It’s that time of year again.

I have an ambivalent relationship with Christmas.  I dislike the intense pressure to buy and the fact that it begins earlier every year.  I dislike the way that every year the shop keepers are moaning about lack of business but then come January the reveal to their surprise that actually they did quite well.  I dislike the false bonhomie and jollity and the endless crap music playing over shop speakers and, worst of all, childrens’ choirs singing carols.

Having said that I like the idea of Christmas and I like the traditions of Christmas when they’re kept simple.

I went into town this afternoon with the intention of scouting around for presents.  For the most part it was a grizzly couple of hours although the chap in the photo seemed to be doing quite well with tips by the simple expedient of standing on his head in a bucket in the middle of the street.

I took refuge in the German market at the foot of The Mound and had a warming mug of gluhwein which had an extra kick of spirits in it.  For all my attachment to mumbling “bah! humbug!” it was quite nice to sip the hot drink on a chilly afternoon and just enjoy the hubbub of people around, including many who were obviously visitors to the City.

I liked the fact that visitors were clearly enjoying themselves here: sometimes we residents are too hard on ourselves and see only the things which for one reason or another displease us.  It is nice to try and see Edinburgh through the eyes of our guests.

I treated myself while I was out to a newly released DVD of Christy Moore and Declan Sinnott Live at the Barrowlands, Glasgow.  I watched it tonight – and what a cracker it is.  I haven’t been to see Christy Moore for a number of years yet.  He always was an intense and powerful performer but this is in a different league, and Sinnott is fabulous.