Wanna Be Santa?

Today in Adelaide, formal training for this years Santa's was taking place. The employment company that has been providing Santas to Adelaide establishments for over 40 years was getting the season of ho ho hoing going. Interesting insights include the fact that Santa does not say Ho Ho Ho anymore, because it may traumatise Americans, who associate a ho with ladies of leisure. Personally I am more traumatised by my childhood gardening tasks. Another task is the costume fit out. Apparently the company provides a fully padded top, to ensure that Santa has a round jocular appearance. I also learned that it is no longer Father Christmas, since Santa is a gatekeeper to children's greed rather than a Christian symbol. Wouldn't want to turn away muslims, buddhists, jews and that other religion that I cannot remember that does not observe Christmas. Apparently they are getting a bit short with a lot of older Santas getting to their sell by date. So if you have free time and could stomach a never ending parade of annoying children and equally irritating smothering parents (and that bloody photographer), go for it. There is a job waiting. They are taking enquiries for next year. Too late to do the Police Clearance for this year (now that is sad, but a fact of life in todays world).

Personally it is still challenging to adjust to it getting warmer as we head into Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere. I noticed yesterday that the supermarkets were already jam packed with Christmas Crap. Gotta have a selling point. The kids are not excited yet because their birthdays are just around the corner. They will be big into Santa and all that he brings by the middle of November, once the novelty of birthday present overdose wears off. I am certain I would be very grumpy if I had to put on a red suit and and white beard and offend sensitive Yanks. I doubt I could resist the HOHOHO thing, despite it being banned from the Santa School.