Pre Christmas Day Post 2023

                      Blog # 1603 --- Day  668 of the Current  ( Second ) Russian Invasion of Ukraine 

                                                                      GLORY TO UKRAINE      

With Christmas just about to happen I think it's time to have a look at the two Christmas themed cards that I have received . The first is from Germany , wishing me a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. And I wish that back to you Isa , too.

Isa used three stamps on her card. On the left is one of many Flower definitives seen from Germany. The middle stamp , although showing the date 2022, was issued in 2021 , 1 of 4 in a set of World of Letters. The right stamp, from this year shows Squirrels in the Snow. 

Card 2 is from Belgium. It's called a Christmas Boycott. I'm not sure which reindeer that is , but he sure doesn't want to help haul Santa, his sleigh and a sack of toys and presents. I think I'll put my money on Blitzen.

Gerda used 2 copies of one of the Belgian Christmas stamps issued this year. The theme was Keyboard Character Art. 

That's all for today. Thanks for these cards go out to Isa and Gerda. Merry Christmas to you both. 

Merry Christmas to all who sent cards during 2023. That includes you Meelis, Jean Pierre, Dominique, Ana, Rizleen, Barbara, Bruce, My Lovely Teena, Francesca, Yvonne, David, YaPing, Ron, Jobbo, Ravindra, Josep and Assumpta, Tsai Yun Ting, Indrit, Lena, Orla, Rob, Henning, Michi, Sherri, Nanni, Dale, Claire, Gina, and many Postcrossers. If any of you don't celebrate Christmas, I wish you well , Good Health and a wonderful winter.

It's been a great year Postcard wise and many other ways too. Take care. 

Kolli Hills and Haghpat

   Blog # 1602 --- Day  654 of the Current  ( Second ) Russian Invasion of Ukraine

                                                                      GLORY TO UKRAINE      

Well it's been a while, hasn't it ? These are busy times, it seems. Only going to get busier the next two weeks. 

My first card today arrived from India. It's supposed to show the Colors of India in the Kolli Hills. These hills are a mountain range located in central Tamil Nadu and are famous for its Government reserved forests. The green color is associated with new beginnings and prosperity in India. 

I'm not sure if this should be a vertical card or a horizontal card. As you can see I went horizontal. 

A Postcrosser named Phoebe sent this card . She used 3 stamps as follows : the top stamp was issued in 2018 and is `1 of 4 in a set of Indian Fashion Through the Ages. The bottom left stamp, from 2019, is 1 of 2 issued for Children's Day 2019. The bottom right stamp is from 2016 and is 1 of 6 showing Indian Metal Crafts. 

Card 2 is from Armenia. It shows us Haghpat Monastery Complex. 

Haghpat Monastery, also known as Haghpatavank, is a medieval monastery complex in Haghpat, Armenia, built between the 10th and 13th century. Described as a "masterpiece of religious architecture and a major center of learning in the Middle Ages", Haghpat monastery, together with Sanahin Monastery, was placed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1996.

Alena used a 2023 definitive from a set of 9 Van Kingdom definitives.

I'm trying to ease back into The Blog, so I think I'll call it a day for this time. Thank you to Phoebe and Alena for these cards today. 

Air Ontario, Bratislava, Letzebuerg, Rio, and a Lady

  Blog # 1601 --- Day  637 of the Current  ( Second ) Russian Invasion of Ukraine

                                                                      GLORY TO UKRAINE      

Howdy folks. Before we get to the cards of today , this :

                                                              Rest In Peace,  J. F. K .

I know where I was and what I was doing when I heard the news, exactly 60 years ago today .

Today I have cards from Luxembourg, Slovakia, Brazil, Sri Lanka and Switzerland and I will show them in that order. 

This first card show a few sights of Luxembourg. 

  Meelis used a stamp from this year, 1 of 4 in a Local Fauna set. The most interesting thing about this stamp is the spelling of Luxembourg . Designs on recent stamps issued by Post Luxembourg bear the Luxembourgish name Letzebuerg rather than the French name Luxembourg.

Luxembourgish, a West Germanic language, is the national language of Luxembourg, while French is the legal language. Luxembourgish, French and German are all considered official languages and can be used for administrative matters in the country.

Card # 2 - It arrived from Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. A great view of the Presidential Palace and a couple other major sights. 

  Bruce used a stamp from 2016. It showcased the Cultural Heritage of Slovakia. The card has a beautiful postmark but one ugly cancellation. No doubt the work of the Great Stamp Defacer. 

Card # 3 - This card showing 2 sights of Rio was sent by my brother Dale who recently spent a couple of months in Rio. Here we see Christ The Redeemer and Guanabara Bay along with Copacabana Beach. Nothing says Rio more than these. 

Now , it has been my experience that Brazil stamps are not that interesting, or at least the ones that have come my way. I think the stamps on this card prove that, they were issued in 2002, 2005, 2011 and 2918. Kind of small too. 

