Weeeell, more like the day before yesterday, but you get the idea, right?

New Years Eve in Edinburgh is a pretty big deal, so I was lucky to able to experience it! We decided to opt for a low key house party, organised over the internet with strangers (!) as we’re fairly new to town and didn’t know anyone. All in all, I have to say it was a wonderful evening. Though, being starved of any human contact for last three weeks sure did make me talkative!

My adventures in austerity have meant that I’ve been cutting my own hair. It was scary at first, but I’ve been dyeing my own hair for years, so it wasn’t too much of a challenge. After a pin curl set it was short enough for a lazy faux bob a la Zelda Fitzgerald. Or at least that was the plan. I paired a comfy, if not a little baggy, black cashmere jumper with a wool skirt as was good to go!

Jumper: Isle

Skirt: Vintage

Pashmena: Gift

Boots: New Look

Bag: Vintage (Out of the Blue Flea Market)

We celebrated New Years with a fancy dinner party for two. I knew that I wanted to serve an Amuse-Bouche that had something to do with cucumber and thought that cute cucumber cups (like the ones made by Monika at Vegetarian Surprises)  would do the job. But what would I fill them with? I made a simple chilled cucumber and dill soup that I thought I could serve in the cups. Maybe I could add some honeydew melon somewhere? But then we went to the bottle shop and I saw the miniature bottles of Hendrick’s Gin. I was more excited than any person has a right to be in public. A light bulb went off in my head. Why didn’t I see it before?!

Hendrick’s Martinis in Cucumber Cups

1 Lebanese cucumber

50ml Hendrick’s Gin

Honeydew melon to garnish

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Cut the cucumber into 4cm rounds. Peel skin and scoop out flesh leaving a 1cm layer at the bottom. These keep in the refrigerator for a few hours if you want to make them ahead of time. If you’re using the 50ml Hendrick’s botttles, chill them in the fridge or freezer beforehand.  Otherwise, shake or stir the Hendrick’s Gin with ice and pour into the cucumber cups. Add any aromatics, such as cocktail bitters or a dash of rosewater. To garnish, use a melon baller (I used a tiny measuring spoon) to scoop out little globes of honeydew melon and style on a toothpick, like you would with a martini olive. Enjoy!

They ended up being delicious! I served the chilled cucumber soup alongside the martinis. It made for a refreshing start to the meal.

Chilled Cucumber Soup

1 Lebanese cucumber

8 springs of dill

1 cup vegetable stock

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Place everything in a food processor and blend till smooth. Strain through a muslin and serve chilled. Also makes a great base for savoury cocktails!

It’s New Years Eve! A time for celebrating with good friends, which is exactly what I did – & here’s what I was wearing when the clock struck midnight!

• Black ruffle dress & red satin ribbon
• Red wool beret
• Red patent PVC peep-toe pumps
• Vintage Czech cameo on black satin ribbon
• Silver snowflake earrings
• Black handbag

This is my attempt at the messy hairdo. I don’t think I succeeded much; making messy hair look effortlessly chic is an ironically taxing exercise. For my NYE celebrations I choose a house party hosted by an old school friend of mine where we sat around & talked & giggled & drank till midnight. I drank gin & tonic mixed with lime & a little Campari – super delicious! It was one of the best NYE parties I have been to in a long while. We even had sparklers!

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