Rusty is questing! Episode 1/25

“Santa! Santa!” called Mirabelle, descending gracefully. “May I lend you an umbrella? You’re going to get so wet out in the rain like this! I wondered what you were doing, dancing around out here.”
“Wonderful news!” declaimed Santa, with his arms outflung and face tilted to feel the rain dashing against it. “I’ve been selected to take part in a job swap. I'm off to the tropics and my counterpart from there will take over my duties here. No dismal fog, rain and cold weather for me this Christmas! I’m off to enjoy the sun, for a change!” He cavorted gleefully, stamping his boots in the puddles.
“Won’t that feel a bit weird?” asked Rusty. “Wouldn't you rather have a traditional Christmas, with hot drinks in front of a log fire?”
“No!” yodelled Santa. “I want to lie on a beach under a hot sun!”
He hurried off to get the sleigh ready for its tropical trip.

Rusty is questing! Episode 2/25

A clip-clop of hooves heralded the approach of Peanut, the donkey.
"Oh Peanut, why aren't you in your nice warm stable?" asked Mirabelle.
Peanut snorted. "I've escaped! It's the season of Nativity plays where I'm always pressed into service to stand still for ages around a crib and at rehearsals the Shepherds and Magi run riot and keep jumping on my back for a ride. So this time, I thought they could do without me. Did I overhear Santa say he was getting ready? Perhaps I could help pull his sleigh."
"There's an exciting change this year, Peanut! Santa's going to do his deliveries in the tropics!"
"Okay, I don't mind going there. Are you coming, Mirabelle? And you, Rusty?"

Rusty is questing! Episode 3/25

Before anyone could reply, they were interrupted by Wanda the Kangaroo, who came bounding up to join them.
"Have you escaped from your safari park?" queried Peanut.
Wanda shook her fur free of rain and considered this. "Well, it's not like we're locked in or anything. I just fancied stretching my legs, you know, and then I overheard Santa saying he was off to the Southern Hemisphere! I'm going to ask if I can tag along. I get homesick, you know."
"Oh, but I say—Christmas won't be the same in the hot sun!" said Rusty. "Surely that's the whole point, to have a few bright days to lighten the darkest, coldest time of year, to wear our garish Christmas pullovers and spend time with family having cosy traditional meals and choosing your favourites from a huge tin of Quality Street?"
Peanut disagreed. "I'm tired of getting cold and damp. And frankly, a few hours spent with my family is more than enough! Particularly when you find somepet has put their Quality Street wrappers back in the tin," he said darkly.

Rusty is questing! Episode 4/25

Santa returned at that point, and at first had to try and distangle a duet of voices while both Peanut and Wanda excitedly talked non-stop to him at the same time. Eventually he got the gist.
"The more the merrier!" he cried. "Wanda and Peanut, go and let the other pets know you're going away and pack a few things—but pack light! Flip-flops and things—you'll need no pullovers! Be back here in half an hour. Rusty—Mirabelle, will you be coming too?"
Mirabelle thought the idea was lovely and needed no persuading. Rusty was rather doubtful but in the end agreed a change of scenery and a chance to sample different cuisine and cultures would be a good thing.

Rusty is questing! Episode 5/25

It was an excited little group of pets that presently met beside Santa's sleigh and happily greeted all the reindeer, who were now hitched up to the sleigh, with Santa checking the traces. Santa was pleased that they had all packed light—the sleigh would be put to full use for transporting gifts to all the young pets in PnF Land so there really wasn't much room. Rusty was bewailing the fact that he hadn't brought any Quality Street, but Mirabelle pointed out that it would most likely melt in the heat where they were going, and in any case, there was bound to be something just as good, if not better!
Everyone piled into the sleigh and with a triumphant whoop, Santa shook the reins, the reindeer started trotting and then galloping, and the whole sleigh took off into the night sky! It felt really strange at first to Rusty and his companions, but they soon got used to it, and sat back to enjoy the cool air swooshing past and watching the tiny features of the landscape far below.

