It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Yesterday I spent most of my time in Central London shopping. Being a student, shopping is not something that I tend to do an awful lot because I can't afford it but yesterday was an exception.

I'm going to the Student Radio Awards on Thursday at the Indig02 and with it being a suits and dresses ceremony I needed to go and buy some clothes to wear (I don't have my suit up here, it is 300 miles away in Cornwall).

The only things I had in my wardrobe were a grey waistcoat and a grey tie, so unsurprisingly this year I am wearing grey.

I decided to go to the new shopping centre near St Paul's Cathedral on Cheapside. That turned out to be a bit of a wasted journey because I only managed to get a shirt from H&M. The trousers I saw in Topman were not available in my size so I knew what I would have to do, brave Oxford Circus on a Saturday.

I decided to get off the tube at Marble Arch and walked down to Oxford Circus, going in nearly every shop on the way down where I thought I could get either the shoes or trousers I needed. However Selfridges was a bit too expensive and Primark was just too manic, I wasn't in the right frame of mind and I hate that shop.

I made it down to Oxford Circus and got my trousers from Topman and a nice pair of shoes from Next.

With the shopping all done, I didn't really want to go back to Harrow but the thought of missing Strictly and The X Factor and my hunger persuaded me to get on the tube.

The main reason I did not want to leave was because Oxford Street looked amazing. The Christmas lights were on and with it getting dark at 4:30, the atmosphere was brilliant. The smell of caramelised nuts roasting just down the road from Bond Street station added to the Christmassy feel. Debenhams, M&S, John Lewis and House of Fraser were also lit up and Selfridges had all of its windows decorated for the festive season as well as boasting a large Christmas tree at its main doors.

I came back feeling quite festive and it is only November. With all of the Christmas ads of TV now though, it is hard not to be feeling Christmassy but the Christmas songs won't be going onto my iTunes until 1 December.

This family that live just down the road from me are already in the Christmas spirit.

One month until I propose

One month, one month! That is all I have until I propose. Before you all start wondering if I have gone completely mad I am not talking about the 'down on one knee with a ring' proposal. In fact it is slightly more scary than that at the moment. I have one month to write my dissertation proposal. (Well technically less than a month now)

This fact only dawned on my yesterday as I was feeling good about having made progress with my other work. I have it in the back of my mind that my proposal does need to be done soon but I had completely forgotten that the beginning of December was the deadline. So what did I do to calm myself down? I had an Inbetweeners marathon with two friends complete with Dominos pizza and wine (not too much wine though I hasten to add).

It seemed like the best idea to cope with the impending doom that is now four weeks of solid work. What with the dark evenings now I might as well just keep my blinds closed, light a candle and be done with the outside world for a few weeks.

Having said that, I do have some workmates coming up in just over two weeks. The plan is to go and see Les Miserables and who knows what else. I am sure plenty of wine will be consumed. Oh and there are the Student Radio Awards next Thursday at the Indig02. Good luck to Smoke Radio!

With a few things happening over the next few weeks I think now is the time to say those words no student wants to say. "I'd better do some work."