Andy Murray and my citizenship status

A spurious connection? Let me explain.

I've mentioned on this blog a few times now that although I've lived in the UK for the best part of my adult life, I've never felt the need to apply for British citizenship. Also, when the children were young, the crazy pre-EU Finnish laws stated that my children, because they were born outside of Finland would lose their dual (British/Finnish) citizenship if I were to apply to become a British natural.

This has long since changed (when Finnish Expatriate Parliament pushed through the legislation in 2005), and nowadays it's quite possible to be a Finnish citizen while also being in possession of another country's passport.

But, I've never seen any reason to apply to become British. Why would I? I know I live here, but I still feel very Finnish. And more importantly, not very British.

Or so I thought.

It took a Scot to change all that…last year when Andy Murray lost in the final at Wimbledon, something snapped in me. I hadn't realised how much I wanted him to win; how much I felt that his winning would also mean that my nation would win. When I was struggling to hold back my tears, and Murray freely shed his on Centre Court in 2012, I suddenly thought, hold on a moment: why am I in tears - UK isn't my nation!

Roll on a few weeks, and Murray is in the Olympics Tennis Final and WINS! I cried like a baby. It was the day after Super Saturday when Team GB got so many medals, and I'd been joining in all the celebrations, laughing and crying, and feeling very patriotic towards a country I have rebuffed so long.

So I decided I would apply for British citizenship. Finally.

And then British winter happened, it rained, and rained and rained, and the citizenship application lay unattended to -  forgotten in a obscure folder on my computer.

Until Wimbledon comes along again, and I get the same feeling of pride in my nation: the UK. Those of you who follow me on Twitter or Facebook know that from the very beginning of the two week marathon for Murray, I vowed to apply for British citizenship if Murray won.

AND ON SUNDAY MURRAY BECAME THE WIMBLEDON CHAMPION!

Picture: The Times

So, I've just dug out the file again, and I will be sending the application on by the end of the week. Wish me luck with the citizenship test…will 30+ years in this country be enough to know the correct answers? And will Team GB want me? What if, after all these years, they turn me down?

*Makes a Munch Scream face*

Olympics and patriotism..and dogs with medals

I was going to do a final post about the Olympics today and thought before I start I'd look at what other bloggers said on the subject. I clicked on Tania Kindersley' blog and there, as usual, she summed it all up perfectly. (If you don't follow her blog, you really must. She writes a thought-provoking post almost every day and, with me at least, her sentiments invariably match my mood.)

For me the highlight of the Olympics has to be Murray's Gold Medal. Even before I moved to this country some thirty years ago, I rarely missed Wimbledon on the telly. I'm a rubbish player myself (as witnessed by my poor children once during a holiday championship where I failed to get a single point during my doubles match partnering with the Englishman), but I love the game. Daughter and I were lucky enough to see Federer win one of his earlier matches at the Olympics, and so I knew he was in excellent form. When the gold medal match started I was absolutely convinced it would be a repetition of the Wimbledon final couple of weeks previously. But no, from the very start Murray looked as if he was not going to give in this time; his expressions were almost demonic as he drew game after game to deuce and went on to win them.

When Murray served the ace, which won the match, I felt tears roll down my cheeks. I cried out of happiness for a good few minutes, so much so, that Daughter, laughing, had to tell me, 'Pull yourself together woman!' (She's very English, that one).

Murray posted this on his Twitter feed the next day - the champion even has the same breed of dog I (we) do!

Afterwards watching Murray being interviewed, and realising how much his winning meant to me, I suddenly understood that, for the very first time in my life, I felt more British than Finnish.

'I'm going to apply for British Citizenship,' I announced to the Englishman and Daughter later that evening.

'About time,' the Englishman said and Daughter just smiled. (She knows me too well)

The rest of the Olympics I cheered even more empathically at all the British competitors, cried at each medal won and lost, and at each BBC montage (they are too good?). I no longer tried to hold back my emotions as I had before, feeling I was such a hypocrite since I wasn't even British. I finally realised that feeling you belong to one country doesn't mean you give up another. (There were very few Finns competing at the 2012 Games since Finns are more proficient at the winter sports; a fact which helped).

I was, however, brought down to earth with a heavy bump this morning when I found out how much British citizenship costs these days. Oh well, I guess it's the thought that counts?

Federer at Wimbledon in the London Olympics

Two happy campers!

Daughter and I managed to get a pair of last minute Olympic tickets to see the tennis at Wimbledon. Before the day, we had no idea who we were going to see, nor what kind of seats we'd have on Centre Court. All the same, we were more than  excited. Daughter had never been to Wimbledon, and I'd only been once more than ten years ago when some delightful clients of ours gave us a pair of Centre Court tickets.

This time, we decided to leave home early, as the recommended journey from Crouch End took us via Vauxhall. We, however, met with no crowds, just helpful staff both at the Wimbledon station, village as well as at the venue itself.

When we got to Wimbledon, our first thought was to find out who we were going to see. We both whooped for joy when we saw Federer on the board. When we found our seats were level with the Royal Box at the other end of the court, we were just amazed.

And when Federer and Benneteau came on court, the atmosphere on Centre Court was electrifying. Daughter whispered, 'We're close enough to smell Federer!' What a pleasure it was to watch the two master players fight it out. It's just a shame in the Olympics the matches are shorter, and with Federer's masterful strokes, he easily won in two straight sets.

Wimbledon station wasn't too crowded.

The day's play

Swiss fans were all out for their star

This is how close to the court we were!

Benneteau serving. 

Seppi and Del Potro having a rest.  

To cap it all, we even caught Federer waving to the crowds after he was interviewed on the balcony of the players area. We swooned. (And I forgot to take a picture!)

Today we're off to see the women's gymnastics at the North Greenwich Arena (or O2 as it's known here in London).  Let's hope Team GB do as well as their male counterparts did yesterday.