Bridges Over Water

 See It On A Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt for Bridges spanning water

Japanaiserie - Bridge Under Rain (after Hiroshige) by Vincent van Gogh (Paris 1887)

 Copied from a woodcut by Utagawa Hiroshige Vincent van Gogh's 'Bridge in the Rain' added more colour than the original and because the shape of woodcuts would not fit directly on square canvases he added a colourful border. Vincent and his brother Theo had had collected many Japanese prints and woodcuts in their time together in Paris. Hiroshige's original, called 'Sudden Evening Shower on the Great Bridge near Atake', was part of his series - One Hundred Famous Views of Edo

Under clear skies at the mouth of the River Morar, on the road to the Isles, near Mallaig.  The river is the shortest in Scotland, it drain from Loch Morar so is really more of an estuary among rocks. There are a series of waterfalls known as the Falls of Morar on its short run to the sea.

Calm waters on the Leicestershire Ring, also known as the East Midlands Ring. There are many bridges over its 154 miles which consists of a mixture of rivers (Soar and Trent) and canals. The bridge top middle is at Hartshill Basin, bottom left Hawkesbury Junction, both are over he Coventry Canal. Bottom right - Braunston where the Grand Union and Oxford Canals meet, the cast iron bridge is the Horesley Iron Works Bridge. I think that is the marina seen through the arch.

Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin and Piglet

For pure bucolic bridge delight what could pass the time better on a sunny day than a game of  Poohsticks with friends.

 “Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known.” ― A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh

Village Houses

 See It On A Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt - for the month of July : Architecture - Houses

One of the traditional houses or mansions in the village of Vizitsa on the southern Pelion peninsula,  located 540 metres (1771 ft) above sea level overlooking the Pegasetic Gulf

The village of Pivakes on the south western slopes of the Pelion mountain range is considered one of the best preserved  villages in the region. The Pelion in Northern Greece, as can be seen, is heavily wooded with trees such as beach, oak and chestnuts  beneath which are cool springs and streams. The stone paved paths connecting the villages are called kalderimia where one might spot a wild tortoise trundling along or basking in the sunshine  One of my favourite places in Greece.

Vallorcine, Haute-Savoie, (Altitude 1260m) France

Vallorcine , the last village of the Chamonix-Mont-Blanc valley before crossing into Switzerland

Easdale Argyll

Meanwhile at sea level is the village of Ellanbeich on Seil. The village is sometimes called Easdale because of its proximity to the island of that name, one of the smallest permanently inhabited islands of the Inner Hebrides 

Gardens

 See It On A Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt for Public Gardens

Ballindalloch Castle, Banffshire, Scotland

A view of Ballindalloch Castle, visitors can enjoy its formal gardens, woodlands and riverside walks which are open to the public from Easter to the end of September. The first tower of the castle was built in 1546, much altered it still stands today.

Aberlour is located on the banks of the River Spey and famous for its whisky, and Walker's shortbread (the company is the UK's largest exporter of biscuits). The photos are of the Parish Church, the River Spey and the Alice Littler Park.

Travelling from the east coast of Scotland 

to the Isle of Man in sunshine and the Promenade Gardens of Douglas, the island's capital.

Churches

 

1973: Landscapes

Somewhere in central Switzerland you will find this unnamed church with its onion tower.

2014: Christmas (Artist - Judy Joel)

Snowy day outside St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral which was designed by the Victorian architect George Gilbert Scott in his familiar soaring gothic style.

2016: Churches of the Parish Walk (Photographs Peter Killey)

Here are some of the churches used as checkpoints on the 85 mile Isle of Man Parish Walk held every June. As the name implies the walk passes through every parish on the Isle of Man starting in Douglas and eventually, after the circular walk around the island, finishing in Douglas.

Sunday Stamps theme - churches - visit  See It On A Postcard

On the Map

 See It On A Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt is looking at Country Maps...

When heading towards the Arctic Circle and Greenland, the aeroplane will land in the capital Nuuk, home of a huge Santa Claus postbox. More practical postal information is on the card, the red dots indicate all the post offices.

For the tourist to Belgium a handy postcard guide to some of the attractions of this small country.

The reverse of this card extols virtues of a country starting with the sentence  "Scotland contains a variety of scenery and interest unsurpassed anywhere in the British Isles"  I though I would enlarge

the map for a better view of the puffin and Nessie. Where Nessie's nose points and the piper pipes it is surprising to only see only fish as the Moray Firth  is one of the best places in the UK to see bottlenose dolphins who come in with the tide to feed and play.

Streets

 See It On A Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt is walking down urban streets

Charing Cross, Glasgow

and a pleasant day for a walk to the post office on the corner.

Eastgate, Lincolnshire

Early morning in Louth, Lincolnshire.  I had a look online and nothing much has changed here, the Pack Horse Hotel and bar is still there although not the Coffee Tavern but there is no doubt there will be a coffee shop on the street somewhere. Somehow the word 'tavern' does sound more fun.  The lower shop fronts and signage of course are now boringly modern and cars park on the left, yellow lines and no parking on the right.  The church spire is St James and the tallest medieval church spire in the country.

