bureaucracy rules

Apparently.

We had this wonderful idea of booking a week's holiday somewhere sunny for next week while Cinderella is on her Easter break. There are always holidays available at the last minute for next-to-no-cost if you're not too fussy about where you're going. And right now we aren't, as long as it's somewhere sunny. Spain or the Canary Islands are favourites at this time of year.

Only... we had to get young Cinderella a visa. Hah!

First off, this particular wicked stepmother may be just a tad hormonal at the moment, if the vicious cravings for chocolate and high levels of irrational irritation are anything to go by. Not a good place to start.
Second, I'm working a slightly later shift this week, which means I only have to wake up at 8am. I love this; I resent mornings and I hate getting out of bed at the best of times, so these little sleep-ins are very much appreciated. Only... we had to go to the embassy early today, so I was up at 6.
Thirdly, the embassy in question is oh, maybe 20 - 25km away (what's that, about 18miles or something? I don't know, but you get the idea.) We left home at 7am. We arrived at the embassy at 8:30am. An hour and a half of sitting in traffic jams. AAARGH!!!! That, people, is why I choose to take the train to work, when hubby drives in and we work 2 blocks away from each other.
Today, somewhere along the road, a crane had overturned, which of course didn't help matters. I thought my normally slightly-low blood pressure was going to go through the roof and my head would explode...
But, it didn't, although I must apologise to Hubby for the beating I gave his shoulder at one point. I suppose it was a little unfair, considering his only crime was teasing me a little. But really, he should've known better ;)

Anyway, we got there only to find that we didn't have everything we needed. So, no visa = no holiday. The document we need has now been ordered from SA via the embassy here. Apparently we can expect to see it in about 6 to 9 months time.
What, are they giving birth to it?!

I give up.
Ya move halfway across the world to escape things like the delightful South African Home Affairs office, only to find that it's still gonna get you!

At the risk of repeating myself... AAaaaarrgh!!!