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This holiday season, the world’s most efficient delivery man Santa Claus takes the time to answer some questions about his pre-Christmas preparations.
Q: Can you describe a typical day for Santa Claus?
A: A typical day for me starts with a good breakfast (shortbread and fruit mince pies with some milk), some cardio (climbing and shimmying mostly), I put in a solid day of work in the workshop and then catch some Gilmore Girls before an early bed time.
Q: What are you doing right now?
A: Over the last few weeks I have been buried up to my bushy eyebrows in letters. Even with half my elves pulled off the line to help open and read them, it’s been a struggle. Now we are past that stage, thank goodness, and are ready to start packing the sleigh, preparing to begin deliveries on Christmas Eve.
Q: What will you do after Christmas is over?
A: I always work long days, even in my ‘off-season’. I take a month’s holiday through January to recover from the Christmas rush and then it’s straight back into the workshop developing ideas and designs for the next lot of toys.
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Q: What is the biggest challenge in delivering all those toys in one night?
A: Well, as you know, I can suspend the laws of time and space, so the timeline is not really an issue for me. My main concern is the pets. It’s a little nerve-wracking sometimes to be backing down a chimney, not sure if a doberman is going to be waiting at the bottom.
Q: What is your favourite treat when delivering presents?
A: I have very old-fashioned tastes in some ways. I love a piece of gingerbread with some milk, but I have to say Australian children have been tempting me with these new-fangled chocolate biscuits. Yum, yum.
I have been left all sorts of goodies over the years: Lamingtons, sponge cake, trifle. I have even been left the occasional salad! (Not that I need to count the calories. I’ve been wearing the same size suit for hundreds of years now.)
Q: Has technology changed your job?
A: In some ways technology has made my job harder. My workshop elves need a great deal of new skills to cope with the growing demand for battery-operated toys and electronic devices.
On the other hand, it has been an incredible time-saver. I have transferred my naughty and nice list to my cloud and it automatically updates depending on the child’s behaviour.
I no longer have to check my list twice – it’s all there waiting for me when I pack the sleigh.
It’s a long trip around the world to deliver all those toys to boys and girls, but on the upside, I’m going to smash the all-time Pokemon Go record. (Don’t worry, I only ever play on my stops, never while flying.)
Q: Any final message for the boys and girls excitedly waiting for your visit?
A: Don’t stay up! I’ll know if you are trying to take a peek! If you hear the rattle of hooves on your roof top or think you hear the distant tinkle of bells, it’s time to close those sleepy eyes.
I almost forgot! Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas!
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