Post Office Services

 

Pre-hi-tech times, the Post Office offered services that were essential to everyone.  The cheery cherry red of the post boxes and the post vans were a pleasure to encounter.

                                                                    

And the arrival of the postman usually heralded a nice surprise. In our small Highland village, Iain and Charlie – the post-boys, as they were called – provided value-added services. As well as delivering the mail, they passed on snippets of news from the area, bringing out medication for those in need, maybe some delicacies sent out from family in the town. They also kept the elderly residents company, having a wee chat sometimes over a welcome cuppa with freshly made scones or pancakes. They were an integral part of community cohesion.                                                                

                                                          

Now, at least here in Greece, things seem to be suffering a sea change. For many years I have subscribed to the Sunday Times newspaper and magazines and enjoyed a regular delivery until Covid struck. With no regular flights coming in there was a backlog of issues which at one point amounted to a 3-month delay. Then Brexit reared its ugly head and further complicated things. With Britain now deemed a third country, the packages are subject to customs checks for which I now have to pay handling fees and VAT! :o My subscription is not cheap, but adding on a payment of over 2.5 euros for each belated newspaper pack really is rubbing salt in the wound.

                                                            

Gifts are also included in the checking procedure, despite being labelled as such and with a declaration of their being of limited value. Customs officers decide themselves what the value of the contents is and levy tax accordingly. My sister was delighted to find swimming gear for me at very reduced prices and kindly sent them out as a gift.  By the time I paid the customs dues the bargain margin was no more!

But the 20^th July definitely was for us a red-letter day; it was then we received five Christmas cards: two from GB, one from Sweden and two from Greece – from Evros in the north and the Peloponnese in the south.

                                                       

    You will fully understand my decision to reconsider sending cards!

The Village Revisited.

 

After three long covid years

We travel to Evros.

Welcomes, hugs, ‘Allo?’ *

Continuing as if we’d never left.

 

 Family ranged round tables

Sharing everyday fare, new dishes,

News, plans, grief.

A close, caring community

 

At the graveyard we clean and weed,

Thinking of dear ones passed,

White river stones keep the sites

Pristine, dignified.

 

And glass doors of candle containers

Clank melodically yet eerily in the evening breeze.

 

We pay one last call to the old homestead

Its crannies and shadows whisper sweet memories.

 

We leave, laden with eggs, garlic, mikikia*, langites,*

Considering the challenges and adventures each one faces.

With batteries recharged, kinship rekindled,

From each other we derive strength, hope, joy.

 

*Allo – the English equivalent might be – ‘So what else is new?’

*Mikikia, langites – the local, traditional and delicious equivalents of doughnuts and pancakes, respectively.