A view from England's West Country

Exmouth Marina - Devon

24 Apr 2015 | From Ilona of UK

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Exmouth Marina, a progressive and convenient marina located close to Exeter in the beautiful county of Devon,  is situated in the North West corner of Lyme Bay, along the world famous Jurassic Coast line.  It is a 200 berth sheltered marina operating at the mouth of the River Exe. The marina evolved from Exmouth docks which was closed in 1990 and started life with a small selection of off trott mooring within. 

The marina's location allows boat owners and keen sailors access to fantastic sailing all year round on the Exe estuary and with many other harbours to visit within a few hours travelling. Exmouth is an idyllic location with two miles of golden sand and a lively town. The Exe estuary offers stunning scenery and many leisure activities such as bird watching and water sports.

Sights and Scenes: Exeter and surroundings

Images of England's West Country

30 Mar 2015 | From Ilona of UK

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The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, and Somerset, and the City and County of Bristol, while the counties of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire are also often included. Some usages of the term include wider areas, while others are more specific, though with little consistency of definition.

Landmarks:

• Exeter Cathedral, founded in the early 12th century, became Anglican during the 16th-century English Reformation. It is an Anglican cathedral, and the seat of the Bishop of Exeter.

• Dawlish Warren is a small seaside resort near the town of Dawlish in Teignbridge on the south coast of Devon in England. This area is situated at the mouth of the River Exe in South Devon.

• Dawlish is a town and civil parish in Teignbridge on the south coast of Devon.

• Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon. Exeter was the most south-westerly Roman fortified settlement in Britain.

• Topsham is a suburb of Exeter in the county of Devon, England, on the east side of the River Exe. Formerly a major seaport, the town is now of interest for its architecture, scenery and proximity to nature reserves for wading and migrating birds.

• Budleigh Salterton is a small town on the coast in East Devon, England, 15 miles south-east of Exeter.  It provides beautiful coastal walks and a large wild bird sanctuary on the estuary.

• Exmouth is a port town, civil parish and seaside resort in East Devon, England, sited on the east bank of the mouth of the River Exe. The town is defined by the sea and river frontages. It has a wide range of architecture, ranging from small cob cottages in parts of the town that were once villages and are now incorporated into it, such as Withycombe, to the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian town houses.

Postal Guard

Mailbox & Teddy Bear

18 Mar 2015 | From Doyel of Scotland

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

Here's a little wooden postbox with a cute teddy bear guarding your mails. I wonder how many postcards and letters that mailbox can hold? I definitely need something bigger than this one - and perhaps a more intimidating guardian.

Sights and scenes: London

The city of London

25 Feb 2015 | From Matt of USA 

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING | POSTCARD SENT FROM USA

London is the capital and most populous city of England and the United Kingdom. Standing on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its founding by the Romans, who named it Londinium. London is a leading global city, with strengths in the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, professional services, research and development, tourism, and transport all contributing to its prominence.

London is a world cultural capital. It is the world's most-visited city as measured by international arrivals and has the world's largest city airport system measured by passenger traffic. In London, history collides with art, fashion, food, and good British ale. 

London contains four World Heritage Sites: the Tower of London; Kew Gardens; the site comprising the Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey, and St Margaret's Church; and the historic settlement of Greenwich (in which the Royal Observatory, Greenwich marks the Prime Meridian, 0° longitude, and GMT). Other famous landmarks include Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Piccadilly Circus, St Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square, and The Shard. London is home to numerous museums, galleries, libraries, sporting events and other cultural institutions, including the British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, British Library and 40 West End theatres. The London Underground is the oldest underground railway network in the world.

Let it rain

Seasons: Summer rain

11 Feb 2015 | From Ilona of United Kingdom 

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Upon learning that I collect umbrella-themed postcards, Ilona eagerly sent me this lovely postcard for my collection. She added that she wanted to send it to me no matter what - and I am happy and thankful for it.

The postcard reminded me of the hot rainy summer days or even those drizzly, cold summer days. When we were little, my siblings and I would always play and bathe under the rain, enjoying the raindrops as they fall upon us. We would make mud pies garnished with litlle stones, leaves, or twigs; or we'd go mud surfing; we'd slide, glide, and run. We'd ride our bikes, or go for a bush walk. Just because it is wet outside doesn't mean you can't have fun.

And the some times I would sit by the window and watch as the rain falls into the ground. I just love how the rain softens everything and blurs the edges. And its sound is so soothing. It as if washes everything - the ground, the houses, the trees. I never let the rain dampen my spirits. But I somehow hate how the rain makes me feel alone sometimes.

Rewriting the Book

Library of Birmingham from Centenary Square

20 Jan 2015 | From Helen of UK

THANK-YOU POSTCARD

This is a thank-you postcard from Helen for the official Postcrossing postcard I sent her last November 2014. It actually took me a while (and some running through my received Postcrossing e-mails) to figure out who the sender is. My memory is failing me.

