Let’s talk about my least favourite activity, form filling.
This is of course next to answering selection criteria, riding a bike, and going to the supermarket. Connection? Supermarket is decision central, too many tins of tomatoes for my liking plus the expectation of producing something edible from purchased items. I’m ok with the easy breezy ‘fill n flick’ online form, but old skool; Paper. Pen. Post type of forms make me twitch.
Since arriving in Tasmania we’ve had the misfortune of completing 25 forms. That’s one form every two days. It’s also a small old growth forest… perhaps there is a point to this paper pushing pandemic. Par Pout!
It all started fairly innocently at the Post Office, form number one. Application for PO Box 13, we should have seen it coming. Two pages, various id and evidence of past residence. Fair enough. Done and dusted in 10 minutes.
Form number two: Tasmanian Library card. This was actually a near miss for me (Carole had to use a pen), as the Library Tech input the information straight into the computer (gasp), so form was by-passed.
Form three, four and five; All important loyalty cards at Spotlight, Mountain Designs, and Your Habitat- the closest thing to Ikea. Yes, you read that correctly, there’s NO Ikea in Tasmania… what to do on a Thursday night?!?!?!
Form six; Application for ‘good character check, a requirement to teach in Tasmania. This authorises the Education Dept check my criminal past to determine if I’m of ‘good character’. Turns out I am, until May 2014.
Form seven and eight: Application for a credit check. Boring. Boring. Boring.
Forms nine and ten: Rental house application – including a 12 page interrogation; 6 referees, last 10 years residential addresses…pretty much everything aside from the length our toenails…only to be told that the property was leased that morning [insert swearing, stomping, mini-domestic, caffeine, cake, all good].
Form eleven: Application for a mobile phone
Forms twelve and thirteen: Employment application forms… O.o.h
Forms fourteen to seventeen: Applications to teach in Tasmania…again. Seriously?!?!?
Forms eighteen: Application for a parking permit with the Hobart city council
Form nineteen: Application for entry to Uni Tasmania for my Masters of Education
Form twenty: Application for credit for units completed at Edith Cowan
Form twenty one: Application for my academic transcript from Edith Cowan which I have to pay $10.00 for the privilege.
Form twenty two to twenty four: Lost count. Can’t remember. Possibly a form to apply for a form.
Form twenty five: Application for WACOT (WA College of Teachers) to run a police clearance in WA. Comon!! Last time I checked we are one country /:
These forms appear out of nowhere, at anytime. So much for the NBN… probably need a form for that too!
My advice? Carry a pen, preferably black.
Ha! Brilliant
who would have thought I could feel anymore brilliant than after a session of water aerobics, a v.big glass of white in front of me, and Sushimi on it’s way to me, but you my dear have been the cherry to my night 
Great read em think you need to become a journo or something I will be hanging out to hear about nxt wks forms xxx miss you both love melis