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!