To dye or not to dye? That is the question...

I'm contemplating going over to the dark side.

Given the fact that I'm naturally blonde, and have never been anything else other than whiter shades of my natural colour (the Queen would be proud of my silvery locks), this is quite a big deal. For a while now, I've been thinking about doing something drastic with my barnet. I get the urge for dramatic change once in a while. The last time this happened, I cut off my very long locks into a very short bob, and loved it! This happened a year or so ago. I was getting bored with the length of my hair, and one day decided that the best thing to do would be to cut it all off. The next day, I did just that.

My hair went from this, to this, overnight...

This got me thinking that black might be a good idea. It's the exact opposite of my white bouffant at the minute, meaning that my make-up and what colours I'd suit would stay relatively the same.

You see, in reality I'd love to be ginger, and I heart this massive curly bouffant, but for that I'd have to get rid of my red lipstick, which would be difficult, and I would no longer be able to wear the ginger fur coat that my grandmother gave me. And that would be too tragic.

So I considered black. Well, after all, I did used to have a black wig that was a big hit with all my friends, so I kind of know already that I don't look completely hideous with black hair. I wouldn't sport the fringed bob if I dyed my real hair black though, I think I'd try and fashion some sort of 1960's beehive look with a side fringe. At the minute, black is screaming chic at me; maybe it's because to me it seems a little more 1920's and a little more luxurious, and I think it'd look a little more interesting my current colour of choice.

I quite liked my wig, it was fun to have a different colour hair for a day. My dear mother thought the black hair brought out my eyes more than my blonde locks do, to sound totally cliched. So maybe going black would be a good move? Despite the fact that my little sister kindly told me that I'd look like a 'tranny' because I'm so pale, I'm still game for the hair dye. And anyways, pale always equals interesting right? And there are many celebs that work the pale skin/black hair combo. As long as I don't wind up looking like Morticia then I'm all good I reckon...

And with Bettie Page, Dita, Lily and KP all managing to pull off the pale skin/black locks look, I think this might be a good idea...

Predictable? Me?

Whilst chatting to a work colleague the other day (I have a new job in Office - it's fab!), he brought to my attention that I have a very particular 'type' of man. I always knew I was a bit particular, but whilst looking at the men I find attractive, I realise they're all pretty similar. For a start, they all wear skinny jeans. You see, I really hate baggy trousers, although I'm not quite sure why. I just love boys with very long legs that look fabulous in skinnies. Secondly, they tend to be the standard tall, dark and handsome, and their hair tends to be long (and preferably curly), and stubbled. I would never date a man that was shorter than me, although that would be quite hard given that I'm only 5'3. So in that case, I would never date a man who wasn't taller than me in my highest heels. I'm not a fan of the Holmes/Cruise height difference, so I'll settle for 6ft thank you.

And now for their clothes. Now this might make me seem snobby, but I would never date a man who didn't have a good sense of style. Fashion is a massive part of my life; with dreams of being a fashion journalist, style is hugely important to me. I admire both men and women for their style, and find a man attractive if he dresses himself well, even if I don't find him physically pleasing. I enjoy it when you can tell if a boy or girl has put that little bit of extra effort into an outfit; whether it be accessorised with a belt or scarf, or having simply turning up the bottoms of skinny jeans/cigarette trousers (I'm a huge fan of the exposed ankle).

To give you a bit more of an idea of how predictable I am, here's a selection of the celebs I think are babes.

                                      Alex Zane is actually my dream man.

 As is George Lamb, who looks divine even when his hair is greying. His dad isn't too bad either. Good genes make for good children, so mine and George's will be beaut.

                                         I also heart Russell Brand. Down with KP.

           Nathan and Caleb from KOL are also sexy. I fancy Caleb so much with his fringed bob. I don't fancy him so much now he looks like he shops in All Saints.

 Jared is my one true love. I am actually obsessed with him. We get 89% on love calculator. And no, I'm not 15... Surprised?!

 I also love Pete. Despite looking a bit like shit most of the time, he really is quite beaut on a good day, and more than anything I love him for his talent. And for dating Kate Moss. He is amazing.

 And something of a guilty pleasure, Zac Efron. Out of all of my fancy men, it is Efron who sticks out like a sore thumb as he's all-American and on paper, everything I hate. However, he is such a babe, I don't even care that I abandon my type ever so slightly. And that is only slightly, what with his skinnies and look at that flash of ankle. SEX!

