Flight ok, customs ok, baggage claim ok. For all of the aggro we went through yesterday, customs didnt even look at the visa!!! They barely even glanced at the photo page and then potatostamped a ramdom page. Oy vey. Anyway, were here in one piece, if a bit worse off for sleep.
Category: uncategorized
Paperwork, part 2.
After spending an hour last night filling in the forms, we get to the high commission at 7:30 this morning and get in the queue. We were seen bya nice pre-screening gentleman who tells us that handwritten forms are no longer accepted. WTF? luckily, he pointed us to a post office a few doors down that has a nice little racket going where you can fill the forms online and print them there. £6 for 4 pages. Get back in the queue, but it’s still only 7:45 so we’re still on schedule.
Hand in the forms to the immigration staff and they were really good about it. It seems it’s just a formality, albeit an aggravating one. Amusing note, I had to hamdwrite a letter of invitation for Pam. Not technically needed, but they said the more supporting papers the better. After 30 minutes of waiting, we’re called to see a nice lady who first apologizes for yesterday, and says they’ll issue a visa. Apparently, she actually needed one last time she went to Canada but that must’ve fallen through the cracks. Anyway, lesson learned for next time. Now, its just hurry up and wait time. In the end, we left the high commission at 10:15, hailed a cab, checked out of the hotel and we’re now on our way to Heathrow.
I’ve been living on caffeine and nicotine for the past 24 hours. Not the best way to start a holiday, but at least it’ll make for a good story.
Edit: all that faffing for this
And they didn’t even use the picture we had taken!!
Paperwork, part 1.
So. Pam and I checked into a surprisingly acceptable hotel to figure out our game plan. We printed off the visa application forms, went to the bank to get proof of funds, got passport pictures taken and I’ve just been to the high commission in Grosbenor St to figure out where we need to go bright and early tomorrow. Wish us luck!!!
Edit: 8 bloody pages of veeeery detailed information, some of which we don’t have…. Fret! Fret! Fret!
Well, that didn’t go as planned…
We were supposed to fly to Canada today, all 5 of us. Except now, there are only 3 people flying today. We found out the hard way that Pam’s status as a British protected person means that she needs to have a visa tiling go to Canada, even though she has a British passport. That wasn’t the case last time we all travelled to Canada. Apparently the immigration laws changed since then. Go you, Harper!
So. Pam and I are staying behind so that we can go to the Canadian high commission in central London to get her a visa tomorrow. They’re only open from 8 to 10:30 so we booked a room in a close-by hotel and get there bright and early.
Hopefully we won’t have any more surprises tomorrow.
Fret :-(
Packing, Bean Bean style
I brought the suitcases in and Bean is rearing to go. He’s already started packing. So far, we have break, bagels, baby wipes and all the remotes that usually live on the couch. You know, the important stuff :-)
Oooooooold hamster
This is Briebrie. He’s still spry for a geriatric rodent but the years are catching up tp him. He’s starting to look a bit rough around the edges. He’s coming up to his third Christmas, which is a lot for a hamster. Still, he’s a living endorsement for the benefits of enriched breakfast cereals.
Ben was very cute this morning
Bean came into the office this morning and wanted to draw something before going to nursery. He climbs up on my chair, grabs a pen and starts doodling lines on a piece of scrap paper, while muttering: “mummy, daddy, bean, reenie, tolstoy, babba, dadda, uncle stu, auntie mina, uncle michael…”
:)
Yaaaaaay, gadgets!
Xmas came early for me. Katy bought me a me tablet and I got it early so that I can bring it to Canada and use it to keep Bean entertained.
In other news, we had a visit from our new personal trainer tonight. I think it’s going to be a sound investment of time and money, even if she did mention several times that it’s ok if we swear at her. That doesn’t bode well :)
Today’s scrum planning meeting
Reminded me of this classic gem:
Woots all around today!
Lots of little bits of good news today :)
1. Normand sent me the aaaaalmost-final design for my upcoming tattoo and it ROCKS! I can’t wait to get it done!!
2. I have a 4-pound hunk of brisket that’s been brining for the last week currently smoking on the BBQ.
3. I broke the 18 stone barrier :) Katy and I aren’t on a diet per se, but we’re making a conscious effort to eat better, eat less and do more. We’ve been at it for a couple of weeks now. Katy has lost more than a stone already, and I’ve lost more than half a stone, but I’m finally below 18st for the first time in a while. I’ve also noticed that my fitness level has gotten better, so good news all around.