Rusty is questing! Episode 6/25

After quite some time had passed, Santa landed the sleigh to feed and water the reindeer and to allow them to rest for a while.
Mirabelle shivered in the pre-dawn cold. "What a desolate, alien, depressing place! Where are we, Santa?"
"I don't know exactly. Do you think it might be England? Only kidding! Let me check the map. Only kidding again! I have the latest Santa-Nav. Wherever it is, we're about halfway to our destination."

Rusty is questing! Episode 7/25

Finally they all arrived at their tropical destination. Santa guided the sleigh down to earth and they eagerly alighted to stretch their legs. They could feel the difference in the climate immediately with the very warm air on their faces even though the sun was sinking.
Santa dashed off to change out of his sweltering winter suit and boots and into something more suitable for the sunny climate.

Rusty is questing! Episode 8/25

Santa and the team rested after their long journey by blissfully soaking up some rays, then cooling down in the sea, then sun-bathing again. The pets delighted in freeing their paws and walking along the beach feeling the sand scrunch underneath. Not even Rusty wished he could be back home in the cold weather! Wanda especially felt very happy to be so close to her native habitat.

Rusty is questing! Episode 9/25

Santa had received a welcome pack and an induction schedule for his new tropical duties.
"I wonder how the Santa from here is getting on in the Northern Hemisphere?" he chuckled, scanning his itinerary. "Let's hope it's not raining too much! Oh wow, we have some activity-packed days ahead of us! I'm to start straight in with some gift deliveries. Hmm—do you think there's time for a siesta first?"

Rusty is questing! Episode 10/25

Some helpful gnomes loaded the sleigh with lots of exciting looking gifts for the first delivery. Santa lazily directed operations from a supine position in his hammock while enjoying a sparkling tropical pineapple juice. But it was soon time for him to roll out of his comfortable swinging berth, put his flip-flops on properly, harness the reindeer, check the manifest and the Santa-Nav and finally climb up into the driving seat, with Mirabelle, Peanut, Wanda and Rusty behind him, wedged in as best they could amongst all the presents.

Rusty is questing! Episode 11/25

After flying through the air for about half an hour, they landed on a medium sized tropical island in the middle of nowhere. Waiting to meet them were dozens of excited pets, eager to meet Santa and his team. Santa's team helped him distribute all the gifts to the happy recipients.
"This beats climbing down chimneys in the cold and dark any day!" remarked Santa.
They spent a long time on the island, chatting to the pets, playing games and singing Christmas songs, before it really was time to go back.

Rusty is questing! Episode 12/25

As the sun rose the next day, they flew towards their next destination for delivery of gifts and with a refilled sleigh. It was a long journey and the team found themselves dozing off as they had had to get up so early that morning. But at long last they felt the sleigh descending. It was a teeny tiny island they were heading for!

Rusty is questing! Episode 13/25

The team scrambled out of the sleigh after Santa. They had come to deliver gifts on a small and remote tropical island where a rare species of turtle lived. The turtles emerged from the sea to greet their visitors.

Rusty is questing! Episode 14/25

Having carried out his gift-delivery duties, Santa had great fun wrangling a shark! The rest of the team watched in awe and some degree of nervousness.

Rusty is questing! Episode 15/25

"It's great being by the sea in such fabulous weather but the problem is, you can't build a snowman in the tropics," observed Rusty.
"No snow? Then make the best out of what you do have!" said Santa. "You can't learn that too early in life. What's all this beneath your paws?"
The team whiled away a pleasant hour making a sandman. The reindeer by this time being fully rested, it was time to pack up the sleigh, bid farewell to the little turtles, and be on their way back.

