Warm boot recommendations please

[Linda]

Egluntine, my experience of round robins seems to be similar to yours and it can seem pretty wearing, can't it. I love your alternative offering - I wonder what sort of response you would get to that one! I do like to hear people's news but the round robin justs seems too impersonal to me.

[gooner.girl]

This is the round robin letter from the adrian plass book.... Selected highlights only... The 'perfect' family Rebecca, Simon, Joshua and Naomi.

 

Naomi [age 5)

 

...She is also very bright, but Rebecca and I are anxious that she should not be pushed too far, too quickly, where school work is concerned. She must certainly finish her reception year before taking maths 'A' level, and there is absolutely no question of her undertaking piano recitals in Europe until she has passed her seventh birthday.

Naomi continues to work hard at building up the Christian Union that she started at her junior school last term, and is very encouraged by a recent experience of personally leading her orthodox Jewish headmaster and several other members of staff (including the caretaker and three dinner-ladies) to Christ.

Naomi's after-school activities include a chess class on Monday (she earns her own pocket money by teaching that), applied thermonuclear dynamics on Tuesday, netball training with other members of the County team on Thursdays, and a soup-run into the East End every Friday evening. Typically, Naomi taught herself judo and karate to black-belt standard from textbooks before embarking on this potentially dangerous occupation.

 

 

Joshua{age 16)

 

Joshua has gained fifteen A grade GCSEs and nine spiritual gifts this year, including Sociology and Prophecy (the one to be most earnestly sought after, according to the apostle Paul - prophecy, that is, not sociology). Over the next two years he hopes to take the Word of the Lord to Communist China, and twelve 'A levels.

Joshua spent his summer holiday converting Guatemala with a group of pals, constructing a life-size working model of Apollo 3 out of drinking straws, and practising the five Cantonese dialects in which he is now practically fluent.

It is not all plain sailing with Joshua, however. A typically wayward and rebellious sixteen-year-old, he has several times sneaked off to his room to do a couple of hours extra academic study when he knows he should be concentrating on tightening up his dressage skills in the back paddock ready for the Olympics, and on more than one occasion he has actually disappeared from the house altogether, only to be discovered guiltily shopping for the elderly lady who lives two doors away from us, or sitting and reading to her for long periods after cooking and serving her evening meal. When Rebecca and 1 gently pointed out that we can't always do exactly what we want, Joshua asked our forgiveness and repointed the

brickwork of every house in the street as an act of repentance. Rebecca and I feel sure he'll come through in the end.

Both Oxford and Cambridge Universities have applied to have Joshua join them in two years' time, and he will probably fly up (as soon as his pilot's licence comes through) to look over both establishments before making a decision

 

 

Rebecca

 

Rebecca continues to enjoy producing homemade jam, bread, cakes, wine, preserves, crocheted bedspreads, small animal models made out of baked dough, dried flower decorations, knitted baby-clothes, banners and kneeling mats for our local church, and meals for the housebound.

She has completed her first novel this year, held a successful one-woman oil-painting exhibition, been awarded a third Open University degree, and continues to single-handedly look after our twelve-acre ornamental garden, when her duties as mother, wife, amateur apiarist, semi-professional photographer, local magistrate, prison visitor, hospital volunteer, leading light in the amateur dramatic association, treasurer of the ladies tennis club, district council member and world chairperson of Women Against Poverty allow.

Rebecca is currently looking for some new challenge to occupy the spare time that she, in common with many non-working mothers, finds hanging so heavily on her hands. Next year, in addition to her present activities, she plans to become a special policewoman, stand as a prospective parliamentary candidate, complete a solo sailing trip around the world, and find a method of bottling gooseberries that doesn't lose all the flavour.

 

 

Ring any bells anyone? Had letters like that?!

[theherd123]

Fantastic!!!

 

[Snowy]

[Tina C]

I am glad to say I haven't seen one like that - which is why I actually like them!

 

I only usually get one, from a friend I see only once a year, and I like finding out what she has been up to.

 

Not sure I should admit this but I have actually just started to draft my first ever attempt at a round robin. I decided to do it because there are so many friends that we have not managed to see even once this year. I don't just want to send cards with Merry Christmas etc on them but I am usually so bad at card writing I do it all in a rush just before (or after) the last posting date. I won't send the letters to people I see and talk to regularly but I want to let the others know about the chickens at least!

