I seem to have spent all day on the phone - with very little progress, mostly on hold.
Firstly my bank, for explanation of an email I got from them 26 minutes on hold, after fifteen minutes trying to find an answer on their website, including ten minutes arguing with a "digital assistant" which is totally useless. Then another five minutes identifying myself (having already done that at the beginning of the call, before the wait). In the end, it turns out that the gist of their email, not mentioned in the email, is that I cannot use their online banking if I have their phone application installed, and don't have mobile reception to get a texted code. I already have a gadget from the bank to provide a code for online banking login because of this problem. But I can't have both this and the phone app!
Then this afternoon I got onto a medical specialist I've been referred to by my GP. Another ten minutes on hold. Sorry, that specialist is not taking any more new referrals, go back to your GP. Call the GP. Another ten minutes on hold, to be told, no, your GP is not in today, call again Monday, no I can't take a message.
