I feel I must have to apologise. My elves went on strike due to poor working conditions and low pay, ok, no pay. For some reason, they felt they were due some sort of compensation for all the work they've done for me over the centuries. I did, and still do not, agree. They refused to work on your pressie, and get it out in a timely fashion. In fact,t ehy refused to do any work at all, feed the reindeer, clean up poop from the stalls, test Rudpolph's virility, for somereason with that last, they started demanding rubber gloves before they touch him there. I forbade them, said Rudolph want's it to feel natural.

Anyway, to make a long story short, the lazy bastards refused to see things my way. That is until I introduced to them the fine old Roman tradition of decimation. Now that there are a 10th less elves to ruin the holidays, and a few fatter polar bears and abominable snowmen, the rest are more than happy to make up for loss time and take up the slack of the decreased work force. I will make sure that, if need be, the reindeer make a special trip to your house so an elf may hand deliver your gift. Sorry about the delay.