Railways

Firstly my apologies for not blogging for a while. In my other role as a supposedly responsible single parent I find that school summer holidays tend to put all my other projects on hold.

So for now I will just post this card that I recently picked up depicting the Docklands Light Railway before it was constructed - this is a 'Derelict Elevated Route East of Limehouse 1983' Enjoy and I promise I'll be back again next week.

Howcroft Head Greetland

When I first started writing about Boring Postcards back in 1999, I had hoped that one day I might write a book about them.

Unbeknown to me, I had already been beaten to it by Martin Parr and his brilliant 'Boring Postcards' which was published by Phaidon shortly after I'd started my writing. I got to meet Martin shortly afterwards and this card, which he sent to me, is another of my favourites. It also appears in the book so do check it out if you haven't already got a copy.

Southend Pier Damage

Another odd card: This one depicts pier damage at Southend on Sea in the 1980's. Incredibly it's one of a 'collectors series'! I don't know how many there are but this is number 4. (I happen to have two by the way)

The series shows damag to to the pier caused by the tanker Kingsabbey. Luckily for us this one concentrates on the lifeboat station which was declared unsafe and had to be blown up. Hee the station can be seen both pre and post explosion - enjoy!

Dartmoor Prison

I'm not sure if this should be in the category Boring Postcards or Inappropriate Postcards. It's not necessarily boring - the building itself is dull - but the photo shows some pleasant countryside surrounding it, even if it does suggest that the photographer popped up from behind the wall for the split second that it took to get the photo, before scooting off in case he'd been spotted by the guards.

I find myself asking who would buy this card and also who would send it? Would it be sent from an inmate? How delighted would you be to receive it? It's certainly not going to come with the ultimate postcard cliche, 'Having a lovly time wish you were here.'

There is an unused 3p stamp on the reverse which I think would have been the cost of first class postage around the mid 1970's. However there is no message so we can only guess as to who had intended to send it.

The Control Tower London Airport

After last week's stab at making my own postcard, I'm delighted to return to the genuine article. Here then is the Control Tower at London Airport.

Nothing I can add here other than to urge you to bask in all it's boring glory.

I know it's cheating

This isn't really a postcard and I know I shouldn't put it here but I often wonder what would be the modern equivalent of a boring postcard.

This is a disused quarry near to where I live. I find it interesting in that it suddenly appears out of nowhere on what is otherwise a very pleasant country walk. If I were designing a boring postcard today I'd definitely consider this.

I may include some photos from time to time but not too many in case I upset the purists. Come back next week for a genuine boring card.

Mersey Tunnel

There's not much I can ass to this other than to ask, once again, the question why? Why would anyone publish this and why would anyone want to buy it?

Answers on a (boring) postcard please.