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the expiration date again and again as though somehow the numbers would change with scrutiny but no it is two months out of date.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”
Oh god celi, I wish I were in London and I would grab your package and queue up at the NZ embassy and smile or shout as appropriate and then jump on a plane and deliver it to you. Am keeping everything crossed and you get those piglets to keep all their little trotters crossed too….
I hope you’ll find a way. I don’t know what it is, but I feel that you will find it.
This happened to Jenny about 5 years ago. The Embassy in Paris turned it around in 48hrs, which was remarkable. I’m so sorry to hear how difficult it is for you to get a new document. Your writing sounds quite calm, but you must be seething. What an absolute sod. Something good has to come out of it….it has to.
The good news is, and I speak from experience, this is the last time this will ever happen to you because you’ll not forget again. Hope it all works out in the end. I rather think it will.
Oh you are right there!! Never again will I become this complacent! c
Praying you will get to Calgary!!! That’s where I went to college 🙂 Breathe C, just breathe.
Celi, I once flew to England on an expired passport, tons of photo ID, my immigration papers, (from when I was 10yrs old) and a letter for the Canadian Embassy. That was years ago, but I think expired passports still carry some clout. Good luck sweetie. 🙂
We are all sending wings to the documents…may they fly without
incident !!
Piggies are growing so fast i believe you might pull up a chaise
when you get back and watch them !
Oh Celi, I will think speedy post thoughts for you. You can’t miss the wedding!
Oh no C! I’m thinking of you. I will be hoping that this package speeds its way to you. And don’t be too hard on yourself. This kind of thing happens. It’s not what you intended or hoped for, but there’s no sense beating yourself up. You work hard, you have a million thoughts in your mind and a lot on your plate. Hugs to you. Sending speedy vibes to the processors and the mail!
Cinders, if that renewal doesn’t come back in time, I would still go when you are supposed to and fend ignorance of the fact that my passport had expired…and then start crying…sobbing really, that I would be missing my son’s wedding, etc. etc. How could some poor custom’s person resist that, unless he had a heart of steel??
Just as Veronica said…expired passports, especially such a recent one, I’m sure would probably still get you there!!
I’ll be worrying the whole time, until you are sitting in that pew, or chair at your son’s wedding…all of us will and you WILL be sitting in it!! You are too good of a person for this not to happen!! There!!
The problem of course is that I am a foreigner, an immigrant, a green card holder, and they would not let me back in without big trouble.. They are very strict at passport control now. The current Terrorist threat mentality has seen to that.I know I should be braver.. lets hope London turns it around in a day, this is my hope.. c
Oh Celi, I feel so sorry for you. I understand wholeheartedly how these things happen. I recently booked a trip for myself and my girls to come back to the States and just just just barely by the grace of God I was driven one day to look at their passports…both had expired ages ago! AndI had just enough time to get new ones. It is so stressful. I think there is no meaning in it. Your heart and mind are so taken with so many things. It just happens. My fingers — and all available appendages — are crossed for you. Somehow I think you’ll make it! And, so with great optimism, I say, “Buon viaggio.”
Good luck with getting your passport and I hope it all works out to be at the wedding on time. I think there is some weird planetary alignment going on, making weird things happen and addling our brains! 😉
I am so sorry you have been rally busy and needed to rest when you could and your mind like mines gets scattered and we simply forget the biggest of things. I will hope and pray it comes in time. I wanted to head north and have breakfast in CA and forgot I never went and got one to begin with 😦 I liked it the way it used to be before 9-11 then again our Boston Marathon proves they don’t mean a thing when it comes to true evil..
Can you get a temp? Maybe that is what you are trying to do you have all the time in the world once the wedding is over. FINGERS CROSSED
BIG HUG TOO
I don’t always “like” or reply to posts, bc I read the entries every morning on my Kobo Ereader and it doesn’t give me the option, but I am totally in love with all the little piggies and seeing them grow and explore! I am sorry to hear about your flight and I will be crossing my fingers that you are able to get there in time to see your son get married. All the best!
Canadians like New Zealanders. Is it worth calling the Canadian Embassy, explaining your situation and grovelling A LOT?
I’m guessing you thought of this already, but perhaps there is a Canadian member of the
Fellowship who would sponsor you?
Good Luck Celi XO