Royal Mail, and, Post Office.

My beloved Royal Mail has increased postage rates for international mail this month, the second time this year. At this rate, it'll spell doom for UK-based Postcrossers. It is £3.40 to send a postcard to France. What can I get for that? £3.20 for a J2O in a village pub, £3.00 for half a pint of cider from another pub, a dozen free range eggs, large, £3.25 from a supermarket. £3.40 postcard covers up to 100g letters up to C5 envelope size, not too thick. I think the heaviest letters I have written have been around the 30g mark. There used to be lower weight limits, and Christmas cards would take a letter over the 20g "cheap" limit. 

Hay-on-Wye postbox with topper. Paralympic Gold - Josie Pearson 

Royal Mail are also vandalising postboxes, to make them accept parcels. It appears Royal Mail doesn't give a XXXX about the post office, nor the community. The first postbox conversion I saw was outside a small village post office. And if conversion is outside a post office, according to a comment on Norvic's blog, RM want the PO to install lighting for the solar panels, so the box can be used in the dark when the PO is closed.

Postbox being converted. Wrapped in plastic ahead of an adapted door to be installed.

I know RM is a business, one wanting to cream off profits for its shareholders, but there was a time the postie was a valued asset in the community, especially in rural areas. The regular postie would get to know the people on the round, and maybe wold be the first to pick up on something wrong, such as the milk not taken in, lights left on, ... at the home of someone living on their own. Now, the postie works to a stricter schedule, no time for a quick minute chat. 

As for the Post Office, they've had their problems - Horizon (reached p183 of The Great Post Office Scandal by Nick Wallis); the franchising out of the remaining direct-run PO (interrupting receiving commemorative stamps such as Ducks, and not receiving this month's new postage rate leaflets); and then there's some counter workers with little clue (one Postcrosser was erroneously told that it would cost £4.50 to send a postcard to the US because of tariffs). 

I do want to support this vital community service. The PO has lost services - I remember buying Premium Bonds with bonus money for doing well in my school exams umm, I'm not saying how many years ago! Could also do National Savings & Investments at the PO counter too. I'm lucky the one I go to is run by lovely people. They also have a great selection of cards, and I have bought a few to start letters in. If only it was bigger, and with a tea room! I do like writing letters in cafes and pubs... 

Happy St. David's Day

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus.

February has ended and has brought to a close another International Correspondence Writing Month (InCoWriMo). I have managed to write at least one piece of snail mail each day of that month. I'm not expecting any surprise letters because I did not publish my postal address. That's OK, as there was someone seeking addresses for a prisoner. I also didn't have my address up via FB penpal groups, though have done in the past. 

In early Feb. Disqus allowed me to post again to the inco address exchange page, after marking my posts as spam in January. However, this week, I wanted to reply to someone's question, but my comment was yet again marked as spam. Irony... seeing as Eric (who owns Inco), neglects a fountain pen forum he also owns. which is full of spam and zero moderation. 

I am still in the process of deleting my Meta content. Social Media has become rather unsocial over the last couple of years, be it politics, unpleasant views, scams (and plenty of those were from "verified" accounts)... 

In removing a lot of my Meta content, I have been reminded of various groups I joined, and posts I've made. One group for penpalling has so many posts in the format of a job application - really! Titled "Penpal application" and it does not suggest a joy of penfriendship. Would you do friendship applications for real-life/in person friends made during school/college years or via employment or hobbies? This application process makes me think letters are a task/chore or essays/homework for school/college. A burden rather than a joyful activity. 

Then, there are the posts from people who cheat the system. Just because a stamp hadn't received a postage mark, they feel entitled to reuse for postage again. Or, in the case of one person, postmarked stamps bought from ebay are "new to her" and she had stuck on her outgoing letters for postage. 

I posted lots of photo content to both Instagram and FB. I do need to organise my digital photos; perhaps some should be printed out. I have taken pictures with smartphones over the last 12+ years, but some of those early picture have been corrupted though for a few, can still see thumbnail images. 

Many of my Instagram posts were of postage stamps, received on post or I've used for postage. One combination was with Captain Mainwaring telling a 007 off: You Stupid Boy! I still have the digital photo files. Maybe I will share some pictures on this blog. 

Spring update

I know it has been a while since my last post. Spring has sprung in my little corner of the world, and that means that the great outdoors beckoned - not just up in the hills and mountains, or down by the sea, but also the call of the garden. Weeds grow so fast! But the first bloom of dandelions is quite a sight, a wonder, and the bees love them. So, have been out and about more, enjoying some of my other hobbies.

