Postal services going down down and --- out?!?!?!?!

 

 

 

 

As children we always loved getting postcards from as far a flung place as possible! They opened a window into the world and of course - always nice to think that people on trips, are thinking of those 'left' behind!!

 

 

 

So when we had our recent 40th celebrations in the Cook Islands we decided to re-institute the art of writing! It takes time to shop for a suitable card (and finding one)  - then write some clever useful words - like MISSING YOU - never mind finding a post-office that has stamps and drop them ready for posting!! 

Teamwork - I had a list and addressees and Mamabear's handwriting is much neater then mine - soooo here she was hard at work!! 

All 13 Postcards got dropped into the mail on 13 Sep 2025!!! Go us.

13 cards on the 13th  - - hmmmmm was that asking for trouble???? 

MEANWHILE - if only we knew what was in store . . . . 

 

Almost all recipients acknowledged receiving them, when they eventually arrived where they were supposed to be - with thanks!

The interesting, or should that be, frustrating part - was - drummmm roll please:

ratatat ratat

That delivery dates varied - e n o r m o u s l y !!!

The shortest time was (1 postcard) to Australia - 20 days!!

Followed by an astonishing 22 days to the UK!

Two cards to NZ followed with 32 days!

Austria had 51 days and also 87 - yes you read this right - 87!!!! Days.  Nearly 3 Months!!! 

Worse yet - there is a twice daily flight from Rarotonga to Auckland - so the cards would all have left on 14 Sept and arrived in Auckland international mailing distribution center the following day!!

GO FIGURE!!!!!!

Worse yet - a Christmas calendar - posted much much later ex Chch - arrived at the same time as the late card!!

What the hell is going on with the postal services??????  You can no longer use Covid as an excuse - that's been done and dusted!! 

Oddly enough - Mail C O M I N G to NZ is more or less in a timely fashion!! Well - except one parcel posted in January 2025 has yet to be delivered and also a Birthday card posted in May 2025 - never came - yet!! 

We definitely have gone backwards in services!!! Back in 1984 when there was NO internet etc - a letter / card posted in Christchurch NZ to Salzburg Austria would take usually 7-14 days to be delivered! 

I keep joking that they are using a paddle boat to deliver - or a bicycle and the Postie got lost in Uzbekistan!! 

With apologies to Pat and his cat!! 



Have fun!