santa in carlton

I always look forward to Christmas. Last year I was lucky enough to experience a northern hemisphere festive season and it didn't disappoint. London goes NUTS for Christmas. There are lights on anything that doesn't move and the possibility of snow is always very real (it seems this year is no exception). But I'll get to all that UK Christmas-ness in my next blog post.

This blog post is dedicated to the good folks who live down my street. I congratulate you for your ace Santa.

my new favourite website/blog #1

I like discovering new and fun websites or blogs on the internet. Although when I declare my 'new favourite' site, I'm usually met with much eye-rolling and 'oh yeah, I've been reading that site/blog for ages' from various friends and family members. So instead of annoying them with my latest discoveries, I thought I'd just post them right here.

My latest favourite is a blog called 'Fuck You, Penguin'. It's completely adorable. It's a blog where the author tells cute animals what's what. Check it out - the pictures are especially sweet and hilarious when teamed with the author's terrifically witty headings.

Some of my favourite entries are this one, this one, and this one, um, okay and this one.

a wolf in vintage clothing

I love finding new places to spend money that I don't have. One place I recently discovered (because my sister told me about it) to do exactly that is Wolf Vintage.

This fab clothing store is located just behind Jimmy Watson's. The 'lair' has a very cosy feel, very friendly staff, and rows and rows of wonderful vintage, designer pieces. When I visited, there were so many lovely dressed and I instantly fell in love with ALL of them.

Fortunately for my bank account, I was able to limit my purchases to three very pretty dresses.
This one I wore to a friend's surprise birthday. It's perfect for a garden party.

This one I've worn to work a few times. So easy to put on a dress in the morning. It's an instant outfit!

And this one I think I'll save for a Christmas occasion.

So there's my tip for the day. Wolf Vintage. Go there. Now.

door knockers

I don't know about you, but I have moments when I know I should feel bad about my actions, but I just really don't. I had such a moment earlier this week as I walked home from a very, very long day at work.

You know those days when quittin' time seems like it's just never going to arrive and release you from the grind? (I actually love my job but when the sun's shining and you've had a great weekend, Mondays can be a bitch.) So, I'd had one of those days and as I walked up my street, the joy of being able to flop on my couch and watch some TV almost made me want to run to the front door. But I was in heels. That wasn't going to happen.

Anyway, as I approached my block, I noticed a man, holding a clip board, coming out from one of my neighbour's front porches. He proceeded to the next house, and by the time I passed him, I noticed he was one of those door knocker types and the stricken look on my neighbour's face told me all I needed to know.

I decided that flopping on my couch could wait another five minutes as I walked around the block, hoping that by the time I arrived back at my front door, the dreaded door knocker would be gone. Feeling pleased and not at all guilty about this decision, I took in the fresh air as I became acquainted with my surrounding area.

I got back to my place JUST AS THE DOOR KNOCKER WAS LEAVING MY NEIGHBOUR'S HOUSE!!!! I was completely distraught. How long did the guy talk for?? I quickly let myself inside, knowing that he'd seen me go in and just waited for the knock that I knew would come. It did. I didn't answer. Oh well.

iphone!!!!!!!!!!

I got an iPhone today and I feel that my life is now complete.

It's black and shiny and can pretty much do anything. I'm still trying to figure out how to use it, you know, like make calls and add contact names and all that but I have faith that my iPhone will be an extension of my self by the weekend.

If you have dreams about holding one in your hand, buy yourself an early Christmas gift. It's soooo worth it.

(I'm sure further posts will follow once I start buying apps...especially the Harry Potter Spells app!)

tram story #3

To stand, or not to stand.

I always contemplate whether to sit or find a seat during my peak-hour tram rides. Standing makes it easier to exit when my stop arrives, but other times, my heels get the better of me and I long to sit down.

I tend to split the difference - stand in the morning, sit on the way home in the evening.

One morning last week I decided to eschew my own advice and took a seat that became conveniently vacant next to where I had been standing. Within moments I knew I'd made a huge mistake. The person sitting next to me was fast asleep and leaning against the window. But then the tram sped up slightly and unsettled the sleeping man enough that he moved away from the window and started to lean towards me. He was STILL ASLEEP and about to rest his head ON MY SHOULDER! What the F?? Buddy, I'm not your freakin' pillow. If you're too tired to live - stay in bed and get some sleep. No one wants to spend their morning commute terrified that they're going to rock up to work with someone else's drool on their clothes.