Getting some cash out...

It's sometimes the simplest things here that can be a real pain in the arse.

Today, we were going to go for a swim at a friend's house at 9am, and on the way I was planning on stopping at an ATM. I am (much the same as at home) perpetually out of cash, but it's a much bigger issue here because hardly anyone takes credit, and looks at you like you've chewed too much betel nut for asking to use credit.

So, at 7:45 I call dispatch
"Hello dispatch"
"Good morning dispatch, this is Mike Alpha 8725 Whiskey*, I was wondering if I could have a car to the Echo 19 apartments at 8:45 please?"
"Mike Alpha 875 Whiskey?"
"No no, Mike Alpha 8725 Whiskey"
"Oh ok.. so you like the car at 8:15"
"No, 8:45... quarter to 9"
"Oh ok"
"Thank you!"
"Welcome"

That's a relatively simple and uncomplicated conversation with dispatch. If you try and ask for something a bit trickier, the conversation can be much longer and more circular.

We are waiting downstairs, with all our gear packed at 8:40. Towels, bathers, suncream, mozzie repellant, books and toys for the drive, snacks, nappies, drinks, shoes, giant orange swim ring, and of course, the perennial car seat.

The car seat is one that  we were very kindly given by our friends back in Adelaide, Mark and Anne. I had been scouring the internet and all kinds of stores before we left for a baby seat that would suit our requirements. Because of course, since we don't have our own car, the carseat would need to be one that I could lug around with me, and install and uninstall every time we got in and out of the car. Also, I wouldn't be able to have a rear anchor. Since Australia's carseat laws are a bit finicky, it's illegal to have a carseat without a rear anchor. It was amazingly good luck that Mark and Anne were going to throw away this seat (I think it was from NZ) because they couldn't give it away or resell it. It just buckles in with a seatbelt, and away you go. Only problem is, it's a great big heavy bastard. Also, after only 4 weeks, I am getting a bit sick of not having a carseat that just stays in the bloody car!

Anyway, so we're waiting down there with all our gear for 20 minutes before the car arrives at 9. But that's ok, we've got several security, housekeeping and maintenance staff who come along and play with Niamh. Although Biscuit is not in the mood for it. She woke up at 5, just before I headed off to the gym, and has been awake and marauding ever since. Now, at 9am, she is extremely full of crank.

I load everything (including whingy Biscuit) into the car, spend 5 minutes buckling the seat in and then buckling Niamh into the seat (wriggle wriggle wriggle). Finally, we're off!

We agree to go to the ATM at ANZ Harbour City, although when the driver radios dispatch, he doesn't tell them we're going to the bank

"Delta Base Bravo this is Romeo 66 over"
"Come in Romeo 66 over"
"Romeo 66 departing Echo 19 Apartments with Mike Alpha 8725 Whiskey on board, heading for SVS Harbour city, over"...

This is because a number of radios have been stolen from cars, and the frequency is not secure. A security adviser told Dan "an awful lot of people are out there, listening in to those radios"

So, we head towards the bank, chatting away. The driver tells me that he's part Australian, and tells me all the languages he can speak.

We arrive at the bank, and drive through the gates, past the security guards. Biscuit has fallen asleep. I get out of the car, greet the security guards on the steps of the bank, and enter into an atrium type area that has been built out the front of the bank to house the ATMs. There is a security guard on the door, and another inside, who ushers me to an ATM. I take out my money and go back to the car.

Since Niamh has been so cranky, I assume she is really exhausted. I know that if I go to my friend's house for a swim as planned, she'll wake up and be unbearable for the rest of the day. If we go home, I'll carry her asleep up the stairs, she'll have a good hour's sleep, and wake up happy and ready to play. I decide to go home.

We drive the 15-20 minutes back to the apartment. I unload the swim ring, and the giant bag full of gear. I carefully hold all 12+kgs of Niamh (asleep and floppy) in one arm, with the other unbuckling the bloody carseat, and then lifting it out of the car. I use my cardkey to open the bottom of the stairs door, and the guard kindly helps me put the carseat inside.

Niamh wakes up about halfway up the stairs, and despite 45 minutes spent rocking and patting her in her room, she refuses to go back to sleep. Instead, she prefers to lay on her  back, giggle and kick the dome of the portacot/tent thingy. Great! The whole morning ruined for the sake of a 15 minute nap!

I call my friend to vent about the whole experience. This friend does not have the same security restrictions imposed by her husband's company, and has her own car which she is free to use.

"Oh no! Well, you can still come over, we'll be here all morning"
"Thank you so much, but honestly I think I'll cry if I have to do all that again. How about Monday?"

Admittedly, a lot of that could have happened at home, but it is a bit frustrating having to rely on a somewhat unreliable taxi service to get anywhere, and having to lug everything about. Plan on at least half hour delays at every leg of the journey. Having to think about whether I can bring the seat with me, or leave it in the car and then perplex dispatch by requesting the same driver on the return trip. Sigh.

I'm just having a whinge. Sorry!

More updates later...


(*Not my actual callsign...in fact I changed them all )