Royal Mail has ended Sunday collections in order to cut costs. Although most mail boxes do not have a Sunday collection a small proportion of boxes mainly outside main post offices did have a Sunday collection. Royal Mail have said that the demand for Sunday collections is limited and that it costs four times as much to handle those letters as it does letters posted on other days of the week.

British Airways have stopped flights between Britain and Zimbabwe. The final flight landed on Sunday. BA has stopped the service because they say it has become uneconomic.

I came across this website that offers a directory of lodging accommodation within the US and Europe. They are an independent online booking agency so offer a number of alternative hotels that you won’t find on some of the more mainstream holiday engines. They cover a variety of destinations mainly in the US including Vermont Lodging ideal for visiting the USA’s third largest ski resort. Vermont is on the Catamount Trail and holds the record for being the longest cross country ski trail in America.

If you fancy taking in the sights of Virginia they also cover Virginia Lodging. This area is great for beach lovers and you can enjoy fishing, swimming and boating. It is also well placed for the mountains and has over 540 miles of hiking trails. If you fancy something a bit different you might want to look a Connecticut Lodging. Connecticut is home to a variety of craft and antique shops. There is also a wine trail that includes fifteen vineyards and takes two days to complete.

They don’t just offer a directory of accommodation in the US. There are also lodgings available in Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom as well as many other destinations. The prices are not bad either with a room in London staring at a little over $92.

This week's travel blog of the week is Travel-Junkie.com written by Boris Glumpler. One post that I found interesting is about travelling on a Pelni boat in Indonesia. The experience doesn't sound very pleasant with 50 people sleeping in one room for four days with poor food and smelly toilets and showers. He does, however, point out that travelling on the boat is very cheap and also safe and gives some useful tips on how to survive the experience.

 

One tip that he gives is to remember to take a large sheet with you that you can use for sleeping and also to wrap yourself in. He also says you should take your own cutlery unless you want to eat with your hands.

 

Other interesting articles include this picture of a Komodo dragon and a list of his top ten dive spots in South East Asia including what you are likely to see there.

British Airways are to ban surfboards on its flights from the 6th of November. They say that the large size and handling problems means it can no longer carry items such as surfboards, hand gliders, javelins, canoes and pole vaults. Members of the Newquay based British Surfing Association whose who often use the Gatwick to Newquay flight have reacted angrily to the announcement.

It has been announced that 44 post offices are to close in Scotland. The Post Office will reduce the number of branches in Argyll and Bute by seven, Glasgow by 27 and Central Scotland by 10. There will be a six week consultation period during which communities can give their views on the closures. The following branches are due to close.

Argyll & Bute
•    East Princes Street, The Post Office, East Princes Street, Helensburgh
•    Gallowgate, Gallowgate, Rothesay
•    High Street, The Post Office, High Street, Campbeltown
•    Hillfoot Street, The Post Office, Dunoon
•    Kirn, The Post Office, Dunoon
•    Mossfield, Combie Street, Oban
•    Ralston Road, 125 -127 Ralston Road, Campbeltown
Greater Glasgow
•    Anderston, 76 St. Vincent Terrace, Glasgow
•    Auchenback, 60 Aurs Drive, Barrhead, Glasgow
•    Balornock, 34-36 Drumbottie Road, Glasgow
•    Bowling, 32 Dumbarton Road, Dumbarton
•    Brucehill, Brucehill Road, Dumbarton
•    Carmunnock, Clarkston, 17 Busby Road, Carmunnock, Glasgow
•    Croftfoot, 509 Castlemilk Road, Glasgow
•    Crow Road, 304 Crow Road, Glasgow
•    Drumchapel, 135 Garscadden Road, Glasgow
•    Forge St, The Post Office, Forge Street, Glasgow
•    Gilshochill, Glenavon Road, Glasgow
•    Govanhill, 328 Allison St, Govanhill, Glasgow
•    Greenbank, 29 Eaglesham Road, Clarkston, Glasgow
•    High Street, 271 High Street, Glasgow
•    Hyndland, 37 Clarence Drive, Glasgow
•    Kelvindale, Kelvindale Mini Market, 361/367 Kelvindale Road, Glasgow
•    Kingsridge, 55 Inchfad Drive, Drumchapel, Glasgow
•    Levenvale, Co-Op Store, Argyle Street, Alexandria
•    Muirend, The Post Office, 367 Clarkston Road, Glasgow
•    Newton, 107 Glasgow Road, Dumbarton
•    Nithsdale Rd, 8 Kildroston Street, Glasgow
•    Radnor Park, 379 Kilbowie Road, Clydebank
•    Red Road, 51 Red Court, Glasgow
•    Sandymount, 18 Grantlea Terrace, Glasgow
•    Springfield Rd, 98 Springfield Road, Glasgow
•    Temple, 58 Fulton Street, Glasgow
•    West End, 125-127 Dumbarton Road, Glasgow
Central Scotland
•    Bothkennar, Main Street, Skinflats, Falkirk
•    Brightons, Quarry Brae, Brightons, Falkirk
•    Church Street, 206 King Street, Stenhousemuir, Larbert
•    Cultenhove, 104 Cultenhove Road, Stirling
•    East End, 161 Main Street, Callander
•    Forth Crescent, 36 Abbey Road, Riverside, Stirling
•    Greenhill, 2 Lea Park Drive, Bonnybridge
•    Highland Dykes, 66 Wheatlands Avenue, Bonnybridge
•    Nethermains, 4 Fleming Court, Denny
•    Thornhill Road, 192 Thornhill Road, Falkirk