We have a Pepys themed walked with the Berkshire branch of the Cambridge Society in London for Saturday 29th March.  I’ve always wanted to see “The Mousetrap”, so after much dithering (& gasping at ticket prices) we decide yes & I try to book tickets for the evening performance on Saturday. 

The website I use has several points during the booking process when it warns you it will time out if you do not complete the “form” within so many minutes. I struggle through and am not timed out.  Finally, the stupid website announces it needs my Verification details, ie not the PIN nor the three digits on the back of the card, but some other stupid number.  I’ve never set one up with the bank, but Steve, unbeknown to me, has.  Website times out, so Steve says out of the way and he’ll do it on his card.  Much hissing and panicking as Steve logs into the site but it still demands he types in all his details.  He gets the tickets.  Curiously they are not the ones it offered me.  Never get the same twice running, he says.  I look more closely.  Why did you book for Friday 28th, I ask?  Much screaming ensues.  What to do?  Go up two days running?  Sell them on ebay? 

Inspiration strikes me and I ask if Steve has any points from his hotel stays left over?  Result – we’re going up Friday morning & will stay overnight on Friday and we’re even getting lifts to and from the station.