A Tale of Two Bankies

in #funny7 years ago

'Twas the best of times, 'twas the worst of times. I had decided to open a business account with a bank which is not my bank, because my bank, Banky 1, treats me oddly and I don't want them to treat my business as oddly as they treat me. Also, I've spoken with many small business owners and they all raved about Banky 2, with nothing much good to say about Banky 1 or any of the other Bankies, for that matter.

Bank sign board

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Worst of times

I had to actually go into a bank, something I dread, because, well, banks. The occasion itself was exciting - finally opening a bank account for my new-ish business, because...

Best of times

...I expect TO INVOICE THIS MONTH!! Enfin, asteur!, as we would say in Montreal. And before you ask, cryptofriends, yes, I do have to do this in the real world.

Painful reality

I took the requisite two hours to check online exactly what to take to the branch (because Banky 2 is so technologically advanced you have to lodge an online request before they'll tell you what phone number to call on if you don't have an account there), got the full list of papers and sundries needed for me to open The Account, then put on my big girl shoes and dragged myself down to the branch.

My shoes

Big girl shoes

I managed to park at completely the wrong end of the mall which is under major reconstruction, making those big girl shoes awfully handy. Or footy, I suppose. Anyway, made it through the temporary pedestrian walkways indoors, lack of pedestrian walkways outdoors (you know, where those monster construction trucks transit nonstop) and megadust to reach my provisional Nirvana of The Bank Branch.

I was greeted by a friendly, helpful person who basically pre-processed me, and it was at that point that I discovered I didn't have the Right Form from the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission - although I had the front page of that all important 14.3, I didn't have the rest of 14.3 printed out. No prob, sez I, I'll just dip into Dropbox and e-mail it to you, kind agent of the Bank.

No mobile coverage.

And the free wi-fi in Banky 2 was so weird it wouldn't let me get into Dropbox.

Old style solution? Called the accountant's office and asked them to e-mail it to me and the kind agent.

I was then ushered to a (very) bright young thing who was actually most helpful and deserves kudos for customer service. Hope she goes far. In something other than the banking industry.

One and a half hours later, I was the proud holder of a genuine cheap South African business starter account and incredibly weary of the process.

What did I mean about Banky 1 treating me oddly?

Let me give you a few examples.

  1. Banky 1 holds the bond on the house we live in. I've had to correct their records to reflect that address no fewer than three times since we moved in. You'd kinda think they'd know our address if they hold the bond (and we've had multiple interactions about it, so no excuse)...?

  2. I asked Banky 1 for a reference letter (the kind that says I'm a wonderful person who they hold in high esteem since they've known me for yonks and I'm an awesome citizen and all that), and my Personal Private Banker (who I've never met, but have often spoken with on the phone - btw, they still use landlines), and to their credit only two things went awry.

    • The first was that my Personal Private Banker called me to check what my address was (see 1 above - they actually had the right address on file, so how he didn't think to look in the file is beyond me). That was mildly amusing and worthy of a bit of morning sarcasm, but better was yet to come.
    • I got the reference letter while I was sitting in Banky 2 opening the business account. I've learned not to just say thanks for sending the whatever without first checking the whatever. And the whatever seriously needed checking.

My Personal Private Banker had spelled my name wrong. Not once - nope, throughout the letter.

Yikes

"Yes, We've known Lindsey Dyer for 20 years now and she's an amazing human being, but we think, like so many others out there, that her mother was wrong when she registered her birth and there should really be a 'd' in that first name. Pretty sure she won't notice."

I noticed.

Banky 1, this is not how social activism works. It's not even how passive aggression works. It's just a waste of your time and mine.

If this is how they could treat me, a "valued, loyal, 20-year customer", oh my goodness gracious me, what would they do to my business?

This took away any residual loyalty I didn't have anyway. And the sooner we can have as little as possible to do with banks, the better!


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Dear Kiligirl, what a farce the entire banking system has become. I interviewed and compared interest and accounts for a whole day before deciding digging a hole in the back yard and doing cash transactions would be preferable. The only thing that stopped me was what if I forget where the money jar is buried? It is worse than applying for a passport. Or maybe even being the wedding arranger.
Thank goodness you have the patience to deal with them. Truly my thoughts were they are going to lose my money!
Congrats on your progress with the biz. It is a good sign that things are moving along well. Hope you had a good week.
Much Love to you for your tenacity and big girl shoes. Ellie Mae🐓🐓

Digging a hole in the back yard! Oh, Ellie Mae, you slay me 🤣🤣

Thanks for the support and encouraging words. Must...not...be...defeated...by...machines....