And now for my actual boy, who rolls his eyes whenever I talk about my future with Alex Zane and Jared Followill. We do have a deal though - if I get Brand he gets Perry, but personally I think I'm the winner of that one...

Isn't he a babe? He has the best legs for skinny jeans ever, given the fact that they're so long and spindly. I'm planning on getting him a pair of long johns as a stocking filler, just for the jokes...

So you can now see for yourself that I really am quite narrow minded when it comes to beaut men. However, I like to think I just have high standards, and wouldn't settle for someone if they weren't completely my cup of tea (milk and two sugars please). I want my men to have a good sense of style and hair that I can run my fingers through. So yes, I am predictable, but can you really blame me, when all of these beau's are so devilishly good-looking? I want to become a bigamist and marry them all. Please.

I love Lanvin.

H&M have once again triumphed in their annual designer collaboration. The latest, with French fashion house Lanvin, sold out within a matter of hours, and it's easy to see why. All the designs are amazing - I'm a huge fan of the red 50's dress, which is just perfect for the Christmas season. But on another note, given the fact that H&M aren't at the top of the High Street list, it may seem somewhat strange that they, more than any other retailer, manage to pull in the massive names in fashion for collaborations. Topshop, the only high street retailer to feature in London Fashion Week, have the Kate Moss collection, and Celia Birtwell designed a capsule for Topshop in 2007. Miss Selfridge had a short-lived Gossip Girl collection of a mere 8 dresses and New Look had the Fearn Cotton collection, but surprisingly none of these are big names in fashion. Kate Moss is the muse, not the designer, and Celia Birtwell's name pales in comparison to, for example, Karl Lagerfield and Jimmy Choo, both of which H&M have collaborated with.

On paper, you would think that it would be Topshop that would pull in the major designers. After all, it is the high street equivalent of the catwalk. And so goes the food chain, that from the runway it goes to Topshop, and after that the trends generally fritter down to Miss Selfridge and New Look, and then to all the shops that we don't want our coveted playsuits to ever appear in, like Rebel Rebel, aka neon galore. Rest assured, that by the time the playsuit as an item has been blinged up and chavved out, the rest of us will not be wearing them any more, but you get the point. So why then is it H&M that attracts the big names? Well, it is the biggest international high street retailer in the world, so it's kind of understandable I suppose. But regardless, I love the fact that the likes of Jimmy Choo and Comme Des Garcons are available to us mere mortals from a high street store, and it appears that Sofia Coppolo thinks the same: "It's so cool he's working with H&M. It makes it accessible to all kinds of young people now to be able to afford it and wear it".

And the Lanvin collection does not disappoint. I was a bit dubious about the Matthew Williamson's '09 collection in all honesty, yet Elbaz seems to have stayed true to the label and created a collection that is chic, and oh so definitely French. But more importantly, the Lanvin for H&M collection doesn't look like a capsule collection for a high street chain. It looks like Lanvin. Which is surely the whole point. Personally, I'm just sad I wasn't in London for the launch. I would have happily stood outside of the store all night if it meant getting my hands on a little Lanvin luxury...

With frills and bows galore, the collection is to die for. The androgynous bow-tied suit is oh-so chic, and I'm in love with the Parisian waitress look, sexed up with some divine red velvet bows. I'm also loving the virginial white Madonna-esque outfit, and I heart the head-to-toe red number. Oh, how I wish I lived in London.

Nevertheless, rumour has it that Tom Ford will be next year's designer. So I have made a pact with myself that I will definitely be in the capital for that, as it's currently the only thing that's consoling me that I don't own one of these babes...

Dear Santa...

So, the snow has arrived in Newcastle! Yesterday afternoon I looked out of my window to see the pretty snowflakes falling from the sky. It looked so beaut, as the snow remained untouched by human footprints and the sky was bright blue. This pre-December weather has however gotten me all excited about Christmas, and so I've been putting together my Christmas list to send off to Santa. I really hope he takes pity on me and grants me my wishes, as I do think I've been a good girl this year so I can't imagine my name would be on the naughty list. I just wish I had applied to be an Elf in Lapland, where the snow would be plentiful and Christmas cheer would be everywhere! Next year, perhaps I will get my wish of meeting Santa and his reindeer...

