Bob's Home For Writing

Games for Sepia Saturday

2012-03-01T15:54:00.000Z

When I saw Alan's "Games" photo prompt I must confess it was snakes and ladders that I thought of first.


Indian Game of Snakes and Ladders

19th Century Gouache on Cloth by Jain Miniature

But closer to home I looked for what games we still had hidden away. Specially for today I dug out this from the top shelf of our hall cupboard,


Scrabble

This is a game at which I rarely beat my wife. I do better at a game of chance.

Yahtzee

The warranty slip inside the Scrabble box is dated 1993 but the Yahtzee must be much older than that.

Meanwhile there is not much point in just two of us testing our general knowledge.

Trivial Pursuit

I never was very good at the entertainment category and as the rules for this game are dated 1983 it shows how out of date it would be today.

The Scabble rules are still in pristine condition.

Of more interest is the pamphlet inside the box promoting Family and Adult Games.


Family & Adult Games

I'm just hoping you can read the names of the games. I confess to being "Baffled" by the "Battle of The Sexes" and would need to take a "Wild Guess" at what they are about. Most of all I must take note of the warning "Mind Your Language."

I guess I prefer outdoor games but I would have to travel to Scotland to play.

Noughts& Crosses in a small park at Kirn

By Thomas Nugent -

(Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic License)

Other games in the park which looks across the Firth of Clyde to Gourock include Draughts and (where I started) Snakes & Ladders

Perhaps I should just check other games at Sepia Saturday

Greyish - Thematic Photography

2012-02-28T13:14:00.001Z

When I saw the theme was greyish I immediately thought of battleship grey.


HMS Illustrious - 1940 Aircraft Carrier

This photo comes from my brother's photos taken during WWII. He served on the Illustrious in the Mediterranean and may have been aboard when Swordfish aircraft from the carrier attacked the Italian fleet at Taranto.


Swordfish (I think)

Seaplanes also flew off carriers but this one seems to have lost its way.

Grounded - Supermarine Walrus

To add a bit of colour to our greyish theme I'll change to grey and green,

13th Century Parish Church, St Mawgan, Cornwall

Dedicated to St Mauganus and St Nicholas

St Mauganus was a Welshman so I'm told.

In North Yorkshire the best preserved ruins of a Cistercian monastery are those of Fountains Abbey.

Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire

I have nearly 40 photos of the Abbey but for this greyish theme you will have to be satisfied with one.

For other grey matters you need to pay a visit to Carmi's thematic photographic 185

Castles - Sunday Stamps

2012-02-26T13:24:00.001Z

Back in 1955 this set of four stamps was issued.


Castle Stamps (1955)

(Scanned from an old catalogue)

30 years later on the 18th October 1988 the Post Officereleased four new high value stamps featuring the same castle. These are the ones I have in my collection or so I thought.


Castle Stamps

The castles came four different regions of Great Britain ; Carrickfergus (Northern Ireland), Caernarfon (Wales), Edinburgh(Scotland) and Windsor (England). The 1988 stamps had been based on photographs taken by Prince Andrew, Duke of York and were engraved and printed by Harrison and Sons Limited

Four years later in 1992 the set was re-released with enhancedsecurity features. The original Queen's headwas changed to a silhouette and an ellipticalperforation was added half way up the sides of the stamp.If you look at my stamps you can see both the silhouette and the elliptical perforation

By 1995 inflation had taken its toll and the £1 Carrickfergus Castledesign was replaced by a £1 stamp of the standard low-value Machindesign. The Carrickfergus Castle was re-released asa £3 high value in 22nd August 1995. My stamps include both the £1 and £3 denominations

In 1997, the contract for printing the stamps wasmoved to Enschedé. Enschedé had to re-engrave each design. Although the generalappearance of the stamp barely changed, the individual engraving marks werecompletely different,

Apparently you can distinguish between the two printers by examining the letters 'C' and 'S' in the word 'Castle' where there are differences in the lower point of the 'C' and the lower tail of the 'S'. This is difficult to see on my scanned images. The £1 Carrickfergus must be pre-1995 and be by Harrison and Sons.

There is no doubt about the Windsor Castle stamp being by Enschedé because their design has the 'W' looking as if it comprises overlapping 'V's.

The sad thing to me is that these lovely castle stamps were discontinued and replaced in 1999 by small format Machins just showing the Queen's head.

As you may gather participating in Sunday Stamps this week has taught me things I didn't know about my stamps. Now you may check out others choices at Viridian's Sunday Stamps-59

Shoes - Sepia Saturday

2012-02-22T18:41:00.000Z

I have never understood all the fuss about shoes (our theme for this week); they say you should put your best foot forward so I guess its a case of:

Yarm shop

This led to a bout of window shopping for shoes (female of course).


Buckles & Bows, Yarm

And the appropriately named -

The Shoe Box,Yarm

This shop is in a narrow wynd; its other window looks like this -

The Show Box window

The dress shop round the corner on the High Street sells shoes as well.

Shoe Stripes

These looked decidedly elegant compared with a shop in Stockton which was as empty as it looked.

Shoe Zone, Stockton

Not at all attracted to this I decided to look back in history and rejoiced in finding this 'gallant.'


Pepys & Lady Batten

By James Digman Winfield - 1861

The Diary of Samuel Pepys for Wednesday 15 November 1665 reads in part: "Up and all the morning at theoffice, busy, and at noon to the King’s Head taverne, where all the TrinityHouse dined to-day, to choose a new Master in the room of Hurlestone, that isdead, and Captain Crispe is chosen. But, Lord! to see how Sir W. Batten governsall and tramples upon Hurlestone, but I am confident the Company will grow theworse for that man’s death, for now Batten, and in him a lazy, corrupt, doatingrogue, will have all the sway there. After dinner who comes in but my LadyBatten, and a troop of a dozen women almost, and expected, as I foundafterward, to be made mighty much of, but nobody minded them; but the best jestwas, that when they saw themselves not regarded, they would go away, and it washorrible foule weather; and my Lady Batten walking through the dirty lane withnew spicke and span white shoes, she dropped one of her galoshes in the dirt,where it stuck, and she forced to go home without one, at which she washorribly vexed, and I led her; and after vexing her a little more in mirth, Iparted..."

In Edwardian times there were other delights:


High Heels 1910-1917

By Jean Agelou (1878-1921) - source www.edwardian-delights.com

I'd better stop at this point before I develop a high (heeled) fetish and return to what I posted recently under Pairs.

Spare pair of shoes up street lamp in Norwich, Norfolk

(by Keith Evans -- CC A-SA 2.0 license)

But my favourite shoes will always be these that you've seen before.

Sam worn out by gardening

OK they may be boots but

So perhaps you should walk right over to Sepia Saturday 114 and choose some more shoes.

Curved - Thematic Photography

2012-02-21T09:08:00.002Z

I've looked for different shapes than when we did Curves here in January last year.

Should you visit Cornwall there two places I recommend you see. First:

The Eden Project

How many curved items can you find?

Cornwall's cathedral is also not to be missed.

Truro Cathedral

And here's some curved furniture inside a Cornish home.

Curved chairbacks; curved sideboard

Moving to the USA I found this statue in Michigan.

Rochester, Michigan

I'll let you check out what's curved.

Meanwhile back in mainland Europe there's two curved places to check up on -

Planetarium - Bochum, Germany

Gardens in Monaco

Perhaps I'll finish gracefully nearer home.

