On Friday shopping etc was needed and a lovely day in between weeks of storms and fog. And the thought of a third day waiting and waching palled.
So an auto - message was left; put the parcels over the gate or post them. We made sure the gate sign, very large and clear was in place...
A day filled with blessings and when home was reached, no parcels and the weekend was here. So a philosphical shrug...
Then a car horn sounded loud and clear.. this is how we ask all to announce themselves as we can hear it wherever we are in the house. Our big gate is firmly locked; our Enclosure limit.
And there was a very embarrassed and agitated stranger. Who started explaining that he grazed cattle in a field up the road. .I wondered what was coming; our dogs are never out... etc etc etc.
He and his wife had gone to feed the cattle and had found.... two large boxes sitting there. One still had our instructions and he said that they were so clear and they knew immediately where... They must have thought at first that someone was dumping rubbish...and anguished what the boxes were doing there and what to do with them.
His wife then got out of the car.... Kind folk who were so distressed and distraught. They live nearly a mile away and were horrified when I told them the story. And off they went to bring the boxes then....
They kept saying that if they had not been to feed the cattle... No oen would ever have thought to search so far away..
They were blessed and thanked; they know of our work and our enclosure and it must have cost them to come like that. He kept saying it was going to rain and they stuff would have been ruined; so anxious. So caring and concerned and it was balm indeed.
When I finally opened the computer, there was a long email from the franchise holder of the sender branch of Fastway... Sent earlier in the day.. That he had just heard from the local manager that the driver had followed my instructions to the letter, found a gate and put the boxes over, sounded his horn and was away.......
Would I please confirm that delivery had been made so that future parcels .... The sender is a very good customer and they are scared of losing that contract..
Knowing the neighbourhood now I know where he went. Instead of the junction, where there is a wall of fluoresescent arrows which make a clear landmark, he had for some reason turned off the road a quarter of a mile sooner. Found a gate and there he dropped the load.... No resemblance to the instructions and he would have found a maze of steep winding lanes up there.
The first courier delivery we had when we came here was a supplier in Dublin. He was a day earlier than expected and an unexpected hospital visit had been needed. Yet he found the house from the same directions, and when we were out, found the folk he needed etc.
Needless to say Fastway have been informed of the situation... And a suggestion has been made that the area man drive that route himself to see how clear the instructions really are.
Short of talking him in on his phone there was nothing we could have done. We wonder if he is a poor reader etc?
So we have the generous and wondrous gifts now, that will help us to feed our babies, and to put food to Dublin for the increasing homeless problems there. All to be given, for we have all we need and more and so many have nothing and less than nothing.
Trading is slow as the weather is so bad; storms today. Time to build stock and prepare for Christmas sales and next summer...
So an indoor day apart from running the dogs between deluges and bringing vegetables in from the large and very fruitful new garden we have here. The last of the runner beans, cabbages, rainbow chard, brussel sprouts and large purple topped turnips still to come.. and still Sweet William to pick next weekend for market. A delight to sell cut flowers and surplus vegetables. And something that will be a stronger feature next year as the perennials come into flower. All the old fragrant favourites...Irresistible...
The gale has calmed and the rain has ceased so the night wil be in quietude now.. God be praised for His peace and safety.
