Jingle Jingle Jingle

Last night we went out to catch the lighting of the tree in Martin Place. It was lovely to get out on a school night and, as always, fascinating to see lots of people doing something together. Obviously there were loads of kids, most wearing Santa hats and flashing red noses that were sold in showbags with profits going to the RSPCA. Then there was the St Mary's Cathedral choral choir, the Hoolie Doolies, Santa coming to town accompanied by mounted police (with the horses dressed up as reindeer), the lighting of the tree and some fireworks at the end.

And generally, it was a great success. I won't bang on about how it was much too early to start Christmas festivities. Suffice it to say that singing Silent Night on the 23rd of November is enough to bring out the inner Scrooge in anyone. Mostly it was great to see the kids loving it and dancing. The adults could certainly learn a thing or two from them.

With all the prams and parents it was quite crowded in Martin Place, which is always a nice test of Christmas spirit. You know, "God bless ye merry gentlemen, but sit the fuck down - you're blocking my view." When the Hoolie Doolies came on and one guy behind me started yelling out for people to sit down, it took some self-restraint not to turn around and say, "no mate, you stand up." He had his rug laid out and a special little picnic chair and all these deli treats in front of him. If you want to sit down with all your creature comforts and watch it on a screen, buy the DVD and stay at home I think. If you want to get the vibe, come in and be a part of it. Dance, get your toe trodden on, say sorry, say hello etc.

And at the end, as the fireworks went off, I got to thinking how a lot of entertainment here follows a very business-like model: the performer (the supplier) gives a product (the performance) to an audience (the purchaser). But it's a broken circuit; we're missing the feedback loop of energy that makes a performance so special. The real fireworks are still in here (points at head), here (points at chest) and here (points at hips). I hope that's something my son will understand.