architecture

No one is travelling by train these days. And you would be nine years too late to travel to this station anyway as it was decommissioned in 2011 when the railway line closed. It was built in 1932 in the traditional style of small railway stations seen in Britain and is now the only suburban station left in Singapore. The station and railway tracks are near the nature reserve and were conserved over concerns that the dismantling of the building and the tracks might damage the natural environment of the reserve.

This 2013 stamp was one of four issued commemorating heritage railway stations.

for Sunday Stamps - architecture

spring

My apologies .... with everything that's been going on, I forgot to have this ready.

And spring has sprung, even if the weather has turned cold again. I saw my green shoots this morning, which made me feel happy.

One must look for things of beauty in these trying times.
This stamp, from 1971, is part of the Maple in Four Seasons series.

"The rebirth of life after a winter hibernation is exemplified in the setting of a maple key in the fresh, delicate greens of spring"

designed by Alma Duncan

for Sunday Stamps - signs of spring

slainte

stay at home for your St Paddy's Day celebrations

celebrate

We have had Christmas stamps since 1964, but in 2017, there were finally stamps issued to celebrate other religious holidays. Diwali and Hanukka were the other two festivals.

I have always been attracted to Islamic art and architecture, and love the Arabic script, which here translates as "have a blessed (or, happy) Eid". Turquoise is often seen on Persian and Turkish tiles that cover the walls of the mosques. The deep blue and yellow is also inspired by islamic architecture as is the geometric design.

In another type of celebration stamp, this gift has been wrapped up in paper for birthdays, weddings, Valentines, Christmas, and any other celebration you can think of for which you may want to mail a package. It was my birthday yesterday, but I didn't get any packaged gifts, wrapped or otherwise. (I did get a few postcards) Most places here have now closed, so plans have been cancelled. At the moment restaurants are still open so perhaps I will eat out with friends (since the grocery stores have been emptied out by panic buying hoarders)

Hoping that everyone is well. and getting through any self isolation with calm.

for Sunday Stamps - celebrations

a spring birthday

tulips

Ontario is not quite ready for tulips, but when the season comes in early May, Ottawa will be ready.  The Tulip Festival begins this year on May 8th and runs for 10 days. The stamps above celebrate the 50th anniversary of the festival while the one below shows a photograph by Malak Karsh who helped found the festival.

At the end of WWII, Queen Juliana of The Netherlands gifted 100,000 tulips to Ottawa as a thank you for providing refuge for her family and for helping to liberate her country. Every year since, 20,000 more tulips are sent over from The Netherlands as a symbol of friendship and appreciation.

for Sunday Stamps - flowers

Toronto

Today is the 186th anniversary of Toronto. 

Toronto's First Post Office was officially opened before the city became incorporated. After several decades of other uses, it is now again in use as a full post office (since 1983)

reading

Today is World Book Day in the UK. Any book will do, as will any reputable newspaper. Just Read!

130 years

The Forth Bridge opened on this day in 1890. 

Happy 130th birthday!

ultimate cave

Son Doong Cave - the world's largest natural cave. Although estimated to be around 3 million years old, no one had been inside it until 2009.

Wales forever

A day late for St David's.
The red dragon is often seen to symbolize all things Welsh.

lion

March seems to have come in like a lion, at least where I live.  So here is a fine looking beast saying hello from Zimbabwe for the series 'animals of prey'.


For Sunday Stamps -  lions or lambs

borders

A 1966 view of Mount Mikeno in the Volcanoes National Park which is known as Virunga National Park across the border in the DRC. (Virunga means volcano in Kinwyarwanda language of Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo). When the park was created in the 1920s, both countries were under control of Belgium. The green unfortunately does not show off the brilliant yellow-crested helmetshrike with his black body and high yellow crest. Although this stamp is from Rwanda, this bird is endemic to the DRC. And it is now on the vulnerable list.

designer Jean Van Noten
engraved by Jean de Vos

For Sunday Stamps - the colour green

sails

Here they come. The ships to "discover" the islands of the Caribbean

Christopher Columbus may have sailed past St Lucia but he didn't even deign to mention it in his travel logs

although Juan de la Cosa did include it on his 'world map' - the first to include the Americas

It is only 617 square miles and is the most mountainous of the Caribbean Islands with The Pitons (798 and 743 metres high) being its most famous landmark

Wouldn't we all like to be here now?

for Sunday Stamps - watercraft