A Life Auto Reboot

Yes, I know back in May I announced that I'd be writing more often... then life happened.

Change and lots of it all at once.

The Shake-up...

After over 11 years my position was discontinued during a

downsizing and merging earlier this month. I'm not the only one cast off (which doesn't make me feel better about it.) It's been difficult to just stop. I'm no good at "relaxing." What does relaxing really MEAN anyway?

(I don't just sit still well.)

The Good news...

My feller and I are waiting to hear from the sellers bank on a house we're in contract for... and I'm packing up to leave my beloved apartment after over 11 years here (I've accumulated a lot of stuff and can't wait to have a BIG house to be able to use it all in!!)

The Bad News...

Add to that my 24" iMac hard drive frying last week in the middle of a back-up. The computer no longer even recognized that it HAD a hard drive. Yes, it's under warranty and it's being replaced -- and yes, all info is toast but I wonder if any of the in-process back-up will be usable. That brings us current!

How have I been spent my first two unemployed weeks (thankfully on 4 months severance)?

After having my resume written (first time in 12 years - scary - I have a great woman I can suggest if you're in need), I've been getting my resume out there for jobs that won't go against my 4 month non-compete, watching World Cup matches at various spots around town with friends who have taken work time off to see them, gardening, reading, cooking (I've got some great recipes to post!!) and writing up some hand knitting patterns (3 of which I fear died with the iMac crash) for a book I've begun to write.

Wanting Work...

I'm interested in sample making (sewing, knitting, crochet), writing (crafts, cooking, travel) and teaching (fashion, craft, cooking) jobs if anyone has any leads out there. I can do hat related jobs after October 9th, 2010.

Part-time and freelance are also VERY welcome!!

The garden...

I've picked beans, lettuce and peas from the garden. Yum! The tomatoes and basil have jump started in the heat of the last week.

Live Entertainment...

My fella and I joined his boss & family to see Cavalia at the Meadowlands in NJ. A beautiful show indeed!! You can see when it's coming to a city near you at the link above.

Movie Entertainment...

I've enjoyed a few movies ($6 morning movies at any AMC theatre in NYC!!) I've especially liked The A-

Team and Toy Story 3 3-D. The A-Team completely surprised me. It was much funnier than I had expected it to be. Totally entertaining. Toy Story 3 brought me back through my own childhood. The loss of a favorite toy. Really a great moive. Get Him To The Greek had funny parts. Please Give was OK. On video I can recommend The Ramen Girl for any of you foodies out there (one of Brittany Murphy's last films.) It fed of my passion for Ramen.

Randomly --- Been researching for a new blender and really want the 5200 Vitamix. Does anyone out there have it? How do you like it??

I have no idea what to do career-wise next. It's all a bit foggy. It could be a blessing that I may not be working as we move and can unpack. I may travel a bit at some point after the move. Regardless my gut says this is a blessing - I'm just not yet sure how/why.

That's the update for today. Time to go watch this afternoon's match and work on a UFO. I've been attacking my UFO box between new designs. There will be hand knits and sewn gifts for Christmas this year!!!

Happy Sunday all!

CAN'T WE MOVE CNY? JUST THIS ONCE?

I know --- asking to move CNY is like asking to move Christmas and New Years Eave all at once.

Yep - I'm still in China and it's still really cold.

It hit a whopping 44F (7C) today -- which isn't so cold you may think - but when you're in cement buildings, a warm up to 44F doesn't translate into the buildings. This weather situation is ruining Chinese New Year for people. Trains are still at a standstill. As of yesterday 150,000 people were sleeping in the Guang Zhou train station hopeful and awaiting trains. Ice and snow has blanketed areas just north of where I sit, and roads have been at a standstill for 3-6 days now.

Fu just came into the office (after having said goodnight for the day) and told us the government has cancelled all home-going (northern bound) trains through February 6th. All this after having to telephone the train company exactly 10 days prior to your departure (no more, no less)-- hoping that your call goes through and hoping you get a ticket before they sell out -- followed by getting yourself to special pick-up tickets building (that isn't at the train station or near good public transport) within 24hrs or you loose it.

