well in Sydney we are getting ready for New Years eve dinner..    a prime rib roast .. a tradition from when we lived in Canada.    But what has that to do with stamps..  Nothing?  well true but  I did have time today to sort some stamps..  actually I sorted my study..      what a mess..  I found stuff I had forgetton about.. and some stamps I packed for someone who ordered but never sent me the money..     so I thought.. New Years eve present to someone..    there are over 1000 stamps in this envelope.. on paper mostly it look like,  many Australian  I saw.. but others from around the world.. modern to reasonably old I seem to recall..    I weighed for postage..  I can send for under 250g weight and still add a few more stamps..  postage and packing etc will cost me close to US $10   ...you add another  $10 and for $20 US  I'll mail this to you..    First to send me an email will get the lot.. I will reply asking you to pay into my paypal account..    If you pay first I may have three people send me money which I will have to return to two of you..   OK.. I am not advertsing this anywhere else..  This is a special for my readers.. because I have hit over 20,000 page views so far this month and that is a record count so far ...I will bet more I hope.. as my count is based in the USA and still has 2 days counts to go..       cost will be less than 2c a stamp...  including postage  and bonuses

So a BIG THANK YOU  to all who read the blog  and I hope you will continue to do so in 2008.  I have set myself a news years resolution to do more competitions ( I found even more FDC I think would make good prizes)  and  to write more on new issues, from here and the UK and to write more on general stamp knowledge.  Hope that attracts you. I may even do another poll in January..   the last one seemed to get some results.

Two more topics..   did you look at the link I showed the other day..        worth a visit I think.. and also..   I hope you had a chance to view my Antarctic covers..  priced to sell for those who have spent all their  money at Christmas.. to those who have a few dollars or quid.. left...   I have confirmation already that the pilots of the flight have already signed the covers..   

Finally..   this picture//  from am eBay listing.. awesome..     if you smoke.. go burn a whole in a damaged / stained  QEII GB 2/6d ( no watermark would be best... ha ha   )   and try for $999.0   Like I said,  have a look at the eBay listing  I quoted yesterday.

Have a wonderful new years celebration.    Happy New Year ... Michael

Hi.. if I told you this existed you would not believe me.. so go look at http://cgi.ebay.com/1955-great-britain-QEll-2-6d-10s-stamps-colour-ERROR_W0QQitemZ110208562547QQihZ001QQcategoryZ3506QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

now tell me you don't have to be careful when shopping on auction sites.

I will add it would be a fool and and moron fool that would bid on this but.. but .. well I guess there could be one around

now go look at my website http://www.cddstamps.com and the new flight covers I have made, to be flown on 31st December down to the Antarctic.  Just enjoy...   

Best wishes..    isn't this fun..   if you have a really out of this world eBay listing.. email me the link and if I use it in an article I will send a free cover of some sort to you...

Best wishes.. Michael

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas..  no snow here but it was not as hot as I remember past Christmas's being..  all the better if you ask me..     easier to work with stamps  and less heat stroke cutting the paddocks  

I have to say I have had some time to work on stamps.. and in particular preparing some GB lots for sales..   special offers to you and readers of my web site. http://www.cddstamps.com     easier than eBay given these are bulk lots  .. and while I may get more selling on eBay I offset the added costs to get a deal for you and a deal for me.

Same goes for my flight covers..  and do I have a special for you this time..  have a look at http://www.cddstamps.com/antarctic.htm  this is my Antarctic flight cover. If you collect Antartica or Pengins on stamps or WWF on stamps or even aircraft on stamps you might enjoy viewing these covers. 

Covers to be flown on the one (this year) Qantas sightseeing flight on 31 December to Antarctica.

Will try to write more in coming days..   Best wishes... enjoy your stamps... Michael

PS very limited number of covers being flown, even less being signed by Pilots and Cabin Crew.

Hello everyone, and to all who helped make this possible a big thank you.

