South Korea - Movie Card

July 3, 2019

Rucy sent this card from South Korea and wrote a very nice note on the back of it. I haven't seen the movie on the front of the card, but I hope to be able to see it one day.

She wrote;

Dear Helen

Hello~

I'm Rucy and I live in Goyang City, South Korea. The pronunciation of Goyang is similar to a cat. So my city's mascot is a cat.

I like ancient Egypt. So my favourite movie is The Mummy in 1999. I'm reading Don Quixote these day. Let me know if you have a book to recommend to me. Have a good summer time! =) 2019.06.24  

The stamps that Rucy used on her card are really lovely.  The one with the pig on it has cold leaf on it, the outline of the pig and the waves are all gold. It is really beautiful.

France - Actor in Black & White

May 2, 2019

This black & white card came to me from Thierry in France.  He wrote a nice note on the back too.

He wrote;

Hello Helen, for you, I found and choose this postcard with the actor Leonardo Di Caprio, it's one of my favorite.  Hope you like it. I'm Thierry, 54 old from Cogolin, in the southeast of France.

All the best,
Thierry


This card was scratched on the surface. The scan doesn't show too much of it, except a little in the upper left side of the picture.  It arrived with another card that was more damaged, so it was a bad day at the post office!

Add caption

 I really like the flamingos on the stamp. They're lovely!

Netherlands - Movie Card

March 9, 2019

This card was the first card to arrive in my mailbox for ages!  I wasn't able to send many in either January or February, so nothing arrived.

Mily wrote;

Hi Helen.
I remember seeing this 1997 movie, with Leonardo DiCaprio. The film as well as Leonardo, became a big hype in my country.
 Mily


I saw this film in 1997 I believe, in Sendai with a co-worker and his family. I didn't like it that much. I thought it was too over the top.  I haven't watched it in ages, maybe I should give it another chance.

Thanks for the card!

Italy - Movie Card

June 19, 2018

I believe it was a short time ago I vowed to post twice a week from now on, but I had a couple of weekend trips recently and I wasn't able to.  Who knows if I'll be able to post regularly or not?  Not me!

I got this card from Michelle in Italy.  I'm sure I've had it before but probably not from Italy!  I don't expect anyone to skim through all 1400 or so of my cards to see if I've received something, just would hope they'd check to see if I received it from their own country.

She wrote a short friendly note and used lovely stamps on the back of the card.

Michelle wrote:

Hi Helen! I'm Michelle, 21 y.o., from Italy. I study Accounting at university of Benq[can't read it],
my hometown.
In my free time I like watch old films and Casablanca its one of this!
I wish you all the best!
Regards

Michelle

Really love the mixture of Italian stamps on the card.  There's sports, wine and a priest who was killed by the Mafia. With the latter, there is a film tie-in as well, as a film was made of his life. 

Russia - Bond Black and White Card

June 18, 2018

A little Weekend Bonus for you here as I have received quite a few great cards recently and haven't had much time to post them.  It's a long weekend here and I'm off on a little trip.

Irina sent this great card to me from Moscow with her friendly note.  I love Bond Cards!

Irina wrote:

Hello!
My name is Irina. I'm from Moscow. My hobbies are reading good books, weaving, knitting and cross-stitching.

Best Wishes!

007 Donald Pleasence as Ernst Stavro Blofeld in
You Only Live Twice (1967)

I'm not sure what the stamps are about, but the first one is something to do with surgery and medicine I think.

Black & White Bond-Movie Card

May 2, 2018

This fabulous postcard came from Helen in Britain.  She wrote a great message on the back and the front of the card was terrific too, so I loved this Postcrossing!

She started out in the middle of speaking, so to speak!

OK we have a lot in common:- our names, our love of Daniel Craig as Bond (Thank God he's doing one more!), our language!
I've been saving this card for just the right person & it looks like that's you!
Strictly Ballroom is in my all-time Top 10, plus Apollo 13 or any Tom Hanks film (well, most)
Happy Postcrossing
Helen

Bond looking appropriately Bondish!

An interesting grouping of stamps.  Love them!

The big stamp says,
St. Abb's Head
Scottish Borders

Germany - Actors

January 29, 2018

Pia sent this card to me from her home in Germany.  She wrote a friendly note on the back and covered almost all of the back of the card! She even included information about the weather and the temperature.

