Holding History:

I've written about my new hobby of collecting postcards a couple of times, but today I have really found my love for it. Holding these postcards that I bought today in my local market is a great feeling. That will sound very odd to anyone who isn't really into history or who just doesn't get that feeling. For me it makes me think about the person writing the postcard. Most people would want unwritten postcards but i love knowing that some of these were written with love and care and posted years and years ago to be received by somebody in their post one morning perhaps over breakfast..?

The first postcard is a photograph from March 1927. I can't tell a lot from it but from the writing on the back I think it may be something to do with a film? I was drawn to this firstly because of the horses to be honest, but then you just start looking at the men and children gathered around watching these three boys (I believe them to be Patrick, Ralf and Lewis)

This is the second one, a postcard called 'Madonna Of The Meadows' This was very faintly written on on the back with pencil which has most likely faded over time. 

If you look very, very closely you can almost see the writing. It isn't much clearer in my hands! But it says

 'To my dear Sammy Easter 1949'

Apparently Easter 1949 in England was the hottest on record...Just in case you wanted to know!

The next postcard is from a lady called Dorothy and it's a real photograph postcard of Chelmsford Cathedral. This one was written 31st August 1956 and was posted from Maldon Essex at 7pm. Amazing.

The fourth postcard is addressed to the same lady but a lot earlier in 1915 (during WW1) It is from WHSmiths (WHS) but I cannot make out the signature which is a shame because I can read the rest of the card. This was sent 4th January 1915 and is a Kingsway Real Photo Series and is a picture of Lord Salisbury's statue & Park Gates, Hatfield.

And finally a postcard I could not find much about but was extremely drawn to was this one below of a lady seated looking very smart. I understand these were quite popular type of photos at some time and this was a portrait taken by Wakefield's Ealing in London but has no date. 

There you have it, that is what occupied me for roughly half an hour in my local market prompting both Little Miss and Other Half to wonder off. I was totally in my element though and you would have been silly to try and distract me! I love history, but I love it even more, no matter how small when it involves seemingly small people from our past in my hands, in my house. Now I will treasure these postcards and add to my collection.

Hannahx

Missing...

If I close my eyes during a peaceful moment I can instantly transport myself to my happy place. A place where I felt safe, happy, free and at peace with myself. I'm taken back to the wonderful, untouched beauty of the country side where I used to live.
I have always lived where there are trees that look as if they touch the sky, or where there are so many snuggled closely together sharing their branches, leaves and flowers. There were long, long winding roads, or sometimes straight ones that seemed to go on forever before you reached where you wanted to go. Sea in the distance, fresh crisp air, bugs and rabbits, foxes and birds were great photography opportunities whether they were crossing what must seem like a never ending path, perched on top a snowy gate or quickly hopping across a empty field briefly pausing to see the goings on before diving back to the sweet little young waiting down below the earth.
Yes I miss the county side.
I'm missing taking my daughter out to the local beach, hoping on the bikes where Other Half would pop her into a seat placed on to the back of his bike. We'd all take off either direction as we lived near two beaches: one with sand and one with pebbles! Both equally as fun! 
I miss leaving the house to walk the quiet lanes, or down to the woods where I could sit on the little wooden bridge thinking hard about my problems, my fears,my hopes. Solving things which caused me distress, day dreaming of the future with my family, or simply letting off steam after a row. I always came back fresh with new ideas, apologies or re newed energy...
Now I live in the town. I really dislike it.
I'm so very grateful for the house I live in, how I am so much closer to everything I need from essentials like school and food to the little extras like the local library or a nice children's play ground.
For me though, the country side WAS my play ground. Every single day! You can run so far, be so free, climb tress, hide behind masses of flowers,tall grass,see all kinds of different creatures. Nature really is the best play ground.
Some people will disagree with me, but boy racers, drunks,police tapping on your door asking if you 'saw anything between the hours of such and such', people blasting music from their car stereos gets more than a little annoying when you simply are not used to anymore than the noise your baby and toddler produces!
I also miss my sweet natured daughter. She changed the day we moved from all the fresh aired freedom. She doesn't get to just open the door and bolt into a big, bright green garden in the nude anymore! There simply aren't any fascinating bugs and creepy crawlies to spot crossing one side to the other. The best you get out here is a wasp or a bee, and even then you're lucky! 
Well, that's just how I feel and boy, does it feel good to get it out! Maybe now I can concentrate on finding little ways to bring the country side back to the girl!

