The piglets have created a creep of their own under a door and into a lovely sheltered pen, their favourite game is to lie right down and roll with their legs tucked in under the door, scamper, then reappear under the door rolling over and over.
You need to go outside, I said. So with a fair amount of apprehension I opened the gate to their outside pen. 
They flew through the grass, ducking and diving and rolling while their mother ripped off the tops of the plant and ate them as fast as she could. After watching them for a while I went back inside idly, to find my passport and get the travel documents side of my trip to Canada in order – it was Three O’Clock yesterday afternoon. I booked the seat way back in February.
My passport is expired. I kept reading the expiration date again and again as though somehow the numbers would change with scrutiny but no it is two months out of date. I dropped the ball. I cannot believe I made such a massive error. With two days to go before I am to fly out. What ifs don’t help. If onlys don’t help. Panic calling the New Zealand embassies and Passport offices in Washington, Chicago and New Zealand helped a little.
The closest office that can issue a New Zealand passport is in London. New Zealand emailed me the forms for an urgent passport renewal and I have filled them out. I found a referee, and last night I drove the two hour round trip to have the most awful passport pictures in the history of awful passport pictures taken. This morning I shall drive the whole package to the nearest Fed Ex office and hope against hope that there is a way they can overnight them to London. Then I shall call the London office and ask them what their turnaround is. An urgent passport promises, with a major price tag attached, a three day turnaround. I need One. A One Day turnaround.
The best case scenario is I might be able to leave for Calgary on Friday night just making the wedding. At the worst Monday night. Of course there is Fourth of July on Thursday when the whole USA (including the couriers) shuts down which is not useful. So there is a very real chance that I will miss my eldest son’s wedding. How stupid could a mother be. Of course just to stir the soup there is only one direct flight to Calgary from Chicago and it is in the evening! My darling travel agent is already on the hunt but until I know that passport is on its way back to me we really cannot book anything.
Good morning. I often search an incident like this for the meaning. Why did this happen I wonder? So far I cannot see the hidden meaning. How could I have been so foolish, I have been travelling for decades, I do know better. Another lesson in management? A reminder to stand still and look around, saying what have I forgotton? Stop running so fast? More haste less speed? Make better lists? Eat more brain food? I don’t know. I could just weep.
At least this dreadful error does not result in the death of an animal. This is good.
Now you all have a lovely day. Once this package is the hands of the courier, (Their office does not open until 9am) the result is in the lap of the gods. Let’s hope it is a sharp uncomfortable bony lap so the process moves along swiftly.
Your truly brain challenged friend, celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
97 responses to “Piglets set free and our trip is in jeopardy”
(I hear that plenty of people have made their way into/out of Canda w/o a passport… something about taking short walks through the woods…) (not that I’m recommending a rule-bend, of course.) (I would never do that….)
There’s a thought.. I can put my glad rags on and walk there! c
Keeping my fingers crossed too! Good luck.
It will get sorted and you will make the wedding. But I’m surprised there isn’t an NZ passport office in Canada — that would be closer. Good luck! And there’s always Skype….
What you need is a reader in London who works at the passport office who can get things rolling somehow — maybe you have one? Good luck! The piglets look adorable.
Good luck! That reminds me…DH’s passport is due to expire sometime this summer and he hasn’t done a thing about it yet! Oh dear
Oh Celi, what a stress!!! I do believe you will however be safely on your flight in time for the wedding. Promise! Pete and I have gone “new-age” and have electronically diarised renewal dates for passports, drivers licences, vehicle licence renewals and the like. Why can’t we receive renewals in the mail like we used to giving us sufficient time to do these things. Oh listen to me carrying on – sorry, that doesn’t help you now does it!
Our little piggies look so very content.
🙂 Mandy xo
Very cute piggies and blimey, I really hope you get your passport sorted and make it to the wedding!
I did a little research for entering Canada from the USA:
Determine your eligibility–Visit Canada as a tourist
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/apply-who.asp
Country: New Zealand You do not need a visa to visit or transit Canada.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp?country=New%20Zealand
I hope this helps!
GMom from Canada
I need a passport though, I don’t need a visa, but I have called the embassy, and passport control and they will not let me into canada unless I have a current passport. Wouldn’t it be great if it was the old days and we could get in with a drivers license.. but I think that only worked for americans anyway.. c
Oh, miss c! Sending you all the good energies and godspeed. I know what you’re feeling.
Well, Celi, after reading these comments–I think if good energy and vibes and prayers can get your passport there on time, you’ll certainly have it! We are all pulling for you. I think this is the kind of thing that happens to us when we get overwhelmed, too busy with other things, usually just the day-to-day stuff of life. And your life has been more than full of responsibility lately! So try not to kick yourself, although I know it’s so hard. Thinking of you and hoping for the very, very best.
I think once you get back from this wedding (and yes I DO believe you will make it) you need to lie in that hammock of yours and take some real deep breaths! Smell the roses, or the coffee or whatever helps you to rest that poor brain of yours. Come spend a week with me and I’ll make sure you rest up!!
Oh you poor lass. Surely all stops will be pulled out if they know it’s for a wedding. I’ve got everything crossed at this end.
Christine
Hoping for a speedy resolution, C. Take care.
Hope the passport makes it…. and the piggies look great…
Ye Gods and little fishes, Celie – you sure practise the art of brinkmanship! I do hope it all comes out OK. Little piggies are adorable, but that’s no comfort when you’re in trouble.
Everything’s crossed for you.
Love,
ViVx