High and Low

 See It On A Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt - People in a Landscape

A trip to Aix Les Bains, the 'Riviera of the Alps'. A rustic fence with a panoramic view of Lake Bourget and the Alps. A small child with his natty dungarees has prime position.

Edale Church, Peak District

The southern end of the Pennine Way long distance footpath where the village of Edale is the setting off point. The Parish Church stands as a way-marker en route to the moors. 268 miles (435km) later one will arrive at Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders.

 Meanwhile in Wales two walkers relax on Little Orme enjoying the sunshine and the panorama of Llandudno Bay and Great Orme.  

O is for Olav

 

1958-69: Olav V

Olav V (1903-1991) ascended to the throne on the death of his father in 1957. He was the first heir to the Norwegian throne since the 14th Century who was brought up in Norway, but born in Norfolk to his English mother Maud.

1978: 75th Birthday of King Olav

A renowned sailor, who won a sailing gold medal in the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam and sailed throughout his long life. He was also a keen cross country skier 

1996: Centenary of the Olympic Games (Design - H Paulsen)

and as a young man competed in ski jumping competitions. . There is a statue of him called 'The Joy of Skiing' showing him on a ski trip with his dog Troll which is located below the Holmenkollen ski jump in Oslo. His down to earth style and easy manner led to him being nicknamed 'The Peoples King'.

Sunday Stamps A-Z - for Olav and Olympics - See It On A Postcard

 

In the Woods

 See It On A Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt looking at Scenery.. with animals

A handsome elk with its velvet antlers in summertime, when the living is easy

Illustrator - Jaana Aalto

 A wolf moon appears in January, when the days lengthen and the cold strengthens

 

Surprised! by Henri Rousseau (1891) 

A tiger stalks its prey in the warmth of a jungle as imagined by Henri Rousseau (he never left France). The first of his many jungle paintings it is also known as Tiger in a Tropical Storm. So warm but wet.  The rain and lightening are difficult to see on the card and better seen on this larger version.

Norwegian

 

1989: Norden - National Costumes (Design - Knut Løkke-Sørensen)

National Costumes of Norway - a woman's costume from Setesdal, in South Norway (known for its folk traditions) and a man's costume from Kautokeino (Sami/Laplander)

The Northern Lights. We are in a period of increased solar activity which is forecast to last until 2026 (I have managed to miss them all so far!) The Vikings believed the aurora was the light shining off the armour of the Valkyries who were  guiding fallen warriors to Valhalla, Odin's Hall. To the Sami they were a bad omen and thought to be the souls of the dead.

2014: Tourism - Oslo Viking Ship Museum (Design - Kristin Granli)

The Vikings, navigators nonpareil

Sunday Stamps A-Z for Norway, Northern Lights and National Costume - See It On A Postcard