caddyman: (Default)
caddyman ([personal profile] caddyman) wrote2007-05-19 12:29 am
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Somewhere along the spice road...

As you know, the exchange value of the US Dollar against Sterling is slightly worse than that for the Ruritanian Yeb, meaning that purchases in that currency are rather good value at the moment.

Suffice it to say that I used this purchasing power to obtain a hat off eBay. A very nice hat it is, too. Certainly from the photograph; I haven't taken delivery of it just yet. I am confident that sometime before I retire, its journey to me will be complete and the hat will have a tale to tell (if only garments could speak, what would they say - "Use fabric softener next time, Jerk"?). The supplier is one of those to be lodged in Canada, but his stock appears to be in Hong Kong. Hmmm. Anyway, it's taken me a while to find out which shipper he has chosen to bring my purchase half way around the world.


M43 Field Cap


Imagine my surprise to find, with all those hundreds of choices out there, he picked our very own Parcel Farce. It seems they picked the package up on 15 May and a little later that day it left Hong Kong. Since then, nothing. Now I know that the dollar rate is advantageous and all that and purchases are cheap, but I have a feeling that to cut costs my hat is being worn by a little Chinee postman who is walking it from Shanghai to somewhere on China's north west frontier. That must be close on 2,500 miles. It will then be worn by a yak herder across the steppes of Russian Western Siberia before hitting a reliable train service somewhere around somewhere with an invitingly unpronounceable name like Novospotybysrsk.

Then delivery will take place within weeks. But first it has to walk across China.

regarding the exchange rate

[identity profile] suitandtieguy.livejournal.com 2007-05-19 07:45 am (UTC)(link)
believe it or not it helps American exports.

my pricey modules are siginificantly more attractive to foreigners than US citizens.

[identity profile] fredlums.livejournal.com 2007-05-19 02:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh and here I was rather hoping that the yak herder would at least be decent enough to take it to the dry cleaners before posting it onwards to your good self.

[identity profile] fencingsculptor.livejournal.com 2007-05-21 09:54 am (UTC)(link)
I know a Yak herder...

[identity profile] caddyman.livejournal.com 2007-05-21 11:16 am (UTC)(link)
Tracking suggests that they will fail to deliver it today. It has been out for delivery since 3.30 this morning. They will try sometime around 2.30 this afternoon, I should imagine, when there is no-one around. It should be small and pliable enough to push through the letter box, but I expect that since it has a tracking number, someone will want a signature and I shall have to wait months for Parcel Farce.

The same people do a very nice looking Panzer Commander's tunic for about £35, too...

Gellirysonovermeacropaz

[identity profile] bluesman.livejournal.com 2007-05-21 12:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Novospotybysrsk

Ah, it's good to know that you still have The Talent, old chap.

Re: Gellirysonovermeacropaz

[identity profile] caddyman.livejournal.com 2007-05-21 12:44 pm (UTC)(link)
It's a little rusty through lack of use these days, but yes, I can still mangle syllables to confect a reasonable facsimile of gibberish when the need arises.

Re: Gellirysonovermeacropaz

[identity profile] bluesman.livejournal.com 2007-05-21 12:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Then the job of compere on the horrifying Dancing with the Stars is yours for the asking. The incumbent cloth-headed bint is a notorious mushmouth with no personality. Your verbal dexterity and dry naughty wit will improve the televisual shite enough to make it watchable.

And you'll get to wave at Dr Furtle onscreen and blow little kisses at her. Heck, I'd watch that.