Next up is a card showing an aircraft , all be it an old one. It is an Air Ontario Convair 580, registered s C-GDTD. It is kind of strange writing about a Canadian airline that showed up on a card from Sri Lanka. The Convair was manufactured between 1947 and 1954 and Air Ontario  operated between 1987 and 2001. 

 Ravindra used 2 stamps on his card. The small Butterfly stamp is 1 of 4 Endemic Butterflies of Sri Lanka issued in 2023. The right stamp , from 2023, commemorates the 150th Anniversary of the Great Debate of Panadura. 

   
Switzerland, it is now your time. This is the last card for today. Here is another photo from the book of photographs by Uwe Ommer published by Benedikt Tashen Verlag.

Michael used a wooden stamp from 2004. It is a self-adhesive made from Swiss wood.

There you have it, the latest update of The Blog. Thanks for the cards this time go out to Bruce, Meelis, Dale, Ravindra and Michael.  

Postcards, Postcards and Postcards

     Blog # 1600 --- Day  633 of the Current  ( Second ) Russian Invasion of Ukraine

                                                                      GLORY TO UKRAINE      

Well hello readers ( if I actually have any left ) , it been just short of a month since I was last active here. I was away for 11 or 12 days of that time, a short cruise to the Caribbean for a little sun, sand and sea . But now I'm back to reality . Since returning we have already had 6 or 7 cm of snow. It has since melted but it was an eye opener for sure. 

Now it's on to postcards. 

First up is this card from Sri Lanka showing St Paul's Church in the district of Kandy. This Anglican church was opened in 1852. 

 Ravindra used a nice selection of stamps on this card. The 3 larger stamps were issued in a 2020 minisheet showing Ancient Maps of Sri Lanka. The small stamp is from 2022, 1 of 12 in 3 Butterfly shaped minisheets. All 12 stamps showed Endemic Butterflies of Sri Lanka. 

 

Today's second card arrived from Belgium. It's a look at the pier in Nieuwpoort, a town in Northern Belgium, know for its beach and marina. This is where the Yser river flows into the North Sea. 

Gerda used a 2020 stamp, 1 of 5 in a minisheet, marking the History of Pigeon Racing. 

My next card is from France. It's a privately designed World Postcard Day card bringing Postal Hugs to the receiver. I didn't receive it on WPD - Oct 1st,  but that's quite all right. It's a lovely card from Claire, who sent it as part of a postcard swap. 

Claire used a 2023 stamp issued to highlight Fan Making as an Artistic Career. 

Here's another card from France. This one is a look at Marseille Cathedral. This Roman Catholic cathedral is a National Monument of France located in Marseille. It opened in November of 1893. 

Dominique used a beautiful stamp from 1962. It was issued to showcase French Art. It's too bad the beauty of the stamp has been defaced. Some idiot between France and Canada decided to use a crayon to obliterate the stamp even thought it had received an actual cancellation. How I'd like to shake The Great Stamp Defacer. 

I often show postcards with aircraft, but not today. Today I have a ship or a ferry. It is the Nils Holgersson of TT -Line. TT Line , based in Lubeck, Germany  has operated ferry service from Germany to Sweden since 1962. The ferry shown can carry around 800 passengers and is 230 metres in length. It has been in the TT-Line since 2022.

Meelis used 3 Swedish Europa stamps  on this one, since it was sent from Sweden. The left stamp was issued in 2006 under the theme of Eyes of Young People. The other 2 , from 2003, show Poster Art. 

 

 

Time to end of this issue of The Blog. Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breath free. Here's Lady Liberty - The Statue of Liberty in New York. Millions of immigrants has been greeted by this symbol of freedom over the years

Barbara used the round, 2022 Global Forever stamp. 

There you have it. My thanks for cards today go out to Ravindra, Gerda, Claire, Dominique, Meelis and Barbara. Thank you to all of you. 

Take care , come back again soon. 

The Most Beautiful Post Office in the World and More

    Blog # 1599 --- Day  608 of the Current  ( Second ) Russian Invasion of Ukraine

                                                                      GLORY TO UKRAINE      

 

Here we go again. New cards with wonderful stamps to show . But first this news . It`s Monday October 23, and it`s snowing here in Alberta. It is supposed to snow today and tomorrow. We are forecasted to receive up to 20 cm of the white stuff today. Did I say it sucks - well hear me now - It Sucks. Of course , with a snowy day, that means a good day to work on The Blog. 

I`ll start today with a card from Osaka , Japan. It gives us a look at some scenery around Yufuin. In addition to spectacular scenery, Yufuin has 2 or 3 main shopping streets and is home to Bussanji temple, one of two main temples in the town

. 

 

Jobbo used a single stamp on this card. It is 1 of 10 issued in a 2020 set of Doraemon Manga Aime characters. 

