I'm having a bad day.

Not an awful day, not a terrible day, just bad. Most of the badness was cumulative badness from the last few months; you see, I've been trying to pay my electricity bill.

So back in the mists of time, I get my leccy bill. How to pay it? Aha, I think. I shall take this bill to my bank. Surely I can pay my bill at the bank.

So I take the bill along, ask if it's possible to pay it. No problem, says the guy. He does guy in bank stuff for a few minutes, then turns back to me and says, "that's that!" Only, y'know, in Spanish.

So I think fine, all done and dusted. Until a month or so later when I get a reminder. Scowl, scowl, check bank-book, oh bugger, the money never came out. Go back to bank. Same thing happens. Get shouthy reminder letter in post, grr we're cutting off your electricity on the 22nd! Back to bank. This time I am told that the bank cannot help me as the name on the bill is not my name (this is despite having asked leccy co. to change the name when I moved in). Phone up electricity co. I am to try the post-office. Go to the post-office. No, I cannot pay the bill there as the name on the bill is not my name; I am to try the electricity co. office. Go to electricity co. office. Cannot pay bill at that office; I am to go to a different office which is now shut for the day as it only opens in the morning.

Today: Go to the other office. Cannot pay bill at that office. Explain that I can't pay it at the bank because the name is wrong. Am informed that they can't change the name until the bill is paid. "Try the post-office." Explain that the post-office won't let me pay it there, either. All such concerns are brushed aside by snooty electricity co. staff. Go to post-office. Post office is now shut. Crawl weeping back to flat convinced that I have fallen into a Franz Kafka novel. Sulk until P.O. reopens, seek out staff member who looks least arsey, present bill PAY BILL YES YES YES THANK YOU JESUS.

And this guy came to check our butane sitch and changed the tubes over and charged us loads of money and when I tried to use the oven the new tube melted and filled the kitchen up with butane and I've got a cold and I broke a glass and BLARRRGH.