For much of the past week I’ve been spending as much free time as possible trawling through the internet, searching for the perfect items for Christmas. This probably sounds familiar to many people out there but I’d wager that my search has taken a slightly different angle to most people’s.
Most of us are, by now, tracking down presents* – either looking for the best deals or for something which will most accurately encapsulate the very precise description you have been given by someone who is notoriously hard to please. Unfortunately I am not even at that stage yet. Somehow, deep into December, I’m still looking for the perfect decorations. Now that I think about it, perhaps I am one of these hard to please people I just mentioned!
I’ve not exactly made things easy for myself. Eschewing the standard Christmas decor, I’ve instead gone all out for a neon pink theme as I begin the annual process of turning my flat into a Winter Wonderland. I always try to do something a bit different and you can call me crazy but I had a vision of a fluorescent pink Christmas castle. Or at least, I had a couple of nice little pink decorations and though I’d go for it instead of standard green, red and gold… It seemed like such a good idea at the time.
I’ve spent many a fruitless hour trying to find neon pink Christmas decorations and you might not be shocked to hear that it turns out there aren’t too many of these out there. It’s especially hard to pull of neon pink in an untacky way – I don’t want it to look like Barbie just puked all over my flat! I just want a fun theme for Xmas. Oh well, if it was easy to be different, everyone would do it.
In order to maintain my sanity during the hunt for decorations I took a trip to the bar at South Place Hotel. It was a good evening out and a welcome break from work and Christmas planning. Unsurprisingly, they’ve not gone for the same neon pink theme that I have but they have put up some classic Christmas trees – I know, what iconoclasts! The bar was very disabled friendly and all the chairs and tables are at wheelchair height – a much needed but often overlooked detail.
The cocktails we had were excellent. I just wish I could say that we held back in order to preserve ourselves for the big Christmas period – likely to involved a lot of drinking – but I’d be lying. We weren’t too rowdy though in fairness and the bar was superb. It maintains its maximum 3 BBS Ticks rating.
Before I leave, to return to preparing the neon pink palace, I just want to say, on a more serious note, how moved I was to hear about Mandela passing away. It’s always sad when a figure of his stature passes but at least he lived to a ripe old age, even if many of those years we’re spent on Robben Island. He was a true icon and an inspiration to anyone who wants to make a change.
Have a good week and look out for my Wednesday Wrap next week which will be the last one of the year!!
*If you are looking for Christmas presents for less able friends or family and want to get them a stylish aid then take a look at our Christmas selections.