Mount Grace Priory, North Yorkshire

Now it's time for you to get behind the curved ball with our host at Carmi's Written Inc 184

Rotterdam's Delftsche Poort

2012-02-20T19:37:00.000Z

My booklet of postcards by Weenenk& Snel included this photo:


Delftsche Poort

It is interesting to compare this with another older view.

Delftsche Poort - 1898

Viewed from the city, near the River Schie

There is a very depressing picture of what happened to this old city gate on 14 May 1940 here

I can find no later photos so it looks a though it no longer exists. Perhaps someone could let me know.

Cats and Dogs - Sunday Stamps

2012-02-19T07:59:00.000Z

Apologies for missing out last week but I had no stamps to show other than those from Valentines you saw last year.

Dogs have featured on a number of my stamps that you've seen already and you might remember dogs and horses here

This time I looked for cats and remembering Blake's 'Tyger, Tyger burning bright - In the forests of the night,' I came up with these:

India

Malaya - Perak

It may be stretching it a bit to class tigers as pets especially if you keep goats.

Norway

For other chosen pets, cats, dogs - whatever visit Viridian's sunday stamps 58

Who's in the chair? - Sepia Saturday

2012-02-17T07:30:00.000Z

No film stars for me this week. I had to visit a local market stall to find the subject for this week.

There's no doubt that it's a man, but who?

Newcastle man

He's still unknown but the back of the CdV helps a bit.

Photo Art Studios

I've managed to track down a member of the Royal Photographic Society, one Edward Lyddell Sawyer (1856/1927). He was living in Newcastle in the 1880s/1900s and more importantly was the son of Henry Sawyer (1830/1896) who was described as 'Portrait Painter & Photographer.'

I have been less succesfull with my next man on a cabinet card.

Photographer - P Crane & Co, Swiss Art Studio, Bishop Auckland

Again I have been unable to name the man in the chair; the card has seen better days but I was pleased to see something of a match between the table legs and those on Alan's chair.

To find out who has memories of film follow the finger pointing you to Sepia Saturday 113

Pairs - Thematic Photography

2012-02-16T15:55:00.000Z

OH dear where to start when totally devoid of ideas and no chance to find pairs outside! What better place than this:

Hydroxide Lone Pair

(By Benjah-bmm 27)

For those who wonder what it is, in chemistry this represents the hydroxide ion (I think).

My next pair or two were right before my eyes.


Spectacles and scissors.

Here's a well thumbed pair that have seen better days.

Two pairs

Someone must have bet more than their shirt on those to end up like this.

Too shy to model pants, socks and gloves

Look what happened to his shoes.

Spare pair of shoes up street lamp in Norwich, Norfolk

(by Keith Evans -- CC A-SA 2.0 license)

I just hope that he didn't finance his gambling habit by pawning these.

Earings - three pairs.

Well I guess it's time to stop monkeying around.

Add caption

and for you to pair off at Carmi's Written Inc 183

Bridges Over River Maas - Rotterdam

2012-02-11T13:25:00.000Z

In May 1940 the bridges over the River Maas at Rotterdam were the scene of fierce WWII battles between Dutch and German troops. The bridges appear on my Weenenk & Snel postcards from the early 1900s.

Bridges over the River Maas

I also located another photo of the bridges from between 1890 and 1905.

Bridges over the River Meuse (French) - River Maas (Dutch)

(US Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division, Photochrom Prints Collection)

Pushkin His Luck

2012-02-10T14:46:00.000Z

In 1829, aged 30, Aleaxander Pushkin fell in love with a 16 year old girl named Natalya. They married two years later.

Pushkin was the famous author of Eugene Onegin in which there is a clear depiction of Natalya as 'Tatyana.' According to gossip Natalya was having an affair with a dashing Frenchman, Baron Georges d'Anthès whom the Pushkins had met in 1834. D'Anthès was to marry Natalya's sister.

In 1836 Pushkin received a poison pen letter electing him to 'The Serene Order of Cuckolds.' Whether or not the charge was baseless, Pushkin decided to play out the script of Eugene Onegin where the hero is provoked into a duel over Tatyana.

The monument on Pushkin's duel place, Saint-Petersburg

Photo by Vladimir Ivanov

The duel between Pushkin and d'Anthès took place on 27 January 1837. D'Anthès fired and wounded Puskin; Pushkin merely winged his opponent. Pushkin was fatally hurt and died eventually on this day in 1837.

Notes:

The Times records Pushkin's death on 10 February 1837 in its 'On This Day' column of The Register.
Love, Sex, Death & Words, surprising tales from a year in literature - 10 February- 'The king of cuckolds dies.' Authors John Sutherland & Stephen Fender. Icon Books

Groceries - Thematic Photography

2012-02-08T13:51:00.000Z

With the advent of supermarkets and out of town shopping centres grocers' shops have disappeared from many villages and towns in the UK. So to remind you of how it used to be I'm posting this shop from Australia.

Date c. 1910

John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland

Interior ofDalton Brothers Grocery Shop in Ipswich, ca. 1910 Grocers and provisionmerchants situated on Nicholas Street.Well-stocked shop with seating available for shoppers while their orders arebeing made up. Household goods such as teapots and cooking utensils as well asconsumables.

The nearest I could get was a greengrocer's that I have shown before when the theme was vegetables.

Yarm greengrocer's shop

As I refuse to photograph a supermarket I have had to settle for a collection of groceries in our kitchen.

This led to a discussion about just what are classed as groceries. I decided to ignore items like toilet rolls, cleaning fluids, soap - the list is endless and just rearrange the above display with a few new items added.

Now I think it's time to open that bottle of wine while you go off to to the grocery checkout at Carmi's Written Inc. thematic-photographic 182

Dickens for Sepia Saturday

2012-02-07T15:37:00.000Z

For me there could only be one interpretation of the Books theme this week. Today, 7 February is the 200th anniversary of this man's birthday.:

Charles Dickens 1868

Source: Project Gutenberg ebook of Appreciations and Criticisms of the Works of Charles Dickens, 1911. From a photograph by Gurney

In pride of place on my bookshelf is a book I won as a form prize way back in 1949.

The Pickwick Papers

It so happens that I discovered Mr Pickwick and Sam Weller in an illustration which I though you might enjoy.


Wood engraving: 19th century.

Characters from the books of Charles Dickens

(Photograph 1950 -1970 - unknown author)

The description with the photograph says, "The man seated in the chair is Mr.Pickwick, a character from Charles Dickens’ first novel The Pickwick Papers,listening to his astute and humorous valet, Sam Weller, as he points out othercharacters from Dickens’ books. For example, midway up the left edge, from AChristmas Carol, are Ebenezer Scrooge in a night cap, and Bob Cratchitcarrying his crippled son, Tiny Tim. In the bottom left corner, from The OldCuriosity Shop, are Little Nell and her grandfather. Fagin, from OliverTwist, is third from the left in the front row with Mr. Bumble (in thebicorn or cocked hat), his wife Widow Corney, Oliver Twist, the Artful Dodger,and Charley Bates nearby."

I must say you need very good eyesight to make them out. There is no doubt however about who is in the next photo.

Artist Fred Barnard (1846-1896)

Title "Mr. Pickwick Picnics"

Date 1870s

Source: "The Anniversary Edition of the Works of Charles Dickens, February 7, 1812". The books were published in 1911 by P.F. Collier & Son of New York. This illustration is from the book, "Pickwick Papers Part I"
Flickr: Mr Pickwick uploaded by Sue Clark
License: CC BY 2.0

Today, thanks to Stockton Central Library's Facebook post I learned something new about Dickens. Apparently Dickens' study had a secret door designed to look like a bookcase which was full of fake books with titles such as Noah's Arkitecture, a nine-volume set titled Cat's Lives and The Virtues of Our Ancestors, which was so narrow that the title had to be printed vertically. Are there fake books on your shelves?

