M & S Christmas Ad

[Rita Sherry]

Lloyd

Tank you so very much for sending me the link - I have just watched the video and it was absolutely delightful. Almost shed a tear when it looked like the fox had been left all alone. Afraid I get very sentimental over such things (still a child at heart but no bad thing). Are the grandchildren composing their letter to Santa Claus this year? - magic

Thank you again.

Rita

[William Morris]

That may work for you being resident in the UK, but if we in Cyprus wish to mail Christmas cards and gifts to family in the UK, we have to do that at least 5-6 weeks beforehand; ergo we have to purchase them that much beforehand.

A good retailer will try to ensure his stocks of Christmas goodies are well run down by Christmas Eve. So if wifey goes out on Christmas Eve and finds there are no turkeys, Christmas puds, crackers and desired gifts for the grandchildren in the shops, who shall she blame other than her own ineptitude?

Don't tell me, I guess you also arrive at an airport 30 minutes before your flight is due to depart...and wait until the last day of the sales to buy your bargains? Smart thinking...NOT!

Apologies, I did not realise that the topic was restricted to residents in Cyprus. I seem to have totally misunderstood the meaning of the conversation AGAIN. Silly old me.

I thought, mistakenly, that it was about TV COMMERCIALS appearing on British TV in November!!!!

My point being that November is too early and that it spoils the event. Christmas is just one day after all.

I was not referring to buying cards or turkeys. it is just the mad commercialism of it all.

My arrival at airports and sales, I think, is totally irrelevant to this topic.

[Rita Sherry]

Dominic

What a beautiful film I thoroughly enjoyed it - Thank you.

Rita

[Dominic]

Dominic

What a beautiful film I thoroughly enjoyed it - Thank you.

Rita

Is that the first time you've seen "The Snowman" Rita?

Coo.

Here's another one by Raymond Briggs, which is a lot darker. Funnily enough, it also features David Bowie, but most musical credit goes to Roger Waters of Pink Floyd fame, for the immaculate score. Excuse the subtitles though, but don't worry, the dialog is all in English.

I saw this when it was released in the cinemas in the 80s. It's very sad, about an old couple not coping after a nuclear bomb went off. But it is also a bit uplifting too, seeing how their love for each other kept them going until the end.

At the cinema, when the end credits rolled, not one person got up to leave. They all stayed to listen to the final song play. The song "Folded Flags" is one of the best things Waters has ever written. It is a shame so few people have actually heard it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVq76YvTPMs

[PhotoLady]

LOL, we were told by our UK local post office 2 weeks ago that the last date for posting to OZ was the very next day... my reply to her was "I will just stick to Moonpig".... needless to say, the lady post office worker had a face like she'd just sucked on a lemon

I'm fed up of Christmas in the UK already.... too many adverts, the decorations have been up in the shops since before the end of October and the tree lights and trees have all come out over the weekend. We're trying to get a meal booked in one of our local pubs for next month and the one day they can get all 15 of us together is in the middle of December (Christmas lunch for 2 courses at £8.50pp being served between the 4th to 20th December), otherwise we all have to be seated in separate booths.

In 2 other eateries a meal on Christmas Day is £49.50 (no thank you!) and we're only in the middle of November! Grrrrrr

Get me back to Cyprus - FAST!

[PaphosAL]

Thanks for 'The Snowman' video, Dominic! Glad I had my box of tissues by the side of me... Absolutely brilliiant animation and music. And yes, you are quite correct, Aled Jones is singing 'Walking in the Air'.

It's me who sings 'Flying in the Air' in the bath, LOL! Are they walking, or flying to the North Pole to meet Santa, ask yourself? Made in 1982, and having watched it year in and year out, this is the first time that I clocked that Santa had a Hungarian gypsy (sigan) violinist playing there!

Just like going out for an evening meal in Budapest, when a gypsy band would suddenly appear around your table, and wouldn't stop playing until they received a nice tip! But it all made for a smashing ambience, though... AL

[PaphosAL]

@Dominic: Do you have an alternative video link for 'When the wind blows' please? As C4 has decided that we TV Licence payers in the UK are not entitled to view it via your link...

AL

[WHL]

On a side note. anyone who likes Raymond Briggs films would love this, is about his own Mum and Dads story, Beautifully filmed....but have the tissues ready
https://youtu.be/JXDlEw5u8u8

[Dominic]

I read the book when it came out. I even had a signed copy! I didn't know they had made it into a film.

You will need much more tissues for When The Wind Blows though.

[Dominic]

@Dominic: Do you have an alternative video link for 'When the wind blows' please? As C4 has decided that we TV Licence payers in the UK are not entitled to view it via your link...

AL

I can't help I'm afraid Al. If I find another link, how will I be able to tell if you can view it in the UK or not?

Just google it.

[WHL]

I read the book when it came out. I even had a signed copy! I didn't know they had made it into a film.

You will need much more tissues for When The Wind Blows though.

I saw it last year I think, its such a beautiful film, one we can all relate too, smashing actors involved, I would recommend it to everyone.

[PaphosAL]

@Dominic: Do you have an alternative video link for 'When the wind blows' please? As C4 has decided that we TV Licence payers in the UK are not entitled to view it via your link...

AL

I can't help I'm afraid Al. If I find another link, how will I be able to tell if you can view it in the UK or not?

Just google it.

Does this look like a good link for 'When the Wind Blows' to you, Dom? 1h 44m long, no subtitles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihrnND7-Hsg

Works fine in UK. How about Cyprus?

Cheers- AL

[trevnhil]

It's not so good here. The picture only covers one quarter of the screen. The other three quarters is Rain puddles

[Dominic]

Not really, no. It's only 1/4 of the view screen with a lot of crud showing on the rest. Kind of like listening to a symphony with the radio on full blast next to you. Plus, the ending is cut off before you hear the song, which kind of ruins it.

This vid has the ending, but I think the image is cropped at the edges a little:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1t6E44fJbc

[trevnhil]

That works fine for me with a full square screen

[Dominic]

Ah, I think the reason for the problem is because they are releasing a dual format DVD and bluray edition in January 2018. They are obviously trying to protect their investment.

[Firefly]

Just seen the John Lewis Ad, it's ok but not one of the best.

Jackie

[WHL]

Re John Lewis add, if anyone understands what that was all about please let us know?

[PhotoLady]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jw1Y-zhQURU

It's a sad one

[William Morris]

Re John Lewis add, if anyone understands what that was all about please let us know?

It is all about the Christmas monster. Surely you know all about Moz!!

I know that it is not really traditional, like Saint Nicholas and north pole and elves, etc but, hey, we all have to move with the times, right.

More money spent on Christmas ads than in any previous year, apparently.

I understand that advertising is a real art form so we should not be complaining.

Who knows what next year may bring??