Stamp Collecting - The Hobby of Fun and Learning

Stamp collecting or Philately can be a rewarding and educative hobby. Postal Stamps from different countries of the world come with beautiful themes and images. Each postal stamps tells a story. Some commemorate a leader, other stamps celebrate the founding of an institution such as a school or college while others celebrate a nation's wildlife. Collecting stamps and learning about the theme they are based on gives a great deal of knowledge about people, historical incidents, places. etc

The term philately is derived from two Greek words philos, meaning love and atelia, which means without tax, an apparent reference to the stamp which enabled a letter or a parcel to be sent to an address a great distance away without being levied en route. Today philatelists are found throughout the world coming from diverse occupations such as doctors, lawyers, teachers, policemen and many students

A brief history of Stamps
The idea of stamps was first conceived by Rowland Hill, who suggested stamps as part of his proposal to reform the British Postal System. The first stamp was released in 1840. Nicknamed the Penny Black, it contained an elegant engraving of the then reigning British Monarch, Queen Victoria. The introduction of stamps simplified the postal system and made sending and receiving letters much easier and simpler.

Following Britain, other countries too released their own stamps. Today, almost all countries issue their own postage stamps with the name of the country and the monetary denomination printed in the stamp. Incidentally, stamps from Great Britain do not mention the name of the country.

Starting your Hobby
Philately as a hobby is relatively inexpensive to start. You can begin with collecting used stamps from mail you receive from friends. You can also ask your friends and relatives for stamps they receive. Besides, you can also buy stamps from dealers. This is a faster way to develop a collection. It is good if you share your interest in stamps with your friends. It helps you to exchange stamps with them, helping your collection to be more diverse.

Setting up your collection
Most Philatelists maintain their collection in stamp albums. You can either use hinge based albums where stamps are attached to the pages of the albums by means of special adhesive hinges. Alternatively, strip albums with special slots where the stamps can be inserted are also available. It is good to handle stamps with special tweezers to avoid damaging the delicate edges during handling.

Stamp collections can be thematic i.e. based on a particular theme such as sports, railways, birds and so on. You can also have collections based on countries.

Mint Stamps and First Day Covers
Mint stamps are stamps which are purchased from the Postal Department through the the local post office or an official philatelic agency. These stamps are fresh unlike used stamps in the collection.

First Day Covers are issued by the Post office on the day of the stamps release. To increase visual appeal a special cancellation or logo is applied on the envelope.

Philatelic societies and bureaux
Joining a philatelic society is a great way of developing your hobby. Philatelic societies provide numerous resources for the stamp collector such as a stamp catalogues, newletters, information on upcoming stamp releases and above all the opportunity to interact with fellow collectors.

images courtesy: www.seasidebs.com

Related links:

History of Philately

my-philately.blogspot.com
http://francobollidelmondo.blogspot.com/2008/10/history-of-philately.html

Macrame, the art of knots

Macramé is a craft that involves preparation of textiles using knots. Materials such as cotton, hemp and leather can be made into beautiful works of art by this craft-form. The materials are made into knots, usually the square knot. The knots are linked with each other to produce intricate geometric or floral patterns.

Many decorative items such as beads, glasswork or even jewellery can be incorporated into Macramé.

The word Macramé is believed to be derived from the Arabic word, “migramah” which can be translated as a towel with stripes or a veil with intricate embroidery.

Arab weavers first developed the practice of knotting the excess and loose threads at the ends of towels, bed sheets into intricate designs. This practice of knotting soon developed into an exquisite form of decorating textiles. When the Moors conquered Spain, they introduced this art into Europe. The craft traveled quickly across continental Europe and into England. In the 18th and 19th centuries, macramé was an integral part of decorating any European home. Tablecloths, draperies, sheets would all adorned with these knotted patterns

The craft was also an important and useful pastime for sailors across the long and dull voyages. Sailors would spend their time knotting decorative works which could be sold at the next port.

Macrame is easy to start with. You would need some material such as twine or cords for the knots, a knotting boards and some pins.

Following are some of the websites that contain information on getting started with this beautiful craft form.

http://www.elainecraft.com/

http://www.craftsitedirectory.com/macrame/

images courtesy: http://www.bwoodantique.com/
http://www.albionbeads.com

Raising Budgies

Budgies are beautiful birds that make nice pets. They require relatively less maintenance and therefore are ideal for beginners. These lovely birds are intelligent, extremely social and bond well with humans. With training they can be taught a variety of tricks.