And a final picture of the great man who ranks close behind Shakespeare in literary merit.

Charles Dickens, circa 1860

Project Gutenberg ebook of Appreciations and Criticisms of the Works of Charles Dickens

Photo by J. & C. Watkins

As some of you may know I have been a volunteer text corrector for the Dickens Journals Online Project. They are celebrating his birthday by announcing the completion of all the correction process. You may find out about the project at http://www.djo.org.uk/

To immerse yourself in more books just click here

National Library Day and Peter Robinson

2012-02-05T14:53:00.000Z

National Library Day

Saturday 4 February was National Library day inthe UK.I had the pleasure of attending Stockton Central Library for a talk and booksigning by Peter Robinson, the creator of the Inspector Banks detective/mysteryseries - http://www.inspectorbanks.com/.

The event had been ‘sold out’ but the firstsnow of the winter resulted in some empty seats. Fortunately Peter had onlytravelled from the town of Richmond, Yorkshire notthat many miles away; he had left his home in Toronto earlier in the week and, as he said,had just about got over the jet lag.

Peter’s first library, that used by AlanBennett and novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford, was at Armley in Leeds, West Yorkshire.

Before the Poison

For his talk Peter chose to explain that hislatest book ‘Before the Poison’ was not part of the Banks series. Theinspiration for the story came from a rundown house he found beyond the oldracecourse at Richmond.At one time there had been limekilns in the area; in the book the house becameKilnsgate. Somewhat creepy, a love story of the past and present ‘Before thePoison’ covers the life of Grace Elizabeth Fox hanged in 1953 for poisoning herhusband. Chris Lowe who has returned to live at Kilnsgate becomes entrapped byGrace’s story and comes to believe she did not poison her husband.

Peter Robinson explained how he incorporatedGrace’s journal in the book. He read an extract which covered Grace’sexperience as a Queen Alexandra’s nurse during the fall of Singapore to the Japanese in WWII.

Question and Answer Session

Interestingly Peter does not know who themurderer is when he starts a Banks book. He may be three-quarters of the waythrough before he decides who is the culprit. He does not have an outline orplan for his novels, nor character profiles.

He described the recent TV episodes withStephen Tompkinson playing Alan Banks as two hours of mindless entertainment.He finds the TV version not to be the way he would do it. He believesTompkinson is growing into the part but is too tall to be the Banks he wroteabout.

The Eastvale location is based on a combinationof Richmond and Ripon; TV scenes use Otley, nearLeeds.

His best place for writing is in a cottageoverlooking a lake north of Toronto.At Richmond hewrites in the guest bedroom. He is not one to write while travelling or inhotels.

His next Banks book is to be based in Tallin, Estoniawith the title ‘Watch in the Dark’ about a girl who goes missing while on a henparty in the city.

When asked how many drafts he produces before anovel is complete, Peter said his first draft has already been revised as hegoes back to change details as he goes along. He may produce a further draftbefore the book is read by his wife, and his editors. The final version willthen go to the copy editors. Effectively he has three goes at each book. Hefinds that writing with computers encourages you to make revisions as you goalong.

When asked about his favourite authors Petermentioned Michael Connelly, Mark Billingham and Ian Rankin. He mentionedspecifically ‘The Greatcoat’ a ghost story by Helen Dunmore. He uses a Kindlefor convenience while travelling, but agrees the e-readers will not replacebooks. Peter is also reading Alan Hunter’s books featuring the detective GeorgeGently and stressed that the TV stories are nothing like the book.

Note:

‘Before the Poison’ is to bepublished in hardback in the USAon 7 February.

Charles Dickens - Sunday Stamps

2012-02-05T08:20:00.000Z

The 7th February is the bicentenary of the birth of Charles Dickens. I have been a volunteer text corrector for the Dickens Journals Online (DJO) Project. The project aims to have all his works in the magazines Household Words and All The Year Round available for reading on line in time for his birthday. As of today they are 98% complete. You can read about DJO and listen to Simon Callow explaining what's going on at http://www.djo.org.uk/

Meanwhile the stamps I have for you this week are those issued in 1970 on the centenary of his death.

Charles Dickens 1812/1870

Top row: Pickwick Papers - Mr Pickwick and Sam (Weller); David Copperfield - Mr & Mrs Micawber

Bottom row: David Copperfield and Betsy Trotwood; Oliver Twist asking for more.

You will find other selections at Viridian's Sunday Stamps

The White House - Rotterdam

2012-02-04T13:38:00.002Z

Among the postcards of Rotterdam with views by Weenenk & Snel was this panoramic view:

River Maas

When I saw this I wondered what the large building was in the centre. Another of the postcards soon told me.

Het Witte Huis (The White House)

The White House was one of the few buildings in central Rotterdam to survive the German bombing campaigns in WWII. It was built in 1898; I found this photo of it in the American Library of Congress,

Het Witte Huis - 1900

And a much more recent picture too of what has become a National Heritage Site.

Het Witte Huis Rijksmonument 2007

(Photo by F Eveleens - CC BY 3.0 unported license)

Rob from Amersfoort kindly gave me this lnk to an old map in my previous post on Rotterdam - http://www.engelfriet.net/Alie/Hans/stadsplattegrond1897.jpg

If you view and enlarge the map The White House is situated on the end curve of 'Haven; above the Maas Hotel (in red) where there appears to be a letter 'E'.

Dogs in My Life

2012-02-02T19:17:00.001Z

From an early age I was used to playing with dogs, The first I remember was an Airedale named Punch, then Laddie, a white Labrador/Lurcher, followed by a whippet named Flick. But the first photograph I have is this from the 1950s.


Major

Major belonged to my wife's sister, but was looked after by her parents. We have never owned a dog ourselves but our younger son and our daughter have made up for this. My son has had three Irish Water Spaniels over the years, two of them at the same time.

Milly and Cara

You may read about Milly and Cara here

Sam and Maxie were my daughter's first two Golden Labradors who became known as the Dogs of Troy.

Sam and Maxie are the stars

The pictures in the video also appear with a commentary at this post.

Later they became part of the gang of four known as the Deer Trail Hounds.

Gem, Sam, Jack and Maxie.

Gem is still alive; Sam suddenly went blind when he was 10 but survived another two years; Jack was known as the brown bomber because of the havoc he could cause while Maxie found fame as the Trash Queen in Dogs Today.

Gem now has to share the house and grounds with three Retrievers - Lily, Scout and Cody. Lily is the youngest and always in trouble but will run for miles after a tennis ball. Scout spoils the games by hiding the balls and has earned the title of Scouty-Two-Ball, which is strange because he hasn't any, as he can run with two in his mouth at once.


Lily and Scout in water; Cody and Gem on land

But Alan's prompt was, let me remind you, man and dog,

So here's one of me.


Cody - more in hope, than expectation.

For more shaggy dog stories you need to check out others at sepia-saturday-111

Screens - Thematic Photography

2012-02-01T15:13:00.003Z

When I saw that the topic for this week's thematic photography was 'Screens' I decided I only needed one new shot,

Thematic Photography - picture archive

I just hope you can read the header. Other photos are a selection from my files.


Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge - Visitor Centre

Wall display plus small screen of bridge in action

The Tees Barrage is up-river from the Transporter and there I found a different type of screen, this time designed to keep people out.