Rusty is questing! Episode 16/25

The next day was a complete change. The reindeer had the whole day off, to frolic in lush grass meadows. On the induction schedule the entry for the day was "Give a motivational talk on the Santa Work Ethic to prospective candidates for Santa's Workshop."
Santa took it in his stride. To a packed room, he spoke at some length.
First, Santa does great preparation. He has to work out which gift is best suited to which little pet, and then has to cross-refer his inventory and delivery schedule so that all goes to plan.
Second, Santa is extremely hard-working. He is never late with his deliveries and it would be unheard of for him to take a year off!
Third, Santa is goal-oriented. He never deviates from his role with its crucial responsibilities.
Fourth, Santa has to be a great manager. Everything must come together at the one key time of the year and to be successful, Santa must inspire the elves and gnomes in their various responsibilities and must also nurture his reindeer team!
Fifth, Santa has a faultless attitude. He is always jolly, despite a very demanding schedule, and he is dedicated to the needs of others, i.e. all the expectant young pets in PnF Land.
The room was buzzing when Santa finished his talk and he stayed for a lively Q&A session.

Rusty is questing! Episode 17/25

Santa hosted a tropical beach Christmas party. The pets played beach volleyball, had water gun fights, there was a sandcastle competition, they scavenged for the best shells and to end there was karaoke. What a fun way to enjoy Christmas!

Rusty is questing! Episode 18/25

Santa and his team visited the Christmas Workshop. A seemingly never-ending stream of brand new toys and games appeared at one end of the conveyor belts, trundled down the length of the belt and were then transferred into big baskets to be taken away for sorting by appropriate age and type of pet.

Rusty is questing! Episode 19/25

Gnomes collected the finished toys and wheeled them away in big carts ready for the wrapping process.

Rusty is questing! Episode 20/25

Next on the induction schedule: Santa visited the reindeer training facility.

Rusty is questing! Episode 21/25

Next on the itinerary was a visit to the toy testing unit. The gnomes were busy with spanners, pliers and screwdrivers to make sure every toy and game was in perfect working order, and all ready for delivery to a deserving little pet!

Rusty is questing! Episode 22/25

Santa was nearing the end of his job swap programme. There was one last very important visit to be made. Santa joined Mirabelle, Peanut, Wanda and Rusty who were exchanging views on the highlights of their trip so far.
"It's been an enriching experience," said Peanut. "I feel really set up for the New Year. I haven't missed the cold weather and rain at all!"
Rusty agreed. "It's been really great. Although I'm looking forward to going back, you know. Do some chestnut roasting by an open fire and so on."
The Kangaroo had been quiet for a while. Mirabelle was about to ask her if she had enjoyed the trip when Santa hurried them on to the last item on the agenda.

Rusty is questing! Episode 23/25

They all arrived at a multi-storey green building: Santa HQ!
"What goes on here, Santa?" asked Rusty.
"This is where all the letters to Santa from little pets in the Southern Hemisphere come to. Santa reads every single one. It's a very busy job!"

Rusty is questing! Episode 24/25

Mirabelle, Peanut, Wanda and Rusty discussed the fun time they had had, and thanked Santa for having brought them.
"It's been a real insight into what goes on behind the scenes; all the hard work that goes into delivering all those gifts!" said Peanut.
Mirabelle winked at Santa. "It's not Christmas without an exciting-looking present!"

Rusty is questing! Episode 25/25

On their final night before flying back home, they all went down to the sea for a barbecue. They agreed it had been the most interesting Christmas ever! Santa thanked the crew for all their help and then said that Wanda had an announcement to make.
"It's been great taking part in this journey with you," said Wanda. "I just wanted to say that I've decided not to go back. This is where I belong—or rather, Santa has very kindly agreed to take me back to where I was born on the way back. I've got family there, you know. I'll miss you all! It's been a great adventure!"
They all hugged Wanda and wished her well. Then Rusty was thrilled to be presented with a gift for taking part in Santa's work swap!

Rusty has completed the quest! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also take part!