Thought for the Week

WELL, have you seen it yet?

I’m referring to the new Paddington Christmas advert which I think is absolutely enchanting.

I am an avid Paddington fan and can’t wait for Paddington 2 to hit the screens.

However, the ‘Christmas Visitor’ ad will keep me going. The little bear is as delightful as ever and captures our hearts with his innocence and naivety.

The Christmas scene is set amidst houses that really only exist in our misty-eyed nostalgia.

Snow covered streets let us peep into houses where everything is perfect and everyone is happy.

Christmas lights and trees twinkle round the village, and Santa’s sleigh drifts through a starry sky across snowy rooftops. It is an idyll. Some would say it’s sentimental fantasy. Well of course it is! But is a little of that not just what we need to escape to in this world today?

I wish this Christmas that everyone could feel a bit of the magic we felt as children, and which, in truth, some of us still do.

But more than that I wish everyone could know safety, have enough food, have a warm home and know real love.

Yes, Paddington is part of the idyll, but Paddington is also more than that.

Paddington is kind, considerate and sees the best in everyone - even the rogue trying to steal the Christmas gifts.

The little bear ensures that everyone has a gift and finally he melts the toughened heart of the thief by giving him his last marmalade sandwich.

It’s not much to give, but it’s all he has. Is that not the real meaning of Christmas?