Trying to make ends meet, you're a slave to money then you die.

That quote from the Verve's 'Bittersweet Symphony' suddenly struck a chord amongst the fly-away notes that have been playing in my head on the subject of materialism. It is something to which, I think, I have been more exposed since living in the UK. I don't think it would be an obvious difference between Geneva and Belfast as when people think of Geneva, watches, fancy clubs, boat trips, ski trips, swiss banks, and second homes to the stars come to mind...but the ever-increasing in popularity shopping culture over in Northern Ireland and I assume, the rest of the UK, is really striking, especially at this time of year.

The shops, from Topshop to Tesco, are all signed up in the competition of being open the longest and being shut only the minimum amount of time possible. (Some shop assistants I was chatting with told me they would be paid 2, sometimes 3 times more than the normal wage for working on special days such as Boxing Day or New Year's Eve...the show must go on).

Shoppers, which I guess means the majority of the population, spend the run up to Christmas shopping for gifts and festive food and party outfits...then spend the follow up to Christmas spending their money on long-desired or spur-of-the-moment sale items and more festive food and party outfits.

And when does this shopping happen? Whenever there is a spare moment. Granted, Christmas Eve sees the closing times creep up on our precious shopping time a little earlier than usual, and Christmas Day is a 'day off'...But back to 'work' when Boxing Day comes along, and every other moment after that. It is the nation's favourite activity. We are in the race for 'more'. But 'more' never satisfies, it is a bottomless pit. But is it an attractive one. 'We've made our greed a virtue'.

How far will this go?