Snail mail

Julie Neighbourly Lead from Havelock North

Do you still write letters? Actual paper and pen letters? Do you fold them nicely in thirds and poo them in an envelope? Do you take the time to check and write out, legibly, the recipients address, on the front then check you got it right, according to your little, or big, address book?
Yes?
Wonderful. I’m glad people still do that.
Did you forget anything?
No?
Are you sure?
How about the return address?
No? You left it off on purpose?
It’s a surprise?
They’ll know who it’s from anyway?
Ahh, of course!
But will the person who moved into their house when they left, or passed away?

Every Christmas, in every house I’ve lived in, in a Havelock North, I receive mail, usually from West Midlands, UK, for people who have moved on. Usually years before. And no one knows them anymore, in the area. Sometimes the envelopes are thin , quite clearly letters or cards, other times thick, possibly with small presents in them.
And no one knows where the intended recipients are.
The dead letter office, or the bin, are the likely recipients, after I give up trying to locate the intended recipients.
If you move,make sure you tell people where you go, or put a permanent stop in your mail. Especially if you generally receive mail from overseas. Or if you just don’t want to get the mail.
And if you do have someone you usually hear from and haven’t for a while, contact them and say “hey, do you have my new address?”
That said, does anyone know the Cunningham’s, Hayley and John. Or Alex van Asch.
The Fords, formerly of Legorne Lane, are probably still missing their Christmas mail from the UK, too.