Page 63 - Gilbert & Me_Neat

about things – for instance, if there’s no camera on your PC how’s anybody gonna to obtain
photos of you from your PC? It’s different if they claim to get them off your social media, but
them you just cancel your social media pages, and create new ones. You DON’T EVER reply to
spam and scams. NEVER.

I’ve had the same email address since 1989. Never changed it, never suspended it, never had too.
The golden rule I have always operated is, if I don’t recognise the incoming email address, or
I’ve never been informed that one I know is changing, then I do not open or respond to emails,
especially if they go straight into my spam folder. Never. Ever if the subject is telling me I’ve
won a lottery or been gifted millions of dollars from a distant relative living somewhere in
Africa. I just don’t fall for it. So this idiot can get lost with all the other stupid, sick humans.

I check my gmail account for work-related emails, but, not surprisingly, there are none. I send
one to the Boss, asking about pay arrangements because now my rent, electric and water bills are
due, but I have no money to pay them. The work internet and electric bills are also due. I forward
these to him then such down the pc and close up the office. I probably won’t be back until next
week.

I return to Kings Park to park up the truck at Frank and Sue’s place. Frank meets me and tells
me his old phone – the one he was going to give me, but wouldn’t charge up, has finally charged
and I can borrow it for the time being. This is great news! He brings it out and hands it over. I
parked myself on the steps of his house and start setting it up for email and social media, making
my first contact with the rugby lads for two weeks via Facebook messenger. YAY!

While I’m sat there downloading Aps, checking messages and reconnecting with people, I get a
message from the Boss – he what’s me to text when I get home. He asks if I have data on the
borrowed phone, which I’m not sure about. I guess I’ll find out, when I do get home.

Everybody appears to be okay, except one lad who is sorely missing his Mexican senorita – they
haven’t connected in over a month, and that’s taking its toll of both of them. He’s a good lad too,
so I really hope this lockdown is eased or lifted soon and the border is reopened. There’s a few
messages about the next rugby games, one inquiry about our solar lamps and some videos being
shared among the rugby chat groups. Happy that things are okay, I make my way home only to
find I don’t have data. I guess the Boss is going to have to wait until I make a return visit to
Frank’s place late today – if I do, that is.

Borrowed phone stops charging. I manage to wrap some electrical tape around what has
obviously been a dog’s dinner at some point and then clean the connection point in the phone as
best I can. I connect the charger to my PC, plus it into the phone and, well, with a little fiddling
manage to get the thing starting to charge, but it’s a very slow process. Still it is working. Then I
find out that my SIM card doesn’t fit. Well, I can at least communicate via social media when
I’m within range of a friendly wifi signal, even If I can’t make calls.

I don’t go back to Frank’s place. I’ll go tomorrow morning instead, maybe.