Christmas Cards

international | consumer issues | opinion/analysis

Sunday November 13, 2005 15:15

by iosaf

36 days to go, and I'm sure many of the readers are like my good self, drawing up the list for Christmas Cards 2005.

I enjoy these gradually shortening days and evenings as Winter comes on. The garden becomes more manageable, all the roses are pruned, and flower beds have been dug, I find more time to relax and draw up the list.

Of course at this time of year it may number some thousands of names, and then the fun bit comes-

Crossing off the names. It is my annual project to "not send" christmas cards to many thousands of people, from both public and private life. & I have noted that they don't send me one either.

So its works out quite fairly in the end, but I do find myself wondering around New Year's Eve if they really know "they've been black-listed".

Of course everyone's list is their own, & fare be it from me to influence your traditional messages og good will, solidarity, affection and admiration. But I am going to recommend one "non-governmental organisations" christmas cards this year. [that is of course till someone else proves they've hired factories of underpaid exploited workers to make them and "end poverty" bracelet like they're scamming us.

Looking around the backwaters of Irish ngo sites I have seen that the group "one in four" http://www.oneinfour.org/ have presented little cards to send to those forgotten uncles and aunties of your childhood. & at only 6€ for half a dozen, they're a snip.
And you might find space to squeeze in these statistics :-
* 27 % of all Irish children, one in four, have experienced sexual abuse before the age of 17.
* 4.15% of all Irish children, almost one in 20, have been raped as children.
* 21.25% of all Irish adults, one in five, reported sexual assaults as adults.
* 3.5% of all Irish adults one in 28 have been raped as adults.
You can read more here -
http://www.oneinfour.org/about/irishstatistics/

Really Impressive stuff, once again Ireland leads. Maybe other readers will offer suggestions for better christmas cards "to send or not to send", or suggest VIPs we could send a box.

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Comments (4 of 4)

a further suggestion

Sun Nov 13, 2005 15:47

You might like to save money and surely no better way than scratching everyone off your list. But substantial savings can be had by -

"making your own christmas card".

This will reduce cost to material, labour and delivery. Now because you are most likely a political type reading this here and all, you will remember that delivery might be problematic, perhaps best to form a group of pals and hand deliver your Xmas cheer. Do remember the Garda at Leinster House can refuse non-franked mail. Better bring it to the party HQ. (they're all in walking distance and you'll enjoy your visit to Dublin).

Material is readily available and you do not need to purchase anything. Ask a homeless person for some cardboard, homeless people are plentiful especially in winter time, and generous to a fault. Remember there is no standard size when it comes to christmas cards but you have to stay within a weight limit if you're going to post it. You're looking at 100 grammes or less, thats about 3 ounces for old-fashioned types. if you're not sure how heavy your card is, bring it to either your local drug dealer or supermarket. One of them will weigh it for you, your dealer's scales will be more accurate.
Once you've selected your cardboard, its probably best to begin with the simple "double fold". Of course by early december you'll have worked up to "pop up" cards and maybe even tinkering around with electronic recorded greetings. Do remember sending explosive devices by post is foolhardy, illegal and very bad manners. Best to just "cross that person off your list".
If you're literate, (and a good test is "have you read this far?") you may like to scrawl a message and platitude on some part of your card. If you're underage and french, it is _very important_ you don't say anything angry or political : thats illegal now.

IPSC Christmas cards

by IPSC

Sun Nov 13, 2005 17:45

Christmas cards featuring the Apartheid Wall around Bethlehem will shortly be available from the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Check www.ipsc.ie in a few days for details.

gan amhras is bfhearr litir as gaeilge gach Nollaig!

Thu Nov 17, 2005 14:48

Bronntanas. Aingeal, na Cloigíní... Ronntanas, coinneal, crann, cuileann, marñog, sneachta!
sneachta bán! réalta, turcaí (ium ium) pleascóg.
Daidí na Nollag!

Oíche chiúin, oíche Mhic Dé,
Cách 'na suan, día arain,
Dís is dílse 'faire le spéis,
Naíon beag gnaoigheal ceananntais caomh,
Críost, 'na chodladh go séimh,
Críost 'na choladh go séimh.

Oíche chiúin, oíche Mhic Dé
Aoirí ar dtús, chuala an scéal,
Allelúia aingeal ag glaoch,
Cantain suairc ngar 's i gcéin,
Críost ár Slánaitheoir féin,
Críost ár Slánaitheoir féin.

Shona Nollaig Dhoibh!

bliss

by :-)

Tue Nov 22, 2005 22:29

as all those who share the sentiments of which I wrote in the article above, the pleasure at crossing off the first names on my christmas card list need no description.

first person off the christmas list. "sir simper"

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Comments (4 of 4)