Journies

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With love from Spain (c1974)

with love from Spain

22nd Nov Dear Hilary, I’m having a lovely time the weather is good except for the first few days when we were seasick. Today we are going on a tour around an Island called Las Palmas. I hope you are feeling well Love Helen

The SS Australis, pictured on the front, travelled between Britain and Australia & New Zealand, calling at various ports along the way – Las Palmas (Gran Canaria) obviously being one of them.

The postmark date is not clear, but I believe that this must have been sent in 1974, as General Franco (featured on the stamp) died in November 1975

Helen and her family emigrated to New Zealand and this card seems to be from the voyage to their new life on the other side of the world. However, a few years later they returned to the UK. Despite several internet searches, I have not been able to reconnect with Helen.

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With love from Lastingham, UK (c1988)

with love from Lastingham

Weather is superb – clear and sunny. Can see over the moors for miles. Went on the steam train from Pickering to Grosmont today and going to Whitby tomorrow. Staying in an excellent location – beautiful scenery in every direction. Love Jo & John

The fine weather is obviously making this a memorable trip to Yorkshire for Jo and John!

There is no date on the card and the postmark is not visible, however a combination of the postage cost and the other postmark which is encouraging us to ‘Collect British Stamps’ indicate around 1988

Another one from Jo and John. We recently saw Jo at a family gathering – it was lovely to catch up in person after what has been quite a long time 🙂 

 

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With love from Jersey (1987)

with love from Jersey

Petit Port, St Brelade, Jersey  Dear Simon + Hilary Greetings! The …. are on holiday again; alright for some, eh? We’re staying with friends we met on honeymoon. Everything has been ‘just-so’…what a pity they can’t organise the weather equally well! Still we’ve been on lots of long walks and we are enjoying it all. Fingers crossed for our weekend with you in the Autumn – I just have to check with the Naval College that I’m not required (but it’s 99% o.k.). Will ring you soon. Looking forward to it. In the meantime, both fit, fat and well. Hope you are too! Love Graham and Sheila xx

Here’s Gra again with another chatty status update, this time from Jersey. They are expecting their first baby, hence the ‘fat’ reference.

The postmark is just visible as ‘JERSEY 14 AUG 1987 CHANNEL ISLANDS’ and the stamp is a 15p Europa.

We did indeed see Graham, Sheila and the new baby in the autumn, but we have lost touch with all of them now.

 

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With love from The Gambia (1991)

with love from the Gambia

Banjul, the Gambia 31.1.91 Dear Simon, Hilary and Talulah, The wandering nomad has discovered the richness of W. Africa and likes what he sees! This is such a rare place – desperately poor and under developed, yet so welcoming and very pro British from it’s historical background. It’s also VERY HOT! Yesterday I actually played cricket in 90°F heat against the national side…we very obviously lost (in fact the game was almost abandoned because it was so oppressive) I hope you are all safe and well. The war news is pretty dreadful and I am still a little concerned that my ship may yet get called upon. It’s unlikely, thank Goodness. Mandy will probably be in touch soon when details for our wedding firm up. Can’t wait! Take care now. All my love, Gra x

Gra continues to enjoy tours with the Royal Navy, but on this occasion the 1991 Gulf War overshadows events.

There is no postmark on the card, but Gra has helpfully dated it. The stamp is commemorating the artist Raphael, but I cannot find any other information about it – can anyone else help?

By this time Gra is looking forward to his second marriage…

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With love from Perpignan (2016)

with love from France

Hello H & S, I have just spent a week cycling up various mountains near Perpignan and so I’m now fit and well. 4 of us stayed in my friend Alwyn’s house here, as we do every year, eating and drinking our way through massive amounts of food and wine. It’s like a skiing trip but with mountain bikes instead. Love Jon x

Sounds like a great trip! I love the illustration on the front of the card so typical of early 20th century advertising – this one promoting the superiority of a particular bike.

The stamp is the latest (controversial) version of Marianne.

