I have become a member of the BPC. A postcard exchange and art project in one, the aim of the Benevolent Postcard Society is to bring a smile to its members through the random exchange of postcards from September 2009 to September 2010. At the beginning of each month, members send a cheerful, amusing, inspiring, pretty or quirky postcard to each other — either handmade or ready made. At the end of the year, all the postcards exchanged will be collected and published as a book, the final result of a year's sharing of good karma through random acts of kindness. This "Society" is the idea of artist Lori based in Canada. Members are signed up from across the world, I think a total of 25 countries being represented.

I duly received Septembers recipient details and had intended to create a range of 12 postcards based on some of the more interesting images that I have taken with my camera since our move.

Unfortunately with all the dramas with Little, my time has been compromised ,in addition to a more practical problem of having run out of printing ink....The stationers in Kak are running round like headless chickens trying to locate the correct replacement ink cartridges for my very standard HP printer!!!!

Very aware that I was overdue to post out,I scoured Cape Town domestic airport yesterday for unusual/quirky postcards..but couldn't come up with anything.

What a did find was a small packet of used African stamps. So today after an early shopping trip to Kak...I set about making the first of my postcards

I have to say that I`m delighted with the result. I have always been interested in issues of Identity and as I looked through the stamps,was struck how,over the years, The images had been chosen to deliver certain views/messages of the country that they were representing...this is very pertinent for the "Rainbow nation" and the ever changing continent of Africa.

Added to this,the idea that every stamp on the postcard has already been used to deliver a message.

Another reason for my own delight in the African stamp P/C is the fact the "tiny masterpieces" were originally intended to validate a posted missive and have now become the source of decoration in their own right...Indeed,so conscious am I of their being damaged that this P/C will be slipped in an envelope and duly stamped with a "virgin" stamp...starting the process over again.

Tomorrow, I shall hop into The Raisin and send the little lady in Marchand "Post office" into an apoplectic fit... A letter to California U.S.A and an AIRMAIL one.