West Norwood Sub Post Office

Equipped with a barcoded letter that clearly states that only 1 item of identification is required I walked the 20 min to this post office, only to be told by an overzealous bureaucracy fanatic lady, who obviously got it wrong somehow, that she doesn’t really care what’s stated in black on white on the letter, but goes by… — well I don’t really know what she went by, since she constantly pointed to a minute screen, which was not facing me — and asked for two items of identification (like a bus pass, which wasn’t mentioned as a valid form of ID at all on the letter). Not equipped with any additional, non-​relevant pieces of paper, I was sent on my way again.

I go here all the time to send off packages, letters, hot air balloons and cruise ships. It’s mostly on behalf of my internship and sometimes I come loaded down with many letters, I can’t carry them all. I have to put packages in my pockets, stamps on my forehead, letters in my socks.
The staff is generally quite tolerant of my myriad requests. They sometimes prefer to talk amongst themselves, but are generally quite friendly. I think it must be a family that runs it. They’re all Indian and, well, I quite wish they’d put samosas through the window with my change and receipts. I’ll have to inquire further into that possibility.
The post office is also attached to a convenience store — the first combination of such I have EVER seen! It’s an incredible concept. Send a letter. Buy a mop. Send a package. Buy some cereal. In fact, if you know someone who really loves Cocoa Puffs, you could buy a box, write their name over the front, stamp it and send it off all underneath the same roof. AMAZING!
The people that go to this post office are sometimes a hoot to watch. I mean any man who sings and wears purple lamee pants is a winner in my book of interesting folk.