There are moments in life when “congratulations” simply does not cut it.
Someone finally got the job they wanted after months of applying. Your mate has finally left the relationship everyone else could see was a terrible idea. Your sister has eventually moved into the house she has been talking about since 2018. Someone has finally proposed. Someone has finally paid you back. Someone has finally, finally, finally got their act together.
You could buy them a tasteful card.
You could write something heartfelt.
You could behave like a normal person.
Or you could say what everyone was already thinking.
About fucking time.
That is the entire beauty of the About Fucking Time Greeting Card from Fairly Quare Designs. It takes the sort of thought that usually stays in your head, puts it on a card and somehow makes it feel like a celebration.
Because sometimes the nicest thing you can say to somebody is also slightly insulting.
There is affection in it. That is what makes it work.
If your best friend has finally achieved something after announcing for six months that they were “working on it”, you do not need a card covered in inspirational flowers telling them how proud you are. They already know. What they need is someone to lovingly point out that, yes, you are delighted for them, but Jesus Christ, it took a while.
And that is much more personal.
The card is €4 and is part of the 3 for €10 multibuy across all greeting cards, with the discount automatically applied in your basket. So you can pick up this one for the person who has finally got their shit together, then find two others for the next inevitable occasion. (Fairly Quare Designs)
The card itself is printed on 230gsm coated cardstock and comes with a 120gsm envelope. It is designed, printed, assembled and packed in house, which gives the whole thing a little more charm than grabbing the nearest card from a supermarket five minutes before you arrive. (Fairly Quare Designs)
And there are so many occasions where About Fucking Time is exactly right.
The friend who finally got engaged after everyone had stopped asking.
The couple who finally booked the wedding.
The colleague who finally handed in their notice.
The person who finally finished the degree they have been complaining about for years.
The mate who finally got their dream job.
The sibling who finally moved out.
The person who finally admitted you were right.
That last one deserves its own card, frankly.
There is something quite clever about a greeting card that refuses to follow the usual rules of greeting cards. Most are determined to be nice. They use soft colours, careful language and phrases that sound as though they were written by someone who has never had a group chat.
But real friendships are not like that.
Real friendships contain sarcasm. They contain taking the piss. They contain telling someone you are proud of them while simultaneously reminding them that they have been talking about doing this thing for approximately three geological eras.
That is why this card feels different.
It is funny, but the joke is not doing all the work. The person receiving it knows you mean well. In fact, the insult almost makes the affection more obvious because you would not say it to just anyone.
You say it to your people.
The people who know your humour.
The people who will laugh before they have even opened the card properly.
The people who will probably keep it because, underneath the swear word, there is a genuine message: I am really fucking happy for you.
And honestly, that is a much better sentiment than most greeting cards manage.
So if someone you know has finally done the thing, achieved the thing, admitted the thing, booked the thing, left the thing or simply stopped talking about doing the thing and actually bloody did it, get them the About Fucking Time card from Fairly Quare Designs.
It is €4, printed in house on quality 230gsm cardstock and comes with an envelope. Pick three greeting cards and the total drops to €10, so you may as well prepare for the next three people in your life who are currently taking an unnecessarily long time to sort themselves out.
Because celebration is important.
Encouragement is important.
And occasionally, so is lovingly telling someone:
About fucking time.