Wednesday 7th December

341/365: another post box photo for my collection,
this one is in Upton Lovell

Yesterday's book group Christmas meal took up most of the day ... I left home at 11:15am to pick up E and then finally put the key in my front door just after 4:45pm. The pub is about a 40 minutes drive each way and, while the village will be worth a visit in the summer to take photographs, I'm not sure that I'd want to return for a meal. The food was lovely but even though we had booked our table for 12:30pm and had arrived in plenty of time, they didn't take our order until we'd been waiting at least an hour and then of course there was another wait for the food to be ready. The worst part was that the room was absolutely freezing; when we complained they brought out a small convector heater which did nothing at all to raise the temperature of the room but at least they tried. It didn't really damage spirits ... the book group ladies were in a party mood and I think everyone had a good time ... I enjoyed myself. The next U3A meal is next week but I have something else in the diary so can't go, so the next meal for me will be another book group meal at the end of January to celebrate another member's birthday.

Today there's a load of washing to do which I'll put in as soon as I go downstairs and I'll also attempt to move some of the pots from garage to patio before I settle down for the nutrition class mid morning. Then I have a few more adverts to place for the remainder of the larger items which will have to be collected so I'll advertise them as cash on collection ... I'm hoping they will sell quickly so they are out of the way before Christmas. 

Comments

  1. A whole hour is totally unreasonable, whatever the temperature. Will you give them some feedback?
    I love the postbox. xx

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    Replies
    1. I think the group leader may be giving feedback. We did complain at the time but it didn't make any difference. The delay was because they served tables in order of the time the tables were booked for. Ours was booked for 12:30 but there was another table booked for 12:15, so according to the waitress the 12:15 table had to be served first even though they were late and didn't arrive until after 12:40 and we were all at our table and ready to order on time.

      I haven't seen one of these post boxes before so was really pleased to see it! xx

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  2. I like your postbox photo. My first thought was oh no the yarn bombers cannot fancy this style up ... or can they? I wonder what the delay at the pub was about - not enough wait staff or short staffed in the kitchen. Well at least you had very good company to fill the wait time. I imagine many places of business are going to be turning down the heat this year with the rising costs of energy everywhere. Fingers crossed the declutter items are sold quickly. :)

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    Replies
    1. The yarn bomber probably could decorate this style post box. I've seen one of the more modern wall boxes decorated with knitted wreathes and streamers - that was last year.

      See my response to Joy (above) for the reason for the delay. The lack of heat was another thing which I think would be a problem throughout the winter anyway and not related to the fuel prices. It was a huge conservatory type structure with huge picture window, so very difficult to keep heated. It'll be a lovely venue during the summer as it's right by the river as well.

      I've sold two of the decluttered items already and they'll be collected on Saturday. xx

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  3. Nice post/letter box! We used to have red painted pillar boxes in Sri Lanka when I was living there - don't know if they are still in place or in use. The mail boxes in the US are usually painted blue.

    Sorry to hear about the long wait in a cold restaurant. Surely they could have taken your table's orders until the "booked earlier, but, not ready t order yet" table? Sounds like poor customer service, to me.

    Yay for two decluttered items sold, already! Sounds like progress is being made!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have a collection of all the different post boxes I see, either by design, regnal cypher, or colour. Most of ours are red but it is possible to see green, black or blue ones and the gold ones commemorating the Olympic medallists. I'm hoping there will be a Charles III one soon.

      We were all surprised that they didn't serve us earlier, especially as the other table were still waiting for some of their party to arrive. It was poor customer service, but they didn't want to listen to reason!

      Yes, progress is being made. Next week I'll look through what's left and see what else I can donate, just to get rid of it as quickly as possible.

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  4. Knowing how much I enjoy seeing a new weather vane or coin, I can relate to your pleasure in finding a new post box!

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  5. Oh that's a shame that the restaurant couldn't keep up with their customers. It is the case over 50% of the time here -- they just don't have the staff either to wait tables or for the kitchen. We have stopped going out except for the rarest occasions as it is just not enjoyable. Even getting carryout is problematic. I have felt so sorry for those who are still working with insufficient support.

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    Replies
    1. I've since found out that the owners were fairly new so I think, with enough complaints, they will learn and hopefully revise their approach. It's not been a problem anywhere else thankfully and luckily get takeaways (carryout) is very easy over here and certainly in this area, most places will deliver. It's not an easy industry to work in and I share your sympathy for the people who have to work with insufficient support.

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