tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34266205064550145832024-02-20T02:11:44.188+11:00I heart post]Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400663625666259393noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426620506455014583.post-53688478504960855182013-06-24T02:59:00.000+10:002013-06-24T02:59:16.811+10:00Greetings from Gazipaşa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hey folks! Greetings from Gazipaşa, Turkey.<div>
I find myself here embarking on an adventure much dreamed about: an Indiana Jones-esque escapade digging up an ancient Roman city by the mediterranean coast in modern-day southern Turkey. It is pretty awesome.</div>
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I have managed to find a tenuous post link, you will all be happy to know. My first night in Turkey was spent in Antalya, where I visited Hadrian's Gate. And lo and behold, when I bought a stamp to send off my first postcard of the trip, it featured Hadrian's Gate. So here it is:</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-487lOsIbvjs/UcXHtjIjL5I/AAAAAAAADMk/j_OqVXtn5tQ/s1600/hadrians+gate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-487lOsIbvjs/UcXHtjIjL5I/AAAAAAAADMk/j_OqVXtn5tQ/s400/hadrians+gate.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Now I am in Gazipaşa, a good three hour bus-ride from Antalya, where our dig-house is located. Our dig-house is normally a soccer club's football rooms, which have been transformed into dorms for our purposes. It is a pretty great set-up. Our site that we are digging up is about half an hour from here, and is the Roman city of "Antiochia ad Cragum," or "Antioch on the Cliffs."</div>
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The above photo is taken from the entry gates to the Roman city, overlooking the countryside with the Mediterranean sea beyond. The Roman city is amazing. There is a temple that dates to the end of the 2nd Century AD; the remains of three bath-houses - one major one surrounded by an elaborate mosaic inside the city gates, one smaller bath-house outside the gates, and one down by the sea; there is the remains of the colonnaded street, which would have had shops lining it and a stunning view over the Sea.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting a site tour</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n6wYTHSrTGs/UccauQvjvsI/AAAAAAAADNw/PTI4yN4pCMg/s1600/inside+the+bath-houe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n6wYTHSrTGs/UccauQvjvsI/AAAAAAAADNw/PTI4yN4pCMg/s400/inside+the+bath-houe.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the outer bath-house</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the colonnaded street</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GuVPUkSC8tY/UcccS6lRFGI/AAAAAAAADOA/Tzh6-Qej57o/s1600/latin+marker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GuVPUkSC8tY/UcccS6lRFGI/AAAAAAAADOA/Tzh6-Qej57o/s400/latin+marker.jpg" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A road sign in Latin</td></tr>
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The focus of our excavations this season is on what we think is the city Agora, or marketplace. And after two days of glorified gardening - removing a thousand different types of prickle bushes - in order to reveal the ground surface, by Friday we were ready to get into it. I am in a trench with Mary Ann, and we are excavating on top of a mound that may be a temple. I am pretty excited to get into it next week.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n_836ciVJZ8/Ucci_3tsBJI/AAAAAAAADOg/FTjdx63vu2w/s1600/In+the+trench.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n_836ciVJZ8/Ucci_3tsBJI/AAAAAAAADOg/FTjdx63vu2w/s400/In+the+trench.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary Ann and I standing in the middle of our trench pre-excavation</td></tr>
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Anyhow, after our first week of work, our hard slog was rewarded with a swim in the "Pirate's Cove."</div>
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You can't really beat that, right? </div>
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So, that is my first week in Turkey done... and I am very much looking forward to the second.</div>
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400663625666259393noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426620506455014583.post-12379263334880246422013-06-11T20:05:00.000+10:002013-06-11T20:05:48.753+10:00World Stamp Expo Fun Times!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So this blogging game has gotten away from me recently, and as a result there is a bit of catching up to do. About a month ago I was very excited to attend the World Stamp Expo, which was being held in my hometown of Melbourne. The WORLD STAMP EXPO!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7UkJpmS75P53Nmv2DoEMOZdipv_AZxA7sjp2q_UGnVBKROrLbh_MsO0FPA60lxek5uXxJdjg63VwWF0Oc_HMR405Y-RfXlqvXCvv2EaZ-LJiv3qfyRbUGmL2IJdOmrKbsTp7jqyPEYTs/s1600/me+at+fair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7UkJpmS75P53Nmv2DoEMOZdipv_AZxA7sjp2q_UGnVBKROrLbh_MsO0FPA60lxek5uXxJdjg63VwWF0Oc_HMR405Y-RfXlqvXCvv2EaZ-LJiv3qfyRbUGmL2IJdOmrKbsTp7jqyPEYTs/s200/me+at+fair.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qtb--99gcMA/UbblfgwgpAI/AAAAAAAADKA/BbhNf0LyVCM/s1600/photo+(13).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qtb--99gcMA/UbblfgwgpAI/AAAAAAAADKA/BbhNf0LyVCM/s200/photo+(13).jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s3CGBVR0Uh0/UbbldrJrMMI/AAAAAAAADJ4/m9E6WLRnVL4/s1600/Royal+Exhibition+Building.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s3CGBVR0Uh0/UbbldrJrMMI/AAAAAAAADJ4/m9E6WLRnVL4/s320/Royal+Exhibition+Building.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
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The Expo was held at the Royal Exhibition Building, a beautiful <a href="http://museumvictoria.com.au/reb/history/heritage-listing/" target="_blank">UNESCO World Heritage listed </a>building located in the Carlton Gardens. I dragged my dutiful boyfriend along, who patiently accompanied through the myriad stalls from various postal authorities from around the globe. I also dragged my friend Grant along - but he chose to lie in the sun for a couple of hours in the Gardens instead. Each to their own (but you missed out on some fun, Grant!).<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DeY81L1vOdU/UbboFqbcv7I/AAAAAAAADKY/vYWRLWWU45s/s1600/souvenir+minisheet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DeY81L1vOdU/UbboFqbcv7I/AAAAAAAADKY/vYWRLWWU45s/s400/souvenir+minisheet.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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As you could well imagine, I made a few purchases over the course of the day. My little bag was full (and my bank account empty) by the end of it. I got a souvenir minisheet to add to my royal kitsch collection, embossed with the Expo logo on it. And I just couldn't help myself, also adding to my royal collection I got a Wills and Kate FDC.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_TUVWa19SRs/Ubbp8khJP4I/AAAAAAAADK4/xrVkdfLXY2c/s1600/Wills+and+kate+FDC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_TUVWa19SRs/Ubbp8khJP4I/AAAAAAAADK4/xrVkdfLXY2c/s400/Wills+and+kate+FDC.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Moving away from my tacky fascination with royals, I also indulged my love of maps, and found this amazingly beautiful minisheet from Greenland. What a find!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nl9qi6ZqEuQ/Ubbt4GrEmiI/AAAAAAAADLY/OSzzpdHxvts/s1600/greenland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nl9qi6ZqEuQ/Ubbt4GrEmiI/AAAAAAAADLY/OSzzpdHxvts/s640/greenland.jpg" width="507" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VimgceSkj4Y/UbbtlBOzSMI/AAAAAAAADLQ/D6yL_cWQVrc/s1600/map+finland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VimgceSkj4Y/UbbtlBOzSMI/AAAAAAAADLQ/D6yL_cWQVrc/s400/map+finland.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I also visited Deutsche Post, and purchased this lovely minisheet as it features both a map element and the Antarctic, and I love the Antarctic. The combinations of boats and ice always make for beautiful images. Would you agree?<br />
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I also found these awesome Indonesian stamps, which I saw when I visited there last year, but resisted buying at the time due to budgetary constraints.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TpYmqSnMzZ8/UbbyEB_9MKI/AAAAAAAADL4/OsLL3POHmSg/s1600/Indonesian+fabric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TpYmqSnMzZ8/UbbyEB_9MKI/AAAAAAAADL4/OsLL3POHmSg/s400/Indonesian+fabric.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>
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The stamps depict traditional fabric designs from around Indonesia. They are quite lovely, in my opinion.</div>
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Anyhow that is a sample of my many purchases from the World Stamp Expo 2013. It was a very fun day out for a big stamp nerd like me.</div>
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And now this stamp nerd is signing off for the time being. I am about to head to Turkey for six and a half weeks! I am very excited and will be working on a Roman archaeological site on the south coast. It is an absolute dream come true and I can't wait to be archaeologising on the other side of the world. So I will try and post to this blog (probably fairly irregularly) over the coming few weeks, but the posts will be archaeologic rather than philatelic in nature. But watch this space!</div>
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400663625666259393noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426620506455014583.post-30967905653556265892013-05-09T21:04:00.002+10:002013-05-09T21:04:46.812+10:00Map stamps post!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello blog-world! It has been a little while and I have missed you! I have wanted to share this wonderful package that I received from <a href="http://somestampsandmanymiles.blogspot.com.au/">João</a> in Brazil for ages - but it has taken me a little while to get my act into gear. First of all - let's appreciate the gorgeous envelope.<br />
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How cool is it that there is a special postmark that matches the stamps? Crazy cool!! It is sometimes hard to judge scale on these scanned images of stamps, but the animal stamps are lovely big square stamps. My favourite though, are the stamps the ones that refer to bookplates: the ex libris stamps.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pNrlF5nYi8Q/UYo3sfVWypI/AAAAAAAADHA/bnOmJn5MAuQ/s1600/ex+libris+stamps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pNrlF5nYi8Q/UYo3sfVWypI/AAAAAAAADHA/bnOmJn5MAuQ/s400/ex+libris+stamps.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Aren't these stamps wonderful? They feature bookplates AND a world map. Two of my favourite things! Anyhow, if you think the outside of the envelope was cool... wait til you see what is inside!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic11s0l1qPBm4g_K8thIHdj6h-b1Y_3RGq7RHl5KB_a8u9T_ymvhe5aQDew-_95PKnoWWKZhZln19mV8akPiT_URxAz3H3NTEWlMJw6Oh6-5I_HyeAo0rkSOPKPIWrjFR11oDUisULUgYS/s1600/envelope+of+stamps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic11s0l1qPBm4g_K8thIHdj6h-b1Y_3RGq7RHl5KB_a8u9T_ymvhe5aQDew-_95PKnoWWKZhZln19mV8akPiT_URxAz3H3NTEWlMJw6Oh6-5I_HyeAo0rkSOPKPIWrjFR11oDUisULUgYS/s400/envelope+of+stamps.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I think I love little envelopes of stamps more than I love albums of stamps. I love the colours through the glassine paper of the envelopes, I love that the envelopes are mini, and I love that a little envelope of stamps makes you thumb through the stamps so that you can appreciate them in a more tactile way than if you have them stuck in the austere pages of an album.<br />
