omiyage

Souvenir from England

I'm really happy when I receive mail from somebody. Recently, most people tend to use e-mail, so if I receive a handwritten letter or postcard which a stamp on it, I 'm very pleased. Moreover, if it is an airmail, I'm especially happy. When I receive an airmail, my favourite the RC SUCCESSION's song, "A letter from a girl" starts to play in my head.

♪An airmail comes when I'm really tired of this boring country
A letter from you comes from very far a far place
Actually, I'm very crazy about you
A　letter from you and I can feel you between the lines of the letter
I can even smell you Wow　Wow
(A letter from a girl by the RC SUCCESSION)

When I travel by myself, I can't forget sending postcards. Whenever I travel, I choose and carry a notebook for the trip, then I write down what happens , where I go and what I do. On the first page, I've usually written my friends' addresses.
On my trips, my schedule is always very tight. However, I write postcards to my parents and friends even if I am pushed for time. I will make time ; for example, before I go to bed, before I have breakfast or check out the B&B, or when I'm on the bus and so on.
I'm in such and such a place now. Yesterday, I did this and that. I'm going to visit so and so, etc. etc. etc.
I tend to write similar things to different people, but I write individually to everybody, even though in a sometimes hasty scribble. While writing my postcards, "A letter from a girl" rings in my head. After finishing writing, I put a sticker, "by airmail"on each card, and finally write "JAPAN". Then I post the cards in a mail box.
I always write some postcards even though I'm busy. I do this because I think that everybody likes receiving airmail as I do.
Probably airmails can send the atmosphere of my trip to my parents and friends in Japan.
On this page, I'll show you some cards Which I've collected. All of them are my favourites.
Hey, can you smell a little of England from them?

The standard cards during the trip are the cards which have some photos of scenery. Firstly, I choose some cards to send from a lot of cards in various souvenir shops.

left : ST. MICHAEL'S MOUNT　right : ©Leeds Castle Foundation.

Sometimes, I choose cards which have illustrations and some nostalgic photos

the upper line : original water-colour by David Skipp ©S. P. & P. R. Polentine　left : THE MINACH THEATRE : right : ST IVES
the lower line : ©The Francis Frith Collection, Andover, Hampshire

Whenever I drop in shops which sell some cards, I nearly always find some which I want to buy. Sometimes, I've chosen about ten cards. I like to send a card which I bought in England even when I'm in Japan because the cards have an exotic atmosphere and are beautiful. Don't you think that sending them is wonderful? However, I sometimes don't send them because I want to keep them.

Actually, I have fourteen kinds of cards! In Galway, Ireland, I bought them at a shop which I found while walking early in the morning. I don't know why, but I liked them very much.
Gertrude Degenhardt　left : Jugendlich ; the middle 1 : Air ; the middle 2 : Lunarette ; right : nice day today

I like animal cards. I especially like pigs. The guy who is saying "Hey, Let's Party"(right) fitted my taste.

left : ©1990 Reflex Publishing and Licensing Ltd.　Licenced to Reflex Marketing Ltd. Photographer :　Dave Morse for Toller Associates　the middle : ©PAT CLEARY　right : It's a birghday card.　©The Original Poster CompanyLimited

For Several years since my first visit to England, I have liked such cards. In those days, Princess Diana was still alive and married to Charles.
Surprisingly, these cards are not square and are cut according to the special lines, such as the shape of a face or a dish. I wasn't sure if these cards would be delivered in Japan, but I think they probably were.

Shapes©

I found these bear's cards in the Lake District. In this series, some bears are travelling around the Lake District. They are really cute, aren't they?

©Wendy Phillips Ltd.　left : Game of 'Pooh Sticks'-Carrock Beck near Caldbeck　the middle : Lunch at Tarn Hows　right : Which way now?-Thirlmere

I bought this GUINESS series in Ireland. On each card, there is a catch phrase, such as "Had your GUINNESS today?" or "There's nothing like a GUINNESS". The variety of catch phrases shows just how appealing GUINESS is!

©REAL IRELAND DESIGN LIMITED
Photography ©Liam Blake

Gift Cards

You can usually see gift cards near post cards. Whenever I choose them, time always passes so quickly.

left : ©1996 Paper D'Art
the middle : Familiar Mr. Been's card. ©TIGER TELEVISION LIMITED 1996　CARTEL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED　
right : In this card, some beads are used and some parts are patched up. I think that this card is very elaborate. ©Second Nature Ltd.

"Trouble in paradise" series by Erika Oller. I feel sorrow when I see them. Moreover, I like these colours. They have a mellow atmosphere. Don't you think? I bought them in St. Ives.

These cards are desined by ROSINA WACHTEISTER who was born in Vienna. Their colour and illustration is most appealing to my taste.

Cards which I bought at Southport in 2003. In the cards of the upper line, some hand-written sentences are printed together with a small black and white picture. Each of the cards in the lower line, has a handmade pressed flower.

the upper line : ©Henry Butler Partnership　left : Hen party ; right : Star gatherer．
the lower line : Forever cards．©G.F.

（2003.11.19, 2004.10.16）

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Trip to England