Happy late summer songs

Inspired by the Indian Summer we are enjoying presently, here are two of my favourite songs of the moment. I hope they will brighten your day as they have done mine :)

Jason Mraz 'I'm Yours' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki61e3zFPks

Colby Caillat 'Bubbly' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PWfB4lurT4

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I spotted my first advent calendar this week. Which confirms that the rediculously early Christmas preparation period has started even sooner this year.

It was in M&S (who, as one of the more sensible retailers, really should have known better), and what was possibly more bizzare than than seeing advent calendars in September, were the numerous variations in style, including a Santa scene worthy of the Coca Cola adverts, and a reindeer that looked neither cute nor sane. Then later on in the day, what did I find in Somerfield but Christmas hats, Christmas tree chocolates…..and tinsel. Who buys tinsel in September!? I mean really, how long can it take to decorate a tree? Are people stocking up on red felt hats and chocolate now, on the off chance that nobody will think to produce them in December?

Don’t get me wrong, I am an avid promoter of Christmas cheer, and the sooner the better is my motto (I have even been known to play Christmas songs as early as September, risking the most serious threat of being evicted by my flatmates). But we all know what stale chocolate tastes like, and nobody wants to wake up to that on Christmas Eve.

A Capital Offence

Nothing tops off a long day at work, like realising you only have enough change in your purse to buy two peppers to go with the semi-soft jacket potato waiting at home for you...Except adding totally uncalled for public degredation to the situation.

It was in my local convenience store. In the standard consumer fashion, I picked up two large (and may I add shrivelled) red peppers, put them in the brown paper bag provided, and made my way to the till. After standing in line for a couple of minutes, I reached the desk clerk, who requested £1.64 and held out his hand, awaiting payment. So I started counting out my money (in 10's and 20's by the way - nothing smaller) and then it happened. As I picked up my fifth 20p coin...he clicked at me. The way that people click their fingers at waiters in Spain. Or at dogs. I was totally horrified and equally dumbstruck. Had that really just happened?

Unable to speak, let alone come back with a witty retort, I hurriedly conformed to his non-verbal request, thrust the offending peppers into my bag, and bolted.

They've come to save the world...if the world would look up from their Blackberrys

Londoner's will never cease to amaze me. As I sauntered out of East Putney station at 8.30 this morning, three fully grown men strolled past me, fully clad in lycra superhero costumes. But what I found more astounding than sharing my commute with Superman, Spiderman and Batman, was that nobody else seemed to bat an eyelid! It's a sad day when people become so absorbed and hurried that even a superhero reading the metro doesn't warrant a double take.

Don't Judge a Reader by her Book Cover

It's now becoming really tough to resist punching the next person to give me 'that look'.

Almost every morning when I pull out my current installment of chick-lit genius, there is some smug literature-snob reading Orwell or Bronte who, on seeing that my book cover is doused in pinks and purples, gives me that almost pitying look which says "Oh I see, you're not a REAL reader".

And it's even worse when they exchange this look with ANOTHER literature-snob! It's as if I'm not even there! Like when a child struggles to put their shoes on the wrong way round and onlookers give that look that says "Bless her, she doesn't know any better...but at least she's trying".

But you know, who can blame them really? I mean, chick-lit IS full of pretty pictures and simplified vocabulary. I think the text is even enlarged, just incase there's a particularly tricky word and we have to sound it out.

I wonder if I could get a T-Shirt printed that says: "I've got a degree!!"...