A few small achievements on Monday to make up for the stagnant weekend. The first was that I finally managed to call the helpline for our visas to learn that they were still being processed, and that was why we had not heard back. A relief, as it was definitely keeping me up at night.
Then, in the afternoon, I went to buy a new mobile phone. This is because the GF’s mobile phone stopped working because of the Turkish restrictions on overseas phones, and mine was supposed to stop working today. Since we can’t register them without residency, I decided to just buy a new inexpensive phone that we could both use as a hotspot. This was an unusually successful expedition: I went to a big warehousey electronics shop in a mall, immediately found the phone I was looking for (the most inexpensive mobile phone that was from a company with a reasonable reputation and which had decent online reviews). This was a Huawei phone which proved to be rather nicer than I expected in that it was quite small and light, but seems fine.
My phone has stopped working today, but only one SIM slot. The other SIM didn’t have a Turkish SIM card introduced to it until a couple of weeks ago, so I suppose it will go on for a few more months. Meaning the GF will get full use of the Huawei phone, but since he is an avid iPhone user and not one who cheaps out on electronics (as I do) this is still definitely less than desirable.
On the way out I noticed a window display of garden furniture with racks of thick quilted cushions that would do very well as floor cushions. I went in and suffered a bit of regret as it turned out to be a shop somewhere between an Ikea and a Walmart, with towering aisles of stuff I didn’t want, and designed that you had to wind through the whole shop before reaching the checkout. Anyway, I did and purchased two cushions, very pleasing. I should have bought four.
I noticed in myself a real concern about taking the metro and going to the mall in the pandemic. I’m always careful, but was, for the first time that I can remember, anxious as well. In the metro I stayed well away from anyone else and felt angry and on edge when someone came too close as they wandered aimlessly up and down the platform. At the entrance to the mall there was a tight queue as people had their HES codes checked (for contact tracing), which again made me jumpy. And in the electronics shop this couple loomed right behind me at the counter, breathing down my neck, and I nearly decked them. Interesting to feel this, particularly as I was so unconcerned before. But Turkey is not in a good position, and it would be a shame to get the coronavirus as its healthcare system teeters.
Unfortunately this outing was almost entirely inside, as even the metro was connected to the mall so my only outdoor time has been the 2 minute walk from our flat to nearest metro entrance. But that is my own fault.