Cy Bear once again - a little disappointed not to be able to share the news with you that Puffin has finally reached home in Warwick, Rhode Island - but that, I am given to understand - is one of "THE THINGS" about doing business internationally. Once one has posted an item, one is then in the hands of "THE SYSTEM" - or, as in this case, SYSTEMS. Not only international postal services, but also the route through each country's Customs Services.
However, as Puffin was dispatched by Royal Mail's Tracked and Signed For Large Packet service last Monday morning, Isobel has just checked where he's at and can report that he "cleared US Customs at 5.22 February 23, 2017." according to the USPS (US Postal Service) Tracking page, and was last heard of "inbound out of Customs". That probably means he didn't get going towards Rhode Island until sometime Friday, 24th February. With the week-end looming, that should, with luck, mean he will be arriving home on Monday or Tuesday of the upcoming week - depending on when the local Postie gets around to NR's home in Warwick, RI. (Let's hope there will be someone at home to sign for the package!)
This is me sitting beside the package which Isobel was just going to put into her shopping bag to take to our local post office last Monday. I'm waving to NR and his Family, as well as saying "Good Bye" to Puffin.
So, while I could show you what Puffin now looks like, as I explained last week, I think it's only right that NR and his Family see him first, so you'll just have to wait to see the final New Look until next week. However, Isobel did take some photos of the Traveller before he left us, so - because we don't like to NOT post a bulletin every Sunday - here is what happened to Puffin before he left us last Monday morning.
Once all the usual paperwork involved in sending a COLDHAM CUDDLIES Toy or Patient to their destination had been completed, an envelope was prepared - with the destination address on both sides. (That's in the hope that it speeds up any journey - people don't have to turn a package around to find the address, if it's on BOTH sides!) Any international postal item being sent to the United States and anywhere other than the European Union, has to have a Customs Declaration Form completed. (You can see it at the bottom of the package in the photograph above. Basically, it says what's in the package - in this case a "restored soft toy"; then there's the weight of the package, value of the package and finally at the bottom of the form, Isobel's signature.)
Then Puffin was wrapped up in chemical free tissue paper - looking like this:
You may be able to see a Red "Fragile" label under the "Mail Bag" at the top left hand corner of the package. I know, Puffin is a soft toy, and not normally classed as a "breakable" object. However, Isobel always puts such a label on any parcel leaving us - because of how she has seen the postal authorities handle the goods that pass through their offices! They THROW stuff into big post bags, and she doesn't like the idea of any COLDHAMCUDDLIES Toy or Patient being hurt!!!
After the tissue paper, Puffin got wrapped in bubble wrap - just to make sure that he had an extra covering to shield him for the journey across the Atlantic Ocean.
The fully wrapped Puffin was then popped into the envelope, his travel documents (otherwise known as a "Delivery Note/Invoice") were put in as well, and the envelope sealed. Puffin then travelled by 'bus to the Post Office, and his "ticket" purchased. Upon her return, Isobel notified MrJR that Puffin was on his way home. At least, we've now learned he got to America BEFORE something called "Storm Doris" reached the UK on Thursday - because the USPS Tracking information tells us that the parcel arrived in ISC NEW YORK NY(USPS) at 4.14 am on 21st February!
So that's all we can tell you for now. Hopefully next time we're together (next Sunday), we can show you Puffin as he now looks, together with a photo or two of Puffin (Dry Run) and him before the wrapping process took place.
Until then - have a great week: hope you're not all blown to bits, as we are getting a lot of high winds, and are being promised a lot of heavy rain, thunder, and even snow, for the first few days of the coming week.
Bye for now -
Your Friend, Cy Bear.
