Episode52:The Carol’s Morning

  There was no one on the streets of London. The white snow was falling from a grey sky. It was Christmas morning. I was walking around the Embankment until the time when an airport bus came in front of our hotel.

  The day before, all over the city was filled with people waking with Christmas presents. Harrods and Fortnum & Mason were very crowded with Christmas shoppers. The dark night was struggling with the brilliant illuminations from the shops and streets. Nevertheless, it had to hide behind the buildings until the city fell asleep. When we went down to the Tube on the escalator, suddenly someone started to sing a song : Twelve Days of Christmas*. Then, other people followed along with him. Their voices gradually lead to the chorus. I really regretted that I couldn’t remember the song, but their choir gave us a wonderful Christmas time*.

  However, on Christmas Day, the city of London was almost dead. There was no one on the streets covered with the white snow. As a matter of fact, I’ve heard that in European countries, people usually spend Christmas with their family in home. And English people have a custom that they give presents on Christmas Day different from other European countries. This is why many people go to shopping to prepare for Christmas by the previous day.

  Speaking of Christmas presents, in 2013, Harvey Nichols’ humorous campaign* ended up in a massive success : “Sorry I spent It on Myself”.

  I walked watching the snow on the street being careful not to slip down. Then I recognised a man walking from the front.
“Merry Christmas!”, he said and passed by me.
“Merry Christmas”, I said too.
It was an extremely cold morning. But his greeting gave me some warmth.

  I believe that humour and greetings must melt even a frozen heart.

*Twelve Days of Christmas

*Wonderful Christmastime

＜お知らせ＞
The Traveler’s Time は、しばらくお休みします。
最後に、記事中に登場するイギリス高級百貨店Harvey Nicholsのキャンペーン動画をご紹介します。（2013年のCMです。）
「SORRY I SPENT IT ON MYSELF（自分のためにお金使っちゃって、ごめんね。）」というユーモラスなキャンペーンがウケて、商品は３日で完売したとか。

*Harvey Nichols Christmas 2013 

高級ドレスを纏った母親の前で、“お風呂の栓”を貰って戸惑っている男の子の表情がなんともいえません。

“A little something for them, bigger something for you”

笑えるか笑えないかは、あなた次第。
自分へのご褒美はほどほどに！
皆さま、素敵なクリスマスをお過ごしください。

Merry Christmas and see you again!

Ryé

第52話　クリスマスの朝

ロンドンの通りには人っ子一人いなかった。
白い雪が、灰色の空から降ってくる。その日は、クリスマスの朝だった。私は空港バスがホテルの前に来る時間までエンバンクメントの辺りを歩いていた。