PANIC STATIONS WITH 5 DAYS TO GO

Tuesday was an extremely stressful day. The MOTH just happened to be flicking through the paperwork for the trip when he noticed that passports have to be valid for 6 months after you leave for your trip - mine expires in September!!!!

Picture it- Endeavour Hills, 8.30am - panic stations - deep breaths, laying on the bed feeling physically sick, while on the phone to Passport Office while they go through the "if you would like help with....press 2 etc. etc." FINALLY get to talk to a real human being in passport control who confirmed that this was true - ok Janine, calm down here, what can we do??? Made an appointment with them for 3.00pm that day to get a priority passport. Next step, get in the shower (its 8.50am at this stage, tennis starts at 9.45 in Berwick), throw the clothes on, drive up the street like a maniac to have passport photos done at the Post Office - look like a mad woman in the photos, then off to tennis at Berwick.

Arrived there at 10.00 after calling the girls to tell them I was on the way. Apologised to everyone there, briefly explained my morning and the fact that I will either play like a dog or like a champion (was somewhere in between), then after losing all my sets 8-3, 8-0, 8-2 charged off home, quickly got changed and drove into the city to the Passport Office.

Actually had time to go have a cup of coffee before my appointment, which I seriously needed, processed the passport renewal and paid an extra $78 for a priority passport. Left the building and paid $25 for an hour and a half park and headed home. We pick it up on Thursday!!! OMG - can you imagine what would have happened if I had just turned up at the airport on Monday - I wouldn't have been able to go, its as simple as that. So everyone please check your passports and don't make the potentially fatal assumption that I did - thank god for men - they do have their uses don't they!!!