Glitches, Glam and Good times

Glitches - Okay, so I totally wrote a HUGE blog about two weeks ago, and on submitting it, it disappeared. So full of frustration was I that I couldn’t face sitting down for another hour trying to remember exactly what it was that I wrote and replicating it, so here I am back to try again, after a few fun events and the usual festive hysteria! My aim was to fill you all in on a typical winter in London. Yes its cold, freezing at times (such as this morning’s snowfall) but if well prepared and equipped with an optimistic outlook ( and perhaps a hip-flask of something to warm you up) London’s winter time can be a barrel of fun.

Glam - The first and most important part would be the fashion. London fashionistas don’t hold back one bit when the first nip of Jack Frost hits the nose. Furs, (faux and otherwise) wools and layers come out in full force. Think unlimited styles of coats, fabulous hats, leather gloves as far as the eye can see and of course every girl’s excuse to shop for boots in myriads of colours. There is more than enough choice over here and if you are coming over soon I could only advise that you pack light and buy your winter wardrobe when you get here. London can only be described with one word in winter, Chic!

Which leads me to the shopping atmosphere. London gets into the full swing of Christmas, with major high street stores Debenhams, House of Fraser and of course Selfridges (sigh.... girl heaven) decked out in full lighting regalia complete with steel drum bands playing Christmas Carols (there is something slightly odd about a group of Jamaicans in almost summer clothing playing Christmas Carols in the middle of winter.... but hey...im open-minded) and Santas and festive staff as far as the eye can see. Not to mention the lights out on all the streets themselves. Add to this the joy of nipping in for a mulled wine (spiced warm red wine.... don’t knock it until you’ve tried it... fabulous!) to warm oneself, or just get merry whilst shopping, and you’ve got a true, original winter Christmas.

Good times - Thinking that if I was to be subjected to a cold Christmas I should really go all out and be totally traditional, myself and a few chums decided to try our hand at an outdoor ice-rink. Now I am all for trying new sports, and for having a laugh at oneself, but the added pressure of the Significant Other (fiancé) being an international level figure skater had me a bit wary. On arriving we quickly realised (much to the girl’s disgust) that the theory of skate hire is great....as a theory, in practice it’s totally gross, but has to be done (unless you are keen to splash out £1000 for a pair of your own skates!). After shoving our feet into the shared (and still warm) skates, we hobbled to the rink ready to face the music.

To be quite honest, and not blowing my own horn, I wasn’t too bad. That is of course taking into consideration that I was only going forwards, holding on to dear life to the arm of Significant Other and couldn’t stop to save myself. But I’m basing judgement of my skill on the fact that I didn’t bowl anyone over, came away with ten fingers intact, and generally managed to avoid injury, although not embarrassment. True to good form, the Significant Other came screaming out of nowhere thinking it would be hilarious if I were to get a fright. Well fright turned to a wobble, a wobble turned to a lurch which then resulted in me face down on the ice, giving everyone a good show. Add to this if you will that by this time the ice was well and truly cut up and I surfaced from my ordeal resembling Frosty the Snowman in skinny jeans! Thinking perhaps after a laugh I could disappear into the crowd and the moment would be forgotten, I was dismayed to learn that the Paparazzi (in the form of my good friend Debz) had got some pearler shots of the moment of doom.

Sigh....next year I’m going to practice first, and leave the Significant Other at home! Or perhaps I’ll just go shopping instead!!!