To Ralphie and Eric - suggesting that a repat. to England can never again be English is not racist but it is at least bordering on bigotry.

Perhaps an Irish reader or two may post on how those returning from America or Aus., e.g., to the "Celtic Tiger" might be treated if they made similar efforts to these (from above)...

"I've read widely from the canon of English verse; I keep fit with lawn tennis; my staple meal is pottages; my repertoire of Chants, hymns, and songs is English; I participate in the NE England folk and poetry scenes; I've worked on my pronunciation and done a couple of technical courses here;" etc.