Cue Suspense - How Did It Go?

This should give it away:

Back to the IND for our appointment, and after one hour, a residency permit!

The appointment was in a small room with four interview desks, of which at most two were ever being used (hence the initial two weeks' wait?). We had to hand in forms, a passport photo, show proof of funds and pay 30E. The 30E was paid to a cashier sitting in a tiny sectionned-off room within this office; that was his only job, to take fees from applicants. It didn't seem like much of a job, and with no TV or internet to distract him between the four of five payments he'd have to receive all day. While our lady was inputing our information, another went around asking staff and whoever they were interviewing if they'd like a drink. "Coffee, tea, maybe a hot chocolate?" I like a department of immigration that offers speciality drinks* (I was too bemused to accept). Without any fuss, our passports were stickered with a residency permit - dated till July. In the meantime, our residency is reviewed - everything we've read says this is stock standard and that it's always extended for the whole year. But why add another step in an already overly-bureaucratic process - for a one year visa?

So tomorrow, back to the town hall for our sofinumber, and then it's all done.

And to top it off, today was a glorious day. Warm and blue skies, and for the first time in a long time we dolled ourselves up, both in new boots, unburdened by layers and puffy jackets. After the IND we went into Amsterdam to see about some jobs, hopefully good things there, and the city was just sparkling. We toasted our success with cofffee and cake (not great but the coffee came with these more-ish caramel sugar sticks that you are all getting for Christmas). Today I was in love with this place, and it makes it all worth it.

* Remember when Kramer visits his lawyer Jackie Chiles and when asked if he'd like something to drink, replies "yea, I'll have a decaf cappucino" - "uh, we don't have decaf cappucinos"..."that's unusual, it's a very popular drink".