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'Look after my house for me' letter writer tracked down | 'Look after my house for me' letter writer tracked down |
(about 9 hours later) | |
When Martin Johnstone decided to redecorate his son's childhood bedroom, he knew he would have some work to do. | When Martin Johnstone decided to redecorate his son's childhood bedroom, he knew he would have some work to do. |
But one job was easier than he anticipated. | But one job was easier than he anticipated. |
When he ripped up the old carpet, he found a letter left by the room's previous inhabitant. | When he ripped up the old carpet, he found a letter left by the room's previous inhabitant. |
He decided to track the writer down. | He decided to track the writer down. |
Just 18 hours after a picture of it was posted online, the writer had responded. | Just 18 hours after a picture of it was posted online, the writer had responded. |
Charlotte Gardner was 13 when she had to pack up her beloved bedroom and move to a new home. | Charlotte Gardner was 13 when she had to pack up her beloved bedroom and move to a new home. |
She told the BBC Scotland news website that her mother suggested she write a letter to leave behind for the room's next inhabitant to find, asking them to take care of the place that meant so much to her. | She told the BBC Scotland news website that her mother suggested she write a letter to leave behind for the room's next inhabitant to find, asking them to take care of the place that meant so much to her. |
On patterned stationery, she wrote: "My name is Charlotte Olivia Jane Gardner and I have lived in this house for 11 years and this was once my bedroom. | On patterned stationery, she wrote: "My name is Charlotte Olivia Jane Gardner and I have lived in this house for 11 years and this was once my bedroom. |
"I moved in when I was two and I am now 13. | "I moved in when I was two and I am now 13. |
"I have a sister as well who is 11 and she has lived here all her life. | "I have a sister as well who is 11 and she has lived here all her life. |
"I am moving out in two days on Friday and I am really upset and sad. | "I am moving out in two days on Friday and I am really upset and sad. |
"Look after my house for me." | "Look after my house for me." |
Below her note, she added the date, 14 Feb 2007, and wished the recipient "happy Valentine's Day". | Below her note, she added the date, 14 Feb 2007, and wished the recipient "happy Valentine's Day". |
'Fond memories' | 'Fond memories' |
Martin Johnstone said he was moved when he found the letter. | Martin Johnstone said he was moved when he found the letter. |
"My first thought was 'Gosh, that's amazing,' he said. | "My first thought was 'Gosh, that's amazing,' he said. |
"It's the sort of letter many of us may have written if we've ever moved house at that sort of age, then probably forget all about. | "It's the sort of letter many of us may have written if we've ever moved house at that sort of age, then probably forget all about. |
"It's just such a lovely thing." | "It's just such a lovely thing." |
Martin didn't hold much hope of tracking down Charlotte when he posted a snap of the letter on Twitter. | Martin didn't hold much hope of tracking down Charlotte when he posted a snap of the letter on Twitter. |
She tweeted back the next day to say she had "fond memories" of living in the tenement flat on Glasgow's south side. | She tweeted back the next day to say she had "fond memories" of living in the tenement flat on Glasgow's south side. |
"I hope you have loved it as much as I did", she added. | "I hope you have loved it as much as I did", she added. |
'A really important place' | 'A really important place' |
When he read the tweet, Martin said his first thought was "Isn't social media amazing?". | When he read the tweet, Martin said his first thought was "Isn't social media amazing?". |
"It it astonishing that in a country of over 60 million, we can find someone within a day like that," he said. | "It it astonishing that in a country of over 60 million, we can find someone within a day like that," he said. |
"When Charlotte wrote that letter we wouldn't have believed it possible that someone could have traced the writer so quickly like this. | "When Charlotte wrote that letter we wouldn't have believed it possible that someone could have traced the writer so quickly like this. |
"Social media can be a really difficult place, but it also has a really nice way of connecting people back up." | "Social media can be a really difficult place, but it also has a really nice way of connecting people back up." |
Charlotte said she could not remember writing the letter, and had completely forgotten about it until she saw the post. | Charlotte said she could not remember writing the letter, and had completely forgotten about it until she saw the post. |
"I recognised the handwriting straight away and knew it was mine," she said. | "I recognised the handwriting straight away and knew it was mine," she said. |
"The house was a really important place for me, and it was all very rushed when we were moving - we didn't get much chance to say goodbye to it." | "The house was a really important place for me, and it was all very rushed when we were moving - we didn't get much chance to say goodbye to it." |
She would love to visit the house again, but thinks it would be problematic given that she now lives down south. | She would love to visit the house again, but thinks it would be problematic given that she now lives down south. |
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