This means 600,000 people will not be able to go home for Chinese New Year (CNY.) Figuring it can take 4 days journey each way --- most factories & businesses reopen the 15th. There just isn't time now. Fu herself was making her first trip home for CNY to see her daughters. CNY is the only time many people go home to see their families each year. Since it's customary in many parts of China to have the Grandparents raise the grandchildren while the childrens parents go find good work and send money home, this is the only time parents often see their children all year long.

At least they are refunding the cost of the train tickets! A rarity indeed!If you're interested in photos of this all, BBC had a story on it this morning that I'm sure you could find at www.bbc.com . Especially now with the trains being cancelled rather than "delayed."

Factory update -- They have started some heat for me at the factory bringing it to about 53F as an inside temp, which has allowed my fingers to work in the fingerless gloves. (Thank goodness for the handknits, scarves & down vest that I brought!! :-)

Barcelona Kniteratti - Here I come!!!

Yeah!! I just heard from Pauline in Barcelona!! She's trying to set up a Saturday afternoon SnB meeting up at Persones Llanes (door shown at right!) I may get there nearer to 4pm, but seems like folks may arrive at 5pm. I have a business meeting/dinner at 8pm. (Thus why I'll be in Spain.)
Yeah!!!! Something fun to look forward to on my red-eye arrival!

I'm only there Saturday morning through Monday morning then I return home. (Working Saturday night and Sunday afternoon/night.)

Phew. Now, what project am I going to pack?

Zoooooooooooooooom

These past few days have zoomed by! Not only have I spent a little time poking through Ravelry (which if you haven't gotten on the list -- GET ON IT -- this site is FANTASTIC!) Such a cool organizational tool by way of a neato community!! Come on over you Happy Hookers too!! It's for both Knit and Crochet!!! (I wonder if they'd ever add quilting...or sewing...or...I could go on and on here eh?)

Firstly - Stipety Sweater update from this morning's commute!!

It's-a-growing (slowly but growing!!) I've nearly finished the first section of the body. Portions are about to reside on holders while I hop over to make the two sleeve. I think I'm going to knit them at the same time on two DPNs. It's just faster/easier for me since I'm used to knitting my socks that way. Thank goodness Dan went into my Knit Library for me and sent me those pages! Looks like I'm actually going to need them!!! (I still can't believe I didn't photocopy the entire pattern before I left! Glad I'd put it back on the shelf for easy finding!)

I may get a little time in tomorrow to knit.

I'm not sure if I have a morning meeting at my hotel or not. Tomorrow is National Day here in China (China's birthday basically.) The factory is closed and Mag will be returning to China from her trip to the exhibition in Russia. She'll meet me at the hotel at 1pm for lunch and then I suppose I'll head to the factory to wrap up anything further before Bernard arrives from New York on Monday night. Tuesday and Wednesday will be the review. If there is a need, still waiting on what the thought is, one of my Hong Kong vendors may come on up via train to Dongguan tomorrow to go over the new samples that have been finished so that I can make face-to-face comments -- I think as much as I'd love a relaxing morning of paperwork and knitting in my hotel room, it'd be best if he comes up. Things work faster in person any day of the week!

FOOD!!!

As promised to me, yesterday we had the spicy frog dish - YUM!! We also had a DELICIOUS ground pork stuffed tofu dish. I've had A spicy frog dish before - but both of these were new to me from the kitchen of Fu. Add the Choy Sum, rice and a dish of shredded cooked cucumber and that's a lunch fit for a KING!!! See the slide show below for all of the juicy visuals. Oooh, it looks so good - must almost be lunch time here in China!!!

Food Update in China

New Dish Alert! New Dish Alert!
Fu made this today -- it's an omelet, but she put in that spice (whose name I still can't find in English) that she brings from her home town. You have to pull them out before you eat the dish they're in or it tastes SUPER bitter.



This was just too pretty not to take. Love the orange. I'm in a real orange mood lately (oh, and purple!)


Lunch! Add the plate of cabbage, some rice and voila! YUM!!


I'm not the only one who travels through Asia focusing on the FOOD!! I ran across the NH Bushman on Flickr. Check out his site for more YUMMINESS!!!
Make me wonder...is it just coincidence we're both from New Hampshire?

