Ridiculous experience today. Something I wrote is being translated into a few other languages so I received these foreign tax exemption forms with a message saying get these authorised by your local tax office. So I went to my local tax office and handed over the forms. 'We can't do these here - you'll have to send them to the place that deals with your area'. I said, 'But YOU'RE in my area. Aren't you my local tax office?' 'Not as such,' they replied. They actually said that! I said, 'What do you mean, "Not as such"? It says it outside - you are the local tax office!' They said, 'Well, we are for certain adminstrative matters, but not for others. For others, you'll have to send your papers to Liverpool'. I said, 'So my local tax office is at the other end of the country??' 'Yes'. And with that they got on with chatting to various Polish people. Barmy.

It's all to keep a few people in employment, Prunella !