Proof

16 December 2005

I love the fact that Santa came round the same evening we were putting up the lights and decorations. As I went to the bottom of the drive to take some blurry photos, a behatted money-collecting elf passed by and asked if I believed in Father Christmas. “Hell, yes!” I said, a little too loudly.

As Santa drew up, he saw that I had my camera and asked if I was taking photos. “Yes,” I said, “for proof!”. You see, proof that Santa exists. And that he has a Peugot-drawn sleigh. Well, I expect the reindeer are resting.

Now my belly is full of scampi and chips and I need to start transforming the house into the Christmas wonderland I like to conjure up each year. Cards will be stuck to the dining room wall, the little sleigh I made a few years ago will be set up with its props, the garlands will be tied above the doorways, the tree shall be festooned with glittery things and I shall start to feel merry.