As soon as I get the receipt from the hospital of the winning bidders choice I will be showing it here

Merry Christmas..     enjoy your stamps …….Michael

Hello everybody, and a big thank you to all who have helped promote the A380 charity auction on eBay.. some 350 plus views of the item and now the bidding is over US $300  so that is quite good, don't you think... I think we should do better at the close..as often happens with auctions... and in this case a limited edition signed first flight cover.  the direct eBay link is posted in yesterdays piece.  

a new topic today..  for some reason I was surfing various stamp sites..  - it is raining believe it or not so I decided to spend some quality time on the stamps sites..  and I saw that cddstamps was 35th on the Top stamp sites..  now how did that hapen ..

That is the link for you to vote for me..  my christmas present ok 

I had someone ask for the list of the nams for the Christmas competition.. I hope to post to my web site over the weekend.  I have not forgotten..

Best wishes .. Merry Christmas..     enjoy your stamps.. Michael 

on stamps.........    well these are from an issue I missed.. all because I have not been paying attention to recent GB new issues..       can anyone?   does anyone?  want to send me a nice clean used set..   I would love to have a set in  my collection       I'll send a Singapore Post Commemorative First Day cover of the A380 flight from Singapore to Sydney in return.

Oh and please read the previous postings. I hope you will enjoy

Best wishes... Michael

I said final last night but I changed my mind..    only two days to go to the end of the auction of the cddstamps covers signed by the Cabin Crew..

and this picture..   hey I liked it..      me and one of the crew you will see in the other picture getting my flight certificate on the Sin - Syd sector.

oh.. I nearly forgot.. the ebay link is  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250196609823&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab%3DSelling 

Thank you for your contribution........   go on,  bid.. a very special First Flight Cover

best wishes... Michael

Hello everyone.. one last reminder about the charity auction for the
A380 first flight cover signed by many of the Singapore Airlines cabin
crew.

All bid money goes to the Children’s hospital of your choice from those
Singapore airlines selected. I pay all fees and postage etc.

if you do nothing else at least enjoy the cover and read the auction
listing

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=250196609823&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=015

 
Good luck, and if you bid, my thanks to you.

Best wishes and Merry Christmas to everyone.......... Michael

and this is me and some of the cabin crew who signed the covers

Hello everyone...   some of you will recall that I lived in Toronto for close to 15 years but was lucky enough to come to Sydney for 2 years........  17 years ago    ... hey it does not snow here...     but to stamps.. I am told there is a lot of snow in Toronto right now and this young guy was walking down Yonge Street..   I find that hard to believe,..   surely he would have been  on Bloor !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!... far more trendy      so for all of you non Torontonians they are they two main streets..  

Send me your Christmas stamps. the above from Jane in Toronto, because, as she says to me, it is snowing there..big time. 

And please don't forget my eBay auction for the crew signed A380 first flight cover....   go on please read previous text and bid generously.. not for me but for the children

Enjoy your stamps...  best wishes .. Michael

Hello everyone, I  am pleased to  say the winner was...     ok  let me say thanks first to all who entered.. best ever number of entries.. Hope you all enjoyed the research and found some interesting names and even time to read about them.. You have a Christmas party trick up your sleeve now..    .. did you know that  it was / is   blah blah's birthday today..  when you are looking for some topic of conversation at a Christmas day party   ok maybe not

Anyway,  well done Alvin from the USA...   343 names.. a couple I did not know    and a runner up to Lea, also USA.  with 311.

I give honourable mentions to the following, Irene ( Australia - 225), Mark (USA - 223), Carol (USA-217), Jaison (United Arab Emirates 208) and Jane (Canada 207).  well done everyone.

