Lovin' that HANDBAG!

Who needs Chanel, asks Michèle, when your basket of sunshine can brighten a dull day?

- Michèle

Yesterday at the supermarket, the checkout operator stopped scanning my courgettes to admire the bright yellow basket I'd plopped on the counter.

It is probably meant to be a beach accessory but, as I explained to (checks name badge) Monica, I bought it because summer didn't happen up our end of the country, so I had a crack at making summer happen myself with this armful of woven sunny goodness. If you imagine hard enough, a trip to the mall on a grey day feels almost tropical when you're swinging a yellow basket in your hand.

Admiring our accessories is one of the great things women do for each other. Honestly, if men were really trying to impress us, they'd stop shouting things from cars and whistling from building sites, and instead go for, "I am loving the look of your cross-body tote!" Swoon.