My local DVLA office seem nice, and where S...t hot at processign my Plate transfer on my TinTops.. I had the new tax disk after 2 days and both new v5's after 3 days..
TBH... Most of my dealings with the DVLA have always been good, even when I got fined for forgettign to tick the SORN box on a tax refund the waved the TAX and jst charged the 40 Fine.. They get a bad rap from some people but usualy if you bother to read the rule and keep up then your not goign to have a problem..
Hopefully you will be fully legal soon, and able to do a roadtrip to show it off to everyone
TT