Posties explain why they always wear shorts in cold weather
If you've ever wondered why postmen always seem to be wearing shorts, no matter the weather or time of year, you're in good company.
Many of us wouldn't dream of baring our legs on a freezing cold winter's day unless we were very very drunk.
But, according to posties, there's a perfect good reason for their choice of attire.
In a Reddit thread a couple of years back, one user asked whether it was a rule they had to abide by or just a 'silly' ritual that’s been passed down over the years.
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They wrote: “Postmen/women of the UK, why do you wear shorts all year round no matter the weather?
“Is it a rule or a silly tradition?”
Another commented that they'd made the same observation. “Yeah I've seen them last week in shorts and a Royal Mail pastel blue short sleeve shirt," they said. "Hardcore. None of this DPD Hermes skinny joggers and overcoat nonsense.”
The curious Redditers found the answers they were looking for when a number of posties responded and it turns out they wear shorts for the same reason many of us do.
One 'current postie' replied: “It really is just because it gets hot doing the job.
"One round I cover I wear trousers just because of the wind (made the mistake once and had windburn all up my legs) but it’s that particular village happens to be the highest point of the town and is a massive wind tunnel. All other rounds I'm in shorts pretty much all year.”
Another explained: “I'm an ex-postie. I used to be 'that guy', the reason for me is that I hate sweating and walking around all day used to make me sweat my balls off.
“If it was an extreme day I might throw on waterproofs over my shorts, something I can easily slip on and off as the need arose.”
Putting it more succinctly, a third added: “Skin is waterproof. Walking all day is hot work."
Another, who'd previously worked as postie, shared: “The depot had a running bet where everyone paid £1 a week into a pot, with the winner got to give the entire fund to a charity of their choice.
“The competition was to see who could go furthest into the winter in shorts. As the snow kicked in during January it was down to two die hards. Eventually as Spring kicked in it was deemed a tie, the pot was split between the two, raising several hundred each.
“At the end of the competition a supervisor also added to the pot out of his own pocket and both got a free cooked breakfast from the work’s canteen for a week in recognition of their efforts!”
So, as mad as it may seem seeing your local postie traipsing around in shorts in zero-degree weather, it turns out its perfectly reasonable.
After all, would you want to sweat your a*** off every day at work?
Bec Oakes