h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Train to Portsmouth. Taxi to continental ferries. Expecting a long day in Le Havre - sail by night return the next day. Passport check. Just expired. Not able to sail to France. What's all this about being in the EC?

Pooh!

That's odd. I thought any form of photo ID was supposed to be acceptable for EU travel these days? That last couple of times I've been over, I've never even had to get my passport out my pocket!

Well, we were turned away!

Membership of the European Union does not unfortunately extend as far as passports. Ireland and the UK have one agreement. Most of the countries of continental Europe have a different one. You can go from France to Germany without a passport, but not from UK to France. They don't always check them.

A relation of mine had a worse experience. At age 18, she was acting as Au Pair for a family in Luxembourg. The family went on a weekend trip to England and she came along. Nobody checked their passports, which was a pity because she had left hers in Luxembourg. When they went to return to Luxembourg, she had no passport, so the police in Dover wouldn't let her leave the country. The family abandoned her with only two pounds in cash in her pocket, saying it was her business, not theirs.

How frightening for her! What an insensitive family! How did she get home?

I was fairly sangine about it as we booked at the last mnute and I wasn't certain about the need for a passport. There wasn't time to get a fresh one issued, so I sort of crossed my fingers. Liitle on the other hand cried his eyes out at first.

Does little sing too?

My relative used her two pounds to ring her aunt in Ireland, who is involved in Government. She very quickly had things sorted and the poor girl was on her way home to Ireland.

I hope you get to France soon.

Ah, sensible girl and sensible aunt!

Yes, little sings. When he was very small (he's not that big now), I used to sing instructions to him to get him to do things. It was quite effective. He's done that back sometimes and he does like to sing.

My mum used to sing to me in the back of our motorbike and sidecar - well I was in the back with my brother, she was in the front. I think that's where my love of singing comes from.

I'm expecting to get our new passports back by 9 May, so hopefully, we will venture forth once more soonish.