American in Britain Autumn 2021 Issue

AUTUMN 2021

AMERICAN IN BRITAIN Serving the American Community in the UK

FEATURES INCLUDE American Expatriate Clubs’ News Churchill War Rooms • Eating Out • Health • Hotel Review • Property Taxing Issues • Theatre • Travel • Veterinerian Advice • Wealth Management A D V I S O RY PA N E L

AMERICAN IN BRITAIN

AUTUMN 2021

CONTENTS 3 Eating Out 8 Theatre Review

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10 Interview With Penn & Teller 12 Travel 15 Property 18 Wealth Management 21 Taxing Issues

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24 Hotel Review 26 Health 29 Advice On How To Choose A Vet

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31 Churchill War Rooms 34 American Clubs’ News

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37 Christmas Wreath Making 40 Useful Contacts

PUBLISHER: Helen Elliott Telephone: 020 8661 0186 Email: helen@theamericanhour.com DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS & SALES Ben Everson Telephone: 07921 694823 Email: ben@theamericanhour.com American in Britain, PO Box 921, Sutton, SM1 2WB No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publishers Origination and Printing by Gemini Group WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

Helen Elliott

Ben Everson

Cover: Penn & Teller

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EATING OUT

EATING OUT

Restaurant Interlude Leonardslee Gardens Brighton Road, Horsham, Surrey, RH13 6PP Telephone: 01403 289490

I think this is a first for me, in that I am going to do a restaurant review without mentioning the food too much, but before you turn the page and go to another article, please bear with me whilst I explain further.

Just recently my wife and I were invited to visit Restaurant Interlude, a contemporary restaurant in Lower Beeding, Horsham. The restaurant is set within the mansion house of the Leonardslee Estate, whose Grade 1 listed gardens re-opened in 2019, after being closed for 10 years. I mention the gardens as they provide the ingredients for the dishes, and the garden guides what the menu will be, with the aim to bring the gardens to life through the food. The man tasked with doing this is Chef, Jean Delport, and along with his team he has secured 3 AA Rosettes and a Michelin star to date, but I suspect that they won’t be resting on their laurels and will be striving for more.

The issue I have here is, that as a reviewer, by explaining the dishes I will spoil the whole dining experience for you, as Restaurant Interlude doesn’t just serve up amazing and innovative food, it creates a theatre around each dish, and by mentioning what happens is a little bit like giving away the end of the book before someone has started reading it, or saying who the murderer is at the start of a murder mystery! I will do what I can to do Restaurant Interlude justice, as it truly deserves it, and give you a flavour of what to expect without spoiling it for those of you who are in for a real treat when you go.

The first thing that may surprise you is that the restaurant only has one sitting which starts at approximately 6.30pm, which is because the tasting menu is 17 courses, yes 17!, (but don’t worry, some are small) and your journey through the produce of Leonardslee’s Gardens will take around 4 to 4 1/2 hrs.

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You are advised to not be late and that is clever, as you would ruin the surprise element of the courses as you would get to see what was coming before it came to your own table.

There is another restaurant that has such theatre and length of dinner service located in Bray, and although not as accomplished yet, Restaurant Interlude clearly has its sights on reaching the same heights.

The mansion house is very much in the country, and luckily we had allowed ourselves additional time to find it as our sat nav insisted on taking us to the garden centre on the estate rather than the mansion house itself, which is just a little further up the road. Guests are recommended to arrive at around 6pm so they can enjoy a drink in the bar beforehand, and start the 17 courses with some amazing canapés. Chef Delport’s origins are from South Africa, and he brings a number of special treats into his menu from that culture and cuisine. With our drinks we were served a trio of canapés, a wonderfully rich and powerful venison biltong (which I understand is one of the South African border forces staple diet as they confiscate so much of it!), which had been left drying just long enough to allow the majesty of the meat to come through, but not long enough to be tough. The other two canapés are also firm South African favourites - a pillow shaped burnt shallot, which doesn’t on the face of it sound that appealing, but was delicious, although my personal favourite was the Slaphakskeentjies.

Slaphakskeentjies, is a traditional Afrikaans onion salad which is as South African as a Braai, and was a lovely combination of the sharp onion and vinegar mellowed by the zing from some mustard. I really could have eaten more, but with such a number of courses awaiting I needed to pace myself.