A postbox spotted on a walk

You have to try and live life. A friend has, even though he's experienced so many events, some extremely sad and heartbreaking (the type that never gets forgotten in the public mind, "natural" disaster), some horrendous events caused by other humans (war, he was an army nurse), illness & disease, bereavements... but even with those, he's delivered babies (a midwife), saved lives, stitched up wounds (so as you wouldn't notice - one person he told me he sewed up became a model), volunteered, fostered, cared, photographed people on their happiest days, written stories,...

Living life, rather than just existing, gives me things to talk about in letters. I have also taken my camera out and have had some photos printed in small size so I can affix these in my letters, so am spending less time in front of the computer.

I still love letters. I have a nice friendly snail mail forum, but don't want to be in your face about it. I do sometimes get annoyed at the constant marketing/advertising of things, it puts me off.

Letters via snail mail may not be for everyone (perhaps someone doesn't feel great writing about things to strangers at first, or financial issues as postage stamps can be quite expensive in world where prices of essentials rise, or do not feel comfortable giving out a home address...). We live in a world where prices are going up for the essentials, and although I class snail mail as essential for my mental health, I'm lucky to have already saved up some postage stamps.

Postboxes and a postmark slogan.

For quite a while, I  lost my letter (and blog) writing mojo. I didn't feel like writing anything here or on paper. A malaise at the general state of things at present. However, the last couple of months have found me more optimistic, getting out and about. There is so much to do and so much to see, can barely touch the surface. 

I miss spoken connections, but I do prefer the medium of letters. You can be more thoughtful, less saying something without thinking. I love this postmark slogan from the Australian postal service. Supporting connections.

With the better weather, have been enjoying walking, photographing the world around me, and objects of interest to me. I have been photographing postboxes on & off since about autumn 2009. This one above is one of my more recent boxes, but sadly, I didn't have any letters to feed it with. 

A to Z of Snail Mail, part 2

 N is for Notecards, notelets for nice correspondence.

O is for Outgoing mail, missives sent on their way. Once they arrive, they'll need an object to open the envelope(s)

P is for Postbox, fed with Postcrossing Postcards with nice Postage stamps on perhaps bought from a Post Office, the missives written in pen or even pencil allowed. Paper, penpals, penfriends, post, postie perhaps a Postman Pat...

Q is for Quarto sized paper for writing quality missives to penfriends, written in Quink ink with a quill while having a quiet moment, before wrapping it up and standing in the queue at a post office counter (because you want to use the new issue of stamps out that day).

R is for Replies to letters, and for Royal Mail as I'm in the UK! 

S is for Stamps for postage making stationery not stationary. 

T is for Tape, decorative or otherwise. I use tape to help seal up letters.

U is for Universal Postal Union (UPU), and for those in the US, there's the USPS. 

V is for Valentine's cards, as some are sent in friendship.

W is for Wax seals

X is for letters sealed with a kiss. XXX

Y is for Yours in Friendship, as a way of signing off a letter. Yours, Your Friend.....

Z is for Zip code, without one, letters to the US wouldn't get there! 

Time for a postbox post!

Due to some forum games elsewhere (not on my snailmail forum), the locations of these will be withheld until correct guesses have been made there

Two photos of the same postbox, apologies for the quality of the one, taken on a bus.

I was hoping to have caught a bus after finishing my walk, but just missed it, so had to walk even further.

This is a cheeky postbox, aboard the MV Balmoral. More information about this vessel can be found at http://www.heritagesteamers.co.uk/balmoral/index.html

Ordeal by post office

I have been on an adventure to buy the latest issue of stamps due out today. My first stop was a post office in the city, inside a stationer's (because I wasn't sure I'd be able to find a nice little post office since the one I visited in April closed due to retirement and pending relocation).  It was a busy morning there with over a dozen people in the queue for two counters (a third position was closed), to send parcels, letters, to check a passport application and to exchange Sterling for Euros. I watched the screen showing adverts for Post Office and Royal Mail services - travel money, insurance, broadband, yet no sign of stamps old or new. Fifteen minutes of queuing, I finally get to a counter. I ask for the new issue of stamps that came out today to be told Pink Floyd was due out next month and there is no issue of stamps today. I spoke again to say it was the World War I stamps. Their reply was no, they had sent them back yesterday because they were recalled and withdrawn. I left unimpressed and unhappy. So, I jumped on a bus to a little town with a little post office inside a card shop, stood in a little queue but the atmosphere was already better. The post office staff sounded cheerful with their customers. My turn came and the lovely sub-postmistress said that it was the presentation packs that were recalled and she still had the stamp issue to sell. She let me buy a few miniature sheets and I also bought some of the first class stamps. I didn't bother with the £1.52. She said that she will have the Pink Floyd stamps in so I shall go and visit her next month.

