Have you ever wondered whether there is a hidden meaning in the colour of someone's umbrella? I was waiting for a [delayed] DLR this morning (clearly given Ollie's post below the "wrong kind of rain" hit the transport network today) and observed a complete myriad of different umbrellas on the platform.

You have the business men with the sober black brolly. The middle-class (yes, even in the East End) professional with the golfing umbrella. Is he trying to make up for deficiencies in other areas by the size of his umbrella? You have a woman in a conservative suit yet holding an umbrella with scenes from the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (or equivalent) on it. Possibly wanting to display a less conventional, more artistic side? The young student, dressed rather hippy-esque, with a child's blue, yellow and red brolly. The young man gingerly holding a black umbrella littered with the playboy symbol. Clearly a player. The middle-aged lady carrying an umbrella, base colour pink, covered with cats and dogs. Does it belong to her daughter or is she trying to connect with a youthful, humourous side? The young professional, dressed solely in black, with a pink and purple stripy affair. There is some character beneath the more formal exterior. The elderly lady holding an umbrella covered with sunflowers. A National Trust purchase, one suspects. The slender lady in a black suit and red high-heeled shoes, holding a transparent umbrella. Designer, no doubt. And so the list continues.

I think umbrellas are like socks. Personality can shine through both umbrellas and socks. Take the wearing of "weekend" socks (a Dayorama Reader) or, heaven forbid, socks with the days of the week on them (another Dayorama Reader), or even the insistence on always buying colourful socks (a Dayorama Author).

There must be a PhD thesis in here somewhere. All I can say is that I see the same people, everyday, waiting for the DLR. And yet by observing their choice of umbrella, in contrast to their general attire and look, I felt - albeit rightly or wrongly - able to make assumptions about their character. Don't get me wrong, I don't spend my time trying to character assess, it's just this morning I couldn't help it.

Incidentally, no prizes for guessing which of the above relates to me.