OFFICIAL Card - Ukraine

Katy lives in Kiev and sent this vintage view card of England, more specifically showing The Cascade House in Chatsworth. In her message she did not say if this was from a trip, a special place for her, not even what the view shows, nothing other than "Hope you like it". Personally, I do prefer my views to be sent from the country they are showing, this feels disjointed to me. How about you?

Direct Swap - Anu from England

It seems many others are now starting to collect the "Greetings from" series of cards too. I still have a few Canadian cards and am happy to help out when people ask. Anu was just starting her collection and had several cards to offer in return. I chose this fun one which on the back is titled "Pullover Farm". It is by a photographer names Senka Causevic. While I can find various eBay listing for other works I cannot find out much about her. I love the colours, really put a smile on my face. Anu used a Year of the Sheep stamp and chose a Water Sheep, that is my daughter's sign. I am Fire. I also love the circus stamp too!

Random Act of Smiliness - Eileen from England

Eileen recently met a Postcrossing friend and sent out cards from their mini meet-up. I laughed so hard when this arrived. I am certainly happy that I am done with all the frogs and am happily married to my prince! Do not miss the dating days at all!

Greetings from United Kingdom - Direct Swap with Adam

165 million cups of tea daily! WOW! That is really hard to comprehend! I have one, maybe two on a typical day. Once again, another fun fact I have learnt from this great series by Postallove. This card of the United Kingdom came to me via Adam and the Postcrossing Forum. Thank you Adam!

OFFICIAL Card - Scotland

Joan sent this comical card of rush hour in Scotland - that would certainly be a sight!

Travelling Card - Canada to Finland to England to Luxembourg to Canada

So this next card was a little bit different for me. It is a travelling card and is sent, in this case, to four different people in different countries. I chose this card to send to myself as it is one I had and really liked. It is The Zodiac by Alphonse Mucha. As it was my card, it started with me and I sent it to Nina in Finland, she then sent it to Eileen in England, who forwarded it to Anne in Luxembourg and then back home to me. It is interesting to see all of the different stamps and cancellations. Some postal worker went to town using a pen to cancel stamps that were already cancelled. It was a fun experience - thanks ladies!

OFFICIAL Card - England

It's funny how certain themes of cards seem to come in waves. I do not have many Chinatown cards in my collection, yet I received this one shortly after my swap I wrote about a few days ago. Mary sent this great card showing the arch to the Chinatown in Liverpool, England. She tells me it is home to the oldest Chinese community in Europe.

OFFICIAL Card - England

This flag card was in my favourites for quite awhile. It was a nice surprise when Brian sent it to me. Do you use the favourites feature? If so, how? Cards you love, you want, a bit of both?

OFFICIAL Card - England

Happy Victoria Day! Today, also marks the unofficial start of summer here in Canada! If only it were warmer and drier!!! Ginte lives in London and sent this great card of Queen Elizabeth from her Diamond Jubilee. I love this dark purple colour on her.

Random Act of Smiliness - Eileen from England

This card was such a nice surprise! Eileen sent this to me "just because". I can see this Scorpius card being part of my daughter's upcoming Astronomy badge for Girl Guides. Thank you Eileen!

OFFICIAL Card - England

Radek lives in Manchester, England (across the Atlantic Sea...couldn't resist!) and sent this great stadium card in Barcelona, Spain. With a seating capacity at just under 100,000 it is huge!

Sometimes the travel times on cards make you scratch your head and wonder. The postmark on this card is clear - March 10 and it arrived on the 23rd. But it "travelled" for 46 days as my address was drawn February 5. I know not everyone writes card right away and for myself it can sometimes be 2-3 days from when I draw an address to actually getting it in the mail, but a month? How long does it take you typically to mail a card?

