Tuesday, December 31, 2013

OFFICIAL Card - Taiwan

Louise is a 17 year old from Taiwan and sent this card back in November. Getting closer to being caught up! She writes telling me Taiwan is known for it's delicious food. Her favourite is pearl milk tea and she asks if I have heard of it. Well, I hadn't until I l discovered it is better known here as Bubble Tea. Yes, I have heard of it but not quite so daring as to try it. I can't quite put my finger on why or what but something about the little tapioca balls kind of weird me out. Have you tried it?



Monday, December 30, 2013

OFFICIAL Card - Portugal

Catarina lives on the island of Porto Santo off the coast of Portugal. She sent this card showing the house where Christopher Columbus once lived which is now a museum. She sent the card in an envelope and I must say this is one of the prettiest stamps I have ever seen.



Sunday, December 29, 2013

Random Act of Smiliness - Heather from Australia

This card was a lovely surprise from Heather in Perth, Australia. We had swapped cards what seems like many moons ago and have recently reconnected via Facebook. A totally fun card with simply wonderful stamps.



Friday, December 27, 2013

OFFICIAL Card - Netherlands

Another fun Christmas card that came to me, this time from Corina from The Netherlands. The card is by Dutch artist Rolf Unger and is called "Sinterklaas Automatiek", a typical Dutch vending machine. Very fun indeed. The stamps she chose are fabulous - King Willem Alexander, current day and as a baby Prince with his mom, Queen Beatrix.



Thursday, December 26, 2013

December - Ayn from United Arab Emirates

 A year ago if you had told me I would receive a card with a camel in a sleigh I wouldn't have believed you. Very funny and completely unexpected! This card brings to an end a wonderful year long swap I have had with Ayn from United Arab Emirates.I am sure our paths will cross again in the New Year. Thank you Ayn for showing me so much of your beautiful country.



Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!!! After a brutal 48+ hour power failure brought on by the worst ice storm this area has seen in over a decade the lights are on and just in time for Christmas!

This card was one I won in a lottery Heidi from Estonia was hosting. A wonderful Christmas maxi-card. Lucky me!


Tuesday, December 24, 2013

OFFICIAL Card - Germany

Dieter lives in Bonn, Germany and sent me my first Christmas greeting of the season. The text on the back says "Weihnachtswichtel" which I believe translate to elf or imp. Google isn't co-operating with me. The picture is done by artist Ann Lund Wahlberg, a mouth painter from Denmark. Dieter also stickered it up front and back to give it a bit more festive cheer!




Monday, December 23, 2013

Canada from Michael

My friend Michael works for the BC Liquor Board. This past Fall he had the tough job of visiting several wineries in the Okanagan Valley, an area known for vineyards. As he wrote on this card "...some days it does not suck to be me..." I would agree! Painted Rock Winery he writes is one of his favourites.....until the next card arrives. Love that Michael drops me these cards now and again. Takes that little bit more effort than an email and so very appreciated.



Sunday, December 22, 2013

OFFICIAL Card - Belarus

Kate from Minsk sent this card at the end of October showing ladies in traditional dress from Belarus. The text on the back states "Belarus Folk Holidays and Celebrations, Kupala Night". This is a celebration I had never heard of and was as usual interested to learn something new. You just never know when you're playing Trivial Pursuit! The stamp she chose is interesting too and matches the logo on the card. I found some information about it here.



Saturday, December 21, 2013

Direct Swap - Moniek from The Netherlands

Through a Facebook group that I belong to, Moniek was offering cards from a meet-up she was attending in Utrecht, Netherlands. I was super happy when it arrived. I had read somewhere that at the end of this year the the Gulden stamp was being discontinued and being replaced with Euro. Try as I may right now I am unable to google anything that supports this. Either way, the card was designed by one of the attendees and it says "Goodbye Gulden Postzegel (stamp) Meeting" and a wonderful collage of old stamps. Plus the wonderful signatures/stickers on the back. Love the variety! Thank you Moniek!!!



Friday, December 20, 2013

OFFICIAL Card - Germany

Friederike sent this card to me last month. Her husband is recovering from knee surgery in this town, Rotenburg an der Fulda. The card has some nice views as well as the coat of arms. Hope he is feeling better!



Thursday, December 19, 2013

Direct Swap - Salla from Finland

In July I read a Forum post looking for some help obtaining a First Day Cover (FDC) from Canada. Salla is a 17 living in Kalajoki, Finland and LOVES the Canadian band Rush. She heard that Canada Post was about to do a stamp issue and wanted to swap for a postcard and/or FDC. Now that is a request you do not hear everyday - how could I not try to help! The stamps and postcard were no problem, however the FDC was sold out almost the same day. I was able to order one over the telephone, however when my order was to be fulfilled it never did. Nor did anyone call me, even after 6 weeks. Nor did anyone tell me when I called to follow up. The agent I spoke with at Canada Post who ultimately broke the news to me did get a bit of an earful from me. Imagine my surprise when a few days later an FDC arrived in my mailbox with a short note saying "With our compliments" along with an apology". I called to speak with the agent to try and understand how one had been found. After we spoke she could sense my frustration and went to her local Post Office, purchased an FDC on her own dime and mailed it to me. To say her kindness brought a tear to my eye is an understatement. I was so pleasantly shocked! Salla loved the package I put together for her - the Canada Post magazine detailing the stamp issue, a postcard, the FDC and a few other small flat items. In return, she sent me a great fridge magnet, a woven patch of the Finnish flag and some straw Christmas ornaments that are very typically Finnish. A few days later a card of her hometown also arrived. A great swap and I was thrilled to be able to help her.

