The news from Germany

 

In three weeks Germany will have a new Chancellor. Last night four television channels carried a live debate featuring the two candidates, Angela Merkel and Per Steinbrück. They were quizzed by a panel of four. Three were respected journalists, the fourth (with a big grin on his face on the front page of the 'BZ') was out equivalent of a Jon Stewart or a Stephen Colbert! The newspaper tells us that he, the comedian, was the winner... together with Angie's necklace in the national colours, black, red and gold.

There is, however, much more important news from this corner of Europe...

The Guardian informs us here... and makes this point.

"With preparations for this year's  Oktoberfest under way, German traditionalists say a piece of their heritage is threatened by a fad fro cheap, sexy dirndl-style dresses made in China."

Shock!  Horror!

But I find here an echo of the problem facing the kilt-makers in my homeland. Polyviscose and made in China!

"There's an honest-to-goodness feud going on between two families. The Nicholsbys are from a family of kilt-makers who have traded in Edinburgh since the 1950s. Their fight is with the Gold Brothers, run an empire of stores selling kilts at knockdown prices. Geoffrey Nicholsby has accused the Sikh family of 'cultural rape'; Dildar Singh counters that they are giving the public what it wants. Earlier this year they started selling kilts, made in China, for £19.99. The Nicholsbys' kilts range in price between £250 and £375.

I understand why traditionalists loathe these shops, but they have an irresistible energy, vulgarity and cheek. I know why I like them, and why, perhaps, some Edinburghers do not: they feel like Glasgow."

So says the writer in The Scotsman.

I can understand... cheap dirndl dresses made in China, they feel like Düsseldorf! 

[Wonder where the 'Kanzlerkette' was made?]