‘We’re going to be late because of you again!’ Rudolf stamped his foot impatiently.
‘We’ve never been late before,’ said Father Christmas teasingly, a mischievous grin playing at the corner of his mouth.
‘Of course not! Because we gallop and run!’ muttered the horse under his breath.
-See! Anyway, I’ve still got loads to do: I’ve got to comb my beard, pack my bag, and my glasses aren’t even clean!
‘You know we’ve got to get there! On time! By 5 December!’ Rudi rolled his eyes
‘There? Where?’ Santa raised his head, looking a little uneasy, as he wasn’t entirely sure of the timetable.
-To Patca! To Katica Farm! At 3 o’clock!!!!!
-Oh! Well, we might actually have to get a move on then – it’s a bit of a way!
‘I told you so! I told you!’ grumbled Rudolf, though at the same time he noted with satisfaction that they had started packing the bags.
‘Have you sent the letters?’ asked the old man.
‘What letters?’ – a look of horror spread across Rudolf’s face. He wasn’t in the habit of making mistakes, and now that the possibility had arisen, he didn’t feel too good about it.
‘The ones where I asked the children to draw themselves with me!’ he replied nonchalantly, whilst carefully combing his beard.
“Oh! Of course! The little sleigh-puller breathed a sigh of relief. After all, I finished that ages ago!” – but his mind was already elsewhere. He ran through his list of completed tasks: packing his rucksack: tick, combing his beard: tick, Katica Tanya is far away, 5 December is nearly here, the letters about the drawings are sorted. Only his glasses are still missing… he realised nervously.
‘Can we finally set off?’ asked Father Christmas, having forgotten the last thing he needed to do before setting off.
‘I’ve still got a bit of work to do,’ said Rudi, and, amidst a great clatter of hooves, he rode off, only to reappear a short while later wearing Santa’s spotless spectacles.
‘I only cleaned it for you so that you could see the drawings of you clearly on 5 December at Katica Farm,’ he said sarcastically, and stormed off to the front of the sledge.
‘Oh dear, these reindeer are such a bother!’ sighed Father Christmas, and with a smile he closed the door behind him. He knew a lovely afternoon awaited him at Katica Farm, and not even Rudi could spoil it.

If you’d like to get involved For our St Nicholas celebration, where a group craft session and lots of surprises await – so come along on 5 December and bring a drawing you’ve done yourself!

Father Christmas is on his way! We’re just waiting for you!!