Tuesday 15 January 2008

Nanook of the North & Rescue Missions

When my siblings and I were small and dressed up to face grim weather my mother used to say "You look like Nanook of the North." Today, wrapped up in jacket, scarf, anorak with hood pulled low over my face (not a fetching look, I admit) in order to face the stormy winds and driving rain I was going to say that I looked like this oft mentioned legend. I then thought I should look he/she up on the internet to see if there was anyone of this name and it turns out that this is a title of a film made in 1922. Now, I may look pretty unattractive wrapped up against the ghastly weather but even I don't look this bad. I always thought my mother was a little dippy (a trait that I have indeed inherited as has my own daughter) but Nanook of the North???

After work and soaking wet from the rain I returned to the Passport Office and managed not to sigh loudly when the girl dealing with me said she had to scan dd's picture to see if it was acceptable. The fact that ds's pic was taken by the same chap, in the same place, same camera, almost same flipping picture for that matter - his didnt need scanning! I understand that the PO needed to ensure that I wasn't wanting these small red booklets in order to kidnap the children. I mean how am I supposed to kidnap a 16 year old chap who is so much bigger than me? And let's be honest here, why would I want to? These passports are so that their father can take them on holiday again in February. So not only have I got to complete the forms, get everything signed, photos taken, back and forth to the PO, provide them with extra documentary evidence that they are in fact mine and pay for the pleasure as well, but it's not even me getting to take them on holiday.

Enough ranting. The wind and rain was so bad this morning that dd and I decided not to take any chances and rescue my laptop and beloved notepads from the shed and bring them in to the house - just in case the shed blew away a la Wizard of Oz. It also needs a new roof and although dh has bought said asphalt, it is sitting in a pretty roll in the garage which isn't much use when the rain and wind are battering against the small green building (shed).

9 comments:

HelenMWalters said...

Oh dear - poor shed! It would be a disaster if it was whisked away! Could make a good story though!

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

helenmh - it certainly would...in fact I think you've given me an idea. Thank you.

Lane Mathias said...

Batton down the hatches eh! I hope it eases off soon and you can retreat to your shed.

lol at Nanook. At the moment I look like a cross between the beast of Bodmin and a Yeti when venturing out.

Annieye said...

This made me laugh. My grandma used to say you look like an "Ug in a sack" which I much later found out meant a pig.

Rain is bad here too at the moment. It's 10 pm on Tuesday and I think we'll probably see some flooding in dismal Northamptonshire tomorrow!

Perhaps someone ought to compile a book of funny and frustrating stories about passport applications. There must be thousands!

Anonymous said...

I agree was'nt it awfull thankfully I'm on the ferryshift and they havent needed me to go in to work in the morning, there's nothing I love more than laying in bed all hudled up in my quilt listening to the rain lashing against the windows hehe.

Anonymous said...

P.S.Is'nt it funny thats exactly what used to be said to me when I used to wrapup to go out in the foul weather not sure by who now it was a long time ago.

Anonymous said...

Personally I think the knee length fur trouser could be a hit this season.

I have to send my passport, driving licence and utility bills off to an agency - I can just feel identity theft coming on!

Ray-Anne said...

Ditto on the weather. I may be forced to use the treadmill if it does not improve soon!
[Before the legs atrophy.]
Sympathy on the PO.
Empathy on your precious shed.
Identification with rescuing your work and precious things.

Um. Could be a story there. SNARF :-)

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

lane - It's ghasty out there - bring on the summer. I can't wait to get back to the shed too. Yes, winter isn't exactly the season to look one's best.

annieye - 'Ug in a sack' I've never heard that one before LOL. I do hope you missed the flooding.

I think you're right about the Passport Office stories, you could fill volumes with people's stories and mishaps.

anonymous - it's horrible getting up in the morning and opening the curtains to find that it's darker outside than in! It would'nt be so bad if the weather wasn't quite so lousy either.

andrea - that made me laugh. Come to think of it Grumpy is already sporting this look. So clever of him to be ahead of everyone else.

Well if I meet another person with your name and details, I shall let you know. Scary to have to send it all off though.

ray-anne - hope your legs got moving today. I've had more exercise than usual as I've had to run to and from the car - a very rare occurrance I can tell you.

I have made notes in my new small pukka pad.