Only since I started going to dance classes have I worn far more fancy dress. My collection now includes wizard's cloak, cowboy hat, wigs & beards, a magician's cane and various other bits and pieces.

Yesterday evening saw me walking the streets of Exeter in pink trousers and jacket, dressed like Sinbad or Alladin. A jewelled belt, plastic cutlass (doubling as a scimitar) and big black moustache finished off the costume, although I only got a few strange looks.

When I got to my Arabian Nights party, I found most of the men dressed in jeans and shirts, although the women had nearly all made an effort, between silk scarves and belly dancing jangly things. Luckily a sheik and semi-arabian dressed men did turn up later . There were two girls dressed as lions, who had been told that it was an African party.

A massive effort had gone into decorating the house, with a bamboo structure in the back garden, draped in silks and festooned with candles, cushions, rugs and lamps. It was very atmospheric.

I won the prize for the worst performance on Pin the Tail on the Camel, coming close to its ear. I also performed badly at pass the parcel and limboing.

A shirt or something else would have been a good idea too, as a flimsy vest doesn't cut it on these cold, wet summer nights!