It is getting colder and I am wearing more layers. As we move into December I have to remind myself that it is only 15 days until the shortest day. I like the idea of more daylight, and the year starting to turn towards spring already. I am less keen on the thought of my life rushing by. It is now only five days until I have to inject myself again, and I need to organise two blood tests. I just hope that I don’t run out of blood.
Casting an eye over various things, I noted a BBC podcast titled “Why do we procrastinate?” I’ve made a mental note to go back and read it when I have time. There is so much interesting stuff available on the internet that it is hard to keep up.
We have frost forecast for the coming week, but so far it has been very mild. This is probably a surprise to those of you living in cold places, as we rattle on about winter so much in UK but rarely have much real winter weather. I have never, for instance, felt the need to wear snow shoes when going about my normal business in winter, or to use a snow blower. Mostly we sprinkle a bit of salt about and walk carefully. Photographs from a few years ago show frost, but I haven’t had to clear my windscreen yet, though this may change.
It’s getting close to Christmas, and with more Post Office strikes coming, I really must send the cards, as all the final delivery dates have been rescheduled. I am starting to worry about the future of our postal service. The constant strikes, on top of the reduced service levels suffered since Covid, are very wearing, particularly as prices keep rising as service levels decline. eBay is already starting to recommend alternatives, which is worrying when you consider how much Royal Mail depends on eBay business. I wonder how long it will be before we see a catastrophic change in UK postal services. You can send emails instead of letters, and use other delivery services for parcels, but what about Christmas? Emails are not an acceptable substitute for Christmas cards.
I do a mix of electronic and real cards. I like writing the notes in them and I like getting them. I only have one friend who regularly sends real mail. It’s always a treat. As for your tree, I tried to put mine up today, but my lights no longer work (after 40 years, I must admit) and I need to get some new ones.
I’ve never quite mastered the art of sending electronic cards, and am not much good at doing real ones either. That is why men need to get married. Women are much better at that sort of thing. For cards, JUlia is the go-to partner in this marriage. Though if you ant someone to yell at a politician or referee on TV, I have that covered. 🙂
I too feel that the daily postal service is doomed. However, as far as Christmas cards go, I feel sure that some enterprising business will provide a special card delivery service (at a price and as long as you don’t want to send a card to out of the way places in the country.)
I should add that i entirely agree about the alarming speed that years go by as you get older. Summer lasted all year when you were a boy.
Summer holidays were so long and we did so much. Now it seems like the lilacs flower and the adverts for back-to-school clothes come out a few days later.
Yes, that is true, we will find a way. True too about the por service likely to be given to people living in less crowded areas.
I totally agree that emails are no substitute for Christmas cards.
🙂
Oh, the wit of delaying watching a procrastination podcast. The Postal Service is doomed
🙂 Thank you Derrick. Yes, it is difficult to see any future for the Post Office. This is a shame as the postie used to be a friendly face on the boring days I spent at home doing pre-eBay mail order sales.
Ours have always been cheerful and friendly, but the Unions are surely blinkered
It is a hard time for many people. I am glad that I was born when I was, as life is a lot more complicated these days. The days of proper jobs seem to be over.
I commiserate with you on the postal service problems. We have the same thing going on here, perhaps worse. Anyway, you and Julia should enjoy the holiday season as best you can. “Live, Laugh and Love” is the best medicine for many ills.
It will be a good time – we both have time off and one of the kids is coming for a few days.