The Helens were coming for lunch. It was a very important day. A visit to Santa in Blarney Woollen Mills had been arranged weeks ago and there was a ticket for me, too.

The back door opened and an explosion of noise came into the living room. It was Ricky on a new level of excitement. “Granny, what time are we going to see Santa?”

Lunch was not a necessary part of the programme for Ricky. His delight was infectious and he had a new Christmas jumper with a big Santa face on it. Our appointment was for 5pm which meant that there would be less traffic congestion in Blarney.

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We left with plenty of time to be in the queue for 4.45pm. Even the queuing time is organised. Julie and I remember the chaotic visits to Santa when she was Ricky’s age, over 30 years ago.

Back then there was a play area with a ball pit and other activities, and it was absolute mayhem with children running about and families trying to keep track of everyone. Tim would be full-time keeping tabs on Diarmuid alone. Philip and Colm would be jumping in the ball pit and I’d be completely frazzled. That time, the families were called in hour blocks and the queuing time could be up to an hour. I remember the relief when we’d finally get into Santa’s cave. Nevertheless, as parents do, we did it year after year.

We had a browse in the beautiful shop before the formal visit. Ricky and I headed off to the children’s section with Julie shouting after us, “Don’t get duped, Granny.” In the next beat, Ricky was asking, “are we buying a toy, Granny?” but I held tough.

Then it was time. Ricky was bouncing with excitement. The rope was lifted and we entered a long magic corridor lined with shop windows.

Elf magic

“There’s Rudolph in his stable, do you want to touch him?” asked an elf. Ricky moved onto the shoemaker window and hairdresser and toy workshop and so on.

He was passed from one elf to the next. Then another window with a reindeer. “Look,” said the elf, “here’s Rudolph.” The little boy paused. “I met Rudolph already,” he said.

'You mean porridge. I didn’t know reindeers ate porridge,' said Ricky, and so it went. David, Julie and I feasted on the child’s ongoing commentary

‘Oh” she replied, and then quick off the mark she continued. “This is stable two; Rudolph likes to change stables every few minutes to see the nice children again.” Her answer was accepted and we moved along the enchanted way.

Next up was the opportunity to mix reindeer food. “It’s oats and magic sparkles,” explained the elf.

“You mean porridge. I didn’t know reindeers ate porridge,” said Ricky, and so it went. David, Julie and I feasted on the child’s ongoing commentary.

Then it was time to meet the man in the red suit. Ricky told Santa what he would like for Christmas. I had no idea what a “Switch 2” was but Santa seemed to understand.

Then Ricky wanted to know what time Santa was coming. He went on to negotiate bedtime for 9pm because he didn’t want to go to bed any earlier than that. We had our picture taken and then Santa offered to have his picture taken with just Granny and Ricky.

I think he remembered me from when I was a little girl and he brought me my first bike. I heard the tic-tic noise of the chain coming into my room. I squeezed my eyes tight for fear he’d guess that I was awake.

The next year, Santa left my present under the tree in the sitting room. I got an awful fright because I thought he hadn’t come at all.

Christmas really is a special time for children.