I wanted to share something I’ve been thinking about behind the scenes for Pen Pal Café, and also pause to say thank you for the recent comments and conversations around timing and joining exchanges 💛 I’ve really been listening. One thing that’s come through clearly is that there can sometimes be a long gap between main Pen Pal Café exchanges — especially if you join just after registration closes or a few days before it opens. So I’ve been exploring a gentle idea to help bridge that space. ✉️ 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 “𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞” 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚 This would be a very simple, lightweight postcard-style exchange that sits in between our main Pen Pal Café exchanges. The intention wouldn’t be to replace the main experience, but to offer something small and easy to join if you’re waiting for the next full round to open. 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚: one page (A printable postcard + A5 sheet of writing paper (if you choose) quick to complete minimal prompts a soft way to take part without a long wait Before I build it further, I’d really love your thoughts 💌 📊 𝙋𝙤𝙡𝙡: 𝙈𝙞𝙣𝙞 𝙀𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩 If a simple, one-page postcard exchange was offered in between our main Pen Pal Café exchanges (as a lightweight way to take part between rounds), would you join? 𝗣.𝗦 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸

The matches for the May–June Pen Pal Exchange have now been finalised! If you opted in to this round, your pen pal is ready and waiting for you 💛 ✨ Your match is kept secret inside the portal (where you opted in and registered) your details — this part is all part of the magic until your letter arrives at its destination, please keep this person's name a secret. But here’s the fun bit… You can absolutely start sharing everything leading up to it: 🖊️ your writing setup 📮 your cute stationery choices 📍 your “hidden address” prep (for sending your letter off into the world) Think of it as the cosy behind-the-scenes before the connection begins ✨ When you’re ready, pop back into the Pen Pal Portal to reveal your match and send your first letter into the wild 💌 Happy writing, If you're in for this month add a gif below in comments for how excited you are 📩