A chara, - I enjoy every aspect of the festive season, from the infectious excitement of my children to the nostalgia the carols bring to the religious services which ground me in Christmas's true meaning.
I also send Christmas cards to my friends, many of whom I do not meet regularly any more, and I love to receive their cards in return.
This year, however, I have received three cards from someone I have never even met. He is one of the sitting TDs in the Louth constituency. I have had occasion to write to him, however, as many constituents do from time to time. I wrote from my home address and from work. I received three cards. Am I to infer from this that anybody who writes to a TD gets a card?
This irritates me for two reasons. Firstly, I paid for those cards. All three were sent in Oireachtas ╔ireann envelopes, so in essence I sent three cards to myself. Secondly, this particular TD is not noted for finding things or people up trees, even if they are waving and shouting at him. It now seems his solution to his myopia is to cut them all down for the manufacture of Christmas cards .
Really, Mr A, I would prefer you to wish me and all your other constituents a Happy Christmas from the pages of the local press. Nollaig shona. - Yours, etc.,
Seβn English, Hill of Rath, Tullyallen, Co Louth.