Snail Mail

Well we have had rather a snail saga going on. Ffi was given some giant african landsnail babies (hereafter known as Swirly and Brian) by a lady on UKS who agreed to keep them until we got back from our break as we didn't want to leave them in Rhiannons care if we didn't have to.....remember the orchids. LOL. So on Tuesday they were posted out by first class snail mail. Wednesday arrived and Ffi padded our post box with a cushion and a towel as its quite a drop. The postman came but alas no Swirly and Brian.....upset Ffi curses RM. This morning we go through the same procedure of padding out the letterbox and when the dogs went mad (announcing the posties arrival) Ffi rushed to the postbox.....but there was only letters. Very upset 8 yr old issues the order "CHASE HIM MUM"......now chase is something I don't usually do but spending the day with a super sulky upset Ffi was something I would rather not have to do so I unlocked the gate and ran (for those of you who know me you didn't misread the last bit I actually ran. The postie is a rather fit looking young lad on a bike.....I'm not particularly fit, young and didn't have a bike either but luckily he stopped to talk to someone..PHEW I could stop running. Anyhow I explained the situation and he politely refused my offer of a few hours with aformentioned sulky child and told me very positively that we had several small packages but because we also had several large packages (that would be more stash then) he had put the small packages with them to save him carrying them and that they would all be coming out by parcel van. Dinnertime came and dinnertime went, Ffi huffed and Ffi puffed and Ffi cursed RM immensely. We went and sat outside and she started to make a die cut pet shop to take her mind of things. Then at 2.30 my mobile rang....twas Jay who fully aware and updated on the situation had spotted Derek the parcelman heading our way Now we had to go and sit outside the back of the house (I was not allowed to wait inside even though the dogs are very well traind to alert me to parcel deliveries). DH had spotted Derek a couple of minutes away from our house but half an hour later he hadn't turned up and we were starting to get concerned. Then he appeared through the large archway that leads to our yard.......my hero of the week.....Ffi's knight in shining armour a vision in a postal uniform.......drum roll please for DEREK THE PARCELMAN and yes he was carrying several parcels including Swirly and Brian. He posed for a photo handing the snails over had a chat about his imminent hols and waved to us and went on his way. Swirly and Brian spent the afternoon on the patio table in their postal tuppaware tub with no lid as Ffi decided that they needed lots of fresh air after being in the post so long and they finally moved into their new snail des res at teatime. The pictures show said snail abode with a very happy Ffi peering in and then swirly on top of the rock and Brian at the foot of the rock. There is definately a layout if not a mini book to be had out of this tale.