A Postal Woopsie & A Winner

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Thank you all so very much for the many and most helpful comments on the new shop window – I spent the ensuing days making changes as fast as I could and I think the perusing and information gathering is much better as a result.    There are still a few additions and changes to be made, but nothing major.

I even made a sale which thrilled me no end – even though there ensued a most embarrassing postal misadventure as a result……  Do you want the whole story?

I was super busy and trapped at home waiting for the super-fast broadband installation scoping man to arrive – and surprise, surprise he didn’t…… [that’s a whole other post!]

I had a pile of mittens still waiting to get to the post office, the raspberry and yellow light catchers to get off to their new homes and a mounting sense of frustration that I was going to miss the post again……

Enter Stage R the most amenable and helpful Youngest Daughter, Official Photographer and newbie blogger, Danella Joy.  Already stressed to the max with the health of her aged and ailing cat, an upcoming week away and what to do if dear cat’s demise and week away collide and needing to get to her night shift on time after a vet consultation, she still volunteered to visit the post office along the way and get my parcels sent off.

All but one of the packages were wrapped and addressed.  One, a set of three mittens and a card from the last giveaway, needed it’s own postal envelope and the address to be written on said envelope.

Hastily I tore off the small pad page that had some addresses written on it,  ripped off the unneeded address, threw everything into a handy tote bag and off she raced.

I didn’t realise that the small pad page had an address written both sides, both perfectly framed within the torn off seam.

You know what happened don’t you

after siddy

Two days later DJ remembered to give me the pile of postal receipts and the card she had not seen in the bag that needed to go with the mittens until it was too late and as she handed over the torn pad page with the address on she froze, turned it over and asked “Where were the mittens going?”

Yes indeedy!  Two beautifully written addresses – take your pick.  There was a 50/50 chance I guess that the wrong one would be right side up when she scrabbled in the bag to find it and send the mittens away across the ocean.   At least they ended up in the right country!

Now I have to get poor Jem to readdress and resend a package she should never have gotten and reimburse that as an added, extra postal cost….. sigh!   And Jenny, dear, patient Jenny, you will get your mittens sometime soon  🙂

***************

But now, to happier times.

And what could be happier than a giveaway I hear you cry……….

The names were all  written out on strips of carefully cut paper

giveaway1

Piled into my favourite drink dispenser

giveaway2

shaken

giveaway5

stirred

giveaway6

scattered

giveaway8

‘Can we go yet?’

giveaway9

and – chosen!

giveaway13 paw on

I’m exhausted says Orlando – these are all winners!

giveaway14 all winners

Congratulations Kerry from Love Those ‘Hands At Home’

Which one do you want?

The pink or the blue?

Pink Giveaway Blue Giveaway

Thank you to everyone who took part – we love giveaways here in Contented Land

and there is sure to be another soon.

Thanks for coming by today, I love that you did!

93 thoughts on “A Postal Woopsie & A Winner”

  1. I love what you do with words. It is amazing how you shape your emotions and expressions into words.
    I’d be glad if you could visit and review my blog too. Thanks xx

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  2. I missed all the excitement!!! I was out of town this past week , so I missed the give-away:-)
    I often am worried about “mailing” things off to people. Shoot the local postman( our old one moved) keeps getting our address wrong each week. Then they switch again ( we have different ones each week now) and we have to go through a new one again. One day, I tried to yell down to the postal person and tell them they were one house off-LOL! They wear the headphones, so she did not hear me:-( I put the mail in my neighbors box, but never did get our mail. Sure miss our old postal person! He was a friendly face each day + we all enjoyed him as he stopped and chatted with us all:-)
    Your furry family is adorable + love the catchers:-)
    Happy Creating Pauline!

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    • It is the same here no Robbie – the PO seems to change the posties routes constantly – there are four or five different people delivering my mail now. One often gets it wrong. A male. The others – all women – get it right! 🙂

      You didn’t miss the giveaway – your name was in the cup – Mr O didn’t choose you though he nearly did. You will see I think, if you look closely at the photo of his paw on the winners name, how close you came …………..xoxo

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      • awww:-) He is such a “looker” I have only seen a few tabby colored-long haired cats like him. I love his color and fur + he is such a pretty cat. I have 3 cats, Bugga boo, Simon, and September. My daughter brought those home ,too-rescues:-)
        I am so sorry about your daughters older cat-hard when pets you love get older and slow down….they are such a part of your family and when they are gone you miss them greatly….I have not lost a cat yet. I am not looking forward to that for I know how they fill our days with joy + humor! I can’t imagine them not here.

