17 posts tagged “christmas”

The final week of the year, and Hong Kong remained in a Christmas spirit. Below is a Christmas tree in a mall in Mongkok, and decorations at the airport.

A few more shots from this fascinating country. You can tell I am really into India.

   This is probably the only country in the world that puts is tourist-marketing slogan on its bureaucratic forms. Already a tick for India as I filled out my second Indian form. It’s also far easier to follow than anything the US gives out to us foreigners.    Above is the first outside scene I had of India at ground level, exiting Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. I must have gone back via a different part because it looked nothing like this (image below). Or the pace of change was faster than even I have said.
   Even my Indian hosts said that they were not 100 per cent sure of where I could be met because things change so quickly at the airport.
   I was most fascinated by the Hindustan Ambassador taxicabs. I haven’t seen this shape of Morris Oxford (on which the Ambi is based) for years.    If you are wondering where all the bicycling Indians have gone, they are motorcycling. And all the old motorcyclists are on four wheels. The above is the motorcycle park at IGI.
   I saw very few of the family-on-a-bike situations that Ratan Tata spoke of when he launched the Nano, though I am sure they exist. In Indore, I did see a man and a woman on a bike—she was keeping their new PC from falling off while hanging on herself. In some ways, that was quite an encouraging sign.    This is what IGI looked like when I flew out, from the entrance to the departure gates. Totally modern and the equal of any airport in the western world.    This is not my last Christmas tree pic, but it shows again that the Indians got more into the mood of the season than I expected. With hindsight, it was only logical: Christmas is a big deal in Hong Kong, for instance, yet again it would not have as many Christians per capita as New Zealand.    Finally, this image illustrates that IGI is fairly typical. The flight departures’ board is not digital, but I quite enjoyed seeing the letters flip over in the traditional way. If it works and it generates less electricity, then I say keep it. Don’t go modern for modernity’s sake; only do it when there is a practical reason to do so.

I guess I do feel it’s more Christmassy than I expected here. However, some people are just treating it as a secular day off. But then again, it is New Delhi.

At the Central Cottage Industries’ Emporium in a fabulous city among some of the best friends I have made in ages. Have a great Christmas, where ever you are.

There was some sign of Christmas cheer in Wellington: carollers were singing at the airport, including my old friend Jim Lynch (bald guy in the back row with a beard); and a Christmas tree—not a terribly huge one but one is better than none for the season!

You know, I didn’t notice this until Christy, another Voxer, pointed it out. Christy is from the midwest, working in New Zealand and spending her first summer here, and noted that we pretty much suck at getting into the Christmas spirit. And she’s totally right.
   I’ve had the odd Christmas abroad and even as early as November, the shops are really into the spirit with massive trees and decorations everywhere. Here, there are few signs. Very few.
   It wasn’t that long ago that there were store Santas and the shops were decked out, certainly by December 1, with mega-cheesy decorations that were garish and bright, but hey, it was Christmas! It was fun.
   I got an email from a work contact talking about how an Auckland Santa Claus sign was removed this year.
   The lights on top of Mt Vic, forming a cross shape, are dim this year. Maybe it’s those power-saving bulbs.
   And I just don’t remember seeing this year the star-patterned lights at the State Insurance building on Willis Street or the Christmas tree lights occupying storeys of the New Zealand Post headquarters.
   Post isn’t even offering 10 per cent off its $1·50 stamp books to encourage people to send earlier.
   The scary thing is I don’t remember when I last saw them—it’s like Christmas has been toned down bit by bit without anyone noticing.
   At least we still say, ‘Merry Christmas,’ instead of, ‘Happy holidays,’ but then—do we say anything at all now?
   Has the politically correct movement killed Christmas in such a sneaky way that nobody noticed?

 
Late last year, co-creator Matthew Graham wrote Life on Mars one more time: in a Christmas special short story for the Daily Mail tabloid in the UK. I mentioned this earlier in 2008, but now that Ashes to Ashes has finished its first series, this part fascinates me about Sam’s post-series life. Annie speaks to Sam and recollects a dream she had:

[Sam] turned to go, aware that outside a Ford Cortina was blocking in the ambulances and an impatient pair of leather string-backs were tapping the steering wheel. But Annie snatched his elbow and grinned awkwardly.
   “When I was shot I … I blacked out I think. I had this incredible dream. It was so vivid. I was in a hospital room. It wasn’t like this one. It was spanking new and white and there were gadgets and stuff by the bed that I’d not seen before. Space age—all flashing lights and beeping. And … and you were lying there, Sam, connected to these machines.”

   I know Matthew has said that Sam was in a coma and it’s that simple, but given that Alex Drake’s Ashes to Ashes situation is different, does the above give us any clues? Remember, it’s not fan fiction: this is from the co-creator of Life on Mars!

I bet some Hell’s Kitchen contestants would like to have a go at Gordon. From Ricky Gervais’s Extras, namely last year’s Christmas special. Took us a few months to get this aired here, but again, thanks to Prime, we weren’t waiting 17 months as we had to for the second series of Life on Mars on TV1. (Warning: coarse language.)