The whinge thread

[kathlyn]

Isn't common sense wonderful

[Bunnylump]

Does anyone have erroneous Christmas cards delivered? For the past 23 years we have been receiving a Christmas card addressed to Mr and Mrs Linsell at our address, and I know for a fact that there has never been anyone of that name living either here or at any of our neighbours' houses. The writing looks like it's from an old person, and I wish I could find out where it should be going, but can't. We have also had 23 addressed to people with the same surname as us, from "Jane and Ralph", with all their family news, but never an address to tell them that we don't know who they are!

[Looby]

I'm impressed that these people will continue sending cards for 23 years without considering crossing them off the list because they haven't had a card back!

[Bunnylump]

I know! That's the thing which amazes me. I almost feel like I know them, and should be sending one back in my own right!

[Snoopy]

I'm on the other side. I send cards to my husband's relations although we very rarely see his aunts and uncles. During a talk with my mother-in-law she happened to mention one of her brothers but I didn't recognise the address she mentioned. "Have they moved?" I asked innocently. She gave me a strange look and said "They moved over 10 years ago".
Presumably because we were family they kept on sending us cards. The next Christmas I put a note in with their card apologising for the missing cards. (I did wonder at the time why I was apologising )

[Snoopy]

I am truly having a whinge. In today's post we received card from my husband's cousin. She left her husband years ago and I have always sent a card addressed to Mrs..... and her son who stayed with her. In today's card was a round robin letter which had a different surname on it, talked about a husband and a daughter who has left school and is working. I showed it to my husband but he denies all knowledge and blames his mother for not telling him. So next year I better remember to change the surname and address it as MR & MRS. At least she doesn't seem to have changed her address.

[giraffe]

I've just had a card stuck through the door from a neighbour. Signed from Gill and family No.17
There are only sixteen houses in the road. I'm mystified, I've never spoken to them, I might have waved in a vague friendly way in passing, but I have no idea if it's them. I also get a card from number 12, who I've only ever spoken to when I thought she was Mrs no.7 because she was digging no.7's flowerbed. Mind you I'm not sure I've ever exchanged more than a hello with no.7. How very confusing.

Does everyone else know their neighbours?

We also get a lot of circular type letters at Christmas, from people who we only hear from at this time of year and they are ALL full of doom and gloom every year. They only seem to dwell on how many times they have been made redundant, how many medical problems have happened during the year and divorces, deaths and the like. They are so drepressing when read en masse that we can't help but laugh. Whatever happened to "If you can't say anything cheerful, don't say anything at all." ?

[chazzie]

They are so drepressing when read en masse that we can't help but laugh.

I'm glad to hear this For years and years a distant relative has sent 'hand-written' (rather than the round robin mass produced computer generated) letters to everyone at Christmas and on their birthdays. These were always mentioning the doom and gloom, sickness, falls, things going wrong. A few years ago, a number of us gathered to exchange these 'doom and gloom' letters to see which one 'out-performed' the others. We had quite a laugh! We also realised that we had missed a huge opportunity, because we felt that if we had kept all the letters over the years, and put them together in a book - we might have had a best seller by now!

I now look forward to receiving these letters

[Bunnylump]

I think I might actually prefer the doom and gloom variety to the "we are so fantastic" ones. We receive round robins, and you'd be forgiven for becoming quite depressed about how thick and untalented your children were, how naff your job was, how small and insignificant your house is by comparison to those who lead such charmed and marvellous lives!

[LAT]

I have one particular friend whose letter my kids were always delighted to read. It was usually full of which of their 4 children had been expelled from how many different schools, progressing to run-ins with the police, marrying a foreign waiter etc etc. My two knew that compared to them they came out as positive angels!!

[Bunnylump]

Oh how brilliant. That kind of thing would really do me a power of good!

[Laura]

I have just this morning remembered (typically) that I was going to send some Christmas cards to a couple of piano pupils who have gone off to university this year and stopped having lessons with me.

Now, why couldn't I have remembered that a week ago?

[Bunnylump]

Probably because your head is so stuffed full of other things to do with Christmas that it's full up. I know mine is, and vital facts seem to be pouring out from my brain overflow on a daily basis!

[giraffe]

I had two cards that I send every year that I couldn't find addresses for. (One of whom has been at the same address since before I started sending a card 18 years ago) I had a eureka moment at about 1am the day after last posting day. Sure enough I had the addresses all along.

[Bunnylump]

My stoopid OH accidentally sent my Christmas card to one of the sparks he works with, and his card to me. I asked him, confused, "why have you put "have a great Christmas, Alan!"" on my card? He rushed to the telephone, with a red face, and Alan was soon saying to him "yes and I love you lots and lots too, mate, kiss kiss kiss!"

[LAT]

Oh that's classic!! Will Alan ever let him forget it?

[Bunnylump]

Probably not, and nor will I!

[giraffe]

Totally unrelated to anything that has gone before, can I just say.....



"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"


Thank you. I feel better now.

[SparkOut]

Stressful Christmas? A virtual hug and glass of something for you. Bless you, and hope you have a relaxing evening.

[giraffe]

Thank you!