So, last week, I was working away at the computer in the dining room (front of the house), faithful hound drooling at my side, when we both heard the flapping of something exciting fall through the letter box. The hound made it to the front door first (you know by now of her love of delivering men of all natures), closely followed by myself – a little unsteady on my feet following recent illness. We found ourselves staring at one of Royal Mail’s ‘sorry you were out ….’ cards, then at each other. Out? Called? Sorry? Clearly not, it would appear. I opened the door to see Mr. Royal Mail driving away as if from pole-position. Hmmm.

Now, I can honestly say this is not the first time this has happened to me. Previously I was actually standing behind the closed front door when the card came through the flap. Quick as a flash I opened the door to the retreating postie, immediately questioning his calling tactics. “Your bell’s not working” he pointed out, very reasonably. I felt I was equally reasonable when I pointed out that I had no bell, but a knocker and he had obviously been carrying just the card and not my parcel as he was, now, empty handed. He sheepishly conceded that during general working hours, it’s anticipated that the majority of people are not in to accept deliveries, so he had not worried about bringing out my parcel as I’d be at work. Good plan, just not in the school holidays though.

My question is, is this common practice among delivery men, be they courier chains, private or independent couriers or part of a national delivery service? Is there a kind of professional knock-down Ginger that anticipates no-one will answer the door anyway, so at times of convenience, it is the card and not the parcel that comes to the front door? Only you guys can settle this question, so it’s over to you …. !

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