LET'S DELIVER SOME LOVE

My next book out is cutting it fine. I’m hoping to have Mustard and Marmalade launched before Christmas. Fingers Crossed. Going to check over the hard copy proof this Thursday. If its okay then I’ll confirm the print run. Otherwise its back to square one, looking for another printing company that can produce the quality of the previous four picture books.
It’s a real shame Swallowtail printing went under, their books were super. However, I was let down by them with my first Timmy picture book, after 52 copies arrived damaged. They provided replacements but it was disappointing and I’d asked them not to use DPD in future. Things like that can affect your overheads.
Talking of delivery companies, I was shocked to discover another delivery company’s procedures locally. I dropped my car in for new tyres on Pyson’s road industrial estate, (black circle tyres great prices, check them out online) and with nothing to do for 40 minutes found a food hut along the road. Stopping there for a cuppa and a Twirl, I sat down to watch the world go by.
Across from the food pod, on the opposite pavement was a huge pile of packages and parcels, at least a hundred. I was intrigued. Even more so when a normal family car pulled up, the driver got out and started reading all the labels. He apparently had a list and gradually he removed a large number of the packages, putting them on his back seat and then drove off.
Another car appeared a few minutes later, the driver doing the same thing, then he drove off too. I investigated and found all the packages left were labelled Hermes Delivery.
It appears a van drops them all off, ON THE OPEN PAVEMENT! There’s no one there. I was gob-smacked. They could be stolen, trod on, or the rain could ruin them, most were paper. Who does that? Remind me to never use Hermes for any deliveries, and I thought DPD were bad with my books.
Saying that, I’m guessing all of us have had the package thrown over the gate—smashing everything inside. Left on the drive—contents worth over a hundred pounds. Left with a neighbour—who denies ever receiving it. Or, conversely, left with a neighbour when you actually requested they didn’t—and they give it to you intact.
There are a thousand delivery stories , I reckon that’s a book. Only two days ago my son ordered and paid for a pizza from Pizza Hut at 9pm. 11.30 and it never arrived. He said it happens sometimes, the driver delivers to the wrong house and the baddies, instead of saying it’s the wrong address, thank them and eat it.
Sometimes I don’t like living around such people. Are they people, or are they animals? Only concerned with their own needs, their own life and not giving two hoots about anyone else? I see it everywhere these days, on the roads, in the supermarkets, shops, cafes. Why can’t folk treat others how they would like to be treated? Don’t they know kindness rubs off eventually on everybody if we all did a little tiny bit of care.
I didn’t realise I was going to get on my high horse today. I’m supposed to be updating you on my writing, but sometimes other things are more important. Like the new Phoenix Community Group I’ve started. We are meeting on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month from 2 to 4pm. Easy to remember, and even easier, its at Hotel Chocolat, Westwood Cross.
The idea is to offer volunteer support to people and places and organisations across Thanet who need our help. One-off specific projects to put some love back into Thanet. Best of all, No committee, no chair, no treasurer, no minutes and no membership fee. Just buy a drink and come see if its for you. Our next meeting is Thursday 23rd October at 2pm.
See you There.