Think Pink!

It's always so much harder to work when the sun shines!

Everyone in the office is taking holidays - one of the girls is ticking off the days on her calendar, another is constantly caught on the phone ordering holiday clothes from Next Directory.

But no one comes anywhere close to showing the enthusiasm for the summer break abroad than Katie ... Katie is a wonder!

No matter what the weather's doing outside, the sun is always shining for her, such is her zest for life and her ability to throw herself into things 110 per cent.

Katie has taught us many things about life, about working hard and taking time out.

She is an inspiration to all of us in the office - our own Bridget Jones.

Her parties, barbecues and girly evenings are not to be missed - attention to detail with a theme to every evening.

Likewise her holiday has a theme and this year it's pink.

"It's amazing," says Katie.

"The work people put into a fortnight's holiday.

We all want to be younger, thinner and fitter before we go.

We take clothes we'd never dare to be seen in at home.

Skirts get shorter, tops get tighter.

We buy trashy novels and dream of those Shirley Valentine moments we're going to have."

Flesh is exposed on a grand scale - after all, cellulite looks so much better tanned.

"For me it's a complete transfiguration - suddenly I have the confidence of a lap dancer.

Who'd have thought, sitting here now over the computer in my fleece, that in ten days time I' ll be seen walking through Kefalonia - in my sarong, glittered up to the eyebrows - towards the beach, where, without a second though, I'll happily cast off my bikini top and bare all to the sun in front of complete strangers, something I'd never dream of doing next to the Kent in Kendal."

This holiday, Katie's suitcase will contain: pink bikini, M&S, £8 top, £8 bottoms; pink sarong M&S, £15; pink towel, M&S, £10 (sizes available subject to sale); wicker pink bag from Portobello Market, Notting Hill; cute pink slip-on mules, Dickens & Jones (own make); Rimmel shimmer pink nail varnish; Accessorize beaded toe ring in rose pink, £3.99; Accessorize wrist beads in burgundy and rose pink, £5.99; Boots prescription sunglasses, made to order in cherry bronze; and - wait for it - a large space!

"That's my space for duty free shopping," says Katie.

"For all those exciting life-changing products I don't yet realise I need.

After all, why buy all these everyday products when duty free can go so much further."

Lip firming protective gloss; firming body lotions that promise to haul it all up in only three days; exfoliator made from the sand off a pygmy's buttock (organic of course); etc, etc.

"I'm a firm believer in anything that's come so far must be good - after all you never see a native with cellulite."

Holidays are for escaping, for leaving the reality and humdrum behind.

This summer I will be taking heed of Ms Jones's thoughts in the book Bridget Jones.

When in doubt, think ... "What would Madonna do?"