Jasper gets a warning letter from the North Pole

Hello Boys and Girls, HOW are you all this week? I'm glad some of you liked the story last week about Greedy McWeedy and wrote in to tell me so. However, not everybody was so happy with it. I got a special delivery letter from the North Pole from a Mr. S. Claus who told me in no uncertain terms that as far as he was concerned some of the best boys and girls on his worldwide round are living in Tuam Herald land. He also said that if I wanted proof then I should just look at all the lovely toys and gifts they provide for the Christmas shoebox appeal. 'These boys and girls are not greedy. They are very good and kind and I will not forget that on Christmas Night,' he said. Well, I know all that but it's this last part of his letter I didn't like too much. 'Now listen here, Jasper, I know we have been pals for many a year but if you dare suggest ever again that any of my little friends in Galway are greedy, it will be you who'll be getting a turnip this year.' But don't worry, because at the very end of the letter he said he'd see Aunt Molly and me at the cottage on Christmas Eve and to have plenty of cake ready for him and his helpers. Did I ever tell you about the year Rudolf put his hoof through my roof? Well, Santy, Molly and I were catching up on all the news of the year and time was passing. We had left a special something for the reindeers in the barn but we forgot about the time and Rudolf knew they had a big part of the world to get to before the night was out. So he tapped on our roof to let Santy know it was time to go and what happened? Well a big hoof appeared through the roof: he had tapped too hard. Don't worry said Santy I have just the thing to help you out and he took a large gift from his sack and put it under our tree. We then said good-bye and off the magic sleigh flew in the Corofin direction. Well, I couldn't wait to see what Santy had left. Was it the keys to a brand new cottage or was it a million euro to buy a palace? I just ripped off the wrapping paper and what was it but a carpentry set. Grrrrr, I wasn't happy when I had to get up on the snowy roof and fix the hole Rudolf had made with the carpentry tools. Aunt Molly thought it was so funny she laughed and laughed and in the end I saw the funny side too. Santy has a great sense of humour but this year I've asked him to land Rudolf and the sleigh on the barn roof â€â€ just in case. I LOVE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS WELL what about all the lovely lights everywhere? Tuam looks like a wonderland and I keep making excuses to come in and enjoy them. Did I see any of you at the turning-on ceremony on Saturday? But there are lovely lights and decorations in Headford, and Athenry and Glenamaddy and Mountbellew and Moylough and Dunmore and I could keep going on. Well done to all who have made such an effort to make everywhere look so jolly and bright. I'm sure you're all helping with the decorations at home too. Do try and make it a bit more special by making your own decorations. I just love a home-made Christmas card. It makes me feel the sender really went to some trouble with it. Bye for now Uncle Jasper