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Wednesday, 13 July 2011

Postcards From The Edge



When you read this post, I'll be swaddled in beach towels clinging to a Cornish rock like a heat-seeking mussel. But ever since Manhattan Brother asked 'Do people still send postcards?' on his recent visit, I've been giving it some thought. Was he reminiscing or simply considering a more traditional form of message-sending to overcome the universal lack of Wi-Fi on this side of the Atlantic? In a time when texts and Tweets rule, there's something deeply satisfying about a good old-fashioned postcard. Time spent picking out something special for a friend - French donkey in gingham leg warmers anyone? - so that they too can experience a little piece of your holiday, with the boring bits left out. Kind of like a Tweet but to someone you actually know.

So, yes, I do still buy them. Though fewer than in the olden days, now that technology has provided other ways to communicate with my family without talking. And I'm in good company. Alexander Shulman says, ' Postcards are an essential part of being on holiday, even if they don't get sent. There is nothing nicer than sitting in a bar with a delicious drink and a pile of postcards - scribbling as you watch the world go by.'

I never throw away a postcard - there's a special place in the kitchen where I keep my stash. This photo shows a small selection laid out on my Blackpool chest of drawers.

Wish you were here...




Do you still send and receive postcards?



Alexander Shulman quote: FT
Blackpool drawers: Zoe Murphy
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18 comments:

  1. Penny Dreadful Vintage13 July 2011 at 13:47

    Heat-seeking mussel, bwahahaha! Best line of the week.

    I only send postcards to my mum, and half the time I even forget to do that. We are just out of the habit nowadays, it is a nice thing to do but it is never at the forefront of my mind when I am on holiday x

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  2. Vix13 July 2011 at 14:22

    I love postcards but haven't sent one for ages, my Mum always expected one wherever in the world I was.
    Love those naff Spanish ones the best. x

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  3. the gardener's cottage13 July 2011 at 14:52

    your collection is great. no, i don't send them anymore and that is just wrong.

    hope you are having fun on your vacation.

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  4. Patti13 July 2011 at 16:21

    You've made me very nostalgic now, for I haven't sent or received one in ages. But I used to love them, from "Atlantic City NJ" and other exotic places . . .

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  5. LPC13 July 2011 at 16:55

    Heat-seeking mussel! Ha! Thank you! And my mother sends me postcards, still. They always arrive late, as though they come via time travel.

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  6. J.W.13 July 2011 at 18:17

    Sending postcards while traveling is a real pleasure for me. I enjoy picking out an appropriate card for each person on my mailing list.

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  7. Anonymous13 July 2011 at 19:30

    Only to my mum, so she can show off to her friends in sheltered housing!

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  8. Tiffany13 July 2011 at 23:55

    Love postcards. I was just saying to Spouse the other day that we'd been receiving lots of them recently - all the damn family seems to travel regularly except us!

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  9. Unknown14 July 2011 at 02:57

    Hadn't thoughtof a post card in ages--thanks for reminding me. At first it was a good thought--then I remembered it was a burden to find a stamp, find a mailbox--while on vacation. So I would leave it to the last moment and I would usually arrive back before the post card! :~>

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  10. Veshoevius14 July 2011 at 10:27

    Tee hee - just spotted the cheesy flamenco dancer one. Have a great holiday!

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  11. The Style Crone14 July 2011 at 15:28

    Great postcards. I buy them wherever I go and sometimes frame them. I see them as small pieces of art and I send them, receive them, and collect them.

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  12. Anonymous14 July 2011 at 16:39

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  13. lulubelle14 July 2011 at 16:41

    I like the idea of postcards, just like I like the idea of receiving/writing hand written (love?) letters, but I haven't sent one for years...maybe I will remedy that next time I go away.


    http://ifonlyiknewhowtobegin.blogspot.com/

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  14. Anonymous15 July 2011 at 01:35

    I'm like you. I have saved every picture postcard I have ever received, but I am less good about sending them. I buy them with good intentions...but rarely put a stamp on one.

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  15. Make Do Style16 July 2011 at 10:57

    Yes and Yes - I do!xx

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  16. Jan_diva16 July 2011 at 23:14

    I have a dear friend who lives in Oxford(UK) and we always exchange post cards. Even though now we are on FaceBook and email,it's a lovely hangover from the days when that's all there was.

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  17. Christina @ Fashion's Most Wanted26 July 2011 at 12:13

    Heat seeking mussel cracked me up.

    I buy them but never remember to send them xx

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  18. kenju16 April 2013 at 13:21

    I have a collection of them, probably 200 + and I enjoy looking at them now and then. Some of them were sent to my parents back in the 40's and 50's.

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