Many years ago, one of Gill Air's Royal mail contracts was a weekday STN BFS empty return to STN, leaving STN at 2100L. You had to be punctual, or if running late had to get a code from the Postie. If no code it almost wasn't worth going as the penalties were so punitive. Around the Wirral we would always hear one of the Emerald Budgies on the radio. He was out of LPL on a similar schedule and also heading for BFS. As we were higher than him, we could generally spot him around the IOM. Problem was, BFS only had one handling crew (Servisair) and whoever got there first got unloaded first (ATR72 contracted for 7tonne load, all loose bagged). We then began the game of liars as to who was calling 'visual' first - normally for rwy25 at Aldergrove. The sort of rule being that he who called first, got in first, and got unloaded first. Well of course we were calling visual at 50 miles out, whether we were or weren't. The Budgie was often calling visual whilst still over the IOM - and in IMC!
On a good day, we could be in BFS around 2200L, unloaded and refueled and on our empty way back to STN at 2240L. Duty day around 4 hours, and you would do 4/5 days of these. Back home for a glass of wine and a nice day ahead before reporting again. Happy times.