I can find out what colour undies you have on...

It finally came! I have my passport in my hot little hands. I don't really like it though. Of course I hate the photo, that goes without saying (who would? I have an expression which says "don't fuck with me" and a baaaaad fake tan job - the bird at Australia Post couldn't figure out the camera and this photo was her third and final attempt while my poor excuse for a lunch break was ticking away).

Not that I am being a luddite, but the passport is just too...technical. It has a chip in it for pete's sake. And, the photo is not on the inside cardboard, you have to flip a page to get to the photo and details. Stupid, I know. The pages are filled with crappy watermarks and all this other stuff which makes it look busy. I just want my old analogue one back.

Because our government is made up of xenophobes and continue to instill a climate of fear, you should see the little booklet that comes with the passport. In my old passport (issued pre Sept 2001), the little booklet was all about "have a good time, but if you're a girl don't go anywhere by yourself and don't expect the Australian Embassy to help you ever". Now it is just completely over the top. Anyway, probably getting a bit political now, which goes against my belief in not discussing politics or religion.

Get this though - nerd boy says that I should buy a metal case for my passport. This is because people have scanners and they can read the chip and find out what colour undies I have on and assume my identity. I think someone has been watching too many movies along the lines of "do you take the blue pill or the red pill"... In nerd circles, this is known as wearing a 'tin foil hat' so the aliens can't probe your brain. It's planted a seed now though. Can bet ten bucks I'll have a metal case by the time I next get on a plane.

In other news, Happy Birthday to Dave (future bro-in-law) for today and Mere (sis-in-law) for Friday. We are having dinner with nb's fam on Friday to celebrate.