As a Boy in the 60's...the day after christmas My mother made me sit down and write thank you cards to all my relatives for the gifts they gave me. ...she helped me with the spelling and what to say...but I had to write it in my own handwriting.

One small thing I'd like to change or add to Ash's comment. Many times you used the word Classy. I do agree with that and I'm probable a bit stuck up in saying I prefer the word Classic. But the word - you might have used, but I don't really remember - is the word Thoughtful. If someone went to all the trouble to prepare and present a dinner for me, I believe it's "thoughtful" to go to the bother of mailing a hand written card. I may stop in route to pick up a bottle of wine to thank them, but after they went to all the bother to invite, shop, prep, entertain and serve, then clean up after I'm gone - it's the very least I can do to send a hand written card. I'm an American, but have long admired the Royals. One thing I heard that Princess Diana did was that when she went to a dinner, she laid an addressed thank you card on her bedroom desk before she left for the dinner. When she got home, she would write out the thank you note and seal it before she laid her head on the pillow. I always thought that brilliant.

I'm 68 years old living in America. I've always written thank you notes to people that have had me for dinner. But in the last 15 years or more, EVERY time I've mailed a note card, I get a phone call from the recipient the day they open the card telling me "I haven't seen one of these in YEARS ! ! !" They are always so appreciative. We have been hearing the statement for many decades - "Common sense isn't so common anymore." I've added to that - "Common courtesy isn't so common anymore."

my paternal grandfather and his siblings used to do a round Robin letter at Christmas which I think was a lovely (lost) idea. For those that don't know, the eldest sibling would start by writing a letter with an update on the year. it would be sent with a card to the next sibling, who would add their annual update. Both letters would be sent onto the next sibling who would add theirs and forward all three onto the next. and so on until the seventh youngest sibling had received the sixth. All seven letters would then make it back to the first sibling who would read and forward on through the chain so the others could read.

I've always sent thank you cards. Nobody ever sends me any, but I don't mind. I just love writing on nice stationery with a fountain pen. I'd write to myself if there was nobody else. 😂 My shopping lists will start looking like vellum scrolls at this rate. 📜

It should be noted that if you do use a wax seal, don't put it on the outside layer, either seal the letter itself, or seal the envelope, then put that into another (non-wax sealed) envelope.

I'm definitely guilty of neglect in sending cards. Thanks for the reminder. Now looking for a wax seal and quality cards. Well done, Ash. and welcome back!

I had surgery recently so I went today to a fancy pen & paper store rather than a pound shop. I got one for the hospital staff and one for my niece who cooked me a full week of pre-made meals. When I return to work, I will send a card to our Workplace Health department, even though I have every legal right to my sick time. I will be writing my thanks in all three with a fountain pen as inspired by The Chap's Guide. One can always type the thanks on your computer to get the message perfect and then hand write that onto the card.

Smythson's get my vote too, Ash. Been using them for years. Excellent quality, as you say.

I'm so thrilled to have found this podcast ! ! ! I've subscribed, clicked the bell and clicked thumbs up.

Greetings to all of you gents. Hope you are all spending a wonderful time. A personal letter gives a wonderful impression of you. However make sure you practice your writing as a writing tells a lot about you and you might be in the same time misjudged. And make sure you use a quality fountain pen. A scratchy writing without continuous flow also gives a bad impression. Thanks Ash.

Smythsons are the best! Used them for years.

This is a very timely and inspiring topic because I think that too many of the current generation have missed out on the value of letter writing and penmanship putting pen to paper really helps to reinforce the mental thought process, texting someone is a flash moment in time writing someone creates lasting memories thanks for this video!

Ash, we are all happy that you have returned. Our world now could use more politeness, respect and etiquette at all levels. Thank you for encouraging us to become better chaps. But you have to admit that the snowman card you showed us was funny.