Until I get to Lapland though, I shall just have to make do with the snow here. How pretty does it look?

Back to my Christmas wish list.

Well, I've already purchased my Christmas present to myself, in the form of a Vogue subscription. How ideal! As much as I'll miss buying the new issue on the shelves, it does seem wiser to pay half the price for it... And I got a free Benefit gift! I am eagerly awaiting the heavy thud on my leopard print doormat, signalling its arrival.

Other than that, there are lots of other things I'd like to find in my stocking on Christmas morning (George Lamb mainly, but I somehow don't think that's going to happen).

I heart this tapestry bag from Urban Outfitters. I've coveted another one since mine broke in sixth form. I've never quite gotten over it, so I feel this would be lovely to store all my essentials.

                                             I also really heart these lace-up boots.

I also really want this. I feel it will go well with the above boots: Topshop velvet detail tweed blazer

Recently I have been feeling that I need to branch out from my staple fur coats as I'm starting to think I'm predictable. The only problem is, they're just so warm it's impossible to get them off my back in the chilly Newcastle winds! This sexy coat would however enable me to do so, and with the leopard-print trim, I would still be able to be faithful to my true Bette Lynch self: Leopard detail swing coat.

I really heart this coat. Sheepskin is everywhere at the minute and I fell in love with this as soon as I saw it. I doubt it will arrive in my stocking this year, but one can only wish! It's just a shame my own sheepskin coat I bought at a flea market for a mere fiver last year doesn't fit me as it's too big... It fits my boy perfectly, but I have yet to convince him to wear it, even though he does look like an absolute babe in it. I would quite happily donate it to him if I could have this one in return: Sheepskin pea coat.

I also heart this knitted basic. It's available in so many colours and they're so wearable. My favourite is the cranberry colour, but I'm a bit fan of the peach and dark blush ones too: Scallop edge basic vest.

I'm massively into stoles lately. This one is amazing: Mongolian fur cape.

I also love these chandeliers. Edie Sedgewick would be jealous: Facet drop chandelier.

I'm in dire need of a laptop case, as mine is suffering badly due to my lack of one. This one is fab: Leopard print laptop case. However, in order to avoid a leopard clash with the majority of my wardrobe, I feel this one would be more suitable: Quilted laptop case. I'm enjoying the Chanel-esque quilting.

I also want this fur stole a LOT: Fox fur stole. It will go perfectly over my Bettie Page dress, and with these seamed back tights I'm hoping to get as a stocking filler:

I also heart this fox fur coat. Even though I said I was trying to branch away from the animals, I love the fur of this so much that I feel I might just be able to make an exception: Vintage fur coat.

This stole is also amazing. Gawd, I am so predictable: Vintage fur stole.

And not to be forgetting those Vivienne Westwood wellingtons I so crave...

I'd also love a Polaroid camera. You can get them for next to nothing on eBay; the only problem is the fact that the films are non-existent, and subsequently cost about 20 sheets for 10 shots. So until Polaroid decide to start producing them again, I feel my wish will be put on the back burner.

These Urban Outfitters slippers are so adorable:

I do not however expect Santa to bring me all of these wonderful delights this Christmas, this is merely my wish list. There are other things I could add to this list, but I do not want to bore you with all my wishes as the list is endless... And so from now until the first of December, when I can start opening the doors on my advent calendar that I've yet to purchase, I will be hoping that Santa has Internet access and can see my blog, as I'd love for some of these to be under my tree this year...

Rain, rain, go away.

One thing you have to know about me: I really hate the rain. Yesterday, whilst walking to meet my friend for a shopping trip, I somehow managed to kick up practically a whole puddle's worth of dirty water all over my feet. As if my toes weren't numb enough due to the cold anyway! And subsequently, said dirty water ruined my beaut velvet shoes. I was so upset, I had to go and buy myself a 17p Freddo to make myself feel a bit better...

The worst thing was, at that particular point in time it wasn't actually raining (so I can be excused for wearing inappropriate footwear!) The ground was just a mass of puddles, which is great if you're dressed for the watery weather with a pair of wellington boots and a mac on, with a rather large umbrella to protect ones barnet. Unfortunately however, I wasn't dressed for the weather, and so I was largely unimpressed.