Once the canapés and a glass of something cold and fizzy were completed we were led to the dining room to continue our fusion of the gardens in Horsham and the cuisine of South Africa. The dining room is just like you would

expect the living room of a country mansion to be, with high ceilings and a set of patio doors into the garden, and an eclectic green wallpaper. The tables are well spaced and are covered with pristine starched white table cloths, and the staff are always there to help when needed, whilst letting you enjoy your meal with your fellow diners.

As I said, I will not elaborate more on the next 3 hours of gastronomic delight, as much as I would really like to, as it will spoil your own visit, but suffice to say the dishes were a lovely mix of meat, fish and vegetables, and all were served with a lot of flair. In fact, my wife took photos of every course as she was amazed by the beautiful presentation of each and every course, as all were picture perfect, and some were so intricate one can only imagine how long it took to chop and place some of the ingredients on the plates.

The contents of each dish were expertly explained by the waiters, and diners were also provided with a little card explaining every dish and where on the estate the ingredients were sourced from, which was a nice touch. Indeed, the estate and its self-sufficiency also stretches to the wine, where a number of bottles of both white, red and sparkling are from the estate, and I can vouch for their quality!

When I go to a restaurant I want to be wowed, I want to have dishes I haven’t thought of and dishes I could not recreate at home, and here at Restaurant Interlude you have all of these along with some of the freshest and finest foods the English countryside can provide. If that wasn’t enough the restaurant is located in a grand mansion house, and the service is impeccable, which is a true recipe for success, and it is nice to see them receiving the accolades they have.

I will watch with interest in the next year or so, as I suspect this may become the first restaurant in Sussex to have more than 1 Michelin Star. www.restaurant-interlude.co.uk WWW.AMERICANINBRITAIN.CO.UK

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Coppa Club

17 Between Streets, Cobham Village, Surrey, KT11 1AA Telephone: 01932 500608 Cobham is an ancient settlement whose origins can be traced back through Roman times to the Iron Age, and it even has a mention in the Domesday book, but is clearly on a really positive path as it has recently had an addition to its name and has now moved up in the world as it is now being called Cobham Village rather than just Cobham!

Cobham Village has a number of good restaurants, and it was with high expectations that my wife and I visited Coppa Club on a Wednesday afternoon for a late lunch. The first thing I noticed was how inviting the outside is, with the outdoor seating sheltered from the road by greenery and a protective screen which allows the feeling of being outside whilst still shielding the diners from Cobham’s High Street.

Coppa Club states that it offers something to everyone, and unlike most restaurants which attempt to be something to everyone and are, in fact, nothing to anyone, Coppa Club succeeds. One reason for this is the actual space they have which incorporates two floors, but the main reason is the clever use of the décor and plants which creates different spaces on each level. As you enter the front door there is a real feeling of light and space which is created by a glass atrium in the centre of the room, with shelves bursting with tastefully decorated pot plants rising to the ceiling. To the left there is a cosy and slightly darker bar area full of retro chairs from the 1970’s, and to the right the downstairs dining area with cosy booths hugging the walls.

We arrived early and so decided to sit in the bar and have a pre-lunch drink as it is the perfect space to enjoy a pre/post dinner drink, or even to just come in and have a coffee

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during the day. The drinks menu is extensive with a wide range of cocktails and mocktails to choose from, and what was nice to see was that (apart from a few bottles) the majority of the red and white wines can be ordered by the glass for those who only want one glass rather than the entire bottle. Prices are also very reasonable with bottles starting at under £20. My wife chose the Porn Star Martini with the fresh passion fruit, making you forget that it is alcoholic, and the small glass of prosecco on the side, and as I am not really a cocktail man I selected a glass of the Italian Sauvignon Blanc which was crisp and light.

After enjoying a little bit of watching people coming and going, we were seated at our table and focused our attention on the food menu.

As I said Coppa Club offers something for everyone, and the menu is a great mix of pub favourites and classic bistro dishes and will have something on it for every taste and age.

To start we chose some Parmesan Croquettes (£4/£5.50) and were treated to croquettes with a crispy outer and warm, moist interior, all covered in a generous sprinkling of parmesan.

They were very cheesy and very moreish and a great start to our meal. For our starters I selected the Buttermilk Fried Chicken with chilli mayonnaise (£6.50) and my wife chose the starter portion of the Bucatini Carbonara (£8.50). My chicken was succulent and perfectly countered the crispy coating, but the real joy for me was the chilli mayonnaise which packed a real punch, although it may be too hot if younger children are ordering it. The Carbonara was well cooked and was heartier and more flavoursome than usual due to the Bucatini pastas additional thickness and ability to hold sauce inside as it has a hole running through the middle of each noodle.

