to utterly loathe getting 'thank you' cards...

[thumbsucker]

My relationship with my sister in law has never been fantastic but i recently sent her a lovely birthday present - a necklace which I carefully chose and sent on time (!) after a week I heard nothing so I phoned my brother. he checked with her and called back to say she had got it and loved it and that a thank you card would be in the post. This makes me livid! I am not some distant auntie and we are not living in the effing dark ages. Why oh why is she not capable of picking up the phone (yes, she has a mobile) and just saying thanks? Even if she doesn't like it, some kind of acknowledgement would have been nice.

[littlewoman]

I don't think you're being unreasonable. My DD and MIL don't have a very good relationship since XH left. MIL sent DD a birthday card & money late. DD didn't want to pick up the phone to her nan because she doesn't like her, so she sent a card instead. So thank you cards can be a way of remaining aloof from the sender, which I think is your concern - after you spent a lot of time and effort choosing her present, TS.