Passport stress, 2 years on
Discussion
Hi all,
So being the well organised Lemonballer I am, I thought I'd look today for my passport. We set off 5am tomorrow morning.
Could I find it? No. I remember where I thought I'd left it, asked the rest of the team who were at mine on Saturday if they had, in a fit of the hilarious jokes, moved or taken it. Nope. Manager at work tells me to go home and look for it, so off I go. Dad's at home, I'm freaking out. We look EVERYWHERE. Turned my room upside down. Turned the living room, kitchen etc upside down, nothing.
I knew it couldn't have gone far as I've been using it a fair bit recently as my lady is in Germany and I've been there afew times. Last time was about 3 weeks ago so it can't be far away.
Started to think that perhaps, somehow, it got mixed up in the documents for my car which I sold on Saturday. Can't call the new owner as he's on hols in Sweden. Luckily he's a mate and I have his (ex) Mrs's phone number. Call her, she calls his sister who finds the documents, turns them upside down, finds nothing.
So what do I do? Was it somehow stolen from the house?? If so, how?? How do I get a new one? Call passport office.
Closest appointment in distance and time is 8am tomorrow morning in Newport, Sth Wales. That's about 3.5hrs from here and I am *supposed* to be on the 0825 P&O tomorrow morning. Phone co-pilot, tell him he'll have to go with another team member. Book appointment at Newport passport office. Visions of dealing with the M4 and before that, trekking around getting hold of the relevant forms, photos etc., not to mention the £114 fee!
Speak to dad more, where could it be etc. Where/when did I last have it, same questions over and over. Now it starts coming to me... I was wearing shorts when I last had it, I could just about recall putting it in a low pocket of a pair of shorts. But I was wearing my grey ones (no low pockets) wasn't I? Was I? f
k! No I was wearing the green ones! Leg it to wardrobe where they were shoved 3 weeks ago, pull 'em out and there it is in the sodding pocket.
The relief was so incredible that I gave my good old dad a big hug - after all he had even cancelled a job he was meant be at to help me look. Good man him
Heart attack averted, so glad I *will* be at LM again this year!
Reason for '2 years on' in the title is because back in '06, I discovered the night before leaving that my passport was about 3 months out of date. That time I ran the gauntlet and made into France and back into UK without any *significant* problems. That was pretty nerve wracking but this was worse as you can't even really blag it with no passport at all.
I even spoke to the French Consulate. A very sexy sounding girl told me that there is no way you can (legally!) get into France without a passport.
Yours, a very relieved and newly named "Mr Passport"
Leo "Passport" Zwalf
So being the well organised Lemonballer I am, I thought I'd look today for my passport. We set off 5am tomorrow morning.
Could I find it? No. I remember where I thought I'd left it, asked the rest of the team who were at mine on Saturday if they had, in a fit of the hilarious jokes, moved or taken it. Nope. Manager at work tells me to go home and look for it, so off I go. Dad's at home, I'm freaking out. We look EVERYWHERE. Turned my room upside down. Turned the living room, kitchen etc upside down, nothing.
I knew it couldn't have gone far as I've been using it a fair bit recently as my lady is in Germany and I've been there afew times. Last time was about 3 weeks ago so it can't be far away.
Started to think that perhaps, somehow, it got mixed up in the documents for my car which I sold on Saturday. Can't call the new owner as he's on hols in Sweden. Luckily he's a mate and I have his (ex) Mrs's phone number. Call her, she calls his sister who finds the documents, turns them upside down, finds nothing.
So what do I do? Was it somehow stolen from the house?? If so, how?? How do I get a new one? Call passport office.
Closest appointment in distance and time is 8am tomorrow morning in Newport, Sth Wales. That's about 3.5hrs from here and I am *supposed* to be on the 0825 P&O tomorrow morning. Phone co-pilot, tell him he'll have to go with another team member. Book appointment at Newport passport office. Visions of dealing with the M4 and before that, trekking around getting hold of the relevant forms, photos etc., not to mention the £114 fee!
Speak to dad more, where could it be etc. Where/when did I last have it, same questions over and over. Now it starts coming to me... I was wearing shorts when I last had it, I could just about recall putting it in a low pocket of a pair of shorts. But I was wearing my grey ones (no low pockets) wasn't I? Was I? f
k! No I was wearing the green ones! Leg it to wardrobe where they were shoved 3 weeks ago, pull 'em out and there it is in the sodding pocket.The relief was so incredible that I gave my good old dad a big hug - after all he had even cancelled a job he was meant be at to help me look. Good man him
Heart attack averted, so glad I *will* be at LM again this year!
Reason for '2 years on' in the title is because back in '06, I discovered the night before leaving that my passport was about 3 months out of date. That time I ran the gauntlet and made into France and back into UK without any *significant* problems. That was pretty nerve wracking but this was worse as you can't even really blag it with no passport at all.