A card from France is next. It`s a look at the Orgues of Ille-sur-Tet - geological features formed from sand and clay , shaped by erosion. These balsalt columns are located about 30 minutes from Perpignan. The area is one of the most beautiful places in Occitania. 

Dominique used a stamp from this year on this card. It celebrates Bergheim Haut-Rhin - The Favourite Village of France. 

 

Time now for a card from Algeria. Here we see the Grand Post Office in Algiers. It is said to be the most beautiful post office in the world. I have never seen it so I can`t argue the case. 

There is actually a website by Architectural Digest listing the 11 most beautiful post offices around the world.  They are located as follows  , in order of  `beauty ` in Algiers, Ho Chi Minh City, Mexico City, Los Angeles, Madrid, Columbus Indiana, New York City, Ragusa Italy, Bonn, Kolkata and Winslow Arizona. 

I have only visited one on that list - Ho Chi Minh City Post Office and I thought it was just a wonderful place, I`m not sure I would use the word beautiful, but it was a special place and I could have stayed there all day , just wandering around and looking. 

Now here is the number 1 Beautiful Post office. 

David used 2 stamps from 2023. They are 2 of 4 in a set showing Traditional Head Coverings.

Now here`s the last card for this time. It is from Sri Lanka. On it we see Vallipuram Temple. It was constructed around the 13th century. It is a Hindu shrine situated in Vallipuram village in Jaffna District.

Ravindra used 3 stamps on this card. The top stamp was issued in 2019 to mark International Year of the Periodic Table. The lower left stamp, from 2010, celebrates the 60th Anniversary of the Sri Lankan Navy. The round stamp was issued to mark World Post Dat 2021. 

  There you have it for another time. Thanks for today`s post cards go out to David, Ravindra, Jobbo and Dominique. Thanks guys. Be sure to check back here in a couple days for more of the same. 

WPD card, Malta, Bus, Gustav Klimt, Trunks, and a Unique Stamp

    Blog # 1598 --- Day  602 of the Current  ( Second ) Russian Invasion of Ukraine

                                                                      GLORY TO UKRAINE       

Hello once again. I`m back once more with a few cards to show and talk about . Well , World Postcard Day 2023 has come and gone. I sent out a number of cards to celebrate, hopefully they received the Oct 1st cancellation date since that was the whole idea. My Lovely Teena sent one card to me to celebrate WPC Day. She used a beautiful card from the Nfld. & Labrador series based on the original art work of Peter Sobol. I think there are 5 or 6 different cards in the ` from the Edge of the North Atlantic postcards series. The card I received shows a number of dories on show . Dories are small, shallow-draft boats, about 5 to 7 metres or 16 to 23 feet long. It is usually a lightweight boat with high sides, a flat bottom and sharp bows. It is easy to build because of its simple lines. 

Teena used a stamp issued on May 23rd that celebrated the 150th Anniversary of The Royal Canadian Mounted Police. the RCMP has evolved into an internationally recognized police organization of more than 19,000 police officers

 

Today`s second card is from Mellieha, Malta., It gives us a look at Popeye Village. Mellieħa is a large village in the Northern Region of Malta. It has a population of 10,087 as of March 2014. Mellieħa is also a tourist resort, popular for its sandy beaches, natural environment, and Popeye Village nearby. The Popeye set was supposed to be dismantled after filming wrapped up but it still continues to charm visitors to Anchor Bay. 

Ana used 3 stamps on her card. On the left from 2023 is 1 of 5 in a set showing Marine Life of the Mediterranean. The other 2 are from a set of 4 issued in 2021 showing Historical Maps of Malta. 

I guess this next card , from Belgium, is not for those out there that have a fear of insects or bugs which is called  entomophobia.

Johan sent this one along. The stamp received a first day of issue cancellation. It is from a set of 5 called Spider Splendour. Neat spider web cancel.

Card number 4 arrived from Vienna, Austria. it shows 3 of Gustav Klimt`s paints. From left to right it`s The Kiss, Judith, and Portrait of Adele. 

 Bruce used a stamp from 2022. It was issued to mark the 150th Anniversary of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences. 

Those were the days. There was a time when it seemed that you took just about everything with you when you travelled. If you did that today, it would cost a leg and an arm.  I think those old wooden trunks would make great conversation pieces today.  The card arrived from Finland.

Vuokko used 2 stamps on her card.

The stamp on the left is 1 of 4 in a Birds set issued in 2017. The stamp on the right , from 2021, is 1 of 5 in a set called Glimmer of Fall.

Here`s the last card for this time. It`s a nude pic , from German photographer Uwe Ommer. He has photo books of ladies he has snapped photos of. This is one of them. 

 

The card arrived from Switzerland with a wonderful stamp. It is the St. Gallen Embroidery Flower stamp from 2000.

WE have now come to the end of another issue of The Blog. Thanks for cards this time go out to My Lovely Teena, Ana, Johan, Bruce, Vuokko and Michael. Do drop in again soon. Take care.