When I first moved here, some 11 years ago, the postie was a really nice guy, Mike. He used to deliver between 9 and 10am, was chatty, friendly and most of the people round here knew him.
About three years later he was mugged doing his round and quite seriously hurt. After he recovered he decided he didn't really fancy doing the walks any more and I don't blame him. He went back to the sorting office. Since then we've had any number of posties, some ok, some downright useless.
The timing has slipped progressively from 9am to now around 2pm. The incidents of wrongly delivered mail have increased and I'm fed up with writing complaint letters each time and getting the same old "We're looking into it" guff. They once sent me a book of stamps as compensation
Years ago I had a friend who had a business in Genoa. He told me that one of his business expenses was a bung to the local Mafia to ensure that his post was delivered. How long before that happens here, eh?