Silver duvet jacket

Hurrah for a duvet coat that doesn't make me look like The Michelin Man!

Here on the islands we've been plunged into winter so it's time to bring out my arsenal of duvet coats (this being the first of three, although the second is a gunmetal grey and not so terribly different). I cycle or walk everywhere so a warm coat is vital at this time of year. I was really pleased to come across this one in TK Maxx a couple of years ago as I wanted something practical, but still a bit glamorous too. I think the slim cut with belted waist seals the deal there. It also means that I can wear a skirt with it as there's enough definition to carry that off too. Some duvet coats are just square and chunky and really only look good with skinny jeans.

My latest favourite pairing is tartan and leopard print. I came across this combo quite by chance when I was lining up shoe options and these just popped up begging to be matched up with some tartan trousers. The connection for that look was black and the theme has just expanded from there. Today's double dose of tartan and leopard print really pulls the look together. The fluffy sweater adds the necessary cosy element as well as giving a bit of interest - just in case it wasn't making the grade. It's great to have the chance to bring out my lovely vintage handbag again and leads me slickly in to the introduction of my beautiful sparkly Vivienne Westwood pendant.

At this time of year I work completely on my own as the gallery is closed and I'm based upstairs in my office all day. No visitors could mean I drift into a jeans and jumper mentality as I know no-one will see me, but I think that would bring me down quite quickly. All year round I honestly dress for myself, and now the bonus is that I can share the outfit of the day with my fellow bloggers and audience. I love getting your feedback so please do take a moment to send me a comment with your thoughts. And if you haven't done it before then do get in touch by email if you're confused by the comments options - it's easier than you think. (Isn't it Maggs?)

Coat: TK Maxx. Scarf: 49 Degrees. Skirt: TK Maxx. Blouse: H&M (charity shop). Sweater: TK Maxx. Shoes: eBay. Belt: Zara. Tights: Wolford. Pendant: Vivienne Westwood. Handbag: Vintage. Rings: charity shop. 

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And just a little something extra this weekend...

I surprise myself at today's extra blog post, as I never thought I'd be one to write about food on my blog. You see, I eat very simply and am not a big foodie as such, but I've had such an exciting food discovery that I really want to share it. But wait, before I reveal the details of this scrumptious morsel, I just want to enlighten you as to the confines of my diet (or re-cap for those of you in the know), then at least you'll understand why this is such a big deal for me. For nearly 40 years now I've lived with bowel disease; Ulcerative Colitis, to be precise. My full story can be read here. Anyway, the deal is this - providing I adhere to a very strict diet I can not only control the symptoms, but I can avoid taking the standard medications (with their ensuing side effects). When I say strict diet, you may imagine all sorts of dull and dreadful things, but really it's not. It's a very healthy and nutritious array of foods which to me are delicious and satisfying. I eat no additives, or preservatives and therefore my palate is very clean and crisp; I have a great sense of taste and smell and thoroughly enjoy everything I eat, yes truly, everything. Sorry if I sound very goody-two-shoes, but for me it's simply a matter of eating well to stay well.

I was recently asked what can't I eat. Well, it's easier to tell you what I can. Hold up the fingers of one hand - that covers my food groups - eggs, chicken, fish, fruit, vegetables. That's it. Within the fruit and veg I do have restrictions and dislikes, such as oranges aren't good for me, but I can eat grapefruit; mushrooms make me very ill, as does sweetcorn and bean sprouts amongst other things. Anyway, since changing my eating habits to the SCD I have become 100% well. That's quite a statement when you consider that in my 20's I had a gastroenterologist predict I would need to have some of my bowel removed if my flare-ups continued; in fact it was pretty much inevitable he said. The flare-ups continued, but I still haven't had surgery.

Just two and a half years ago I discovered the SCD as a result of research on the Internet when I was very poorly indeed. At the time I was attending a week long yoga course and was struggling with severe abdominal pain for much of the time. I couldn't be more than a few hundred yards from a toilet and my day to day life was severely compromised. All in all, I felt pretty sorry for myself. Lucy, my yoga teacher encouraged me greatly when I told her I'd come across this radical diet. We both agreed with the theory of a strict elimination diet to remove all irritants from the system giving the body the best opportunity to rebalance and repair. The improvement was almost immediate.

As soon as I was able to leave the house again I started sea swimming. My research had uncovered a train of thought about cold water and the immune response which I was keen to try out. The stimulus of the immune system from the shock of the cold water acts like rebooting the central nervous system; the body's fight or flight mechanism is able to work in the appropriate manner again. Instead of the body being flooded with stress hormones at all the wrong times, the cold water hit induces an adrenalin rush which is immediately utilised by the body and burnt up doing what it's meant to. Not many of us would choose to sea swim anywhere in the UK all year round, but as they say, desperate times call for desperate measures! ( I must add that cold water showers/baths are noted to have a similarly beneficial effect, but swimming seemed like a more energising option.) My swimming took on a life of its own culminating in a challenge over the course of an entire day on the 5th September this year (read the account here). My yoga teacher was astounded and still likes to remind me of the time when I was too ill to leave the house, never mind spend a whole day swimming from island to island.

But, I have digressed for long enough. Back to my joyful food discovery. There are no treats within my diet; no chocolate praline balls of scrumptiousness, or finger-staining flavoured savoury snacks; no G&T's at the end of the day; no secret indulgences to be had as a reward for a particularly bad day. Not even a cup of tea, that ever so British cure-all for when life deals you a heavy blow. Good, clean eating is the price I have to pay for a healthy gut. Well, can you imagine my delight to come across a simple recipe needing only two ingredients that tastes like ambrosia? Take one very ripe banana (brown skin rather than yellow) and mash into a bowl. Add two raw eggs and beat together. Heat a teaspoon of olive oil in a small frying pan or better still a griddle, and drop in large spoonfuls of the mix. Cook until golden brown and flip over, cook on second side. The pancake with have a soft, custardy centre. Tip onto a plate and devour - no sugar, cream or icecream required. I found this recipe in a newspaper recently and have to add that the pancakes don't quite hold their shape for me which could be down to the fact that my pancake pan is a bit ancient and does stick. However, even though the pancakes were a bit of a cross between a sweet omlette and a soggy pancake, the taste was far more important than the final look of the dish. The first mouthful tasted sweet, syrupy and just like a banana fitter, the deep fried treat from my youth. And now I've discovered this version of the banana fritter, I just wanted to share the healthiest of puddings which tastes like the most sinful delight - enjoy!