Of Cold nights, Salvation army bands and Frosty The Snowman

Tonight's photo: People flocking to see the extravagant decorations in Martin Place

For the rest of the week, i On Global Trends will be a free-form Christmas Edition.

When I hear the word, "Christmas" I think of many things.

I think of dark, cold late afternoons/early evenings when the lights from the shop windows begin to make their presence felt.

I think of wrapping up warmly in scarves and thick overcoats, hands deep in my pockets as I stop for a while to hear the band of the Salvation Army, singing and playing carols the way they are meant to be sung.

I think of Jimmy Stewart; "Bell, Book and Candle" and Andy Williams and his cosy multi-colored jumpers that must have taken his mum ages to knit!

I love Sydney and I love Australia, but no matter how many snowmen they put up, how many times they play "Frosty The Snowman" it is never going to be a northern hemisphere Christmas!

Actually, if truth be told, it's not a good idea to mention "Frosty The Snowman" to me!

Back in the late 70s I was assistant manager of a travel agency located in a department store in Cardiff, Wales. As Christmas approached the store would play Christmas songs - the more noticeable being, "Frosty The Snowman" By the time Christmas came along, the manager and I were quite willing to take a hair-dryer to effing Frosty!

Last year my fellow sufferer came to Sydney, and even though we had not seen each other since 1981, one of the first things he asked me was, "Hey Mike, do you remember Frosty The Snowman?"!

Wherever you may be - be safe