holidays

by

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 🙂

by

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 🙂

by

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…

by

With love from Isle of Wight (1990)

With love from Carisbrooke

Dear Hilary & Simon Quite a nice change Have never been to I.O.W. So glad I am going to be a great, great aunt Love Auntie Laura

The postmark is not clear, however I know that it was 1990 as that is the year our daughter was born.

We do not learn whether Auntie Laura visited Carisbrooke Castle, featured on the front!

A 20p stamp commemorates the Stamp World Exhibition held in London that year.

Auntie Laura seemed excited at the prospect of an additional ‘great’ in front of her name 🙂

by

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 🙂

by

With love from Denmark (1981)

with love from Denmark

Hello Hilary! I send you many greetings from the danish island Møn. I stay here with 5 friends. We rent a house very near to the sea and the beach. The weather has been very good for the whole week and I got very brown. I’ll soon write more. Yours Claudia

This card from Møn is postmarked ‘STEGE 14.30 8 8 1981’ and carries a 1 krone 30 stamp commemorating the oldest Danish coin.

Claudia is enjoying some good weather in Denmark; she sent this card to me not long after I’d arrived in Norway.

There are now many cards posted here from Claudia – she continues to communicate regularly although these days it is usually via WhatsApp 🙂

by

With love from Algarve, Portugal (1986)

with love from Portugal

Dear Hilary & Simon, Weather lovely Having a good time I suffered losing a stone for my holiday I will put 25 stone on the food is fab Love Auntie Laura

A short and sweet note featuring our favourite topics of the weather and food!

The card is postmarked ’25-VI 1986 Armacao‘ and carries a selection of stamps, two of which are from the Traditional Portugal Architecture series and one from the Development of Technology series, issued in 1978

Auntie Laura was my great aunt, she was married to my Nan’s brother. We saw them regularly at family gatherings when I was young, and they were fun to be around. Auntie Laura was a rock within her own immediate family; she died some years ago.

by

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…

 

by

With love from Banbury (1980)

with-love-from-banbury

6/10/80 Dear Hilary, Just a quickie from me, while on holiday on the Oxford Canals. It is really good fun. We go to all the pubs en route and have had parties on the barge!! The weather has not been brilliant but we enjoying it so that’s all that matters! Today we are at Banbury. It is a really nice country town. I hope you are getting on OK at college. Bye for now Jan xx

A cheery status update from Janet,  who appears to have enjoyed at least two canal holidays in 1980!  As usual she is making the best of things, despite the inclement British weather.

The card is post marked is ‘BANBURY 1.15pm 7 OCT 1980 OXON’ and also carries the old favourite ‘Be properly addressed POSTCODE IT’.

In the UK we all hear about Banbury Cross from a young age thanks to a traditional nursery rhyme – although I suspect few of us have ever visited and some may not even realise the connection!

As I continue this reflection of my life through the postcards I’ve received, I am amazed at just how many messages some people have sent to me – Janet is one of the most prolific correspondents 🙂

by

With love from Isle of Wight (1989)

with-love-from-isle-of-wigh

OK, so where has the sun gone? We had a really hot weekend, spent partly on the beach (the children were brave enough to go in the sea) and on educational pursuits – Carrisbooke Castle + Bembridge windmill. Today we’re off to the Blackgang Chine theme park and over the cliffs tomorrow. See you soon A + T xx

One of my favourite types of card – a map showing all the places that are mentioned, plus a great little riddle on the side!

It’s postmarked ‘PORTSMOUTH 30 MAY 1989 ISLE OF WIGHT’ in green ink, which is less common.  The other postmark is partly obscured, possibly it says ‘WE LEAD’, but who or what this refers to is a mystery.

An earlier card from Amanda and Tony.