stamp lickin' good?

It's Christmas card sending time again! I bought some Christmas cards when I visited Toronto last October, and again some here in Stirling last month. I have been waiting for the time when I can go and post them. Today, Saturday, was a good time as this will be my last Saturday here. I go back to Thailand next Saturday. And the PO at the city centre is open on Saturdays until 1730 hrs. So there I was, with my 15 cards for the Philippines, and 2 cards for the UK. The PO staff gave me stamps for the international cards, and he put sticker stamps on the local cards. So I went to the side table where customers would usually prepare their stuff before sending them. I needed paste or glue or moist pad to moisten the stamps so they would stick. I could not find any, so I asked the staff. Can you believe what he told me I should do? He made sign language that I should lick the stamps to moisten them. What the ... ? Was he serious? In this day and age? I told him that is not allowed, it is not so hygienic? But he said they do not have this kind of thing coz they would just lick the stamps. I had 15 stamps and I would not do it! As I had an appointment with a friend in 10 minutes, I had to leave. Anyway I would just come back later then coz I still had other cards to post. I just considered it as another one of those strange or backward things that happen in this town.

In the afternoon I returned to the PO with the cards. I of course used moist tissue to stick the stamps on. And then I had another card that needed a stamp. And can you believe it? He did the sticking for me, by licking the stamp and putting it on the envelop! Yucky!!!! I will not tell whose card it is ... I just hope nothing will grow on the stamp while the card is making its way to the Philippines!

Then this PO guy asked me if I were from the Philippines, and whether I am from the north or south. I answered that I am from the central part. Coz he is married to a Filipina from the north! Strange? Small world? I just hope he did not get that habit of stamp licking from his wife...

Christmas ... It's the most wonderful time of the year! (charity cards from tesco)