OFFICIAL Card - England

Every once in awhile a card just makes you stop. For me, this was one of them. Alison wrote one of the longest messages ever. If she were a friend I would of picked up the phone to tell her how much she brightened my day! The image itself has lots going on - it was issued for the 2012 London Olympics and has the flag, Big Ben, House of Parliament as well as some "athletes". Super card that made my day!

Random Act of Smiliness - Eileen from England

Only 8 months until Christmas! OK, I admit I postdated this entry so I could use a round number like that! This lovely folded card and gifts were sent to me and the kids last Christmas from our dear friend Eileen. She is so wonderfully thoughtful and is really good at putting a smile on our faces!

Random Act of Smiliness - Eileen from England

Eileen sent me the most wonderful package of cards one day out of the blue. She was sorting through her cards, had a few extras and knew they were a theme - alphabets/typography - that interested me. It is a wonderful assortment and most are new for me. Thank you again Eileen, you are too good to me!

Random Act of Smiliness - Eileen from England

Eileen sent me an incredible birthday surprise back in October. Yes, I am still catching up on lots of things that are floating around my desk.  She wrapped the package in a museum brochure which was fun and colourful. The stamps she chose - wow, wow and wow!!! These have been floating around for a few years! Inside were lots of neat goodies - postcards (of course), a pencil that says "Postcrossing Rocks!", a 3D magnet and some fruity tea from her recent trip to Bulgaria as well as a Kit Kat bar from Japan. The chocolate bar was very different. No idea what the flavour was supposed to be but it was covered in white chocolate and much whiter inside than the ones you buy here. Very much appreciated and makes turning another year older that much easier. Thank you Eileen!

Lottery Win - Ann from England

Another fabulous lottery I won in October. Ann was offering 3 unwritten cards from different themes as a lottery to celebrate her 3000 days as a Postcrosser. I was one of the lucky winners chosen. My theme of choice - "Ou est Charlie?" - the French version of Where's Waldo - a huge hit in this house! I wonder why when some things are translated they change names? Does "ou est Waldo?" not have the same ring to it? Ann also included a wonderful card of lava igniting a tree taken in Hawaii. Amazing that the image was captured, hopefully with a zoom lens! Truly appreciate the assortment of Christmas stamps she selected for me - love Wallace and Grommit! Thank you again Ann and congratulations on your milestone.

OFFICIAL Card - Great Britain

This sweet hummingbird card came from Stefanie who is going to school in Bath, England. She is originally from China and by the sounds of it has studied abroad for several years. She wrote to me about a dish she was making to celebrate the mid-autumn festival. She said food helps to remind her of being with family, this statement is so true! One of the dishes was laobing. Can't say that I can recall ever having it but it does look good.

I also {love} the rainbow of stamps she used. The Christmas stamp is from 2007. I often wonder how people stumble across old stamps like this.

Random Act of Smiliness - Eileen from England

Eileen, my dear postcard pal in England, sent me this great card from the annual meet-up she attends.So sweet of her to think of me and such a great card she chose. Lots of signatures I recognize, including the Postcrossing founders Paulo and Ana. The "Petit Pilote" stamp even inspired me to have my own stamp made.

OFFICIAL Card - England

Keith lives right in London, England and wrote how much he enjoyed having the Olympics in his city last year. The card he sent shows the Olympic Rings during the 1936 Berlin Games. Super card!

OFFICIAL Card - Scotland

Oh how this card put a smile on my face! Mairi from Glasgow, Scotland sent this very funny card on May 3rd. She used some really fun stamp stickers with all my "favourite initials", different coloured markers and types of text and drew an equally funny picture of sheep on the back and described them as a cloud with legs. unbeknownst to her I was going to see The Bay City Rollers the next night for my anniversary. The first thing I think of when I think of  Scotland is Les McKeown! Yes, I may be dating myself but it is a band I've crushed on for 37 years. Her card arrived in a speedy week and just helped to remind me of the high I was still on. Even her return note to my acknowledgement was fun. Absolutely love everything about this card.