A Postcrossing Adventure: Weeks 28 & 29

Week 28

 

// outgoing: 

 

To make up for not sending any postcards out in week 27, I sent out THREE cards during Week 28: Journey of the Coastal Koori went to Russia (AU-355829), a Waterhouse art card to Germany (AU-355830), and some yellow orchids to the USA (AU-355831).

 

 

 

 

// incoming:

 

I received my first Postcrossing themed postcard this week, and it came from Ukraine (UA-1026994). 

 

 

 

 

Week 29

 

// outgoing: 

 

Another THREE cards sent out this week: A view of Wilpena Pound to China (AU-357181), Maggie Beer to the Netherlands (AU-357182), and an Australian dinosaur to Taiwan (AU-357187).

 

I did not receive any cards this week.

 

 

Postcrossing postcards sent to date: 61

All time: 116

 

 

Postcrossing postcards received to date: 56

All time: 113

 

 

Expired postcards to date: 2

A Postcrossing Adventure: Weeks 23 & 24

Week 23

 

// outgoing: 

 

A bit of bad luck this week: The vintage postcard from the London Transport Museum that I sent during Week 15 to the Ukraine (AU-337684) expired after having not been registered within 60 days. Perhaps it got lost, or perhaps the recipient has been distracted by the recent political turmoil in his country. Unless, by some miracle, it turns up, I guess I'll never know!

 

So, I sent another TWO cards: A Joan of Arc art card to China (AU-349141), and an Australian Game First Day of Issue card to the UK (AU-349142).

 

 

 

 

// incoming:

 

Finally, a card! A beautiful, snow-filled card from Germany (DE-3055229)!

 

 

 

 

 

Week 24

 

// outgoing:

 

Another TWO cards went out this week: Life's a beach for Germany (AU-350204), and the dazzling glamour of Sydney Harbour is on its way to the USA (AU-350517).

 

 

 

// incoming:

And would you believe it? SEVEN cards arrived in my letterbox this week, all on the same day! There were two from Hong Kong (HK-230790 and HK-232324), and one each from Hungary (HU-67729), the UK (GB-532581), Poland (PL-875188), Spain (ES-286896), and Austria (AT-177038).

 

 

My favourite message came from Chris in Hong Kong, who wrote:

"How are you doing today? Enjoying the lovely sunshine in Australia? Actually, I come from a similar city called Hong Kong, where you can get the same amount of sunlight. But trust me, you don't want to come here in the raining season as umbrella's no use while you're in such heavy rain. I haven't been to Australia, but I went to New Zealand last summer and the weather there is so changeable! The rain usually caught me off guard while I was there!"



 

 

Postcrossing postcards sent to date: 51

All time: 108

 

 

Postcrossing postcards received to date: 45

All time: 107

A Postcrossing Adventure: Week 13

Week 13

 

// outgoing:

 

 

 

I sent just TWO cards again this week: A Farming Australia (sugar cane) First Day of Issue maxicard went to the USA (AU-334714), whilst the Jane Austen quote was sent to a fellow bibliophile in New Zealand (AU-334715).

 

I like to trade blank non-tourist cards with other people to get some variety, as it is very difficult to find postcards where I live. This allows me some extra choice when sending out cards via Postcrossing. I'd love to exchange some blank cards with people (such as art cards, quotes, photography cards that aren't tourist cards etc.), so if you're interested please get in contact with me via email at sorcha(dot)sidhe(at)gmail(dot)com.

 

I'm especially interested in trading First Day of Issue maxicards and the postage paid cards from Australia Post with fellow Australians, as not all the same cards and packs are made available at every post office (or online). I can trade up to ten cards per swap.

 

 

I didn't receive any Postcrossing cards this week.

 

 

 

Postcrossing postcards sent to date: 29

All time: 89

 

 

Postcrossing postcards received to date: 35

All time: 97

 

 

LetterMo 2014: Let's do this!

 

Since I have a tendency to bite off more than I can chew, this year I have decided to take part in LetterMo. 

LetterMo began in 2010 and takes place in February each year. A participant is required to send a piece of mail on every day the post runs. As Australia Post operates Monday to Friday (we do not have weekend delivery in Australia), this equates to 20 post days, and therefore 20 pieces of mail. 

If you read this blog, you would have noticed that I am somewhat partial to letter writing. I thought LetterMo might be a good opportunity for me to send some snail mail to those people with whom I would normally either text, email or Facebook (and let's be honest: I hate all those things).

 

But, alas! I am also a slave to the wage, and during the week I simply do not have the time and/or energy to write a full-length letter (and for me, a full-length letter can be pretty darn long). So, I have decided to incorporate postcards into the challenge. On the days that I work, I will send a postcard to someone. On the days I am at home, I will send letters. I know this is the ONLY way I am going to send something every day.

Postcrossing cards will not be included. Since I send these out every week anyway, including them would kind of feel like cheating.

At the end of the month of February, I will share with you my success - or failure, whichever it may prove to be!

If you'd like to have a crack at the LetterMo challenge too, you can find out more information here.

 

But HURRY! It starts next week!
 

A tin shed for a Post Office :: Appila 5480

 

 

How many people can say they have a tin shed for a post office?

 

Very few, I suspect.

 

The town in which I live has a glorious old post office building. Made of stone and with a large polished wood counter, it is at least 100 years old. We have a Postmaster, retail and banking services, and home mail delivery at least three days a week! But with a population of around 1200 people, we are also one of the larger towns in the region.

 

There are many, much smaller towns dotted all about the place. Some are so small they don't even have a local supermarket, nor a police station, and definitely not a hospital. But there are two things we all share in common: The local pub and the post office.

 

The tiny town of Appila is made up of a scattering of houses (less than double digits), the pub and the Post Office, and is surrounded by farming land. The town itself dates back to the 1870s and was originally called Yarrowie, before the name was changed to Appila in the 1940s.

 

It is one of my favourite towns to travel through. Blink and you might miss it entirely. Every time we pass through, I ask to stop by the local post office, just for a look, a giggle, and a marvel. 

 

It is the least grand post office I have ever seen. But, as it so happens, it is also my favourite. Set next to the old Yarrowie Hotel, which towers over it almost protectively, the Appila post office is nothing more than a little tin shed that is completely open to the elements.

 

What I like most about the Appila Post Office is that post is all it is used for. No giftware, no bill pay or passport services, no retail. It's sole purpose is for the receipt and delivery of mail.

 

As Australia Post continues to reduce the number of small retail postal services across the country in favour of larger, city-bound mega-stores, it makes me wonder how much longer a post office like those found in Appila, which offers no retail benefit at all, will survive.

 

For me, the Appila Post Office is a reminder that for some people out there, it is the mail that matters. Nothing more.

 

Although, I do wonder where it is they get their postage stamps?