“Have you checked the messages this morning?”

“No signal boss.  Joyriding around the mast again. Complete disregard for all the health and safety briefings.  One or two of the new recruits still haven’t passed their ‘Knowledge’.”

“We have the new satnav to fall back on.  Our distribution windows are too tight for error.”

“I’ll check to see if the engineering taskforce have it prioritised. Where did I put my electric heated boots?”

The new software installed over the summer with its integrated databases made checking and loading easier. But the boss missed his hand written ledgers, yellow Post-it notes with last minute requests and address changes.  He still made random checks on the merchandise before dispatch. His quality control team leader grumbled he was interfering with a well ordered system, opening boxes and poking around.

Once, he’d designed a prototype delivery vehicle. It had been vetoed by the head of distribution as unstable. The model sat on the shelf behind his desk, streamline aerodynamics, additional storage and higher seat, a pipe dream.

A rush of arctic air and the assistant head of operations bustled in brushing off copious amounts of snow from his all-weather waterproof down jacket and stomping his boots on the mat.

“The mast is being repositioned now. They drove straight into it.  Did we ever follow up their references I wonder?”

“Don’t fret. Remember 1972.  You were in such a tizzy we had to send out for your special tonic. Delayed loading no end.”

“We don’t have enough staff, used to have no problem recruiting. Now they all want to go to uni.  Each year new technology.  Text messages, I ask you, what’s wrong with sending a letter?”

A series of buzzes and the small screen on the desk lit up.

Dear Santa….