I probably should have posted that previous rant a little earlier, seeing as there has now been significant progress. It may not seem like much, but now, when phoning the Borders and Immigration Agency, they actually have details for me on their system! Which means an actual live human being has passed their actual live human being eyes over my letter. Which means, in turn, there’s an outside chance my confirmation letter will arrive before I actually succumb to starvation.
Part of me hopes it isn’t due to the intervention of my M.P., the Right Honourable Doctor John Reid, as I would like to think a government bureaucracy would occasionally be able to do the right thing all on its own, but I’m very grateful all the same.

Well, Korvar good to see you are still alive, Dave from the RPG in Livingston. we were all kind of wondering what had happened, after you had said you were moving we hadm’t heard from you since. I see things have been a bit hectic and I realise how difficult it is to get out of Harthill and to Livingston using public transport, however do keep in touch when you get the chance pop in to the forum and say hi. Hope things get going for you soon with work and everything.
Jeepers. I was pissed off enough when my passport application got returned to me (at the cost to me of £5 plus a trip to the sorting office to collect the letter) on account of I wear glasses and they reflect light. I am going to be trying again after getting a passport photo taken in a shop (on the grounds that they are presumably liable if the photo does not pass).
I realize now I have gotten off lightly…!
If you haven’t already, visit the Australian High Commission and see what they say about how to get your passport replaced. I would hope there would be some way to sort out a missing passport. It will require a face-2-face interview at the consulate, but there is one in Edinburgh so you don’t need to go all the way to London …