Friday 12 February 2016

Panic At The Postal Service.

Over the next few days, there will be traffic chaos on the streets of Leek, Staffordshire, England.  *Why?*  Yes, you might be thinking that.

Over the next few days, leading up to February 14th, aka St. Valentine's Day, convoys of postal trucks come into the Leek from all directions.  Destination, my place.  Apologies to you if you happen to live in Leek.  For once, the traffic chaos is not being caused by roadworks.  Yes, the roadworks that never seem to have anybody working on them.
Here are a few of the postal trucks heading towards my place. 

Postal truck, after postal truck, after postal truck, arrives at my place.  Sack load, after sack load, after sack load of Valentine's Day cards are ceremoniously dumped into the hallway, just inside my front door.

My home becomes so full of Valentine's Day cards that there's barely room to swing a cat, not like I would actually swing a cat.  
The mountain of mail heading to my place is so huge that even Postman Pat and his black and white cat, get involved.

In the spirit of romance, I thought I'd suggest a Valentine's Day money saving tip.  The day before Valentine's Day, if you have a partner, have a massive argument with your partner.  The day after Valentine's Day, make up with your partner and offer them the Valentine's Day gifts you purchased at a drastically reduced price.  In my case, not having a partner, I will have a massive argument with myself.  Then treat myself to drastically reduced Valentine's Day gifts on February 15th.  You're welcome and who said romance was dead!
Okay, just like last Valentine's Day and the one before that and that and that, the Valentine's Day cards are actually all for Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar.  Here's her card she wants to share with you.  Penny, the epitome of love, no matter the day. 

Have a good one! 

97 comments:

  1. Smart man! Why spend all that money on over-priced candy anyway.
    Where I live, we call roadwork orange barrel storage.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Alex,

      Why, thank you, clever dude. Indeed, get the reduced sweets on the 15th.

      Orange barrel storage! Sounds about right!

      Thanks and have a fun Sunday.

      Gary

      Delete
  2. Happy Valentine's Day! I'm looking forward to half-off candy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Pat,

      And same to you, you fine fellow, you! Here's to the half-price candy!

      Gary

      Delete
  3. Happy Valentine's Day to you and Penny,
    Yvonne.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Yvonne,

      We both thank you and have a very nice Valentine's Day, Yvonne.

      Gary

      Delete
  4. That's right -- celebrate Half-price Chocolates Day on Feb 15th! Best wishes to you and Penny!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Debra,

      You betcha'! Off to Purdey's, you go, eh! All the beast and best to you, Debra :)

      Gary

      Delete
  5. Happy Valentine's Day to you and Penny, her card is lovely xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Eunice,

      Delightful to see you, my kind friend. May Sunday be a lovely day for you. Penny is very pleased you like her card :)

      Gary xx

      Delete
  6. Thank you, Penny! Happy Valentine's Day to you both.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Diane,

      Penny is snoozing on top of a pile of Valentine's Day cards. Thus, on her behalf, I thank you and may you have a wonderful Valentine's Day.

      Gary

      Delete
  7. Thank you Penny. Lots of love to you and the humans you share (generously) your world with.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. G'day Sue,

      Penny says you're most welcome :) Yes indeed, Penny pawsonifies, oops, personifies, the magic of her generous heart.

      Have a wonderful Sunday, Sue.

      Gary

      Delete
  8. Happy Valentines Day! Hugs and Smooches to Penny! Yeah VDay has gotten to be pretty big with marketing and stuff. I don't need chocolates or flowers though, but I don't mind a card. We're going to dinner tonight to celebrate early.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi JoJo,

      And to you, JoJo. Penny loves hugs and smooches. So much so that she gives one an extra dose of her doggy breath! Yes, a bit of a commercial bullshit scene these days. Have a wonderful time with your hubby, Russell.

      Gary

      Delete
  9. Happy Valentines' Day weekend. I had a candy-filled day at work. I like those reduced prices.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Medeia,

      Thanks and you to, my kind friend. Aha, loads of candy at work and I'm the undercover boss! :) Bring on the reduced prices.

      Gary

      Delete
  10. So far, I haven't received any Valentine card, and Valentine's day is also my birthday. Yes, in case you are wondering, that is where I get all my charm and good looks (grin)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Dizzy-Dick,

      Of course, just like last year, Valentine's Day is also your birthday. It all makes sense that you've inherited such a debonair charm and dashing good looks! :)

      Have fun and happy birthday.

