I love getting mail. The first thing I’d do when I came home for uni holidays was run up to my room and sit cross-legged on the floor ripping open all the mail that had built up over the past few months. It was mostly junk from La Redoute asking me why I hadn’t placed an order in 3 years and that they really missed me. But I didn’t care. It was a letter. For me. Obviously I prefer receiving actual mail like birthday cards and letters and packages but they’re not as frequent especially now we all live on Facebook and have less need for snail mail. Even though a handwritten letter is way more exciting than seeing that little red ’1 new notification’ pop-up on Facebook. Especially when it transpires it’s just Ruth wanting you to put a fish in her aquarium or something. Laaaaame.
So when I saw this website I got pretty excited. A guy in New York called Joe wants you to send him stuff so he can mail you something back! He might not even be doing this project anymore but the chance of receiving mail from America is too exciting so I thought it worth the risk. I decided to send him a little snapshot of my life – one of my absolute favourite activities is sitting down with some tea and cake. Preferably with friends, but alone whilst tucked in bed watching a DVD is also pretty divine. Or live on morning TV. Whatever.
I spent much of yesterday like a housewife minus the husband and it was fun. I did some washing, dug some vegetable scraps into the garden and baked a carrot cake. It didn’t rise because I thought we had self-raising flour but we didn’t and I couldn’t be bothered to go back to the shop. It ended up being about an inch high and looked a bit pathetic so I scooped out the middle and iced it, thus making it look like some sort of demented Party Ring. It tasted good though.
I made a cup of chai tea in my favourite mug and took a picture before I pounced on it. The cake slice doesn’t look too bad from that angle. WELL DONE ME. 
I then wrote a little letter, copied down the recipe and threw a tea bag into the mix so he could get started right away on recreating my favourite thing to do. If he does it right, he’ll make it very milky with a little bit of sugar. (I’m sure he won’t use the teabag but it’s the thought that counts.)
I popped it all into an envelope and trotted to the post office to sent it on its merry way.
Now I’ll sit like a dog at the letter box, awaiting a reply. I’m excited. I’ll let you know the outcome.
You can send him stuff too. But he’s probably got loads by now. So make my life and send stuff to ME…I might even send you something back…
Platform
3rd Floor
19 Denmark Street
London, WC2H 8NA
Nothing that ticks please.
