I have noticed what could well be seen as parents at a nearby house being very mean to their children this Yuletide. Many people who have a garden pond with fish will place a plastic heron beside the pond in the hope of warning off over-flying herons, who will think the pitch is already taken and look elsewhere for a meal.
Are these parents adopting a similar strategy by placing a plastic Santa Claus in their garden. I know there is a world-wide recession, but is this not going a bit far?