Saturday 27 December 2014

Basildon Bond.


                                                         

I was reflecting on my childhood Christmases, and the presents I would regularly receive each year.

Amongst other things, there was always a Rupert Bear annual, a licorice smokers set, and some writing paper.

For some bizarre reason I always loved my pristine new pad of Basildon Bond writing paper and its matching pack of envelopes.  The paper was usually pale blue, with an almost invisible magical watermark. There was something so exciting about writing all those 'thank you' letters on brand new paper. I can remember the feeling as if it was yesterday.  

I don't suppose many people, especially children, receive writing pads for Christmas any more, nor do they write many letters.

I can't see snail mail letter writing ever making a comeback; can you?



     

31 comments:

  1. Season's greetings to you and Lady M, Cro. Yes, I remember Basildon Bond writing paper! I was a great letter writer, right throughout the year. I even wrote to my parents from boarding school although I went home every weekend. Mind you, those days, a letter written on Sunday night arrived at my home on Tuesday. morning. Thanks for a nostalgic post. Jo

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    1. Of course; I'd forgotten. That's why I liked my writing pad so much. At prep' school we were obliged to write home every Sunday (an hour was designated every Sunday afternoon). At my other school I had specially printed, crested, paper, so I suppose my love of Basildon Bond ended then, aged 14-ish.

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  2. Some of our local schools no longer teach kids cursive writing, which just makes me sad. There's something so special about handwritten letters!

    I love new stationary of every kind!

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    Replies
    1. That's appalling. Two things that all children should be taught are good handwriting, and how to hold a knife and fork..... Dying arts.

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  3. Recently I got a hand written letter from Norway and I found out that I dont have the patience to read it, and I used to love letters.

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  4. I have a few friends who still write delightful letters.

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  5. Ah yes, the Rupert Bear annual. Did you read the longer story underneath or just the little poems? I used to get a sugar mouse in the bottom of the stocking…not seen them for years, but then I never go into a proper sweet shop where they might still exist? I was lucky enough not to have to write to my parents, but I guess those of you who were away at school will have a different view.

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    1. I think I looked at the pictures first, then the poems, then lastly the words. I also loved the puzzles etc in the middle.

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  6. My emails are like my letters, I type just as I used to write so I don't see emails as different really. Except they arrive instantly. I can still remember being forced to sit down after Christmas and write the dreaded thank you letters and being directed by my mother on what to say.

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    1. Dear Aunty Maud... Thank you for the dreadful jumper, etc.

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    2. I am like Rachel in that I compose and format emails in the same way as a 'hard copy' letter. I also write text messages using correct grammar and full sentences. Sometimes the latter can be tedious but I feel uncomfortable if I do not. The image of Basildon Bond is very familiar to me and was a nice reminder of the past.

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    3. I imagine that those of us who were brought up as 'letter writers', all do the same.

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  7. I was tempted by a pad of Basildon Bond last month.....until I saw the price...nearly £5.00 for the forty sheets! At least it isn't yet a thing of the past.
    We still write letters, but obviously not as many. The postage costs mean that most penpals are now e-pals.
    I used to enjoy receiving interesting stamps from all over the world-much more interesting than ours!
    We still carry on writing though...long live our postie..a vital part of village life.

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  8. How odd - I've just printed out a load of stuff on Basildon Bond cream paper - at about £20 for 100 sheets...

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    1. bought by the pad should be an expensive way compared to buying 100 sheets....

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  9. I do remember writing out my bread and butter letters as Mom called them. Our daughter had to do the same...but her kids....hah! A dying art.

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  10. Lovely memories. My son still writes thank you cards. His handwriting is improving with time and I know his Grandparents in particular, enjoy receiving a card from him.
    Twiggy

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    1. I wonder if 'cards' are now more popular than letters?

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  11. OOOOH Basildon Bond ! I used to look at the pad for ages wondering what was worth writing on those empty sheets. I'm sure a pad would last me a couple of years. The rest of the time I remember using the inner wrappers from soap and tea that my grandma saved for me, to write on (ironed of course)

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    1. How very 'frugal' of your Granny.

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    2. And how very exciting.
      I write on the backs of any interesting wrapper

      cheers, parsnip.

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  12. At boarding school we didn't have time set aside for writing, but my older sister would nag me each week for my letter home. I preferred onion skin because it was lighter for airmail.
    Each week my mum wrote a letter to two of us and my father would write to one. They were always well anticipated.
    My mother doesn't like to write by hand anymore so we exchange e-mails.
    "The name's Bond, Basildon Bond... Here are my papers". A classic sketch.

    Helen

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    1. We were sat down and forcibly made to write. Our letters were checked too!

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  13. Cro, with the new media age coming to maturity, letter writing has drastically diminished. I took a poll from my friends and family a few years ago about whether they like email, facebook, etc. letters or snail mail letters especially Christmas cards. I was shocked that across the ages young and old like to get snail mail. However, they didn't really like to send snail mail. I do have old fashion penpals that write their letters in cursive but I write my letters as if it would be an email, then print it out to send to them. It has pictures and written letter format in a some what cursive font to hold the reader's interest. If the letter gets too long then the interest wanes and isn't read. The attention span for heavy media users is very short these days. Keeping that in mind I try to make letters of just one page on both sides. No special paper for me. So bottom line is that I kind of live in both worlds of digital and old school snail mail.

    Have a great cursive/snail mail day.

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    1. We really enjoyed receiving Christmas cards, but didn't send any; preferring E-cards (like my one of 24 Dec). I used to be a great letter writer, but I seem to have slowly drifted away.

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  14. Sadly, they are no longer teaching cursive where I live also. The kids can't read it, so I shall be writing in cursive just to irritate them or if I want to write something I don't want them to know about. It does seem like a giant step backward, but maybe I am just old fashioned.

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  15. I too delighted in the fresh crisp new paper. Still do! My kids don't write letters but they all love new paper for drawing or writing their secret desires on. I tend to savor the new paper, journals or cards and forget to use them, though am getting better about it! One can only have so many blank journals...

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  16. I send cards and notes now.
    The e-mails, IM and whatever is great for instant messages. But unlike a written letter or card you can't hold it in your hand and reread later.
    Some of the few letters my mother wrote to me in her beautiful handwriting are most treasured.

    cheers, parsnip

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  17. I used to get Basildon Bond for Christmas as well and a Beano or Dandy Annual. Loved them.

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  18. Yes all a thing of the past, I do however hand write a daily journal even with a computer at my side.

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  19. I'm staying at Southend-on-Sea, my childhood home and musing over how such a classy product doesn't have any link to the Essex new town!

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