      Gary

      Delete
  11. A Happy Valentines day to you both

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Rob,

      Thank you and we both wish the same to you.

      Gary

      Delete
  12. Ohhhh how we LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My husband is an expert at fighting right around Valentine's Day...actually, I am pretty good at it too! Kisses to Penny AND to YOU!!!! Happy Happy early Valentine's Day! xoxoox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Caren,

      Awe, thank you and what the hell, here's some love from this side of the swamp! :) Nothing like a good old difference of opinion on Valentine's Day with the ultimate goal, reduced priced candy!

      Have a great Valentine's Day, minus the arguments :)

      Hugs from Penny and her alleged human, Gary xxoxx :)!

      Delete
  13. haha penny deserves them all. The sale trick is a good one indeed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, Pat in the Hatt,

      Yes, she most assuredly does! A good trick, indeed, at my feed.

      Thank you, Pat and have a good one, eh!

      Gary

      Delete
  14. This had me smiling of course all those cards and gifts are heading your way. Hopefully, some doggie treats as well. Haha buying that sweet chocolate the next day at 75% off. Now, see what you've done I want some of those hazelnut Lindt truffles.

    Wishing you and Penny a Happy Valentine's Day - from you know that planet where romance is always at play ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah yeah, it be, Truedessa. Never met anybody else with such a name :)

      Yes, doggy treats for me and all those cards for the lovable Penny. You shall be overwhelmed with hazelnut Lindt truffles. Enjoy.

      Penny and I, her mere human, wish a you a peaceful, poetic Valentine's Day. Romance on Uranus? Oh and oops, Planet Truedessa! :)

      Gary

      Delete
  15. Victoria's Secret has given me $25 in rewards cards. I can probably buy one cup of a bra with that. oo la la

    One boob will swing free, and the boob is Willy Dunne Wooters.

    Love,
    Janie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, Janie!

      I didn't even know Victoria had a Secret! Although, I reckon that Victoria was once named Victor.

      Have fun with half a bra, haha! "Willy Dunne Wooters."? Is that some sort of male genital itch?

      Have a good one, Janie.

      Gary

      Delete
  16. I imagine it must be a terrible burden, being so loved.

    Good luck.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Nasreen,

      First of all, a delight to meet you, my kind, new friend. Quite the fascinating blog you have.

      The dog laps up all the love, so to speak. Imagine me being jealous of the dog! :)

      Thank you and have a peaceful, positive weekend.

      Gary

      Delete
  17. I used to freak out on valentine's day for fear none of the other elementary kids would have one for me. Luckily the moms were in charge of making sure every child got one. A lot of un-necessary expectations are placed on humans via the mob and Hallmark.....not to mention the Vatican. lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Dana,

      Oh I remember those days when they handed out Valentine's Day cards in our elementary school classrooms over there in North America. I think such a tradition in the UK would seem rather horrifying.

      The pope thanks you for his Valentine's Day Card! :)

      Gary

      Delete
  18. That is such a cunning plan! Have you noticed the lovely displays in charity shop windows pre-Valentine's Day, full of gifts that women obviously don't want :)

    Happy Valentine's Day to you and lovely Miss Penny!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Eileen,

      I'm well into cunning plans! :) I never really noticed that about the lovely displays in the charity shop windows. I should see if there's anything of interest, Valentine's Day wise, for next Valentine's Day.

      Penny and I, here alleged human, hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day.

      Thank you, Eileen.

      Gary

      Delete
  19. Hi Gary - so glad I don't live in Leek .. and get held up by said postmen ... gosh Penny must be pleased as punch. Wonderful thought ... I'm like you - but I don't have a Penny - then I have a Lenny ... who sent me flowers - lucky me!!

    It's good to hibernate and hunker down ... especially as the weather isn't that good. I must remember on Monday to go out and get some cheapie things!

    Have a good weekend - cheers and with thoughts - Hilary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Hilary,

      You might enjoy being held up by a postman or two, Hilary. Oh wow, in regards to Lenny. Brilliant young chap.

      I hope you got some nice, cheapie type stuff on Monday. That would be if you could brave the bitter cold.

      Thank you, Hilary.