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Of course, traditional philatelists would be horrified at the thought of grubby oily hands on precious stamps, but I just can't resist the temptation of getting a little collection like this, from a little pocket, and spreading it over the table and admiring each individual stamp, picking them up one by one and examining them.<br />
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To do that in a blog sense, to spread the stamps from the above little pocket all over the desk and appreciate them one by one, I have scanned a sample for you to enjoy:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CI6gHfs6Sss/UYpNoPsO50I/AAAAAAAADH8/1CnW7Fj5rqU/s1600/brasil+olympic+map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CI6gHfs6Sss/UYpNoPsO50I/AAAAAAAADH8/1CnW7Fj5rqU/s400/brasil+olympic+map.png" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v0eaCuGWNqE/UYt5-GlGr9I/AAAAAAAADIQ/qQdzwDg6b9U/s1600/Map+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v0eaCuGWNqE/UYt5-GlGr9I/AAAAAAAADIQ/qQdzwDg6b9U/s400/Map+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Hvf8SBnTeM/UYt5-luN93I/AAAAAAAADIM/-ynB7QYrk7Y/s1600/map+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Hvf8SBnTeM/UYt5-luN93I/AAAAAAAADIM/-ynB7QYrk7Y/s400/map+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9CirhjmvTz8/UYt8JKsYvHI/AAAAAAAADIg/qt7ZzrNIMxE/s1600/green+map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9CirhjmvTz8/UYt8JKsYvHI/AAAAAAAADIg/qt7ZzrNIMxE/s400/green+map.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQLbGl-hA_ORM5-IhH5lPFzuQ0b9eGk6XjEp5dJPPurLJMHXBH-w5FmBdCzuMmSFIyiFLSjuJZIJF4qq1k02u88ynSkbNIAQboRvEojcWdKf_wQwvhzxjNZt843z8yTpfTvQEEVVGdnDw1/s1600/Map+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQLbGl-hA_ORM5-IhH5lPFzuQ0b9eGk6XjEp5dJPPurLJMHXBH-w5FmBdCzuMmSFIyiFLSjuJZIJF4qq1k02u88ynSkbNIAQboRvEojcWdKf_wQwvhzxjNZt843z8yTpfTvQEEVVGdnDw1/s400/Map+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRoYDb33t0uKWJMIdnMaU1Pp3dWuPGF9FGczWq3XS1LRyu-JwW2n5FsmcIMwA0gGA-Lo_XrhV23-TJp81N3MKLojyE9F_m_3M9iglntxM-GeKOJY-5xh4JS1MygpdQYw-GYZWkLLm5leR/s1600/Map+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRoYDb33t0uKWJMIdnMaU1Pp3dWuPGF9FGczWq3XS1LRyu-JwW2n5FsmcIMwA0gGA-Lo_XrhV23-TJp81N3MKLojyE9F_m_3M9iglntxM-GeKOJY-5xh4JS1MygpdQYw-GYZWkLLm5leR/s400/Map+5.png" width="302" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ov1YF4E8EKI/UYuAgYiINYI/AAAAAAAADI4/5_KJcEaArec/s1600/Map+6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ov1YF4E8EKI/UYuAgYiINYI/AAAAAAAADI4/5_KJcEaArec/s400/Map+6.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Fantastic collection of map stamps, right? And this is only a sample! Thankyou <a href="http://somestampsandmanymiles.blogspot.com.au/">João</a>! I am still collecting a few little things to send to you in return.<br />
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This weekend in Melbourne it is probably the biggest weekend in philately circles for the year/decade... it is the <a href="http://worldstampexpo.com.au/" target="_blank">World Stamp Expo 2013</a>! So you know what I am going to be busy doing this weekend!! I will be sure to let you know how it goes.Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400663625666259393noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426620506455014583.post-36624064734239649472013-04-22T23:38:00.001+10:002013-04-22T23:38:23.686+10:00Royal Kitsch Birthday Giveaway ResultsGood evening lovely blog-readers.<br />
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Just a quick update <a href="http://iheartpost.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/birthday-giveaway-time.html" target="_blank">regarding my recent giveaway</a>. I just used random.org to work out the winner...<br />
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AND THE WINNER IS...</h2>
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LAURA L.</div>
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Thank you to the five wonderful people who entered the competition. I so appreciate your readership and comments!<br />
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I will be posting out to Laura the little "Royal Kitsch" pack I have put together, containing five envelopes, some royal stamps for fun crafting and the Prince Charlie and Lady Di stamp set. I hope you enjoy them Laura!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iU-a4BEskqA/UWQP6m5qpeI/AAAAAAAADE4/V6jYyOaoi58/s1600/royal+envelopes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iU-a4BEskqA/UWQP6m5qpeI/AAAAAAAADE4/V6jYyOaoi58/s320/royal+envelopes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400663625666259393noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426620506455014583.post-26429639343743545942013-04-14T23:17:00.000+10:002013-04-14T23:17:28.341+10:00Life Insurance Lighthouses: Sunday StampsSo Sunday has rolled around once again and it is back to work tomorrow. But before the weekend is completely done, it is time to participate in Sunday Stamps.<br />
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The theme this week is lighthouses, and I have the perfect cover to share. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0tB051fpfSM/UWqmEvrX5mI/AAAAAAAADFs/05z7kQunhD4/s1600/lighthouse+cover.png"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0tB051fpfSM/UWqmEvrX5mI/AAAAAAAADFs/05z7kQunhD4/s400/lighthouse+cover.png" /></a></div>
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I remembered this cover after <a href="http://iheartpost.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/lighthouses-sunday-stamps.html">I had already posted about lighthouses</a> the last time, and was annoyed I had left it out. Luckily it now comes in handy for today's Sunday Stamps. The cover comes from my Grandpa Jeff's collection. I am not sure why the New Zealand Government Life Insurance Department were issuing stamps, but I do like their work very much.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-lztr40nOhL2pv4vRCDZWklLc32-kefLDP92bxopdyLby1bj0J2M2uzYTm_iiP6XkPRo9Nz794PGlLg9FcrHMGYefZDcUGMYXUJVXB3aTiYzXbkUr4h17DStkfVFCUeKrX3FekeXSYKr/s1600/lighthouse+two+stamps.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-lztr40nOhL2pv4vRCDZWklLc32-kefLDP92bxopdyLby1bj0J2M2uzYTm_iiP6XkPRo9Nz794PGlLg9FcrHMGYefZDcUGMYXUJVXB3aTiYzXbkUr4h17DStkfVFCUeKrX3FekeXSYKr/s400/lighthouse+two+stamps.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MtmX-sV0Oi0/UWqqu2WVddI/AAAAAAAADGE/WgRGRMpYm9Y/s1600/Lighthouse+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MtmX-sV0Oi0/UWqqu2WVddI/AAAAAAAADGE/WgRGRMpYm9Y/s400/Lighthouse+1.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
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The stamps are nice, right?<br />
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To see what other lighthouse stamps people have found to share this week, click on the Sunday Stamps link below. <br />
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Also, I am running a little<a href="http://iheartpost.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/birthday-giveaway-time.html" target="_blank"> giveaway </a>at the moment, so <a href="http://iheartpost.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/birthday-giveaway-time.html" target="_blank">please do check it out </a>and enter! Happy Sunday everyone.<br />
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<a href="http://viridianpostcard.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_YepnTrx-v5c/TSySRqYCTpI/AAAAAAAAFT8/Yh5jZ3fUdkk/stampbuttonb.jpg" /></a><br />
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Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400663625666259393noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426620506455014583.post-66040393732163023822013-04-11T21:45:00.000+10:002013-04-11T21:45:22.921+10:00Bestest Post Eva!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yesterday I received one of the best bits of post in the mail ever! From my very gorgeous young cousin Lucas. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5X6DN5bO-ulNvDGs4BXRuR1Gv76lvX4eYIB3Uj-pCpf6_FYqm3tlnhSeLmE0hJef1YH05jFMY2cpAyqOT1OE5i3waZkM8T5kyrxNrNBzooUurFmNf0BWDfkb7-1iqax5DhI4bjly-lvLk/s1600/lucas+envelope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5X6DN5bO-ulNvDGs4BXRuR1Gv76lvX4eYIB3Uj-pCpf6_FYqm3tlnhSeLmE0hJef1YH05jFMY2cpAyqOT1OE5i3waZkM8T5kyrxNrNBzooUurFmNf0BWDfkb7-1iqax5DhI4bjly-lvLk/s400/lucas+envelope.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TbM7jVClnXs/UWaahrKOrBI/AAAAAAAADFM/oMVVqExDKBE/s1600/Lucas's+letter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TbM7jVClnXs/UWaahrKOrBI/AAAAAAAADFM/oMVVqExDKBE/s400/Lucas's+letter.jpg" width="396" /></a></div>
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Sending post AND now collecting stamps too. What a champ! Thanks Lucas!<br />
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Also just a quick reminder I have a giveaway running at the moment. <a href="http://iheartpost.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/birthday-giveaway-time.html" target="_blank">Check it out</a> and enter away!<br />
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I have just joined up Bloglovin, lest I lose track of all my favourite blogs when google gets rid of reader... Feel free to join me and follow along! :)<br />
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<br />Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400663625666259393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426620506455014583.post-43099093420383588052013-04-09T23:07:00.000+10:002013-04-22T23:43:50.583+10:00Birthday Giveaway Time !<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGrS2BNdzBYfQFOBKiciKR5Uj5Uu-DLszENXBg4j0qUQrRKO0xSjQyuZrcA_kXDMFv1Q1dIrFQZ8njIPWYW7yRV6MK-UHNUDLU5CAl6ShM-cXzXdrY4Jh40A68P7zH0CvoP3YcPIp0XoG/s1600/king+george+at+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGrS2BNdzBYfQFOBKiciKR5Uj5Uu-DLszENXBg4j0qUQrRKO0xSjQyuZrcA_kXDMFv1Q1dIrFQZ8njIPWYW7yRV6MK-UHNUDLU5CAl6ShM-cXzXdrY4Jh40A68P7zH0CvoP3YcPIp0XoG/s400/king+george+at+home.jpg" title="King George VI at home" width="400" /></a></div>
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This week marks the beginning of my 33rd year of being. I feel that is something of an occasion, and just for the heck of it, I am going to try something radical and new...<br />
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I am going to do a giveaway!!</div>
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Yay!</div>
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Happy Birthday to my lovely blog readers.</div>
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As a little token of my appreciation for your continued support, I thought I would cook up a little tasty treat. And because it is my birthday, and because I love <a href="http://iheartpost.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/royal-kitsch.html" target="_blank">Royal Kitsch</a>, that is what I have chosen for the theme.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--wFrWXo5L0M/T56CkLGwZfI/AAAAAAAAAWU/Ec_dOGktfQ4/s1600/australian+di+and+charlie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--wFrWXo5L0M/T56CkLGwZfI/AAAAAAAAAWU/Ec_dOGktfQ4/s400/australian+di+and+charlie.jpg" title="Win this Prince Charlie & Lady Di stamp pack!" width="308" /></a></div>
