I had a random phone call asking if I would deliver and collect envelopes for a charity collection. As it was a one-off, I agreed without thinking it through.

Had I done so I probably would have refused, but sent a donation myself, instead.

Delivering and collecting envelopes is worse than tin rattling outside supermarkets. I have never done this but rarely put money in when others do it because I object to being pressurised. I might change my mind now. At least there they are doing it on neutral territory.

Posting an envelope through someones door and then doing a follow up call is far more pushy than rattling a tin on the high street, and I had to nerve myself for each knock, literally and metaphorically!

Most people had shoved the envelope on the side to deal with at some point.  So they had to scrabble around for money to put in it,  or look a skinflint by returning an empty envelope.

My admiration of the person who did return it empty and said no thank you, was tempered with thoughts of ‘mean git.’