I stepped out my front door to go get some fresh air and the supreme stillness of a tiny bird just standing on the armchair on my porch, staring straight ahead brought me to a halt. I could feel trauma emanating from its tiny motionless frame. It was an insanely windy day and I theorised that the wind had just blown the birdie straight into the window behind him and he was stunned.

My exotic fascinations run deep, all the way back to Toltoy’s Jenny the Jet Setting Qantas Air Hostess, who sported a tropical floral patterned uniform designed by Emilio Pucci, still in my opinion, the ultimate day dress. I’d like a wardrobe with seven of them and little else. Jenny looked slightly deranged or maybe like she’d just had a couple of cocktails, and she had a terrible shag haircut and bad shoes but she also came equipped with a hula skirt and bikini and took off all around the world to exotic locations like Japan! Vienna! and sowed tiny tropical seeds within my heart and a love for the idea of far flung locations and travel.