Don’t chase the horses.
Since ancient Soviet times I have lived in Minsk (fall in distribution), my mother - in the district center in the south of the Tula region. The distance by railway through Moscow (and this is a hammer) is slightly more than 1000 km, by highways past Moscow kilometers are 300 kilometers less. I usually travel through Moscow. I get to either a day (train + route), or one and a half (train + light feast at family + train in the evening). This preface is simply for estimating the distance and possibilities of transportation.
In fact, we talk to Mom by phone, but the opening to the holiday for her is a holy thing. On January 18, I received a letter of congratulations from my mother. Somehow late. I watch the sign of departure – December 6th! In Minsk on the Main Post - 17 January. My mom is cautious, about the urgency of the Russian post knows, but to do so...
The letter lasted 43 days. During this time, you could not rush to walk. The mail of the days of Pushkin and Lermontov compared to the current e-mail. It turns out that horses will be faster than trains and planes. Why not take advantage of previous experience?
And judging by the latest statements of postal managers, that all others, including the senders and recipients, but only not them, should send a New Year's greeting to the mother on January 1 of the previous year. To congratulate me on 2014, she’s already late.