Life with Nat - EP73: FATHER CHRISTMAS

Episode Date: December 24, 2024

Nat really can’t believe her luck as she sits down with Father Christmas. For you and your children to enjoy the magic and to believe. Have a wonderful Christmas everyone. X Follow Santa https://instagram.com/iamsantauk Please subscribe, follow, and leave a review. xxx You can find us in all places here; https://podfollow.com/lifewithnat/view INSTA: @natcass1 We're also on Facebook now too: https://www.facebook.com/lifewithnatpod A 'Keep It Light Media' Production Sales, advertising, and general enquiries: [e-mail] SHOW INFO: Life with Nat - it’s me! Natalie Cassidy and I’ll be chatting away to family, friends and most importantly YOU. I want to pick people's brains on the subjects that I care about- whether that’s where all the odd socks go, weight and food or kids on phones. Each week I will be letting you into my life as i chat about my week, share my thoughts on the mundane happenings as well as the serious. I have grown up in the public eye and have never changed because of it. Life with Nat is the podcast for proper people. Come join the community. ♥️ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get groceries delivered across the GTA from Real Canadian Superstore with PC Express. Shop online for super prices and super savings. Try it today and get up to $75 in PC Optimum Points. Visit superstore.ca to get started. hello and welcome to a very very special christmas eve on life with nat i can't even believe i'm saying this but i am joined over Zoom with Father Christmas. Father Christmas, thank you so much for giving up your time. I know how busy you must be on Christmas Eve, Eve. Oh, you're very, very welcome.

And to be honest, I've been actually very excited about coming on. And I don't really understand all the Zoom technology or technology in general, but it's a pleasure. It's a very great pleasure. I feel very honoured and I know that all the children listening will be so excited to hear from you. And I think the first question we'd like to ask is how busy are you? You know, how do you feel the night before you know they're listening Christmas Eve and I'm talking to you the night before that you you go off to deliver the presents throughout the night how do you feel on this evening well obviously it's been a very very busy year for us all the elves have done a fabulous job as usual. Every time I go out there in the morning,

they're all singing and dancing and have a fabulous time. So lots of them are painting different things and screwing things in. So they love their work, but it is very, very busy. And of course, I love Christmas Eve because that's when we get to deliver all the presents to the boys and girls. And I get excited as well. So it's lovely. It's very nice. I think a question that we all want to ask, and we see it in all of the films that are made about you, but getting around the world in a day must be pretty gruelling.

I know from what I've read and seen it's to do with the magic and how fast you can travel, but it must be a very tiresome day to me it's i mean i must admit i don't understand it fully myself but it's it's coming up to christmas eve and when you see almost like electricity in the air in the north pole and you just know that the christmas magic is with us and when i to fly, that's when it really happens, because the reindeer start to run in the snow, and then they start to gradually lift off into the air. And that's when I know that the magic of Christmas is really with us again.

And to me, when I'm actually delivering the presents, it doesn't feel quite so fast to me. But when I leave the North Pole Mrs Claus is normally making supper for us and then when I get back she's just about finished making supper so it's a strange there's a kind of a time time difference somewhere but I seem to manage it and it's all very, very magical to do with Christmas. Does Mrs. Claus worry about you travelling on the sleigh at those sorts of speeds throughout the night? I would imagine, I mean, if a family member of mine were doing the job that you do, I would imagine it'd be quite worrying for her.

But is she just used to it now? I think she's used to it. But I think any family member going doing something like this, I mean, I do, as you say, get up to some very, very fast speeds and it could be dangerous, but I think I'm quite skillful now and I think I've got the reindeer are very forgiving. They look after me, especially Rudolph leads the way, so keeps us out of any troubles and steers us around the storm so I think she knows that we're all in safe hands so worries a little bit but not not overly something that a few people have said to me some children is around the world there are different supermarkets and grottos lots and lots of different places with different father Christmases in. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, because I really am a huge Christmas enthusiast,

and I truly believe, and what I have always said to my children, is I would imagine a lot of these people are your friends, and they are involved in some way within the Christmas magic. Am I correct in saying so? That's right. I mean, I get a lot of helpers as well as the elves. I do have people that go out and will look like me and will probably say that or introduce themselves as Santa because I'm not able to get around to everybody. But believe me, each individual one does report back to me. So any important messages are getting through to me. And we are keeping an eye on all the boys and girls around the world.