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The task is simple - leave a comment to enter (compulsory), and follow along on bloglovin or google friend connect for a bonus entry. And if you are already a follower - then no problemo, leave a comment and you will receive two entries.</div>
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The lucky prize winner will receive:</div>
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1) Charlie and Lady Di stamp pack (see above).</div>
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2) Five hand made envelopes featuring royals taken <a href="http://iheartpost.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/queen-clunes-and-coronation-collection.html" target="_blank">from vintage books purchased last year</a> (see below).</div>
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3) A bundle of QEII stamps - use them as seals on the envelopes, as decorations, <a href="http://iheartpost.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/festive-stamp-gift-tags-merry-christmas.html" target="_blank">turn them into gift tags</a>, make mini royal bunting from them... oh goodness, the options are endless. Just enjoy them!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQazQLK3SeewRQR4CV1AWLzvOAgfeK47Ofa_up0Hd5Ri-x8HIV0eEIDzpDRnrQTdssA5cOizh8E7cZj3QmZAMY4afOoV-mmELdF2SKvOa2QP92z0Ik-ZgMFWqocnf0ojsnDc52Cgarhwj/s1600/royal+envelopes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQazQLK3SeewRQR4CV1AWLzvOAgfeK47Ofa_up0Hd5Ri-x8HIV0eEIDzpDRnrQTdssA5cOizh8E7cZj3QmZAMY4afOoV-mmELdF2SKvOa2QP92z0Ik-ZgMFWqocnf0ojsnDc52Cgarhwj/s320/royal+envelopes.jpg" title="Win these envelopes!!" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am going to draw the winner using <a href="http://random.org./">random.org</a>, and the competition will be open for 10 days.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Me0zwaamvRg/UWQNGj5NM4I/AAAAAAAADEk/XsemMBZ489w/s1600/QE11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Me0zwaamvRg/UWQNGj5NM4I/AAAAAAAADEk/XsemMBZ489w/s320/QE11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Thanks for playing along. All the best from I heart post headquarters,</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">xx Helen</span></h2>
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<br />UPDATE: The winner has now been announced <a href="http://iheartpost.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/royal-kitsch-birthday-giveaway-results.html" target="_blank">here</a>: and it is Laura L. ... not because she was the first person to comment, but because that is who random.org chose! Thanks to all for participating!Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400663625666259393noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426620506455014583.post-89339183592561979542013-04-07T21:53:00.000+10:002013-04-08T23:31:08.951+10:00Soil Science: Sunday StampsHello blogosphere!<br />
I am pretty excited to be linking back in with Viridian's Sunday Stamps this week, where the theme is all about geology, rocks and the environment. I am excited because I get to share this very cool first day cover I found at a market the other week, when I took a day trip out of the city with two of my sisters.<br />
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We visited the Mill Markets, a massive vintage/retro-goods market in Daylesford, about an hour out of Melbourne. I was pretty wrapped with this First Day Cover, the 9th International Congress of Soil Science from 1968.<br />
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It is not entirely geological - but definitely related, I would say. I loved the stamp and the cover instantly, because working with archaeologists makes one rather enamoured with soils, strangely enough.<br />
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The type on the cover is red foil embossed, so it is all pretty spiffy, what with the nice type and little rural scene. I had not seen the cover before, so I am pretty happy to add it to my collection. However, I already had the stamp in my collection.<br />
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I do like the "science-y" imagery of the stamp. It has a pair, issued for the World Medical Association Assembly. Not as nice as the soil stamp, but still pretty cool, it features Hippocrates floating above a syringe. I am glad the designer chose to also write the name of the greek head somewhat randomly perched on the syringe, because otherwise I would have been a bit puzzled.<br />
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Following on from the above, I thought I would include one last stamp today. I think it fits quite nicely, both visually with the hands, and thematically with the science. It was released eight years after the soil stamp, in 1976. It celebrates 50 years of the <a href="http://www.csiro.au/" target="_blank">CSIRO</a> - the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation - which is Australia's national science agency.<br />
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I love the CSIRO stamp. I love the CSIRO. I love the stamp for featuring graph paper and a scale bar. Awesome.<br />
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Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400663625666259393noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426620506455014583.post-22802272906973828472013-03-27T23:46:00.000+11:002013-03-27T23:49:07.912+11:00From Kongwak to Vanuatu via Hawaii: Volcanoes and other eruptionsThere are things in the universe that are rumbling tonight in 'I heart post' headquarters; ominous 'things' are occurring... the tectonic plates of my little world are creaking just a little. The volcanoes are not exactly erupting, but I think the hot springs are beginning to boil.<br />
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The feeling of things being afoot came this afternoon when Ferret (my sister) told me a bushfire was dangerously close to my hometown. Turns out that things on that front should be just fine for my parents (touch wood), but the fire is dancing around other little hamlets in the bush near my parent's place. I hope that everyone is okay.<br />
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The other major thing that happened tonight (on a much less dramatic, and more insular Helen-scale) is that it looks like I need to find a new housemate. My sister Elspeth has gotten an amazing opportunity to work in Vanuatu! Wow! Congratulations Elspeth. But oh no... what am I to do? No sister to go jogging with :( No sister to have coffee with in the morning. This is bad for Helen. Great for Elspeth though, so I will try not to be too selfish about the whole thing. And besides, now I get to plan a holiday to Vanuatu! Hooray! Everyone's a winner!<br />
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Now these postcards I am sharing with you are not of Vanuatu. They are from Hawaii... but Vanuatu has volcanoes too - and Elspeth is going to be living right near one. Scary! But exciting. I love climbing volcanoes - I have climbed one in Indonesia (Kawah Ijen, with an amazing sulfur lake in its crater) and one in New Zealand (Mount Tongariro... it erupted last year!). But I am yet to see lava. Although the thought of molten lava makes me a tremble a little - I totally want to see some! (But no bushfires. I definitely do not want to see bushfires).<br />
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Anyhow, my volcano postcards come from an album that contains not only postcards from Hawaii, but postcards from Hollywood and Disneyland too. They are a collection of postcards that I bought from the Kongwak market, that are in an old-school photo album collated lovingly by someone after a trip to the US in the 70s. It is possibly my favourite market buy of all time.<br />
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I love how 70s the images are, and the colours. I mean - doesn't the picture above look like a villan's lair from a classic Bond film? I love it. I have been meaning to share this wicked collection of postcards ever since I started this blog, so please savour all the retro-goodness:<br />
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So as I wind up this post, just before I head off to bed, it seems that a quick check of the Country Fire Authority website indicates that the status of the bushfire warnings have all been downgraded, and things are under control. Now for me to stay under control while I come to grips with the prospect of no Elspie for 12 months. Thoughts of visiting Vanuatuan volcanoes are helping.Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400663625666259393noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426620506455014583.post-91673303788660752912013-03-19T21:01:00.000+11:002013-03-19T21:01:27.137+11:00Surf, post... and a little bit of cheese<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The other week my beau/gentleman caller/significant other/boyfriend/lover (who is one person, not five, its just that I am still settling on a label - I think I like beau) went to the sunny northern state of Queensland. He went up to the Gold Coast for work - leaving me at home for a five day stretch where I anticipated I would read books, write blog posts, tidy my room, catch up with friends, do my Turkish homework and generally solve the issue of world peace, or something constructive akin to that. As it happened, fairly predictably, having my new beau (yep, I like it) out of town did not mean I magically accomplished all those things I have been failing at lately, it just meant I spent a fair bit of time on the phone.<br />
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Anyhow, I am telling you all of this by way of introduction to this random edition of "I ♥ POST". One of the things that I like about Jake is that when on our second date I slipped into conversation "oh yeah, and not only do I collect stamps, I also write a blog about the process" he did not say "cheque please! Lovely meeting you, etc etc, I must be off, running late for something, might see you around".<br />
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Nope - he said "oh, cool!" Cool! I mean, he was clearly lying through his teeth, but how lovely of him to do so!<br />
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So, knowing my affection for post, when Jake was away in Queensland he managed to send me four postcards over five days. Knowing that I place more importance on the stamp than the postcard - he bought a new series of four stamps issued by Australia Post on the topic of Surfing. Surfing and Queensland go hand in hand - fantastic thematic choice!! I was so impressed.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NpLR6403iWs/UUcBDL8LEpI/AAAAAAAADAA/puNdnf_Uz7M/s1600/surfing+green+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NpLR6403iWs/UUcBDL8LEpI/AAAAAAAADAA/puNdnf_Uz7M/s400/surfing+green+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Aren't the stamps lovely? I love how they are all different - the typography on each is as unique as the images. Very nice.<br />
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Anyhow, the stamps were just the start. He bought me back the coolest bit of 'post' ever! This may not seem as exotic to my American readers, but to me it is amazing: Jake bought me back a US post office box door that he found in a second hand shop in Bris Vegas!<br />
