E-Book - Example 1

A true tale of Christmas here, from back in the early 1980s. The school caretaker who normally did it was ill and nobody else had volunteered for the job in hand. With such a sweet wicked smile, Diana, the headmistress of a then primary education school, asked me for a favour. Coerced by long term lady friend Gina, and also Diana, I sheepishly said that I would if I could. The task: dressing up as Santa and handing out presents to nine-year-old boys and girls.

Before I could even think about the ramifications of this to my image, I was whisked away to my fate. On arrival at the school, I was hastily ushered into the headmistress’s office and sweetly shown my Santa outfit, with wellington boots as well. Because I was a musician, a guitar had been provided from somewhere.

Thirty or more nine-year-olds, and me in a weird rig-out with a guitar in my hand, began to fill me with some trepidation, and the announcement of my arrival even more so.

Yes, I, used to singing and performing in front of hundreds of people, had become decidedly nervous.

Presents for all had been neatly arranged by the Christmas tree, and my first task would be to hand them out, all labelled with respective names. Dishing out the presents, I asked each youngster what they would really like for Christmas. One little boy said, "A car", and nobody was more surprised than me when a toy car appeared on the opening of his present.

This seemed to impress everybody and so, with my confidence restored, I was then able to sing and play a few seasonal melodies, even getting them all to join in too.

I still have a photo of me as Santa; although in disguise I still know that it was me. I would not really want to do it again but can always say at least that I have done that.

Month’s later at a local theatre production that I went to, a passer-by on a staircase (one of the school’s teachers) said, quite loudly, "Hello Nick, how are your reindeer?"