Someone once said that dealing with the government is like kicking a 300-pound sponge. I guess that's true no matter which government your dealing with. Another quote that I like is by Ronald Reagan: "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" (LOL) Well, I'm not one for being overly critical of the government but dealing with the UK Border Agency over the past three years has been one frustration after another. I know "they're just doing their job" but I wish they could be a little more efficient.

(My apologies.) The reason I'm ranting is I had to make an appointment this week to have our Biometrics done. This is the step in the visa (work permit) application process where everyone in the family has to pose for a digital photo and have their fingerprints electronically scanned. It's been less than a year ago that we had this done in order to get an extension on our previous visa. That time it was simple. Our appointment was at a Border Agency office in south London. But this past Friday I learned that due to recent budget cuts that office has been down-sized and no longer handles family groups or something like that; and the next closest office - a little farther south - didn't have any available appointments until mid-June!!! And the earliest appointment I could get anywhere in the country was the 20th of May(!!) in Cardiff(!!) which takes two hours by train!! I booked it. 

Now, I've always wanted to visit Wales, but not like this. Furthermore, I was supposed to begin the new job at the beginning of May, but now it looks like it will be June unless (a) I can reschedule the appointment [unlikely] or (b) I can begin without the proper paperwork in hand [also unlikely]. Just to clarify, I love this country, its people, its food, etc. But what really frustrates me is bureaucracy in general and the extreme level of persistence it requires to accomplish anything. (I've also spent a frustrating month in and out of local government buildings trying to help a friend NOT become homeless.)  

How about two more quotes to make my point, "Any sufficiently advanced bureaucracy is indistinguishable from molasses" [source unknown]; and Reagan said:

Freedom is the recognition that no single person, no single authority or government has a monopoly on the truth, but that every individual life is infinitely precious, that every one of us put in this world has been put there for a reason and has something to offer. It´s so hard for government planners, no matter how sophisticated, to ever substitute for millions of individuals working night and day to make their dreams come true. The fact is, bureaucracies are a problem around the world.

So once again I write to inform you that we're still waiting for the paperwork to go through all the proper channels. We're also still dependent on gifts from friends and family in the US to help us pay the bills. To make a contribution, please send a check payable to First Baptist Church of Clermont, directed to the Ecker family fund. The church address is 498 W. Montrose St., Clermont, FL, 34711. Our address in London is 71 Windsor Rd, London, N7 6JL.

Sincerely grateful, 

                                 The Ecker Family