Christmas Pressure ...

... is certainly "kicking in big style !! Sunday saw five hours actually sorting mail rather than packets - because, contrary to popular belief (and RM "propoganda") there's rather a lot of it floating around ... unlikely, but if there's anyone out there from the Hampshire town of Odiham - there's quite a few letters (ha !) for you guys/gals up our way - or there were yesterday - hopefully they're on their way down south by now. Another hour spent "tidying up the mess" in the DO (empty Yorks, perstops etc - got all the jargon now !) and then a lazy Sunday afternoon, cooked a beef casserole and then a lazy Sunday evening.

Early start today (surprise surprise) - and then - for a Monday - a fairly "heavy" day - and packets coming out of my ears !! In fact check this out ...



... a full sack containing parcels for four - yes just four - houses in one street ! Crazy things like this involve "on the fly" logistical solutions to be dreamt up ... which normally involve a lot of extra walking backwards and forwards, and cramming extra bags of stuff into pouch boxes (those strange grey or red lockable boxes on sticks that you may or may not have noticed around the place) . The early morning preparation is fun as well - badly addressed crimbo cards (e.g. "Bill and Val, Any Street, Oldham") and wrong house numbers to name but two - helps to be on a regular round (sad but true - out of my 608 addresses, I'm pretty certain I could put a surname to well over 70% of the addresses - and that number is rising !!). Went a bit over my time - of course - oh yes, did I mention the snow and ice ? See above picture ... it's still out there - and still causing grief underfoot - and sub-zero temperatures keeping the fingers numb ...

Football is a rarity anywhere in the Western Hemisphere at the moment (or so it seems) - so after tonight's culinary effort (Cottage Pie - because it was minced beef), I ventured forth to the "Brit" to watch Man City go top of the Premiership for Christmas ... well that was the plan anyway. By the time I got there, City were already one down, followed by 2-0 down soon after (while they were down to ten man through injury). Despite being given a "sporting chance" when Anichebe was sent off) they only managed one goal (not forgetting some heroics from Everton's Tim Howard) - those silly stats showed attempts on goal as something like 27-4 to City ...

Monday now officially over (and Sunday "caught up with !") ... Mossley game off tomorrow - naturally !
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