And another thing…

Come over to Edinburgh and enjoy the German Market. There are also some tasteful fairground rides, ice skating, and the stalls are full of fabulous Christmassy things. There is always a joyful atmosphere, you can drink mulled wine, visit the numerous gourmet treat stalls, buy your Christmas decorations and eat wurst and kraut. And when you need a pee, there is the Scottish National Gallery just next door with its loos that have the ambience of a gentleman’s club.

I have taken the young weasels for years now, and now that they are not so young they, and we, still look forward to it.

I’m sorry to hear that, Tom. The endless tapes of awful music may well persuade me to obtain some state of the art earphones for myself this year . .

Tory HQ looked to be going very PC in their Christmas cards, but they caught up a little by substituting “Merry Christmas” for “Seasons Greetings.” when they were pilloried for it it seems.

None the less what utterly dismal cards:

http://shop.conservatives.com/product97311/merry-christmas-cards.aspx

Is it a tory tradition? Does anyone know?

I think they are very Chameleon myself.

Think yourself lucky, we now have ghastly “tasteful” white (actually vaguely blue this year, they’re marketed as being environmentally friendly) Xmas lights in our little spa town – how dull.

My (largely silent) campaign to bring back some good old-fashioned gaudy vulgar colour has, I fear, fallen on deaf ears.

Harrumph…

I tend to agree with the sentiment.

Although I appreciate that the lights have to be paid for, and no retailer/council will easily turn down the “sponsorship” afforded by renting the space out to a teenagers delight – it is nonetherless a bit of a pity.

Then again, would a quiet festive town square be that appealing the general public anymore?

I’d like the peace and quiet, but I also know that my interests and likes are very much in the minority now.

Bring back the plain nativity scene.

So that drunk students can steal the baby Jesus.

That was hilarious. Especially the ‘outraged’ reaction in the papers.

The Nativity scene is still there, but I think they may have super-glued the Baby Jesus onto Mary’s lap…

Just another point in the corner why christmas has been over comercialised.

Christmas is about getting together and meeting the family members you haven’t seen all year, giving and recieving funny gifts.

But, as a previous person has stated nothing is free, and lights have to be paid for.

Tom.

Why should taste in public spectacle be any less reprehensible that current taste in music, art and literature?

Demotic unto death, I fear we sail forth to a profoundly dumbed down utopia, where discrimination has been replaced by equality; that is, equal respect for good and bad.

Couldn’t agree more. Have you been brave enough to make that point to Steven Purcell by chance? The monstrosity is parked beneath his office window of course so presumably he’s happy as long as the revenue keeps coming….

I have similarly pleasant memories of being taken by my dad to see the Christmas window displays in Argyle Street (now the Debenhams building with separate units on the ground floor) but that’s all gone too.

For a born & bred Glasgow boy I know this is terribly disloyal but Edinburgh just do Christmas far, far better. I guess being able to plonk it in gardens overlooked by a castle is easier than smack bang in the city centre but still…

Anyway, you should come to Monkton…!

Shame that Goldbergs closed. Remember the animatronics they had every year? Big toy department too. Wasn’t there a toy train chugging around it (above the reach of children!)?

Class.

It seems that the comment ‘Bah Humbug’ is just a little too short for your blog to allow so, hopefully by surrounding it with all this waffle you might accept it…

Bah Humbug

Aye, well you can blame all that on the insane Glasgow City Council… I wonder which party is in control?

‘Litter you can eat’

very good Tom.

I thought you would have passed a law against it. I hate what you describe and totaly reject this kind of thing, but there are few standards left. Its like when you critisised SW Norfolk for wanting someone local for an MP. Its all part of the same thing. local majority of people are just not heard anymore. I bet there are far more people that do not want it, just like you Tom, but its all for minorities now that Labour has spent the last 12 years promoting them. So thanks.

Those who have commented that Edinburgh does it much better are also suffering from nostalgia. Albeit not looking back so far.
Being in central Edinburgh these days is a nightmare, and the renowned Hogmanay celebrations which were free for all are now grossly over-priced.

Och, it’s ne’er been the same since they bampots ripped oot the grass and put in that red stuff oan the groond.

I remember, long ago in another age, going with mum and my brothers and sisters to see George Square at Christmas and the other Christmas lights around Glasgow.

Edinburgh didn’t hold a candle to Glasgow then.

It is a shame, but oh so modren as many pronounce it.

” GAUDY TRASHY AND UGLY”

When I read that I thought you were going to talk about The Labour Party.

Gaudy Trashy and Ugly is Chameleon’s PMQs. I do not often agree with Alastair Campbell but as he tweets:

“Think Cameron missed his vocation. Right wing tabloid hack at Despatch Box for PMQs today.”

Restrained, trashy and ugly are his Christmas cards.

What a shame to ruin what sounds as if it was an oasis of tranquility. Although I suspect little R&R might disloyally like the helter-skelter etc.

@ QZ: Those cards are unbelievably naff! Regarding the omission of the word ‘CHRISTMAS’, the Mail quotes Tory MP Philip Davies, hilariously going off on one:

‘If this decision has been made on a PC basis it would be totally unacceptable … this kind of pandering to extreme elements of the PC brigade is not something I
would envisage from the Conservative Party. I have yet to meet anyone of any religion who is offended by people in this country celebrating Christmas.

‘The only people who complain are those who get offended on other people’s behalf: the white middle-class Guardian-reading left-wing do-gooders with a misguided guilt complex and too much time on their hands.’

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1230691/Seasons-Greetings-David-Cameron-Tories-Christmas-cards-pander-politically-correct-brigade.html#ixzz0XuB4awQq

This has pushed many Mailites completely over the edge, and the have your say section contains a lot of ‘The Tories have lost MY vote!’ type comments.

Could be worse, you could be enjoying the Christmas lights experience of Belfast!

You’re abso-bloody-lutely right Nicky!

My US friends find their country’s attempts to pretend that Christmas is a-religious pretty darn stupid too.

I’ve never met a Muslim or Hindu or . . . Hedge-witch who was offended by Christmas.

Perhaps Chameleon’s agenda, which included ingratiating himself with gays, women and “racial minorities” will let up one of these days . . ??

I can understand your regret at a chintzy Christmas, but look on the brightside. You really are celebrating Christ’s Mass and opposed to some PC winter holiday. Full marks for the council for bringing home the religious importance of this time of year.

https://secure2.subscribeonline.co.uk/PEYE/images/ECARDS/Card-11.jpg

Mr Harris, why do you continue to allow the psychotic troller ‘Quietzapple’ free reign on your blog?

It does you no favours!

Agree. My mum worked at the Central Hotel and Central Station was fabulous in the 50s and early 60s – there was a huge model train display which was stunning and George Square was magnificent too.

We all get nostalgia blinkers but no argument here – the comparison with Glasgow-Xmas-past with Glasgow-Xmas-present is depressing.

Echo the Weasel re Edinburgh.

I didn’t realise we were still allowed to celebrate Christmas. I thought it had been renamed to Wintersfest, just incase we hurt anyones feelings!

Bah Humbug, indeed!

Oh and here’s another a Tory leader made earlier:

http://url.ie/2z14 not very Christmassy Thanks to @libdemvoice)

BannedHorse may just possibly be Harry the Horse off the Guardinid.

Ad Hom from someone flying either a Damon Runyon name tag, or a heroin addict.