There's not going to be any Santa this year, is there?

[neversayalways]

Just looked in my diary into which I had put 'book santa' but then realised - there isn't going to be any santa to visit this year, is there?

I like a visit to Santa, me. The kids like it too

I've booked our visit at the local garden centre but fully expect it to be cancelled 😞

I'm sure it can be done in a socially distanted way but that would really difficult and rather joyless with very young children. Maybe Santa will do Zoom calls this year instead. Ours always used to like the videos - PNP?

They are still advertising for the job vacancy for Santas in my local lockdown home town. Not sure how that’s going to work but maybe outdoors in a sleigh? Santa sits on one side of the bench kids on the other... Elves ensure social distancing, hand sanitising and cleaning benches inside sleigh, pre booked appointments only...

We've swapped Santa for a woodland illuminated walk these last couple of years. Fingers crossed it will be on this year still as it's outside. Could you see what outside things are on this year? I bet there will be outdoor SD Santa trips though this year.

We've got Zoom Santa getting set up here

Our local historic railway is doing it. One family per compartment, Santa will stop at each doorway to chat and leave a present. Have you got anything like that locally?

Dobbies garden centres have them open to book.

I googled garden centre santas grottos and got lots of results not all near me but all over the country, did you not get any in your area?

We are going on a Santa Express train! I think DS will actually prefer the train to seeing Santa but he's only 2!

It's ok because Santa will still visit your house on Christmas Eve night to bring you your presents

Maybe I need to look into it more. I was planning on going to the Santa at one of two places this year and googled them but only have details of last year's santa, so presumed Santa was off this year. Will have to get on that this weekend - Santa's book up quickly around here!

Our local garden centre have cancelled their Santa this year, I see.

Ours is booked! Here's hoping...

I guess you must. Be unlucky where you live, I had a proper look and there are actually quite a lotof places taking bookings near me but no good for you as you obviously don't live in the same part of the country

It's going to be a different christmas this year.

My bank balance is grateful though.

I've had a good look now and all I can find are a couple of eateries where you can book a meal and then santa will appear at some stage. Don't much fancy my changes of getting my youngest to sit still for a three course meal. We are in local lockdown though, maybe if that lifts some other places may arrange a Santa in time.

Well given he has to use sanitiser between each house he visits, and some places will be on local lockdown or greater, he cannot be expected to call on every child.

No pantomime either

Oh yes there is

We've booked a steam train.

But a lot of the usual Christmas stuff... Carol concerts, light switch on, school Christmas fayre... None of that will happen.

I hope schools manage nativity plays somehow. (Even though mine are too old now)

I've made my peace with no Santa visit this year. There are none close to us and everything that's available involve way too much fuss with travelling that we've decided not to bother. We normally have a fabulous Christmas party with DHs work so we see Santa at that and that's obviously not happening this year. Also no panto here this year but in saying all that I'm kind of looking forward to a calmer Christmas without events if that makes sense.

No, the fat will be told to shield again come winter.

Ive booked one where families attend in individual bubbles and in my own county, hopefully it'll go ahead!

We're doing santa steam train, where each household has its own carriage. It's extremely pricey but I justified it by offsetting the fact that I won't have to buy 5x panto tickets this year as none of our local ones are running.

We're doing santa steam train

Yes, there's a steam train within travel distance of us (bit of a trek but doable day trip), but I have checked their website and they closed the whole trainline, so no Santa train this year.