From one crisis to another: the fat Santa shortage

Santa Claus is coming to town (hope he's not too thin)........

Panic over, Christmas crisis averted.
It's The G's Santaphobia.
It appears to have been cured.
The antidote, regular and repeated exposure to numerous St Nicholas's, the breakthrough coming during our latest (and, hopefully, final) Grotto outing, our third so far this festive season.
The unusual location - Santa agreed to meet us in a local lighthouse - might have helped, although, right from the off, The G seemed to have overcome her Father Christmas fear.
From one extreme to another, in fact, as it seems as though she might be staking a case for a supporting role alongside the elves and reindeer in the North Pole next time out.
Yesterday, asked if there was anything she'd like to say to the latest Santa to grant us an audience, she thought for a moment and then replied, 'Ho ho ho!'
He didn't say much, but you could tell that the Big Man was impressed.
Some other Christmas odds and ends:
1) I might have just refered to him as the Big Man, but the truth is somewhat different.
You see, as far as I can make out, Father Christmas appears to be shrinking.
The fake ones that inhabit grottos at school fairs, garden centres, lighthouses and the like, at least.
I'm still hoping the real deal is as rotund as ever.
Yesterday's must rank amongst the skinniest working the 2011 Santa circuit.
Let's just say, should he ever be required to slide down the chimneys in his local neighbourhood, it shouldn't present too great a problem.
It's not just him, though, for all three of this year's Santa stand-ins have been a little on the thin side to be plausible.
For anyone out there able to boast a rather more (ahem!) generous size, there's a definite opportunity knocking for next year.
2) Speaking of all things fat, The G has a new habit.
She's not overweight, far from it, in fact, her limited diet (fishfingers, baked beans, Rice Krispies and yoghurt) ensuring that unlike me, mince pie addict that I am, she remains in good shape.
That said, it doesn't stop her pulling up her T-shirt and thrusting out her tummy, as far as it is able to go, several times a day.
"I've got a big fat tummy," she likes to tell anyone listening.
Perhaps she's thinking about auditioning for her own Santa slot for next Christmas.
3) No-one loves Christmas quite like The B&G.
Except, perhaps, the electric companies.
Lights everywhere here, switched on all hours, our house able to be seen from Space during the festive season.
Little Blackpool, I used to call it.
Until, that is, I watched King of Christmas Lights, the Cutting Edge documentary, on Channel 4 the other night.
No judgement to pass, but it puts our own efforts into perspective #needshelp.
4) Present most requested this Christmas: an umbrella (The B).
5) Present most required this Christmas: an effective cough medicine (The G).