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Rage over a lost penny
Apr. 24th, 2014 11:48 am(Which is a piece of music by Beethoven.) Or, in my case, over a lost HSBC secure key.
Some years ago my bank sent me a "secure key" which is a small device that looks something like a very small pocket calculator. If you put the right PIN in it generates a six-digit code that allows me access to my internet banking.
I was about to pay some bills and noticed the key wasn't in its normal place near the computer. I knew I'd taken it with me to Eastercon just in case I needed to shift money between accounts. I also knew that at some point since getting back I remembered it was still in my shoulder bag and I should really take it out and put it back in its normal place. I remembered taking it out and leaving it on the phone table downstairs to remind me to take it upstairs. After that, I couldn't remember what I did with it.
I just spent a good hour searching for it, during which time I threw out loads of old papers and notices for coming concerts and operas that have long since come and gone. I could not remember what I did with it. Then I had a vague memory of putting something into a dressing gown pocket. Then it became clear.
Yesterday morning just after eight, I was lying in bed listening to Radio3 when the doorbell rang. I looked out the window and it was the meter reader for EDF. I put on my dressing gown and went down to open the door. At the bottom of the stairs I noticed the key still on the table and put it in my pocket for safekeeping. But then I got sidetracked as it turned out both I and the meter reader had spent thirty years in the electricity supply industry and in the eighties he had had to read a prototype smart meter that they guy I sat next to had written the software for.
I went to my dressing gown hanging on the bedroom door, and there it was.
Some years ago my bank sent me a "secure key" which is a small device that looks something like a very small pocket calculator. If you put the right PIN in it generates a six-digit code that allows me access to my internet banking.
I was about to pay some bills and noticed the key wasn't in its normal place near the computer. I knew I'd taken it with me to Eastercon just in case I needed to shift money between accounts. I also knew that at some point since getting back I remembered it was still in my shoulder bag and I should really take it out and put it back in its normal place. I remembered taking it out and leaving it on the phone table downstairs to remind me to take it upstairs. After that, I couldn't remember what I did with it.
I just spent a good hour searching for it, during which time I threw out loads of old papers and notices for coming concerts and operas that have long since come and gone. I could not remember what I did with it. Then I had a vague memory of putting something into a dressing gown pocket. Then it became clear.
Yesterday morning just after eight, I was lying in bed listening to Radio3 when the doorbell rang. I looked out the window and it was the meter reader for EDF. I put on my dressing gown and went down to open the door. At the bottom of the stairs I noticed the key still on the table and put it in my pocket for safekeeping. But then I got sidetracked as it turned out both I and the meter reader had spent thirty years in the electricity supply industry and in the eighties he had had to read a prototype smart meter that they guy I sat next to had written the software for.
I went to my dressing gown hanging on the bedroom door, and there it was.
