Blood Pressure Rising!

So.......back to Inala I went this morning with the forms I filled in yesterday and the evidence I collected, back to my place on the green chairs.The green chairs were quite empty which was encouraging, because hopefully I would not have to wait too long to be seen. the few people that were already waiting were sat in the green chairs nearest the reception point but being an unsociable loner I wandered over to the furthest set and sat down.It wasn't long before someone else did the same thing. There were at least 6 rows of seats but this fellow sat right behind me and proceeded to breathe heavily down my neck like a bull. He was making some strange grunting sounds in between his heavy breaths but I did not turn round to look.'We apologise but we are experiencing system difficulties at the moment. Please bear with us' said a sign on the wall.No names were called for ages. The limpy bloke, who called me 'Buddy' yesterday, was there and I was praying he didn't call my name, I was still quite apt to kick his limpy leg.The amiable girl from yesterday was also there and she seemed to be the only one doing any work. There were about three people staring at their computer screens and another was tapping away on her mobile phone and the green chairs were filling up. The 'Bull' disappeared and I slipped into a torpor until someone said "Nicholas Allen?"Her name badge said she was Lien."How can I help?"I spread my forms and evidence out on the table in front of her and she sighed......yep, it looked like hard work.I handed her the 'Income and Assets Form' first. She sighed again and tapped away at the computer and peered at her screen.Then she looked at the two MOD R forms."You have two properties?!" She asked as if I was some wealthy tycoon."One is mine and one is my partners.""Oh, do you have any identification for your partner?"My forced smile faded. I didn't."I wasn't asked to bring identification for my partner. I was just informed I needed to bring my own identification which I have here and the evidence of our Assets""Oh, well it all changed on the 1st of July and we now need identification for your partner."I was screaming inside."Does he have to bring it?""No, you can bring it. A passport, a driver's license and a bank card will do."She checked my identification.....nothing had changed since I last presented it last year......but they needed it again apparently.She took the evidence to support the forms I had completed and went and photocopied the documents and brought them back and handed me back the originals."OK, that is fine, we just need your partner's identification when you have time to bring it."I drove home."Success?" said Will.He couldn't believe what I told him. I collected his identification and drove back to Inala. I felt like I practically lived there now.I checked in at the reception point."I was here about 10 minutes ago and was told I needed more identification which I was not aware of," I said hoping they would bump me up the queue but I was directed to the green chairs to wait again.

View from the green chairs.

The people who worked there seemed to have finished their ebay shopping, twittering and Facebook posting and actually seemed like they were working now.

The woman sat behind me, already in a torpor, was startled when her name was called and she jumped up.

"Who said that?" she cried disorientated.

"Nicholas?"

Yep, that's right. I have been there so many times now that they know me by my first name!

It was Tina. She worked next to Lien.

"Oh, hi again!" said Lien as I walked past.

"How can I help?" Asked Tina.

"I have brought identification for my partner. Lien told me I needed to bring it." I said nodding in her direction.

Tina tapped away at her computer and peered at the screen.

"Oh, why have had to bring that? It was not requested."

The forced smile fell from my face and shattered on the desk.

Limpy man was bumped to second on my hit list and Lien had moved into first place!

Tina wheeled her chair over and whispered with Lien then came back and tapped at her computer some more.

"It is something to do with the changes from the 1st of July," I said.

"Oh is it?" said Tina.

Yep, there I was telling them what they should know now.

She checked Will's identification.

"Well, at least he won't have to do that again now it is all in the system. That's a good thing isn't it?.........."

I couldn't speak. They already had my identification but needed it again why would they never need to ask for it from Will again?

"........that is unless things change, " laughed Tina.

"Do you have any other documents you need scanning?"

"I hope not!" I said with dead eyes, channelling Arnold Schwarzenegger from the Terminator movies.

I left and drove home.

..........and breathe...............