It is over a month since I metaphorically put pen to paper.
On the 7th January I was preparing to renew my driving licence. The form had arrived and it had like me, certainly changed in the last ten years. I had more questions to answer. I answered all the questions honestly and decided to drive to Coleraine on the north Coast, through a dull grey day to hand in my application form and the requisite payment for the next few years.
A very helpful young man spent some time going over the form and went away to check with the medical department if I needed a form to be filled in by my doctor. I did. I came away home with my money (fee) and the medical form. That was the 18th January.
I delivered this form for medical information, a payment claim form for the GP, a copy of the health questions I had ticked and a covering letter addressed to the Doctor, to his secretary on the morning of 19th January.
Two and a half weeks and many reminder phone calls later… the completed form was returned to me yesterday at 5 p.m – a day before my licence was due to expire. I posted it off this morning and followed up with a phone call to the NI licensing office.
They have extended my existing licence for a couple of weeks until they have vetted and checked the letter I put in the post today. Fingers crossed there will be no more hiccups.
Eek – an ordeal! Hopefully, your wheels of bureaucracy don’t expect you to oil them, however squeaky they get. A little bribe is becoming the expected thing, this end. I confound expectations.
Bribes do not work in this neck of the woods, Col. in fact they might complicate things and end up without a licence. Hopefully I am on the homeward run now.
Without a licence and in a prison cell is how things should work! I trust you will soon receive the proper renewal!
*rummage, rummage* Phew – I only have to worry again in 2019!
Fingers crossed all is sorted out quickly.
Then we will meet for coffee and celebrate!
I sense your new favorite song will be “On the Road Again.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBN86y30Ufc
Yes, Al, that will be me!
Fingers crossed you finally get your licence renewal. What a ridiculous palaver!
Two and a half weeks for the GP to look at the forms and answer a few questions. He phoned me twice yesterday afternoon he could not find the information for boxes I had ticked with a check mark. Thankfully I was able to give him time and dates plus the relevant information.
Nick, I even have my toes crossed at this stage.
blimey…the GP needs a lesson on “finding” and then “dealing with” – through to supporting his clients in whatever else they need when other arenas want info. Surely he doesn’t think that prescription writing and dealing with bad colds are the only things needed 🙂
Although I am assigned to his list, I prefer to see a couple of others in the practice, but he has been dealing with an ongoing situation since November so therefore he was supposed to be the most up to date on how I am. I have pulled him up in the past for not reading my notes before seeing me. He might take me more seriously in future.
Wow…. Quite a bother to go through, it sounds like. I agree with Nick – ridiculous.
For me, I went to the local Arkansas Revenue Office two weeks ago. Once inside, I took a number — there were 4 or 5 “patrons” ahead of me. Ten minutes later I was called up to the counter where I told the lady I was there to get my driver’s license renewed. The only exam was a quick and cheesy eye exam — with glasses on — since I have to wear glasses to drive. After another ten minutes or so, I was out the door $45 poorer, but with a shiny new license good until my birthday in 2024.
Currently, that’s all that anyone has to do for license renewals here — no matter what the age.
Had all the health questions been answered with ‘No’, I would have handed over my money and walked out with a brand new licence, but I had to be honest and hit ‘yes’ were it applied. Our local Health centre, is a group practice with about nine doctors. The good ones have long waiting lists for appointments. There one or two that take care of the walk in emergencies: I call them the patch and pill doctors, they deal with the superficial stuff to tide you over until you can see your own GP.
Now when it comes to motor tax… I hope i don’t have to swim over to Wales, that is where the Road Tax is dealt with nowadays.
When you pay your doctor actual money, as we do here, they tend to become a bit more accountable… I’ve found them a lot more helpful and proactive than the ones I left behind in the UK. Fingers and toes crossed that the licence will come through without (further) trouble.
Kate, that is the way it works in the Republic of Ireland, they pay for everything. We do have a few excellent doctors and nurses on our team, but everyone wants to be treated by them and the lists are long. I have so much crossed now, I look like a Contortionist! 😆
Everything is crossed here GM, fingers, toes. strands of hair…
blessings ~ maxi
I have had my hair cut so not much left to cross! 🙁 Thanks Maxi doing it for me!
Working our way through bureaucracy and paperwork is always a headache, and I tend to be impatient with it all. You seem to hang in there and just follow the steps! I’m so glad for you to have your license and now you’re ready to go! 🙂
Not yet, Debra. The old one is extended until the end of the month and I will not count having the new one until it is safely in my cold little hand.
So, till the end of the month, you are legally allowed to drive. Here is hoping that before the end of this month, all formalities are completed and you get your licence back renewed. I know how important it is for you to be able to drive around.
Yes. I am watching for the mail each day and trying not to worry. From the copy answer form I have, it should be passed for me to continue driving.