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With love from Marrakech (2005)

with love from Marrakech

Dear Hilary – we’re having a great time in Marrakesh (5 night break over half term). We’ve explored the city & taken a trip into the Atlas Mountains. The hotel is wonderful, with a lovely pool & garden with tortoises, so the children are happy. Thanks for the b’day card – I do hope all is going to plan for your Dad. Take care – love Anne Tony Isobel & Dora xxx

This sounds wonderful – something for everyone!  Obviously finding the post office was not on their list of things to do, as this card was posted from London on their return 🙂

The postmark date is 08.06.05 and the other postmark is supporting the London 2012 Olympic Bid, which was, of course, successful!

In her message Anne refers to my Dad, who underwent a double heart bypass operation that year, which was quite stressful, but twelve years later he is still going strong 🙂

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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 the Tank Museum (1991)

with-love-from-dorset

Dear Hilary & Simon & Tallulah, Loz & I went to the tank museum while Linda & Ann went to the more intellectual attraction of Kingston Lacy House.  The first launching of the boat was not a success but will provide an entertaining story when we next see you.  Hope your hol went well, our first attempt at UK camping has been surprisingly not too bad.  Love Ann Gordon & Laurie.

Postmarked ‘BOURNEMOUTH – POOLE 8.30pm 22 AUG 1991’ this card carries a 19p stamp and also carries the infamous ‘REMEMBER to use the POSTCODE’ postmark.

Lots of descriptive information is included in this status update, including the tantalising suggestion of a more detailed and hilarious anecdote to follow!

We met Ann & Gordon, in the late eighties, through a mutual acquaintance; we lived in the same area and found that we had much in common.  Since moving away we don’t see them so often, however we do sometimes meet up for a walk and a pub lunch – although less frequently of late…

 

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With love from Yorkshire (1989)

with-love-from-yorkshire

21/7/89 Dear Simon & Hilary, We are enjoying an excellent week in the Yorkshire Dales, not very far from Grassington.  The weather has been superb and we have been on numerous walks in umpteen places.  We are planning a week in Blaenau following a week at home.  Hope you are enjoying a holiday yourselves, much love Uncle Don & Auntie Morfudd

Look at the cars in this picture – they really date the card!  The picture is of Grassington, a popular base from which to explore the Yorkshire Dales, and on this occasion the good weather has obviously helped.

The card carries a 19p first class stamp.

Uncle Don & Auntie Mor are Simon’s aunt & uncle.  Don is the younger brother of Simon’s mum, and he has always shown a great interest in Simon and his brother, Paul.

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With love from London (2017)

with-love-from-museum-of-london

13th February 2017 go, it’s free! before they relocate to Smithfield Mkt. Hilary, I saw this exhibition today (for free!) and obviously thought about our recent Charminster Chapter conversation. This permanent exhibition of suffragette/suffragist (we know the difference!) memorabilia has even inspired the gift shop’s souvenirs – Emmeline Pankhurst key rings & fridge magnets. The video footage + hearing their speeches on sound recordings was haunting, brave women Sally xxxx

This dropped through the door the other day, in an envelope, as there’s not enough space on the card for a message and an address.  The post mark is Mount Pleasant, one of the largest postal sorting offices.

Charminster Chapter is the name of the book group that I meet with. We recently read ‘A History of Britain in 21 Women‘ by Jenni Murray, which everyone enjoyed much more than they thought they would!  It is written in a conversational style that encouraged us to really engage and identify with the women featured, one of them being Emmeline Pankhurst.  We learned how all these women have helped to shape our country and we bemoaned the fact that we never learned enough, if anything, about them in school.

It is a testament to the book that we continue to discuss, get excited about and even add to the list of women included.

Sally‘s enthusiasm for the Museum of London is very apparent in her message, seems like I’ll have to pay a visit myself 🙂

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With love from Eastbourne (circa 1983)

with-love-from-eastbourne

Dear Hilary, thanks very much indeed for your postcard. Are you living in London now? Hope your course is going well. I am doing SRN and am into my last  year now (3rd), I will remember your b.day this yr! love to your family, love Ida xxx

Another perfect little status update from Ida, who appears to have settled in Eastbourne.

The postmark reads ‘SUSSEX COAST 1 OCT 198_’ and I am guessing it’s early eighties.

My ‘course’ and the fact that Ida thinks I might have been living in London are both confusing – I cannot recall the course and I have never lived in London!

