mickiecheryl

September 2019 - Sad Update - Due to a change to seemingly all of the post boxes near me or my workplace, I can now no longer be confident that my post is being picked up the same day. It seems that a few of mine haven't been picked up for nearly a week! If you get a swap from me that is postmarked over a couple of days later than the deadline, please rest assured that I only click that I have sent when I have sent (and if I'm going to be late I will message my partners). If it is postmarked that late, please drop me a message. I'm going to try not using the same postbox, but if there's a pattern it would be good to know so I can avoid place the post-people don't pick up from. They are meant to pick up daily, but it seems that the world of post is going downhill :-(.

Ok, so I suppose it's only fair to warn you that I'm a technological idiot and apologise in advance for a mediocre profile. I penpal and am a lot chattier on the page. I tried to imagine I was writing a letter, but it doesn't work for me. So, apologies.

I'm Mickie; I'm 31; and I currently live in Nottingham. I'm very much of the opinion that people should work to live and one of my hobbies is learning about other people from all across the world and hearing others' stories and experiences in life. I'm naturally introverted, so this allows me all the social interaction without actually being sociable - win win!

My hobbies include: reading, writing, blogging, learning languages (currently German, and starting Spanish classes on 9 September - exciting!) so feel free to jabber away to me in German, or, if writing me a postcard, writing a few phrases in your own language for me to enjoy.

I also enjoy going on day trips, photography, and travelling. As I mentioned, I'm an introvert and my outdoor activities reflect that - I like walking and being in peaceful areas. My favourite local site is Belton House, where there is a wonderful lake walk and I find such inner peace and quiet.

Nightwish Eminem K.D.Lang Emeli Sande Christina Perri Disney songs

So many. Random songs as well as artists and bands.

Reading is one of my hobbies and I do it everyday. It's the best way I've found of unwinding and releasing the day's stress. As I read a lot, I don't actually have favourites as I get something out of most of the books I read. But a few that have stayed with me are:

"The End of Mr Y" by Scarlett Thomas Charles Dickens Sebastian Faulks Edgar Allan Poe

I also make an effort to reread Enid Blyton's Famous Five regularly to remind myself that anyone can do anything they set their minds to.

I love going to the cinema and watching films, but I don't actually have a favourite film. I enjoy most genres and will watch most things, but have never been so pulled in that I'll watch a film more than a couple of times. A few that I have watched more than once though, are:

Miss Sloane Christopher Robin The Little Mermaid Adult Life Skills The X-Men films

As a general rule I don't watch TV. There are two series that I watch each year:

Silent Witness Death in Paradise.

On Netflix I'm watching:

Stranger Things You Mindhunter

This is my section! I love crafting. I have been penpalling since I was 13 and often get the urge to make an extra special effort with a couple of my longer-term penpals. Most of my penpals I've been writing to for many years and have a fantastic friendship with so love making that bit of an extra effort to make them smile when they open my mail.

At the minute I'm working on a few letters that are being written in notebooks with a few pages with designs or other crafty things on. One of the pages of the books I'm doing today has a little pop up pouch on it. However, this isn't regular as origami isn't my forte. I also love doing themed designs for my letters - e.g. in spring I often do a bee theme; or travel theme for holidays, etc.

I've recently added sewing to my repertoire and am now enjoying thinking up new projects and learning how to make them. If any sewers out there want to share anything - feel free to drop me a line, I'd love to see your creations/hear your stories.

Generally I only collect postcards. But I also enjoy reading a little message on the back. I appreciate any postcard you want to send me. Apart from ones with abattoirs or animals in pain on them - seriously, on Postcrossing once someone sent me one with a slaughtered pig on it - please don't. I don't like saying I wouldn't like certain cards, but who wants to see that?!

I appreciate pretty stamps but am not a philatelist. Instead I love seeing a beautiful stamp on a letter.

My other weakness is stationery. I can't pass a stationery shop without going in. Unfortunately there are hardly any here now :-( so I have to resort to buying my letter sets online. I love the pretty writing paper that my penpals use and send.

I've been penpalling since I was 13 and consider most of my penpals to be dear friends. I don't 'collect' penpals just to say I've got XX amount. Instead I prefer writing to people who take time and effort in writing and really enjoy doing it. I'd rather wait for a while for a letter and know they have been enjoying life, than expect a quick turnaround. I talk about everything and anything with my penpals from the indepth conversations to everyday comings and goings. Sitting down with a cup of tea and a great letter is the best feeling.

If anyone thinks, from my profile, that we would get along and wants to start writing, feel free to drop me a message.