Don't laugh too hard at me - I just couldn't resist the corny post title. And why? Because, as I perused the well-stocked shelves on a recent visit to the London bookshop, ArtWords, I couldn't help but notice how many boobs were peeking - or blatantly staring - at me from the covers of independent titles.

Since when did an exposed boob, or any female body part for that matter, become the shorthand route to making a magazine cover attention-grabbing? Word to the publishing-wise: you know what would really grab my attention? The sight of an exposed scrotum or some Magnum PI-worthy chest hair leading all the way, down-to-there.

I dare you.

Anyways, gratuitous nudity aside, Artwords is definitely one of the places to visit for almost any independent fashion title you could want, and then some. I made off with the recent copies of Please, Tank, and Apartamento magazines, but not before spending upwards of 30 minutes perusing every issue on their shelves. 

Not to mention how intriguing the straight-up art publications on offer were; I had to really restrain myself from blowing all my pounds on hard-covered tomes. The guys here seem to be of the laid-back variety; they thankfully do not hover over one's shoulder as you browse the mags, and they don't hurry you to make a purchase, either. 

Thus, as I follow the lead of Jeremy at Magculture, do allow me to recommend a pit-stop at Artwords for your magazine needs. That is, if you're not already a loyalist...

NB Images copyright © 2012 Au Courant Studio, LLC, All Rights Reserved 

Technically, I've been in London many, many times. But honestly, this is the first time I've actually spent more than a night in the town. For the past week, I've been traipsing all over London on the first leg of my summer vacation and it's been strange how the ideas I had about the place have yet to materialize, but other stark observations have implanted themselves in my mind.

For instance, I thoroughly expected to see Mr. Bean sitting somewhere on a bench, clutching Teddy and eating Marmite. Or Super Gran, whizzing by on her bicycle as she raced off to save some hapless soul's life. And what about evening tea? I was under the impression that everyone would drop whatever they were doing to have a cuppa as soon as the clock struck 16:00...

Instead, I've noticed that benches are far and few around the parks and streets, because London seems to be more of a driving town than a pedestrian-friendly one; who needs to sit for a rest on a bench when you're driving everywhere? As for cyclists? Well, I saw a number of brave souls trying to bike around busy South Kensington but really, they were far and few.

And how odd is it that Coco Chanel's interlocked 'C' logo is scattered across lamp posts throughout the city? I vaguely recall reading somewhere that the Duke of Westminster had a bit of an affair with Chanel, and the logo thing is tribute of sorts to the lady. Well I never...

Then, of course, there's the weather.

Around this time of the year, It's not too cold to warrant a heavy jacket and scarf. Yet, you better wear them nonetheless to back up the ever present brolly that's needed in London's on-again-off-again rains. I tell you, one minute there's a touch of sun peeking through the clouds, and the next, the whole sky's grey. Suffice it to say, London's a curious place, and I'm not sure I love it.

But then again, I'm not sure that I don't love it; in no other city have I found such an abundance of ethnic food to tickle my tastebuds, or as many top-rate art galleries and museums per neighbourhood. Add to that the fabulous indie book stores and magazine emporiums tucked away on little cobble-stoned streets, and you've got more than enough to make London a charming place, in my opinion.

If only I could find a way to get around the labyrinthine subway zoning system while I'm here...

NB Images copyright © 2012 Au Courant Studio, LLC, All Rights Reserved

FROM LEFT =  MOZARELLA. PEANUT BUTTER. GREEK YOGURT. DEVILLED SHRIMP. MONTEREY JACK. TOMATO HUMMUS

To a Trini, there are few things in life more gratifying than finding Crix biscuits outside the West Indies. This little biscuit - which is honestly more of a cracker - is what the average Trinidadian grew up on, and to this day most folks will probably have a bag of Crix stashed away somewhere in their kitchen.

For her part, my great aunt who introduced me to the versatility of these biscuits preferred to stash silver tins of Crix in her pantry. Sometimes the tins were saved for boiling ham in the backyard at Christmas, and whenever I managed to behave particularly good, auntie Rita would let me tag along to the Bermudez Baking Factory in Mount Hope to help carry home the quarterly supply of Crix.

Recently, my sister and mum came to visit me from Trinidad - miss you guys! - and one of the things they brought was this bag of whole wheat Crix. I'm really a fan of the plain variety, but the fiber-filled version works nicely in a pinch, as well. (And seeing how the last time I had Crix of any sort was years ago, I really was in no position to be a choosy beggar.)

People traditionally eat Crix with slices of cheese, sardines, condensed milk, butter, tuna, saltfish buljol, peanut butter, guava jam... In my youth, my cousins and I even crushed up the plain Crix in mugs of Highgate Richmond Valley cocoa 'tea' - our version of milk and cornflakes. I swear it tasted better than it sounds.

Long story short? 

These biscuits are the ultimate thing to have in your house because it can literally be eaten with anything you can put your hands on, whether sweet or savory. So for a quick Friday evening snack, I simply dug out some stuff from my fridge and tossed it with the biscuits. Took me about five minutes tops to put everything together, and another five minutes to eat every last bit.

Admittedly, Crix and greek yogurt wasn't the best; something about the tangy flavour and thick consistency of the yogurt just wasn't working with the biscuit. But the other spreads and dips? Perfection, especially the balls of fresh mozarella with basil leaves and the devilled shrimp.

I have to say, Crix is still the most vital supply of them all...

NB Images copyright © 2012 Au Courant Studio, LLC, All Rights Reserved