If there is global 'warming' going on in the world... Then why is my ass freezing?!
Despite all concern for the wonderful friends in New York and everyone living there and around, if there was one thing I could do for them, I could pray for their safekeeping and live my life to the most packed time possible. See how fast time flies? Don't waste it.
And as my 'positive endorphin' heightens (as friends suggested), my life turns a new leaf just as fast. It is as though destiny is taking its course, and a particularly significant change is coming our way.
Before I go onto the Halloween weekend that passed, here is an account of the Sunday brunch at Bar Boulud with Iole, a girl after my own heart, like many I have had the pleasure of meeting: bright, young, and worldly. Since our first few meetings in London, we have crossed paths in Kerala and briefly, by chance, in the summer in Mykonos and now.
During a deep conversation over a healthy yet tasty lunch, I told Iole of my therapist François' last words to me on our final meeting:
"Haldita, you don't need to come and see me anymore. You can go and help others out there; just promise me one thing," He sounded a little more serious in his tone, but as always warm and caring: "Promise me one day, you'll write a book. You'll give inspiration to others."
I write these words, questioning every aspect of my being told. As in 'What? Really?!? Me helping others? And a book? But I'm an interior designer!'
Those words indeed left me astounded as I remember them well, sitting in that cocoon of safety where a man of the world, a Sufi, a philosopher in the way he understood how human beings operated like no one I have ever met before or since offered me his words of wisdom. He may not remember this now if I asked him, but those words left their marks forever in my mind.
For anyone who tried to harm me, in defence,
I surrendered and, hence, became 'harmless'.
When I told Iole what François had me promise, she immediately asked:
"Was he a fortune teller?"
At first, I could not stop laughing, but then my explanation followed:
"No, my Dear, he wasn't a fortune teller. How cute! But when someone studies human behaviour since the age of 17 and goes through the spiritual experiences of being, going through the patterns, etc., he gets messages to deliver to you through his deep understanding of how people react or function.
Iole then mentioned her mother's words on the new age we live in, who had told her:
"You know, we had it easy at our times; I feel for you youngsters; with all the modern technology and brightness in your general outlook on life, how children are so aware of what is going on in the world, times have become harder than it was during our times, for sure."
Yes, we have become more accessible than ever in history, but free in manners and words, but how free has our mind evolved? A world of free spirits? That will be when all possessions and egos (somewhat) are given up, and we all live, helping one another in Love and Harmony.
Regarding Harmony, Wednesday's Halloween party at Annabel's was the best excuse I could find to spend a couple of hours on Tuesday afternoon at Oxford Street's infamous Adult entertainment (or sex shop, in other words), Harmony store. My day had begun with a pilates class with my favourite trainer after a while, followed by sending the Angel's Halloween costumes I had ordered last minute on the internet back to the Post Office; too much polyester for a body to handle.
Despite all concern for the wonderful friends in New York and everyone living there and around, if there was one thing I could do for them, I could pray for their safekeeping and live my life to the most packed time possible. See how fast time flies? Don't waste it.
And as my 'positive endorphin' heightens (as friends suggested), my life turns a new leaf just as fast. It is as though destiny is taking its course, and a particularly significant change is coming our way.
Before I go onto the Halloween weekend that passed, here is an account of the Sunday brunch at Bar Boulud with Iole, a girl after my own heart, like many I have had the pleasure of meeting: bright, young, and worldly. Since our first few meetings in London, we have crossed paths in Kerala and briefly, by chance, in the summer in Mykonos and now.
During a deep conversation over a healthy yet tasty lunch, I told Iole of my therapist François' last words to me on our final meeting:
"Haldita, you don't need to come and see me anymore. You can go and help others out there; just promise me one thing," He sounded a little more serious in his tone, but as always warm and caring: "Promise me one day, you'll write a book. You'll give inspiration to others."
I write these words, questioning every aspect of my being told. As in 'What? Really?!? Me helping others? And a book? But I'm an interior designer!'
Those words indeed left me astounded as I remember them well, sitting in that cocoon of safety where a man of the world, a Sufi, a philosopher in the way he understood how human beings operated like no one I have ever met before or since offered me his words of wisdom. He may not remember this now if I asked him, but those words left their marks forever in my mind.
For anyone who tried to harm me, in defence,
I surrendered and, hence, became 'harmless'.
When I told Iole what François had me promise, she immediately asked:
"Was he a fortune teller?"
At first, I could not stop laughing, but then my explanation followed:
"No, my Dear, he wasn't a fortune teller. How cute! But when someone studies human behaviour since the age of 17 and goes through the spiritual experiences of being, going through the patterns, etc., he gets messages to deliver to you through his deep understanding of how people react or function.
Iole then mentioned her mother's words on the new age we live in, who had told her:
"You know, we had it easy at our times; I feel for you youngsters; with all the modern technology and brightness in your general outlook on life, how children are so aware of what is going on in the world, times have become harder than it was during our times, for sure."
