Yes you heard right, "Mother Christmas". Sadly dad did not get much involved with Christmas due to working Christmas pressure at the post office,after which on Christmas eve he was very exhausted. This often led mum being in sole charge of the Christmas celebrations. Dad enjoyed the spiritual side of Christmas, namely the alcohol, most of the time he spent in bed over the Chistmas period with a combination of work pressure and alcohol. During this time my sister, brother and I would help get ready for Christmas. I can recall one Christmas night I was too excited to sleep, I heard the bedroom door open, then close again. I tried in vain to keep my eyes closed pretending I was asleep also keeping very still. I saw this largish figure creeping backwards and forwards into the corner of my bedroom. That was the Christmas I had a red pedal car with lights. Unfortunately for mum and dad I was often the first one up at 4am. I can recall one other Christmas later when mum sent me down the local off licence for some salted peanuts on Christmas eve. I thought this was a strange request, it wasn't until next morning in my christmas stocking that I discovered the same said peanuts. I said to mum that was this the peanuts that I had bought the night before, she just smiled and put her finger in front of her lips gently shushing me. I kept the secret from my brother and sister for many years. Mums impact on me and Christmas had quite a profound effect. She often took us to several department stores, Father Christmases. I even bought the material and false beard etc and had my mother make a outfit which I used for my nephews and neices along with church Christmas fetes and my own children later on. So mum I have to thank you for the permanent whitish beard now. Somehow you seemed to make Christmas very special.