Gosh, getting this invoice out is like climbing Kili all over again! Pole pole! 🤣🤣

Much love to you, Ellie Mae 💖💖

Aaahh yes, banks; a subject near and dear to my heart--NOT!

Hey @kiligirl, Welcome back again!
I hope you're doing good. I was anxiously waiting for you here at steemit. As I was really missing the beautiful blogs from one of the best writer here at this awesome platform.
Your way of writing and overall presenting the blog is something out of the box, and I bet nobody can beat you in this regard. Although there are several great writers who are writing quality stuff, but still I believe you're one step ahead from all of them.
What can I say about Banking System.....!
This is a big issue everywhere in the world. That's why this pathatic system is going to be replaced by the decentralized one (cryptocurrency). I wish this happens soon.
I can't do for you in this regard instead I only feel sorry for you on this bad experience from Bank.
All the best for your future and for cryptocurrency!

Well, hi there, @jawad09! Once again, you manage to make me feel great!😊😊 Thank you as always for your kind words and support. I have to admit that I reacted strongly because my business is driven by client focus and I feel strongly that the least a supplier can do is spell and (try, at least, to) pronounce a customer's name properly. That's the minimum courtesy.

I share your wish for more crypto/blockchain, less banks/centralised stuff, but am not convinced those behemoths will ever allow themselves to be completely disrupted. Hope I'm wrong!

And there are a couple of reasons you're seeing me less on Steemit - one is I'm having trouble shaking that tennis elbow, so I simply have to spend less time on the keyboard and mouse. The other is more exciting: company setup and (finally) some invoicing, so maybe I'll have some even better stories to share in the months to come! In the meantime, I do have some more Lusaka stories which are itching to get out, and an overdue story about the day I left Canada 20 years ago.

All the best for your future and for cryptocurrency as well! And thank you again for brightening my day 😊😊

OMG you really made my day my friend and Mentore @kiligirl by giving me such a beautiful words (tears are in my eyes while reading your kind words).
You don't exactly know that I have started to write some blogs after reading yours. I have tried my best but I can't reach to the level of yours. My words are nothing in front of your skills. You write so accurately keeping in view every single rule of grammer and other things, that's why you are my favorite one.
I have written some blogs although they are not more professional and also not upto the standard but I am learning things now. So I would need your guideline and Support when you have time.
All the best for your business and Bank issues. I am always and will be your big Supporter and fan for ever.
Keep smiling and Stay Blessed!

Well, I am really humbled if I've contributed in some way to inspiring you to write, @jawad09! I was so lucky - I grew up surrounded by books (including lots of literature) and started devouring them at an early age, which has given me a solid grounding in grammar and vocabulary. Also, English is my first language, which gives me a huge advantage as well. My French grammar is okay because I also learned that language from an early age growing up in Quebec, but any other language - nope!

All I can do is encourage you to read, read, read - and write, write, write! Especially write about things which mean something to you. With that kind of practice, and your wonderful attitude, you'll get to a point where you start to really enjoy what you've written, and for me anyway, that's really important.

You keep smiling too, and stay blessed as well! 😊😊

Haha, sorry for laughing, but you absolutely nailed the frustration I normally experience when it comes to matters such as these in general.

Not sure exactly where in SA you stay - But I live in Limpopo, and if you think that the banks are bad, then under no circumstances EVER go to our Municipal Offices, Post Offices or Home Affairs Office here in Limpopo!

I have absolutely no clue what your new business is, and whatever it is - If I am ever able to, I will support it wholeheartedly, even if I am really not in need of your product or services - I would still find a way to support it -based solely on a stance of moral support after what they put you through.
I really do not know how these institutions function on such a tedious and digressive system.

But that is just me - I even get frustrated when I go buy bread and milk.

Wishing you prosperity, blessings and a dash of patience for your journey ahead!

