Knock -a- door and run

If you're not at home when the postman calls with a letter that has to be signed for or a parcel too large for your letter box, just telephone the St Ives sorting office at Penbeagle and usually delivery will be arranged for the next day or at a time you choose.

Well, that used to be the case until Royal Mail decided that this arrangement was far too simple.

Now when you ring the number on the calling card left by the postman, you can expect to be greeted with information unconnected with the reason for your call and a recorded voice telling you that Royal Mail is doing its best to meet your postal needs. Etc. Only then will your undelivered mail problem be addressed - information from the calling card will be demanded and you'll be told you'll have to wait a couple of days for your post. Oh, and how you might consider doing all this online.

You'll probably decide it's quicker to climb the Stennack to Penbeagle Industrial Estate - unless you are elderly or infirm. When you may have a problem.

Last week a parcel was delivered here from another part of the UK which had been posted Second Class Delivery. It took ten days - rather longer than a parcel recently posted to The St Ivean from Shanghai.