Gifts sent to Canada end up in Oz - weeks after Christmas

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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DEAR Santa Claus, next year can you please get yourself a satellite navigation system or at least invest in a decent A to Z, disgruntled, Rhys, aged 2 x

This is a letter the grandson of a Swansea Valley pensioner may wish to pen if he were only old enough to write after his Christmas presents ended up on the other side of the planet.

But rather than blame the jolly fellow in the big red suit, little Rhys Hopkin, who lives in Canada after his mum and dad emigrated, should be asking his Postman Pat toy some very stern questions.

As it is Royal Mail who are to blame for spoiling Christmas according to doting grandmother Anne Hopkin.

The 75-year-old from Rhydyfro, near Pontardawe, sent off a parcel from her local post office to her son's family in Toronto, where he has gone to work as a teacher.

Despite posting in plenty of time for the big day the package did not arrive at the foot of the Hopkins' tree but amazingly turned up 10,000 miles away in Australia!

Mrs Hopkin said: "They couldn't be much further apart, could they? If it had gone to America you could understand because it had been taken off in the wrong place. But to go to Australia — it's incredible really."

Widow Anne — who has nine children, 24 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren — added: "I sent two boxes of chocolates, which wouldn't weigh much, and a Wales rugby shirt and a T-shirt for my son.

"For my grandson, who is just 2, there was a Welsh Rugby Union tracksuit and a little waistcoat.

"I wrote the address in big, black marker pen — a permanent marker. I put the name and address on the front and on the back in smaller writing, and a label on the back with my address in case it had to be sent back.

"They stuck more labels on it at the post office. It went off and I kept saying to them before Christmas: 'Has it arrived?' We thought it was just held up in the Christmas post and would arrive before long."

However a woman called Mrs Hopkin's house on January 6 at 7am and left a message saying she had the gifts — and was in Australia.

Royal Mail spokeswoman Val Bodden apologised to Anne for the mix-up, but added: "Unfortunately without more information being provided by the customer, such as a tracking reference number, our international customer services team cannot investigate the matter further."

[Wessex]

Must have gone to New South Wales I reckon.Perhaps we should adopt the continental method of senders address in small on top left of item and destination address in centre of item.

I would lay odds that the sender wrote South Wales on her return address.

[Wiggins79]

Errr, unless I was out on the day duties were being made up to take individual packets and letters to foreign countries, how can this be "Royal Mail's fault"? They do realise that each country has it's own postal service don't they?

[TeeferTiger]

Well I'm sure Royal Mail are responsible for it ending up in the wrong country, but not for it being delivered to the wrong place... That would be down to the Australian postal service.

I had a letter arrive in my mail sort that had been sent from New York and was going to California

[suwisusansuwi]

Its nice to hear that someones grandchildren received there presents, I sent my grandchildren their presents recorded 1st class wrapped well and to and from clearly marked " i work for royal mail " !!!!!!
And low and behold never turned up only had to go 50 mile down the road , 1st year I didnt take them ( working ) will never use royal mail again oh and my mother - in -law pressie too never turned up both sent a t the same time , that one going to manchester so she thinks I never sent her anything THANKS royal mail

[Wessex]

Its nice to hear that someones grandchildren received there presents, I sent my grandchildren their presents recorded 1st class wrapped well and to and from clearly marked " i work for royal mail " !!!!!!
And low and behold never turned up only had to go 50 mile down the road , 1st year I didnt take them ( working ) will never use royal mail again oh and my mother - in -law pressie too never turned up both sent a t the same time , that one going to manchester so she thinks I never sent her anything THANKS royal mail

Perhaps it was one of the temps like at my old office who was seen throwing the letters and parcels over peoples back fences
No proper training given so not a surprise. Low paid, poorly trained and poorly motivated delivery staff will be the future norm for RM methinks :ncfo