York Street, Albany, Western Australia

A clear blue sky in Australia, just like where I am today, except of course with summer rather than winter temperatures.  The card says - "York Street is Albany's main commercial area and overlooks the beautiful Princess Royal Harbour".  Pity we can't see it. I could have used it for next week's theme.

Memorialised

 See It On A Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt is in search of statues and memorials

Plaza de Espania

and in Spain with their heads in the clouds Don Quixote and the Sancho Panza ride out from the pages of Cervantes,  forever in the search of adventure.

Glentrool Forest Park

The clouds of  an ancient conflict settle over the Bruce Stone in remembrance of Robert the Bruce who defeated English forces in Glen Trool (1307).  A monument to look at and read before starting the popular walk up the boggy narrow valley to ascend The Merrick, southern Scotland's highest peak. A panorama of the Galloway Forest, Ireland and the Isle of Man is promised on reaching the top. It all depends on the weather. Many years ago we viewed and read the granite stone in sunshine however on reaching the top the clouds and mist had descended.

In Sri Lanka the seated Buddha of Gal Vihara teaches the lesson that all is impermanence and transitory. This is one of four images carved on a single large granite rock face in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa.. It is thought that they were once coated in gold.  Time for contemplation over a nice cup of  Ceylon tea.

Take the High Road

 See It On A Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt this week takes a look at streetwear and here

Photo - Jean-Daniel Sudres; Illustrations - Jean-Pierre Arcile

is where raditional costumes and streetwear together with photography and art  meet in this postcard of the Rue du Port, somewhere in Brittany, France.

View Indicator, Douglas Park, Largs

I do lover an orientation table and from this viewpoint over the Firth of Clyde the islands of Arran and Bute and lots more will be seen. The postcard was sent in 1980 so I'm thinking 1970s or late 60s fashion.

Scotland Its Highlands and Islands "Off Staffa"

Going back further in time once again traditional and 'modern' dress is combined in this railway poster of the 1920s/30s encouraging travel to Scotland. The poster invites the reader to contact David MacBrayne Ltd whose ferries still ply the islands and islands (now trading with the name Caledonian MacBrayne) and still sailing past the basalt island of Staffa and the famous Fingal's Cave although our travellers seem to be distracted elsewhere. 

Sheep Flocks

See It on A Postcard's  Thursday Postcard Hunt theme is "On the Farm"

although these sheep are safely grazing on "Parson's Meadow". The sender of the card (Kate) didn't have enough room on the back for her full message

which was a card swap with her friend with the familiar refrain "I would have sent one sooner but I have been very busy"   The card is from some time between 1907-1917 and here is the card's

destination, the 18th Century Langley Old Hall, all the lawn is missing is a few sheep

but perhaps not as many as this. The flock is by the River Findhorn, Scotland in 1938 and it looks as though the sheep may be deciding whether to follow the post van.

Sycamore Line

Autumn, sycamore leaves and creativity combine to form a beautiful bronze, gold and green splash of colour brightening up a peaty green Scottish beck near Glenfiddich. This is one of the ephemeral artworks created by Andy Goldsworthy called 'Line to follow colour rhythms in sycamore' in October 1990.

More pictures of Andy Goldsworthy's Land Art can be found here.

Postcard's for the Weekend theme - Patterns and Prints - Connections to the World

Crowds

I only have one postcard of Glasgow and remarkably it is totally 'on trend' for Alan's Sepia Saturday prompt.  Crowds, Glasgow and a tram coming down the line. The post office on the corner is still there but the trams, once part of the largest urban system in Europe, went just over fifty years ago. From a maximum of more than 1,200 trams in 1947 the system was gradually wound down, its survival, in comparison with other cities in Britain, was the fact that the trams (and hence spare parts), were designed locally.  Many of these trams still survive today in museums. 

The photo looks as like it was taken on a summer's day from the two ladies with parasols on the post office corner and that was the time of my only visit to Glasgow.  Well I say visit, but really it was only a view of the station as I changed trains, running down the platform to get the connection to journey on to the Isle of Arran. A beautiful warm summer fortnight of hills and white sandy beaches, and the occasional company of midges. 

 I reluctantly turn my mind away from summer back to the present roll upon roll of Atlantic storms sweeping the country.  The storms with a wind behind at high tide them are as fascinating to people now as

they were in August 1920 when this card was sent from Morecambe, Lancashire.  The crowds look to be well wrapped up against the weather while enjoy the bracing day at the seaside.

   The card says  "Dear Aunt and Uncle and Beatrice, We are having a real good time here but the weather is cold and now it is very rare we see the sun but that doesn't bother us. We have nearly been everywhere. We went for a long landau ride yesterday. Yours Charlie". Then upside down at the top is a cryptic message "You want to see my ma's nose - its it.  Heaps of love from Nora"  Maybe its red with the cold, the 'summer' of 1920 was the coldest of the entire 20th Century.

