Snail Mail

2 weeks before Christmas was a busy time for us getting those last minute online orders out. One of those Pure Wool Mongrel Sock orders was to Italy to an Aussie expat. Auspost quotes 7 - 10 days transit time, so week thought it would probably arrive by Christmas or shortly after. But no. I received an email from the customer in late January to let me know they hadn't arrived. She wasn't worried - and thought they would turn up and was happy to wait a bit longer as the Italian Postal Service is renowned to be slow. Over the next 2 months we communicated, waiting, waiting. Good thing I was sitting down yesterday when her email arrived to tell me they had arrived! Intact! Unbelievable! The Italian Airport Customs date stamp was Jan 31 2009, it then took over 6 weeks to get from there across town to be delivered. They certainly went the long way. I'm thinking the Postman's vespa must have broken down. As consequence we now have to change how we send those Italian orders, opt for the much dearer Express Post option, hopefully they'll arrive a bit quicker.

1,2,3, argh!

It's come around again, the end of the financial year. Not many socks being made, while we're busy counting stock. I just hate the mindless, seemingly endless, sock counting. Then there's the need to count the raw materials, pure wool, wool blends, packing materials, and so it goes on. I don't think the count is even the worst of it, it's the need to clean that becomes glaringly obvious, once the count begins. It will take a good week to get the shed back in to shape, after I've ripped the guts out of it, shuffled boxes, consolidated boxes, before we can get back in to normal production.
The EoFY could not come at a worse time for us, smack bang in the middle of the busy winter season. Getting our wholesale and mail orders out, can't wait 'til I've finished stocktake. It's got to be done as they come in. So I find myself jumping to and fro from one thing and another, never seeming to get anything actually finished. I know by the end of next week I'll be able to forget about it for another year, it's just going to be a long week.
Best I stop putting it off and get in to it!