Fourth time lucky?

Third time lucky? It is not meant to be. I am trying to get a 22 inch TV for my mum. Got a 32 inch TV over the weekend as both the TVs at home broke down.

There have been some special promotions going on for electronices including this 22/26 inch TV over the past few weeks. Usually the store will say for the "First 5 customers" for each of the electronic item. My bro-in-law advised me to go queue up for this as he queued only 10 mins before the store opening and got it. He said it is very good deal.

The thing is today is my third time queuing and I still come back empty handed. First 2 times, I am both the 6th person in line, just one person difference. The 5 people in front of me all want the same product as me, even though there are many different items on promotion.

I reached progressively earlier. Today I was there at least an hour before the store opening. I was very happy that there was no one in queue at the usual spot where people queue. Happily I stood there and read the notes I brought along until I heard voices behind me some mins after. Apparently there was a group of people queuing in another spot, hidden by the posters and pillars... How did i miss them?? If only I saw there earlier and join their queue, I am the 6th or 7th person again after I join them. And the result was as expected.

This is really disappointing. For the same item and at the same shop, my bro in law just needed to queue 10 mins and went one time for the item. And I went to queue for three times and much earlier and yet...

Maybe it is meant to be. For example, when I recently bought my laptop. My colleague just went 1 day after me at the same fair. He got a better deal as the shops slashed prices by $100 for all the products that day. Not only is my price higher but not long after, the model that I bought have a model recall for faulty items. The manufacturer recalled my laptop for repair.

Another incident this year, I took a taxi to rush home after feeling sick and my taxi was following all the traffic rules. Out of nowhere, another car ignoring the red light rammed into my taxi and hit the side when I was sitting. Missed me luckily else I would not be here writing. Also this year, when I crossed a small road, I clearly saw there was no traffic before I crossed. But midway, suddenly a motorbike zipped past me in high speed, just inches from me.

When I went backpacking with my friend in India, I encountered a few times of bird shit dropping from the sky onto me. I really did not know what happened and my friend was surprised too because we are often standing around the same spot. I doubt it is because there are more birds there. Even in Singapore, walking along Orchard Road, the bird shit had missed me by inches a few times, literally dropping beside me when I am walking. I never heard of my friends experiencing this so often.

Somehow I often meet with such incidents with high frequency until I guess they no longer fazed me so much. To me, it is like "ok, it happen again". It is a tad tiring at times as I often have to go through more efforts for the same thing. Maybe a lot of people also experienced such things and never complain. I should count my blessings instead. Life has still been kind to me compared to many others that are struggling every day for their survival. What are these stories that I have? Insignificant indeed.

Ok, I guess I should not make any wishes, I just need to continue my effort. Maybe the shop will have the promotion again next weekend and I will be fourth time lucky. :)