The Office Party

Happy Christmas 2012

Christmas Display @ "TEMPTED Size 16-28"
Raheny Shopping Centre, 2007
Just to shift a little this year from Santa and Rudolf and the Sleigh to the Gaffer Elf in Santa's workshop. It is clear that in this era of austerity, high-wage-cost elves have had to be let go and some lower cost locals, themselves in danger of extinction, have been drafted in. And worse, in view of the increase in austerity crime, elaborate alarm and protection systems have had to be installed at the North Pole atelier.

Nevertheless, Santa is expected to start out on his usual trip on Christmas Eve, though some children may have to wait till the New Year before he reaches them as the Reindeer herd has had to be downsized as an economy measure.

As Rudolf himself is getting on, and not up to pulling the loads of nether years, Santa may have to leave gift tokens rather than the actual requested items in a significant percentage of cases. In this, he has promised to have due regard to equitable burden-sharing and rewards based on performance during the year.

Be Good in 2013

The Blind leading the Blind

Visual comment on the current recession,
seen in Wexford Town, 25 February 2012.

Meltdown 2012

The meltdown is reaching even to the stars, as this stark example shows. And it didn't start in 2012, it was already underway before the end of the year when the above shot was taken at Killester RC Church. This is what it looked like in 2009 before the accident.

But the good news is that it has not yet reached nearby Raheny, as that RC Church (below) will testify.

I suppose we won't know the full story until this time next year when we see if these stars appear at all for the holy season and if there is enough energy left to light them.