Mr and Mrs....

We did it!

After many many years, we are official.

Biked down to the local government office early one sunny morning and handed in all the documents at the counter for status change/family change. The staff photocopied it all and there was a brief discussion about the correct way to write my name in Japanese characters (the middle name "Jane" has 2 possibilities). Then we went and sat down near the drinks vending machine and waited a bit. 

I wondered if the discrepency between my birth certificate middle name and my all-thru-the rest-of-life middle name would get us called back to the counter.

But it didn't. I'd provided my baptism document from long ago in a south London church, plus a Google translation of all of that. But, it wasn't necessary.

We got called back to the counter and got a document back. Then told we could saunter over to another counter and "merge" our social welfare information. Seemed like a good idea, so we did. And another counter. And more forms. And back to the 2nd counter. And then to the 3rd...

A lot of waiting.....

Over two hours later it was done. We checked back at 1st counter that we really WERE done, and stumbled out into the lunchtime sun. Too tired to go for the planned celebration lunch downtown and changed to a good curry lunch at a local place. Toasted our next 30 years with a beer. And went home for a snooze.

Funny. I am now married. All the ideas you have when you are young and romantic - I imagined an English country church, a tent in a hotel garden, lunch and speeches. 

But no. Local government office counter. Paperwork. Waiting. And curry lunch together.

Perfect!

No family or friends with us. My oldest friend in Japan (and her husband) signed the witness section on the paperwork, in advance. And I wore dad's old shirt, carried a photo of mum and my step-mum's engagement ring in my bag. So, my family were "with" me. Strangely, when I announced it on Facebook to friends several people said: "oh! I thought you guys WERE married!". That's what an old, comfortable couple we have become.

Not sure what happens next. What HAS to change. I'm hoping not much, because it would be a hassle. I don't want to start changing my name on official things - because the necessity will spread across bank accounts etc in two countries. But for tax reasons maybe I have to? Must check that out.

Onwards :-)