I even spoke to the French Consulate. A very sexy sounding girl told me that there is no way you can (legally!) get into France without a passport.
Yours, a very relieved and newly named "Mr Passport"
Leo "Passport" Zwalf
Last year my son and I went to Le Mans. He arrived at my house the night before we travelled to tell me his passport had expired. After debating the options, we decided to go for it. We went via Eurotunnel. We had no probs at all at the two passport controls in the UK, they were both unmanned as is often the case. So we got in to France, had a great time at Le Mans, then travlled back. At the Eurotunnel we got throught the French emmigration no probs but were as expected got stopped at the UK immigration control. We expressed surprise when told the passport had expired. There were a few questions to my son and some check ups via the computer but we were let through with the promise that my son renewed his passport asap. Can't say it'll work every time!.
R.
R.
DJFish said:
Leg pockets were invented by the devil.
Took my boot to pieces in the passport queue last time I went through the tunnel to the obvious amusement of other travellers and my three passengers, took me ages, passport had been smugly sitting in my leg pocket all weekend.
Hmmmm, I'm wondering how 'amused' my chaffeur might be if I 'lose' my passport when we get to Folkestone.... Took my boot to pieces in the passport queue last time I went through the tunnel to the obvious amusement of other travellers and my three passengers, took me ages, passport had been smugly sitting in my leg pocket all weekend.
The Leaper said:
Last year my son and I went to Le Mans. He arrived at my house the night before we travelled to tell me his passport had expired. After debating the options, we decided to go for it. We went via Eurotunnel. We had no probs at all at the two passport controls in the UK, they were both unmanned as is often the case. So we got in to France, had a great time at Le Mans, then travlled back. At the Eurotunnel we got throught the French emmigration no probs but were as expected got stopped at the UK immigration control. We expressed surprise when told the passport had expired. There were a few questions to my son and some check ups via the computer but we were let through with the promise that my son renewed his passport asap. Can't say it'll work every time!.
R.
That is exactly what happened to me in 2006. SO glad I went for it, was great for the adreniline. And tested my acting skills coming back into UK - "Oh my god REALLY?! It's out of date? You're kidding???" etc. R.
fatboy18 said:
Phew, I thought it was just me who missed placed everything! Have a great time
Certainly isn't mate! Am highly skilled in this area. My mum occasionaly freaks out as she is convinced her memory is getting worse as she gets older. I have to remind her that I am 26 and have a memory like a sieve too so she can't blame her age! Have a great time Will certainly have a great time, thanks. You too - just think of that first icey cold fresh beer you'll drink when you arrive, all the planning and excitement and (in my case) pre-trip stressed-to-f
k feeling will all be gone! Mmmmm 
Took a coach to visit Poland. After 20 hours on the coach I reached the German/Polish boarder. It was then that I was informed that my passport was 1 week out of date.
There was no reasoning with them and that was that. I was told to get off the bus.
The adventure I had getting to Berlin then fly home is for another day. Sufice to say, I double check my passport every time.
O
There was no reasoning with them and that was that. I was told to get off the bus.
The adventure I had getting to Berlin then fly home is for another day. Sufice to say, I double check my passport every time.
O
That Poland story sounds hellish.
sniff petrol - I had considered risking that this time. But I think no passport is LOTS worse than an expired one esp if you get tugged or whatever when you're on French soil. Ok so with the car stickered up, British friends all round me, it's pretty obvious that I would be British. But get a snotty copper who wants to teach a risky Rosbif a lesson and you're potentially in a LOT of trouble. No ta!
sniff petrol - I had considered risking that this time. But I think no passport is LOTS worse than an expired one esp if you get tugged or whatever when you're on French soil. Ok so with the car stickered up, British friends all round me, it's pretty obvious that I would be British. But get a snotty copper who wants to teach a risky Rosbif a lesson and you're potentially in a LOT of trouble. No ta!
LeoZwalf said:
Hi all,
So being the well organised Lemonballer I am, I thought I'd look today for my passport. We set off 5am tomorrow morning.
Could I find it? No. I remember where I thought I'd left it, asked the rest of the team who were at mine on Saturday if they had, in a fit of the hilarious jokes, moved or taken it. Nope. Manager at work tells me to go home and look for it, so off I go. Dad's at home, I'm freaking out. We look EVERYWHERE. Turned my room upside down. Turned the living room, kitchen etc upside down, nothing.
I knew it couldn't have gone far as I've been using it a fair bit recently as my lady is in Germany and I've been there afew times. Last time was about 3 weeks ago so it can't be far away.
Started to think that perhaps, somehow, it got mixed up in the documents for my car which I sold on Saturday. Can't call the new owner as he's on hols in Sweden. Luckily he's a mate and I have his (ex) Mrs's phone number. Call her, she calls his sister who finds the documents, turns them upside down, finds nothing.
