Square one: epic fail

[wiseheart]

In a feeble attempt to tick off the first point on my to-do list (figuratively speaking), I went to the local government office today because I knew I'd need help with this Digital Citizenship thing. Well, I didn't get it. I took all possibly necessary documents with me, but the whole thing was hamstringed by the fact that I didn't have a screen lock installed on my phone. Now, I don't even know what a screen lock is, not to mention how to install one. The "helpful" lady clerk told me to get help and then come back for the Digital Citizenship app. And this after I've waited for nearly an hour, in an overheated, unaired room, together with a great lot of people, many of whom were coughing and sneezing all the time. I was wearing a mask (together with exactly two other people), but still... Considering how Covid is on the upward swing in our country again, this was not a healthy environment.

After I've left without having gained my goal, I rode the bus further outwards the district to one of the shopping centres that has an international newsagents' and bought my German crossword puzzle booklets. And a large bag of polyester stuffing for my rag dolls. Then I did a bit of grocery shopping as well. Spending money is always helpful for my state of mind.

Fortunately, I remembered that one of my (much younger) (ex-)colleagues is very clever with such things, and also very helpful. So, in my misery I gave her a call, and she promptly offered to help me tomorrow, right before choir practice. That was a great relief, as this thing needs to be done by January 16, and my neighbours (who could help, in theory) are both very busy people; not ones I like to ask for favours.

So, that was my day of epic fail with a faint shimmer of hope. Accordingly, everything else got postponed. The only thing I did for fun was to stuff both doll bodies, so that I'd be able to fit the clothes next.

Comments

[artemis10002000]

Oof, that's awful! I hope with the help of your colleague you can get the screen-lock sorted out and then have better luck with the Digital Citizen stuff.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

So do I! The Digital Citizenship app will replace the old Client Gateway - an access point through which taxpayers can safely connect to public administration bodies and public institutions using personal identification. I'm not happy that these things will be done via smartphone in the future (much more chance for stupid mistakes), but I might need it yet.

[artemis10002000]

Yeah, it being smartphone only sounds like it is going to be a fiddly headache. I'm good with smartphones, but I still hate being forced into doing everything electronic by phone. It takes three times as long as by browser, where you have a proper mouse and keyboard!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Agreed! Fortunately, my (ex-)colleague, whose hubby is an IT guy, BTW, assured me that the new client gateway isn't smartphone only, despite the rumours, and we've successfully established it today. Whether I'll be able to actually use it is another matter entirely, of course. *g*

[artemis10002000]

keeping my fingers crossed for you!

[red-day-dawning.livejournal.com]

Good luck. I’m so glad you have a friend to help! Do bureaucracies deliberately make things more difficult? Sometimes it seems as though they do exist to make things challenging.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I think they receive specific training for making things as difficult as possible.

[adafrog.livejournal.com]

Okay. Good luck tomorrow, then.
Also, yay shopping.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Shopping helps.

[meathiel]

I really hate it that so many things can only be done via an app on one's smartphone. What about old people who don't have one??? Or don't know how to use it, i.e. my parents?

It shouldn't be a big thing to install the screen lock.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

IKR? Even though it turned out the client gateway can be used via desktop PC, after all, I'll still have to use the smartphone for the codes that make it accessible.

Screen lock is installed. I already hate it.

[elwenlj.livejournal.com]

I'm not very savvy on phones either. It took me a while to work out how to set a password on mine, so that I could instal my bank app.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I don't know what I'd do without people a generation younger than I am. :(

[noadvertising.livejournal.com]

Why didn't the lady help you with the screen lock ( takes two minutes)?

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Because she was a lazy git, most likely.