For me, rain is the worst type of weather. Granted, I'm not the biggest fan of wind, but at least it doesn't soak you to the skin. My favourite type of day is the crisp, cold wintery mornings when the sky is bright blue and the sun is shining. Those types of days make winter seem beautiful; when the ground is frosty and wrapping up for the cold is an attractive prospect. Those types of days, when you don your coat and gloves and you can see your breath in the cold, are the best. It makes you want to go outside and enjoy the cold sunshine. I love days like this in Autumn, when the leaves are brown and cover the ground, and when they are dry and crisp underneath your feet. Last week for example, me and the boy went for a walk in Jesmond Dene, which is just beautiful all year round, but especially in the autumn. Autumn leaves make for wonderful photographs. Here are a few of my favourites:

                                                  Me, on said Jesmond Dene walk.

                                                        I heart this photograph.

                   My friend Philippa, on another Jesmond Dene expedition a couple of years ago.

Rain however, does not make for lovely walks or trips out, like autumn does. Rain ruins trips, whether you are planning a day trip or even nipping to the shop for a pint of milk to warm yourself through with a cup of tea having gotten soaked by said rain. In fact, rain only ever appeals to me if I'm inside my house, tucked up and cosy with my gas fire on, with a film and preferably my boy, when I can stay indoors and stay dry all day. I don't mind the rain when I have nowhere to go and it's hammering on my window, because more than anything it makes me love even more the fact that I'm indoors. Yet there are very few days when I don't need to leave the house at all, meaning I am a target for raindrops and subsequently they keep falling on my head.

I have been caught in many rainstorms in my time. A few weeks ago for example, having left The Journal offices and en route to the Metro station to go home (not before a quick trip to H&M mind), I was caught in a hail storm which soaked me to the skin. This time, I was really thankful that I had my large leopard print umbrella with me (lifesaver), yet again my shoes and the rest of me was absolutely drenched. Another time a couple of years back, I was on my way back from lectures in my ginger fur coat, when the heavens opened. This time, I was without an umbrella, and in my 30 minute walk home I was left looking like a drowned rabbit. Not great. Once I finally arrived home, I jumped straight in the shower for fear I would die of cold, and sat by my electric heater for the rest of the night. My coat took forever to dry, it was just lucky I have about 12 fur coats so the only consolation was that I at least had another coat to wear the next day...

It always seems to rain on my parade.

 This photograph is pretty apt.

You see, raindrops always seem to spoil my day trips out, especially when I plan things for when I venture to the motherland. It NEVER stops raining in Cumbria. I cannot count the times I have planned to go to Keswick for a boating and picnic trip, which has been spoiled by the rain. And the ratty, which is this very cute wooden steam train that goes through the countryside and takes you to this little village called Eskdale, which is just picturesque. Me and the boy finally managed to go at Easter this year, when my cousins from London were visiting and my sister was at home, so we all ventured out and had champagne and strawberries on the ratty (it sounds way more sophistocated than it actually was as we were a little rowdy to say the least). Yet up until this point, out ratty trips have been spoiled by the weather. One time me and my dear friend Emma actually ventured to Keswick in the rain with wishful thinking on our side, hoping that once we got there the sky would clear and we would be left with sunshine. Needless to say, this wasn't the case. The ever growing hole in the bottom of my very loved but very battered Office boots gave me wet feet, and I subsequently felt like I had trench foot for the remainder of the day. How attractive.

At Leeds festival last year, I was given the greatest gift ever: a plastic rainhood. You see, my Topshop pac-a-mac failed protect me from Glastonbury's downpour (my hair was soaked as it clearly wasn't waterproof), and so I was incredibly grateful for the ingenuious hood so loved by grannies. Given that the weather was never torrential rain, my fur coat was enough to keep me warm and dry, and the hood served to protect my barnet. I got quite a lot of comments on it (it surprisingly went down a treat), and for a couple of months afterwards I hailed my rainhood as the lifesaver to any umbrella-lacking situation. Now however, I realise I have neglected it for quite a while. It will however make an appearance at next year's Glastonbury, as it is possibly the easiest solution to a quick shower there is. And at least it's waterproof!

                                          The much-loved rainhood. I'm such a pensioner at heart.

Luckily, it isn't raining today, meaning I will be able to go outside without having my backcombed barnet flattened by the messy little raindrops. However, after yesterday's puddle incident, I feel my need for the Vivienne Westwood wellingtons is definite. Please Santa, have mercy on my tootsies.

