Driving License: Installment #2

I have my provisional license now as stated earlier. If you want to get up-to-speed (pun intended) just follow this link.

With my provisional and my photos and a bit of cash I headed into the Motor Taxation Office, where I got my provisional license, in Castlebar to push on, and get my full driving license. We are happy with the progress we are making in getting set up here.

I was happily trotting into the office in Castlebar and feeling empowered and confident about applying for my full license. I handed my application form, photos and cash up on the counter. I waited.

The staff are really, really nice. It does help the experience when the people at the windows are pleasant and helpful. I waited.

She asked me for my certificate. "Damn, I forgot it." I then remembered that I had it in the car so I was given time to run out for it. I arrived back smiling again and presented said document.

"Oh no, not that. Your certificate," she said with a genuine concern. "Oh, says she, you didn't do the test, did you?" "I did" says I. "Did they give you a certificate when you passed" said she. "They did" said I, "and there it is." "But that's a certificate for the theory test, the written test" says she. "Yeah" says I and by now I was questioning the direction of this discussion! "Oh"says she, "when you do the driving test they give you a certificate and that is the one I need." "Oh", says I, "I only did the theory written test." "Yes," said she, "you need to do the practical driving test and then bring the certificate here and then apply for the full driving test." "That's fine," says I, "while I'm here sure I'll apply for the full test."

I thought that at long last we were on the one page.

Says she, "We don't do the application for the driving test." Thank God or whatever that I started to smile because she was being really, really nice (she must've thought I was a dimwit!) "But," says I, smiling by now, "that's what I am here for." "Oh we don't do those here" she said, "You'll have to apply for your test to another organisation." "Who?" says I. "The Road Safety Authority" says she.

"Aaww, well Holy God" says I to mesell. "Where are they?" says I. "I'll give you the form" says she. "You're like a mother to me," says I, "I don't know what I'd do without you" says I, and the two of us not quite laughing by now but not just smiling either!

So she gave me the form and I said that I would send it in immediately and that she was a great help. "Oh, says she, is this your first license?" "It is" says I, "except that I had a license for 20 years in the US." Says she, "You have to have your Provisional License for 6 months before they allow you to apply for the practical driving test, but if I was you," says she, " I'd apply after 5 months!" Aww, well Holy God! I couldn't hold it. I cracked up laughing - and you know what she did? She started laughing too!

In the middle of her laughter she got the words out, "Welcome home!"