Glad you’re back, Ash!! Great video and timely message, as many of us should be sending thank you correspondence cards for the recent parties, gifts, etc. right about now. Particularly for your American viewers, although Smythson is the gold standard Crane&Co definitely stands on the podium - good quality, US made, and around half the price of Smythson.

Ash! Great job, glad you're back!

Merry Christmas Ash, glad you're back.. Best wishes for the New Year and looking forward your content to 2023

We received a selection of cards+envelopes in five colors from Smythson today. Just amazing! Even the packaging of the cards, silk paper, banderole, business card etc. looks and feels significant. Thank you for the hint on this fine product!

Another great informative video and again happy to see you back. Hope you had a great Xmas.

I do miss cards, especially when having a birthday. When my wife and I had our 25th Anniversary, I ordered a card from an English calligrapher with a special text. He did the work, sent it to me. I added a personal note. The calligraphy was gorgeous. It about blew her away. 18 months later, it is still on her dresser in what may be a permanent display. Worth every penny. And yes, it was expensive. But …

I'm impressed that Royal Mail is still there and working! Our postal service was dodgy before COVID, and died completely in the pandemic. I still have cards and envelopes in my desk, but can't use them with any hope of postal delivery. For people close by I can deliver by hand, but everybody else gets an electronic message.

Outstanding advice!

Thank you for making this video. Some months ago, I thought of start doing this. In the age of instant communication, a well-thought-out handwritten note is priceless. One can set himself apart from the rest of the well-wishing folks out there. People will definitely remember the one that took the time in this fast-paced world to think, pick the paper and envelop, seat and personally write a couple of line without the help of autocorrect.

Lovely video Ash, thank you. You’ve inspired me to check out Smithsons and a wax seal - always loved those when I see them in movies

Cards can have a real impact. You know something, Ash? My grandmother once told me that, when her husband (my grandfather) was in hospital dying of cancer at a tragically young age, one of his "friends" sent him a humorous get well card with the legend "sorry you're sick old man". The anger and offence caused by this remained strong decades later when she told me about it. The individual in question was, I think, unforgiven!

Happy Christmas and thanks for another great and honest video.

Great video from a real gentleman..👍

It is so funny to catch this video. I didn't see it when it came out because of holiday travel, but it coincides with my own resolution to write and send more correspondent cards this year. I've already picked up some basic ones for typical notes, but I'll soon be searching for some better ones for special occasions. On that subject I would offer in response to a comment you made, that even being nominated for a Nobel Prize would qualify for a note written on the good stuff.

I'm with you Ash. I used to work for a greeting card company. I always write a note in cards to personalize them. Email has killed the card business. Cheers Ron

I usually prefer (and send) neutral A5 cards so have enough space to deploy some calligraphic writing along with, usually Art Deco, decoration elements and corners. I don't do this on every card but I also sometimes draw some little inked motive with my calligraphy fountain pens. Though honestly, this is more of a spleen that just happens to be appreciated😅. I completely concur with the damnation (maybe to strong a word) of generic internet based cards with "humorous" motives, "humorous" cards in general unless you actually *know* it will be appreciated. Most of the humour on those kind of cards is abysmal and infantile. And I know, it's probably another spleen, but I'd never write a card with anything other than a proper fountain pen, ballpoint pen-written cards seem somehow negligent to me as if the intended recipient is not worth the effort. Granted, I'm a weirdo, locked into standards of bygone ages I never lived in, yes, but hey, if anyone who receives a by-product of this spleens likes it (and I know they do, I get feedback 😉) it's well worth a little effort. And good to see that I'm not the only bloke who seals his letters - I have a custom wax seal with "RK" in black-letter with a rim-lettering stating "Fiat Iustitia et pereat Mundus" (personal motto of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor) - I know, I know, I haveadopted the most optimistic personal motto, but hey, biographical events tend to do this to you...😅 Best regards Raoul G. Kunz

Ash thanks for the video and thanks to The Modern Dandy for their reply also. Yes writing in general be it letters or notes or cards has really fallen by the wayside in the last few years. This prompted my original comment which had been answered excellently and thoroughly. Smythson is on my to do list in the next few years when funds allow.

