Christmas “News” letters

One we received said that one of the grandsons, having decided uni was not for him, had secured a well paid job in a local hostelry.

“He’s working in a pub then” said DH.

Why bother with all of that? It's what social media is for.

Straight in the recycling.

PS. I must add that only very recently we decided to switch to emails.

I used to be in a round robin where we each had a little folder to enclose recipes, poems, photos, as well as news. It was lovely actually. After a few years it just sort of fizzled out. But I'm still in touch with one of them in America and we exchange letters regularly. I enjoy it.

It's nice that some people enjoy reading them and also sending them. Like I said, we're all different. I'm just a miserable old so and so.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

One of my nephews has a wonderful solution - a montage of photos taken throughout the year. I don’t really know what his children are up to (well I do this year because I’ve seen him and them) but I do know what they look like!

We used to get a typed/printed one (probably mail merged) - along with a typed/printed card - from the people next door - just awful and so desperate to update everyone on their (very dull) lives. I spoke to them a lot anyway - so I already knew it all. They divorced and moved away - phew!

People are very critical about these. If you don't want to hear just stop sending cards to them. I have 11 people we get these from and send ours to and it keeps us all up to date with friends who are far away and don't see. I like hearing about their families and hope they feel the same. I always write a personal message on the back and usually get one back. Most are not on social media and people I would write to anyway.

We have friends who don't send a letter, but send a recipe each year. I enjoy that, even if I don't actually cook /bake it, far more than the details of a visit to a third cousin three times removed who I've never met.

I often use them because it saves time but this year I can’t be bothered and I haven’t even sent any cards and possibly won’t.Just over it really.

I wish now I had not been so scathing when my beloved late DH settled down to write his yearly letter. Never boasted and he genuinely loved to hear the doings of friends in America and people far away.
I’d give anything to see him sitting at the dining room table, pen in hand setting to to record another year round the sun😢

We get one from people we met once on holiday about 12 years ago. We used to reciprocate but last year we just sent a card. I really don't see the point

sodapop

They are so annoying Kate1949 I'm tempted to send one back saying it's been a bad year, husband in prison, kids on drugs and the dog bit the vicar.

😁

Round robins a.k.a A boast through the post.

I’m such a curmudgeon these days I only get about 5 cards as I don’t send more than that !

Much prefer to donate stuff eg a tenner to the wonderful smart old gent playing the piano in the atrium of our cancer hospital. Brought tears to my eyes.

while Hermione

Could you leave Hermione out of this please!!
And she doesn't go to boarding school

I have a great one from a friend every year, last years started, well it’s been a b….y awful f….g year, what could go wrong has gone wrong with bells on it! Nothing too serious but she has a very witty way with words, not for her bragging about holidays, wonderful grandchildren, just about keeping the right way up.
I look forward to her missive very much each year😄

I much prefer to have a letter( personalised preferably) than merely a card with a signature. If that is all I hear, year after year, I feel there isn’t much point.
I get about ten Round Robins each year, mostly on email now, and they are all interesting and relevant. There is no boasting, quite a few disasters. The only one I hate starts Dear ( blank).

We received one one year when the opening preamble was "once again our children make us proud to be their parents" where's an appropriate two fingers down the throat emoji when you need it! I only had to read those two lines to think "I hate you already" at the time one of mine had yet to reach his peak "behaving like a complete shit" then as he peaked I did hear through the grapevine that one of theirs was a late starter in that particular field, so from then on it was less about the children and more about their vegetable garden. Why do such people feel the need to regale people they aren't that involved with, with a load of minutiae about their lives.

One of the most boring (which is saying something) was the year one letter detailed the building of the new conservatory and decorating the hall and stairs
Then there was one where ‘Tarquin played in the First 11 at the 4th of June (Eton’s equivalent of “sports day”) while Hermione went Scuba Diving in the Red Sea with her (boarding, of course) school choir 🤮🤮🤮🤮.
There should be a competition for the worst !

Thank goodness I don't seem to get any of these now. I have a select group of friends I keep in touch with throughout the year on Facebook and one that I exchange occasional emails with. Everyone else just gets a card.

soda

Blondiescot I'm not sure why they do it. To be fair, there's no harm in it and I'm glad they are happy 😊
It's not my way. I would assume that no one would be interested. Then it wouldn't do for us all to be the same would it?

I type a friend’s Round Robin letter every year. It is so boring! I send one out too, but to people I have sort of kept in touch with. I hope it’s interesting!

They are so annoying Kate1949 I'm tempted to send one back saying it's been a bad year, husband in prison, kids on drugs and the dog bit the vicar.