Santa in the Sun

A festive tale for you this month!

Two weeks before Christmas last year, my son, who lives in Cape Town, called to say that he and his family were coming to stay with us for the festive season.

As we had worked over Christmas running our Lodge for the past eight years, it would be the first Christmas I would ever spend with my four year old granddaughter.

We had originally planned to go to the UK for the holidays, so had made no decorative preparations at all! A mad panic ensued in search of fairy lights and all things glittery for our little angel's first Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa Els.

On previous year's when we ran the Lodge, we would buy presents for the children of the staff and the local settlement. These would be delivered by Father Christmas (aka Grandpa Els) and his two elves (my sister and I). Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on your perspective), we still had the Santa suit which could be dusted off for the occasion.

Come a bright and sunny South African Christmas morning, and it is 85 degrees outside, but Grandpa Els still insisted on hiding in the office and donning his outfit complete with welly boots, full beard, Santa hat and a pillow up his jacket. He looked scarily realistic. To scarily it turns out - as he trekked up to the house ringing his bell, our little angel took one look and ran off screaming and crying. So much for good intentions.

Poor little Chloe spent the rest of the day confiding in and preferring the company of our three dogs who were equally bemused by  the stranger in the big beard.

Linda x Pin It Now!