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The first quick out-of-the-box shot of Miss Temperance Pocket. She arrived yesterday after being stuck at Heathrow and in customs. I won her on evilBay on 22 July so I am so glad to get her finally home. I am totally and utterly smitten with her *stares some more*. So much so I’m not even going to mention the hideous customs fee I got walloped with…

She is a Kenner Blythe, one of the originals. For a doll a year older than myself she is in amazing condition. I guess things were made with a bit more ‘permanence’ then.

I had to brave a Parcelforce run to rescue her from ‘box purgatory’ and after waking up at 5am with a bad dream (someone had opened her box and switched dolls for an ugly Bratz doll which had been bashed about) I was over there as soon as possible.

Parcelforce are still as inefficient as ever but now they have a new glass screen so customers can’t “touch the staff” and a new computer system for card payments that no-one can operate. They also want two forms of ID (passport or drivers licence and a bill for proof of address) to pick up packages. I came stunningly prepared with both of the above, a pair of scissors so I could open the package in front of them (for any insurance claims you must open it there and then) and my pocket digital camera to take ‘proof’ photographs. Luckily that wasn’t needed as she was in perfect condition.

I only spent 45 minutes waiting and paying for my parcel - a new Parcelforce West London record I think. I am so looking forward to when I move house and I get to deal with a new Parcelforce office (who may actually answer their phone, a novel thought that.)

People not in the dolly world (but other people who collect things might) don’t understand the highs and lows of auction wins, ‘the will or wont the seller be a scammer’ fear (we constantly have issues with ‘dodgy’ sellers in the Blythe world*), the anxiety of entrusting your delicate package to Parcelforce when it arrives in the UK (for they are always sold in Japan and the US, never here) and then the inevitable huge customs bill and the struggle of getting it delieved. Of course, Parcelforce expect you not to work during daytime hours…

Today all that is forgotten. Tempe you are going to make a wonderful model.

(*Luckily for me I got my Kenner from someone I knew of and trusted in the dolly world - it made all the difference.)

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 13th, 2006 at 7:59 am and is filed under Dollies, Photomaton. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Subscribe to this comment feed at Bloglines. Both comments and pings are currently closed.