To ask - the Christmas Newsletter - shall I?

[SuzysZoo]

I don't see the point of Christmas cards. Well at least not if you just sign your name. What I am interested in is a snippet of information or two. I enjoy it when friends I have not seen for a while send a little printed newsletter. Of course, sometimes these can stray into the realm of boasting (eg. Lottie got a gold medal for gymnastics etc). But are they ok - should I do one - if I promise not to make it boasty?

Only if you let us read it and check for stealth boasting first

Do it - I love them even though they are considered a bit naff - time goes so quickly its lovely to hear what everyone has been up to.

Trouble is, what can they be apart from boasting-stealth or otherwise. Unless you do a depressing one with all the rubbish stuff that's been happening. Really difficult to do a neutral yet positive one.

DO IT.

I love receiving the christmas round robin newsletters. I think the fact that they have attracted so much ridicule over the past ten years has put people off writing them, which i think is a shame.

I do them though only to the people who haven't seen us for yonks. (12 out of 70 will get one this year) Intro paragraph of 2 or 3 sentences, one paragraph about each of us, one about our plans for the next 12 months and thats it.

Not too difficult to do a neutral one. Be honest and put the good the bad and the ugly. As long as you always finish on a positive for each person and add a bit of humour the response should be fine

One year I put an opening paragraph of "To all who find this sort of thing tedious, feel free to jump to the asterix" Then at the bottom by the asterix I put "welcome back to all those who took the short cut, all that remains is to wish you a happy xmas etc etc"

Oooh I do look forward to the 'comedy' round robin newsletter we get from a friend's mother each year, the secrets we learn! I have no issue with it, but I don't do it, I do though have a template email that I adapt to make it look more personal for each person that I send near Christmas. It works a treat until I make a typo!

I think it is a great idea, and as you say alot more interesting than just a card with your name in. I might do one too now you mention it!

Only if you post it here.

OK i've done it but no,,,,,, I won't post it here thanks! It has lots of photos which I don't want on a public forum -sorry! Turns out it is quite hard to do one that isn't boasty, stealth or otherwise.....I mean, I had to say "DD continues to enjoy dancing and will be appearing in panto in January" for example. TBH it sounds better than "DD has done really well and only does a poo in her pants at school very occasionally now"..........