Lucky Girl

Growing another year older isn't so bad when you're lucky enough to receive the most wonderful gifts. My lovely lovely husband doesn't quite get how happy he's made me with this beautiful dress that I have dreamed of wearing for months. Years in fact, if you count how long I have longed for a dress from Cath.

Its the ridiculusly expensive clothes that I always fall in love with in the CK catalogues. Other things I adore too but it is the perfect, out of reach dresses and coats I wish for longingly. You have to be a bit restrained with Cath I find. Too much, and as my wonderful friend Lucy says, you can look like someone's vomited shabby chic all over your house. I know what she means. A little bit of Cath can do you good but too much is definitley too much. To be honest I don't do co-ordinated anything so a tea towel here, a washbag there and the odd mug is just enough for me.

But the clothes, oh the clothes. The autumn catalogue especially makes me feel all I Capture the Castle if you know what I mean?! But gosh its pricey, so imagine my joy at the clothing sale just before my birthday and the look of relief on Woody's face at knowing what to get for me.

"Lottie" is set to become an old friend I can already tell . Her first outing was dinner here  in Chelsea with our oldest friends on what was the best of birthday weekends in early November. They have very kind neighbours who work at the Royal Hospital and generously let us stay at their flat in the grounds. I wish I'd remembered the camera, it was a fabulous place to stay.

Since then she's been paired with new boots (from my lovely parents after the longest search ever, but a sale baragin again - hurrah!), long cosy cardis and coloured, velvety tights for pub drinks with my sister and another treasure hunting trip to Ludlow with Lucy.

She is a joy to wear, fits just right and is the sort of dress I've only found once or twice before - reliable but special dress and makes me feel much improved on the usual sack of potatoes feeling and perhaps a tiny bit glamourous. Lottie will have a long stay at No.25. What a lucky girl I am!

But it doesn't stop there - my sweet sister knows me so very well and tracked down a gift to make me jump with joy. Presents don't get much better than an original 40s tablecloth, delicately embroidered with the prettiest of spring flowers as bright today as the day they were sewn. Thank you, thank you Eechie.