Old Blighty

I’m just back from a week of rest and recuperation in Old Blighty. (Didn’t know that the word “Blighty” coined by the colonial British abroad is derived from the Urdu word “bilayati” meaning foreigner or European?)

I hummed and aaahed about making a trip back home so soon after arriving in Mumbai but after 10 weeks here when the choice was between 5 days leave to be taken before the end of March either hanging on my own in Mumbai or basking in the love and warmth of my family and friends back home, I booked that flight without a thought for the 12 hours of travelling time each way.

I also took the opportunity to return a large suitcase of foolish clothing that I had packed to wear in Mumbai but I have since realised is never going to be worn. I brought some trousers and jackets for formal wear which are just too warm and too formal for life in India. I would look like a madperson if I were to wear them, big drab black clothing! I left the funereal clothing and the large suitcase in London.

Whilst I had only 6 days in London it was much needed. I hadn’t actually realised how much needed it was.

Firstly I had the most amazing sleep. It slowly dawned on me how little sleep I am getting in India once I climbed into my warm bed in London. Under the super soft winter tog duvet I have been falling asleep by 9:00, for which I use the excuse of jet lag, but then I haven’t surfaced again until 8:30/9:00 the next morning for which the jet leg excuse doesn’t wash. I can only attribute these 12 hour sleep marathons to cumulative sleep deprivation over the last few months.

I drove my car whilst in London just to remind myself that I am perfectly capable of driving myself! I took the photo above whilst driving over Vauxhall Bridge because that cluster of buildings at that moment made London just look so glamorous and sophisticated.

I ate out and ate in, and fulfilled my cravings for beans on toast, Roast Chicken dinner, fish and chips and nice Italian in a proper Italian trattoria. I missed out on sausage roll coz that craving only hit me late on Sunday evening and it was too late to source a nice sausage roll by then. No Blinkit in SE London so I’ve put in order for sausage rolls when I go back again in July.

I wore a range of coats over the 6 days as temperatures randomly plummeted for a few days and it also rained. I don’t know why I felt so attached to my coats previously - I was absolutely freezing during this trip, getting no joy out of wearing coats and hats, and dreamt constantly - in my 12 hour sleeps- of returning to the warmth! Particularly of coming out of a shower and being warm enough to just wander about thinking about what to wear for an hour or so instead of having to put socks on immediately whilst still slightly damp because it is too cold not to!

I also enjoyed public transport and just walking during my 6 day parole. I really miss those two things. Here it’s just too hot and chaotic to walk anywhere, even if you find a nice park. I’m supposed to be heading out now to pick up some groceries but I haven’t mustered the strength to set out in 34 degree heat. My ideal climate is around 24 degrees. dry but with cloud cover.

Anyway I’ve been home and returned with just a small carryon cabin bag filled with 3 fitted sheets and 9 boxes of Cadbury’s Creme Eggs.

The fitted sheets because I have really struggled to find good sheets generally and fitted sheets specifically here. Sheets are invariably sold as a pack with pillowcases so are in the same garish design as the pillowcases, which I don’t really like as an aesthetic. I also don’t like many of the fabric.ls used. A bedding set in Mumbai consists of a sheet and pillowcases, not duvet cover and pillowcases as in London. Duvets are a standalone item, usually a quilt type Comforter, and will be in another completely different print/pattern! It’s all going on in an Indian bed, which is why there is quite often a bedspread laid over the whole thing. I just want crisp white cotton sheets. And I’d like them fitted because the non fitted sheets are wandering all over the beds no matter how well I tuck them in. My dad thinks Indians are professional tickers which is why they don’t sell fitted sheets but I think it is more to do with the non-standardness of Indian beds and bedding. I have bought all my bedding from IKEA because they have standard sizes and plain colours. But IKEA also do not do fitted sheets. So I bought 3 fitted sheets from John Lewis and they have fitted like a dream and will revolutionise my sleep here!

The Cadbury’s Crème Eggs are for the office. I struggled to think what to bring back for everyone and was struck by the Eureka moment whenI discovered my husbands chocolate stash which he is obviously really enjoying not having to share with me! I spied that box of eggs and thought what other one thing could I bring back from a trip to London more culturally significant to Londoners at Easter than Cadbury’s creme eggs!

I was fully expecting the eggs to trigger my case to be opened at both London on the way out and at Mumbai on the way in but no-one showed any interest. Nor in my fitted sheets. And nor in the fact that they were the only things in my case!