The guanciale pieces (a cured fatty meat from a pig) provided a real saltiness to the dish and slightly dominated the milder flavour of the Pecorino romano cheese.

For our mains my wife continued with the Italian theme whilst I decided to go for a

pub classic, the burger. There are 4 pizzas to choose from including a Margherita Buffala (£9) and one with Parma Ham (£13.50), but you can add a number of additional ingredients so you can really make any pizza you like. My wife’s selection was the Margharita, but with added pepperoni and I went for the Coppa Burger (£13.50) as I wanted to continue my healthy options!

All the pizzas are made with a sourdough base, which is one of my favourite doughs, so the dish was already on to a good start that continued with the added toppings, with the spicy pepperoni perfectly offsetting the creamy chunks of buffalo mozzarella. Many people think that a burger is a simple dish and it is, but to cook it well is far from simple.

One of my pet hates is that many places ‘pad’ their burger with far too much greenery and unnecessary pieces of salad that add nothing to the taste, but I am pleased to say that the Coppa Burger passed my exacting standards with flying colours!

The most important thing about a burger is the beef patty, and this was meaty, had a good thickness and was cooked to perfection, and covered with mature cheddar and a small amount of crispy lettuce. The bun was lightly toasted and light in texture, but the icing on the cake was the sauce which was a mixture of ketchup and a small amount of mustard which elevated the patty without dominating the taste which I find mustard can do.

After such a feast it is difficult to see how there was any room for a dessert, but when the menu arrived there were just too many tempting dishes to refuse. I am a dedicated lover of chocolate so the Flourless Chocolate Cake with caramelised white chocolate and coconut yoghurt (£8.50) was calling to me, but I actually went with another British Classic, Sticky Toffee Pudding with crushed honeycomb and vanilla ice cream and toffee sauce (£6.50) and I wasn’t disappointed. The sponge was light and the sauce heavenly, as it was so wonderfully rich and full of toffee flavour. The honeycomb added some texture and the vanilla ice cream a delicate accompaniment. A perfect end to a lovely meal.

The service at Coppa Club was friendly and our waiter was genuinely interested in how we were enjoying the meal, and struck the perfect balance between giving us enough the right amount of time to enjoy our meal without constantly asking if everything was ok.

We dined on the ground floor, but Coppa Club also has a second floor which houses their outdoor terrace and also 5 signature Coppa Club Igloos, which are individually heated with sound systems, and are perfect for special occasions with friends and family.

Cobham Village is a lovely place to live, and Coppa Club provides a great restaurant/ bar/coffee house where you can visit, at any time of the day, for a meal, a drink or just a coffee, be well catered for, and dine well for a reasonable price. www.coppaclub.co.uk

EATING OUT

Hakkasan

17A Bruton Street, London, W1J 6QB Telephone: 020 7907 1888 Hakkasan has always been one of my favourite restaurants in London, with its dark wood décor, subtle lighting and trendy vibe, originally conceived by renowned designer Christian Liaigre, coupled with outstanding Michelin-starred food, so I was delighted to be invited to visit their Mayfair restaurant to sample their special 20th Anniversary Celebratory Set Menu, that was launched on 21st July, and is available in both the Mayfair and Hanway Place restaurants in London.

Since the first Hakkasan opened in Hanway Place in 2001, the brand has expanded globally with 10 locations around the world, including the two in London, as well as establishments in the United States, the Middle East, India, China and most recently, Turkey. With menus currently overseen by Group Executive Chef Andrew Yeo, Hakkasan has become renowned for its modern take on authentic Cantonese cuisine which places a focus on using the finest, meticulously sourced ingredients and blends traditional Cantonese recipes with modern influences.

Priced at £110 per person, the set menu starts with Hakkasan’s signature Dim Sum Trio (scallop shumai, langoustine har gau, abalone and chicken parcel), which are beautifully presented and little parcels of deliciousness, and were served alongside the Steamed Hand Dived Scallops with browned butter black bean sauce and served in their shell, and Oatmeal Dover sole.

Having been to Hakkasan a few times I did also order their Prawn Toast, which are a must as far as I am concerned, and slightly different from the usual flat prawn toast with sesame seeds on top!

