The 15th December 2014 was a big day for Looe. We had a visit from a very important person, in fact the person was represented by a truck (or lorry as we Brits prefer to call them!) The person is Father Christmas as we know him and he was represented by a company!
This company over many years have claimed to produce the real thing and have had great influence over the world. I would say that the greatest influence that they have had is to change the face of Christmas. They very cleverly changed the colour of the outfit of Father Christmas to red and white which just happened to be the distinctive colours of their brand! They are of course Coca Cola; one of the largest and wealthiest companies in the world.
The Coca cola bus is coming to town, how amazing is that.
As one who if at all possible never watches adverts I am no expert but the lorry that arrived looked like the expected one but when they turned on their lights even I was greatly underwhelmed by their startling disappointment. I expected the power stations of Looe to be taxed to the full by their spectacular display but all we got was a rope chaser light around the profile of the truck. Coca Cola must have spent a good hundred pounds maximum of their vast wealth to provide the boys and girls with the damp squib of the season.
I would like to tell Coca Cola personally that they are far from the real thing and are simply a vast money making exercise which will attract people to an event with great promise and little reward. Looe town was full of hopeful visitors who I am sure had a great day. They were even allowed to be photographed with the disappointing gas guzzler if they were prepared to wait for an hour in a queue and if they agree to let their faces free of charge be possibly used to promote the sweet brown fizzy phosphoric acid solution that we know and love as Coca Cola.
This day was in many respects a big let down which would have gone down in Looe history as a massive failure but for the wonderful people and traders of Looe which made it a festive event worth going to. Traders filled their tents with bright and affordable goods whilst the big real thing put about replicas of their truck for a mere 40 quid!!!! For once I would have applauded cheap replicas and may even have bought one due to my disappointment. Local choirs sang carols, the drum band were marvelous! I bought light up "spinney" things for the grandchildren, charities represented themselves, the Cornish Times and Slimming World gave away their wares. Cafes and restaurants stayed open late. It was a wonderful evening for which I thank all and would ask that it be made an annual event but don't bother to invite those that claim to be the real thing they are a big let down.
The real thing was hinted at by the crowds in the street and by the efforts made by officials and traders alike but He was still unrepresented. Sad to say that the church was really nowhere to be seen on the night that the Real Thing was advertised to come to town. Shame on us, we have the message of Jesus Christ who is never a let down but is the Real Thing and the object of our worship at all times. Grace Community Church opened their car park for a park and ride scheme into the town and took the initiative of opening their doors for refreshments for which I applaud them.
Most importantly people did enjoy themselves, some even danced to the beat of the drum band:
Christians why not offer to bring the Real Thing (our Jesus) into Looe this time next year and instead of a red and white truck have a community carol service which will deliver hope to many. It might not be as popular as a Coca Cola have made themselves to be but it would not be the let down of the century!
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