I am a provider of professional services in Phoenix Arizona and your excellent expressions and sentiments like this and others are elevating and much appreciated. I have and will continue to recommend your videos and community to my colleagues. Thank you, Ash

I LOVED the stationery you shared - especially the cat. Problem is - I don't know where to find that in America. Amazon seems to have a large selection of various stationery cards, but I want THAT ONE ! ! !

Dear Lord, what a lost art! Yes! The modern and classy gentleman will long be remembered for the time-honored etiquette of a personal note. Emails and texts are deplorably lazy. I grew up with cursive writing and make a point to utilize a nice pen and send thank yous, birthday, sympathy, get well, or just a note to express a thought or catch up. Personal stationary need not be expensive. I once wrote to a former esteemed CEO who helped me early in my career. I expressed my gratitude for the support and business acumen he imparted. Being the gracious man I knew him to be, he wrote back expressing his delight that I would recall such events. In some ways, his influence and management style stayed with me for my entire career and I let him know. Be classy, gentlemen!

About thirty years ago, I was in the office of one gentleman who was known as one of the most influential figures in my (US) state. He showed me a card that he had sent to one of the current US cabinet secretaries. A couple of months earlier, he had asked the cabinet secretary who he had known for years to check on something for him which the cabinet secretary had done and then gotten back to him. That thank you card was of great quality, yet relatively simple, and had what was the most elegant thank you message that I could imagine.

Dear Ash, thanks for another great video! I think writing letters and cards is an art form that is sadly on the decline so it's great to see your video and read many comments of people who have been inspired by it. As someone who loves sending correspondence still on a regular basis, I would just like to respectfully to suggest a few minor additions to your already excellent video: - it's rather nice to add the date at the top of the card. I feel it adds a layer of meaning to the message as it allows the receiver to place the act of writing more specifically in the temporal dimension. This may be meaningful to the message but also help solidify the perception of someone sitting down at a specific time to write just to them. - another essential that I keep in my letter-writing "box/toolkit" is a number of stamps. Having them at the ready means I can post the card as soon as I've written it without having to go to the post office or cornerstore - I also like to send cards using special stamps. Most people don't realise that special-edition stamps cost exactly the same as your basic stamp. So why not make the letter extra special by perhaps choosing a stamp that might in some way relate to the person you're sending this to or what you have written inside the letter? I'm not sure about the UK, but here in Italy you can buy these either from the Italian post online store, at specific philately stores (some of them run by Italian post themselves) or simply asking at your post office what stamps they have available aside from the standard one. What I found is that (at least here in italy) new editions are initially available only from the post website and philately stores, then after a certain amount of time unsold limited edition stamps are distributed (randomly) to post offices across the country. So son't be afraid to ask, although they will generally default to offering you the standard stamp (or sadly increasingly the "affrancatura", basically a label with a QR code on it) your local tiny postoffice may have a perfect stamp for your next card!

I really got into Calligraphy from 13 to mid 20's and one of the ways to show off the progress was Christmas Cards, to school friends, teachers, family members, club members & staff at first 9 times out of 10 the recipient of my cards would thank me personally when I next saw them. At the end of the day, I was just showing off and saw it as nothing more as practice and greeting cards was pretty much the only way to put what I have learned into practice to show that the hard graft wasn't for nothing. But little did I know it was making a good first impression or changing a negative impression to a favourable one (As we all know, we a re liked or disliked in general by a first impression most of the time). Even to this day my 70 year old Mother would bump into an old acquaintance, one of the first things they would mention is the really flamboyant Christmas card they got 20 odd years ago and how it brightened their morning or they never thought I was capable of that sort of writing. The fact they still mention it, I won't lie, puts a smile on my face. Unfortunately, i'm a bit rusty, as career turned to more pushing buttons on a keyboard than putting ink on paper and you don't realise what a couple of years can do when you don't keep up the practice. but I'm putting it on a new years resolution, to dust off the old fountain pen and get creative with it again. As it's also something that brings me a bit of enjoyment.

