STILL NO SYDENHAM CHRISTMAS TREE OR LIGHTS?!

[Kingfisher78]

Yesterday I noticed that we still have no Sydenham Christmas tree and the lights still haven't been switched on. Penge has had their lights switched on for a few weeks now, Catford has their lights on and their Christmas tree, so does Forest Hill...so what is going on?!

[Robin Orton]

The lights on the tree in the Queensthorpe Road pocket square are, I understand, to be turned on at 4.30 pm next Saturday.

The penitential season of Advent begins today. The correct date to switch on one's Xmas tree lights is Xmas Eve, Standards are slipping.

[robbieduncan]

The correct date to switch on one's Xmas tree lights is Xmas Eve, Standards are slipping.

Indeed. Although I think in this modern world any time in December is ok. November and earlier is definitely way too early.

[Steveofsyd]

Oh for goodness sake, do you think that the average child or family cares about that? Turn the bloody things on and bring some joy to the high street.

[Robin Orton]

I find it difficult to think about the concepts of 'joy' and 'high street' at the same time.

[stuart]

I find it difficult to think about the concepts of 'joy' and 'high street' at the same time.

This site so needs a 'like' button!

Stuart

[mosy]

I find it difficult to think about the concepts of 'joy' and 'high street' at the same time.

This site so needs a 'like' button!

Stuart

Why would you want to "like" a lack of goodwill comment towards our high street retailers, shoppers and the council?

[Pally]

The lights will go on next Saturday - library "plaza" ones went on yesterday.

[Robin Orton]

Why would you want to "like" a lack of goodwill comment towards our high street retailers, shoppers and the council?

Not a lack of goodwill, mosy, but a bit of facetiousness reflecting my lifelong aversion to shops and shopping. I'm sure Stuart understood it in that sense, so don't blame him.

[mosy]

Not blame, more confusion. Or my sensitivity thinking it'd be really nice and something of a relief if Sydenham-bashing were put on hold for a while...

[prince]

While I am very grateful for the Council providing Christmas lights, why oh why do they leave it so late until they actually switch them on? If they switch them on this weekend we will only have them up for two weeks before Christmas! It seems like we are being shortchanged.

[stuart]

Or my sensitivity thinking it'd be really nice and something of a relief if Sydenham-bashing were put on hold for a while...

Ahem - what Robin said precisely and I 'liked' was specific about shopping and our joy (lack of) anywhere and everywhere. Weird to shopaholics but there you are.

How you can get so confused to imagine my animosity towards our local shopkeepers that I've been trying on this forum, and in our shops, to support for 13 years at my own expense and time is even more weird to me.

Cor Blimey,
Stuart

[mosy]

Or my sensitivity thinking it'd be really nice and something of a relief if Sydenham-bashing were put on hold for a while...

Ahem - what Robin said precisely and I 'liked' was specific about shopping and our joy (lack of) anywhere and everywhere. Weird to shopaholics but there you are.

How you can get so confused to imagine my animosity towards our local shopkeepers that I've been trying on this forum, and in our shops, to support for 13 years at my own expense and time is even more weird to me.

Cor Blimey,
Stuart

Cor Blimey back at yer. Why that diatribe? I only asked. Are readers on a public forum supposed to be mind readers since, with respect, Robin Orton said only "joy" and "high street" initially - no mention of shopping (or commercialisation) and later that it was "a bit of facetiousness reflecting my lifelong aversion to shops and shopping." Seemingly you would know what he meant.

Would you like me to apologise for not knowing something I couldn't possibly have known? If so, I apologise unreservedly. Happy now?

[Pally]

Back to the point about when the lights go on ...I think to be fair, that there is a planned spread out of "events" in Sydenham in run up to Xmas! So last weekend was Sydenham assembly, free Xmas play and light up at the library, plus school band! This weekend is free Xmas play at community centre, light up and school band!! As the same people are involved in organising and delivering both, I assume there has to be a spread out!!

[stuart]

Would you like me to apologise for not knowing something I couldn't possibly have known? If so, I apologise unreservedly. Happy now?

No need but look at it from here. Robin and I made remarks you misunderstood. That's not a problem as I have distinctions in that department. Robin explained it eloquently on both of our behalfs and that hopefully should have been that. Instead you came back associating us with Sydenham-bashing. That is to misunderstand us again. You will have to forgive me some exasperation at that point.

I've no wish to bash you. But it didn't do anyone any favours - did it?.

Moving on as to light switching and enjoying the Christmas season. Robin, I guess, would see it in a religious context, and me most definitely in a secular one - as a season of 12 or so days and not something starting in November.

Hence the planned turn on looks a fine compromise to me. Perhaps making Sydenham more in line with the meaning of Christmas than Regent Street.

That is all,
Scroogy Stu

[robbieduncan]

The 12 days of Christmas start on Christmas Day. So the decorations go up the night of the 24th so they are there for the start of the 12 days. They then come down on the 5th in the evening. Of course our tree is already up at home. As we are not religious so follow whatever timeline we like

[butters]

I put my tree up on the 27th November. Every year I have always waited until December, but this year I thought 'Sod it' and put it up. My house. My Tree. Its me that has to look at it, no one else, and it makes me happy, so whats the harm?

[prince]

On the positive I see the Christmas lights have been switched on tonight. On the negative how can they get them so wrong? Many of the columns do not have lights at all, bulbs on some columns are not working at all and the remainder look quite frankly odd. Why can't the contractors seemly not simply evenly wrap the lights around the column. The resulting effect is awful appearing that half the lights are not there or not working. Very disappointing. Sydenham deserves better

[owlwise]

Yet another year of unimpressive lights in the High Street and a sprig for a Christmas tree. Who will take responsibility for this?Why does this keep happening and how can this be changed?

[sparticus]

Yet another year of unimpressive lights in the High Street and a sprig for a Christmas tree. Who will take responsibility for this?Why does this keep happening and how can this be changed?

I drove down the High Street a couple of nights ago at about 01:00h and I thought it looked rather pretty. The lights are a tad understated, but I thought it all looked fine. As has already been explained, unfortunately the lights have been outsourced to the dreadful Skankia, who have the contract to maintain street lighting. They can't manage to finish the lighting renewal in the Thorpes started over 2 years ago. If people want a bigger Christmas tree or better lights then they are going to have to organise and pay for it themselves. It's totally unreasonable for the local authority to be expected to pay for Christmas decorations over and above, when its budget for essentials like child protection and social care has been slashed.