yoga

 

CATURDAY

kaffee

An ideal place to fall in love with your 

Viennese coffee house business

most beloved

 

I have two stamps of Colette, a French writer whose full name was Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (28 Jan 1873 - 3 Aug 1954). She wrote Gigi, which was the basis of one of my favourite films (the 1958 one with Leslie Caron)

 

From the most beloved writer of France to the best beloved writer of Scotland, Rabbie Burns whose 265th birthday this week inspired this theme. This rosy cheeked portrait is by Alexander Naysmith

Maybe I should have chosen this theme for next week when it would have been Colette's 151st birthday, but I hadn't decided on the second writer at the time.

yelling cat

 

CATURDAY

words of love

 Juliet's Balcony

La Casa di Giulietta dates to the 13th century and was once home to the Cappello family (the inspiration to the Capulets of Shakespeare's play). The balcony was added to the house in the early 20th century after being bought by the city of Verona.  Beneath the balcony are scores of graffiti scribbles.

far away

 

A totally different landscape from yesterday... this view at least doesn't totally obliterate Mt Fuji from the skyline. It is about 100 miles away, or 2-3 hours by car or train.

arctic beauty

 

Lofoten, an archipelago with stunning scenery. It was an inspiration for the landscapes in the movie Frozen

bridges

the same, but different

from 1984, when Europa stamps were all the same design. Each country still managed to show some individuality

a bridge for Sunday Stamps

two views

 

CATURDAY

fantasy

and this may not be strictly a movie poster, but I love it, not least for the Tiffany blue

pyramid

This ancient mosque with a pyramid shaped minaret sits atop a hill in the city of Ghardaia. It is thought to be the first building in the Ghardaia Palace, built around 1048. The smaller six metre minaret is the older one with the larger 23 metre minaret being built in the 16th C.

on the promenade

 

CATURDAY

large letters

you get an idea of the important landmarks of a city within the name

some words and letters for the first Thursday Postcard Hunt of 2024

lucky pig

 

light up the sky

A last view of the Christmas season. I love all the lights at this time of year and wish they stayed glowing to cheer us up during the dark of January and February.

and this is the last lights of 2023 for Sunday Stamps

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE

adoration

 

By the time these Magi arrived, the Baby Jesus could hold up his head! As well as the expensive gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, a onesie might have been useful.

 back to Finland for some snow, or lumi

santas on a train

 

snowy scenes

 

It is perhaps a little ironic that these snow laden landscapes are this year's Christmas stamps. All week, the news has been about how most of us are going to have a green Christmas.

 a nostalgic Christmas

Merry Christmas to one and all

sitting cosy

 

CATURDAY

snowing

painting by A J Casson, 1921

Not much chance of any falling snow for Christmas in most of the country this year.

Merry Christmas from Finland

hanukkah

 

I know this one is a little late, since Hanukkah ended on Dec 15th. This is the 2023 edition, designed by Hélène L’Heureux and illustrated by Stephanie Carter. What I learned from the website is that this menorah is actually called a hanukkiah

presents

 

CATURDAY

decorated trees

It's always more fun to have help with trimming the tree

and waking up to presents under the tree is so exciting. that grinning nutcracker, not so much

trees and ornaments for Thursday Postcard Hunt on this second week of December

blue

I love the way the light filters through coloured glass and this is a particularly lovely shade of blue

lynx

 

CATURDAY

father christmas

before Coca Cola decided to transform Santa into a portly, jolly old soul wearing a red suit that matched its branding, Father Christmas used to look like these cards

great pebble

 

Formerly known as Ayers Rock, Uluru is a sacred site for the Anangu people. It is seen as a resting place for ancient spirits. Finally, since 2019, climbing the rock is now forbidden.

lonely street

Elblag was established in 1237, and the Market Gate tower shown here is the only part of the original city wall (from 1315) left standing. Much of the city was destroyed in WWII and is still being rebuilt.
 

single span

The Humber Bridge in Yorkshire is the longest single span suspension bridge in the world that can be travelled by walking, or cycling. It is 1.4 miles long.

tb

Helping to eradicate TB.  Bacillus Calmette-Guerin, the vaccine recommended by the World Health Organization to be given to all children in countries endemic for tuberculosis. It is named after the inventors Albert Calmette and Camille Guerin. Engraver Rene Quillivic.
 

greek cats

 

CATURDAY