How to not financial institution, half one. It ought to have been a easy factor. My husband and I’ve separate funds however, after his numerous medical adventures over the previous few months, we determined it was time so as to add my identify to his financial institution accounts.
He has banked with Barclays for nearly 60 years, so that you’d assume they might know him by now. But it surely appears not. Our first try was a couple of weeks in the past in Hastings after his emergency operation on Boxing Day. I went to an actual, stay department there, armed with my passport and greatest smile. Not ok. “You each have to return in individual,” an worker mentioned. “Joint accounts are the largest space of fraud.” I famous that my husband was in hospital. Have been there varieties I might take away? Might we provide our passports? How a few video name? A agency shake of the top. The one manner was in individual.
Treks and balances
How to not financial institution, half two. Now the enjoyable started in earnest. We have been again in Bakewell. The closest Barclays department is in Sheffield. We phoned the financial institution helpline beforehand and have been assured there have been advisers on the department to assist us. So off we went: a 45-minute automotive journey over the moors, via town’s stop-start visitors, to the centre. This was adopted by a 20-minute slog (my husband is utilizing a walker) in biting chilly to the department itself, which was festooned with indicators that learn: “Why wait in line when you might financial institution with the app or on-line?” Why certainly.
The “financial institution” has a Star Trek decor vibe, with about 20 ATMs organized in numerous arcs. There have been two “greeters” who, after they heard why we had come, introduced that we’d have to return again one other day. An adviser had to assist us and there have been no advisers readily available. Plus you couldn’t see an adviser with out an appointment. We defined the scenario. At one level I nearly begged. Couldn’t any of the 4 or 5 financial institution staff current vouch for my identification?
“No,” mentioned a greeter, explaining once more the intense significance of an appointment earlier than including chirpily: “We’re additionally a digital financial institution.” I did giggle at that.
Highway rage
That is the age of the “pop-up roadwork” and no stretch of highway in Derbyshire is immune. Over the course of a mile or two (the A623, as you ask) I encountered three separate roadworks together with a “three-way cease” model. It’s a certain signal spring is coming because the council realises it should spend its cash. It’s additionally, actually, driving me mad.
Excessive time for sky park
Thrilling information relating to the Camden Highline: planning permission has been granted for the primary part of the “park within the sky” alongside a disused railway. Common readers will know I’m a serious fan of making such inexperienced and nice hyperlinks, on this case between the virtually criminally upmarket King’s Cross space and “grittier” Camden. Extra of those, please, in each metropolis.
Hoot goes there?
It’s the Huge Backyard Birdwatch weekend. I had anticipated my hourly depend to be down, as my ban on birdfeeders (which I see as rodent magnets) stays in place. However my depend of 16 was nearly proper (and in addition heartening to see the snowdrops beginning to nod their heads). It didn’t embody, nevertheless, my latest resident fowl, the owl which I hear each night time however have by no means seen.
Decline and fall
Thanks, if that’s the fitting sentiment, to the chancellor Jeremy Hunt for in the present day’s most hated phrase, “declinism”. I hope it’s not too declinist to say it’s a stinker.