The BBC weather website = my bible. By 18:00 we’re set to be at -8. Minus eight degrees celsius. I’m sorry, but that ain’t normal. Not in my day! Oh, and it’s supposed to snow again tonight, while the temperature casually lingers at -11. Today, for the first time ever, I had a momentary longing for some ear muffs (my ears were really hurting, despite a generous covering of hair). I’m always perplexed by anyone wearing ear muffs and walking along the street with someone else (even worse when they’re both wearing them). Surely you can’t carry out a normal conversation whilst sporting the cosy equivalent of headphones? Maybe I’m wrong, but whatever, something to warm the ears wouldn’t go a miss on these silly-cold days (nor would some sort of nose warming device, come to think of it – any ideas welcome).

So, what to do on a very-sub-zero January afternoon? Well, I got out of work early-ish. Good start. On my way home popped into Barnado’s charity shop to check out their record selection. Was not overly enthralled by the choice (ie. it was mostly cack) and left with the only two records in there worth buying (Herman’s Hermits and a 50s compilation, if you must know). “Thanks very much,” I said to the man who served me, to which he replied, “No, thank you, thanks for helping out.” Now, that man is not being paid to be nice, so he must’ve really meant it, right? How nice is that? He then asked me if I’d be okay with a Morrisons carrier bag; I didn’t have the heart to ask for something more upmarket (you know, Waitrose, or at least Marks and Spencers) so, in a very two-thousand-and-now way, told him I’d use my own bag. But seriously, despite the Morrisons-bag-debacle, I’ve made a mental note to pass the love on pronto. For now, though, I’d just like to say, if you’re listening, “Nice one, Barnado’s man, you’ve made my day.”

So now I’m home and slowly thawing out. I’ve had a bowl of winter vegetable soup. I’d love to say it was home-made, but it wasn’t. I did throw some of my own broccoli in though – very inventive, I thought. Now I’m sat with a coffee, listening to Herman’s Hermits, scanning all the polaroids I took over Christmas into my computer. Oh I do love drinking coffee and listening to Herman and his Hermits and playing with Christmas polaroids! Do keep warm, won’t you chaps.