Swiss Traveller

Pic by Gemma Wiseman ~ This is a most unusual numberplate on a car.
Our Victorian numberplates in Australia have a white background with blue writing.
This one reflects the colours of Switzerland, but still bears our state's abbreviation of "Vic."
The "CH" sign - The official name of Switzerland is Confoederatio Helvetica. The abbreviation CH, used for the country indication on cars and in internet addresses of Swiss websites, comes from this name. The name Helvetica is derived from the Roman province of Helvetia, that was founded in the region in 15 BC. The Romans in turn derived the name from the Celtic tribe of the Helvetii, that left Southern Germany for current Switzerland in the 1st century BC. The English equivalent for Confoederatio Helvetica is Swiss Confederation or in short: Switzerland.
AND
The Swiss call their country Die Schweiz (German), La Suisse (French) or Svizzera (Italian). ~ Answers.com WikiAnswers

Ruby Tuesday
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Travelling symbols
Numberplate of distinction
Red and white homeland
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Hosted by maryt/the teach @ Work of the Poet

Australia's First Warship Sign

Pic by Gemma Wiseman ~ Sign at Queenscliff, Bellarine Peninsula.
It reads: Swivel link from H.M.Colonial steam sloop "Victoria" Australia's first warship built 1854, cost £38,000 in service 40 years.
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This Way Thurs-Way #26
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Memories of war
Remembering the great ships
Sailed by some great lives
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Pic by Gemma Wiseman ~ Here is the embedded swivel link
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A Special Post ~ Bushfire in My Victoria, Australia

Pic by Gemma Wiseman
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Like Paradise Found,
I too have been wondering how to write a post about
the blackest day in Victorian history.
The day began with the heatwave on Saturday 7th February, 2009
and is still evolving.
It is a little like
the longest day in the longest night.
BUSHFIRE!
The very word tolls like a forlorn bell!
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TV channels spill out horror story after horror story.
In Yea, people are living in tents waiting for the next stage,
whatever that is.
(Many slept in a car till tents became available.)
Communities like Narbethong, Marysville, Strathewan and Kinglake
have been totally erased from existance.
But the fire burns on still.
One survivor commented that the sky seemed to be raining fire.
As I write, the news says 131 people have perished
and the number is still climbing.
For details of this surreal legacy of Saturday's heatwave,
see The Age newspaper media reports directly from Melbourne, Australia.
Even a popular newsreader from Channel 9 ~
Brian Naylor ~
perished with his wife at Kinglake.
We all have some sensitive connections with someone affected by the fires!
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And so, this post is reaching out
to all those still fighting to survive.
We are with you!
We hope with you!
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Not all reds are fires
Not all reds are danger zones
Somewhere sleeps the rose
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