She wrote,
"Cloudy/rainy +8℃

Hello Helen,
My name is Pia, I'm 43 years old and live with my husband Sven and my tomcat Sacenrey [really hard to read so I'm sure I have it wrong] in the south part of Germany, in the middle of Black Forest.

I'm in early retirement, because I have been very ill for 11 years.  That's why I love Postcrossing, because that's where the world comes to me.

Lovely Greetings from Pia"

Austria

January 24, 2017

Harold sent this beautiful card to me from Austria with some very interesting stamps on the back.  He wrote a friendly message on the back too.

He said,
"Servus Helen!
On one of the stamps you'll see Austria's most famous actor Christoph Waltz. I really love his performance and his impressive voice and I'm waiting for his new film 'Downsizing'.

Greetings from Vienna
Harold
'Servus' means hello"

Russian Actor - Black and White Card

December 1, 2017

One of the fabulous things I like about Postcrossing is the chance to learn more about subjects that I love.  I am a movie fanatic and I love black and white photos too.  This means that when someone sends me a black and white photo of an actor that I am not familiar with, I get really excited.  This card was one that made me very happy!

Galina sent this card of actor Vladimir Vysotsky. I must admit that I hadn't heard of him before this.

She wrote,

"Hello, Helen! My name is Galina. I live in a small town not far from Moscow.
My passion is travelling. Postcard photo of the popular actor of theatre and cinema, singer Vladimir Vysotsky.

Best wishes from Russia.

Galina"

Vladimir Vysotsky (Linked to his IMDb Profile)

What the IMDb doesn't say, but should, according to this blog, is that Vladimir Vysotsky was the singer on the music that Mikhail Baryshnikov dances to in the theatre in White Nights. I'm linking to a video... the video may be taken down at any time, so this link may not always work. 

It is actually rather a surprise for me to find the link. White Nights is one of my favourite films and this song haunted me from the first time I saw the film.  I never had any idea who the singer was, since I didn't hear the name of the singer in the movie.  The song wasn't on the soundtrack either, so never looked it up before this. 

The stamp Galina used is rather attractive too.  

All in all, this is a very cool Postcrossing that just keeps getting more and more interesting!  Thank you so much Galina!

Taiwan - Movie Card

November 20, 2017

This cool card came from Taiwan to me.  It was sent by Yi-Wei and she wrote a very short and friendly note on the card.

She wrote,

"Hello! Greetings from Taiwan, my name is Yi-Wei. I'm glad to have opportunity to send card to you. I hope you enjoy it. Welcome to Taiwan! Yi-Wei."

I did see this film, but sadly I didn't really like it.  I thought the one with Brendan Fraser was much better.

An interesting stamp too!

Thanks Yi-Wei!

Actor in Black and White

 November 11, 2017

I've been a little busy this week trying to get a few pre-Christmas things done, so I apologize for not posting earlier.

This great card comes from Martina in Germany and shows a very famous actor/politician.  I thought the picture was intriguing.

Martine wrote,
"Hello Helen.
I like "Arnie" in the Terminator films. And I like Craig's-Bond films, too.  And I like the Autumn. I like to run through the foliage. This is rustling nicely.

This year I've travelled in the Serengeti in Africa. That was my big dream for years. I've seen many animals. Have a nice day.

Many greetings, Martina."

USA, 1977 Arnold SCHWARZENEGGER

The stamps she used are also interesting.  I don't think I've seen either before.

Germany - Actor in Black and White

September 8, 2017

This great little card came to me from Germany with a nice stamp and a friendly note on the back.  It's also quite an old card...read on and find out more.

Jorg wrote,

"Dear Helen! Best regards from Halle in Germany by Jorg.
Halle is the old birth town of the composer Handel.  Here is the mystic
'Sky Disc' --see in internet.
I like also old movies and books. Good luck for you!

Original from 1956 - a little treasure..."

Gary Cooper in Friendly Persuasion

What a great car stamp.  I really like it!

Thank you Jorg for sending me this lovely vintage card.  I do appreciate it.

Russia - Actor in Black & White

September 4, 2017

Lusja sent this fabulous John Malkovich [Malkovich! Malkovich!] card to me from Russia.  She also used a gorgeous stamp so this was my favourite kind of postcrossing!

She wrote,

"Hello Helen!
I am Lusja, live in Moscow with my husband and two lovely cats.
Wish you and your husband Happiness!"

