Jingle Bells socks saved the day . . .

MAKING people smile isn’t part of my job description. But I was reminded of its therapeutic effect last week when I hooked up with the Santander media relations team for egg on toast and black coffee at The Wolseley in London (not a celeb in sight, although it was early in the morning).

The team is headed by Miranda Seymour, a dead ringer for Barbra Streisand in her prime. Barbra, sorry, Miranda reminded me of an interview I did with Peter Wood, founder of Direct Line, 30 years ago that she was present at. At the time, Direct Line was making waves in the motor insurance market with its bold advertising featuring a fourwheeled red phone.

Apparently, Peter was in a foul mood ahead of the interview and had taken it out verbally on one of the staff present. The omens weren’t good. But I bowled in wearing a pair of Christmas socks which gave out a Jingle Bells chorus if pressed in a certain place. Yes, it was Christmas, I was young, and desperately trying to make a name for myself in the cutthroat world of personal finance journalism.

Peter spotted the outrageous socks as soon as I entered the room – and I duly let him listen to them:

‘Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way

Oh, what fun it is to ride

In a one horse open sleigh.’

Peter couldn’t stop laughing. The atmosphere changed in an instant and Miranda breathed a big sigh of relief. The interview went swimmingly well.

Moral of this story: get some singing socks for Christmas and make someone smile.

You’ll find a mighty fine selection at: redbubble.com/shop/musical+santa+socks.