Last edited by dunroof on 30th Oct 2012 7:00 pm. Edited 1 time in total

Lunch with daughter over so back Mickey Mouse Government.

Don't have any tattoos so the reference to illegitimate offspring is all mine unless JST has a real treasurer also

Well the US DoS FAM listing does strike a morality that begat's their puritanical Founder's moral indignation of their European forebearer's tolerance of one's waverings. Nonetheless, we see amongst this host of genocidal Americans (for there very few native Indians left in the US) some who are indeed the fruit of a joyous union. Headliners include: Jack Nicholson, Billie Holiday, Jesse Jackson, Oprah Winfrey to name just four.

However up there in the Highlands dunroof, I'll leave it to the local lad Robert Burns to lament in the best way he knew of the illegitimate daughter he fought and lost to retain custody over. He gave his poem the title:

"A Poet's Welcome to his Love-Begotten Daughter"

Welcome, my bonie, sweet, wee dochter!
Tho' ye come here a wee unsought for,
And tho' your comin I hae fought for
Baith kirk and queir;
Yet, by my faith, ye're no unwrought for ---
That I shall swear!

Indeed, Burns' was quiet correct - his daughter (and mine) were/are creations' delicate and fair, and cared for - loved. Legitimately.

Looks as though I am OK as far as the list is concerned. Thankfully they repealed the "Adultery" clause ...although the Liquor Violation and the Mayhem bit may be a grey area

My last trip into the states was a bit traumatic as far a Homeland Security was concerned. First of all I set off the metal detector due to my metal hip and the next thing I know a guy is coming at me with rubber gloves on! Fortunately he opted out of the body search. Also, I had been playing a lot of gigs in my band and anyone who has played bass a lot with roundwound strings knows that it screws up your fingerprints....this did not go down well with the guy in the booth. Very stoney faced...and he had a gun!

In short, when they recruit these people I guess a sense of humour is not top of the desired attributes and they do not waste time on customer relations training.

What ever happened to "Welcome to the USA, have a nice day"? John
07 HSE Narvick Black
Land Rover Series One
Triumph Rocket 111 (sadly gone!)

and what ever you do dont mention airports and what you will do to it for been delayed on twitter/facebook

It's amazing how threads develop!

Only two thoughts: firstly, it's obviously a quiet day in Swansea!! Secondly, Athelstan, whilst I agree that the Americans do carry out some rather intrusive checks on aliens, the difference between USA and Iran or Syria is that when the Americans have finished with your fingers or eyes they let you keep them.

may be if the two of you lived in the country that was on the recieving end of the terrorist attacks on the world trade center that september you might have a differant oppinion it would not stop me from going state side for a holiday at least i would be rest assured that no low down coward of a terrorist was;nt going to harm me or my family as far as i am concerned thay could have my dna as long as it was kept safe and sound and my family with it after all if you have nothing to hide whats the problem in giving what is nessary to get in that part of the world  rainy-city
xs

Ben Twillie wrote:

Athelstan, whilst I agree that the Americans do carry out some rather intrusive checks on aliens, the difference between USA and Iran or Syria is that when the Americans have finished with your fingers or eyes they let you keep them.

all this messing about going to the USA just puts me off

I'ed love to go, but messing about with visa and standing around whilst they interrogate all the tourist who bring money to spend and build their economy just is off putting

Same as programs like Nothing to Declare, Australia's boarder control look to fine someone for not declaring a single tic-tak a hideous crime worth $300 fine

bigalf1961 wrote:

may be if the two of you lived in the country that was on the recieving end of the terrorist attacks on the world trade center that september you might have a differant oppinion it would not stop me from going state side for a holiday at least i would be rest assured that no low down coward of a terrorist was;nt going to harm me or my family as far as i am concerned thay could have my dna as long as it was kept safe and sound and my family with it after all if you have nothing to hide whats the problem in giving what is nessary to get in that part of the world

Exactly! It is nothing to do with questioning a country's right to protect itself, it's how it goes about it and remembering that the country has an image abroad which needs enhancing to attract tourists.

Mind you, we ain't that good here either. Next week I am off to France. I will drive straight off the ferry at Caen unquestioned and can drive all round europe from country to country without hindrance or need for a passport. That is of course until I try to get back into my own country (which I am told is also part of europe) at which point I will queue up on Portsmouth dock forever, waiting my turn for an unsmiling official to demand to see my passport. Still, at least the diesel will be relatively cheaper this year!  John
07 HSE Narvick Black
Land Rover Series One
Triumph Rocket 111 (sadly gone!)

Last week, Diesel in France equated to £1.20 a gallon on the Aires, obviously cheaper if you get it off the busy routes.

Woo hoo! That makes it a lot cheaper at M Leclerc! Wine will also be so cheap that I will have to drink faster to keep up with the exchange rate! John
07 HSE Narvick Black
Land Rover Series One
Triumph Rocket 111 (sadly gone!)

Going back to the original question, I have had no problems in USA with paper licence, but more recently I had EU photo licence which is more an equivalent to what Americans expect to see. It will help with credit card transactions as well, because the "chip and pin" system is not used in the States.

You should make sure you have your licence with you at all times whilst driving and also the car rental documents.

I personally don't have a problem with US immigration control which is I know from experience is slow and tedious, but once you are through, it is well worth it.

I have rented SUVs last few times and the time before last had a Dodge Durango which must have been as big as some UK houses!

http://trialx.com/curetalk/wp-content/blog...ango-2.jpg 2013 RR Evoque Pure Tech
2012 TD4 GS Auto Orkney Grey - gone

Last edited by Bugblatter on 12th Jun 2012 10:33 pm. Edited 1 time in total

Ben Twillie wrote:

It's amazing how threads develop!

Only two thoughts: firstly, it's obviously a quiet day in Swansea!! Secondly, Athelstan, whilst I agree that the Americans do carry out some rather intrusive checks on aliens, the difference between USA and Iran or Syria is that when the Americans have finished with your fingers or eyes they let you keep them.

 2013 RR Evoque Pure Tech
2012 TD4 GS Auto Orkney Grey - gone

Cheers Bugblatter - I knew there would be someone out there with a decent set of info. Its a few years snce I was last over there and know how things can change.

Travel agent suggested I didn't need anything else but TBH some of the info he has given me suggests that his first answer is always yes no matter what - he's keen to please and I'm possibly making him work too hard for his money..... bit like estate agents..... no offence.

We plan to do around 2500 miles in 15 days, got an intermediate SUV booked into the price which should be good comparison to the freelie - I'm expecting 25-30 mpg if I'm lucky . Just hope its big enough for all our luggage.

Does anyone know how 33.2 cu ft equates to litres? I know the freelie is 755 ltrs so just need a comparison.

DR There's always a way forward!

2008 Freelander Td4 GS - Stornoway Grey - Now Gone - Sob
2011 Freelander Td4 GS 150 - Rimini Red - in its place - Better x far x 4!!