Christmas Coulrophobia

There's a building near the Queen Vic market that's becoming some kind of Christmas Cave. It's an old car dealership - a warehouse, emptied out to make room for fetnas' current construction project. Some bright spark has decided that the season and the availability of a short-term lease could be the start of a bold new business plan.

Over the past few weeks, Christmas paraphernalia has been loaded into the store. It's all large-scale stuff - giant santa figures, snowmen, reindeer, elves, and some lost-looking gnomes. Unfortunately, most of it seems to be second hand; brought in after a lifetime decorating store windows.

It might work out fine at night, when properly lit by multicoloured lights. In daylight, though, everything looks a little bit off. Smiling figures leer out of the windows, smudges and paint chips worn like battle scars. I walk past on my way to work, when the morning sun casts long shadows into the warehouse. Inside, the forgotten legions of Christmas Past await the day when the doors will open, bringing waves of terrified small children.