The budgie or budgerigar is a native of Australia. They belong to the parrot family.. The scientific name of the budgie is Melopsittacus undulatus. The natural habitat of the budgie is arid, semi-desert. Budgies, like other members of the parrot family tend to live in large colonies. Their diet consists chiefly of seeds.

Buying your Budgies

Budgies can be bought from almost all pet shops. It is important to check that the shops maintain the birds in good and hygienic conditions. See that the birds are active and healthy. It is good to buy the birds in pairs as they will bond. Most pet shops will put your budgies in a box for the journey home. Ensure that the box has adequate means of ventilation.

Setting up the Bird Cage

A good cage for your budgies should be at least 18 x 18 x 20 inches. Wire cages would be ideal as the birds will be able to climb the sides. Alternatively, if you are using cages with metal bars, ensure that the bars are horizontal to enable climbing. Provide adequate perches for the budgies. Ensure that the cage provides enough space for the budgies to fly from one perch to another so that they can exercise their wings.

Budgies are very inquisitive and active creatures that require a lot of stimulation. Hence, it is good to provide toys such as plastic rings, small balls, etc for the birds to play with. The cages need to be kept away from direct sunlight. The cage must also have a removable litter tray to enable cleaning the cage without opening the cage.

Feeding and Diet

Budgies have a diet that consists mainly of seeds. You can occasionally treat your budgie to a meal of fresh fruits. However, certain foods such as avocado, lemon, and potato, chocolate can be harmful to your budgie. Besides their base diet of seeds and occasional fruits, budgies may require supplements of substances such as calcium to augment their dietary intake. This is particularly true of female budgies who need more calcium to form the egg shells. Cuttlebone, which is available at almost all pet stores is a good source of calcium.

Besides food, a permanent supply of clean drinking water should always be made available. It is recommended to replace the water every day as budgies sometimes tend to dirty the water.

Breeding

Budgies can be bred as soon as they attain sexual maturity at around 8 months. In budgies, it is possible to visually tell apart the sexes by the color of the ceres, located below the nostrils. The males have blue ceres while the females tend to have pink or brown ceres.

For the birds to mate, they must bond with each other. Bonding occurs when the birds start feeding and preening each other. The female budgie lays a clutch of about 4-5 eggs with an interval of a day between each egg. The female then sits on the eggs during the incubation period of around 18 days.

The chicks are born naked and blind. Both male and female birds share the responsibility of raising the chicks. The chicks grow fast and are completely covered by feathers by the end of one month after which they leave the nest.

Budgies are beautiful birds that are easy to care for. They are also highly social and are ideal for beginners. They bond well with people and are easily handled.

image courtesy: http://www.petsworld.co.uk/budgies.htm

Setting up an Aquarium

Keeping an aquarium can be a truly enjoyable and rewarding experience. An aquarium adds beauty to the home and watching fishes swim gracefully can be extremely relaxing. Besides, fish are relatively to maintain. Setting your own home aquarium can be fun and adventurous.

To begin with, locate a place where you would like to place your aquarium. The ideal place would be one without direct sunlight. Ensure that you choose the place from where the aquarium can be seen clearly. At the same time, it is essential that it is in a place where you do not need to go often, so that the aquarium does not become a hindrance to movement within the room.

Choosing the tank
Tanks come in various sizes and shapes. You would need to decide on the size you would want. While choosing the size of the tank you need to take into account factors such as the size of the room you want to keep you tank in, your budget, the number of fish you want to keep. Large tanks would need more maintenance. It is recommended to start with smaller tanks.

Setting up the tank

The tank can be placed on a table or a stool. Place a sheet of Styrofoam or thermocole on the table and put the tank upon it. This is essential as the tank can develop cracks if the surface of the table is not uniformly smooth, i.e. if it contains high spots. The soft material helps even out the surface.

Once the tank if placed securely, fill the tank up to 2 inches with pebbles or stones. You need to wash the stones with water before putting them in. Fill the tank with water. Ensure that only soft water is used.

