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AIBU?

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Original poster

Considering letter writing

42 replies

IliveonCoffee · 03/02/2021 10:11

I'm thinking of trying to kill 2 birds with one stone.

I need to get out more. I work from home and don't go anywhere. I don't 'go for a walk' on my own without a purpose. I did think (and only think) about walking to the shop every day, just to get out and give me a purpose, but its obviously not an essential shop everytime.

2nd issue is I can be quite bad at keeping in contact. Worse I think because of lockdown, I desperately want to stay in contact but then I just...don't.

So I was thinking, putting pen to paper, writing to various friends and family, and then every day or so, walk to the postbox.

But I thinking, would this be all great for a week...but then no-one would write back. At best, send a text thanking me for the letter...

If you got one, would you think aww how nice to get a letter in the post, or what weirdo sends letters? Would you reply in kind?

Yanbu - send letters, I'd love to get one
Yabu - what a waste of a stamp.

OP posts:
HLW22 · 03/02/2021 10:22

I did this with my friends a few years ago but as you say, it sizzles out after a little bit, even with my friends who were into it. Some friends took ages to answer, or didn't. But also life got in the way with me sometimes too.
However, what's the harm in trying it out? Your friends might be into it as well and its a relatively cheap hobby if it does continue.

dayslikethese1 · 03/02/2021 10:25

I have a couple friends I write to and them back, on and off. You have to sound out who is into the idea. I love writing letters but don't get round to it often. It's a good thing to do on a rainy weekend. I have a quill pen and everything now Smile

DuckyMcDuck · 03/02/2021 10:34

I think it's a lovely idea but then I like writing!
Maybe using cards or notelets might be a good start: it means people can put them out if they would like to and they can be less daunting than a blank piece of paper for people to write back.

BabyofMine · 03/02/2021 10:36

I think it’s a great idea in principle, but I think friends and family are more likely to send a text or email back or phone you (I bet most will contact you in some way I just doubt they’ll send a letter).

I think a better idea would be to find a few penpals with common interests, I’m sure there must be places to find them online? Or are you in any interest groups maybe on Facebook or something? You could ask if anyone wants a pen pal.

luxxlisbon · 03/02/2021 10:39

Why don't you call people on your walk? Stick in some headphones and have a catch up.

MissBaskinIfYoureNasty · 03/02/2021 10:41

It's a nice idea if you'll enjoy doing it. I don't write letters so I probably wouldn't write back even if I had good intentions to. I'd be more likely to text in reply.

FolkyFoxFace · 03/02/2021 10:43

I love letter writing! I love sending and receiving letters - it's a wonderful thing to keep alive, a nice thing to sit down and do, and exciting to wait for the post too.

I've two people I still write letters to. We could quite easily send messages or texts, but because we have quite lengthy conversations (can you tell I'm a rambler by this post already? Grin ) it's nice to pop it into a letter instead.

Some people don't keep up with them though - I've a friend who loves getting them but never finds time to reply. She's just not used to it, so that's fine. You won't know until you try!

There's a woman I work with who loves letter writing. I didn't realise this until the start of lockdown; she asked for some work friends addresses and started sending notes. I was overjoyed, some weren't bothered, and some found it weird (though didn't mind the birthday gifts she sent Hmm ), so I think there's only one way to find out!

LEELULUMPKIN · 03/02/2021 10:45

You might want to take a look at Postcrossing OP.

I've been doing it for over 5 years and this last year in particular it's been a God send.

It will really open up your world!

www.postcrossing.com/

SleepingStandingUp · 03/02/2021 10:50

I wnSted to do this op but wussed out cos I have nothing to write and we keep in touch on messenger

StCharlotte · 03/02/2021 10:54

Do it! My sister and I are writing to each other, it's lovely.

Also a couple of friends.

I used to have several penfriends as a teenager. I must have written a couple of letters a week back then.

Lemming20 · 03/02/2021 10:56

@LEELULUMPKIN this sounds lovely and exactly what I am looking for! Does it feel relatively secure - I’d love a pen pal or similar but I am a bit Hmm about giving my address out to someone I really don’t know...

hansgrueber · 03/02/2021 11:06

Why not start writing a long detailed diary? In 50 years time no-one will be reading your old emails, texts etc. but if you buy a few lovely notebooks they will find them and hopefully enjoy reading them.

Toomanyradishes · 03/02/2021 11:06

This might not be your thing, but there are charities who organise letter writing to people in prison who may npt have anyone to visit/write. They have procedures in place to follow to protect yourself etc I appreciate it might not be what you were thinking of and its not for everyone

LEELULUMPKIN · 03/02/2021 11:20

Very OP. I have sent and received over 3000 cards in that time and am in the top 50 senders for the UK.