Archimedes Screws at Tees Whitewater Rafting Centre

The four screws recycle water from the rafting course back to the start. Only the two centre screws were lifting water when this shot was taken.

There's a ghostly look to my next set of screens in use back in the early 1940s.

Mosquito Nets - Egypt - UK naval base

You may think my next picture does not include a screen but there is still a maritime connection.

Rudder on SS Great Britain in Bristol Dry Dock

I would claim that the glass cover to the dock screens out the sunlight at least..

In the next a glass screen in the form of a box encloses a model.

Truro Cathedral inside Truro Cathedral

The crowd has still to arrive in this basketball stadium in Lansing, Michigan and the screens are blank.

Graduation Day for Thomas Cooley Law School

And for the golfing fans.

Olazabal Takes A Putt

For a leisurely ride home there is nothing to beat the view through a windscreen like this.

Helicopter approaching Nice.

Here's two who are saying it's time to go.

You Drive

But before you go make sure have your sunscreen on when you visit Carmi's Written Inc. screens

Dragons - Sunday Stamps

2012-01-29T08:09:00.001Z

Viridian has chosen to celebrate China and the year of the Dragon this week.

China’s first stamps appeared in 1878 and had dragons onthem! They are known as “large dragon stamps” and are very rare. I wish I had one of them, but the nearest I can offer you is a an image of a stamp from 1897.


China - 1897, Dragon

In the year of the Dragon, many differentcountries issue dragon stamps. The year 2000 was a dragon year, and dragonstamps were issued inMacau, U.S.A, Canada, Christmas Islands,Hong Kong, Japan and China, of course. I'm told that the first Japanese stamps in 1871 also depicted dragons.

I looked hard for other dragon stamps and was disappointed to find I had very few. However I was pleased to find this dragon's head on a Norwegian stamp.

Norway - 1972

Viking longships had dragon heads like this on their prows. However I have not been able to confim whether these are dragons on these other stamps from Scandinavia. Perhaps someone can tell me whether they are.

Finland

I looked hard to find stamps with komodo dragons but had to give up as my stamps from Indonesia had pangolins.

I was on much safer ground closer to home as a dragon is always depicted on the regional issues from Wales.

Great Britain - Wales - pre 1971 - Wilding design

Wales - post 1971 - Machin design

1971 was the year Breat Britain changed from pounds, shillings and pence to decimal currency.

Wales - Commonwealth Games 1958

My favourite dragon stamp is one I don't possess - it's from the set of mythical creatures.


Great Britain

Old Views of Rotterdam

2012-01-27T19:35:00.000Z

Since I joined Sunday Stamps I I have been visiting a stall selling postage stamps at Stockton Market. This week, mixed in with First Day Covers, I picked up a booklet labelled Rotterdam.

Rotterdam booklet - Edition Weenenk & Snel, The Hague


Back cover - with Weenenk & Snel logo

Inside I found nine unused postcards showing views of Rotterdam all in good condition, but obviously old. I have since discovered that Weenenk & Snel from the Hague have produced many views of the cities and towns in the Netherlands most of which are from the early 1900s.

This is one of the cards in the booklet.

Rotterdam - Plan C

The back of each card is the same, except for the Rtt number you can see on this view.

Back of Postcards

Plan C is identified Rtt 015. All cards have the Weenenk & Snel, den Haag triangular logo. The dotted line at the right is the perforation which allows a card to be removed. There is no evidence that any have ever been taken out.

In trying to identify the age of the cards I succeeded in finding another view of Plan C, together with a date of 1915, but unfortunately this date is not on the card.

Plan C - at Postcardsfrom.NL

This is obviously the same view.

The city of Rotterdam was badly damaged by German raids during WWII, with the center of the city being razed to the ground. So far I have been unable to place the location of the photo in modern Rotterdam.

I would welcome comments, especially those that can identify the location of Plan C.

I will show the other cards in later posts.

Cards for Burns Birthday

2012-01-25T20:03:00.000Z

On 25 January 1759 Robert Burns was born in Alloway, three miles from Ayr. Tonight people will celebrate the anniversary of his birth at Burns Suppers all over the world.

It is a sheer coincidence that I visited a market stall today in Stockton-on-Tees and discovered a wallet of postcards from Ayr, six in all, four of them related to Burns.


Good Luck from Ayr

Burns Cottage

Auld Brig O'Doon, Alloway, Ayr

The Brig o' Doon was the late medieval bridge used as the setting for the final verse of Burns poem Tom O Shanter.where Tam, on horseback. is being chased by Nannie the witch. He is just able to escape her by crossing the bridge (over a running stream) narrowly avoiding her attack as she is only able to grab the horse's tail which comes away in her hands. Today a plaque stands next to the bridge:

Brig O'Doon Plaque

The fourth card contains the memorial to Burns.

Burns Monument and Auld Brig O'Doon

For those postcard collectors among you the cover of the 'concentina' wallet is missing and there is no other information included to enable me to identify the age, date or origin of the cards or who created them.

Photo:

Brig O'Doon Plaque Author - llkast, 2 Aug 2011; licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license

Majestic Memories - Sepia Saturday

2012-01-24T19:52:00.004Z

Alan's picture prompt opened a lot of memories for me, but there was one majestic opening event at which I wasn't present.

Majestic Theatre, Ohio - 1915

The advertisement was featured in theAthens Messenger for the grand opening of the Majestic Theatre at 20 S. CourtSt. Athens, OH. The Majestic Theatre opened on June 3, 1915. Today the locationis occupied by the Athena Cinema. (Source: Athens Messenger)

However 50 years later I was in my first job at Redbourne Steelworks in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire. This building stood then on the corner of Oswald Road and Mary Street.

Majestic Cinema, Scunthorpe in 2006

You can see that the cinema is looking the worse for wear and in 2007 it was demolished just leaving this wall..


Majestic no more.

However there is a Majestic still standing in Harrogate in Yorkshire where I spent many a happy hour. British Steel used to hold conferences there and where it fell to me, on one occasion, to present a paper on a steelwork's trial conducted at Redbourne and Park Gate Works, Rotherham.

Majestic Hotel, Harrogate - 2008

The Majestic Hotel was built at the height of Harrogate's popularity as a spa in 1900. Unlike other hotels in the town it was made of brick and cost over a quarter of a million - a large sum in those days. The trees and bushes in the foreground mask the site of the former glazed 'winter garden' which was over 8000sq ft in area and was adorned with palm trees etc. The winter garden was damaged by a German bomb in 1941 and was demolished in the 1970s. In 1955, the 5 star Majestic offered B&B from 32/6d [approx £1.63] and dinner from 12/6d [62p] - a bargain! I don't every remember it being that cheap.

Our photo prompt brought back other memories - it was on Church Street after all.

Railway Inn, Ketton

Ketton is the village in Rutland where I was born. Don't be fooled by the street sign which says Chapel Lane as the road to the right is Church Road and leads to:


St Mary's Church, Ketton

I be less that honest if I didn't say that I liked this view of Church Road better.

St Mary's, Ketton from Church Road

Why? It leads back to the Railway of course.

Perhaps now it's time for you to wend your way to The Majestic Sepia Saturday.

