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

Why are all my teeth wearing little fur coats?

Need serious

az

Little fur coats? How oppressive for them in this weather.

There's a spare toothbrush in the bathroom in the top drawer. The mantis is now in the hallway, by the way.

*goes to put kettle on*

(one for the mantis)

I feel better already. Teeth are squeaky clean. Head is still a bit fuzzy though.

Hey, that's good you have a date for the operation. Will it be any trouble getting the time off w*rk? I'd offer to look after the house and garden but I *am* afraid of spiders, especially murderous ones.

Darn, I missed my first class this morning. Oops.

az

*wonders if Spanish punctuality is any better than Latin American punctuality (of evil memory)*

It shouldn't be a problem, getting the time off w*rk - it's just the bureaucratic rubbish that I'll have to deal with... Whether my leave is entirely Recreation Leave, or Carer's Leave as a sub-component of my Personal Leave credits, and if that's the case, how much Carer's Leave I can take before I am deemed to be on Sick Leave (unless I've previously applied for Recreation Leave) - all of which makes me think I might end up on Stress Leave if these fools raise any objections. When I think about rubbish like this, Death loses its sting (except there's probably paperwork for that too, if it happens in business hours).

Sanity in a glass...

Spanish punctuality is an oxymoron.

Speaking of paperwork, I'm going to hand in my papers to renew my residency today. This time I get permanent residency! yay!

az

Permanent residency!



How long does it take to get permanent residency? And does it get you the right to reside in all EU member states?

The first three terms of residency/work permits are one year, two years and two years. Each time you have to present work contracts, social security payments, etc etc. After the second two year term you get a permanent residency which means you still have to renew the card every five years (new photo) but without any of the other paperwork.

Unfortunately the photo I had taken for the new card is horrible and I'm going to have to look at if for five years!

I have no idea if this means I can live and work in other EU countries. I don't think so. When I had British residency it didn't help me here, but the EU wasn't in place then. Being Canadian it was really an ordeal to get my permit in the first place so it a REAL relief now that I know all future renewals will be automatic.



az

Fascinating!
I knew there must be a reason why I don't want to move abroad.

Five years of a horrible photo? Sounds like my passport, and that's ten years of shame...

Happy Birthday Hati! (I'd say it in Estonian but I can't remember how to spell it and I can't find my dictionary .)

By the way, the mantis went outside a moment ago. Good.

And in other news - my attempt to get time off work is still going on; as I predicted, there's now a debate about which type of leave I can have. While various fools argue, I'm losing time I could use to book cheap flights...

¡Feliz Cumpleaños! Hati!



(yes, I know I already did this on the Atelier but what the heck)





Ivan,

We won't even discuss *my* passport photo, okay? The difference is that I use my passport, well, almost never but the residency ID card is used constantly.

az

Happy Birthday Hati. My passport photo is terrible, it got taken when my hair was just going from orange to its normal brown colour

everybody


I used to have a very nice passport photo, taken when I was 22. But I ran out of those and now I have to live with photo. Luckily enough I use mostly my ID-card and the photo on that is black/white.

My passport photo is not too bad - I look very young though (I was 16 at the time and I don't change it for another three years). However, my driving licence photo is just hideous , partly because of the clothes and partly because I still thought you couldn't smile at all in passport-type photos!

Oh, and BTW, happy birthday Hati!

*stumbles in looking for comfy sofa once again*

No, not because of too much this time, mostly because I don't want to go to sleep because I'm so afraid of what tomorrow might bring (Lua!) and because I'm so tired I'm almost falling down.

Eyes are stinging like crazy. Cancelled first class for the morning because I know I'm not going to be able to concentrate.

Can barely stand it.

azzzzzzzzzzzzz

*makes sure az is comfortably installed on comfy sofa and surrounded with soft cushions*

It's been one of those days. *leaves bottle within az's reach*

My leave has been approved, after much debate, and it's conditional on adjustments being made to the leave category once I'm back at work. That is, I've been granted Recreation Leave, but if I end up in a caring role with relation to my sister - or Mum, for that matter - I'll have to do paperwork to correct the record. How mindless is that? Who cares? And what does the word 'caring' mean, exactly? This sub-debate was still going when I fled the office tonight.

*sip* And here's another thing. As soon as the leave was approved, I booked my flights. They cost me $322.22. How absurd a figure is that? What could the 22 cents possibly be for? A lemon-scented paper towel, maybe?

Thanks for the sofa (again). Am just making some and will be off to the vet's in a couple of hours . . .

Will you be paid for this leave or is it just time off?

22 cents? Maybe you'll get an extra roll with your meal?

az

It's paid leave, whatever type of leave it might be. That's another reason I can't be bothered splitting hairs over the label they give it. As for the 22 cents - maybe it gets me some food of some description. The in-flight catering on Qantas has really gotten second-rate lately. Mind you, I'd gladly pay another $100 for a direct flight. It's one of life's minor mysteries - why there are so few direct flights from Canberra to Adelaide. It's not as though Melbourne airport's that fascinating; N*ghth**ver knows I've been there often enough. It doesn't matter where I'm going, I always end up spending an hour in transit at Melbourne.

But in the great scheme of things, this doesn't matter. Compared to a visit to the vet, for instance. Good luck...

yay. 1 week today I leave London. Ivan what sort of leave do you have for Sydney?

Recreation Leave - known in the real world as 'holidays'.

I have one more day of w*rk, and then 16 solid days of doing whatever I want. I can't quite believe it. But things have worked out well. Two weeks off; one week at w*rk; a long weekend (public holiday in Canberra - 'Canberra Day' - on 15 March; 91 years since the place was founded, thereby ruining a good sheep paddock), four more days at w*rk, then the two weeks off for the Adelaide trip, then four days at w*rk, then it's Easter... In short, I have fourteen days of w*rk between now and 13 April.

It's just a pity that I have the second two-week holiday for unpleasant reasons.

Holidays! I think I had those once upon a time...