this is a bit different however may
show up on a search and may give someone a hand that I didn't!

Car Indicator problems

Long story cut shoot my car was smashed up front left wing when someone
decided to drive in to me. The car recently came back from the body shop
with an excellent surface repair however with a few electrical issues.

On using my turn signals (left) the fuse would blow. Twice. Garage who did
the repairs said switch issue. I sad no. A switch applies power and does not
generate it fuse is blowing the circuit is obviously got an earth issue.
They insisted on switch and said that it was nothing to do with them.

I set out investigating and found that the left indicator bulb housing the
contacts inside were touching. Part them a bit, new fuse, job done. No new
switch required very much

I am now left with one minor fault that my turn lamps do not flash when
pressing the key fob remote locking. I think they have disabled the alarm
some how some reason while doing the body repairs. Of course they are still
saying nothing to do with them.

I am attaching these photos as while I was researching this problem on the
internet many were suffering with lack of information about their fuse
panels and fuse ratings in their VW glof/Bora so I attach two photos which
may help those that need them

One of the fuse maps. This has been designed for a LHD and can be a bit
confusing when trying to read for a RHD but I'm sure you can work it out

The other photo is of the fuse ratings found in colour code. This photo is
from a RHD car hence the mirror image if your compare it to the LHD map.

I must warn you this is only an example of my car and must be used as
reference only. I'm the cars second owner and this is the first time I have
looked in the fuse panel. Assuming the first owner did not switch the fuses
around too much it should be as per factory issue. Seeing the first owner
was my Mum we should be ok.

After I did a bit of maths with the Turn circuit I decided that 10A was a
bit on the borderline for the turn signals and changed this for a 15A. But
if your car is not blowing out on 10A no point changing

Once I fix the alarm flash will let you know. I shouldn't have to fix this
seeing it went in to the garage fine (exempt smashed wing) and came out an
electrical wreck. But there's nothing like a girl dressed in a sari telling
a grease monkey what he got wrong!

This weekend trip to London introduced me once more to my least best friend
claustrophobia. Usually the Swaminarayan mandir on show to all that visit.
This weekend it was blocked from view with tents and awnings.

The turn out for the Diwali celebrations were overwhelming. We arrived early so missed
most of the queue's but still a lot of people around. A shoe tent was there
as you went in to drop off your shoes.

As soon as you entered you were
segregated a male queue and a female queue which took you in to the main
prayer hall, which I had never been into before. It was huge and luxurious
there was an unbelievably huge queue for the women, the men did not seam to
have this problem and seamed to breeze through. I spent 20 minutes of being
squashed in to there before I could not take it any more. It was not an
orderly queue but a push shove and rather undignified. At the front of the
hall I could see a wonderful array of food so much wonderfully laid out. I
made an exit and found my self into another queue which would of taken me in
to the temple if the first queue was undignified this one was a pure riot.
Claustrophobia took over and I had to get out of there. I was rather up set.
A bit of a nervous wreck I managed to find my way back to the shoes and get
out of there. I was up set at my self for not sticking it out but I just
could not do it.


It was a amazing celebration, but it would be one I would
rather do during a more quieter time. What I do not understand is why the
men did not have this issue. It made me think, is Claustrophobia only a
white girls disease and not suffered at all in Indian culture?

I like my personal space and do not see why I should suffer some ones gut pressed up my back and someone else’s breath down my neck at the same time. My recovery was quick and I did not wish to dwell on it as I was more up set that I was stuck in two queues and did not experience anything except fear, confusion, and frustration. After a few Barjies and a lot of saree spotting we left and made our way to Camden Town where we experienced a whole different side to London Culture.

Its been at least 12 years since I last been there. I visited a lot when I was a teenager, there was a huge punk, Goth rock, grunge and alternative influences now. It’s since turned (in some parts) a bit trendy and spiritual. It was great. We lot most of the day walking around the lanes looking at all the fantastic stuff for sale. Of course I was still pleased to see that the punk/Goth/rock/grunge and alternative were still a huge part of Camden Town.
Back to the hotel quick rest then I threw a saree on and went to the south bank. Went up in the London eye for the first time. By this time it was dark and London was littered with lights and we even caught sight of some fire works.

