IF we're brave enough to admit it, what is it about Christmas that most of us dread? It's Christmas cards.
Why is it we send cards to our neighbours, friends and family that we see over Christmas anyway? Why do we have to send them to every single one of our work colleagues so as not to offend anyone? How many of us keep a few spare just in case you receive a card from someone you've forgotten? You don't want to send everyone a card and they don't want to send one to you, but somehow we've all got caught up in this never ending circle.
A couple of years ago I decided that enough was enough, someone had to make the first move.
The Christmas card is a nice way to keep in touch so I do still send to friends and family that live abroad and in other parts of the country, that I don't get to see that often. The rest of my Christmas card money is now sent to Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital where it is better spent on equipment that save children's lives, rather than on some piece of paper that collects dust and awaits the bin.
I appreciate that some people do get a great deal of pleasure giving and receiving lots of cards – well, that's fine.
But if everyone who agrees that this is a ritual chore that's got out of hand, gave their money to a much more deserving cause, just think what a real difference this could make. – J. Sibley, Ellwood.