At the British Embassy. Handed over my docs and have been issued a receipt. This took 20 min (I am the only person at the window). Now am told they will get started on my job. Which, by the way, is a photocopy.
Good thing I brought my kindle.
Update:
Done with that, on to the next stop
Update again: Line!
HUNGRY!
I am now home. Hurrah, all done!
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Monday, 30 January 2012
A fun day with bureaucracy
Some paper work I want done within the day rather than by post brought me to downtown Atlanta today, and to government buildings.
How is the decision made about where to put such buildings? Why are they so often in the strangest areas?
Anyway, I found public parking and while I was paying for my ticket, a girl accosted me and offered me cash to drive her away as she was "being followed". Now, I have no wish to leave a young woman in distress, but unfortunately today I don't have the word "idiot" tattooed on my forehead. I told her I couldn't help and turned back to my ticket machine. She proceeded to insult me, as you do, I suppose. I ignored her and she left. After placing my parking ticket in my car I walk down the pavement, and there she is: hiding in the weeds alongside the parking lot. And no: not sitting half hidden, I mean actively hiding; crouched with her head below the leaves, facing down. She also had bright red hair, so in fact stood out more like that.
At this point I am thoroughly confused and have no wish to leave my car anywhere near her, so I throw my $3 to the wind and get back in my car to look for new parking. As I drive by she is sitting in a lawn chair, by the pavement, casually chatting with a young man.
Does anyone have any idea what this could possibly have been about??
Oh well, I found an attended parking lot and went to take care of my business. A note here: every government office I have had to deal with in Atlanta has been a good experience. I always expect the worst in these situations, but I have always found friendliness, manners and speedy service in this city.
Problem: they required a stamp from the UK embassy.
No problem: turns out the UK embassy is only a few blocks away. Which I walk. In the heat.
Problem: the UK embassy is only open 3.5 hours a day, and had closed 20 minutes prior to my arrival. And if that's the UK I imagine the Italian embassy is open only 30 minutes twice a week when the full moon is shining.
Good times, I look forward to doing it all again tomorrow.
How is the decision made about where to put such buildings? Why are they so often in the strangest areas?
Anyway, I found public parking and while I was paying for my ticket, a girl accosted me and offered me cash to drive her away as she was "being followed". Now, I have no wish to leave a young woman in distress, but unfortunately today I don't have the word "idiot" tattooed on my forehead. I told her I couldn't help and turned back to my ticket machine. She proceeded to insult me, as you do, I suppose. I ignored her and she left. After placing my parking ticket in my car I walk down the pavement, and there she is: hiding in the weeds alongside the parking lot. And no: not sitting half hidden, I mean actively hiding; crouched with her head below the leaves, facing down. She also had bright red hair, so in fact stood out more like that.
At this point I am thoroughly confused and have no wish to leave my car anywhere near her, so I throw my $3 to the wind and get back in my car to look for new parking. As I drive by she is sitting in a lawn chair, by the pavement, casually chatting with a young man.
Does anyone have any idea what this could possibly have been about??
Oh well, I found an attended parking lot and went to take care of my business. A note here: every government office I have had to deal with in Atlanta has been a good experience. I always expect the worst in these situations, but I have always found friendliness, manners and speedy service in this city.
Problem: they required a stamp from the UK embassy.
No problem: turns out the UK embassy is only a few blocks away. Which I walk. In the heat.
Problem: the UK embassy is only open 3.5 hours a day, and had closed 20 minutes prior to my arrival. And if that's the UK I imagine the Italian embassy is open only 30 minutes twice a week when the full moon is shining.
Good times, I look forward to doing it all again tomorrow.
Saturday, 21 January 2012
Shoe Shower
Yes, I'm throwing one.
I shall complete my wish list and send invitations shortly; you are all invited. To buy me shoes. Yay!
I shall complete my wish list and send invitations shortly; you are all invited. To buy me shoes. Yay!
Sunday, 15 January 2012
American intelligence
My clothes dryer is huge. It can easily fit 3 loads of wash. Which means I can do all my laundry on the same day every couple of weeks, rather than 2-3 times a week.
Very clever.
Very clever.
Friday, 13 January 2012
Friday, 6 January 2012
Happy Befana
Once when I was little my grandmother (Nonna) was staying with us after Christmas. On the day of Le Befana she told Ocean and me that on old woman, with a crooked nose and a stick had come to the house and asked for us and dropped off a package for each of us. To which I replied "Why on earth did you let her in?!"
Wednesday, 28 December 2011
Getting things done
Slowly but surely.
You know about the apartment and mattress.
We also now have mobile phones and a lamp for the main bedroom. Plus a sofa-chair-bed thing for Angelo to sleep on. And this week we get delivery of a dining table, chairs, and television. That way we can set up cable and internet at home as well.
Angelo arrived yesterday morning, after on over night flight on which he did not sleep. He took a cab from the airport to our flat. At this point we realised we had to drop off our rental car and pick up another (longer story), so we all drove back to the airport to do that. By 11AM Angelo has seen the airport twice. Once inside the airport, Giuseppe - who was driving - decided changing lanes was getting cumbersome so we just drove straight for a good 20 minutes taking us far away from Hertz.
Once complete we drove through Midtown, stopped at the social security administration, and on to Buckhead for lunch. Then we decided Angelo needed a bed, so we drove back through Midtown to Ikea. Then I remembered why I don't like Ikea. For three hours.
A quick hop to Target, and on to BestBuy. Another hour or so with our other new friend Jared to get a telly, and finally back home.
At which point it was 8PM so we actually stopped at Elbow Room for pizza, stromboli and many beers (to answer the question: Why do you want eateries in walking distance?). Turns out Elbow Room not only has sports on TV, a pool table and dart boards, but also a juke box and a smoking permit. And it was like being in high school again.
You know about the apartment and mattress.
We also now have mobile phones and a lamp for the main bedroom. Plus a sofa-chair-bed thing for Angelo to sleep on. And this week we get delivery of a dining table, chairs, and television. That way we can set up cable and internet at home as well.
Angelo arrived yesterday morning, after on over night flight on which he did not sleep. He took a cab from the airport to our flat. At this point we realised we had to drop off our rental car and pick up another (longer story), so we all drove back to the airport to do that. By 11AM Angelo has seen the airport twice. Once inside the airport, Giuseppe - who was driving - decided changing lanes was getting cumbersome so we just drove straight for a good 20 minutes taking us far away from Hertz.
Once complete we drove through Midtown, stopped at the social security administration, and on to Buckhead for lunch. Then we decided Angelo needed a bed, so we drove back through Midtown to Ikea. Then I remembered why I don't like Ikea. For three hours.
A quick hop to Target, and on to BestBuy. Another hour or so with our other new friend Jared to get a telly, and finally back home.
At which point it was 8PM so we actually stopped at Elbow Room for pizza, stromboli and many beers (to answer the question: Why do you want eateries in walking distance?). Turns out Elbow Room not only has sports on TV, a pool table and dart boards, but also a juke box and a smoking permit. And it was like being in high school again.
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