Well, hey there, @breezin, what a breezingly refreshingly reply! We live in Joburg (Lonehill to be exact) and I have an absolute horror of going to any and all of the public service outlets you just listed. Credit where credit is due though - I had to get a doc certified on Saturday and thought I was in for an hour wait. I was out in 2 minutes, not sure what had happened to me...the clerk had even smiled at me. And two (count 'em, two) Home Affairs officials smiled at me and greeted me warmly on my last trip to Lusaka (both the good riddance outgoing one and the okay, you're back one). Could there be a change in the South African air? One wonders...😜

Thank you so much for your wishes - that must be what got me through my epic battle with a tiny Samsung printer this afternoon. It knew it had the upper hand, and wasn't afraid to let me know. Seriously, the new business is in the renewable energy space. We think it's pretty innovative and we're looking forward to having something to show for our efforts soon, so thank you, thank you, thank you for the moral support. It makes a difference. 😊😊

A great pleasure @kiligirl
I look forward to stumbeling accross more of your posts!

Thanks, @breezin! Perhaps towards the end of the week. Admin up to the eyeballs today and probably tomorrow as well. Next one should be an overdue post about Lusaka.

Well I hope that you will be washing down that bitter aftertaste that admin leaves in your mouth with a glass of vino!

I like your thinking! Tomorrow 🍷 😊

ha haaaaa great. And good luck with the admin today, sounds like you need it!

Oh, by the way, at one point in my life clerks had me so tied up in bureaucratic knots that I decided to write a book called "The Tyranny of the Clerks (or: Forget terrorists. Clerks are the ones who are going to f*** up the world.)"

But then I got tangled up in bureaucracy, and didn't write it....

Kidding. But it's still in there somewhere and tries to escape when Banky things happen. Just love that somebody else gets as frustrated at the value/soul-destroying experiences the clerks of our world dish out to us.

On that note, have a lovely afternoon. 😊😊

hahaha, I could write a 300 page book on that off the top of my head, however it would consist of about 298 pages filled with repetitive swear words!

🤣🤣🤣 You read my draft!!

🤣🤣

Hello, the banks are definitely a headache all over the world, I thought it was only in my Venezuela, it's impressive the amount of requirements they ask for to make some arrangements, Thank God you could solve, that continue the successes in your business and life.

Thanks so much, @syllem! I appreciate the kind thoughts. We supposedly have one of the most advanced banking systems in the world here in South Africa...at least that's what the banks tell us! 😉

And please forgive an intrusive personal question (you're welcome to not answer if it's too personal) - we currently hear really scary things about the Venezuelan economy, about availability of food, basic necessities, medicines, etc. Is it exaggerated, or is it true? And if it's true, how are you and your family coping?

Thank you so much for stopping in and reading.😊😊

Venezuela is a wonderful country, with many riches, both natural and in its inhabitants. Certainly today we are experiencing a strong economic and value crisis. In the economic aspect, we changed from a system in which we all lived with almost everything subsidized by the State (due to the bonanza of the oil rent) and additionally everything imported, because in general we are not producers; to a system in which the products that the government provides at a preferential price, mainly food and medicine, are not obtained, so many of them cannot be acquired, if you earn a minimum wage.
This situation has worsened the quality of life of Venezuelans, so it is very true that there are many people who are going through work to eat and get medicine, but it is no less true that many others have found alternatives to face this crisis and move forward. Personally, I think we are learning to break the dependence. In many homes we have returned to healthy eating, eating more vegetables and vegetables because processed carbohydrates (rice, flour, spaghetti) are expensive. Many people are complementing their incomes by planting vegetables, others importing food for sale, others dedicating themselves to cryptomonedas, there are a significant number of entrepreneurs, many leave the country... In short, with the passage of time everyone, according to their ability, will find the best way to grow. But the truth is that we have too much in our country to starve to death. Our lands are fertile, our climate is blessed, basic services are almost free, as well as fuel. There are also many things that at the moment cannot be purchased like cars, appliances, everything imported is very expensive.
In general terms, to give you an idea, I can tell you that there are many countries that are much worse off than us and do not have as much publicity. The world is only seeing one side of the coin from us.

My husband and I are of the mind, that the best way to face the problems we are living, is with ideas and always moving forward with God.

Humbly, with these statements, I hope I have contributed to your question. Greetings

Thank you so much, @syllem - I know how South Africa often gets misrepresented or a distorted picture of crime and violence is presented without the other dimensions getting equal time in the international media, so I really appreciate your balancing views. It's actually wonderful to hear that people have gone back to growing their own food. I'm sure they'll be healthier because of it.

I've wanted to visit Venezuela for many years, and if I do finally make it to South America then it will definitely be on my list. It has always sounded like such a rich (in the broadest sense of the word) country - in terms of natural history/capital, culture, food...and you've confirmed what I suspected.

