Robin House: A place of love and laughter and the true spirit of Christmas

But down below it couldn’t be warmer, brighter or happier.

That’s because today is Robin House’s Christmas party… and Santa is coming!

As you come to expect when you visit the children’s hospice on the outskirts of Balloch, the place is alive with laughter.

But even by Robin House standards the noise level has been dialled up to 11.

When I arrive the magician is just coming to the end of his act to cheerful applause from the crowd of children, siblings, parents and staff.

The balloon animals are going down particularly well. “Make a dinosour for Eilidh!” someone hollers. “No, a dog, a dog!” shouts a very excited voice.

Then it’s straight into a joyful version of Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer. Everyone seems to be singing at slightly different speeds and in different keys – but that doesn’t matter. You just have to look at all the happy faces, both adult and child, to realise this is something special.

The room is well decorated of course – tree with flashing blue fairy lights, balloons everywhere, tinsel – and so are the people.

Christmas jumpers are the order of the day – I was told I wouldn’t be getting in without one, reporter or not – and there’s a Santa hat perched on half the heads in the room.

The little ones have their faces painted with bright festive scenes. Actually, looking around, most of the mums and the staff do too. There’s holly on cheeks and Rudolph red noses everywhere.

Speaking of the famous reindeer, here he is.

There are squeals of delight as a costumed staff-member (or perhaps it’s the real deal…) appears to dish out hugs and high-fives.

It’s just like any other children’s party taking place this week across the country.

And that’s what makes it so special – it is extraordinary in its ordinariness.

No exceptions are made, there’s nothing unusual happening. Simply parents and their kids sharing a wonderful festive experience. Just like you do with your own children or grandchildren.

Of course, several of the children are in wheelchairs and occasionally, among the scattered balloons, you’ll spot a high-tech medical machine with tubes and bags.

But the atmosphere is the same as any other Christmas gathering – fun, loud and happy.

Mum Victoria Thomson, from Barrhead, is here with her two children Morghan, 14, and Kieran, 5. Kieran has a severe neurological condition, holoprosencephaly.

They’ve been coming since Kieran was two and being with other families at the hospice at this time of year always means a lot to them.

“As soon as you walk through the doors at Robin House at Christmas you see all the festive activities and the decorations and you know you’ve arrived,” she says. “The staff and volunteers and kids are all in their Christmas jumpers!

“All you hear is laughter. It’s wonderful to see the kids altogether, especially if they’re not well.”

Of course, behind the fun and laughter there are more painful, fearful emotions.

“It’s a sigh of relief when you come at Christmas time because every other parent down here, not just you, is frightened as this is the time of the year that the winter could take your child.

“So when I walk in here the weight comes off my shoulders. I can sleep at night and I don’t have to worry.

“It’s so important just to spend that quality time because every single year you think maybe we’ll not have this next year.”

Back at the party, a round of pass-the-parcel has just finished to the usual shouts of “Aww no! Not ANOTHER layer!” from the kids.

Now the big moment has arrived.

“Santa’s only going to come if we sing Jingle Bells really loudly!” says a staff member.

The children don’t disappoint. Let’s just say it’s as well the roof is well screwed down.

And there he is. The big man himself.

Resplendent in red suit and a beard that could insulate the average family home, he strides through the doors… and the place goes wild.

Even One Direction don’t get mobbed like Santa does today.

There are presents for all (except journalists… sniff). Huge blue bags for the children and siblings, smaller ones for mums and dads.

The nursing team gets pressies too – well deserved. One nurse goes up to collect hers and gets a big hug.

“Put that Santa doon!” comes the cry. “I must have been a really good girl this year,” the reply.

There are more hugs when special guest Olaf from Frozen appears – who’d have thought snowmen were so cuddly?

And then the party is over and the buzz slowly subsides. It’s tiring being this excited – especially when you’re only wee.

People start to filter out of the activities room, but the sound of laughter and chatter still drifts down every corridor. That special Christmas party feeling will last long.

A happy Victoria says: “Every single year I always wonder if we are going to be here this time next year. The staff know that and they make it so special for us.

“As a family I don’t know what we would do without Robin House.”

The sky above the room is dark now, but below all is light, all is warmth. Here in this most loving of places, the true spirit of Christmas is as strong as it gets.