The totally off-topic thread

[Flying mermaid]

Pilates (clinical with Physio) made the world of difference for my balance etc post knee injury.

Dr FM gave me a “Pilates for over 50s “ book some years ago and I do some of them as well. Very good for my back. With Tai Chi I went from a bad fall every few months to none - I think I was starting to stoop and it did wonders for my posture and centre of balance, as well as leg strength. I do like the relaxing feel to it as well.

 

[rainbowgirl]

I'm sorry. I know this is the wrong thread. Maybe this is too on topic but for me, the very strange AFF member, it's actually an unusual topic for me to ask about so please be patient.

Anyway, how long does it take to apply for an Australian passport and permission to enter the USA. I might be going to a wedding in July this year.

 

[JessicaTam]

I'm sorry. I know this is the wrong thread. Maybe this is too on topic but for me, the very strange AFF member, it's actually an unusual topic for me to ask about so please be patient.

Anyway, how long does it take to apply for an Australian passport and permission to enter the USA. I might be going to a wedding in July this year.

Wow @rainbowgirl that IS off topic for you.

A passport takes a couple of weeks, and the ESTA (pre-arrival clearance) for the USA a day or so (if that).

You will need to have the passport before you can get the ESTA. If you have been guilty of 'moral turpitude' you will need to apply for an actual visa.

 

[rainbowgirl]

Wow @rainbowgirl that IS off topic for you.

A passport takes a couple of weeks, and the ESTA (pre-arrival clearance) for the USA a day or so (if that).

You will need to have the passport before you can get the ESTA. If you have been guilty of 'moral turpitude' you will need to apply for an actual visa.

Thanks for the information. It looks like if I make the decision soon about whether I am going or not, I should be able to get the paperwork side of things organised in time.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I'm sorry. I know this is the wrong thread. Maybe this is too on topic but for me, the very strange AFF member, it's actually an unusual topic for me to ask about so please be patient.

Anyway, how long does it take to apply for an Australian passport and permission to enter the USA. I might be going to a wedding in July this year.

Mr FM got his USA visa in about 3 hours in Dec and that was applying on a Sunday. I think they suggest allowing 3 days, but I have never had one take that long.

If you pay extra there is a priority service for passports as well - can get it in well under a week but it’s around $180 extra.

 

[JessicaTam]

Thanks for the information. It looks like if I make the decision soon about whether I am going or not, I should be able to get the paperwork side of things organised in time.

Nothing wrong with just getting a passport anyway - who knows what it will lead to!

 

[JohnK]

You will need to have the passport before you can get the ESTA. If you have been guilty of 'moral turpitude' you will need to apply for an actual visa.

Moral turpitude? @rainbowgirl ? Nah!

 

[RooFlyer]

Mr FM got his USA visa in about 3 hours in Dec

I think you must mean a USA ESTA? Visa process takes a couple of weeks, including waiting for appointment.

 

[drron]

well I found one thing that said there were boots on board but then my consultant said you needed to hire boots.....Mr FM said he doesn’t want poles as he will be busy with a camera and Ms FM’s husband seemed to feel he was too macho for them. Maybe I should buy - if I bought some collapsible ones they could be good for the gorillas as well.

At the moment I am trying to sort out our flights with Kenyan Air. We are only taking one commercial flight in Africa, the rest are little planes. However KQ has cancelled our flight and rebooked us on one that gets us to Kigali too late to get to our accommodation. Fortunately I suspected they might do something like that, so we are overnighting in Nairobi, just in case we needed to get a 7am flight! Just trying to get them to rebook on that one. It is an all economy flight, so I wonder if we will get any refund!

Yes you would be better off with poles when trekking for the gorillas.You do go up the mountain so will come down again.So buy poles and get something that suits you.
Silverseas is getting the enhancement bug in many areas now.The boots on board are often left by previous passengers so a bit naughty to hire them out.We do this-a cheap $20-25 pair from Bunnings and leave them on board.

 

[RooFlyer]

Ya picked the wrong mom to bail up, mate!

 

[TheRealTMA]

Cartmel racecourse. We need some of these in our parks.

 

[Deleted member]

I'm sorry. I know this is the wrong thread. Maybe this is too on topic but for me, the very strange AFF member, it's actually an unusual topic for me to ask about so please be patient.

Anyway, how long does it take to apply for an Australian passport and permission to enter the USA. I might be going to a wedding in July this year.

You don’t have a passport ? !

 

[Denali]

You don’t have a passport ? !

Dual passport? I guess it wouldn't hurt to have an Aussie one as well.

And Bunnings sells hiking boots? In going to need something for Iceland next year. Not full on hiking but leather with tread and support would be smarter than my Mary Jane's. And I'm talking Mary Jane shoes, not dope.

 

[Cossie]

Well I'm going to buy some lottery tickets, plane was on time into Terminal 3 Heathrow, express immigration pass, some bags were already on the belt, I had to wait maybe 2 minutes. Plus it was shift handover time for the immigration peoples, a bit of a wait, whilst the new person logged on etc. Had to check how much was on my Oyster card, if I hadn't done that and dithered I would have made the tube that was just leaving. 4 minute wait for the next one.
Probably less that 25 minutes from leaving the aircraft to getting on a train.

 

[get me outta here]

Yeah, just checked that as I too am off to Iceland and Greenland next year. Bunns sells rubber boots for ~$25 and some other work type boots. Could be worth looking into.

And Bunnings sells hiking boots? In going to need something for Iceland next year. Not full on hiking but leather with tread and support would be smarter than my Mary Jane's. And I'm talking Mary Jane shoes, not dope.

 

[cove]

GMOH are you enjoying New York ?

 

[get me outta here]

@rainbowgirl, this sounds like an exciting first o/s trip ... whilst you organise the pp and then the esta (make sure you use the offical online Homeland Security site), also ask the fun questions of how to get the best deal. This where we come into, and for, our own AFFers.

Thanks for the information. It looks like if I make the decision soon about whether I am going or not, I should be able to get the paperwork side of things organised in time.

 

[Denali]

Yeah, just checked that as I too am off to Iceland and Greenland next year. Bunns sells rubber boots for ~$25 and some other work type boots. Could be worth looking into.

I looked at a 3 day side trip to Greenland but couldn't find justify it.

When are you going?

 

[get me outta here]

I love NYC! Right now there is a huge storm coming over. The weather in May so far has been more Melbournenish going from a chilly 10 up to 32.

GMOH are you enjoying New York ?

 

[get me outta here]

I’m on a ship that starts in Iceland, then across to the west coast of Greenland and over and down the coast of Newfoundland down to Montreal. Actually, now that I think of it, it is this year in July.

I looked at a 3 day side trip to Greenland but couldn't find justify it.

When are you going?