So how was it for you:A summary of Crimbo.

[POSTMAN]

By and all it wasn't too bad,had a couple of bad days but generally was ok.
The sorting was a pain,the time we was on it had doubled most days sometimes trebeled,but i guess that's a sign of things to come,what with the business coming in for our night duty's no doubt in the new year.
The packets were a mare,there was just tons of them.
Weight wise,without the Mailsort crap and the flats being low,even with the extra packets,there wasn't much.
We got out later than normal every day which was to be expected,but on average the walks only took a little bit longer.

The build up to all this was worse,the last couple of Months or so we've been hammerd,i've never known it so busy.
But i guess that doesn't count.

Can't help thinking there will be less pressure hours next year,but whether we were hammered or not,you know it's the RM way.

[sore-feet]

Yeah,not bad tbh,the sorting is a pisser as is the packet malarky.

[Prawn Star]

Christmas was a shocker.
Mail was coming down from the mail centre which should have been ran through a machine,instead it was turning up as manual.(the night staff were playing pool and come on the sorting to a shitload)

Muggings here being IMP and LSM trained was goinginto the mail centre to Do the mail centres work on Docket.

The fact we didn't have a missort van was the only conselation,we have to take specials out and had to wait till 7 30 for them.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

For me Chrimbo was easier my walk is mainly non christian so although no tips round was pretty quiet.

However sorting was a mare. sorting every day from 0515 to 0645 then we'd walk off leaving a yorky still to do. Alley boss then has to get everyone else including part timers. Prios never ready till 0800. Sat before xmas was excellent out at 7.00 done by 9.00 the all down to pub 25yds from office to get pissed up.

[Docketman]

Pretty good xmas this year. Last year I was taken off my regular round as I'd trained someone and nobody told me you lost your round to get new people comfy. I was on 5 day cover, at xmas on rounds I'd never done . Nightmare, out at 10ish and out for hours. Manager got stroppy when I dropped 3 days in a row.

This last xmas was a dream. There were busy days, but only like busy days. Had to take out a couple of starburst bags* with packets in and cycle them round after sometimes.

£230 tips, below my average £1 per house but welcome. Got nowt last year due to being unfamiliar. Only invested £3 in pound shop on Santa hat, 'wacky' xmas tie and cards for round. .

Delivery went over time a fwe times but only by 30mins or so. Working untill 11.30 on Saturday though!

Don't see the point in holding back flats till after xmas if we're going to every address anyway. Just makes it harder when we come back. And d2d in the few days between xmas and new year is just unreasonable.


*did Starburst bags used to be called Opel Fruit bags?

The best part was the Friday night me and a collegue went out and against plans ended up clubbing. Left club at half two in morning, went home got changed, met up cycled to work. Pulled out all mech and whatever letters and flats that were ready, along with any packets we knew we could lose (big letter box/ cat flaps etc) and bombed out with two bags. Back to office at quarter to four. Kip in canteen, back on duty as usual at 5. Tied up in record time as we'd done the bulk. After hanging about smoking and coffee drinking, left office at 6.15 with two bags on bike and one at drop. Back to office at 7.30, in bed by 8am.

[POSTMAN]

Got a xmas tip today
Tin of choco biccies,the customer has been trying to get to me for ages. And they're in date