Christmas Greetings

Bah humbug!

Christmas cards! There I've said it. What is it about Christmas cards that brings out the worst in one-upmanship. Why is it that some people delight in buying the most expensive cards just to write "Fred and Jean" inside or worse still, have them printed so that they don't need to write in them? Are they just showing off? Is it these same people who have strings upon strings upon strings of colourful cards in their living rooms shouting out to visitors that they have so many friends they receive hundreds of cards? Or is it more likely that they save last year's to put up too! Ha ha ha. Caught them out!

I remember when my kids were young I used to rifle through their school bags this time of year to find valuable cards to hang on the wall. One year I was really angry with middle son because he left all his cards in his drawer at school at the end of term. How dare he! That was at least twenty cards that wouldn't end up on my wall! I made him cry because I told him Santa wouldn't come because he had left his cards at school. He was six years old. Oh dear - wasn't I a dreadful mother.

Today my daughter is helping my grandson to make rice crispie cakes with Smarties on top for his playgroup mates instead of buying Christmas cards. Well - three year olds can't write them themselves can they? I think it's a lovely idea. I wish I'd thought of it twenty-odd years ago.

I wonder, though, how it will go down with the other mums on Monday morning when he gives out his crispie cakes instead of Christmas cards? Will Emily give in by the end of the week and buy 20 cards and write in them herself?

Another Christmas card moan. Last year I found my mum's Christmas card list and sent a card to everyone whose name/address I didn't recognise, with a little handwritten note to tell them mum had passed away.

This year I'm getting cards from people I don't know (Fred and Jean above is an example). I can only think they are mum's acquaintances. Thing is I don't think I kept mum's old list so I can't send one back. Why did I wake up in the night last night worrying about this?

Anyway, fellow bloggers here is a seasonal thought from me. Let's all make the most of those Christmas cards and see who can write the most original greeting instead of just "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, from blah blah and blah."

How about this for starters. "I hope this Christmas will be better than the last one when you ended up in casualty after dropping the hot turkey on your foot."

or

"Best wishes for a Happy Christmas from Beryl and the miserable old git who lives with her."

I just wish I dare!

Seasons greetings and happy writing to you all. May your books get published and your Christmas cards recycled for hanging on the wall next year!