Festive fakery...

For some years now every November sees Kingston market square largely taken over by a Christmas market, end every year I'm starting to dislike it just a little more.

It feels like base consumerism at its very worst. A stall selling bratwurst and another knocking out overpriced German beer do not, to my mind, constitute a German Christmas market, which would undoubtedly be done with a little more class.

Similarly, stalls selling kitsch "craft" items, many of which are made in China, just seem tawdry and unnecessary, and this goes on for nearly eight whole weeks.

A shorter duration event, closer to Christmas and offering genuine craft items and slightly less formulaic food would be far more appealing - but then what do I know, I'm just a miserable old git!

The man doing zero trade at the roast pork stall looked about as happy with the whole thing as I felt, but at least I was able to walk away from it all!