Shaken half to bits by the referendum, the snowglobe of Scottish politics finally settled down at FMQS today, revealing the reordered characters and landscape within.

As a fresh-faced Kezia Dugdale wiped the blood off the Johann Lamont memorial bench and sat down, on the balcony behind her, her new boss, that boney wraith Jim Murphy, watched silently like the ghost of Labour yet to come.

While across the aisles, Nicola Sturgeon, flanked by her cabinet, and Ruth Davidson, surrounded by dead wood, completed the festive tableau.

Although the three parties have been represented by women since November, the new line-up should last until at least the general election.

It promises to be combative.

Ms Dugdale rose to a round of applause from Labour MSPs, relieved it wasn't them out front.

She began, with disappointing civility, by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

The FM congratulated her on being elected labour deputy, then wished everyone Merry Christmas too.

At the sight of Good King Consensus walking on, a grinding of teeth and snapping of pencils broke out in the press gallery.

"God, not this lovey-dovey stuff again," muttered one miserable scribe.

"There is a crisis in the oil industry," Ms Dugdale continued.

Phew! The relieved hacks perked up.

With the price in a slump, the industry faced meltdown and collapse, Ms Dugdale said.

"What are the Scottish Government going to do?"

The SNP benches, who before the referendum revelled at any mention of oil like pigs in a wallow, were curiously restrained.

Ms Sturgeon said her government would chip in a few million for innovation and apprentices, then appealed for unity at Holyrood to push the UK government to do more on taxes and investment.

Ms Dugdale reminded the FM she had six specific areas of responsibility regarding the industry.

"So the same old answers about looking to Westminster for solutions do not stack up.

"What security do hundreds of thousands of oil workers and their families have this Christmas from this government?"

Ms Sturgeon's Yuletide spirit evaporated quicker than brandy from a flaming pud.

"I hope the words we have been hearing from Kezia Dugdale ... about a new consensual approach can survive beyond the first FMQs," she nipped.

But Ms Dugdale kept going, giving it more needle than a pine forest and pointing out John Swinney had just predicted oil would rebound from $60 to $110 a barrel next year, yet one expert economist thought $40 was credible.

"Oh here we go," moaned the Finance Secretary.

"Mr Swinney!" rasped the Presiding Officer.

Summoning Salmond-like powers of condescension, Mr Sturgeon responded: "Kezia Dugdale, I thought, started in the right tone today."

Ms Dugdale grinned broadly - she'd got under the FM's skin on day one.

"Isn't it the truth that the Scottish Government didn't see the crisis coming because they believed their own wishful thinking about oil prices?" she suggested.

The FM again appealed for consensus and said the public didn't want "a party political ding dong" on the issue, code for 'Ok, you win this time.'

Ms Davidson went on tax, arguing Mr Swinney's new stamp duty was "an £80m tax grab on Scotland's homeowners", as it would be dearer than the version George Osborne announced last week.

Ms Sturgeon said she'd consider the Tories' ideas for changes "very carefully", especially the fact that under their plans "the 80% of people who buy houses under £250,000 would be £100 better off but the 2% who buy houses over £500,000 would be £12,600 better off. Is that fair?"

The Tories looked downcast. Even at Christmas, they knew that was a carve-up too far.