I don't need a fancy Christmas, I'd happily settle for a normal pre-virus Tuesday afternoon

 

Normality.  Going for a drink with a friend at the corner pub.  Hugging an older family member.  Sitting maskless in my screen printing class.  Roaming around the Victoria and Albert museum whenever the mood strikes me.

I'm daydreaming.

Everyone in London is angry about Christmas in Tier 3 after today's announcement.  I know it sucks, I want to see my family too, but we still have hundreds of deaths a day in England, and it'll be quite a while before we're all vaccinated.

We must not become numb to the tragedy of all this suffering.

I've been keeping myself entertained with some inspiring Instagram accounts - I highly recommend @raphaelmetivet, who takes beautiful photos of Paris, @the.particulars, a Malibu mum who focuses on accessories that transform outfits, and @cakeatelieramsterdam, a baker who posts incredibly romantic and colourful flower bouquets.

@cakeatelieramsterdam

@raphaelmetivet

Melissa from @the.particulars

I've also spent time getting annoyed at all the beauty influencers on YouTube who make hundreds of videos on how to disguise or fix hooded eyes with make-up.

Many of these urgent instructions pop up as thumbnails marked with red crosses. Don't do this! Your hoods will be hideous!!!  What a bunch of malarky, to use President Joe's favourite word.

Hooded eyes are beautiful and sexy, and do your make-up however you please. Don't listen to all the whiny warnings of these self-proclaimed experts.

Eva Green, incredibly chic Bond girl with stunning eyes.

Oh yes, and let's not forget Princess Di's beautiful eyes either.

Or my own child who probably has inherited both mine and my husband's hooded eyes.

My daughter has had to isolate after a Covid outbreak at her school. We've had fun dressing up and doing amateur photo shoots - in this case inspired by Harry Styles's Vogue editorial with lots of layers, velvet and pearls.

Our new London Tier 3 rules mean we won't be able to go to restaurants at Christmas. This after I literally just committed the kind of impulse buy where you get struck right in the heart by a pair of sparkling shoes, immediately visualising walking into Dukes for cocktails, your coat hanging nonchalantly off your shoulders...

Miu Miu shoes, HERE

Alas, no Dukes for us this year. But you know what? America is going to have its first female Vice President and that makes me so happy I could cry. I want my girl to grow up in a world where that is entirely normal.

After four years of agony about the orange monster, I'm finally starting to relax, slowly recognising the America I used to love so much.

I'm leaving you, hooded eyes and all, in an H&M dress and some very old Isabel Marant Dicker boots (copying Melissa from @the.particulars who recently dug them out again too)

All dressed up and hanging in my kids' bathroom. 

H&M floral dress, HERE

Isabel Marant Dicker boots, HERE

I hope you are well and staying safe. Please don't be an ass and break the rules. When the hospitals get overwhelmed with Covid, it also affects people who need medical care for other serious illnesses.

Thank you for reading,

lots of love,

xx Dianne