Best day of my life...
a half day off turned full day off turned mad shopaholic rampage

Went to re-submit my visa again. It started badly- even worse than before (see visa woes I &II) cos the regular lady has gone holidaying in Prague (the irony) and her replacement has never processed a long term visa before (without her boss around).

Oh but first.. when i went in there (pushing works!) are actually some one there! A czech lady in massimo (it's a sign) , her gorgeous blue eyed baby and her merry maid, maria. They were busy cooing over the baby who despite being ruthlessly tickled on her chubby chin n tiny feet managed a frown den a gurgle..n i think i even heard her say peek a boo.. a mean feat for a baby who still has a gummy jaw...after around 15mins of waiting, the mummy talked to me, though she had to leave to feed baby, but not after telling me how beautiful prague is at christmas (woo-hoo)

So on with the replacement, let's call her blondie, first she was quite annoyed tt i didn't make an appointment and that i didn't make copies of all my documents..

Blondie: You are making a long term visa, you need an appointment to make one..
Me: Oh i came 2 weeks back and the lady told me i could come anytime..
Blondie: No.. you must have been mistaken
Me: Oh...
Blondie: Do you have your documents
Me: Yes =)
Blondie: And they are all copies?
Me: Ermmm.. No. cos the lady told me that she'll make the copies here
Blondie: Which "lady" are you talking about?
Me: (gee i dunno- the only other one tt works here?) the lady with brown hair
Blondie: We don't do copies here.. we're not the American embassy..bring your documents there and maybe they'll make copies for you and you need an appointment
Me: (after some quick thinking and panicking) ok you can keep my documents! yikes
hmmm.. i wonder if this decision will come and bite me in the arse later
(thank god tt i have 2 copies of my insurance & my flight details are in an e-ticket but there goes my acceptance letter and housing information)
Blondie: maybe you should come back on friday b'cos i need the boss to do this n he's not in and you need an appointment..
Me: ...... (@$%@#@*$#&!!!)

Then surprisingly.. she actually trys to help me and looks through my documents..
Blondie: You're lucky there's no one here and i have the time to help you..there were 10 people in my office on monday and you would have needed an appointment
Me: Wow..thanks

15 minutes later..

We're talking i mean actually talking.. she's really nice once she finds Eliz's application (thanks girl) and uses it as a guide --my visa is half way done

her daughter is studying in the same jc i did.. we start talking about SMU

We're done.. and she apologises for taking so long! gosh oh gosh i want to buy her flowers and chocolates or sumthing.. i thank her for trying so hard just for me..i want to stay but a man comes in for his visa.. n i bid her good bye with a smile albiet the rough patch in the start, i've jumped through the last hoop!!!!

To celebrate my new found jubilation, i go shopping -since it's too late to go back to the office now n there was a sign (massimo lady remember)

*FYI for future visa-ees: Visa processing fee = $14 (criminal record) + $180 = $194 (subj. to change)

Come look and at my bounty: the most i ever spent in one day!

My first & only LBD (little black dress to the unintiated): after 20+ years i think i simply can't pass up this spanish beauty from Massimo Dutti on 30% off, 100% silk, light as a feather n fits me to a T- pun intended even though it costs $175/- the sales lady promised me that they bring in limited stock one more out there @ marina ~ i think it's not so photogenic here (actually it looks pretty normal on the rack) but filled in with the right rack curves and well, i look & feel like 265 dollars (price before sale)