Every Saturday for the last few weeks I have been trying to unclutter my flat with a bit of spring cleaning. It’s really rather amazing just how much ‘stuff’ we can accumulate over time and tuck away with that unrealistic hope of needing it again one day. Today I focussed on the dresser in the living room that’s covered in pads, pens, papers, pottery, pictures and a couple of dozen postcards sent by friends and family. I’ll be honest and say that a lot of the time postcards are always appreciated but it isn’t very long before they’re slipped into the paper and cardboard recycling bin. As I sifted through the thick pile of correspondence, it dawned on me that my late great mother was an incredibly prolific postcard writer. In fact anyone who knew my mother knew that her social skills ran a lot deeper than a single glass of wine. Elaine was forever writing to family and friends, or on the phone for hours to chat and cheer about anything and everything. To be honest, I took some of these conversations and cards for granted and really didn’t pay too much attention to recording them or filing them away. So, it was a pleasant surprise to find a stack of letters from her this morning. Here are her words which will hopefully reflect a little bit of the incredibly bright and warm spirit she had and shared equally with everyone she knew.

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