Christmas is a-comin' to the Dome

You know it's Christmas in the Capital when the Dome switches its lights on. Timed this year, as last, for the last Monday in October (27th).

"We make George Street and, indeed, the city come alive," trumpets director Brian Crawford.

"Blowing hard? I suppose you could say so but, in truth, the Dome's doing a sort of Blackpool Illuminations in reverse. We've got coachloads, of women mainly, booked to travel up here from Newcastle, Manchester and Carlisle. Lunch with us, then see our lights late afternoon. Mothers bring their kids in.

"We've become one of Edinburgh's main festive attractions, so the big spend on decorations is proving well worthwhile. Expenditure was topping £400,000 at the last count and that's excluding the electricity bill!"

Crawford owns up. "I picked up a lot of the ideas for the decor in New York, where the Rockefeller Centre's Christmas lights are stunning.

"People say October's too early for our switch-on. I disagree. Those bah-humbug types are outnumbered by locals congratulating us, believe me. Christmas cards and novelties are already in city centre shops.

"I'd like to see what we do rub off on some businesses in these parts. A bit of tinsel round the doorknob seems to be their limit.

"Oh and, by the way, I think that, mindful of what the Dome does for Edinburgh over Christmas, I should apply to the Scottish Office for a grant. That'll put the reindeer among the pigeons."

George Street's "fairytale" attraction will be extended by one week, to January 11. A regular old Santa, Mr Crawford, isn't he just?

All in a whirl

Lots of perilously close chopper activity over our heads these last few days. We have to suspect one or more of our devil-may-care, it's-only-taxpayers'-money four prize princes was about the palace.

One of the whirlybirds was a Sea King, with plenty room for golf clubs or vanity cases for louche ladies.

Heartening news for the nation, though. Wills is set on flying search and rescue 'copters (Sea Kings) for the RAF as his full-time job.

So he'll be able to search for and rescue distressed damsels and relatives around Soho's night life, the surrounding greenery providing a plethora of landing pads.