Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Card Sharp

So Penguin asked me for five top tips for good deeds at Christmas. Despite having done my year of good deeds, I am slightly leery setting myself up as any moral authority on what is and is not a good deed (particularly bearing in mind I am a journalist and as Lord Leveson will point out tomorrow journalists have no kind of moral authority at all.) Still bearing in mind I am a firm believer in a free press, my first top tip for doing good at Christmas is:

"Buy charity cards direct from a charity. Every year you say you will, then your eye gets caught on that snowy, sparkly woodland in the department store. Put your hands up and step away from the robin."

And since I am writing about good deeds for Christmas I am going to have to in all conscience give them a go and do them myself.(Makes hand into gunshape and holds finger-barrel to own head.) Yesterday I duly went online and ordered 100 charity Christmas cards and today 60 of them arrived.

Anyone who knows me stand by your beds (doubtless already covered in your festive quilt and festooned with sparkling pointsettia lights.) The likelihood is you will soon be in receipt of a Giotto nativity from Arthritis Research UK; glittery snowdrops from Cancer Research; a leafless winter's tree (hopefully not an ash) from Save the Children; or this one called "Christmas Post" from Action for Children.

Whatsmore I am, in one fell swoop, helping "reduce the pain and disability for the one in six people including children, in the UK who are living with this debilitating condition (of arthritis)", helping "save children's lives...fight for their rights...fulfil their potential" and beating cancer. And I haven't even written the damn cards yet. Yeah. How about that?

My husband looked a little confused at the delivery of the Christmas cards. This is because he is normally the one who writes them. In fact normally I never send a Christmas card. Not one. I haven't for years. Maybe one in a blue moon to an aged aunty but that is it. (Grits teeth and reaches for address book).

7 comments:

liveotherwise said...

We are terrible at sending cards. And in fact inherited a very large box of christmas cards when we moved into this house. Many of them are charity cards, so that still counts as a good deed, right?

PS moderation *and* captcha is probably overkill ;)

wife in the north said...

Moot I would say. Maybe you could make the point you were advertising them?
have lifted both and will see what happens.

Sarah Daly said...

I've taken your lead and just ordered 40 cards from Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.

They have a lovely selection here:

http://leukaemialymphomaresearch.org.uk/shop/christmas-cards

And some lovely decorations here:

http://leukaemialymphomaresearch.org.uk/shop/christmas?items_per_page=All

Anonymous said...

Mine usually come from the National Autistic Society. Though this year they have come from Morrisons.

I shall have a rethink on the 'good deeds' bit.

CJ x

wife in the north said...

sorry had to put captcha back on cos the spam started again. if it is hideous tell me and I will moderate instead.

Iota said...

Is the money going to help that poor child, and rescue it from the torture of not being able to reach the slot in the post box? How many hours a day does it have to stand there trying? I'm all for realism, and being reminded of the impoverishment of some people's lives, but you'd think at Christmas, the card producers would have selected a cheerier scene.

janerowena said...

Having heard debates from friends on this subject for many years, and still feeling morally blackmailed, I nevertheless bought cards this year that promised to donate 50p for every box of ten I bought. Some only donate 1p per card. Ultimately though I will only buy the cards if I like them.