Embarrassing to show my laundry on the floor but I think showing the mouse is worth it.

Cute and disgusting, huh? I know!

]]> http://lettersfromwhom.com/london-travel-for-expats/2012/04/mice-memories/feed/ 0 http://lettersfromwhom.com/london-travel-for-expats/2012/04/mice-memories/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/lettersfromwhom/xsiX/~3/9YtP0pPb2wE/ http://lettersfromwhom.com/london-travel-for-expats/2012/03/us-band-aids-uk-plasters/#comments Tue, 20 Mar 2012 09:58:52 +0000 Tina http://lettersfromwhom.com/?p=1275 If you are in a UK chemist or pharmacy (what Americans often call a drug store) and are looking for Band-Aids or bandages, what you want to ask for are “plasters”. Elastoplast is a common brand.

Plaster = band-aid

Bandage = ace bandage or wrap gauze type stuff.

This isn’t a big deal. There is always a chance you will have to pay customs charges/fees on a parcel arriving from outside of the country. I have no real idea on how this works or how to avoid it. The purpose of this post is to tell you HOW TO GET YOUR BLOOMIN’ PACKAGE!

If your sender sent using FedEx, you shouldn’t have any problems. FedEx often pays the charges for you, then bills you the same amount a week or two after they deliver. (Pay it. They will come hunting if you don’t.)

If your sender sent using the US Postal Service (USPS), when the package arrives in the UK it is often managed by Parcel Force, a “sister company” to the Royal Mail. This is where the problem often lies because Parcel Force sucks huevos.

There have been two instances where a parcel has arrived in the UK for me but I did not receive any delivery attempt, nor did I receive any notice in the post that I needed to pick up/pay for/claim this parcel. They arrived in the UK and some thing, some kind of package force, seems to expect me to inherently know that it has arrived, to know who has it, and to know how to go about getting it from them. This force is called Parcel Force.

They are, probably, the number two example of British incompetency in the service sector. (Number one would be British Telecom.) Except for the drivers. Once the package is en route on their delivery truck, excellent service. Yay Parcel Force drivers.

Anyway, if you are waiting for a parcel that was sent via USPS and it seems to be in purgatory, try this:

1. Visit the Parcel Force website.
2. On the right hand side, in the red “Track Your Parcel Online” box, enter in your USPS tracking code, without spaces. (The USPS tracking code is usually the same number once in the UK, but the “US” at the end is changed to “GB”.)
3. Hopefully you get some tracking results and it will tell you where your parcel is or what the status is (i.e.’”Awaiting payment of charges”)
4. Depending on your results, it is then easiest to call Parcel Force and pay by credit card over the phone and arrange delivery, or collect it in person. (I wouldn’t recommend collecting in person because that would simply add another layer of incompetency to deal with once you arrive at the depot.)

Seriously, that is all there is to it. If your package is missing, chances are Parcel Force has it. Not the Royal Mail depot, not your local post office. Parcel Force. If you can advise your sender before they ship to you, make sure they get a tracking number, even if it costs a bit more. That tracking code (or bar code, as it is sometimes referred to here) will save your sanity.

And though it may cost significantly more, if what you are expecting is valuable or important to you, see about having them send it via FedEx or UPS. FedEx and UPS will use their own couriers here once it arrives. USPS doesn’t have that same link.

Good luck.

Now that she is almost 8 months old, I am finally able to start resuming some sort of normalcy in my blogging, emailing and FB’ing. I know I keep saying it, but stay tuned.

Here is a photo I snapped in Canary Wharf the other day:

West India Quay Marina / Canary Wharf / Isle of Dogs

Send me a note! editor.lfw at gmail dot com.

It’s been a few months since I’ve posted but I’ve had some new projects come up that have taken me from this site. Fear not: I am still here and doing well, making the most of this “summer” in London.

(comic by dagsson)

People are outside, drinking and smoking, as if they haven’t been able to do this in months! And they haven’t. This is when London is at its best.

Images above and below are the post-work crowd in Canary Wharf , London

If you’re like me, you don’t really talk on the phone much and don’t worry about getting hit with surprise roaming fees. But if you’re a normal person and use your telephone to call other normal persons, you should take a look at this post. It covers the subject of roaming fees and offers tips on how to avoid them.

Honestly, if I ever called anyone outside of the UK, or used my UK phone while abroad, this would be really helpful!

Bullet points are the easiest way to express my feelings about Nando’s.

• Nando’s is a big chain. Chances are you will live near one and you always know what you’re going to get.
• The prices are cheap so you can come here often: for lunch, for dinner or for takeaway orders.
• The service at various Nando’s is not consistent. The service at some Nando’s is god-awful slow and incompetent. This may turn you off from certain Nando’s locations. Just remember other locations are perfectly decent when it comes to service.
• But many are TERRIBLE when it comes to service! Just don’t have high expectations or be surprised, is all.
• I usually order a half chicken–hot–with chips (fat fries, very good) and corn on the cob. Or just a lot of chips, because I really like them here.
• Other stuff is good, too, such as the salads (fresh), sweet potato mash (mmm, buttery) and the wraps.
• Don’t be afraid of the “medium”, “hot”, or “very hot” versions of the peri-peri sauce. I prefer “hot” as too hot just ruins my tongue and I can’t enjoy anything. Try them out and see. You can always order “medium” or “mild” when you order your chicken and then top it up with hotter sauce at your table.
• Here is a media review of the Nando’s chain which should give you more background info.