Picture with a hat

We are in the stage of getting our new subscriptions, annual passes and our ID's sorted out. Nothing special about that, just a job that has to be done, when you change locations. Regular chores. Boring, boring.

For many of these ID's, a photo is required. Again, nothing unusual about that.

On this particular day, I had my hat on. It was a nice purple one actually. One of my favourites.
So I tootled along to one of those photo booths, you know the sort, those pokey little, often smelly cabins, usually found at train stations. When I got there, I found the right coins and smiled into the camera, hoping and praying, I looked half way decent.

Surely enough a few minutes later, out popped my photos. Not too bad considering.
I then made my way back to the desk to get this particular local ID done, a train pass if you really want to know.

The man behind the counter, took my documents and glared at my photo.
"This is not acceptable, madam" he told me.

In my naivite, I asked why.
"Madam, you are wearing a hat".

To which I replied, "Yes I know, I often do".

He then went on to explain that, this was not possible. Hats are not allowed to be worn on photos.
Considering this actually was, most likely, what I would be wearing, when travelling using this pass, I felt that little surge of rage pop up.

I wasn't going to take this one lying down!

I approached it from the angle of "needing" the hat, rather than "wanting" to wear it. I mentioned other people who might also "need" to wear head coverage. And I wondered how they were treated.  He looked me over. Unsure.

Reluctantly he told me that if I could prove it was for medicinal purposes, he would, exceptionally allow this photo. I told him I had no hair.

Within seconds, he fumbled on and produced my ID. A beautiful little train pass with a nice photo of me in a purple cap! Result!

What a palava!!!