Observations of a Postie
Discussion
Evening all, and indeed a happy Christmas Eve to you.
I wanted to start this topic for your enjoyment as much as my own, so I can look back and amuse myself in months, maybe years to come. I'll basically add anything of interest, from the mundane to the mental, that I see on my walks.
I'm a postman, somewhere on the edge of East London and Essex. When I first started this job, I remember someone saying to me, we're the eyes and ears of the community, and I thought, that's a load of rubbish. But seven months later, I kind of know what they meant now.
I won't waffle on. I'll keep this updated as anything interesting happens, so could be daily, could be weekly.
Feel free to ask any questions, comment, or just read along with us.
I'll start with the below, as its the time of year where we should all think about the homeless.
The first time I saw her, she took me by surprise. She wasn't there last week, outside the public toilets of a large, well known park with a beautiful lake. A well built blonde woman, with wild, plaited hair, piercing blue eyes. Her breasts are noticeable in her tight top. Definitely an Eastern European accent. She's pacing around on the edge of the road, a stones throw from her belongings; a set of cases, blankets, other junk. She's muttering to herself and is quite animated in general. I'm pushing my HCT (high capacity trolley) towards her, a little bit amused, a little bit wary. She spots me and stops. As I pass she says 'good morning' and I say hello back, half smiling. Barely ten seconds after i've passed she's back to pacing around and muttering. I remember wondering how she's ended up there, and where she's come from. That was back in July. It's now the day before Christmas and although I don't walk past there much anymore, I still see her there when I drive past in the mornings, wearing much more clothing and looking tired. I must talk to her one day, before she's gone. She must have been freezing the last few weeks.
I wanted to start this topic for your enjoyment as much as my own, so I can look back and amuse myself in months, maybe years to come. I'll basically add anything of interest, from the mundane to the mental, that I see on my walks.
I'm a postman, somewhere on the edge of East London and Essex. When I first started this job, I remember someone saying to me, we're the eyes and ears of the community, and I thought, that's a load of rubbish. But seven months later, I kind of know what they meant now.
I won't waffle on. I'll keep this updated as anything interesting happens, so could be daily, could be weekly.
Feel free to ask any questions, comment, or just read along with us.
I'll start with the below, as its the time of year where we should all think about the homeless.
The first time I saw her, she took me by surprise. She wasn't there last week, outside the public toilets of a large, well known park with a beautiful lake. A well built blonde woman, with wild, plaited hair, piercing blue eyes. Her breasts are noticeable in her tight top. Definitely an Eastern European accent. She's pacing around on the edge of the road, a stones throw from her belongings; a set of cases, blankets, other junk. She's muttering to herself and is quite animated in general. I'm pushing my HCT (high capacity trolley) towards her, a little bit amused, a little bit wary. She spots me and stops. As I pass she says 'good morning' and I say hello back, half smiling. Barely ten seconds after i've passed she's back to pacing around and muttering. I remember wondering how she's ended up there, and where she's come from. That was back in July. It's now the day before Christmas and although I don't walk past there much anymore, I still see her there when I drive past in the mornings, wearing much more clothing and looking tired. I must talk to her one day, before she's gone. She must have been freezing the last few weeks.
bobtail4x4 said:
our postie gets a dog treat allowance,
he tells me he knows the birthdays of everyone on his round,
Some of the boys in my office have been on their walks for 20+ years. They know who's moved, who's died, when their birthdays are, their kids birthdays, what sort of snacks they like, what time they come and go. It really is quite awesome, but also quite sad, to a newbie.he tells me he knows the birthdays of everyone on his round,
I'm quite happy doing what I do. Instead of a set duty, I'm somewhere different on a daily or weekly basis. I've learnt a lot of the walks in a short amount of time. Each walk has 700-1000 delivery points.
RumbleOfThunder said:
I always talk about dropping what I'm doing now to become a postie. My thinking is it will be a great, low stress way to make a living and keep me fit. Please don't shatter my illusions.
I have no intentions of shattering your illusions. I quit my stressful job in the city and couldn't be happier, on the whole 
When i'm on overtime, I remind myself i'm basically being paid to exercise. I quite regularly do 2 duties instead of 1, that works out to around 30,000 steps.
Edited by essexpostie on Sunday 24th December 18:34
Sounds like Postman Plod from Viz.AlrightYouns said:
Our postie is a Prick who throws parcels at my partner and has a terrible attitude, he needs sorting really.
Make a complaint to his office. Our office is a large one with over 100 postmen and women, but I'm happy to say most of them are good people and generally try their best.
Edit to add, some of them are lazy gits though, which leaves the rest of us to pick up the slack.
Edited by essexpostie on Sunday 24th December 18:33
voicey said:
I really like my posties both at home and work - great people to deal with.
I'll have a look around the office on Wednesday and get back to you! There's loads of them.essexpostie said:
I'm pushing my HCT (high capacity trolley)
I'm (a little) surprised you have three letter acronyms! What others do you have?!Must learn to multi quote.
Our post lady drives a van and is French. Probably because we live in France.
She is very jolly and helpfull.
The majority of houses in France have a post box with a key to open. She has a master key to all post boxes,so she can place a parcel in when needed.
If I clip a cloths peg on the letter hatch she knows I have placed a letter in the box for her to post for me.
Yesterday she walked into the house selling the poste annual calendar. We normally buy one and the money is for her. I think the poste office print the calendars and donate them to thier postmen/women to sell.
All the elderly on her round are checked on by her everyday.
It all works well.
She is very jolly and helpfull.
The majority of houses in France have a post box with a key to open. She has a master key to all post boxes,so she can place a parcel in when needed.
If I clip a cloths peg on the letter hatch she knows I have placed a letter in the box for her to post for me.
Yesterday she walked into the house selling the poste annual calendar. We normally buy one and the money is for her. I think the poste office print the calendars and donate them to thier postmen/women to sell.
All the elderly on her round are checked on by her everyday.
It all works well.
Due to my wife’s business, we have the Postie knocking on the door most days and our outgoing post picked up every day at 5pm.
They are, almost without exception, great people, cheerful and helpful.
If that doesn’t fit with the stereotype, so be it, but I think they are a hugely underrated part of our economy and culture.
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