      Gary

      Delete
  20. Well, Pawesome Penny deserves every V day wish coming to her! Heheh. Hugs, Gary, and a very happy Valentine's Day to you! Regardless of what day it is, I love you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Vidya,

      Indeed, the pawesome Penny gets more cards than I can shake a stick at. Why I would to shake a stick at her cards, is a bit weird, I know :) I hope you had a magical Valentine's Day, Vidya. Of course, with the love you resonate, every day is Valentine's Day.

      Love and hugs, your way,

      Gary :)

      Delete
  21. Now there's a great Valentines Day plan. It would never fly here, but it's a good plan:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Rick,

      A bit of a crafty plan, methinks :) You never know, it might just take off over there.

      Thank you, Rick.

      Gary

      Delete
  22. While shopping for cards for our grandchildren a few years ago, I came across the most perfect card for my husband but the price was ridulous, especially for something that was going to be thrown out in a day or two. I showed it to him, he read it and laughed, and I put it back on the shelf. He then did the same for me. It is now our tradition and we enjoy it so much. Making each other laugh is better than any piece of paper and spending that money on a nice lunch out together is more enjoyable. Yeah, I guess it sounds cheap, but we aren't, we just are looking for new ways to have fun together.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Arleen,

      I like what you and your husband do for Valentine's. Laughter and love and lunch. Wonderful and here's to the both of you.

      Thank you, Arleen.

      Gary

      Delete
  23. You got it, my friend! Everything gets liquidated the next day, so why not wait a few hours?

    Happy Valentine's Day to you and Miss Penny!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Martha,

      Oh yeah, just a few hours later and the prices go way down.

      Thanks and I hope you had a really nice Valentine's Day, eh! :)

      Gary

      Delete
  24. Gary have a good Valentine's Day, and Penny share your cards! Happy Valentine's Day to Penny too. Cheers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Ann,

      Thank you and staring at the four walls on Valentine's Day, was lots of fun. Okay, I couldn't see much of the four walls due to all of Penny's Valentine's Day cards.

      I hope you had a lovely Valentine's Day, Ann.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  25. We have a lot of that idle roadworks around here too.

    If we were smart, we'd celebrate all holidays the day after. Christmas is much cheaper on the 26th.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Elizabeth,

      Idle roadworks seems to everywhere.

      The day after Christmas is Boxing Day. A perfect day for all holidays. Nice one, Elizabeth.

      Hope you had a real nice Valentine's Day.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  26. I had a feeling the truckloads of Valentine's Day cards were for Penny, the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar. She is stunningly beautiful. But you're cute, too, Gary.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Joylene,

      Oh yes, truckload, upon truckload, upon truckload of Valentine's Day cards for the adorable Penny. She does deserve them Thanks for thinking I'm cute, my lovable Canadian friend.

      Hope you had a good one, eh.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  27. So cute! Happy Valentine's Day to you, Penny! And to your human as well. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Julie,

      Penny thanks you for your wishes, Julie. I thank you also, my lovely friend.

      Sure hope your Valentine's Day was delightful.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  28. I love your Valentine tip. I wonder how that would work on my husband. ;-) Happy Valentine's day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Sherry,

      I'm most encouraged you like my Valentine tip. Your husband may well appreciate you cost-cutting caper.

      Happy after Valentine's Day, at half price, to you, Sherry.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  29. Isn't Valentines a great big rip-off? We always do whatever it is on the previous or following weekend. Restaurants charge high prices and offer poor service. Not much of a romantic am I? Good luck opening all of those cards!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Barry,

      A total rip-off playing of folks' emotions. I think going to a restaurant before or after Valentine's Day is a good thing, regardless. Who wants to see a bunch of miserable looking people during Valentine's Day!

      I did help Penny open her cards as I sobbed quietly realising that none were for me...

      Cheers, old chap.

      Gary

      Delete
  30. Enjoy those cards you two!! Happy Valentine's Day to Penny and Gary! Sending kitty cat kisses!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Diane at CraveCute,

      Penny most certainly enjoyed ALL the cards! :) Thanks for the Happy Valentine's Day wishes to the both of us. Sure hope you had a wonderful day. Kitty cat kisses are truly welcome, well, except for the dog! :)

      Thank you, Diane.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  31. Good morning to you and Penny. I hope the sun is shinning in Leek as it is here (I won't say it too loud in case I scare it away again!).
    I think Penny's card is great. A joyous Valentine Day to all :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Suzanne,

      And a very early good morning to you. The sun was shining on Tuesday in Leek. Bloody cold but sunny!

