Joining Tom Jackson to discuss the postcards from their pasts are comedy writer and novelist PAUL B. DAVIES (Dead Writers in Rehab) and journalist and author David Shariatmadari (Don’t Believe A Word). Join a menagerie of huge parrots, golden salamanders, boxing hares, surfing kangaroos and the flightless birds of New Zealand at this particular chimps’ tea party, and you might find yourself hot as rocket re-entry or  cut up like a Brion Gysin notebook, as we encounter a paupiette of Shakespeare, Wordsworth and the language of umbrellas, and attempt to avoid a nasty teddy bear hostage situation. Wish you were here?

Dove Cottage, Grasmere, 1961. “The journey yesterday as hot as rocket re-entry, and hot here too.”
Borrowdale, 1971. “On Saturday night we went for the Annual  Mountaineering Club dinner in a hotel in Keswick. We had melon, Cumberland Vegetable Soup, ‘Paupiette’ of sole with shrimp sauce, Turkey with Cranberry Sauce & fruit salad, coffee & after 8 mints.”
David’s postcard of The Great Mosque of Aleppo, Syria, sent to him by a university friend. ”I think you would really enjoy Syria if you get the chance.”
Not for the easily shocked. Paul’s lost postcard – now discovered! A naked couple sent to him by a girlfriend in 1980. The card was rather unfortunately addressed to him via his parents.
A handmade art postcard. Under the influence of William S. Burroughs, Paul created a series of montage/cut-up postcards. “At that instant there came a more terrific crash than any that had preceded it…”
Two Language of Flowers cards. The “language of” was a very popular theme in early twentieth century postcards.
The Language of eyes – two cards with differing meanings.
The Language of Umbrellas
The antidote to the Language of Umbrellas
David’s postcard of a salamander in the Cheapside horde, part of an exhibit at the new Museum of London.
A postcard sent to David from New Zealand by his mother” a takahe. David has a long-standing, and thorough, obsession with the birds of New Zealand.
Paul’s postcard of a teddy bear hostage situation.
Paul’s kangaroo on a surfboard. “Oh boy – how do I stop this bloody thing?”
Budleigh Salterton, 1970. “After much more chat M. & Aunt are not going to travel with us but catch and afternoon train to London much better, so can now feel sick on my own.”
A 45 R.P.M. “Recordaview” Hi-Fi Musical View Card. Kintail, Ross and Cromarty.