IT was Monday lunchtime, it was pouring with rain, and all around me were grim faces.

Some were standing, others seated, many shaking their heads or muttering in frustration.

Smiles were non-existent.

Where was I? In the main Post Office in Golden Square.

I was number 281 and there were a mere 27 people in front of me.

“There’s a bit of a wait I’m afraid,” said the Post Office employee policing the number spewing machine.

“It might take about 15 or 20 minutes.”

Great, just what you need when you’re in your lunch hour and, as my husband will testify, patience might be a virtue but it’s definitely not one of mine.

I’m extremely impatient. I think it comes from having a job where you have to do six things all at once really quickly.

It means I expect everyone else to manage that too.

So I normally avoid the post office like the plague because I hate waiting so long.

I did notice, while I had the time, that they’ve done it up a bit.

They’ve taken away the counter where you used to be able to buy a stamp or a lottery ticket.

Now there are more self-service machines and a couple of small offices with the doors closed.

I couldn’t see if they were occupied and there is no indication what they are for.

Of course the trouble with self-service machines is that you need a person on standby to tackle any problems.

But back to where the real action was – or rather inaction – where the majority of us were waiting for ‘counter services’ – or in plain English some contact with a human being.

The tension mounted, as they called 280, I gripped my parcel and got ready to dash to the counter, it was my turn next.

Wendy who served me was lovely, we chatted, she sorted out my parcel. Bingo. Her parting shot though was: “We’re doing a great offer on life insurance at the moment ...”

It’s not Wendy’s fault of course, nor any of her colleagues, I’m sure they’re all great people who work hard.

But the trouble with closing down so many post offices is that everyone converges on one or two.

The Post Office has culled 8,000 sub-post offices in towns and villages over the past decade.

It is also to cut one in five of its crown post offices to further save money.

Obviously this can’t happen without having a drastic impact on us, the customers.

There are now more customers waiting for fewer facilities while Wendy and co all have to try to flog us something on each visit.

Whether it’s credit cards, insurance or broadband services, they have to push something in our direction.

It’s such a shame because if we were served a bit quicker we might be more inclined to listen to their offers, but you’re so grateful to finally get to the counter that you don’t want to hang around to listen to what they’ve got to say.