Darwin Jigsaw - Sunday Stamps

I know I have shown one of these stamps before which were issued in 2009 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin. However I decided to show it again with the First Class stamp from the same set.

Great Britain - Charles Darwin

The other jigsaw pieces in the set represented:

Great Britain - Darwin - Zoology

I do not have the others, but they were.

• 50p Ornithology (Finches)
• 56p Geology (Aerial view of Galapagos Islands)
• 72p Botany (Orchid)
• 81p Anthropology (Ape)

There were four more stamps of conventional (oblong) shape; two First Class showing a flightless cormorant, and a giant tortoise and a cactus finch; two at 81p of a marine iguana and a mocking bird

I'll keep and eye out for these with my market trader.

For other shapes and sizes check out those offered at Viridian's Sunday-stamps-125.

Hospital Trains - Sepia Saturday

I have had to resort to the Internet to find some photos linked to this week's prompt, the kitchen on a WWI German hospital train.

Staying with WWI, I wonder about conditions on this Red Cross Train, no joint of meat for these sick and wounded French soldiers on their way to Paris in 1917.

A nurse touring the train distributing coffee

In WWII the British Medical Services provided medical transport.

Wounded soldiers playing cards in a hospital train in Belgium
(Photo ex Imperial War Museum - No. 5 Army Film & Photographic Unit, Sgt Biggins)

Trains like these were manned by both civilian and military crews, whose job it was to ensure safe and speedy travel for the casualties, including enemy wounded. Although damaged and disorganised.. trains played an important part in transporting casualties from hospitals and dressing stations to bases and evacuation areas. Casualties able to walk were given comfortable saloon coaches for the journey.

Sixty-nine years ago today at least one soldier was enjoying a cup of tea,

A soldier, evacuated from Normandy, on a hospital train,
7 June 1944 - One day after D-Day

He must have been going home judging by the smile on his face.

I must say that I am pleased that my experience on trains during my National Service was limited to night trains back to Catterick Camp.

To see what other warlike connections made this week take a trip across to Sepia-Saturday-180,

The Concrete Jungle - Thematic Photography

Carmi choose concretely as the theme for this week so it seemed natural to me to explore a few concrete jungles with some pals of mine.

No place for a pup to be

Even if you are older and have a companion.

Maxie and Sam

But as long as he has a tennis ball, this one does not seem to mind.

Cody waits to play.

Others prefer to sit as they wait oblivious to the cracks all around.

Laid-back Gem

But Sam needs to be aware of that hose in his path.

Blind Sammy just knows that concrete is hard.

But when I spent time with my pals it's a different jungle that greets me at home.

Tired concrete slabs and long, long grass.

Thankfully the concrete jungles have not been too threatening for my pals and I. Hopefully other concretely posts at Thematic-photographic-246 won't be threatening either.

Industrial Archaeology - Sunday Stamps

With Viridian giving us a free choice this week it gives me the chance to show a recent acquisition.

Great Britain - Miniature Sheet 1989

The four stamps illustrate four sites of historical significance in Britain's industrial and technological development. Clockwise from top left they are:

• Ironbridge, Shropshire
• Tin Mine, St Agnes, Cornwall
• Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Clwyd
• Mills, New Lanark, Clyde

The miniature sheet was issued on 25 July 1989.

To see what others have chosen this week, follow the links at Sunday-stamps-124.

Caravans and Beasties - Sepia Saturday

I was in danger of going overboard when I saw this weeks prompt.

I knew I had some caravans from another North East fair that I had shown before.

Yarm Fair Caravans c 1949

Apart from goldfish I was a bit short on beasties until I remembered my sons at a seaside fair over 40 years ago.

Little Monkeys (No, not my sons)

When it comes to animals there is no need for me to go far from home. I just need to keep an eye on what moves in my garden,

Woodpile Inhabitant ( Frog or Toad?)

For some reason or another our bird feeder gets raided from time to time; if I am quick I can catch the culprit in the act.

Squirrel Attack - May 2008

I wouldn't mind if the beggar didn't bury his walnuts in the lawn.

Young rabbits also take liberties with our plants.

Rabbit eats its fill - July 2008

This year I have  different strategy for them.

Got the little blighter

Before I let it go I gave it a good talking to. I dropped it back over the wall you can see behind us - with strict instructions to warn its friends that "In that house they eat rabbits."

Having had an operation on my leg earlier this month I have not been very mobile. Today has been the first day for three weeks that I have been permitted to walk the two miles to the local garage to fetch a morning paper. This is what I met along the way.

Caravans in transit.

I was tempted to hitch a ride.

Now I suggest you do that a take a look at what other Sepians have done for Sepia-Saturday-179.

Messiness - Thematic Photography

When the River Tees is in flood, the flow is controlled by the Tees Barrage at Stockton. Debris brought down river backs up along the banks and the inlets. A sodden mess results. This seemed just right for Carmi's 'messiness' theme this week.

A Cormorant surveys the mess behind the boom.

Not bothered at all by the mess.

But he/she will not dive in there!

To see messiness left by others you need to visit Thematic-photographic-245.

Memorial Day - Sunday Stamps

Today happens to be the anniversary of the day in 1940 when the order was given to evacuate Dunkirk. There has been a memorial service earlier today in Liverpool to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic; 1943 was the year which marked the turning point of the battle in the Allies favour.

So I have chosen today to show Great Britain stamps commemorating the birth and death of our greatest wartime leader.

Winston Churchill

Churchill died in January 1965. This stamp was issued on 6 July 1965 along with another of a similar design at 4d and a different stamp at 1/3d (i.e., before our currency was decimalised)

Churchill had been born on 30 November 1874. To commemorate the centenary of his birth Great Britain issued a set of four stamps on 8th October 1974. I have two of these.

Churchill Centenary

The other two with him in different headgear were 8p and 10p denominations.

These were s for Viridian's Sunday Stamps suggested theme of  stamps commemorating or memorializing someone or an important event.