OK – It’s that time of year again – Christmas!  Season of goodwill to all men and all that.  Those of us who refuse to get silly about it and join in with all the hoo haa are pronounced ‘miserable Scrooges’.  Well here’s why I for one don’t join in with all the hoo haa and why I thoroughly enjoy EVERY DAY as a day of goodwill to all men – I don’t wait around for Christmas to show that I care for people.

There are people I’ve taken the trouble to keep in touch with all year round, who, no doubt regard me as a bit of a pain because I call to see how they are and I BOTHER to be BOTHERED to think about them ALL YEAR ROUND!

You see, I’m one of those people who is a REAL FRIEND, not just a CHRISTMAS LIST FRIEND.  I’m there when I’m needed, I leave when I’m not needed and I really do care about the people in my life ALL YEAR ROUND.

However, over the years I’ve bothered less and less with some people because I’ve seen through them.  The ones who never fail to send a Christmas card to let me know they’ve ‘thought’ of me at a particular time – ONCE A YEAR.  This no doubt salves their conscience and makes them feel they’ve done their Christmas duty – they’ve THOUGHT OF ME, they’ve taken the trouble to go out and buy a nice glitzy card and pop it in the post to me just so I’d know how special I am to them.

Now I have a special Christmas message for those people and it may sound a wee bit lacking in Christmas spirit and friendship and all that jazz but nevertheless my message is this – and you can sing it to whatever Christmas Carol tune you like, Jingle Bells is as good as any:-

“If you can’t be bothered to sincerely think of me all year round and pick up the phone now and then and use YOUR PHONE CREDIT for a change instead of waiting for ME to phone YOU – please don’t waste your money on a glitzy Christmas Card because it wont be read or seen by anyone, it wont be propped up on my mantlepiece for all to see and say “Aaaagh isn’t that nice of them to remember you at Christmas?”

“No, it will be displayed in my window for all the world to see underneath a big banner saying “Christmas Insults from so-called ‘friends and family’ who I never see or hear from from one year to the next except for a tasteless card like this which somehow makes them feel as if they’ve done me a favour by sending it!  I’m not and never have been impressed by ’special occasion’ people but I’ve always been impressed by the person who turns up at my door unexpectedly and says “Any chance of a cuppa?  How are you?  I’ve got loads to tell you … put the kettle on”.

I’ve always got TIME for those people but I’ve NO TIME to even bother reading Christmas Cards.

A FRIEND IS FOR LIFE – NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS!

Merry Life Everyone!