5th September 2010 - Indian B&Q

Following the success of our trip to the Indian equivalent of Wilton House garden centre yesterday, we set off in search of a hardware store to buy a roller and some paint brushes.

Heading out of the relative normallity of Hiranandani Gardens into the surrounding Powai we then decend into the tiny roads of down town Powai to try and find the Hardware store. Past the massive tree in the road - not in the middle of the road you understand but in the middle of the left hand side of the road, it really is a strange thing to see.
Eventually we found the store a cross between open all hours and the shop in the fantastic 'fork handles' two Ronnies sketch.

This is just one section of the shop with the counter across the front so you either have to know the name of what it is you want or be able to describe it to the shop keeper. He then disappears off to find it for you and come back with hopefully what it is you need. The other interesting thing with this (and some other shops) is how the guy actually deals with about 5 customers at the same time, no queuing he just deals with all in a seamless gliding motion - very impressive. So two rollers, different sizes and different materials, even though I wanted two the same and 2 paint brushes for Rs160 about £2.40 - just interested to see how they hang together when I actually use them!

Having got the brushes we went off to the Renaissance Hotel for their lovely, but expensive, Sunday brunch. We saw Deepak the Tuk Tuk driver at the Apartments and had a ride around the grounds of the Hotel which is great fun. On a Sunday the Hotel has a childrens entertainer who comes around the tables, makes ballon animals etc and then lets you know what other kids activities there are in the Hotel. The first time we had brunch the entertainer lady was wearing a clown outfit which seems pretty reasonable. This time however, I just can't quite imagine the thought process that went into choosing this outfit. The PVC mini skirt, knee high boots, handcuffs are one thing however when the modelling balloons were blown up it looked like an Ann Summers party! I had to get her to make a sword for Max, just to extend the childish joke!