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| Hydrangea, also known as hortensia, on a stone wall in the cemetery |
Yesterday was the first day of the new policy of locked entrance doors 24/7 where I live; and today was my first experience of putting new routines for receiving the home deliveries from my supermarket to the test - the locked entrance making it even more important than before for me to keep track of their ETA (expected time of arrival) and watch out for the actual arrival, as I now also have to go downstairs to open the entrance for them - and just have to hope that they'll still understand that I also need help carrying the bags up to my flat.
Thankfully, when entering my digital order (on Tuesday), after some "head-scratching" I did finally manage to find a space to enter extra notes concerning deliveries. I had feared there would only be room for an entrance pincode - which would be no help in my case, since my building does not have that system. But they had actually allowed enough space for a somehwat longer message.
So everything went smoothly, after all. I kept checking ETA on my phone, looked out for the van, and was able to go down and open while the guy got the bags out. The guy also turned out to be of the "angelic" kind (writing that with a wink to Sandra). He was nice and polite and had probably read my instructions, as he obviously had no problem understanding that I needed help all the way up to my flat. - Before I opened the entrance I had also pressed the button for the lift, so that was already on the ground floor, and we both smoothly went up with that, and he waited for me to open my own door, and carried the bags into the hall for me. I told him on the way up that the locked entrance is a new routine and he just said something like well, probably safer that way - one never knows these days!
So I guess I can now relax a bit about future deliveries probably continuing to work out, too; and for that I'm thankful, as I really don't know how I'd cope without them! (I've been using this service for over ten years by now, twice a month - and it's literally "a huge weight off my shoulders"...)
Beautiful post
ReplyDeleteGreat, I know this is finally a big load off your mind. The stone wall and gate entryway with the flowers is beautiful! AND the entryway goes with YOUR entryway problems, did you do that on purpose?
ReplyDeleteYes Ginny, I did that on purpose! ;-)
DeleteIt is more secure, but sad that extra security is now needed.
ReplyDeleteJayCee, that part in itself is still a bit worrying as I don't know what exactly caused the sudden decision. (On the other hand, knowing the answer might not make me any calmer!)
DeleteI have an Hydrangea just like that and it's flower is white.
ReplyDeleteSounds lovely, Northsider!
DeleteIt's good that the new arrangement went smoothly. That must be quite a relief for you.
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed, Janet, as the supermarket deliveries so far have kept me independent of needing/finding other kinds of help on a regular basis.
DeleteMay all your future deliveries be just as seamless and kind-hearted
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ro!
DeleteWe call them Hortensie in German. I have an indoor one, pale blue, a birthday gift from two of O.K.'s friends.
ReplyDeleteGlad to know all went well with your delivery! My Mum wouldn't know how to cope without them, either; she started them during the pandemic. At nearly 81 now, she wouldn't be able to carry her weekly shopping up three flights of stairs (no lift in her house of 12 flats). Most of the delivery men (and very rarely women) are really kind and polite, and she always tips them generously.
Meike, here tipping is rare these days (except in some restaurants) - and especially since in later years we've pretty much ceased to use cash. Delivery fees are included in my online payments to the supermarket.
DeleteDelivery fees here are included in the orders, too, but my Mum wants to show her appreciation for the help; it is not self-understood that the delivery people carry everything up to the third floor. In Germany, tipping is still an everyday thing.
DeleteMeike, I suppose it varies a lot between countries what is common practice (and when/where).
DeleteThat's good news all around! I was glad to see your last remark about tipping the delivery people. I wonder if they are also just given a fee (since I know there are charges for most deliveries here as well.) But the big idea someone came up with was orders over $35 would be free delivery. That's barely a bag of groceries these days.
ReplyDeleteBarbara, I take for granted that the delivery drivers are employed by and have salaries/wages according to collective agreement from either the supermarket or a separate transport company. (In the beginning the supermarket had their own logo on the vans, now they don't.). I pay ~ $15 per delivery and that includes shop staff collecting and packing, and drivers delivering.
DeleteSo glad to hear that your grocery deliveries went smoothly. One less thing to worry about. I'm not sure if the supermarkets here still do home deliveries. They stopped abruptly on the first day of Covid when we all had to self-isolate, and I don't know if they ever started again. Fortunately as I still drive, I don't yet have to worry about home deliveries, but there may come the day when I do!
ReplyDeleteBeing someone who locks up like Fort Knox and sets the burglar alarm, even for the dog walk, I am used to locked doors! Better safe than sorry, as we regularly seem to have spates of burglaries during the holiday season. The police issue a list of things to look out for - signs that burglars leave to let others know they have already burgled a property!
Carol, here I think it was the other way round: getting groceries delivered (or packed to be collected) got even more established during the pandemic. Less people in the stores, less cash handled, no close contact needed at delivery - safer for everyone! (For me it was already routine since 5 years by then, and just continued as usual.)
Deleteso very happy you had your angel and all went well and now you can relax and know it will work out. its still a lot of extra work but you are safe doing it. YAY
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandra :)
DeleteThat was really nice of the person to help you, liking it when people go the extra mile. Hydrangea are one of the favourite flowers. We get the pink and blue ones here
ReplyDeleteAmy, I was just afraid of complications because of the new locked front door policy in my building... But they're probably used to being flexible as they deliver to many different kinds of homes.
DeleteI suppose, Monica, it's a sign of the times. I'm fortunate to live in a place where there is still relatively little crime involving theft from property. When I came here (half a century ago) few people locked their doors. Again until relatively recently few people locked their doors during the day in the country. Now I always lock the house if I go into town.
ReplyDeleteI suppose you're right, Graham. Living in town, I've always locked the door to my own flat, even if just going out to the rubbish bins - if nothing else, just to firmly make it a routine, so that I don't forget when going further... But so far I have felt secure enough with the main entrance only locked overnight. Keeping main entrances locked even in the daytime, without a pincode system, still has certain disadvantages - even if for my own part, I don't think I really have any friends left now who would just "pop by" for a surprise visit without calling or texting me first. (I think that practice died out with the pandemic!)
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