John Malkovich, Los Angeles, 1989
Photograph by Matthew Rolston

 This stamp is rather amazing!  It's quite big, and the detail is fabulous.

Finland - Movie Card

September 2, 2017


This card came to me from Finland and was sent by Anneli.  She answered one of my burning questions on my profile about where the missing cards go, so I am happy.

She wrote,

"Hello,
Greetings from Finland.
I enjoyed too 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' movie.
Where the lost cards go?
They go to Saturn.-and form the rings of Saturn.

Have a nice autumn & Happy Postcrossing, Anneli"

Daniel Craig as James Bond in Quantum of Solace(2008)

 This is a gorgeous stamp that Anneli used.  Finnish stamps are usually very beautiful!

Germany - Movie Card

July 31, 2017

Thomas sent this great card to me from Germany. He wrote a chatty message on the back of the card too, something that I really love!

He said,

"Hi Helen,

this card is from my all time favourite movie, since I was 16.  More than 30 y. ago.  I fell so much in love with Michael J. Fox as Marty.  Now I live with my partner Oliver in Karlsruhe. a nice city in the South--west of Germany.  I'm a big movie fan.  Strictly Ballroom and The Grand Budapest Hotel are fantastic movies.  I was at the world premiere of ...hotel.

Greetings Thomas

Sorry, not enough space"

In my response to Thomas I thanked him sincerely for the card and let him know that I too am a fan of Michael J. Fox.  He was actually born in my hometown!

Thanks for the great card Thomas!

Love Related Cards

February 11, 2017

Warning: Lots of long expository paragraphs here today.  Feel free to skip and just look at the pretty cards if you are in a hurry!

Apologies for the lengthy gap in posting.  I took a week off to celebrate my birthday and travel to another city which is generally a little warmer and has a lot less snow than my city does.  It was a bit of a winter break, except it was cold and snowy there too for a change!

Today's Blog Linky Party's Theme is Love. I am not always the biggest fan of "Love" because sometimes my definition of love doesn't agree with other people's definition of love.  However, Valentine's Day is just around the corner so it is seasonally appropriate!

As an aside, I thought I might mention the difference between Valentine's Day in Japan and most other countries.  In Japan, women give chocolates to the men in their lives.  They give "Giri-choco" or obligation chocolates to male co-workers, male friends or anyone close to them with whom they do not have a romantic relationship.  Women give "Honmei-choco" to their boyfriends or husbands. The Honmei-choco is often handmade or very gorgeous.

There is quite a lot of information about this tradition on the internet, I am referring my readers to a blog that I follow if interested.

Men are obliged to respond in March on White Day (March 14th) when they give something back to the women that showered them with chocolates.  Unfortunately, they usually don't give back chocolate, they give cookies.  Cookies are nice, but they aren't chocolate!

Here in my family in Japan we do things just a little bit differently!  My husband and I exchange presents on Valentine's Day and on White Day.  Sometimes we give chocolates, sometimes more creative presents.  One of my favourite gifts was a fishing rod so that I could join my husband in one of his favourite hobbies! I think we have the best of both traditions this way 😍

But, you came here for the postcards not a Social Studies lesson.  Here we go...

I received this card from France in 2015.  I like the happy fun vibe of the card, but as I originally noted in my blog entry, I'm a tad worried about the "Punch" like puppet that the man is holding.  What does that mean?

Rob Cochrane
Gay Couple 1986

My next two cards are both from movies.  The first one, which I received in 2014 is from a movie that I haven't heard of and have no information about either.  IMDb lists it as being from 1947, but there is no plot summary at all.  However, it looks very fiery and romantic! The card was sent from Australia in 2014.

Romeo and Juliet is one of those movies that probably soured me on romance.  They were such pretty people, fell in love with each other and died.  (I hope I didn't need a spoiler alert there!) During my Shakespeare class in University, we watched the movie.  The man sitting next to me was a Star Trek fan and at a point in the movie when Romeo's page says to him, "Live and Prosper," the man made Spock's Vulcan salute.  I wish I could say that I smiled politely.  I wish I could.  

Unfortunately I started howling with laughter to the point of tears running down my face and even leaving the room didn't help much.  This was just before the two lovers met their fate so at my college I am known forever as the girl who laughed at Romeo and Juliet. 

