Round Robin

[marjoriemayhem]

Is it possible to write a Christams "round robin" letter without sounding like you have the perfect life/husband/children?

I haven't got the time or enthusiasm to write a note in every Christmas card but are those "Dear all...." letters perceived as bragging?

One year I wrote it in the style of Bridget Jones' diary with a balance of good stuff and crap stuff that had happened during the year.

Is this acceptable?

It may be possible, but I've never received one... I guess if you try not to make it a list of achievements and lovely holidays then it could turn out ok...

oh don't do it!! my mum gets these from some of her old friends. it makes me heave. and.. it makes me LOOK for things to take the piss out of.

if you must do it then go all out poncetstic and embellish the lot.

I go for the gimmicky approach - I have done 'postcards', a board game, a mock Facebook page, a mock newspaper front page, a map (when we moved house - and I go heavy on the photos and the self-deprecation. Eg mention the annoying loudness of DS1s trumpet playing rather than the fact he got a distinction in his trumpet exam, etc etc.

My theory is that I don't want to write the same stuff to everyone, people want a very little bit of information and a couple of silly photos rather than a long screed.

I have had lots of positive comments (even from my cooler friends) over the years so the people who might hate it will keep getting one anyway.

Oh I got one of those the other day. 'Little Johnny has passed his entrance exam and is now captain of the boys rugby team. Little Jenny has just run a half marathon at 8 years old and Little Joanna at 5 is on the gisted and talanted register and already has her grade 5 piano'.

AARRGGHH - I haven't seen you for years, what on earth makes you think I'm remotely interested in hearing about your dcs wonderful achievements.

Step away from the pc.... unless you can write a geniunely humerous one including recapping exacly why your little johnny was excluded from school and what happened on the train when you forgot to remove your skirt from your knickers etc.

Titchy.....too late, I've started it.

Thought one in the style of a multi-choice exam would be fun (With answers at the end)

"Our holiday was a) to somewhere National Geographic haven't even heard of b) a relaxing time of reflection and unwinding c) a combination of swine flu and camping"

Answer is c. Ever tried asking for Tamiflu in French?

We got one that had every person's 'highlights' and 'lowlights' in a table form. It was very funny, and not at all poncey.

Titchy, we must have the same 'friends'. We get a truly nauseating one every year along the lines of DS1 (10) now chorister at Cathedral school, DS2 (8) fully fluent in french, rugby captain and down for RADA scholarship, DD1 (5) beautiful, cute, pony club queen and DS3 (2) fluent in Spanish (because of au pair) and blah blah blah. I hate them and always feel so inadequate. The worst thing is the husband writes them and always finishes (after describing their multiple holidays and good deeds) by describing what a 'consumate professional' DW is at being wife and mother I kid you not - that is a direct quote. Still, is she's a MNetter, she'll recognise herself and perhaps I won't get one this year...

I like the highlights/lowlights idea! Mighjt steal that idea!

I love getting these because they make me laugh even when they're not supposed to! I keep them too. Sad, aren't I?

might argh! (Cold fingers, been making wreaths outside!)

Love the multiple choice idea! Will get cracking on that now (tho' could anyone advise what other options I could put for the question where the correct answer is: Got Divorced - even-tho-none-of-you-lot-realised-there-was-anything-wrong-with-my-marriage-because-I-have-been-livi ng-a-lie-for-years'.
Beats 'Little Jonny is now in the 1st XV' - has anyone else had some real corkers sent in round robins?

nevermindjamtoday how about

This year I decided to come clean
a) about my spotless house, I've got a cleaner
b) about my drinking problem, I'm an alcholic
c) about my marriage, I'm getting divorced

That way it's all kept in perspective

Oops I meant "neverjamtoday"

although I did think "nevermindjamtoday" would be a good nick name for me

I never seem to have healthy sandwich fillings for school lunch boxes...

Or d) Came out as a lesbian and divorced my husband....