Ryder

I am a proud mum and foster mama to children with a variety of special needs (heart conditions, ASD, cerebral palsy, FASD, anxiety, PTSD etc).

I am a very lonely and isolated person who has been swapping and penpalling for over twenty years through various groups. It is my connection to the outside world.

My likes/wishes/dislikes are just suggestions. The truth is, if you show kindness in your swap, no matter how small, it will make my day, if not my month.

Including extras goes not automatically generate hearts. I give hearts based on if the item brought me joy. A simple postcard can get a heart from me, it might be the message, the nice stamp, or the picture on the card. Please do not feel obligated to send extras.

If you have not been rated by me, it is because I am yet to get your swap. I live very remotely and all mail comes in via road or rail only. There are often delays due to flooding or buckled rails from the extreme heat.

I mark as 'sent' the day I place it into the street posting box. Please note that this is not always the day they process the mail. It is not unusual for our mail to remain where it is for several days before they ship it out. We are a tourist town with a massive volume of mail, and not enough staff.

If you have any issues or worries, please reach out to me.

Some of my favourite crafts include:

• Flip books
• ATCs
• Pocket letters
• Altered books/journals

My favourite themes are firefighters, bugs, ocean/beach, Christmas, witchy, self discovery, and TV shows - Twilight (Jasper), Criminal Minds (Spencer), Numb3rs.

• Christmas (candy canes, nutcrackers, and gingerbread are my favourite themes).
• Journalling cards, rub ons, tags, ephemera, die cuts, metal charms, metallic threads, tarot cards, and theme park maps for craft projects.
• Squirrels, bees, arctic foxes, jellyfish, axolotyl.
• Disney's original Aurora and Maleficent.
• Colouring in books, single sided.
• Candy, chocolate, cookies.
• Disney's Chip and Dale.
• Yankee candles.
• Disney's Minnie and Mickey.
• Swiss Miss hot chocolate sachets.
• Pipsticks and Planners Anonymous stickers.
• Kawaii letter sets like Sanrio and Diddl.
• Hair scrunchies with fun patterns.
• Notecards with envelopes.
• Ocean/nautical themed scrapbooking supplies.
• Daphne's Diary magazine (English), used is fine.
• Bella Carta, Stamperia, Echo Park, Stampin Up, Heidi Swapp, Tim Holtz, Versa Mark.
• Cake decorating and baking tools.
• Firefighter themed scrapbooking supplies.
• Cotton FQs, any colour/pattern.
• I love scrapbooking paper pads, especially in the 6x6 inch, and 8.5x11 size.
• I love travel sized shower gels.
• Cozy bed socks, size 8.

All of my children and foster children have high special needs, including cerebral palsy, ASD, intellectual disability, FASD, PTSD and heart issues.

Mr 19 is a firefighter, and loves everything and anything related to firefighting, firefighters, and fire appliances and tools. Patches, caps, coins, merchandise, literally anything to do with firefighting. He wears a size M in shirts. Gently used items are fine. He loves Air Heads, Lucky Charms, and coffee.

Mr 8 loves anything and everything to do with bugs, particularly spiders, ants, and scorpions. Books, toys, plushies. He wears a youth size 10 shirt. Gently used items are fine. he loves share bags of chips, cookies, and other items to add into school lunch boxes.

Miss 2 loves baby dolls, Fisher Price Little People, chunky board books, toy sunglasses, and bags. She wears a girl's size 3/4.

If you are in a postcard swap with me, I really love postcards with the following themes...

• Beaches
• Christmas
• Squirrels
• Maps
• London, Canada, Alaska, or Hawaii

If you are stuck on what to write, I always love getting lists.

I have been pen palling for over twenty years, and am always looking for new friends. I am particularly keen to find a like minded pal in the following locations:

• Canada
• Alaska
• Scotland
• Ireland

• Lavender (allergic)
• Nuts, liquorice, sour candy
• The colour purple in any form
• Post-its and sticky notes
• Loose glitter
• Anything hateful or toxically positive

Thank you for taking our likes/dislikes into consideration.