I have three worst nightmare scenarios:

1. That zombies take over the world.
2. That vampires turn out to be real and we end up with real-life Bella Swans running around having unsafe sex and giving birth to half-vampire mind-reading babies.
3. That I forget to back-up my final-year research and assessment files and the next day my USB stick decides to stop working.

Guess which one happened? Sorry to all you zombie enthusiasts and Twilight fans, it wasn’t scenarios one or two. Sadly it was three, which means yours truly is now devoid of quite a number of pretty important files full of pretty important university stuff. My stress-o-meter is currently at 75. I have the weekend to try and recover the data before I hit 100 and the whiskey.

STRESS-O-METER

While channelling positive chi towards my 4GB USB drive, I’ve been reminded of other times in my life when I’ve had some unfortunate timing, or just pure bad luck, in scenarios that could have been easily avoided, with a little common sense.

If I’d just taken two minutes to back-up my files every few days, none of this would be concerning me right now and I wouldn’t be day dreaming of Jack Daniels.

There’s the time I broke my mobile phone. By putting it in the washing machine. It wasn’t until I became aware of an unusual ‘clunking’ sound coming from the wash, that I realised I’d left my phone in my jeans pocket. I stood there, watching the cycle go around and around, unable to stop the machine. I felt helpless as the little silver flip-phone whirred around, caught between denim and the washing machine window. I didn’t have insurance.

Then there was the time on Christmas eve a few years ago when I locked myself outside in freezing temperatures. I’d gone to take the rubbish out and pulled the front door closed behind me, not remembering that I had no keys on me. I was dressed in nothing but a fluffy pink neon dressing gown and leopard print slippers. My hair was bright orange because I’d decided – the night before – to dye my dark brown locks blonde, and it hadn’t gone so well. After half an hour (the neighbour’s weren’t in) I managed to flag down a courier van and got him to call my housemate, who graciously took time out of work to come home and let me in.

I’ve had my handbag stolen once, which was my own fault for assuming the group of guys I was out drinking with would watch it for me while I made a quick dash to the ladies. I returned to find it missing – goodbye wallet, phone, travel card, make-up and house and office keys. Boy, that was a great evening.

And I’m sure on more than one occasion I’ve booked flights for a quick weekend holiday and only after confirming my card details and pressing ‘Pay’ have I realised I’ve chosen the wrong date. (I admit this is probably more stupidity then lack of common sense!)

I guess we all have a bit of bad luck some times. It may not involve USB sticks or flaming orange hair, but usually a little common sense could have helped. So, lesson learned: Back up before you luck out. And consult a hairdresser before you take to the peroxide.