Blessings to you and your family 😊😊

Banks make mistakes and we've to pay for it. This seems a global phenomenon. :)

Hi @Linsey, I'm new on this platform and has already fallen in love with it. I explore it a lot and came across some valuable blogs. I followed some of them that I felt were based on my interests. Your blog is new addition to my favorite list. I also checked some of your previous posts. Good job. I'm your 1957th follower.

Lastly, I really liked your writing style and this photo:

Hi, @shahzblog, welcome to Steemit! Thank you for those kind words. Glad you liked the photo of the shoes - that was @therneau's idea (we're on #teamsouthafrica together). He encouraged me to write this, a good thing as there was a good chance my sarcasm abscess might have burst in other less safe ways...ewwww....

I have to say, I can understand if some nameless, faceless clerk makes a mistake because their job is so mindless they just couldn't care...but a "Personal Private Banker" whose job it is to manage the relationship with their customer? Good grief. Another nugget for you, by the way - last year I got an e-mail from the same bank introducing me to another Personal Private Banker (who's never called me), so it seems I have un embarras de choix when it comes to PPBs. I wonder how these people measure their performance.

Anyway, back to you - I'm so glad you've chosen to join Steemit and I hope you enjoy the tremendous community and richness of thought, creativity and zaniness alive on this platform. 😃😃

I've been using a bank for a decade. They have been treating me the same way. There were times, when their ATM service was down so I had to visit the manager in person to ask him about what was happening with that bank and he replied that they were upgrading the system. Fast forward, after 4 years, their services are still down most of the times. One more reason why I love crypto currency.

By the way, Super @kiligirl, why have you disappeared from Steemit? Did your conscience kept you from posting on Steemit after you had done that 'Poo' post? :)

Hi, @ugetfunded, don't know how I missed your reply! Lovely to see you again.

Upgrading the system...during the day, when customers need the ATM the most. Totally customer-focused, I see. I'm with you on crypto!

I've posted a couple of pieces since the "Poo" post, but the combination of work and tennis elbow has kept me away from Steemit fun these last couple of months. My conscience is clear of any residual Poo 😘😘

Finally, You got New account ;)
congratulations,
How is your elbow now?
and that chair is doing good nor not? :p

Thanks, @abdulmanan! My elbow is gradually getting better - so kind of you to ask!

And my home office chair is F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S! It's the one in our Lusaka office that makes me appreciate the one I have at home 🙄😜

hahaha, :p Why They are not giving you the new one :/
Afterall you are the best employee ;)

If you can believe it, I actually told the Personal Private Banker over the phone that I was starting something exciting - and he didn't even think to ask if I needed an account for that. Missed opportunity much? Ah well, he'll start seeing the transfers soon enough....

Cheers! 😃😃

Fish man!
They are such losers.

Yup! You snooze, you lose....

Can i ask you something?

First of all many congratulations for starting your own business, and secondly when I saw this post with the tag funny I thought why she used funny tag in banking topic, when I went through the post I laughed on so many places like seriously they spelled your name incorrect 😂😂😂 and they still use landlines 😋
But you really know how to describe something, I need same potential as u, I posted my intro post 2 days ago in which I mentioned you as well but I think you missed the notification, You gave me inspiration to speak or maybe write my heart out 💝
Many blessings for you big girl ☺️☺️☺️

Gosh, @aliraxa, thank you for your kind words! I actually started this business last July, if you can believe it - it takes a loooooong time to get to the point where I can invoice with the kind of work I'm doing (we have to create something first which generates some income - then we're all happy). So glad you found this post funny. I needed to write it or I might have suffered from a sarcasm abscess!!

I wish Steemit would let us know when we mention somebody. I don't even know where to see mentions. Seriously, if I gave you any inspiration then I am honoured >curtsies<. Keep on writing! 😃😃

Honestly I don't have good writing skills like you but if it's easy for you, I want you to go through my intro post once and give me some recommendation there if it's easy for you.
Disclaimer: It's the only post on my blog so you are free from scrolling down ;-)

@kiligirl same it's happened to me, and my 2 other friends want to start business. After we complete our bachelor degree. The job are hard to find. We want boss of our own. the bank have some many question they said you are student and we want source of your income. after that we start steemit. @abdulmana help us and introduce steemit platform.

