Became British!

After 8 1/2 years, a whole mountain of paperwork, and quite a bit of cash (I'm sure it doesn't REALLY cost that much to process an application, Home Office), I am now officially a subject of the British Crown.

I swore my allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her heirs (that means you, Prince George of the Chubby Cheeks). I am now officially a dual citizen. 

It turned out that the Registrar in charge of my swearing-in ceremony is a good friend of mine from when I first arrived in the UK (we worked together at Ickworth). Here we are, with HMQ herself.

I do solemnly swear to complain about the weather, drink vast quantities of tea, spell colour with a "u," drive on the left, refer to my vacation as holiday and my dessert as pudding, drink as much Aspall's and Adnams as I can manage, and watch all the BBC television I can find. Cool? 

I shall not be partaking of the marmite, mushy peas, Earl Grey, or prawn cocktail crisps (yuck). I hope that still means I can stay.

I will also sing the Benjamin Britten arrangement of God Save The Queen whenever possible. Seriously. It's gorgeous.

P.S. I'm still American, too, don't worry!