Christmas Newsletters

I really enjoy getting newsletters; even if I know they're probably sent to at least 50 others. I made a note in my diary in November to write 1 letter a week to send with Christmas cards to friends we haven't seen all year. Here we are now with the last posting date rapidly approaching & the one letter I have started still hasn't been finished! Don't listen to these posts, all those of you who have actually taken the time to write. I salute you & will try & do better next year. Maybe I should just write one proper letter each week...I feel a New Year Resolution coming on

The year my ex husband walked out on me (also leaving a distraught pre-teen daughter) I received a FIVE page Christmas letter from a 'friend' detailing their 25th Wedding Anniversary trip, with an enlarged photo of them at their party with 100+ guests! Not a word asking how we were doing our first Christmas alone - and this couple knew us as we'd holidayed together. Needless to say I've not seen them since...

I write one every year and wondered if people found it tedious, but one year after I'd met up in person with someone I hadn't seen for a while, she said how she looked forward to receiving our news. I still make the effort but try to make it newsy with pictures of relevant events.
I enjoy most that I receive though there are a couple that are really boring - all text, no pictures and more than one typed page. I still read them but sometimes have to put them aside to make time!

We had one from a neighbour which had several photos (more than one one each subject in case you missed anything) and a lot of bragging about holidays etc. It seems meaningless to me and I write individual letters to relevant people with information and questions. A lot of boastful text is what it is and not what it tries to be.

I don't care for the boasty type of 'round robin' and why would anyone be interesteed when they haven't been in touch with each other all year, but suddenly find the time to fill everybody in with the year's activities in with a Christmas card.

I’d love to receive news such as this, maybe they’re just lovely, positive people with a zest for life and adventures. Good for them! Bah humbug to the haters 😂😂😂😂

cangran

We used to get one from a couple we hadn't seen for years that was exhausting just to read - all about camping in extremes and climbing mountains. I think they're probably past that now as the impersonal newsletters have stopped. But their letter that really tickled us was all about the wife's 60th birthday when they'd enjoyed a Ceilidh with their 150 best friends. It became a running joke for years that we hadn't made the list and friends we invited on holiday once asked if none of our 150 best friends could make it!

They had 150 best friends?

I don't think I've even met 150 people in my entire life - and I'm 81!

They must meet an awful lot of people in a very short space of time and become best-friend very quickly!

I love getting these letters, keeping up with people whom we don't see so often.
In earlier years, I wouldn't have sent a round robin Christmas letter (we weren't rich but we were fortunate). But I started sending one over 20 years ago, as we were about to become grandparents. Friends say they like to have our news - well, just mine now. Obviously there has been sad news to impart during those years, and this year is no exception.
Am I just reminding people who I am these days?

We used to get one from a couple we hadn't seen for years that was exhausting just to read - all about camping in extremes and climbing mountains. I think they're probably past that now as the impersonal newsletters have stopped. But their letter that really tickled us was all about the wife's 60th birthday when they'd enjoyed a Ceilidh with their 150 best friends. It became a running joke for years that we hadn't made the list and friends we invited on holiday once asked if none of our 150 best friends could make it!

Don't mind the 'my wonderful life and family' - if it is news to me AND can fit on one page!

There's an amusing book based on the premise that the wife/ mother charged with this annual chore, started by writing a " true" and very frank account of their year, relationships with in- laws etc before starting the anodyne one. You'll have guessed that this was sent inadvertently and ....

I'm always happy for people to do well and enjoy life but I did know someone briefly who made everything about her. We had to sit for hours while she played back videos of her wedding, while boasting about her huge house and scorning those who came from humble origins. She was boring and I secretly hoped never to see her again 🥴🥴🥴. Fortunately, she was the friend of a friend, so I didn't have to 🤣🤣🤣

Witzend

There’s a big difference IMO between a nice newsy letter, and one that’s full-on bragging, though we’ve only ever had one like that. It was from someone we’d known well in the past and it did frankly raise eyebrows, because it didn’t sound like the person we’d known before.

OTOH an elderly Canadian relative of dh always sends 2 pages of A4 crammed with a tiny font, detailing countless happenings, ailments and mishaps, not just her own, but those of all sorts of people we hardly know or don’t at all, and are never likely to!
I stopped bothering to read it a couple of years ago.

with regard to your Canadian relative.. I wonder if it is therapeutic for her to write it and if it somehow validates her life to herself..

