Santa to retire at GemLife !

Santa sat in his big, comfy chair, 

Looked across at his cherry-cheeked wife,

“My dear,” he said,” I’ll start early this year,

“And make a visit to Gold Coast GemLife.

“That’s in Pimpama, you know,

“And that place just seems to grow,

“This GemLife village has an address so new,

“It's known only by the postie,

And, of course,  Temu."

Santa looked out his window at a scene of snow and ice,

December on the Gold Coast would be very nice,

He looked again at his cherry-cheeked wife,

And wondered about retiring, to GemLife.

He had received a letter just a day or two ago,

From the HOC social committee crew,

Would he be free, on December 12, please?

As they were having a Christmas do.

Now Santa did not normally make special trips,

(Frankly, such requests gave him the pips),

Like working all-year-round wasn’t enough,

What with toy-making, list-checking, elf-training and stuff.

But this letter had him thinking,

That the trip could have a purpose dual,

He had seen the ads on telly,

Snow and ice? Or rooftop pool?

What if he did drop by?

For a champagne and mince pie,

Fill his belly with festive fare,

And check out Stage 3, while he’s there.

Mrs Claus smiled at her fat, jolly man,

(Was that grey in his snowy white hair?),

She knew his every crinkle, every twinkle, every ho-ho-ho,

(It had been love at first sight, under the mistletoe).

But they were getting old, the North Pole was cold,

And those folk at GemLife Gold Coast in the sun,

Were on the naughty list (if you get my gist),

A chance, she saw, for them to have some fun.

Mrs Claus pulled her chair to his, 

It was time to have ‘that chat’,

About hanging up his big black boots,

And that silly, floppy hat.

“My dear, she said, fighting back tears,

Google says you’ve been around for 1,755 years,

And though you’re universally loved,

And very much admired,

I think it’s time that we both retired.

“Now, hear me out,” she jumped right in,

“The elves aren’t total fools,

“They’ve been around since storybooks,

“And are handy on the tools.

“You’ve reindeer too, who know the way,

"Around the world, in just one day,

“So why not stop, for just one year,

“Let’s see what GemLife has to offer, 

"Pretty please, my dear”.

Santa looked back at the face he loved,

The thought was jingling in his mind,

Surely time off would not hurt?

A break from the festive grind?

Perhaps some Dancing and Prancing,

Without those reindeer,

“Well, yes, it might be fun,” he twinkled.

“There’s live music too, I hear.”

He read again, the request written,

With a thumbnail dipped in tar,

It might be jolly, something different,

(And he’d heard there was a bar).

Yes - maybe, just maybe,

He and his Mrs Claus,

Might find a spot, their place in the sun,

Somewhere warm to pause.

So, he took note of the details, time, cost and date,

(Surely, they wouldn’t make Santa pay?)

Oh no, that’s fine, he read aloud:

“No charge, just turn up on the day”.

“How will they know us, when we arrive?”

Mrs Claus did ask,

“Don’t worry,” said Santa, tapping his nose,

“They’ve sent us a Visitor’s Pass.”

So, the social club have got it in hand,

With Santa on board, it will be grand,

Bookings now open for tables of eight,

But close for residents by November 28.

After that, contract-holders can swoop,

So, add it to your wish list,

But all bookings must close for catering, 

By Friday, December the 5th.

With Santa here as our very special guest,

The social committee has one request,

Be quick to snap up your ticket,

At $40 a head, you’re on a good wicket.

Just 152 tickets, priced at $40 each,

For a welcome drink, festive buffet of salads and meats,

And, to finish off,

Desserts, coffee, tea and sweets.

The bar will be open to tap and pay,

Or pre-purchase before the day,

For a lower pre-sale ONLY price,

You'll agree,

Three wines, beers or spirits,

And get one free.

That's a pre-sale special of FOUR, for the price of THREE!!

The HOC is giving away raffle tickets, 

FREE!

There will be bon bons on tables, tinsel and a tree,

And the chance to sit on Santa’s knee.

(But please be careful of his baubles,

We don’t want to add to his troubles.)

So, the jolly man in red is ready,

Are you?

To book your table in groups of eight,

Or just for one or two?

Do you have a dietary need?

Are you vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free?

If you are, let the booking site know,

Bernie knows food, from go to whoa.

Another thing, just a thought,

Have you anything that you’ve bought?

Nice? New? But not needed, just stored?

We would love you to donate to our raffle hoard.

There’s a corner in the boardroom,

If you want to donate,

We have lots of raffle prizes,

But more would be great.

Drop them in, no need to wrap,

And they’ll be added to the raffle stack.

Now the jolly man with the twinkling smile,

Is packed and set to go,

The elves know it's their time to shine,

They'll have to run the show. 

Santa has gathered them to him,

"I know you'll do your best,

And when I return, you'll all be given, 

"A GemLife hi-vis vest!"

Mrs Claus has stuffed the bags with swimmers, sunnies, a cricket bat,

Boogie boards, rashies, sunscreen, 

And that silly, floppy hat.

She has the Visitor lanyards around her neck,

Flight tickets in her pack,

But she has a sneaky feeling,

That they won't be coming back.

She's seen the GemLife Bruce Paige ad,

For the champagne lifestyle they've never had.

Tenpin bowling, rooftop pool,

The friendly folk and luxury homes,

(She'll ask Jane about her garden gnomes.)

They'll choose their block and a design,

They can only pay in candy canes,

Will that be fine? 

GemLife are cock-a-hoop,

Santa moving in! What a scoop!

They are more than happy to approve,

(They might even help with the move.)

Santa set to live among,

GemLife's newest owners,  

And here, right on Christmas!

What an unexpected bonus.

But after our December  party,

Santa will retire, and that is that,

He'll hang up his boots, suit and sack,

But not that silly, floppy hat.

"It still fits," he says softly, 

As he strokes the thinning fur.

"Not all that's old, is useless, 

"Wouldn't you concur?"

"Age can be a priceless gift,

"Bringing joy beyond all measure,

"Likewise, this silly, floppy hat, 

"Despite its wrinkles and thinning fur,

"Is something that I treasure."

Santa smiled at his cherry-cheeked wife,

And she saw not his wrinkles,

Nor thinning hair,

But a man content with his life.

So if at any time you see Santa,

(There are many about)

Ask him the secret to a happy life,

He'll leave you in no doubt.

He'll tap his nose, wink and say,

"There's really no secret to that,

"It's laughter, love, friendship,

"And a rooftop pool,

"But keep that under your hat!"