Stay tuned -- tomorrow I've been promised spicy frog! (YUM --Love me some frog!!!)
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

I even got a few rows done on the baby sweater on the way to the office today! Too bad the new highway is done -- my commute went from 45 minutes to 20! 25 minutes of blissful knitting gone -- all in the name of a better infrastructure. I guess I can give them that. {grin}

Exhausted But Energized
2:45am China time...just leaving the factory. I had all good intentions of leaving at 11pm. Then at 11:30pm I spaced out for a minute (or was it 20?) Almost like sleeping with your eyes open...I snapped out of it with a fresh burst of energy and...well...worked!



I'm psyched -- the line -- it is Planned! I'm not usually this mentally "planned out" for a few more weeks!

When I'm designing a new line, there are weeks where all I do is consume information. Books, webpages, magazines, trend reviews. Mentally exhausting! I spin through what feels like all of the stores in NYC and sometimes other cities. Then, all of a sudden, like a game of Tetris, the ideas twist, spin and fall into place, usually one at a time. It's a process that takes months... but tonight the bulk of it came rushing head-on and I was able to not only get it all down on paper...often difficult when the ideas come too fast (like remembering your dreams), but it all FIT. The ideas are whole, not pieced, and I'm hoping they will recharge my sales team in a time when business across the fashion industry and across the US is difficult. After all, we're all holding a little more money in our pockets than usual aren't we?



I also took a few minutes today to pop around to a few blogs -- I've gotten so behind on reading them!! So many of you are doing, reading, making and eating such cool things!

I don't have the links here in my blackberry...but I did bookmark a few and I'll try to get them up tomorrow! Thanks for sharing!!!

Sent from my Blackberry

Launch Launched
Today, although a very LONG day, was a good day indeed.

It's always so nice to see the folks that come. Some of them I've become friends with over the years and wish I could see them more often.

On our way at 7:30am to unpack 60+ cartons (the stack shown int he background of the photo below) of product for the 10am meeting. We complete it by 9:25am and Joanne and I popped out for a little breakfast. My first proper English breakfast of the trip. Why don't we serve mushrooms and grilled tomatos for breakfast in the US? Yum!

Nearly nine hours later my presentation was complete and the details of what would be offered in the UK and across Europe were settled and it was time to pack it all up! The samples get split and sent to the two agents that will begin selling first.
Everything is packed up, products that won't be run overseas packed for return to the US and voila - it's time for the company dinner!

We had the dinner this time at The Hoxton Grill at the Hoxton Hotel. The food was quite good in fact! I had a green pea soup (as in fresh peas not split peas.) I burned my tongue on the first bite though -- I'd never had this soup served HOT. I expected it to be cold. It was still good - although I think I may have preferred it cold. My Lamb - YUM! Sandra's Salmon Cakes looked delicious too! The Puddings varied from Pavlova and Trifle to a yummy Lemon Tart with fresh Blackberry Ice Cream.

Thanks to the entire team!! Good fun and a great meeting! See you all in a few months!

Top Notch

For some reason, this trip through London has left me sleepless. I've been up until 3am or later just waiting for sleep to take me. Truely, and thankfully, this is a rare occurance with me and traveling. So, in my sleepless wee hours of Sunday morning I loaded more photos onto my Flickr site so that I could work towards completing all of my writings from the list of trips I had this spring.
I began my day meeting up with Deji. With the day he had ahead of him I'm hoping seeing a smiling face helped! We met at the Liverpool tube station and he walked me, ourating all the way, through the old fabric market - now a street market - around twists and turns until even he had lost his bearings only to find out we were right down the block from what he was looking for. We lunched at the Old Spitalfields Market, specifically at The Daily Grind. I will never get used to the sandwiches in the UK. Wonderbread with a few slices of something in between and often too much mayo. It had been ages since I'd eatten a bread that stuck like peanut butter to the roof of my mouth! I suppose you are meant to wash it down with a good cuppa, so I did. Conversation lingered and before we knew it it was time to say our farewells and move along with our days.

I hopped back onto the tube... Next Stop: Oxford Street for some more shopping. Well, less shopping and more browsing to see what my competition has out in stores. When I shop the stores for work, I hit as many as I can within each day not only to see if I may have missed something grand in my own line, but to see if there are any interesting trends that are connecting the stores. It means standing, walking and dealing with salespeople all day long.

Oxford Street is always full of hustle and bustle. It's truely a buzz with action. It's also a place you need to make sure your bags are zipped up!

