Well I think the time for action has finally arrived! I did talk some time ago, about my need to stand up and be counted. I am about to go into hospital for a short stay and whilst recovering at home, I will be reorganising and streamlining my website, to reveal a reconditioned, revamped and generally slicker platform for my products.

I will be doing this with the help and expertise of some fellow designers and good friends. Watch this space!! Don't desert us- it will be worth it. xxx

Here we are again! Today I want to focus on fashion as we head towards the winter season and start to think about cosiness and wrapping up.  Today is a beautiful autumnal day, so let's get on with it. There's an awful lot of choice out there on the high street right now, not to mention what's available online. So what do you think about vintage, you know, good old fashioned second hand? I've been a big fan since I was about 17 and in the sixth form, when you could suddenly lose the school uniform and start to express yourself. In the 1980's you could pick up the most amazing pieces, from 1940's utility suits that looked a million dolllars, to winkle picker shoes in fabulous condition.

The suit above is a 1980's Warehouse piece and as we've all noticed, the tailored jacket and pencil skirt are back to being hot property with a vengeance! This required a little courage to wear back in the day and would require even more now, but if I had the right occasion, I'd still give it a go!

This suit above is by a company called Washouse Modes and is from the 1990's . It's noticeably less decadant in terms of material than the 1980's suit and suitably pared down in terms of colour and shoulder pad!! Like any quality piece, it has stood the test of time and could be worn now as easily as it was worn nearly 20 years ago.

So now we have something really special! I bought this suit from a charity shop and it's vintage 1940's. It comes from a time of 'make do and mend', a wartime ethos, where utilising fabric that may not have necessarily been considered appropriate was quite commonplace. I did wear this suit during the 1990's and it was unspeakably stylish and beautifully tailored. It's amazing what you can pick up and even more amazing to see how 'what goes around comes around'!! Enjoy your thrift shop foraging.xx

Travel is close to my heart and as we approach the silly season run-up to Christmas, I like to look forward to trips away, preferably in cities at this time of year. Anyone who reads this blog will know that I have an appetite for anything that can be considered a feast for the eyes. Amongst other amazing places on this earth, Hong Kong is utterly breathtaking and I think stands out for me in 3 areas......culture, skyline, and shopping. But not necessarily in that order! In these shots, you can get a taste of the vastness and grandiosity of the shopping malls. There is no expense spared and people are literally crazy for their shopping experience.

 An absolute must is a trip to Lantau Island to see the giant Buddah. These pictures below depict show just how high this amazing landmark is, as the rainy mist is difficult to avoid.

 The skyline will thrill you both day and night, although the use of lights 24 hours a day and the use of lasers, is seriously questionable in terms of the environment.

The streets are spectacularly colourful, vibrant and surprisingly, unthreatening, whatever the hour of day.

You will be mesmerised by the quantity of people , all apparently out shopping at the same time and the street food is remarkable. So I hope you might take the plunge and consider a trip to this eastern jewel - you reallly won't regret it. xx

For some strange reason, all of my recipes on here have involved fish and this one is no exception! Halibut is a real favourite of mine and is well worth the slightly hefty pricetag it attracts. I bought 3 large steaks for £16, which is pretty comparable with fillet steak.

For this particular dish, I seasoned the steaks with rock salt, freshly ground black pepper and olive oil and seared in a char grill pan. I had some vine tomatoes roasting in the oven with garlic and shallots, to which I added fresh thyme.

When the tomatoes were ready I added them to a seperate pan, along with some chick peas. I then added a large bag of spinach. When the spinach had wilted, I added a small tub of creme fraiche and the dish was complete. It srikes a nice balance between summer and winter food - comforting, yet light. Let me know if you try it. xI