Sunday Stamps - Royalty: Thailand, Yemen, Trinidad & Tobago

 When he died in 2016 King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand had been king for over 70 years.

You would never have predicted that when this stamp was issued.

Thailand - 1 July 1967

When it comes to kings from a long time ago King Solomon comes to mind. He appears on a stamp from the Mutawakelite Kingdom of Yemen issued in1967.

Yemen - 1 December 1967

This is from a set for the visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon. Unfortunately I do not have the stamp that shows her alone.

When it comes to long serving monarchs Queen Elizabeth II will have reached 70 years in 1922. She has appeared on more stamps than anyone including this from Trinidad & Tobago.

Trinidad & Tobago - 20 April 1953

First Boca or Boca de Monos  separates Monos Island from the Chaguaramas Peninsula of Trinidad. It is the first of four channels in the body of water known as the Boca del Dragon (Dragon's Mouth) which lies between Trinidad and Venezuela.

For more Royalty check out Sunday Stamps.

Sunday Stamps II A-Z 'Q' - Qatar and Queens

'Q' is a letter I thought I would have trouble with in my country stamp theme.

Then I found a former Emir of Qatar on my one and only stamp.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani - 15 January 1970

-

He died aged 84 in 2016. He was Emir from 1972 to 1995 when he was deposed by his son.

Still in that part of the world,I was surprised to learn that the Queen of Sheba was a queen in Saba, which is located in the Yemen.

Queen of Sheba's visit to King Solomon - 1 December 1967

This has been an eventful week for heads of state. When Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe stepped down it left Queen Elizabeth II as the world's oldest reigning head of state. 

In 2015 Australia issued a stamp commemorating that she had become the longest reigning monarch in British History.

Australia - 9 July 2015

She must have appeared on more postage stamps than any other Queen as she appears on many stamps from around the world as well as those from Great Britain.

There must be many buildings which commemorate her name - like this one.

Queen's Hall - 24 September 1966

If its shape reminds you of an aircraft hangar then your eyes are not deceiving you.

This is a post for 'Q' related stamps. You can find more by visiting Sunday-Stamps-II-154 where you can start in Quebec City.

A-Z Challenge 2016 - Wildflowers 'S'

My theme this year is wild flowers. Most of us will be aware of the flowers that grow in our gardens but what surprises me is how few wild flowers that I know.

I pass them every day but rarely look at them. Well this year will be different - even if many of them may fall under the letter 'X' for unknown.

'S' - Solomon's Seal, Sow Thistle

I have only seen this wild flower once and it took me some time to identify it.

Solomon's seal

The ribbed, lance-shaped leaves appear alternately up the curved stems. Tubular cream flowers, tipped with green, hang from each leaf node like pearls.

Solomon's seal

I now know that, in autumn, the flowers are followed by black fruit so this year I shall have to look for it then.

Its name refers to the shape of the scars on the leaf stock, said to resemble (apparently you need to use your imagination) the six-pointed star, like the Star of David, of the biblical King Solomon.

I discovered the plant alongside a disused farm road but apparently it is a woodland plant.


Much less impressive and what I've always regarded as a weed is the -

Sow thistle

The smooth sow thistle hardly differs from the prickly variety other than its foliage is darker, less glossy and has less prickly edges.

When its stems are broken it exudes a thick white sap, Pigs that eat it are said to have an increased milk flow after giving birth - hence its 'sow' name.

I've never tried it but when boiled and smothered it tastes like spinach. You may also eat it raw in salads - not that I would be brave enough.