Photos:

Majestic Ohio - public domain - Athens Messenger
Majestic Cinema, Scunthorpe - This image was from the Geograph project collection. The copyrighton this image is owned by David Wright and is licensed for reuse underthe Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0license.
Majestic no more - This image was from the Geograph project collection.details. The copyrighton this image is owned by Richard Croft and is licensed for reuse underthe Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0license.
Majestic Hotel, Harrogate - This image was from the Geograph project collection. The copyrighton this image is owned by Gordon Hatton and is licensed for reuse underthe Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0license.
Ketton photos - Bob Scotney

Movement - Thematic Photography

2012-01-24T13:15:00.001Z

You may take shots that that show motion as a blur, but my selection for Carmi's theme of 'Movement' has frozen the action at the time. Motion on land, water and in the air has been caught in these photos taken in the USA and the UK.

Turkey Vulture in Michighan

The turkey vulture (or turkey buzzard) is an ugly looking bird in close-up but elegant when it glides around looking for a carcase to eat,

I'm not sure what this is, just let's say I wouldn't want to swim to close to it.

Flat body, big mouth, aquatic - I'm off!

This may have been larger but at least it's (h)armless I'm told.

Northern Watersnake in Michigan lake

I feel much safer with this fellow caught in mid-stride.

'Harry', the Blue Heron

I wonder whether he tackles that snake and the thing I don't like.

Here's something ideal for a hot day.

Fountain

Closer to home water is still the theme. A competitor practising his paddling skills.

Tees Barrage International White Water Rafting Centre

This facility has just been upgraded and is to be used as a practice centre for London 2012 Olympic Games.

My next shot shows my grandson in surfing action.

Riding the waves

Finally an all time favourite shot of a granddog.

Blind Sam in mid-pounce

Now I guess, it's time for you to go and study more movement at Written Inc's thematic photographic 180

Great Britain - Sunday Stamps

2012-01-22T09:16:00.000Z

The use of postage stamps started in Great Britain with the famous Penny Black in 1840.

Penny Black (reproduction)

As the stamps were only for internal use the country's name was not included on the stamps; later it was agreed internationally that British stamps did not need the name but all should contain the sovereign's head. In fact there has only been one stamp that has included the name Britain - the stamp commemorating the Festival of Britain in 1951.

Use of the Penny Black was discontinued when it was replaced due to the black colour not showing postmarks clearly. The Penny Red took its place.

I have only one stamp showing Queen Victoria who reigned from 1837-1901 and I have shown this before.

Queen Victoria 1851

There is another stamp of the same value and colour as this. The difference between lies in the design; the stamp I've shown has 16 dots around each corner, the other only 14.

After Victoria Great Britain had four Kings as shown on these stamps from my collection.

Edward VII (1901-1910)

I've shown a reproduction here as my Edward VII stamps are so heavily postmarked.

George V (1910-1936)

Edward VIII (1936)

These are the only four stamps issued for Edward VII before his abdication.

George VI (1936-1952)

These early stamps from George VI's reign include the commemorative for his coronation.

Our present Queen came to the throne in 1952 and is to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee this year.

Elizabeth II

The first stamps issued became known as the Wilding issues as they were based on a portrait of QueenElizabeth II by photographer Dorothy Wilding. Variations on this theme were used until 1967, when the Machin issues were introduced. The Machin design is a profile of the queen on a solid back ground.

Machin issue

In 1971 the currency was decimalised so the stamps changed again for the new values.

Decimal currency

To save stamps from Great Britain you have always needed to recognise different water marks. In addition technical improvements in printing mean you also need to be able to identify graphite lines on the back of the stamp, phosphor bands (all over, single or double), position and design of the demonination value.There are literally hundreds of varieties.

With the advent of first and second class postage rates the demonination has been removed and in my opinion the design has been ruined by unsightly postage class numbering.


First and Second Class Postage.

As you can see there is also a different stamp and charge for large envelopes. Postage rates have gone up by over 4000% since Queen Victoria''s days. She would not have been amused.

To amuse yourself further you should view other stamps at Viridian's Sunday Stamps

Hello Dolly - Sepia Saturday

2012-01-19T14:18:00.003Z

I was sure I was going to have problems this week until I remembered.

But when we had an electrician working in our loft earlier in the week others saw the light.


1960s Doll

Originally this doll had a bottle which when filled with water resulted in the doll wetting herself. No bottle now and you can't see that she has lost her knickers. She is still the proud owner of a carry cot equiped with a pillow and blanket to keep her warm, and with a cover and hood to keep her dry.

She had a companion in the loft whom I thought had gone to a charity shop some time ago. So let me introduce, from the same era:

Tiny Tears

As her name implies she wept realistic tears. Perhaps she now fears what is going to happen to her.

Much to my surprise I found another doll on display in our house. So here's a Brazilian who seems to wink at you.

Doll from Brazil

So that you get some idea of size here are the three together - rivals to the Pussy Cat Dolls?

The family favourites have travelled a bit, probably more than the Brazilian. So all the way from Peru we have:

Paddington Bear

I hope you will agree that bears are allowed as well as dolls. Teddy made his intoduction at an early age.

Teddy in a future garden and loved already

He even took precendence over Paddington and the heartthrobs on the wall.

Teddy in prime position

Teddy has been all round the world and now resides with Paddington in the USA. He still loves good to this day.


At ease

Meanwhile his larger brother Herbert has had his share of love.


Herbert gets a cuddle

But Herbert wants to know when his turn will come to leave our loft and wend his way to the USA.

For tales of other dolls you now need to switch to Sepia-Saturday 109.

All A Glow - Thematic Photography

2012-01-18T07:20:00.000Z

As I had used up all my sunsets, sunrise and rainbow shots before, I had to search my archive to come up with these. Otherwise my face would be red, or aglow if you prefer.

A Facebook friend of mine posted this sometime ago with his permission to use it if we wished.

Bonfire Glow

(courtesy of Jack Owen)

And here's a glow I picked up on my travels.

Montelbaan Tower, Amsterdam

I know we've just done after dark but nevertheless this construction site positively glows.

Statfjord 'B' at Rosenberg Verft, Stavanger

My final picture came from astronomy research which I can only cannot trace from the photo caption and which shows a sunrise at an ancient site.


Chankillo Sunrise

Now I guess I shall have to find out about Chankillo again while you visit other folks and places that glow at

Carmi's thematic-photographic-179

Food for thought - Sunday Stamps

2012-01-15T08:54:00.001Z

I have been on a tour of ten countries looking for food to match Viridian's theme this week. Before the food however it's necessary to prepare the ground. This is what I found.

Ploughing in Bangladesh

With more beast being put to work.

Under the yoke in China

Modern ploughing in Scandinavia.


Ploughing a straight furrow in Sweden

While in Asia they tend the beast.

Cattle in Mongolia

Isn't there a saying "as you sow, so shall you reap?"

A reaper in Denmark

But do you need a reaper to gather this crop.

Maize from South Africa

You need to dig to retrieve a root crop like these.

Beetroot (?) from Russia

Presumably you just pick a favourite fruit of mine.

Mangoes in India

I'm not sure what they are preparing here, but it looks like food to me.

A big bowl of food in Togo

And finally two lovers share a meal.

The Lady and the Tramp - USA

That's its, folks. Time for you to tramp off for more food at Sunday Stamps 53

Hold On To Your Hats - Sepia Saturday

2012-01-12T12:51:00.000Z

I have never understood why so many ladies are fascinated by them - but now I've discover that 'facination' is a collective noun for hats. It must be due to displays like this:


Many Hats - by Quadell

(Released under GNU Free Documentation Licence - CC-BY-SA 3.0)

But even I can see the attraction of hats like these:

Two Girls in Hats

Create by L Prang & Co (publisher) 1881-1897

(Boston Public Library - ex flickr - CC-BY 2.0)

In my experience hats take different forms and are there for a practical purpose even if the lady is only checking out whether there is garlic in the dishes prepared for a meal.


