On Acquiring Greek Nationality !

September 15th, 9am, two embryonic Greeks sit outside the local government /administrative offices where we are to swear an oath of allegiance to the Hellenic State – the final step in the entire naturalization process.

And here are the successful candidates from Albania, Armenia, China, Serbia and …. 2 Scots! We had the choice of taking a religious or civil oath. Opting for the latter, I was intrigued to see the main difference was the omission of the verb I swear, which was clearly seen to have spiritual connotations.

Three copies to sign: one for the government offices, one for the council files and one for me, which brought the ceremony to a close.

We pose with the exceedingly civil, civil servant who cheerily led us through the whole event. The human element: my friend was keen to show the lady her tot shots! Rosemary became a first-time grandmother on the day her invitation to the swearing-in ceremony arrived. These two events will be inextricably linked for her!

The neonate Greeks. This shot differs mainly from the embryonic in that there are wide-behind-the-mask beams and official documentation verifying our new status.

We always said we’d go for a posh lunch after the event but so early on your choices are limited. We plumped for coffee and spinach pies at the famous Terkenlee patisserie. And very good they were too! I also bought some of their scrumptious macaroons as a treat for our neighbours.

When family members or members of the Caledonian clan come to visit, I fly the Scottish saltire in their honour. Many’s the time I’ve raised the Greek flag on our flagstaff but this was a first – to mark a new Greek being in the house!!

The Greeks call a special day mia aspri mera – a white day. This was really an azure and white day – a clear blue sky, the flag, specially selected colour-coded outfits, even to the very masks. However, this day had an extra bonus: along with having Greek nationality conferred on me, I was automatically reinstated into the European fold – a status wrenched from me by Brexit ………

……. Zito Hellas!