These starters were followed by Stir-Fry Black Pepper Beef with merlot, Golden WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

Mixed Vegetable Yam Ring with macadamia nut, which I had never tried before. The vegetables were crunchy, the yam had a potatoey taste with a crispy exterior, and the macadamia nuts complemented the dish perfectly. The stand-out dish however, was the Supreme Stock Braised Lobster, encased in egg noodle nests and served with lobster wontons. The sauce was rich and creamy, and although it wasn’t overflowing with lobster pieces, we did have a couple of pieces each and a large lobster claw that we fought over!

To finish, we enjoyed the delicious Sake, Vanilla and Plum Dessert, again beautifully presented and showcasing why Hakkasan has a Michelin star. No deep fried toffee banana or lychee on offer here!

What is more, the twentieth anniversary also welcomes the return of the classic Hakkatini cocktail, served in a vintage style tall martini glass with a flower garnish, available in addition to the set menu. For those who can’t resist Hakkasan’s muchloved Pipa duck, it is also available to order on this set menu as a supplementary option.

Although £110 per person is slightly on the high side, the quality of the food and the creativity that goes into these dishes, will leave you feeling that you have enjoyed a top quality Chinese meal with a difference, at a standard that is way higher than your average Chinese restaurant, so it is definitely worth a visit, whether celebrating its 20th Anniversary or choosing from the À la carte menu. My other recommendation from the À la carte menu is the Black Cod which I have enjoyed previously, and even their Egg Fried Rice is the best I have ever had!

Hakkasan is a restaurant oozing trend, with a traditional, modern vibe, with fabulous service and delicious Cantonese cuisine. www.hakkasan.com WWW.AMERICANINBRITAIN.CO.UK

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Stoke House

81 Buckingham Palace Road, Westminster, London, SW1W 0AJ Telephone: 020 7324 7744 Despite the lockdown being relaxed a few months ago, I have still not really fully started coming back to London as often as I used to, and it wasn’t until I visited Stoke House Steak restaurant, near to Victoria station, that I realised what I have been missing, as pre-pandemic I would be out most nights with friends and colleagues in places like this enjoying the food, drink and company in a contemporary and stylish environment.

Stoke House is one of a number of restaurants that have sprung up in close proximity to Victoria Station, as the area has undergone significant redevelopment over the last 10 years. Indeed, the new developments around here are like ’marmite’, as it appears that you either love them or you hate them, and would rather have kept the older styled buildings which have all but disappeared. For once I sit in the middle of this debate, as I love the older style buildings with their character and charm, like the Victoria Palace Theatre which has survived and is now surrounded on all sides by the redevelopment, but I also love the more modern sleek, all-glass buildings which herald in the new age for London.

Stoke House has a contemporary chic vibe with a large glass frontage allowing plenty of light into its airy, spacious interior, offering its diners the opportunity to watch the hustle and bustle of London from the comfort of their tables. Large, curved wooden benches snake their way around the side of the room providing comfortable and segregated space to enjoy your meal or drinks. The room is laid out around a central bar stocked with every drink you can name and I am sure a few you couldn’t! The large open kitchen covers one side of the room and is decorated with a vast array of copper

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pans and is flanked by the well-stocked salad wall which enables Stoke House to offer a wide selection of salads and sides for those who like healthy options. What is unusual for central London, is that Stoke House also offers a large outside space which can seat 90 people with the obligatory blankets and heaters, to protect you from the wonderful English summer weather!

Stoke House is a modern British steak house which only serves the freshest cuts from the finest breeds sourced from UK Farmers, and is cooked on site using a blend of woods to give it its unique taste, so its menu is unashamedly focused on steak and meat, and although the menu is small, there is always something for a devotee of meat like myself to choose.

For starters my companion and I decided to share a portion of Stoke House Wings with BBQ sauce and peanut sambal (£7) and Salmon Rillettes with pickled fennel and sour cream (£7.50). The portion of wings was generous, but I personally prefer the sauce to be a little more cooked into the meat, packing more punch, rather than just spreading it on top of the wings, as it gives so much more flavour and also makes it far less messy to eat.

The salmon rillette was fresh and creamy, and served with a light sour cream and toasted bread which provided the opposing texture to the soft salmon and sour cream. The salmon was fresh and creamy, but unfortunately there was just a little too much lemon juice in the rillette for me which unfortunately slightly overpowered the salmon. This was a shame, as with slightly less sharpness this dish would be a winner.

Our main courses, however, were great.

