Happy New Year Mail

с Новым годом / Happy New Year

Postcard with matched stamp sent by Eduard (Russia).

Bonne Année / Happy New Year

Postcard sent by Mélissa (Canada).

Meilleurs Vœux / Best wishes

Sent by Catherine (France).

Feliz año /  Happy New Year

Stamp issued by the Spanish Postal Service last year, illustrated with the clock from the Puerta del Sol in the capital city Madrid, and the traditional twelve grapes eaten with the last twelve bell rings every year.

The Laughing Cow Again

Some of the latest contributions to the Vache Qui Rit Postal Project (already published in the blog). Sent by Christophe (France), Micu (Hungary), John (the UK) and Heleen (the Netherlands).

Boxes

Collages

Cowstamps

Envelope

Postcards

Charles Grey

Letter sent by Alan (the UK). The stamp below belongs to a set launched by Royal Mail last October, dedicated to Influential Prime Ministers. Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, was Prime Ministre of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1830 to 1834.

But I am not especially interested in nineteenth-century British politics. The sender carefully chose this stamp because of the important fact around this man, at least for tea drinkers: the famous tea Earl Grey was named after him! 

I have received so far two more stamps from this set:

William Ewart Gladstone served as Prime Minister four separate times (1868–74, 1880–85, February–July 1886 and 1892–94), more than any other person. Do you think there is a Prime Minister in the UK who has nothing to do with tea? Well, in the Wikipedia we can read:

Gladstone's proposals went some way to meet working-class demands, such as the realisation of the free breakfast table through repealing the duties on tea and sugar, and reform of local taxation which was increasing for the poorer ratepayers.

William Pitt the Younger became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of 24. He left office in 1801, but was Prime Minister again from 1804 until his death in 1806. And again we can read that: 

Pitt always paid careful attention to financial issues. A fifth of Britain's imports were smuggled in without paying taxes. He made it easier for honest merchants to import goods. By lowering tariffs on easily smuggled items such as tea, wine, spirits and tobacco, he grew the customs revenue by nearly £2 million.

Update: I added this post  to Sunday Stamps II-4: Famous People, Portraits.

Contains Long Letter

Letter sent to Heleen (the Netherlands).

Red & Black Christmas Letter

[Warning: Don't read this post if your name is Laura and you live in the UK!]

I usually do not publish my outgoing mail before it is arrived, in order to not spoil the surprise. But this is very Christmassy and... it is Christmas Day!

(Inspired in the wonderful work of Dawn Machell)

Strawberry Letter 23

Strawberry Letter #23

The Brothers Johnson

[From Wikipedia: "It is said that Shuggie Otis wrote the song for a girlfriend who used strawberry-scented paper when she wrote letters to him, but Otis himself says that it's not true."]

I heard a kiss from you
Red magic satin playing near, too

All through the morning rain
I gaze - the sun doesn't shine -
Rainbows and waterfalls run through my mind

In the garden - I see west
Purple shower, bells and tea
Orange birds and river cousins dressed in green

Pretty music I hear - so happy
And loud - blue flower echo
From a cherry cloud

Feel sunshine sparkle pink and blue
Playgrounds will laugh
if you try to ask
Is it cool?, is it cool?

If you arrive and don't see me
I'm going to be with my baby
I am free - flying in her arms, over the sea

Stained window, yellow candy screen
See speakers of kite - with velvet roses diggin' freedom flight

A present from you - Strawberry letter 22
The music plays, I sit in for a few

My Best Friend Is a Dinosaur

Sent to Nicole and her family (USA), as my contribution for Challenge #22 of Mail a Smile. The theme chosen was My Best Friend is a Dinosaur, so I attempt to draw two dinosaurs... who can't hug because their arms are too short.

Happy to see it arrived safe and sound!

Christmas Postcards Incoming

Sent by Micu (Hungary). When I was a child, the school hold a Christmas drawing postcard contest. That postcard reminds me that I used to drew children from different countries saying Happy Christmas in different languages...

Sent by Lluïsa (PC). Neumarktbar, by Martina Issler, Zurich. This is the kind of picture I always try to do...

Sent by Josep (PC). I love the postal + Christmas theme in this folded card!

Sent by Ângela (Portugal). Very special card, handmade with one of my favourite characters.

Folded card sent by Eva (Germany). She made this beautiful paper cutting work by herself.

NB Some of these postcards arrived last year!

Christmas Stamps Received

From Canada

From Croatia

From Denmark

(Christmas stamp and Christmas postmark)

From Latvia

 From the Netherlands

(December stamps)

From Palestine

(But received last June!)

 From the UK

(More of the first set published last year)

From the USA