So that part of it is true. How have you found the boys and girls this year, Father Christmas? Are you pleased with them, shall we say, on a percentage level of good or bad, naughty and nice? Are you pleased this year? I am pleased actually i mean most most children have a little bit of you know they can be a little bit mischievous shall we say but i think that's in all of us i mean even sometimes i get up to a few little tiny little things that maybe you know i shouldn't but but i think in general we're all you know they've been

pretty good and i would say probably 99 of the children are all on the good list. And the others say that extra 1% are. They're within the nice list parameters. So I think given time, they're going to come back to the nice list. Oh, that's fantastic to hear. Because my daughter's been a bit of a pain Father Christmas, but I'm sure the elves are, you know, they're here each night and they're moving around. They were covered in flour last night making snow angels. Why are they so mischievous, Father Christmas?

Couldn't they have helped me clean or do the dishwasher, that sort of thing? This is a difficult one because obviously I've got thousands of elves and they all like to have a little bit of fun they do like fun and i think the mischievous ones are the ones that i send out because i think sometimes the parameters or how they work in the actual work truck it's not quite working for them so i send them out to the good boys and girls so that they can teach them how to be good but unfortunately sometimes when they they can teach them how to be good. But unfortunately, sometimes when they get into the human world, they let loose a little bit and they do still continue their mischievous deeds and get a little bit cheeky, I think. I think cheeky is a good word for the Christmas because, you know, it's not destructive, shall we say.

It just takes a little while sometimes to sort of clean up. But they always look very rosy-cheeked and smiling in the morning. You've obviously had a good evening, so I understand. Oh, I think it's cheeky more than naughty, so I would still keep them on the good list, put it that way. Do the elves enjoy Christmas Eve, or do they feel a little bereft when they leave their boys and girls? obviously they disappear Christmas Eve and we don't see them for a year or are they happy to have the rest and start planning the year ahead? Well actually what happens is after I've been out

to my visits and delivered all the presents and they come back with me generally and then on Christmas Day after I've had a little bit of a sleep, the elves pretty much try and wake me up because they're all excited for their Christmas celebrations. So we all get together. And I think the sadness or the sadness or the tinge of sadness that they find from leaving the humans is made up a lot by coming into themas celebrations we have in the workshop because we turn all the tables into dining tables so the workshop becomes an absolutely huge dining room basically and we all have fun and it i think that takes all their minds off it so they all look forward to that i think and is your christmas your Christmas dinner Father Christmas the same as what we have here traditionally in the UK anyway? Do you like turkey, stuffing, pigs in blankets that sort of

thing? Do you have many vegan or vegetarian elves or are you one yourself? Personally I do like the traditional roast so Mrs Claus is a fabulous cook I have to say and i hope she listens to this otherwise i'd be told off for saying any different but there are a few vegan elves so we accommodate that where we can and obviously everyone has to be their self so if they don't agree with everything then mrs claus again does a lovely vegan roast dinner so everyone's accommodating but I do like a roast well along with mince pies. Well of course I mean I was going to come to that we all leave snacks out for you on the evening do you really get around all of them or do you feed them to the reindeer or chuck them over the head surely you can't get through all the mince pies and the different whiskeys or milks

that you have or is it the energy that you need for the magic of the you know the pace of it all it really is the magic i think that that takes up all the energy because as i say to some children i actually go into their houses with my tummy rumbling a little bit where i'm hungry and i always say that flying although it sounds very, it takes up a lot of energy. So I do get hungry very quickly and very thirsty as well. So all the snacks that the children are leaving out, believe me, they do go to Santa's tummy. Although Mrs. Claus does tell me off a little bit sometimes. She doesn't think I should eat all of them.

So maybe we'll keep that one to ourselves. What she doesn't know doesn't hurt her. That'd be right between me and you then, I think. And my listeners, I'm afraid, Father Christmas. So they may put it in their letter next year. Oh, my goodness. Yes. Well, don't stop putting the snacks out, will you?