Yes, we have become more accessible than ever in history, but free in manners and words, but how free has our mind evolved? A world of free spirits? That will be when all possessions and egos (somewhat) are given up, and we all live, helping one another in Love and Harmony.
Regarding Harmony, Wednesday's Halloween party at Annabel's was the best excuse I could find to spend a couple of hours on Tuesday afternoon at Oxford Street's infamous Adult entertainment (or sex shop, in other words), Harmony store. My day had begun with a pilates class with my favourite trainer after a while, followed by sending the Angel's Halloween costumes I had ordered last minute on the internet back to the Post Office; too much polyester for a body to handle.
Got showered, dressed, and ready to lunch in the black hairy chapeau decorated with a simple feather along the thin rope on the side, purchased in NYC, dark navy ankle boots with extensive trimming at the top of what looked like black mink and matching pom-poms, a relatively shorter skirt than I usually support, after all, a girl's gotta show the waistline at the first signs of the pounds dropping from one's weight. I felt part of ' the lady who lunches ', with a furry, dark burgundy Parisian, short-sleeved jacket on top. And why not! I was made to think this was wrong. What the heck's wrong with dressing up and meeting incredible friends for great food? Aaah! Not to mention that red wine! And the most essential part of that meal was seeing Serge and Sergio as they had invited me to join in for their anniversary midday celebration; how flattering.
Over lunch at the testosterone-filled Bellamy's, we caught up with the news of our lives and got warmer towards understanding one another. A great friendship develops in the time invested in it. Watching couples work out their differences, it becomes more apparent how respect and understanding are the only way forward in any relationship. Funny as this was also the line of conversation I had with my cab driver as we got stuck in traffic in Mayfair going to my place of rendezvous. My cab driver had been married for 43 years and had taken cruises with his lady from all across the Caribbean islands to around the Far East and the Mediterranean in the summer. He confessed:
"Oh! Don't get me wrong, we fight constantly, you understand. But we also need each other. We love travelling together. She's a great travel partner, my Mrs. She picks all the trips. I just follow." He added at the end. I suppose that is what you call 'soulmates'.
After a most pleasant company at Bellamy's fabulous seafood lunch (my scallops were divine) and the excellent bottle of red wine Serge chose, he parted for an appointment, so Sergio and I went for a spot of shopping. I hit the sample sale at the back of the Pauric Sweeney bag store and, with the help of my always elegant friend, picked two handbags in orange and brown (sooooo Hermès in colour) and a bronzy casual looking leather bag and continued on to Hayward's Tailors in Mount Street, where Sergio had to change one of his purchases from the day before. Hayward's customers at the time ranged from Richard Burton and Peter Sellers to Steve McQueen. Actual Saville Row stuff!
Now, how did my week begin on Monday? Thought you'd never ask. haha
Well, lunch was at 12:30pm with the delightful Yasmeen, who is as delicate in her looks and manners as her name suggests. We had only met a couple of times through Jade, and this was our first time getting to know one another properly. And I can safely say we bonded spiritually, which is ... What can I say? We're now buddies. We spoke of the highest level of understanding in the world ... Through Forgiveness and spreading Love. A nourishing lunch at the Brompton Brasserie in many ways.
Still on Monday, on my way to a two-hour facial after lunch with my confidant of many years, Sylvia, it was Antonia who had channelled all that further energy into me, calling just before my 4:00pm appointment to ask in her usual jolly manner:
"Haldita, do you wanna join me at the backstage concert of Lionel Richie tonight at O2?"
Boy, does the girl know how to get one's attention in a short sentence!
I was left speechless momentarily but gathered my gasp together and, not thinking much about who was performing, simply replied:
"Sure! You kiddin'? Would love to."
Hence, after the appointment, I splashed some mascara and blusher on the cleansed cheeks and pottered around the underground in my pom-pond booties and relatively shorter skirt, the New Yorker hat and came out on time (I may add) at the O2 dome. It took twenty minutes to spot the blonde/ginger, curly-haired babe, followed by two lively girls from around the world, Bina and Gisella. We were joined later by another couple of stunners at the bar. Us, the gang of hotties, entered the backstage door of the arena to freshen up and get a drink at the crew's private 'sitting room' while members of the band, later playing on stage, came in for a visit and a chit chat. How cool is that? I got excited like a puppy again, but the strains of walking on those highly wedged booties were beginning to leave their tension on my poor feet. The experience of the night made my pain insignificant.
Once the concert began, Ben, the Guitarist, showed us the way through a backstage curtain under the stage where the performance occurred. Boy, was that Amazing! Lionel Richie sang at his best and brought back memories of youth; all I could recall from his hits were the words that meant more, now that life has happened with everything in Love and living coming through a ...
