I had a quite unpleasant experience last Tuesday:
I drove to the Supermarket to get a few bits in the morning, and on returning I couldn't find my phone.
I did the old 'pat down' and 'search the obvious places routine' but I kind of knew what I'd done - I'd put it on the roof of the car when I was packing the shopping and then I left it on said roof and drove off.
So, nothing else to do but jump back in the car and drive (too quickly) back the supermarket, taking the last section slowly and scouring the road/ guttering in the hope that I'd spot it, not smashed!
No such luck, so I parked up, had a good hands and knees search around a wide area where I'd parked the car, and walked up the route I drove out of the car park a while: nothing.
In the supermarket, found someone who could speak English, made the 'has any one handed in a phone enquiry?'....
'No!'.
Did a second car park sweep, now kind of resigned to having lost it, nothing again, and drove back, annoyed with myself.
I started going through what I'd have to do next - cancel the day's planned brash clearance, drive to Fundao, buy a new phone, probably on a contract, contact my UK provider, get a new sim, change my Google password, get new bank cards (I 3 in the phone-wallet and a new Portuguese driving licence.
Quite a lot of work, at least a full day. Thankfully, I was just thinking, at least I had Samsung backup active, so that would save me a lot of time, and then I SAW IT.....
On the final corner turning off to my land, just laying on the pavement - cards strewn everywhere.
I pulled over, and it was FINE!
RELIEF!
Somehow it had stayed on the roof of my car for about 5Ks from the supermarket, back to that final turn off.
Kudos to its staying power - there are quite a few corners and in places I drive at 70 MPH and it's bumpy in some places too.
Lessons learned....
Firstly, I am TOTALLY dependent on my phone - I mean phone AND CARDS in one brick, and internet, some crypto wallets (all backed up but hassle to reinstall), authenticators, contacts, whatsapp, translate, the list just goes on!
I'm minded to get a second active device.
Secondly, don't leave your fucking phone on your car roof when you're packing your shopping!
I had thought to take a photo of my phone lying there on the road, but erm, my camera's also on the phone!
A normal day ensued after, albeit after an hour of going back to the supermarket and then a cup of tea to get over the trauma!