Wish You Were There

HELLO! HAVING A GREAT TIME, WEATHER MIXED SO FAR.....

Loading and then unloading boxes for a recent move I chanced upon the postcard collection. Some I kept because the pictures on the front were nice enough to frame one day, some because of their comedy value [*scandanavians blowing ENORMOUS horns*, a postcard from Hel etc.] and the ones from dad. From 1988, when I was still at home looking after the pooch while they tripped, to 2007 when they no longer went abroad and were in declining health, dad would send a card. I think he saw it as a duty and perhaps a chore, but he knew I liked collecting so humoured me.

They were always written in capitals, usually contained one 'we're getting old' joke and had a certain rhythm to them. They are also a marker to my own life changes, the different addresses instantly take me back to those times, happy, sad or otherwise.

MENORCA THURS. 9.6.88.

DEAR ED & JUDY.

HAVING A GREAT TIME. WEATHER MIXED SO FAR, BUT WE'VE MANAGED TO GET A BIT OF COLOUR. HOTEL & FOOD COULDN'T BE BETTER. WENT ROUND THE ISLAND YESTERDAY. SEE YOU SOON
Ernie

There was a time when we called dad 'Ernie', 'Ern' or 'Ernst' [sis' kept to 'dad' I think]. Later we reverted to 'dad' out of respect, you shouldn't call your dad by his first name right? This must have been teenage rebellion that hung on too long.

ITALIA 6. 5. 90.

JUST GOT BACK FROM SORRENTO TOWN WINDOW SHOPPING! HAVING A GOOD TIME SO FAR. WEATHER SUNNY & WARM. SCENERY REALLY BEAUTIFUL. FOOD GOOD & HOTEL GOOD. GOING TO ROME TUESDAY & CAPRI FRIDAY. (DON'T FORGET MAY'S BIRTHDAY 16TH!) SEE YOU SOON.
"THE OLD FOGIE"
Ernie

Mum & dad's best friends lived in the next street in the Dagenham grid. Joyce & Ern started going on holiday with Joyce & Ern. Two lots of Joyce & Erns within a hundred yards of each other, it had to happen.

MALAGA TUES 9.6.92. 17.45 PM.

ED,
1 HOUR DELAY ON FLIGHT OUT. HOTEL ROOMS OK. FOOD NOTHING TO WRITE HOME ABOUT, SO I WON'T! WEATHER GREAT, SUNNY, BUT WINDY, WHICH KEEPS THE TEMPERATURE REASONABLE. WENT TO LOCAL MARKET TO-DAY. ERN DROVE THE HIRE CAR (AN OPEL CORSA CITY ABOUT THE SIZE OF A FIESTA).
SEE YOU SOON
ERNST.

MENORCA 19. 5. 94.*

DEAR ED.
NOW I'M 65 THEY SAY I'LL BE THE NEXT MEGALITH ON THE ISLAND! HAVING A GREAT TIME. SUN, SEA & SAND AND ALL THE FOOD YOU CAN EAT & MORE! I WAS DRAGGED ON TO THE STAGE LAST NIGHT & NOW PEOPLE KEEP COMING UP TO ME & SAYING "YOU'RE ERNIE, YOU WERE GOOD!!!" WE'LL RING YOU WHEN WE GET HOME, SEE YOU SOON
Ernst!
*dad's birthday

MALLORCA TUES 26/10/95

DEAR ED.
WE'LL BE HOME BEFORE YOU GET THIS CARD BUT THOUGHT I'D SEND ONE ANYWAY. OUR HOTEL IS THE ONE ON THE LEFT HAND FAR DISTANCE. GETTING READY FOR DINNER, GETTING BROWNED OFF IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY. UP THE HAMMERS!
Ernst

ES CANA 1/10/99

DEAR ED.
HOTEL OK. LOTS OF FOOD. WEATHER UP TO TO-DAY WINDY, CLOUDY & WARM. TO-DAY IT'S NO LONGER WINDY, SUN IS OUT & IT'S GOING TO BE A SCORCHER BY THE LOOK OF IT. OFF TO THE MARKET SOON. THEN WHO KNOWS? GETTING BROWNED OFF IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY. PROBABLY BE HOME BEFORE YOU GET THIS.
MUM & DAD

FRIDAY 1700 HRS. 26TH SEPT'03

DEAR ALL,
HAVING A GREAT TIME, SAME HOTEL AS WE CAME TO IN MARCH, HAD A THUNDERSTORM IN THE NIGHT BUT IT CLEARED BY MORNING. THIS IS FIRST DAY OF PROPER WEATHER, LET'S HOPE IT STAYS FOR 3 MORE WEEKS. UP THE IRONS! GOOD TO SEE THEY WON SHAME ABOUT SPURS!
PATER.

MALTA 22/2/2006 [AS REQUESTED]
DEAR ED ET AL.
HAVING A GREAT TIME. LOTS OF DANCING FOOD & WALKING. 2 MORE WEEKS TO GO NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO HOME. I'VE PHONED SUE & DAVE & I'LL PHONE ON FRIDAY. (THAT'S RATHER SILLY COS YOU'LL GET THIS CARD AFTER I'VE PHONED!) SILLY ME! I'LL ALSO PHONE WHEN WE GET HOME. HOTEL & COMPANY 1ST CLASS! GOING FOR A SHORTER WALK ON MY OWN, LONGER WALK EARLIER ALL OF US LOOKING BROWNED OFF IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY!
STILL SUNNY OUTSIDE.
DAD & MUM



 Wish they were here. x