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  3. Oh my, I am almost a week behind! I missed the post and the chance to enter (although, TRULY, I have the most beautiful dangler already!). I love that I’m here to read about the drawing and love that cup 🙂 Of course, it was great to see Siddy and Orlando, too!

    So glad you have your lovely daughters to help you out. Did the broadband guy get there?

    Pauline, I know I can find it somewhere, but would you please send the link to your shop? I want to check it out.

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    • You squeezed me into your already mad schedule – I’m honoured! I thought you might like to see the cup 🙂 Yes, the broadband guy eventually turned up – stayed five minutes and made another date which has since been changed twice. I’m sure it will get done in the end and I’ll be twinkling around the interwebby at super fast speeds and downloading everything in sight. The shop is under the heading photo on my blog Laurie and there’s also a feedback page now too so folk with my stuff can tell others what they think of it. I’d love for you to have a look and tell me what you think if you have any time somewhere in this final trimester….. Holding you close in my thoughts, sending lots of care and love xoxo

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  5. Orlando displays yet another talent – you are so blessed to have such gifts in your life! And speaking of blessed, my lovely yellow lights are catching rainbows right and left and cast a glow that makes me smile – love it! Hope Kerry enjoys hers as much! And, at the risk of sounding self-focused, sure am glad you already had the yellow one addressed before you got help with the post! 🙂

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  7. I like this fun post full of excitement. You know your friends are honest and would make sure package would find its way. Pauline, I am happy for Kerry but also for us all to revive your beautiful posts in our email and wordpress locations. You are a gift to us. Oh, I so love Siddy and Orlando ‘ presence in the lottery process. I miss my Mom and look forward to Labor Day visit. I sent her a big card to her announcing her newest great grandbaby. She has been happily enjoying her Nicki who (Little shih tzu dog) was able to stay with Mom for a month while my brother and sister in law were at Bethany Beach, Delaware.

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    • I have to say ‘honesty’ never entered my head Robin – but ‘inconvenience’ most certainly did! 🙂 However, all’s well that ends well as WS once said. I bet your mom misses you too – when is your Labor Day Robin? Ours isn’t until October.

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      • Oh, Pauline our Labor Day is September 4,5,6 and 7th. Off top of my head. I will go back to see Mom since she got out if hospital and is in rehab part of her facility. Thanks for “listening,” Pauline! ♡

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    • Pauline, not sure you saw in a few comments I made that my sweet Mom fell with her little Nicki in wet grass down a slope. She fell last Saturday (I drove up as soon as i could late Sat ) Then, surgery bright and early Sunday, to put together what surgeon called “puzzle pieces” of hip bone fragments with titanium. She looked pale and frail bur released to rehab on Thursday. Her Nicki is safe with big dogs, a Newfoundland and a golden retriever. Just filling you in. I live Orlando paw on the winning “ticket,” 🙂

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      • Oh Robin! No I had not seen that news. [I have been very behind and missing out on reading some posts I know] I am so sorry to hear that – you must be feeling great concern! As it is almost a week already I do hope she is recovering now – though it may be slow going I am sure it will help greatly having you spend some time with her. These are the times when it is hard having distance between us and our loved ones isn’t it. My eldest daughter has been dealing with a lot lately and I would dearly love to be closer so I can support her more.
        Thank you for catching me up Robin – you are both in my thoughts! xoxo

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  8. Pauline, I am laughing so hard at this tale that I’m pretty sure I can skip my abdominal crunches tonight. Good heavens, this was a great post. Seeing the set up for the giveaway made me want to reach through the screen and squish those beautiful creatures. Your furry family is truly a cabaret of entertainment.
    I’ll l keep my fingers crossed for Danella’s sweet kitty. Those are tough times, but you are lucky to have one another.
    Cheers to you both!

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    • They are a cute and hairy lot aren’t they! Luckily neither shed 😀 Glad to help out with those muscles Shelley – two in one! Knowing how busy you are that has to be a blog reading bonus. xo

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  9. Wow! Things have been hopping at your end, Pauline! I’m sorry about the post office situation. It’s all working out, though. Orlando is correct, we are all winners! Have a great day. xoxox

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  10. Oh no! So frustrating when these things happen, but sure Jenny won’t mind one bit waiting a little longer for her beautiful mittens 🙂 Congratulations to Kerry on the win…just love that Orlando got to pick, so adorable! And I’m not giving up…here’s to your next draw! Have a lovely weekend Pauline 🙂

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    • Thank you Sherri! The weekend has begun well with a cessation on the icy Antarctic winds front – much nicer to be out in……… my thoughts can almost turn to spring….. Good luck for the next draw – I’ll get to work on something soon 🙂

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  11. I love the magic of a giveaway post. It’s fun seeing all those slips of paper on your pretty table, with the oh-so-cooperative Orlando at the helm and cute-as-a-bug Siddy nearby. You are up to your ears in cuteness, Pauline.

