It was a new bedlinen buying, raspberry and rhubarb tart scoffing, beery bread baking (or, planning, we haven't actually made it yet), tissue paper choosing (we're making giant pompoms), cricket scoring...
...and exam success celebrating kind of weekend. And that means it was also an out-with-my-friends, buying a sixth form uniform - Mum, we can hem that skirt up, can't we? - kind of Saturday.
But yesterday I got a chance to sit back and reflect as I flipped through (no, wait, flipped sounds too - flip, savoured every one of my Pile Of Postcards. This swap started out on a quick whim. I hoped I would be able to gather up a little group of keen postcarders and have a bit of fun. But it turned out quite nicely big in the end, didn't it? Thank you! Any swap is only as successful as the swappers are keen: it can be organised and organised, but it depends on the participants. And everyone has been brilliant! Spotting all the cards popping up on blogs - worldwide! - throughout July and August has been a high point of what turned into a bit of a strange summer here. Praise the postcards. Everyone wrote fast, it seems, chose well, posted promptly. Again, thank you.
Over the course of the summer I've been sending cards to everyone on the list and I've been blown away by the number I've received in return. You didn't have to do that! (But I'm very glad that you did). Thanks to Barbara, Ruth, Helena, Sheena, Miriam, Lea, Jane, Carole, Julia, Nicola, Susanne, Deb, Julie, Sandra, Rinda, Cheri, Fiona, Laura, Becky, Karen, Deb Turtle, Alexa and Abi. I have cards from Nashville to Nottingham, from Paris to Pennsylvania, seaside cards, tall house shaped cards, vintage cards, crafted cards, a card from the Commonwealth Games Village and one which says Do Small Things With Great Love. It started out as a small thing, but the love and care you have all put into it will last longer than the summer. (How are we going to preserve the postcards? albums? Bind it all? Let's think..)
The Accountant here looked over my shoulder yesterday as I read and he said: you know, if everyone who joined in opens their address book at Christmas and spots even one new address and sends even one extra Christmas card, that would be a good thought, wouldn't it?
I think he's right. The Pile Of Postcards. I think it'll be back. Thank you.
That's a lovely pile of postcards Sian! I hope you do organise it again next year:)
ReplyDeletesuch a simple idea but what fun it has been, I look forward to what comes next!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the exam results x
What a tremendous pile of postcards! And I like the idea of a Christmas-themed postcard swap ... gold star for TA.
ReplyDeleteIt was such a great idea,Sian....I've loved taking part.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to the exam 'succeeders'
I think the Accountant is onto a good idea. I have truly loved sending and receiving postcards, so BIG thanks from me x
ReplyDeleteI am glad it was a success xx
ReplyDeleteIt has been a lot of fun and I will sign up for the next one ;)
ReplyDeleteFun in a 4 x 6 format! Loved it.
ReplyDeleteEven though I didn't participate I have loved seeing them throughout blogland. Everyone did such a great job :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a clever husband you have - a Christmas Card swap - brilliant! What a fab selection you received.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to the clever passer of exams, you must all be very relieved and happy. Pom poms eh? What do you have planned for them?
I love postcards Sian. I didn't take part this year as I was doing an online course and this involved happy mail - I know when enough is enough. Not that happy mail is ever enough, but I know what I can manage in terms of commitment, so I hope to join in if you do this again and to share the wonderful collection of cards and the question of what to do with them all! I'm eagerly waiting to find out!
ReplyDelete...and next time i'll be joining in. Can you believe I only received a postcard too (from Barbara in Nashville) and was chuffed to bits! It looks to have been a very successful swap. PS. love the Christmas card idea x
ReplyDeleteThis was so so much fun Sian. Thank you for organising it. Now christmas cards...there's an idea!
ReplyDeleteyes it was lovely to choose and send postcards and to receive some and then send some more - thank you
ReplyDeleteIt was a lot of fun (and I did receive my last postcard this week!), and a Christmas card swap sounds equally wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThis was a super idea and I really enjoyed seeing the cards pop up on blogs and Instagram. Hope you do it again as next year I should have more time to do things like this as changes are afoot!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a FUN swap all round:) But Sian, really, you MUST stop eating what I'm [approximately] eating. Took Mum to the Apple store today [computer]...ended up with a rhubarb & apple crumble tart. With Cream. It was YUM! I'm rather fond of rhubarb, but it doesn't like growing here - sadly:(
ReplyDeleteWell, you already know my feelings on address books [and my need to find + use one properly from now on!].
ReplyDeleteI did wonder if you'd repeat it another year ... then I panicked on your behalf over the spreadsheet you'd need to keep track of who's sent to who before ... ;-)
Mine are all safely tucked into a pocket in the back of my summer journal and I've got a post scheduled for this week to share all my sent/received cards too.
Thanks for not just your work on the practical side of the project ... but for having the lovely, romantic, nostalgic idea in the first place! x
I was sorry to miss this - but life has been a wee bit busy here. So glad to hear it might come back. I love sending Christmas cards and agree with TA - such things are always a good idea :) Did a Valentines Day swap for years and still have some of those addys on my Christmas list.
ReplyDeleteQuite a pile of postcards! I haven't even seen one to add to the scavenger hunt yet but they don't seem to be around the area much.
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome xxx
ReplyDeleteAs you know I've loved being part of this great swap :)
Aw, I am so happy that you received all those extra cards, Sian. They were all very well deserved, and it was a pleasure to participate in your postcard swap! xo
ReplyDeleteI would like to be in this if you hold another exchange...from Canada
ReplyDeleteThat's quite the pile of postcards! Sorry I didn't know about it in time to participate this year but I'm hoping you bring it back next year. Although on second thought this year wouldn't have been good for me as I've spent a good portion of the summer in the house. Looking forward to a better one next year.
ReplyDeleteI loved the cards that I received, many thanks for organising this swap.
ReplyDeleteit was a pleasure to join in this swap, I did feel disappointed I didn't have your mail address to send you one too, this could be a great idea with Xmas cards too. thanks again!!
ReplyDeleteI'll do it again. I'll make sure.I'm more.organised though!!
ReplyDeleteit has been just lovely :). And that's such a great pile you have there ... I think you could well encourage a similar Christmas exchange! Thank-you so much for organising it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for organising and I love the accountant's idea. It has been fun being part of this x
ReplyDelete