A citizen of Europe
I seem to have time to post, but not to read...
Today a young man drove up to my front door and handed me an envelope from the Home Office which turned out to contain my new passport. I was quite impressed by this, as it's only ten days since I handed in my application, and they've got it back to me before the old one was due to expire on Sunday. And pleased that, yet again, they passed a photo with glasses (I tried without, but it doesn't look like me.) Also it's nice that it's officially dated from my father's birthday.
The design has developed significantly from last time: there are lots of exciting pictures inside of Iconic British Innovations, Artists, Landmarks and Architecture, Performing Arts etc, and lots of people including Ada Lovelace and John Constable, and the Angel of the North and a Tube train and the Gipsy Moth, all of which could provide hours of gentle entertainment on a dull journey.
But what I'm most proud of is that it bears the inscription "European Union" at the top of the cover. This makes me feel that I will remain a European citizen for another ten years, whatever happens in the June referendum. And the rest of my life, I hope. I don't think the anti-EU campaigners can really take me out of Europe, or Europe out of me; it's too fundamental to my identity. But I'll always feel happier when it's there on my passport.
Also posted on Dreamwidth, with
comments.
Today a young man drove up to my front door and handed me an envelope from the Home Office which turned out to contain my new passport. I was quite impressed by this, as it's only ten days since I handed in my application, and they've got it back to me before the old one was due to expire on Sunday. And pleased that, yet again, they passed a photo with glasses (I tried without, but it doesn't look like me.) Also it's nice that it's officially dated from my father's birthday.
The design has developed significantly from last time: there are lots of exciting pictures inside of Iconic British Innovations, Artists, Landmarks and Architecture, Performing Arts etc, and lots of people including Ada Lovelace and John Constable, and the Angel of the North and a Tube train and the Gipsy Moth, all of which could provide hours of gentle entertainment on a dull journey.
But what I'm most proud of is that it bears the inscription "European Union" at the top of the cover. This makes me feel that I will remain a European citizen for another ten years, whatever happens in the June referendum. And the rest of my life, I hope. I don't think the anti-EU campaigners can really take me out of Europe, or Europe out of me; it's too fundamental to my identity. But I'll always feel happier when it's there on my passport.
Also posted on Dreamwidth, with
comments.