Next morning, a quick run around the Tate modern. I love hating modern art. Maybe one day I can tell you about it! A few photos and home. Exhausting.

What fun

I gave in :(

Well, I'm at work the lights are up and the sweets are out but no saree.
However I did wear my salwar Kameez. I discoved that Diwali is not well
known and provided all that asked with a very brief explanation.

One step at a time, next year I hope my saree will be on with no anticipation.
But yes there should be a national wear your saree to work day, how do you
start something like that?

Im in London this weekend to enjoy the Diwali celebrations in the BAPS Temple and I hope to get to wear the saree there at least! I am a bit disapointed in my self. One good thing that happend is that a saree I ordered up on ebay showed up and one of the girls modled it for me and she spent a good 15 mins in it. Unfortunatly the blouse is too small for me and there is no room for adjustment. Never mind.

The Salwar Kameese went down well and people were asking quetions about that. I did well...I think some small regrets on not wearing a Saree but next year should have no excuses!

Happy Diwali everyone!

Happy Diwali

Happy Diwali to all!

Crazy thoughts and cold feet.

I fell asleep on the sofa last night and work up with a start and a rather ridiculous feeling about my saree madness. What on earth am I doing? I’m not Indian, I have no such connections, so why this obsession. If I channelled all this effort into Western clothes and fashion I would come across as rather vain I guess or loving myself, I will properly be parading about in a fur waist coat a big chunky knitted dress with leggings and Ugg boots with an enormous bag with lots of charms hanging off it. No thanks. I will stick to the sarees thank you!

Now I have decided that wearing the latest fur and feather trimmed trends with ridiculous boots is not for me however my feet have gone rather cold. Since deciding to wear a saree to work on Friday the 5^th of December I have suffered slightly with some anxiety and fear I just might pull out. The fairy lights which I have had PAT tested just for the occasion and so that I am not breaching any health and safety laws, they are still coming with me to work on Friday and so are the box of sweets I am ashamed to say the saree just may well stay in the closet for this day.

Let me explain a bit about the office I work in. There are approx 2500 employees scattered around 3 buildings. I am in one of the bigger buildings which is opened planned and I work on a floor down from the top floor. Where I sit I am on view to any one going up to or down from the top floor as well as anybody on my floor. I fear I will be on show to everyone and have a barrage of questions, the same questions thrown at me.

My obsession with saris is limited to around a handful of people I work with - they have offered some encouragement, one of them who normally is not present on Friday is coming in just for the occasion of seeing me in a saree but I feel this is because he is a pit perverted and I am well used to this sort of behaviour from him so it causes no offence.

Rather than sit here and stew over it by myself I’m putting my worries on this blog to get a feeling of what you think?

At this time my feelings towards saree Friday is

FOR

Celebrate the fist Day of Diwali by dressing in Saree

Come out of the Saree closet

White Girls can wear saris too

Bringing the saree in to Western fashion, it could well set a trend.

AGAINST

Lots of strange looks and questions

People still discussing it with me at the coffee machine months later

Attracting unwanted attention

Help!

Some photos

Here are a few photos of my more recent buys
Please note, allot of these I have just thrown on as soon as I have got home, desperate to see what it looks like. I'm sure you all understand!

This one was a fantastic purchase from ebay used. I wore it at the mela and was overloaded with complements It was my favorite until my "Black" silk saree turned up in the post

This is my super bargain £5 silk saree (I think) from ebay arrived yesterday. By the photos I thought it was black however its green and gold and I love it. This I hope to wear to work on Friday for Diwali.

This is my new white saree, brought just to see what the colour looks like on me...What do you think? Its not a great photo but hope to get some in the day light soon

This is the Purple and Gold two tone that I was a bit upset about, you can tell that it must be made of plastic by the way is shines and sticks out! Bit upset with this one but a bit of work I'm sure I can make it sit right!

This is my only lengha brought in London for far too much money. I wore this to Navratri and I'm glad I did rather than a saree. The amount of times I trod on it, if it had been a saree it would be on the floor