Ben Whitelaw
@benwhitelaw.bsky.social
Founder and editor of everythinginmoderation.co. Co-host & writer of ctrlaltspeech.com puns. Media consultant by day. #LUFC fan by birthright.
Very interesting, thanks David. It’s still fairly dirty and pretty unreliable so good to know nothing has changed
November 22, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Very interesting, thanks David. It’s still fairly dirty and pretty unreliable so good to know nothing has changed
Good intel. I had no idea
November 22, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Good intel. I had no idea
Thanks Elsie. John, there’s a Leyton connection too! Would love to get your thoughts
November 22, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Thanks Elsie. John, there’s a Leyton connection too! Would love to get your thoughts
Good idea. I’ll walk in the next time I go past
November 22, 2025 at 4:33 AM
Good idea. I’ll walk in the next time I go past
O level or A level feels like a good shout. Maybe more the latter since it doesn’t feel like 16/17 year old?
November 22, 2025 at 4:32 AM
O level or A level feels like a good shout. Maybe more the latter since it doesn’t feel like 16/17 year old?
One in Leytonstone
November 21, 2025 at 11:28 PM
One in Leytonstone
Sounds terrible and great at the same time
November 21, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Sounds terrible and great at the same time
Fair assumption I’d say
November 21, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Fair assumption I’d say
Interesting. Are you Uk based? Mind if I ask your age range? I thought older than 17 but based on food review and Gorbachev comment but might be underestimating
November 21, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Interesting. Are you Uk based? Mind if I ask your age range? I thought older than 17 but based on food review and Gorbachev comment but might be underestimating
That would be a helluva turnup!
November 21, 2025 at 9:53 PM
That would be a helluva turnup!
Makes sense. Could even be that Linda has passed away, certainly would be old enough.
Picked it up in Leytonstone which isn’t very near the Northern Line at all (Old Street would be closest). Suggests someone has moved eastwards over time, perhaps as they got older?
Picked it up in Leytonstone which isn’t very near the Northern Line at all (Old Street would be closest). Suggests someone has moved eastwards over time, perhaps as they got older?
November 21, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Makes sense. Could even be that Linda has passed away, certainly would be old enough.
Picked it up in Leytonstone which isn’t very near the Northern Line at all (Old Street would be closest). Suggests someone has moved eastwards over time, perhaps as they got older?
Picked it up in Leytonstone which isn’t very near the Northern Line at all (Old Street would be closest). Suggests someone has moved eastwards over time, perhaps as they got older?
@mmasnick.bsky.social let’s see if Bluesky has the same juice as old skool Twitter
November 21, 2025 at 9:06 PM
@mmasnick.bsky.social let’s see if Bluesky has the same juice as old skool Twitter
This is all speculation, of course, and there might have been another reason it never made it to her parents.
Either way, it’s a fascinating relic for a time before I was born. I’d love to find Linda, ask her some questions if she’s still around and reunite her with it
/ends
Either way, it’s a fascinating relic for a time before I was born. I’d love to find Linda, ask her some questions if she’s still around and reunite her with it
/ends
November 21, 2025 at 7:08 PM
This is all speculation, of course, and there might have been another reason it never made it to her parents.
Either way, it’s a fascinating relic for a time before I was born. I’d love to find Linda, ask her some questions if she’s still around and reunite her with it
/ends
Either way, it’s a fascinating relic for a time before I was born. I’d love to find Linda, ask her some questions if she’s still around and reunite her with it
/ends
My guess is that Linda was fairly new to Russia based on the reflections she shared (weather, food etc). Either that or it was her first postcard home.
I doubt she was there very long after she wrote it: ‘see you soon’ plus the unwritten address suggests she didn’t have the time to post it.
I doubt she was there very long after she wrote it: ‘see you soon’ plus the unwritten address suggests she didn’t have the time to post it.
November 21, 2025 at 7:08 PM
My guess is that Linda was fairly new to Russia based on the reflections she shared (weather, food etc). Either that or it was her first postcard home.
I doubt she was there very long after she wrote it: ‘see you soon’ plus the unwritten address suggests she didn’t have the time to post it.
I doubt she was there very long after she wrote it: ‘see you soon’ plus the unwritten address suggests she didn’t have the time to post it.
Interesting. Had no idea that was a thing. But you’re right, feels like a Londoner
November 21, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Interesting. Had no idea that was a thing. But you’re right, feels like a Londoner
The Northern Line runs from High Barnet in the north to Morden in the south. Linda’s family home must’ve been somewhere on the line for her to reference it. Or it held some other significance that meant it was worth mentioning.
Doesn’t narrow it down very much but it’s something.
Doesn’t narrow it down very much but it’s something.
November 21, 2025 at 6:48 PM
The Northern Line runs from High Barnet in the north to Morden in the south. Linda’s family home must’ve been somewhere on the line for her to reference it. Or it held some other significance that meant it was worth mentioning.
Doesn’t narrow it down very much but it’s something.
Doesn’t narrow it down very much but it’s something.
My initial thoughts, in no particular order:
Gorbachev became president of the Soviet Union in March 1985, so Linda must have written it in the weeks/months after that (which is frankly wild). That also chimes with the date on the stamp.
news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi...
Gorbachev became president of the Soviet Union in March 1985, so Linda must have written it in the weeks/months after that (which is frankly wild). That also chimes with the date on the stamp.
news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi...
BBC ON THIS DAY | 11 | 1985: Gorbachev becomes Soviet leader
news.bbc.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 6:27 PM
My initial thoughts, in no particular order:
Gorbachev became president of the Soviet Union in March 1985, so Linda must have written it in the weeks/months after that (which is frankly wild). That also chimes with the date on the stamp.
news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi...
Gorbachev became president of the Soviet Union in March 1985, so Linda must have written it in the weeks/months after that (which is frankly wild). That also chimes with the date on the stamp.
news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi...
The postcard reads: ‘Dear Mum and Dad. Weather very cold. Food is beyond description. Metro (underground) is very different from the northern line. Mr Gorbachev is now President. See you soon, love Linda’
Where to start eh?!
Where to start eh?!
November 21, 2025 at 5:46 PM
The postcard reads: ‘Dear Mum and Dad. Weather very cold. Food is beyond description. Metro (underground) is very different from the northern line. Mr Gorbachev is now President. See you soon, love Linda’
Where to start eh?!
Where to start eh?!
I’m *this* close to ceasing trying to explain anything to anyone tbh
November 10, 2025 at 8:09 PM
I’m *this* close to ceasing trying to explain anything to anyone tbh
Thanks Heather, now I’m going to have to relive the evidence in all of its weirdness
November 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Thanks Heather, now I’m going to have to relive the evidence in all of its weirdness
I don’t know but we’re definitely complicit
November 8, 2025 at 8:53 PM
I don’t know but we’re definitely complicit