This Sunday, let’s ring in the season together

The Advent calendars are decking the halls, the tills are jingling and there have been authenticated sightings of the season’s first heroically naff knitwear.

But for me and my colleagues, Christmas well and truly begins in two days’ time.

This Sunday we will be manning the phones for the Telegraph Christmas Charity Appeal, and hand

on heart I can say it is a highlight of my entire year. The atmosphere in the office is festive and merry; hot coffee and mince pies for those on the 10am shift, then restorative cups of tea and Christmas cake throughout the afternoon.

When a particularly beneficent four-figure donation comes in, a cry of elation goes up. But believe me, every single call, every last fiver, is hugely appreciated.

This year, we have chosen three charities to benefit from your kindness and compassion.

Missing People offers specialised support to families when a loved one disappears. Fareshare is the UK’S largest charity dedicated to fighting hunger and waste by taking perfectly good food destined for disposal and redistributing it to those in need. And Canine Partners trains puppies to become vital assistance dogs, helping disabled people to gain some degree of independence.

When readers ring us there is always time for a chat as well as the business at hand. I love it. Every moment. We all do.

Yes, at the start of the day we mere journalists may amateurishly stumble over the credit card details and (aargh!) only remember about Gift Aid at the very last minute, but we’re always cheered by your amused forbearance, and shared laughter constantly ripples round the room.

So mark the date in your diary if you haven’t already; Sunday Dec 3. The lines open at 10am and close at 6pm and we will be ready to take your calls, thank you for your generosity and wish you a very merry Christmas to come.