Thoughts about Stuff

Late night ramblings...

Hello there people of the internet! I’m Ross, and as of this writing it is currently 11:40pm. You might be there going “oh Ross, why are you writing at this sodding hour?” Well that’s a good question. But sometimes my mind wanders in the late hours of the night, and sometimes I basically write a newsletter in my head before randomly falling asleep.

So instead of doing that, I thought I’d write it out instead.

Probably a bad idea, but let’s go.

Thoughts about stuff

Tonight, I was just thinking about the idea that we physically send people stuff and how when you realllllly think about it, it’s a little bit weird.

Like I know I’m sending you all this right now. As in this newsletter. But that’s different. It’s some digital words presented on a screen through some advanced coding that I don’t understand.

Like you’re probably reading this on your phone I’m guessing? Maybe half doing something else? You’re on the toilet, the bus, half listening to the kids in the background hoping they don’t notice that you’re taking 5 just to sit down and breath? Where do you read these?

Who knows.

Actually… when I think about it, that’s weird too.

Like we’re all somehow connected at THIS very moment.

I’m writing this, you’re reading this.

Someone else, likely many miles away, is reading this too.

We’re all collectively reading and writing this together, both at the same time and at different times simultaneously. It’s like some sort of frozen moment in time. I’m literally freezing a thought in time to be accessed on-demand by anyone in the world at any time via a digital space on the internet.

That’s weird.

Or maybe I’ve just made it weird.

And it gets even weirder to think about physically sending thing.

Physically sending people things

Don’t even ask me why I was thinking about this…

I think it was once again me thinking about the idea of the “customer” and how I don’t really like the term. And then how every “customer” is literally a real life person.

Sure, we all have digital versions of ourselves. If you’re reading this then chances are you either have an Instagram account, Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, or at the very least, an email address.

But close your laptop or lock your phone, then WHO are you?

You’re a real life person.

Like you eat dinner, put your shoes on, fluff your cushions, look out your window, nibble the cheese when you go to the fridge. Oh fuck off does no one else do that?

You have a preference on how you like your coffee. You have a favourite band. Heartache that you can’t escape. Happy memories, things that make you cry. Shall I go on infinitely?

Yes, yes I do.

My point is that every time I go to pack an order, reply to an email, send a message back, write a newsletter, do a thank you card… I try to think that there’s a real person on the other end of what we’re doing.

Never is this more in my mind than thank you cards.

Sure you might get a newsletter in your weird digital inbox. Maybe it’s written by me, but fuck knows, I’m probably a robot. Fuck it, so are you I guess.

But a thank you card is REAL.

Like it’s this weird moment where we’re connected. I’ve touched the card, then you touch it. And just like that, we’re eskimo brothers to the card.

It’s something I always try to think about when I’m about to write. I just think that this card, and these melts, and this box… they’re all PHYSICALLY going to arrive in someone’s house. You know… or go missing. Or perhaps go to the wrong house. But either way… they’re going into someone’s home.

Like we’re physically part of people’s lives.

Some of you reading this can probably get up now and hold something of ours.

Something we actually made.

For brief fleeting moments, our life comes into contact with yours. You go about your day and do what you do. Whether it’s a shit day or a good one, and you come home and for some of you, we’re there.

…

Sorry… I’m just sitting on the thought.

Roughly 3 minutes later…

Yeah… it’s a weird mix of emotions for me for some reason.

There’s this weird sense of gratitude that we get to be a part of people’s lives. Then some sort of mind wander as I try and think about all these other lives and what you might be doing with yours.

There’s a whole lot of curiosity, mixed with gratitude mixed with this very faint voice going “mate, what the fuck are you on about? This is why people go to sleep when they have silly thoughts… they don’t send it out to people you fucking loon”.

That voice can shush right up.

But do you know what I mean?

Like right now I’m in your hand, in your life… Then again with the thank you cards and the wax melts and whatever other things you ordered.

Worst part is, I’m literally on the front of most of the Cockshells so you could quite literally have me just stood on your mantelpiece watching you eat last nights curry.

Is it weird thinking that I can just be there watching you? Just don’t put the Cockshell in the bathroom.

And probably best you think less about this if you’ve ever ordered a sex toy from us as that might really kill the mood.

Chances are I’ve already fucked it up for you, haven’t I?

You’ll be there with your partner, 3 minutes into a session, and go “Ha! Ross sent this to us, that’s weird isn’t it?” And then that’ll be it. Moments gone.

But yeah…

I guess I want to say thank you?

Thank you for letting this whole “business” thing become what it is.

Thank you for letting us be part of your life in whatever way we have. Even if it’s just been with disappointment. Sorry about that, it does happen.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to spend my Sunday night rambling away at you.

Thank you for letting me be right there with you while you’re taking a shit.

I feel unbelievably grateful for everything.

Thank you for reading.

Much love,

Ross & Rachel x