when it does rains, it pours...

are ATMs (Automatic Teller machines) going extinct? with the advancement in technology and the introduction of 'plastic' money (cards), shouldnt there be atms in most corner??!!
i have bad budgetting skills, i tend to over-spend and over-indulge... yes.. i'm a good for nothing shopper-holic. i truly believe in shopping therapy as well.. in need of curbing such spending ways, i try to spend only what i have in my wallet.. so the cash in my wallet would be what i try to spend within in for that period of time.. but like it helps.. haa.. when the spending bug comes creeping in, i go around looking for ATMs or i'll just sign.. as usual, i have gone past my spening limits for the week (my cash is pretty much gone in my wallet). however, today i needed money to top-up my ezlink card.. 'a topping up of card' became 'an adventure for that elusive ATM'...

went for training today. so decided to top-up my card at the nearest station there.. there was also an ATM nearby.. just right, kill 2 birds with 1 stone; can withdraw money and then go top-up card.. sooo convienent... off i went to carry out my 'mission'.. gosh..
task 1 (withdraw money) failed.. of all days, the ATM there is under renovation.. come on.. when did an ATM ever need a face-lift? its not a bank or anythin.. but yes.. it was closed off becos of some maintance work..
task 2 (top up card) failed.. no money how to top-up card!! i'm a cheapskate.. u c there are machines at the station that can use NETS to top-up the card.. but i'm still using student fare.. hence, i still buy the student pass (for unlimited vus ride for the month for $52). to do this procedure, only cash is used to top-up..

so a new plan has to be formulated.. was going to visit my grandma at the hospital.. again, there is a nearby MRT station, and i thought, most train stations should have an ATM. if not, there are shoppin malls around that area (Chinatown), i do not believe that there aint any machines around..

i slapped myself on the face when i said i believe that there will surely be an ATM.. hiaz.. i walked all around the station.. from 1 end to the other then to the shopping malls... NO ATMS!!! ahhhhhhhhhhhhh..... i walked up and down for a good 45 mins.. and still nothing.. the people giving out flyers saw me pacing pass them so many times till they decided not to have anymore eye-contact so as to give me their flyers.. had collected a stackful of flyers.. but still no ATM... even if i saw one, it wasnt the one i could use, like HSBC, I'm POSB!!

gave up.. went to see my grandma instead.. didnt want her to worry since i was 45 mins late already.. and the walk back to the hospital from Chinatown was real far.. it doesnt help that the walk was an uphill walk from where i had to start walking.. hiaz...

qn: did i top-up my card in the end?

ans: yes.. met my mum in the hospital.. so got the cash..

really... most train stations have ATMs at some corner.. but the 2 i went... Potong Pasir and Outram... NONE!! and the surroundings... NONE!! ahhhhh... my luck just dont want to improve..