First stop - Top Shop. Top shop has been looking for a spot in New York City to open up for at least 6-8 months if not longer. (For such a large company, they have got the SLOWEST website!) They replenish there goods on the floor multiple times in each day which means they need to have a constantly working loading dock...which is difficult space to aquire in NYC. My boss emailed from the hotel - he'd arrived! I wrote him directions to meet me at Fenwick's Department Store and would have an hour before we met. I popped in and out of shops along the way.

In John Lewis I watched women picking out hats - it is Ascot week after all! I love to watch people putting on hats. As they sit the hat upon their head you can see them get lost in the thoughts of where they would wear it. What they would dress in and who they would show it off to. One woman was having a very hard time choosing betwen two hats. Asking her husband recieved a reply of "which is cheaper..." which of course did not answer the which looks better question. As she pulled out her dress to hold up in front of her, I couldn't help myself and picked up the second hat to hold next to her so she could see them both with the dress. It was instantly a no-brainer. She said, "Oh good, I'd love an oppinion if you don't mind!" Her husband begrudgingly said, "And what do you think she'll know about this that I don't?"

Yes, I couldn't help myself and said with a grin, "Well, I am a milliner from the States."

His mouth fell open and immediately wanted me to help his wife choose the perfect hat (suddenly the cost seemed to be of no trouble.) Very funny indeed. We all settled upon the red hat - it really looked wonderful with her skin tone and made her flirty Flamenco dress pop, as a hat should. Further, it drew attention to her eyes -- everything a hat is supposed to do!

After picking up coffee for my boss and I, I wandered down New Bond Street for my hat shopping meeting. Our shopping was a success and we headed back to the hotel to drop the hat boxes and find dinner. Heading off in a different direction we happened upon Little Hanoi (147 Curtain Road, Shorditch, London EC2A 3QE) for a Vietnamese bite. YUM YUM YUM!!! Do pop in for a bite if you're in the neighborhood. Their Spring Rolls were nicely ballanced, the Indonesian salad (with beef) was REALLY good and our Pho - YUM!

What a lovely way to end a busy weekend! Tomorrow I'll launch my new line here in the UK for the UK/Europe. Fingers crossed! We pack in at 7:30am! Time for some sleep.

Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head

That is when the sun isn't out! The weather here in London since I've arrived has been raining (sometimes pouring) and the next minute it's bright and sunny.

Had a lovely dinner at the Yard (140 Tabernacle Street, London EC2A 4SD Tel: 02.07.336.7758) last night. A tasty salad followed by a rather gourmet wild mushroom (and garlic) pizza -- do you SEE those cloves of roasted garlic -- YUMMMM! Washed it down with a nice glass of Montepulciano and some sparkling water and headed back to the hotel for some sleep...which finally came around 2:30am.

Today I was up in time to catch the Queen's Birthday Parade on the tellie. While I was watching I heard a loud noise and popped to the window to see planes flying just overhead in formation. I finally was prepared when the third and final grouping - the Red Arrows - flew overhead and I was able to get this photo.

The transportation here reminded me of NYC on the weekends -- the subway line that was most convenient to where I needed to go was simply closed for the weekend. Thus I arrived through a bit of a round the way traveling to meet Henri and Deji near the Globe Theatre/Tate Modern for a walk through London's Borough market and a lovely lunch at a local Greek restaurant.

While at the market I had 2 lovely things -- an amazing cup of coffee from Monmouth Coffee Co. and one of the BEST Brownies I've ever had... the brownie was from Flour Power City Bakery. YUUUUM!

We walked down the river enjoying a little bit of sun hoping it would hold off until we hit the tube -- which it did -- but barely -- LOOK at that SKY (left)! Angry!! Just moments before it looked like this (below right)...

From here they joined me to Harrod's where I continued my looking for work. I often have to dash through as many stores as I can in a day to see what my competition has on offer. Sometimes it also involves purchasing items... Today was one of those day. Below left we see Henri happily holding the boxes containing my purchases of the day. Fun!
I am saddened to say that Harvey Nichols no longer has a millinery department AT ALL. Truly a shame. Folks here in London -- get out there and buy more hats!!! Bring it back!! They used to have such a lovely and quirky department!!!

