My name isn't really Alan.
Pa went to register my birth, the Luftwaffe arrived early on one of their daily landscaping projects, the clerk [ understandably, a little distracted what with all the noise from the sirens, breaking windows, Spitfires, Heinkels, Wardens' whistles, etc., not to mention the bombs ] put the names in the register in the wrong order. Ma went Bananas, of course, but it was too late- no change permitted- ["There's a bleedin' war on mate!"]
Ma refused to use the "wrong" name and persisted in calling me Alan, which is who I am to all and sundry.....except...
to the French bureaucrats who will not accept 'Alan' and insist all documents for tax, social security, bank details, medical dossiers etc. carry my proper registered name which is.....
Not tellin yer!