An entry to Sepia Saturday Number 215 showing the crowds in Jamaica Street, Glasgow. For more crowds join the Sepians here

In Flight

Sitting in the middle of the River Dee surrounded by marsh, water and woodland the ruins of Threave Castle is a marvellous place for birds, and those that watch them.  This is one of those extra long cards that do not seem to fit anywhere but as it is so atmospheric I usually have it on display.  I imagine it as a still Autumn morning.  The river in past times was much higher at this point but in winter the level rises to surround the ruins.

The castle belonged to the Black Douglas clan, built in the1300s by Archibald the Grim. They seemed to call their offspring Archibald on a regular basis, I suppose having descriptive addition sorted who was who.  Although it is a name you would possibly think twice about accepting an invitation to visit.  The Black Douglas have an interesting, if bloody, history in the search for power.

An Entry to "Our Wonderful World Tuesday", the idea of  Cuckootree

Glasgow

 Charing Cross, Glasgow

It is St Andrew's Day today, the patron saint of Scotland, so here is a suitably Scottish card from the early 20th century. The post office still stands here but unfortunately the tram system that was once one of the largest urban systems in Europe is no more. The machine in the road to the left intrigues me, I have no idea what it is. I like to think it is roasting chestnuts although the two women passing the post office seem dressed for summer so possibly not.

The tartan is Dress Stewart, whose clan claim their descent from Banquo, familiar as the character that appears in Shakespeare's Macbeth.  I think Dress Stewart implies this is the one to wear at celebrations, looking good swirling around in a country dance.

Robert Burns

 Robert Burns 1759-1796

As it is Burns night on Tuesday what other stamp could I show for Sunday Stamps than two commemoratives issued on the 25th January 1966.

Designed by the Scottish artist Gordon Huntley the One Shilling and Threepenny stamp shows the Nasmyth portrait against a background design that contains symbols of Burns' life (they take a lot of squinting to see) - the plough, a scroll and a quill, the rose, a stook of barley, the thistle and the gable end of his home Mossgeil Farmhouse. The script lettering is based on calligraphic forms in Burns' signature on letters.  The 4d stamp is a more simple design Burns' portrait with the cross of St Andrew - the national flag of Scotland, in the background.

Burns night is on the poets birthday, 25th January, and  is a celebration of his short but full life. The supper starts with the Selkirk grace:

Some hae meat and canna eat,

And some wad eat that want it;

But we hae meat, and we can eat,

And sae let the Lord be thank it.

but the high points of the evening is the entrance of the haggis which will be proceeded by a piper playing some of Burns' songs on a bagpipes. The haggis which will be laid on the top table where a chosen person will recite the eight verses of 'To A Haggis' which starts:

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,    (sonsie=good natured, comely)
Great Chieften o' the Puddin-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,  (aboon=above)
Paich, tripe or thairm;                    (paich=paunch or stomach) (thairm=intestine)
Weel are ye wordy of a grace        (wordy=worthy)
As lang's my arm.

The haggis will then be cut (with a toast proposed in whisky) and eaten with mashed tatties (potatoes) and neeps (turnip). After the meal and various toasts, and poems the evening will end, with of course, a singing of  Auld Lang Syne, the poem written by Burns and set to the tune of an old folk song, still sung all over the world at New Year.
The Sunday Stamps meme is created and hosted at Viridian Postcard

Autumn Art

"Line to follow colour rhythms in sycamore" by Andy Goldsworthy

Andy Goldsworthy, sculptor and photographer, lives in Scotland.  Some of his works are permanent but some like this one are ephemeral.   The coloured sycamore leaves follow a beck in north west Scotland somewhere near the Glenfiddich whiskey distillery. Possibly he put his feet up in the bar at night after completing this and drank a 'wee dram'. I was up there a couple of years ago on the beautiful Moray coast and drove past on the Grantown on Spey road, it is a sort of hot spot of distilleries,

Goldsworthy made this ten years ago on the 2 October, just as Autumn begins, touches of gold and red mix with the green, the season will soon gather pace.

Yellow's On The Broom

Card picked up near Manchester at the Charnock Richards services on the M6 for the 'Yellow's on the Broom' festival this weekend, they are spreading their advertising wide for this takes place in the highlands of Scotland in Aberdeenshire.  May is a great time in the north of Scotland, there will still be snow on the tops, the weather will be dry and sunny and those pesky midges won't have arrived yet.

Tells you how to get there and promises "two evenings packed with live music and surprises from a host international and local performers. Send this card to a friend...".  If you like roots music this is for you. Mainly Scottish with Donnie Munro from the Isle of Skye who used to be the lead singer of Runrig and the electric folk of Skerryvore and for the international bit, Latin American from Manosanta and indie rock from My Albatross who come all the way from.... Manchester, England.

Just to get in the mood here is some wonderful Highland scenery with a backing track from Skerryvore.