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compilerbitchThe current state of play is:
o New passports have been applied for to replace those stolen from Bat, Natasha and the Bat Mother
o The police have (after considerable hassle) provided a document that supports their claim
o The British Embassy said that, given the replacement of their passports, there shouldn't be any difficulty in getting their visas back
o All relevant palms have been greased in order to facilitate a 2 (ish) week turn around.
o I have applied for a visa myself, which should arrive tomorrow, at which point I'll book flights. I'm planning to spend a long weekend with Bat, leaving next Thursday. If you want me to take anything for her, I'll need it by next Wednesday. She's not on line, unfortunately, but I do have contact details if you want to phone her. I have a number you can dial first in order to just pay national rate (i.e. about 5p/minute, less than that off-peak)
I think the best description of the situation is that, assuming everything goes OK, they should get their passports back mid-August, and assuming a couple more days to get their visas back, a realistic return date is probably 3rd week of August.
I speak to Bat every day, so do send me messages for her.
The person who is taking this the hardest, at least at the moment, is probably me. Bat is bored, feeling somewhat flat, helpless, but is actually in surprisingly good spirits.
I'll post here only when I have specific news. You can of course contact me off LJ if you want a more recent update.
o New passports have been applied for to replace those stolen from Bat, Natasha and the Bat Mother
o The police have (after considerable hassle) provided a document that supports their claim
o The British Embassy said that, given the replacement of their passports, there shouldn't be any difficulty in getting their visas back
o All relevant palms have been greased in order to facilitate a 2 (ish) week turn around.
o I have applied for a visa myself, which should arrive tomorrow, at which point I'll book flights. I'm planning to spend a long weekend with Bat, leaving next Thursday. If you want me to take anything for her, I'll need it by next Wednesday. She's not on line, unfortunately, but I do have contact details if you want to phone her. I have a number you can dial first in order to just pay national rate (i.e. about 5p/minute, less than that off-peak)
I think the best description of the situation is that, assuming everything goes OK, they should get their passports back mid-August, and assuming a couple more days to get their visas back, a realistic return date is probably 3rd week of August.
I speak to Bat every day, so do send me messages for her.
The person who is taking this the hardest, at least at the moment, is probably me. Bat is bored, feeling somewhat flat, helpless, but is actually in surprisingly good spirits.
I'll post here only when I have specific news. You can of course contact me off LJ if you want a more recent update.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-07-31 09:09 am (UTC)Still, it's terrible she (and her sister and mother) are stuck out there. Eeep.
Send hugs from me to bat. And enjoy Moscow when you get there - you'll find it a culture shock at first, I think.
Val's returning to Moscow on the 25th, by the way, so if for any reason bat is still there, then Val will visit her.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-07-31 09:22 am (UTC)Moscow will, I expect, be an interesting experience. I'm really just going to see Bat, of course, but a bit of bodding around will be inevitable, I'm sure.
I am tending to assume that the 25th is going to be roughly the time that they will be coming home, so there is a distinct chance of crossover there. I'll mention the possibility tonight when Bat calls back.