Another card from Jon, who has also rediscovered the joy of postcard writing 🙂

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With love from Cordoba, Spain (1987)

with love from Cordoba

Dear Hilary – Ursula talked me into a second holiday, so here we are in Spain. Have just arrived in Granada, having been to Cordoba & Seville. We’re going to stay here 2 days, then back to Malaga to souvenir hunt, & lie on a beach for an afternoon. We’re in Spain for a week & it’s a revelation – v. beautiful with wonderful sightseeing and everything v. cheap. Love to Simon x Anne xx

Anne is loving southern Spain and making the most of her visit.

Part of Mezquita Cathedral is pictured on the front of the card and the 40 pesetas of stamps feature King Juan Carlos I from the 1976-84 definitive series.

I must make the effort to see Anne again…

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With love from Canadian Rockies (2017)

with love from Canada

Hey Mum, Dad & Gus, Hope you’re all well & Dad you are getting better 🙂 Canada is amazing! We went white water rafting at Wells Gray NP the other day which was super fun. Yesterday I took Joe on a 18km walk around Lake Kinney at Mount Robson Park (front of postcard) which was beautiful. Today we are in Jasper off to find some wildlife! They had 3 black bears in our campsite yesterday so I shat my pants when going to the loo at night! See you all soon lots of love Jas xx

A joyous status update from Jas – her excitement sings through her writing!  There is no dated postmark, but Jas has helpfully included the date, which is just a few weeks ago.

Another card from Jas – we also received electronic messages, photos and videos (of bears!) while she was away for two weeks. The electronic stuff has disappeared way down the scroll, but the postcard remains stuck up in the kitchen as a constant happy reminder. I’m pleased to have taught my millennial kids the joy of postcard writing! 

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With love from Brisbane (1988)

with love from Brisbane

Dear H & S, Glad postal strike is over at last. Sue and I have just arrived here after 18 hour bus journey from Townsville. We’ve just been to the koala park and had our photos taken cuddling koalas – how touristy!!  John will be here in a couple of days and by then hopefully I will have found the airport. Falling desperately in love with Australia and travelling – just have to hope John does too.  Lots of love Marion x

This card is postmarked 30 Sept 1988 and it would appear that there had been a postal strike in Australia, which must have been very frustrating (this was before electronic communication was universally accessible).

The stamp is from the set of 29 different cartoons depicting aspects of Australian life, issued in 1988

Marion has travelled to Brisbane, home of World Expo 88

Marion is waiting for my brother to arrive for their road trip. Reading this now, with the benefit of hindsight and life experience, I cannot believe I did not notice that Marion is clearly not ready to settle down to married life. She made the strong decision to cancel the wedding and follow her own path. Heartbreaking as it was at the time, for all of us, it was the right choice for her.

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With love from Berlin (2017)

with love from Berlin

Berlin, 30.05.17  Hallo Hilary! This is the Revival postcard from Berlin :)!! 30 years later I’m now able to walk through Brandenburg Gate – it’s still a marvel!! I hope we won’t start building new walls in the future! Love Claudia

A status update from earlier this year, in which Claudia refers to the other card she sent me, 37 years ago 🙂 Berlin is now much more of a tourist destination than it was in the 80’s

Claudia and I continue to exchange news and views 🙂

 

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With love from Lagos, Portugal (1991)

With love from Algarve

Dear Hilary & Simon It’s really lovely here, and although we waited a long time – the holiday was worth waiting for! We are off to Lisbon tomorrow for two days – really looking forward to that. Hope all is well with, and look forward to seeing you on the 25th. Take care. Love Doreen & Jimmy x

This long anticipated trip to the Algarve is meeting expectations!

Carrying a 60 escudos stamp from the Portuguese Navigators series issued in March 1991 and featuring an aerial shot of Lagos, the card is postmarked 2-10-1991

Doreen used to work with my husband, Simon. They stayed in touch after Simon left the company and we used to see Doreen & Jimmy quite regularly. We have not seen them for some time as we no longer live so close, but we still exchange Christmas cards and news once a year 🙂