I always love finding messages in bottles from children. These next two letters which I will write about, were written by children (or should I say 1 child and 1 teenager!). They were both found this year. The first one is from a little girl called Niamh Woods from Sidcup. I found it along the Kent Coast near Egypt Bay, an evocative place with a past full of smuggling and prison hulks! You can just about make out the little note - which is a super drawing of 2 people and a little flower. I guessed it was quite old as the message was barely legible.
Niamh's letter - with delightful drawing of her (I think) and another person and a flower.
a close up of Niamh's picture
When I got home, I wrote to Niamh at the address on the letter and waited in anticipation to hear from her. It's always a bit unsure as to whether the address will still be the correct one. I was delighted when I received an email back from Niamh, and here it is:-
Niamh's reply - 11 years after she and her mum threw the message in the water.
So as it happens, this message from Niamh, turned out to be a real time capsule. It nestled amongst the reeds and seaweed for 11 years before it was found when I turned a rotten piece of wood over and there it was. It was undoubtedly the fact that it was sheltered from the sunlight, that it did not become completely bleached. I expect Niamh had completely forgotten and it must have been such a surprise that someone found it. The last time that bottle was opened in 2003, she was 3! A lot has happened since then, and Niamh is now 13. What a lovely surprise to recall a little piece of your childhood all those years later. I also found a few toys that day, washed up by the tide - also symbols of childhood - and some of them were so faded and obviously old, that their previous owners are also probably much older by now....
 cheeky little fishy |  I don't usually take home the toys I find, but I had to adopt this lovely little bedraggled elephant |
This castaway space hopper reminds me of MY childhood!!
This next letter, I was equally happy to find and thought it was a very original way indeed to find a penpal.
letter from Rebecca of Sittingbourne
With this letter, I wasn't quite so lucky however. I did write to Rebecca and my 10 year old daughter was very keen to be a penfriend - but either Rebecca moved, or she had changed her mind! We never did hear back from her. Sadly there was no date, and so I don't know when the letter was put in the water (although I suspect not too long ago, as the pen is very clear to read). So if you're out there Rebecca somewhere, and you'd like to have a penfriend, then get back to me and we can arrange something. It's such a great thing these days to write and receive letters and it's a fabulous opportunity to put aside the mobiles and laptops and tablets....
Bottle mail is very unreliable, and it can take a bit of time - but.... it's worth the wait. I wonder how many more are out there waiting to be found!
If you would like to see the place where I found both Niamh's and Rebecca's letters, then do watch this little documentary about my search for messages in bottles. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-28904275
If you would like to see the place where I found both Niamh's and Rebecca's letters, then do watch this little documentary about my search for messages in bottles. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-28904275
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