Once I hear that music I know it's chill out time. 🙂

Great to see you back, time for a Shackleton 🥃 cheers!

Thank you for this video! I'm about to start writing Thank you cards for my colleagues at work, as I'm about to resign from my current position 😄

I remember being in junior school and we had lessons in using a fountain pen and learning to write properly. Sadly after all that time and effort once I was in employment and writing out daily work sheets joined up writing was frowned upon and everything had to be written in individual capital letters. Again in the pharmaceutical office writing out orders had to be written the same so the people making up the various medicines knew what items went into it. It is sadly a dying art as everything these days is electronic heavy and even my love of a good book has sadly been pushed more to the kindle (that's more for space saving in our humble abode) the sad thing this year I noticed was the amount of electronic cards we received from various online services. So the simple writing of a Christmas card is waning it would seem. I'm a stickler for traditional cards and enjoy browsing and selecting that typical Christmas look and I hate to think what people will be sending and receiving in future generations. Keep it chap and all the best for 2023 🥃

Excellent video! I replied to that comment in question with a long-winded response about the technicalities and formalities of actually writing a card, but this video does a great job at actually encouraging people to write, which is probably a better choice. I hope I'm not judged too harshly for my cards - I have (or at least had) dyspraxia, so my handwriting is terrible. If I'm to respectfully disagree on something, it's that I think the fact someone sat down, thought about, and wrote a card should say far more than the quality of the paper. I prefer to be touched by personal gestures rather than judgemental of them, as you put it. Perhaps you didn't mean it like that. Either way, thank you for the video.

Meant to ask: can you recommend fountain pen cartridges with ink that doesn't fade? Looking back at some handwriting from about two years ago, I noticed it had faded to about half of what it was. I was using WHS' own brand. Thanks. 🖋️✉️

Did you get a new camera, or is the outdoor lighting just perfect in these more recent videos? 😜 I hope all is well, Ash. Im glad you're back

Lovely suggestions! But is there also a PO Box where we can sent handwritten comments and suggestions? 😉

A fountain pen to a Chap is what a light saber is to a Jedi Knight. 💡🗡️

You can't go shopping in Knightsbridge with one of THOSE!

Unfortunately, I find the vast majority of cards trite or tacky. So as you suggested I tend to use blank ones with the simplest design. I don't use expensive stationary but promise that when you win your well deserved Nobel prize you shall receive my congratulations on a Smythson card. 😀

JSP101 Defense Writing is your friend.

i like your ideas. But do we have to be outdoor to write a thank you note?

Whose cards do you use for day to day?

What is that pen

I find christmas cards to be a difficult one. Part of me wants to buy and send the nicest cards possible, while the other half wants to support charities by using cards from a reputable organisation like lifeboats. My wife falls very much in the latter camp so that's the way we mostly go, but I always feel a bit sorry that most charity cards are of such low quality.

I see you currently have 635 videos. Yikes ! ! ! I have a lot of catching up to do ! ! !

The word is ET-cetera, NOT EK-cetera. Abbreviated: &c or etc.

What a splendid article! I’m off to buy some sealing wax and a suitable impression tomorrow 😊. Might go for a hammer or something practical… And may I say that ‘ Hello, folks and welcome to The Chap’s Guide. My name is Ash…’ is one of the most welcome things that I have heard in a while. Welcome back, @Ash Jones.

I enjoy your vids. Been a wide gap. Trust all is well. 🥂

Once Again another spot on video. I have a few friends in mind whom deserve a Nice Personal letter this video Will help thank you sir 🫡