Writing letters

I'm another postcard sender! I often send my two DGC who live here in the UK postcards and I also use Touchnote to send postcards to my DGC in Canada. You create the card online with your own photos, write a message for them and put their address on it. Then it's printed and posted for a fraction of the cost of posting it abroad

Most like to receive a letter. A year ago, I wrote to my 25 year old grandaughter, who moved away to be with her schoolteacher/husband. She had just had a babe, and we wrote, a bit of a wordy one, telling of our first babe. I was thrilled, but appalled, when she phoned to say that it was the first ever letter she had. And it was now under her pillow, where she returned to it again, and again, or when she felt 'lonely'. So it is a shame, that we are reduced to a scribbled greeting card, or text. I have written quite a few this year, mostly 'cheating' by selecting a nice script, and sending, printed from my Abiword. But I always handwrite a page, because my own script was getting out of practice.

Yes the Silverline idea sounds lovely - I'll try contacting them.

I haven't written a letter to anyone in a long, long time though I do still send cards, etc. Even so, I don't see any harm in giving it a try. Why not start with one or two brief letters and see if you get any replies? Or if they mention them when they see or talk to you? Have fun!

PRINTMISS, I'm new here, so I don't know your story. However, since it appears your DS was ill or something, I'm glad to hear he's doing better now.

Chelseababy, that's sounds lovely!

Thanks for the welcome back, - TriciaF our son is fine now, thank goodness, just hope something like that does not happen again. What a lovely idea that is schelseababy

I'm thinking of volunteering as a Silverline letter friend which involves writing two letters a month. Just need to complete the application from, the process can take in excess of twelve weeks!

I have got an old typewriter from the charity shop where I work. I bought a new ribbon for it which I found on the internet and it was not cheap.

My two 12 year old DGCs love it. They love the fact that what is written is already on the page and can be cut out and passed around, they love to type tickets for what wrongs we have done and we get them and have pay fines. After they have gone home I sometimes find pieces of typewritten paper under the bed and enjoy reading their secret correspondence.

If you like writing letters then send them, I do.

Good to see you Printmiss - how is your son doing now?
You were worried about him a few months ago.

Thanks, ann life became a little hectic here - we had new floor covering laid, and decided to turn everything round and out - did ourselves no good what-so-ever. Should know better. We are fine now. Thanks again.

Welcome back PRINTMISS

Oh so nice to see you posting PRINTMISS you have been missed and several people have wondered where you were.

I think I wrote on here that I had 'googled' my old home in London, and found it still standing - I wrote to the people who live there - I always type, because I find holding a pen gives me cramp, and I am inclined to write really long letters when once I get going. I received a lovely hand-written letter back from the person now living at my old address, thanking me for getting in touch, and being really interested - almost immediately after that I had a letter from a long standing friend, older than me, and once again beautifully hand-written, it almost made me feel ashamed of my hand-writing, but there again, if it is difficult to read, people will get tired of reading it, so that is my excuse. I am inclined as I say to get carried away when once I start, even with texts and e-mails.

I have written to my 2 grandsons since they have been toddlers , postcards,letters which I used to illustrate with drawings and stickers.Now they are away at school - I send food parcels which always include a letter or funny card (sometimes a fiver!) etc. Do they appreciate them yes I know they look forward to receiving them and their friends always comment on the fact that they get something in the post and not texts/emails/Skype etc. Do I get any replies - no and after all this time I don't mind but sometimes,just sometimes it would be nice to get a reply. I now have a close family relative working in the States so now I am writing to him and sending him comfort parcels. I do however get the odd email back from him thanking me.

Also send postcards, mollie. Ours love them. It's the only post they get. Sad but how it is. They don't mind my horrid handwriting. Think it makes then feel better about their own.

I write to an elderly relative who lives abroad once a month. I keep the letter on-the-go so I can add interesting things as they happen. I usually include the latest family photos. She does use email but is not comfortable with it and says she likes to carry the letters in her handbag.
When I was growing up my mother instilled the art of letter writing in me by getting me to write her weekly letter to her mother. I see my GC twice weekly but I'm pleased to say that they still email me and write thank you letters.

Another lovely idea!

Every now and then I send my two GC 8 and 6 either a long letter with drawings dotted throughout or I make up little books, nothing complicated, with jokes, drawings, I have been known to do the odd word search, join the dots. And it's lovely to get the replies through the post instead of the usual junk and bills.

If I'm starting a trend I'm very glad!

As for the handwriting, practice does make a difference. I've written a journal for decades but in recent years typed it. The effect on my handwriting was awful. A year ago I returned to writing every day by hand and guess what? My scrawl has turned into a rather nice hand. Give it a go...

I think you've started something here, mollie! I'm going to dig out some fun postcards to send to my DGS too. It's a lovely idea, but I'd never thought of it.

Yes postcards are probably the best way now, thanks for the support Mollie!
My main problem is that my handwriting is now very untidy. It never was anything special. Maybe I'll change to printing instead of "joined up."

I'm glad the postcard idea is catching on. Kids love getting something in the post and they get to collect the postcards to make into a book (or pin onto a board). I also send postcards to my dear friend now that we can't talk on the telephone any more. He had dementia but delights in lovely pictures so I add a few words that are read to him in the hope they will mean something. Texts just wouldn't do in this situation either.

I sent cards to each of the 3 yr old GC this year with pictures that would interest them, and wrote a bit about them on the back which I knew their Mums would read to them. I will make it a habit to send postcards. I know one of the GC will be encouraged to write thank you letters in the future but I imagine my other daughter will get her son to phone. I have a friend whose presents are never acknowledged. I feel, more fool her ! That's so rude and hurtful. Her daughter explains it as their being sooo busy.

Yes,i love the postcard idea too,dgc are 2 and 3 so will start that in a couple of years time.

I love your idea of the postcards mollie. I recently sent some photos, accompanied by a short letter to one of my DGS, and apparently he was thrilled to bits, as he's never received a proper letter before. I was wondering how to continue and the postcard idea is brilliant!

The trouble is, Stillhere, is that a whole generation are going to find it too time consuming (ie hardwork) to read a handwritten letter or anything that is longer than a few sentences. And handwriting will deteriorate. I think its a shame to lose the written record from our future history but also as a day to day form of intimate communication. Call me old fashioned...