I truly hope that Steemit and other crypto platforms create the break that entrepreneurs deserve, @muqarrabshah!

It's amazing how the sweet young things looking to sign up new credit card customers look at me and think "slam dunk" - that one must be a good candidate, she's white and of a certain age. The look on their faces when I say I don't have a monthly income is priceless. Entrepreneurs get the short end of the financial support stick even though we are the people who are most likely to create new jobs for others. Wishing you and your two friends the best in getting your business going! And big ups to @abdulmanan for helping you by introducing you to Steemit.😊😊

thanks for the appreciation throw this. I also introduce 2 more people about steemit. i will post it soon. i have Bandwidth issue how can i fix it.

Wonderful you've introduced two more people! And on bandwidth - I don't know. I see other people on #teamsouthafrica had trouble with bandwidth and I think one or two of them found something explaining what was going on...not sure there's anything anyone can do about it....😢

me sad :(

Wish I could help....😢

your words help me more then fixing Bandwidth issues. Your word are love thanks a lot. @kiligirl these words printed on my heart <3.

I lost my cool on my bank when I lost $400 just because one of their staff member provided me the incorrect IBAN number and this transaction was happening online because I was a freelancer back then. The transaction initiated from the freelancing website, went to BOA and then went back to freelancing website. Never arrived in my bank account. This resulted in the most expensive yelling I ever had in my life but it was relieving. :D

😱😱😱😱

That is a horrifying story, but gee, can I understand that relieving feeling. Catharsis!!

I hope that never happens to any other freelancers....

Quite unfortunate how one is treated at the hands of employees of these bank sometimes. This is equally what we experience here every now and then to the extent one is tempted to call it a global issue.

Personally, I had had to correct my date of birth more than 3 times in the past. Yesterday, I wanted to make a transfer and surprisingly I couldn't. Decided to pay my bank a visit this morning and ascertain what's wrong. Behold: same date of birth. I just felt like collapsing! But what can one do...

@eurogee

Oh my goodness, @eurogee, that's horrific! I hope the bank now has your correct birthday on all their cross-referenced files....

It's as if we'd be better dealing with computers only, not people, at banks. Oh, wait...wouldn't crypto address that...?

Stay strong and don't let the clerks beat you down. 😘😘

Of course, Cryptos definitely can take care of that. Hahaha

Here in Pakistan we too face problem in opening bank account,
Let me explain it,
first of all, their should be a reference,
They want to know how much our earning are,
what are the ways of our earnings.

Sometime all these things got me angry,

That's the only reason i don't have any bank account yet :p

Sorry for your difficulties opening an account, @mudasra! I can see how that would make you angry. Sometimes these big banks think they're managing risk well, but all they're doing is making sure they don't get a future customer. Thanks for stopping in and reading, and good luck 😊😊

Your welcome dear :)
It's not my loss, it's their, and now i would never suggest anyone to have account in that bank.

congrats, sometimes it's best to keep your options open.

i am with, not banky m and not with banky o, but must admit, they really got a lot better, my personal banker is really a superstar. Someone who actually want's to help her clients.

So glad to hear someone is getting joy from their bank! Thank you for sharing, @plainoldme 😊😊

Nice post
Help me
Please vote and flbck me

Good thinking and informative articles. Thanks a lot for sharing

It is really Disturbing when they charge you for no reason,
I'm using standard chartered, Standard bank, but they too have flaws.

I wish you best of luck for your new business.

Thank you, @faizan-ashraf, banking fees really raise my blood pressure too. There's really little difference between the banks in South (Southern?) Africa since they all work off these dinosaur legacy platforms. (although Capitec was an interesting disruptor because it did things like opening on Sunday and not charging fees for using oxygen in the branch). And let's just say Banky 1 didn't cover itself in glory on 28 Feb, the day that provisional tax returns are due in South Africa, and their online banking facility was down from morning into early afternoon. Loooots of unhappy people out there! Thanks for the kind wishes and for stopping in 😃😃

Following you ;)
tax tax tax, tax everywhere,
tax on eating things, tax on bathing things, tax on traveling, tax on banking.

Tax on tax!

Ahhh, crypto....

I hate them, really hate them.

My bank, lets call it bank N... is sadly going bankrupt.
Every time i go to withdraw money it says insufficient funds.

ba dum tss

Ill be here all week.

