The Postie and the Penguin: A Story Born in South Georgia
Some stories arrive fully formed. Others take shape slowly, through weather, routine, and small moments repeated day after day.
The Chicken or the Egg?
Normally, for me, the story comes first, but instead I found myself with twelve illustrations in need of a story….
Living with Penguins
The Postie and the Penguin grew out of my time living and working in South Georgia, where I was based as the Post Officer. Each day brought the same walk to work, the same landmarks, and the same king penguins waiting patiently nearby, curious but unhurried. Over time, those encounters became part of the rhythm of life on the island.
South Georgia is not a gentle place. The weather changes without warning. Wind moves through the landscape with force and intent. Snow, rain, and low cloud can roll in quickly, yes in summer.
The king penguins were a constant presence. Funny, attentive, and loud, they seemed entirely at ease with the landscape. Over time, they became a natural counterpoint to the human world. From that contrast, the characters of the Postie and the Penguin emerged.
The Illustrations and learning to Procreate
The illustrations for The Postie and the Penguin are rooted directly in South Georgia. Sliding across snow, storms and lantern light, letters caught in the wind, ships waiting in the bay, the cross on Hope Point, and the endless Ocean. These are not imagined places. They are landmarks and moments drawn from lived experience.
I have had a IPad Pro for a while and Procreate, and now, isolated on a rock in the middle of the South Atlantic, I had time to learn how to use it!
Story Telling Styles – Milne or Mackesy
While developing the story, I found myself exploring two different storytelling styles. One inspired by The Boy, the Mole, The Fox and the Horse and the other by the legendary Winnie the Pooh. One leans towards a traditional narrative flow, the other is more pared back and reflective, allowing space for the reader to sit with each moment. Both versions tell a story, but in slightly different voices.
To explore this, I’ve created two short films using the same illustrations and text, each recorded in a different style. I’m sharing them openly and inviting feedback, because this story belongs as much to how it is received as how it was made.
You can watch both versions here:
Version 1:
https://youtu.be/TWUo3MThJXE
Version 2:
https://youtu.be/N_hVCTJnKak
If you’ve ever spent time in a place that quietly changed you, or found comfort in small, steady companionship, I hope one of these versions resonates.
I’d love to know which one stays with you, and why.
Whilst in South Georgia we also did a Gaza Fundraiser. I turned my illustrations into a calendar, which I got printed (15 copies) and sent down to South Georgia. These were then auctioned off at a silent auction. This was my donation to the charity.
For more on Scottish Artist Norman Gilbert
South Georgia – The Lewisman Who Never Left The Ice | Thomas F. MacLeod