Festive cheer

Glad tidings from, of all places, the Royal Mail (aka the Post Office). For a national institution that appeared to be not only well out of date, but well nigh out of business, it has conveyed a record number of letters, cards and packages this year - a full 100 million more items than expected. So much for the forecast that the internet would render the postal service obsolete: in fact, many of the parcels contained goods ordered online. Meanwhile, another festive tradition - griping about late delivery - seems to have been broken. So well done all the hard-working postmen and women. And Happy Christmas, one and all.

Glad tidings from, of all places, the Royal Mail (aka the Post Office). For a national institution that appeared to be not only well out of date, but well nigh out of business, it has conveyed a record number of letters, cards and packages this year - a full 100 million more items than expected. So much for the forecast that the internet would render the postal service obsolete: in fact, many of the parcels contained goods ordered online. Meanwhile, another festive tradition - griping about late delivery - seems to have been broken. So well done all the hard-working postmen and women. And Happy Christmas, one and all.