Editor’s letter
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ere’s the thing; the inevitable, November-issue thing. If you’re picking up this magazine on the day it comes out, you’re unlikely to be feeling especially Christmassy. On the other hand, the issue covers the period up until 29 November, at which point the festive season is most definitely on. So while we can’t ignore Christmas completely in this issue, we’ve refrained from over-egg(nog)ing it. We’ve cautiously draped a few bits of tinsel around the place, but otherwise we’ve made like Santa with an overeager Prancer, and reined it in a bit. For now. But some things couldn’t wait until the next issue: our annual round-up of the big Christmas shows, for example (page 22). They’re now open for booking, so if you don’t want to be stuck behind a pillar for your secondfavourite show on a date that’s convenient for absolutely nobody, you know what to do. We’ve also compiled a couple of gift guides (look, if you really don’t want any truck with festive gifting yet, just think ‘atypically big shopping feature’). The first is devoted to jewellery, making it equally ideal for sourcing a bit of bling for the Christmas* party. And if that’s still far too Yule-heavy for your liking, put the Christmas blinkers on and head to Martin Parr Foundation to marvel at the seminal, era-defining photography of Tony Ray-Jones; a nice bit of stark mid-century blackand-white could be just the antidote you need. Back at you in three weeks, with unapologetic jingle bells on. (*Other late-winter shindigs also available).
deri robins Excerpt from Isle of Wight Festival, c.1968 © Tony Ray-Jones/National Science & Media Museum/Science & Society Picture Library
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