Whoop Whoop Whoop - it is done!

[JanB]

Ossie

She's on her way, as she can understand Wiltshire and Scouse/Gloster

[Ally]

Just catching up with this Ria....wonderful and I'm so happy for you.

Us 4 have Spanish Citizenship.

We decided (well Don and I did ) that we'd apply after the 10 years of living here which took us to 2013.

It was quite a lengthy process but, having lived here for that long, it didn't seem too bad really. Lots of niggly things but when I look back it was like making sure they, and us, were doing the right thing. If you couldn't be assed with the bo**ox of it all then don't bother basically!

We all had to pass a Spanish language test (very strict ) vow our allegiance to Spain (like why wouldn't we!? ) it gave us the right to vote in national elections (as opposed to local) and generally put the seal on us living here happily like we had for 10 years and for our future.

This has made me think...and I'm sooooo not up on facts re living in the UK....but is citizenship obligatory/compulsory/choice?

And as I type this I know for the millionth time we made the right decision to move here.

[AliasAggers]

WELCOME RIA.

[miasmum]

Congratulations Ria, although if you ever go to Cornwall, you do have to pass the scone jam/cream cream/jam test.

I can guide you on that one

[saundra]

My friend who went to oz to join her son's became a ozzie when her uk passport ran out

[Osc]

Congratulations Ria

[meriad]

This has made me think...and I'm sooooo not up on facts re living in the UK....but is citizenship obligatory/compulsory/choice?

No Ally, not at all. But for me it's just something I felt I needed to do; for my own future security and stability - you never know what will happen after Brexit and as the UK is my home I figured I should do this - made sense to. The crunch for me was that I'm German; Germany does not allow dual passports unless it's 2 EU passports, so I had to apply and get this done before Brexit whilst the UK is still part of the EU. Hence also going for the private citizenship ceremony because then it'll be done before 31st January just in case... Germany not so long ago changed the rule; it used to be the date of actually getting the citizenship (so the date of the ceremony) that counted, but because of the previous uncertainty about actual Brexit leave date they changed it so now it's the date of the actual application that counts, and mine was November last year. But still - another thing I just don't want to risk in case they (Germany) change their law.

Ossie, your comment did make me laugh - I was talking to a train buddy about exactly that this morning; she's from Liverpool and I was saying I'd have to head up north to perfect a more English accent - you'd think my SA one would be more diluted by now wouldn't you

Shell - as long as the scone is a plain one and not a fruit one I will happily eat them either way round; although I do think it's easier with jam first then cream (with apologies to either Cornwall or Devon )

[JoM]

Ria, in our house it's butter first, followed by jam and then clotted cream Using butter can also be quite controversial

[Workingman]

Ria, it does not matter whether you are in Devon or Cornwall, if you do it their wrong way round just turn the whole thing over - sorted.

[meriad]

Ria, in our house it's butter first, followed by jam and then clotted cream Using butter can also be quite controversial

Oh, I now quite fancy a savoury cheese scone with butter! yum