Day from hell!

[Boundless]

I had a visit to Birmingham at the weekend and had 5 WG's in my HL as possibles.

After a bit of texting, 2 weren't available so I decided on a plan A with 2 others that were working that day as standbys.
Arranged a time with plan A and got the postcode.
In my haste to get to the station, I left my punting phone at home, so it's either personal phone or no punt. I thought, well, I'll use the personal just this once. Next problem, just missed a train by one minute, the next one was cancelled and the one I got was 10 minutes fucking late! Texted to say was running late and would be about 15 mins behind, all OK. So finally arrived and a using my smartphone for navigation, arrive at the place, huge complex of apartments dead on time. I get a text, are you here? Go to reply and horrors, the phone goes off, battery flat!!      After a few mins its recovered enough to switch on, sent text "Battery dead, whats flat number?" Only managed to get it back on for a few seconds but just get one saying where are you? I know that WG's have to be wary of time wasters but if only I'd got the apartment number. I felt utterly pissed off.
Waited outside for about 15 minutes trying to make myself look like a punter just in case, then gave up. The frustrating thing is that there was no plan B or C or anything that needed a phone. I'd even thought of visiting a club, but with no phone I didn't have a clue where to go.
The only good thing is I spent the money on a nice meal!
I did text when I got home and explained, after a bit of text tennis it was sorted out.
The moral, make sure you take your punting phone.

[Andre 3000]

Tbh I would say to any punter in 2015 that they really should look into maybe having a usb power bank on them. In cases where their phone batteries could die unexpectedly. Their now small enough to go into your pocket.

In this situation you could have plugged it in your phone, then and there and got that apartment number.

[NIK]

Makes you wonder how punters went on before mobiles, as I did before 1998.

[myothernameis]

Makes you wonder how punters went on before mobiles, as I did before 1998.

The nearest phone box

[nigel4498]

Makes you wonder how punters went on before mobiles, as I did before 1998.

It wasn't smoke signals by any chance?

[Jimmyredcab]

Makes you wonder how punters went on before mobiles, as I did before 1998.

There was life before mobile phones, younger people will not believe you though.     

[bricky daz]

i can lend you my back up pidgeon.

[smiths]

The nearest phone box

Which were often burnt out, been pissed in, or even shat in on occasion.

[tristen92]

You forgot your punting phone and didn't charge your actual phone. Don't want to be a dick but I have no sympathy.

[smiths]

I had a visit to Birmingham at the weekend and had 5 WG's in my HL as possibles.

After a bit of texting, 2 weren't available so I decided on a plan A with 2 others that were working that day as standbys.
Arranged a time with plan A and got the postcode.
In my haste to get to the station, I left my punting phone at home, so it's either personal phone or no punt. I thought, well, I'll use the personal just this once. Next problem, just missed a train by one minute, the next one was cancelled and the one I got was 10 minutes fucking late! Texted to say was running late and would be about 15 mins behind, all OK. So finally arrived and a using my smartphone for navigation, arrive at the place, huge complex of apartments dead on time. I get a text, are you here? Go to reply and horrors, the phone goes off, battery flat!!      After a few mins its recovered enough to switch on, sent text "Battery dead, whats flat number?" Only managed to get it back on for a few seconds but just get one saying where are you? I know that WG's have to be wary of time wasters but if only I'd got the apartment number. I felt utterly pissed off.
Waited outside for about 15 minutes trying to make myself look like a punter just in case, then gave up. The frustrating thing is that there was no plan B or C or anything that needed a phone. I'd even thought of visiting a club, but with no phone I didn't have a clue where to go.
The only good thing is I spent the money on a nice meal!
I did text when I got home and explained, after a bit of text tennis it was sorted out.
The moral, make sure you take your punting phone.

Sounds a right bummer but the moral to me apart from using a punting phone of course is ensure its charged before you set out. My basic non Smartphone punting phone only takes a short time to charge up anyway.

[Sam_26]

Tbh I would say to any punter in 2015 that they really should look into maybe having a usb power bank on them. In cases where their phone batteries could die unexpectedly. Their now small enough to go into your pocket.

In this situation you could have plugged it in your phone, then and there and got that apartment number.

I always carry my USB power pack when going out punting for the day.

[SirFrank]

What a cunt! Smartphones suck. I have to charge my iPhone every night and some days I have to charge it through the day too. Using your own phone also resulted in all the risk for no reward.  My old Nokia 3210 needed to be charged twice a week. Proper old school

[HappyandLucky]

Which were often burnt out, been pissed in, or even shat in on occasion.

