Rainy kinda gray day this Tuesday. Typical of January. Reports of gusting winds -- But hasn't blown through yet.
Nigthtime -- yet, just noticed a lighted sky outside. Must be the moon's up -- will be nice to have some light. Still dark here till 8am. Should be changing -- sunrise/sunset changes faster here than in states longitudes.
Otherwise life is filled with newsletters: layouts, font choices, sizing photos, pdf forms...
And now, more mundane issues of residency. Went to see a barrister today. When we came back this time, lack of a resident stamp in a passport was a problem. Though we applied more than 14 months ago, bureaucracy seems in no hurry to process it. Hence a conflict between issuing it and using it -- if you go and come. Barrister -- you have to learn a whole different vocabulary here -- referred us to another in Castlebar who deals in residency issues.
So, in the rain -- from torrents to sprinkles -- we went to Castlebar (about 35km) and I sat in the car while he consulted.
An hour and a half later... Seems immigration and residence policies, in response to all the influx of folk from other EU countries, are only now being formalized. As it turns out, the informality of the small town life of Eire is changing. Local life here has meant that after 25 years, everybody knows everybody's business. He knew the barrister's dad and family and they knew him -- relatives who knew him over the many years he has been living and working here. Word is to gather more forms and letters, copies of what previously submitted, etc. and proceed quickly. Technically he is here on a 3-month visitor visa. Bizzaro, no?
Makes one realize that bureaucracy is alive and busy in ALL countries, large or small. However, it is just possible that the closeness of rural country life, with everyone knowing everyone, might help solve situations quicker. Perhaps not. We'll see.
Been thinking off and on all day about the film Rain Shadow (2007). Story of a veterinary doctor (Rachel Ward) who takes on an assistant in her practice in rural South Australia. Drought. Town of secrets. Slow starting but builds on you. A six hour miniseries from Australia. Great acting and good sense of life in Oz. farming, hardships, and more. Other profiles of Oz: All Rivers Run, A Town Like Alice, Thornbirds... So much to tell! And fascinating profiles of life.
Sammy seems to becoming less aloof. He comes over and sits by me through the day. Most of the time when he follows you around, he's just after food. But that doesn't seem to always be the case. Or maybe I would only prefer that to be true!
Well. Off to meet the sand man.
Good night!
