Father Christmas takes to the skies MY heart goes out to children who are dragged around shops at this time of year. Apart from the mind-numbing boredom of shopping when you’re a child, the sight of so much present-buying must kill some of the magic of Christmas for them. Surely it’s Santa who’s meant to be sorting the presents. But of course Santa is never far away in a shopping centre. You’ll find him at the end of the queue in a glittery grotto. Or at least someone who resembles him. I never bought into the Santa’s grotto thing; it confused me, as a child, to see him in so many shops/church halls/community centres. And looking like a different person each time. Whenever I questioned it I was told Santa was far too busy so his helpers stood in for him at grottos. It kind of made sense, but the grotto experience lost its shine.