German Precision

Matthew "Citizen" Richardson

When Vicky and I registered our residence in Berlin, as all tax-paying Germans must do, the woman working at das Bürgeramt manged to mix up the two lines on my passport for 'name' and 'citizenship'. Luckily I think I am still accepted as a British citizen, not a British Ian.

This isn't meant to slag off the kindly Bürgeramt arbeiterin. She was incredibly patient with my bumbling German and exceedingly helpful, considering. I doff my hat to her. The blame lies entirely with me. When she showed us the completed form, after our interview, and asked if it was all correct, I was too busy ensuring she hadn't listed any religion for us, rather than checking my actual flipping name.