Holidays with Coni in the sun (yes, really!)

Hello again and hello 2025! I thought I’d begin the year with good intentions for my wee blog , I’m making a start with an absolute monster of a post, so please do pour yourself something delish and get comfy.

I’ve so far managed a trip to Sri Lanka and the Maldives AND two new dresses . Dear reader I may have peaked . Let’s start with a lovely new frock…

This is the Coni Tunic by Tessuti patterns, an absolute corker of a holiday dress (or sitting at home wishing you were on hols dress) . It’s a quick sew, with no tricky fastenings, super easy sleeves and can be made with or without pockets.

My first version is in a gorgeous Indian Block Cotton from Merchant & Mills , I brought this on hols in the UK last year intending to make PJ’s, but it seemed too pretty to hide away. Perfect and light for a summer dress. I didn’t have enough fabric to make binding so used a contrast linen scrap from my stash which I think works perfectly .

The side splits are a little higher than I realised so in the interests of modesty I actually wore this on hols over wide black linen pants, it looked really good, of course I forgot to take a photo (but it did, really!)

Version two is in a navy linen gingham from The Fabric Store (currently on sale) . This fabric is a delight to sew and wear, breezy but totally opaque , and perfect for any holiday spills (I wore a white tee shirt on my flight to Sri Lanka & two curries in was really questioning that particular life choice)*

My only mods were to lower the side split about 10 cm/4 inches, still easy to walk in but keeps my knees between me and my maker.

Did I mention I’ve been on hols? Mr D works with several lovely Sri Lankan collegues who have been encouraging us to travel there, so finally we (i.e. me) made it happen. Friends, its AMAZING. Beautiful countryside, friendly people, incredible wildlife, the FOOD!!! We actually did this Food Tour, which I highly recommend.

The food is varied, with lots of vegetables (I loved the varied vegetable curries especially) and not a small amount of spice!

The great thing about doing a specialist food tour was visiting peoples homes, to watch cooking demos and sometimes participate (yay!)

I know its a cliché to say “people were lovely” but honestly, they really were, in quite a laid back way (no hard selling, even the guy at the cave temples trying to sell me a necklace smiled and walked away when I said no thank you!) Not once did I feel threatened in anyway or unsafe. Ok except maybe crossing the road, I needed to hustle.

There is even have living proof my husband cooked…I suspect we may not see this replicated at home (our delightful Sri Lanka host in Kandy had a tad more patience than I…)

Was there Tea? Oh yes, All the Tea in Sri Lanka kids, its delicious, everywhere and comes in every variety from Builders to fancy Silver & Gold leaf, the nuances I must say were sadly lost on this philistine (yes I have mine milky with lotsa sugar…)

When not stuffing my face & quaffing the national beverage we were seeing some amazing countryside …

Some even more glorious wildlife…

And climbing things! We made an early morning visit to Sigiriya, Ok I didn’t actually climb Lion rock, (Mr Douglas did!) I went up part way, then was helped down by our lovely guide and enjoyed a coffee from his friends coffee cart while listening to birds and watching the local monkeys, honestly, one of the nicest ways to start the day .

After the delights of Sri Lanka, we had five days in the Maldives, basically replicating delighted sloths. Eating, drinking, reading and discussing the cocktail list. It was magnificent! Highly recommend Cora Cora Maldives

In between that busy schedule, I even managed a few swims (Sheila May swimwear for the win!) and a bike ride.

Reading was a top priority of course, first up a book I was delighted to find in our room on arrival

I really enjoy Felicity Cloaks’ How to Cook the Perfect column in the Guardian, so was thrilled to find this, a really enjoyable read following her around France on her trusty steed Eddy, sampling some delicious food and being far more stoic in the face of rain & breakdowns than I ever could.

I also enjoyed The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley, about a Wellness Retreat opening that goes HORRIBLY wrong, and The Fury by Alix Michaelides , set on a Greek Island full of glamour and bad life choices . I bet they regretted the white top too…

All in all it was a marvelous week, although lets just say leaving the resort was a tad bumpier then I may have liked (thanks GOODNESS for a glass of champagne at breakfast!!)

I hope you’ve had a marvelous/gentle/not too crappy start to 2025, and remember, some days its a very good idea to have Champagne at breakfast, you never know what you could have to do before lunch…

Kristina

* Can recommend a good wash then hanging your garment in bright direct sunshine, works as treat on turmeric stains (yes, really) . Just don’t leave your Tee shirt unattended on a hotel balcony in Kandy, a monkey might just try and steal it (also, yes, really…)