Fit Flops Cool AND comfy...

I've had red FitFlop's (the ones below) for a while now, bought online from John Lewis but the first I heard about them was when I was in South Africa over Christmas reading one of their glossy mags. So comfy and they give you a bit of height too with nearly two inches boost. But, not very glam. Until now. Was alerted by Grazia this week that there are more glam styles coming out looking less like trainer flip flops (or Flypes as me and him indoors call them) and more like Shoes you would Choose.









So I've just ordered the Electra, with a bit of gold sequin action going on, from Victoria's Health where you can pre-order all the new range. Debated about the snakeskin but can reasonably only order one new pair in these tightening belt times.



Might even get my Mum a pair for her 75th birthday...

DVF to the rescue

Another what to wear dilemma solved - this time for M&D's joint birthday party, celebrating 75 and 70 respectively.

About 80 or 90 seniors littered with a bare minimum of the youngsters, i.e. 40/50 year olds. How to feel pretty old... But M&D both look 10 years younger so there's hope for us all.

What to wear, nothing too bold, eh. So DVF to the rescue via Matches Fashion
And, in the sale, so knocked down from nearly £300 to £158 so a bargain to boot. Well, a bargain for a classic dress anyway.

Disappointed with Matches packaging, all for being green but it was in crappy paper, not even tissue paper, and rammed into a DHL bag. Nothing floaty or glam the way that, say my-wardrobe does. Sort of resent spending that much money and not having the full-on luxe experience.

Boo to British Airways Customer Relations

What a rubbish response from British Airways via Trailfinders to my letter alerting them that my suitcase had been broken into (nothing at all stolen, most strange) somewhere between George Airport, Johannesburg Airport and Heathrow.

Chetan Lagad, customer relations at BA wants me to send my baggage claim tag, a property irregularity report and a copy of a lost baggage questionnaire.

Does BA really think that after their customers have been flying for 15 hours they are going to faff about at the landing airport filling out forms? And I hadn't lost my suitcase it was just broken into! What a waste of everyone's time. Boo.

I fly BA as it tends to be the best option. But the flight from Joburg was rubbish too, and the flight attendants treat everyone in economy with disdain. I might rethink Virgin... and I already like SAA.

Trailfinders customer service, on the other hand, I find to be superb. Hooray!

Love Lush! B Never 2 Busy 2 Be Beautiful!

Have fallen head over heels with Lush and B Never 2 Busy 2 Be Beautiful products. I've always liked Lush stuff but it didn't feature heavily on my radar even when I worked a few doors down from the store that was then in Kensington High Street. (That was probably more to do with my job at the time, which was so soul destroying I couldn't think about fun stuff. Maybe Lush would've helped cheer me up but that's moons ago.)

I'm mad for the Karma fragrance; I only ever really wore No.5, Prada and Gucci (darling) before, but I'm obsessed. Have the soap, body cream, bath stuff. Yum. Went in the store heaven in Covent Garden yesterday and lushed out on loads of goodies. Also popped into sister store B, and came out with new foundation and a gorgeous new cream blusher in a shade I'd never have tried - peach - not to be said in a Brummie accent - until the groovy gay guy put some on me. All the jars are hand made sparkly things in different colours, and you can buy some glorious powdered lip stain which comes in a little tagine. There are boy products called Dirty too.

Heaven to betsy - this is serious pamper time. I never used to be that bothered but lotions and potions are so mood enhancing.

The Sopranos - end of an era

Am a bit shell-shocked having watched the final two episodes of The Sopranos on Saturday. Wow. Great ending. Amazing final series: script, acting, lighting, design.

The Sopranos has been around for the past seven years, most of my thirties... now I'm 40 and the finale has come and gone.

What next? What TV series can fill the void? Currently love Californication, Men In Trees. But there's not even a SATC... next series of Desperate Housewives can't come close even.

Sniff.

my-wardrobe.com

Talking of www.my-wardrobe.com, I, ahem, failed to mention that I had also got my hands on a stunning teal and gold bead jersey dress by Antik Batik. Looking forward to wearing on the beach in South Africa at Christmas; and with a pair of heels or boots for chillier meetings for work in Blighty.

Those Cacharel birds...

There's another Cacharel dress out there from a couple of seasons ago which had a tropical bird print which I wish I'd bought, but for now, until I can find that on ebay or somewhere, for a lovely price in the www.my-wardrobe.com sale, this gorgeous number will more than do. Will see me through a sea of black sequinned prom dresses this season, eh.

I love Cacharel designs, but I still hear ringing in my head a Dawn French/Jennifer Saunders sketch based in a department store's make up floor "Wel-come to the world of Cash-a-relle."

Celtic Sheepskin Company

Been a fan of the Celtic Sheepskin Company since I bought my first pair, the Celt knee boot seven winters ago. Not cheap, but a dependable classic for every winter. I also have the Celt ankle boot and have just taken delivery of my new mocha popper boots. SO warm, so brilliant, it is like putting on a pair of radiators. They will last forever...

Three Horseshoes

Also know to local as 'The 'Shoes' or Nell's Bar, (it's run by the charming landlady, Nell...), this is a great local country pub in the village of Cheddington, Bucks. Nell serves smashing home cooked food in massive portions. Nell changes the specials every day, but favourites are rack of lamb, spicy chicken wraps, mushroom risotto. My other half zooms in for steak and guinness pie or steak and kidney pudding all served as fresh as can be. I've eaten there many times and have never been disappointed. Good pub grub at very reasonable prices. There is a large garden with kiddy-entertainment stuff and an outdoor patio with heating. Two rooms inside, one which used to be the non-smoking bar and another one to watch the sport in. The 'Shoes succeeds for me where so many country pubs serving food fail - I look forward to eating there rather than being sorely disappointed, yet again, at inedible pub food. It's a 10 minute stroll from Cheddington Station, 40 mins from Euston, so worth a visit if you fancy escaping the big smoke for lunch. And the locals are very friendly.

Noooooo! Just say no to Crocs!

WHY? Just say no to Crocs. Especially people over 55 with varicose veins wearing bright pink or yellow ones. Stop it. Now.