We took two of our grandsons to see Santa recently. Well, it is the season after all …
The location was the Isle of Doagh way up on the far north coast of Donegal. A November night on the far north coast of Ireland is windy and cold. Believe me.
As we had over an hours drive to get there, I decided to get our eldest grandson (7 years old) worked up about the visit and revealed after I booked it that it was the “real” Santa and we would have to drive very far to see him. As anyone who has ever travelled with a child will know, every mile seems like ten miles to them.
So on a dark, wet & windy November night we wrapped up well and set off on our journey to see the “real” Santa, my mother, my husband, and two of our grandsons (7 & 2 years old) ~ and of course me. My mother took the queen bee seat up front with my husband who was driving and I got the uncomfortable seat propped in the back between the 2 year old in his car seat and the 7 year old on my other side.
Along the way I filled Kane (the 7 year old) in on the journey ahead, what we might see and so on. I was saying I really hoped Santa would be there and the wee pet nudged me, showing his fingers crossed on both hands, and said ‘so do I!’.
I told him we would have to cross water to get to Santa but as it was magic, there was no bridge. What he is not aware of is that The Isle of Doagh is joined to the mainland Donegal by a causeway but of course Kane didn’t know this. As we approached the Isle of Doagh the half moon was glistening on the water around us and with all the land either side in total darkness, it really looked like we were magically driving over the water. Kane was engrossed. His already big eyes became larger with the thrill of this magical journey. Then as chance would have it, a plane trail appeared in the sky, highlighted by the light of the moon. I told him it must be Santa on his way to see us!
To further enhance the magic, I texted a local radio station that was playing in the car to ask the presenter to say a big hello to Kane and Charlie who are on their way to see Santa. When my eldest grandson heard this he was a little cynical at first saying “you texted him Catherine!” ~ his name for me (children nowadays!) but I managed to convince him that I most certainly had not and that it must have been Santa. He then believed me.
Once there, we froze along with all the other families waiting for the doors into Santa land to open. Once open, in we went and took our seats for the little show. Charlie of course clung tightly to his papa but Kane braved it and sat up front with the other kids. When booking I had to give the kids names and ages so it was great when it came time for Santa to give out little gifts to the assembled children. It truly is lovely to see the innocence of the children ~ each child hearing his or her name called approached Santa for their gift, innocently believing he knew them all individually.
The wonder of Santa in a childs eyes
Of course when Kane came back to sit with us and open his present, he was not overly impressed with the little pack of farm animals and tractors in the box he unwrapped. We adults had to stiffle a giggle at his face which basically said “what the hell?!!”. His younger brother was delighted with it ~ he being a total car & vehicle freek already. His gift was one of those little balls you fit various shapes into a suitable hole. Not nearly as interesting to a baby car freek seeing his brothers tractors!
After the show we could explore Santa land. With my mother giving out about the cold and swearing she would never venture here again. This all despite the fact she had a blouse, jumper, heavy coat, scarf, socks and boots on! Mind you, she was missing the hot water bottle she had clutched to her all the way up in the car despite the heater making the rest of us melt.
Kane was able to post his letter to Santa at the post box there and this pleased him no end. We then went to see Santa’s reindeer and what a beautiful creature that reindeer was. So soft and perfect looking (though it must be said, rather smelly). He got to visit an elf’s bedroom ~ a part of the trip he had particularly looked forward to, and once there wanted a photo taken of him sitting on the elf’s bed.
Santas reindeer
As we walked around the place, we came on a little row of houses with a for sale sign outside on. For some reason this tickled Kane greatly ~ even though the property seems a tad expensive at €2,000,000 for a teeny house scarcely big enough for an elf.
2 mill to spare anyone?
The final port of call in Santa land was to have a personal visit to Santa. We queued with the other families, once again freezing and having to be patient. My mum, husband and I all agreed that getting Charlie (the 2 year old) to sit beside Santa for a photograph was going to be nigh on impossible.
Our turn eventually came and into Santa’s grotto we trotted. Kane immediately sat beside Santa for his picture, myself and my husband each with our cameras at the ready ~ himself holding Charlie at the same time. We thought we’d try to get Charlie to sit up too. No efforts were needed ~ once his tiny feet hit the ground (his papa had been carrying him, as usual) he dashed like lightening, shoving his older brother out of the way and straight up on to Santa’s knee. We adults gazed at each other in amazement. Until we saw what had so attracted him ~ a steering wheel. We hadn’t noticed Santa was actually sitting in a sleigh being too busy worrying about getting them both in the picture with Santa. But the beady eyed child with a passion for cars and driving spotted it. Poor Santa thought he was just desperate to sit on his knee, but we the grandparents and great grandparent knew better. He grabbed the wheel, totally ignoring Santa, and proceeded to ‘drive’ the sleigh! At least we got out photos.
Santa, Kane & a mini car freak!
On the way home Kane whispered to me in the back of the car, let’s go there again next year Catherine. A poignant moment knowing that come next year he will be eight and will more than likely have little interest in such a trip. Still, we can take Charlie and maybe the baby and youngest grandchild, Killian. Oh, and not to mention our fourth grandchild whom, all being well, will be born next May.
Oh bum, just thought! Another few years of freezing up on the Isle of Doagh!