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Pretty cool, huh?! I will have to find something cool to attach it to, my own lockable stamp box? And that is not all... just when you thought Jake couldn't get any sweeter, he also went out and bought me the first day cover, just to make my collection complete. Awwww!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2tIQTWyFcw0/UUcHjaXPYbI/AAAAAAAADA0/o2fVuxoX-zs/s1600/surfing+hippo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pretty Impressive, hey?" border="0" height="176" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2tIQTWyFcw0/UUcHjaXPYbI/AAAAAAAADA0/o2fVuxoX-zs/s400/surfing+hippo.jpg" title="Jake's hippo drawing" width="400" /></a></div>
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I don't know about your hippo drawing Jake, but you are pretty impressive.<br />
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<br />Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400663625666259393noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426620506455014583.post-83306534162260932412013-03-10T22:57:00.000+11:002013-03-10T22:57:49.423+11:00Abstract Education: Sunday Stamps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6qulomb5ySQ/UTxYfFyyHUI/AAAAAAAAC-s/U_tJEHHRS5E/s1600/education+all+four.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="343" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6qulomb5ySQ/UTxYfFyyHUI/AAAAAAAAC-s/U_tJEHHRS5E/s400/education+all+four.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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The theme this week for Sunday Stamps is abstract designs. I love this set of Education themed stamps, and have been waiting for just such an excuse to share them.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wL1zGUGLNUM/UTwGovU5ooI/AAAAAAAAC90/b3Ey5hyaE8c/s1600/education+all.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wL1zGUGLNUM/UTwGovU5ooI/AAAAAAAAC90/b3Ey5hyaE8c/s400/education+all.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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This set comes from my Grandma Nellie. The packaging above is complete from when they were issued in 1974, in a bright sealed yellow envelope. But my Grandma being a hoarder kept one mint set unopened and also another opened set - so I have the information from inside as well, on this lovely card:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g3Og3NPtLVY/UTxxuJDhRlI/AAAAAAAAC-8/AJ5K37QV4bI/s1600/education+info.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g3Og3NPtLVY/UTxxuJDhRlI/AAAAAAAAC-8/AJ5K37QV4bI/s400/education+info.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
The four stamps only celebrate four aspects of the broad spectrum of the Australian education scene (as the explanatory card says), namely: Pre-School education (5c), Correspondence School (11c), Science Education (15c); and Advanced Education (60c). I am pretty much going to let the stamps speak for themselves this week, so here they are:<br />
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<img border="0" height="271" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XW6KEjeWEjA/UTxVn19JI-I/AAAAAAAAC-U/m8QMaQcgd6g/s400/pre+school+education.png" width="400" /></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qfUfhVGFW44/UTwHU77zGlI/AAAAAAAAC-E/Z8TKGlQfMJc/s1600/education+science+.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qfUfhVGFW44/UTwHU77zGlI/AAAAAAAAC-E/Z8TKGlQfMJc/s400/education+science+.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lXOK2KUnPqR6WU-mL2_4P1-j3KGLCSvcF0jcYTvjFylKNq_cUnVqgkoIynjfHrCqG-PYMMC40Dqru7mjpIPauTZQx_Sr4u0oYZgW66SohNJqlrmaDNz7BO_IKqyM6gw-75Yi5GFmm9bC/s1600/education+distance.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lXOK2KUnPqR6WU-mL2_4P1-j3KGLCSvcF0jcYTvjFylKNq_cUnVqgkoIynjfHrCqG-PYMMC40Dqru7mjpIPauTZQx_Sr4u0oYZgW66SohNJqlrmaDNz7BO_IKqyM6gw-75Yi5GFmm9bC/s400/education+distance.png" width="400" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ad2qXGUpZfQ/UTwHT02wjII/AAAAAAAAC98/rdHVXQOj4h4/s1600/education+advanced.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ad2qXGUpZfQ/UTwHT02wjII/AAAAAAAAC98/rdHVXQOj4h4/s400/education+advanced.png" title="Advanced Education" width="263" /></a></div>
<br />They are very bright and colourful, and very abstract representations of the education sector, so I thought they were pretty perfect for this week's Sunday Stamps. To check out other patterned and abstract designed stamps, click on the Sunday Stamps button below and enjoy. Happy Sunday, folks.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
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Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400663625666259393noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426620506455014583.post-14638597399524690142013-02-24T14:34:00.001+11:002013-02-24T14:34:40.719+11:00Mongolian cosmonauts in space<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lUm8jTXCZqI/USloFN76IbI/AAAAAAAAC5Y/9cLAfEEieaY/s1600/Yuri+Gagarin+Mongolia+Space.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="160" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lUm8jTXCZqI/USloFN76IbI/AAAAAAAAC5Y/9cLAfEEieaY/s400/Yuri+Gagarin+Mongolia+Space.png" title="Mongolia Post - Yuri Gagarin, Cosmonaut" width="400" /></a></div>
This week marks the first year blogoversary of "I heart post"! Who knew that stamps could keep me entertained and propel a blog for a whole year?! In my second post on the blog, where I was really testing out the concept, I wrote about some stamps I bought in Mongolia as souvenirs during a trip back in 2004.<br />
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Well, this week we have come full circle, and I am returning to the country where I started, with space stamps from Mongolia.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DQ_ZT6F-oPI/USl8SUM7LbI/AAAAAAAAC6k/9WzWZXShlXs/s1600/Mongolia+12+april+61.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DQ_ZT6F-oPI/USl8SUM7LbI/AAAAAAAAC6k/9WzWZXShlXs/s320/Mongolia+12+april+61.png" width="133" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vHS3R2yVKP0/USl8TbaGlaI/AAAAAAAAC6o/ZAEOKwDRlmA/s1600/Mongolia+50+yuri.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vHS3R2yVKP0/USl8TbaGlaI/AAAAAAAAC6o/ZAEOKwDRlmA/s320/Mongolia+50+yuri.png" width="129" /></a></div>
The above stamps feature the Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, who was the first person to travel into space. Mongolia was the first former communist country I had ever visited, and I loved it. I chose quite a few space themed stamps as souvenirs, because I felt they had a real "soviet feel" about them.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jByCo3HgCrI/USl_6V4_GMI/AAAAAAAAC60/Crw5XUEL_qI/s1600/Mongol+15.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jByCo3HgCrI/USl_6V4_GMI/AAAAAAAAC60/Crw5XUEL_qI/s400/Mongol+15.png" width="143" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6lMmAMbvTHM/USl_61ulw8I/AAAAAAAAC68/XgGKt1gkJFU/s1600/mongolian+stamps+space.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6lMmAMbvTHM/USl_61ulw8I/AAAAAAAAC68/XgGKt1gkJFU/s400/mongolian+stamps+space.png" width="146" /></a></div>
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In 1981 a Mongolian aerospace engineer/cosmonaut, J. Gürragchaa (Ж. Гүррагчаа), went into space on March 22 1981, with the Soviet Interkosmos space program. He is a national hero, and the following stamp celebrates his journey into space (he is the dude on the right):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZOOxL6B_TMiRKOmpktuhCaLuj5lUwzSZnsGpCYYYuRWbguCz3jlfmhGcVOFLF6p9vQ4za_4yinEPmUMXi4LwgGqEJJeTTdEZ4EzYvJbHkXLlXvGQJHFqUNP4mHO_4c0XdXbfWaJWZlAC/s1600/Mongolia+post+Space.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZOOxL6B_TMiRKOmpktuhCaLuj5lUwzSZnsGpCYYYuRWbguCz3jlfmhGcVOFLF6p9vQ4za_4yinEPmUMXi4LwgGqEJJeTTdEZ4EzYvJbHkXLlXvGQJHFqUNP4mHO_4c0XdXbfWaJWZlAC/s400/Mongolia+post+Space.jpg" width="350" /></a></div>
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Gürragchaa spent 7 days, 20 hours and 42 minutes in space and docked with Salyut 6, a Soviet orbital space station. I also have another set of stamps with the symbol for the Interkosmos program on them, which also seem to celebrate Gürragchaa's mission. The stamps feature images of Mongolian and Russian co-operation, with the flags of both nations featuring on the stamps.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCQp76zCnEXrhWL077DE6rKEvTRot8YM7yg11P12q0tKSzP74eppP5gbsW0iqkqHc4XZeYS25MYiQfU3eyvUMFHl9GTEkWB7LLeSsEM-5_vkM5nMjxiFX2BM0N_iwpP9dum2cW86wtzxX/s1600/Interkosmos+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCQp76zCnEXrhWL077DE6rKEvTRot8YM7yg11P12q0tKSzP74eppP5gbsW0iqkqHc4XZeYS25MYiQfU3eyvUMFHl9GTEkWB7LLeSsEM-5_vkM5nMjxiFX2BM0N_iwpP9dum2cW86wtzxX/s400/Interkosmos+2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QmRfJlyuMuw/USmGDYl9KEI/AAAAAAAAC8U/bdJ_v2JfxoE/s1600/Mongolia+1981.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QmRfJlyuMuw/USmGDYl9KEI/AAAAAAAAC8U/bdJ_v2JfxoE/s400/Mongolia+1981.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrCveOAJyte376Hc0hpnk-J__GN7xfiE3QK_c8o7bIsTxY6_0ekaum1ZR2LCruOoEG4ptnHUgr8PjB6tRvaGoXnT-tr2IuJsAKP1Zs-YotDwLYPTNJAUh_rEIod-SBbPDrVSHvUrFk85i/s1600/Mongolia+Interkosmos.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrCveOAJyte376Hc0hpnk-J__GN7xfiE3QK_c8o7bIsTxY6_0ekaum1ZR2LCruOoEG4ptnHUgr8PjB6tRvaGoXnT-tr2IuJsAKP1Zs-YotDwLYPTNJAUh_rEIod-SBbPDrVSHvUrFk85i/s400/Mongolia+Interkosmos.png" title="Interkosmos" width="400" /></a></div>
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I love my Mongolian space stamps - I think they make a pretty gorgeous little collection. I also love the look of the cyrillic alphabet, and I love the word 'cosmonaut'... so really there is a lot to love in these stamps.</div>
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I hope you have enjoyed this entry into Viridian's Sunday Stamps, and check out the link below for some more space stamps.</div>
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Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400663625666259393noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426620506455014583.post-66680770490704554612013-02-17T23:31:00.000+11:002013-02-17T23:31:07.916+11:00Year of the Snake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Z2IKKfu0X7cI2_Z3hH1m0BOMie_NcIZfu5fv7Y1MLXbaLIxtU1TW2wZa1cMyzpMe87UPBTuMAKoCcl5jLmb8lPCDUXxLkRvGNLyCfT9YMnZ80NX3N7KZ5u4h_Ncuif_qmf9PrNA5znk_/s1600/Chinese+new+year.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Z2IKKfu0X7cI2_Z3hH1m0BOMie_NcIZfu5fv7Y1MLXbaLIxtU1TW2wZa1cMyzpMe87UPBTuMAKoCcl5jLmb8lPCDUXxLkRvGNLyCfT9YMnZ80NX3N7KZ5u4h_Ncuif_qmf9PrNA5znk_/s400/Chinese+new+year.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I have had lots of new things shifting my focus from blogging over the past few weeks (in a good way - hello Jake! hello turkish lessons! hello ridiculous notion of training for fun runs!), but on this sweltering hot night in Melbourne, I thought I would get back into it and participate in this week's Sunday Stamps. The theme this Sunday is related to the Chinese New Year, which on Feb 10 ticked over to being the year of the Snake. I've got a sneaking suspicion the Year of the Snake is going to be awesome.<br />