None of my friends send these boastful letters. I have always thought they were a myth and imaginary fodder for standup comedians' routines.

As I live so far away from everyone, I love to hear what they and their offspring are doing. Most of my correspondents are old classmates from school days and I love that we are still in touch and all still on a similar wavelength and living similar lives.

I only get one “catch up” letter a year now; from a much loved cousin who lives in a remote and beautiful part of Ireland. He and his wife and family lead such a lovely gentle life that I’ve always been delighted by the news of first communions, grandchildren being old enough to help daddy with the sheep, and what the weather on their wild Atlantic coast has been doing to them. They do a community beach clear up a few times a year and find the strangest things. He’s the only person I’ve ever been envious of. We used to get one or two of the boastful types of letter from friends but no longer.

From personal experience, take it all with several bags of salt. Like, road salt sized bags.

I never knew my MIL sent out Christmas newsletters until she sent one to me one year by mistake. I think the only accurate thing in it was our names . It was an interesting experience, reading about the life we were living that I had no idea about

Some folks have a need to create their own reality, and use annual newsletters as a way to dazzle and impress, regardless of how much creative writing it requires.

Either look at it as entertainment or delete it unread.

We got one from someone we hadn’t seen for ages describing how sad they were at losing Joey (fictitional name). I was extremely sad thinking their son/daughter had died when at the end of the letter it appeared to have been their budgie!

Witzend

There’s a big difference IMO between a nice newsy letter, and one that’s full-on bragging, though we’ve only ever had one like that. It was from someone we’d known well in the past and it did frankly raise eyebrows, because it didn’t sound like the person we’d known before.

OTOH an elderly Canadian relative of dh always sends 2 pages of A4 crammed with a tiny font, detailing countless happenings, ailments and mishaps, not just her own, but those of all sorts of people we hardly know or don’t at all, and are never likely to!
I stopped bothering to read it a couple of years ago.

Being told about events that concern people you don't know, have never heard of previously and are unlikely ever to meet... well, I just cannot fathom it.

I knew a lady who did this, just about every time I saw her. Worse, she would give 'updates' on previous events in their lives. She wasn't lonely, had an attentive husband and daughter.

Fortunately, she was not in the habit of sending round robins - or maybe she's still composing one.

You can ignore the RRs but how do you graciously tell such a person who shares the details of unknown individuals' lives with you that it is boring?

Aveline

One person's yearly update is another person's 'bragging'. The only difference is in the reader's perception. That is the point I'm making.

Indeed!
Just like one person's perception is that someone may be jealous, when actually they are not. 😉

One person's yearly update is another person's 'bragging'. The only difference is in the reader's perception. That is the point I'm making.

I got it, Marydoll!

There’s a big difference IMO between a nice newsy letter, and one that’s full-on bragging, though we’ve only ever had one like that.

That's what I have been trying to say and failed miserably!

There’s a big difference IMO between a nice newsy letter, and one that’s full-on bragging, though we’ve only ever had one like that. It was from someone we’d known well in the past and it did frankly raise eyebrows, because it didn’t sound like the person we’d known before.

OTOH an elderly Canadian relative of dh always sends 2 pages of A4 crammed with a tiny font, detailing countless happenings, ailments and mishaps, not just her own, but those of all sorts of people we hardly know or don’t at all, and are never likely to!
I stopped bothering to read it a couple of years ago.

Bakingmad0203

I used to get these Round Robins from an ex work colleague full of how many wonderful holidays they had been on, how well their children were doing in their jobs etc etc.

I felt quite hurt that they hadn’t even added a sentence at the end asking how I and my family were getting on, and that they couldn’t be bothered to write a more personal and individual letter to me.

I used to get these Round Robins from an ex work colleague full of how many wonderful holidays they had been on...

I have to say that mostly I find other people's holiday experiences exceedingly boring unless I know them well and care about them greatly.

It reminds me of the days (in my case) where friends or relatives one only saw occasionally insisted on visiting with their holiday snaps.

"Here's George sitting on that lovely beach I told you about with his sun hat on... oh, and this is one of him without his sun hat..."

Just enjoy reading what people are telling you. No judgement is needed. If you do not like them just don't read them especially if they irritate you.