A modern one, well relatively! Santa asked for this, as did Mr Rory.

The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for snow throughout Dumfries and Galloway. Outbreaks of 2 – 5 cm are expected with up to 10 cm in places.

As a consequence road conditions will be affected and those who need to travel are asked to carefully consider the necessity of the journey, and check the conditions of the route to their destination. Details of major roads affected can be found on www.trafficscotland.org and local roads can be checked on the council website at www.dumgal.gov.uk For up to date weather information and details of any warnings look on www.metoffice.gov.uk

Thank you Jack for texting in for this.  It is a great song!

Mark Smith played this on Drivetime yesterday and we loved it so much we wanted to play it here.

Ho ho ho!!

What a morning.  We had a powercut in the North Pole and the electricity has only just come on.  Mrs Claus couldn’t use the electric cooker so she made my breakfast on our campign stove. Santa goes camping too you know, but not at the North Pole!

Now the post this morning had more letters from Dumfries.  Wonderful!

I want to say a big hello to Brooke and Jack from Babbington Gardens in Dumfries.  You both sent me lovely letters.  I know you would like a Sponge Bob Walkie Talkie, a camera, football, peppa pig and a yoyo amonng other things.  We will see what we can do.  I gave your list to Noddy the Elf and he is looking out presents for you as I type.

Remember to be in bed and asleep before I arrive.  You’ll hear the sleigh bells in your sleep you know!

Yum, breakfast over and better get back to by “Chimney” exercises again.

I’ll be back tomorrow, love,

Santa xx

The Met Office issued (at 1214hrs) an Amber Warning of Snow for SW Scotland and Lothian/Borders: Dumfries and Galloway, Scottish Borders, West Lothian, Edinburgh, and Midlothian council areas. This warning is valid from 0300hrs (3am) Tue 13 Dec to 1000hrs (10am) Wed 14 Dec.

Heavy showers will fall as snow over ground above about 100 m, and at times to low levels too. Accumulations of 10 cm or more are possible on hills, and there may also be some slushy accumulations at low levels. As a result some roads will become icy at times.

Very strong winds will accompany the showers at times, notably across Northern Ireland, parts of northern England and southern and western Scotland.

The public should be aware that travel may be disrupted as a result of the bad weather, notably over high ground where a combination of strong winds and snow could lead to temporary blizzard conditions. There is also a risk of interruptions to power supplies.

Local forecast for Dumfries and Galloway:

Stormy this afternoon and at first this evening with wind gusts up to 70mph. Winds will slowly ease through the rest of the evening and night, but remaining windy.

The coming 24 hours will be mostly cloudy with showery outbreaks of rain, hail, sleet and, over higher routes, snow. Road temps will fall a little below zero over higher routes where sleet and snow falls, leading to the risk of ice. Road temps are expected to remain a little above zero elsewhere.

2cm to 5cm snow is possible over the coming 24 hours over higher routes (above 150m to 200m). Any snow which does accumulate is likely to drift in the very strong winds. No significant snow accumulations are expected below this level, although the rain may turn to sleet or wet snow at times.

During severe and extreme weather incidents you can get up to date information on weather, river and road conditions from:

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/uk_forecast_warnings.html

http://www.readyscotland.org/

http://trafficscotland.org/

http://www.sepa.org.uk/

Ho ho ho!!!

The postman has been.  There he goes with his sleigh carrying mail to other parts of the North Pole.  Nice man.

Now, let’s see what’s in my mailbag today…oh..letters from Dumfries.

Curtis..let’s see I think you are Caitlin’s brother, aren’t you and I think you are 4 years old.  Your letter has reached me.  You want a Playmobile police station, ohh that is nice, we will see what we can do about that young Curtis. You want a police car and a fire engine too.  I will have a word with the Elves.

Hello also to Emily and Katie from the Laurels.  You sent me lovely letters.  I love your drawing of me Katie!

Well, the postman told me before he left, as Mrs Claus gave him a cup of soup, as it’s cold here this morning, yes, he said there are a lot of letters from Dumfries.  If I have not mentioned you yet, your’s may be coming tomorrow.

Now, today is an exciting day.  We are fitting the reindeer with new bells. It is wonderful when we are flying on Christmas night and I hear the sound of the bells gently sound in the wind.  As you fall asleep you may even hear them!

Love

Santa xx

Ferrocious winds in our region took their toll on one of the most prominent Dumfries High Street premises this afternoon. New Look suffered the event, when one of the huge first floor plate glass windows broke, crashing on the street below.

No one was injured in the smash, but it could have been fatal had someone been walking on the pavement at the time.

Mark Robertson – Operations Director Lockerbie Creamery

Mark has over 30 years’ experience in the dairy / food industry.  He has held a number of management posts at the Lockerbie creamery both under Grand Met and Glanbia.  He developed the Glanbia Foodservice business to a position where it was fit for sale.  He became General Manager for Lockerbie, Oswestry and Melton before becoming Manufacturing Director covering all of the sites.

Following Milk Link’s acquisition of The Cheese Company, Mark was appointed to his current role of Operations Director covering all Milk Link’s cheese and milk sites.

Mark is also on Queen of the South Board of Directors.

If you have any questions you would like Annette Richards to put to Mark on Friday morning email hello@aliveradio.net and mark them for her attention

Ho ho ho!!

What a lovely sunny but cold day it is here in the North Pole today.

The Postman came earlier this morning and what lovely letters I have recieved.  Especially from Caitlin aged 7 in Dumfries.  Now I know where your house is in Heathhall.    I know you want some inline skates and a wii.  I think we still have to wrap up your presents so you will have to wait until Christmas Day to see what the Elves have made for you.

The other lovely letter came from Katie in The Laurels.  That’s that lovely new houses off Lockerbie Road isn’t it?  You would like an elephant bear with a spotty dress.  Let’s see what I bring you.  I normally stop off near the Laurels so remember to have a cup of cocoa ready for me.  What a lovely card Katie, thank you!

Oh better go. Lots of presents to wrap.

Love

Santa xx