Wednesday it rained! All day! Lovely! Wednesday was also our appointment for our drivers license renewal. Funny thing: as it was time for us to leave, it had stopped raining - so we managed to stay dry throughout!
Well, all our docs in a row, off we went! I had no clue WHERE the place was, and when At said 'he can barely remember' I was a little apprehensive! But between his memory and my guessing we went straight to the right place!
Slight worry, as we saw no 'ID photo' activity! Well, we went to the counter and the lady was really very helpful! She called the people who take photos - which we only need for the temporary license, by the way. For your license THEY take their own photo.
Then, since we had everything filled out and ready, we were directed to the queue for the eye-test. Huh? But we've got a certificate? Yes, but that's where they capture all your data! Okay, so we play musical chairs until our turn.
Yes, we had an appointment and yes, we arrived about an hour early - no: the appointment time has absolutely no relevance in your favour! Only if you're late, it could mean you need to book another appointment.
The queue moved relatively fast, so we didn't have to wait for long. They have several people processing applications at the same time. As the two of us were being processed - we barely received a 'hello', just barked instructions 'do this, put your thumb there, do that' - the staff (which is the nicest word I can think of) paid no attention to us, we were mere objects - like goods in their in-tray - while they discussed their Christmas party!
As she took my photo, she mumbled something - which seemed to be directed towards me - and I asked, politely "Excuse me?". At that point the flash went off, so it's going to be a funny photo! She looked at the image on her screen (which I couldn't see) smiled gleefully and carried on - I got the distinct impression that she enjoys giving people badly taken photos!
Anyway, next we went to the cashier ... and there's a problem! At's 'staff' had captured the ID number from his proof of residence, not HIS ID number! So the license will be issued on his brother's name! He went back to the 'staff' who immediately shouted at him for giving him the wrong paper! Then gave him new papers - but that doesn't solve the problem! So, I went back to her - she had another client at the time - and she said she'll come to the cashier (as the cashier had requested - of course, SHE won't walk, it's our job to run errands!). She didn't. I went back again, and she shouted at me how it's not her problem!
SHE paid no attention to her work, as SHE was focused on her chit-chat about their Christmas party! But that's not a problem! Seriously, those people were truly unnecessarily rude!
Back to the cashier, and we now ask for a supervisor! Who will not come for clients, but we must now wait until the rude 'staff' is ready to go to him. As we were talking to him, she pushed herself in front of us with 'let ME explain' - and went on to blame At for the problem! And the supervisor just treated us like objects! No apology, no 'it's rude to interrupt when people are talking' to his staff - just stood there, listening to her abuse against us ... but at least he promised to fix things, so that At would get his license!
What a difference to the lady at the counter, who was so polite, so helpful!
Well, it's behind us now - all we need to do, is go and collect when it's ready. Not that we'll know when that might be! We never did receive the promised 'confirmation message' for our booking.
Oh, and don't bother to take cash - they ONLY accept cards! Which they ALSO don't tell you on their website! Oh, and also, neither of us needed to present proof of residence! Seriously!
It's quite alarming just how common place it has become to blame the customer for mistakes made by staff, who were too busy chatting with other staff instead of paying attention to their work! Everywhere you go, you see people who are employed to serve customers - that is the sole purpose of their employment! - yet they are always and every where you go engrossed in private conversation, either among themselves or on their phone!
I wonder how long it will take for online shopping to completely replace the need for contact with such 'staff'? But I suppose by that time, it will be the delivery drivers who will develop that 'you should lick my boots in gratitude that I'm doing my job' attitude currently displayed towards customers by all counter staff nowadays - whether it's municipality, banks, shops or doctors' receptionists! I've seen all of these treat customers (or patients) as if we're naughty children being a nuisance!
Anyway, throughout our time away, it didn't rain hard, so we didn't get wet. On the way back, we stopped at some shops and then went back to work.
At home, it was only drizzling a little, so my mippies had a chance to get out and run a bit. None went far, though - everything is wet, which isn't pleasant for them. For me, however, it was awesome! I took that fork and turned over ground which had previously been too hard for me to even get a quarter inch into - and now the fork just slides down as if through butter! I enjoyed being able to turn ground so much, that, even when the drizzle turned stronger, I was loath to quit ... and by the time I finally decided to call it quits, my back was soaked through!
I didn't pull many weeds, I just focused on turning ground, loosening ground - so that, even if the rain stops, I'll be able to clear the ground this weekend!
Before going inside, I sat for a smoke break and realised that, if I can clear all the ground I've now turned, I actually have quite a lot of extra bedding! I'll have to give some thought to whether I would like rows of beds going east-west or north-south!
Inside, after feeding mippies, taking a lovely long, hot shower, then feeding mippies chicken hearts ... again ... and again ... I baked some chocolate chip muffins! So, my day ended very happy!
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