The end of a saga
After almost six months of the drama with my licence, it is now over. I am now able to drive. Not being able to drive made me realise how utterly crap and expensive public transport is in Northern Ireland. It is ok if I want to do something relatively simple - and not even that really. But say if you want to get from This Side of Belfast to Holywood, it is nigh impossible. There is no service across the Ards Peninsula. There is also no internal bus service in Holywood. Holywood, an otherwise perfect place.
Anyhow, the saga of the licence is over. It is also interesting how many people have had similar experiences with bureaucracy. Why is that? How come getting anything done with a functionary at the end of the line - or indeed in control of the line - is so fucking difficult? When I start my tale of woe, the listener will inevitably join in with a similar, if not worse tale of desperation and misery. It will always involve multiple trips and times and contacts with the authorities in charge where information will be handed out piecemeal and work be done inexpertly, often mistakes made, and a lot of unnecessary hassle will be mete out. Eventually, the matter will be concluded, but not before great trouble and expense. So, sometimes I wonder if bureaucrats measure their levels of success by the numbers of time people have to be inconvenienced. Do they have boasting rights? Do they meet up in the pub after work and laugh at the people they have made go back and forth like a zillion times? You think you're bad, wait till you hear this...
I had the strangest sensation there a minute ago... like I was floating in nothingness.
The hot flushes are getting less and less intense. They have begun to taper off over the past two days. When they are gone I kind miss them. I don't think why. It is like being unable to predict what your body is going to do next, with no warning. It is a bit exciting I think.
Sigh. I am sooooo tired.
I should go and sleep. In fact I was so tired that I forgot I didn't wash the dishes last night when I went to bed and woke up and was surprised to see the dishes still in the sink. I a, making curry for the boys tomorrow for their hot lunch. Curry with lentils and kidney beans. My sons. Yesterday I went back home to Ma's but the boys, they went into town. In the driving rain. And yesterday my CLASS went into town by themselves. I remember the first expedition we did into Holywood as a class. We had gone as part of the Main Lesson on money. We did a shop to make pizza. They were so tiny then. It is hard to believe how tiny they were. And yesterday, they went to Holywood by themselves. It is amazing.
So anyway, the boys went into town. And then they returned. And when they returned, they had brought several packets of noodles with them. In think maybe ten. And orange juice which I have to go and collect tomorrow. I am so relieved that I am now free once again to go out and meet friends because I can with the car. And go to places in Northern Ireland once again. I am SO HAPPY.
Right this was a fairly blah post. Gonna FT mom now.
Anyhow, the saga of the licence is over. It is also interesting how many people have had similar experiences with bureaucracy. Why is that? How come getting anything done with a functionary at the end of the line - or indeed in control of the line - is so fucking difficult? When I start my tale of woe, the listener will inevitably join in with a similar, if not worse tale of desperation and misery. It will always involve multiple trips and times and contacts with the authorities in charge where information will be handed out piecemeal and work be done inexpertly, often mistakes made, and a lot of unnecessary hassle will be mete out. Eventually, the matter will be concluded, but not before great trouble and expense. So, sometimes I wonder if bureaucrats measure their levels of success by the numbers of time people have to be inconvenienced. Do they have boasting rights? Do they meet up in the pub after work and laugh at the people they have made go back and forth like a zillion times? You think you're bad, wait till you hear this...
I had the strangest sensation there a minute ago... like I was floating in nothingness.
The hot flushes are getting less and less intense. They have begun to taper off over the past two days. When they are gone I kind miss them. I don't think why. It is like being unable to predict what your body is going to do next, with no warning. It is a bit exciting I think.
Sigh. I am sooooo tired.
I should go and sleep. In fact I was so tired that I forgot I didn't wash the dishes last night when I went to bed and woke up and was surprised to see the dishes still in the sink. I a, making curry for the boys tomorrow for their hot lunch. Curry with lentils and kidney beans. My sons. Yesterday I went back home to Ma's but the boys, they went into town. In the driving rain. And yesterday my CLASS went into town by themselves. I remember the first expedition we did into Holywood as a class. We had gone as part of the Main Lesson on money. We did a shop to make pizza. They were so tiny then. It is hard to believe how tiny they were. And yesterday, they went to Holywood by themselves. It is amazing.
So anyway, the boys went into town. And then they returned. And when they returned, they had brought several packets of noodles with them. In think maybe ten. And orange juice which I have to go and collect tomorrow. I am so relieved that I am now free once again to go out and meet friends because I can with the car. And go to places in Northern Ireland once again. I am SO HAPPY.
Right this was a fairly blah post. Gonna FT mom now.
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