The next set of special stamps due to be issued by the Royal Mail will celebrate Magical Realms – I never thought I would ever see Nanny Ogg* (a witch in the realm of Discworld, created by Sir Terry Pratchett) on a stamp, let alone Tilda Swinton, albeit in her guise as the Snow Queen of Narnia. I have found that the works of Terry Pratchett evoke a response akin to the Marmite test and that’s fine, after all if you put work into the public forum then you must expect to receive criticism, which in itself is perfectly valid unless it’s from those who haven’t even bothered to read the books, and are just piggy backing on what they think is fashionable at which to sneer.   Anyway, for fans of Pratchett, J.K.Rowling, C.S.Lewis and err, whoever first came up with the legend of Merlin, it’s a gift.

The most recently issued set of stamps celebrated Musicals, how cool to see a Terry Gilliam cartoon in there, but if you really want to be impressed, catch the Thunderbirds are Go issue which has the opening sequence of the SuperMarionation© show in moving pictures via lenticulars on stamps, you do  have to see it to believe it.

Update on Olympics 2012 50 pence coins: – I now have the undernoted

Aquatics

Archery

Cycling

Fencing (thank you Diana)

Goalball (nope, me neither)

Triathlon

and I’m hoping to have badminton, volleyball and canoeing shortly unless I am trounced on Ebay.   Some of the designs are challenging in their interpretation, as if you had taken the concept of a particular sport and put it through some philosophical equivalent of a washing machine, but the Football one is good.

* Nanny Ogg is famous for her knowledge of ribald songs, the titles of which are too rude for this page.