The front

The back

Back in the day, I had friends who sent me postcards. These days they either e-mail, send an expensive text, or we just chat as usual via Windows Live Messenger (formerly MSN Messenger). This week’s archive postcard is from Chomas, a friend of mine from school days.

Before you read the text of the postcard, you may be interested to know that Tom was the chap that I ran over on my bike somewhere between Arisaig and Mallaig. It was his fault, he’d clumsily hit a “passing place” on the single-track road while looking at his chainset. It was making a funny noise, seemingly. But not as funny a noise as him hitting a hillock at 20 mph, coming off his bike and landing on the road right in front of me.

What could I do? I hit him, of course!

To cut a long story short, his brother delivered a replacement bike that evening and took me home, with big holes in my hands, knees and hips. It was like stigmata but in the wrong places and less holy.

I’ve a feeling that this was a holiday he took shortly after that dramatic tour; I may be completely wrong.

Dear Gareth,

Having a wonderful wet holiday here in Orkney. We’ve visited quite a few of the ancient neolithic sites, gone around some of the other islands, done some cycling (with difficulty ‘cos I bent the crank on my 4-day-old chainset in a slight accident) played some golf in the rain, and gone for some cliff walks in the rain.

I’ve also done some fishing. I managed to hook and land myself a terrible 4 day cold (ever heard of it) which is just starting to subside now thanks to the help of a few (hundred) tissues.

Thomas

What I think he meant was: wish you were here!

I found a box of old postcards today. Expect to see them appear on the blog through the coming months.

For starters I thought I’d share with you this postcard from my school friend Alasdair — who was always known to us as “Egg” back in the day — from a holiday he enjoyed (?) in France in 1987, the year of our ‘O’ Grades.

Above: Gouffre de Padirac (Lot) – 1. Lac de la pluie (Lake of the rain)

Just in case you wondered, “Zen” was our Staffordshire Bull Terrier (a dog with a mind of its own!); named after the computer in Blake’s 7.

Dear Gareth,

Travelled to France overnight and now staying on campsite in Dordogne. The British courier on our site sits drinking outside his caravan, informing everyone who passes on his views on immigration and Arthur Scargill. Have spent much time in caves. Yesterday was Bastille Day. A very painful experience for the Royalist. The weather is extremely hot. Regards to Zen.

Egg.

I particularly like his seamless transition from Arthur Scargill to caves.