I thought a quick trip to town, to go into four places, side by side, should be an easy thing to do.
Four things, buy an envelope, post a letter in the newly bought envelope, get a clearance certificate and get some new windscreen blades as the heavens had seriously opened the night before and had not yet stopped.
First stop not necessary as I found a perfect envelope in the car. Easy traffic, envelope in car. Perfect. Enter post office. My letter is to the Queen of England, Buckingham Palace and they want a code for UK. Fifteen minutes later two people are still taking turns to enter stuff on the keyboard. I took the advice of my inner knowledge and retrieved the letter. I would go to Postnet twenty minutes away on a rainy highway.
First go next door and get the clearance certificate. They’re off line. Come back in an hour. Go next door and get the windscreen blades. Don’t have my size go somewhere else. At last success and I leave for Postnet with perfect vision.
The blades work well. Arrive at Postnet to find it closed with a notice on the door. Whew!! It’s now only just around the corner. By now I am so grateful for something. They require the Queens telephone number or they can’t accept the letter. I go into google and get a number for posting to Royal families.
Now I need a person so I brave up and say the secretary. They ask R600 for a letter. Basically that is one sheet of paper and an envelope. I paid and drove back to the clearance people. It is now two hours later in the pouring rain. It’s raining so hard that driving feels like being in a steel hulled dingy, bashing it’s way over breakwater. Well the clearance people apologise as whoever needs to react are unfortunately not picking up their phones.
I drove back home to return in the afternoon. So much for nipping out for a quick errand or two. Never be so presumptuous.
