Santa's little helpers!

Took a team of 16 people out tonight with the Round T*ble Christmas sleigh, complete with Nikki's husband as Santa, lots of pretty lights and loud music on the sleigh. We covered what seemed like hundreds of roads in St Albans, knocking on doors, wishing people Happy Christmas and watching excited children come and wave at Father Christmas.

We collected non stop from 6.30 until 9pm, almost running from door to door to keep up with the sleigh. Actually, there was one wonderful stop: amazingly enough the rest of us had been walking and collecting for almost two hours, when the late arrival appeared, fresh off the motorway from North Yorkshire, better late than never - but before he could don a hat and cape and collect a penny, the wife of a Round T*bler appeared at her gate with hot mulled wine and mince pies. I had both, and marvelled at DC's impeccable timing. Well, sort of.

After we finished the route, we all climbed up on the sleigh and had a lift back to our cars: I was careful to sit with Santa, who had to put an arm round e to stop me falling off the sleigh...we all ended up back at my house to count the money, and relax with more mulled wine and mince pies....Clive had kindly lit the fire and we were able to warm up. We made over £850 for our charity.

Greetings from Santa and his helpers. We wish you a Merry Christmas.