The travails of modern living

A question I’m often asked is “What do you all day?”. Unlike some of my chums I don’t have a fistful of non-executive directorships. In fact, a significant portion is my day is lost to correcting a poor service . A couple of days ago I went to my pharmacist. It opens at 9.00 am and I was there at 9.05. On entering I was immediately informed by the assistant:

“I can’t serve you. The shop is not open. There  are no pharmacists here. ‘

I asked if she knew the word “Good morning” to which she replied “If you’re going to be rude, I shan’t serve you ” which she could not anyway.

Various customers arrived in the empty shop and I explained to them why there was no service even though open.

Eventually the two pharmacists arrived and, another 15 minutes later and £54 poorer, I departed with my medication.

Over the past week I had to deal with a driver arriving 10 minutes late, a lamp from Heals delivered in the wrong colour and the Glyndebourne picnic company omitting the starters. It’s not as if any of these services were cheap.

Having been assured by the local rating authority that no action would be taken whilst they resolved why a flat I rent out was classified by them for business rates and then declassified, I received a demand for £392.66 for council tax which will involve calls, emails and letters and possibly a personal appearance to correct a mistake not of my making.

Without the above, I may just have more time to pursue more enjoyable pastimes.

I said to my German friend Lotti how I could live in Germany, a punctual and reliable nation, where I do not imagine any of the above would happen.