 

But, thanks to this, I will be careful about what I do say......

[Egluntyne]

Gooner.girl....absolutely brilliant!

[Cate in NZ]

Oh b*****lugs , I've been on the recieving end of a few round robins in the past, both of the self-deprecating, funny, nice to recieve variety, and the "oh, my gosh, aren't we brilliant" type in the past. But we've had one heck of a year, talk about a roller coaster, and I'd actually considered a round robin to get the family and friends all up to date. After reading this I've changed my mind - simply not sure that I'm capable of being funny enough to hit the right note between self-deprecating and showing off............ even though I don't feel as if I've got anything to show off about about. But I have got brilliant children (of course ) even if neither of them would know which end of a saxaphone to blow into

I hasten to add that neither of them have the same problem with the telephone.... in fact they both mastered the art of using the humble telephone at a very young age, and mastered the more advanced art of using the mobile telephone and texting , way before their teens. They are however very devoted to improving their skills at this important arena of 21st century communication and spend hours of homework time in perfecting their texting and telephone chatting technique. I'm so proud of them

Our postman sadly disagrees. He practically needs a crane to cart our phone bills to our letter box........ but if the children can be world leaders in anything then I, as a caring parent, should surely hesitate to stand in their way

[The Dogmother]

We get one not dissimilar every year from someone

[feemcg]

Well, I'd never heard of Round Robins until today! I keep in touch with my closest family and friends via daily, weekly or even monthly, phone calls, texts, emails and cards. They all know whats going on with me, and mine, and have varying 'levels' of information depending on who they are e.g. my aunt does not need to know about my 16 year olds obsession with the opposite sex and liking for Smirnoff Ice! If I had 'friends' that I contacted only once a year I'm not sure I could be bothered recounting a year's worth of 'news' or that they would be interested in reading it!

[Guest]

To be honest, if I'm friendly enough with someone to send them, or receive, a Christmas card, then I expect to be friendly enough with them to be able to share with them what happened during the year, if they don't already know.

 

 

If you don't like the annual 'family update' then just stick it in an envelope and send it back to them. I'm sure they'd take the hint pretty quick.....

 

There's the Christmas spirit, eh?

 

Phil

[AnnieP]

I think that was the point Shona was making.... it was meant to be ironic.

[Guest]

To be honest, if I'm friendly enough with someone to send them, or receive, a Christmas card, then I expect to be friendly enough with them to be able to share with them what happened during the year, if they don't already know.

 

 

If you don't like the annual 'family update' then just stick it in an envelope and send it back to them. I'm sure they'd take the hint pretty quick.....

 

There's the Christmas spirit, eh?

 

Phil

 

Phil, have you ever heard of the phrase 'tongue in cheek'.......

 

(that's why I stuck a wee at the end of it. )

[Guest]

Oh b*****lugs , I've been on the recieving end of a few round robins in the past, both of the self-deprecating, funny, nice to recieve variety, and the "oh, my gosh, aren't we brilliant" type in the past. But we've had one heck of a year, talk about a roller coaster, and I'd actually considered a round robin to get the family and friends all up to date. After reading this I've changed my mind - simply not sure that I'm capable of being funny enough to hit the right note between self-deprecating and showing off............

 

 

Don't let the miserly curmudgeons stop you sending a letter if you want to Kate (what happened to live-and-let-live?) - that'd be such a shame - just don't include them on your list (unless you want it sent back to you torn into a thousand pieces and laced with "Ooops, word censored!"nic!)

 

You can send me one if you like - it'll go on the mantelpiece behind the clock with all the others - and be treasured! (then I'll send you one of mine, and that'll be the end of a beautiful friendship!!)

 

Phil

 

(I presume there will be no general messages saying "Happy Christmas" posted on this Forum this year - that would be a totally impersonal... I expect nothing less than personalized PM's this year... )

[chocchick]

I must admit I got round robin confused with secret santa for a while

 

Eglutine, I like your alternative letter

 

I get one computer print out one a year from my Aunt/Uncle and cousins of the CV variety. In one way it's nice to know what they are doing as we are not really in touch at all and it's only one per year. I do feel uncomfortable reading about their achievements, like they are trying to prove something.

