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Post by Mia on Sept 11, 2017 12:22:20 GMT
Do you have address books, ones you write addresses in? Or, do you store addresses on the computer / cloud / contacts of an email program or phone? I'm writing in my new (well, when I say new, one I received for my birthday in 2013) address book as I ran out of space for one surname's initial. I suppose it is about time I actually used this, and retired my old address book (paper starting to come away from the spine).
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Post by penguy on Feb 9, 2018 20:31:33 GMT
I use an address book and used to put my entries in with a pen but after many address changes now use pencil.
It is about my 4th year on lettermo and in the past there was provision for private messages, which was the way I got addresses if a person's address wasn't on their profile. This year 'personal message' has appeared and disappeared. I notice a lot of people don't have their addresses on their profile page and have a link to Postable. When I looked Postable had a form for you to fill out your information and it would evidently be forwarded to the person wanting your address. The site also talked about having an online address book available to you, but also talked about sending out cards or messages for you. Has someone used the site and their address book feature? I hesitate just putting my information out their or anyone elses out there not knowing how secure it would be.
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Post by radellaf on Feb 9, 2018 21:37:39 GMT
AFAIK postable is as trustworthy as any website can be, and your address will only be shown with people you send it to.
That's plenty for my comfort as regards my address. I have a lot more sensitive info out there protected only by passwords and IT department security practices. But then I know people who still won't buy anything online because they have to use their credit card. So, attitudes vary.
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Post by Mia on Feb 21, 2023 19:01:42 GMT
I think I will need to retire one of my address books - a page of B fell out earlier, and I've already lost a page for another letter.
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escorpio
Pencils
Posts: 93
Looking for Penpals?: Perhaps. It depends...
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Post by escorpio on Feb 22, 2023 14:06:04 GMT
I have one, but it's very old so many people have moved many times, cluttering it up. I mainly just use it when I send out Christmas cards; when penpalling I just have the letter I'm replying to and use the sender's address from there. Some of my recent penpals I haven't even bothered putting in there, I figured I'd put them in my Bullet journal, but that hasn't happened either.
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Post by ginny on Feb 22, 2023 14:18:13 GMT
I have one, but it's very old so many people have moved many times, cluttering it up. I mainly just use it when I send out Christmas cards; when penpalling I just have the letter I'm replying to and use the sender's address from there. Some of my recent penpals I haven't even bothered putting in there, I figured I'd put them in my Bullet journal, but that hasn't happened either. So, what do you do when people don't put their address on the envelope / letter or do so in a 'cryptic' manner? I have friends - particularly from the Netherlands and the UK - who don't bother to write their address on the envelope, but just their initials and the postcode, not the name of the town, not the country... Personally, I find that a bit too frugal - and it doesn't make it easy when you don't keep an address book / file / whatever kind of record.
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Post by Mia on Feb 22, 2023 15:27:19 GMT
Guilty! I know I sometimes write my house number and postcode as the return address on an envelope (and UK if it is going out internationally, but usually to people I've been writing to for quite a while). That is all Royal Mail need! I sent someone some seeds (they had asked via email) a while back but I was not expecting a reply in the post so wrote house number & postcode on the envelope but had a response in the mail!
It should be unique. Addressing something to 221B / NW1 6XE - Royal Mail will be able to easily deduce where that is going and say, "Elementary, my dear Watson."
I'm guessing the Netherlands version would be unique as well. House number, the 4 digits and the two letters.
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Post by radellaf on Feb 22, 2023 16:02:46 GMT
I keep a spreadsheet of most penpals, especially the ones here, where I have to keep track of a username as well as a real name (that's caused me some confusion and, twice, mis-addressed letters). InCoWriMo, I either have a spreadsheet or just a text copy (edited or not) of the comments for the year. Searching by zip or postcode (the Mac will do it over all the files on the computer, instantly) usually finds the full address. For some new people, I'll scan their return address when I scan my outgoing reply. I often look up the last reply before writing a new one, so I get the address automatically, then.
A full address on the envelope is awfully handy, no matter how cluttered it might make the mail-art. Saves me worrying about a changed address, and makes it much easier to find the letter in the envelope holder. I usually write the name and received date on the front of the envelope, if it's not already there.
