Ocean View

 

1993: Christmas

I've always loved the calligraphy and sentiment on this FDC. The quote is from "End of the Golden Summer" a coming of age drama set in one long New Zealand summer by the playwright Bruce Mason which he toured as a solo performer all over New Zealand. It would become a ensemble play and later a film. The play is set on the fictional beach of Te Parenga but was actually written at Takapuna where it is now performed every Christmas Day. 

1993: Christmas (Designer - Kristine Cotton)

The stamps show a view of a New Zealand Christmas when the weather is warm, the schools and universities are out for the longest holiday of the year and it is time to head for the beach. The stamps show Christmas baubles, presents, sailing-boards and yes a Christmas tradition the British settlers brought with them steamed Christmas Plum Pudding, just what you need on a baking hot day!

1964: Health Stamps

 
New Zealand have issued many bird stamps, a tradition starting in 1988 with an emu. These are the only two I have that feature a beach where of course there will be gulls, these are Red Billed Gulls. Like their Herring Gull cousins I suspect they will not pass up the chance of a piece of Christmas pudding, or anything else vaguely edible. The Little or Fairy Penguin on the other hand is on a more healthy seafood diet.

Sunday Stamps asks for - A Favourite - See It On A Postcard

Christmas Greetings

See It On A Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt is celebrating Christmas

A mysterious document. Is it a map, a carol sheet, an address or a list? Whatever it is Christmas is arriving.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

The presents are under the tree.

Christmas wishes are exchanged

2018: Christmas (Design - Emelie Bang)

and our hearts are warm. The stamp's red heart and dots glisten under the light.

Christmas

 

2011: Christmas

It is nearly time for Christmas and everything seems ready in Switzerland

2013: Christmas in the Forest

but I think our forest friends have simpler fun and the bear family are just going to snooze through it all

2013: Christmas Night

The reindeer will be busy

2013: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

especially Rudolph with his ♪nose so bright♪ leading Santa's sleigh.

2009: Christmas - Angel by William Morris

Have a Blessed Christmas

Sunday Stamps is looking forward to -  Christmas - See It On A Postcard

Putting on the Style

 See It On A Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt is Keeping Warm this winter -

It is forecast for the temperature to dip this weekend, A card from the last century when the winters were colder and furs were the warm clothing of choice, with and without heads . The card sends "A Kindly Wish. - Fortune favour you that so you may /Have all that gladdens life this Christmas Day" Postcard sent on 24 December 1920

The aunties are keeping warm inside.

Glowing Red

 

1998: Birds

Its that time of the year, enter the robin

1965: Songbirds

or maybe a bullfinch

and a rock thrush.  I wonder where they live?

2011: The Happiness Tree

In a Happiness Tree of course.

1973: Copernicus

For more happiness look to the skies and December's colourful Geminid shooting stars.

Sunday Stamps theme this week - Red - See It On A Postcard

Animals in Snow

 See It on a Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt featuring Animals in Snow

 Battling the storm - "Rescuing a calf, Pitchfork Rance Wyoming, 1936". Lucky day for the calf, it gets a ride home.

Grey Wolves have a whole pack to look after each other.

Some Christmas elves from Inge Löök and a friendly fox.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glass

 

1987: Sir Isak Newton

A flask of water refracting light

1993: Christmas

St Aubin on the Hill church whose light shines through the stained glass windows.

These musical angels were created by Henry Bosdet. There are three of his windows in the church.

Sunday Stamps theme -glass - See It On A Postcard

Let It Snow

 See It On A Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt is looking out for snow

Japanese artists are fond of snowy scenes and here the card shows a detail of a  Utagawa Kunisada woodcut showing 'Kabuki actors on a bridge in winter' (1854).

Makrinitsa,Thessaly,Greece

The village of Makrinitsa is built on the slopes Mount Pelion above the port city of Velos so there will be great views of Volos and the Pagasetic Gulf from here.  As can be imagined the area is a popular skiing destination. A beautiful area of Greece in both winter and summer

so which would you choose?