'' Changing your mind like this simply delays things " says the unsmiling woman behind the desk. She's unwilling to acknowledge that the 'misunderstanding' might be hers. '' We'll need to start the process again. We'll contact you in two to six months ". Angus points out that they've had the application forms since November and that his UK license will expire in a month . '' Monsieur. You should have thought of that before ".
A piece of paper saying that the application is being processed is finally, grudgingly, provided. '' Just show that to the gendarmes if they stop you " . With that the interview comes to an abrupt , glacial, end. If this is the way the bureaucracy deals with EU citizens what must it be like for non-EU passport holders ?
Bob and Sophie have used my absence to improve the garden.
17 comments:
Two to six months......epitome of frustration.
XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy
I feel my anxiety levels rising at the thought of this starting this process.
I hope the improvements weren't too radical.
Have a great day.
x
I am French, but, I have lived in an Anglo-Saxon environment for the last 36 years (boy, that long already), and the French administration gives cold sweats. Just going to the consulate, here in Sydney and my levels of anxiety reach fever pitch. So, all I can say, hang in there and try some sarcastic remarks.....works for me.
Anyhow, I do believe Bob & Sophie are born gardeners, there is no denying their efforts and willingness
Catherine from Sydney
Hopefully the PON duo made you laugh and forget about the Ice Maiden when you got home, that's what dogs are best at (well that and correcting your gardening errors!)
And I thought things were bad here! I shan't complain anymore!
Americans, Brits, Canadians and Australians don't realize how lucky they are !
And I just listened to an NPR (National Public Radio in the US) on how the new president is trying to improve conditions for new business start-ups for citizens and from other ccountries (specifically, technology).
I think I have conveniently forgotten what I must have experienced during my six years in Paris. It was a long time ago, so yes, that must be it! But shreds of memory returned when I read the outrageous response you got from the ice maiden. We have a commercial here for a bank, with an unseen ice-maiden voice chastising a would be customer for complaining that the pen was on too short a chain for him to write. Her response, now we can't have our customers stealing our pens, can we? Did you see the PON on Westminster last night? Nothing that Bob or Sophie couldn;t emulate in those ten seconds post grooming!
A PON at Westminster ? I'll go and see if its on the website. Thanks.
ahhhh....
it seems the lady at the prefecture works the same way the carpenters and plumbers and electricians do. always 2 to 6 months.
you couldn't pay me enough to live there. at least the workmen have all seemed to be fairly friendly. though inefficient in the extreme.
she is merely insufferable in the extreme ... as well as inefficient. they seem to have it down to a fine art. do they treat their countrymen that way?
I too watched the pon last night at the westminster and thought of the little pons i know. and did know... my beloved zeke especially! xo
Here's the link to the best in breed:http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2014/photos/breed/DN28494902.html You should be able to find the judging video too. Tonight Sky, the wire fox terrier who should have won last year, is up again. So we have paws crossed.
As an American in France ( albeit married to an Englishman) I can answer your question in one word: impossible! Hope you found the PON judging and enjoyed it!
http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/videos/Breed%20Judging/2014/Herding/pid:QDrbgyIj72qd ANGUS: Here is the BREED JUDGING of the PONS yesterday at Westminster. Scroll down on this HERDING GROUP to the PONS, to see the actual video of the judging. Enjoy! With best regards from the Westcoast of Canada.
Oh my. Today I had only to stand in line --cold, long line out the door, bitter wind -- for an hour for the dubious privilege of paying money to renew use of my license plate and for the annual tax on the car. Of course, when I got to the counter and prepared to pay with a credit card, was confronted with an Out of Order sign on the machine gadget. On balance, not so bad, though.
Can't you find another office of officials and take your business there?
I used to think of myself as a very patient person, but I have become less so. I'm afraid I might have got over haughty with her probably to my own detriment, but I just don't know how you stayed civil
We have plenty of ice maidens here too in the sunny Caribbean....and my head is filled with a rap song "Ice ice baby...."
I feel bad for you though....why should you have to suffer for their mistake??? Hang in there Angus.
Just thought of something, why don't you let the Font handle the situation, she's a whizz in difficult and frustrating situations.
Maybe you should have offered her one of those macaroons?
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