Sharp dressed men

After just 24 years, finally, today, Mirinda became a British citizen. No more need to explain why she lives here on her Australian passport; no more explaining to British passport control that, yes, her husband is travelling with her and he is British. And now, after a couple of false starts for various unimportant reasons, she has sworn allegiance to Chuck III and promised to keep the laws, yadda yadda yadda.

The dapper chap standing next to her in the photo above is Bruce. He officiated at the ceremony where around ten soon to be new Brits, stood and recited the pledge of allegiance. Bruce was very jolly and made the morning so much brighter.

You might notice from the photograph, his impressive, Poirot style moustache. It was easy to imagine him twirling it into shape with a bit of wax every morning and starting the day with a hairy smile above his normal one.

The other newly certified Brits were all happy and proud and all the rest of the things you’d expect. They were all from different countries, apart from the Albanian couple who were, well, in a couple and doing it together.

Everyone had dressed for the occasion and were looking particularly sharp, especially the Indian chap with his blue suit with deep red features he’d bought in Greece. The woman he was with had the longest name I’ve ever seen – we checked it out on her certificate and Mirinda tried to say it.

After the ceremony, we had a brief wander in the garden where Mirinda showed off her Surrey passport holder, something I don’t have. It’s obviously only for new Brits as opposed to old ones like me.

We were so happy afterwards that when Mirinda suggested we go and have brunch at Côte, that I readily agreed without thinking it was a French restaurant. As we drove by the Beefeater in Farnham, I did suggest that perhaps we should be eating there given her new citizen status.

She laughed off my absurd suggestion. We parked behind Waitrose and had a delicious French brunch.

Then, to finish off the day properly, we headed for Alresford to celebrate with Amanda and Spanish tapas at Pulpo Negro. Mind you, Amanda’s various allergies did prevent her from eating some of the glories that are on offer at Pulpo Negro. Still, we all had an excellent time and, to top things off nicely, my favourite waiter was on duty and duly made me his best espresso martini.

Then, when we were leaving the restaurant, a waiter told Amanda that I was a snappy dresser. It made me very happy.

What an excellent day it was.