Introduction

Hello! Kath here (I’m in charge!). I just love communication, and there are so many ways we can communicate! We can communicate with our friends, family, work colleagues and so much more! Technology has advanced so much what with this new ‘digital era’, BUT traditional forms of communication like sending a letter or a parcel - I think are so much more personal and significant. Now, to send a parcel or a letter there are a series of steps that need to be meticulously followed (trust me, I know!) to ensure that the package is delivered to the right hands and on time.

Preparing the Letter or Parcel

Okay so Step 1!
The first step to sending a letter or parcel is in the preparation. It includes the creation of the letter (writing it all down)! and ensuring that the item is delivered in a parcel-friendly condition. This means no tears, scrapes, rips or any of the parcel spilling out!

Preparing a Letter

When writing a letter, its jolly important that you consider the audience and the purpose. Letters can be informal or formal, depending on the person its going to! One (that’s you) should use appropriate greetings, language, and tone to make the content of the letter clear and understandable. It is advisable to proofread the letter (this means getting a grown up or someone else who likes reading to have a little look before you send it!) The letter should end with the sender's name (and signature if you have one!)

Preparing a Parcel

When sending a parcel, you should ensure that the item is safely packed to prevent damage during transit (moving from A to B). It should be secured with bubble wrap, newspaper, or packing peanuts (do not eat), depending on how fragile and precious the item is. The parcel must then be sealed tightly with tape (to stop anything getting out!)

Addressing the Letter or Parcel

The success of delivery heavily depends on how correctly and clearly the address is written. Therefore, the sender must take extra care in writing the address. Don’t forget to write the postcode of The Moon, don’t forget what house number the package is going to in Trumpton, and don’t forget the street name of the second star to the right and straight on til morning…

Writing the Address on the Letter

Write the full address, including the street, city, county (like Staffordshire) and postcode (the one with all the letters), it should be written really clearly on the envelope. It should have the recipient’s name first (the person its going to!).

Writing the Address on the Parcel

For a parcel, the sender should write the person's name and their address on separate and larger labels attached securely to the parcel to make them more visible (this can also be more fun!)

Posting the Letter or Parcel

Once the parcel or letter has been prepared and addressed, it is now ready for posting… exciting!

Posting a Letter

Standard letters can be sent to a post box, this also applies to magical letters. Sometimes you can send post via postie, parents or pigeons.  

Posting a Parcel

Since parcels are bulkier, they should be taken to the post office (real or magical). The sender can place the parcel on the scale at the post office to calculate the cost. Once the parcel is weighed (parcels might be categorised into light as a feather, heavier than a bag of sugar, too heavy to carry ask someone else and so on), the sender pays for the delivery charge, selects the speed of delivery, and obtains a receipt. The post office then takes care of the rest…

Conclusion

Sending letters and parcels may initially seem like a daunting task, but with a thorough understanding of the process (plus writing it down on your clipboard list, and readying yourself with a bourbon biscuit for the task ahead), it becomes a straightforward task! Even in our digital age, this traditional medium of communication continues to be integral for delivering information or goods across the globe, time and space…