Matin Lapin: London souvenir swap

One of the most fun games when you live in London is pretending to be a tourist. It's one the greatest pleasures in life, and despite having lived here for years it never fails to amuse and entertain me. Don't get me wrong - I never play the game to mock people or to upset people, I just love the idea of being a tourist in the city in which I grew up. Plus I LOVE souvenirs.

I doubt many people would agree with me, particularly Londoners, but there is something gloriously wonderful about the tiny, tacky, kitsch-filled shops that line the south end of Oxford Street, and I just can't get enough of them. In the first few years I was here I tried my hardest to avoid these shops and the hordes of tourists that frequent them, but lately I have been sucked-in and just can't keep away. I blame the Royal Wedding. Disappointingly, after spending ~~hours~~ ages in these shops I have still not found a Will and Kate snowglobe. Perhaps I should just make one myself (but that's another project for another day).

Since taking part in the tacky souvenir swap with Kam from Campfire Chic, I have been spending more time than is healthy looking for wonderfully hideous London-y stuff. I was recently asked to take part in another souvenir swap, so what better excuse to head to the centre and peruse the shops y.e.t.a.g.a.i.n. I'm sure they're going to start recognising me soon.

I arrived at Marble Arch bright and early in order to miss the midday swarm of tourists. The shops were only just opening up, but having been there so many times I knew exactly what I was looking for so it didn't take long to whiz around the store picking up trinkets. By the time the whirlwind of glitter I had left in my wake had died down, I was already onto the next shop.

So it went for quite some time, and after purchasing almost everything on my list I decided that what I really needed was a heart-shaped magnet of Will and Kate. It's not like it's a problem... I could control my obsession if I wanted to...