I fell asleep in the chair again. So I’m writing in the early hours again, and having rambled on for about 600 words, have parked two unsuccessful attempts at posting. It’s late now and I have to take the decision on whether to write a post or go to bed. As I’m writing this, you can probably guess what I decided. The desire to write about my days is like a sickness. I just can’t shake it off.
I’m currently sneezing on a regular basis and my nose is running. I could expand on this, but it’s probably best that you imagine it rather than I describe it. Let’s just say that of all the drugs I need, decongestants aren’t one. I also have a sore throat and a thick head. The throat could be a sign of the new form of Covid, but I did a test yesterday before the dentist, and it was clear. This isn’t, as I found out last time, conclusive, but it’s the best I can do.
We had an email this morning from a Chinese customer demanding to know why his order had gone to japan and what we were going to do about it. Unfortunately, when communicating in a language which isn’t your first language it can appear that you are being rude, when you don’t intend it. In fact, this can be the case even when writing in your first language. First I had to waste ten minutes checking where we had sent it (we had sent it to the right address in China) and where the tracking showed it had gone (it had, as he said, gone to Japan).
Then I had to spend twenty minutes explaining simply and politely that I don’t know why his order has gone to Japan and that there is nothing I can do about it.
Customers always seem to think we have a hotline to Royal Mail to sort these things out. We don’t. Having paid the money to have it delivered we just have to sit tight and hope it makes its way to the customer before they run out of patience. At that point they can ask for their money back and eBay will give it to them and take it off us. That is my cue to write a complete post on the evils of customers, so I’d better go to bed now before I start.
I hope you continue to feel better, Simon. And I feel you on the international shipping. Many times I have thought I might quit it, because its always so much harder and I keep track of when things are delivered and it’s stressful. I have several password keepers I sent to Budapest, Hungary on Oct 3rd that are still not there.
It is annoying, isn’t it. You do everything right, you fill in all the paperwork and then you buy a ticket in the great postal lottery . . . We are fortunate that most of it arrives. 🙂
I add my good wishes. I hope it clears up soon. I am reminded by your parcel story of “wanting to go to Birmingham but they sent me through to Crewe.” Nothing changes.
The one that we sent to the Czech Republic that ended up in South Korea was possibly the most erratic of ours. We will await developments. Yesterday it flew internally in japan so there is still hope.
Oh gosh! I hope the package wends its way to the customer.
I nearly got annoyed with the bank where we are trying to open an account for my daughter. But thankfully I didn’t as it’s not their fault Royal Mail have been on strike (I think?!).
Customer service at banks is dreadful these days, regardless of postal strikes.
At least I’m glad I’m not the only one to have experienced such!
Both my workmates are trying to sort out the estates of deceased relatives and are experiencing difficulties.
Oh dear! Not what they need, particularly at an already difficult time.
Reminds me I really need to sort out the trust on my mortgage, in case the worst comes to the worst….
Yes, we all do it. I have been meaning to make a will for thirty years, and write down all my passwords. So much to do . . .
I’m just wondering how we write passwords down so only the right people get hold of them. Perhaps this is not strictly necessary, though I have heard of problems stopping phone contracts and such. Still, if something happened to me now, I’m sure my daughter would be thrilled to have unlimited free minutes. (She made sure to set up her fingerprint along with mine when I got my new phone.)
They love to make it difficult. I’m told that it’s probably safer to write passwords down than store them online. Number 1 Son and I tend to take the same view – remember the ones you use regularly and request new passwords on the others when you need to use them. It only takes a few minutes.
I do the same 😊
Great minds . . .
Get well soon. When we lived in Soho the Chinese always sounded as if they were about to kill each other.
Yes, I know what you mean. However, a feature of my life has always been volatile family discussions so I cannot criticise. 🙂
Hope you feel better soon, Simon. Glad it is not Omicron. There are over 200 different corona viruses out there, and well as many others viruses that can cause similar symptoms. There is work being done on a universal corona virus vaccine.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/christopher-barnes-coronavirus-vaccine-sn-10-scientists-to-watch
Thank you. It is easing a bit – mainly just feeling tired and woolly-headed.