CHRISTMAS CARDS.

I've done and posted the cards that just need a short greeting. Tonight I shall do the ones that get an update (also pretty short) and a couple of letters. All presents bought or on order, tree up and decorated. Just have to hang a few baubles and some tinsel in the front porch and, if anything is left in the box, in the conservatory.

D-in-L has Christmas meal under control. The only response to "What shall I bring?" is a box of crackers.

To quote a post from Facebook:

"I wrote all mine before I put them away last Xmas, saved so much time." !

Dad & I did all ours last weekend; I print the address labels as there is no way I can write them all out and also print the same addresses onto plain paper to use as a check list. Most of Dad's and ours double up so saving on postage - all done in about 3 hours followed by big mug of tea !

Give Mr K a big cheer . he probably does KITTY as you spoil him too much !

He's done it! DH has written his card - of course, I took it to the post after he put it on the hall table - does he think this place is a flipping hotel

Thanks for the tip! It sounds like just the thing I'm looking for.
My problem is solved!

I have had a lovely 12 Days of Christmas e-card from that site and it was much appreciated. My friend has sent them for some years now.

sorry annodomini who typed that!!!!

annodomonuri lol yes!! that's the one..hope you don't get your hands slapped...but if you do I will slap my own!!! it's a lovely site and the last time it was £7 for the year , no spam etc etc .I have been with them about 3 yrs now.

I don't suppose I could be accused of advertising if I mention that I have found www.jacquielawson.com/ cost effective and I think this is the site that biker must mean. There is an annual subscription but then there is no limit to the number of cards you can send.

Would like to send some attractive e.cards with an explanation that donation will be made to British Legion.
But can someone tell me how to do an e.card? Is there a good website where the cards are free?
I an then just send normal cards to people who are not on email, and that number gets fewer every year.

Carry on Tiggy. I think ring ups are a good idea. It can lead to a get-to--get her and renewed friendship. I mix and match. Some get cards and some a call depending on how much we're in touch. Close family don't get anything - I don't see the point of giving someone a card when you're seeing them in person.

We get a round robin from friends we haven't seen for 25 years and it's so entertaining I've given up trying to reply and now wait for it to arrive, then ring them.

Half way round my 'ring-ups' instead of cards and so far I have had one heart attack, one breast cancer, one lung cancer and one death.
Do I finish my 'ring-ups' or stop them due to inducing bad news ?

sorry not read through all the posts...but I send some people "virtual cards" not sure if I am allowed to mention the name........but they are traditional animated cards with music..and there are some lovely ones...there is a slight cost but it is minimal....there are cards to cover most subjects..you can also send a message and a note,.and it was! I think £7 for the year....

Christmas cards are fine for keeping in touch with distant friends (although how distant for how long is a hot topic in our house - is it really a friendship if you haven't otherwise been in touch for 25 years?) but what I find really bizarre is all our dear neighbours and friends, who we see all the time, dropping a card through the letter box.

The other more irritating ones are clearly trying to get - or keep - your business, from the milkman to the IFA. These are closely followed by the ones with an enclosure, the dreaded round robin.

I also suspect it's a bit like how many friends do you have on Facebook - kind of trophy friends - you must have at least 500 to show how popular you are. Do some people send you a card so you have to send them one, and that will add to the huge collection which will in turn impress your visitors?

Off to lick a few (expensive) stamps and write a few trivial lines to a (very) few friends.

Happy Christmas everyone!

So far, only one round robin which is most entertaining, written by the husband for a change. How can I match that? Won't even try!

How apt that I open Gransnet to find this topic on top of the list - I've just made a start on my UK cards today, having lost my vital list of names and addresses and panicked! List safely found in a carrier bag (?) and many of the cards posted, so I now feel better. I do enjoy the yearly contact with people from the past, none of whom grace us with a round robin, I'm glad to say. I buy charity cards from a pop-up shop in our local Methodist church, and try (and fail) to find something original to say in each card. I absolutely love Christmas, we'll be getting the decorations sorted in the next day or two, lights already up around the outside of the house and DH busy in Santa's workshop creating new delights from bits of conifer, pine cones, etc. - I think he will have spent more than he saves, but it keeps him happy! After four years spent on renovating our house, this will be the first Christmas when we can all be together for over 7 years, so I'm well and truly excited! Twelve around the table, can't wait!
At the same time I do feel for those of you spending your first Christmas without your partner. My dear friend Pam was widowed this year, and despite all the support from family and friends, the first Christmas must be particularly poignant. I shall be thinking of you all.

I like to send cards and receive them

I do however think that from this year I might 'ring' most of my friends and family to send god wishes as it is obviously cheaper, given our phone contract, it's also more personal really isn't it.

Receiving a card or phone call can really make you feel good about life in a very simplistic way can't it.

We would moan if we didn't get any.

I do about 60, plus of course quite a few e-mails. Got the overseas ones away (7 in all) at the end of November.

I have discovered 2 really annoying facts about this year's Christmas cards. The ones that tell you someone's new address arrive after you have posted their card.

And, despite my leaving notes all over the house, DH still hasn't written his onecard.

I loathe writing them and do most of them, but insist DH does his whack of his friends/contacts from way back. I never really know what to say when I write the cards - agree with Maggiemaybe about SH in the Guardian, so don't do the round robin bit ever. And can hardly bear to read the r robins we receive - DH reads them but they enter the recycling bin rather fast after that.

Family, close friends get them posted. Neighbours/nearby's go by hand. Last year's big cull brought this year's down to manageable numbers & postage costs. The others I still send to receive very classy ecards - but I still spent quite a while yesterday selecting the most appropriate ecard for each. The spin off is enjoying looking at the animations & listening to the music myself before I send them.

I love January, preferably just after 12th night when all the Christmas clutter goes away and there is clear space in the house once again. Oh dear, just realised tree & clutter will descend from the loft this week for the annual dust-gathering airing.

I only give Xmas cards to close family but DH insists on sending cards to every acquaintance made over the years, so I let him carry on. Keeps him occupied for a while.

well I have made a start on my cards .
It is not as onerous as I thought it would be !!

I like sending cards more since retiring. More time? more interesting life? I know that people, family, friends matter more, perhaps I'm finally getting the balance right

I hate writing Christmas cards and a couple of years ago cheated by ordering a small rubber stamp which gives a Christmas message and the family names and a small present picture! This saves me loads of time as I only then have to add the persons name at the top and address the envelope. I stopped giving cards out at work and instead donate £10 to Cancer Research instead.

I send several to friends from long ago (even school; cue Flintstones music) with a brief update, and really enjoy getting the same from them. On the rare occasions we do meet, it means we don't have to go right back to the 60s or 70s to catch up! It is a bit daunting before I start, but I'm always delighted to get it finished, so that's a bonus. We also send to friends locally either by Scout Post or delivered by hand. Sometimes I wonder why we send to some friends but not others, but by this time of year that becomes too big a question to answer.

This year I am finding it a bit more difficult as DD's marriage has broken down and I don't want to inflict that on people as they read their Christmas card, so it's not possible to say that everyone is fine. Also, I am still a bit down about it all, which makes it more difficult to be cheery! However, this week I have heard about much more serious problems that 3 friends have, and so perhaps I will redevelop a sense of proportion.

and [hugs] for those who are finding it so difficult because of bereavement. The hurt will never go away, but one day it may become less sharp - I hope so for you all.