Happy Birthday Lulu!

My beautiful little girl is now 6. She was very excited opening her presents yesterday but unfortunately wasn't very well, spent a lot of the day being sick, and wasn't able to go to school. However, by the time I got back she was feeling much better and riding her new bike down the street.

Update on the driving licence saga

I know Dean is desperate to know more about the driving licence, but anybody else who is sick of hearing about this should stop reading now and go off and do something more useful with their life.

A couple of weeks ago I finally had enough of calling the hospital to see when my appointment for the eye test was going to be (usually transferred 3 times ending in a dead line). I drove over to Mafraq and wandered all over the hospital until I found the right person. It didn't look like I existed in the system, but they eventually gave me an appointment for yesterday (14th November).

The test itself was a bit of a farce. 'All you need for driving is red and green' he said. He held up a red, green and yellow plate and I correctly identified them (my colour blindness isn't that bad). Why the optician at the driving centre failed me is now completely beyond me. Then we went through the Ishihara plate test. Although I have memorised these numbers he helpfully opened it at the answer page and went off for a few minutes whilst I refreshed my memory. Surprise, surprise I got them all right except the ones where you have to follow a line. Then, more waiting whilst I saw the doctor who signs you off. She had real problems with the part of the form which said 'strength of limbs and upper body for driving'. I offered to do a few press-ups. No, she would call someone at the ministry of health. After another hour of waiting, I managed to get hold of a nurse who just said 'you can go now'. I wasn't having this and spoke to the doctor. She showed me the letter they're sending to the ministry and it says my eyesight and colour vision is normal. However, they wouldn't give it to me and wouldn't let me have a copy. I now have to wait 2 weeks whilst 3 doctors at the ministry ratify that I am fit to drive. So, two more weeks of illegal driving until I find out what the next hurdle is. Still, it could be worse. I could be a woman in Saudi Arabia