I'm not on the naughty list!

On Thursday night, the stars were out, there was an amazing supermoon, and my daughter and I transformed into elves. Technically, I know that werewolves are the ones who are meant to transform then, but this is Poole, so not only was I an elf, but I was an elf in a hi-viz jacket as I followed the Santa Train and worked alongside the Rotary club to collect money for children's charities.

It was amazing to see the lights outside the houses and in the windows and the looks on the children’s faces and the look on the driver’s face as he pulled a large trailer with Santa standing on a model of an old-fashioned steam train around some very tight corners. The local head of the driving test centre told me it was one of the toughest routes in Poole when I took my driving test, much later in life than most people do and he brought me along there. He praised my instructor for the confident way I tackled it. The instructor started laughing, and I explained that we’d driven down my own road.

But that’s another story. Right now, it’s important to say that the driver was brilliant, especially since this was the first night of the season. So were my fellow elves, and Santa called Merry Christmas and assured us all that we have guaranteed places on the nice list. Which, obviously, is very good to know because we all know that once you stop believing in Father Christmas you are doomed to get socks for Christmas.

For me, it was also a time for memories because this is the 39th Christmas that I”ve done it. First as a newly wed, then many years later, taking the children. It’s always been the sign that Christmas is on its way, so of course we answered when they called for elves.

It’ll be out and about all over Poole for the next few weeks, and every single penny they collect goes to the charities because local firms sponsor them. It occurs to me that it ought to feature in a Lucy Williams short story so I’ll be working on that soon. Till then, here are some pictures taken by a very cold and happy elf!