Sorbet Tsepiso

Scuse the lack of posts recently - the weekend was all about books and balkan beats, with precious little time for TV.

Did manage to catch Tsepiso last night though, dressed in a melon sorbet confection: a light-green jacket and matching top. It also looked like there were two of her, although that was due to my friend's dodgy TV rather than quantity of wine I drank at book launch - I only had one glass, I swear...

Nothing else to report - missed the news tonight as was on deadline. Could any readers enlighten me as to whom was on, and what was their atti(e)re?

Old school ties

Apologies for a weekend of no TV.

I was attending a school reunion, where in between bunking chapel, sneaking off for a smoke break, and quelling the return of teenage angst by drinking a fair amount of whiskey, I also kept my eye out for any Mahendra-worthy ties.

There was a valiant attempt by a friend of mine, who sported a tie with a geometric design in black, white and green, but it just wasn't loud enough; it simply didn't scream "Mahendra!"

The rest of my contemporaries are as mainstream as they ever were, or at least putting on a jolly good show of it; although many ties were worn, they were uniformly innocuous.

Bring on the news tonight - I need my Mahendra fix!

Who is she and what is she to you

My apologies, or our apologies: No report, no tv on Friday evening. And tonight there's no Mahendra. Instead, someone I think I may have seen reading the ten o'clock news, dressed in what would be a suitable pattern for a housecoat.

Sharing is caring

Must confess I missed the news last night: was having a post-work kip to counter the effects of a boozy lunch...

However, have had several reports from fellow Mahendra addicts that the man was sporting a truly spectacular tie. Will readers please share their reflections with us by posting comments - I am dying to know more details!

I missed Mahendra

My head was somewhere in the clouds at 7 o'clock this evening, and the rest of my body too, as I was on an aeroplane, homeward bound.

So I missed Mahendra, and also missed him, as it were.

Earlier in the evening, I found myself involuntarily appraising the tie of the driver who was taking me to the airport.

Its knot was disconcertingly modest, and I yearned for Mahendra's bulbous creations. I will refrain from describing this inferior tie in more detail, as I am strongly against product placement(particularly when no one has offered to pay us).

Suffice it to say - the driver's tie competed with Mahendra's in the brightness stakes.

Random Mahendra fact

Although my sojourn in the big smoke was all too brief, I did so hope I would have a real live sighting of Mahendra.

No, I didn't spend the weekend hanging out at the SABC studios but, as I walked past Tie Stop in Sandton city, I thought I might be in with a chance.

No Mahendra spotted though, and I had to make do with a vicarious encounter. It transpires that a fellow Mahendra connoisseur, one of my theatre companions on Saturday evening, served the man himself at a restaurant a few years ago...

"What did he eat?" I asked breathlessly.
"I don't know," she replied.

Undaunted, I pressed on with my interrogation.
"Was he wearing a tie?"
"I don't remember," she said. "It was a long time ago."

Surely there was something that would jog her memory?
"Did he leave a good tip?" I ventured.
"Yes, he did," she acknowledged, but that was all she had to say on the matter.

At least we know Mahendra isn't stingy. Perhaps he should put some of his salary towards hiring a new personal shopper?

What *is* the correct way to pack a tie?

My housemate is defiantly watching the eTV news. As I'm due to leave for the airport in 15 minutes and have yet to pack, I'll leave this battle for next week. No doubt my fellow watchers will alert you to any sartorial activity by Mr Raghunath.

Going away, even just for the weekend, has made me ponder Mahendra's packing habits. Do you think he wears Hawaiian ties on vacation? Does he have a special case in which he lovingly rolls them up? I will contemplate these questions in depth as I drink my Bloody Mary on the flight, and post my conclusions upon my return.

No TV

I am afraid that I was off somewhere last night, eating and drinking with fellow watcher AT. So there was no television watching, and hence no Mahendra spotting.

This morning is all a bit of a rush, with Cat Power growling in the background and a mist over the bay. But what do you care? Or I, for that matter? We must stay focussed on our quest: Mahendra.

And I guess the occasional comment about others' sartorial slip-ups.

A miss and a miss, again and again

There was no TV on Wednesday, so no Mahendra was spotted. Did Mahendra appear? I don't know, and where are the other field agents who are supposed to be on the lookout? Were they all out, eating, drinking, living it up, letting the colourful one slip by?

Thursday evening, Mr Mahendra was elusive. What is up with Mahendra? Is all this scrutiny getting to him? I must say, I am getting tired of describing all the wannabe Mahendras and Mahendrases, like Joanne Joseph in her new Madonna haircut and sloppy blue (nice colour though) jacket that looks quite cheap with the one collar curling up and that ribbon or whatnot used to tie the jacket at her stomach. I mean, I like her, she's a good newsreader, she generally dresses well and sober, but, she IS NOT MAHENDRA.

Television abandoned...

in favour of a friend's birthday party where ages ranged from early-mid twenties to late seventies. Dress codes were informal and understated and not a Pratt- nor Windsor-knot in sight. We were regaled with tales of romance on the high seas by perhaps the eldest guest at the table. What a storyteller! Her flow and cadence and narrative goals never once suffered from countless interruptions by parties both who had interest as characters and parties interested in hearing a tale well told.

Alas, no Mahendra.

Elusive as ever...

but welcome to AT, a second guest watcher who, unfortunately, was unable to spot the elusive Mahendra on Tuesday.

Also, there was no tv last night, so...

No TV as Alonso takes Malaysia

Happy Easter, yes, to all my readers in Melkbosstrand, Maitland, Heideveld, Nyanga, Kalkoond and you two in Rivonia. Was out last night for some hip-shaking to some hard funk, so no report I'm afeard. And what's up with Massa, drifting from pole to fifth? Come one Felipe!

No good Friday...

No TV last night. Out for a dinner of braaied tuna (yum!), but the VCR attests to no Mahendra. Instead, it was Tsepiso Makwetla, soberly dressed and all, but could the oversized black jacket be Mahendra's?

No tv for a long weekend

My apologies to our reader in Rivonia, the other one in Maitland (Cape Town), and the three in Cape Town proper, but I have been away for walks on the West Coast, lazy days and braaied lamb chops. There was a tv, but reception was poor. Nevertheless, I spotted Mahendra on Friday 30 March in his black jacket and then that plummy shirt and striped tie combination from a previous time. Mahendra mixin' an' matchin'...

Sore throat?

Firstly, welcome to TM, Mahendra's Ties very first guest watcher, and congratulations on your first post. It is a natural fit to the genre and I look forward to many great posts.

Secondly, I have no reports to file for Friday, Saturday and Sunday past, as I was No-TV for the weekend. It does seem, however, that Mr Raghunath might be on a bit of a break...

It's not his fault

No report on Mr. Raghunath, but it's not his fault. I was, once again, not close to a television set. Perhaps I should invite roving Mahendra-watchers to join in the fun?

NEWSFLASH

From now on, posts will be categorized:

1. Spotted
2. Elusive
3. No TV

You've guessed it...

Yes, no Mahendra last night as I was otherwise engaged with good company, wine and food. I did spot some yuppies in pale lemon sweaters draped nonchalantly over golf shirts, and long-legged women unnecessarily in high heels so that, standing, my head was as high only as their hips. Oh, in some unknown designer jeans.

Alas, though, nothing as ebulliently colourful as dear Mahendra.

Mahendra free weekend

Both Friday and Saturday were spent away from television, so no Mahendra spotted.

No Report

Otherwise engaged, I missed Mahendra last night, 14 March 2007.

12 March 2007

I am afraid to report that I missed Mahendra last night - so no report on his clothes.