Visas - how does anyone manage to travel?

Life becomes ever more bureaucratic. I was asked to 'pop out' of retirement for a day or two and go to beautiful New Delhi by a former client to help resolve a tiny 'problemette'. Although not entirely happy to go to central India at the height of the summer ( toe burningly hot coupled to dust storms ) it would have been churlish of me not to go. Enter stage left the new Indian visa regulations which require not only a raft of photos and mind numbingly dull documents to be submitted but also require your passport to be out of your hands for 5 full days while the application is processed in the embassy.Even getting a visa for the US isn't this complicated! It has now been suggested that we meet in Dubai, where the visa issuing process is altogether more relaxed. Dubai in the summer - must remember to pack sun screen.

The two boyz were up and out in the lavender beds at five this morning chasing lizards. You would think that after eight years they might have learnt that the lumbering charge accompanied by howls of delight is not the best way of creeping up on critters. However, stealth is not a concept that Polish Lowland Sheepdogs understand - much better to believe in the ever redemptive power of hope over experience. Anyway,the two of them returned from their morning adventure in the lavender blissfully tired and smelling like a perfume factory - quite an improvement from their usual odour. Post breakfast Digby managed to unearth a bright yellow long lost soft toy which he is now sitting contentedly chewing at the front gate - it is almost as big as he is which makes it particularly attractive. Wilf is most unhappy at his brothers good fortune in finding a toy and is giving off those plaintive looks suggesting that for the sake of natural justice I take it from Digby and give it to him.