"Hello ... Is it me you're looking for."
What can I say standing below Lionel's nostrils (as Gisella pointed out) as he sang to a packed audience? Dancing at the O2 was pure awesome. Antonia spent the evening by the stage, supporting a construction yellow hat she had picked up nearby. Amongst us was the Barbie doll blonde, Samantha, who got a lot of attention from the crew as she moved her perfect body with some plastic help, and Moira, who danced as a ballerina through the vast corridors of the backstage every time we went for a smoke outside.
The atmosphere was dynamic, and I looked at the joyful crowd, thinking, why can't the world spend less worrying and more time singing and dancing? I am not living in a dream world, or I am in some ways; there is hardship out there, and I know what is happening here. When you are happy and positive, all you want for everyone is... Only the same.
"Oh! Don't get me wrong, we fight constantly, you understand. But we also need each other. We love travelling together. She's a great travel partner, my Mrs. She picks all the trips. I just follow." He added at the end. I suppose that is what you call 'soulmates'.
After a most pleasant company at Bellamy's fabulous seafood lunch (my scallops were divine) and the excellent bottle of red wine Serge chose, he parted for an appointment, so Sergio and I went for a spot of shopping. I hit the sample sale at the back of the Pauric Sweeney bag store and, with the help of my always elegant friend, picked two handbags in orange and brown (sooooo Hermès in colour) and a bronzy casual looking leather bag and continued on to Hayward's Tailors in Mount Street, where Sergio had to change one of his purchases from the day before. Hayward's customers at the time ranged from Richard Burton and Peter Sellers to Steve McQueen. Actual Saville Row stuff!
Now, how did my week begin on Monday? Thought you'd never ask. haha
Well, lunch was at 12:30pm with the delightful Yasmeen, who is as delicate in her looks and manners as her name suggests. We had only met a couple of times through Jade, and this was our first time getting to know one another properly. And I can safely say we bonded spiritually, which is ... What can I say? We're now buddies. We spoke of the highest level of understanding in the world ... Through Forgiveness and spreading Love. A nourishing lunch at the Brompton Brasserie in many ways.
Still on Monday, on my way to a two-hour facial after lunch with my confidant of many years, Sylvia, it was Antonia who had channelled all that further energy into me, calling just before my 4:00pm appointment to ask in her usual jolly manner:
"Haldita, do you wanna join me at the backstage concert of Lionel Richie tonight at O2?"
Boy, does the girl know how to get one's attention in a short sentence!
I was left speechless momentarily but gathered my gasp together and, not thinking much about who was performing, simply replied:
"Sure! You kiddin'? Would love to."
Hence, after the appointment, I splashed some mascara and blusher on the cleansed cheeks and pottered around the underground in my pom-pond booties and relatively shorter skirt, the New Yorker hat and came out on time (I may add) at the O2 dome. It took twenty minutes to spot the blonde/ginger, curly-haired babe, followed by two lively girls from around the world, Bina and Gisella. We were joined later by another couple of stunners at the bar. Us, the gang of hotties, entered the backstage door of the arena to freshen up and get a drink at the crew's private 'sitting room' while members of the band, later playing on stage, came in for a visit and a chit chat. How cool is that? I got excited like a puppy again, but the strains of walking on those highly wedged booties were beginning to leave their tension on my poor feet. The experience of the night made my pain insignificant.
Once the concert began, Ben, the Guitarist, showed us the way through a backstage curtain under the stage where the performance occurred. Boy, was that Amazing! Lionel Richie sang at his best and brought back memories of youth; all I could recall from his hits were the words that meant more, now that life has happened with everything in Love and living coming through a ...
"Hello ... Is it me you're looking for."
What can I say standing below Lionel's nostrils (as Gisella pointed out) as he sang to a packed audience? Dancing at the O2 was pure awesome. Antonia spent the evening by the stage, supporting a construction yellow hat she had picked up nearby. Amongst us was the Barbie doll blonde, Samantha, who got a lot of attention from the crew as she moved her perfect body with some plastic help, and Moira, who danced as a ballerina through the vast corridors of the backstage every time we went for a smoke outside.
The atmosphere was dynamic, and I looked at the joyful crowd, thinking, why can't the world spend less worrying and more time singing and dancing? I am not living in a dream world, or I am in some ways; there is hardship out there, and I know what is happening here. When you are happy and positive, all you want for everyone is... Only the same.
Once more, Antonia boosted me with more energy from the Love I felt for her and the special entourage of gorgeous girls she called friends. Brilliant!
The underground ride of the four of us back to Green Park, where we each parted, was a souvenir that makes me smile every time I think of the evening. Antonia sat there pouring her heart out openly about her brief encounters of many years with one of the band leaders; the fully occupied wagon seemed thoroughly entertained with her story as we passed each stop! I was too busy sweating in the many layers of clothes and under my hat, which I refused to take off from the heat.