[Guest]

in case anyone was wondering why they are called round-robins.. It's nothing to do with a plump red-breasted bird...

 

ROUND ROBIN - "The round robin was originally a petition, its signatures arranged in a circular form to disguise the order of signing. Most probably it takes its name from the 'ruban rond,' 'round ribbon,' in 17th-century France, where government officials devised a method of signing their petitions of grievances on ribbons that were attached to the documents in a circular form. In that way no signer could be accused of signing the document first and risk having his head chopped off for instigating trouble. 'Ruban rond' later became 'round robin' in English and the custom continued in the British navy, where petitions of grievances were signed as if the signatures were spokes of a wheel radiating from its hub. Today 'round robin' usually means a sports tournament where all of the contestants play each other at least once and losing a match doesn't result in immediate elimination." From "Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins" by Robert Hendrickson (Facts on File, New York, 1997).

 

you learn summat new every day...

 

Phil

[Guest]

OK, here's my note for the Christmas cards - what do you all think?

 

Dear Friend

 

So, Christmas has come around again, and it's time to let you know about our amazing year. While I'm sure you would love to hear about so many of our continued successes - chookiehubbies promotion to Personal Foot-Licker to the PA of the Under Manager of the Basement at Lloyds, darling Caitlins succesful integration into the local nursery, where she continues to amaze the teachers with her extensive knowledge of both numbers AND colours (multi-talented, I know - she must get it from her fathers side), Duncans continued success on the football pitch (he has improvved his ball work, and can now identify the football at 10 paces) and Owen strides ahead in his rugby, and can now tie his bootlaces without help from his coach - what a lad!

 

Instead, this year we thought we would concentrate on our extended family. The chickens continue to disappoint us - the slugs still run rampant in the garden, and have now completely taken over the veg patch, while the chooks concentrate on the muddy area under the privet. Next door continues to chuck his porridge there, when 'the missus' (you remember her - all bosom and no tights) insists on cooking his breakfast, and I fear that if the chooks don't buck up their ideas, Terry the Turkey could be scratching about for another 12 months, while the girlies head for the Christmas oven.

 

The cockateils continue to fail to deliver the much hoped for chicks, while exhausting themselves with the 'practice'. They are still waking the house at midnight with their evening calls to the flock, and are lucky the cats haven't eaten them. Talking of the cats, we have two new additions to our house this year, Tigger and Hartley. Tigger is a one-eyed, windy, fat old man, who can;t catch mice, and eats anything, while Hartley is a lovely young kitten, who wakes up at 2 am, and bounces on everyones head, until the whole household is awake and willing to play with the dangly fish-onna-stick.

 

I'll bet you are on tenterhooks, wondering about the 'gold'fish. They have spent the year swimming around the tank, and continue to be surprised when they meet the pink castle, and Square Bob Sponge Pants character placed in the tank for entertainment. Sadly poor Fishy went belly up a few short days ago, but has been replace dwith the lovely 'Yellow', a yellow goldfish, who has a rather bizarre habit of swimming backwards into the middle of the pink castle.

 

Have I missed anything? I don;t think so, but be reassured, anything that springs to mind will be noted, and will be included in next years round up.

 

Have a peaceful Christmas and a successful New Year.

 

Chooks

 

xxx

[Linda]

I can picture it all!!

[Snowy]

Brilliant!

[Sheilaz]

I must admit I got round robin confused with secret santa for a while

 

For a minute I couldn't think what Secret Santa was! This time of year is so confusing.

 

I get one computer print out one a year from my Aunt/Uncle and cousins of the CV variety.

 

Now I don't know what the CV variety means.

 

Shona, I like your style!

 

..and Phil, that was interesting about the original Round Robins.

Do you think our replies on the forum could be in the round instead of time order?

[Lesley]

Rebecca

 

Rebecca continues to enjoy producing homemade jam, bread, cakes, wine, preserves, crocheted bedspreads, small animal models made out of baked dough, dried flower decorations, knitted baby-clothes, banners and kneeling mats for our local church, and meals for the housebound.

