THERE’S been a daft fuss over the advert outside Big Tesco for Winchester’s rival Christmas Market.

I expect the location was chosen because so many motorists use Bourne Way and are bound to see it – the same reason there’s been one on the Castle Road roundabout in recent years.

All’s fair in love and war – and when shopping centres are struggling, it is a war, of sorts.

They’ll all do their darndest to attract every single punter’s pound.

If our own offering here is strong enough, it won’t matter what other places are doing, will it?

I hope our Christmas market, will be the best yet. The Community Choir (me included, with luck) will be jollying things along with some carol singing on the main stage on December 15.

One place I won’t be contributing to the entertainment is on the ice rink.

Now that would be a comedy turn.

I’ve only tried skating twice and it was indeed a sorry sight, as I inched along, clinging to the barrier for dear life while other members of the family glided merrily past me, actually having fun. No balance, that’s my problem. Which doesn’t mean I’m unbalanced, before someone says it.

No, I’ll be partaking of a glass or three of mulled wine (after which I probably will be unbalanced!) and just enjoying the spectacle.

We have to hope this big build-up to the festive season will be the beginning of better times for Salisbury after what Her Majesty would no doubt call our annus horribilis.

We can all help it along by shopping locally, and not on Amazon.

Life will always throw up problems that no-one could plan for. Things we can’t control. What Harold Macmillan called “Events, dear boy.”

But these things can also bring us together as a community. We can choose how we react.

I was at a party in north London on Saturday and twice people said to me in pitying tones: “Oh Salisbury, what’s it like living there at the moment?”

I was astonished. Because we don’t need pity, do we? Not at all.

Speaking of what happens when communities lose control over their lives, I very much enjoyed Lord Adonis’s recent talk at the Arts Centre, explaining why he passionately believes we should not be leaving the EU.

A lot of people, rightly in my opinion, think our leaders have given away too much power to Europe in the past.

And a lot more, again rightly in my view, fear that the currently proposed deal leaves too much power with the likes of Messrs Barnier and Juncker.

On the other hand, some people, myself very much included, look at the chaotic handling of the Brexit negotiations, Universal Credit, etc etc, and conclude that we wouldn’t trust our own government with any more control over our lives, either.

Which leaves us ….. where? With the Devil or the deep blue sea.

I’m off to the White Hart on Tuesday evening to hear what our ex-MP Robert Key, a man of sound common sense, has to say about it all.

anneriddle36@gmail.com