Holidays are coming.

Yesterday, I started to properly get into the festive spirit by watching Elf and Miracle on 34th Street back to back. Tucked up on my chesterfield sofa with my Cath Kidston throw and my gas fire on, it was my idea of Sunday afternoon heaven. The only thing lacking was my new Christmas pj's and mince pies. You see, I LOVE Christmas. It's my favourite time of the year. And ever since I saw the first viewing of the Coca Cola advert, my anticipation has been increasing by the day. And more than anything, I'm looking forward to buying my first proper Christmas tree and decking my house out in seasonal decorations. In my University houses, we all returned home for Christmas mid-December, and so having a Christmas tree seemed a bit pointless. So this year, I am embracing the decor, and cannot wait to buy my first real Christmas tree. And even though I will be returning to my motherland for Christmas day, the boy and I plan on having an early Christmas dinner together on the 23rd, complimented by my decorations and a Christmas film marathon. You see I have such a large family it simply wouldn't be Christmas without them and without the noise and laughter, and of course the Frank Sinatra finale we have to any family celebration, which consists of badly singing along and dancing whilst my dear grandmother sits in her chair, drunk on a bottle of Bailey's by this point, takes it all in around her.

For me, Christmas has always been a time for family, and I love buying gifts for everyone. I like to think I'm quite good at selecting presents (for my best friend's 21st birthday I bought her the Vogue from November '88, ergo the month and year of her birth. She loved it so much she cried!) I love watching people's faces as they open their gifts. Seeing my boy's face when he found out I'd bought him a Glastonbury ticket made my two and a half hour stint on the laptop trying to get them worthwhile... But presents aside, I just love the Christmas season. I love real Christmas trees and fairy lights, and some of my all time favourite films are Christmas ones. They always have such a feel-good vibe to them. It's A Wonderful Life is a beautiful film. And I heart Jingle All The Way, known to my family as Turboman. It's one of those films that is on every Christmas without fail, and it wouldn't feel like Christmas without a viewing of it. I bought it on dvd last year, just so I have a back up in case Sky fails me... I love the Boots three for two deal and I love wrapping Christmas presents. December wouldn't be the same without an advent calendar to count you down to Christmas, and every year the closer I get to the 20's, the more excited I get. I love Christmas cake and mince pies, and I love the traditional turkey roast with crackers and Christmas hats galore.

Christmas gives me that warm fuzzy feeling whenever I think about it. I always have a very nostalgic image of winter, wrapping up for the cold and buying winter coats and gloves and going ice skating and for jolly rambles in the countryside. I love the Christmas markets that come to town, where you can fill your belly with all sorts of cullinary delights and mulled wine. And I love snow. Well, not the snow of last year, which was mid-calf in depth and not enjoyable having to slog to the library in it every day in inappropriate footwear, however snow for a day or two is fun. Just the right amount to build a snowman and have a snowball fight is perfect.

The stress of last year's snow though has made me realise that those Vivienne Westwood for Melissa wellington boots I have coveted for a long time would surely be a very useful present. After all, at the minute I'm walking around in a pair of Topshop's leather ballet flats - not exactly ideal for the winter weather, given the fact that my feet are soaked every time the ground has a bit of water on. In the Westwood wellingtons, I wouldn't have to try and skirt around that massive puddle, as I could just splash on right through like I did in my patterned wellies and little pink mac when I was five. And they're so cute and delicate, they're not really like wellingtons at all. More little booties, with the fab gold buttons displaying the orb down the side. I'd like them for Christmas quite a lot...

And on that note, I'm off to make my Christmas list to send to Santa before I go for my first ice skate of the season. I cannot wait.

Stupefy.

This is the beginning of the end. With the first part of the final Harry Potter film now in cinemas, I'm really quite sad. After all, I grew up with Harry; I was 11 when he was 11, and as a series it has dominated the noughties all over the world. The Harry Potter craze is unbelievable, but, in my opinion, well worth the hype.

