A nice Round Robin?

[Twilightstarbright]

I'm thinking of including a round robin in my Christmas cards this year. We live abroad and have moved countries so haven't seen most of our friends and family for more than a year as we've not had our annual trip to the UK.

I don't want it to be obnoxious and certainly wouldn't be boasting 'isnt my life perfect' etc (I have a serious illness that doesn't have a great prognosis and I've always been open about this). I thought it could be nice to share thoughts on the year and a perspective on 2020 from the country we are in.

What would you like to read in a RR?

I'm sorry, but I dont think there's a way to do a RR that isn't quite self-indulgent and cringy. How about a few lines in a christmas card if there is something important you want to share? More personal to make time to ring people to catch up.

I'm also not a fan of round robins. I share news around the year via Facebook, friends and family who aren't on FB get a few lines in their card.
But I know you didn't ask whether to send one or not, rather how to write a good one. As the recipient of more of these that I'd like, I prefer those that are a few lines with the key highlights of the year, or in our case increasingly low lights but important to share (health/family bereavement etc). That way I absorb and. remember the key points - nothing worse than asking after someone's parent then finding they had died and it has been in paragraph 29 of the previous year's RR and I'd not read that far. True story. Ok maybe paragraph 15 but it ran to 3 pages....
From what you've said, you won't fall in to the self congratulatory trap. Worst RR we had was fairly brief - good so far - but it read 'Mr X continues to perform outstandingly at work, excels at everything that is thrown at him; Miss X's teachers yet again tell us what a perfect pupil she is and a joy to have in the class. Master X is king of the sports field. Mrs X continues to be the perfect wife and mother'
Now I probably haven't remembered it word for word but not far off. DH and I read it open mouthed - which one of them wrote it since there were boasts about each of them?!

I'm not that interested in hearing the antics of people one a year whom I never see anymore.

Can't be arsed to stay in touch then why do I want to know what you and your kids did all year?

Surely that's what you're doing because your close family know your news already right?

I'd enjoy a short one. The other thing I like is a personal message to me, e.g. 'Hope Alfie has settled into school'

Well personally I'd like it.

My aunt in Australia used to always send a round robin, I really enjoyed reading it!

I don't think it will be offensive so long as you keep it very short, I quite enjoy reading the few 'round robins' we receive, none of them are boastful. But what is nicer is to take the time to write a few personal lines in each card which is what I do, it does take longer, but I do a few each evening and have nearly finished now.

We used to get the best ones from an uncle and aunt but they had the affluent lifestyle and connections to make them sound like a novel. I have high expectations from them now.

They're generally awful but given the shit show that is this year I'm doing mot for elderly relatives we haven't been able to see. A couple of pics,Norton really much else to talk about

We know a couple of families who send nice ones. In each case it’s short, mostly photos, and no showing off (e.g. a few pictures of them on fairly normal holidays or outings). It’s a good way to stay in touch with people you don’t often see. I’d do one myself if I could be arsed.

If you are in a different country then I wouldn't mind a sheet of paper with photos of you in your new home/ the local ?wildlife ?scenery ?local famous place /kids in their school uniform (or not) etc
We get one a year which I bin instantly - religious family who are not only all very happy and successful but saving the poor/ needy /local community (maybe they are actually living tragic lives now but as I don't read it I don't know).

Thanks everyone, I've started on the cards and just done a personal message in them, I might add something else. I'd quite like a few photos and a bit of news from friends. I'd like the odd wanky round robin just for a laugh