Brighton 5

4 days to go and I will be on my way to Barbados with Oli. I had to go to the Indian Consulate in London to get our visas this morning and was totally unprepared for it. I have been on the website and read all the notes but still managed to behave like a retard. First of all, I didn’t know you had to be in a queue between the hours of 8.30am and 10.30am to get a number, to get into the consulate, to provide your applications. Secondly I didn’t realise the queue would have approximately five hundred people in it. Finally I had a totally blond moment and turned up without any cash to pay for the visas - I think I must have thought I was at the visa supermarket and could pay by switch or something. Anyway, I was saved by Yvonne, who I got talking to in the queue and we spent most of the day together.

Coincidence - Yvonne has a flat in the West End of Glasgow she lets out and will be staying with friends on Fergus Drive (where I live) for New Year! She currently lives in South Carolina and works for Christian Aid as a project manager for their many different causes. She said her best job to date was working in Addis Ababa a few years ago where she set up a project and worked with prostitutes to get them out of that particular business. Interesting eh?

Brighton 4

One week today and it will be Christmas Eve and we'll be on our next flight, this time to Barbados for a month. Staying with another dear friend, Sooey who I got to know in Glasgow and has been living her dream of developing the land her grandmother left her in Barbados into a condo for holiday lets. Can't wait!!!

Meanwhile, back at the seafront, it is really, REALLY cold, feels like it could snow and I am sure it is colder than Glasgow. I have ticked two things off my long list of things to do...

Coco's Shoe Collection

I have to add a special note about Coco's shoes here - Coco is Texan and one of Ruth's tenants. Now, I am a person who quite readily admits I have too many shoes, I will even own up to having shoes I have never worn, HOWEVER I discovered on Saturday that Coco's collection is something else. Legend has it that when she arrived from Texas, she only had two suitcases and one was full of stunning, high-heeled shoes - of which she says "I ate tomatoes for MONTHS to afford these puppies!" Judge a small sample of her size sevens for yourself....

Brighton 3

I had a super day in London yesterday. First of all I went to Islington to meet The Man From Pakistan - my new internet friend, he was on his way through London between Puerto Rico and Islamabad and we arranged to meet for a couple of hours. First thing I did was set my scarf on fire when I put it on top of a table tea-light. How fortuitous that TMFP had bought me a lovely pashmina pressie to replace it!!

Later I went off to Hampstead from my dear friend, Ruth's Big 60th birthday party (did I mention my new scarf is champagne colour complete with little studded bubbles? Perfik) Then to La Gaffe for dinner, followed by spectacular fireworks on the Heath at midnight.

I have to give a special blawg mention to the wonderful Ruth, we've known each other for nearly 25 years and she is a constant inspiration to me and so many of her friends - three cheers for Ruthie!!! Happy Birthday to yooo xxx