It was so lovely being a part of Swanage Carnival’s Arts and Crafts Fair this week. It felt like it was a long time since we’d had a set up with everything there, from postcards to quills to stampers and stickers and beanbags and Pat and Jess and car-mat and postbox fancy-dress outfit, so it really made it extra special. The weather was glorious and the Carnival team gave us the perfect spot so we were able to spread out if needed – and we did! At one point the volunteers could see we were inundated so quickly retrieved an extra table and chairs and even then I think people spilled over to the picnic tables nearby. And it made me ponder why I came away feeling so uplifted by these lovely events and some of the observations from them that are so heartwarming. I’ve tried to make a list…
1) The early-birds, in that moment of just having got set up and wondering if anyone will come, where they’ve usually sought us out at the start, is such a confidence boost. You get to chat and hear their story and whether they are local or visiting, and there’s a calm and quietness and sense of anticipation as you see the event ground start to fill up.
2) The way letter writing is so cross-generational. It’s of course a draw for children, the stickers and stampers and postcards and quills, but all ages of letter writers from avid to occasional or sentimental to nostalgic or perhaps never before, come with such joy at seeing us there or remembering days before the internet or being delighted they can have a go. I appreciate we are a bit self-selecting, so it will attract those drawn to writing and stationery and sending letters, but it’s so lovely to see lots of children who haven’t been a week out of school sitting at the table absorbed by writing and thinking about the person they are sending a letter to. The news of “I’m sending this to my Nanny!” or Grandad or cousin or someone back home. And the same for adults – “I’m sending this to my Mum!” or Dad or wife or brother etc. It’s for everyone, of all ages.
3) The delight and intrigue over the pretty stamps that are still valid to use. “Oh, wait, you can still use them!” I’m never certain how many we need so I just get lots.
4) The discussions about the cost of stamps and whether it’s too expensive or just unadvertised, and trying to find a succinct way of saying it’s quite a lot because we expect it to be less, but if the value of letter writing was promoted and we realised the joy to be gained from sending post it would still be good value.
5) The lovely members, both local and those further afield, that come to support us. Elizabeth and Heather who live in Swanage always come to write letters and postcards, and now Rona, who I was delighted to see because she must’ve seen us in the programme, not being on the internet. A special mention to the lovely Liz who boards bus then trains then bus again to make the trip to come along. When I see her approaching I properly squeal. She always brings jars of her sister’s award-winning marmalade for me, too! Truly, a heartfelt thanks to all the members who have come to the get-togethers over the years. It means such a lot.
6) The car-mats and bean bags, I especially love. It’s always so endearing to see little ones lying on their tummies wheeling cars around (sometimes to the miniature postbox) with parents perched on Royal Mail bean-bags having a mellow moment with Pat and Jess watching over.
7) “Persuading” the standing-up Dads or Grandads to have a go at sending a postcard as well. I mean, I’d never bully anyone, and it was all light-hearted, and his family encouraged him too, and actually in our defence he did say “Yes, I enjoyed it” so no harm was done… But honestly, I just like to see it more as giving the Dads permission to join in. I hope deep-down they send a letter or postcard again when back home.
8) The HUGE bundle of mail to take to the postbox at the end. What a joy that is to see! There were 74 in our little postbox, but more had been taken home or given directly to the recipient. I do wonder what the posties at the sorting office think especially with some slightly less than conventional addressed and stamped pieces of mail, but I know they probably expect it now and I have great faith they will work it out. Again, I secretly hope it brings them joy to see a lovely full postbox.
9) All the moving and poignant stories visitors share with you. Letters from lost loves, late parents or grandparents, those found and revisited from their childhood selves.
10) The international aspect. At one point we had a whole table of Australians who hadn’t arrived together or in the same group. They all got chatting about their travels and where they were from and what they were up to in the UK, and wrote loads of postcards. Note to self: bring a few overseas-rate stamps as trying to fit four 2nd class stamps on a postcard can prove tricky, but thankfully they were happy to wander along to the Post Office. It felt all very cosmopolitan.
11) Having live music next to us with Jazz and Swing bands playing, keeping us company, was really magical.
12) In a moment of serendipity, Mr THLAS (actually couldn’t do any of this without him) bringing down the letter from Axel Scheffler which had arrived at home, while we were having fun with all the beautiful stampers he’d designed for us.
Anyway, I’m sure I’ll remember other touching moments over the coming days, but just thank you so much as always for believing in this little adventure of inspiring and encouraging people to keep writing letters.
One final special thank you to the Swanage Carnival Team for making us feel so welcome and providing postcards and refreshments and putting us in the perfect spot. The view across the bay was absolutely stunning! And of course to volunteer, Hannah (in fact also a member of THLAS) who donned the postbox outfit to be our personal town-crier. It really made me chuckle.
Until next time!
Dinah