So what do I do? Was it somehow stolen from the house?? If so, how?? How do I get a new one? Call passport office.
Closest appointment in distance and time is 8am tomorrow morning in Newport, Sth Wales. That's about 3.5hrs from here and I am *supposed* to be on the 0825 P&O tomorrow morning. Phone co-pilot, tell him he'll have to go with another team member. Book appointment at Newport passport office. Visions of dealing with the M4 and before that, trekking around getting hold of the relevant forms, photos etc., not to mention the £114 fee!
Speak to dad more, where could it be etc. Where/when did I last have it, same questions over and over. Now it starts coming to me... I was wearing shorts when I last had it, I could just about recall putting it in a low pocket of a pair of shorts. But I was wearing my grey ones (no low pockets) wasn't I? Was I? fk! No I was wearing the green ones! Leg it to wardrobe where they were shoved 3 weeks ago, pull 'em out and there it is in the sodding pocket.
The relief was so incredible that I gave my good old dad a big hug - after all he had even cancelled a job he was meant be at to help me look. Good man him
Heart attack averted, so glad I *will* be at LM again this year!
Reason for '2 years on' in the title is because back in '06, I discovered the night before leaving that my passport was about 3 months out of date. That time I ran the gauntlet and made into France and back into UK without any *significant* problems. That was pretty nerve wracking but this was worse as you can't even really blag it with no passport at all.
I even spoke to the French Consulate. A very sexy sounding girl told me that there is no way you can (legally!) get into France without a passport.
Yours, a very relieved and newly named "Mr Passport"
Leo "Passport" Zwalf
Love it!So being the well organised Lemonballer I am, I thought I'd look today for my passport. We set off 5am tomorrow morning.
Could I find it? No. I remember where I thought I'd left it, asked the rest of the team who were at mine on Saturday if they had, in a fit of the hilarious jokes, moved or taken it. Nope. Manager at work tells me to go home and look for it, so off I go. Dad's at home, I'm freaking out. We look EVERYWHERE. Turned my room upside down. Turned the living room, kitchen etc upside down, nothing.
I knew it couldn't have gone far as I've been using it a fair bit recently as my lady is in Germany and I've been there afew times. Last time was about 3 weeks ago so it can't be far away.
Started to think that perhaps, somehow, it got mixed up in the documents for my car which I sold on Saturday. Can't call the new owner as he's on hols in Sweden. Luckily he's a mate and I have his (ex) Mrs's phone number. Call her, she calls his sister who finds the documents, turns them upside down, finds nothing.
So what do I do? Was it somehow stolen from the house?? If so, how?? How do I get a new one? Call passport office.
Closest appointment in distance and time is 8am tomorrow morning in Newport, Sth Wales. That's about 3.5hrs from here and I am *supposed* to be on the 0825 P&O tomorrow morning. Phone co-pilot, tell him he'll have to go with another team member. Book appointment at Newport passport office. Visions of dealing with the M4 and before that, trekking around getting hold of the relevant forms, photos etc., not to mention the £114 fee!
Speak to dad more, where could it be etc. Where/when did I last have it, same questions over and over. Now it starts coming to me... I was wearing shorts when I last had it, I could just about recall putting it in a low pocket of a pair of shorts. But I was wearing my grey ones (no low pockets) wasn't I? Was I? f
k! No I was wearing the green ones! Leg it to wardrobe where they were shoved 3 weeks ago, pull 'em out and there it is in the sodding pocket.The relief was so incredible that I gave my good old dad a big hug - after all he had even cancelled a job he was meant be at to help me look. Good man him
Heart attack averted, so glad I *will* be at LM again this year!
Reason for '2 years on' in the title is because back in '06, I discovered the night before leaving that my passport was about 3 months out of date. That time I ran the gauntlet and made into France and back into UK without any *significant* problems. That was pretty nerve wracking but this was worse as you can't even really blag it with no passport at all.
I even spoke to the French Consulate. A very sexy sounding girl told me that there is no way you can (legally!) get into France without a passport.
Yours, a very relieved and newly named "Mr Passport"
Leo "Passport" Zwalf
bet yer well relieved!
Just a tad!!! It was just a reply of 2 years ago with some minor alterations (this year = lost, 2006 = expired)
Car's all packed now, just need to sleep ready for a 4:30 wake up and 5pm on the road.
After today I'm really looking fwd to that first cold beer!
Thanks to you all for reading and sharing my plight and for recounting your own passport horror stories! See you there
Car's all packed now, just need to sleep ready for a 4:30 wake up and 5pm on the road.
After today I'm really looking fwd to that first cold beer!
Thanks to you all for reading and sharing my plight and for recounting your own passport horror stories! See you there
Gassing Station | Le Mans | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff