Will these ungrateful children ever say thank you?

thanking doubles their own happiness by making the giver pleased.

What is this about but basic good manners? I was once friendly with a professional couple who regularly came to my home for dinner, eating and drinking their fill. But never once did a thank-you note arrive (just how taxing is it to scrawl, ‘What a great night, wonderful food, thank you so much’ on a postcard?).

I often wonder if they ever asked themselves why the invitations stopped. I remember thinking: ‘You two are adults and so there is no excuse for your lack of courtesy.’ And there wasn’t.

In your place, I would continue with the £30 gifts (because it would be odd to stop now), but let it be known that you will indeed stop when the young people come of age.

I doubt you should deliver the cards and money in person, though. Frankly, if they have not been taught to bother much with this lady who has always been so generous to them, I see no reason why they shouldn’t now pay a visit to collect their loot.

At least that will require effort. There would be nothing malicious about this shift: all you would have to do is get their email addresses and send a festive greeting, saying there is a gift for them at your house.

At this time of year many of us are considering changes we can make in our lives.

This seems to me to be a healthy thing — not to make resolutions about giving up bad habits, but to be determined to develop some good new ones in the coming year.

And my suggestion to everyone is simple: give thanks every day. Give thanks to the man or woman on the supermarket checkout.

Give thanks to the person who holds open the door for you.

Give thanks to the nurse at the GP who gives you the flu jab.

Give thanks to the van driver who delivered the parcel.

And get out a pen today and write thank-you notes to everyone who gave you a Christmas gift, no matter how small. Or pick up the phone.

And to you, Marlene, I give heartfelt thanks for reminding all of us how important this is.