I think in the USA, if you have the house number and the 5+4 digit zip, it would be unique. The +4 usually gets you down to maybe 10 houses. IDK if the postal service would deliver to an address like that, though. I've heard that UK postcodes often identify down to a single house, and therefore needs to be blurred out if you're trying to obscure the address. In the USA, the 5 digit zip wouldn't risk much privacy. It would specify something like "north central Raleigh" (city of ~500k).
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Post by tramplingrose on Feb 22, 2023 18:04:27 GMT
I still keep a paper address book. I rarely send mail when I travel, so I don't need/want an electronic one. And if I am sending mail while traveling, it's because it's something I already have in the works, so the envelope is already addressed.
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Post by Mia on Feb 22, 2023 18:27:40 GMT
Now, I'm wondering after how many letters have been exchanged, should I put the penpal's address in my address book(s)? Seems after 3 years of correspondence, one address has finally been written in my address book!
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Post by sunshine2170 on Feb 22, 2023 21:51:43 GMT
I used to have address books, that turned into many books because I ran out of the A section etc and one person moved so much they occupied the whole section of their alphabet.
I now keep mine in a word document or excel spreadsheet with photos if I have them so I can picture who i am writing to (I am a very visual person lol).
I find the digital copy is so much better and changeable. I store them on the computer and 3 portable discs as I have lost discs for many reasons.
I also have a word document where I have everyones address that I write to regularly (AWOSM) and print those addresses out onto labels.
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iamtdogg
Pencils
Posts: 77
Looking for Penpals?: Yes. Global penpals welcome
Country I live in is: Scotland
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Post by iamtdogg on Feb 23, 2023 11:36:17 GMT
this is the one area i am pretty high tech on, i used to use a google doc but have taken to using the Pendulum app which not only acts as an address book but also helps me to track incoming and outgoing pen friend letters and even the stationery used on each letter.
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Post by ginny on Feb 23, 2023 13:53:26 GMT
Guilty! I know I sometimes write my house number and postcode as the return address on an envelope (and UK if it is going out internationally, but usually to people I've been writing to for quite a while). That is all Royal Mail need! I sent someone some seeds (they had asked via email) a while back but I was not expecting a reply in the post so wrote house number & postcode on the envelope but had a response in the mail! It should be unique. Addressing something to 221B / NW1 6XE - Royal Mail will be able to easily deduce where that is going and say, "Elementary, my dear Watson." I'm guessing the Netherlands version would be unique as well. House number, the 4 digits and the two letters. Unique or not, it's confusing for people outside the UK / the Netherlands. Just saying
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Post by ginny on Feb 23, 2023 13:56:55 GMT
Now, I'm wondering after how many letters have been exchanged, should I put the penpal's address in my address book(s)? Seems after 3 years of correspondence, one address has finally been written in my address book! That is where a file card system comes in handy. I cut out people's address labels and staple them on a file card - done. I go through the file once a year or so and take out cards of people who don't write anymore. They go to the back of the box and get chucked out after a while. Usually, they sit there for another year or so.
I admit it's not practical for transport, but then again, I rarely ever send postcards when I travel, so it doesn't bother me much.
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iamtdogg
Pencils
Posts: 77
Looking for Penpals?: Yes. Global penpals welcome
Country I live in is: Scotland
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Post by iamtdogg on Feb 23, 2023 14:42:37 GMT
Guilty! I know I sometimes write my house number and postcode as the return address on an envelope (and UK if it is going out internationally, but usually to people I've been writing to for quite a while). That is all Royal Mail need! I sent someone some seeds (they had asked via email) a while back but I was not expecting a reply in the post so wrote house number & postcode on the envelope but had a response in the mail! It should be unique. Addressing something to 221B / NW1 6XE - Royal Mail will be able to easily deduce where that is going and say, "Elementary, my dear Watson." I'm guessing the Netherlands version would be unique as well. House number, the 4 digits and the two letters. Unique or not, it's confusing for people outside the UK / the Netherlands. Just saying interestingly i still go with the way i was taught at school and always put my name and address top right of every letter i write, and i always put my return address on the back of the envelope. even putting the small elements that Mia has (number and postcode) can easily be found the full details by a super quick Google also.
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