Gisella sat next to me as the crowd parted at different stations and mentioned:
"Right... Think the whole wagon found out about the size of someone's private parts!"
'Girls Being Wild' is the only way I can describe Monday night.
As for Friday's Halloween weekend, I landed at Juliette's door at 19:30hr to meet Amy in her shiny matrix outfit with a whip in hand. Julie arrived later from the city and changed into a scary witch, as she called herself, but nothing was alarming in those big blue eyes. Our only man, Julien, put on the black ghost robe while Juliette, dressed as a black angel with a halo, wings, and magic wand, skilfully made us up with intense black eyeliner and dark eyeshadow. And there we stormed in at Home House's magnificently decorated interior, occupied by the most elegantly dressed crowd of witches and vampires a house could carry. Every private club room was filled with the most outrageously designed costumes possible. Walking from room to room was like going through a chic horror fantasy land. We mingled, and who did I bump into there but the vibrant twins, Yash and Josh. I hadn't seen them in years, and I recall going to one of Vauxhall's gay clubs, accompanied by Hala with them some years ago, and having a great time dancing. Yash mentioned: "It's so lovely to see you - still partying!! Our friends Niel and Rory are getting old, watching black and white movies with their slippers on!" haha.
Saturday, our meeting with Kim at Duke of York's food market took place, and we went around the stalls, collecting a variety of Spanish and Caribbean meals and some dulce de leche homemade biscuits and heading to Kim's for a feast and a proper catch up now that our friendship has taken its next level.
I had to rush home at 22:00, late, to get ready in another Halloween costume to join Heidi, her close friend Talia and both their partners at Harvey Nichol's costume party. Talia's youthful beauty, dressed in a maid's outfit, sure raised a few glances, and guys approached her on the way to the ladies' to flirt. Well, all good; she was engaged, and nothing wrong with simply chatting with people. Shortly after we relocated to the Brompton Club, I left my friends with 'not my kind of music' getting to my head. Sooooo commercial! (This is my new saying when I don't like the music.)
One last but certainly not least moral-lifting meeting was at The New Inn, where Troy, my great buddy and brother from another mother (as he puts it), was joined by Midas, who immediately engaged himself in devouring a mouth-watering burger in front of my hungry as a dog eyes. Just watching someone enjoy their food is enough to make me happy since my diet is now limited. Troy entertained us again with his divine sense of humour, which cracks me up. As I walked into the gastro pub with my hat and latest purchase of fur jacket, he said:
"Haldita, I wish I had your problems?"
I looked at him in amazement and asked: "Darling, what problem?"
"Shopping!" He burst out as we all laughed.
Midas showed us a YouTube video of 'Lana del Rey - Ride, ' the song which he said reminded him of me.
These sentences captured my mind especially:
" My mother told me I had a chameleon soul.
Home to be wherever you lay your head.
There is a fire for every expression and an obsession for freedom.
A point of madness. I just ride.
Live fast, die young, be wild and have fun.
I believe in the kindness of strangers.
I believe in the person I have become.
Have you created a life for yourself? I have.
I am fucking crazy... But I am FREE."
A girl who began searching for life's meaning at age 14, fearless and brave, has now come up with one of the most inspiring videos of hope.
Troy told us of his latest checkup and how the doctor, going through his test results, turned to him and said: "We hate people like you. You do it all and come up with perfect health results."
Also, with Midas, we swapped experiences of how positivity and openness to the universe bring magic into our lives. Life is to be lived... To be Free.
I will end on a surprise lunch at Automat with the outrageously fabulous and entertaining Massimo, where we had his favoured grilled paillard of chicken and caught up on the news. Rushed for a hairdo with Marcio and once again got ready for my third Halloween party at Annabel's with Sabet, who has been a sweet friend to me for some time, and his entourage of a table for eight. My little devil looks like the latest leather dress from Harmony with the hanging chains and the fishnet covering my arms and legs, which went down well. We danced a little, and a few hellos later, I started to feel the strain of the past few days of lunches and outings at night, and as though the vampires of the night had sucked out my blood, I had to rush out of the private club to catch a taxi home by 23:00 hour.
Still in recovery mode to get ready for my next trip in less than a week, I managed to get hold of most of my friends in NY; thank God, they are safe and being told of the horrors everyone there has been going through made me think. Elliot and Arnie both confirmed:
"Darling, the whole place is in turmoil. With no electricity, the city feels so 'apocalyptic' in the darkness of the night. The food in the supermarkets is running out since the fridges and freezers have stopped working. Without electricity, there are no elevators in the older buildings and no lifts to go up all those floors. A city in darkness. And there are the elections on Tuesday."
Indeed, climate changes alone show us how unpredictable life can be. So why don't we live life as if it were our last second on earth, practising Forgiveness and spreading Love?
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