Where are you my friend @kiligirl you are sorely missed by your old friend Ellie Mae. ❤️🐓🐓

Oh my goodness, dear Ellie Mae, I've been up to my eyeballs in fundraising for this company! Amazing how quickly the time passes. Thank you for chasing me up. The good news is L Bow is pretty much healed and now it's more a question of time. I've stayed in touch (sort of) with TeamSouthAfrica on our Discord channel, but haven't been able to do much else on Steemit these days. I'm writing to you from back in Lusaka for our monthly client engagement. Hopeful this month and next we'll start turning the corner. Aiming to carve out an hour a day of Steeming once we have a few clients with viable business cases.

I'm looking forward to catching up on your posts when I get a break later today. But in the meantime, how are you? I'll catch up on the girls in the latest Gazette. More interested in your and your perambulations.

Seems like I really only get a chance to get back into Steemit when I'm in Lusaka!

Much love...and thank you again for chasing me...💖😊😊

I know you are busy with your new project. Just missing you so much. I am putting a little post together to inform our friends about life here with the chickens. Seems like everyone on steemit is a bit depressed about the downward trend it has taken. I like the people they mean a lot to me. Glad to hear you L-bow is finally shaping up. That damned lawnmower has my back aching for a new one. Dr. says it will heal on its own.....very slowly. Meanwhile It feels like I am trapped in purgatory! In the spring no less!
Helplessness can be down right depressing. Pressing on, cause there is work to be done. This I know you understand. Please do come by when you get a sec. You always have the gift of making me smile. Much Love from the chickens and your friend Ellie Mae. ❤️🐓🐓

Aiyiyi - how did I miss this message? Lusaka was all-consuming with unreliable internet, but that's no excuse. Sorry about your back 😢😢. I curse thee, pestilential lawn mower, for hurting the great and gentle Ellie Mae in such a way!

Yes, I do understand. I've just finished reading an incredible book which gets to the heart of pressing on and surviving. If you have a chance to pick it up in your amazing library, I highly recommend it. It's called "A House in the Sky" by Amanda Lindhout, and it's the autobiographical story of a Canadian journalist who gets abducted and held for ransom in Somalia for 15 months. I'm sure you'd be able to relate to her experiences, although I truly hope you've never been through anything like what she went through.

I hope you and yours had a lovely and peaceful Easter. Much love 💖💖

Oh Kiligirl, I am starting to feel better... finally. However, not being able to do things has made me so grumpy! I am no fun to live with right now. They call me Forest Gump in these parts, because one of my favorite things to do is mow. It clears my head completely, leaving me smiling from ear to ear. Perhaps my crabbiness stems from the fact that a lot of intrusive thoughts have taken over my brain and I no longer have an outlet to let off the steem! Never ever try to pick up a lawnmower by yourself, that is my life’s lesson for today.
Thank you for the book recommendation I will see if our little library carries “A House in the Sky” it sounds like a good read.
May the winds of glory and good fortune be at your back today as you carry on with your mission. Much Love to you your pal Ellie Mae ❤️🐓🐓

So glad you're starting to feel better, Ellie Mae aka Forest Gump! ❤️️ We carry these physical (and other) pains around with us for so long we tend to forget how the weight affects our resilience. Been thinking a lot about resilience these days - how to build it, how to nurture it, how not to let pain affect it but rather feed it (haven't mastered that one yet!!). It sounds like mowing is one of your resilience builders! And yes, if there's someone around who looks like they can lift a lawnmower better than you, put 'em on the job 😉.

I hope you find the book. Would love to discuss it with you!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your supportive wishes. They mean so much! We're at that stage where we still can't see the funding coming in (so close, but so far), but the savings are down to the last few months. This is one of the reasons I'm thinking so much about resilience, and focus on the objective - going back to the time that group of us climbed Kilimanjaro and reached the summit...one foot in front of the other, eyes on the summit. Before you think that was when I was young and fit, it was just 9 years ago (so ixnay on the oungyay) and let's just say that nobody would have mistaken me for an Olympic athlete 😜😜. It was all about attitude - some would say mental, emotional and/or spiritual strength. Believing we would do it somehow banished any negative thoughts. Now, in this situation, believing we will do it is critical. Every drop of support you send makes an immense difference...so thank you, thank you, thank you. Much love back - your Kiligirl friend 😘😘

I am so missing both you and your niece @lynb. It’s been over 4 months since we have heard from you and I would love to know of your progress. Missing you both more than you know. ❤️🐓🐓