Wednesday, August 5, 2020

ANNIVERSARIES, THE BANK AND THE PATIENT

Today would have been my father's 115th birthday.  How is that possible and where has the time gone.  Dad died in February, 1985, six months before his 80th birthday and I still miss him a lot even though I had been living on the other side of the world for 20 years when he died,  I had several trips "back home" and, of course, letters, aerograms and the occasional, very expensive, phone call.  This  leads me to another anniversary.  Monday was the 55th anniversary of my arrival in New Zealand aboard the S.S. Flavia.  We hit storms between Tahiti and New Zealand and the ship was badly damaged and on all the news headlines.  

As far as my bank in England is concerned I phoned them last night just as the news came on at 7 p.m. here.  It took me about 20 minutes  to get through to a Live Person.  Last time I phoned them I set up  "my voice is my password" which made that part easier.  

I thought that I would just have a new activation code emailed to me but the man I spoke to took me through the whole process of setting the Secure Key up.  This is a gadget that generates a number to enable me to access my account.  There were  so many passwords and secure questions to get through.  One of them is a phrase where one has to enter say the 2nd, 6th and second to last letter or number in the phrase.  There was also a question to answer and another password.  Along the way my computer threw a wobbly so I had to start again (in hindsight I think it may have been easier if I had just been given the code and done it slowly on my own but never mind he was very helpful).  

I had assumed I was talking to someone in England but when I asked where he was meaning what county or city he said the Philippines.   I was on the phone for 50 minutes - goodness knows what that cost but at least it is now done.  At that stage I didn't feel like accessing my account and doing the transfer of funds to New Zealand so I left it.  This morning, I was able to access the account and make the transfer with no problem.  It should all show up in a couple of days.

As far as the patient is concerned, he is continuing to improve.

14 comments:

  1. You are having so many bank problems, life should be so easy for us all,so glad Doug is improving , he will be up on his two good feet in no time. Lovely sunny day here, could even let the fire go out during the morning and haven't lit it again at 3 p.m. Two daffs are in full slower, spring is nigh.

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    1. We awoke to thick mist which hung on for most of the morning. It then cleared and we got some sun. I was talking to a lady on my walk and Kamo, the next suburb, didn't have the mist. Quite warm.

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  2. My first proper bank was Williams Deacons & Co in the City, not far from the Stock Exchange where I was working. There was a commissionaire to open the door, the interior of the bank itself was oak panelled, the clercs all called me 'Sir', there were comfortable leather sofas around, and they put 'Esq' on my cheques (which they continue to do). Try finding a bank like that today!!!

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    1. That's great although I don't think cheques will be around for much longer.

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  3. Glad to learn that all of your problems have now been resolved - you must be feeling relieved.

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    1. Yes, Rosemary, once I received the Secure Key and last night sorted the activation code I only had to transfer funds here by internet banking. After 6 weeks waiting it is finally done.

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  4. 55 years , that's a long time. You were a Pioneer woman coming down by that long boat trip.
    Good to hear Doug is improving

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    1. Yes, it was a long trip. I presume you did much the same as me but in the other direction ( by air). I only came on a working holiday.

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  5. So glad you have finally sorted that bank stuff out, but what a performance! After 55 years here, you are definitely a True Kiwi :)

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    1. Yes, I do feel a Kiwi. Once I got the Security Key finally sorted everything is fine with the bank.

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  6. Greetings to the patient..I hope Doug is managing to be patient enough!

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    1. To start with he felt so bad all he wanted to do was lie on the settee and sleep. He is improving now but still not doing much.

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  7. Glad that Doug is on the mend. I think most services these are managed from the Phillipines/India/Asia etc, hopefully their accent was easy to understand.

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    1. Yes, he is heaps better. The last few times I have phoned the Bank in England I was talking to people there which is why I was surprised that I wasn't this time.

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