rebellion

Now where had I got to? The confusing thing is that anyone reading from top down will not understand this since they will not have read the earlier post. SO IF YOU DIDN'T READ THE ONE THIS MORNING READ THAT FIRST
Now to catch up. The rebellious elves are causing more problems and by going to Yorkshire Lad over my head have given me quite a headache. The simple answer is to throw money at the problem but Yorkshire Lad won't allow that so I will have to find another way around it but that will have to be after using a day of my annual leave to sort out a complaint from an angry parent. Honestly don't they think I have enough problems squeezing down their chimneys or trying to find alternative ways into these new houses and flats without having to cope with petty "not what I wanted" complaints. If they knew the trouble I have. At one house I even resorted to using the cat flap and met someone called Kip Enzie coming through from the other side. Don't dogs know that CAT flaps are for cats?

Cyber dog

Some of you may remember a robot dog, K9 who appeared in many of the Doctor Who series, I think with Peter Davidson and possibly John Pertwee. He was metallic, looked like a doggy version of Kryten from Red Dwarf and from memory was not particularly appealing. Well, we in the Claus household have gone one better. Reindeer Hugh has his own Facebook Page although he is masquerading as his alter ego, Hugh the Greyhound. We thought he was the first reindeer/dog to have his own Facebook Page but no, Kip Enzie beat us to it. I suspect she has a very high pedigree and so probably expects these thingswhilst for Hugh it is an exciting adventure. He and Kip Enzie are "friends" and correspond regularly, especially about Kip Enzie's new outside toilet. (if you want to see photos then go to her page - she doesn't have a blog yet). Hugh has other admirers including Rosie, a transatlantic affair although Rosie has to sneak onto her Mom's computer to send her messages. Rosie is a party animal and has her own photos on Facebook but I am not going to tell you how to find her as that would give away her secret to Mom. Dusty isn't allowed to have her page but her Mum sends messages from time to time so Hugh can keep up with her news.
Back at the day job the elves are revolting (in the rebellious rather than ugly or smelly way [in fact one of them is very pretty]). They work in one of the outer grottos and had trouble with the wrong type of snow earier in the year. Their sleigh driver quite before Christmas, just at our busiest time and they have never really recovered. The boss elf says she doesn't want the responsibility any more and wants to stand down. Yorkshire Lad who controls my budget says I can't recruit a replacement for either her or the sleigh driver until the elves get more money coming in to cover their costs. How am I supposed to generate income when our season doesn't start for another 8 months?
Mrs Claus is calling so I have to go but will finish later so you will get two blogs for the price of one

Party and beyond

Well, Mrs Claus' birthday bash certainly was a hit. Mrs prim and proper with the reindeer master was first up, saying something about another party to go onto afterwards. Just because they almost share their birthdays with Mrs Claus, no reason to stand us up, although come to think of it they did stand up all the time they were here. Young P was next having made the trek across the artic wastes with only a compass and a 248 bus to guide him. The music teacher and the carpenter came next bearing precious gifts. (for those of you who may be English pedants they were certainly not baring anything)
The evening wore on ..... "that's such a lovely phrase my dear, with your permission I will say it again" (small prize for anyone who can tell me what film that came from and who said it, both character and actor). More guests and gifts arrived and the early ones left (the guests that is not the gifts). Wine and conversation were flowing although the miracle of water into wine was far from being repeated, one lovely couple arrived with a very expensive bottle of wine and had to make do with Tesco plonk for the party but as I said to them "after the third glass it doesn't really matter".
Happy birthday has been sung in many ways but this time we had an improptu African gospel choir. Jo Jo came and was soon reunited with his hareem including the CVwho we had not seen since the last Manchester United match and of course the ever popular JB. Jetski boy popped down for food and drink and was not seen again for the rest of the evening but Bodybuilder stayed for quite a while and was much admired by the Minx in a mini who insisted on having her photograph taken with him (the photo will not be available for public display due to copywrite infringement with bodybuilder's managing agency). In fact the minx appears in lots of photos (not to be published, well at least until I see if the blackmail money is going to be paid)
All good parties must come to an end and around 12.30 am we had finished the washing up and I went to bed, followed by Mrs Claus who was up again at 3.00 saying she could not sleep and went downstairs to "put things away". Facebook entries and several completed sudokos tell a different story however.