It is true the Elves do all the hard work and the Reindeer get all the praise!  This has always been the case in Lapland and it is the same in Crawley, East Grinstead and Horley.

 

Elves start work throughout the Eve of Christmas Eve (that's the 23rd December), we have not got a specific time as yet as it depends on when Oriel High School can allow access. 

 

The first job of the day is to layout up to five hundred boxes. These will then have one of every food item that is not a perishable item, e.g. potatoes, carrots, oil, etc. The wishes (presents) are then set up near the boxes.  These tasks may not sound like a lot of work, but even our great friends at the Crawley Rugby Club look tired at the end.

 

The following morning at approximately 6am delivery of the Chickens and fresh cream will be made.  Each of the boxes are then tailored to the size of the family, larger families obviously get more items of food.  Each box is then checked to make sure all food items are in the box and the right amount is there, as well as the Christmas wishes.

 

The Elves will then load the Reindeer Sleighs and see them on their way.  This will be non stop 90-120 minutes of running back and forth with food and wishes. 

 

We are eternally grateful to the whole team at Oriel High School, so the Elves final job is to clear up every sign that we were ever there and the school is left in the condition we found it.

 

In previous years we have had less available time so have had to have many Elves working at once, most people would call this organised chaos and those people would be right.  With help from Oriel High School, we have a lot more time and therefore unlike previous years we can plan and organise better.  If you would like to be an Elf for the 23rd or Christmas Eve please email darren@greenawayresidential.com and title your email 'Elf'.