Merry Christmas everyone.  Thanks for your loyalty, comment, contributions and advertising over the last year.  It was a year of transition into the digital world for us which, I am delighted to report, has gone swimmingly with a greatly increased readership who really do seem to appreciate the new format.  Thanks to all those who have written to say so.

I wanted to take the opportunity to let you know that, despite wishing you all the compliments of the season, we won’t be sending out Christmas cards this year.  Well, it seemed a bit silly really.  Here we are, purporting to be protecting the planet by doing away with print, then sending out bits of coloured cardboard by diesel-powered van to all corners of the globe.  I don’t think so.  No, we have decided this year to save the CO₂ and donate the money to people who need it much more than we do.

This year we will be making a hefty contribution to a local charity that provides help to homeless military veterans.   Being homeless must be just about the most degrading, frightening and debilitating state for anyone, wherever and whoever they are.  For our veterans, people who have served and protected us at risk to their own lives, to leave them alone and scared at any time is unforgivable.

It’s cold too, particularly in a British winter.  No wonder some of them turn to drugs and then get labelled as worthless. These are people, just like you and me who, for a variety of reasons are in trouble.  Whatever our wealth and status in life we are all just a couple of bad decisions away from being alongside them.  If you don’t believe me, try talking to them.  You will find that they all have their stories and few of them choose a life on the streets.

So I trust that you will forgive me for not sending a picture of a smiling Santa or a snow-covered cottage.  All of us here at The Mover really do hope you have a lovely time with your families. But while you are raising your glasses of brandy and eating your mince pies, please give a thought to those who can’t and, if possible, do something to help them. Let’s try to make the world a kinder place in 2020.