OK – I apologise from the outset for two things….

Firstly Jeanne does the best mannequin shots I’ve ever seen – Jeanne, forgive me – as they say ‘imitation is the most sincere form of flattery’.

Secondly, I’ve been ‘off-line’ for two days because I’ve been without access to either a raw converter (and even I only shoot raw these days) and without online access. For anyone hoping I self-combusted with frenzied decorating or thinking I’d fallen down a crack in the pavement with my new svelte figure, sorry to disappoint – it was the most mundane of reasons for not posting.

I’ve travelled to London today, booked myself into an hotel, then started the search for a Christmas pressie for DM. I promise I’m not as cack as this sounds – the forces of good and evil have combined to make sure my Christmas shopping has been as stressful as possible, with my folks pressies ordered in what I thought was good time before they came to stay so they could take them home. In the event, neither of them arrived in time. My Mum’s arrived after they’d gone back and I’ve no idea what’s happened to my Dad’s – I ordered it from one place, they said they couldn’t supply ‘til after Christmas, I cancelled my order and ordered it from somewhere else who claimed to be in stock and I’ve heard NOTHING! (So, through no….or at least little….fault of my own, I end up being the world’s cackest daughter yet again.)

For DM? Well, the first thing I tried to get him was out of stock until after Christmas, the second was not being released until mid-January and the third was promised for immediate (pre-Christmas) delivery and then, after placing my order, I got a note saying they’d arrive in 7 working days…….GGGGGGGggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrr. They’re all quick to take your spondoolies but not so quick to stump up the goods.

Today then sees me in a frenzy of ‘OMG, what am I going to think of that I can buy in the time left available and that he might actually WANT’ so I’m screeching around Oxford Street trying to sort something out.

This beautiful lady is one of the Selfridges window displays. I think she’s got the lot and would love to have one-tenth of her beauty, mystery and grace…..even if she’s plastic.

For anyone who has no idea what Selfridges is, it’s our other big Department Store, probably second in fame to Harrods. The Selfridges windows at Christmas are a treat to behold (legendary in status)and were always a feature of our youth, when we’d all go up to London and walk along the Selfridges shop front gazing in wonder at the fantastic scenes there. Back to those lovely childhood memories again.

last year, I was on top of the world.....in more ways than one!