She has completed her first novel this year, held a successful one-woman oil-painting exhibition, been awarded a third Open University degree, and continues to single-handedly look after our twelve-acre ornamental garden, when her duties as mother, wife, amateur apiarist, semi-professional photographer, local magistrate, prison visitor, hospital volunteer, leading light in the amateur dramatic association, treasurer of the ladies tennis club, district council member and world chairperson of Women Against Poverty allow.

Rebecca is currently looking for some new challenge to occupy the spare time that she, in common with many non-working mothers, finds hanging so heavily on her hands. Next year, in addition to her present activities, she plans to become a special policewoman, stand as a prospective parliamentary candidate, complete a solo sailing trip around the world, and find a method of bottling gooseberries that doesn't lose all the flavour.[/color]

 

 

erm.......... some of this sounds uncomfortably familiar

 

Shona - you really have missed your vocation!

[Egluntyne]

Afamily says:

..not sure that I'm capable of being funny enough to hit the right note....

 

I'd say you are!! The post that this snippet is from is very witty!!

Go for it.

[buffie]

This is good fun, made me laugh this morning

 

I think it's 'the way you say it' that makes the difference.

 

I am in the camp of 'if you don't communicate all year I wouldn't bother telling them more than we are well' That's just me though

 

BBxx

[Guest]

This is good fun, made me laugh this morning

 

I think it's 'the way you say it' that makes the difference.

 

I am in the camp of 'if you don't communicate all year I wouldn't bother telling them more than we are well' That's just me though

 

BBxx

 

 

difference is what makes the world interesting. I can think of quite a number of friendships I have that lie "fallow" for long periods of time - and then are "revived" - my Christmas round-robins are a small way of maintaining the more "fringe" of "distant" friendships that I have.

 

many of them stem from the fact that I have lived in eight or nine different towns, never staying for longer than about seven years - and so I have many, many "interrupted" friendships with people who live miles away.

 

another factor - this is born out by most people that I know, though, of course there are always exceptions - men deal with friendships very differently than women do - and men deal with "keeping in contact" differently to women (in that men don't generally do it!).

 

It is not a disaster or a slight or a problem to me if I haven't spoken to a "fringe" friend for a year - not does it mean we have lost contact or aren't friends anymore or are not interested in one another anymore - or that we couldn't go out tomorrow night, drink several beers and talk non-stop for three or four hours as if we'd never left off..

 

I did once read a psychological study on this - it made fascinating reading, and stopped me from feeling guilty comparing myself with the way my missus relates to her friends (though she also has some very close friends from teenagedom who she only speaks to a couple of times a year...)

 

Phil

[fourfinches]

We have sent a round robin for the last few years, its the only way of trying to keep in touch with everyone - for us its a good way to keep in contact. Like Phil I have moved quite a bit so find we have friends scattered over quite a distance. I tend to write a standard letter and then try to adapt it for each person before printing it off. We've had requests when we've seen family friends to send 'one of your Christmas letters this year - we do enjoy them' - they can't be too bad then!

 

When we receive letters with cards I generally save them up for Christmas eve and then sit down with a cup of coffee and read through several together after I get home from the crib service and before I go out again for midnight.

 

They can be pretty dire though - my Mum used to receive one each year from a cousins daughter and everything always seemed to have gone wrong and ended in disaster, by the time you read to the end of it you felt really depressed.

 

Morag

[Egluntyne]

Did a bit of Christmas shopping on line this am.

 

"Accidently" ordered a copy of "The Cat That Could Open The Fridge: A Curmudgeon's Guide To Christmas Round Robin Letters" by Simon Hoggart from Amazon, whilst buying CD's etc.

 

When I have read it, anyone who would like to borrow it is more than welcome.

 

Revnev...just to clarify... I don't object at all to cheerful friendly letters from friends and family.. ..it is just the bragograms that I can't be doing with.

 

In terms of family, there are so many of us that some years ago we set up a family chronicle (guess who was "volunteered" to edit it ). Everyone submits bits of news they want to circulate (very useful for changes of address etc) and photos etc... I put it into a spoof newspaper format and email it to every one. (One 90 yr old Aunt gets a hard copy). It is very popular... It does contain bits about gap years and successes, operations, births, but presented in the right way (I hope) so as not to offend..but to gladden the hearts of all who read it.