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the expiration date again and again as though somehow the numbers would change with scrutiny but no it is two months out of date.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”
Fingers crossed for an expedited passport!
Fingers and toes crossed for you!!
Fingers, toes, paws, everything crossed here. It will work out, we had a mini miracle happen to keep the rain at bay recently so with so many positive thoughts winging all around the world, we are giving it the best shot. Joy (ps I bet a lot of readers have now checked their passports – if they can find them – me too).
Yikes, what a nightmare! Breathe, my friend…
Everything crosssed for you! Everyone has already posted all of my ideas: how aboiut contacting a main TV station in Chicago: telling them the story, letting it go on air during the next 24 hours – bet THEY could fix as it would make such a beautiful story: Kiwi, green card and all. Oh these kind of things have worked with bells on in Australia: people are sentimental about children and weddings!
Fingers crossed, my lovely!
Oh Celi my heart dropped too when I read your night-mare. All the mixed emotions, fury at oneself, and mindless officialdom, despair, hope, I do hope that your energy force from us all will create the MIracle.
And I know what it’s like to miss your son’s wedding – I did, with my son in London… i survived but it did hurt….So hoping you’ll get there, dear Celi…
As for the piggle-lets – I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything so adorable… much love from your native land !!!
You have to keep so many balls in the air all the time. A passport date is not so immediate as keeping piglets alive, attending to the cycles of fertility, getting the hay in. I think this is a sign of overload. It happens to the best of us (and that’s what you are). Sending you much love and compassion. You’ve done your best, and now all you can do is be gentle with yourself.
Praying for a miracle over here. Thankfully, no animals were harmed in the creation of this post. 🙂 Love those piggies!
Love the Blog and the beautiful pictures 🙂 So fun
Magic thoughts sent…mostly towards London, since I have no doubt that FedEx got it there as promised. Can’t believe we need passports to go to Canada now…that still seems so odd…
That photo of the piggies tromping in a line through the tall grass has my vote for one of the Best of the Year 😀
take a piggie
with something that cute, you should be allowed to go anywhere
with or without a passport
I’m so late in commenting… it’s been one of those days. I think you took a hit for the team. After I read this post, much earlier today, I checked my domestic air travel tickets for a quick trip away this coming weekend because I’m a shocker for being casual with details… and like you I’m never sure why… maybe we get used to being busy, so there but for the grace of God go I… I hope it all works out for your trip. The Farmy Fan Club can do wonders with the weather, let’s see how we go with this 🙂 The piglets are just too cute.
A dreadful realisation, indeed. I do hope some miracles arise!
…and the passport cannot expire more than 6 months after your trip or it cannot be used to travel abroad. So you’d have needed another one even if this one had not already expired. Poor you: bureaucracy never should have been yours to deal with.
I am such a babe! but there you are.. i did not know the 6 month rule.. I would have been sunk anyway as you say.. however all is not lost, still time! c