The Day I Failed at Everything... almost.

I waited around all day for my train tickets to be delivered.  Finally, at about 3pm I called First Great Western to see what the deal was.

"Hi there.  I'm taking the train to Brighton tomorrow, and my tickets haven't arrived yet."

The woman on the phone was a complete disaster.  Through her broken English she asked if I could pick them up at the station before I catch the train.  That was perfectly acceptable.  Then she told me that a delivery driver had my tickets and I would have to wait around for a few more hours and then call back if they didn't arrive by 6.  This was far less acceptable because I had other things to do and had already waited around the house all day yesterday for these tickets.  Just before ending the call, she changed her mind again and said that the tickets were already delivered today and no one answered the door.

That's impossible.  Jamie and I have both been home all day.  I have been sitting on the couch that is literally right next to the front door since about 9am.  I checked the mail box again and confirmed that there was no, "While you were out," or "Missed delivery" notice card.  But then, crumbled down in the far corner of the box was a little white card with the time 9:01am scribbled on it.

Son of a bitch.

At least I was no longer under house arrest, so I headed into Staines to take care of my 'To Do' list.  I tried to get a bank account setup.  Not only do I not have the proper documents to open an account, but I have almost no way of obtaining them.

I proceeded to JobCentrePlus to apply for a National Insurance Number so that I can legally work in the UK.  I had been directed to JobCentrePlus by the visa issuing office.  They told me that JobCentrePlus was where to go to apply.  Only it's not.  I went all the way over there just so they could give me a phone number for another office that actually accepts the applications.

I walked several more kilometres to the Royal Mail general delivery office.  They closed at 2pm.

I decided to take a new route back to Lee's- always up for even the smallest adventure!  I got lost.  Normally, thats not a problem for me.  I quite like getting lost.  But I really had to piss and I'm not familiar with Britain's public urination laws.  I'd hate to be deported over pee.

I called Lee.

"Lee, I'm lost."

"Well, where are you?"

"I don't know Lee.  That's kind of the definition of 'lost'."

I hung up the phone.

Eventually, I found my way out of the woods (literally and metaphorically... I was lost in a forest for a while).  I reviewed all of the things I had been unsuccessful at today and had a big smile on my face.  It's kind of exciting when nothing goes right.

"But," I thought to myself.  "I'll be damned if I'm not going to succeed at something today!"

So, I bought some beer.