Christmas Edition

5 December 2013 #447

Cover Story: Christmas Edition

Our bumper Christmas issue is eight pages fatter, so Big Issue vendors from all around Australia can offer up up reflections and words of wisdom on the year that was, and wishes for the celebrations ahead. It is on sale NOW and it is by far the warmest, fuzziest thing going around this Christmas.

Also in this issue:

Fiona-Scott Norman has your Christmas playlist covered (no to Susan Boyle’s digitally manipulated duet with Elvis Presley; yes to Jingle Cats’ Meowy Christmas); Patrick Witton has composed a touching poem about the rumoured PacKerr romance; and, in a very special coup for The Big Issue, we have a Christmas fiction piece by Irvine Welsh, featuring the return of Trainspotting’s Frank Begbie – now surprisingly mellow and loved-up.

But don’t be alarmed, there is plenty of non-cheer: Helen Razer lays into Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and goes into bat for Scrooge and Anthony Carew reflects on the miserable romantic entanglements that have soured (and powered) great musical collaborations. Why, we even have Anthony Morris celebrating the 40th anniversary of The Exorcist!

This edition’s ‘Vendor Profile’ is David from Sydney. And we have ‘Streetsheet’ contributions from Andrew in Melbourne; Rachael and Dave in Brisbane; and Drew and Michael S in Sydney. And, in great news for Sydneysiders, much-loved former Newtown vendor David W is back on the job! These days he’s selling in Marrickville.