The Library of Birmingham is a public library in Birmingham, England. It is situated on the west side of the city centre at Centenary Square, beside the Birmingham Rep (to which it connects, and with which it shares some facilities) and Baskerville House. Upon opening on 3 September 2013, it replaced Birmingham Central Library. It is viewed by the Birmingham City Council as a flagship project for the city's redevelopment. It has been described as the largest public library in the United Kingdom, the largest public cultural space in Europe, and the largest regional library in Europe.

The Library of Birmingham is a very special venue for meetings, conferences, training courses, gala dinners, banquets and wedding/civil ceremonies in the heart of the city. The library has a number of nationally and internationally significant collections, including the Boulton and Watt archives, the Bournville Village Trust Archive, the Charles Parker Archive, the Parker collection of children's books, the Wingate Bett transport ticket collection, the Railway and Canal Historical Society Library; and the photographic archives of the Warwickshire photographic survey, Sir Benjamin Stone, John Blakemore and Val Williams; and is in the process of acquiring that of Daniel Meadows.

Sights and Scenes: South Devon

South Devon

16 Dec 2014 | From Ilona of UK

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South Devon is the southern part of Devon, England. In a narrower sense "South Devon" is used to refer to the part of Devon south of Exeter and Dartmoor, including Plymouth, Torbay and the districts of South Hams, West Devon and Teignbridge.

The landscape of South Devon consists of rolling hills dotted with small towns, such as Dartmouth, Ivybridge, Kingsbridge, Salcombe, and Totnes. The towns of Torquay and Paignton are the principal seaside resorts on the south coast. Another notable feature is the coastal railway line between Newton Abbot and the Exe Estuary: the red sandstone cliffs and sea views are very dramatic and in the resorts railway line and beaches are very near.

Reasons to Believe

More ways to say 'friend'

24 Nov 2014 | From Michael of UK

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

A friend, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is a person who you like and enjoy being with - a person whom one knows well, likes, and trusts. amigo, chum, confidant, confidante, mate, pal, bud, buddy,  companion, pal, partner, china (British & South Africa, informal), crony, playmate, main man (slang, mainly US), homeboy (slang, mainly US), cobber (Australian & New Zealand), cuzzie or cuzzie-bro (New Zealand), E hoa (New Zealand, old-fashioned & informal) - all and possibly more may be referred to as friend. In the Philippines, the Filipino equivalent for friend is 'kaibigan'. In Pampango, a local Philippine language I speak, a friend is 'kaluguran'. In Japanese, a language I am keen on learning, a friend is translated as '友達' (ともだち, tomodachi). And in German, a language I hear a lot from a friend, it is 'freund'.

There's more ways to say friend, pal or buddy than enemy. This is one of the million reasons to believe in a better world. "Reasons to Believe" is a global campaign to celebrate 125 years of Coca Cola’s existence. It was inspired by an investigation conducted by The Coca-Cola Company globally, to see how strong our reasons to believe in a better world really are. The results of the research were both astonishing and touching and have thus resulted in a local campaign focused on inspiring optimism and encouraging positive action.

"This campaign takes us back to the heartland of what our brand has always stood for – talking to people on an emotional level about topics that are relevant to them and spreading happiness and optimism", explained Bríd Drohan-Stewart, marketing activation director, Coca‑Cola Great Britain and Ireland. Coca‑Cola as a brand has never been afraid to speak its mind and has an authentic cultural depth across the world - everyone in some way has a nostalgic connection with the brand, evoking happy memories.

The English Heritage Archive. John Gay

Witnessing the launch at Highgate Ponds

7 Nov 2014 | From Ilona of UK

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The postcard shows children playing and launching a toy sailboat at the Highgate Ponds. The Highgate Ponds, or Hampstead Ponds, are three large freshwater swimming ponds — two designated single sex, and one for mixed bathing — fed by the headwater springs of the River Fleet — in Hampstead Heath, North London, England. They were originally dug in the 17th and 18th centuries as reservoirs.

My next TV series addiction

Sherlock

22 Oct 2014 | From Sue of China

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

Sherlock is a British television crime drama that presents a contemporary and modern adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes detective stories. It stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Doctor John Watson. To date, nine episodes have been produced from three seasons. The first three of which were broadcast in 2010. A friend told me that the next three episodes might be released soon.

The series is primarily filmed in Cardiff, Wales. North Gower Street in London. Critical reception has been highly positive, with many reviews praising the quality of the writing, performances, and direction.

Some friends have been recommending this series to me and I have been reading a lot of praises for the show in the internet and social medias. But it isn't until now that i got interested with it. I was finally able to download all nine episodes and hope ho have a Sherlock marathon this Yuletide holidays.

The sender is a big Sherlock fan. She made and printed this postcard herself.

The town of Dawlish

Dawlish, Teignbridge

26 Sept 2014 | From Ilona of UK

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Dawlish is a town and civil parish in Teignbridge on the south coast of Devon in England. During the 18th century, it grew from a small fishing port to become a well-known seaside resort. Dawlish is located at the outlet of a small river, Dawlish Water (also called The Brook), between Permian red sandstone cliffs, and is fronted by a sandy beach with the South Devon Railway sea wall and the Riviera Line railway above. Behind this is a central public park, The Lawn, through which Dawlish Water flows.

