Just a thought about Round Robins

I do understand the problem, pride is one of the 7 deadly sins. If we have a successful family or nice holidays we should say nothing in case it offends those less fortunate. Certainly don't post your nice photos on Facebook.

If Round Robin letter do this, send a letter back detailing the lousy year you have just had, either you will get a sympathy letter back or the Round Robin will stop.
They are just thoughtless that's all.

I think it depends on the spirit the letter is written in. Surely it is OK to share good news. I want to share in friends successes or those of their family and be there to support them through the difficult bits of life. You seem to be saying if you have a great holiday David you shouldn't tell anyone!

Being devils advocate I don't think anyone does this deliberately.

Don't agree with most comments. I love receiving news from people I may not see all year. I send my RR by e-mail to save money on cards and postage and give to charity. Yes, it's a fine line between news and bragging, but I refer a letter to an empty card any day. An empty card doesn't tell you anything.

We used to get one every year from someone (no longer with us) who we saw quite often anyway - very long and not bragging, but full of his very wordy pontifications on the state of the world, politics, etc.
We used to call it 'The Thoughts Of Chairman (Nickname)'.

I can't say I miss them!

I write a round robin which I try to keep as modest as possible while keeping in touch with people I know. I enjoy receiving the news of others even though I realise that their news will be more prosperous, action packed and interesting than my own. I have one annual newsletter, to which we look forward, which is always a boastagram par excellence and which is ever hilarious to compare with what we know of the reality.

I really do not mind if others laugh at me and my poor efforts. I send genuine goodwill and others can make what they want of it.

N.b. I am delighted to find that jealousy, ill will and resentment are the order of the day for Christmas. I'd hate to think that human nature parked itself for a few days of peace and goodwill.

Hallo.
Can someone please tell me what an RR is as it’s not on the list of acronyms.

As it says in the thread title, RR stands for Round Robin. An RR is a letter which gets sent to a group of people, a newsletter, if you will. I suppose a modern version might be a blog entry.

Lilyflower, you have put into words what I have been thinking whilst reading some of the mean spirited, bitter comments on here. Like you, I love hearing news from friends and acquaintances. Living abroad, it’s not always possible to keep in touch all the time, so a potted round up of someone’s year is always welcome.

I used to send an RR with my cards, heaven knows how many people I upset, although I don’t think my friends would jealously describe my missives as ‘bragging’.

I’ve had my fair share of tough times and sorrows, as have most people, but that doesn’t stop me wishing others well.

What a bunch of Grinches on this thread.

SAGGI, RR is short for Round Robin. Its a letter from your computer which gets sent to a number of people with your news of what you have been up to in the last year. It saves writing out in longhand letters to maybe 10 or 20 people. I like them but apparently a lot of Grinches on Gransnet think I am just bragging about my holidays or grandchildren etc. Just a lot of jealous old bums.
Like you, I don't like all these stupid abbreviations which some people like to confound others with.

I think a lot of you are completely missing my point. For a start I am not mean spirited or bitter.

Obviously there is no way I could print the letter on here but I would like to reiterate that I haven't seen or spoken to the sender for twenty years! They probably don't even know if we're still alive and I doubt they checked.

Maybe some of you should read the OP more carefully before making such high and mighty comments. It was actually carefully worded to emphasise my concern that sometimes there is no consideration towards the feelings of the recipient.

Of course some RRs are welcome but some are not.

That's all.

What the hell is a grinch?

I put a few items of handwritten news in the cards but I also write Christmas letters to some friends who live abroad. Although some of the news may be the same they are all individually written and refer specifically to the recipient. I like to keep in touch that way and from their responses I believe they enjoy getting the letters. Of course mine are never filled with boastful news about my tremendously successful life and travels because that's not true of me () and I do try to make them light and amusing. However I do get a couple of RR's ... I don't mind them because they make me smile, particularly the ones that pretend to be written by their 18-month old or (even better) the hamster! Absolute classics, hahaha.

I think a Grinch, is a miserable spoilsport sort of person. Of which you are NOT one merlotgran. Ignore all insults, people should know better

Thanks, BBevan

The Grinch is a Dr Suess character who was the butt of unkindness because of his difference (green fur!) which in turn made him unhappy and friendless. The story has a positive ending!

SEUSS not Suess!

It's not our RR, every year 2 weeks before Xmas we get one from friends of the man who lived here before. We've been here over 14 years.
The first time we opened to get a return address which there wasn't one, it only says Jack and Maud. The man from before had gone into a nursing home with dementia. We didn't know his family.

I detest round robins. I get one every year from a "friend" in America. She made a huge effort to contact me on my birthday in April and said how we must keep in touch via WhatsApp. So I did the thing of setting it up but did she keep in touch. Nah! So that's that. I really can't be A. to keep in touch. Grrr

I really do not mind if others laugh at me and my poor efforts. I send genuine goodwill and others can make what they want of it.

Well said Lilyflower I am in complete agreement. I hope I don't send my letters to people who mock or sneer.

<thinks> No, I couldn't imagine any of my friends or family scoffing because they receive my family news and greetings, wanting all good things for them too.

As you say Merlotgran the point has been well and truly missed.
I've been called worse things than 'Grinch' and no David I am not at all interested in your holiday.

*Annaram1 on the 8th December, I wrote out all the acronyms that are used on the forum, so that it would explain what posters are referring to when they post. I've done it for you again here:

There is a list of acronyms Annaram1. You can find it on the GN homepage. But I've copied and pasted it for you:

Forum abbreviations and acronyms
This is a list of the most commonly used acronyms used on Gransnet forums. Don't feel like you have to use them if you don't want to, but they may help you understand some of the forums better.

AIBU - Am I being unreasonable
BiL - brother-in-law
BTW - by the way
DBH - dear beloved husband
DC - darling/dear child/ren
DD - darling/dear daughter
DGS/D - darling/dear grandson/daughter
DH - darling/dear husband
DiL - daughter in law
DS - darling/dear son
DSS/D - darling/dear stepson/daughter
DW - darling/dear wife
FiL - father-in-law
FWIW - for what it's worth
FYI - for your information
HTH - Hope that helps

Kind regards
A Jealous Old Bum xx

Thank you Chewbacca, you are very kind and I appreciate the trouble you have gone to,. I did not see your post of 8 December, sorry.

I also receive a bragging letter from friends whose life is very different from mine. They have been all over the place on holiday.or visiting family and friends .I I have been widowed for ten years and life has kicked me in the teeth several times during those 10 years. Spent several months in hospital this year and haven’t been anywhere away from home .My ‘newsletter ‘ would be very short and very boring!