I regularly order stuff, either by phone or online.

This leads to some interesting results when it comes to delivery times.

The vet is top of the league. A phone call gets me an appointment that evening.

I ordered a fill of oil last night. The tank is now full! The oil company wins silver medal for their response.

A very close third are the two grocery shops which I order from. One does reasonable ready-meals while the other has a much bigger range of stuff so I tend to alternate. Again, most of the time if I order any day I can get a delivery the following day.

Tying for third place is a medical crowd where I place a regular order – next day delivery [though they are one of the ones that just dump my stuff over the gate].

Then we get into the interesting stuff.

An appointment with Doc is now in the area of a week’s wait. I blame the Ukrainians for that. We all know that the Ukraine war, Brexit or the Virus are behind most things these days?

Next comes a crowd I phoned to look at a bit of building work. They said they’d be out in a week. The week passed and I phoned them again. No, there was a three week waiting list and they’d be in touch. Hopefully I’ll see them this week. I’m an eternal optimist.

Then we get into the silly mob.

I bought some furniture last February. They are possibly [?] going to deliver it this week, ten weeks later. I’ll believe it when I see it.

The car needs its annual NCT test. That was due in January so I booked it in December. I was given the first available slot – in June – six months later.

The wooden spoon, or the gold medal, depending on your thinking goes to the SEAI.

I applied to them online last March, sending in all the relevant documentation.

I phoned them around September [just out of interest]. They hadn’t got my application as their online system was crap. I posted off the application.

When I first heard of that crowd they were saying there was an eighteen month delay. I could understand that and was prepared to wait. Then there was a bit of a political row and the gubmint promised to throw money at the scheme and bring the waiting time to nine months.

The latest I heard, it’s a three year wait.

I wonder if I’ll see them in my lifetime?