Thursday,December 12/2024

 

Day begins ridiculously early. Wake up about three and reach, as usual, for a tablet in order to play a go-back-to-sleep podcast. Discover there is no internet connection. J, by now awake, checks router. And, since its plug is imperfect, replaces the  adaptor with a better one, currently being used (no pun intended) by the kettle. And, duly replaces that adaptor with another, which promptly shorts. No problem - except that all the power in the flat promptly disappears. Have battery lamp. Panel by the front door. No difficulty. Except that resetting the main power switch in the panel has no effect.

So, no power and more or less no phone. We, like most people and businesses here (even major ones like Turkish Airlines) normally use WhatsApp for phone calls and WhatsApp is wifi dependent - very handy most of the time. Do have an international UK based sim but like most foreign sims very expensive, as in about £1 ($1.80 CAD) a minute. Presumably  retaliatory. Suitable really only for emergency calls - which, thanks to WhatsApp and other VOIP services, is all it should normally be called on to do. Not particularly suitable for explanatory discussions with electrical firms.

But light comes with the dawn. And J, ever resourceful, checks underneath the building for a main power switch for the flat. Yes it exists and yes it works. Coffee coming up. Though does confirm our assumption that the wifi problem is separate from electrical considerations and unlikely to be down to our unit. So will eventually have to contact internet provider to inquire. Simplest just to go there?

Shortly after nine van pulls up with new gas cylinder as ordered for the cooker. Driver, like most delivery men these days, pulls out a mobile, presumably to ascertain that he has the correct address and we are in fact home before hauling the cylinder upstairs. Lean out of the window and wave him in.

And, a few minutes later, internet connection restored. All is well.