Me and My Christmas Tree
Carl Richardson, Big Issue vendor
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.THIS TREE is nothing like the one I had last year. I had an eight-foot tree, but then I was a happily married man with a suit and a company car. When I lost my job as a cable television sales rep, the family broke down. I came down to London and h ave been sleeping in hostels ever since. Being homeless doesn't scare me. I was on the streets in London five years ago and that was really bad, but that was before The Big Issue. Selling the magazine gives me a bit of direction. Instead of sitting there with a bottle of wine getting drunk, I'm up at 7.30am to get myself motivated to bash the streets. People will walk past and not look at you. To make them notice me I run after them and make them laugh. I may not look much, but I am an actor like Harris on Ford or Jean-Claude Van Damme.
I sell The Big Issue outside the Adelphi Theatre in the Strand. The Christmas tree is my gimmick: you've got to use something to get people to feel sorry for you. I've also got a Father Christmas hat on so people know it's the season of goodwill. I got the Christmas decorations from a pub in the East End. I asked for them - I didn't just wreck their display. I'm hoping to get some lights and some flashing Father Christmases.
Sales of The Big Issue should go up this week: there are a lot of Christmas parties and people are unwinding and relaxing and feeling generous. Hopefully I'll make a few quid and be able to jump on a coach to Liverpool and see my kids.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments