Every holiday season I try to draw a set of Christmas comics. For whatever reason, it was harder this year.
SIMON: Do you still pick up the pen?
SPIEGELMAN: I pick it up, but it’s a very heavy instrument right now. And I’ve got little notes and little doodles and drawings. I have no idea what they can come to, and I’m hoping that the pen gets lighter if I get to use it every day and build up my finger muscles, you know?
Art Spiegelman on the re-issue of his book ‘Breakdowns’
I think in the new year I need to find some other way to pursue inspiration. And I have an idea, but will talk about that in January.
For now, I hope you’ll find at least a chuckle or two in this year’s set.
Zero Carbon Santa
I wonder what Santa could use instead of coal.

Inbox Zero
Santa probably gets a lot of emails. But I doubt he’s the one reading them all. Some elf probably has that responsibility…

Ugly Sweater Contest
There was an ugly sweater contest at my office last week. I forgot about it but went to work wearing a sweater. The sweater wasn’t ugly, but it did inspire this cartoon.

Day Rate
When I talk to other indie consultants, especially new ones, my key piece of advice is that your hourly or daily rate doesn’t really matter. Budgets matter a lot more.
Take reindeer for example, they only one day a year. They might get a really good rate for that one day, but is it enough to keep them in reindeer food and shelter for the remaining 364.

Logic model is a little too simple.
Trying to think of evaluation stuff I haven’t talked about during past holidays. This one is based on the idea that a lame logic model can lead to a lame evaluation. Also, these are elves, but I think we’re a little too zoomed in for that to be noticeable.

Annual Reports
Do you think Santa makes the elves deliver a year end annual report? Seems like it would be a little bit of stressful deadline to me.

I hope you have a fantastic holiday!
Whatever holiday you celebrate, I hope it is a good one. See ya next week π
Thanks Chris. Excellent festive season to you too. Kind regards. Bastiaan
Thank you Bastiaan π
This was so fun to read, Chris. Happy Holidays
Glad you liked it Chere π
Thanks Chris, always fun to see this arrive! Merry Christmas to you from Aotearoa New Zealand where we’re heading off on summer holidays.
Thank you Jo! Enjoy the long days and warmth π
Great cartoons! Always enjoy. Merry Christmas from Canada!
Thank you Chris! Hope all is well π
Hi Chris, hope all is well and Merry Christmas from Philly!
Rachel
Thank you Rachel, I hope the new gig is going well!