Overseas Posting

[bk_forever]

Yesterday, I managed to make it down to the post office, braving the cold and the crowds of holiday shoppers (being agoraphobic I don't like crowds), so all the overseas cards went in the post, YAY! If I have your address, there will be a card on its way to you. Whether they will arrive before the 25th is anybody's guess, our postal service is hit or miss and even when they get to the right countries, the cards will have to make their way through another postal service. It's a daunting journey for a humble Christmas card!

I'd appreciate if people would let me know when theirs arrives, that way I'll know how long they took to reach different destinations and I'll have a better idea of when to aim for posting next year. (I'll probably be late again anyway, of course. I'm never prepared for Christmas, lol!)

I also did rather a lot of shopping and spent too much, but food is necessary and we have enough to last for a bit, plus some holiday treats. I found I'd put mince pies on my list twice, so I decided that meant I should buy two kinds. I like my logic =)

I also, for reasons best known to my brain, bought a box of peppermint candy canes. What I intend to do with them I don't know. We're not having decorations so I have nowhere to hang them. Maybe I'll hand them out to visitors. I'm still trying to get rid of the last of the Halloween candy, lol! They looked festive though... I don't get out much, so when I do I'm prone to impulse buying - nothing massive, just silly things that I buy without thinking. I now have a Santa hat... Well, at least it'll keep my head warm!

Now I just need to rest and recover from my adventure. Right now I'm worn out, but at least I got things done.

I hope everyone else is better prepared for the holiday than I am!

Comments

[lexxiescott]

I suppose if it comes to it, you could unwrap the candy canes and use them as air scenters. I do love the smell of peppermint. *grins*

The post service is becoming a joke in so many ways. In more countries than one, it seems. *sighs* I just don't know what to think.

[bk_forever]

It's true, you consign something to the postal service then cross your fingers and hope it gets where you want it to go *sigh* I'm trying to be optimistic though!

That's a point, peppermint is a very good scent indeed *grins* I could use them as car air fresheners!

[lexxiescott]

Yep, very true. My things are going out tomorrow, so here's hoping they get where they're going.

Just be careful they don't melt in the car in the summer. That wouldn't be a good thing at all. *grins*

[bk_forever]

Hot enough to melt candy? We don't get temperatures like that here, lol! I think I'll stick to just handing them out, lol!

I'll keep my fingers crossed everything gets where it's going on time!

[lexxiescott]

*grins* Wasn't sure. I had candy melted to the dash in my car for three years because it kept remelting and I could never get all of it off - and that was back in Idaho. I don't dare leave anything in the car here. Now I just have to convince Mum not to leave her pop in the car during the summer. That would be a right mess.

Handing them out sounds like a good plan too. :)

Me too. Especially this time of year.

[bk_forever]

The post is always unpredictable around Christmas time!

Oh lord, you really don't want pop exploding all over the interior! That would be horribly sticky!

Yeah, I think they'll be good to hand out to visitors =)

[lexxiescott]

I think even the postal workers are about a hundred percent done by this point of the year.

no, you wouldn't. I had a can of pop explode in my car once. There were spots I *never* got out. She might have to learn the hard way.

A good seasonal treat. Then they can have Halloween candy for afters if they're still hungry. ;-)

[bk_forever]

I don't drink pop so thankfully that's unlikely to happen in my car. One less thing to worry about! =)

I hope people will like them! I think there's like 38 in a box, lol!

[awieatti.livejournal.com]

I'm so excited for my card to arrive! I can't wait! ^_^

Our postal service is usually very reliable. Except when something is shipping overseas, then it depends on the country. I have successfully ordered things from California or China and they came here without any problems, but ordering a pair of shoes from Iceland was a nightmare because the Icelanders are very... relaxed about certain regulations. So they were like: "Well, let's just send it out and hope for the best" and the overcorrect Deutsche Post was like: "NO! THIS STAMP IS NOT IN THE RIGHT PLACE! THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!"
Needless to say, it took me a ridiculous amount of time, money, effort and nerves until I finally got my shoes. But they are gorgeous so they were worth it! xD

Long story short, I hope they don't f*ck up the shipping this time. (By the way, I haven't forgotten about my "little" Iceland travel report. In fact, I'm working on it right now. I just hope you guys will still be interested once I finally get it done! xD)

[bk_forever]

I certainly will be! I want to hear about it =)

I have discovered that if I send something to Canada, I have to write my name & address on the FRONT of the envelope, not on the back like for everywhere else. Canadian postal workers can't turn things over? *shrugs* There's always somewhere that has to be awkward.

I wish the British postal service paid a little more attention to things, just not quite as picky as Deutsche Post. *grins* At least you got your shoes eventually, even if the stamp WAS in the wrong place.

[awieatti.livejournal.com]

Your card arrived today! Yay! That was faster than I thought! (Apparently the stamp is in the right place! :D)

I'm sitting in the kitchen at the moment with my sister, sipping some tea, and a minute ago my father came home with the mail. And there it was! My first Christmas card of this year, and it's so cute! Of course, my sister immediately wanted to read it too ^_^

I have a massive flu right now and feel like dying, so thanks a lot for brightening up my day! :)

[bk_forever]

*hugs* So sorry you have the flu! Feel better soon!

So glad you liked the card! The hedgehogs are so cute, I thought you might like one =)

I'm amazed at how fast it arrived!

Have a very happy Christmas =D

[awieatti.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Better don't hug me too tight though, or you might get sick too!

Yes I love my hedgehog! It looks so cuddly ^_^

Maybe the postal workers are working harder now during Christmas time...

You too! I hope you have a relaxed and happy Christmas without any annoying things like the flu :P

[bk_forever]

I got my flu shot a couple of months ago, so I'm mostly protected I hope.

In this country around Christmas, delivery is usually hit and miss because the temporary staff have no idea what they're doing and deliver things to the wrong addresses. The corner shop got one of my cards today. I'm amazed that the post office managed to get your card on the correct flight to reach you so quickly!

Careful cuddling the hedgehog, he's a bit spiky, lol!

[sassysailorgirl.livejournal.com]

I really can't complain much about the United States Postal Service, especially after the horror stories friends all over the world have shared about theirs. ;p Biggest thing that drives me mad is unannounced rate increases. ;p Got a tremendous shock the last time I posted a parcel overseas when the post-woman told me how much it would cost!

Candy canes aren't my thing. One of my friends, though, uses them as stir-type thingies in her hot chocolate. I don't recommend putting them in a car. The buggers melt very easily & attract bugs. At least in Florida's tropical heat. ;p Be careful, pet!

[bk_forever]

Well, I wouldn't really put the candy canes in the car, although over here they certainly wouldn't be melting, it's freezing cold here.

Hmmm, maybe they'd make peppermint candy cane tea if I melted a couple on water, lol! I'm not big on sweets really, I don't eat them often, but giving them out to visitors should be okay.

Postage keeps going up here too. It costs more all the time while the service gets worse. Earlier this year, my post was being delivered to someone on the next street despite being addressed properly and I had to rearrange delivery of a parcel because the postman didn't put it in the porch like they've been instructed to do. Oh well. Hope yours reaches you safely!

[lil-1337.livejournal.com]

Congrats on getting to the post office. I still haven't managed to do that.

Candy canes are fun to hang off of things. They add a nice little spark of color and light.

[bk_forever]

That's always assuming you have anything to hang them off of, which I don't *sigh*

That's only the overseas stuff. I still have to write all the cards for family and friends in this country *rolls eyes* I'm always so far behind and this year is worse than ever. So much to do and hardly any time to do it.

[excentric397.livejournal.com]

I get candy canes every year, the ones with actual peppermint oil in them. They are great to just suck on when your throat is dry or you just want something a bit sweet. My grandfather used to buy us big pole-like candy canes that lasted for months.
I don't do snail-mail cards anymore. I think there's only one person I know who still does. Email all the way. Ho Ho Ho.

[bk_forever]

email is certainly easier and quicker, but I like to make handmade cards, so snail mail it is.

These candy canes are just small, cheap ones so I have no idea what they'll taste like. that's impulse-buying for you, lol! I'm not big on sweets anyway, don't have them often. It's Christmas though, so I'm attempting to be festive, even though I'm feeling more like the Grinch.

[excentric397.livejournal.com]

Yep, mine are small and cheap, too. I just always check the label to make sure they have peppermint oil. Otherwise, they're just peppermint-flavored sugar sticks. LOL

[bk_forever]

I just saw them and put them in my basket, I haven't checked the ingredients - they're probably peppermint-flavoured sugar sticks, lol!

[analineblue.livejournal.com]

Just wanted to let you know that your card arrived yesterday :) Thank you so much! I've mailed mine out too, and my fingers are crossed they'll will arrive before Christmas! *hugs*

[bk_forever]

Wow! That was fast for the distance it's travelled! Glad it reached you okay =)

We're not having much of a Christmas this year, mum just has no enthusiasm for anything much these days and spends most of her time dozing anyway so it's just going to be a quiet time. hope you enjoy your holiday celebrations, whatever you do! *hugs*

[jeeplovergal2.livejournal.com]

My card arrived today and I love it.

[bk_forever]

Yay! So pleased! Merry Christmas, Di!

[neverminetohold.livejournal.com]

The postal service here in Germany is not that bad, but they raise the rates about once a year, especially now that most people seem to prefer SMS and emails over letters. Of course now around Xmas, I see up to four different cars in post-yellow drive up and down, and everywhere ^_^

Merry Christmas!

[bk_forever]

Our prices keep going up while the service goes down. We used to have a really good mail service, then it was privatised and that's when it started to go downhill.*sigh*

Merry Christmas to you too, I hope you enjoy it!