In Competition No. 2626 you were invited to submit a thank-you letter for an especially hideous or inappropriate present, which manages to be diplomatic while fending off future offerings along the same lines.
A respondent to a BBC poll on ungratefully received Christmas presents was given a ‘handsome but visibly used hair comb’ by an eccentric if well-meaning relative. One can only imagine his efforts to shoehorn his features into the appropriate blend of delight and gratitude. It helps, of course, if the giver of the gift is not present for the unveiling, but this still leaves the thorny problem of the thank-you letter. Which is where you come in.
The entry was a masterclass in tact and diplomacy. The winners, printed below, are rewarded with £25 each. The additional festive fiver belongs to Noel Petty. Merry Christmas!
Dear Harriet, How thoughtful it was of you to send the very present I wanted.
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