Prancer on ice

A day-long hike or a short Sunday stroll. When the ice on the bay is thick enough, people bring their kids, sleighs, skis, dogs, kites and ice-fishing kits and head out, irresistibly drawn to the open vista and the possibility to explore the little islets.

Yesterday was mild and sunny enough even for me to venture out, wrapped up in layers of wool and armed with my sunglasses.

I love people-watching, but even more so, dog-watching. One of the dogs, the largest one, turned out to be one of Santa's reindeer. Posing nonchalantly for a tabloid photographer, he ignored the stares from passers-by. Occasionally he was filled with enthusiasm and trotted away towards the open horizon, his keeper helplessly dragged along by a long leash.

So now we know what Santa's reindeer do the rest of the year. Modelling.