Writing Christmas cards has never been one of my favourite things. For years I sent to everyone I knew plus I had orders from my mum to send to all her friends and relatives, some of whom I’d never met plus all hubs relatives as well. Plus when hubs had his own business he sent them to all his clients and guess who got to write those as well.
Anyway a few years ago I started noticing that quite a few people were donating to charity instead of cards. It took a few years to get my head round that but in the end I thought that was a good way to go. So now I give the money I would have spent to charity. I give it by hand to a local charity in Stockport called Signpost. They support and help carers. I have benefited a lot from them myself. They provide help and support to carers and are always there to listen. They have a big old building in the Heatons in Stockport and for many years they raised funds by letting out rooms. I’ve been there for diabetic classes. Obviously in the last few years they have lost this source of revenue and I really don’t want them to disappear. Also I know that any money I give to them will not be swallowed up in admin like a lot of the bigger charities.
I still give a card to my dad and my in-laws but that’s it.
I must admit that I do like to get cards and I do feel bad that I’m not reciprocating but I don’t want to take away from signpost.
It's great that you do this Magggzz. I don't send that many cards by post (only to you girls this year ) but I do give a lot of cards out to people that we see and I buy the charity cards, so money still goes to worthwhile causes
There is a lot to be said for being part of a group, and the support and friendship that is gained from this.
We do cards every year, we don't get a lot back but we still do them regardless. Signpost in Stockport, I've heard of them as I used to live in Stockport, Manchester Road in Heaton Chapel to be precise.
Traditional things seems to be dying off, like cards, lots of people do virtual ones on the computer don't they.
"I am doing the best I can with what I have in this moment; and that is all I can expect of anyone including me"
I still do love to send and receive cards, but the numbers get less each year. I also love doing the 'shoebox' gift donations. One of the local empty shops was been taken over by volunteers this year organising and distributing 'shoeboxes' of small gifts for local families, children and elderlies who otherwise would not be receiving anything .
I love packing the boxes and putting in a card with a message. The boxes have all been collected now and the local father christmas will distribute them on his sleigh before Christmas
I always enjoy receiving cards with messages in but dislike writing them. The number we send has dwindled over the years as people from long ago who we don’t otherwise keep in contact have stopped and likewise, I’ve dropped a few. This year, I decided to cut right back and only send to a few people who I don’t see often. I sent messages to a lot of friends saying I’d be donating to charity and please don’t send to us. Then I decided to phone a few people who I would normally include a note in the card. One call was terribly sad as my friend had died in February and her partner who I’ve only met once had not known to inform me. He obviously was very upset and I felt awful for him. So very sad for my friend. I was glad I’d phoned though as now I know.
That must have been a horrible phone call LL, such a lot of sadness around and more impacted at Christmas.
I think it would help if the tv and radio didn't hype it up so much. I was saying to OH yesterday that all the adverts portray big families, laughing, happy, all having a joyous time with food galore and bottles of plonk, gifts galore, very very expensive ones advertised too, I think it's kind of brainwashing and everyone thinks this is how it should be or this is how it is for everyone, just a massive retail con. If they would portray things in a more quiet reflective way, more people may feel included.
There is a lot to be said for being part of a group, and the support and friendship that is gained from this.
Sad news about your friend LL, it must have been quite a shock!
For years we made our own cards - hubby used photos taken during the year or a special Christmasy one we'd taken. He's got bored with that now and I decided to not send cards and donate to the local charity I sew for instead. I feel so Environmentally Friendly now! 😃