The unthinkable has finally happened and the weather seems to finally be cooling down. To be honest, I never thought it would happen, as I don’t ever remember a time when I was still comfortably donning a tT-shirt at night in November. However, since the season of thick hot chocolate, cheese fondues and fireplaces is finally very much among us, I thought I’d make a little list of items which are designed to make those long, dark evenings at home just that little bit more special:
■ A special blanket: In an ideal world where everyone is a Rothschild, we would have several Hermès blankets just casually thrown around our homes ready to shield every inch of our bodies from the cold outside. However, just because you’re on a lemonade budget, it doesn’t mean that you can’t have something that makes you feel a little more special. I don’t know much about what’s offered locally in this department but there are a huge amount of cashmere and cashmere mix blankets which you can find online at really decent prices. If you’re more of a playful soul, why not buy yourself a mermaid tail knitted blanket and wrap your legs in it. Not only do these come in a variety of different colours, but you’ll also finally have an excuse not to be able to get off the sofa to make the tea.
Just because no one is going to see your dressing gown, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t buy a nice one
■ A pretty teapot: Speaking of tea, there’s nothing more decadent than having tea out of your own teapot. Indeed, so many people have cottoned onto this that you can now find teapots that come complete with little ceramic pockets for you to keep your dunking biscuits in. A few years back, I was bought a clear teapot and some flowering tea to go with it. It was pretty special to put the flowering tea bundles into the water and watch them open up before my very eyes.
■ A really nice dressing gown or fancy pyjamas: Just because no one is going to see your dressing gown, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t buy a nice one. Too many times, Maltese people settle for inferior quality things for themselves if they know that people aren’t going to see them but this has never really made sense to me. The longest and most profound relationship you will ever have is with yourself and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t buy yourself cashmere lounging trousers if that is what makes you happy. Nice dressing gowns and pyjamas also put you in a happier frame of mind to face the day ahead because you’ll feel like you’ve started on a better foot. ’Tis the season to indulge after all!