Chef in Cyprus

For many years in industry it was hard hats for all.

JFB Jackson & Sir Monty Finniston (centre) at APV Paramount, Billingham

My sideburns have just got in on the act!

On a less serious note some horns get in on the hat.

Not JR

And here's a hat once worn for a wedding, but the wearer is shy so you will have to make do with just the hat.

Wedding Hat

Fortunately Sally and Sam are not so shy.

Sally & Sam Scarecrow

These days I wear a cap to keep the sun out of my eyes or a bobble hat to keep my head warm when I am playing golf. There must be something wrong with this golfer however:

Ryder Cup Cap (2004) & St Andrews Undergraduate Scarf (1950s)

Now it's time to take your hat off to the 'mad hatters' at Sepia Saturday

After Dark - Thematic Photography

2012-01-10T19:40:00.000Z

Carmi's theme this week was after dark. I had to search my archive for these shots. The first one is a cheat as I'll admit it's a postcard from Stavanger.

Stavanger - View of harbour area Vågen by night

Staying in Stavanger I have two shots of Rosenberg Verft at night, I don't know who took these photos.


Statfjord 'B' Deck under construction

Much closer to home, just before 'after dark' is this sunset from 2002.

Kirklevington sunset

And finally a moonshot.

Mooning in Kirklevington

Fore more dark shots don't forget to visit Written Inc. 178

Australian Wildlife - Sunday Stamps

2012-01-08T07:59:00.000Z

I'll admit I took an easy option this week when I saw this set on the local market coin and stamp stall. Not bad for £1.

It's difficult to pick a favourite from these.

Check out other selections on an open theme at Viridian's postcard blog

Run Rabbit Run - Sepia Saturday

2012-01-06T14:31:00.001Z

The song Run Rabbit Run written for the show “The Little Dog Laughed” andoriginally sung by Flanagan and Allen was very popular during WWII especiallyafter they changed the lyrics to ‘Run Adolf, Run Adolf, Run, Run, Run.

The lyrics were a dig at the German Luftwaffe whose first raid on Britain had been on flying boats at Sullom Voein Scotland.Supposedly, only two rabbits were killed by the bombs, although they may haveactually come from a butcher’s shop.

As today is Friday perhaps I should remind you of the words:

On the farm, every Friday

On the farm, it's rabbit pie day.

So, every Friday that ever comesalong,

I get up early and sing thislittle song

Run rabbit - run rabbit - Run!Run! Run!

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Goes the farmer's gun.

Run, rabbit, run, rabbit, run.

Run rabbit - run rabbit - Run!Run! Run!

Don't give the farmer his fun!Fun! Fun!

He'll get by

Without his rabbit pie

So run rabbit - run rabbit - Run!Run! Run!

However these rabbits in Australiaobviously didn’t run fast enough.

The Rabbiter - ex The Powerhouse Museum- Tyrell Collection

(ex flickr)

I wonder why the Australians decided to call their national rugby unionteam ‘The Rabbits’ in 1907.

In cricket tail-enders not likely to score runs are also called rabbits.Still on a sporting theme my golf club used to have a Rabbits section forgolfers with handicaps 18 and above.

Sticking with AustraliaI found an idyllic scene,

Rabbits around a waterhole at the myxomatosis trial enclosure on Warbang Island 1938

National Archives of Australia

Myxomatosis was the disease introduced by man to try and contain thenumbers of rabbits. It was a highly infectious and caused by a virus that leads toswelling of the mucous membranes and the formation of tumours leading toblindness and death. I can vouch for the horrific nature of the symptoms asduring the 1950s, as a holiday job, I worked on cleaning out a stretch of theRiver Guash for a fishing syndicate. We spent our lunch breaks putting dozens aday out of their misery.

1950s 'portrait'

Prior to myxomatosis rabbits had been part of our regular meals, especially during WWII when those caught by our dogs supplemented the meat ration.

Polychronis Lembesis (1848-1913) - Child with Rabbits

(Oil on canvas - National Gallery of Greece)

Rabbits appear in art, many films and literature; the White Rabbit inAlice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit stories and ina favourite of mine, Watership Down by Richard Adams. In American popularculture there’s Brer Rabbit and Bugs Bunny that have fascinated us for years.Everyone knows who it is when you hear, “What’s up Doc?”

Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Fox, Br'er Tarrypin, and some dream women from UncleRemus, His Songs and His Sayings: The Folk-Lore of the Old Plantation by Joel Chandler Harris. Illustrations by Frederick S Church and James H Moser

The "Encyclopedia ofSuperstitions" by E. and M.A. Radford, edited and revised by ChristinaHole, Barnes and Noble Books, 1996. First published in 1948 has a lot to sayabout rabbits, "In some parts of Lancashireand the adjacent counties, it is unwise to shoot a black rabbit. This isbecause they were once believed to be ancestral spirits returning in that form.In Somerset,white rabbits are said to be witches. That anyone really believes this now isimprobable; nevertheless, white rabbits are not popular as children's pets, andthey are usually left severely alone, and are not shot. A luck-bringing customfound all over Great Britainis to say 'Rabbits' or 'White Rabbits' once or three times on the first day ofthe month. It must be said early in the morning, before any other word has beenuttered, otherwise the charm loses its force. In some districts it isconsidered necessary to say 'Hares' or 'Black Rabbits' when going to bed on thenight before, as well as 'Rabbits' or White Rabbits' in the morning. If,however, the speaker becomes muddled and says 'Black Rabbits' on rising, badluck will follow. The looked-for result of all this is variously given asgeneral good luck during the ensuing four weeks, or the receipt of a gift withina few days."

Many people believe that carrying a rabbit’s foot in your pocket willbring you good luck. Because of the rabbit's ability to reproduce, therabbit's foot also became a symbol of fertility. Now we find that rabbits areoften used as a symbol of fertility and they have long been associated withspring and Easter as the Easter Bunny. Additionally they have become Playboysymbols.


Playboy Bunnies

After that I have probably rabbitedon too long. All I can suggest now is that you visit others at Sepia saturday

Boxed In - Thematic Photography Favourites

2012-01-03T15:36:00.000Z

Hey! It's not twelfth night yet. Put that box away!

I don't care if he's behind me.

Put that box away or

I'll give you first-footing

It's a long way down but we'll have to jump to avoid that box.

Both together now

I'll hold your hand.

On the count of 3

But no one listens to us when we're boxed in at the back of the wardrobe till next Christmas time.

This is a 'Favourites' post especially for those at Written Inc

New Beginning - Sunday Stamps

2012-01-01T08:08:00.001Z

OK, so I'm cheating. I had never seen stamps heralding the New Year before. When idly searching for New Year material I came across these on the internet.

Russia 1991

And one with a design that does not strike me as much fun for the animal concerned but the source described it as a New Year Stamp.

New Year Stamp - Japan 1957

Happy New Year to everyone. I look forward to seeing your stamps throughout 2012.

Make a resolution to visit others at Viridian's postcard blog

Happy New Year Saturday Sepians

2011-12-31T08:54:00.000Z

The postman's been and gone; now it won't be long before the New Year arrives with a bang.

Back in 1945 when I was young you were prompted to make

Prior to the revolution you might have even received a card (if you lived in Russia)

Happy Christmas & New Year

Very rare pre-1917 postcard (CC BY-SA 2.0 - paukmus Rusian)

If you are inclined to make resolutions for the coming year in 1907 you might have been inspired by this.

