Wednesday 16 December 2015

Christmas mail - Old-fashined ?

Meanwhile I'm in my very late thirties and for some time I've been realising how much our society is changing due to the incredible technological changes of the last decades. During my youth we felt satisfied with our own telephone connection and a single family colour TV. We had three television programmes and watching films, sports or game shows with the family was a real event on Saturday evening. It was usual to cultivate written correspondence and recurring school projects liaised pen friendships. Now times have changed and our technical capabilities to gather and share reached a nearly uncontrollable extend. Although I use the merits of modern EDP day by day privately as well as profesionally sometimes I get an uneasy feeling with that. Despite all its advantages this stunning progress changes our manners and our ways to deal with each other. Conversation via internet, short messages and such means is geared to speed rather than to empathy.

Maybe it's this special season of the year that makes me ponder about such things. Therefore I cannot praise the efforts of Chris and Ian along with his Cath enough to set up the 'Secret Santa' and 'Santa Clause' campaigns. For me it's a wonderful occasion where our virtual community and our real world come together. Maybe that's what makes the wargaming community so special for me.
Christmas mail from Monty's Manor
Besides the gifts for my counterparts I decided to spread some Christmas cards. During the last twelve months I became acquainted to a couple of hobby fellows beyond the usual wargaming chitchat. Thus I decided to use the old-fashioned way of pen and paper to send them a short 'hello' and some sort of 'thank you' or 'carry on'.

Sounds old-fashioned and outdated, doesn't it?
But from time to time yours truly feels really well with being an old fogey.

Enjoy Christmas season!  *** formal 'Merry Christmas' will follow of course. ***
It doesn't harm to slow down a bit or maybe turn the tune louder for 'God rest ye merry gentlemen' or 'Good King Wenceslas'.

 

 

18 comments:

  1. Old fashioned? Not in the least! Nothing brightens my day more than a carefully crafted note.

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  2. I agree with Michael, It is not old fashioned. A lot of people still like a good letter or a card in the mail. I still use a dip pen and ink to write special cards or notes.
    Have a good Christmas!

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  3. I love receiving a parcel, letter or postcard in the post especially if your not expecting it!

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  4. Couldn't agree more on all counts!

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  5. Many thanks for your kind and encouraging comments. It makes me confident that I'm either less old-fashioned than I thought or that we are a bunch of old fogeys. Both makes me feel comfortable in our community so who cares?
    ;-)

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  6. I agree with the preceding commenters. Hand-written letters and cards in the mail (at anytime of the year) are very special and bring a smile to most people's faces. The service man who connected us to the Internet yesterday in our new house and I had this very same conversation yesterday in fact.

    Best Regards,

    Stokes

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  7. Und Frohe Weihnachten. . . a few days early!

    Stokes

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  8. I have to agree that a letter through the post is always a great thing, pity we don't see so much of it.

    Regards Secret Santa, I just do a few blog posts whilst Cath does all the real work, it's just one of the reasons I love her so much

    Ian

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  9. In defence of the keyboard enthusiasts (one of which I'm honestly not), although pens, even fountain pens, are easily available, decent stationery isn't. If you want something other than a few sheets of printer/photocopier paper and a DL envelope, you have to search high and low. That said, there really isn't any excuse for avoiding hand written letters and notes other than to admit to procrastination and idleness and I'm guilty of both :O(

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  10. Well said Stefan. Couldn't agree more mate!

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  11. Many thanks again for your kind comments.
    :-)

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  12. Thank you Stefan for that lovely gift of Christmas music. Here is some in return:
    http://www.classicalmpr.org/story/2015/12/16/daily-download-traditional--o-come-o-come-emmanuel
    I am also a great believer in the handwritten note and card. These days it seems quite counter-cultural and thus a great gift of friendship.
    Blessings,
    Michael

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  13. We can shake hands to the entire first paragraph of your post I feel totally the same! Frohe Weinachten Stefan!

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  14. Nothing beats a Christmas card 😉 Merry Christmas to you and yours, Monty!

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  15. Your old fashion values make you all the better person for it Stefan.
    Merry Christmas to you and your family,
    Pat.

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  16. Many thanks for your kind feedback, chaps!
    I shouldn't be surprised to find like-minded spirits in that matter as well.
    :-)

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