Paper cut on that double edge

On the whole, having dual citizenship is like cognac after a perfectly balanced meal; not necessary, but like an underbelly rub with a velvet handled feather.

And yet, sometimes, when you have to drive, that last drink can push you over the limit. Remember childrens, you shouldn't drink and drive.

Thus is line I walk currently. Should I stay or should I go? For several years, every time I took a "trip" for several/six weeks I would return several/six months later. My vet came to know my family well, Nixon became part of a broken home like some cast off child of a heroin addict in search of her next fix; for clarification, fix=travel if your are a bit slow up top. The London School of Economics is whispering to me in soft soothing tones that it will coddle me in next phase and launch me successfully into my so called life after one quick year with a well-earned masters. My Mary -- my confidant, my friend, my grandmother -- has aged a bit in the last 18 months and I am reticent to commit myself so far from the motherland lest the next few years steal our late night boozy chats for an eternity.

The globe beckons: there is Spanish to secure, French calling out for fluency and Cantonese to learn, amongst others. There are old friends to visit and new ones to meet. The tango to learn, salsa to perfect, the bachata to lure...

Oh, life. How bittersweet you can be with your bountiful options.

Oh, George

Oh, George

World Cup mania has taken over this fair land and I admit, I too have fallen prey to some of the hype. However, stateside you won't see cars proudly flying the cross of King George (white/red -- see below) out of their windows and splashed across shop fronts like the shrapnel during the blitz. Nor drunkards with the aforementioned flag painted on their faces riding the train drunks as skunks before tea time. On 2 of the 5 channels on the tele, TWO were playing the same match -- Saudi Arabia versus Tunisia --earlier this afternoon. Justsoyouknow, the score was 2-2.

Other unrelated news, I am going to a beach party at a friends house in Central London (!?) on Saturday, will let you know how that works out...I've been instructed to wear a grass skirt and coconut shells; it should prove to be a fun tube ride accross town...

:: The Union Jack is the flag of Great Britain and it contains the flags of::

Scotland -- The cross saltire of St Andrew, patron saint of Scotland, is a diagonal white cross on a blue ground.
England -- The cross of St George, patron saint of England since the 1270's, is a red cross on a white ground.

Wales -- Not included in the Union Jack as it was already part of England when the flag was designed; it is a white flag with a dragon.

Ireland (Northern) -- diagonal red cross on a white ground.