So much in the December mailbag we have again split it into two posts. Today - a little about Christmas, and sailing ships go by thanks to Robert Carter, and we recognise Rowdy's commitment to saluting those wonderful people who have fought so hard and for so long to preserve our freedom.

The bag contains: a portrait, lots about Derwent pencils including a video showing how pencils are made. And then Rowdy suggests, following Jane's experiences in Africa, that we all follow Humphry Bogart and Katharine Hepburn on the "African Queen".

Once more our monthly mailbag takes us to many places around the world from Tanzania, to London, to Kalkata (India), Australia, Peru and Ukraine.

The mailbag brings inspiring art works from FB followers: Jean Yves Hervé in France, Ayşe Anıl in Turkey, Renata Lichańska-Mleczko in Poland and Estela Viotti in Argentina, Tendai Makufa in South Africa. And I join Rebeca Dorich's Solstice project with a painting of Gold Dust.

Lots of chatter from across the waves in this month's mailbag! From Tanzania, Cape Town, London, Port Elliot in South Australia, Central Victoria ... Linking hands and ideas across the world through our shared interest in art.

March mailbag No 2 contains: a painting from Suzana in Croatia; paintings by Jack Absalom, something for vintage car lovers, and stolen Napoleonic items. A very mixed bag!!

We are opening a fascinating mailbag to start the new year. Items include: who built the pyramids; a postcard from one of the little Chaposos Huamanguinos who is visiting a convent in Lima, Peru; find the tawny frogmouths, and the latest painting from Tendai Makufa.

A beautiful sunset is on top of the December Mailbag - snapped in Kilmany Park, East Gippsland, one of the most beautiful parts of Victoria. Also in the mailbag: the NASA picture of the day alias "Moona Lisa", sailing ships, Armenian colours, travelling chaposos huamanguinos - and more!!

Our fat November Mailbag No 2 contains Canadian road art to stop speeding cars, the art of backing a trailor. Then to Western Australia to learn more about Mount Augustus. We also have a little on fashion, and a Koren statue of interst.