Landscaping the aquarium:
Now that you have filled the tank with water, it is time to put in the plants and the other ornamental items inside. Landscaping your aquarium in a tasteful manner increases its visual appeal. You can add live plants such as valisneria, Lace plants, etc. You can also add artificial plants. You can add small rocks to mimic a marine environment and toys. Take care that you do not let the ornamental items distract attention from the fish. They must complement the beauty of the fish. You can add a white light on the roof of the aquarium. Lights should be switched on during the day to enable the natural plants to grow. They must be switched off at night to permit the fish to sleep.

Buying fish

You can buy fish from the local aquarist. There are a number of fresh water fish species for the beginner to choose from. Fish such as Guppies, platys, mollies are ideal for the beginner. These fish are easy to care for, are not aggressive and can reproduce easily. The fish are usually packed in plastic bags. Once you have brought the fish home. Put the bags inside the aquarium and allow them to float on the surface for about 15 minutes. This is essential to equalize the temperature of the water inside the bags and the aquarium.
The number of fish that can be kept in the tank depends on the size of the tank and the size of the fish. As a rule of thumb, there should be one and half liters of water for every 1 cm of fish.

Caring for your fish
Fish are easy to care for. Remember to feed you fish once or twice everyday. Watch the fish for a few minutes and remove uneaten food as they tend to cloud the water.
You may have to scrub the walls with a scrubber every two or three weeks to remove the algae which may grow on the glass. The fish water needs to be changed periodically. . Remove a fourth of the water every two weeks and replace it with fresh water. You may have to change all the water every four months.

Having an aquarium is a delightful experience which freshens the mind. The aquarium is also believed to have therapeutic value by soothing the senses and reducing tension and blood pressure. A well designed aquarium greatly adds to the beauty of your home

image courtesy : http://www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk

Tips for Attending Interviews

All of us face interviews at some stage in life. Be it an interview for a college admission or an interview for a job, interviews understandably tend to make us nervous. The tension and pressure to get the job or an admission cause your hormones to go into overdrive. The result – sweaty palms and stuttering responses. Nervousness and anxiety, though normal physiological responses of the body, prevent us from showcasing the best we have in front of the interviewer.

However, adequate preparation for the interview and keeping a few simple instructions in mind can greatly reduce your apprehension and anxiety and make you present your winsome best to the other side.

Prepare in advance
How you prepare for an interview is as important as how you attend it. It is good to prepare for the interview at least a week in advance. Learn about the company and the job profile. Talk to people dealing with the company such as customers and suppliers.

Gather the documents necessary for the interview
Collect the certificates, testimonials and experience certificates that you may feel necessary for the interview. It is advisable to take a set of photocopies with you when you go there.

Plan on how you would respond to common questions
Think about probable questions and how you would answer them. For instance, most interviewers for a job would ask the candidate the reasons for leaving the present job. If your resume has anything that may not be in your favour such as a disability, a wrong brush with the law, etc., decide on how you would convey it to the interviewers. Gaps in your career history, if any, need to be explained.

Find out how to reach the venue in time.
Few things can be more stressful for the interviewee than getting stuck up in traffic or being unable to locate the venue on the day of the interview. Learn about the venue and ask friends on the best way to reach it. Discuss alternate ways as well, in case of a traffic jam or a transport strike.

Decide on what you are going to wear.
It is good to select your dress in advance. You choice of dressing tells a lot about your personality. Dress for the position you have applied for, not for the position you are currently in. Always have another set of clothes ready should you spill your coffee during breakfast at home.

Reach the site in advance
Plan to arrive at the site at least 30 minutes in advance. This will give you time to settle down into your new environment. Use the washroom if you want.

Attending the interview
When you are ushered into the interview room, remember to greet the interviewers before you sit down. Maintain an erect posture, leaning slightly towards the interview panel so as show interest. Answer the questions calmly. Your answers should reflect a depth of knowledge in the job profile, the company and its products. If you do not know an answer, politely say that you do not know. Do not try to guess; this may indicate an unreliable personality.

Make sure your words are clear and audible. If you feel nervous, ask for a glass of water. Interviewers generally anticipate their candidates to be nervous. They can understand.

After the interview is over, thank the interviewers individually. Remember to take back all your documents when you leave.

Follow – Up
Contact the company a week later to find out the outcome of the interview. If you have been selected, discuss the modalities of joining. If the outcome had been unfavourable, thank them for the opportunity. It is good to ask them for feedback so that you can improve your performance next time.