Gidday, maaate!

I have my certificate, and it proves that I am a dinkum Aussie. It was a very nice little ceremony, with just the right balance of formality and informality. There was a brass band and a mayor complete with robes and chain. He was very tall and extremely intelligent, as you will see: HE ADMIRED MY CARDIGAN!!! No, really, he said "That's a very nice jumper".

"Thank you," I said smugly "I designed it myself."

"What an asset to Australia!" he exclaimed. This is all true - I couldn't make this up! So I told him I was also doing a PhD. Then I let him go, he had other people to welcome. But I definitely had the longest conversation with him - about knitwear!

Best.citizenship.story.ever. And I got a tree - well, a shrub.

Then Lyn and I walked down Norton St to a new South Italian restaurant and had a lovely meal, and now I get to sleep my first night as an Australian. And Sandra will be home the day after tomorrow and life will return to normal.

Edited to add that Lyn has also blogged the occasion with some lovely words here. And I'm sorry that people seem to be having some problem leaving comments. I haven't changed the settings; I'm not sure what's going on.

Comments

[discoknitter]

What? NO awkward speeches about graffiti and machine guns? You were ripped off!

[Deborah]

Congratulations! So you'll be voting come the federal election...

[Drkknits.wordpress.com]

goodonyamate! seriously tho, great story, and so glad you get to vote now! congratulations!

[Emily Dibdin]

Almost forgotten what I wanted to say after some typepad rigmarole...

Anyway, congrats, and if you couldn't have Sandra, LynS seems the very best sub you could have, and obviously enjoyed it almost as much as you!

[Sally Ogilvie]

As discoknitter pointed out, at my citizenship ceremony we were given a talk about graffiti and how it's good that Australian streets don't have soldiers patrolling with machine guns (as, I was advised, is the norm in London!). Not one word of welcome, just lots of boring stories (and prayers). In retrospect the whole occasion was really rather funny.

[Amputeehee.blogspot.com]

I *love* this story :-)
congrats!