A Post Christmas Tale
Posted: 30 Dec 2008, 20:09
Like many before me, I had what (on reflection) appears to have been overly high expectations for Christmas morning. As the day after Christmas dawned, I faced up to the truth - but decided to see if I could find some details about my unrealized hopes:
Turns out that Santa's minature sleigh will just NOT carry a Hawker Hunter. NO way!! Even with Dave's help, Santa could not get it loaded. There were also some messy ancillary details about weigh and balance and the load that the sleigh is licensed to carry (regulation has reared it's ugly head as far as the North Pole).
Then there was the near strike by the Reindeer Union. There are, of course only eight TINY reindeer (plus two standby alternates). Hauling a Hawker Hunter would require a minimum of ten TINY reindeer - and, although Santa had promised Rudolph he could have this year off, Rudolph would have had to be recalled on short notice (plus get double over-time). Even with ten reindeer, the mandatory rest periods would be doubled, which put the entire world schedule at risk.
It was just a NON-starter.
However, it's almost the new year - and my hope is getting renewed. Perhaps by .....
Just thought you'd want to know.
Bill
Turns out that Santa's minature sleigh will just NOT carry a Hawker Hunter. NO way!! Even with Dave's help, Santa could not get it loaded. There were also some messy ancillary details about weigh and balance and the load that the sleigh is licensed to carry (regulation has reared it's ugly head as far as the North Pole).
Then there was the near strike by the Reindeer Union. There are, of course only eight TINY reindeer (plus two standby alternates). Hauling a Hawker Hunter would require a minimum of ten TINY reindeer - and, although Santa had promised Rudolph he could have this year off, Rudolph would have had to be recalled on short notice (plus get double over-time). Even with ten reindeer, the mandatory rest periods would be doubled, which put the entire world schedule at risk.
It was just a NON-starter.
However, it's almost the new year - and my hope is getting renewed. Perhaps by .....
Just thought you'd want to know.
Bill