Afterwards, I went for a little walk and found some post boxes to photograph!
It is a pity I didn't have a letter finished to feed this one with. I only feed a few post boxes around my town. I have a choice of 2 if it is raining (both in supermarkets), or if weather is OK, then either in the centre of town (two boxes next to each other, the left one doesn't get fed as much) or one at the shop round the corner from where I live (and is of this style).




This one is outside the old post office in Menai Bridge and is near the new post office. I wonder which side gets the most post. 
I passed other post boxes today but I didn't really notice them. I only noticed 8 but I know there are more than that on the route I took. 

First Christmas Card + post boxes.

 Last week, I received my first Christmas Card for 2015 from Canada. The greeting is very apt. I will be sending out more Christmas cards soon (I have posted a few already) and to those who will not get one from me, I wish you all a peaceful Christmas and New Year, may your lives be full of joy and happiness.

Last month, I spent a few days in London. I also took my letter writing supplies and stamps. I did write some letters but I decided not to post them in this wide-mouthed post box by the steps up to Tower Bridge.

Instead, I went to the post office near the National Portrait Gallery and posted them inside. I was also low on airmail labels and some of the small value stamps so stocked up there. The postboxes outside though look very greedy. 

Another place I visited when in London was the Victoria & Albert Museum. I didn't see everything but I was a little disappointed not to see much about letter writing. There was a display of the Tom stamps from Finland but not much else in that theme. This bookcase has a table and I can just imagine myself sitting at it and referring to books to quote from in letters. 

The other week, I bought a book on Writing Antiques. The item in the top is a stationery box with a set of postal scales and weights! I currently use a set of digital scales meant for use in the kitchen.
The bottom item is a portable writing set. My current portable set consists of an Angry Birds Space pencil case full of pens, a plastic freezer bag with ~A5 writing pads in, and an A4 document box with A4 sized paper in. It does me well but doesn't quite have the romance about it compared to this set or a writing slope. 

forum has kept me busy

 A different post box I posted a letter in on a nice afternoon.

 Some incoming post. I love the Tom and Jerry stamp. One of these letters has answers to my Five Questions, for this month's challenge.

 Some outgoing post, including a birthday card for my mother.

 Post received from a penpal in the US. I love the stamps she used. .

 Look at all those stamps on that one envelope! Wow! I just love getting letters!

 I love the flower stamps from Germany  but I also like the other stamp too.

 I found the town the sender of this letter lives in, in my atlas. My knowledge of US geography is poor to say the least!

Well, congratulations to the Queen in becoming the longest reigning monarch. Royal Mail issued a miniature sheet and I was able to get my hands on one!

Postbox, visiting places also featured on stamps

Found this nice postbox on holiday in York last month.

I also saw this view of York Minster from the city walls, although I didn't visit inside the impressive cathedral. I'm sure I have visited other places depicted on Royal Mail stamps, and I'll have a look to see if I have any for a future blog post on the subject.

Some outgoing mail from last week (not everything). The item with the Valiant and Eye stamps have arrived safely and made the recipient's day!

Selection of Postboxes.

 

Edward VII (not sure where), VR Brighton, George VI (not sure where)

 

ER II (not sure where), George V box in Criccieth, VR in Chester.

 

George VI wallbox (not sure where), ER II (Bangor I think), Edward VII (Bangor) 

and the Gold postbox in Flint for Jade Jones.

 

Edward VII wallbox in Betws-Y-Coed, and ER II box and "posting box" outside Beaumaris Post Office.

Been busy writing letters

I have been busy replying to letters. I have already finished one sheet of Gold Medal stamps (Dani King, Joanna Rowsell, Laura Trott in the Cycling - Women's Team Pursuit, in a world record time).

Last week I sent off a letter to France with extra bits, with 3 Gold Medal stamps (so that's where one of the stamps from the above sheet went, along with Andy Murray and Bradley Wiggins).

On Sunday, we stopped off at a supermarket. I noticed this slightly inaccessible postbox.

At least it was a Sunday when there was no postal collection, and today's a bank holiday (no postal delivery today).

Another quiet mail week

I didn't receive much post this week, though I did get a few letters, 4 from the USA, 1 from the Netherlands and one from across the border in England!
I did post some Postcrossing postcards though, but due to a small threat of rain, decided to post them in an indoor postbox (we don't want our post to get wet!).

Most items of mail I post are posted in my hometown though they probably are not postmarked from here.

One out

No letters came for me today, but I did post a letter!

One of these pillar boxes ate the letter!

Llandudno Head Post Office

At the weekend, I went out shopping in a little Victorian coastal town of Llandudno on the North Wales coast.

I didn't have any letters ready to post (it had been a quiet mail week), but I thought I would take a picture of this postbox I saw. It has seen better days though.

It stands in front of the main post office in the town, quite an impressive building. It was opened in 1904, and had Grade II listed status.

This is the plaque commemorating the architect.