RA Pocket Shrine 219/? – Brilliantly British

/ May 8, 2020

I’m not having much luck with the titles for my RAPS post. I just noticed a major slip on the Percy shrine post from two weeks ago.

2018 shrines? Jeepers Creepers. I mean, ok, 200+ mini shrines about that *one* bloke may already look bonkers. But 2,018 would be obsessive! Corrected.

*Um* I have just realised that my “Brilliantly British” shrine comes on a day that has enough nationalist sentiment already in the UK. It is VE Day – which refers to Victory in Europe, 1945. It is of course an important date to remember, and even though it was never particularly encouraged in Germany when *I* was growing up, I was always aware of the day. For me – and for many Germans of *all* generations – it always was the day of liberation. The defeat of the Nazis, and the victory of freedom and liberty over totalitarianism and fascism. As such, it deserves to be commemorated by Germans, too. I’d draw the line at “celebrations”, though. Street parties with bunting and biscuits would not seem appropriate for Germany. Anyway, so on *this* day the RAPS reveal in question happens to have the tagline “Brilliantly British”. You couldn’t make it up…

Except that it doesn’t look British on the outside at all.

Well, it has Lady Liberty on the lid, though. Mind you, the contents definitely are British. Let’s start with the top.

You can probably tell that this shrine was made for a cat lover… This is for LoLo who has been having a bit of a rough time lately, from the UV cancellation to health etc. More reason to spoil her a bit.

I confess, I had other plans when I started working on the shrine. But somehow the concept always changes once I start working. These shrines have a mind of their own.

But well, “love love love” always applies. Even if the shrine maker occasionally has to rant. It’s all *his* fault. 😉 The shrine has already arrived with LoLo, so hopefully it will soothe the pain a bit. Lots of love to you, LoLo 😘.

You can skip the next paragraph – doesn’t contain RA, just RL

In totally secondary news I just have to vent over my latest experience in the post office. The saga of the unpleasant post mistress continues. I popped into the post office this morning with an important shipment for an Etsy order – btw, thank goodness that Etsy still works and that people are supporting makers during this time – which had to be sent registered. I was on an early morning walk with Mr Guylty, and before I walked into the premises, he winked and wished me ‘good luck’. Little did he know…  I had to bother my special friend, the b*tchy post mistress, in order to have the mail registered. When I said the envelope was for Canada, she immediately shot back at me “Canada does not accept any international post right now” (imagine that in a gruff and rude tone). I didn’t even argue with her but just grabbed my envelope off the scales and left. Mr Guylty was waiting outside. I told him what had happened and that I didn’t trust the woman. If there was no post accepted in Canada, that would’ve been flagged on Etsy (like they did in the past when the Canadian mail service was on strike) and I would’ve known. I suspected that she had given me false information. So we trudged to the next nearest PO – where I handed in my envelope and had it registered with no questions asked! Back home I checked the current list of countries that An Post is delivering to. Canada is one of the few countries that actually accepts *all* mail, and is marked as “no restrictions” on the website. Seriously, what is that woman doing? Is she merely uninformed or is she actively sabotaging her own livelihood? 😡 I’m so annoyed with her. But well, at least my letter is now on its way.

Venting over. 😤

 

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42 thoughts on “RA Pocket Shrine 219/? – Brilliantly British”

  1. Wow, what a bitch! Our post office people are incredibly helpful. I Think you should find some way to report her… after all she may be as nasty to everyone (in fact she must be – what could she possibly have against you personally?)

    Lovely shrine for Lolo! ❤️

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    • Not sure whether she is nasty to everyone. I have actually observed her having very friendly chats with other customers. Maybe she just has it in for me?
      I really wish I wasn’t obliged to use that particular PO. I used to go to another PO but it has been closed for renovation for most of the year. I’m stuck with that b*tch.

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    • Absolutely. Even if she doesn’t like you for some reason, I don’t think the postal service would be happy with an employee who is not only nasty, but lies so she doesn’t have to do her work. Chances are pretty good you’re not the only one she’s miserable to.

      That shrine has got a lot going on. I especially love that cover. It reminds me of my visits to see LLL. I don’t know if I really want to know what the fur is. 😳😂

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  2. I already expressed my delight for this beauty over on Twitter when LoLo sent it off, but it’s gorgeous and cannot be praised enough. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it (if you’ll excuse the obvious pun). I’m now assaulted with visions of snuggling up on a cozy fuzzy blanket with a certain someone. 😍

    That postal dragon sounds dreadful. She seems to have her knickers in a perpetual bunch. Grrrr! Argh! 😤

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  4. 1. Beautiful shrine. Lucky receiver! coughwaitingformineasusmailisrunning.

    2. Print the web page, take it to the bitch. Personally, I think she doesn’t want to be assed and acting accordingly.

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  5. This is reminiscent of something I used to run into at Deutsche Post all the time in the 90s: people who didn’t want to do a job if it involved extra effort. I’d have to ship my books to the US by M-Bag but I regularly had Postbeamte tell me there was no such thing. Even if you’d wave a copy of the Deutsche Post literature / instructions on how to do it front of their face. They just didn’t want the hassle. We got so we’d call ahead of time at a particular branch to make sure they knew what it was before hauling the stuff over there.

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    • Oh, I know exactly what you mean. I remember those extra-unfriendly mid-level civil servants who were angry that a customer dared disturb them and require a service. The thing is – I can almost understand those German post guys because an M-bag was something out of the ordinary and required extra effort. Doesn’t apply to my post mistress, as letter post is the same, no matter where you send it to. But yeah, she definitely also doesn’t want hassle.

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    • Oh, I wish your postman worked here. He seems to be a real gem. (Actually, in fairness – my local postman who delivers my mail, is actually really nice, too.)

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  7. Lovely shrine as always! I would definitely find a way to report that evil postmistress. And/or you could confront her… but that might get ugly.

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    • I’ve been wondering about going back and showing her a print-out of the rules. But I think you are right. It would get ugly. She doesn’t strike me as someone who will apologise.

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  8. Lovely shrine! I know from experience how much receiving one can help lift spirits, like a little talisman. Hope it did the same for you LoLo 😊
    Sounds like that postmistress just can’t be bothered, I’d report her. I’m pretty sure An Post wouldn’t appreciate an employee who costs them customers. I go to a little post office in our “twin town”. It’s more personalised because it’s privately run and the couple who are lessees are always friendly and obliging.

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    • I’ve been wondering whether I should send a complaint to An Post, but I have a weird feeling that the post mistress is almost something like a franchise holder and not employed by An Post themselves. When it happened the other time (when attempting to send to Italy), I tweeted at An Post and they excused her behaviour with “it’s extraordinary times and she might be very stressed”…

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  9. The Royal Mail in the UK is in private hands and the Unions are upset that they have been told not to deliver letters on a Saturday, it’s supposed to be for only 6 weeks but they fear jobs will be lost. In our local post office there are generally two staff I prefer to go to the window of the girl who doesn’t look as though she is sucking on a lemon!

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    • Why are the unions worried? Do they fear that the restrictions on Saturday post will NOT be lifted after the pandemic, and thus jobs will be cut? (In Ireland they never deliver on Saturdays anyway.)

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  10. Gorgeous furry RAPS! LoLo deserves it 😊

    Last time I went to nearest post office and tries to send a letter they charged too little. The sum bothered me so I checked it out before I went home. The correct sum was 1,50 € more and we sorted it out. This wasn’t the first time and sometimes it feels like I know more than those who work there.

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  11. Lovely shrine.
    And ugh on that postmistress! You could report her or go back and show her that it was not problem at another post office. But that might all be more trouble than it’s worth…

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