Just quickly.. have you lookd at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=250196609823&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=015

Please do..  My flown on the A380 First Flight cover..    signed by many of the Cabin Crew.....   being auctioned  for childen's charity. At least read the listing please.

and if you want some entertainment look at another A380 "Flight Cover"  sic.. which has a picture of a 2 engine plane on it, plus a stamp with some old plane on it.. no idea where the A380 bit comes in. I think the home made handstamp!!!  ha ha ha ha...

Have a great weekend.. Enjoy your stamps..     Michael

and no time for stamps, or blogging.

Hello everyone.  Christmas season is upon us..  all we miss is the snow here in Sydney.

Lots of houses on my drive home with lovely Christmas lights. Just no snow.  oh how I miss the snow   send me your favourite stamp or stamps that show some snow scenes..maybe I'll find a nice cover to give away.

My lastest eBay auction.. have you seen it.. an A380 signed by the cabin crew first flight cover...the winning bid amount goes to Charity.  All of it as I am paying all other costs.   Please have a look..  at ebay and seller "michaelatcddstamps"  ...please tell every friend you have ..lets do something special for the children....  

Best wishes ..  enjoy your stamps.... Michael

Back on line again..      I received this from Singapore Post a week ago..   

vanity rules ..   each passenger on the flight from Singapore had the opportunity to have their picture taken and receive a free A380 Mystamps miniature sheet.  How could I refuse.  Apart from the fact I am not photogenic..   put another way..  so god damn ugly   ha ha ha ha...   I had to get a copy..   after about 5 trys to get a somewhat decent picture this is what they decided was acceptable to be printed..   even though the scan is small .....you will note they stood far back to take the picture...  obviously worried I would break the lens..  ha ha ha ha

Pretty unique...   and hey a special memory for me.. and there are only six sheets in existence   

Thanks for the fantastic response to the Christmas competition.. if you have not entered.. there is still time... I have so enjoyed reading the entries...  although to be honest I have not read them all yet.. mostly because of a week without internet access...    you think I exaggerate...... tonight when I got home.. this is what I found across my driveway..   

another storm..  another tree down..      ..  fortunately my son had a friend who had a chain saw and was able to clear the drive so we could get to the house... ( my chainsaw was not at home at the time... in case you were wondering..    every boy has to have a chain saw eh!!!!!!!!!!!   )   and believe it or not I still have hydro and phone connections..   amazing good luck...     

Finally   the Christmas competition closes on 14th I think I said.. scroll down for details..

and this may interest you.. I am going to auction one of my A380 first flight covers..  with the many raised going to a Childrens charity.. the winner can chose the charity from those already selected by Singapore Airlines.. look out for the auction on ebay..  my id is michaelatcddstamps...  I will be listing in next few days... and please tell all your friends.. I hope to raise a nice amount for one of the Childrens hospitals  ... a nice Christmas present for yourself perhaps...  and for a Childrens Hospital

Best wishes...   Enjoy your stamps... Michael

well......  I have been no where.. I have had no internet access at home all week..  do you want the saga.. No, I thought not...

Am on office laptop with wireless connection to tell you I am still on the planet.. just in case you were wondering..  You weren't... shucks.......

Current service estimate is next week.......................... I recommend you read previous articles again  

Have a better weekend than me!!!      will write as soon as I can.....  enjoy your stamps....     Michael

Hello everyone,,,  time for the cddstamps Christmas Competition....    this is the prize, a  presentation pack of the Australia Christmas stamps.. both the stamps and a miniature sheet...   lovely presentation I thought.

Entries will be accepted until 14th December .. I will mail out the prize soon after, in time for you to receive the prize before Christmas...  a nice present I hope.

To win you have to list the most name of famous people who have their birthday on December 25th.  If a tie with numbers of famous people named, then the email date stamp of the entry will  be deciding factor, that is, first entry with highest number of names will win. So get your entries in early, Ok.  email me at cddstamps@gmail.com and please include your mailing address; if you don't and you win I cannot mail the stamps to you and next highest number with their mailing addres will win. 

Best wishes..   enjoy your stamps...   Michael