Random Photograph: The Unknown Lady

I bought this photo at Attic Books last week. I usually name the people in photos I buy, but I couldn't bring myself to name this lady. She looks like she's a bit annoyed at someone taking her picture at random, but she also looks like she's had a bit of a bad day or perhaps just received some bad news. 

It was what was written on the back that brought me to the decision to not name her. 

July 1944

She was on the way to the canteen

Never 'specting to be seen

So if you care to take a look

you'll see what poor duffer took

Random Postcard: Hong Kong

Hong Kong Island viewed from Tsim Sha Tsui East

I received this from Emily in Hong Kong through a Postcrossing trade. 

Random Postcard: Japan

I'm not entirely sure what the script on the front says, but if anyone knows please let me know!

I received this from Akiko through PostCrossing.

ID: JP-39789

NaNoWriMo musings...

So my original idea for this year's Nano has been put on hold. Well, not really. I've already started writing it. See, I was afraid of losing interest in this particular story so I decided to just start writing. 

It's about a year in the life of a rural schoolteacher in 1901-1902. Actually, I believe it's her only year teaching. I haven't quite decided whether they're going to fire her or not. I suppose I'll find out when I get to that part!

And I have two ideas for my possible Nano this year:

1) I'm resurrecting a story I started writing a few years ago, but I'm completely rewriting it. It'll be set in a different time period and possibly in another country. It's a fantasy-type story in which a young girl is transported to another world through a book. Yeah, it's been done before but look at me not caring. 

2) Letters and postcards between friends (and their families) during either the 1920s, 1930s, or 1940s. I've been reading The Mitfords: Letters Between Six Sisters, so I was heavily inspired by it. 

and 3), for there is a third option, I combine the two above ideas. In fact, that might actually be my plan for Nano where quantity rules over quality. Hurrah word count!

I've been lurking about on that Nano forums. My post count should probably be triple at what it is now if I actually finished replies to posts and such. I'd start them, then start clicking on random other things before finishing and posting. 

I've opted to take part in a 'NaNoWriMo Care Package Exchange', so I've got a few ideas on what to send! It's going to depend on who I get and what they like and all. Don't want to send a shiny pink notebook full of stickers of fluffy kittens if they're writing about cute-animal-eating-zombies. 

But before I do any of that, I have to continue working on a friend's very belated birthday gift. And before I do THAT, I must go load up on caffeine. 

Random Postcard: Helmand, The Soldiers' Story

'In 2006 British airborne troops were the first NATO soldiers sent to secure Afghanistan's Taleban heartland, the Helmand province.
Some renamed it Hell Land.
When they came home, twice as many replaced them.
Helmand: The Soldiers' Story.
Their achievement. Their story. Their words.'

I received this through PostCrossing from Jann in Germany on September 26th, 2007.

ID: DE-102515

Random Postcard: Downtown Skyline, New York City

Downtown New York from North River showing Woolworth, N.Y. Telephone, and Other Buildings.

Message on the back:

Dear Katherine,

Your word (?) picture of cool comfort intrigued me. We are looking forward to leaving to the city this week-end. 

We have had a busy summer, but it has been fun. As ever,

K.Colton

Postmarked 10th of August, 1938. 

Postcard: "The Confectioner's Shop"

The Confectioner's Shop, from 'The Book of Shops' (1899) by F.D. Bedford

I bought this card some time ago, but only just scanned it today. 

Message on the back:

6 APR/81

Hi Betty - Really did appreciate your encouraging letter - had no time to reply - My 1st week in London, by myself, was educational in learning the traffic system. Today is the 4th day of our 21-day tour. I find Julie & I break out into giggles over the smallest thing. Have just explored the Fashion Museum & Roman Baths in Bath. Were on the Cornwall Coast yesterday. This lady on the card is now skinny & in tweeds, clambering over cliffs with binoculars, camera, & a big dog. On our way to Oxford tonight. (We buy food & wine & have picnics on the trains.) 

Love, Olga & Julie

Postcard: British Virgin Islands

Biras Creek Hotel, View from Restaurant. Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands.

I found this postcard on top of some books at the Goodwill. 

The message on the back reads:

41' crc, terrible cockpit but otherwise performing very well. Average 20-25 knot winds, speed 7-10 knots. Islands are very unspoilt, lovely golden beaches, turquoise waters & super snorkling. Anchor out every night. Thinking of you both a lot. (very hot)

Love Jerry G.

Undated. No idea when it was sent because the date on the postmark isn't visible at all. 

Postcard: Paoay Church, Philippines

I received this card today from Krislan in the Philippines! I traded some cards with him on the PostCrossing forum a while back, and this came as a nice surprise today!

(For the record, I shall be sending a card in return next week when I'm able to buy more stamps.)

Jen's NaNoWriMo Kit

24 days until November and the writing madness begins! I have been preparing and here are my essentials for NaNoWriMo:

Binder in which to keep random sheets of paper and stuff. 





Notebooks in which to write. 


Pens and pencils with which to write. 


Journal to bitch and whine in; notebooks for, well, making notes. (I keep one of the small ones in my pocket at all times.)