Captain James Cook's Ship Resolution 1907

(from James Cook, The Circumnavigator, London - John Murray 1907)

Don't forget to visit other Sepians at Sepia Saturday's Christmas & New Year

All that's left for me to do now is to wish you all

New Year Day postcard c1900

(by Its Lassie Time)

Yeats's Haunted Tower

2011-12-28T15:39:00.001Z


Thoor Ballylee

(By Dr Charles Nelson - CC A-SA 2.0)

The 16^th century Ballylee Castlestands near the town of Gort in County Galway.The castle originally belonged to the De Burgo (Burke) family before becomingpart of the estates of the Earls of Clanrickarde.

William Butler Yeats purchased the castle andits adjoining cottage in 1917, He renamed the property Thoor Ballylee (“Thoor”is Irish for tower.) Yeats and his family lived there during the summer for 12years.

Ballylee was abandoned and fell into ruin inthe 1930s. However it was fully restored for the centenary of Yeats's birth in 1965when it was reopened as a Yeats memorial and heritage centre.

Ballylee inspired Yeats to write “The WindingStair” and “The Tower” poem collections. On the first floor of the four-storey tower asteep spiral staircase hewn from stone winds to the upper floors about which hewrote,

"I declare this tower is my symbol; I declare

This winding, gyring, spring treadmill of astair is my ancestral stair.”

As part of his restoration Yeats had this shortverse carved on a slate and embedded into the tower wall.

Yeats's Verse

(By James Yardley - CC BY-SA 2.0)

I, the poet William Yeats

With old mill boards and sea-green slates,

And smithy work from the Gort forge,

Restored this tower for my wife George,

And may these characters remain

When all is ruin once again.

Yeats believed in ghosts and thought that thetower was haunted by an Anglo-Norman soldier.

A curator was reluctant to climb the windingstair at the end of a day; she was convinced a spectral form wandered the wornstairway. Her dog frequently appeared terrified of something in the downstairsrooms.

In 1989 a photographer took some pictures inYeats’s sitting room. When his film was developed there was a ghostlysilhouette of what appeared to be a young man standing in front of the camera;no one else had been in the room at the time the photo was taken. It has beensuggested that the ghostly boy may have been Yeats’s own son.

Thoor Ballylee

(By James Yardley - CC BY-SA 2.0)

Favourites - Thematic Photography

2011-12-27T18:43:00.001Z

I've a whole host of archive pictures taken during the year, Here are some that were favourites when first taken or else there is a not to be forgotten reason behind the shot.

One frosty morning I came across this group when the sun was just beginning to win the battle for the day.

Spring Lambs

The next photo was sent to me by my daughter. You have seen this chap before (Seeing red ) but you might not recognise him here.

Cody's had his haircut

There isn't a cheese to match my next favourite from the summer time.

Cornish Blue

And if you were a bee, you would fall in love with this:

Honeysuckle

When you've drunk you fill you can buzz off here to see others' favourites via Carmi's blog

Strangers - Thematic Photography

2011-12-20T19:37:00.000Z

Strangers in my photos are there for a variety of reasons. On Brunel's SS Great Britain it was the anchor I was interested in.


Anchor for SS Great Britain

No matter how I tried for a picture of the anchor in the Bristol dry dock under the bows of the ship, strangers got in the way.

In other pictures the stangers are needed as an integral part of the action like this one shot in Norway.

A Foal's Feeding Time

In Germany this street scene would not be complete without all the strangers involved.


Freiburg Street Market

My final photo is one where the strangers had to be included although the dogs were the stars for me.

Forest of Dean Dog Show - Judge under pressure?

For other 'Strangers in Paradise' photography visit them here on Carmi's blog

Post Early For Christmas - Sepia Saturday

2011-12-19T16:07:00.000Z

Now they are arriving from people to whom I have I have not sent a card so all I can do now is plead

(LP Cover)

deliver them in time.

Back in 1856 the village postman needed a means to get around.


The Village Postman (copy from a book by JM Carrick)

It must have been an art to make deliveries then as Van Gogh's postman would confirm.


Van Gogh - Portrait of Joseph-Etienne Roulin 1889

I wonder who received a letter from Russia with love in the early 1900s.

Russian Empire Postman (unknown author)

At that time a postman had a hazardous occupation in many places so if your post is late there could be a tragic reason.

Memorial Stone to Robert Cunningham-Postman

Stone located on Killantringan Moor (Photo by Keith Brown: CC A-S A 2.0 generic license)

Robert Cunningham died in a snow storm in 1908

If you should hear your door bell just wait and see because remember the postman always rings twice. If you're lucky when you open your door to see it will turn out to be

Postman Pat

(Photo by Pete Reed - ex flickr: CC BY-NC 2.0)

Merry Christmas one and all. May the postman deliver you lots of cards from the ones you love

Norwegian Christmas - Sunday Stamps

2011-12-18T07:41:00.001Z

Like most people I have so many Christmas stamps that it is difficult to choose those to show. I decided to post this sheet from Norway commemorating 75 years of Christmas stamps.

Norway's First Christmas Stamps 75 Years (1980)

Nasjonalforeningens og Sanitetsforeningens julemerke 1980 translates as The National Association and Gray Ladies Society Christmas stamps 1980.

I understand The Gray Ladies are the Red Cross volunteer workers who provide non-professional care and services for the sick and convalescent in hospitals.

To see what others have chosen for the holiday theme don't forget to visit Viridian's sunday stamps 49

Just in case I don't get the chance to join in next week, I wish all who participate in Sunday Stamps a very Happy Christmas. My special thanks to Viridian for the work she does each week in keeping us on our toes.

Dog Tired - Thursday Photo Challenge

2011-12-15T19:37:00.000Z

The Thursday challenge is a thematic collaboration of bloggers. This weeks theme was "shoes."

This pup was dog tired.

Put on your walking shoes and click here to find other fine posts about shoes.

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge: A-Z Reflections – snoitcelfeR Z-A by Bob Scotney

2011-12-15T14:52:00.000Z

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge: A-Z Reflections – snoitcelfeR Z-A by Bob Scotney: Today we have the Reflections post from Bob Scotney at Bob's Home for Writing . He tells us about his first Challenge and what his re...

Larking About - Sepia Saturday

2011-12-15T14:07:00.000Z

What better way to start than:

Hail to thee, blithespirit

Skylark with a caterpillar in its beak

(By Daniel Pettersson - CC A-S A 2.5 Sweden License)

Percy Bysshe Shelly’s first lineof his poem ‘To a Skylark’ is known all around the world.

In Britain the skylark numbers havefallen dramatically and I can’t remember seeing or hearing one in the lasttwenty years. It seems unbelievable that once they were considered a delicacyand appeared in Christmas feasts. Larks, commonly consumed with bones intact, historicallywere considered as wholesome, delicate, and light game. They were used in anumber of dishes, for example, they were stewed, broiled, or used as filling inmeat pies. Lark's tongues were particularly highly valued. Shrinking habitatsmade lark meat rare and hard to come by, though it can still be found inrestaurants in Italy andelsewhere in Southern Europe.

For the cooks among you there isan ancient recipe for larks:

· Pound theflesh of two larks in a mortar; add some butter, some chopped samphire, somebreadcrumbs soaked in milk, some Malagaraisins, and some crushed juniper berries.

· Stuff athird lark with the mixture and roast it on a spit covered with samphire leavesand a strip of fat bacon.

