Thankyou letters

I am a bit old fashioned. I insist that the children write thank you letters. I once had an interesting discussion with someone who thought that this was an unfair impostion as the children had not asked for presents from aunts/ friends/ godparents and that their polite notes were sometimes not an expression of genuine gratitude. Perhaps it is not totally without truth and as person in the middle I know that these letters oil the social wheels between generations very effectively and they can get me brownie points never mind the children.

Anyway I still think they are a good idea - can't really justify myself more articulately. I know that the one recipient of these letters who read Blip will not be too horrified to know that they get paid in maltersers (one per letter - more for getting the address in the right place on the envelope). She'll know who she is when a letter with penguins on it comes to her addressed to her in 'the Wiwall'. I also know that my mum still keeps the postcard that said 'thankyou for the £10 you sent me. I am cross because I wanted to spend it but mum made me put it in the bank, love E.