Some things in life are special – this is a special place – my dressing table, on it is a special thing – this glass perfume bottle brought back from Egypt by Claz, in the background, the mirror was also a special gift, from my little sis.

I don’t know why but I love the almost ritualistic nature of dressing tables – sort of the special, private places where you can become whoever you like….or be yourself. You can use them for dressing up or dressing down. Mine contains a handful of things only – a gold sari covering, a few bits and bobs of make up, a brass and wood jewellery box, full of ‘junk’ jewellery – I own nothing of any value, not even any ‘precious metals’. Somehow though, my jewellery is more precious because it’s not precious at all. Most of it ‘means something’ to me. The box itself means something to me – a gift from Jo, my erstwhile naked housekeeper….I so hope she’s safe and well.

I’m not quite sure why it looks so wonky – if the mirror and fabric are straight, the bottle is on the tilt…..must be to do with angles I suppose but who knows.

Anyway, Claz is here for a few days. She phoned me from her car when she was about seven or eight miles away and said ‘Allbran, you live in the middle of nowhere’ and I said ‘No, on the edge of nowhere, but I’ll grant you pretty close.’

She’s newly single after 31 years with her husband and was very embarrassed to receive some ‘saucy’ gifts from us as she starts her new life as a ‘single girl’. Hee hee – I had great fun choosing them and she will, I’m sure, have great fun trying them out as time moves on.

This is one of my gifts from her – and rather lovely it is too. The others may well get photographed over the next few days – she’s so good at choosing for me – I’d say she knows me better than anyone else on the planet – maybe even better than DM…….though then again, maybe not!

Last year, it was cold - wish it was cold, not wet now!