I may need to clear something up about our application for citizenship, which I mentioned yesterday. Although we're applying to be UK citizens, we are not giving up our American citizenship. So we'll be dual citizens, which is actually very common -- both American and British. It gives us extra freedom to live in either place.
This could get tricky only if the US and the UK go to war with each other, which has seemed inconceivable for the past 200 years or so. Now, with Donald Trump in power, you never know -- but if we find ourselves facing off I'll just keep my head down and be Switzerland. (Which is my approach to most conflicts. I should really get Swiss citizenship.)
I'm also finishing up our US taxes, providing additional information and paperwork to the accountant who's doing our return. It's nice to have someone else handle it for a change, but gathering all the information is almost as difficult as doing it myself! I'll be interested to see what she finds we owe and if it's any different from what we've paid in previous years. If she saves us money, in other words.
It's spring, and you know what that means -- time for library inventory! Perhaps my favorite of all library tasks. I started it yesterday, scanning the fiction section, and after a steady day's work I'm about two-thirds of the way through. I can probably finish fiction today before moving on to non-fiction, which will take much more time. And then I may do the Lower School library as well, if the librarians want me to.
(Inventory means we scan every book in the library to see if any are missing. Inevitably, some are -- usually because kids walked off with them without checking them out -- and we then mark them lost. It's a way to make sure what's in the catalogue is actually still on the shelves.)
We finished "The White Lotus" last night and loved it. The writers really stretched out the suspense until the last possible moment, and I love the way the show examines the effects of privilege and wealth.
(Photos: An apartment building on Abbey Road, and some cute multicultural rubbish.)
I finished the White Lotus last night. It was fabulous last episode. Loved it.
ReplyDeleteI agree, but not all the critics did!
DeleteSounds like a busy but fulfilling time! Dual citizenship definitely offers great flexibility—hopefully no UK–US war in sight. I am in the middle of watching the finale White lotus
ReplyDeleteHopefully is right! I would have laughed at the idea only last year, but now it seems less humorous.
DeleteWhite Lotus must have been screened everywhere last night, and of course our last night would have been before your last night. I don't know the show, but it has overtaken the tv chat about Adolescence.
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely the hot show of the moment!
DeleteHaving read your blog for several years, I have an opinion about your citizenship position. Forget the USA, Great Britain and Switzerland! For you, becoming a citizen of Narnia would be far more fitting. There, all of your dreams will come true.
ReplyDeleteDo they use the word "sidewalk" in Narnia?
DeleteWe’ll finish the White Lotus today so thanks for no spoilers! Depending on what I read, Spain either allows dual citizenship with the US or does not. I’m pretty sure it DOES. Mostly I read that Spain requires a verbal renunciation of US citizenship, but it’s meaningless to the US. Here we go down the bureaucratic rabbit hole.
ReplyDeleteI think every country requires a sort of "pledge of allegiance" at the swearing-in ceremony. It's not a problem unless there's actually a conflict, which is hard to imagine for either England or Spain.
DeleteYou can't beat the way Lancastrians pronounce the word 'inventory'.
ReplyDeleteI have to look that up!
DeleteI just caught up on all of my blog reading. Congratulations on applying for British citizenship. I am envious! We just watched the first episode of the White Lotus a couple of days ago. I have been reading that the last episode was quite the ending.
ReplyDeleteYou wouldn't be envious of the tax bill. That's the downside.
DeleteI don't have that streaming service, unfortunately. Alas. But everyone is talking about it! I hope everything goes smoothly with the citizenship application. I'm sure it will and it will be so good to have both!
ReplyDeleteWe watch it on NOW, which is part of Sky TV. We had to subscribe just for this show, but I'm hoping we can find other things worth watching too.
DeleteI think we'd all like to be Switzerland about now.
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot to be said for neutrality!
DeleteI never really understood why the oath to become a U.S. citizen says you will renounce all foreign citizenships but yet the U.S. allows dual citizenship. Regardless, I think being a dual citizen is the best of both worlds.
ReplyDeleteWe've been at war with England twice now. Odds are we are probably due for another one. I wonder if Trump has taxed your tea this time around?
I can't imagine what England imports from the United States. I don't think I've ever bought anything here that said "Made in the USA." Maybe certain snack foods, or corn products?
DeleteI haven't watched the White Lotus, but read a review of the last episode. The reviewer was very disappointed in it.
ReplyDeleteMy son has dual British/Irish citizenship as he was born in Ireland. It could be useful . . .
Was that the review in the London Times? I read that one and was surprised by it.
