I bought this new to me Tartan dress from ebay.
I had visions of wearing a Tartan dress for New Years' Eve - but by the time it arrived, four out of the five who live in my house were Covid positive and we were all in bed before midnight.
As it's tartan I knew I had to give it a Scottish name.
Alida was the first name that sprang to mind,
Although the name is German in origin (and means 'Of noble kin'), Alida was the name of a feisty Scottich girl I knew briefly at university.
Alida was not the most beautiful girl I have ever met, but she is definitely amongst the most charismatic.
There was something about Alida.
She was funny, clever and strong - at least that is how she came across to me.
Alida had dark curly hair, expressive eyes and always looked on the verge of a big hearty laugh.
At the time she was going out with the gorgeous fellow student who had actually attended the same sixth form colllege as me.
I remember my new friends being so jealous because he actually spoke to me (although it was only after a Merrydown-emboldened moment in the Students Union bar when I spoke to him and reminded him that we were both Eccles College alumi.)
But you couldn't be jealous of Alida - she was so warm and friendly and they just looked so right together.
By the time I arrived at university, Alida was in her final year, so apart from those heady first few weeks of term, our paths rarely crossed.
I have no idea if they stayed together or forged their own paths.
By the third term I had started to discover what made me happy and have lots of fun - I didn't give a second thought to Alida and Adonis.
Until today - 36 years later.
At the moment I am feeling a sense of loss of myself (for various reasons) and I guess I am channelling a little of that brave and bold Scottish warrior spirit that Alida possessed.
I was hoping to wear the dress today but after feeling a little rough and testing positive for Covid I am still in yoga pants and a jumper.
But I do look forward to getting acquainted with Alida soon, even if for the first week the farthest I will go is the end of the garden.
Happy New Year.
PS: If you want to know the difference between Tartan and Plaid here is a great article.