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Xmas Cards

Discussion in 'Plymouth' started by AWAY IN BC, Dec 11, 2018.

  1. AWAY IN BC

    AWAY IN BC Well-Known Member

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    Every year at this time the Wife and I make out the Cards from our list.
    We have noticed that none of our adult grandkids send out any.
    So, this year we are not sending to them.
    The cost of stamps have risen so much that maybe we should change to online greetings.

    Your comments please.
     
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  2. sensiblegreeny

    sensiblegreeny Well-Known Member
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    I think that cards are a pain in the arris to be honest. Especially these days when my other half can't see the list or what she's writing very well. I therefore have to write out to every one we send to. Have to say though that we send less and less as time goes on and that's not because we are getting older and as a consequence the list is getting shorter. I think people in general don't bother with it so much. You are right though BC, the cost of postage these days is bloody steep. What a lot of people do now is let others know they won't be sending a shed load of cards out but instead they make some donation to a charity of their choice to cover part of what they would have spent. So, if the retired greyhound society get a £20 note out of it then everyone's a winner. Well they used to be but because they aren't winners now is why they need the donation. I'm inclind to agree with the younger folk with that sentiment.
     
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  3. AWAY IN BC

    AWAY IN BC Well-Known Member

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    Yep they get less and less, sad really.
     
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  4. Plymborn

    Plymborn Well-Known Member
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    Cards as usual here....last years card list has had four names crossed off....and there the ones we know about at the moment.
     
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  5. sensiblegreeny

    sensiblegreeny Well-Known Member
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    Therein lies the thing though plym. "The ones we know about". Often with a card list the only time people give a thought for those on the list is having to write a card once a year. How often I've heard the words "we shouldn't forget XYZ". But it's the only time they don't forget XYZ. Then they find out that one of them is no more and didn't know which shows the person they were going to send the card to in the first place wasn't exactly close or they would have known. I'm not being cynical with that thought process just honest.

    I don't have many close family left now in the sense of my parents family. I was an only child after my brothers passing. One of my Aunts is 7 years older than me and she used to be at our house loads when I was growing up. The last time I heard from her was at my Mother's funeral. Her daughter asked if she could have the furniture from my mother's place and I said help yourself but give a donation to St Luke's Hospice of whatever you feel is right in her name. She virtually cleared the place. I have no idea if she did or not but that's up to her conscience. The reason I don't know is I have heard nothing since from any of them. That was about 6 years ago now. Why then would I remember them and send them a card once a year? The funny thing was that I heard her tell at least half a dozen people at the Wake that they were a close family. I had to phone her to tell her if she wanted to see her sister then she should do it now as she wasn't going to live long. They hadn't met in a year despite living about 10 miles apart. Surprise I don't do any cards to that side of the family at all.
     
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  6. Plymborn

    Plymborn Well-Known Member
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    Having lived all my life away from family roots, only close blood relatives have ever been "known"....my mothers parents when I was younger and her two sisters who spent most of their lives at Embankment Road, plus three cousins....now there is only one cousin left...and funnily enough she lives about 20 miles away....I haven't seen her since the late 1960's when she and her husband had "digs" in my parents home in Bromley for awhile.

    My fathers side are even more of a mystery....dad was the second youngest of 12 who farmed a small holding in Montgomeryshire seven miles out of Welshpool....most of his brothers and sisters didn't live beyond 1970 and that was also the year my father died....of all those relatives that must exist I only ever new one cousin from that era and he was 20 years older than me (read below)....so no cards going that way any more.

    Mrs Plym has one aunt (92) and two cousin left on her side of the family.

    So I think maybe 4 or 5 actual family cards go out....plus of course our own children and grandchildren.

