Christmas "round robin" letters? <shudder> Why oh why?

[Bonsoir]

Am I being unreasonable to wish that the government would impose a punitive tax rate on offenders?

yanbu. they are dreadful BUT sooooo fun to read! the more cringeworthy the better.

NBUatall.

Utterly bonkers. Utterly naff.

Tripled, nay, quadrupled when the letter is ghostwritten by Mummy who is pretending to be Young Algernon.

I've never received one, but I so wish I had, they sound v v funny!

I got one this morning from a couple who have had a very difficult year - both lost their senior city jobs. I have never read something that puts such superlative positive spin on such minor domestic accomplishments

I hate them. Seriously, who give a shit?

Especially when someone has been a bit trigger happy with word art, so the letter has a strange font, a border of holly berries or something. They also have copious use of exclamation marks!!!

Seem to be accompanied by those cards with a suitable naff family photo. I am of the opinion that the only people who should send cards with artfully posed pictures of themselves are royalty.

I just send out our usual 'We look forward to seeing daddy when HMG lets him out...DD1 has just scored the lowest mark in the 11 plus and DD2 broke her child violin etc, personally I'm trying to get over my habit and the neighbours keep complaining about the red light in the window and the strange men...' Happy Christmas to one and all.

Nearly as bad are the group family photograph as Christmas card....

I love receiving Round Robins. They're fabulous.

I'm tempted to write my own tongue in cheek one this year.

sorry Getorf got there first on the photos. Particularly bad when posed in some 'highly exotic holiday spot you can't possibly afford..'

They are so bad they are good

I feel like hitting reply with a one-liner.

Stop showing off.

I love them - the sniggering that follows is the highlight of my year.

I got one today from the parents of an ex-boyfriend, telling me that ex-boyfriend is now a headmaster. Bloody hell, I'm old. He was thick as shit as well.

Or when the subjects have been photoshopped to within an inch of their lives.

Oh god, though, I have a feeling this thread is going to go wriong, someone will be on in a minute saying round robn letters are wonderful (lets be honest, MN is probably a hotbed of round robin letter writers) and how crap we all are taking the piss etc etc and it will descend into a right roaring row.

So do you all write personal messages in xmas cards to people you don't see v often
Or just write: -
Dear friends we haven't seen for ages and your three dc

Love me, him and the kids

in which case WTF is thepoint?

PMSL hassled's headmaster.

I feel like writing my own now with an accompanying photograph, so beyond vulgar and show-offy that in theory no-one could fail to spot it is a piss-take, and see whether people fall for it...

I think you should type them out for us to read...

Oh yes type up a piss take letter and show it to us.

LOL it would take me time I don't have. But I shall compose it in my head while in the bath to keep myself entertained .

They are so incredibly naff, but that's why they are hilarious. I can't imagine ever writing one.

Thinking of opening lines here...

"As every other year to date, 2009 has been a hotbed of purposeful activity and achievement in the Bonsoir household, underpinned by loving and harmonious relationships."

I have an American friend who does send out an unbelievably funny (and not braggy) one early in the New Year - which we all look forward to. He is the one person who is excused. I have never seen another - even from the 'just about excusable we've been posted abroad and haven't seen anyone' etc etc - that hasn't leaned towards the 'look how wonderful we are and what a fascinating life we lead'.

AIBU to think that we have the USofA to thank (NOT) for round robins and family photos as xmas cards? God.Bless.

I'll start us off:

Dear All,

Happy Christmas!!!!!

The year got off to a marvellous start with Tarquin's release from prison. He made all sorts of wonderful new friends and has acquired many additional skills. He's been working very hard ever since and has been able to afford a plasma screen for all of us!!!

Who's doing the next para?

YANBU.

Tarquin has spent a lot of time on business trips this year, as he has a wonderful new business contact in Colombia. The contact will be visiting us in the UK in early 2010 as he has the first shipment of goods for Tarquin's new company, which is exciting!! We have a distribution network all set up in place and everything should be very profitable. Tarquin is so much happier in his new role, he always is very jolly and talks a lot more than he used to, however I am sad to say he has suffered a lot with blocked sinuses and colds this year, which is a shame!!