      Gotta' love Penny's card, for sure. Thanks and we both hope you had a fantastic Valentine's Day.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  32. Happy Day After Valentine's Day!
    Hope you're enjoying your day after gifts!
    Penny you deserve every truck load of cards you get! So happy to see you so adored!
    Hugs and kisses, and loads and loads of puppy treats! But no chocolate! Just give all that to Gary!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Yolanda,

      Thank you and a Happy Day after the Day, Valentine's Day! :)

      Penny is still pawing through her colossal amount of Valentine's Day. She is loving it!

      Penny agrees with you and so do I. Of course, no chocolate will be consumed by the superstar dog. Actually, no chocolate will be consumed by me, her alleged human.

      We hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day, Yolanda.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  33. HAPPY
    Valentine's Day!
    Kiss for Penny and YOU! xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kim aka, My Inner Chick,

      Thank you very much for that. Penny sends you some of her virtual doggy breath as a way of saying thank you! :)

      Hope you had a lovely Valentine's Day, Kim.

      Gary xx :)

      Delete
  34. Did you get mine? I knew you'd be deluged, so I put extra stamps and drew hearts and stuff, so I really hope you got it. Could you dig through the pile on your desk and floor and let me know because I'm anxious about this matter. You can tell by the way I'm going on and on, and if you could just ease the tension by sending me a message (I've left the pigeon coop open) right away I'd really appreciate it. *Pacing. *Pacing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lee,

      Penny did indeed get your notable Valentine's Day card, which included that gigantic glossy poster of your famous self and your beaming smiling just radiated from the glossy poster. She thanks you for that.

      The carrier pigeon is on the way with further messages. Watch for the pigeon. Get that pigeon!

      Thank you, celebrity author, Lee. Hope y'all had one super duper Valentine's Day.

      Penny's alleged human,

      Gary

      Delete
  35. Happy Valentine's Day to Penny and to you. I was working yesterday and did not even write a post. I am going around wishing people today. I wish you both tons of happiness and good health for years to come. Lots of sunshine as well. God Bless the both of you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Munir,

      We both thank you. I hope that work was pleasant for you. It's very kind of you to visit and leave such a nice message.

      Sunny wishes to you and your loved ones, dear lady.

      Gary

      Delete
  36. PS. Best of wishes to your son as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the follow up comment, Munir. I'm sure my son had a very nice Valentine's Day.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  37. Gary- You are too funny! I am sure the streets were crowded with the mail trucks. Glad you didn't have to go out since you had to wait for all that mail! Hopefully you bought some discounted chocolates the next day so you could enjoy them while continuing to open mail. I can't imagine you are done yet! Hope you didn't get any papercuts and that your Valentine's Day was fun. :)
    ~Jess

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jess,

      Awe, thank you. Your cheque's, um, your check's in one of the postal trucks on the way back out of town! :) Of course, got that heavily discounted real chocolate as in British chocolate. No papercuts for me or for a certain famous dawg.

      Hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day, Jess.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  38. Hehehe good thinking on the reduced priced gifts. Sounds like me telling people not to buy me socks until January. Because heck, if everyone's buying socks over Christmas, the price is bound to be inflated.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Misha,

      Thanks for thinking that was good thinking :) Socks and those darn prices.

      Thank you, Misha. Hope you had a real nice Valentine's Day.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  39. Love it! Hope you both had a wonderful Valentine's Day (we mostly ignore it here :))
    Now, off to buy some of that reduced in price chocolate! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Jemi,

      Thanks! Penny had a wonderful Valentine's Day as I sobbed in the one small space I could find.

      Off to Purdey's with you, eh!

      Gary :)

      Delete
  40. It's always nice to know that roadwork without actual roadwork is universal.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Shannon,

      Yep, mystery non-roadwork, roadwork, no matter which side of the road you drive on!

      Thank you, Shannon.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  41. I like the money saving tips... same could be applied to Christmas and Birthdays ;)

    I got a hand made card from hubs... which was either really sweet, or, saving-the-pennies. Either way, it made me smile :)

    Happy belated Valentines to you and Penny. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Kimmie,

      Could well be applied to every celebration through the entire year! :)

      I like the fact your husband made you a card. A bit of the personal touch.

      Thanks for the belated Valentine's wishes, Kimmie. Hope yours was wonderful.

