The Birthday Card That Took Nine Years to Arrive
As a journalist, I’ve heard of some epic fails in the history of mail delivery, but this one takes the cake. Imagine getting a birthday card nine years after the fact! That’s exactly what happened to Alfie Wilson, a young boy from Reading, Berkshire.
The infamous Royal Mail delivery truck
Alfie’s dad, Richard, received a surprise postcard from Royal Mail telling him they had a card that didn’t have a valid stamp on it. So, he paid the £2.50 fee to have the card delivered, and was gobsmacked to discover it was wishing his now nearly ten-year-old son a happy first birthday!
A Happy Ending
The best part of this story is that Alfie was thrilled to receive the card, and even more so when he got a £10 apology from Royal Mail. Richard joked that his son could be the first child to ever open a card for their first birthday and be able to read it. I mean, who needs a time machine when you have Royal Mail, right?
 Alfie with his belated birthday card
Richard’s sister, Sally, quipped that he probably thought she hadn’t bothered to send a card for Alfie’s first birthday. I can only imagine the laughter and jokes that were shared around the dinner table when this story came to light.
The Human Side of Snafus
As I reflect on this amusing anecdote, I’m reminded that even in the most mundane of situations, there’s always a human side to the story. We’ve all experienced frustration with lost packages and missed deliveries, but it’s the way we respond to those snafus that defines us.
In this case, Royal Mail’s apology and the £10 gift may have been a small gesture, but it made a significant impact on Alfie and his family. It’s a testament to the power of human connection and the importance of owning up to our mistakes.
 A big smile from Alfie, courtesy of Royal Mail