It was so nice to see both Henri and Deji. Deji used to live in NYC but I didn't know him much then. Now he's back in England. Henri lives in NYC but happened to be here in London for a few days on her way to Slovakia. She'll fly there tomorrow and take a test (for school) later this week. GOOD LUCK HENRI!!! I know you'll do well!! I've spent more of my time with Henri out of the US then in the US. We'll have to change that!

Upon returning to the hotel I ran into some coworkers who have also arrived for the lingering conference and joined them for a bite at Cantaloupe (35 Charlotte Road, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 3PD.) We'd had a company dinner here once before. The food is alright. My salad was nice -- but the atmosphere -- it's just -- LOUD I guess. It's loud and hard to have conversation.

Tonight I worked a bit on adding more photos to my Flickr page so that I can write my Sri Lanka blog posts etc. So many photos to organize! I still have well over 1000 to go through. Phew. Time - I just need time!
Nighty night!

Mumbai - Day 3

Part II: The knitting factory

I have been to one other knitting factory prior to this one. The differences, aside from it being located in Panyu, China, are vast. The Chinese factory specializes in wool and mixed-content shape-retaining items (those containing a layer of shape-retaining heat set thermo-plastic often called by the brand name of Olefin). They have the capabilities to make felted items (they make my wool berets.)

Today's factory in India makes scarves and cover-ups, not hats.

Upon walking in you are greeted by the hustle and bustle of many different jobs being done at once. A different feeling than in the prior days factories. (It's got more of the feel of my hats factories, I think due to having more visible man power...and women power --- Look WOMEN!!!)

They have been expanding their automated knitting/machine knitting capabilities over the past few years. Big machines, their systems and training to run them can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, so everything moves slow and deliberately (and controlled.) Controlled growth is key!

Unlike my factories in China, there are no dormitoried housing facilities provided in India. The exception of sorts is during high season when workers are sent for from towns many hours north of Mumbai and must be provided room and board in order to have them sign on to come work. It's provided locally, but not AT the factory as it is in China.
Thanks to Dan, there are photographs. My camera worked intermittently and I really only got one or two shots that are at all usable below. Thanks Dan!!! Any of these shots can be clicked on (Open in another window as I don't have them set to pop-up) for more a detailed view.

Enough background... Shall we take a tour?

Hand Run Knitting Machines
The bulk of the knitting that I saw being done was on hand run knitting machines. This is a slower time of year for production (it's about top pick up) thus not all machines were being run.
When at full capacity, having brought additional hands down from Northern India, this room is PACKED.
The workers have likely learned their skill from their father (note all of the people running these hand machines are men.) Those who come from the North are already trained enabling them to just jump in and go. They stand, mainly barefoot on a towel or cardboard or nothing (they set it up per their own comfort), thread the machine for the specified job and voila! (Note, the fellow in the background in the photo at the left... yes, those are his trousers hanging from his knitting machine. I suppose that is cooler in shorts?) They're off!

Today they're making striped scarves for a large international store group (you may just see one in your local mall soon.) The workers are told the gauge of how many rows per stripe width and what order the stripes must go in. They place the yarns (dyed at the dying factory) in stripe color order and count the rows for each stripe as they go to make sure all scarves are uniform.

Linking machines
The job of working a linking machine is one I find amazing. They sit and thread knit stitches, each individual stitch onto a single pin in a single fine row - at rapid speed no less!! I'd guesstimate 20-26 pins per inch? Maybe more? WOW!

Once threaded the machine zips across providing a finished edge. The extra (perhaps like selvage) on the ends is simply snipped away then. I fear that my eyes would go blind if my job was to work the linking machine day in day out, but these guys are FAST!!! Again, it's all men running these machines.

Just after the linking is finished, the items are inspected for every knitters favorite thing... DROPPED STITCHES!!!
These men stare at each piece and carefully pick up the dropped stitches. Do you SEE how tiny these rows are and the size crochet hook they are using?? Again -- BLIND I TELL YOU BLIND!!! (I know a few knitters out there who'd pay good money for these fellas to come fix your dropped stitches!!)

Pressing/ blocking/ washing/ drying/ finishing...

Depending upon the content of the item it may be washed first, then pressed then washed again and pressed/blocked again. Or washed then pressed and blocked... So many options, each done to a precise recipe to make the finest quality product available. Have I said in this entry how amazing this factories capabilities are?

