It was building up
It was so cold today, I ended up hiding in bed after lunch and didn't get out till 6pm.
I do not know how I'll ever be productive in weather like this. (And yes, I know it could be worse and there are people regularly facing snow and ice... but goddamnit I'm freaking cold!) Still, it was not me who turned on the heating at 5pm! Sure, my moral high ground is eroded by admitting to spending the afternoon under the covers... but still.
I've run out of books to read, though, so I'm going to have to brave going out tomorrow to drop off more CVs and visit the library. Job hunting is depressing me and I don't really want to do it any more.
Barclays are super paranoid and have sent me something called a PINSentry(tm) card reader. It's basically a fancy way of double-checking I have possession of my own card and PIN but the system only works on the Barclays website. So, you know, if someone else got my card at least they couldn't get on to my online account. Whoo! And online shopping would be nearly impossible, obviously. No way anyone would figure that one out.
I called to set up telephone banking yesterday, and was answered by someone in India. You know, it's a well-known stereotype, but I'd never actually encountered it until I chose Barclays as my bank and have been calling them to get things organised. Now that they have some of my money they are trying to make me upgrade my account. Excellent. The only reason I have the account I have that doesn't earn you more money is because when I was trying to set one up you adamantly refused to be convinced I was a person worthy of your time. So, no, I am not interested in giving you more money now. Especially when one of your customer service people may have hung up on me after determining all I wanted to do was set up phone banking and wasn't interested in hearing about the brand new special account you have on offer. I don't even know if the phone banking was fully set up, but I shall see if I get anything in the post about it.
I miss you, Westpac. Yeah you tried to sell me insurance now and then but I'm appreciating you more than ever. You let me keep my old account (and old fees) that I've had since 2001, gave me a credit card, let me use online and telephone banking whenever I want, your branches are open on Saturdays, and if I were someone from overseas wanting to open an Australian bank account I could do it ONLINE and THEN turn up and show you supporting documents. Not this crazy merry-go-round of red tape and frustration! Seriously, I don't think I'll ever change banks.
I hate being in this limbo. I am not working, I am not studying, I am not travelling, the weather sucks and I have nothing to distract me from any of it. J is studying till the end of this week (Saturday exams! This country just gets crazier!) At the moment all I do most days is cook and clean and I'm basically turning into J's mother. I can't do this for extended periods of time - I am contemplating joining a gym to just get out of the house more but a) I hate gyms and b) I don't want to add to monthly expenses, at least not without some money coming in first.
You know what? I'm going back to Starbucks. At least it's less likely to shut down than the Australian ones since coffee at most independent cafes is awful.
Whine whine whine. Complain.
I do not know how I'll ever be productive in weather like this. (And yes, I know it could be worse and there are people regularly facing snow and ice... but goddamnit I'm freaking cold!) Still, it was not me who turned on the heating at 5pm! Sure, my moral high ground is eroded by admitting to spending the afternoon under the covers... but still.
I've run out of books to read, though, so I'm going to have to brave going out tomorrow to drop off more CVs and visit the library. Job hunting is depressing me and I don't really want to do it any more.
Barclays are super paranoid and have sent me something called a PINSentry(tm) card reader. It's basically a fancy way of double-checking I have possession of my own card and PIN but the system only works on the Barclays website. So, you know, if someone else got my card at least they couldn't get on to my online account. Whoo! And online shopping would be nearly impossible, obviously. No way anyone would figure that one out.
I called to set up telephone banking yesterday, and was answered by someone in India. You know, it's a well-known stereotype, but I'd never actually encountered it until I chose Barclays as my bank and have been calling them to get things organised. Now that they have some of my money they are trying to make me upgrade my account. Excellent. The only reason I have the account I have that doesn't earn you more money is because when I was trying to set one up you adamantly refused to be convinced I was a person worthy of your time. So, no, I am not interested in giving you more money now. Especially when one of your customer service people may have hung up on me after determining all I wanted to do was set up phone banking and wasn't interested in hearing about the brand new special account you have on offer. I don't even know if the phone banking was fully set up, but I shall see if I get anything in the post about it.
I miss you, Westpac. Yeah you tried to sell me insurance now and then but I'm appreciating you more than ever. You let me keep my old account (and old fees) that I've had since 2001, gave me a credit card, let me use online and telephone banking whenever I want, your branches are open on Saturdays, and if I were someone from overseas wanting to open an Australian bank account I could do it ONLINE and THEN turn up and show you supporting documents. Not this crazy merry-go-round of red tape and frustration! Seriously, I don't think I'll ever change banks.
I hate being in this limbo. I am not working, I am not studying, I am not travelling, the weather sucks and I have nothing to distract me from any of it. J is studying till the end of this week (Saturday exams! This country just gets crazier!) At the moment all I do most days is cook and clean and I'm basically turning into J's mother. I can't do this for extended periods of time - I am contemplating joining a gym to just get out of the house more but a) I hate gyms and b) I don't want to add to monthly expenses, at least not without some money coming in first.
You know what? I'm going back to Starbucks. At least it's less likely to shut down than the Australian ones since coffee at most independent cafes is awful.
Whine whine whine. Complain.