What do I do with my days?

Oslo to Bergen by train

My quietness of this occasion is due to my getting a cold – which I am hoping does not turn into what Cate has. She is still barking like a seal although otherwise is much better.

I think mine is just a cold which has manifested itself in the form of non-stop snuffling and sneezing and dripping - which makes it really difficult to do much at all. But I am sure it will pass soon.

I may have to postpone the putting together of Frau Knickerbocker’s cupboard because I am not sure I can focus on the minutiae of Ikea plans and I also do not wish to infect her with whatever it is that I have.

I get an extraordinary number of colds in this country and I just do not know why because I do not have that much contact with people other than when I go shopping.

Anyway – yesterday I had to lodge our new passport applications at the Australian Embassy and I had filled out my renewal form but because Cate has two passports Rozalin had filled out an application for a new passport and had done all that was required.

I started the process at 9:30 AM with my first trip to the Embassy. It is only a kilometre or so away so I walked there. I waited for half and hour then handed in my passport application – had it checked and then handed over €275 and I was done.

Then we started on Cate’s application.

All was fine until we got to the part when they required photo ID. Apparently the fact that they had Cate’s old passport was not enough. I needed more photo ID plus a credit card and bank statements.

I returned home somewhat crestfallen – but Cate was still there – having done some calls from home – so I was able to get her driver’s licence and the other paper work and I took this back. This time I cycled. By this time my throat was croaky and my nose was snuffly  – I knew I had a problem.

A new lady was there so we started again – and we had a few procedural difficulties with some of the forms that were provided. ‘I am not sure this is the current form I will need to check – you know that they change the rules all the time’ (Oh yes we know).

We were almost triumphant – except that Cate had not signed the application. Hmm---- that is a fundamental problem.

So home again on my bicycle – into the car and off to Cate’s work – Cate signs form - back home and onto my bicycle – back to the Embassy  - present signed document.

Pay €275 - Victory!

Time 2:30PM

And people wonder what I do with my days.

Why does Cate have two passports I hear you ask?

Because she needs visas for many places that she goes and has to lodge passports to do this – but still needs a separate passport to continue to travel.

But I still had time to make a hotpot for dinner and it was not bad at all.

And by the way – we are heading for a big freeze this weekend. We are talking -°14. Now that is my kind of weather! But still no snow.