Monsoon hits Mumbai

Well, rain drops are definitely falling on my head. It has been raining for about a week now but yesterday lunchtime it started chucking hit down and then about seven it just went mad. I have never seen a white out caused by rain but there you had it. Amazing though it was it wasn't a great time to duck out to a restaurant, even a very good one. Soggy feet happened in about two seconds and all the taxi's now seem to have wet seats, not nice.
This morning I had planned to do all sorts but again it was slashing it down. A break in the weather appeared about 9:30 so I made a mad dash over to FabIndia (a store specialising in hand made cotton and linen bits). The doors were shut but luckily the manager turned up a few minutes later and let me in. I headed for the back stairs (all the house linens are up there) and found a small river running down them. I presumed that would be that, but know, the Indians know a thing or too about rain and they simply opened up the delivery stairs and let me in that way. Meanwhile a team got on with mops and cleared up the mess.
90 mins of hard shopping later I hopped back in a taxi and headed back to the Hilton. So far it has continued to rain on and off all afternoon, but not so heavily. Its a bit miserable being stuck in the hotel all day. I keep thinking I hear a small boy on a tricycle cycling down the hall....
This will be my last few weeks here in Mumbai and it is a shame its so difficult to get out and about. The trains are not running as normal, planes are being diverted out of the state and walking is not fun - if not at times dangerous.
I am spending my time now gathering up all the things I want to bring back with me. I am trying to think why I didn't start bringing more stuff back sooner, not sure if I will fit it all in! I guess that much of my panic buying stems from acquiring a new, bigger house back home and suddenly realising the value for money in things such as sheets and curtains, sad I know. I also have my eye on a big wooden Ganesh with I think may crack the luggage allowance. Let's hope that will squeeze onto my little rucksack as carry on. At least though I have everyone's Christmas and Birthday presents bought for this year, how organised is that?