Walking my dog this morning, with this weeks Big Issue in one hand and a cup of tea in the other. Whilst reading and enjoying the sunshine a little boy passed me with his mum. He smiled. I smiled back. He opened his mouth to show me his missing front teeth and I started to run around in circles. It was a moment of fun for both of us, not for his mum though, who was now trying to clam him down whilst I quickly grabbed my dog and headed home.

I went out with Josh in the evening. We got a bus to Trafalgar Square and walked down to Picadily Circus. I saw a woman selling The Big Issue. It wasn't the same cover as this morning so I just assumed it was last weeks issue as I didn't manage to get that one.

I pulled my wallet out of my pocket and she began walking towards me. I pulled out 2 coins; a £2 coin and a 2 pence piece. I put the 2p back and gave her £2, said a few words of encouragement and walked of with my magazine. A tap on my shoulder made me turn and face the woman again. She held her hand out and in the middle of it was a 2 pence piece. Totaly embarassed with myself that I nearly mugged of a homeless person I quickly went down my wallet and grabbed another £2 coin and gave it to her. After appologising numerous times I made my way down Regents street with Josh. Josh then asks me why I have just given her £4. Just to be sure, I checked my wallet and had £4 less than before bumping into that woman. I checked all my pockets and then it all made sense. The ruddy woman conned me. She saw me pull out the 2 pence and pretended I gave that to her by mistake instead of the £2.

After contemplating whether to confront the woman, I decided to go and tell her off. She denied the whole thing. I wasn't listening to her lies. She said it was against her beliefs. I still wasn't swayed. She even hid her licence from me. It wasn't about the money, she could have it, but it was the fact that she conned me even after I tried to helped her out. Thats what got to me. I wasn't getting nowhere with this woman so I walked off.

We were now about half a mile down Regents Street when I realised that my copy I bought from her wasn't last weeks. Infact it was 5 months old.

So heres my verdict: I was conned my a woman I felt sorry for. I bought a £1.40, 5 month old Big Issue that was still talking about when Steve Erwin was alive for £4. Thats 40% of my wages. Im not buying it from her again!

Please don't be put off from buying The Big Issue for those of you who do. Just dont buy it from a woman wearing a blue hijab and has a mouth of gold teeth.

A more posotive out look (which I agree with) of The Big Issue then check Roz's post - here!