Week Fourteen

I bought my own postcard this week - dedication to the cause. I even took a trip to Falmouth to get it and, yes, it really is 12 miles from where I live. I would send an invoice to my brother for the expenses but his reply would mean he'd get the point and nobody wants that.

It's 12-2 currently and still all is quiet. I've had a few discussions with relatives about him but that doesn't count for anything. The same goes for the 'Happy Birthday' post he put on Dad's Facebook page.

Generally the people who come across this page are friends and strangers from Twitter or friends who have subscribed as I can't advertise this on Facebook due to his account so thanks to anyone who stops by occasionally to see what we're up to. Well, what I'm up to at least. We've had over 1,900 views this year and it's only March - I'd love to be able to tell him this site has been viewed over 5,000 times at the end of the year when he first finds out about it.

If you have a postcard or a talent that can be put onto a postcard please get in touch and I'll make sure it gets seen.

Week Thirteen

I can only buy postcards that say 'Pasties', 'Cornwall' and 'St. Piran' on them so a big thanks to @SandyFootwells for this one of the Angel of the North. It inspired my philosophical rant on what the North is, although I may have missed the point completely. That's not for me to decide.

It's all quiet on the brother front and the score sits at a not-too-shabby 11-2. It turns out nobody's heard from him for a little while so he's got a few phone calls to make before he starts to think of my peculiar face.

My daughter earned part of her Brownie badge by writing the address on last week's postcard so I have served the community and showcased a few artists (and Alya Bessex) in the process of producing this blog. I can sleep well tonight. As I did last night.

Week Twelve

Thanks to @Taylertoons for the postcard this week. I'm hoping my brother likes unicorns or, at the very least, the colour orange.

I really need to start racking up the points as my brother will be in Cornwall twice this coming May and he'll no doubt talk to me exclusively about postcards, dragging his score up through a trip that doesn't really involve me other than for a catch up and a few beers. This week's 10-2 scoreline is good but it's not enough.

Yesterday was a prime window for him to get this week's point as I went drinking with my Dad while watching the last three games of the Six Nations. I was waiting for a text or a call but he's handed it to me on a plate instead. Metaphorically speaking that is, as if he did actually hand it to me on a plate he'd get the point and have to take it back.

I have genuinely seen a bee this year so the content of the postcard is not a complete lie. I'm looking forward to being stung every time I walk past the hedges around my house this year, too.

Week Eleven

I've gone off a little early this week as I've turned all topical yet I'm pretty sure that already it's too late - there is a date set for getting rid of BBC Three. I'm genuinely gutted about this news, although not enough to start listing all of the shows I liked from their broadcasts. I'll leave that to the News stations.

(Him and Her et al.)

I can now say with confidence that I've seen a TV station come and go. Watching Channel Five launch back in the 90's was a massive event, even if it did look like every program was made during a snowstorm. Now, instead of being opened to a new world of channels I can sit back and watch them all slowly disappear again. Good job I've still got my VCR.

The front of the postcard has been slightly enhanced so you can see it properly but the original has been hand coloured using a felt pen. Never assume the pink will work when you have young daughters. This won't be going off until Monday to maintain continuity and because I doubt he'll have noticed that I've joined the protest at the thirteenth hour.

I believe this makes the score a very respectable 9-2.

Week Ten

I'm getting a bit nervous now as I've realised how precarious this situation is. I've never been able to share this page on Facebook as my brother is on there and will see it so I've only ever promoted it on Twitter. After last week's post came out I had a message from my sister on Facebook mentioning the postcard and I had to ask her to delete it pretty quickly which, fortunately for me, she did. Phew.

This week brings my score up to 8-2 which settles me a little more.

I thought I'd send him a little something from home this week. It's a bit of a cliche, the Cornish and pasties, but it's pretty accurate in our family. I'm not sure how good his cooking skills are but this'll give him a chance to find out, especially with the promise of a pasty at the end of it.

One quick point - Horse and Jockey is a bakery in Helston and, in my opinion, they do the best baking in the South West. Writing this post has made me unusually hungry.

Week Nine

This week's postcard may feature a familiar face, although mainly to those who know me. It was designed and produced by Sally Grosart - @scallyg - who is well known for her Wee Paper People and, as such, the opening credits to Dave Gorman's show 'Modern Life is Goodish'. Thanks for including me this week, Sally.

My fears that my brother would set up a weekly call to share anecdotes and information appear to be unfounded, meaning he's gone back to his old life of occasionally remembering that I exist before becoming distracted by something shiny or tasty. This is good news for the score, which now stands at a much healthier 7-2. I am well on my way to victory on this one.

The reference to Cornwall may make him homesick and create a temporary pocket of sadness in his mind which could very well lead to a quick call, although it's more likely that he'll spend most of his time laughing at the picture of me. At least I have been made to look slim.

Week Eight

Sometimes I spoil my brother. This week I've got him a Lee Healey original, who peddles his wares from his Twitter page - @Cartoonist4Hire. I'm still astounded by the way the numbers of views go up each week and I can't help but worry about the day I have to tell him thousands of people have been following our correspondence over the year.

Incidentally I've been treading very carefully this week. It's not impossible his call last week could turn into a regular catch up whereby we update, reminisce and I lose a point without getting so much as a single postcard. It's nice to hear from him but I'd prefer it if my numbers were a little higher first. 6-2 is nice yet still precarious.

There's still room for more submissions if you fancy showcasing your talents on a postcard so please get in touch; I hang around on Twitter most days - @Lyvit. Keep your fingers crossed for my score increasing too if you would.