I am British

On Wednesday 31 July 2013 at approximately 11:30am having made an oath to uphold the law, a pledge to the Queen and all her heirs, sung the first verse of the national anthem, lived in Britain for 7 and a half years, filled out a lot of paper work and paid a substantial sum of money, I became a British citizen.

I have a certificate and this very unflattering photo to prove it.

I'll be a very good Brit - I like talking about the weather and tolerate grey skies without complaint, I like roasts and the Tube, Christmas in winter and Easter in spring, England's proximity to Europe and its capital city, life with no insects or humidity, and living life during the week.

But I still prefer vegemite, beaches with sand and water you can swim in, clever Australian humour, eating seasonal fruit and tim tams, sunshine for at least 3 months of summer, and being surrounded by old friends and family.

That evening I celebrated with friends and work colleagues at the Propstore, a bar outside the National Theatre, at Southbank. I was even given some gifts: Charles Dickens, a teapot, a photo of my first snowman, one of Natalie's London photographs, and the title of 'Lady'.

I am pleased to be British - not something I ever imagined when I moved here all those years ago - but still very happy to be Australian too.