10 May 2019:
Here is the situation:
1. Date of sale moved to 11 May 2019.
2. Half a day for the pilgrimage.
This presented a new challenge of half day. How do we plan out the logistics? Where do we start?
We need help!
Let’s Assemble the old team.
Conference calls time! Frantic Friday calls to various parties. Are we good to go?
11 May 2019:
05:00 am – Thermos – check, Air Sandwich – check, lots of drinking water – check, petrol tank – full! , Touch & Go – check, vehicle – check.
06:00 am – Load up! Good to go! Beep: incoming message, Southern Team nearing rendezvous point.
The drive was dark. Traffic was light. It felt like 21 November 2016 again! We will end up in Pitt Street, Penang again!
Ah finally here!
Rendezvous complete!
It was a quick stop – chop – go!
Why not visit the temple since we are here?
Hasty discussion ensued with the locals in the post office, Waze and Google Map. Where is the temple? I might as well toss a coin…. In myfdc I trust, let’s go!
The road led into off road plantation area. Once we alighted the architecture is awesome!
Beep… message from Central Team… designer is Mr Gan.
Time to leave to the next point: Reverand R.S. Hutchings’ legacy. He left behind 3. Can you name them?
11:00 am – Penang GPO was packed. All waiting to chop – chop – chop!
Better go to Plan B.
A quick drive around the corner to my secret spot where usually there is a spot or two put me within the middle of both location. Ooops… no more stock of the “scratch and win” parking coupons. A good samaritan sold me enough for an hour! I wish we have an easier parking method, e.g. the “slot machines” that eat up your coins. It will be easier than carrying a stack of cards and sometimes only to be used once in a while in the now famous philatelic tours!
11:30 am – Picked up the items from St George’s Heritage Centre
The Heritage Centre sold a set of concordant postcards which were very quickly sold out. I hope there are more stocks. In fact the cinderella was taken from an old print of the church.
Thanks Helenn! I really appreciate the assistance!
With the official private folders and covers in hand, it was a brisk walk back to the Penang General Post Office for the final touches! Enroute, stop at 7-11 for more “scratch and win” parking coupons! I really think they are “scratch or fine”!
12:30 pm – done stage 1!
Here is a comparison of the St George’s Souvenir Cover and mine (using the Pos Malaysia Cover) with the concordant Pulau Pinang cancellation (chop). Sure wished the St George’s Folder set was cancelled using the Pulau Pinang cancellation to be more meaningful (similar to the Penang Free School Bicentenary Folder set).
The St George’s folder set also includes a full sheet of St George’s stamps (with many saying it is a different shade, I think so too if you look at the above photos of the 80 sen stamp!), a mint cinderella and another Souvenir Cover with a single stamp.
It is time to take a break and head to the next stage! Beep…in coming message from someone who guided me a lot from the Central Team …. “the stamps have 1/5, 2/5, 3/5, 4/5, 5/5″…. really? I was pasting according to the Price List and e-Poster! Now this is a great move as I know know we have 5 stamps in a set and I will not stick the wrong stamp. As to the order… hmm… I might not be able to follow everytime in order to be concordant!
I heard in many post offices will be still selling and cancelling on Monday. You can check it out. Certainly your second chance to get things done! Penangites might want to visit the St George’s Heritage Centre: stgeopg@yahoo.com (or buy in person).
Many thanks to various logistics team.
04:30 pm – first drop off for Stage 2.
06:30 pm – second drop off for Stage 2.
Concordanists Assemble!
sky52200
ps: Philatelic Pilgrimage 1 can be relieved at: https://myfdc.me/2016/11/22/21-november-2016-a-philatelic-pilgrimage/
