I was full of joy when I received a Christmas card from Tasmania depicting the real reason for celebrating at this time of year and quoting from the Bible the appropriate verses from Luke 2:8-9.

I thought it would be wonderful if we could celebrate in a more simple way than we do. Surely, we can express our love to friends and family with smaller gifts?

It is not necessary to try to keep up with the Joneses.

The Weekend Argus wisely printed an article by Siobhan Ryan warning of the dangers of over-indulging and overspending during Christmas.

Oh, well, it was just a thought on my part. I wish all readers a happy Christmas and hope you do not regret it by having to clear a big debt in early 2003.

-Roy "Scrooge" Hilliard, Old Shoreham Road, Portslade