This card arrived in 2016 from Germany.  I actually like the card and the film, despite my story.  Olivia Hussey is quite popular in Japan as she had a Japanese husband at one time. 

 I do like this card below and how it shows the couple wrapped up in each other.  It was sent to me from Russia in 2014.

Valentine - Vladimir Kamaev

Thank you so much for visiting my postcard blog.  I love that you visited me, and I would LOVE it even more if you left a friendly comment. Please share the LOVE with the other members of the Blog Linky Party too and see what kind of cards they posted.

Until next time....

Black and White Cards

January 28, 2017

Today's Blog Party Link-Up topic is anything I want.  So, today, I am putting aside my collection of Gotochi Cards and showing off a few of my favourite cards in one of my favourite topics.

Because I keep this blog strictly for postcards, you may not know that I am a complete Movie-aholic. I see between 30-50 films a year at the theatre and I write a movie column for a women's group that I belong to.  On Facebook, I also have a page related to movie tidbits and information. If you are interested, you can find me here.

Even before I joined Postcrossing, I collected Movie Postcards and I had a special appreciation for Black and White cards of Movie Actors and Actresses.  Every time I receive a black and white postcard with an actor or actress I am very happy.  I have learned about actors and actresses from other countries and from the past.  I wish there was more time to watch more movies, but then I'd probably have to give up my postcards.  Yikes!

Today I thought I would post a few of my favourite Black and White cards that I have received through Postcrossing. The first card is not an actress, but it does have the distinction of being the very first Postcrossing card that I received.  I came across it recently when I was filing away cards and I remember how thrilled I was to receive it.

Toshiko Akiyoshi - Jazz Musician

The incomparable Meryl Streep
Definitely not over-rated 

Margaret Rutherford
Actress famous for portraying Miss Marple
amongst other characters.

I am putting this card in for two reasons.  It makes me laugh and I really love it. It seems to capture so much of John Cleese.  Here in costume for Monty Python and the Holy Grail, but taking a break between scenes to play football.  It looks almost like he's doing a Silly Walk too.

John Cleese

I could show you more of these postcards, and perhaps I will in the future.  For now, I hope that you have enjoyed a very brief look at some of my favourite black and white postcards.

Thank you for visiting me today. Please visit the other members of the Blog Party Link-Up to see how they are using their free topic.

Actor in Sepia - United States

December 5, 2016

This great card that is just up my alley came from the US and was sent by Vicki.  She wrote a lovely note on the back about herself and movies she likes.  You know that makes me extremely happy!

She wrote,

"Hello Helen, my name is Vicki, I live in a small town north of Houston Texas.

I am a big fan of old movies.  Casablanca is one, African Queen and Gone with the Wind are a couple more.  A more recent film would be The Martian.

Wishing you Joy and Peace
Vicki"

Humphrey Bogart
Looks like a vintage card to me...I love it 😍

There were two interesting stamps on the card too.  I've probably mentioned that I'm not much of an Elvis fan, but it is a nice stamp.  Too bad the cancellation covers most of his face.  I like the flower stamp too.  

Netherlands - Actor

November 28, 2016

This card arrived in the mail from Sander in the Netherlands.  He wrote a lovely note on the back and used a Postcrossing stamp, so what's not to like?

He wrote,

"Hello Helen,
Greetings from Groningen, a city in the north of the Netherlands.  My name is Sander, work at the university.  I love movies too!  I visited Japan once, a few years , I was in Tokyo only, saw a few movies at the Tokyo Film Festival.  A lot of my favourite movies are from the 1970's: Jaws, Marathon Man, The French Connection, Deliverance, The Conversation, Chinatown, Das Boot, The Taking of Pelham 123 and more.  Great Period for movies!

Best Wishes,
SANDER"

Han Solo

 This is one of the Postcrossing stamps from the Netherlands.  Very cool to receive it.

Actor in Black and White

October 24, 2016

Melanie sent this great card to me with an interesting explanation about how she got the card.  My picture of the card doesn't really show that it has an old fashioned deckled edge.  I like it a lot!

She writes,
"Hello!
Greetings from Hamm in Germany.  My father collected this type of cards and now I am sending them into the world.  I love action movies and crime [not completely sure of this next word] scenes.
Happy Postcrossing Melanie"

Tony Curtis in "Houdini"

I like the stamp and also the cancellation stamp.  You can also see where I wrote the date I received the card! Oops.