Tags

, , , , ,

Sometimes this super (ahem!) efficient Mammy gets hit by a lemon and ends up in a chaotic series of events that weren’t planned and could be the ruination of her day.  Little did I know that one of those lemons would be an ATM cash dispensing machine and that a milkman would be my salvation.

One day recently, I stopped as usual at my local supermarket to buy milk on my way home from work.  As I didn’t have any money on me that day, I went to the ATM in the supermarket to withdraw money, but the ATM was flashing “Out of Service”. I could have used my debit card to buy milk but that would have meant a minimum purchase of €10 and buying things I didn’t need.  So I walked out of the supermarket and over to the ATM which was across the street. And would you believe it? Thanks to the recession, that ATM had just been removed by the bank.

Not prepared to accept defeat, I decided to get into my car and drive to a nearby Service Station to use their ATM and buy their milk.  But that ATM had also been removed by the bank, as had the ATM at the next nearest Service Station too. Who knew an economic recession would mean a plague of disappearing ATMs all over town.  And how had I missed the removals? Surely it is not an easy job and should have attracted my attention?

By now though, I was not a happy mammy at all. I was late for my childminder and I still had no money and no milk.  Yes, the quick-witted among you will say at this point that I should have just used my debit card to buy the milk. But under pressure I couldn’t see the wood for the trees, so I continued my search for a fully functioning ATM.  Eventually, six ATMs later, I found one that still existed and worked.  I withdrew money, bought 2 litres of milk and finally went home.

Later that evening, the doorbell rang. At my front door stood a man who told me he was a milkman and would soon be delivering milk to houses on my road three mornings a week and would I like to order milk?  I doubt he ever got such an enthusiastic “Yes – sign me up!” as he got from me that day.

So now our milk is delivered twice a week and I have to say it has made my life so much easier. Best decision I ever made. We never run out of milk and I don’t end up chasing disappearing ATMs around the town.