Friday, 3 August 2012

Well.....

I had just finished writing my last email about my fun Friday with an ambulance ride to the immigration office, and James came home.

So I decided to show him my photo-shopped passport photos and went on a hunt for my little cloth purse. In this little cloth purse, with Kazak designs stitched on it, was - a small amount of cash, my keys to the office, a pen and my new lipstick. Oh and my passport. The last time I can remember seeing, it was sitting on my lap in the ambulance. I checked and it wasn't in the ambulance, I went up the corner and, even though I don't think the lady understood me, it hadn't been handed in at the bank, or any of the small shops. I'm thinking BUGGER, I've lost my lipstick. Oh and my passport.

I phoned the consulate to report it and got a phone call back from the Acting Consulate General, the real guy is on holidays. (Pity I could have used my 'contacts')  He said he would have to cancel his evenings arrangements and get onto Canberra to cancel my passport straight away, but he wasn't worried at all about my lipstick. BUGGER. Then my phone rang again and he said it was OK, Canberra said I can wait to Monday. Thank God I had been to Immigration today and sorted my alien card because I certainly couldn't do that without a passport.

We weren't going to spoil the night, we headed off on the bus to the British Embassy for a few drinks with friends. Half way into my first gin and tonic, this guy came up and introduced himself as the Acting Consular General of Australia. I sheepishly introduced myself and I could read this look of "So you're the silly bugger who lost their passport" Anyway, he was really nice about it and we chatted away. Later in the evening we were chatting to the British Consular General and he was talking about "the minor diplomatic incident" that had delayed the arrival of the Australian guy. OOOps, that was me....

When we left we headed to the bus stop and saw our bus approaching. As we made our way to the door, four guys surrounded James and pushed him on to the bus. I sang out "watch out for your wallet" as the front guy then turned and pushed James back and off the bus. They literally rolled him off the bus then took off. Fortunately James is in one piece, if not a little dusty, and still has his wallet and phone. I should have asked them if they had seen my lipstick.

So, Monday will be a fun day too, probably spending half of it getting a new passport and lipstick. But this is Mongolia and these "minor diplomatic incidents' gives me something to write about.

Now I'm not sure if I want another Friday.

Cheers

di

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