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This time of year means different things to different people. For religious folks, the significance is clear. For almost everyone else (and even some Christians), it tends to be one big shopping fest gone too far, with contentment coming more in the gifts exchanged than in the company of those we’re doing it with. But whoever you are, there are still many unrivalled pleasures.
Why do I leave always Christmas shopping to the very last minute? That’s right, because I’m a man, and that’s what we do, and because there are only about 5 people that I absolutely must buy something for lest the entire relationship be put in jeopardy. I don’t enjoy it. It’s best described as a military operation for me: get in, fulfill all the objectives, and get out. Easy.
Continuing my popular series on the good old annual Christmas Market stationed in the grounds of Belfast’s City Hall, I am happy to report that it is indeed back again this year and as expected, merry and frolicking like some drunken relative on Boxing Night (only, quite incredibly, it closes a week before Christmas). It really wouldn’t be Christmas in Belfast now without it.
They say the magic disappears from Christmas once you’re all old and awkward. I would say it’s only the ideals which change. At the most basic level, it involves eating plenty of delicious food, watching old movies you wouldn’t ordinarily devote two seconds to, and generally getting very tubby. Maybe even pretending to enjoy the Queen’s Speech by the Christmas tree.
Dublin is expensive and smelly. I saw one street I liked. There’s a completely pointless, gigantic point in the middle of O’Connell Street – I believe it’s called the Spine. They have no Christmas decorations and way too many odd looking doors. But surroundings weren’t the most important thing. What was? Finally getting to spend time with someone I hadn’t seen in exactly 3 months.
