Flying High Again

Was Christmas all you hoped for? Ours was such a whirlwind of socialising and merrymaking it's almost a relief to have a few nights off before the New Year's Eve festivities. If I see another ounce of cheese, pickled onion, Indian curry or glass of wine before the weekend I might just implode.

I had some amazing presents of the hand-made, second-hand or edible/alcoholic variety. Liz made me this fab bag from vintage fabric complete with a hidden base for concealing booze, perfect for the festival season. The silver cuff and antique coin bangle were both gifts.

That divine minx, Desiree, sent me a fabulous birthday parcel containing this 1970 Katie shirt dress and the metallic silver nail polish I'm wearing ........

........as well as a groovy fake fur hood, one of her signature floral head dresses and a perfectly fitting, vintage bikini to die for. Our weather is so bizarrely mild at the moment I wouldn't be at all surprised if I ended up wearing it all together.

Even Jacob's confused, he came out of hibernation on Xmas Eve for a snack.

It would almost be a crime to own such an amazing new bikini and not to wear it immediately so we were queueing outside the Indian High Commission in Birmingham just after 8am for a tourist visa. I'm determined to book a trip somewhere exotic before the day's out.

We're hoping to revisit this paradise beach we last visited on Xmas day, 2008. No sunbeds, no tourists, no beach bars, no Western pop music, no water sports or anything except the odd fisherman and a curious cow or three. It's in India but not Goa, I'll reveal all once we've found a flight.

Floral shirt dress worn with black velvet hot pants (70p, car boot sale), Alexis ankle boots (£20, Top shop sale, 2009),  vintage amber beads (Birthday present)

See you soon.