A Right Royal Mail Farce

If there's one thing guaranteed to get my dander up, it's poor service. Today, the target of my rage is the Royal Mail who are charged by me with lacking common sense and being intentionally unhelpful. Sorry, but I need to give vent to my anger.
We have been waiting for a couple of parcels. Delivery of both parcels was attempted this morning, but we were both out. Rather than attempting to leave them with a neighbour or leave them somewhere safe such as in our dustbin or 'over the gate', our postman/woman - for I really cannot distinguish which - opted to leave one of their 'something for you' cards. The card clearly states that the items were too large for the letter box so have been returned to our local delivery office where they can now be collected. Now our last postman had no problem finding a safe place for parcels and noting their location on a card and this I found to be a more than satisfactory arrangement, unbroken for the last three years.
I found the card wedged in our letter box at 3pm after returning home from my group and promptly drove the 10 miles to our 'local' delivery office at Holbeach expecting to be able to claim the parcels there. Instead I was told that they were not there for me to collect and that I would have to come back after 10.30 tomorrow morning. Needless to say, I was fuming and as one who suffers with high blood pressure, I opted to storm out rather than argue my case. It would have got me nowhere and frankly anyone who has to be separated from the people they serve by a glass screen, and talk through a tiny gap, is not interested in providing anything resembling a service.
Having allowed my blood pressure to return to a normal level, I have filled in and submitted an on-line complaint form siting a complete lack of common sense and incorrect information which saw me complete a needless 20 mile round trip. I am deceiving myself to expect anything near an apology and wholly expect to have to drive another 20 miles tomorrow to collect my items. Only this time, they had better be there.
I have for a long time suspected that the Royal Mail has put profit before customer service. I'm afraid that this latest example of crass incompetence pretty much confirms my belief.
Hermes, DHL, FedEx, TNT, Yodel = choice.

At odds with my in-laws

I think I have hinted at the fact that my in-laws have a very dim view of me. This hasn't always been the case. Back at the start when I was a high-flying executive, I couldn't have put a foot wrong. I was their golden boy and they were so proud of the fact that I would turn up in my flash car wearing a suit... It's only since I had my breakdown and decided on a totally new career path that their view of me has changed. I'm now the 'black sheep' of the family. I am derided as I have refused to work in the local factory to bring in some money and they are certain my illness was just an excuse for being lazy.
Things went a bit further this evening as my wife remarked that I do nothing to help my image with my in-laws. Apparently I hadn't joined them in the lounge when I had called to collect my son. The truth is I actually find it very difficult to be in their company. I know they talk about be when I'm not there and they love to gossip about how I do nothing to support my wife and son. Yes, we're in a financial mess (who isn't nowadays?), but I did work bloody hard for 15 years, earning a lot of money so I could insure us against the worst of it. We could be in a far greater mess. I suspect also that my determination to gain my PCV license also riles them. The truth is our backgrounds are completely different. They have been used to taking the first job that's offered and suffering it for a tiny wage. I on the other hand have been used to a lengthy career on the IT ladder finally reaching the top three years ago.

My new career choice is one I have longed to do for many years. I do so wish I had pursued it earlier but I had become 'trapped' - well comfortable - in my IT career and to be honest the money was good. Part of the problem is the fact it's taken such a bloody long time for me to get where I want to be. My first attempt at completing my training was scuppered by the training company after they stole my money. I'm now trying to raise the funds required to try again. I'm nearly there - I have the court trying to get my money back and I have also requested a loan. I'm hopeful I will hear something from both of them next week. As soon as I have the funds, I will book my course and I'll be behind the wheel of a coach driving round Peterborough.

The problems with my in-laws actually serve to make me more determined to prove to them that I can both drive a bus or coach and enjoy my work at the same time. I'm not happy with my current situation and each day I long for things to be different. But knowing how they feel about me has really started to make me quite angry, so much so that I did tell my wife that I didn't care what they thought and that I'll never do anything right by them. I could happily avoid them though I know this will be difficult to do. I feel very uncomfortable in their presence. I know I shouldn't but I feel as if I no longer know them. My wife will hate this but it's how I feel...