Because they do help. And the carrots for the reindeer, they help. When I come out from the houses, it's Rudolph that's normally first to say, and he does say, so are there any carrots for me? And he's the first one to have a little nibble on a carrot. And that helps them as well. That helps them go faster and gives them the energy to keep going throughout the night. So very, very useful little snacks for us both, I think.

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to save in points ends February 23rd. Book at aircanada.com. Conditions apply. What's it like being the most famous person in the world? Because you are. Well, I don't think of myself like that, really. I mean, I just think of it as being a giving person. But I do know that everybody seems to know me in every country you go to. You know, some might call me under a slightly different name, but I think I'm very well known. And I think inside it's a lovely feeling for me so I do appreciate it very much and I try and take it in my stride though I don't try and get too

too overconfident with it. Throughout the year what do you like to wear because there are lots of depictions there's a film that I grew up with called Father Christmas and it's by Raymond Briggs and it's a wonderful cartoon in which it shows the year that he has and he wears normal clothes but he gets recognised quite a lot around the country because he still has his beard and stuff. I wondered if you kept your beard throughout the year or do you shave it all off and let it grow back throughout the year if you don't mind me asking so you don't get recognised sort of what do you wear throughout the year if you don't mind me asking so you don't get recognized sort of what do you wear throughout the year that's a good very good question and it's I do get asked a lot about this but what normally happens is I do have a little trim so I do trim my beard down a little bit not so much

so that I'm not recognized but it just Mrs Claus doesn't really like it when it gets too long she says it starts to look a little bit scruffy and especially i mean when i'm on holiday i do sort of wear a one piece almost like a candy cane striped suit so i do probably stick out a little bit but i'm used to the attention at home probably again i do like the color red it seems red pajamas if ever i go on holiday holiday, then as I say, I have a one-piece swimsuit as well, but obviously no hat because that would get very, very soggy in the pool. And the reindeer are looked after by you all year round? Or do you have kind of zookeepers, people to help you?

Or are they yours all year round? Do you and Mrs Claus look after them? Well, they do stay with us. We've got a little, I suppose, reindeer quarters attached to the worktrop. So they're always part of our general day. And we have one elf that goes out and polishes Rudolph's nose every day. And that is every day throughout the year, just to keep it nice and bright and shiny for Christmas Eve.

But generally, I mean, they get a lot of exercise. We let them out and they don't fly as much because it's all to do with the Christmas magic. So probably coming into December, that's when they get the flying ability. But the rest of the year, you would probably think they were just normal reindeer, except for Rudolph. He still keeps his red nose. Has he got a permanent cold or is it just a characteristic? Because I've always wondered about Rudolph and the red nose. It's not always a cold, is it, Father Christmas? No, it's not a cold at all.

He's quite chirpy with it. He loves his red nose. As I say, we do get it polished every day. And he tends to wag his little tail because he loves having it polished and he likes to feel a little bit special but no it's just i don't really know to be honest it is true with the song that i did find him and he in the early days he was a little bit bullied and wasn't allowed to join in the games but as we all know everybody's different and i always teach that you've got to accept

everyone for who they are and join everybody in and isn't it just wonderful that really the most famous reindeer of all is the most different it's just worked out perfectly hasn't it because as you say there'll be children listening tonight that may feel a little different or, you know, have a little something that is a bit different to others. And they could end up being as wonderful and famous as Rudolph. So that's amazing, isn't it? Definitely. I think anyone who feels a little bit different, it's hard in early life because, as I say, I found Rudolph and he's probably in his equivalent of teenage years or early teenage years. And he was struggling. I mean, he was struggling with the differences of those.

But what I said to Rudolph is you must embrace these things. Be proud to be different. Show your difference and don't hide it away. And definitely don't hide yourself away because you're a little bit different. And people, they will like you for who you are. They should embrace you as well. And I know there are some people that poke fun a little bit or something like that, but eventually they come to learn that everybody is different.

