Yearly it’s the identical. The festive season slowly creeps up on you – and instantly it’s panic time. A final-minute rush to publish Christmas playing cards.
However not this yr. With a cost-of-living disaster, I’m attempting a brand new method. After queueing on the publish workplace to be instructed 50 first-class Christmas stamps value £47.50, I’m impressed by Ebenezer Scrooge and refuse point-blank to pay.
My penny-pinching choice was made within the face of Royal Mail strikes that led to reviews yesterday that some Christmas playing cards may not arrive till February.
I worry a first-class stamp, which went up by an inflation-busting 10p final April to 95p, is not going to assure my card is delivered till after Christmas Day, though formally the final posting date is Friday.
Yearly it’s the identical. The festive season slowly creeps up on you – and instantly it’s panic time. A final-minute rush to publish Christmas playing cards. Pictured: Mail on Sunday reporter Toby Walne
With tough calculations made on an envelope, I determine it really works out cheaper to leap into my gas-guzzling Lotus Elise – which does 32 miles to the gallon – and drop off most playing cards by hand. A £7.20 gallon (£1.58 a litre) is hopefully sufficient to drive across the Hertfordshire and Essex countryside close to my Bishop’s Stortford dwelling with a Christmas postbag.
The outcomes show not solely surprisingly cost-effective however reveal how posting in particular person is priceless – delivering the true spirit of Christmas in addition to saving cash on postage.
The non-public contact
Relatively than instantly leaping into the automotive, I begin with a scenic mile-long stroll to go to neighbour Allan Chapman within the village of Albury. The brilliant, chilly morning lifts the spirits and I’m getting much-needed train earlier than the over-indulgence of Christmas. I really feel an additional spring in my step strolling smugly previous a postbox, understanding I didn’t spend £47.50 on stamps.
The bottom frost means it’s nonetheless beneath zero, however I’ve a thick Christmas jumper and scarf, plus a fetching Santa hat, to maintain heat.
Kath nonetheless greets me with a smile that jogs my memory how visiting in particular person is way extra rewarding than speaking by publish, e mail, textual content or social media
Knocking on the door at 9am sharp, I’m instructed by Allan’s accomplice Kath that he’s not round to play. We share loads of hobbies, equivalent to beekeeping, stargazing and consuming his alcohol – when his occasion trick is popping low cost white wine into ‘quaffable’ champagne (it entails a SodaStream).
However Kath nonetheless greets me with a smile that jogs my memory how visiting in particular person is way extra rewarding than speaking by publish, e mail, textual content or social media.
Delving into my Santa postbag, I pull out a card. It’s a short meet-up, however Kath is appreciative of my effort and fingers me a jar of honey from Allan’s bees as a present that he often sells for £6.
What a triumph!
A dozen close by drop-offs later – as I push playing cards by letterboxes relatively than knock on the door – I’m within the automotive heading ten miles north. My pal Paul Lucas has simply moved and I promised to see him. Lastly, the chance for a go to which may in any other case by no means occur.
The drive alongside icy nation lanes requires each eyes on the highway – and people deer warning indicators aren’t for recognizing Rudolph. Relatively than the same old grind of dashing from A to B for work or purchasing, it’s surprisingly fulfilling having a activity that solely spreads pleasure.
Paul, a classic-car vendor, has saved my bacon on numerous events. Coming to the rescue when the gear-stick of my outdated Sunbeam Alpine got here off in my hand and, one other time, serving to push the automotive again dwelling after a wheel fell off – utilizing a skateboard. Visiting in particular person cements a friendship and enterprise relationship meaning he’s at all times there to assist.
A dozen close by drop-offs later – as I push playing cards by letterboxes relatively than knock on the door – I’m within the automotive heading ten miles north
As I pull up at Lucas Sports activities Vehicles, Paul brings out a tray of mince pies freshly baked by spouse Jenny. He offers me one other deal with after I press the festive card into his hand: a view of a uncommon, fuel-injected Triumph TR5 from 1968 that he has spent two-and-a-half years restoring.
Paul says the proprietor desires to promote for £60,000, including: ‘For those who depart a £6,000 deposit inside the cardboard, I’ll reserve it as a Christmas current.’
As I think about how my spouse would react to me blowing the pension pot, the low gas mild on the automotive offers a wake-up name. I’ve already pushed 15 miles and there’s 5 extra to the following cease, so my £7.20 petrol funds is trying tight.
Off I set, dropping off playing cards on my route, that means I’ve delivered a few dozen by noon.
A priceless second
The CD A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra is enjoying on the automotive stereo, reminding me how the non-public contact is so vital.
Tommy Moore lives on his personal and isn’t in the perfect of well being. Aged 90, the retired RAF floor crew employee had a coronary heart assault and stroke 4 years in the past however stays fiercely impartial. He takes his time answering the door, however I’m in no rush.
He says: ‘I hardly ever get guests lately as everybody appears so busy. So it’s welcome to see a pleasant face – even whether it is yours.’
I hand Tommy my hand-made Christmas card, that includes my portray of a sheep. He stares at it for a while, admitting cataracts are making it onerous to see. He says: ‘Is it some form of animal?’
We snigger at his brutal evaluation. It’s a priceless second. Spending time with Tommy was a deal with, although I didn’t linger, as an additional 15 playing cards needed to be thrust by letterboxes. Forty playing cards are posted by 2pm.
My festive bonus
Driving dwelling, I work out that I’ve saved £40.75 posting playing cards by hand relatively than trusting the Royal Mail – driving 30 miles delivering 40 playing cards value £6.75 in petrol.
In fact, not everybody I wish to ship playing cards to lives inside straightforward driving distance. But when I publish the ten remaining playing cards second class, it is going to value me solely an additional £6.80. That also means a complete saving of £33.95.
I’m not including labour, however the Christmas cheer added by hand-delivering playing cards is definitely the richest reward of all.
