My postie, too, is a lovely man, always ready with a joke and a smile, and if he hasn't seen me for a few days asks a neighbour if I'm alright. However, most of what he brings is junk or charity appeals, most of which goes straight in the bin. Nowadays almost everything for which I would have used the post goes on line. The only time I write a cheque is for my gardener, and I keep telling him its about time he moved out of the 19th century. Everything else is dealt with on line, especially if it is something I want to be sure has arrived and I very rarely write letters. Sorry, Post Office, but things do go astray!I think the PO will have to be very careful not to price themselves out of the market. The cost of sending parcels has become prohibitive, which is a pity because it used to be so exciting on birthday or at Christmas seeing the postman walking up the path with presents in his hand. A gift voucher is not quite the same!
I still send a lot, too many, Christmas cards but grandchildren's generation rarely do so perhaps that tradition too will gradually die out.