So, my new book “The Gingerbread Man” is for sale on i-Books. It’s not easy to track down as there are literally dozens of versions with the same title.
I just didn’t think it through, did I?
Thinking about it now, what should I call it? Would “Santa and The Gingerbread Man” contain too much of a spoiler? Otherwise, which of these might be best: “The Gingerbread Man Adventure”, “Run, Gingerbread Man, Run” or “Gingerbread Man In Peril”? You may note from the title that I’m leaning towards the first. But what do you think?
This link should take people straight to it, with any luck!
The Gingerbread Man is a good story to tell young children. They can get involved with repeating lines, such as:
“Run, run as fast as you can.
You can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man.”
The problem with using it with younger children is the cruel ending. It’s very upsetting – unless you’re a fox! So, at a family party I attended last Christmas, I decided to tweak the ending to give the Gingerbread Man a better future. In the revised story at the party, Santa rescues the Gingerbread Man and turns him into a cuddly toy that I presented to my hosts.
Looking at the story again, I decide it was better to change the Gingerbread Man into a Christmas Badge. I have since changed the beginning as well.
I’ve made a video of the latest version of the story and I’d love to know what you think of it. Here it is:
What do you think of the video? Is it too short, too long or about right? Is there too much text – less might make it easier to watch with children?
Please, please contact me if you have any feedback at all. Thanks.
When you’re running a business, you might think that any media attention must be a ‘good thing’. It’s best to take a bit of care if you’re being interviewed, though. Nothing you say to a reporter is “off the record” unless that is agreed beforehand!
The chap from Huffington Post who wrote the article below asked me if it would be OK to have a bit of a background chat before the actual interview. After the chat, he officially started the interview. Most of my part of the article comes from the initial chat rather than the interview.
I don’t actually mind even though the result isn’t exactly what I expected. Santa really shouldn’t be seen to be ‘doing politics’, should he? On the other hand, the fact that he had so much extra “info” from our chat meant that he made me the lead character in his article. That has to be a ‘good thing’, doesn’t it?
The 2018 season was wonderful for Henley Santa with many great visits and really enjoyable events and photo and video shoots. 🎅🏼
A wonderful lady, Rene, came to see me in my grotto early in December. She’s 101 years old and had her daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren with her.
She’s been coming to see me for several years (since she was in her mid-nineties). I always know when she’s coming because my elf brings through a present for me to give her from her family.
After our time together and photos, her last words to me as she left were, “See you next year, Santa!”. And I don’t doubt that she will! 🎅🏼
On 15th December, I had a lovely girl as the last visitor in my grotto. Her only present request was a towel with a unicorn on it! I asked if she would like anything else, perhaps something silly and frivolous and she asked for a new writing book. Her mum then asked her to tell me the only other thing she had written on her list. It was an orange!
This came after lots of children asking for expensive gifts such as a Nintendo Switch, smart phones and drones. I found it quite moving. 🎅🏼
At the party of a local charity for partially sighted children, one young lady told me her Christmas Wish. The only thing that she wanted was for everybody to have a hot Christmas Dinner and somewhere safe to live. Unfortunately, there are limits to what even Santa can do. 🎅🏼
There are so many great things about being Father Christmas and I think that being visited by lovely children in my grotto and sharing cuddles must be my favourite! 🎅🏼
It’s not always obvious that I have to extremely fit for my Christmas deliveries.
If you think about it, I’ve got a lot of ground to cover and millions of chimneys to go down and back up whilst lugging many millions of gifts. Also, I get to eat so many cookies at Christmas that I have to work hard not to get fat! So, my helpers and I get together sometimes to work out.
In November, someone pointed out that her family couldn’t afford the cost of a home visit from Santa and Mrs Claus with all the other expenses of Christmas. I hate the idea of children having to miss out and an idea came to me today.
So, I’m wondering whether people would find a “Santa Club” helpful. As club members, they would pay so much a month to guarantee and to pre-pay a home visit next Christmas. The monthly fee would depend on the type and timing of their visit.
Does that strike you as a good idea? What possible benefits or problems do you foresee?
This has been a wonderful season and now it is ended.
The main joy for me has been meeting with children in my grotto and at their pre-schools. In addition, I’ve done some satisfying commercial work. This is the one that I enjoyed most.
These were wonderful kids who were truly shocked when I came down the chimney. It was great fun.
You know, sometimes I’m so snowed under that I cannot get to see a child or some children myself. It is not an easy job for anyone pretending to be me when that happens. I tell people that acting on my behalf is not all mince pies, sherry and jolliness.
Fortunately, my friends James and Matt, directors of the Ministry of Fun, run the UK’s leading Santa School. This marvellous school trains ordinary mortals to stand in for me if need be.
One of the things a new “Santa” learns is that a substitute Father Christmas has always to ask himself “What would the real Father Christmas do?” and act accordingly.
As a result:
A new “Santa” must look the part. That is, good suit, boots, real or convincing beard and moustache, metal framed glasses and good white gloves. A skinny “Santa” will need a false tummy (or a cushion at a pinch) to look more like me.
“Santa” never asks a child’s name because I already know it. Don’t you remember my naughty and nice lists?
He never asks what children want for Christmas, because of course I already have their letter; he just asks to be reminded. He also avoids promising specific gifts in case we can’t provide them.
He knows the names of all my reindeer because I do! (Here is a reminder for you, they are Dasher and Dancer, Cupid and Vixen, Comet and Prancer, Donder (aka Donner) and Blitzen and the new lad, Rudolph.)
The chaps who stand in when I can’t be there have to be able to wish children a Merry Christmas in many languages. After all, I take gifts to children all over the world.
All of my prospective stand-ins are DBS-checked before they are allowed to graduate from the Ministry’s Santa school at the end of their training.
Together, we can make the children’s Christmas really special. Here are some suggestions for your visit. If you have any further ideas, please get in touch on 07514 540724.
A basic visit can include:
Upon Arrival:
I’ll greet every person at the event (including your Elf on the Shelf if you have one). This is a great chance to take video and selfies with me!
I can sit for more formal, posed photos. This could be in front of the tree.
If you choose, I can give out your gifts (perhaps helped by Mrs Claus). I’ll pose with each person for a personal photo opportunity – so have your camera ready. Gifts should only be opened after I’ve given them all out. (TIP: Open gifts all at once, so no one is left out. This makes a great time for me to slip away.)
Some additional ideas to extend the visit beyond the basic 20 minutes:
I can organise a Christmas quiz (individually or in teams)
I can tell awful Christmas jokes (This will probably happen anyway, sorry!) and ask the children for theirs
Mrs. Claus or I can read a Christmas book
We can sing Christmas carols (WARNING: high altitude sleigh rides have left me with an awful singing voice!)
We can improvise a story that involves each child
Mrs Claus can make balloon models for the children (and adults)
I can formally turn on the Christmas tree lights
We can shoot a video (on your phone) for people who can’t be there for the visit.
If any of these ideas seem like something your family will enjoy, please do get in touch.
