Stand by to Wait

What do you do when you are frustrated and unable to do anything about it?  At one point in my life I would have punched something.  That resulted in two unfortunate consequences on two separate occasions.  The first time it was a hole in the wall - I hadn’t realised that it was just a type of drywall; the second time it resulted in a broken knuckle - I had hit the wooden frame of the sofa.  So this time I decided that retail therapy would be a better idea, so I went out and bought this laptop.  Since my own computer is now in store for 6 months, and I knew I really needed a computer, I got this one.

I could have waited until we got to France, but since that has now been delayed - hence my frustration - I went a bought it today.  I hope you like it - looks nice, doesn’t it?

Believe me, you couldn’t have made this story up, it had to be real, and it’s another never-ending saga of bureaucracy and ignorance - along with a good dollop of “No, I won’t help you.”

Having made the required arrangements to get Gracie’s paperwork in order by making appointments to have her seen by her own vet, and then another vet who could endorse her certificate of health with the CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) stamp, I found that not only did her usual vet fill in the wrong form, but the second vet - who I was told had CFIA authority - turned out NOT to have it.  But she did, at least, have the right forms, and filled those in for me.  At least, I HOPE they are the right forms.

CFIA  endorsement is only possible, it appears, at three designated centres in the Fraser Valley; Abbotsford, Surrey, and Burnaby.  None of these would entertain the idea of helping me get her paperwork completed in the last two days - or at least before our flight on Monday.  The earliest appointment I have had so far is 4th November.  Or fly without her.

I am now waiting to hear if I can get an appointment at the CFIA office in Victoria.  And given that the time now is 1710 on a Friday before a long weekend, I don’t think I am going to hear anything from anyone before Tuesday.  By which time we will have missed our flight.

Quite how this is going to work itself out, I am not sure at present.  But it will, and I don’t need any more holes in the wall - it’s Ruth’s wall! - nor do I need another broken knuckle.  God certainly has a sense of humour, and likes to test us.  I had a sneaky feeling it was all going too smoothly and that a hiccup was bound to occur.  Well - it has.  So now it’s all about how we deal with adversity once the shock and immediate anger has abated a little.

Sheila and I have lived out of suitcases before in our lives, and though it’s not the most comfortable way of doing things, we’ll manage.  Our constraint is Ruth’s accommodation availability,  which is only a few more days.  We are using her Air B&B, and it is booked from the end of next week.  A solution will be found.

In the meantime, I trust that you are all enjoying the freedom of having the opportunity to make up your own services and not listen to my dreadful jokes.  You will find that Charles’ are even worse!  And you can tell him that.

We miss you all.

Philip+