Brexit/Regrexit

If I checked the time zones correctly, the UK has now left the EU. This blog is rarely political, however this is such a major event that last year, when Brexit was supposed to happen, I made some mail art packages that I sent out. Included were instructions so that the recipient could have their own Brexit or Regrexit, or even a third option.

Alan T returned this to me:

And here's a cartoon sent to me by Fafa, that is drawn by Plantu, a well-known French political cartoonist.

The Royal Mint is issuing a new 50p coin to note the UK's departure.

My favorite story about it is Sir Philip Pullman's unhappiness about the coin - not because of the Brexit link, but due to the lack of an Oxford comma.

In all seriousness, as disappointed as I am about Brexit, I really hope that it works out well for everyone in the end. At the very least things can move forward instead of being in a weird state of uncertain limbo.

Normal service will resume tomorrow on the blog.

Gong hei fat choy!

This was a wonderful surprise to find this guy in my mail box.

Thanks, CJ!

Welcome to the Year of the Rat

I had read last year that the USPS was ending its Lunar New Year stamps, so I was pleasantly surprised to see that the first stamp issue of 2020 is this beautiful stamp. The design features a rat mask, and the circle represents the new moon.

There's some gold foil on the stamp that you don't appreciate in the USPS online image. Here's the stamp on an outgoing Postcrossing postcard.

What do you think of it?

Farewell to the Year of the Pig

The twelve year Lunar cycle ends tonight, as the Year of the Rat is ushered in.

And this envelope features the last in a series of twelve stamps designed by Kam Mak. I really enjoyed this series, and I am impressed that a single artist was given the task for a multi-year project like this.

A long journey

A card sent from South Africa October 15, 2019 arrived yesterday. That's a 98 day journey! It is the first time I've seen a postal label from South Africa, and interestingly the country name is only on the postmark, and not the label.

What is your longest mail adventure?

Postcards from the Vatican and its suburbs, part 1.

On a trip to Italy Eva sent me this funny card from the Vatican...

and this card from the National Etruscan Museum in Rome.

Thanks for thinking of me on your trip, Eva!

Rural for Sunday Stamps

This stamp on an envelope from Elke shows a bend in the river Moselle, featuring a small town surrounded by fields. I do like the little postal horn on the postmark.

It is from a series promoting tourism that shows Germany's most beautiful panoramas. Here is the whole view, of which I only have the left half. I was unable to find the town's name on the web.

To see more rural scenes, explore the links at Sunday Stamps.

I love the simplicity of this exchange envelope from Jean, along with the vintage stamps.

Meilleurs champignons pour 2020!

A great 2020 card arrived this week from Fabienne.

I like the mushrooms wishing me health, luck, fortune, love, joy and happiness.

I also love the stamps, part of a set titled Fantastique, which they absolutely are. Fafa sent me two others from the set already. And I enjoyed the (drunk?) franking machine's efforts.

Should I be eating more fruit from France this year?

Thanks for the lovely sending, Fafa.

Postcards from Spain

Some fun postcards that Eva sent me last year with various topics.

Plants

A beautiful house with lots of stairs

Mice... of the postal adventuring variety (Mus morrisi)...

...and of the grammatically correct variety (Mus grammaticus)!

Have you received any fun topics on postcards recently?

Cascadia Artpost

In from Cascadia Artpost.

This mail art mimics those place mats at local diners that are covered in small local ads.

Flags for Sunday Stamps

I received this stamp a few years ago.

It was issued in 1989 and commemorates Finland's membership of the European Council.

There are 4 Finnish flags, one EU flag, and an assortment of flags spelling out the word Europe, although the main feature is a set of bridges.

Explore the links to more flags on postage at Sunday Stamps.

Bananamail

Banana mail from Momkat. Love the colors on this one.

Announced on the envelope.

And an artistamp on the back.

A note from Momkat

A nice homemade envelope from Katerina...

...and a little piece of mail art inside.

Plan de Paris

Envelope 953 made from some wrapping paper I received, sent to Eva about a year ago.

This envelope was number 2 of a 3 part letter. I forgot to scan the other two - you can see all three envelopes on Eva's blog.

Inherent structure

Envelope 927 sent to Eva for Christmas 2018.

The words advertise a past art installation at the Wexner.

Many faces from William

William sent a packet of interesting items some time ago.

Including these fascinating and somewhat disturbing artistamps.

More from Fabienne

Fabienne surprised me with another Christmas envelope - this time a large one!

With a bag filled with goodies. I love the unusual design.

And another polar bear. Thank you, Fafa!

The Christmas tree is coming down today, so no more pictures of cards and envelopes in the tree until Christmas rolls around again. Thanks to everyone who sent holiday mail. This stamp says it well:

Meilleurs voeux = Best wishes... for a great year of mail in 2020!

Snow day

It has been unseasonably warm, so the only snow day so far is the one that came from Fabienne in France in the first mail of the year: a polar bear bringing good wishes for 2020.

And the stamps are fantastic! So clever that two stamps make a whole picture, yet they could look good on their own.

Merci beaucoup, Fafa. 

I hope everyone's 2020 is starting out well.

Can ewe help me post this letter?

My first mail of 2020 is a lovely Christmas card from Heleen featuring crazy sheep posting letters. I must admit I have seen a lot of animals posting letters on cards, but never a sheep! You can't really tell form the photo, but there is some glitter on the card. not sure you can tell with all the glittery things on the tree :)

And they came stamped with two of the wonderful 2019 December stamps.

Thanks, Heleen, I love it, and perfect to come home to after a long day at work.

Happy New Year

Eva sent me this card to wish me a happy birthday last year, and I think its message is also perfect for welcoming in the new year.

I hope all who stop by the blog have a great 2020.