TO all my readers, especially those of you who celebrate Christmas, I do hope you enjoyed that too-long of a holiday. I also hope you don’t get too fat from the cake and sorrel. And to all others out there that can’t be bothered with the tree and lights, hello I am back for yet another great week of me.

Against popular belief, I think I am a pretty good guy, and as such I was actually very elated at the results of last week’s show where I was able to give away $400,000 to the Shaggy Make a Difference Foundation, through the admirable efforts of my friend and artiste/performer, Christopher Martin. His experience as a seasoned stage performer aided him in maintaining his composure and producing fair results.

Though Chris’ winnings were a far cry from the top $3-million prize, it must be noted that it is the largest prize to date since the launch of Digicel’s Deal or No Deal, it makes you wonder if there isn’t some divine intervention mixed into the whole thing after all. I have, through this whole process, realised that nothing makes us, as humans, more vulnerable than loneliness except greed, and once we realise this correlation and attempt to control it then we will be successful.

You people should be paying me for this depth of knowledge, but the contestants inadvertently do as I remain unscathed by their mediocre winnings.

So, every year around this time (close to new year) I get very reflective, I look at the great things in my life. Then I take a look at the people around me and I am even more very thankful for the ability to do what I do each week.

In the few months to date, Digicel Deal or no Deal has become quite the staple in the Jamaican landscape, in fact, it has even become one of those catchy protest placard phrases. I do recall seeing it very recently in response to the government’s tax package. “Audley, Bruce Deal or no Deal… NO DEAL” the placard read. I must laugh as it seems that this little show of ours is now part of Jamaican pop culture. Bravo me!

Again, to the very concerned Mr McFarlane and other readers who may disapprove of the way in which I write my column, I came across this quote while doing a bit of scholastic rummaging through my personal library and it said:

“Money is neither my god nor my devil. It is a form of energy that tends to make us more of who we already are.” — Dan Macmillan.

Again, I refuse to apologise for my ‘energy’, I simply hope to extend this to willing contestants.

Christopher Martin got the idea and won some money. Let’s hope the upcoming contestants will do the same.