Wednesday 12 December 2012

Yes, yes, YES!

No, not a re-enactment of When Harry Met Sally, nor a book deal with a six figure advance, but the next best thing. I've done (most of) my Christmas cards.

Now for the wait. You know the one. I've left out they Xs as we haven't seen each other for years/no longer like each other/they didn't send us one last year. But. If they do send us one, perhaps we ought to reciprocate....? Do we prolong this tit for tat thing? The jury is still out.

And then there are the Ys, to whom I lent a very expensive hat years ago. If I don't send them one, what about the hat? On the other hand, would I ever wear it again (it was my Mother of the Bride hat)?

And then there are those people we see every day who will probably give us one anyway. I've never seen the point of this. I can tell  them I want them to have a great Christmas. Do I really need to give them a card as well? Ive always seen Christmas cards as a way of keeping in touch. But I've got some extras, just in case.

I shall reward myself with a hot bath, as I've been walking outdoors in my socks, and my feet are frozen (long story).

18 comments:

  1. I agree, Christmas cards are such a problem. How much information do you attach. I hate those round robins that people send. Thankfully we don't get any and I don't send them. Any information I do put in the card is usually an update on important events in the family - births, deaths, near deaths! and marriages. As time goes on, families become more important than old friends, that you probably haven't seen for years, and if I'm honest that's the way I like it. Some very old friends have just written in their card that we MUST meet up this year. Mmmm!

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    1. Maggie, we've just received our first round robin of the year; a two-page tightly-written screed about EVERYTHING that family's been up to this year. And I mean everything.

      I haven't manage to bring myself to read it yet...

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  2. I go through this every year too! And I agree with Maggie - those round robin things are awful - we do get them I'm afraid, sigh! x

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    1. We have an annual in-house competition for the worst round robin. Well, we have to get some entertainment out of them...

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  3. I said I wasn't going to send many at all this year, but have only managed to lose a few.....I reckon if you haven't seen people for over 20 years, and are never likely to, you might as well save nearly a quid!
    (It is hard when theirs arrives though) I agree with you about the folks you see every day. I tried for several years at work to get them to give the practice up, but they all said, we want to carry on. I have retired now, so that annoyance is done with!

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    1. I remember people at the surgery where I was nurse going round with handfuls of cards, just dishing them out. People still do this to us now. Not reciprocating hasn't worked so far...

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  4. Ok Frances...let's agree....I won't send you one and you won't send me one....is that alright with you?

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  5. I haven't sent any cards yet - because I haven't bought any yet. Suppose I should do that soon.

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    1. You could send people little fliers about your books instead...?

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  6. Nail hit head the on the you've: rearrange into a well known phrase or saying. It's a chore I hate. I don't know a single person who likes sending them. I don't know a single person who doesn't like receiving them. Bah humbug! I wish I had the courage to stop....now!

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    1. You're right, GB. It is nice receiving them, even if only because they usually arrive in a proper, hand-written envelope, and they aren't bills!

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  7. I was just looking at the calendar and thinking I have GOT to get my cards out this weekend!December is flying by.

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  8. When I had a day off between my previous job and the one I have started on the 3rd of December, I spent half of the morning writing my Christmas cards - only 14 this year, but these all go to people who matter to me, and whom I do not see often (once a year, if that). I like writing to them, although it means a big effort for me - my handwriting is VERY bad, and I find it exhausting to write in a manner that will (hopefully!) be legible to them...!
    Yes, I confess I actually LIKE doing this, and of course I like opening my letterbox when I return from work and find one or two cards there.
    As for round robins - this year was the first time I ever got one, from one of my uncles in England. Since I see the family in Yorkshire only once a year, I was glad to get an update on what has been happening in their lives the past year.

    Well done, Frances, and I hope you enjoyed that nice hot bath! It is this time of the year that I really wish I did not have only a shower cubicle but a bath tub as well.

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    1. Fourteen Christmas cards sound manageable, Meike. I would love to send just fourteen!

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  9. I am waiting for the cards to arrive and then sending to those friends only. I hope this gives the friends who have only been sending cards to me because I have been sending to them a chance to break the habit. I am much too cowardly to be the one to break it myself.

    I hope your feet are all right and am intrigued. I'm trying to work out what you were doing outside in socks. It could make the start of a good story, I think. x

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  10. Ah. The socks. I was showing the social services woman our front steps (very steep) which need a handrail for wounded husband, and to cut a boring and long story short, never got round to putting on shoes. And there was ice, and...no. I think I'll shut up now!

    You have my permission to write the story!

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