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The art of handwritten letters

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At the risk of sounding like a rampant nostalgic, what we’re lauding this week is putting pen to parchment.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The previous sentence initially read “pen to paper”, but through the magic of technology and a delete key, an alliterative availed itself. See what we did there?</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Point is, were this missive being written in the traditional manner, more thought would have to be taken before charging in, lest you make a mistake, think of a better word halfway through the next phrase and have to do the messy crossing out business or reach for the white-out.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The business of ink and paper forces us to slow down in a world that seems to be perpetually in top gear. You trawl through the lexicon with more care and commit the words to paper a little slower than you might on a keyboard because errors have consequences.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The first of these are aesthetic – you want the page to not be besmirched by strike throughs and annotations. Legibility is obviously key, but building on that, your own hand is capable of producing an idiosyncratic elegance no font on a pull down menu will ever match.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Then there’s the time involved. Sure you can bash out a text on the phone using no more than your thumbs and the interval it takes to travel between the train station nearest work and the one closest to your home.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But a letter requires both physical space and enough of a juncture to do the job right. For many, a bit of shoosh is also helpful, quiet giving way to concentration which can cede to contemplation as you submit to the meditative rhythm of nib on A4.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">All this inevitably adds to the quality of its contents, while the recipient is presented with prima facie evidence of the effort that you willingly and sometimes even joyfully entered into with them in mind.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Handwritten script has both gravitas and personality. There may be a time in the future when visitors to museums gaze in reverent awe at a framed copy of the email – with BCC list instead of signatures – that certified a presidential impeachment, but we doubt it will have the impact of the Declaration of Independence.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Then there’s the accoutrement of writing. Let’s start with paper, a world unto itself with ivory finishes, wefts and weaves that would turn a haberdasher green and the ability to be embossed with the always impressive “from the desk of”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tied with ribbons, they become heirlooms that age with a yellowing grace no back up disk will ever, ever, ever capture.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Can you picture anyone in the future saying to their progeny “and when your nanna signed off her Snapchat to me with this doughnut emoji, that’s when I knew I had a chance”. We think not.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Especially when contrasted with a “yours eternally” and a longing postscript.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Which brings us to pens, heavily lacquered, exquisitely weighted and created to last roughly half a century longer than your average Officeworks printer; the good ones get better with age, they become the instruments of heartbreak, joy, regret and jubilation.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Of course, a keyboard can get you there, but certainly not with the same style. There’s no flourish button on a laptop.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Adding a final touch to the exercise in personalised effort that is the handwritten letter is that you don’t just hit send. A trip to the post office is required, along with the inevitable wait in line as one person fills in their passport application form as another queries why sending a 30 kilogram mirror to Macedonia doesn’t cost less than $10.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Finally, a stamp is procured, you lick the back of Queen Elizabeth’s head and off it goes. Worth every minute of the effort. Just ask whoever’s receiving it.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Written by David Smiedt. Republished with permission of </span><a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/lifestyle/in-praise-of/in-praise-of-the-hand-written-letter.aspx"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wyza.com.au.</span></a></p>

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New letters from Princess Margaret reveal her true feelings about Prince Charles

<p>A series of letters have been discovered which were written by none other than Princess Margaret.</p> <p>The letters were written when Princess Margaret was a teenager, and they shed some light on how she was feeling about becoming a first-time aunt.</p> <p>The notes were written to Sharman Douglas, who was Princess Margaret’s close friend. Douglas was an American socialite and the duo attended parties and dinners together, forging a close bond.</p> <p>In one letter dated 1st April 1979, Margaret writes:</p> <p>"Thank you very much for my delightful evening on Wednesday. I did love every minute of it.</p> <p>"In that last fleeting moment in the 400 [the 400 Club in Leicester] you said you'd like to come and see my heavenly nephew.</p> <p>"I don't know quite when you stop work but if you'd like to drop in about 5.30 on either Wed or Thurs next week, whichever suits, I would adore to show him to you."</p> <p>There’s a series of ten letters that are now up for auction by Ewbanks in London.</p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Photo credit: EW Bank Auctions</em><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7824861/nr011215-2_1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/7425a5eb02d94bffb2990c2c62a00b76" /></p> <p>Each letter, which includes the envelope and the instructions for the notes to be delivered “by hand” are estimated to sell for $184 to $277 a piece.</p> <p>In another letter dated 12 July 1949, Princess Margaret thanks Douglas for a magnificent time.</p> <p>"I was feeling so very excited by the time our Can Can was due that I could hardly breathe but the audience was superb, and I have never enjoyed myself so much.</p> <p>"Mummie came in this morning to my room and I was so ecstatic … that I had to dress up and do the whole thing for her!"</p> <p>The series of letters are going on auction on the 22nd of March 2019.</p>

Relationships

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The handwritten thank you cards Princess Eugenie and Jack sent to royal fans

