I haven't sent cards for a few years...

I have been practising planned giving instead of sending Christmas cards - last year was Cancer Research (I think) and the year before that was the Nomad Trust (my memory is a little shaky...). I usually just send them a cheque for what I would spend. This year went a little differently.

This year, as I was walking through an underpass, full of festive cheer (it was snowing) in my local city, I saw a guy that I've noticed begging a few times. I know he sleeps outside, and I know that people ignore him, even when he just wants a chat and not money. It's a hard, hard life. He was wrapped in a very tattered blanket and looked so cold and pinched... So, dear friends, I gave all my Christmas card fund to him.

Sorry if you think this is a bad move, but he looked so cold and sad, and I was so thankful that it wasn't me sat there... Maybe he'll spend it on alcohol and dogfood (I know he'll definitely spend some on dogfood), but he'll have a choice and I'm guessing that there's precious little of that in his life.

Then we went to M&S to spend some vouchers we had on luxury food - I've never shopped for food at M&S before - that was an experience! The lovely lady who packed our groceries at the end of the shop was collecting for the local hospice, St. Barnabas. So I put my Christmas card fund in her tin as well.

I spent twice as much and haven't sent any cards, I hope you are all OK with that.

I love you all very much - the friends that I've met, and the ones that I only know via keypresses thousands of miles away. You have all enriched my life and supported me when I've felt low. If Christmas is about giving, you have all given me the gift of your time and support for years now. Thankyou :-)

I hope you enjoy your seasonal festival - whichever face of God you choose to venerate.