Questions
If something here does not answer it, ask whoever sent you the link. They would far rather help than have you not send anything.
What is this, exactly?
Sigrun Mulligan turns 80 this October. Her family are collecting short video messages and old photographs from the people who know her, and putting them together into one film to show her on the day.
This page is just the place to send yours. That is the whole of it.
Do I have to make a video? I would rather not.
No. A photograph is very welcome on its own, and so is a few lines of writing. Plenty of people send only words.
If you would like to be in the film but hate being filmed, a photograph with something written underneath works beautifully.
How long should the video be?
Ten or fifteen seconds is plenty. Genuinely. "Happy birthday Sigrun, it's Margaret, I hope you have a lovely day" is a perfect message.
Short ones are easier to watch and easier to fit in, and there will be a lot of them.
Do I need to sign up for anything?
No. There is no account, no password, and nothing to install. You put in your name, add your video or photograph, and that is it.
Will this cost me anything?
No. Nothing is charged, and you are never asked to pay.
Who sees what I send?
The family members putting the video together. They look at everything that arrives.
Anything they choose goes into the birthday video, and onto a private page shared with family and friends. It is never posted publicly and never put on social media by us.
My video looks blurry. Is that my phone?
Probably not. Phones shrink a video when it is recorded inside a web page like this one.
For a much sharper result: record it with your phone's normal Camera app first, then come back here and choose that clip. It is one extra step and it makes a real difference on a television.
I made a mistake. Can I do it again?
Yes. Send another one — nothing is wasted, and the family will pick whichever they prefer.
If you left an email address, you were sent a link that brings you back to your own message, where you can add more, change what you wrote, or take something down yourself.
It said something went wrong. Did my message send?
If you saw a thank-you page, it arrived. If you did not, it probably did not — please try once more.
Sending on a poor signal can take a while for a video. It is worth waiting on the page until it tells you it is done, rather than closing it.
Is this a scam?
A fair question, and please do check. This page never asks for money, bank details, a password, or anything about your finances. If any page here asks you for those, it is not us — close it.
If you are not sure, ring the person who sent you the link before you do anything.
When do you need it by?
By Sunday 27 September, please. The film gets put together after that.
If you have missed the date, send it anyway and ask — it may fit.
Can I ask someone to do it for me?
Of course. Ask a son, a grandchild, or a neighbour to hold the phone. Put their name in as well if you like, so Sigrun knows who helped.