Santa for a day, Santa for a lifetime!

I don’t quite know how it all happened… but it did! In the first two weeks of my stay in Thailand, I’ve spent a lot of time with my sister, dropping Maisie off at school, having coffee’s with all the mothers of the children, doing “stuff” during the day and then picking Maisie up afterwards. I can’t say I don’t enjoy it cus I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t. Hanging around with single desperate housewives, enjoying coffees and air-conditioned 4x4s has always been a little dream of mine! The kids are wicked too. They’re like little coils of wound up energy. You know, I don’t think they should sleep because when they wake up, all they do is leave trails of destruction anywhere they go. And they get away with it too! But you gotta love them for it. Anyway, all this hanging around, chilling out and not doing much was bound to hit me some time. What I didn’t realize was that from one minute to another, somehow, I’d “agreed” to “volunteer” to become the school's Santa. I don’t quite know how it all happened although I do seem to recall there being offerings of wine and other little luxuries for my troubles. Apparently, last year’s Santa had fled the country and headed on back to the land of Engle’s for Christmas and they were desperate. It was one of those situations where everyone was smiling and laughing, and saying no would have raised or furrowed a few eyebrows. It all happened very quickly and it actually turned out to be amazing. Firstly, I had to go to a post Christmas morning bash where bucks-fizz was served to get me in the mood. Then I did a little dress rehearsal for all the mothers and after getting their approval, I was ready. The next day, the mothers and teachers had kitted out a little grotto, tree and all, and I saw almost 100 children, Ho-Ho-Hoing away in a funky costume. I was nervous as anything. I thought that once the ball was rolling, I’d be cool but the very first kid that came in, burst into tears! He was only two, admittedly! Still, it wasn’t the start I needed. However, once it got going, I seemed to fit the bill rather well. I can now proudly put "Being Santa" on my CV! Bring it On!!! I am available for children’s parties and Christmas bashes by the way! ;-)