Putting Pen To Paper

 Two unexpected gifts came my way recently – they are the loveliest sort, out of the blue like that. The first from my good friend Carole, back in Kirby Muxloe, a copy of a new book. This was written by Vivien,[pictured] who was her bridesmaid [back in 1964, I think it was!] 

Vivien now lives ‘across the pond’  - but she and I have become friends via this blog, and we sometimes email each other.

Vivien’s book is about her experiences as a new bride out in Africa. I shall review the book when I have read it properly. She hopes to sell a few copies here in the UK, as the profits are all going to charity. She wants her gift of writing to be a blessing to others.

The second gift was a fountain pen – my friend Peter was having a sort out of stationery stuff, and found an excess of Parker Pens – so kindly passed one on to me [along with spare cartridges] It is so lovely to hold and to write with.

A short text is good in an emergency, an email is useful for passing on more information, a postcard with a picture is lovely, a letter printed from a PC is legible but always feels businesslike 

– but nothing beats a couple of sheets of decent notepaper, covered in flowing script, expressing affection love and concern.

Thank you Carole, and Vivien and Peter for your generosity [I may even write you proper thank you letters sometime!]