But in London back in the day u could at least pick up WG cards with photos of international models that turned out to be ropey middle aged bints. Although most phone boxes have gone, the smell of piss was as traditional as vinegar on hot chips 

[MikeBWales]

What a cunt! Smartphones suck. I have to charge my iPhone every night and some days I have to charge it through the day too. Using your own phone also resulted in all the risk for no reward.  My old Nokia 3210 needed to be charged twice a week. Proper old school

Twice a week!?!?? You must be punting for England!   My crappy old Samsung needs charging once every 10 days, I need to get out more!

[HappyandLucky]

What a cunt! Smartphones suck. I have to charge my iPhone every night and some days I have to charge it through the day too. Using your own phone also resulted in all the risk for no reward.  My old Nokia 3210 needed to be charged twice a week. Proper old school

True Sir Frank, but a smart phone allows u to show action shots of you and the Duchess, so an non English Speaking WG knows what services to provide 

[robs one]

I have every sympathy for you. I had my phone plugged into my car and assumed it was charging, parked up and text the WG asking for the flat number and the bastard went off just after I sent the message.
I had to run back to my car which was about half a mile away, plug the cunt in and sit there for what seemed like a life time before it switched back on!
I had half dozen texts from her but managed to get there 15 minutes late. 
I turned up there bright fucking red after taking half a Viagra 10 minutes before I originally parked up.
I always check my phone now 

[fredpunter]

True Sir Frank, but a smart phone allows u to show action shots of you and the Duchess, so an non English Speaking WG knows what services to provide 

They hadn't invented mobile phones the last time there was any action worth recording with my particular duchess

[oldjonny]

It wasn't smoke signals by any chance?

Who remembers the red light in the window? Or the newsagent ads for "French polishing" or just good old "French lessons". £9 for the punt and a £1 tip for the maid. Happy days! Now this thread can be hijacked for a trip down memory lane  .

OJ (still punting with a Nokia too old to have a model number - bit like me really!).

[Dodo]

Well done for sharing your 'day from hell' Sam..........we've all been there one war another.

[jcdmj12]

I had a visit to Birmingham at the weekend and had 5 WG's in my HL as possibles.

After a bit of texting, 2 weren't available so I decided on a plan A with 2 others that were working that day as standbys.
Arranged a time with plan A and got the postcode.
In my haste to get to the station, I left my punting phone at home, so it's either personal phone or no punt. I thought, well, I'll use the personal just this once. Next problem, just missed a train by one minute, the next one was cancelled and the one I got was 10 minutes fucking late! Texted to say was running late and would be about 15 mins behind, all OK. So finally arrived and a using my smartphone for navigation, arrive at the place, huge complex of apartments dead on time. I get a text, are you here? Go to reply and horrors, the phone goes off, battery flat!!      After a few mins its recovered enough to switch on, sent text "Battery dead, whats flat number?" Only managed to get it back on for a few seconds but just get one saying where are you? I know that WG's have to be wary of time wasters but if only I'd got the apartment number. I felt utterly pissed off.
Waited outside for about 15 minutes trying to make myself look like a punter just in case, then gave up. The frustrating thing is that there was no plan B or C or anything that needed a phone. I'd even thought of visiting a club, but with no phone I didn't have a clue where to go.
The only good thing is I spent the money on a nice meal!
I did text when I got home and explained, after a bit of text tennis it was sorted out.
The moral, make sure you take your punting phone.

7 P's: Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance.

[squeezebox]

7 P's: Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance.

or...

Passion, Perseverance, Punctuality and Patience, Provides Plenty Pops.

[Boundless]

You forgot your punting phone and didn't charge your actual phone. Don't want to be a dick but I have no sympathy.

Au contraire my friend, if that were the case then I truly would be a dick.  Phone was fully charged, even to the point of leaving it plugged in until the second I left home.
Unfortunatley that was at 10 am and the punt was at 6 pm.
Listened to music on the train, browsed AW, UKP and train times, sent a few texts, chatted to the Mrs for a while, it all adds up. What really rinses it is using the navigation app.
I'm punting tomorrow, not taking any fucking chances, got punting phone, iPhone and taking the mp3 player this time! I had a battery pack for my old Samsung but haven't got one that'll fit the iPhone yet, need to get one. However, as Frank says, I sometimes leave my punting phone on silent in my work bag for days on end, it lasts at least 10 days probably more.

To make things worse, I'd seen this bird before, but couldn't remember the fucking flat number, I must have pissed off a fair few people as, in my desperation I tried about a dozen flats!
What I've taken to doing is putting the flat/house number in the notes of my HL, but hadn't for this one.
Let's hope for a better day tomorrow, review to follow if I make it!

[SirFrank]

True Sir Frank, but a smart phone allows u to show action shots of you and the Duchess, so an non English Speaking WG knows what services to provide 

Hahaha, yeah dream on. The last time she put the effort in mobiles hadn't been invented

[Boundless]

The nearest phone box

Tbh, I didn't think about that, despite spending a lifetime in the telecoms industry!
I would have needed to get the number out of the phone though, which was probably possible though.