All the more surprising because the mean old bat hardly knew anyone at all. Save for family and the milkman. And he might have been family but no one dare ask.

Anyway, one year I noticed that some of her cards were beginning to look a little tired. Also some appeared to have been sent to her by relatives sadly long since departed. I made the mistake of mentioning this to her, across a large family gathering dinner table one evening.

For this sin I was rewarded with a sharp whack on my ear and also sent to bed early. Before The Lone Ranger and Tonto appeared on the telly. I never forgave her.