Have you ever had a complete stranger do something so unexpectedly kind?




PS - I cannot locate my picture of the items Salla sent to me, figures, I will post that at a later time or take another :)




Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Random Act of Smiliness - Ireland

So when this card arrived I must say I was a little perplexed. Through a Facebook group I belong to I saw a post offering to swap cardc from Albania. Seeing as that was a country I had not received one I got in touch. I never got their details in return and figured they must have had many requests. Then one day this card from Ireland arrived from Monika. She indicated it was on behalf of the person I had contacted. It seems as if it is a group of friends who travel the world and send postcards along the way. Don't really know who she is to acknowledge the card and have not heard back from the original contact. Not much more I can do other than enjoy the card. The views show Glendalough in County Wicklow.



Tuesday, December 17, 2013

OFFICIAL Card - Netherlands

Ina writes that while Autumn if her favourite season she can't wait to see these funny lambs in Spring. I would have to agree, they are adorable.



Monday, December 16, 2013

OFFICIAL Card - Netherlands

A great card showing the Dutch Royal family sent to me by Ingrid in late October. The family resemblance between King Willem-Alexander and his eldest daughter is amazing! I must say seeing these three lovely girls makes me think lots of different wacky things. The girls are 10, 8 and 6. I wonder how they feel about dressing alike? When they were younger as seen here, maybe, but now??? I know my 10 year old daughter cringes if she wears something to school and then sees it on a child in grade 1 or 2 and instantly deems it as "too baby". I also wonder if they ever misbehave. My kids are wonderful but they are not angels. I wonder if they could go through all the ceremonies, etc that these three have seen. I know they don't know anything different but wonder if they ever fuss that they have to do it again. Do you ever think totally random wacky thoughts from a single picture?

Another lovely Christmas stamp, this one from 2004.



Sunday, December 15, 2013

OFFICIAL Card - USA

Kristin and her family visit a friends cottage each year in East Tawas, Michigan. "Greetings from..." cards or "large letters" are another very popular theme of postcard. You can read more about the history here.



Saturday, December 14, 2013

OFFICIAL Card - Germany

Silvia lives outside of Cologne and sent this card showing RheinEnergieStadion home to FC Koln. Intersting to see such a perfect square, most stadiums in my mind at least tend to circular or oval. The grass looks so perfect and so green!



Friday, December 13, 2013

Lottery Win - Ann from England

Another fabulous lottery I won in October. Ann was offering 3 unwritten cards from different themes as a lottery to celebrate her 3000 days as a Postcrosser. I was one of the lucky winners chosen. My theme of choice - "Ou est Charlie?" - the French version of Where's Waldo - a huge hit in this house! I wonder why when some things are translated they change names? Does "ou est Waldo?" not have the same ring to it? Ann also included a wonderful card of lava igniting a tree taken in Hawaii. Amazing that the image was captured, hopefully with a zoom lens! Truly appreciate the assortment of Christmas stamps she selected for me - love Wallace and Grommit! Thank you again Ann and congratulations on your milestone.








Thursday, December 12, 2013

OFFICIAL Card - Malaysia

Some days I wish my postcards could talk. I would love to hear about the journey they take to arrive in my mailbox. This card showing the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia would have an interesting story I am sure. The card was sent to me by Nurul, a 5 year old student who is learning English. Sandra is their teacher and set the account up for the children in her class - what a wonderful idea! My name was obtained at the end of February, the card is postmarked in April and it arrived in October. How I wonder what it saw on the way to me.



Wednesday, December 11, 2013

OFFICIAL Card - Russia

How cute are these ladies, I literally want to pinch those cheeks! Elena lives in Moscow and sent me this card card showing babushkas spinning yarn and knitting socks while in traditional dress of the Chuvash people. Love the card as it reminds me of my grandmother, not that I ever saw her spinning wool! Also totally loving the stamp Elena used, lucky for me she had this one still!



Tuesday, December 10, 2013

OFFICIAL Card - USA

Alia lives in Alabama and in September sent me this card. The beautiful view is of the San Joaquin Valley in California. The text on the back of the card refers to it as "Valley of Abundance" for it's agricultural resources. Although if you read the information on the link (and if it is accurate)  it doesn't sound quite as promising for it's residents. On my profile I suggest a few prompts as to what people can write to me about. Alia answered almost all of my questions. I do enjoy hearing the various responses, especially learning what every ones favourite snack is.



Monday, December 9, 2013

OFFICIAL Card - France

Nathalie chose this card for me because it shows some symbols of France, namely the Chateaux of the Loire Valley. She writes that her favourite is the castle in Chambord and asks me which one mine would be. I don't think I could pick just one they are all beautiful for different reasons.



Sunday, December 8, 2013

OFFICIAL Card - USA

Kim lives in Alabama and sent me this card showing Neyland Stadium home of the University of Tennesse Volunteers Football team. It always amazes me just how big American stadium are, especially given these are not professional teams that play in them.



Saturday, December 7, 2013

OFFICIAL Card - Finland

Paivi lives in the countryside of Finland, as she describes it "...pretty much in the middle of nowhere...". In September she sent me this card showing Finlandia Hall in Helsinki. She writes that she is not a fan of modern style but the location is really nice.  This is my second card of this building, the first I received a year ago.