bureaucracy

Singapore got this one sussed. Identity cards, wouldn't go anywhere without it. My card number is the same as my tax reference number is the same as my provident fund number is the same as my driving license number. British system binned here long ago where everything is different. Hey, I also know my blood group and have got a record of my fingerprint incase I loose a digit in an accident. Best thing is, when I move house (even got my address and postcode on my card incase I get too drunk the taxi driver can get me home) only need to inform the neighbourhood bobby and everyone knows my new address. No missed tax returns, appointments etc.

The only funny thing that has happened to me here was one fine day we were returning from a weekend in Indonesia, wife and kids in tow, home beckoning, projects to finish etc. when the immigration officer informed me that my re-entry visa had expired and I was now a visitor on a 14 day pass, same as all the other scum. This also meant that my resident status had expired. I was a drift, no nation? When I got to the immigration office the next day with just a letter from my employer, they were kind enough to renew all on the spot for another five years.