The much-heralded Winter Festival will start this weekend in Brisbane, so I went to have a look at the preparations. The announcements had been for a European-style “magical” Christmas Market around the pièce de résistance: An ice rink.

Now, Brisbane is having an exceptionally cold spell at the moment — today’s maximum was just 15C despite the blazing sunshine. An outdoor ice rink in the subtropics presents some problems, which clearly haven’t been quite overcome yet, judging by the not-entirely-frozen state of the water.

Still, an effort has clearly been made, and the handful of huts look festive enough. Authentic German Currywurst and, in a specially-fenced-off, alcohol-allowed enclosure, even Glühwein are being advertised, alongside something I have never seen in a real Christmas Market: doughnuts served with caramelised condensed milk. A more off-putting combination is hard to imagine. Though come to think of it, I can’t quite envisage any kind of food that would be enhanced by the addition of caramelised condensed milk.

Anyway, might be fun watching first attempts at ice-skating though I’ll need persuading on the Glühwein. Glühwein when one isn’t cold just seems… wrong.  Also, they serve it in mugs (!) at $8 each. At that price, I wonder if you get to keep the mug?

Anyway, piccies below, including my contribution to today’s Daily Shoot.