Page 18 of A Winter in Wonderland
It took me five full minutes to ponder this, and then we pulled into the parking area of a hotel called the Christmas Claus Lodge, which was all wooden frameworks and fairy lights and snow-covered rooftops. Stepping from the bus, I was reading a signpost that spoke of a Santa Claus Village – whatever that was – a kilometre away, when somebody yelled a jovial ‘Ho! Ho! Ho!’ and a photo-fest ensued.
A large wooden Santa Claus was waving at us while we hauled our bags from the bus, and I tried to join with others but couldn’t quite bring myself to snap a selfie with him and instead released a slightly maniacal laugh.I can do this.I can get through this.
Just don’t dwell on the past for the next six weeks and then the big day will pass.
And don’t get trapped in a frozen lake or get eaten by a reindeer or anything.
We traipsed through the snow up the path towards the lodge, three storeys tall and with a chocolate-box roof. It was surrounded by trees on each side, and had smoke curling from a chimney in the centre, the aroma of a log fire present in the cold air. Daan, leading the way, held the door open for us and we stepped inside, treading snow through the reception area, and one by one we were given keys to our rooms and told to meet back beside the large Christmas tree here in the lobby in half an hour.
Taking the stairs and nearly toppling backwards thanks to my already-damp fake-Uggs sludging down below my heels and the weight of my backpack, I found my room on the first floor. I opened the door with caution, half expecting it to be like entering Santa’s workshop, but it was actually very calming, decorated in blues and nutmegs. Big windows looked out across the snowy clearing at the back of the property, though the sky was darkening more and more now.
I removed my coat and my boots and sat down on the bed, taking in the view before me. Wow, this was comfy.And it looked so cosy. And mmmmm, this furry blanket felt nice under my hands. And as the light snowflakes drifted by outside, I thought that maybe I’d just lie down for a quick relax …