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I haven't picked up my 2013 Chinese zodiac "year of the snake" stamps as yet, but I do have the 2012 version, which marked the year of the Dragon. I think in a way the Christmas Island Chinese zodiac stamps, which are a regular issue for Australia Post, are quite similar to the Chinese series of stamps which I have previously blogged about <a href="http://iheartpost.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/year-of-blog.html" target="_blank">here (and are shown below)</a>:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hoi18IL4FKM/UJ40Go-IF8I/AAAAAAAABho/d9lYU8t8Nc4/s1600/IMG_0078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="270" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hoi18IL4FKM/UJ40Go-IF8I/AAAAAAAABho/d9lYU8t8Nc4/s320/IMG_0078.JPG" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
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The scans didn't work so well, but the Christmas Island stamps feature gold embossing; the characters aren't black as they look in the picture.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sZM2D0DwHCQ/USCFnwzXsqI/AAAAAAAAC24/xQr5LNGIU8U/s1600/close+up+of+year+of+dragon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sZM2D0DwHCQ/USCFnwzXsqI/AAAAAAAAC24/xQr5LNGIU8U/s400/close+up+of+year+of+dragon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The 2010 version for the year of the tiger is also pretty cool:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KkOVuYstW2c/USDKknmIFYI/AAAAAAAAC4E/OJok8x2DfMw/s1600/year+of+the+tiger.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KkOVuYstW2c/USDKknmIFYI/AAAAAAAAC4E/OJok8x2DfMw/s400/year+of+the+tiger.png" width="283" /></a></div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RxvVxGCoFog/USDKlPP1GnI/AAAAAAAAC4M/3z-kLXEmNss/s400/year+tiger+2.png" width="287" /></div>
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I think it is pretty clever typography to turn the Chinese symbol into the character, with the tail swish in the 2012 Dragon stamp, and the hairy claw in the 2010 tiger stamp. I am definitely looking forward to getting my hands on the Year of the Snake stamps at some stage soon.<br />
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Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400663625666259393noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426620506455014583.post-18091059939730921362013-02-06T20:00:00.000+11:002013-02-06T20:00:07.200+11:00Street Art and Stamps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEHIPWuoIbj8CzezoCJB_W9IuhrTHry-wYgY1TOGvGzTZbWkLIVe7m8YCSN1QPi5acW_HE34HP4WU_objoEzJPDqglKGjE020CDkhaR_wXyqYnGgtd7c9Hu82U9D95YkesvgUj-nnyyik/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEHIPWuoIbj8CzezoCJB_W9IuhrTHry-wYgY1TOGvGzTZbWkLIVe7m8YCSN1QPi5acW_HE34HP4WU_objoEzJPDqglKGjE020CDkhaR_wXyqYnGgtd7c9Hu82U9D95YkesvgUj-nnyyik/s400/photo+2.JPG" title="Stamp street art spotted at Laneway Music Festival" width="400" /></a></div>
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Check it out: Stamp street-art! How wonderful. I spotted this at the Laneway Music Festival in Footscray (Melbourne) on the weekend. The festival was great fun - Bat for Lashes headlined, but Alt-J ( ∆ ) were possibly the highlight for me... they sounded amazing and were great fun to dance to.</div>
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Anyhow it is not all that regularly that the worlds of rock'n'roll and stamp nerds collide, so I was pretty thrilled to see these paste-up images of an early and iconic Australian Stamp at a music festival.</div>
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I do actually have this stamp in my collection, courtesy of Grandma Nellie. Although the stamp I have is not in great condition.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gX0aQxrSUuU/URHbKWB-a7I/AAAAAAAAC0U/0dXn3exQXrU/s1600/Aborigine+stamp.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gX0aQxrSUuU/URHbKWB-a7I/AAAAAAAAC0U/0dXn3exQXrU/s400/Aborigine+stamp.png" width="353" /></a></div>
The stamp was part of the George VI series of definitives released in 1950-51. The thing that makes me uneasy about the image is that it was released in that time well before the 1967 referendum which recognised indigenous people as citizens. So this image smacks of paternalism to me - while it is depicting, and in a way celebrating, the nameless Aborigine on the stamp, the image seems to be loaded with the racist ethnocentric assumptions of the day.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6fHzvbXDZFA/URHelawi0II/AAAAAAAAC1g/UF7Lhw_Io2w/s1600/Aborigine+favourite+stamp.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6fHzvbXDZFA/URHelawi0II/AAAAAAAAC1g/UF7Lhw_Io2w/s400/Aborigine+favourite+stamp.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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It is an enduring image, even if it is a racist one. And in 2009 another version of the stamp was celebrated as one of "Australia's favourite stamps." I think the image reads slightly differently in the 2009 version than it did in the 1950/51 version. It is a bit more like, "Look! We love Aborigines! We always have: check out this old stamp!" And of course that is blatantly untrue. But I see an attempt at reconciliation in the 2009 stamp, a more genuine respect that doesn't have the same patronising tone of the 1951 release.<br />
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And what of the 2013 paste-up on a brick wall in Footscray of the same image? I love it.Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400663625666259393noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426620506455014583.post-26770201903613015232013-01-31T08:38:00.000+11:002013-01-31T08:38:34.200+11:00Mural made of stamps at NMA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QVd3Aj_4W1A/UMvmzWtbnzI/AAAAAAAACAk/VtIPsy-z6P4/s1600/Flag-mural_w480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QVd3Aj_4W1A/UMvmzWtbnzI/AAAAAAAACAk/VtIPsy-z6P4/s400/Flag-mural_w480.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Hey internet! I accidentally didn't manage to do an Australia Day post over the weekend... was distracted by other things. But as I was surfing the net a little while ago I came across these awesome murals made out of stamps! Yep, wicked!<br />
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These <a href="http://www.nma.gov.au/av/zoomify/symbols/flag.html" target="_blank">Flag murals made of stamps</a> are held at the National Museum of Australia and are pretty fun. They are Aussie in theme, so they kind of tie in with the Australia Day long weekend we just enjoyed.<br />
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<a href="http://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0009/225396/Bridge-mural_w480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0009/225396/Bridge-mural_w480.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Through the NMA website you can <a href="http://www.nma.gov.au/av/zoomify/symbols/sydney.html" target="_blank">zoom in</a> and get a good look at the individual stamps that make up the collages. They are pretty ace! I have so many spare stamps, but I don't think I have the time or the patience to put something like this together.<br />
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Celebrating Australia Day is somewhat fraught, which is part of the reason why I didn't do a themed post at the time. I don't myself refer to it as Invasion Day, but I certainly respect that some people do. But anyhow, it seemed like the right time to share these little pieces of Australiana with you. The murals were made by Alban Watkins to mark the Australian Bicentenary in 1988.<br />
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Also, I have a hot date at the museum tonight (not bragging or anything... ok I am totally bragging), so it made sense to post something museum related. I am off to the Melbourne museum, not the National Museum, so I probably won't see stamps. But it should be fun.<br />
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Anyhow, check out the <a href="http://www.nma.gov.au/av/zoomify/symbols/flag.html%C2%A0" target="_blank">Flag murals made of stamps</a>, they form part of an online exhibition which you can access<a href="http://www.nma.gov.au/av/zoomify/symbols/flag.html"> here. </a> Enjoy!</div>
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400663625666259393noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426620506455014583.post-91699891917314540652013-01-27T23:07:00.001+11:002013-01-27T23:13:05.007+11:00Thankyou João: Sunday Stamps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggse918m8fI7UDck1YI8wfOJ1GSc6XIkA7NoJtdct_wI3MwPDQCfOs4dmeKnfkMHdmzhY4yTz_MIWpNN_ctgFvBUiAemFE3MJx6DaHXsn_wyBFHEZ8fXdVUA6NuYEoXa563Azl6H7QlDFH/s1600/Cover+from+Joao.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggse918m8fI7UDck1YI8wfOJ1GSc6XIkA7NoJtdct_wI3MwPDQCfOs4dmeKnfkMHdmzhY4yTz_MIWpNN_ctgFvBUiAemFE3MJx6DaHXsn_wyBFHEZ8fXdVUA6NuYEoXa563Azl6H7QlDFH/s400/Cover+from+Joao.png" width="400" /></a></div>
Last week I received this amazing letter from <a href="http://somestampsandmanymiles.blogspot.com.au/">João </a> in Brazil, which was a great delight. <span itemprop="name">João </span>contacted me after I put up a post about Australia's Christmas stamps and asked whether I would like to do a stamp swap, as he collects Christmas themed stamps.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uDBYKTGCdSY/UQUP1Xurc5I/AAAAAAAACuI/dSESVEAsHjE/s1600/Christmas+stamps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uDBYKTGCdSY/UQUP1Xurc5I/AAAAAAAACuI/dSESVEAsHjE/s320/Christmas+stamps.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The 2012 Christmas stamps are pretty cool, as you can see - they are round (interesting) and presented with a very nice cancellation. The Christmas stamps are great, but it was the other stamp on the envelope that totally caught my attention:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4A5QLXAGEw/UQURfDlWzsI/AAAAAAAACvU/NKbPKY5GCtc/s1600/palaentologist+stamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4A5QLXAGEw/UQURfDlWzsI/AAAAAAAACvU/NKbPKY5GCtc/s400/palaentologist+stamp.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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How wonderful! A stamp featuring a palaeontologist. João totally has me pegged. I really love the stamp design as well - the black and white portrait sketch against the intriguing background of a cave full of fossils. Awesome. Great stamp.<br />
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Inside the envelope João also sent me a couple of extra treats as well as mint copies of the two round Christmas stamps. My favourite was this clever stamp paying homage to libraries. I love it:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kElCnmNzGAc/UQUVG0n48_I/AAAAAAAACwg/4kUOEgeJtas/s1600/Brazilian+biblioteca.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kElCnmNzGAc/UQUVG0n48_I/AAAAAAAACwg/4kUOEgeJtas/s400/Brazilian+biblioteca.png" width="400" /></a></div>
Books forming the architecture of the library. Fantastic. I know I am often a little too liberal with my superlatives, but this stamp is pretty darn magnificent. To be honest, I don't know which stamp I love more: the bibliotheque or the palaeontologist. A very hard call. But I am thrilled to now have them both in my collection.<br />