<p>On October 12, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank tied the knot in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.</p> <p>And just shy of a month later, the newlyweds have already sent a special surprise to royal fans who sent them well-wishes for their nuptials.</p> <p>One Instagram user, who describes themselves as a “devout monarchist”, posted a photo of the card they’d been sent by the couple after wishing them well on their wedding.</p> <p>Fans were sent an official portrait of the 28-year-old bride and 32-year-old groom surrounded by their bridesmaids and page boys in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BpsFqxgFGAe/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BpsFqxgFGAe/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A fantastic reply from HRH Princess Eugenie and Mr Jack Brooksbank thanking me for sending my good wishes for their wedding. #Royal #royalreply #royalletter</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by @<a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/loopycrown3/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> loopycrown3</a> on Nov 2, 2018 at 11:59am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>In the message, Eugenie and Jack say they are “completely overwhelmed with happiness”.</p> <p>Inside the card reads: “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making our wedding so special and for thinking of us as we start our married life."</p> <p>“We are completely overwhelmed with happiness. Eugenie + Jack.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BpsF30jlrub/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BpsF30jlrub/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">Inside of the card from HRH Princess Eugenie and Mr Jack Brooksbank. #Royal #royalletter #royalreply #princesseugenie</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by @<a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/loopycrown3/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> loopycrown3</a> on Nov 2, 2018 at 12:01pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The letter, which also features their monogram in golden letters, is signed individually by both Eugenie and Jack.</p> <p>Sharing a photo of the card, the fan wrote: “A fantastic reply from HRH Princess Eugenie and Mr Jack Brooksbank thanking me for sending my good wishes for their wedding.”</p> <p>Thank you cards were also sent out following Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s May 19 royal wedding.</p> <p>Commenting on the thank you cards, etiquette expert William Hanson said: “Gratitude is dying in modern Britain, but I am so glad to see that it is alive and well in the Royal Household.”</p> <p>Hanson continued, “The letters from Princess Eugenie and Mr Brooksbank are charming examples of the perfect thank you letter. They are not too short, but not too long; succinct and heartfelt."</p> <p>He added, “They show that the couple has excellent manners.”</p> <p>For her wedding day, Eugenie stunned in a Peter Pilotto and Christopher de Vos wedding gown.</p> <p>Later in the evening, she changed into a pale pink evening gown by Zac Posen.</p> <p>Do you send or like to receive thank you cards after a special occasion? Tell us in the comments below. </p>

Art

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Mum discovers bittersweet handwritten note in second-hand book

<p>A Melbourne mum and her daughters are on the search to return a second-hand book to its previous owner, after finding an emotional message inside. </p> <p>Natalie Coleman purchased a second-hand book for her daughter, Leni, from a pre-loved bookshop in Melbourne.</p> <p>When the St Kilda mum brought the 5 Minute Princess Stories book home, she discovered a message written inside the front cover of the book.</p> <p>The letter was from a man named Barry and addressed to his daughter, Alexis.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ftrudie.coleman.5%2Fposts%2F1676760875771486&amp;width=500" width="500" height="688" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></p> <p>“Dear Alexis. If you’re getting this without me, it’s because unfortunately my circumstances got too grim for me to give it to you yourself,” the note read.</p> <p>“You need to know I always loved you with all my heart.</p> <p>“You were the first thing I thought about when I woke up in the morning and the last thing I thought about at night.</p> <p>“Love Dad (Barry).”</p> <p>After reading the emotional message and knowing the meaning that must be attached to it, Natalie is now determined to track down Alexis and reunite her with her special book.</p> <p>The mum shared images of the book on social media, in the hope that it could help her track down Alexis.</p> <p>“I recently picked up this book from a St Kilda Op-shop for my daughter,” she explained in her post.</p> <p>“The message just breaks my heart… if you know Alexis (Dad named Barry) I would love to return your book.”</p> <p>The post has been shared in several Facebook groups but Alexis has not yet been found.</p> <p>“As much as we love the book, we’d like to see it returned to the little girl whose dad wrote the letter,” Natalie told the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/mum-finds-tragic-handwritten-note-left-in-secondhand-book/news-story/ecf779feaad23ba2dc354ae95e5105f5" target="_blank">Herald Sun</a></em></strong></span>.</p> <p>“Any young person would treasure these words from their father.”</p>

Books

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Grandma sends granddaughter photos of handwritten notes instead of texting

<p>A sweet grandmother, who may not fully understand how text messaging on mobile phones work, improvised in the best way she could for her granddaughter.</p> <p>US student Jenna Savage shared images of her phone conversation she had with her grandmother on Twitter, which started when Jenna asked if she could send her some pictures for an assignment.</p> <p>Her caring grandmother duly sent the pictures and when she finished the task, wanted to make sure she had done it right.</p> <p>However, instead of texting out a message to Jenna, she hand-wrote a note and then sent a picture of it.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">i needed my grandma to send me pics of college stuff and instead of texting me she wrote on paper and took pics of it <a href="https://t.co/opzUmkKaNm">pic.twitter.com/opzUmkKaNm</a></p> — jenna🍁🌻🍂 (@jennasavaqe) <a href="https://twitter.com/jennasavaqe/status/924736256826839040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2017</a></blockquote> <p>When Jenna thanked her grandmother, and assured her she had done a great job, the thoughtful grandma then sent back another hand-written note that said, “I’m so happy.”</p> <p>What is the funniest technological “mistake” you have made? Share your story in the comments below. </p>

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