New Postman...hopefully!!

[Milster]

Hello
Just wanted to introduce myself as hopefully I will be joining the Royal Mail shortly.
I have been verbally offered and have accepted the position and my current status is 'Security Checks Passed'. I assume it is just a waiting game now until I get a call confirming a start date?
I have a couple of questions which I'd be grateful for a response on:
1. My contracted hours of work are 8.12-3.12 over 5 days....what is the likelihood of actually starting and finishing at those times? I imagine I will be expected to arrive early some days and obviously I won't be able to finish until I have delivered everything on my route. I just wondered how much overtime the majority of postmen/postwomen do.
2. I have been offered a temporary (3 month) contract. Would I be getting my hopes up to assume that I'd be able to get a more permanent position at the end of the 3 months if I prove myself as a capable postman during my initial contract? I'm just trying to get some longer term plans together!
Thanks for your help.

[POSTMAN]

Depends on the office mate with regards to when you actually start/finish,and you'll probably be on a rolling contract for a long time.
Permanent positions are at a premium at the mo.