My beloved had to go to her office very early this morning, but I could not go back to sleep after she left. I tossed and turned for quite a while, and ultimately I got up. Try as I might, I could not stop thinking about all the bureaucratic horrors I am facing in Croatia. The tax authorities were uppermost in my mind. I have been corresponding with them for an entire year, but my case is still up in the air. And all this on account of countless forms that must be filled and submitted to one office or another. The law regulating taxes in this country is simply frightening. The threat of punishment for the smallest of errors is hanging over one’s head all the time. Pure hell, and I am not exaggerating. On top of the tax quagmire, I remembered the misery I am facing with the Croatian courts. Ever since the former mayor of Motovun has taken me to court for libel and insult, both of which charges were politically motivated, I have been from one court to another. And my appeal to the constitutional court is pending for the third year already. Strasbourg is my last hope, but I cannot go there without the highest court’s decision. To my horror, the ordeal with Croatian courts started no less than six years ago. Pure hell for true. I have lived in quite a number of countries, but I have never experienced so much trouble with vicious bureaucracy. By comparison, even former Yugoslavia was a wonderful place. All in all, I am dying to leave Croatia for good, but my love for my beloved stops me. The greatest love of my life stands in the way of the greatest hate of my life. And I do hate Croatia with a passion. Stuck between the two, the best I can do is to write about it. Some consolation, too!