Dawlish is also known for its black swans (Cygnus atratus), introduced from Western Australia, which live with other exotic waterfowl in a small urban sanctuary on Dawlish Water. Black swans are mostly black-feathered birds, with white flight feathers. The bill is bright red, with a pale bar and tip; and legs and feet are greyish-black. Cobs (males) are slightly larger than pens (females), with a longer and straighter bill. Cygnets (immature birds) are a greyish-brown with pale-edged feathers.

Source: Wikipedia

This postcard was sent from New Zealand :p

The Big Ben

26 Aug 2014 | From Linda of New Zealand

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

This is my second Big Ben postcard, though the first one was an illustrated picture. The postcard was sent however from New Zealand and not UK.

The Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster - officially named Saint Stephen's Tower - is commonly known as the Big Ben. The tower is one of London's most famous landmarks.

The clock inside the tower was the world's largest when it was installed in the middle of the nineteenth century. The name Big Ben actually refers to the clock's hour bell, the largest of the clock's five bells. The other four are used as quarter bells.

Source: A view on cities

Britanny Ferries

MV Cap Finistère

12 Aug 2014 | From Ilona of UK

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MV Cap Finistère is a cruiseferry owned by Bretagne Angleterre Irlande SA (Brittany Ferries) and operated by Brittany Ferries between Portsmouth - Santander & Bilbao, she was acquired in 2010 by Brittany Ferries from Superfast Ferries (Attica Group) where before she used to serve Greece.

The Cap Finistère is the latest addition to the Brittaby Ferries fleet. She is smaller than the other ships to Spain, Pont-Aven, and enjoys a more intimate, less formal ambiance, whilst retaining a relaxing sense of comfort and space.

Source: Britanny Ferries

London's famous landmarks

The London Eye and Big Ben

28 May 2014 | From Matej of Czech Republic 

FACEBOOK SWAP | POSTCARD SENT FROM CZECH REPUBLIC

This postcard was from Matej's trip to London. He shared that he visited these famous London icons, and even took a lot of pictures of the Millennium Wheel.

The London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames in London. It is also known as the Millennium Wheel. Big Ben is the name given to the massive bell inside the clock tower of the Elizabeth Tower. The clock tower looks spectacular at night when the four clock faces are illuminated.

Mr. Punch's Prehistoric Peeps

No Bathing To-Day

28 May 2014 | From Ilona of UK

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Prehistoric Peeps was a cartoon series written and drawn by Edward Tennyson Reed starting in the 1890s. It is a book of comic cartoons showing a series of modern sports and affairs shown in pre-historic context. Peeps such as 'No Bath Time To-Day' showing scenes of cavemen watching sea-monsters splash about and 'A Cricket Match' showing cavemen playing cricket using Stonehenge to flee from a giant snake are guaranteed to put a smile on your face any day.

Source: Barnes and Noble

The English Heritage

Old Petrol Station

4 Apr 2014 | From Ilona of UK

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The postcard is of an Anglo-American Oil Company petrol station in Euston Road, 1922.

One of England's most beautiful medieval cathedrals

Exeter Cathedral - Devon

8 Mar 2014 | From Ilona of UK

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In the postcard, you can see the fine Norman Towers and intricate carved figures on the west front of one of England's great cathedrals, and one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture anywhere.

Exeter Cathedral (officially the Cathedral Church of St. Peter in Exeter) is a Gothic cathedral in Exeter dating mostly from the 13th and 14th centuries. It is notable for its stout Norman towers, its Gothic west front covered in weathered sculptures, and its beautiful nave, which boasts the longest unbroken Gothic ceiling in the world. Exeter Cathedral is considered the finest surviving example of Decorated Gothic, a form of architecture that flourished in England from 1270 to 1369.

Source: Sacred Destinations

Postcard from recycled waste

SheePooPaper

19 Feb 2014 | From Gary of USA

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

I think the texts in front of the postcard says it all :p Gary found this postcard while in Wales. He shared that he loves the idea of recycling - creating something beautiful from trash and waste. I couldn't agree more :)

The village of Portscatho

Portscatho

8 Feb 2014 | From Ilona of UK

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Set on the eastern coast of the lovely Roseland Peninsula, Portscatho is a small village tucked into a corner of Gerrans Bay. An excellent bathing beach lies half a mile north of the harbour. There are delightful cliff walks giving wide views of the coastline to Nare Head and Dodman Point. One can walk to Falmouth from here, it is barely five miles by ferry and footpath. There is also an excellent bus service to Truro.

The London Houses of Parliament

The Palace of Westminster

17 Jan 2014 | From Milda of Greece

POSTCARD SENT FROM UK

Milda, a friend from Greece, sent me this postcard during one of her trips to UK. The stamp was covered by some post office sticker strip though.

The Palace of Westminster is the meeting place of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Commonly known as the Houses of Parliament after its tenants, the Palace lies on the Middlesex bank of the River Thames in the City of Westminster, in central London. Its name, which derives from the neighbouring Westminster Abbey, may refer to either of two structures: the Old Palace, a medieval building complex that was destroyed by fire in 1834, and its replacement New Palace that stands today. For ceremonial purposes, the palace retains its original style and status as a royal residence.

Source: Wikipedia