Who, What Where and Why?
The strangest thing about all of this is that we
still don't know exactly what happened there. I couldn't help thinking
of an old T.V advert, where someone complains about their phone
being dead. Then there are scenes of workmen out in all weather
fixing the lines, and in the final scene the lady who originally
complained picks up the phone, having no idea of what's gone on
in the background saying something along the lines of "oh,
never mind, it's just started working again".
We've been told since that 'calls were made' and
that we actually had the Latvian Ambassador to Poland on the case.
This is my favorite version of the story because I just love the
idea that the Latvian Ambassador to Poland would get involved to
get two clowns (I'm not a clown, I'm a juggler) through a post soviet
border crossing. I find it mildly hard to believe, but I think it's
the best version of the story, and given that we know we had a wonderful
lady from Liepaja council on the case, it's got a possible ring
of truth to it. There's the vague possibility that someone from
the British embassy in Lithuania put in a helping hand, even though
they weren't too helpful on the phone, but to be honest, I'm not
really going with that one until I hear differently.
There's also the distinct possibility that we just
happened to get the border guard who didn't give a monkeys about
'auto passports' that day.
There's a philosophy that suggests that everything
happens for a reason. It's quite circular, because once you start
looking at things in that way, you can always find, or make up a
reason. I remember the night before, driving back into Poland thinking
"what could possibly be the reason for not being able to get
through this border?" The obvious answer is that I was being
punished for the 'ski game', but all I can say is that the feeling
of actually managing it, having had to go through the trials and
tribulations of the previous evening, and then finally getting
through more than made up for the setback.
To everyone who helped us get across that border,
(through their competence, incompetence, or merely not giving a
monkeys in a helpful fashion), and to those who helped us keep our
spirits up while we were trying, we would both like to say a very,
very big thank you.
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