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João also threw in one more little surprise, a strip of stamps featuring female aviators.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YyNqnILSvkI/UQUWAflYnII/AAAAAAAACw0/AdoteOneeEY/s1600/aviators+brazil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="105" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YyNqnILSvkI/UQUWAflYnII/AAAAAAAACw0/AdoteOneeEY/s400/aviators+brazil.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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What a fantastic treat in my mailbox from <a href="http://somestampsandmanymiles.blogspot.com.au/">João</a>. Thank you so much! And it is lovely to share these little gems as part of Sunday Stamps this week. Check out other stamp blogs this Sunday, here:<br />
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Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400663625666259393noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426620506455014583.post-34245550443942984722013-01-23T17:50:00.000+11:002013-01-23T19:33:49.876+11:00Despatched by Tin Can Mail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CVus0-Z816w/UP0bI7QI08I/AAAAAAAACnI/skvMV4IyuzU/s1600/tongan+tin+can+postmarks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CVus0-Z816w/UP0bI7QI08I/AAAAAAAACnI/skvMV4IyuzU/s400/tongan+tin+can+postmarks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Kym bought in the coolest bit of "show and tell" to work recently - her Grandfather's cover from 6th September 1937. It was thrown overboard in a sealed tin can from the Cruise Steamer "Maunganui"to be collected by canoe from the Tongan island of Niuafoou (or Niuafo'ou) before it found its way to the faraway Victorian country town of Kerang.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEhnQErbNMI8koEjp63KrbM15PnEJTAXfDCWB5RJCYITaWz-rsPLzMVKwzNkyto-yN7AWJPSHXtY2eKuDwKrlZuYMcdy786R4cmCPkLBVz32nmw-P7fhmOh3bUC4i2vTtfdAglOgbt5pH-/s1600/tin+can+mail.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEhnQErbNMI8koEjp63KrbM15PnEJTAXfDCWB5RJCYITaWz-rsPLzMVKwzNkyto-yN7AWJPSHXtY2eKuDwKrlZuYMcdy786R4cmCPkLBVz32nmw-P7fhmOh3bUC4i2vTtfdAglOgbt5pH-/s640/tin+can+mail.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BN0YlDRhHTU/UP0grFkIADI/AAAAAAAACpw/txyNnOQmB70/s1600/tongan+stamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BN0YlDRhHTU/UP0grFkIADI/AAAAAAAACpw/txyNnOQmB70/s400/tongan+stamp.jpg" width="286" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y-F9lvLkB8o/UP0grzjYgKI/AAAAAAAACp4/9bHInjAJ5iw/s1600/tin+can+story+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y-F9lvLkB8o/UP0grzjYgKI/AAAAAAAACp4/9bHInjAJ5iw/s400/tin+can+story+.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is possibly the coolest item of post I have ever seen. And I don't think I am overstating it. I had heard this story of the <a href="http://iheartpost.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/guest-collection-phillipes-tongan-stamps.html">Tin Can Island from Meredith,</a> when she shared her son's stamp collection with us a few months ago. But to see an actual piece of Tin Can Mail... what a treat!!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ShtDS-Tux5U/UP0etS6r59I/AAAAAAAACoc/H9gXZAjqbcQ/s1600/Tongan+tin+can+reverse.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ShtDS-Tux5U/UP0etS6r59I/AAAAAAAACoc/H9gXZAjqbcQ/s400/Tongan+tin+can+reverse.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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How wonderful are all the stamps on the reverse? There is even a little bit of Cyrillic thrown in!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S4mQyolc6ZY/UP0gWUQzpZI/AAAAAAAACpo/-VudqwzrRS8/s1600/tin+can+cyrillic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S4mQyolc6ZY/UP0gWUQzpZI/AAAAAAAACpo/-VudqwzrRS8/s400/tin+can+cyrillic.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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So I am very delighted to discover that Meredith's fantastical story of the Tin Can Island is in fact true - I have seen the post to prove it! Thanks so much Kym for sharing this wonderful little treasure (I do so love "show and tell")!<br />
<br />Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400663625666259393noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426620506455014583.post-74101017551389264092013-01-20T13:26:00.001+11:002013-01-20T13:26:53.292+11:00Bunyips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn9M_c1jo2__WPFt5q1QOwMfp5ucSHoRBIXY-QCP8_MS8tNSyjsxLEh8xCxih7r-jEhlmzzcKl356WBSy0HgjW_miZcE_Jg1OrKX2Cj14yDyp7ZqGWBh4NHIcwtJ0lSO2_yIjFsBOqtVJH/s1600/strip+of+four.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn9M_c1jo2__WPFt5q1QOwMfp5ucSHoRBIXY-QCP8_MS8tNSyjsxLEh8xCxih7r-jEhlmzzcKl356WBSy0HgjW_miZcE_Jg1OrKX2Cj14yDyp7ZqGWBh4NHIcwtJ0lSO2_yIjFsBOqtVJH/s400/strip+of+four.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Happy New Year, Sunday Stampers. This is my first time participating in Sunday Stamps for 2013 - and it is almost February! The theme this week for Sunday Stamps this week is "cartoons and cartoon-like drawings." I have to admit that generally speaking, I don't usually rate cartoon stamps. They are just not really my thing.<br />
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However, flicking through my album, I found these stamps from 1994, which I still quite like. I think I liked them very much back in Year 8, when I got them.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AC70TWGyGYM/UPtR5JRBQGI/AAAAAAAACjk/VB3VvZmkrZk/s1600/bunyip+of+berkeley's+creek.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AC70TWGyGYM/UPtR5JRBQGI/AAAAAAAACjk/VB3VvZmkrZk/s400/bunyip+of+berkeley's+creek.png" width="397" /></a></div>
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They depict the mythical creature, the Bunyip. The Bunyip from Berkeley's Creek is a classic Australian children's story book and features on one of the stamps. I still get a pang of sympathy for the poor misunderstood Bunyip from Berkeley's Creek when I think about him. Needless to say, this is my favourite stamp of the four from the issue.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--xAjiQn-LqY/UPtTIGgs92I/AAAAAAAACkw/ZH14Mz8Gbq4/s1600/stamp+pack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--xAjiQn-LqY/UPtTIGgs92I/AAAAAAAACkw/ZH14Mz8Gbq4/s400/stamp+pack.jpg" width="313" /></a></div>
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I have the stamp pack for these stamps, because I thought stamp packs were cool when I was in Year 8. The first stamp is a representation of the bunyip from Aboriginal myth, the second is one called the "Nature Spirit Bunyip". The last stamp is an artist's interpretation of reported sightings of the Bunyip, so is the depiction of the "Natural History Bunyip".<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ghYWg-0OV20/UPtUkKU3MwI/AAAAAAAACl8/uUj-9nrB140/s1600/natural+history+bunyip.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ghYWg-0OV20/UPtUkKU3MwI/AAAAAAAACl8/uUj-9nrB140/s320/natural+history+bunyip.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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The more I reflect on these stamps, the more I like them. I love a good mythical creature. Happy Sunday, everyone... and beware of the bunyips out there.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><a href="http://viridianpostcard.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_YepnTrx-v5c/TSySRqYCTpI/AAAAAAAAFT8/Yh5jZ3fUdkk/stampbuttonb.jpg" /></a></span></div>
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400663625666259393noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426620506455014583.post-38854545018649242192013-01-16T22:24:00.002+11:002013-01-16T22:24:56.599+11:00Recent Acquisitions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JMYycAkI9E4/UPVC7Q0FbjI/AAAAAAAACZM/9jA75dv2e-s/s1600/olympics+swimmer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JMYycAkI9E4/UPVC7Q0FbjI/AAAAAAAACZM/9jA75dv2e-s/s200/olympics+swimmer.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bO09WK5pymM/UPVC7QWrOmI/AAAAAAAACZQ/Vkbi8TXQgWc/s1600/olympics+-+rower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bO09WK5pymM/UPVC7QWrOmI/AAAAAAAACZQ/Vkbi8TXQgWc/s200/olympics+-+rower.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EJcY1jqLMXY/UPVC7lgtEqI/AAAAAAAACZU/Ep2yeWiyY7o/s1600/olympics+-pole+vault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EJcY1jqLMXY/UPVC7lgtEqI/AAAAAAAACZU/Ep2yeWiyY7o/s320/olympics+-pole+vault.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It is perhaps clear that although I have titled this post "recent acquisitions" some of the stamps I am featuring are not that recent, given that I am beginning this post with the Australian Olympics stamps, which are obviously several months old by now. Although I am not really a sporting sort of girl, I was really impressed with Australia Post's offering this Olympics, as I really like the watercolour splattered effect and the bright colours used.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D0BvFNLPpZE/UPZ4I6wvzwI/AAAAAAAACaw/n0F6KEkZIRE/s1600/enrol+to+vote.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D0BvFNLPpZE/UPZ4I6wvzwI/AAAAAAAACaw/n0F6KEkZIRE/s320/enrol+to+vote.png" width="222" /></a></div>
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The "enrol to vote" stamp, another one that I really like, was actually issued all the way back in March. But the reason that I still think of these stamps as "recent" is that I tend to buy my stamps only once every few months. All the stamps that I am featuring in this post I bought recently (in a sense) but they also feel new to me, because they haven't made it into my album yet. Until I got them out to scan they were still sitting in their packets.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QpsYPvcMq24/UPZ7jrOcPVI/AAAAAAAACb4/p6zwH9wlDGM/s1600/nobel+prize+winners+gutter.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QpsYPvcMq24/UPZ7jrOcPVI/AAAAAAAACb4/p6zwH9wlDGM/s400/nobel+prize+winners+gutter.png" width="400" /></a></div>
The above stamps are portraits of Australian Nobel Laureates. I bought the above set because it had a cool illustration in the gutter. And I love a good gutter strip. But I also really like the portraits, which are painted by some very highly-regarded Australian artists (Brett Whiteley and Clifton Pugh among them). I just think they are a lovely set of stamps. So lovely, in fact, that I accidentally went a little crazy and purchased the First Day Cover as well!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6rzdikqkflU/UPaA4kJehzI/AAAAAAAACdA/gdSoEcvFxdQ/s1600/nobel+prize+winners+fdc.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6rzdikqkflU/UPaA4kJehzI/AAAAAAAACdA/gdSoEcvFxdQ/s400/nobel+prize+winners+fdc.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fj3q7IHc8bI/UPaA_3pwXkI/AAAAAAAACdI/lXI0R-CremQ/s1600/zoom+in+on+stamps+from+fdc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fj3q7IHc8bI/UPaA_3pwXkI/AAAAAAAACdI/lXI0R-CremQ/s400/zoom+in+on+stamps+from+fdc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Okay, fancy Gutter Strip set AND First Day Cover? Uh-oh... this could be a sign that I am turning into a crazy cat lady. Without a cat, but with a stamp collection. But checkout how the postmark on the FDC matches the gutter strip image. Cool, huh?</div>
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Anyhow, in the latest edition of the "Stamp Bulletin" published by Australia Post (damn, I can hear those crazy-cat-lady alarm-bells ringing again) the results of a public poll on the favourite Australian stamp issue of 2012 were released, and it was the following:</div>
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It is quite a fun series, but I don't think it is my favourite issue of the year. Maybe this issue beats it for me:</div>
