A quick drive to the Netherlands. And no phone.

Our trip to get to the Netherlands seems ages ago, five days in fact. And we are now post Christmas, and getting close to Raphy's birthday and New Year. 

Our trip was uneventful, car wise.  In fact our Skoda purred along the motorway,  while we sat comfortably inside, listening to our music, and making sure we kept our eye on the traffic.  We kept well clear of the mad drivers on the road, not mentioning their nationality, in case of repercussions. 

The morning started well, as the bicycles had been loaded the previous day, when it was light.  We are past loading them onto the towbar at 5am on a freezing cold and windy morning.  

When we approached Rochester, Walter admitted leaving his mobile phone on the coffee table.   There was no turning back.  At least we had our passports.

The car, with bicycles, sitting in the rain at one of the services in Belguim.  

Once on board the ferry to Dunkerque, I decided it was time to top up the credit on the spare mobile. A small task to while away the hours whilst on board.  Once I had had my coffee of course.   The task should have been easy but the account was in Walter's name and he had forgotten the password.   And to change the password I needed to use the number on the sim card which was in the telephone.   No problems.  Take the card out, write the number down, and re-insert the card.

Well to cut a long story short.  The sim card would no longer work afterwards.  We tried everything, and no luck.  We now had no mobile telephone.  We reminded ourselves that once upon a time, in another lifetime,  we travelled without a mobile phone, and it was fine.   But now panic sets in if we are without, sad but true.

As soon as we arrived in Houten we set off to find the telephone shop.  We did greet our family first.  And unpacked the car.  At the mobile phone shop I was told the mobile was broken.   So the most obvious choice, was to purchase another phone.   A Samsung Galaxy Trend Plus. 

This now makes two phones purchased during the past month.  The Huawei and the Samsung, plus the cost of the new glass for the Huawei, currently being repaired in the UK.   This is all getting a little expensive, or maybe a trifle silly.   Am I the only person who panics when they do not have a mobile phone handy? 

On a positive note.  I have a small bag of boiled sweets, which came as part of my purchase of the new mobile phone, see above photograph, courtesy of the phone shop.  A gesture that probably only happens in the Netherlands.

At least I can eat my boiled sweets as I ponder on my costly telephone purchases.