    An amazing coincidence happened to me probably 25/30 years back....I suffered from Industrial Dermatitus and I got sent to the St John's Dermatology Clinic which was in St Thomas's Hospital (opposite Parliament). I was sitting in the waiting area when my surname was called out so I stood up and the man sitting next to me who, was much older than me, also stood up....low and behold it was my cousin David who I hadn't seen since his father died in the 1950's...what are the odds against that happening....he lived in Oxted, Surrey only 25 miles away from us....so we visited them a few times until he passed away.

    So Christmas cards are all about friends that we have made over nearly 55 years of marriage and old neighbours and work colleagues from the past. I did have one Scottish mate from my National Service days in Aden who I used to swap notes with each Christmas...but unfortunately he died about 20 years ago...I still used to send his family a calendar each Christmas...but for the last few years there has been no response...so I'll probably cross that one off my list this year.

    Being an Aden Veteran....I do keep in touch with the Association....and have traced some of my Aden mates from their membership list....since the UK left Aden in 1967....you will realize that even the youngest military service member will be in their mid 70's by now...I had a surprise the last time I was down Plymouth....we stopped for a coffee in that little open air Café on the Hoe front...and across the road in the Gardens by the Hoe Terracing ?, was a memorial to all those that had served in Aden.

    Still about 90/100 cards and about 60 of those will have stamps on....the cost is more than the cost of the cards.....but even a little contact is good to have with those whose lives have crossed yours over the years.

    PS.....sensible.... have you still got Naval contacts from your service days ?
     
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  7. sensiblegreeny

    sensiblegreeny Well-Known Member
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    The answer to the Service thing is not really Plym. I don't do reunions and the like and most mates over a period of time live nowhere near here. Unlike other Services the Navy doesn't go enmasse as a Unit. Individuals get individually drafted around so you only have a bunch you know for a couple of years at most. I have met a few around and about though. As for Civvy work again I don't really keep in touch. I always feel that turning up at the old place puts people out and you are sort of in the way. I do however have one or two I still see regularly and one I go to football with has a wife I worked directly with for a good number of years. I am however still remembered by quite a few of the then younger ones who are getting older themselves. I get greeted in the street in Town sometimes by a familiar face. I was fairly well known as a gobby git who wasn't afraid to voice an opinion to "The Management" if required. In the nicest possible way of course. I did tell one I had underpants in my drawer at home older than her once. That was when an attempted patronising took place.
     
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  8. AWAY IN BC

    AWAY IN BC Well-Known Member

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    So glad i started the :"Xmas card" chat you learn so much from the past, thanks you Guys.
     
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  9. sensiblegreeny

    sensiblegreeny Well-Known Member
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    Stick to the bears BC it's much easier than people and you know where you are. No cards needed, no presents or remembering their birthday or christmas. Just chuck em a moose every now and again and they're happy enough. Occasional salmon or two. No trouble at all. Mind you they might turn your bins out a few times a year which can be annoying. It's the Racoons who do it really but they just blame the bears.
     
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  10. AWAY IN BC

    AWAY IN BC Well-Known Member

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    Plus they are getting ready to sleep the winter away...something we should do.
     
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  11. Plymborn

    Plymborn Well-Known Member
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    sensible has been slowly moving in that direction for years....'her in doors' has been bringing his brekky up later and later each year...it is now going towards being renamed brunch.....:D.....:rolleyes:.
     
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  12. AWAY IN BC

    AWAY IN BC Well-Known Member

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    LOL.
     
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  13. sensiblegreeny

    sensiblegreeny Well-Known Member
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    I resemble that remark plym...............
     
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  14. AWAY IN BC

    AWAY IN BC Well-Known Member

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    Another LOL
     
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  15. Greenarmyjoe

    Greenarmyjoe Well-Known Member

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    Greeting BC. i don't send cards either.. We cannot afford them.. :emoticon-0102-bigsm

    Easy to just send a message.. Merry xmas BC to you and the family
     
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  16. AWAY IN BC

    AWAY IN BC Well-Known Member

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    Thanks so much Joe. All the best to you and your Family.
     
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  17. Greenarmyjoe

    Greenarmyjoe Well-Known Member

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