Dear Santa

This is Santa in Supervalu Raheny. He not only looks benign, he is looking after his junior fans in the run up to Christmas.

He has installed his own postbox in the store, and children who write to him will get a reply all the way from his home at The Grotto, Santa's Secret Village, The North Pole.

Replies will be posted for collection on the special North Pole noticeboard in the store.

As we all know, all that sherry and Christmas pudding which is normally left out for Santa on Christmas eve has had him working out at the North Pole Gym right through the year to get into shape for the following year's journey. So, this year, Santa is simply asking for some carrots for Rudolf to keep him up to speed on his long journey right around the world.

The instore Santa Post has been a long tradition in this country. I got a letter from Santa myself as far back as 1950.

I noticed recently (on Twitter) that the Royal Mail in the UK are running such a service this year. However, not only do you have to put a stamp on the letter to Santa, which is reasonable enough, you have to enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope as well. Double revenue for the Royal Mail as I pointed out to them. But, of course, they would not deal with that matter beyond tweeting me that Santa needed a return address. Sly and evasive. You can follow the spat here.

It was then pointed out to me that An Post are running a similar service. I really wondered if they would have the nerve to try and rake in revenue from a second stamp.

Well rest assured, they are not as greedy or as unfeeling as the Royal Mail. A stamp is required on the outgoing letter only. Santa's reply is delivered for free. Well done.

Just noticed my recent tweeting of this post has appeared on the homepage of An Post (below). The site shows the latest tweet, either tweeted or retweeted, by An Post, so when they next tweet I'll be gone. Meanwhile I should thank them for an extra three hits on this post.