Almost there! While looking forward to Christmas I’m looking a long way back in time today with this colourful and quirky pair. There is something I find very appealing about the smooth glass balls combined with the angular, almost sci fi ‘leggy’ metal drops. They are whimsical to wear because they jingle as I move my head. I bought these in the night market in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand on my first solo long haul trip. A hasty calculation reveals this was almost 30 years ago! So these earrings have been with me a very long time. I have been neglecting them as it feels like many a year since I gave them an airing. Apart from a lost ‘leg’ on the right hand one they have stood the test of time pretty well.

These lovely, delicate hexagonal earrings match the Serenity statement necklace by jewellery designer Rachel Jackson. It was a delightful birthday gift from my friends Annie, Helen and Henri. Beautiful, chic and contemporary – just like them. Today I’m wearing a bold patterned top in a rich red wine and black colour, with a leopard skin style print, so I needed something minimalist as a contrast. These fit the bill perfectly and, as I’ve mentioned with other pairs, when wearing gift jewellery I get a warm glow when thinking about the giver(s). Not many pairs to go now – the daily choices are getting harder!

Here we are, half-way through the Twelve Days of Christmas and only a week to go until Christmas Day! I couldn’t publish this earrings season without including something from my favourite jewellery shop in Paris, Metal Pointu’s. Admittedly most of the pieces I’ve bought from there are necklaces rather than earrings, but I have such fond memories of visiting this little treasure trove in the Marais with my great friends Kate and Shannon. On a girls’ weekend we’d typically make at least two visits to the shop, the first a goggle-eyed recce, the second (and third and fourth!) to make the excited purchases of the baubles we decided we couldn’t leave the city without.

So on my recent 50th birthday trip to Paris I set off as usual to find the store – it was always mysteriously elusive, making me think of Mr Ben’s shop in the old children’s TV series. Filled with anticipation, we combed the streets to hunt it down, only to find, to my intense disappointment, that it has closed down. There is still another branch in Paris, but it feels like the end of an era. And the items I did get from there have now gained an extra layer of allure. Like much of the Metal Pointu’s range, these tear drop earrings are made from heavy brushed pewter and I have a matching necklace. Close up, they are slightly marked and pitted and I love their irregularities. Today they have taken me to a catch-up meeting with some business contacts and this evening will accompany me to meet my dear friend Jo for a Christmas drink.

What will the next 6 days hold? My ears are getting curious, hope you are too!