Glass Half Full

It may be a while until summer, but at least we can spend it in London.

Monday’s newspapers branded this week ‘officially’ the most depressing of the year, as New Year festivities are forgotten and the world looks forward to another year of work. Five days on, and it hasn’t been a wonderful week, but there’s plenty to get the capital buzzing. In fact, at this slightly impoverished and low key time of year, I feel even luckier than usual to live in London town.

For a start, there’s the sales. I probably shouldn’t go near them after the spending excesses of Christmas, but that doesn’t mean I won’t. This city is crammed with shops and I want everything in them.

Other ways to fight off those winter blues include breaking all your new year resolutions in one night, an option that’s available every night in this city. Those of a healthier persuasion will be hitting the gyms (I can’t believe I renewed that membership again) and looking for ways to combat the lack of light. Personally I’m heading down to the Dana Centre for their ‘light’ exhibition, which has been installed as a tonic against Seasonal Affected Disorder. (SAD)

Next up, Valentines. Not something to get too excited about if you are a single lass like me. Unless I can snag a man before the date, in which case, sushi would suffice, thank you. However, as I’ll probably be flying solo again, it is comforting to find myself in a city that offers hundreds of great alternatives for singletons, from clubbing at The End to pole-dancing and dog racing with friends.

Spring isn’t too far beyond that, and London will once again come into bloom with thousands of outdoor activities. As a cultural capital, nowhere in the world comes close. Personally I like to stroll from Soho to the South Bank, taking in the vile excesses and cultural peaks of the city in one short walk.

Come May, the city really bursts into life with colour. Not only that, but the streets will be eerily free of ploddinh males as the World Cup glues them to their tellies. I always love a good football tournament when the spring exhibitions open, the galleries are so much nicer when relieved of grumpy men.

All in all, as the hangover fades from New Year, there is plenty to look forward to, and many an enticing spot to shelter with friends or shoes or bags.

Right, I’m off to the sales. Now.

Flat Broker

A woman, desperate to sell her north London flat, has decided to give it away in a competition. The one-bedroom apartment in Finchley is being offered as the prize for whoever correctly guesses its value. It costs £2.50 to enter the contest.

Keystage MP3

New owners baffled by the complexities of their MP3 machines can now pay to attend iPod survival sessions at Selfridges. The tutorials, set up in response to consumer demand from children and the over-40s, cost £65 and can be arranged in-store or on a home visit.

RouteKommissar

London Mayor Ken Livingstone is to present the city of Moscow with one of the capital’s iconic Routemaster double-decker buses. The announcement was made at the opening ceremony of the Russian Winter Festival. The traditional Routemaster buses were withdrawn from service in 2005.

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