Coincidental Serendipity

First off. Wohoo!!!! It seems like the ever helpful guys at SingTel technical helpdesk finally located my problem in accessing Blogger. I seem to be able to maintain a “normal” connection to Blogger now and I can blog to my heart’s content. I used to get disconnected after a couple of minutes after logging on to Blogger and it was frustrating.

I made an interesting discovery yesterday evening. My dad’s actually knows the dad of one of my regular repair clients. My dad offered to go buy some spring rolls for tea this afternoon and I casually mentioned that the mom of one of my repair clients sold the spring rolls in the coffee shop across our apartment. My dad knows whom I’m referring to as he’s a regular visitor to our home.

Well, I understand from my dad the dad of my client is an old buddy of his from way back. Way before I was born and the uncle in question was a regular visitor to our home when I was a wee toddler.

I confirmed some details with my client over MSN and lo and behold, our dads know each other and meet regularly for coffee. Well whaddaya know………….. How cool is that!!!

Speaking of my guitar clients. I’ve had my fair share of “weirdos” or unsavory characters. Here’s a real phone conversation I had a while back.

TL: Hey Malcolm, I’ve got a friend who needs your expertise in fixing his guitar. He’d tried to install a strap button on the heel of his guitar but he messed up and would like to cover up his mistake. He’s a poor guy and works at his church. I know you do excellent work and your prices reflect that but I hope you can give him a break in your pricing.

Me: Thanks for the referral and as you’d mentioned, I do good work and my prices reflect that. From what you’ve described, I’m afraid I can’t do the work for less that S$XXX.

TL: My friend’s really poor and can’t afford that. Can you do him a favor and charge cheaper?

Me: Well, if he wants the mistake covered up, it takes time and effort to make the repair “invisible”. That cost $$$. I’m afraid I won’t be able to do it for less than what I’d quoted. What make and model is his guitar anyway?

TL: It’s a Taylor 912-C. (For the uninitiated, this is a S$6,000 guitar).

Me: He’s a poor guy but he can afford a Taylor 912-C???

TL: Ummm. I gotta go.

Now I would like to believe I know TL quite well and I suspect he’s the actual owner of tthe guitar and he messed up on his own guitar but came up with the story to tug at my heart string to get a more economical repair quote.

I don’t mind charging cheaper and have done my fair share of pro-bono work but c’mon dudes!!! I’m not an idiot and I can smell a rat a mile away.

Why do I bother with such folks……

Anyway, it’s been a trying time in recent weeks. I thank God for His grace and strength. My patience been tested and stretched thin several times the past couple of weeks and it’s a miracle I didn’t lose my cool.

Don’t mean to vent here but there’re a lot of dishonest people out there and as much as we want to give everyone a benefit of doubt, we should be “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”