It's a couple of minutes past 7am and I have already had quite the eventful morning. The weather hasn't been the least bit kind but the main event of my very young day is the fact that I almost lost my wallet.
Well, it's not much of a wallet than a card holder. I've not actually had any physical cash since I've been in the UK, so I have no need for the actual space consuming wallets.
So, the story is, I just finished my night shift and on my way home, I accidentally dropped my wallet/cardholder on my seat. I was distracted by the fact that I was trying to call my dad.
My standard protocol after leaving any vehicle, including airplanes and boats is to do a quick body search. I've done it so often that it has in fact become second nature for me.
Anyway, I get out of the bus and observe my standard protocol that lasts about three to four seconds. I immediately notice my cardholder wasn't with me and it is instant pandemonium.
The content of my cardholder included my Revolut Debit card, my bus pass, my temporary driving license for UK and my Nigerian license. It was pretty much every form of identification I had beyond my BRP and Passport, so I absolutely could not afford to lose it.
I tried to catch up with the bus but that wasn't happening. Let's not forget this is literally after a gruelling night shift and my entire body is aching. In in any case, I still did my best to catch up with the bus but then remembered this very useful thing called Uber.
The Uber I entered was a very chill and understanding guy. I explained my circumstance to him and he did his best to calm me down. He then proceeded to take a route with no speed cameras.
My plan was simply to either catch the bus on its route to the stop or get ahead of it and wait at the stop. One thing to keep in mind is that bus routes and car routes are very different, so what takes a bus 1 hour could be a couple of minutes. This was the case.
We got way ahead of the bus and ended up waiting for the bus to arrive. I recognized the driver and asked if she saw anything. The driver said a passenger found it and gave it to her.
The driver did a quick check to ensure I'm really the owner and then gave it to me. It was such a relief after what felt like an eternity without my trusty cardholder.
Thanks to a string of fortunate events after the unfortunate event, I got my cardholder back with everything intact. It cost me £10 worth of ubering but it was definitely worth it.
I must say you have got an amazing protocol and I am definitely going to steal it from you. It really helped
My imagination went wild
Just imagine you didn't check your body at that time, it would have been difficult for you to catch up with the bus. Also thank God for the understanding Uber guy. I am glad you got your cardholder back. Wait! Did I tell you I am stealing this protocol from you?🤭
Oh yeah. It's something I've been doing consistently for the past 10 years. Immediately I get out of a car, even if it's mine, I always do a quick body check.
Awesome that someone handed it into the driver.
Faith in humanity restored :)
Stressful time for sure man! Glad you got your wallet back!
Oh wow. You are a really lucky one to get it back.