A very early start! I visit the two main sorting offices every Christmas, to wish all the postmen and women a Happy Christmas and New Year and to thank them for their wonderful service. Today it was Swanage's turn and I arrived on my motorbike on the dot of 0700 as I'd been asked to. The manager, Steve Fletcher, was there to greet me and, after a quick chat with him, and armed with a coffee, I did the rounds and chatted to all the posties. What a charming and fun bunch they are. There's a great camaraderie amongst them, plenty of leg-pulling and many mischievous grins. There's also a professionalism and diligence that's equally impressive and they are genuinely keep to get out on their rounds. Their many loyal clients are testament to this goodwill. I met two new men, one a former builder, the other a stone mason. Alan Dashfield who has now done 43 years was also there and I had a good catch-up with him. He's become the butt of many jokes as he appears on my Christmas literature, poor man. After a couple of hours it was time to head back to the office, but on the way I came across a Swanage damsel in distress. A lovely lady had broken down on the side of the road and was in a pretty precarious position, with cars flying around the corner. I called the local garage in Swanage and before long a recovery lorry was on site, with a delightful driver. I left the lady in good hands and continued back to the office. There is a mass of correspondence to deal with and Christmas cards to acknowledge and send. I had several calls from the media who will be reporting on Alexander Blackman's bail hearing in London tomorrow afternoon. I shall be there, although I have another early call to make in the morning, this time to Weymouth sorting office.