Today I've mostly bin...

[gill216]

Superseded by the next couple of posts but I'll post it anyway.

I had thought of that...................... but mum rang the British & Irish consulates a couple of years ago so that there was no way that daddy could apply for an Irish (southern) passport (or claim benefits for Daniel) and put a total block on any unusual activity from any direction. That may sound strange but Dave could claim child benefit for Dan even though he pays no maintenance. All he needs to say is that he does. Simply because he lives in the Uk and as my daughter doesn't, no-one is claiming child benefit for him.

[giraffe]

Can you contact the immigration department? Would it help to take photos with you, of you with D at various ages, showing you haven't just met him?

[Bunnylump]

Out for a nice walk in the country (sploshing through ankle deep puddles - so glad we still have a hosepipe ban! ). We walked to a nearby village, and went to a pub to get a drink half way. I actually couldn't believe it. We went in, and asked what ales they had. The girl halfheartedly yanked at a pump, and it spat some dribbles out. Then she called someone else.
"What beer have we got?"

"Don't think we've got any."

So we asked what cider they had. Again, same process with pump and pointless query.
Eventually we both went for a fairly disgusting pint of the only lager they had. I asked if they sold crisps.

"Do we sell crisps?" she asked the offstage person.

"Well, we've got some which are past their sell by date, if they want them." No thanks!! How long do you suppose THEY will stay in business? It's not often that a pub has no beer, cider OR crisps!! Sort of defeats the object of being a pub, really...

[LAT]

What a dreadful sounding place.
It was a pub was it? Not someone's home you'd wandered into by mistake?

[Bunnylump]

I hope not!! We did that once in Kephalonia. There was a terrible thunderstorm, and we ran into a place which might or might not have been a taverna. The lady and man in there spoke not one word of English, and we spoke only minimal Greek. We asked, with the help of a translation guidebook, if they were serving food. The woman looked flustered, and then promptly shared her husband's dinner between us!!!

[gill216]

An acquaintance of ours was camping in the Dales with friends. They went out on a drive about and Sue (who tells everyone she's alcoholic and I don't think it's a joke) found a temperance pub.

[Bunnylump]

I'm rather alarmed that when we go on holiday we're staying near a place called Once Brewed. I hope it isn't literal.

[gill216]

There is also a place called Twice Brewed. Its the same place but it depends which direction you are entering from.

[Wulfruna]

Would it be worth phoning the British Embassy?

I would endorse that. The UK Border Agency may well be a pain in the neck (and other places ) and they do seem to have a horrendous reputation, but the reality is that they can be quite helpful on awkward questions like this and it may well be worth going to them for advice. So that is your starting point. They have a very extensive website (UK border agency) which may well have the answer you need tucked away in some obscure corner, but this will also probably give you a useful contact to go to for advice.
I have become familiar with them over the last couple of weeks because I am involved in trying to advise some Eastern European colleagues on how to set about getting visas to come to a conference here in September (for which I am on the organising committee). Now that really is a nightmare! They are all automatically treated as if they are illegal immigrants, liars and criminals trying to exploit out system. No-one seems to believe that they might well be innocent and well-meaning visitors just wanting to come to an interesting conference and enjoy our country for a week before going back home

[MBH]

You could always get her brother Chris to keep an eye on her if she went to Durham!

LOL - I'm sure that would just put her off (although I am nearby in case of emergencies).

Speaking of 'nearby'...

I'm rather alarmed that when we go on holiday we're staying near a place called Once Brewed. I hope it isn't literal.

Looks like you're visiting Hadrian Wall country According to an online map that puts you within 30 miles of me - keep me informed [if you're not too busy chasing Roman soldiers ]

[Bunnylump]

There was me thinking you might dress up in sandals and a tunic for me!!

[MBH]

You've already seen that I know the principles of the swords they used to use. [Pointy end away from you, and Stay Alive]

[Bunnylump]

Oh, right. I'd forgotten all about the weaponry. Maybe I'd better shut up and behave...

[clvrlad]

dont forgets rabbits were introduced to britian by the romans

[giraffe]

Those Romans have a lot to answer for!

[Bunnylump]

Hurumph!!

All right... all right... but apart from better sanitation and medicine and education and irrigation and public health and roads and a freshwater system and baths and public order... what have the Romans done for us?

...Introduced RABBITS.

[LAT]

But rabbits is good.

[Bunnylump]

In, fact rabbits are altogether better than sanitation and medicine and education and irrigation and public health and roads and a freshwater system and baths and public order...

IMHO.

[LAT]

hmmmmmmmm.
When thinking of rabbits I often remember a friend who wrote to me (back in the days when friends wrote letters to each other) and having told me all her news including the difficulty of finding homes for a large litter of baby rabbits, signed off her letter "must go, the rabbits are at it again"
I felt that it conveyed a very distinct degree of urgency

[clvrlad]

In, fact rabbits are altogether better than sanitation and medicine and education and irrigation and public health and roads and a freshwater system and baths and public order...

IMHO.

your right a new food source is better ....

nom nom nom