Have a Good NEWS

For 46 years, mother of Charles Boyle kept the details of each Christmas gift giving. Explains why he braved a burning building to save his list

My mother died in one night in January 2004, at age 83. She lived alone. I ate dinner, made a cup of tea, and settled in front of the TV with a crossword puzzle. One possibility is an anagram. She had written the letters in a circle on a sheet of paper and it was amazing what could be the word until, with a pen in his hand, his heart stopped. It was, I think, no bad way.

write things was one of the good things he did. She kept in touch with old friends, some friends of almost 70 years ago, writing letters regularly. One of the things I inherited - but I'm sure he never thought of him as a family heirloom - a small red notebook, which measures 16 x 10 cm, containing all the Christmas gifts purchased between 1957 (a year after my father died) and 2003. During the early years, not only gifts, but how much they cost and in the back of the book I wrote all those who sent Christmas cards.

For Christmas 1957 I received a box (£ 1 19s 11d) - I remember it well: it was made of gray plastic molded parts which slot together, and I spent part significant in my life to play with him in the living room carpet. My brother has a train (8s 6d). Dick, the brother of my mother, I have a book (4s 6d) and a pot (£ 1 1s). My cousin Elaine Romero and two gloves (5 years 11d), Marjorie Holme got half (14s 11d) and Mickey have perches (7s 11d).

And so on through the years. In 1959, Dick has a corkscrew (4s 11d), his wife Bae talc (the same as that of 1957, although the price rose to 3s 6s 9d 11d). John pants (10s 6d), Melanie has something called a cup of rabbit (5s 10d), Ms. Booth has an fabric, Syd has chocolates. Next year is a shoehorn Bae (7s 11d) and Ms Dinsdale is a soap dish (4s 11d). In 1962, Jane has "frilly pants" (13s 6d). In 1963, Tom and Elizabeth candelabra (£ 1 15s.). In 1964, the last year for the money is in the list, the paper boy was five shillings and ten shillings were garbage, and therefore the factor.

gardening gloves, scarves, calendars, gowns, tissue boxes, golf balls, towels, bottles of sherry, antifreeze, Airfix models. . . In 1975 and 1976, the family received food parcels Kotecha: the Kotecha were a family of Asians who were expelled from Uganda by Idi Amin, and my mother had helped prepare a local house for them. In 1981, I got a sandwich (I was married by then) and my brother has a leather jacket.

Since Christmas 2000, the record in the book is severely impaired. (A letter dated five years ago, sent a recipe book - Foundations of modern kitchen, 1945 - Expires: "I think I have to write the letters in the afternoon in the future - in the morning my hand seems less sensitive - I am ashamed of this writing ") for Christmas 2002 is just a list of names of spider without gifts .. In 2003, the last one year, my wife and I received a check and a scarf, and my brother has a "TV box".

if I have not received my leter others it is a copy of it. I want the game mouse trap and a PlayStation and Nintendo 64. I also want a TV and viewed through a yo-yo to sleep and when he does not read is a red dotted line. I want a real power workshop and a book of maze and a book of jokes and some large, thin pieces of wood. . . Please can I have a book on the body and one of the Egyptians. I wish you all a bell and a toy baby polar bear. Cristmas father cristmas father how many are there? (Please leave a note in favor chimny Anser) Did you know you're very kind. Where all the gifts because I want to know? I want a set of pens as well.