Dizzee

This week at work Dizzee Rascal came in. I like Dizzee. I like his music. I like his interviews. I like his hats.

And this week I met him. And he did not disappoint. He was clever, and funny and charming. And, best of all he is a man of similar stature to my own

Countdown to Christmas: Snow!

After the surprise snow in February, I had resigned myself to the fact that we had probably fulfilled our snow quota for this year.

And even though I do not enjoy the snow to play in (I don't like the cold, and really don't like getting soggy) I do love a bit of the white stuff, especially during the festive period.

So last thursday, off I went to bed, fully expecting that when I got up for the 4am shift I would be surrounded by a sea of white. And imagine my disappointment when the next morning there was not a flake to be seen.

And I got into work, and was joined in my upset by the presenter, who overtook my excitement by about 200% (he loves snow because he loves Christmas, and snow is festive - he has been giving out candy canes around the office since August. And no, I do not exaggerate). In fact he was so upset that after the show he wanted to drive into Kent (where there were severe weather warnings) purely to see the fluffy white drifts.

So after a disgruntled weekend (still no snow) and a disappointing Monday (still none) I was walking to the tube yesterday evening and suddenly the rain had more substance, and was floating rather than falling, and I was in the midst of a snowfall. And it settled and I had to trudge through it to the tube, and then off the other end and trudge through it to my front door. And, sorry to be cheesy, it was really magical.

And by then I had had my festive fill of snow, and was starting to feel a bit cold, and soggy, but it was ok, because when I woke up this morning all that was left was wet pavements and some small piles of slush.

Panda facts

A few weeks ago a book of 100 Facts about Pandas arrived on my desk (I say my desk - I share it with a few others). So each morning I've been having a quick flick through, learning a fact or two, sometimes sharing a fact with a presenter, guest or celebrity paper reviewer, or whoever is wandering around in the office.



The best thing about this book is the lovely pictures, illustrating each fact. For example, did you know that a panda hears with its nose and smells with its ears? Or that agressive pandas were responsible for the injuries of 8 cavers admitted to emergency rooms in China between 1995-2000? And that you are never more than four hours away from a panda?


I've always loved pandas, and so having this book really meant a lot to me. And I thanked whoever had put it on my desk. That was, until I shared another classic panda fact (did you know, a group of pandas is called a cupboard? And they only ever live in even numbers - should another panda join the group another must leave, or they need to find another one) with a colleague. Who burst out laughing. And informed me that the book had been deliberately planted on my desk, and that all these so-called "facts" were complete and utter rubbish.



The thing that upset me most was not the number of people with whom I had shared these facts (although, yes this was a little embarassing - there are definitely a few MPs who may be sharing incorrect panda facts at this very moment), but that there wasn't a little panda hospital, that in fact they do not weigh up to six times more when wet, and that you cannot comfort a baby panda with a fax machine.

St Boris's Hospital for sick Pandas

On second viewing, I am faintly embarrassed that I fell for the book for so long (in my defense, some of the facts are definitely feasible, nowhere on the book is there mention of it being humorous, and it is full of some very convincing photos). Perhaps the most ridiculous (although my personal favourite) fact was that due to a bureaucratic error, the panda is in fact classified not as a mammal, but as a nut.

A rite of passage

One of the brilliant things about having a job is

a) having money (at least theoretically)
b) having less free time to spend said money (ok, so not a great bonus, but you should see me with a bit of freetime... topshop ransacked in a day)

It makes me feel better that with my usual shift at work, due to starting at the godforsaken hour of 6am, my break is at 9am. Good time, as there are no shops open (at least no good ones, although saying that, I even managed to spend the best part of £20 in Boots last week).

This week, however, I am having a lunch break at the proper time for eating lunch - 1 until 2pm. And being based in the very central point of Leicester Square, I cannot avoid the delights of shopping. It's only an hour, I can't do much damage in an hour.

Oh yes I can.

Under the guise of getting the father a birthday present I've ventured out every lunchtime this week (don't actually need a guise - my father's list is so appalling that without browsing he will be getting only a card. His list consists of 2 items: Trips to fun and exotic places eg. The Ukraine, Blackpool, and secondly Books about fun and exotic places, eg. The Ukraine and Blackpool).

So three days into the week, and I have managed to buy myself 4 skirts (all black and of a similar style, but essential to my wardrobe - especially as a favourite northerner has "borrowed" my favourite black skirt, hence the necessity of replacements) and three dresses. I have also bought a pair of shoes, three pairs of novelty tights, a pair of earrings and three books.

By wednesday. This is not good.

And so today I reconciled myself to being a responsible adult. And I actually TOOK THINGS BACK!! It pained me. And I did actually snatch a skirt back from the assistant (it has layers of black lace, and is virtually completely different from most of my other skirts). And kept a dress (very practical - has given me an opportunity to wear my new gold belt) and the earrings (can't return those) and some tights (but those are really important, what with the onset of winter and all) and a book (need to keep the mind educated). But aside from that I took everything back.

I felt the need to share this. If only for the congratualtions I'm hoping to receive from fellow shopaholics. It really felt like a rite of passage.

I rewarded myself on the way home with a necklace. But at £7 , and with all the money I made by taking things back, I practically made money by getting it.