Books for reference and inspiration. (The Pocket Muse is a godsend)

'Forgotten English' day calendar. I'll be using some of these words in this year's novel whether it's relevant or not. :p 

Tim Hortons Iced Cappuccino for caffeine.

Kleenex to cry in when things get tough. Or incredibly sad. (Co-starring my dog's nose)
 

Dog to walk. At some point, I will have to leave the house. 

Not shown:

- whiteboard and dry-erase markers for mapping out ideas and such. 

- hockey games, particularly Leafs games for stress-relieving. 

- penpals and friends for when I need to write but don't feel like working on the Great Novel.

PostCrossing: "Nordic Night", Finland

I received this today from Marja-Liisa!

The illustration is by Osmo Omppu Omenamaki.

Actually, I've received this same postcard last year! I was kind of wondering when I'd receive duplicate cards. But I don't mind at all! I really like this card so it's nice to have two now. :)

ID: FI-376232

PostCrossing: National Air & Space Museum, Washington DC

I received this from Bruce today!

ID: US-260444

PostCrossing: England

I received this yesterday from Alex in England!

ID: GB-49233

Photographs

I bought six photographs yesterday: 

This is David and his trusty steed, Barley. 

This lovely lady is Helen. 

I have yet to name everyone in this photo! But the dog's name is Winston. 

Another family that is still nameless.

This handsome guy is  called Joe. He looks like he could be a hockey player!

And another family photo, this time it's a wedding photo! I feel sorry for the poor little girl in the front on the far right. She looks like she has to pee badly! Poor thing, I know how that feels like! 

Postcards: Australia and France

Yesterday I bought these four postcards on a whim from Attic Books. 

NOTE: All messages are transcribed as they are written. Where full names are concerned, I have only included the first name and last initial. 

Written on back:

With love and Best Wishes for a Happy Birthday

From your loving Niece Edith.

Undated.

Red Kangaroo, Australia. Written on back:

26-1-1984.

Dear George,

Thank you again for your contribution in making our stay in Sarnia so pleasant. And interesting.

The Canada-badges are pourdly worne, and make us think back of a place, we rapidly developed a great affinity for.

Pam T., a friend of ours, was thrilled indeed with the "Fitzmaurice" info. She wishes to thank you personally. Thanks again, dear friend, and may we meet again. 

Greetings also for your kind lady.

Salutations, 

Tom. Melbourne, Australia.

Paris, France - Les jardins et le Palais du Louvre; au centre, l'arc de triomphe du Carrouse. Written on back:

June 29th, 84

Hi! Just back to Paris after a week in the South. Men like "máture" women over here as I've found out twice - But I am staying cool George, I can't be unfaithful to you Love!

Planning to go to Alsace next week. Paris is just gorgeous & the US $ goes a long way - even here - mostly in restaurants. Food is just splendid.

Grosses bises. Micki.

Paris, France - Pont des Arts et l'Institut. 

No message on back.

Obligatory Introduction

Hello!

I'm Jen and I collect postcards, old photographs, and old books. I don't collect for monetary value because if I did, I wouldn't own some of my shoddy-looking things. 

I received postcards in the mail from PostCrossing and from friends. I buy old postcards from a shop downtown (Attic Books). I don't really have any set criteria for which postcards I buy. Sometimes I look for something specific, other times I just wing it. They're quite cheap to buy, so I can buy quite a few!

I buy old photographs from the above-mentioned shop. They have a small box on the counter which you can poke through and find 'Instant Ancestors!' It's kind of sad when you think about it. All these photos once belonged to friends or relatives of the people pictured, but for one reason or another, they were given away or sold. But that's when people like me come in and decide to adopt some of them.  Most of them, unfortunately, do not come with names already written on the back. So I get to name them. It's quite fun, but I remain quite curious as to what their real names are and how close I am when I named them. 

As I mentioned above, I also collect old books. 'Old' in this case is pre-1950s. But I only buy what a) I'm interested in, and b) I can afford. So that kind of narrows it down a bit! I buy these books from a number of places - secondhand bookshops, thrift stores, rummage sales, etc. I'm a sucker for children's books and ones with pretty covers (I feel so shallow when I buy on basis of how the cover looks!)

As for me, I'm 25 and live in London, Ontario. I love to read and write. I have dreams of being published one day, but I rarely ever finish any of my stories. Nevertheless, I continue writing in hopes of coming up with decent endings. 

Also, I'm participating in this year's (2008) National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) so I'll be blogging about that as well. For the moment, I have a decent storyline but we'll see if it sticks around long enough for November! 

I also have 3 cats, a dog, and a turtle. I still live at home because I currently don't earn enough to move out yet. My mum also has 3 cats so it's quite a zoo! I look after my sister who is severely mentally disabled, but is fairly easy to care for. She loves reading the Beano books. 

By the time I die, I hope to:

- have one of my stories published

- fly a plane

- ride an Icelandic horse in Iceland

- get a job which I love so much that I would gladly do it for free (but I won't do it for free because I have to make a living somehow!)

- learn French and Dutch fairly fluently (enough to get by without the aid of a dictionary or phrasebook in Quebec, France, Netherlands, Belgium, etc.)