On Friday, my day began in the best way possible, with a 10:30am viewing of The Deathly Hallows. I had pre-booked my seats a decade ago, although I was a tad upset when Empire released earlier viewings to the one I'd booked (the 10:30 had, at the time of booking, been the first viewing). You see I'm so sad I had wanted to get there first and be the first of my friends to see it! But unfortunately this was not the case. Nevertheless, my Metro journey into town was one of anticipation, and we got there in good time to fit in a pre-cinema hot dog and snacks. What a delightful breakfast. The cinema was actually really full, which I hadn't expected with school times and the standard 9-5, but then again my lovely boy did take half a day's holiday to come and watch it with me, and so I figure there must be others as sad as us out there...

And the film was amazing. For the first time, I felt it was completely true to the book. And the thing is, I haven't read The Deathly Hallows since its publication, so it's not like it was all fresh in my mind. But the film was exactly how I remembered it. Nothing had been omitted, which is why I really appreciate the fact that the film is in two parts. In an interview, Daniel Radcliffe had said that if they'd tried to do it in one film, they would have had to completely rewrite the script in order for it to make sense, which wouldn't have done the Potter series any justice at all. However, as much as I still believe this was the correct way to go about filming the final book, I was left feeling so frustrated at the end of Part 1. It was amazing, yet I just wanted to see the rest of it! Which is obviously the idea; the film ends with Voldemort's acquisition of the Elder wand. Suddenly the lights came on, and I was left with that sinking, frustrated feeling that I was going to have to wait 7 months for the next installment. I wanted to stamp my feet and shout NO at the top of my voice! The film was thrilling, and often I was on the edge of my seat with anticipation. To have the ending suddenly taken from me felt like I'd had Aladdin's magic carpet swiped from under my feet.

However, regardless of the frustrating wait, I feel I need to press actually how good the film is. Whereas I hate the opening of the Prisoner of Azkaban, it seeming unnecessarily dark, The Deathly Hallows has the perfect balance between the ominous and the humourous. One of my favourite scenes in the film was right at the beginning, when the polyjuice potion created several Harry's; one being Fleur De La Cour, and the audience was treated to a viewing of Daniel Radcliffe in a lacy bra... The Potter films have never really taken the humourous route in the past, but with the final film the funny scenes serve to only highlight how much work and effort has gone into this one.

I loved it so much, I'm going to see it again on Tuesday (hello discounted tickets courtesy of Empire's cheaper Tuesday deal). I could genuinely watch it again and again. You see, like Matilda (which I have been known to watch four times in one day...), I could never get bored of Harry. I have seen each film more times than I can remember; I have read each book, and will re-read them again and again. Me and my boy frequently disagree on film choice, yet somehow the Harry Potter's are the only ones we ever agree on. And so, with daily disagreements, Harry is always the simplest and easiest way to please both parties. And my dear boy hasn't even read the books! I keep insisting that he does, but whether I am eventually successful is another thing altogether... The thing about Harry Potter that appeals to us more than anything is the fact that it's a complete other world that allows for complete escapism. And minus the ever-impending threat from the oh-so powerful Voldemort, I really wish it was real. Hogwarts makes any child or even adult wish they had been a witch or wizard, and I genuinely wish I was a witch! I certainly felt that way when I donned my graduation robes. That way, I would have been able to visit Hogsmeade and go to Honeyduke's to buy chocolate frogs, and visited Diagon Alley to buy my wand and get myself a nice pet owl. The wizarding world of Hogwarts (again, minus Voldemort) is so much more exciting than everyday life. Why, you'd never need to walk anywhere again, as you could either fly, disapparate or travel via Floo network. All are more preferable than the half an hour daily walk I have to get to town...

I feel I need to stop wishing I was a witch before I actually start to get a bit morose. On another somewhat depressing note, I'm really going to miss the Harry Potter series once Part Two is finally released. Because after that, there'll be nothing else to look forward to from the world of Hogwarts. At least at the minute, we still have the final film to look forward to (even if the wait is a bit annoying!) Because once all has been filmed and the series has been laid to rest, all I'll have are my nostalgic memories from my camping holidays in France with my father, always accompanied by the latest Harry Potter novel to keep me entertained. I'll have the books and I'll have the films, which of course I will watch more than the average person should. Nevertheless, it will still be a bit sad when the whole Harry Potter hype eventually dies down. Well, unless J.K. Rowling stands by her word and writes a prequel to the Potter series, in which case I'll have that book and subsequent film to look forward to. But until then, and until June 2011, at least I have the books, which I plan on re-reading from now until then. Well, I do have 7 months to kill, so I might as well...