When a Simple SIM Isn’t So Simple

Life on the road comes with beautiful places… and the occasional technology puzzle.

Today’s puzzle was sorting the Orange SIM for the router so we can manage data while we’re travelling.

It sounded simple. But then the app needed to identify me first before I could do anything useful.

That meant scanning my passport… and then scanning the chip inside the passport as well.

To do that, I had to swap the SIM into my phone, because the code the app sends goes to the SIM itself — which of course was sitting in the router.

So there I was with my phone, my passport, the SIM card and the router, swapping things around and following the steps the app wanted.

And once the app was finally set up, I had to move the SIM back into the router again to get everything working.

Nothing difficult really — just fiddly, and it took longer than expected.

Somewhere in the middle of it I noticed that familiar feeling starting to creep in. A tightness in my chest. That little rise of anxiety when things aren’t quite working.

So I stopped.

A few deep breaths. A moment to reset.

Because I know this about myself now — if I rush and try to force a solution, that’s when the tension builds.

So I slowed down. One step at a time.

And I reminded myself that I can do these things. I might not know them instantly, but I can work them out.

In the end, it got sorted.

Travelling has a way of presenting small puzzles — apps, routers, parking machines, language barriers. None of them are big problems, but they can quietly nudge the stress levels up if you let them.

So today felt like a good reminder.

Pause. Breathe. Take the next step.

These little challenges are all part of the journey.