I am not sure whether or not it is a resolved or anything, but today my woman was convinced it had all been worked in what I think is perfectly Chinese fashion.
You will recall that the marriage registry office were not happy with any of the certificates that had been prepared by the Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths or Marriages.
So the compromise we have all agreed on was for us to draw up a suitable "certificate" and for me to sign it. Mind you it is just a piece of paper, with no official status whatsoever. I have signed it, scanned it and sent it to to my dear woman, to include with all the other papers I have sent to the registry for translation and lodging.
For good measure I sent them the same text as on their certificate in an Australian statutory declaration form, witnessed by a police officer, with an official looking stamp at the bottom of the declaration.
It's a delightful solution because no-one has lost face. The marriage registry office have the certificate they insisted on. I have permission to marry my dear woman. The Victorian registry did not have to issue an irregular certificate. No-one had to back down and we're all happy. What a perfect solution! *laughs*
Who is to know how it really got worked out. It could have been the wedding sweets my future father-in-law was handing out a the registry office. It could have been the possibility of having a fuss with the Chinese embassy here in Melbourne. They might have just got sick of my dear woman and her old father coming day after day and asking them to reconsider. Who is to know?
Mind you, it is not really over until I am married, and they might change their minds or anything, but it was just delightful. Anyone who knows even a little about the place will know what I am talking about *laughs*