July 24th 2026 marks the 100 year anniversary of the introduction of the greetings telegram. Up to that moment a telegram had been reserved for news of great importance and, between 1914 and 1918, great loss.
We’re focusing on the greetings. Not just telegrams, but picture postcards became a phenomenon — our inspiration for this article. And then came Instagram and the rest, so they say, is history.
It’s the summer, so we thought we’d send you some postcards. Enjoy!
Sharon – a postcard from a balloon fiesta
Woken this morning by the sound of firebreathing dragons flying overhead.
For Bristolians like me it’s a familiar noise this time of year. And a quick glance out of the bedroom window confirmed it. It’s nearly Balloon Fiesta time, and this was a test run for one of the famous mass ascents that see a hundred hot air balloons take to the skies over the city.
The weather conditions were perfect at dawn, utterly clear and so still that the balloons drifted s s l l l o o o o w l y eastwards. It’s a beautiful sight. Fingers crossed we’ll get to see them again in August.
Because another glimpse is not guaranteed. It’s a game of chance and weather dependent. So you have to take your opportunities whenever you hear that dragon’s roar.
Andy – a postcard from the edge of the world
I am quietly weeping for joy. It’s how a sudden experience of the infinite feels for me. On a clifftop high above the ocean my internal narrator has covered its head with a blanket and mumbled into silence. Only my heart has words.
I feel thrilled, dizzy — and then stilled. Time and thought have left me. I have no sense of separation from the place and moment I am in. The boundaries and meaning of ‘me’ dissolve. Too briefly.
I thought I knew sky, understood sea, had seen every shade of blue. And now this.
I begin to wonder what Portuguese mariners of the 15th Century thought and felt when they stood here — right at the edge of the known world — and chose to sail over that uncertain horizon.
A lighthouse has stood on Cabo de São Vicente for centuries. South of that, a school built by a navigator king to teach his seamen how to sail on uncharted winds and tides still stands.
That evening, my then-six-years-old daughter asks me: did we really stand at the edge of the Gnomes world today, daddy?
Wonder is truly wonderful.
Mark – a postcard to Ezra
Welcome to this crazy, beautiful, unhinged, yet [almost] perfect world.
Happy ‘Two Week’iversary’. You won’t know it but you’ve had a blast so far.
So as you set out on life’s big adventure, keep these words close and read them often.
Be kind. It costs little but changes more than you will ever know.
Be brave. Courage isn’t about being fearless; it’s about doing the right thing.
Be gracious. Thank people often. Forgive quickly. Don’t let pride be more important than people.
Stay curious. Ask questions. Wonder how things work. Wonder why people think differently. Learn eagerly, but be willing to unlearn too. Some of life’s greatest lessons will be learnt by changing your mind.
Look after this remarkable planet. Borrow it gently and leave it a little better than you found it. Be a good citizen of the world. Listen more than you speak and seek to understand. Remember that everyone has a story you cannot see.
One day you’ll stop being five. When you do, bottle what it feels like. The wonder. The imagination. The endless questions. Open that bottle often. It will help you find your way when life becomes messy.
Love your parents unconditionally. They won’t always get things right, but every decision will be made from love. Cwtch them tight. Kiss them always. Your time with them is precious. Make the most of every moment.
Measure your life not by what you collect, but by what you contribute. Give more than you take. Leave people in a better place than you found them. Laugh often. Love deeply. Be grateful.
So go be curious dear Ezra and I’ll be with you every step of the way.
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