In reply to Timmd:
> My dad exclaimed in exasperation that 'Something bad must have happened as well?' when an old friend sent him a Christmas letter a couple of years ago. (:~))
Now you've given me a really good idea for a Xmas letter next time - I'm going to write one full of complete doom and gloom just to cheer all the recipients up - e.g. Mrs Abseil ran away with a mechanic, house burnt down and forgot to insure it, hamster died, lost my job and gone bankrupt, in court tomorrow on fraud charges, kids expelled from school for plagiarism, losing my memory, last sentence: "Not a bad year all in all".