Good times, bad times

Up until about 3 o’clock this afternoon, today was a spectacularly good day. I had an unexpected visitor who brought light and laughter into my day, where I hadn’t expected it. This afternoon, from a purely selfish point of view, two phone calls went badly. Oh, and I must learn to rethink the art of crossing roads.

So, a big thumbs down to customer service at the Bank of Ireland. I understand completely that they would send out PIN numbers for people to access their accounts by phone or online and then require customers to ring to validate the numbers. Problems may arise if said numbers are obscured by a peel-off strip which, when peeled off, leaves the numbers (I think there were 4 digits but can’t be sure – that’s how bad it was) illegible. I was asked for the first, second and fourth digits of the number and got them wrong. If I’d got them wrong, then why is it an issue if I read out the number in it’s entirety, having already been told that what I’m reading the numbers as is wrong? And why exactly is it a source of amusement for their operator that they then have to send me out a new PIN? And who told them that it was acceptable for Customer Service Agents to show amusement at a customer having difficulty with their processes? If I could face the hassle, I’d close the fecking account and go elsewhere.

The second phone call that went badly is entirely my own fault and I hope that one day it’ll be forgiven, if not forgotten.

After a close shave the other day, I’ve been very careful in crossing roads. If a pedestrian crossing is available I’ve been using it, pressing the button and waiting for the green man, no matter what traffic is in sight. This afternoon I went to cross a three-lane road, with the lights in my favour. Surely it doesn’t expect too much of motorists that they should stop at a red light. It was clearly asking too much of one woman who screeched to a halt on the crossing (NB – not before the crossing, on the crossing) and would have hit me, had I not leapt back. She mouthed “sorry” through her window and drove off, still with the lights against her! My faith was bolstered somewhat by a young lady in the next lane winding down her window and asking me if I was alright. Bless her, she was chalk white. It may have been closer than I realised.

So, notes to self. Think, look and look again before crossing roads, no matter what array of lights are showing. And for pity’s sake think about what you’re saying on the phone!