Yesterday, I got a note from my dear Claudia, saying she'd received the lovely greeting card in which I'd enclosed two ATCs to trade with her. However, the side had been sliced open, and the ATCs were not in the envelope with the card I'd enclosed them within. We deduced that a greedy postal worker thought they must be gift cards, and decided to open the envelope and take the cards. I have asked Claudia to pick two new cards, which I will opt to mail to her in a bubble mailer, rather than a regular envelope. The bubble mailer will reduce the ability to feel what is within the envelope, hopefully deterring temptation to steal what is within.

I had been using bubble mailers in the beginning of my ATC trades, but I ran out and had not gotten to the store to get more, so I decided to try enclosing the cards in a greeting card or regular envelope. This has proved to be a mistake. It is important to me, and I know to all of you, that my friends not be disappointed with ATC trades. It's a shame we can't depend on the folks at the postal service to handle our mail with honesty and care.

Other adventures have included one of my ATCs from Victora going to a neighbor on another street in my neighborhood (they have the same house number on a different street). Fortunately the neighbor was nice enough to deliver the card to me personally.

The most excitement thus far was experienced by The Moondrop, who was called to the customs office to pick up the ATC I had mailed to her (after over a month of it being MIA) When she got there, they explained that the delay was due to the fact that it was suspected that my package was compressed cocaine. That'll get the old ladies at the Raymond post office to cackling! Wooo! To this date I have never received the card that The Moondrop sent to me. She is so kind to be in the process of making me another.

Of course, there's the South African Postal strike Victoria and Margaret have had to deal with. Thank goodness that is over for them now.

Anyway, I don't know if anyone else is having such postal adventures. I just thought I would share. Please share your adventures as well! As for me, I'll be using bubble mailers from now on .

Love to all!