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These little fellows are "nudibranchs" which are tiny (25mm - 120mm) marine molluscs. Aren't they trippy? Like strange little aliens. According to my edition of the Stamp Bulletin from May (from when they were issued... yep it really has been a while since I sorted through my stamps), nudibranchs...</div>
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<i>can be found in all habitats from the deepest ocean to the shorelines of every continent. They come in many sizes are beautiful to behold and have developed survival strategies which defy the imagination.</i></blockquote>
<br />I still don't quite want to commit to the tiny nudibranchs as my favourite stamp issue of the year. I like them much better than the road trip stamps, but perhaps the Nobel Laureates are my favourite stamps of the year. Perhaps. As always, I find it hard to pick a favourite!<div>
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Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400663625666259393noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426620506455014583.post-23167290607639005892013-01-09T16:43:00.000+11:002013-01-09T16:43:16.645+11:00Hello 2013!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_Xt_lhazbSQWMbSgFI1OxF3ljKH3gCfN_46N79p0CZnMhIXRggzfBpHa6FQoVMXWYQF680Kqp8Ff9dTDVOfANvdUGCWEg_5PMFDoKpgrl1QrixOVE5L4_uHcA6sIfW5LTehVtj_o_8eo/s1600/running+stamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_Xt_lhazbSQWMbSgFI1OxF3ljKH3gCfN_46N79p0CZnMhIXRggzfBpHa6FQoVMXWYQF680Kqp8Ff9dTDVOfANvdUGCWEg_5PMFDoKpgrl1QrixOVE5L4_uHcA6sIfW5LTehVtj_o_8eo/s200/running+stamp.jpg" width="136" /></a><br />
Hello lovely readers and hello 2013!<br />
Here we are at the beginning of a new year, and I can smell the fresh start.<br />
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And with the fresh start of the new calendar year comes a whole new look and feel to "<span style="color: magenta;"><a href="http://iheartpost.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">I heart post.</a></span>" What do you think? I hope you like it! I have spent quite a while working on it to get to this stage, so I am very happy to launch the look with my first post of 2013.<br />
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I did <a href="http://style.puglypixel.com/">a little course in CSS</a> conducted by the clever Katrina at <a href="http://blog.puglypixel.com/" target="_blank">Pugly Pixel</a> to work out how to refresh my look. Roll-over my widgets! Roll-over my widgets! Look how they change colour! I am pretty excited by that! So thank-you Katrina for teaching me such fancy tricks.<br />
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With the goal of revamping "I heat post" achieved (for the time being - it is undoubtedly a work-in-progress), and with the start of the new year, it is also time to think about new goals. So I have set a goal for myself. A serious goal.<br />
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And the goal is this (and people who know me well may snigger, as I never ever ever ever thought this phrase would come out of my mouth/keyboard):</div>
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♥ I want to do a 10km fun run this year!!*</div>
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Fun run - an oxymoron, I know!! But I have already signed up to do two 4km races and an 8km race in February/March - so I better get serious about achieving this goal, or it might be embarrassing. And now that I have put this goal out there on the world wide web, there is no escaping.<br />
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I also have a standard goal which I have re-hashed at the start of the past few years, and that is:<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">♥</span> read more books.<br />
I read embarrassingly little last year, so this one shouldn't be hard to achieve.<br />
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And rounding out my list of goals, I would also like to:<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">♥</span> fix up my garden,<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">♥ </span>make a meal from an actual recipe.<br />
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Okay, so I just made those last two up. Fixing up the garden has been on my to-do list for two months now, so maybe making it an official new years goal will actually see it happen. And just because I like to round things out, to get to goal number five, I used the '<a href="http://moninavelarde.com/newyears/" target="_blank">New Year's Resolution Generator</a>' and the result was:<br />
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I quite like that! This year I will aim to be more curious! I have no idea how I will measure that.<br />
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So thanks for spending time with "I heart post" once again. Please let me know what you think of the blog re-design** or if you have any tips on how I could be more curious. And please share your own goals for 2013 with me too - it will make me feel like less of a crazy-woman for wanting to do a 10km run!<br />
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Until next time, peeps,<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Helen.</span></h2>
*And PS, I learnt how to do in-text hearts <span style="color: magenta;">♥</span> <span style="color: orange;">♥</span> <span style="color: #e06666;">♥</span> during my little CSS course, so watch out, they are going to be everywhere on this site, because I am a more than a little excited about them. I ♥ hearts.<br />
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**And PPS, I also made a new "<a href="http://iheartpost.blogspot.com.au/p/about.html" target="_blank">About</a>" page - check it out!Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400663625666259393noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426620506455014583.post-51273856407102058932012-12-30T14:31:00.000+11:002013-01-01T20:42:10.401+11:002012: The Year that WasAs 2012 draws to a close it is very tempting to do a bit of reflection on the year that was. So please excuse me while I indulge in some trips down memory lane...<br />
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This year I:<br />
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<li><a href="http://iheartpost.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/i-heart-post-is-going-to-be-my-blog.html" target="_blank">started a blog (this one!!)</a> and rediscovered the joys of post;</li>
<li>moved house;</li>
<li><a href="http://iheartpost.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/post-from-and-for-grandpa-jeff-sunday.html" target="_blank">said goodbye to my lovely Grandpa</a>;</li>
<li>decided that I liked First Day Covers very much;</li>
<li>hung out<a href="http://iheartpost.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/adventures-in-indonesia.html" target="_blank"> in Indonesia</a>;</li>
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And in between I also:<br />
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<li>Had some very <a href="http://iheartpost.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/archaeology-gold-rush-stamps-yay.html" target="_blank">fun times at work with the gang</a>;</li>
<li>Danced like a teenager in a friend's loungeroom into the early hours, during a weekend escape to the beach;</li>
<li><a href="http://iheartpost.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/postcards-from-past-archaeology-and.html" target="_blank">said goodbye to Glenholme</a>;</li>
<li>Saw the Shins do a fantastic gig at Festival Hall;</li>
<li>Went to a couple of amazing music festivals (harvest and laneway) with the wonderful Jaz;</li>
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In 2012 I managed to visit some amazing places and do some amazing things:<br />
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<li>I started the year in Cambodia with my work friends doing some volunteering in a village;</li>
<li>Went to Perth for a weekend for Em and Steve's beautiful wedding;</li>
<li>Did a couple of sections of the Great Ocean Walk near Point Otway;</li>
<li>Had a great time <a href="http://iheartpost.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/wine-women-and-cheese-sunday-stamps.html" target="_blank">visiting friends in Adelaide</a>;</li>
<li>Went on a couple of little day trips - to<a href="http://iheartpost.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/queen-clunes-and-coronation-collection.html" target="_blank"> Clunes (for a book fair)</a> and to Steiglitz (a ghost town).</li>
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All in all 2012 had some sad times, some changes, but lots of really great highlights too.<br />
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So... who knows what 2013 will hold? Lots more fun times, I hope. And some more blogging. Thank- you to everyone for all the blog love. Thank-you for tuning in and for leaving comments, emailing and supporting.<br />
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Happy New Year Everyone! </h2>
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xx Helen</div>
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400663625666259393noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426620506455014583.post-33537885137498016662012-12-24T11:55:00.000+11:002013-01-07T00:27:11.247+11:00Festive Stamp Gift Tags & Merry Christmas<br />
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As has become blatantly clear over the course of the past few months of blogging, I have a lot of stamps. A lot of stamps I don't even know what to do with. And I don't like chucking things out. But I do like re-using things. Given that postage stamps are little mini pieces of lovely design, it makes sense to use them.</div>
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Lots of people who otherwise might not post things, tend to post things at Christmas. Therefore there is an abundance of Christmas stamps. I keep them all separately, and I have found the perfect use for them - as Christmas gift tags.</div>
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I had a little 'crafternoon' the other weekend and sat down in the sun and made some tags to go on all the pressies that I was yet to buy.. although I still had plenty of things to do pre-Christmas, making gift tags is way more relaxing and fun than heading out into the madness of shopping centres, so that is what I chose to do.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mgF6g5Sm4as/UNeZkeOkVyI/AAAAAAAACHI/fgJwLUlZcC0/s1600/IMG_7996.JPG"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mgF6g5Sm4as/UNeZkeOkVyI/AAAAAAAACHI/fgJwLUlZcC0/s400/IMG_7996.JPG" /></a> </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Csb1vitf6k/UNBBL4Aj0kI/AAAAAAAACDQ/lbnoupRLbRo/s1600/tags+in+production.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">These are all the supplies I used</span></div>
<br /><br />I meant to post this little craft project last week, but now it is so close to Christmas it is probably too late for people. But, as you are sorting through the post-Christmas debris, you may wish to set aside your Christmas stamps for next year. I keep my Christmas stamps sorted in little black album cards.<br /><br />For the gift tages I used coloured paper and washi tape to give colour to the tags, and then used the stamp to decorate. (And here is a tip: packaging tags from the newsagent are far cheaper than tags from a craft supply store.)<br /><br /><br /> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Csb1vitf6k/UNBBL4Aj0kI/AAAAAAAACDQ/lbnoupRLbRo/s1600/tags+in+production.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Csb1vitf6k/UNBBL4Aj0kI/AAAAAAAACDQ/lbnoupRLbRo/s320/tags+in+production.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Choosing the right stamp to go on a tag</span><br /><br /><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rxKIYUjR3SE/UNedIv_6fvI/AAAAAAAACIQ/Leju90EYb3A/s320/jesus+friend+of+the+Children.jpg" width="320" /><div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The finished product</span></div>
