[pegasus]

Popped in to my (soon to be) new workplace today and they told me they are arranging for me to fly to London for training. So I've been looking online whether I need a passport which I don't have. No, I don't have to have a passport but I would need a photo driving licence. I don't have a photo driving licence so I looked up online what I need to do to get one. Apparently the photo driving licence people need a passport so you can get a photo driving licence. You can't get a passport unless you have a photo driving licence. I think I might just tell work about my fear of flying instead...

Just reading that makes me grunt--ugh--the red tape!!!!!

How about when you're homeless and facing below zero weather; and you call for help...they come and bring you to one of two intake shelters---I went to one in Brooklyn----and the social worker assessing you says you are too disabled to get up to a bed on the third floor; so now you have to go to the Bronx?????--

You're not a quadriplegic or anything-thankfully---but you are denied shelter anywhere because: in the Bronx, yes, they do have an elevator, but no, they have no beds on the third floor??????

grunt--------------and you can't get a driver's license with your original birth certificate because it is taped together (I'm sooo old-ugh-haha)--so you have to buy a new one??!!!!!!!!!--Empathically yours---theo

[sabby]

Oh dear pegs.....I'm sure there is some way to get around this. In the meantime, could you ask them about putting you on a rail instead? I know it will take a ton of time longer to get there and home, but at least you will be on the ground no?

Does the UK have anything like a non-drivers license ID? We have that in NH and I'm sure other states as well. I mean, not everyone in the world drives and I have noticed that it seems many more people in the UK don't drive than here.

Remember my friend, we always get what we need! Try not to stress over it too much okay?

xoxoxo

[missbelle]

every thing is such a hassle. Things are not simple anymore. Hang in there!!!

[eskielover]

I'm sorry, but I just had to bust up laughing at the photo ID drivers license situation......ugh......can't believe the run around they create....the endless loop with no way out & no way to accomplish what is needed. Someone's interesting sense of red tape humor.

Think sabby's idea of the rail is a good idea. Yes, all the states in the US have photo ID's for people who don't drive. Sure that something will work out....it always does (in the long run)

Best wishes with this situation.....sure they may be even more humor surrounding it in the future

[pegasus]

Thank you friends!

I do drive and have a driving licence just not a photo one. I will try and sort it out but of course it will cost money. And yes, I'm going to persuade them to let me take the train, better on the environment I'm sure!

[yellowted]

That's English beurocracy in a nut shell! no matter what you wish to achieve you have to go around in at least three circles first!
I was under the impression you would need a passport even to fly internally as when i looked into flying north a good few years ago from Heathrow i still needed a passport!
is there no other travel options available for you to get to London?
one tip, buy an oyster card, it will reduce your travel costs whilst you are here unless you have a free travel pass that is recognised here.
if you decide to drive there is a daily congestion charge to pay and parking is a nightmare in some places but if you are disabled you can register for free charging so the you do not have to pay the congestion charge.

[turquoisesea]

I dont know much at all about legal stuff but just thinking maybe just telling your soon to be workplace what the dilemma is would be a good idea? They may have run into this before with other people and may cover the cost or at least give instructions =)

[(JD)]

I would think that you could merely "renew" your current license and that would create one with a photo?

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...sing/DG_068315

Your story reminds me of when I bought a new car in Missouri. You have to have a tag, of course, to drive the car. But you have to have the car physically at the courthouse so they can see it, to obtain the tag. It's illegal to drive a car without a tag...

and yes, I was stopped by police (it was in Jefferson City, the capital city of MO) but he understood and followed me to the courthouse.