Flossie now accepts giant snowman

Is it me, or do people seem to be taking their outdoor Christmas decorations to a whole new level? They certainly are where I live.

Flossie and I get to appraise everyone’s efforts on our afternoon walks when it starts to get dark. It’s heartwarming to see front doors framed with sparkling lights and festive wreaths while windows and hedges flash with snowflakes and stars. 

Some houses are so splendidly adorned I half expect to glimpse Father Christmas himself emerging from within.

But the hero of this year’s seasonal decor is a new one to me. 

It’s rare, but when spotted (and they are easy to see), they certainly raise a smile.

I’m talking about the inflatable. 

Huge, billowing snowmen, penguins, polar bears, and, not too far from me, a very fine, swaying gingerbread man with a broad grin. 

The first time we encountered the colossal snowman, Flossie did a double take. So did I, to be fair. 

It towered above the front door it stood beside as it bobbed and bounced in the wind, smiling slightly ominously. 

Flossie’s tail bristled. 

This new, unidentified object was clearly a security risk. 

She barked sharply at it. 

It wobbled defiantly.

A few treats persuaded Flossie that the oversized snowman didn’t need to be dealt with. 

Over the next few days we got through a lot of treats. Eventually, Flossie decided that the snowman was an accepted local and now, simply gives it a look of disdain. 

I spotted the grinning gingerbread man from quite a distance. It’s magnificent. 

I wasn’t sure what Flossie would make of it. Would I need to increase the treat supply or would the training with the snowman pay off?

I paused to watch the giant biscuit man as it rocked and swayed, assuming Flossie would do the same. 

She did not. 

It was as if she couldn’t even see it.

Apparently all Christmas inflatables are now welcome, according to Flossie.

As published in the Bath Chronicle, 25 December 2025