In Search of Rudolf and the Santa Special

This year we decided to take the Swanage railway Santa special. Whilst flying is second nature, Arlo had yet to travel by train so the excitement levels where off the scale! Despite the bad weather we thoroughly enjoyed our hour long steam train ride through the Purbeck countryside.

Santa and his elves came through the train giving out presents, making balloon animals and singing Christmas songs, and of course there was the obligatory sherry and homemade mince pies for all the mums and dads.

Arlo was a little disappointed that Santa seemed to be missing Rudolf, so we made it our mission for the rest of the week to try and find him. No problem I thought, secretly knowing the local garden centre had real reindeer, but I was soon to be outwitted by a two year old! We wandered round the garden centre marvelling at all the trees and decorations before arriving at the reindeer. Arlo looked carefully at each one and then gave a loud sigh. “What’s wrong?” I asked, “we’ve found Rudolf”, to which Arlo replied, “No, not working” pointing at the reindeer’s nose!

If anyone out there knows of a real reindeer with a flashing red nose please let me know!