an ocean and a rock away

So, the UK Border Agency has been cracking down all over the place on immigration, and recently they put out a survey (which you can still take here) to gather public opinion about various facets of immigration.  When I took it, I felt like a lot of the wording was pretty leading and that most of it smelled vaguely of Tory.  

Most of the issues are based around equalizing the time, money and attachment requirements needed to enter and stay in the UK, no matter which route you choose.  Generally, I don’t have a problem with saying that someone who comes as a student has to do the same steps as someone who comes here as a spouse… but those issues are a lot easier than trying to decide what to do with a british national’s spouse and children who were all living overseas forever and now want to come back to England.

The parts that freaked me out the most, though, were about tackling sham marriages, particularly this one part which states

Those involved in sham marriages undermine our immigration system, and damage the institution of marriage.

as a preamble to suggesting that there should be a border control agent posted at every register’s office, who has the ability to step in and question people and even stop their weddings if they suspect it might be a sham marriage.  In the states, the people who use the expression, “damage the institution of marriage” are usually tea partiers who are campaigning against gay rights, so it always sets off a flag.  

Anyway, this is just a long rambling explanation to why I felt so sad and annoyed to read this story last night about a couple who was basically forced to miss their own wedding because the UKBA suspected them of shamming… which they weren’t.  Instead, they were hauled off, separated from each other and questioned, and ended up having to be married elsewhere the next day.  The UKBA did keep one of their guests for deportation, though.

I mean, really?  We want to give them MORE power to do things like this?  In my mind, the question should really be, “why did it take the UKBA until the very last minute to get over there to check up on the documentation?”  

Have any of you ever been to The Eden Project?  

It looks cool, but it’s about 90 minutes from where we’re staying next week and we’d probably have to find a dog-sitter for the day.  I was just wondering if it’d be worth the visit, or if it’s more geared towards families and I’d be just as happy wandering the beaches near our cottage.

Small child outside is singing a fantastic rendition of Eye of the Tiger.

I paid some highway robbery prices for american food goodies at Selfridges yesterday, but this morning I am full of cinnamon Quaker Oats and very smiley.

Later, Betty Crocker confetti cake.   I bought some JIF, too, just because I know my brits think of it as household cleaner and squirm a little to hear that I’ve eaten it on a sandwich.

This year for American Independence Day, I drank a mug of hot tea while making a jug of iced tea.  There’s a marriage of cultures for you.

Sometimes, I idly wonder what my American forefathers would have thought about their American descendent moving back to England.  (Particularly in light of the fact that taxation without representation is a way of life for me until I get my citizenship next year.)  In the end, I don’t suppose they’d care, having been expats themselves and having some kind of idea what it’s like to straddle two continents.  (None of them were British, anyway.)

I saw some article on CNN’s website about 100 things that are great about America.  Let me tell you, it’s a pretty crap list.  I thought about putting one together myself but it’s hot out today and I’ve got things to do before all my bathroom fixtures arrive tomorrow.  So for now, let’s leave it at:  pumpkin pie, 24 hour shopping, iced tea and fireflies.