Tags: Nice Things, Society
Little Donkey
December 23rd, 2006, by Rich.
Christmas cards are lovely. A small personalised message from someone you know, providing assurance that they appreciate you and think enough of you to select, purchase and deliver a card all the way to your home.
So everybody near and dear to us will be wondering where the hell our card has got to. Well, ok, we admit it, things have been too hectic and we’ve run out of time.
Well actually that’s not the only reason. When the Christmas TV advertising started in late October our hearts sank with the thought of 8 more weeks of jangly advertising and ‘this is not just Christmas, this is M&S Christmas’.
It feels like Christmas has become a commercialised, guilt-ridden, manic rush, to send cards and to buy presents that might somehow convey the importance of a friend or relative, and the consequent stress of ‘will they like it’, ‘will they already have it’, ‘is it enough?’, ‘have I missed anyone?’.
I can earn money with each load of water that my donkey carries into town. Without my donkey, I would have no work or income.
Adam Isa, Sudan
We opted out this year; Emma’s side of the family has decided to do away with presents altogether, choosing a family day out instead. The two of us are simply spending Christmas day together with some good food and some good films, appreciating a pause in the hectic schedules of PhD and full time work to actually spend some time together.
The good side of Christmas, the non-commercial side, is about giving and goodwill, and we buy into that in a big way, so we wanted to find a present we could get for all our friends and family, in lieu of cards and presents, that would be relevant and appropriately non-commercial.
So we decided to donate to charity, and we couldn’t help but be swayed by the option to buy a donkey. So that is what we’ve done through Oxfam.
Friends and family, you are now the proud co-owner of a little donkey.
Merry Christmas!
December 23rd, 2006 at 5:02 pm
Ah! I’ve always wanted a donkey! How many percent do I own? Can I borrow it for one day of the year? It would make a great centre piece to a party with a third world theme!
I hope you two have the best xmas ever.. you deserve it!! I hope the bird doesn’t take too long to cook.. and didn’t break the bank!
(P.S: I know that you’re both having a lovely quiet one, but you’re both very much invited to mine & Dave’s NYE party. Even if you just wanted to pop in!! )
Chris xx
December 23rd, 2006 at 8:57 pm
What no turkey???, may I still have a leg please x
December 24th, 2006 at 9:09 am
Thank you for the donkey.
Always glad to hear of animals being successfully rehomed! We hope he will be well looked after and not worked too hard.
We ourselves give to the ‘Safe Haven Scheme‘ which pays for a pen or kennel for an animal to live in comfortably before it can be united with a caring new ‘companion person’ for mutual benefit.
But, being past the worries and time restraints of study and gainful employment, we have also continued with the old fashioned ‘thing’ of prezzies and cards… for this year at least! So…
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !!
December 24th, 2006 at 1:23 pm
How lovely! We’ve been feeling similarly disallusioned down here about Xmas too..
We were looking after a Tawny Frogmouth, but we managed to get him housed up at Healesville Sanctuary who can teach him what being a Frogmouth means.. :-)
Have a good seasonal festival of your choice!
December 25th, 2006 at 2:05 pm
Hello all and Merry Christmas! Having a lovely time with the (oh)godchildren, especially as its Ethan’s first Christmas.
I totally failed to get the cards in and posted on time (apart from those I bought for this lot at the market yesterday), so shall share in everyone else’s general sentiment!
Have a great time and all the best for 2007!
December 26th, 2006 at 1:49 pm
December 26th, 2006 at 8:30 pm
What a wonderful idea - thanks for our share in the donkey which is much appreciated. Received a goat last year so this is becoming quite a menagerie.
Wishing you both every happiness in the New Year.
December 27th, 2006 at 9:11 pm
Ha, what a great Christmas greeting … thank you very much. Have a great great time and look after both of you.
January 7th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
[Arrives late...]
And a haaaapppeeeee nooo yeeeeaaaarrr!