Festive sneer...to one elf of a day as helper

EVERYONE has a downfall.

- 

Paul Macauley joins in the fun as Santa's Secret Forest in Hightown and, below, making sure the reindeers are well fed

(ANDREW TEEBAY)

Some people order Papa Johns on a Sunday instead of a Domino’s, others favour winter over summer and a handful of today’s population are still devoted to Androids when iPhones are right there.My downfall? I much prefer spending time with adults over children.

This is something I would've argued about until I was blue in the face, at least until this week.

On Thursday, visitors to Santa's Secret Forest in Hightown stepped into the twinkling wonderland with a most unlikely helper - me.

Fearlessly trading my notepad for candy cane striped leggings and a hat so big and floppy it came with its own gravitational pull, I joined the talented team of elves at the Christmas attraction to see how all the magic came about and, more importantly, place some smiles on toddlers’ faces.

Tasked with spreading festive cheer as one of the North Pole’s employees, I wandered through a day of giggles, sticky fingers and curious questions from children whose eyes sparkled with wonder.