It has never been easier to have goods delivered direct to your house. One click and the next thing you know your parcel is delivered safely to your house.

It is fair to say the people on the peninsula would not even consider how it gets here, and only ever think of the delivery drive if the parcel is late, or doesn't turn up.

That is where the Yodel driver for the peninsula comes in.

Known simply as Ricardo, the energetic, gregarious driver has been doing the peninsula round, covering every village here from Shotley Gate, down as far Capel, after collecting from the warehouse in Ipswich.

Difficulties in finding the right house in a vast expanse of tucked away cottages in a myriad of country lanes, adds to the pressure for a driver paid per parcel, so it is all about speed and accuracy.

Ricardo has been covering the peninsula for three years, and occasionally still has trouble connecting parcel with the right customer.

"It was a nightmare when I first started trying to find house down all the back lanes in the middle of nowhere. Many don't have numbers, just names like Rose Cottage or Blacksmith Cottage and there are a few of them too. So it was really difficult for a while.

"It used to take ages to deliver, I would probably only get through about 15 parcels in a day, but it is a lot better now.

"I have got used to it now and know an awful lot more, but every now and again I get caught out in the middle fo nowhere. Anyone starting out now on this country route would not find it easy."

Following strict social distancing ensures he, and his customers, are helping the fight against Covid-19 while trying to carry on as normal as possible.

"I'm not knocking on door, or any sort of contact." Said Ricardo. "I put the parcel somewhere safe, then put on the card where it is. If it needs a signature we would it on behalf on the customer then let them know. Then it is only my finger on the machine.

Despite the unusual circumstances, Ricardo feels what he is doing is widely appreciated.

He said: "Everyone has been really good when cheery waves and maybe a chat from a distance, or a shout.

"They need these deliveries. It is not just clothes, there are many essential items too.

"The big one is food, and not just for people but for pets too. Many of these homes are miles from anywhere and they need their pet food. If they don't have cars they can't get to supermarkets very easily."

One thing the essential worker status has highlighted is the need for people like Ricardo, and how under-appreciated they are ordinarily and he feels management should recognise them in a more tangible way.

"I would suggest they should be paying us more," sid Ricardo. "Our rates are not very good as it is. Due to this crisis and all that entails, I would have thought we would be entitled to a small increase in our rates.

"To show the managements appreciation of what we are doing. It is not an easy job especially when it gets dark it is late at night and when we still have deliveries to do in the middle of nowhere.

"We use our own vehicles and all the costs involved and delivering from Ipswich to as far as Shotley Gate every day What we get paid per parcel is not enough, in my opinion."

New measure by the government mean self-employed will be compensated but Ricardo points out there are gaps in the system and he would not benefit.

He said: "The government has been fine but in my case, as I earn a very small wage and I have expenses to take out of that, it will be a very small amount so I have to keep working. I'm classed as an essential worker, and we have been given a letter to that effect.

"I actually get less sometimes than Universal Credit, it depends on the volumes of parcels otherwise I would not have enough to live on."

Ricardo considers himself fortunate that he lives in a log cabin in his sister's back garden, which gives him a bit of financial security.

He said: "I pay my sister rent and she has said she will not kick me out if I can't pay that month, however, there are a lot of people not as lucky as me, that have private landlords, or have mortgages."

By meeting the challenge of being self-employed in these difficult times, Ricardo epitomises the determination to carry on as hundreds of others like him on the peninsula are doing in these uncertain times.

It just goes to show key workers come in all sorts of areas we may not ordinarily think of.