October Update
This month was eventful to say the least. Encompassing everything from attending parties to finishing a new book series (you'll find a review on that soon) to participating in a religious ceremony to coming down with a temperature, I don't think there was much that didn't happen.
Except for a holiday in Bath. Sigh.
Cancelled plans; the bane of my existence. We (myself and my parents) intended to take a trip to bath over the school half-term. A brief and modest holiday, encompassing only two days, with the Great Western Railway tickets costing more than the lonely hotel room in a Travelodge. But a holiday nonetheless, an aberration from day-to-day existence (although my day-to-day existence is not in the least something to complain about).
But when it's been nigh three years since you've stepped out of London, one does long for a change.
All that aside, there were plenty of abberations preceding that disappointed journey.
The month began with a very dear friend's birthday, to which the rest of her friends (also very dear friends of mine) and I through a 'surprise' birthday party. Of course, this was not a 'surprise' birthday party after all, since one of the planners simply could not keep her mouth shut. Argh.
It was very enjoyable all the same, in spite of being (quite by necessity rather than design) more suited to a seasoned budget-blogger than a devotee of supreme Victorian taste and elegance. Yet, I am sure one couldn't have- ahem- tasted the difference between the Sainsburys' Taste the Difference Victoria Sponge and a more high-end version. And six-hundred happy birthdays haphazardly penned across the white-board is more than sufficient to make up for the posters on pythagoras and the absence of a glitzy banner (yes? no?)
The next party, following on little more than a week later, was a far more glamorous affair. More than partly because it was hosted outside of school (which however beautiful it might be externally with its exquisite Edwardian architecture could not be greatly improved by crumbling displays of letters written in substandard Latin), partly because it was hosted by someone with an actual income, and partly because it was hosted in a lieu of an event with still greater importance. Not any birthday, but a golden birthday. We all trouped off to the newly-aged madam's house after the school-day had come to a close, and the decorations were certainly a cut above the make-do affair that featured at the very start of the month. Several cuts above. Fine rose-china, a delicately arranged clutter any nineteenth century housekeeper would be proud of, a stuffed flamingo (!) and excellent dining consisting not only of cake but also guacamole, tortilla chips and (somewhat discrepantly) the most savoury tuna pasta-bake anyone has ever eaten, positively dripping with perfectly softened cheese.
That affair closed upon the beginning of half-term. The first week was an Indian holy week called Navratri- which meant Vegetarian meals and two hour chunk of the day spent reciting hyms. It didn't best please my at best inattentive and at worst completely irreverant heart, though it was somewhat appeased by some of the other, prettier traditions (preparing little flasks of food to give out, going to some rather resplendant temples, and best of all going to a traditional dance-show). All in all, I must confess it was rather fun.
It was swiftly succeeded by Dhasera, what I view in the line of a 'real' special occasion. I had mendhi done, wore some very fine brocade, and went to the very centre of all things Indian in the UK, or at least London (Wembley) to buy another dress for Diwali, a size ten which had to be taken in more than 'just a few inches' at the waist and the bust.
Not too terrible.
Of course, I also then preceded promptly to fall ill, disrupting any plans of going to bath, and resulting in a rather long and annoying (but ultimately successful) cancellation process.
Such is life.
One does wonder how I managed to find time to read a whole series of books and write and keep up ballet practise, but the latter two have just become a habit by know.
As for the former, 'tis a tale for another time.
