First World Problems

Evening, 

Last week I spoke of sparkles and twinkles and wedding planning bliss. However, it all came crashing down come last Wednesday morning when y invites arrived. Now originally I was not planning to buy them so soon in September's pay cheque, but nevertheless, I had money to burn (well Amazon.com vouchers) and thinking that if I bought them they would have arrived by the time I got back from Krakow and got Halloween over and done with, which to be fair they were when they arrived last week. 

Opening the package I was so excited, more so than anything else I think I have done so far. This was really happening. Officially sending out notification that I will be married, betrothed if you will, to my dearest Mr Warehouse. However, on opening the package, shipped from Amazon, I was disappointed and angry. These were not what I ordered. The invites I had ordered were Ivory in colour with a slight shimmer and sheen in the pearlescent card, each laser cut with a pretty lace floral design. After opening the two doors, a pocket, again lacey and bridal laser cut would hold all the information about our big day. Looking online I was in love and it helped that it came with most of the information we required. 

However, what arrived was far from this. All bar being lacey designed, that is where the similarities ended. I ordered Ivory. These were white. I ordered trifold. These were not. I wanted a pocket. These had none. I was devastated and immediately channelled my rage into an we worded email. Shortly I received a reply stating that, despite the enclosed photos of said delivery, the merchant could not see how it was an incorrect order. Fuming I lost it over the internet. 
"You clearly have not looked at all the photos as I have included this already. I am struggling to see how you think that these even look remotely similar to the ones I purchased, apart from being white and have a lacey detail. Again please see enclosed photos of INSIDE the package and how it clearly does not match what I purchased or advertised. I would appreciate if you can resend these express delivery as I need them for my wedding invitations and they now are going to be going out late."

I received a less than apologetic reply and on finding it in my inbox the following morning I thundered on, wanting answers:
"I am not sure that you fully understand. I find it 100% unacceptable that you have not only sent the wrong ones but that now you are telling me to “Please be patient and wait for its arrival” – I am appalled and expect an appropriate response.  I want it noted that I am not happy AT ALL and would expect some sort of part refund for the issues caused by the lack of due care and attention and stress this is causing me. As I said before these are my WEDDING INVITES and I bought from Amazon thinking that it is a reputable company with good customer service and products that are as advertised however this appears not to be the case."

I was so angry I could hardly contain it. Eventually, the "parcel" had hit customs (why I am not sure as I bought within the UK from a UK seller, or so they told me through there broken Asian-styled language) however there was a problem - What a surprise! It had apparently been damaged and they would refund me in full as they had no more stock left. However, they did add a caveat to all of this by stating that "You can buy goods directly at your local store." and "We are really sorry about that, we hope you can forgive us." Heading back to the internet I finally found the correct ones and had them shipped express delivery. They arrived this morning and are perfect, just what I always envisaged and what I always wanted. 

I was wanting to get them out in peoples Christmas card packages, however, I doubt I will have the time to do them and get them out before the post gets busy and things start getting lost in the mail as they inevitably do this time of year. However, as winter approaches and the vibrant colours of fall fades, I feel as though I need to make more of what is left of Autumn. Halloween is over, pumpkin spice lattes are making way for mulled wine and soon it will be time to don that fur coat and headband! For me, Autumn is pretty much over after Remembrance Sunday and gives way to the run-up to Christmas (dare I say it) but this year was different for a few reasons. 

After not accompanying my father last year due to some difficulties within our relationship and my battle with mental health I decided that the event would be more of a family affair as both myself and Mr Warehouse, and our pooches, old and young would take a walk down by the river in Bedford where we used to frequent, finally ending our journey at the Cenotaph, ready to pay our respects and remember the fallen. This would have been a successful family outing, had Frankenstein not become so terrified at the noise of my Fathers Kawasaki Vulcan Motorbike, along with his brother in arms and ex-servicemen and women, holding him close was not the trick as pissed himself. All. Over. Me. Obviously having him on the ground would have not been an option and I hazard to think about if he had wriggled free from his harness. Hindsight is a great thing but I still would have picked him up to settle him and I suppose it is all part and parcel of just being a dog mom! He was settled after at Lunch and enjoyed the pigeons, even if he didn't know what they were. Total country pup-kin!

Remembrance Sunday was different because of what I had experienced not that long ago in early October. In my blog "Arbeit Macht Frei (Work Will Set You Free)" I spoke of the horror and terrifying reality that my time at Auschwitz and Birkenau - The Nazi Death Camps brought me. As I stood within the minute's silence, holding my pup close, I remembered our guide as we explored the camps of Auschwitz and Birkenau and her echoing words. More than ever I thought about not only the soldiers, still boys really, and their family and loved ones back home. I thought more about the Polish residents and what they had to endure throughout years of hardship and heartache. I thought about the babies and the mothers and the children ripped from families and told to clean up only to be never reunited again. And I suppose it is cliche but they honestly and truly did give up their lives for us to live ours - Lest We Forget

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx