CHRISTMAS CARDS.

Hand deliver where possible, anyone on email gets electronic wishes and the postage money saved goes to charity. Much better use of the money.
Elderly relatives and non email still get posted card, down now to about half dozen. Merry Christmas all.

I took cards to a PO today and it cost me £1.20 to send a card to Canada and 88p each for 6 cards to go to Eire. Daylight robbery. My second class stamps were bought before the last price increase so I am not sure how much they cost.

Oh God, rosesarered. I've just finished composing a little annual synopsis that sounds very like the one you describe. I enjoy reading news from my friends, and I just assume they want to know mine. I do keep it very brief though. Simon Hoggart in the Guardian has compiled a couple of books of really bad - and mostly hilarious - round robin letters that he gets his readers to send in. I'd hate to see mine quoted in there! I sometimes feel that SH lacks a bit of self-awareness though. Some Saturdays his column just resembles one long, boring round robin bragging about his family, his friends, his meals out, etc.... Just because he's paid handsomely for it, doesn't make it interesting.

Whoops 30 stamps came to £15 .
I am not saying anything ! You cannot expect me to be brainy & beautiful!

LOL

Yes, those figures [£30] are not right, I know the PO is expensive..... but!
I don't mind writing the cards, I do them in 2 batches, first batch are to be posted [about 20] second batch [about 20] to be given, either handed over, or furtively pushed through letter boxes at dead of night, lol.
I like receiving cards, and don't want to suddenly cut anyone out that may like receiving one from me.I do try to send an appropriately worded card to someone bereaved though. I keep the message inside each card short and sweet , as I hate getting a synopsis of anyone elses year[Robert is doing well at the bank, Amanda had triplets, and Fiona won best pony award, you know the sort of thing!]It is the start of the Christmas season when I put the cards up on a card holder in the hall.

Hold on a minute Chucks he is watching Footie , dare not not interfere.
I am listening to Mama & papa"s which I picked up at walmart for 5 bucks , roughly £2.50, and making out Christmas list of what we need .
Will get back to you l;ater XX

Crikey nonu!What size are the cards!

Nonu That is £2 a stamp. Someone's arithmetic is way out. Are you sure it wasn't £15 for 30 stamps?

Ill phone relatives and friends.

That surely can't be right Nonu if so I am not sending any.

I give the money to Charity instead. Much better use for it than the card manufacturers and the Royal Mail, particularly now they're privatised.

Well Mr N went to pay C.T. at post Office so I asked him to get some Christmas stamps .
15 2nd class as we are cutting back came to £30.00 b----y quid .
not funny at all !!

Gadaboutgran - I like your philosophy especially as I know I am guilty of neglecting friends - I should get a grip, smile and get writing - I might even enjoy it, thank you : )

I used to love it but now find it such a chore - I am tired and feel my resentment might infiltrate the cards - not good!
I used to enjoy sharing the task with the children but its not the same anymore.
As others have asked - what is the correct form for whom you should send to? The cost of stamps means most of us need to cut back but who to cull???

Thanks for that Tiggy

What I most missed the first Christmas after my daughter died were the cheery red Father Xmases. People were of course being sensitive so we had mostly sad looking angels but they in fact highlighted our loss even more. I always try to add an 'x is not forgotten' type of message to people who have lost someone & not just in the first year. I discovered if you give time to your grief at Xmas, it is also possible to have fun.
I thought about cutting out Xmas cards & have shortened the list but I enjoy getting them & decided even a small annual link with people is worth the stamp - you never know if it will become a bigger link again. At least keeping in touch on facebook means fewer or shorter personal messages - I just can't do a typed general missive.

to all of those Gransnetters who have recently lost a partner or other loved one. It is so much harder at this time of year, isn't it? So many of the sentiments in cards are inappropriate! I try to check them out before sending them to bereaved friends. I find many of the cancer charity cards have more sensitive and appropriate messages.

I even ring up friends abroad - I use one of the numbers you ring first and it costs the same as a local call, about 1p per minute. The number I use is 08452 443 443 and it seems to work for most land lines. If it doesn't work for the particular country it usually tells you to dial another number.
I find when I do ring the number it is best to dial your friends number as soon as the recorded message starts and not to wait and do what you are told ( !!! ). Takes a few seconds to connect so don't panic !

I like your idea tiggy and if I decide to drop cards that is what I will do!

I have just finished writing my cards! Some to relatives that live far and wide I enclose a collage of photos of my immediate family (DDs & DGCs) and hand write an update on the back. For friends who live a way away I write a note in the card and suggest a meet up date and pencil dates into my diary. People I see more regularly just get a signature!

I don't mind writing cards, it signifies a sort of start to the Christmas proceedings..no decorations up yet and very few gifts bought, no turkey ordered..but I have made a cake! it will all come together soon enough!

I understand how hard it must be for those recently bereaved and n idea how i might feel in such a circumstance.. but sending to those for whom Christmas will be a difficult and sad time.

That's what I do. And give gift to Charity instead. Normally the SA, who do such a wonderful job.

I bit the bullet last year and didn't send any cards or emails. Instead I rang people up and chatted for up to an hour to people, some of whom I hadn't spoken to for years. Took a bit of time but better than watching the box. The money saved went to charity and I am doing the same this year.

Last Christmas which was 'the first' I sent all the usual cards but enclosed a small note of explanation for those who had not heard; it was something I felt I had to do. This, the 2nd Christmas, I just can't be bothered. Life has changed so much that I am beginning to think a complete change, in all directions, is probably the way to go. I received a couple of corkers last year - if only the sender would read the sentiments in the card first before sending it - luckily I have a slightly warped sense of humour! I will be thinking about you Lindy and Sewsilver The first year with all it's anniversaries and special days is almost too hard to bear.......

That is such a good suggestion from Lona I can only imagine how hard the first Christmas without a loved one must be. I am sure friends would realise how painful it must be to adjust.

Sewsilver, I am in the same situation as you and although I bought cards from the hospice have decided not to send any this year. Friends will understand, but like you just writing my name seems so unnatural. I have received 3 cards two of them say on your first Christmas without your husband, lovely words but just made me cryvfloods of tears. I have penned an email which I will send out on Christmas Eve thanking everyone for the support they have given me and their kind wishes, I hope they will understand.
my thoughts are with you Sewsilver.

Sewsilver If it's so painful for you, then why don't you give it a miss this year?
I'm sure your real friends would understand. After all it's not the end of the world if they don't get a card for once.