I hate paperwork

It is so easy to postpone the paperwork until it piles up to a point where you have no choice but to get on with it. That is my situation with regard to my Passport renewal. You would think it was fairly straightforward. Not so. First of all, Canada requires renewal every five years and the pictures they want seem to involve a million little stupid specifications. The plus side of that is that you rapidly stop moaning about how god awful you look as you desperately try to work out how many millimeters your chin is from the top of your head. Then you need your Birth Certificate. After much searching, you find it but it looks dodgy. Never mind, it will have to do. They also want my Marriage License. That's fine. I guess I don't need it any more! Then there is the guarantor and the witnesses. When I finally get the new passport, it won't have my British Right of Abode stamp in it so I may well run into trouble "aboding" in the UK. Life was easier when I had a secretary.

The second big problem is one of which I am very ashamed. I find myself whining and complaining about the hard work involved in managing money. Just think of it. I am so lucky to have money to moan about but I guess everything is relative. I spent most of last week opening and closing accounts all over the place. This involved many telephone calls and e-mails. I'm finally getting there but only after taking Alison's advice to hire some help. As she is fond of saying, "Mum, you have money but you don't have time. You need staff." So I'm meeting tomorrow with My Financial Advisor. He is going to cost me a fortune but he makes house calls and I like him. I never realized how hopeless I was at looking after my own affairs. I can do a dinner party for 12 without breaking a sweat but start talking to me about stocks and shares and I'm a wreck.

Fortunately, Alison, Sian and The Fox are coming to Oxford at the weekend. It will be Harry's first look at the dreaming spires. The whole family is coming for lunch on Sunday including Vanessa. Chloe is going to spend Saturday night so that she will be here on Sunday morning to help with the preparations. She is a very good cook and a dab hand with a corkscrew.