Je ne passport pas?
Wednesday, 25. June 2008, 13:52:59
Well here we are, Ladies and Gentlemen. After spending several years on my mental ‘To Do’ list, and 33 years of my never having ventured outwith the leafy cradle of culture and history we call the British Isles, I have finally managed to kick my own ass hard enough (no mean feat) to assemble an application for my very first passport! At time of writing I’ve had the docs and photos countersigned by my lovely Ex, Cllr West – all I need do now is fill in the payment sheet at home and locate my birth certificate!
*cue fanfares, fireworks and ticker-tape parades*
Ahem, yes, ok, so practically everyone on the planet has one of these vital documents already: there may be some tiny Amazonian tribes holding out...an Eskimo or two...but nevertheless it feels pleasingly exhilirating to be getting one for my very own self. Imagine the possibilities! Me! In other countries! Listening to people with bizarre other languages who eat freakish other foods...!
My mind boggles with the list of places I could conceivably go...shortly before it boggles at the cost of visiting some of the farther flung places. But that’s ok. Baby steps are needed, methinks, so I don’t kill myself with culture shock on my first trip out.
My first destination? Paris! To see my ex-pat ex-flatmate, the Benwise, who spends a full two-thirds of every telephone conversation telling me to come visit him and how lovely Paris is and how beautiful Parisian women are...(he should probably stop doing that now that I’m seeing the lovely Debbie: mental note for next time)...but yeah, Paris sounds great. As well as seeing the beloved Benster it would also give me the perfect, long sought-after opportunity to brush up on my high-school French. I’m thinking September (after every colleague in my office has had their holidays – I’ll be quicker off the mark next year!). That should give me enough time to organise myself, book tickets, whathaveyou and more than enough time for my gleaming new passport to wing its way back to me.
C’est tres passionnante, non?
(PS: When I get home again I’ll try update this post with some pics of my passport photos; I’m going to have to look at myscruffy ruggedly handsome beard for the next five years! 
)
*cue fanfares, fireworks and ticker-tape parades*
Ahem, yes, ok, so practically everyone on the planet has one of these vital documents already: there may be some tiny Amazonian tribes holding out...an Eskimo or two...but nevertheless it feels pleasingly exhilirating to be getting one for my very own self. Imagine the possibilities! Me! In other countries! Listening to people with bizarre other languages who eat freakish other foods...!My mind boggles with the list of places I could conceivably go...shortly before it boggles at the cost of visiting some of the farther flung places. But that’s ok. Baby steps are needed, methinks, so I don’t kill myself with culture shock on my first trip out.
My first destination? Paris! To see my ex-pat ex-flatmate, the Benwise, who spends a full two-thirds of every telephone conversation telling me to come visit him and how lovely Paris is and how beautiful Parisian women are...(he should probably stop doing that now that I’m seeing the lovely Debbie: mental note for next time)...but yeah, Paris sounds great. As well as seeing the beloved Benster it would also give me the perfect, long sought-after opportunity to brush up on my high-school French. I’m thinking September (after every colleague in my office has had their holidays – I’ll be quicker off the mark next year!). That should give me enough time to organise myself, book tickets, whathaveyou and more than enough time for my gleaming new passport to wing its way back to me.
C’est tres passionnante, non?
(PS: When I get home again I’ll try update this post with some pics of my passport photos; I’m going to have to look at my
)
WIDGETIZE
kirstycat # 25. June 2008, 19:10
September in Paris will be the perfect time to go! It won't be as hot as it probably is in July and august. Will you be whisking the lovely Debbie off to Paris with you? How romantic
galadriel # 25. June 2008, 23:22
If your picture turns out dodgy, get them to take another one. I didn't and so I'm stuck with a VERY doddy pic for the next 7 years
I'd like to go to France one day and try some pastries
GrantTLC # 26. June 2008, 08:22
Kirsten: I'm not sure if I will be taking the lovely Debbie with me when I go. It seems a bit soon? And I'm thinking I might have more fun with Ben by myself, being able to spend a little time with him. I dunno. More thought needed.
Kim: I really didn't want a pic of me with this scratty beard on my passport but the other pictures I had were 2 yrs old, showed me with the glasses that I don't wear anymore, and made me look fatter. In the end I simply complied with the request on the form to supply pics taken within the last month, and trusted that when this verdammt beard comes off airline security will still recognise me!
GoldBug # 27. June 2008, 12:37
kirstycat # 27. June 2008, 18:37
GoldBug # 27. June 2008, 18:58
GrantTLC # 27. June 2008, 19:11
Waitasec...Goldbug...right?!?? Has the world gorn MAAAAAD?!!