What do you think of Round Robins?

Thanks for encouragement. I have some 40 first cousins, and had 13 aunts and uncles (+ spouses) all over the world, it is so expensive these days to sned family news... and before when the sprogs were small, I just didn't have time/money for all this; though I did try hard. I was the only niece to send news to family!

Oh dear, ann, how insensitive! As though somehow, miraculously, your DH's condition has improved...{{hug}}

I confess to sending a round robin. We are a family of seven and I like to send a short update on the kids. I try to keep it short and amusing. It would take too long to write notes for everyone. I get quite a bit of positive feedback. I enjoy reading others news.

We used to get 2 of the very boastful ones and would pass them round our friends who needed a chuckle. However we are no longer in touch with either couple. Last year after some agonising I did tell two friends of long standing but who we never see now that DH had Alzheimer's. I have received cards from both of them and both said in almost identical words that they hoped we had had a much better year than the previous one!! I wished I hadn't said anything at all.

Well done Simon Hoggett [thank you Iam64 I had forgotten his name] - there was a reminder in the Telegraph recently about what not to include...
I agree it is nice to learn about the small stuff, sad about my dying, happy about baby being born, pleased about good results, but not every little detail about the delivery of the baby or how many stars [real or imagined] Tarquin got.

Wonderful example of this in Miranda's book I was giggling for ages I quite like them for their comedy value.

hahaha!
Not any dog either, are they? The Pyrenean Flying fishing dog of impeccable pedigree...
I find some of the boasting so incredible as to be a total joke!

Since Simon Hoggart (rip) made collections and published a book about the awful, boastful, round robins his readers sent in for that purpose, we have found we receive less of the dreadful things.
One particularly dreadful year, we talked about writing a true account of the trials and tribulations we'd faced but of course, we didn't.

I enjoy writing cards to people I've been close to, but who live a distance away and so we rarely meet up. I always write a few lines in the cards, brief news about us and look forward to receiving similar from those people. It's lovely to read that X has graduated, B had a baby, hand written and with no boasts at all. Sad to read ' my mum died this year', but again, written by hand it has real meaning and I'll write to that friend properly in the new year.

And horses!!

Ana - surely you don't believe that when you are told that Arabella has received 15 A* GCSEs at 6 is NOT boasting???
and what about the dog?

anna

I receive a "round Robin" from one friend and I hate it but I send her a personal letter as I do to two others. With some cards I add a personal note, others I sign and send.

When sending cards to Ireland today I discovered that the postage this year was £1 each card- I nearly collapsed. The PO have shot themselves in the foot I think.

I receive a couple annually from people I don't see or hear from otherwise. Both are of the DH is now CEO of big company, Tarquin has been volunteering in deepest Peru, Arabella got 15 top grade GCSEs at the age of 6 etc. Both go straight into the recycling with barely a glance and they get no news from me.

We also get a card addressed to the previous occupants of the house and have done for the past 12 years. It is odd that the senders don't know that their "friends" have divorced ( the reason for selling the house) and moved many years ago.

Most of them do tend to come across as smug and self-congratulatory, even though deep down you know the writer is just trying to sound upbeat and not boring!

I do find the assumption that we remember every little detail of all previous round-robins irritating, e.g. 'You'll remember that Pingo had a disastrous haircut last year, well,...'

Some are full of humour- but yes, the boastie one's about the genius grand-kids and the very expensive holidays 10 x last year- are a bit - this year decided not to send any myself and will write e-mails of send letter separate in the Spring.

Supposed to be ? after plus postage!

And, have had several emails saying they were not sending cards but giving to charity. Plus postage I ask mysellf!!

I don't think I've ever received one and I wouldn't send one.
My card list has shrunk over the years. Last week I posted 9 and all those are people I'm in contact with throughout the year so we know each others news. Besides what I admit to "Sue" I might not want to tell "Jane"

Oh mattie I feel your pain, I have one relative who sends them; usually on the lines of 'We were sad to sell our country house as we need a smaller one and also a new boat.As for 'Our children etc'
don't get me started.


you

I'm like Jane10 regarding cards.
We only get one round robin and it's full of wonderful holidays in USA, what darling dgc's have been achieving and news about friends of friends whom we have never met ?!

Dreadful dreadful dreadful!!!

I can be bothered to send cards to people who are and remain friends despite the passing years and appreciate cards from them. Email is OK for business purposes but just seems a cop out as a Christmas greeting. I don't much like 'round robins' that inevitably come over as rather smug.
So, sorry I'm not with grandmattie on this!

I have two friends who always send me reams of news. I feel guilty as I am useless at replying.

The only ones I've ever received have been the 'boasting' kind and I hate them. I would imagine newsy letters to relatives would be fine but I wouldn't bother with those you aren't going to ever see again.

You either love or loathe these, a bit like Marmite. I prefer not to get them in the post, but that is me. Others may be interested in reading lots of news from far flung relatives. If you keep it newsy but not Boasty then 'good on ya' because most don't!