The plot chickens
As part of our ongoing series of blogs from throughout the business, we’ll continue to bring you stories from colleagues who are doing their bit right across the operation, on how things have changed during the current crisis.
Today, we hear from Worcester postwoman, Lisa Drinkwater, who has been delivering the mail in Worcestershire for 22 years.
‘I’m probably an unusual postie because we have a farm and so I get up at 4.30am to take care of the animals,’ said Lisa. ‘My five-year-old daughter, Grace, wakes up at 6.00am so I get her sorted and leave her with my wonderful mum. I’m lucky I get to keep the postal van at home and get into Worcester for about 6.45am.
‘The office is a very friendly place with great people, and we have a good laugh every morning. We have plenty of gloves, hand sanitizer and face masks, so we collect them, wash our hands and go and load up the van. Like everyone, we’re very busy at the moment, but it has been lovely to see handwritten letters again.
‘I usually leave the office at 8-8.30 depending on how much mail there is. Now there is less traffic, it’s easier getting out of Worcester. Although we do the same route every day, every day is different. As I’m a rural postie I don’t have as many houses as the city centre posties, but my round is 30 miles long, so it averages out.
‘Everyone on my round is lovely and they have been very kind. We have all received letters of thanks and been given chocolates and presents, which is very much appreciated. I love doing my round because I deliver where I live and have been doing it for so long, I know everyone. I love seeing my customers and having a good chat at a distance.
‘For most of our older customers we are the only people they see every day. I have a college, school, retirement home, racing yard and farms on my round so it’s a good mixture.
‘Life at home has been very much the same for me as most parents juggling home schooling and work, i.e pretty hectic! Grace’s school has been very good at putting ideas and work on the website for the kids to do, which has really helped a lot. But because we have the farm, she is much happier outside with the animals and has learnt so much about nature and animals.
‘The farrier came the other day to put shoes on my horse and she was showing them all kinds of tricks such as teaching her to how to get the chickens to sit on her head! Grace has also set up a stall outside the farm selling eggs, which has been good at teaching her about money. Although she is only just five, she understands the risk of the virus and has been very good about not being able to leave the farm. She loves it and is very lucky she can run around and play.
‘Work has obviously been really busy since the outbreak began, particularly in regard to parcels, with volumes the same as at Christmas. Despite this, everyone has coped amazingly and we all still have a sense of humour!
‘The team at Worcester are brilliant, from the posties to the managers to the cleaners, we have all worked really hard and done a great job at keeping going through this difficult time with a smile on our faces. I feel really proud to be a part of such a great team.’
Worcester delivery office manager, Gurprit Mander, said: ‘Lisa has been a valued member of the Upton-on-Severn team for the last 22 years. In this time, she has been diligent, hardworking and always reliable. Lisa always has a smile on her face, and she will always go the extra mile to keep her customers happy.’
