it didn't come as TalkTalk expected on Monday or Tuesday. This morning (Wednesday) Royal Mail sent an email saying they would deliver it tomorrow around midday (the usual mail slot). Then at lunchtime they sent another email claiming they were going to deliver it between this morning (long gone!) and 7:30pm this evening.
meanwhile TalkTalk bod rang back this afternoon to find out how I was getting on - and was somewhat disappointed it hadn't arrived and puzzled by the rival emails from Royal Mail.
if perhaps the postal service is getting ready for xmas on parcels and hence randomly laying on extra vans which sometimes have spare space for a few more things.