Leaves

Out on Delivery: Mon 23 Jan

| ginnybain

Today: Ice on windscreen: Ice outlined leaves: First snowdrops of 2023, Church Avenue.

Another icy sharp morning. Diffuse sun made all sparkle but failed to warm. The full weight of National trust catalogues hit today and meant heavy bags and slower trolley deliveries.

The new summer lapsing plan started today and so we are now delivering to Royal Arch Court and Chester Place but no longer to Grove Avenue. It took me a good 5 mins to gain access into Royal Arch Court and the warden seemed disappointed to have lost their usual postie. An intriguing numbering system posed quite a delivering challenge. Should be easier tomorrow…

Out on Delivery: Sat 21 Jan

| ginnybain

Today: Frosty leaf, Ipswich Grove: Frost patterns, Plantsman Close: Frost, Ipswich Rd: Epic bird feeder shadow.

A sunny but cold day. Lots of National Trust magazines to deliver. Exquisite ice patterns and frosty edgings throughout the walk.

Out on Delivery: Fri 30 Dec

| ginnybain

Eyes down today to keep the rain off my glasses. Mostly the pavements are filled with brown autumn leaf mulch, so, the occasional lighter leaf catches my eyes.

It is as hard today as it was easy yesterday to get people to answer the door. I wonder wether people are off visiting others for the new year or just tucked up in bed sleeping through this dark, wet, miserable day.

I ask a few customers how their Christmas were and are reminded of how Christmas can be hard and lonely for many people. A favourite customer shares how her family don’t celebrate New Year’s Eve after her Grandma was killed being hit by a bus whilst on the way to her parents New Year’s Eve party. Humbled by the intensity of this story and the range of lived experiences people have.

Out on Delivery: Mon 12 Dec

| ginnybain

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: Tue 6 Dec

| ginnybain

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 28 Nov

| ginnybain

Today: Autumn Leaves, Church Avenue: Spider’s web, Allens Lane: Wet leaves, Ipswich Road.

A slight mist hugging us damp, it lifts later, partially. Moist droplets, catch the eye,on webs and foliage. Burnt orange is the colour of the morning with the Beech trees looking splendid. Still plenty of foliage, flowers and even a peek of lilac in a lavender bush, feels unusual for late November.

Plenty to deliver, increasing numbers of cards and ordered Christmas presents. Finally less catalogues and promotional material and the backlog of magazines which weren’t delivered last week due to the strikes.

Out on Delivery: Sat 26 Nov

| ginnybain

Today: Pointy leaves, Christchurch road: Mysterious box, which caught my eye, East Anglian Squash and Tennis centre: Leaves, Grove Avenue: Twisted fruits, Ipswich Road.

Back after two days of strike to more mail than we could deliver in Saturday working hours. Put in the overtime to clear it before the tidal wave of black friday shopping washes in.

A beautiful softly sunny day made for a very agreeable days delivering.

Out on Delivery: Wed 23 Nov

| ginnybain

Today: Wet leaves, Ipswich Grove: Leaf filled puddle, Ipswich Road

A challenging day all round. A band of heavy rain moved in and through during the course of the delivery. My waterproof coat is not quite up to the job and the van and my glasses needed constant de-misting. High volumes of letters, cards and parcels to deliver, plus collections made for a long wet, cold day.

Despite hoping for a deal to be struck we received confirmation that we are striking for the next 48 hrs. It was difficult to move around the office this morning for volumes of parcels I can’t begin to imagine the volumes we will be dealing with when we return to work Saturday…

Out on Delivery: Fri 18 Nov

| ginnybain

Today: A series of fallen leaves with rain drops: Leaf on van window, delivery office: Grove Avenue: Ipswich Grove: Newmarket Road

An overcast cooler day. I am really enjoying the silvery water droplets on the fallen leaves. The leaf colours are magnificent, I feel a sadness at how quickly their splendour fades. I pick some up and put in the pocket of my bag but forget to retrieve them. They will likely be crumpled, dry And distinctively less splendid when I find them tomorrow.

A normal Friday delivery, busy but not too taxing. Delivery office full of talk of the new strike dates and the offer of early retirement made yesterday.