This next move is probably going to result in one of two outcomes:

• Realisation that the Statcounter code in my blog is fibbing big time
• Any good will I have left from the postroom boys going out the window - before my christmas shopping from Amazon turns up

but I reckon those two are mutually exclusive, plus the end justifies the means, so here goes.

Yesterday I got an email from a colleague to say that they would:

"Much rather donate money to Charity this year ... so, please don't feel the need to send me a [christmas] card"

This got me thinking, as at home we've already got lots of christmas cards ready bought and just waiting to be written (I know this because I hauled the five christmas boxes down from the loft on Sunday evening), how can I make a charitable donation and still continue to send and receive cards? It hit me when I was pulling off the M3 on the way into the office at 06h25 Friday morning (not much goes on up there at that time of day!):

For every card I receive at my work address, rather than sending a card back in return, I'll make a donation these charities:

• Home Start - the charity supported by Sun here at Guillemont Park via our reception area gift-tree giving programme. They provide support for families with young children in over 337 communities across the UK and with Forces families in Germany and Cyprus.
• North Hampshire Hospital's Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (NHH Charities (EPAU)) - which does what it says really, but like most parts of the NHS is woefully underfunded

To make life interesting (like it needs to be!) the donation will depend upon where the card arrives from:

• Hand delivered/internal mail: 10p
• Received from UK: 23p
• Received from EU: 44p
• Received from rest of world: 50p

So apart from a nominal amount for hand delivered cards, the donation matches the postal cost to return a card.

Just to be crystal clear, this is lieu of you getting a card back from me in return, I don't want you taking me off your own christmas card lists!

Now for the not so small print: I don't have deep pockets and short arms, but I'm going to place a maximum donation of £50 (UKP) to each charity, but whatever the final figure, it should (if it's > $25) be doubled with the help of the Sun Microsystems Foundation Trust.

So if you work at Sun in the UK, I'm sure you can dig out my mailstop details. Otherwise, whether you're a Sun employee, a reseller, an existing, current or previous customer, a former work-colleague, a friend or relative(!) or an unrelated blog reader who's maybe received this permalink in viral form, please send christmas cards to me at our UK Head Office Address, and mark them FAO "ColinJ" -- don't forget the "J".

I'll be sure to keep you updated on how the postroom relationship breaks down!

Seasons Greetings (as per your locale!)