I’m full of ho-ho-hope that Santa won’t let anyone down
MY pal Willie Eckerslike doubted Santa would come this year, what with Covid and travel restrictions that closed
Dover.
“His home bubble is at the North Pole and contains just him, Mrs Claus and nine reindeer,” said Willie.
“It’s rumoured even his elves have been self isolating in the toy factory for the last six months, just to be on the safe side.
“Besides, he’s at that susceptible age of 1,750-years-old. Would he want to take the risk?”
Actually, being that old put him right at the front of the queue for a vaccination and he has told me he wouldn’t miss his usual Christmas Eve jaunt around the world for anything.
“Can’t let the kiddies down,” he said. “Can I?”
He’s never missed a year, despite conflict, plague, bad weather and the time in 1972 when he came close to being shot down by trigger happy Americans who mistook him for an intercontinental ballistic missile during the Cold War.
Just as well that the Brits at RAF Fylingdale early warning station above Whitby identified his annual trajectory and spotted Rudolph’s red nose at the front, leading Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen; Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen.
Rudolph’s nose does more than light the way; it’s been a safety beacon since 1939 when aerial dangers were first recognised.
This year has presented more logistical problems than usual, what with Scotland closing its borders for the first time since Hadrian built a wall, US Home Security suspecting any fat bloke in a red suit trying to gain entry without a visa with an unregistered herd of livestock might be Mexican, and all the confusing trade regulations and import tariffs on toys.
Just as well Santa came to an arrangement with Jeff Bezos for Amazon white vans to help deliver some of the big stuff. Santa will, of course, be visiting as well to make sure everything is tickety boo.
He sent me a message confirming his schedule.
Didn’t I tell you?
I’ve been a member of the Santa Fraternity ever since I donned the tubby suit and white beard as special guest at the old folks’ treat at
Scissett 20 years ago. And weren’t they disappointed when I took the beard off and revealed my true identity.
“Who’s he, then?” one lady asked the organisers.
“You said it would be somebody famous,” said another.
Ah well, can’t win them all.
But I did re-learn the magic of Christmas that day, if I ever needed to, when I sat down next to a little girl who was there helping her mum with the teas.
She said not a word but her eyes were huge in her face and her mouth slightly open as she stared up at me. At least she wasn’t disappointed. She believed and made my day and my Christmas.
Santa says that even though restrictions mean not all families can be together this year, the love will still reach out in thoughts, memories, phone calls and zoom connections, and it really does make sense for us to stay indoors in front of a warm TV set with a box of chocolates and an eggnog and look forward to better times ahead.
So children should still leave out a mince pie and a glass of good cheer tonight as usual for Santa, and maybe a carrot for the reindeer, safe in the knowledge that he will be visiting as normal despite any restrictions.
Willie Eckerslike? Of course he will.