Disappointing shopping in Rye

We attended the same event a couple of years ago, and were enchanted by -:

Real live reindeer - adored by children and adults alike.

A wonderful parade through the High Street - with a “cast of thousands.”

A great atmosphere amongst the large crowds crammed into the town, and along the parade route.

Mince pies and mulled wine freely offered to shoppers as promised.

So come 2013, and given the publicity given to this year’s event, we invited several members of the family down for the weekend, to share the joy of a “jam packed day of treats .”

Alas, the spirit of Scrooge was rampant. We visited Concepts and Forget Me Not, but not so much as a sniff of mulled, or whiff of pie!! As for Wishbarn Antiques who were visited in the prime time slot on Saturday afternoon, well, they must have been in breach of the Trade Descriptions Act - no carol singing, no mince pies, no traditional decorations of any significance!!!!

As for the Christmas Market on Strand Quay, it was totally invisible - with no explanation available as to it’s whereabouts!! (According to the Tourist Office cancelled due to lack of support)

Hopes were still high for the Annual Rye Christmas Parade - but close your eyes for two seconds, and it was gone - such was its length!!!!

So come on Mr Mayor, where was the flair?? Vanished into thin air, judging by the few disappointed souls, who like you were there!!

Still never mind, we enjoyed some festive refreshment in The Mermaid Inn at £25 for five glasses of mulled wine and a non alcoholic beer!!!!

I hope to have the opportunity to represent the people of Rye, at some point in the future, and I would want to either restore the event to a worthwhile status - or not hold it in the first place. Saturday’s event publicity was an exercise in false pretences!!!