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Sunday 23rd December 2007

We moved a bit closer to the 40,000 today. I don't want to spoil the tension, so won't tell you how near we actually are.

And unbelievably the shops were almost all really quiet today. Leave your shopping to the last Sunday is my advice! For next year obviously. Soho was particularly devoid of people and I managed to get most of my presents pretty quickly - including a new jumper for myself. It's Christmas for me too!
I was having trouble finding something for my mum and dad. I knew that they wanted coffee mugs, but that isn't really specific enough for me and requires some understanding of their taste. Which I don't have. I don't really have understanding of my own taste. Not in coffee mugs anyway. As long as they hold coffee, I am fine.
So I traipsed all the way down Oxford St, which was a lot more populated than Soho, checking out my options. The street was punctuated with little groups of musicians, playing Christmassy music and trying to raise funds for charity. To be honest they were just getting in the way and providing an additional irritant to an already stressful day. I am not sure how many people would be enjoying their presence. Surely everyone is as sick of Christmas music as me, and has spent so much money that they don't have any to spare.
There was one group that bamboozled me a bit though. A couple of men were playing kettle drums and in front of them another two fellas were jumping around, dressed up as the 118 runners. As you may recall when I was doing my Marathon stuff, I was dismissive of people who thought it was funny just to dress up as these two advertising characters. That was back in 2003 and it seemed hackneyed then. Surely there is nothing inherently funny about dressing up as someone else's comedy character. Especially when it's from an advert and you are essentially just promoting something for someone else.
But we're nearly in 2008 now. Surely the joke is over for everyone. And it's not Christmassy is it? To dance around as a 118 runner and get in people's way. Surely no-one could enjoy this.
As if to prove me wrong, just as I was thinking this, a couple of women coming the other way spotted the men, stopped and one pointed and said "118" and they both laughed, non-ironically, with real pleasure. What do I know about comedy?
I finally found some mugs that I liked, for my mum and dad to pretend to like and pretend to be surprised about receiving, even though they asked for them and they also read this. If you don't like them mum, I will have them and give you the money to buy some ones that you like. The best things about the ones I have chosen is that they come in a box and I am not sure that was the criterion that you would choose by.
It was good to leave the throngs behind. I hope the 118 guys enjoyed their day and raised lots of money. I hope it all goes towards the already rich men behind the directory enquiries business!

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