Riding the rails - Sunday Stamps II

It was wartime when I was a boy. I don't remember ever having a train set them. Years later I had an assignment helping British Rail, as it was then, implementing one of the recommendations of the Hidden Report  following the Clapham train crash of December 1988.

By then diesel and electric trains had taken over from the famous steam trains that featured in this set of stamps from 1985.

Great Britain

The Flying Scotsman covered the London - Edinburgh route, the Golden Arrow London - Dover. The Cheltenham Flyer, as the name implies ran from London Paddington to Cheltenham. The Royal Scot was a west coast train from London Euston to Glasgow and the Cornish Riviera the express between Paddington and Penzance.

Now if you have got steam up, all aboard for trips on other rides at Sunday-stamps-ii-12.

Drink - Thematic Photography

This is a theme that enables me to get on my hobby horse.

Empty drink can

Evidently the litter lout was strong enough to carry the cider can until it was empty but not strong enough to carry it home.

Often I can trace the drinks litter back to where it was bought

like this empty - 

Coffee cup

which originated when full at this machine.

Birds and animals have different habits when it comes to drinks.

Fawn at a Michigan lake.

Wood Pigeon at our garden birdbath

I took pity on it and filled the bath with more water so the bird did not have to stretch its neck so far the next time it wanted a drink.

Scout telling us his cup is empty

Which reminds me that it's almost time for my afternoon drink of - 

Yorkshire tea

This scarecrow from the 2014 Kirklevington competition invited others to take part. Some even got offered a second cup.

While I'm drinking mine I'll check out what other drinks are on offer at Carmi's thematic-photographic-327.

Faces - Sunday Stamps II

I wasn't sure how to use my stamps for the "Faces" theme this week. 

In the end I had to settle for a young Queen,

Great Britain

There's nothing second class about her.

Then there's her even younger son.

Great Britain - The Prince of Wales

This was part of the set issued on 1 July 1969 for the Investiture of the Prince of Wales.

My third face is that of a Maori chief.

New Zealand - 1980

Te Hau Takiri Wharepapa was one of the chiefs who sailed to England in 1862 to meet Queen Victoria, He returned with an English bride.

This fine stamp is on the envelope with the New Zealand roses I showed for Valentines.

Don't forget to see whether there are other faces you recognise at Sunday-stamps-ii-11.

Lunar New Year - Sheep; Sunday Stamps II

Canada has issued two stamps to mark the Lunar New Year.

Canada - Year of the Ram 2015

The domestic stamp shows three rams welcoming spring. Hopefully someone else will be able to show us that.

The Merino is a famous breed of sheep and it appears on stamps from - 

South Africa - 1972

and

Australia - Poll Dorset and the Merino 1989

These were two of a set of four issued to commemorate the World Sheep and Wool Congress held in Tasmania that year.

I have had some close encounters with sheep - well their fleeces at least. In school summer holidays I had the pleasure of baling fleeces at a Central Wool Growers plant where fleeces were graded according to the quality of their wool. My hand have never ever been as soft since then - thanks to all the lanolin they contained.

I'll draw a line under the effect of baling dags - the clippings from sheep's behinds.

There have been some articles in the UK newspapers this week on whether this should be the year of the sheep, or as they are too meek, the year of the goat instead. I don't think I would argue with a Merino ram.

But just in case here's a - 

Goat from Norway - 1981

There's no need to be sheepish when you can see more at Sunday-stamps-ii-10. and where I've just discovered both the Canadian stamps and more about goats.

True Lovers' Walk - Good Fences 48

The River Tees runs through the town of Yarm in North East England. It's about a three mile walk from where I live.

River Tees at Yarm

The Teesside Princess uses this quay for boat trips up and down the river between Yarm and Stockton-on-Tees.

The red fence extends part of the way along the river bank.

The footpath continues alongside the wall on the left leading to True Lover's Walk and Yarm Bridge (in the background above).

Yarm Bridge (in front) - Yarm Viaduct (behind)

There is a fence in that photo but you need exceptional eyesight to see it.

Hard to miss this one on the raised path.

If we take a closer look the fence on the viaduct is easy to see.

Yarm Bridge and Viaduct

The original stone bridge was built c1400 by Bishop Skirlaw of Durham and for 400 years was the only bridge across the Tees connecting Yorkshire and Durham. Parts of the original can still be seen in the wider modern day bridge which carries road traffic over the Tees

Yarm, the Viaduct and the Bridge

The viaduct was built in 1849; it has 43 arches, contains 7 million bricks and carries the railway over the town and the Tees. Our fence must skirt its entire length.

True Lovers' Walk continues upstream under the viaduct with the flood defence gates to properties on the left.

I shall have to continue along the path on another day to see what other 

I can find.

In the meantime I'm off to check out other fence posts at Teresa's Good-Fences-48.

White for winter - Thematic Photography

We have had two (on separate days) big (all of half an inch) snowfalls this winter. Just deep enough for me to use a snow shovel but not scenic enough for a photograph.

I'll just have to settle for shots from the last two years.

Scout wonders what to do in the Michigan snow.

Where's that ball?

Lily thinks it's whiter on the other side of the fence

You go that way, I'll go this

But what they really want is for the snow to go away.

But the white in our garden at this time of year is a different kind of snow....

Snowdrops

These have been in flower since the middle of January - what's an half-inch of snow to them!

For other white winter wonderlands wander across to Carmi's thematic-photographic-326.

Roses for Valentines - Sunday Stamps II

I just had to pick roses for the Valentine theme this week as these where the only 'related' items I had in my collection.

On 30 June 1976  a set was issued to commemorate the centenary of the Royal National Rose Society.

Great Britain - Elizabeth of Glamis

Named in honour of the late Queen Mother it was the first rose to be granted copyright protection in Britain.

Great Britain - Rosa Mundi

Rosa Mundi was first described in 1583. Sir Thomas Hanmer's Garden Book (1659) says it was originally found in Norfolk.

An earlier legend says that it was named after Rosamund Clifford, the mistress of Henry II (1154 - 1189)

In the last two weeks I have been given an envelope that originated in New Zealand. I'll show this later but for now the roses it contained will suffice.

New Zealand - Roses

These are Super Star, Cresset and Michelle Meilland. I believe Michelle Meilland must be related to the French grower Francis Meilland who bred the rose in 1945.

Now all I have to do is to wait for the roses in our garden to bloom again this year.

For other Valentine specials check out the links at Sunday-stamps-ii-9.