postcard

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With love from Cornwall (2005)

with love from Cornwall

Hi Hilary – We’re in Cornwall at the moment – thought of you and Simon as we’re in Newquay today. Janet (Gra’s sister) is getting married on Saturday + Carrie + Ashlea are bridesmaids + I’m singing. Lots of excitement + my mum + dad are coming too. Getting about to different beaches with the children. Hope to catch up before hols are ended – will be in touch. Lots of love Sara + all xxx

Amidst all the excitement Sara has still found time to drop me a postcard – the style of writing suggests a very hectic time. Simon, my husband, comes from Cornwall, which is why she’s thought of us.

The postmark is very blurred, but I believe that it is dated 22.06.05  The other blurred postmark is asking us to ‘Please print the postcode’ – something which Sara has ignored on this occasion, and the card still arrived safely!

I haven’t seen Sara in a while, we both seem to have more time for meeting during the winter months…

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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 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 Kvaenangsfjell, Norway (1988)

norway

8.7.88 Hey Hilary, Greetings from the Nordkapp in Norway. It’s very beautifull to see the sun at midnight. I am in Norway for 3 weeks and it’s nice to see this country again. I hope you’re well. Take care so long Salutations Christine

The beautiful image on the front of the card is possibly the midnight sun mentioned in the text.

Christine has dated the card, which is helpful as the postmark does not give any indication of date.

The stamp is 3.80 kroner and is one of the definitive set issued in 1988

I met Christine in Norway in 1981; unlike me she has returned on at least one occasion! We continue to exchange news and postcards.

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with love from Costa del Sol, Spain (1983)

Costa del Sol Spain 1983

14.10.83 Dear Hilary, Having a super time here in Spain. Weather has been great since we arrived – over 85° every day. Enjoying the cheap food & drink. We met up with another couple but they went back today. We’ve got another week, before it’s back to the grind. Best wishes Janet xx

Algarrobo features on the front of the card – the town is possibly more picturesque than the photo suggests!  There is no postmark, but Janet has helpfully included the date, October 1983

As ever when Brits travel to sunnier climes, the fascination with the temperature prevails and value for money when eating and drinking is an added bonus!

The two 13 peseta stamps feature King Juan Carlos I and are from the 1976-84 definitive series.

Another, earlier one from Janet who I have known for around 45 years!

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with love from California (2016)

With love from US

Here is a super special bonus card. it takes me hours to make something like this so i just want to let you know that you’re a great postcard pal! You’re so busy, always doing intresting places. You sent me cards when i wasn’t replying that really made me feel good. Love CBC “fish lips” 7/16

This is a beautiful original painting on a postcard, that I received the other day.  CBC has called it ‘fish lips’ – see how all the fish have big lips 🙂  I was lucky to receive it, as the number was wrong on the address; a kind hearted person obviously took it back to the post office for a second chance.

The card is postmarked ‘OAKLAND CA PM 25 Jul 2016’ and carries an unusual circular stamp, featuring an image of the moon.  This global stamp was issued earlier in 2016 and can be used to mail a one-ounce letter from the US to any country which has a First-Class international mail service.

CBC (aka Crazyruthie) follows this blog; about six months we began exchanging postcards via snail mail.  We do the odd email too, but receiving the postcards is far more exciting!  CBC always sends me an original painted one, or something hand drawn and coloured; they’re all different depending on what technique she’s experimenting with at the time.  We have become postcard pals as a result of this blog, maybe one day we’ll meet in person 🙂

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with love from Armaçāo de Pêra, Portugal (1986)

With love from Portugal

WED Sun very hot but a constant cool breeze – just right. Being very lazy this week but will try and be a bit more energetic next week and look around the area.  Love Jo & John

A brief status update that concentrates on the weather 🙂

Armaçāo de Pêra is in the Algarve region of Portugal, on the southern coast.

The clear postmark reads ’20H 26-VI-1986 ARMACAO DE PERA’ and the card carries stamps to the value of 37.50 escudos (the currency in use before the euro was introduced in 2002).

The 25.00 escudos stamp is from the Traditional Architecture series issued in 1985 and the other two are from the 1978 Instruments Working definitive series.

Another card from Jo & John; as well as being my Mum’s cousin, John was also cousin to Betty and Ted.  (Family trees are always much easier to understand in diagrams rather than words!)

