This post follows on from yesterday’s Visiting Apple.
I had hoped that public transport would be less crowded around midday on a Sunday. The bus I took at the Angel to King’s Cross Station seemed to confirm that this would be the case but it was the only one. Both the tube and the bus back to the Angel were uncomfortably crowded.
At Leicester Square, for a change, I avoided the main road and walked up Floral Street. This is a quiet street with a few prestige businesses, among which is the Tin Tin Shop. It leads to St James Street in Covent Garden.
I reached the neighbourhood of the Apple store 15 minutes before 12 and, having been turned away yesterday because I was too early, I sat on a handy windowsill to await noon.
When the time came, I presented myself to one of the waiting staff, recognisable from their dark blue teeshirts and the iPads they carry. As usual, I was asked my name and business. Frantic searching on the iPad and consultations with colleagues failed to find any mention of me. Oh, dear. I was told to wait in the corner like a naughty child, pending further investigation.
After what seemed a long time but was probably just a few minutes, I was informed that they had passed an enquiry to the repairs section and were awaiting a reply.
After more waiting, during which I managed to partially rest my old bones by leaning against the masonry (at no point, despite all the waiting, whether inside or outside, was I offered a seat), I was informed that my iPhone was undergoing Analytics. Progress of a sort, I suppose.
At last I was called forward for the ritual taking of my temperature and squirting of disinfectant foam on my hands. I was then told to walk ahead. I went, assuming I was being accompanied, but I wasn’t, so, on reaching the door I was at a loss to know what to do next.
A somewhat tetchy security person waved me inside and another sent me to the famous glass-stepped spiral staircase. At the top, I stated my name and business yet again and was instructed to wait at “the middle table where a colleague will join you shortly”.
“Shortly” was not the adverb I would have chosen but eventually a colleague did appear, carrying a box. The box was not for me (I felt irrationally glad about that, for some reason) but she produced a slim plastic envelope wherein lay my iPhone. Reunited at last! Well, almost, as there were a couple of formalities to complete. First, please open the iPhone and examine it. Is it to your satisfaction? Then please sign this electronic receipt.
Asked if there was anything else, I suggested that she might like to move the SIM from the iPhone 6 to the iPhone 8, which she did, willingly enough.
This done, I enquired, half humorously, half ironically, whether I was now free to go.
Yes, came the answer, but please use the back staircase to leave.
Despite taking the back staircase, you still have leave the building by the front door and make your way through the gaggle of customers and blue-clad Apple personnel milling around under the arcade.
I paused briefly at the windowsill to send Tigger a text and then set off to the tube station.
The train was fairly busy but I walked down the platform until I spotted a carriage in which there was a reasonably clear corner.
I boarded a bus at King’s Cross Station which, again, became full because the driver was not limiting numbers as they are supposed to do. I was glad to leave the bus though to do so, I had to push my way between passengers standing at the exit, So much for “Please keep your distance”.
As for my iPhone, should you be wondering, it seems fine. I cannot tell yet how the battery is faring but the next few days will reveal that. There is no longer the bright mark on the display and everything seems to be as it was before I left the phone with Apple but for one detail. Touch ID seems to have been turned off. I had to reinstate it which in turn required me to reinstate it again with all the apps that use it. Still, looking on the bright side, that’s a small price to pay for a new battery and a new display.
SilverTiger at home and abroad 