Ho Ho Ho
Santa came to our town … riding on a fire engine.
Last evening I went out onto the balcony to see what was happening in town, and sat chatting to one of the guests. We could hear the siren of the fire engine. I looked for smoke. As many areas of Australia are experiencing terrible bushfires, smoke and fire are the last thing we desire to see. Bush fires and Australian summers go hand in hand; but are not welcome.
No sign of smoke, we breathed a sigh of relief. Around the corner came the fire engine, lights flashing and sirens blaring. Bursts of song came wafting towards us, "Ho ho ho", followed by a burst of " Jingle Bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way". In the back seat of the red fire engine stood a red-coated Santa, his white beard [was it cotton wool?] a focus point, and his red hat with white fur, or was that cotton-wool as well, perched on top of his head, a microphone held in his hand all the better to spread the Christmas cheer. No sign of Dixon and Donner or Rudolph, but perhaps they do not venture out until Christmas Eve.
I laughed when I noticed one of the angels, or fairies, in the front seat, though there were no sign of wings or halos. It was our barmaid who has recently joined the local fire brigade. The driver I couldn't identify, but then again I do not know everyone who lives in this town. On the back of the engine perched another local, a colourful lady who works along the road at the Emporium, capably manning the hose.
There was no fire to extinguish but any person walking on the street received a light dowsing. In temperatures that were still in the 30's this was not unwelcome! They drove slowly along the street, turned the corner by the bar and sent a shower of water onto the footpath. I called out my approval and as a reward the siren blared louder and longer. Everyone was in good spirits.
The fire engine toured the main street, the side streets, and back again, and around again, and all the time Santa sang his song … his repertoire did not extend beyond Jingle Bells [perhaps he needs an introduction to some of the other old favourites], and water was spread by his angelic helper.
This morning as I was cooking breakfast for the guests our barmaid, Santa's little helper, came into the kitchen. I thought she was hungry and wanted breakfast, but no … she had just arrived home and was looking for the boss to see what time she was to work today … she hoped it wasn't the morning shift!
It did cross my mind that only in a small town would we see such a display. In the city it would not be allowed, or worse still it would be organised, crowds would line the streets and children would become fractious, and certainly there would be no water display.
Santa came to our town … riding on a fire engine.
Last evening I went out onto the balcony to see what was happening in town, and sat chatting to one of the guests. We could hear the siren of the fire engine. I looked for smoke. As many areas of Australia are experiencing terrible bushfires, smoke and fire are the last thing we desire to see. Bush fires and Australian summers go hand in hand; but are not welcome.
No sign of smoke, we breathed a sigh of relief. Around the corner came the fire engine, lights flashing and sirens blaring. Bursts of song came wafting towards us, "Ho ho ho", followed by a burst of " Jingle Bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way". In the back seat of the red fire engine stood a red-coated Santa, his white beard [was it cotton wool?] a focus point, and his red hat with white fur, or was that cotton-wool as well, perched on top of his head, a microphone held in his hand all the better to spread the Christmas cheer. No sign of Dixon and Donner or Rudolph, but perhaps they do not venture out until Christmas Eve.
I laughed when I noticed one of the angels, or fairies, in the front seat, though there were no sign of wings or halos. It was our barmaid who has recently joined the local fire brigade. The driver I couldn't identify, but then again I do not know everyone who lives in this town. On the back of the engine perched another local, a colourful lady who works along the road at the Emporium, capably manning the hose.
There was no fire to extinguish but any person walking on the street received a light dowsing. In temperatures that were still in the 30's this was not unwelcome! They drove slowly along the street, turned the corner by the bar and sent a shower of water onto the footpath. I called out my approval and as a reward the siren blared louder and longer. Everyone was in good spirits.
The fire engine toured the main street, the side streets, and back again, and around again, and all the time Santa sang his song … his repertoire did not extend beyond Jingle Bells [perhaps he needs an introduction to some of the other old favourites], and water was spread by his angelic helper.
This morning as I was cooking breakfast for the guests our barmaid, Santa's little helper, came into the kitchen. I thought she was hungry and wanted breakfast, but no … she had just arrived home and was looking for the boss to see what time she was to work today … she hoped it wasn't the morning shift!
It did cross my mind that only in a small town would we see such a display. In the city it would not be allowed, or worse still it would be organised, crowds would line the streets and children would become fractious, and certainly there would be no water display.
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