    Sorry to read about the post office snafu. I’m glad you’ve sorted most of it out and that you could share the story with all of us.

    My heart goes out to DJ on the declining health of her kitty. It will be hard if kitty slips away in her absence. That sounds rough. Hugs all around. May the timing of the universe work in everyone’s favor. xox

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    • Up to my ears in cuteness indeed Alys – such a couple of fun chaps to share a home with 🙂 As long as the packages arrive where they are supposed to in the end I suppose a wee side trip doesn’t matter much 🙂 Imagine if it had ended up in a different country though – that makes my brow break into a sweat I can tell you 🙂

      Poor old Stanley! He’s not the lad about town he once was and is suffering a severe case of what the vet calls ‘the disease of old age’. He has good days and bad days. You think the decision has to be made and then he rallies……….. I suspect he will outlive all of us. He reminds me of my aged uncle Fred, who, from the time I was a young child until my own children were young, met every Christmas with the earnest assertion that this would be his last. Very Dickensian! I’m hoping the timing for Stanley will be impeccable too 🙂

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  12. Ah Pauline, this I fear could be turning into what we call here a shaggy dog story – and yet, Siddy is always so cute and neat! If it is I who waits patiently, then, I am, and feel awful that your organisation and kindness has gone awry. It will be a surprise whenever my parcel arrives … and then my little project will be underway 😉

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    • Yes, it is indeed you Jenny. Thank you for your patience. Your parcel will arrive eventually [two to three weeks I imagine] but minus the little card I had written, found at the bottom of the tote bag after the event. Basically it just said I hoped you all liked them, that they fit and enjoy! I do look forward to seeing where they might turn up 🙂

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  15. Hi Pauline, seems like there’s never a dull moment in Contented Land and you keep us all entertained, so please never change. Look at your crack team sitting there waiting for their mom to lead the way, LOL They are like little bosom buddies now! Who’d have thought, back when O would sit on top of your shelves? It’s so fun to see them here, I love all the photo’s especially the close up of O picking the winner with his paw. Way to go Brad Pitt……err Double O Kitty 😀

    Seems there’s an International Code book for service people that are to arrive for appointments. Top of their list is ‘Don’t arrive at all’ followed by ‘Don’t phone either’ and then the ultimate, ‘When you finally show up, ask the customer why they called you’. Waiting for service people is a total drag.

    Congratulations Kerry! It’ll be hard to pick just one. Have a beautiful day momma P xo Miss You

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    • Thank you! xoxo They are such good pals now and Orlando still indulges in bouts of gullible puppy teasing. And puppy still greets him every morning with a bounce and a hug – which leaves O lying flat on the floor….. They make me laugh and they keep me happy 🙂

      I can see you have had a lot of experience with service people – you had it exactly right! Still, stage one is complete now – just three more to go. Ought to be up and running the day after I die of old age 🙂

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  16. Ah yes, it all starts with someone not showing up as they say they will. So very annoying. Then things really start to unravel. I’m so delighted that Kerri won the beautiful blue dangler. Orlando did a good job and Siddy is probably wondering when it will be his turn. Maybe when he doesn’t eat the slips of paper? They are both adorable and seem to love the photographic attention. Take a deep breath now and know all is right as it should be. Hugs.

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    • Thank you Marlene – yes, a reminder to me not to mind when days go awry!

      We had a lot of fun doing the draw and Orlando likes the extra attention – so often it is super-cute Siddy getting all the limelight these days! xoxo

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  17. Wheeeee!! Good choosing, Orlando–I knew I could count on you! I’m so excited, Pauline! I’d like the blue one, please! Do you still have my address?

