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Monday, December 2, 2019

Remember to pack extra Christmas cards, presents and food



I remember my embarrassment at school when I was sent Xmas cards in the classroom card box from girls when I had not sent to them. The same thing happened the first time I went to a Writers Circle party. They had a Christmas card box. The first year I did not know and had no cards to send. The second year I sent a few cards but received cards from different people and could not reciprocate. The third year I had a box of spare cards in my bag. I sneaked into the bathroom (Americans would say rest room) and hurriedly added cards, getting the correct spelling of names from cards I had been sent.

Send To All
In a group, if you are the organizer, one useful trick is to send cards to everybody so you never miss out on anybody.  Also have some spares to the auntie or cook, or granny who turns up unexpectedly does not feel left out but is remembered and included. A group of fifteen or twenty and you are the leader? Simple. Just buy a huge box. Alternatively. Send a greeting on email or what's app. If possible add a personal name.

Animated Greetings
If subscribing to an animated greeting card system costs you 5 to 20 dollars, that is expensive just to return a greeting to one person. However, if you want to send to every member of a group, you get economies of scale.

Spare Christmas Presents
The same goes for Xmas presents. And when invited to somebody's house for lunch or dinner or to stay.

Buying At Duty Free Shops
One year we were invited to stay with a family in France. I was looking at the duty free shop for perfumes to buy for the hostess. Should I buy for our former au pair, or for her mother, or for both?.

 I looked along the perfumes and saw one of those sets of five small perfumes. I bought one.

Then I bought another for myself. So I was carrying extras. that was lucky.

When we arrived, we found the whole family there to greet us and join in the first night dinner. Fortunately I had enough small perfumes to give one to everybody.

Plan Ahead
If you are likely to be travelling over the Xmas and New Year period, several days or weeks in advance you can get all your cards or animated greetings with designs chosen and the email addressed checked. I have just remembered I need to send to a former gardener in London, England.  he sends to us every year.

Xmas Lists
If you make a list of who has sent you cards in the beginning or end of your diary, and you keep last year's diary, you can quickly check your old friends and business associates. Add on the new ones from this year by going through your contacts list. This could take you an hour or two. You might do it whilst travelling, sitting waiting for a train, travelling by train or bus or coach or plane.

Animated Cards
Some systems such as animated card websites allow you to creat a card and pick which day it should be sent. In theory you could have all your birthday and anniversary and Xmas cards organized a year in advance.

Do remember to remove everybody who has died. Or find a greeting which would still be appropriate if opened by their descendants. For example: To Harry and family. Fond memories. I always think of the good times spent with you and your dear family back in the (era) at Christmas time and I always will. Our friendship endures forever. Greetings to (names of children).

About the Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

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