Posting a Letter in 2015
Posted by: J.N. on 13 March 2015
We have the benefit(?) of a recently refurbished shiny new hi-tech Post Office in the Castle Mall in Norwich. Less staff - more machines. So I brave 'The Robots' to post a small jiffy-bagged parcel.
Does your package contain any of the following materials?
Body parts of IS members - alive or dead.
Noxious liquids (such as Blue Nun wine).
Offensive literature or music (example - Val Doonican CD's)
Pornographic photography. Some clothing must be visible but crotchless panties on either gender are right out!
Etc etc. (long list - with pictures!)
Errrr ..... "No"
Please place your item on the scales and select first or second class postage.
That will be £5.80 please.
No it fu**ing won't. Queue up to deal humanoid along with other pissed-off patrons.
"93 pence please Sir".
Progress. Don't ya just love it?
John.
I do all my postage that requires more than a stamp online.
No buggering about in the PO needed 
Where I live, in a comparatively wealthy part of South London, posting anything has become a nightmare. Two sub-POs have been axed so queues at the remaining two subs and the main have lengthened.
At the main PO, I use to be able to wander in, and use one of the two "Post & Go" machines and be outta there in a few minutes. Easy to use and very handy if you were posting a large letter or small parcel (CD in a Jiffy bag etc).
I went in there recently to find that the machine had gone and that one had no option but to join the huge queues for the (inevitably) small number of windows open. Fortunately I had a 120GB iPod Classic to occupy me during the wait.
When I eventually got served, I discovered the time-saving machines had been taken away because "the contract had run out". worse still, the branch is being "franchised" so will be made smaller, with fewer windows but with "concessions" so at least you'll be able to buy tat or a cup of coffee/snack while you wait interminably for some service.
Welcome to Blighty 2015, land of neo-liberal economic orthodoxy and its cretinous mania for selling everything off and outsourcing. 
Offensive literature or music (example - Val Doonican CD's)
Nowt wrong with Val John.
This may seem a crazy off the wall suggestion, but there is another way for those sending letters or small parcels.
Go to the post office, Pick up an “our prices” leaflet, buy a dozen second class letter and large letter stamps, (second class is just as fast as first) along with a selection of 5p 10p and 20p. When you have an item to post, weigh it on the kitchen scales, affix appropriate stamps and pop it in the postbox.
Simple.
Even the sarf London intelligentsia should be able to manage that. 