Author: ginnybain

Out on Delivery: Wed 28 Dec

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Today: Wet leaf, Ipswich road: Lost bauble, Newmarket road: Puddle reflection , Church Avenue.

A return to work and the walk after a period of illness and Christmas. A rainy, dank day but still comforting to be back treading my usual steps. A hangover of Christmas Cards and new travel catalogues to deliver today. I notice a card I deliver has taken over a month to arrive, despite being posted in Norfolk. Another first class letter (which is being eagerly awaited) finally arrives having been posted on the 12th December. I hope this signals a catching up of strike affected mail and look forward to everything returning to normal.

Out on Delivery: Tue 13 Dec

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Today: Frosty van handle: Frosty plant, Lime tree Road: Textured ice, Allens lane.

Even colder and frostier than yesterday. Many beautiful frosty moments to photograph but so cold that my phone battery dies as soon as I use it. Remembered my ice grip shoe attachments, so easier walking today.

Out on Delivery: Mon 12 Dec

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Today: Leaves on frozen pavement, Ipswich Grove: The saddest sign, The cedars.

A treacherous day out delivering. Black ice turning roads and pavements into ice rinks. We stopped to help cheer a man who had fallen and bashed his head on Christchurch Road, whilst he waited for an ambulance. Eyes to the ground, looking for ice free routes.

My head is filled with cold and I feel rotten.

Out on Delivery: Sat 10 Dec

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Today: Frosty leaves and spiders webs

A very cold day, off to a difficult start as it took three turns of the yard to locate my van (which has just been changed). All the numbers obscured in the heavy frost, too cold for anyone to bother to quip “it’s the red one”.

Frosty leaves were beautifully white edged and sharded spiders webs were visible. So cold that I finished cold despite the thermal layers, hat, neck warmer and extra Jumper. Starting to deliver Christmassy looking parcels and plenty of cards.

Out in Delivery: Fri 9 Dec

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Today: Westminster Bridge: Rally in Parliament Sq: Proud CWU members

Attended a rally in Parliament square, some rousing speakers, terrific banners and feelings of solidarity. A march up to Buckingham palace and a mad dash to a slow coach trip home.

Out on Delivery: Thu 8 Dec

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Today: Snow dusted leaf, Benjamin Gooch Way: A Leaf, Ipswich Rd: Eagle pub, Newmarket Road

A cold delivering day, a sprinkling of snow and icy pavements. Colourful Christmas cards to deliver in every bundle. A box of Heroes from a customer kept our spirits up as we delivered.

Out on Delivery: Tue 6 Dec

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Today: Pink leaf, Ipswich Road: Leaf, Mount Pleasant: Windscreen leaf visiter, Ipswich Rd: Foliage, Harford Manor Rd

Another challengingly long and damp day’s delivering. We head out at 9:00am and back at 15:45 having delivered non stop. Bundles are heavy and so we use the trolley on most loops of the walk. My head is down, pushing on with the delivery and so it is the leaves on the ground I notice mostly today.

Out on Delivery: Mon 5 Dec

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Today: Posties calling cards, Delivery Depot: Blue dot, Allen’s Lane: Gleaming Newmarket road.

A difficult day, mountains of packets and parcels to sort. Tricky to move around the delivery office, since so many Yorks filled with mail in all available spaces.

We are late out on delivery and it is cold and showery. We have to prioritise the mail and yet still we are only finished at 3pm. Tomorrow will be worse. Mail boxes are jammed full with Christmas cards.

Out on Delivery: Fri 2 Dec

| ginnybain

Today: Windscreen leaf, Grove Avenue: Mail trolley, Newmarket Road: Christmas tree, Honor Close.

So much mail to sort that we are not out delivering until 10am. Cold and unexpectedly showery. When the sun comes the light is clear. We are not finished delivering until 4:15 pm, so deliver into the fading of the day. Christmas trees sparkle and we peek into cosy and warm homes. Customers seem chatty, perhaps pleased to see us after our two day strike.