even if you are just on your jollies with a bunch of mates much worse if you are an international football manager and have to wave goodbye to the team at the airport http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23774483
He managed to get a replacement sorted out bloody quick! Mine had expired when my father in law died and I needed to go to the States. I phoned passport office on a Monday and got an appointment for the Thursday!