This is a rather delayed update on Mikey's first proper trip to see Santa… Having read another persons update on the Reindeer centre I pretty much decided that was where we were going! Daddy didn't really have any say in the matter, but I simply wanted a good first experience for him (OK, he did meet Santa last year but he was only 5-6 months only and was terrified and buried his face in my neck!)
Thanks to me nagging a little we arrived not long after it opened, and thankfully it was really well signposted so getting there was easy! We parked on site and met a lovely dog who probably got tickled/stroked by almost everyone who was parking which he really didn't object to! First order of business was a quick trip to change a nappy…I really don't think Santa would have liked the aroma! We also had to shout at the pens of chickens and ducks, not sure they really appreciated whatever Mikey said but it had to be done! I'm assuming that feeding the ducks at Singleton Lake is not a peaceful experience for Debbie! Unfortunately the Raccoons were busy curled up on their sleeping shelf and obviously feeling unsociable as they didn't want to say hello! By the time Mikey was smelling fragrant again there was quite a queue so we went to join it and soon were making our way to Santa! Mummy was happy as the first think she saw were some large sparkly penguins! Mikey's eyes were enormous as he tried to take everything in, and he and Daddy say in the sleigh for a quick photo, although getting a non-moving shot was a tad difficult! The one minor mishap we had was the talking bear! Daddy said it was Brian Blessed's voice but I think Mikey found it a little too loud and booming, but soon cheered up one we moved past it and the little illuminated house came into view!
There was a slight delay once we got close to Santa's house but Mummy was happy making friends with the 2 Reindeer parked outside and the Chief Elf was very friendly and stamped Mikey's passport for him! (Plus she was blonde - always a good thing so far as my son is concerned!) We soon went through to meet the Big Man and Mikey was all smile and cuteness! Apparently not what is usually had from his age range - most of them scream and don’t' want to go near Santa, Mikey was soon happily sat on his knee without too much wriggling and he didn't try to attack the beard (which had been Daddy's biggest fear) Santa and Mikey had quite a long chat, I can honestly say I didn't understand a word of it, but Santa appeared to so hopefully everything requested will arrive on the night of the 24th! Mikey had a photo with Santa and got a nice big wrapped box to take away and we left Santa in peace to chat with the next child and went off to buy a copy or 2 of the photo! I was impressed £6 each, or 2 for £10! So we had to get one to commerate the 1st proper meeting!
We then passed through the last few rooms with lots of excited noises from the young man in his chariot (Or Maserati as Santa called it) and escaped back into the sunshine to move onto the next part of our Visit! We soon moved to the Barn, full of Christmas music and loads of animals… we started in Animal corner where Mummy made friends with a very friendly goat and fell in love with the ducklings, it would have been so easy to simply sneak a few into his push chair! The Bunnies and piggles were wonderful - maybe for next years birthday!?!?!? And then Mummy saw the bouncy ones at the back! Mikey was mesmerised by them as they dashed around - to be honest I don’t think he's really ever seen a Kangaroo so wallabies were a whole new experience and certainly don't move like animals he comes into contact with on a regular basis! We then had to stop off and get up close to a big Reindeer, we left the push chair in Daddy's capable hands and had a seat on a straw bale while a reindeer had a good sniff! I think the straw was more exciting the Reindeer as you could pull it out in handfuls! But he was very good and didn't punch anyone or scream, and was very gentle with the noses pushed towards him!
Daddy had to almost physically restrain mummy when she saw the Meerkats, they were so cute and rushed over and chatted to people, I know they are vicious but I really want one! We still had the Llamas and the Donkeys to visit and the Emus! Mikey didn’t seem to bothered by them and thankfully the Llamas didn't do their party trick! But the Donkeys were lovely … but those have always been a family favourite and maybe they kept their pen mates calm! We decided that he was a little too small for the snow and ball pit experience (the lack of waling wouldn't help either) so Mummy and Daddy decided it was time for their Mince pie and Mikey had a few swigs of Fruit Shoot to keep him going! Once done the final bits of his passport were stamped and we made a move back home as it was getting close to lunch time, stopping for a chat with a very loud cockatoo! Once Mikey had had lunch he went up for a 'nap' which lasted for getting on for 4 hours, I'm sure I have been told that sleep is when small people process and new sights/experiences etc - I guess there was a whole lot of processing going on!
