Letter Writer of the Month - Danette

The London Letters Pen Pal Club began its life in 2019 with the hope of bringing together letter writing enthusiasts from across the globe to celebrate the joy of receiving letters and the power of the written word.

Over the years we've grown slowly in numbers each week, and we're so proud to now be a 650+ community of snail mailers! We have members from different countries, ages, religions, sexualities, political views, careers, disabilities, and genders - and whilst our differences vary dramatically, we are all united by a love of letters.

And so, I'm introducing 'Letter Writer of the Month' - a monthly journal entry where we invite one member from the club to give us an insight into their journey with letters. Some have always been letter writers from a young age, others only began when they signed up to the club. Our members all have a unique story to tell, and we hope you'll love getting to hear it. 

First up, I introduce you to Danette!

"In a world where all around us seems to be telling us we need to be this or that, a sheet of paper or a fresh card hold no such judgement over us, it is there for you to be YOU in." 

Name: Danette
Age: 53
Job Title: Mum, Wife and Holiday Accommodation Owner
Location: West Dorset
Member since: March 2022

Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you became interested in letter writing?

I love words! My mum says even as a baby in a pram I would sit there looking at her magazine that she had tucked in there with me. My happiest memories revolve around books, the sheer joy of getting a stack of books on Christmas Day, curling up in my own little world with Bunty or Misty Annual, happy days!

I am 53, mum to twin girls who I raised on my own and now married to a wonderful man who I met online by describing myself as a mash up between Barbara Good and a hobbit, luckily for me that is just what he was looking for! During those early days I wrote down all our texted messages into a book! I wanted a record of them, so rather than be lost into the ether I can now pull down the book and go down memory lane!

We live in rural West Dorset down a very narrow track in a ramshackle 15^th Century farmhouse with two labradors - one of whom is a puppy so forgive me if little of this is coherent as he is needing eyes in the back of my head ha!, two cats, a flock of hens, six Ouessant sheep who work very hard keeping 15 acres of grass down. We converted some outbuildings into holiday accommodation and along with a shepherd's hut that all keeps me rather busy.

I love peace and quiet, and find the world rather overwhelming at times. I am utterly convinced that I belong in another era and my passion for Old Stuff as my darling family call it honestly knows no bounds. I love birds, roses and think the world would be a nicer place if a beautifully laid afternoon tea tray magically appeared to all who need it between 14.00-16.00!

I have written as long as I can remember, both personal diaries and letters, a child of the seventies I was gifted letter writing sets for birthday and Christmas and would carefully sit there writing out my thank you letters.

What is it about letters that you think makes them special?

You can hold a letter! There is a slow sort of ceremony that comes with them. Can you  go and put the kettle on right now and sit and read it? Or will you have to set it aside safely to come back to in a quieter moment? It is a thing to be savoured and enjoyed. A tactile connection to another human. Pure magic!

What type of things do you write in letters, compared to digital communication?

I rarely use email for pleasure! Letters are where I write about my days, thoughts and ponderings.

Do you have a favourite letter, either a famous one or one you’ve personally received?

One from my darling Nan that she tucked in with a little hooked cushion she had made me. She wrote how I am to count all the stitches and then times them by ten and times that number by thousands and then I will know how much she loves me. It's filled my eyes with happy tears even writing that just now. I treasure it, having her writing means I still can 'see' her.

Do you feel any positive benefits to your mental health when you write?

Letter writing is such a positive thing to do. I could be on a dog walk, or visiting somewhere and start thinking 'oooh I shall write about this'! It is a gentle and thoughtful thing to do, it actually helps me to sit down! I run my own business from home and there is always something that needs doing so a cast iron reason to sit down for a while helps me stop!

Writing letters is a much-underappreciated way to carve out a little slow time for oneself and the shot of glee to open the letter box and see a handwritten envelope just cannot be underestimated. I absolutely love all the letters I am lucky enough to receive and if any of my pen pals are reading this, then let me make this a very public huge thank you for all bringing something special and joyful into my life.  All of this from ink and page! What's not to like?

Describe your letter writing set up to us. Do you have a favourite pen or paper? Where are you when you’re writing? 

I have a couple of fountain pens which I fill with ink; blue or dark green, but am equally likely to grab a scrappy biro! Paper is the same, either the gorgeous paper from London Letters or lined pages torn from one of my daughters' old schoolbooks! I often write a lot and end up with thick letters that I need to take into town to be weighed so I often use Airmail paper as it is a little bit thinner. One of my gripes is one can seemingly no longer buy the tissue paper thin sort of Airmail paper! I love choosing cards and get lots from local shops in Bridport.

In the winter months you will find me sat at a little table in the window of my sitting room. I light the wood burner in there mid afternoon so making it a welcoming place to be on a chill, grey afternoon! I also use our dining table in the main living room, it is big so I can spread out on there! And high summer will have me sat at the kitchen table with the back door open so I can see the constant back and forth of all the birds on the feeders just outside the back door. Add a cup of tea as well! There you have a happy Danette! I am also guilty of writing leaning on a book whilst sat on the sofa, oh and in the car too! When my daughters were younger I would often start a letter in the car whilst waiting for them to come out of somewhere!

What made you sign up to our pen pal club, and take a leap of faith by writing to a stranger?

I saw London Letters Instagram account and was intrigued! I already had a pen pal that I have been writing to for nearly two decades and thought I need more letters in my life!

Do you believe letters still have a place in modern society?

Oh yes! More than ever before. I like to imagine the journey that my letters go on once I have popped them in the letterbox. I like to think the postworker picking them up smiles (I know our lovely postie quite well and he says he always recognises my letters in the box!) when they sort it and as they are walking up the path to the recipient that they have a fleeting thought of oooh another letter from this person (if they also recognise my writing!) I often decorate the envelopes so they look pretty, hopefully they raise more than one smile as they set forth from my table here to their destination.

In a world where we are told going faster is key to success, doing things a certain way 'works', all that stuff and nonsense, I feel a hand written letter is a gentle pop back at being told to do things an expected way. It can feel like the personal touch is being removed from daily life sometimes (am I the only one who has decided to boycott self service checkouts and go back to queuing but being served by a person?) and the simple act of writing a letter can feel like a tiny rebellion. I truly believe that life is made up of small moments and letters are a perfect example of this!

What role do you think letters will play in the future?

I like to think they will be the treasured glimpses into people's lives that they always have been. I love reading old Mass Observation diaries, Simon Garfield put together some collections and I reread them often. A Notable Woman by Jean Lucey Pratt is one of my favourite books, people writing these entries were writing letters to some one they didn't know and that intrigues me. Nella Last's War Diaries are also a favourite of mine for that reason. You get a glimpse into what life was like at a time long passed. It would be nice to think letter from this period of time survive for people to read in the future.

What would you say to someone to encourage them to give letter writing a try?

To not worry about 'what' you are writing, write about things you remember doing as a child, just write about your day or how you are feeling or what you are looking forward to. Just be yourself. In a world where all around us seems to be telling us we need to be this or that, a sheet of paper or a fresh card hold no such judgement over us, it is there for you to be YOU in, go for it! Letters written as if you were speaking are so warmly received and can bring a very real dash of connection to someone's day. Plus the sheer delight of having an actual letter in the post box? Unbeatable, I'm absolutely hooked.

A huge thank you to our Danette for her time, and we hope you enjoyed getting to know her! Why not pick up Danette's favourite writing papers or try a fountain pen for your next letter?

Would you like to join our club? We're always open to new members, you can learn more about the club here.