Dear LPG,

I was reading some of the older articles on the LPG website recently and came across one that offered a bit of a challenge (►►►), and having taken it on, I found myself doing something I don’t do often enough these days…

I am a relatively young pensioner and I suppose that I have a reasonable level of ability when it comes to using my smart phone and computer for communicating these days, but sadly this means that the only time I really pick up a pen is when I need to jot down a note, and the saddest part about that is that my tendency to do little more than scribble is forcing my legible attempts at handwriting to seriously deteriorate.  I have to admit that I often cannot read what I have written because I am so use to only scribbling things down when there is not a smartphone, tablet, keypad or keyboard available (although I do still write the odd cheque).

I still remember having to repeat the same letter time and time again when I started school in the same way that my 5-year-old grandchild does these days, although he has a book with it all neatly written out while my infants’ school class had to make do with what the teacher wrote on the chalkboard.

As GF’s post reminds us, there is a whole science behind the way our handwriting looks and I have always been accused of producing very small handwriting, which apparently means that I am relatively shy.  I am not sure they have got that right but one thing I do know is that I am getting really bad at reading anyone’s handwriting these days and, as I said, mine included. 

I believe that is because I am so used to reading the printed word that when the few people who do write send me a letter, the reading process becomes a slow business.  It occurred to me that we are all becoming so much more used to admiring a good-looking font these days because all too many of us have now substituted the art of writing for typing, which when you really think about it is quite sad.

But I think it is us older people who are most likely to still actually write letters rather than type them, and that many LPG readers will qualify.  So, logic dictates that we are also most likely to be among those who appreciate the beauty of the handwritten word. 

I hope that LPG have been able to print my message on the day I have asked.  If they, have it right, today been National Handwriting Day.  It’s really an American holiday but I think we all need to find a pen every now and then.

GE, Lewisham

GE has found us a little information…

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