DeleteSomehow I missed your post from yesterday. I did love the photos of Olga with the lovely pink blooms. It's your life so you can be a citizen wherever you want, Steve.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that vote of confidence! :)
DeleteIndeed! As I said yesterday, I think, having British citizenship now too is not a bad idea at all.
ReplyDeleteThat apartment building is regal! I'd love to see what it looks like inside.
Go you on the inventory! You are getting it done.
It IS regal. I'd love to see what the flats look like and how much they cost.
DeleteWe watched the last episode Sunday night. And yeah, pretty good. Marc says it's been renewed for another season.Probably a good idea to have dual citizenship since your are living there with no plans to move and particularly considering the state of this country.
ReplyDeleteI wonder where "The White Lotus" will go next?!
DeleteThat apartment house in your photo is beautiful. Good luck with your inventory.
ReplyDeleteI don't have access to White Lotus but have heard good things. I did watch "The Residence" on Netflix which I enjoyed. It's funny in a strange sort of way.
I think you mentioned this show before. Or someone did. I should check it out.
DeleteI love those old London mansion house blocks of apartments. So stylish.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope the US and UK don't go to war. It would ruin so many people's holidays 😏
Ha! No more Disney World!
DeleteDual citizenship sounds ideal. That said, I hear many people are cancelling their trips to the US now, due to all the latest issues. A neighbor, native of India, business-owner, American citizen, and US educated went to Saudia Arabia for business and had a tough time getting back home. This happened just a few weeks ago.
ReplyDeleteI do hope this is all temporary.
I imagine traveling is especially hard right now for people who are not of white European extraction, thanks to Trump and the racism inherent in his administration.
DeleteICE has lost their damn minds. They detained a US citizen immigration lawyer and demanded that he turn over his phone, which was full of client stuff. Privileged stuff. He said nope. He ended up having to share his contact list which was bad enough. Anyway, that's the mindset that is greeting people coming home from elsewhere. I'm not sure which will be worse, coming here on a US passport or UK.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised once he shared the client list he wasn't compelled to share the rest. Seems like once you've violated attorney/client privilege the door has been opened.
DeleteWhat a nice looking apartment building! I wonder if the apartments (flats) are as well-kept on the inside? I bet they're pricey.
ReplyDeleteI wonder too! I should look at some real estate listings and see what they look like.
DeleteI REALLY enjoyed this season of White Lotus. We finished it last night, too.
ReplyDeleteIt was so good, wasn't it?! I read that Duke University wasn't thrilled with its portrayal (or that of its alums).
DeleteWe are now guessing, in fact betting, where the next season of The White Lotus could be, in a way all the beach location resorts are the same and you could be by a pool side anywhere (why did nobody swim in the gorgeous ocean?), so if they go for somewhere different, maybe New Zealand or Iceland? The Swiss Alps or by of the Italian lakes, Provence? Still, the highest bet here is on Seychelles or Mauritius.
ReplyDeleteSeychelles or Mauritius or the Maldives would be a good bet. I don't think they'd go back to Italy. Maybe Heard Island, frolicking with the penguins? :)
DeleteI keep hearing about White Lotus, but we're all hockey & baseball around here (which admittedly isn't on 24/7, but then we have WWII documentaries on - ha!).
ReplyDeleteThis is why I never got into watching sports. It can monopolize your time! (OK, that's not why. I just hate sports.)
DeleteI'm not sure of the meaning for the caption. My daughter has dual citizen ship...Canadian and American.
ReplyDeleteJust a little play on words and the prefixes Homo and Bi.
DeleteDual citizenship sounds pretty good to me, especially right now.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to have a backup plan!
DeleteYes, Swiss sounds nice.
ReplyDeleteSnow! Chocolate! What's not to like?!
DeleteI haven't seen White Lotus yet, I'm waiting until after the cataract surgery and completion of healing.
ReplyDeleteMakes sense! It's a beautifully filmed show so you'll want to see the visuals clearly.
DeleteSomehow I missed commenting on this. Just wanted to say I think it's a very good idea to establish UK residency. These are weird and not-at-all wonderful times.
ReplyDeleteDual citizenship is the way to go. I wish I qualified. My grandfather was born in Scotland; does that count? I've heard a lot of buzz about White Lotus but don't have the streaming service so I'm resisting for now.
ReplyDeleteI also loved this season of The White Lotus. My favourite finale moment was Carrie Coon's monologue.
ReplyDeleteWe Canadians might be at war alongside you. Sigh.