Perhaps it is the influence of London Fashion Week but this weekend I became absolutely sure that a pair of bright pink jeans from Zara would complete my life. Tonight it is the turn of a pair of wide-legged sailor trousers from Boden (I know, I know. I have resisted). What is it about fashion that can make a fairly normal person like me think that a pair of shoes or trousers will complete my wardrobe? Well, I think it is because most of the other stuff we do - motherhood, work, whatever - takes proper effort. Putting on a pair of bright pink jeans doesn't. Doing them up, on the other hand...
Current white in the fridge: Les Andides 2010 Saumur, France, £7.99, Waitrose
Lovely, lovely Loire. This wine is from the Saumur region in the Loire Valley and is made from Chenin Blanc, a grape often overshadowed by the Loire's more famous export, Sancerre (made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape). Chenin Blanc can match Sauvignon for acidity but has a more apple-like character compared with the citrus & gooseberry-ness of Sauvignon. With age, Chenin Blanc can develop gorgeous honeyed characters too. A glass of this with fishcakes was a very good idea.
Current red on the side: Castillo de Tafalla Merlot 2010, Spain, £5.99, Naked Wines
Nothing but bills seemed to drop through the letterbox last month so when a voucher from Naked Wines to buy a case of wine for £40 came through, Bearded Husband was all over it. He chose the case - winter warmers? something like that - and this was the one that came out of the rack yesterday to go with roast lamb. Made from Merlot grown in the Navarra region in Spain, this is an undemanding wine, bright and jolly. A bit like the jeans, except red rather than pink.
Ab fab xLabels: 2010, France, Loire, Merlot, Naked Wines, red wine, Spain, Waitrose, white wine