BUS-TED. WE'RE BACK!

In truth, I wasn't really ready to get in the Christmas spirit yet. I've still got 3 packs of sparklers left from Bonfire night, I've just got back from a beach holiday and I'm still trying to work out the ending to the John Lewis Christmas ad and why Waitrose's offering was shot in Black & White - food doesn't look appetising in 50 shades of grey (or maybe it does?).

But then this little beauty popped into my message hole and all that changed.

But first, let's talk about last year.

Let's face it, it was a massive disappointment. Whether we've been rumbled or no-one can say 'Christmas' anymore, the fact is, there were very few metaphorical CAWU gifts round the tree last year. <Sigh>.

Maybe things will be different this time? I was thinking of jacking it in, but for the sake of the kids, if nothing else we should give this one more go. We can't just throw away 6 years without trying. Let's persevere.

So a massive thank you to our very own CAWU Father Christmas who never fails to deliver every year, James Devon, who's always on the lookout for us.

I've not watched the original Daddy's Home, but judging by the odd couple demeanour/ layout (and now their dads too) I imagine this sequel, taking place over the festivities, is a right mad cap Christmas yarn on par with National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation!

> Who am I kidding? Nothing competes with that movie!

I'm sure it's a rollercoaster of emotions ending with everyone round the dinner table at the end (Spoiler Alert - probably). However, it does feature our favourite line and there's christmas jumpers and a tree and it's the first CAWU of the season, so fuck it. It's in... because who knows when the next one could arrive? See you in 12 months... probably

CAWU Crew.
X

ODDS ON TO FEATURE AGAIN.

Like the tin of Pringles, the Lynx shower gel and the sack of 'tat' (a plastic bag of 'crap' raided from the Spanish 'Poundland' equivalent) I thoughtfully get every Christmas from Father (and Mother) Christmas, ASCOT comes up with the goods in its usual traditional fashion.

Having spent even less time changing the ad than the Evening Standard from last year, (I'm guessing the '15 has become a '16 and making the background more Royal Blue than Navy) it becomes clear now that they bought this concept from the ad agency back in 1978 and promptly fired them, knowing that it was never going to get much better than this and that their Christmas campaigns for eternity was sorted... and who can argue?

Now that most of the classics are out of the way, (we're still waiting for the 02/Carphone Warehouse 2016 CAWU Metro wrap for the Holly Trinity to be completed) we can then look forward to some fresh CAWU campaigns.

Let's hope there's something worthwhile in the 'Wrapped Up' sack of tat.

Many thanks to Mark 'Sharky' Cochrane for the spot. I'm pretty sure he sent this to me last year. I wouldn't be surprised if he plans their media and buys the ad space. He probably changed the date and colour too.

WRAPPED UP COMES AS STANDARD (AGAIN)

I think we can all agree that 2016 has been a bit of a shocker. We lost Prince, Bowie, R2-D2, Wogan, Europe and, let's not forget that America is about to sponsor next year's apocalypse. So in these times of uncertainty, it's good to know some things don't change.

So please be upstanding and thank the Evening Standard for sticking with one tradition and kicking off CAWU '16 the same way it has since records began.

Green seems to be the key colour this year for the Standard's portrayal of Christmas, with red taking more of a backseat. It would also appear from previous years, that it's all about the smaller presents rather than the one BIG gift this time.

Whether this is down to austerity or perhaps better things do come in smaller packages, we'll never know. However, seeing this in the middle of the paper last night was like getting a big hug from a family member you haven't seen in a year(s). I can now look forward without dread, knowing that perhaps we'll all be OK this Christmas.

A big wrapped up finale.

Like an extra present that's fallen behind the tree, there's one last CAWU post and it's probably the best of the bunch. Movies and Christmas go together like Kevin McCallister and the Wet Bandits and fortunately for us, the creatives at Film 4 have gone big and wrapped up Christmas perfectly for us. Literally.

60 seconds of pure CAWU fun. 

Looks like Santa came through for us in the end. That, and his elf sized pal, Greg Mutton. Many thanks Greggybread for spotting this and restoring our faith in Christmas.

Probably the last wrapped up of the season

Well, I said it was slim pickings this year and it looks like (unless there's a massive surge of briefs coming in the last week - I pity the creatives if that's true) this could be the last CAWU of 2015.

Three lousy posts. Th-r-e-e. We've even had to look at social as an outlet.

Anyway, regardless of quantity, let's look at quality. And there's none to be found here from probably the best lager in the world. If the CGI designer had at least made half an attempt to make it look like it was real, then we'd have something to get excited about, but I fear this went straight into design from the client, courtesy of the account department because workflow said 'No'.

Perhaps we should start a JFDI blog.

But let's not finish on a low. There's a week to go and maybe a quick letter to the white bearded big guy might save CAWU 2015.

In other news, Hark the Herald Angels, my replacement fridge door bottle shelf has just arrived!

Maybe this is the last post.

Dial C for Christmas

Slim pickings this year so far. I know December has only just started but we're usually on the wind down by now. Anyway, another repeat offender turned up last night and it was quite a relief to be honest. Please be upstanding and slow clap TESCO for coming good just when it mattered.

I have a slight issue with this ad. And that is...  who really gives a phone as a gift?

Imagine the scene on Christmas morning:

'Here's your present!'

<tears off Tesco Value Wrapping Paper>
'Oh wow! A phone. It's great, thank you!'

'It's only £49 a month for the next 24 months, you're very welcome'

That aside it looks like budgets have been cut this year, fortunately it the copywriter was still able to flex his creative muscle. If there was one, it looks like the Art Director 'phoned' it in (on his new Galaxy S6) pretty early on and who can blame him. 'Here's the images', they said 'but feel free to Christmas it up a bit.'

'Put 20% transparency on the snow flakes and send it to print.'



Many thanks to Mr Workman for rescuing CAWU this year.

And we're off for 2015!

With #MoonHitler spying on kids for John Lewis, the launch of the Pret Christmas Sandwich (6/10) and glittery MSG being liberally sprinkled over all the supermarket's offerings, I was worried that Christmas All Wrapped Up had missed the launch of the festivities.

I'll be honest, I had begun to think that maybe the line had finally come to the end of its natural life as it's been all quiet in the CAWU house. Discussing this over a post-work pint last night, my phone buzzed gently and when I looked down an image appeared that would restore my faith with the advertising fraternity.

Thank heavens for Ascot.

Not only that, but it's a double-yolker for the Royal racecourse as this is the second year in a row that they've used those four lovely words. God bless you.

I'm hoping that 2015 will be our best CAWU year ever, but I have a feeling we might have been rumbled. Hope springs eternal though...

Keep 'em peeled people.

Many thanks to CAWU stalwart, James Devon for the text. And also @MsCheeseonToast for cutting it out and leaving it on the kitchen table for me when I got home.