And yes, they could be right. As you say, they could grow up to be famous just because of their difference. Now, the Christmas lists, obviously you get millions of letters throughout the December period, November period. How has it changed for you over the years? Because obviously you, how old are you now, sorry? I'm actually 734. Goodness me, you look well.

Thank you. You imagine my birthday with all the candles it gets very hot thank goodness for all the elves to help we have to have elf fire brigade standing on on site and then i do i have all the elves stand around my cake to give some puff because i definitely haven't got enough stuff for that no but how have the list changed over the years because obviously now with technology I would imagine people are asking for a lot more and I find it quite sad it's nice to have the simple thing sometimes isn't it and remember that obviously you have ever such a lot to make so not everybody can have everything they have on their list and you've got to be grateful for what you do end up

getting i think sometimes the smaller things are the most enjoyable and the most cherished things and i think probably in this day and age as you say technology has overtaken what seems to be everything really i mean look at us now as i say i still don't understand zoom calls but my elves set it all up for me so thank goodness for them and they understand the technology but as you say technology seems to be taking over and so i'm getting more game machines and i don't know fancy cameras and stuff like that phones on the mind sometimes i think it's a little bit sad because technology is taking over. But as I say, I think the simplistic things, sometimes a little teddy bear brings the most comfort or just a little toy that the child can take to bed at night or keep with them throughout the day.

And I think secretly they're the things that are a little bit of comfort and the joys of giving. I absolutely agree with you. My little girl asked you for a couple of little things. But one thing that I loved that she wrote on her list was I would like an extremely happy Christmas Day with all of my family. That's lovely. I remember seeing that. That made me smile. so definitely on the nice list i think it as well as the technology coming into the list there i have found this year going

back to your question earlier that a lot of young children are asking for happiness and family time and just being with people they love so it's nice to see some of that coming back and that thought process is still evolving as we go along, even though the lists, as you say, are getting bigger. Well, life has changed within the 700 years that you've been around. I think children, more than anything, want to spend time with their mums, their dads, grandparents, aunties, uncles, friends, whoever it is that they are close to. I think time is very important because life now is so quick and we're all rushing around so much that Christmas isn't just about yourself, if you don't mind me saying, you're very, very important. But Christmas is about shutting down, leaving work for the adults and having real special time

with your children, family members, best friends, and really switching off from the outside world and you know that dark time those 12 days of Christmas you know it's it's about the winter and kind of bedding in and candlelight and nice food and company and I really hope that you know we can really um think about that this year and enjoy those aspects of it as well. It's very, very true. And I love to bring that into conversations. And I think as much as the lists have got bigger and the presents have got so much different with the technology, I don't think you can ever replace love and friendship. I think love and friendship is something precious that you can keep.

And I think we should all think about that at christmas and it is time as you say to spend together with the people you love and care about and just have a rethink and a reboost and look forward to the year ahead together well father christmas i really can't thank you. I know how busy you are. One of your elves sent me a time slot, and I know you've got a lot of people to talk to. I hope that you have a wonderful day tomorrow. Thank you. Thank you. Really hope you have a fantastic, safe trip.

And maybe we can speak again another time. But you really are so special. I know to all my listeners especially all the boys and girls and everybody all the people listening I know they'd want to thank you for all the joy you bring and I know that everybody's extremely excited to wake up tomorrow morning and see what you've left them. But thank you so, so much. You're very welcome. And when my elves told me that you'd been in contact, a lot of them were very, very excited. I think they listened to the podcast as well. So they were very excited. And I think they'll be sitting

in the workshop, probably watching and listening. So thank you so much for the invite and i just want to wish everybody a very very merry christmas spend time with those you love and for the children go to sleep nice and early because i can't let my sleigh if you're awake so try and go to sleep okay and i'll see you very soon hi this is chris mccausland and this is Chris McCausland. And this is Diane Boswell. And we've got a new podcast, haven't we, Di? We do. What's it called?

Winning. Isn't. Everything. Every week, me and Diane, we're going to be having a little catch up on the back of Strictly, aren't we, Di? We are. I've missed you, Chris. I've missed you, too. I've missed you too. We're going to talk some nonsense,

so why not tune in? Available everywhere you get your podcasts.