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    • Congratulations Kerry – as I mentioned to someone else earlier, it is not altogether a surprise he landed on your name. This is a cat who loves water, playing with it and paddling in it and he misses his life by the sea. He probably saw that post of your chairs lined up looking at the lake and thought ‘that’s my girl!’ Maybe he even thought he would be personally delivering the prize? Yes, I still have your address, It will go into the post on Monday and be with you in 6 – 10 working days as the Post Office says 🙂

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      • Of course, I would love if Orlando would deliver the prize! But I can’t guarantee I’d send him back . . . and Siddy would miss him so.

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  19. Now those are two quality observers who had for the drawing. But I promised Orlando some wonderful treats to pick me … and he promised! Hey Kerry … take the blue.

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  21. Orlando and Siddy should have a Lotto spot, they are so good at their jobs. 🙂 I can imagine the light catcher catching all the lovely light from the lake for Kerry. Wonderful. Does Orlando like to try and catch the reflections from the light catchers?

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  22. I’m sending my cat down next time to witness the draw just to make sure there’s no hanky-panky going on. I was thrilled to see my name in the first photograph and was absolutely certain Orlando would know where to put the paw. But oh no! Obviously someone paid Orlando more than the $50 note I had slipped her.

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  23. Oh dear, how stressful that posting mix up turned out to be! I love how many more bloggers are using the ‘pick a name out of the hat’ to choose a winner nowadays rather than the Random Number Generator. It shows an old fashioned trust and a snub to the ‘fair’ mechanical system. And if it happens to provide far more entertainment in the process, then that’s a bonus:)

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  24. Congratulation to Kerry! Oh Pauline, the anticipation was killing me. 🙂 I had a feeling Orlando wouldn’t step on my name…but I bet Siddy would! Hugs to all! xo

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    • Now I think about it Jill, it was inevitable that Orlando would choose Kerry – he is a water cat and adores to play in water and with water. Kerry lives by a large lake 🙂 For sure Siddy would have hunted your name out 🙂

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  25. Waiting in for people that don’t turn up is the pits – glad you had people who were understanding about the mix-up. Love Orlando choosing the winner 🙂

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  26. Don’t worry Pauline, I will be sure to send the parcel to its rightful owner as soon as it arrives! Hopefully it won’t take to long to wing it’s way over the sea as I am super excited to see the contents of my own parcel 🙂

    Loving the pics of Orlando and Siddy picking the winner! X

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  29. I have started getting quite obsessed with getting the right parcel to the right place since the avalanche of knitted knockers requests earlier in the year – because of the sensitive nature of the items and the fact that the recipients are likely to be emotionally fragile, I think it’s important not to send a G-cup size knocker to a petite lady who needs an AA (and vice versa). I therefore have a system in place no involving address labels made immediately the order comes in and colour-coded bags to ensure all the right things stay together! It has worked so far.

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    • Brilliant thinking Jan! I’m not expecting to be usually so heftily involved with parcel posting – and prefer to be in charge myself any way – but I will be definitely instituting a fool proof identification system from now on. Thank you for the tips – and a hand to heart for your sensitivity and care for your knocker recipients! xo

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  30. I’m so glad you had somebody understanding who received the parcel in error. The little ‘Oops’ can be sorted quite quickly. It’s a case of ‘That’s Life’ isn’t it. Life happens.
    xxx Huge Hugs xxx

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  31. I absolutely love the photo with Siddy looking on…as if to say “hey! what am I? chopped liver?”
    There are trials and tribulations about packing, posting and in general distributing your work, and I’ve encountered them too, since I am dealing with sending out my book…especially when the order has to go to another continent! All part of the “fun” of entrepreneurship, I guess!

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  33. Congratulations Kerry you lucky girl :). Orlando looks like he would like all of those delicious bits of paper Ms Pauline and whatever he doesn’t want, Suddi would like to eat please :). OOPSIE on the address. Completely understandable and how real life is eh? Keep warm Ms Pauline, the polar blasts are not over quite yet.

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      • BUT this summer is forecast to be disgusting and you will be in N.Z. where it isn’t so disgusting as here in not so polar blasted Australia. As Mr Eric Idle always told me “Always look on the bright side of life” and those polar blasts give you an opportunity to rug up to the nines, to hide a few extra pounds under your woolly winter warms, and it is MUCH easier to warm up than it is to cool down.

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        • Your points are all valid and applicable – sadly! I have a feeling this summer will be a dud with this scientific observation to back me up: Orlando is keeping his big heavy fur coat on and it is halfway through August!

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          • I am hoping that we manage to tag along with you guys on the dud front. I was most happy to have a 3 week, mild summer this year and would be most grateful if the powers that be did it again. And again, and again, and again! 😉

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