<br />So now it is Christmas eve and it is now time for me to go and use these tags and wrap up my presents that will be sitting under the Christmas tree tomorrow.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oncWjTHdrTo/UNBGPeC3V5I/AAAAAAAACEY/Q2Wgo0d7xq4/s1600/mini+tags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oncWjTHdrTo/UNBGPeC3V5I/AAAAAAAACEY/Q2Wgo0d7xq4/s400/mini+tags.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I don't think the USA stamp is necessarily a Christmas stamp.. but it works! </span></div>
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This is a bit of an unusual Sunday Stamps edition... apart from the fact it is now Monday here in Australia, but I thought this was a nice way of sharing some of my old Christmas stamps. And I have previously shared what I think about this year's Christmas stamps <a href="http://iheartpost.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/a-christmas-letter.html">here</a>, which you can check out if you haven't already.<br /><br />And with that I would like to wish everyone: Sunday stampers, friends, readers, passers-by, bloggers, and everybody else who has kindly supported this blog this year, a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy festive season.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://viridianpostcard.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_YepnTrx-v5c/TSySRqYCTpI/AAAAAAAAFT8/Yh5jZ3fUdkk/stampbuttonb.jpg" /></a></div>
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For other festive Christmas Stamps, check out other blogs through the Sunday Stamps link above.</div>
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Merry Christmas, everybody.</h4>
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Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400663625666259393noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426620506455014583.post-31387112756321263982012-12-11T20:55:00.002+11:002012-12-11T21:03:48.850+11:00Nerds on FilmHello blogosphere.<br />
Today I am particularly thrilled about the awesomeness of the internet, excited by its connectivity and vastness. This warm and fuzzy love of cyberspace is in part due to the fact I had a film director (a film director!) contact me this week after he had found my corner of the internet. And he is making -- wait for it -- a film about stamp nerds. Yup! Crazy.<br />
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This is the preview for his film... you've got to check it out, because it is hilarious. And it goes a long way in proving that I am not the most stamp-nerdy stamp-nerd in the universe. Am not sure about the chick with the cleavage at the beginning of the preview, but I guess you gotta sell a film about collecting postage stamps somehow (I know not everyone loves post as much as I do).<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Il38jaLT3ec" width="560"></iframe><br />
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I have to agree with the googly-eyed dude in the beginning who says "stamps define what a culture stands for, and once you start looking at that, it is really <b><i>cool</i></b>". Couldn't have said it better myself. Although I do think his googly-eyes add something to the profundity of his statement.<br />
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Anyhow, a film about hijinks in the stamp world. Sounds like a good time to me!! The film is due out in Spring 2013 (northern hemisphere, I assume), so I will keep you posted if I hear of more developments. I am a little excited - thanks for getting in touch Mark. Your film looks ace.<br />
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In other post news, I received my first Christmas card today from my friend Rach. And speaking of nerds, the card came with a personalised Christmas stamp featuring Rach's cat, who is lovingly called 'whingey'.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A0nveJ_lT_k/UMXEi7LU7mI/AAAAAAAAB9o/9nwaqWQvd3k/s1600/whingey+the+cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A0nveJ_lT_k/UMXEi7LU7mI/AAAAAAAAB9o/9nwaqWQvd3k/s400/whingey+the+cat.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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If you think Whingey looks pretty cute, you may wish to look her up on twitter. I believe she has her own account. I am <i>so</i> not a cat person, and from my perspective, Rach saw my nerdy and raised it to a whole new level when she decided to personalise her Christmas stamps with her cat (and lets not even get started on the twitter thing). But I love nerds (even if I don't love cats) so full respect, Rach.<br />
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Her Christmas greetings came with a postscript: 'no pressure, but I think the Whingy stamp should feature on your blog.' Pressure aside Rach, I have never received a personalised postage stamp before, so I think it is definitely worthy of note. And the very lovely fact you sent me Christmas greetings the postal way also makes me very happy. It seems you love post as much as I do... but maybe we should all be a little worried about a future "I heart whingey" blog??<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous postcard from Fish</td></tr>
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Thank-you internet world and real world for being awesome this week. Thank-you to the very intriguingly nicknamed Fish from Taiwan who recently sent me some gorgeous postcards from Laos (I promise I will write back this week) and to <a href="http://somestampsandmanymiles.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">João from Brazil</a> who offered to do a stamp swap. It is so nice to hear from everyone from all far-flung corners of the globe who have found my blog.<br />
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Peace out, post lovers.<br />
xx H.Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400663625666259393noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426620506455014583.post-41327265737989586782012-12-09T20:46:00.001+11:002012-12-09T20:46:33.473+11:00Something Special for Sunday Stamps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Today is the 100th edition of Sunday Stamps on Viridian's postcard blog, and so therefore the task for participants today was to share something "special"... worthy of the centennial milestone.<br /><br />
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<br /> So, I have shared a lot of 'special' stamps on this here blog in the past, but today I thought I would whip out this sheetlet, which I didn't even realise I had until I found it amongst a miscellaneous box of 'stuff' at my parents house a few months ago. Therefore I don't actually know the provenance of this sheet - but I suspect it was a gift from one of my host families from when I did an exchange to Japan in 1999.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /> The ten stamps illustrate world heritage sites in Japan, several Shinto Buddhist temples, as well as some of the artworks that adorn the temples. It is a beautiful sheet. I think all the stamps are lovely, but I like the traditional Japanese image of a temple scene behind the stamps the best. I haven't been back to Japan since 1999, but looking at these beautiful temples makes me a little nostalgic, and definitely makes me want to return. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
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If you would like to see what special-somethings other bloggers have found to share for the 100th edition of Sunday Stamps, click on the button below to find their blogs. Thank-you Viridian for continuing to organise Sunday Stamps every week, it is a lot of fun to participate in!</div>
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Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400663625666259393noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426620506455014583.post-84551138615208554032012-12-05T22:35:00.001+11:002012-12-10T22:24:58.212+11:00Guest Collection: Danni's 1990s FDCs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of the lovely things about doing this blog is that now many people tell me about their stamp collections. "Oh, I had a stamp collection when I was young" they'll say. But the truth is, they always still have the collection, tucked away somewhere, they just haven't added to it for a while.<br />
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Now, this may surprise some of you, but not too long ago, I used to keep my stamp collecting a bit of a secret. I mean - you don't really want to shout from the rooftops that you're a giant nerd, do you? Not if you're sane.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas 1993 - a better effort than Christmas 2012, Australia Post </td></tr>
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But since I decided to blow caution to the wind and broadcast my insane pleasure in small perforated postage stamps, I have discovered I am not alone. People more often than not want to share their collections with me, and I think they find some pleasure in having an excuse to dust them off and rediscover them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pq3pTYziUTQ/UL8ltNcJuhI/AAAAAAAAB2E/mZiSkQeGue8/s1600/postmark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pq3pTYziUTQ/UL8ltNcJuhI/AAAAAAAAB2E/mZiSkQeGue8/s400/postmark.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As is so often the case with FDCs, this one features a nice postmark!</td></tr>
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So this is exactly what happened with my new(ish) housemate Danni a couple of months ago. I was hanging out in the kitchen and Danni brought in her collection of First Day Covers for me to look at. They are from the early 90s and they are kept in a Lindt Chocolate box.<br />
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This was in the early stages of living here, so it was in many ways a nice "getting to know you" exercise:<br />
Danni - So, you blog about stamps.<br />
Helen - Yup. It's not as tragic as it sounds. Or at least I don't think it is. I guess it might be...<br />
Danni - Well, guess what? I have these First Day Covers!<br />
Helen - Wow! FDCs! Awesome!<br />
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Or, at least, it went something like that.<br />
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So today I share with you, fellow lovers of post, Danni's collection of First Day Covers.<br />
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And here is my pick of the lot - the Queen's Birthday 1991. Would you take a look at the Mother-Daughter outfits with the matching black satin gloves. I am almost speechless. I certainly have FDC envy.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You know how I love a bit of Royal Kitsch! And check out those dresses!!</td></tr>
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Thanks for sharing your cool collection of 90s FDCs with me Danni. They are ace!Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03400663625666259393noreply@blogger.com0