To utterly hate those self appreciating, smug Christmas Round robbins

[pigletmania]

You know the ones that begin with "As another year draws to an end, I find myself sitting trying to find a few mins, to tell you how many wonderful holidays I have been on, and what gifted little children Jonny and Jane are blah blah blah, bahhhh humbug

I got one once from a distant cousin.It wasn't that bad, and I actually like her! Nothing too smug.

I am most upset that I don't get the beauties that you lot get. I would love a a nice smug round robin to keep me amused at Christmas!

My old next door neighbours send one to my parents every year (they are not old people..merely old neighbours!) which is always..literally...about 8 pages long...every single holiday and weekend away (and there are MANY) is accompanied with photos.....in this current economic climate, it is seriously rubbing it in! I could suggest a travel blog to them (and save the paper) but I'm sure they do that too..

Ours this year would include the brag that my brother has been convicted and will be going to prison in January following his presentence report, do you think I should put that before or after DS1's triumph as a sheep in the nativity?

A relative who shall remain nameless sent one one year, telling us all the gruesome info on his colon blockage including the memorable detail that they had to dig out "compacted faeces as big as a foetus".

Lovely

Ooooo, I just got one today in the post!

Folded up up very small inside a teeny card.

Honestly, I thought it was cash and got all excited!

We got one once, from a remote great aunt. It was splendidly boastful (although she was an aged widow and only had one son through whose family she lived vicariously, so perhaps understandable).

Sadly, said remote great aunt is now doolally and the joy has never been repeated.

We only get one of these. From an old friend's mother. Haven't seen old friend in about 15 years, no contact at all, don't know his address etc., but his mum and I send each other a card every year.

They're usually rather Hycinth Buckét style, and are always good for a bitchy laugh, but this year it was like a soap opera. Our old friend has just found out he's a father to 18 year old twins, and his mum is having yet another operation on her 'underparts' (to use her expression) and as much as I'm sorry she's in ill health, her style of writing turns this round robin into comedy gold.

I love letters of all sorts, but this year's favourite was the one that said 'We are now grandparents as Julia had a boy in October and since we saw you Lara has had a little horse.' I do hope it wasn't too painful for her- I keep thinking of the length of those legs....

I ahve only ever had one of these which was from an MNer. It wasn't a boasty one though, was interesting and funny. I feel I am missing out somewhat.

I love that sheila has had a minor infection which responded well to antibiotics :o

It depends how good the writer is; some people are witty and charming in print, many others are not. I have one from an ex-colleague every year and it's great hearing what he's been up to during the year but then he doesn't boast and he's got a wide range of interesting things that he's been doing.

There are too many boasters but also too many people who whine and whinge about their terrible year - does nobody read their thoughts back before sending them off anymore?

I love round robins the more smug the better! One year my folks got one from one of my dads workmates and it was mainly pictures of him standing next to porches and wearing skis - brilliant! We had a great laugh showing it to everyone. It was the pictorial version of writing "merry Christmas this year I've had a midlife crisis". Laugh it up I say!

My mother gets a fairly smug one that I always look forward to reading from someone who refers to her husband as 'Blod' throughout with no explanation - it's bizarre.

I like them - sort of old fashioned Facebooking - but find that they are usually only written by people with positive things to say. One that came today finished off with "we are currently holidaying in the snow in Aspen. A lovely time is being had by all" !

I actually enjoy reading those and do not find them whining or boastful (messages about other people skiing in XXX do not upset me). I am obviously not on trend...

We get a photo one from DH's cousin. No words, just a collection of photos from Birthdays, Christmas, holidays etc. etc. Not at all smug & quite a nice way of keeping in touch IMO.

I also have an aunt who writes me a personal letter each Christmas telling me what an awful time she's had throughout the year .

Next to a real Round Robin letter, I love a Round Robin thread.

"We are currently holidaying in the snow in Aspen. A lovely time is being had by all" ...........

translated ...............

"We are on holiday, yes, on holiday before Christmas, get a load of that all of you opening this at home before Christmas & not on holiday, like us. We are in the snow in Aspen, so unless we actually live there, we are loaded, because Aspen is a very expensive ski-resort. Please note it is the snow in Aspen, not just any old snow - but Aspen snow. We are having a lovely time - because who wouldn't? Lucky us, lucky us, lucky us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Disclaimer: I know nothing about these people & if they have suffered any misfortune that they have overcome to have the holiday of a lifetime in Aspen - then I sincerely apologise. I am ranting purely on the basis of that one liner. I wish them no ill, but that closing line is not a specifically positive thing to say, it is showing off.

Id love to get round robins! Not send one, thats far too cheesy but Id like it way more than the cards Im currently getting.

I opened one, posted from the otherside of the fence that just simply said 'Rose'. No to or from or a message, just her name. Whats the point?!

We do an anti-round robin, along the lines of:

DC1 actually has a job and hasn't begged for money for some months. We needed a gin and a sit down when we realised this.

DC2 actually did some homework unprompted recently, and has spent 10,000 hours on Minecraft this year. He can now produce virtual reality meals and has experimented with what happens if you turn the ethical controls off in your virtual life. He can also now swear in four languages. We are not sure whether to be impressed or not.

DC3 is rarely seen as he plays out the front with his mates all day, every day. We assume he is still alive and has not gone too feral. His tea is still here and has gone very cold, and somewhat furry.

DC4 was recently discovered under an upturned bookcase covered with DVDs. Two realisations came out of that. Firstly, he can now climb. Secondly, his mother's DIY skills leave something to be desired.

We tried to have a holiday this year but it was so wet and cold we wondered why we bothered, especially the day we could not see our hands in front of our faces in August.

We had a dramatic flood in the sitting room this year and the ceiling nearly collapsed as water poured through. We blamed DC2 and his epic showers, but then realised it was the fault of the builders. He has just about forgiven us.

And so on ...

reeble my DH can't stand those either. I open all our cards and DH says 'just telling us their names again were they?' every time. I've got quite a stash of round robins this year, all part of the christmas joy

PostBellumBugsy your life must be truly miserable if you hurt so much from just reading that someone holidays in Aspen.

YANBU. I've only ever had one. It was from a lady in my NCT group who I saw at least weekly for the proceeding year. There was also a picture of me and the girls in it. That was odd.

I do love reading a bit of smug-smuggery so maybe one day I'll get one

We're not really very good at hearing nice news in Britain. We're all far happier with a bit of misery! Not too much though.
We've had a not bad year, and after a few really, really hard years (lifechanging) I don't mind saying the good stuff, only it's often followed by a small silence from the other person. No way would I write anything down!

Get a good one