Emotions
Smile please
At the risk of laying myself open to a complete onslaught of
character assasination, I've decided to come clean and admit to a
recent discovery, albeit a pretty fundamental one. Maybe it's
living in a fast paced, dog eat dog metropolis like London that
brings out the more serious side of my nature. It's certainly
pretty easy to go round with a permanent frown whether intentional
or not. I'll admit cycling into work doesn't help, though I
like to think that I'm a considerate cyclist rather than a kamikaze
. But lately I have started to realise that something as basic as a
smile can make all the difference to my day. I know this is basic
stuff but it's funny how easy it is to forget that something so
simple can actually make all the difference as we go about our
daily lives. So, in recent weeks I've been making a positive effort
to smile at strangers when I catch their eye and nine times out of
ten they smile back at me and that feels good.
Read more
Emotions
The friendship spirit
Despite a nascent cold (quicksmart to the medicine cabinet for
vitamin c and echinacea...), I am feeling remarkably jolly and
festive. This could be because snow is forecast for later this week
(yay! Even the merest flurry is enough to send me into paroxysms of
delight); or because Bond Street (where EL's offices are situated)
has been transformed into a vision of Christmas gorgeousness (check
out Beatrice's posting - aptly entitled 'Christmas JOY!' - to
witness Tiffany's festive windows); or perhaps it's because I had
my University girlfriends over for lunch yesterday. Between the
seven of us we have clocked up three weddings, two babies, one
doctorate, various hoppings around the country, and some quite
impressive jobs. Now one of our members is about to hop somewhere
rather more far-flung, Nairobi, to do Good Works (of the
charitable, rather than the Biblical, ilk) - and we gathered to
send her off in style.
Read more
Emotions
Tricky-to-buy-for males
Only 14 days until Christmas. Which means only 13 shopping days.
I'd been freaking out about what to buy for several of the more
random, tricky-to-buy-for men in my life (by whom I mean not
nearest and dearest), until I chanced upon this new series of books
The Random Book of... (insert either Robert, Andrew,
Christopher, David, James, John, Matthew, Michael, Paul or
Richard). Totting up at a very reasonable £9.99 (or less if you
shop online - though obviously it is
MUCH better to buy from an independent bookseller) it makes for
a rather fabulous present, or stocking filler. Each book talks
about the various "Roberts" (or whichever name you've chosen) in
history and their exploits and adventures. The entries are witty,
curious and completely fascinating. To whet your appetite and give
an idea of what's in each book, do you know which...
Read more