So we had to make an appointment with the bank to settle a few questions, such as why we have to pay more and more money for fewer and fewer services (would you believe it costs extra to get a statement that lists transactions by date instead of by amount in decreasing order?) I was bracing myself for the worst, especially when we were told that our usual account manager was absent in spite of having set up the meeting. Appointments are necessary because the bank’s opening hours can be summed up with the words, “when I’m at work.” As it turns out we were taken care of by a very nice and enthusiastic young man, and from what it looks like right now, all our issues have been resolved. Let’s hope that it really is the case; a week or so will tell.