C(itizen?)373.

So...I have had all my documentation ready for weeks but today thought I better check I had everything before we set off. There was a moment of panic when I realised that I had missed an important document and wasn't sure where I had put it. Thankfully, I  finally found it and the panic was short lived.We set off for Brisbane at 8.30 am arriving about 11.30 am. We spent half an hour in a Bunnings Warehouse, near where Dulcie used to live, looking for some things we wanted for Blue Moon but they didn't have what we were looking for. We parked up above the cliffs at Kangaroo Point and walked into the city...

We arrived at the Home Office Department a little early so wandered around the block for a bit. My letter said that I should arrive 15 minutes before my appointment but that I wouldn't be allowed in any earlier. I started to get really nervous wondering what was going to happen. The letter also said that I should allow 2 hours for the whole process.At last the time came and I left Will to sit in a café and I headed in. I was greeted by a Security Guard who tried to scan the barcode I had been sent at the top of my letter but I didn't print out a paper copy choosing instead to save trees and stick with the email on my phone. It wouldn't scan so we had to type my Client ID into the machine and it spat out a ticket with C373 on it. I had to take the ticket, head through some automatic sliding doors and take a seat in a waiting room until my number was called.  There were two people ahead of me already waiting. I sat down clutching my documents. The others sat clutching theirs. More people drifted in. There seemed to be quite a lot of people wanting to be Australian Citizens.From where I sat I could see on my left some desks with privacy partitions between them and could hear people being asked for their documents and questions about them. I could only see Desk 2 and 3. The woman behind Desk 2 seemed nice and very efficient but the guy behind Desk 3 never smiled once. I hoped I didn't get him. A sign on the wall indicated that there were 6 desks altogether but the others were round the corner.There was a monitor screen hanging from the ceiling that seemed to be the thing that would eventually tell you which desk to go to. It was already telling me that C369 should got to Desk 2 with Miss Efficient and that C370 should go to Desk 3 with Grumpy but I think they were the ones who were already sat with them. C371 and C372 were still waiting with me in the waiting room. Another sign reminded to respect others and be quiet as people were sitting their tests. Miss Efficient finished with C369 and took him off to sit his test. A few moments later a loud disembodied voice said "Would customer 371 please go to Desk 2". Grumpy had just finished with C370 as well but I noticed another startled woman had emerged from around the corner clutching her documents so there was another desk free that I couldn't see too. I didn't want Grumpy.The disembodied voice spoke again. "Would customer 372 please go to Desk 3". Ha! Relief. But then I began to worry what might be round the corner. There were about 7 more people waiting with me now, most were Asian, a lady who I guessed was Sri Lankan and a young lad in shorts who looked like he had come on a skateboard but I knew I was next. My appointment was at 1.40 pm. I looked at my phone and it was 1.44 pm. They were late.The disembodied voice startled me. "Would customer 373 please got to Desk 4". I stood up and headed into the unknown. As I got around the corner I could see Desk 4 but the partition was hiding whoever was sat behind the desk. It turned out to be a very smiley lady who introduced herself as Janelle. She tapped away at her computer keyboard for a bit and then said "Right, I want to see your driver's licence, your passport and your birth certificate." I handed them over and she did more computer keyboard tapping."Are you planning any overseas trips in the coming weeks?" She asked."Actually I am," I said, "I will be away from the 27th May until the 3rd of July. My eldest son is getting married.""I the U.K?" she asked."Yes" I replied."Nice," she said, "I lived in Scotland for awhile.""Oh, it's a lovely place." I said as she continued tapping. "What happens if my citizenship comes through while I am away? How will that affect my return?""It will just mean that when you arrive it will appear you don't have a valid visa and it will take you a bit longer to get through immigration.""But I just paid ($388!!!!!!) to get my travel visa extended" I said."That doesn't matter in this case."I let it go but was quite miffed!"Right now we need to take your picture.""No glasses?" I asked"No.""And no smiling." It wasn't a question this time"Definitely not!"I faced the camera and heard it click."Oh, I will take that again, you look a bit bleary eyed on that," said Janelle.It made me smile..."Oh I'm smiling" I said as it clicked again.I stretched my face to get rid of the smile and it clicked again."Oh sorry," I said as it clicked again. "I hope you are not taking all this into consideration" I said as the damn thing clicked again.'Oh, shut up Nick!'...that was me thinking that but probably what Janelle was thinking. Finally she got the shot she wanted and the faffing was over.She handed back my passport, driver's licence and birth certificate and said "That is all the documentation I need."'But what about that document that I panicked about this morning that my letter said you needed?' I thought...but didn't say anything out loud."Now you just need to sit your test," she said, "You have to answer 20 questions and you have 45 minutes to complete it." She lead me over to a row of computers and sat me down at one."Don't look at your phone," she said."I won't" I said."Good boy" she said which was odd as I was definitely older than she was. "You need to get 75% of the right to pass the test," and she left me to get on with it.Now the test questions are based on a booklet called 'Our Common Bond' which I had not read because it seemed too long winded and boring so I just watched some short videos instead that said they contained all the information I needed for the test. I had also done some practice tests as well most of which I had passed. The test questions are on three areas: Australia and it’s people, Australia’s democratic beliefs, rights and liberties and Government and the law in Australia.I can't remember all the questions but here are some of the easier ones that I do remember. (The answers were all multiple choice):What is the name of the Australian National Anthem? What are the colours of the Australian Flag?Which flag is red, black and yellow?How many languages are spoken in Australia?In what year did the First Fleet arrive?What are the responsibilities of and Australian Citizen?What are the privileges of being an Australian Citizen? How many houses are there in the Australian Parliament?I finished the test in less than 5 minutes and got 100% right.Janelle was pleased and patronized me a little bit more. "Now I just need to get a police check done and if that is ok you will get a letter shortly to confirm your Citizenship. You are free to go."I thanked her and left. Remember it had said allow 2 hours for the interview and test? I was out by 2.00 pm. My time with Janelle and the test had taken less that 15 minutes.I found Will and we wandered back through the city then drove to Ikea for the last of the things we need for the kitchen in Blue Moon. We drove home after that and arrived back about 8.45 pm after being held up at the top of Cunningham's Gap for about 30 minutes. We suspected a fallen rock, a fallen tree, an accident or a breakdown but when the traffic finally got moving again there was no sign of what the hold up had been.I hope Janelle did not forget to send off for that Police Check. The Australia Prime Minister announced today that the Election is to be held on the 18th of May (Eurovision Day!!!!! Tut! ).Hopefully that Police Check will come back soon saying that I am a criminal and I will be IN...and finally able to vote!