· Serveon a crouton soaked in gin, and then toasted and buttered

(Samphire is the name givento a number of edible plants that grow in coastal areas. It is mentioned byShakespeare in King Lear: Half-way down Hangs one that gathers samphire;dreadful trade! [Act IV, Scene VI]. This refers to the dangers involved incollecting rock samphire on sea cliffs.)

In the 18th and 19th centuries, 'lark women' were a commonsight in the streets of Leipzig, Germany. Theysold finger food to the people from baskets hanging from their arms. Larks orskylarks were the major ingredient of the food. Larks were said to have anaphrodisiac effect – even Casanova ordered them from Leipzig.

The big lark business in Leipzig came to a sudden end, when the SaxonKing prohibited the killing of skylarks in 1876, due to public protests. A Leipzig baker then inventeda sweet alternative, now known as the "Leipziger Lerche" (LeipzigLark). This short pastry cake contains marzipan, almonds and strawberry jam, itsappearance resembling that of the original lark pies. The Leipzig Lark is now afavorite Leipzigsouvenir. And lark women are only seen as guides for guest in the streets of Leipzig...

Lark women in front of Gohlis Palace, Leipzig

(Photo: LTM - Keuhne)

Should you be one of those wholikes birds for a Christmas feast then perhaps you would like the pie sent toKing George III by James, Earl of Lonsdale. It contained contained 9 geese, 2tame ducks, 2 turkeys, 4 fowls, 6 pigeons, 6 wild ducks, 3 teals, 2 starlings,12 partridges, 15 woodcocks, 2 Guinea fowls, 3 snipes, 6 plovers, 3 water-hens,1 wild goose, 1 curlew, 46 yellow-hammers, 15 sparrows, 15 chaffinches, 2larks, 4 thrushes, 12 fieldfares, 6 blackbirds, 20 rabbits, 1 leg of veal, halfa ham, 3 bushels flour, and 2 stones of butter. It weighed 22 stones, was carriedto London in a two horse wagon, and if it was not as dainty as the celebratedpie containing four-and-twenty blackbirds, which, when the pie was opened,began to sing, it was, at all events, a ‘dish to set before the king.’

George IIIbecame King in 1760, around 100 years after the poet and politician EdmundWaller had written.

TheLark

Thelark, that shuns on lofty boughs to build

Herannual nest, lies silent in the field.

Butif the promise of a cloudy day,

Aurora smiling, bids herrise and play,

Thenstraight she shews, ‘twas not for want of voice,

Orpower to climb, she made so low a choice:

Singingshe mounts, her airy wings are stretch’d

T’wardsheav’n, as if from heav’n her notes she fetch’d

I’ve larkedaround long enough with only two photos to show, it’s time for you to fly offand check other festive fare at Sepia Saturday

One Thing - Thematic Photography

2011-12-13T08:18:00.000Z

The theme I've chosen for my 'one thing' photos is that of wildlife. All these pictures are from Michigan, the first from an Oakwood swamp.

Great Blue Heron

Then, of course, there's Harry who visits a Deer Trail Lake.

Great Blue Heron

Meanwhile in Rochester there is just one collecting nuts.

Squirrel near the Paint Creek Trail

There is always one black 'sheep' in the family.


Black Squirrel (trying to get in on the act)

But they're mine, all mine!

To check out other 'one things' the only place to go is Carmi's thematic-photographic one.

Norske Frimerker 1979 - Sunday Stamps

2011-12-11T09:18:00.001Z

In 1979 I went to Norway on a three month work assignment. One thing followed another before I returned to the UK permanently nine years and 51 weeks later. In that first year one of the things I bought was a collection of Norwegian Stamps - Norske Frimerker 1979.

Norske Frimerker 1979 (in their original pack)

Working downwards row by row the stamps are:

Centenary of the Holmenkollen Skiing Contests
The International Year of the Child
Norwegian scenery
Centenary of the novelist Johan Falkberget
Norwegian Engineering
Norwegian mountain flowers.

For other stamps from the frozen north visit Sunday Stamps 48

Steven's Grandparents - Sepia Saturday

2011-12-08T15:37:00.001Z

When in America earlier this year I found this photo on the wall of my daughter's and son-in-law's home.

Maria Skǒumka and Tadeusz Alfonse Glogowski

This is a photograph of of photograph of a photograph taken before WWII in Warsaw. Maria and Tadeusz were the grandparents of Steven, my son-in-law.

Tadeusz had been born in the Ukraine but after the Russian Revolution hismother took him at the age of 14 and Stefan, his 16 year-old brother, to Poland. Bothbrothers were Russian speakers. However Stefan did not like Polandand returned to Russiawhen he was 17 only to be arrested as a spy. He spent 8 years in Siberia beforegoing to live in Palestine.

Tadeusz’s mother had high hopes for him; he wasintroduced to the Polish Ambassador in 1921-23 and mixed in Polish society’shighest levels. A clever man he was a humorist but he didn’t particularly likethe ladies amongst whom his mother hoped he would find a wife. He married MariaSkǒumka, an orphan girl whom he had met in a pub when she was 17. They had adaughter and Stefan, a son who was to become Steven’s father. The daughter diedwhen Stefan was 2 years old.

Tadeusz became an accountant and worked for a Warsaw tyre company. He waskilled in 1939 when the Germans bombed Warsaw;he did not get to the air-raid shelter with the rest of his family when hishome was hit.

It's ironic that thanks to Steven I can post this information about his grandparents but can only search census records and the like to find out about mine.

I managed a related couple in a sepia photo to link to other posts here

Seeing Red - Thematic Photography

2011-12-06T18:56:00.001Z

In meeting the weekly themes set by Carmi I'm seeing things and interpreting photos in a different way than was intented when they were taken. Here's some that have me 'Seeing Red.'

Anemone

This plant has been in our garden for a long time, but decided to flower this past summer.

Cody has been around a long time too but is always ready for a game. When his coat is long then he is reddish as well.

Cody, waiting for the kick-off.

He's is only pretending to be alseep.

Also at the ready at Stockton's riverside was this fire engine with the high reach ladder and hose.

Simon Snorkel

Fire practice

A pedigree Border Collar with her red prizes has a water connection as well.

Elemark Waterlily (Lily)

This house in Yarm maintains both the red and and the water link.

Flood Cottage, Yarm

And finally there is this fellow, definitely seeing red after flying into our lounge window early one morning.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

If you want to 'spot' some more then please visit seeing-red

Writelinkers Magazine 2011

2011-12-05T07:15:00.001Z

The Writelinkers Magazine 2011 is available now to read on line or download as a pdf. Over 50 pages of Christmas reading all written by members of the Writelink online community.

You'll find articles, stories, poems, recipes and lots of fun when follow the links from WRITELINKERS-2011

You can get close and personal with me and check out my piece on Christmas Rituals.

Open publication - Free publishing - More articles

Universal Postage Union - Sunday Stamps

2011-12-04T07:26:00.001Z

Last week I put up a first day cover and this week I discovered another that I had forgotten.


Universal Postage Union Centenary 1974

The four stamps issued on 12 June 1974 show methods of transport which have played a part in overseas mail in the hundred years, 1874 - 1974.

3.1/2p - The P&O packet steamer of 1888
5.1/2p - The first official air mail flight from London to Paris at the time of the Coronation of George V in 1911.
8p - An Imperial Airways flying boat of 1937 which was later used on the England-Australia service.
10p -The blue air mail van and posting box first seen in London in 1930.

To see what others have posted this week don't forget to visit Viridian's Sunday Stamps 47