      Gary :) x

      Delete
  42. Happy belated Valentine’s Day. Terry and I gave up sending valentine’s cards to each other years ago. He used to buy me flowers, but nowadays we prefer going out for a nice roast! Thanks for making me smile xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Barbara,

      Thanks and I'm now going to celebrate Valentine's Day at half the price :) Nothing like a nice roast. I'm glad this could make you smile, lovely Barbara.

      Gary :) xx

      Delete
  43. Replies
    1. Hi Ivy,

      Penny and I, her mere human, thank you for that :) Hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day.

      Gary

      Delete
    2. We exchange little gifts with each other, and I like that. Yes, it was a nice weekend. Three day weekend, too. I cannot recall what holiday it was, now but three days off was nice.

      Thanks for your comment on my most recent post.

      Delete
    3. Hi Ivy,

      Thank you for the follow up comment. Three days off and some extra special time for you and your beloved. Very nice.

      My pleasure to leave a comment on your fun, thoughtful site, Ivy.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  44. Thinking of you.
    Let go. Keep breathing. Know that you are loved and you are love.
    Hugs and pawsitive thoughts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Robyn,

      Oops, I only just realised your lovely self had left a comment on this post before the next post, which has the comments switched off...

      Thank you for your kind, thoughtful words. All is fine, well, except I'm experiencing a rather prolonged bout of blogger burnout.

      Hugs from me and that pawsitive dawg, Penny! :)

      Delete
  45. So you're trying to be proactive whilst battling with chronic fatigue? I must be your shadow though I've given up on being proactive. Chronic fatigue has kept me pro-couch.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Blue,

      I'm giving it a go. However, as you will know, good sir, the chronic fatigue is beyond frustrating. You're a pro-couch while I'm but an amateur coach. Ignore me. I'm out of it.

      Cheers, my Blue buddy.

      Gary

      Delete
    2. It's what makes me a moody blue. It's beyond frustration, alright.

      Delete
    3. Gary, Gary, slightly hairy, never scary... I'm impressed by your proof - I'm convinced 100% that your chronic exhaustion is beyond a joke. I dare say it's even beyond a good joke that would make you wet your pants. Two brain cells... Is that a fact?

      Oh there's no need for you to be alerted, Gary. Just stop by whenever you feel like it. I don't write very often, so you're not missing out on much. Wait, did I just say that? I meant, "Shame on you for not being alerted even though there's no application for you to be alerted by! Don't you sense a disturbance in the force whenever I cast my thoughts into the universe?" Hmmmm I guess I just friend my last two brain cells, too. Scooby Doo! Where's my shoe?

      See? I told you.

      What I don't understand is how your exhaustion caused you to lose blogging um.... friends. How does that work?

      Blue

      Delete
    4. Hey Blue,

      I'm impressed you find the energy to come back here and leave a further comment, my fine friend. Two brain cells might be a slight exaggeration. More like one brain cell.

      I realise you don't post that often. However, I do feel rather bad that when I got to your latest post, several had commented. In fact, your post was a week old before I even got there. At the top right corner of my blog, just below my dwindling blogger followers total, is an application to subscribe to posts via email. I found that from adding an application when I go to my layout. Still, I should really just sense your presence via the blogging ethos.

      My lack of interaction during these times of exhaustion has seen a few followers appear to give up on me. One follower, who I wont mention, unfollowed me and removed my following from their site because they are suspicious of my kindness. A long, sad story.

      Be well, Blue. Kudos to you for visiting back again. Thank you and enjoy your Sundae, um, Sunday, good sir.

      Gary, Gary, nary contrary....

      Delete
    5. I know a thing or two about fried brain cells. Why do you think I wrote, "I just friend my last two brain cells"? It makes perfect sense...

      Oh I can focus and type. Just don't ask me to stay awake or to walk up the stairs. My eyes hurt like hell. I hope yours don't.

      Delete
    6. Hi Blue,

      It does make perfect sense. Although, my remaining brain cell feels rather lonely. Perhaps it could half itself and make friends with the other half of itself.

      I do know all about the hurting eyes, good sir. Sometimes, it's from the pain of the tears. All the beast, um, all the best and here's the gift of empathy.

      Gary.....

      Delete

I do try to comment back to each commenter individually. However, I might have to shorten my replies or give a group thank you. That way, I can spend more time commenting on your blogs. Thank you and peace, my friend.