Not once have I ever had a weirdo or anything odd happen :)

I have however virtually "met" some incredible people from every walk of life and there is nothing more exciting than waiting for the postie to arrive and wondering where in the world I will "meet" someone today.

If you need any tips or advice just PM me. I've got my bodyweight in postcards too so if you need some to start you off I'd be happy to send you some.

Original poster
IliveonCoffee · 03/02/2021 11:21

@DuckyMcDuck I like the idea of sending a card! Probably means I write a shorter message than spilling my heart out!

@luxxlisbon it's the getting out for a walk in the first place tbf...I feel if I had to go to the postbox there is some purpose. If anything I'm still likely talk to someone else on the way.

@LEELULUMPKIN that looks interesting! I may well investigate.

@Toomanyradishes that might be interesting to investigate.

I think I will give it a try. I may start on the family children first, that way it's just a short message, and it doesn't feel as wasted as writing a long letter and getting 'thanks for the letter, lovely to hear!'

OP posts:
PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 03/02/2021 11:35

My DSis and I each buy a box of postcards, take out the postcards and swap boxes. Then we send them to each other, and end up with a box filled with written postcards. That's quite a good way of keeping it up, because you have a target! We've been doing this for years (since university) now, so have boxes of 100, but I think we started off with boxes of 20 maybe?

We tend to write once a week to each other, but sometimes it's less often, depending on how busy we are. Postcards are easy because they're quick. Sometimes we've just sent a recipe or poem, rather than a 'letter' because we do text a lot too.

MrsMoastyToasty · 03/02/2021 11:40

Our local elderly care home has been receiving letters from our local secondary school pupils

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 03/02/2021 11:40

Oh, my (long-winded!) point with that was if you have somebody who's keen as well, it encourages you to keep it up with them. This is the type of set we use.

I do write to other friends as well, but that's definitely more ad hoc.

willFOURbagsbeenough · 03/02/2021 11:47

My nana still takes to her study once a week and writes to all her friends. She’s housebound now since covid and some health issues so I take her letters and post them for her.

Choccyp1g · 03/02/2021 12:00

Polkadots and Moonbeams I love the swapping postcards idea, but can't quite work out, do you end up with the set of cards you chose, or the ones your DS chose?

One of my sisters always puts the date and writes a note inside birthday cards. I use them as bookmarks, and it is lovely to come across old ones in half-read books.
Since COVID I've been writing proper letters to nieces and nephews; hoping that writing back to me could be a useful homeschooling opportunity, though I don't really mind if they reply or not.

OldPervsWithNoFannyOfTheirOwn · 03/02/2021 12:05

Great idea!

I’m not sure I’d even mind not getting like for like replies if I was enjoying writing and a posting walk.

Glad you mentioned walking with a purpose too because that’s made me think this morning.

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 03/02/2021 12:08

The way we do it, I end up with the set she chose, and she ends up with the set I chose (though we try to choose ones we think the other would like!).

So say she chose Alice in Wonderland ones, and I chose National Trust Gardens, at the very beginning we swap boxes, so I have an AinW box and 100 NT postcards, and she has the opposite. When her AinW postcard arrives, I put it in the AIW box.

There's no reason you couldn't do it the other way around though, and swap the 100 postcards rather than the boxes, or just end up with opposite sets to boxes (possibly easier if you don't see each other to swap boxes).

Scarby9 · 03/02/2021 12:14

My aunt died in September 2019, leaving my 82 year old uncle alone after 55 years of marriage.

Since a few weeks into the first lockdown in March, he has established himself a daily routine to keep him going, which includes handwriting a letter to someone every week day.

Recently, he has started painting too, and includes a small (A6) painting with some of the letters. He then incorporates posting the letter into his daily walk.

I think it is a lovely idea!

BabyofMine · 03/02/2021 14:18

I keep thinking about this thread, it’s making me want to write letters so badly. I love the swapping postcard thing.

It’s also making me think of “reasons to walk” other than for the sake of it. So far I have:
Go to the library (ours still has a click and collect service)
Walk a dog - maybe a neighbours if you don’t have one?
Those painted stones people paint and leave out for kids - leave one hidden every day if their is a park near

And that’s all I have except going to the shop which is obviously not the best idea.

Original poster
IliveonCoffee · 03/02/2021 14:44

@BabyofMine

These reasons help too! Its definitely the purpose I lack. It's like I think why do I want to bother putting on jeans, socks and shoes to go nowhere.

Whereas if I say Monday, Wednesday, I have a letter to post, Tuesday I have library books, friday, pick up bread, milk, stamps. Then there's a purpose!

OP posts: