One thing that you can bank on

Embarrassment of losing my ATM card has been compounded by 15-day freeze

There are certain company policies that make eminent sense. There are others that make a degree of sense within prescribed limits. Then there are the downright absurd. It has been my misfortune of late to have encountered the latter at the most starchly august of institutions - a major Chinese bank.

Like several people I know, I left an ATM with the cash I had requested but not the card, which was swallowed up within 10 seconds. It was a couple of days later I realized I was no longer in possession of that nondescript but essential piece of plastic that helps the world go round these days. Inevitably, the surprise came in the excruciating situation of paying the bill after a romantic dinner. My companion had to ride to my fiscal rescue on her white steed. My ego took a dent of Titanic proportions and my face put ripe tomatoes to shame.