Midnight in Marrakesh – And the Monkey Took My Hat, by Caprilicious

Hello folks, how are you today. It's been so lovely and warm recently that I forgot what being cold constantly was like. However we woke this morning and turned the heating on - both of us were frozen stiff. I'm just hoping that it's not the end of summer, but as we live in the UK I may well be correct on that score. 
I love it when the ferns open their new fronds, with the curly, fuzzy tips opening up into leaves. I went out and got some pictures this morning - sadly, I had to put my winter jacket on to do it.

As the chill crept in, my thoughts drifted to warmer climes and sun-drenched holidays of the past. One in particular came to mind — a memorable trip to Morocco, wrapped in the glow of golden light and the warmth of genuinely kind people. I remembered it with a twinge of wistful nostalgia. The gardens left a lasting impression, especially the vibrant Jardin Majorelle, which sparked a lifelong love of cobalt blue. We brought a touch of that magic home with us — cobalt pots sprang up around our garden, and blue gallows brackets now prop up the deep eaves of our roof.
Mike, ever the practical visionary and an ex-builder to boot, decided to have the back of the house painted in a rich sandstone yellow to complement the sea of blue. Twenty years on, the yellow has gently mellowed with time into a softer, more romantic hue — less Marrakech marketplace, perhaps, but still full of sunlit charm.

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If you’ve ever been to Marrakesh, you'll know that it’s an assault on the senses – in the best possible way. Spices perfume the air, drums beat from alleyways, snake charmers throw side-eyes at bored cobras, and someone is always trying to sell you a rug you didn’t know you needed. 
​The Djema al Fnaa – the throbbing heart of the medina! Filled with people and smoke from the kebabs being cooked on open fires in the various stalls of the square.
I had a monkey leap off a performer's shoulder and try to make off with my hat while a snake charmer waggled a snake in my face. I looked like a cross between Indiana Jones and a startled pigeon! But that’s Marrakesh for you – full of surprises, drama, colour... and the odd cheeky primate. ​I emerged, hatless and mildly traumatised, with a packet of saffron, two ceramic bowls, and a vague sense of having been hustled—but oh, the colours, the drama, the sheer sensory overload of Marrakesh has stayed with me long after the monkey had gone.

And that, is how Midnight in Marrakesh came into being.
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This necklace is an ode to the city at twilight. Deep blue lapis lazuli, fiery coral red, shimmering gold-toned beads, and that dramatic midnight-hued rose in carved goldstone all come together in glorious disarray—much like the medina itself. It’s bold, unapologetic, and just a little bit chaotic. I love it.

​Now, you might be thinking, "When would I ever wear such a statement?" The answer is simple: whenever you feel like it. Imagine it peeking out from the collar of a crisp white shirt during a weekday lunch. Your colleague will ask if you’ve taken up art collecting, and you’ll smile mysteriously, as if you’ve just returned from a desert bazaar. Or wear it to the office over a navy blouse or a plain shift dress, and suddenly your quarterly budget update will have a lot more flair. Even on a Teams call, it does all the heavy lifting. ​

This necklace is a triple -stranded concoction of vibrant red coral, inky lapis lazuli, and metallic accents – all centred around a carved goldstone rose, dark as a desert sky and just as sparkly. It's loud, proud, and just exotic enough to make people wonder if you've spent the weekend riding camels and drinking mint tea under a silk tent. (You haven’t – you were at your desk answering emails, but they don’t need to know that.)

What I love most about this necklace is its story. It doesn’t whisper; it sings—perhaps to the beat of a distant Moroccan drum. It’s a piece for those days when you want to carry a little magic with you, a souvenir of adventure and colour—even if the furthest you’ve travelled lately is from your desk to the fridge. 
​Life’s too short for boring jewellery – or boring lunches. Midnight in Marrakesh is for those who like their accessories with a bit of spice, a splash of story, and just the faintest memory of a monkey and a stolen hat.

So, here it is: Midnight in Marrakesh. No camels or monkeys were harmed in its making. But one very cheeky one did steal my hat. That's me for this week folks, and I hope you enjoyed the read. Have a wonderful Bank Holiday weekend and I'll catch you soon.
Until then
​xx