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with love from Lanzarote (c1999)

With love from Lanzarote

Dear Hilary, Simon + family, Just thought I’d drop you all a line to say ¡Hola! from Lanzarote. Our stay here is nearly over in fact, but it’s been truely lovely. Plenty of sun, sea + sand + vino. We’ve explored much of the island by car, been on a camel ride, down caves, up volcanoes – all the usual sights. Some excellent meals out, lots of fish, mainly lunches easier with the chilblains. We’ve self-catered a lot too. Our appartment is right by the sea with views across the bay + pools downstairs (overleaf pic). Not too crowded anywhere and a nice size island to get about on. Oh well, back to the reality of B…..m soon! We definitely want to stay in your house in August to confirm – for two weeks, but not arriving until the Mon (16th) I believe Ali + Rachael will join us this year + my folks for a day or two. Much love Janice, Adam, Sam + Emily xxxx

Wow! Tons of info crammed onto this card, which sadly lacks a date and a Spanish postmark.  However, the sights and appeal of Lanzarote are elequontly described by Janice, who has obviously enjoyed the trip.

The card has been post mark stamped in Frankfurt, presumably while en route to the UK.  The stamp is an IFCC prepaid for a postcard.

This is an unusual card as I do not recall ever meeting Janice and family; we have never been friends! Janice mentions Ali + Rachael in the text – I am friends with Ali and have known her about 25 years; we were expecting babies around the same time. I stayed in touch with Ali after moving to live closer to the sea.  Despite being near the beach in the UK we would often go to France for two weeks in August, thus it made sense for Ali + Rachael to use our house for a holiday; Ali’s great friend Janice would also stay at ours with her family 🙂 I still see Ali regularly and she keeps me up to date with news of Janice and family!  

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with love from Minori, Italy (1990)

Wigh love from Italy

Dear Hilary & Simon A note to say ‘thanks very much indeed’ for the lovely Portmerrion cookery book & towels you sent us & card with best wishes. We really had a lovely day. We are now enjoying a really relaxing holiday on the Amalfi coast. It is very picturesque along the whole coast. (Off to Pompeii tomorrow). Congratulations on your news! I will be in touch on our return – we must get together Janet & Richard

Italy again! Towards the south of the western coast this time.  A great status update which includes a description of the area, a bit of news and some good wishes.

The card is postmarked ‘MINORI’ and carries a 600 lira stamp featuring the beautiful Castello Scaligero-Sirmione from the 1980 definitive series of castles and strongholds.

There is no date on the card, and the postmark date is barely legible, but the clues in the text suggest it was posted around 25.05.90

Here’s Janet again; she had just married Richard, hence our gift.  We had just made public the fact that we were expecting our first child, hence her congratulations 🙂  Janet is still married to Richard; and Janet and I continue to be in regular communication.

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with love from Senigallia, Italy (1985)

With love from Italy

30/7/85 Dear Hilary & Simon, Arrived Friday, so far weather wonderful. Hotel is great – plenty to eat and drink. Sea is lovely after initial shock. All we want is weather to continue as it is, we had nearly forgotten there was a sun in England. Hope you are settled in OK Love Bet, Mo, Margaret & Ted

It seems that Italy is a popular holiday destination! This card is from Senigallia on the east/Adriatic coast where the sea is apparently cooler. Bet, Mo, Margaret and Ted are enjoying the sunshine, which has obviously been missing during the English summer.

The card is postmarked ‘SENIGALLIA’ and carries a 400 lira stamp depicting Castello dell Imparatore-Prato from the 1980 definitive series of castles and strongholds.

The arches of the historical building beside the River Misa, featured in the image on the front of the card, are a stark contrast to the popular and crowded seafront beaches.

This was sent just after Simon and I moved into our first flat together, hence the ‘settled in’ reference. We were not married at the time; a cause for great consternation amongst some family members, but this card from Bet, Mo, Margaret and Ted suggests acceptance and support on their part. Bet & Ted are siblings and are first cousins to my mum. Bet was married to Mo (sadly Mo has died), and Ted is married to Margaret (they are both now in their nineties).  Mum continues to have a close relationship with her cousins, seeing them regularly. I see them less, but exchange seasonal cards and swap news via Mum.