Ida and I remain intermittently in touch but we have not met for many years.

 

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With love from Romsey (1982)

with-love-from-romsey

Dear Guess, A picture taken by the bloody Argies whilst on a strafing raid against Romsey. Our Home-guard shot him down with ground-to-air oaths & curses & then forced the pilot to capitulate by the internationally dreaded “Romsey-Torture” which involves prawn-cocktail crisps stuffed up his rear & then being force to quick-march whilst carrying a union jack. Cracked up under the strain, you know DAM

Postmarked ‘SOUTHAMPTON 24th May 1982’ this card features a completely fictional narrative based on the Falklands Conflict which was taking place at the time.

The stamp is 19½p equivalent to 48p in 2016

The card was sent to me in Norway where I did not get to hear much British news; this message probably did little to further my understanding of the events taking place in the South Atlantic.

Another of DAM‘s black and white cards featuring Romsey and the surrounding area, together with more of his imaginative reflections.  I received many of these random notes from him during this period and they still make me smile, although I have no idea why he often addressed me by my surname!

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with love from Rio de Janeiro (2016)

with-love-from-rio

Hiya! So Rio has been amazing. I am very excited to have some time off to explore properly, we are definitely going up this monument for the standard Rio photo! I have seen both the gymnastics & judo so far which is already more than I was expecting & both had incredible atmosphere! I can’t quite get over the fact that I am here after our convo 4 years ago! Love you both Tallulah x

A recent card, with a blurred postmark – although the Olympic Rings are just visible on the lower edge of the postmark.

I love the red, 1 riyal stamp with its illustration of a manicurist! More information on this definitive series here.

The picture on the front has to be one of the most famous and iconic views in the world.

Another one from my daughter, Tallulah, who continues to enjoy her job and is seeing some amazing places in the process. During London 2012 the we were lucky enough to be at Dornay Lake and then the Olympic park on Super Saturday but Tallulah was working away, so missed all the excitement. She was quite disappointed and vowed that she would be in Rio for the subsequent games – amazingly work took her there – hence her final comment above 🙂 

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with love from Chamonix, France (2016)

With love from Chamonix

To Mum, It’s my birthday. I’m sat in a pizza place with Jake. It rained today so we slept and ate a lot of nutella. Tomorrow we are getting up early to go up to the Aguille du Midi to do a famous/classic climb called Cosmique’s Arête, which finishes by climbing over the fence onto the veranda of the Aguille du Midi. for your blog. Love Stormé xxx

The poster style design on this card really appeals to me, I love the paring down of information and use of colour blocks.  Chamonix is, of course, a world famous centre for skiing and mountaineering and was the venue of the first ever Winter Olympics in 1924. Stormé is obviously taking the opportunity to explore as much as she can.

Postmark dated 04-07-16 the card also carries the 2013 Marianne stamp.

Stormé is my daughter, she embraces life and has travelled extensively; a keen skier and mountaineer, who loves a challenge.  Despite having a summer birthday it generally rains for her; so the weather comment is no surprise!  Stormé loves chocolate in any form. She is caring and beautiful;  I love her unconditionally and I am very proud of her.

 

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with love from Corfu (2015)

With love from Corfu

To Mum & Dad x Been to some pretty cool places recently but missing the famolam!♥ Hope home life is still plodding along… Cannot wait for some QFT in October ☺ Love you both lots – Thanks for all the support hugs & kisses Tallulah (aka: your ‘seafarer’ daughter ☺)

This carries the postmark ‘TZABPOY 24.08.15’ which I have identified as the tiny hamlet of Tzavros on Corfu, Greece. The stamp is very colourful featuring an underwater scene and is part of a set issued in 2015 entitled ‘Diving Tourism’, promoting Greek tourism and the diving opportunities to be found there.

The picture on the front is self explanatory featuring the old town and fortress of Corfu which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The use of symbols and punctuation identifies this as a 21st century message which is simply ‘missing you and looking forward to seeing you’.

Tallulah is my daughter who travels the world working as a super yacht deckhand; this billionaire industry is jaw dropping…  Tallulah loves being on the water and her trips home are becoming less frequent. However, in October 2015 we did enjoy QFT (quality family time) when she was back for a few weeks. Home life does, indeed, plod along – that’s the beauty of home; always there and always more or less the same – enduring security and insurance for the traveller! Like all daughters Tallulah is beautiful; I love her unconditionally and I am very proud of her.

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