I'm baaaaaaaaaack
and what a palaver. I zooted off to Germany to buy cigs, as one does. Very cheap flights, very cheap hotel which it turned out was mainly for people who spoke Arabic but friendly and cheerful and it was fine. Until I packed this morning and checked my travel folder and my passport was MISSING.Minus 8 hours to flight time. No problem.
Went down to reception and as it happened a policeman was there and he said to go to the central police station in town. So I did. They said to go to the police station at the airport. So I did. They said to go to the airport police so I did. Airport police said go away.
So I went to airport information who said get Ryanair to accept emergency travel docs then go back to the police and report your passport stolen then go back to the airport police for the emergency travel docs.
Ryanair don't man their desk until, hmm, 2 pm?
Minus 4 hours to flight time. No problem
They said go for it. I went to the police who said fine here is the letter that your passport is stolen, now you need 2 photographs for the emergency one. They were, by the way, LOVELY. Even drove me in a police car to drop me off at the photographers! So I get my photos and beetle back to the airport.
It is now 4 pm. Minus 2 hours to flight time. Mmm, bit of a problem?
Airport police said go away.
I said no I won't.
They said if you are from the UK you can ONLY get travel docs from your consulate, as the UK doesn't accept our emergency documents. (British citizens, please take NOTE)
There isn't a British consulate in the town I was in. However they did find me the phone number and I phoned the nearest one who yawned and said lady, 4.30 pm on Friday afternoon? Tell someone who cares, or come see us on Monday.
Minus 1 hour to flight time. PROBLEM.
Long story short (yeah, as if) I got past boarding control at 6 pm, through Security at 6.10 pm, past Passport control at 6.15 pm, and we boarded at 6.20 pm.
It was - lively.
So that's why I wasn't back to chat on the blogs after saying I would be
