So.......

[Iinvisible]

How the devil IS everyone this fine balmy evening?

[Maydup]

Waving at Wiggal - I must have passed you on the road. I live betwixt Norwich/Gt Yarmouth and am pleased you had a good time!

Its still warm here and when I watered my pots an hour ago I would have happily called it balmy. Slightly cooler now, but that's OK by me at 9.30pm.

[mike11111]

Got an email this morning to say that a friend of mine, younger than me, had died. Having got over the shock I went out and bought a sympathy card to send to his mother. When I had written it out I went to the Post Office counter to buy a stamp. It was a special issue stamp showing the graveyard scene from Hamlet with him holding a skull. I thought this rather inappropriate to affix to a card to a grieving mother and asked for an ordinary stamp displaying the Queen's head. I was told that they had none, unless I bought a book of six (which I did). I know they can't cater for all circumstances, but I was not best pleased to find that ordinary stamps were not available.

[Iinvisible]

Blimey Mike!!! That is disgusting in the circumstances! Good on you for buying the book of normal stamps though. x

[albaqwerty]

Mike, that's awful. I'm sorry for your loss. But why on earth couldn't you buy a 'normal' stamp. That stinks.

[mike11111]

Apparently they had none, they just sell what comes in. Normally special issue stamps come in a series, so one with a less inappropriate image might have been acceptable, but it was a choice of Hamlet with the skull or second class. I have had this problem before when sending letters to France as the French PO does not always recognise these stamps and makes a surcharge at the other end. I have nothing against special issue stamps, provided that the bog standard issue is still available.

[mike11111]

Have just emailed a complaint to Royal Mail so feel a bit better.

[Maydup]

Good for you Mike - if a Post Office can't have a few "ordinary" stamps in stock what hope is there for the world!

[mike11111]

Some would call it a storm in a teacup, but the prospect of sending an envelope to a mother whose son had just died endorsed with a skull just hit me in the face. I am glad that despite my advancing years I was able to spot the incongruity and act accordingly.

[supersuezy24]

Stuffed after an absolutely gorgeous dinner :)
How are you?

[mike11111]

Yet another famous misquotation. The original is:
Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio.

[merciasounds]

Very well thanks vey much for asking! Ben sunny but chilly here in Brum, just putting the rice in the steamer to go with the king prawn and chicken Thai curry, made with whole roasted spices that I ground, cooked with galingal, shallots, coconut cream, chili, lemon grass and lime leaves, along with fresh coriander and the spicy lamb rendang i've made for dinner.

[mrs.chappie]

I'm very well........thank you for asking. You well too?

Errr.......mercia - can I come and live with you? :o)

[mrs_overall]

Mercia, will you adopt me?

It's lovely & warm in North Yorks - still in my t shirt here