Being a lover of everything digital, not only my job is digital, but all my cards are too. There is nothing better than using your phone to tap for all your purchases.
With the constant load shedding, the need to use data heightens as it is the only form of entertainment that one has in the evenings. Usually I purchase a big data bundle, but for some reason I decided to buy a small one, which notified me that it had run out this morning.
It’s 13:00 and hunger sets in. I decide to quickly pop out and go to my favourite hot dog stand, which is close to the bank so that I can kill two birds with one stone.
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Arriving at my destination 20 minutes later, and as most of us only have an hour’s lunch, you know you better Bolt like Husain to ensure that you’re back in the office on time, I quickly jog to the ATM, and to my dismay, or should I say, irritation, I realise that my bank card is in my bag all the way back at the office.
I wasn’t too worried because there’s a Wimpy nearby with free Wi-Fi, but only after several attempts it hits me, there’s currently load shedding, and this kite won’t be flying today.
Thinking of the last Harry Potter movie, I remember Rufus Scrimgeour, the minister of magic saying, “These are dark times, there is no denying”, which fitted in so well with my mood.
Grumpy, I head back to the office, but being smart, I will take a detour… As I exit my detour, I end up right in the middle of a traffic jam, five lanes to the left from where I need to be turning. And, as everyone is in a hurry, I knew that crossing these lanes would be near impossible.
So, all stressed, hungry and irritated, I thought of several ways that I can avoid this drama for my next lunch errand:
- If you are using a digital card, ensure that you have enough battery and data
- ALWAYS carry cash on you, even if it is just R50 for something small
- If you are unsure on what to eat, check out the load shedding timetables to avoid traffic
- If you aren’t in the mood to leave the office, try a delivery service or just pack lunch
Load shedding is an inconvenience for us all and complaining about it won’t make any difference, so instead let us come up with helpful solutions that can make our lives just a little bit easier in these “dark times”.
ALSO READ: Eskom to continue with load shedding this week