Can't Wait To Try Out My New Recipe Book!

My Mother In Law To Be came up trumps today by turning up with this great Gluten Free cookbook, another great find from The Works store, I knew there was a reason I loved them so much! Now, if only they accepted Love 2 Shop Vouchers....

I'm pleased to say I have finally got back my baking bug! It scuttled off some while ago but since I started blogging and seeing all these fab meal plans, photos and how so many people are so adventurous with their cooking I finally feel like I want to cook and bake again. I find it very hard being on a restricted diet. Everyone has a nightmare remembering what you can and cannot eat, you have to always read the labels on your food which always makes uncomfortable in the store, not to mention  it's harder to get the knack of cooking without certain ingredients. I can't wait to get stuck in to this book and look forward to sharing the results!

Also today I managed some great finds in my local charity stores. I got a new fruit bowl, slightly smaller than my very 'out there' pink mixing bowl which will hold a nice big Christmas Truffle! Yummy. I picked up some baby vests as Little Man is growing fast and I hope to pick some more clothes up from a mum on my local Netmums site so another bargain there I would think. I got myself a light up door decoration for our Halloween party next week for 75p and a teddy for £1 which is in really good condition still with tags on so I plan to wrap this up for Little Man for Christmas- Never underestimate what people donate to charity, you can find some great items these days which are indeed perfect for an occasion of any kind. I have no care that people may find my 'odd' or 'stingy' they can go and buy the same or similar object for twice the amount if they so wish!

I also used some of my long awaited Love 2 Shop vouchers today that I had been saving up for since the beginning of the year with Park catalogue. I didn't like parting with them much but at least I can cross a fair few people off my list and I looked out for offers and bargains whilst trying not to compromise too much on quality for the person in mind!

Anyway, will upload my finds tomorrow, for now I look forward to planning my write up to Life Circle Part 3, Writing Workshop and also planning my post for The Gallery whilst struggling with The Scavenger Hunt!
Ta Ta!

My Collections:

I have stumbled upon a new meme which I am very pleased to get stuck into every fortnight. This meme is called The 'Writing Workshop' by Sleep Is For The Weak which looks a lot of fun.

I'm from a long line of collectors. My Gran collects crystals. She has all sorts dotted about the place and I find her home a very calming place to be. My Mother has collected teapots for as long as I can remember. In fact she has so many that now her teapots are the homes of some rather lovely flowers placed in her courtyard. I notice how she has placed them near the window so as to not feel she has banished them from her collections!
My Dad collects guitars. It started off with a couple of them in their cases, sat abandoned in the corner of his bedroom. One day a couple of years ago he decided to pick them up again and now he has a little row if guitars standing proudly on their stands waiting to be played...

I collect memories. I used to collect stamps, I collected thimbles many years ago but they went to the charity shop when I was 14. Then there are my diaries. I have tonnes of diaries from when I was 10 up till now. I love writing, and what is better than writing about my day, about getting out my thoughts, venting my anger and frustrations?

Something I have always done and will continue to do, especially for my children, are memory boxes. My box is a documents box I bought from W H Smiths at the beginning of the year. Before then it has been several shoe boxes and once I managed to cram everything into a tiny thing, I'm not sure I know how I did that looking at the picture I took tonight!
Little Miss's Box happens to be a very good size and already near the top and she's only 3 and a half! Her box had my artificial flowers in that I am using for my wedding.
Mr's box is a simple shoe box, nice and big as Other Half has size 13 feet!

My special box of memories

Little Man's Box

Little Miss's Memories

As you can see the children have their tiny baby suits which always make you gasp 'You couldn't have once fitted in that?' they have their Christening candles,tiny nappies and cards from their birth. The collection for both continue to grow.
My memory box has tickets from travels, receipts I have kept,photos of me when I was a child, my friends from school, letters my best friend and I exchanged between classes,art I drew,stamps I collected and much more. I love occasionally going through my memory box and  being instantly transported into my past just by reading a sentence or looking at a picture where you can remember exactly where you were when you drew it. It's a wonderful feeling.

These days I also collect postcards. I think they're great and pick one up when ever I go to a different place. Other people also buy me them. My mum came to mine the other week with 2 postcards. One was a lovely one from her recent trip to Devon to see her Brother. The other was one her work colleague had given her whilst away on her trip to Greece! How thoughtful.

A couple of favourites

Cupcake Mummax