Machine knitting

This factory has a number of different sizes (# of different spools that a machine can handle maximum) for their automated knitting machines...

There are restrictions on automated machines... they can handle fewer colors than the hand run machines for instance. The photo at the right shows one of the tubular knitting machines. It moved FAST!!!!

From here we were proudly brought deeper into the room to the mother of all knitting machines at this factory == the 200 SPOOL machine. (oooooohhhh --- ahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

AMAZING to watch! There were two men (one clearly of higher rank than the other) watching every move this machine made. Any slightly "false move" that was made near this machine was corrected immediately as not to allow a single "flub" in the fine and delicate fabric that was being knit up.

It was surrounded on four sides with what I'll call "spool walls" containing rows and rows of yarn spools all feeding into the machine. (50 per wall) Yeowza!!!

Machine Beading:
The easiest way to get thew beads on the fabric is actually to weave or knit them INTO the fabric... To the left you see a woman sitting in front of a bowl full of beads that she spins and beads slip onto the needle. This thread of beads is put into the machine (above) and the beads are knit into a string that will later be woven or knit into an item. Pretty cool!!!

They also have a special sequin machine -- but that's something they developed themselves and I want to leave that as their secret (but trust me -- it's SO COOL!!!)

The vast capabilities they have here --- WOW! I can't wait to dig in!!!

Speaking of digging in...LUNCH TIME!!! Home made Samosas and sandwiches. Then we finished with one of the best tasting mango's I've ever had! (I forget the type - it's the special mango that's in season now! YUM YUM and DOUBLE YUM!)

What a great factory!!!

Oh - so many photos here that wouldn't fit! I'll have to post more on my Flickr page!

Mumbai - Day 2: Food...and a little work
Part I: It must be Monday

I haven't talked much about the food yet. Whenever I'm in another country I try to eat their food, their way. In China I have Chinese food (yes that means noodles for breakfast - YUM!) Thus in India, today I had a dosa for breakfast. A dosa is a crisp South Indian rice and lentil pancake that's filled with turmeric potatoes and served with a lentil stew. The dosa is served as shown in the top right photo, all rolled up covering the tasty potatoes inside. You rip off pieces of the dosa and pick up bits of the turmeric potatoes with it, eating it with your hands. The second photo on the right shows it about half finished after I'd uncovered it enough to take a snap shot of the inside.

As shown to the lower left, I also had some bread (the round ball), Aloo Gobi (potato and peas), fresh Mango juice (SOOO YUM!), Parantha (the triangle of bread with mint and maybe chickpeas in it), Coconut Chutney (in the small bowl), fruit and coffee. Yum yummy yum!!









Sadly I can't show you Dan's meal as he awoke feeling increasingly lousy and decided to rest in for the day since he had the opportunity to do so and hopefully kick this bug before we reach Sri Lanka on Wednesday.

The schedule ended up changing a little today. The work part of the trip where I design a number of items and work out the details for sampling etcetera took hours longer than it should have. There are many reasons for this. One of them is the breaking of my new camera. No, not by me. There are other reasons that I won't go into - they don't make me happy and I want this to be a happy post. I finished my work, but alas there was no time to get to the knitting factory. So that has been moved to tomorrow.

Part of me is happy about this as perhaps Dan will be feeling well by then. He really enjoyed yesterdays factories and I'm sure he'd be interested to see this one too!

Dan was feeling better enough by evening to join us all (vendor, his wife, my boss and I) for dinner at Masala Kraft located at The Taj (the fanciest hotel in town.) Contemporary Indian food.

Paneer, some of the BEST cauliflower I've ever had and various other vegetarian dishes were served. Yum!! We also tried a nice local 2004 Sauvignon Blanc by Sula Vineyards, located about 180km northeast of Mumbai in Nashik. A very new vineyard indeed, the first bottles sold in 2000 (if you are interested in a young vineyard read there About Us section on the link above). This one was light and crisp. Well paired with the spicy veg courses.

We were also treated to a local favorite cardamom ice cream dessert. Mmmms all around!!

Half-way through dinner our host told us that the son of a friend of his was getting married a few moments down the road (between the park where we watched the cricket match and our hotel) and if we wanted to, we could stop into the reception after dinner. Weddings are a HUGE deal in India... so I shall post this and take proper time for Part II: Weddings.