Today was a day to unwind, or so we thought. Well, I had plenty of work planned and my sister had to study for exams, but we all happily settled in comfortable clothes (in my father’s case those full of little holes from dropping cigarette ash) and set about non-wedding business. The only wedding obligation […]
Shehndi
A horrible word, if a worthy concept, a mehndi and a shaadi together instead of as two separate events. Once again it was aa chaotic business, among other things we forgot to take the following items to the venue: (a) rose petals to fling at the groom’s party; (b) bangles to distribute to the women; […]
Done deed
In the morning I got an uber to the Malang’s home for breakfast where her son, an expert cook, had made lemon pancakes. This, along with bakarkhanis from the inner city made for an excellent breakfast, and I also had the chance to borrow her sister’s shalwar, thus ensuring that I wouldn’t attend the nikah […]
Wedding party
A pleasant enough affair. It was hosted by friends, a French couple with a large garden, of whom the husband was particularly friendly, though both were nice. Met a few old acquaintances, and chatted to a few newer ones, and then wisely left around 11 pleading jetlag but actually just glad to leave when I […]
Festivities commence
In Islamabad. I was slightly miffed at immigration to be thought Chinese by an official speaking to me in Urdu. The new airport was quite impressive, despite being the yellowish beige that all Pakistani airports, at least the new ones, seem to be. It was quite enpty, sparkling clean and quite well organized with actual […]
Thwarted
Well, my attempt to enter the city was thwarted as the immigration officials refused to let me in due to the short stop. (Also it was -13 when we landed, which dissuaded me from arguing too much). So I have spent the day in the Air China First Class lounge, and though I have eaten […]
On the road
Today was my flight. The cousin who is a former rally driver, and can drive indefinitely it seems, offered to take me to Whangarei airport by the long, scenic route, and the Gentleman Friend would go as well to see me off. (Something very alien to the British side of him, though a way of […]
Pack, repack
A spot of packing for the trip back to Pakistan for a wedding, complicated by the long stopover in Beijing, long enough to leave the airport but where the weather will be dramatically different. I think I have decided to go through the Forbidden City, get a quick bite to eat, watch the Tiananmen flagraising […]
On the spirit way
An early start this morning, as there was a long drive north and a tide to catch. The Hilux was loaded and we left; Lady Bright and her son in front, the Gentleman Friend and I behind. We caught the ferry to Opua in good time, then drove back along the coast to Paiha (of […]
Tapeka point
Last night the music continued at the pub nearby till past midnight. Execrable rock covers, with a really unnecessary bass. It kept us up, so that we ended by sleeping through what we were told was a fire alarm, with sirens blaring. There was no work today and the two new visitors had gone sport […]