Feeling like Britney Spears in India
Good afternoon, my lovely readers. I am writing from India today - I had ten days off and decided to come see Simon while he works on the World Cup. My layovers feel shorter than when at work; most days, we get up at stupid o’clock to go to a different place in India for him to commentate. Anyway, I can’t complain as I’m mostly just lying by the pool most days doing my favourite thing: reading (I have read seven books so far, haha) and then going to the gym and having a massage or facial (it still feels like a holiday). Then, finish the day off with a curry and wine…
But I want to talk to you about how good India makes me feel and is great for the ego. Now, here in India, they are primarily huge cricket fans (like many of them live for it), so when we go through the airport or anywhere in general, Simon gets asked a lot for his photo. Sometimes, he’s tired or not in the mood, but I always push him to do it as I know it’ll make their day, and he will definitely miss it later when nobody asks anymore. I’m pretty sure my dad misses it. If anyone asks him these days for a photo or recognizes him, he is singing about it for days.
Simon and I were in Dharmsala recently and having drinks on a bar balcony with another commentator, Mathew Hayden. A crowd of people below waited for a team to enter a restaurant. Anyway, they came and went very quickly, barely showing their faces to the crowd, and ducked into the restaurant. The crowd was sad that they didn’t get to see their heroes. They looked up, and someone spotted Simon and Mathew, and the cheering started. Now Simon and Mathew were engrossed in their conversation and weren’t doing much, so I started waving to them, got them to do the Mexican wave, and I was having a wild time. Loved it!!!
Shortly after that, people were trying to come into the bar and get their photo taken with either of them. Suddenly, the bar got security for the balcony, and people couldn’t really come out. Simon went to the toilet and stopped for a few photos but let them have one snap, and he’s off. When I went to the toilet, for some reason, people were asking me for a photo (I’m pretty sure they had no idea who I was, but just in case ). Well, this was my Britney moment. I was like, what angle do you want me at? What side, smiling/hugging? I give them options 😂. At home, I get the odd wolf whistle (if I have my sunglasses on), haha. I was having such fun in my element that I returned and had forgotten to go to the toilet!!!
So yeah, India has a special place in my heart; it’s good for my ego, and they treat us well here. The traffic frustrates me more than anything in the world, and the airport security makes you take your coins and everything out. Plus, everyone pushes in, and you have to get feisty sometimes, but it all makes it worthwhile when I get my Britney moments 😂. But never take yourself too seriously, and I’ve taught Simon now to stop for everyone who asks.… if you can make someone’s day with just a selfie, why wouldn’t you? I can imagine it becoming tiresome (for some), but the way their faces light up afterwards makes me happy. I love people watching and especially happy people… It rubs off.
xBx
P.S. I’m currently eating a chocolate of Simon that the hotel made for arrival… I really love India!
P.S. Maybe Britney wasn’t the best example, as she is even a little too loopy for me at the moment, but you get the gist. :)