Postboxes
japra | Apr 22, 2008 | Comments 8
I think this is called a “pillar” postbox, one of only a handful of mail boxes in our area. We have one daily pick up for our entire town (not Sundays, of course). I know I’ve talked about this here before, but if you want to mail a letter in England, you can’t just leave it for your mailman to take away. You have to get off your rear and take it to a postbox. And it has to fit in that small, narrow slot. If it doesn’t, you’re out of luck and have to take it to the post office.
A large cardboard envelope was delivered to our house for our landlord a couple of weeks ago, which my husband mistakenly signed for it. We were stuck having to forward it. Not necessarily a problem, but with all this nasty rain, I’ve not wanted to make the hike to our post office, about 20 minutes away on foot.
Roxi asked me why I didn’t just put some stamps on it and take it to the postbox at the end of the street? Um… why didn’t I think of that? So I weighed the thing, slapped on four “small stamps” (34p each), put the leash on Trudy, and headed down to the postbox, a quick three minute walk from my house. I had another letter to mail–in it went. When I started to put our landlord’s envelope in the slot, DANG! The envelope was too big! I’m talking .5″ too big. Yes, I was tempted to cram the thing in, but the envelope contained some things that I am sure our landlord wouldn’t want bent. So I did the right thing and took Trudy back to the house, grabbed my phone, wallet, and camera and headed out to the post office.
Oh well, it was a nice try. At least it didn’t rain during my walk!
This is the playing field across from the postbox. Isn’t it pretty?
Other news, Roxi’s English teacher asked Roxi if it would be okay to print her mystery in the school’s literary magazine. Well, she was quite pleased, of course! Roxi had another story printed up last year and a poem printed up at her old school in Texas, so she’s feeling pretty good about her writing. Grades are great, friends are fun, but I fear my youngster is getting a bit of Spring Fever and is ready for Summer. She’s worked really hard this year in school and in her after school activities. I can see how she could be burning out. Well, we’ve a Bank Holiday coming up soon. I think we’re all excited about that.
Mr. DJ called last night to tell me Hamburg is very pretty and reminds him of Washington, DC. I asked him if he enjoyed a German dinner with his colleagues, but he said that fish is very popular in Hamburg. So that’s what he ate. Fish appetizer and fish main course. No haring, though.
The sun’s out, the birds are singing. I need to run the sweeper because Trudy is shedding like crazy. See you tomorrow!
Filed Under: Blog
About the Author: JaPRA is an expat Texan living in England with her husband (Mr. DJ), their 17-year old daughter (Roxi), and their dog Trudy.
When I was walking regularly (notice the past tense), I found it a lot more motivating to bring my camera. It slowed me down, but I sure got some quirky shots right here in my little old neighborhood.
Laurie–Sometimes the promise of a photo is the only thing that’ll get me out of my studio ;-)
I totally remember that about England. The postman would drop your mail through the slot in the door, but there was no personal mailbox. It seems odd since the postman would be coming to each house anyway to drop off mail. I had forgotten about that until I read your post!
Very beautiful shot of the trees and field. It looks similar to my area, also we’re in the same stage of blooming, I think.
Those trees are fantastic! What are they?
Gosh, your postbox has an extension!
I actually never post from a postbox, as I am the sort of person who is unlikely to have stamps — and very likely to have cards or packages of odd shapes, possibly not conforming to standard rules (which I haven’t memorized anyway).
Had the sun come out yet for your postbox run? Wasn’t it fine to feel warmish air for a change?
Alyson–It is so pretty here right now. There are flowers everywhere: tulips, daffodils, forget me nots, and all the flowering trees– whatever they are.
Brave Sir Robin–I *think* they are crabapples. However, I know NOTHING about plants. We did have a crabapple tree at our other place and it had amazing white flowers.
Bee–I can never remember how much a “small” stamp or “large” stamp is worth. The whole postal system confuses me. Second class stamps, special delivery, small parcel, small package, and don’t even get me started on the metric system!
You see, I didn’t even know there were “large” and “small!” I usually just spring for 1st class because I always want things to get there faster! There is a post office (attached to a hideous, but handy, Tesco Express) about a mile’s walk from my house. I give them quite a lot of business.
and also to BSR, I’m ALWAYS asking people what various flowering trees are . . . and no one ever seems to know. We have some apple trees in our front garden . . . the apples are inedible, though. They are only good for rotting and attracting critters.
Bee–Well, I found out about Second Class stamps the hard way. I went to the post office right before Christmas break, desperate for some holiday stamps. I just asked for 50 of them and the cashier handed them over. I didn’t realize they were second class stamps until I started sticking them onto the envelopes. Of course, I had to go to RoyalMail.com to find out what a second class stamp is worth (27p) and how long would my letters be lingering in the Royal Mail system (three days). Well, that is fine, but what happens to these letters exactly? Do they get dumped in a slow pile? Doesn’t that just make more work for the postal workers?
There are some things about this place I just don’t get.