My companion chose the Rib Eye Steak 32 day dry aged (£26) which came with roasted new potatoes and a green salad, and I went for the Short Ribs with pickled chilli onions and Cornish sea salt (£15). With that I also had some garlic and thyme roasted new potatoes (£4.50) and Mac & Cheese (£6.50).

The steak was just how you would want a steak to be - marbled, smoky, tender, well cooked and a generous size! But for me, my short ribs were the dish of the day as they had been slow cooked for 24 hours and were so succulent, tender and that subtle addition of the salt really brought out the taste of the meat rather than dominating it. The portion of roasted new potatoes was large and could have served 2, which was a pleasant surprise, and the Mac & Cheese is a must.

Again, the portion could serve 2, indeed, its size is such that it could have almost been a dish in its own right as it is so moreish. Mac & Cheese is a simple dish so it is strange that many restaurants get it so wrong with an insipid sauce, but here Stoke House excels as the pasta bathes in a rich cheesy sauce and is covered by a crispy cheesy top, absolutely delicious. Stoke House prides itself on its salad wall and so it would be remiss of me to not mention that it also has a number of salads (£8-12) which you can also add chicken or salmon to if you want.

After our meat feast we had to relax for a few minutes to allow enough room for dessert, so we soaked up the atmosphere of people having fun again in the elegant surroundings.

For dessert we opted for the Eton Mess (£6.50) and the Chocolate Brownie (£6.50) and both were a lovely end to the meal. Eton mess is a quintessentially English dish, but here it was given an Italian twist by churning air into the cream while it freezes to give it that semi-freddo (half-frozen) effect which went perfectly with the strawberries and sweet meringue. The brownie was rich and fudgy with a slight crisp to the edges and was served with a caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream, and I love ending a meal with a chocolate delight!

Stoke House states it is modern British Steak House serving traditional cuts of delicious meats, and having visited I would have to totally agree, but don’t take my word for it, go there yourself you won’t be disappointed. www.thestokehouse.com

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THEATRE

By Lydia Parker

Cinderella Gillian Lynne Theatre

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella has finally opened at the Gillian Lynne Theatre after a string of Covid-related delays. With a book

by Academy Award-winning writer Emerald Fennell, best known for playing Camilla Parker Bowles in ‘The Crown’, this production has been hotly anticipated, especially as it promised a new, more feminist, take on a traditional fairy tale. Is it worth the wait? Well, it is certainly splashy and fun and brightly coloured with a fantastically talented cast.

The little girls in the audience in their Disney princess costumes most likely enjoyed it immensely, but, like me, may have been left a bit confused.

The world of this fairy tale is a town called Belleville which has its own monarchy, a vapid but gorgeous Queen and her equally vapid subjects whose only concern in life is winning the most beautiful town award every year. The opening number, ‘Buns ‘n’ Roses’ says it all as flirty women dance sexily around bare chested men. There are only two blights to their existence: 8

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Prince Sebastian is a major disappointment to all but especially his mother, as he’s not his handsome, hunky, perfect brother Prince Charming who disappeared in battle.

The other blight is Cinderella, his troublemaking, surly best friend. When Cinderella defaces the new statue of Prince Charming, she is hunted down by the townspeople with pitchforks and tied to a tree, left to sing Bad Cinderella. She’s still the heroine of the story, forced to work as a scullery maid for her evil stepmother in what should be her chateau, but this Cinderella is seemingly not resigned to her fate. She’s a scrappy emo/ goth in black lace, fingerless gloves and clunky boots. Sebastian is obviously in love with his childhood friend and she with him, but we wouldn’t have a story if they admitted it to each other, would we?

The Queen decides Sebastian must marry to improve his image, “The people find you creepy and who can blame them?”. She arranges a ball where he must choose a bride from the invited guests. The Stepmother, of course, doesn’t want Cinderella to go, having caught her chatting to Sebastian in the woods, as she wants her own daughters,

the vacuous and lovely Marie and Adele, visions in blonde hair and pink tulle, to marry the prince. As the Stepmother says, “I have one daughter who’s an imbecile, the other half as bright”. The Stepmother attempts to blackmail the Queen in the hilarious accordian-accompanied number ‘I Know You’, reminiscent of ‘I Remember It Well’ from Gigi; it seems they both come from seedy backgrounds in the entertainment world.

The Queen is unfazed and perfectly happy for Cinderella to marry Sebastian; she may be shallow but she’s happily open minded.

Cinderella pays a visit to a dress shop, run by The Godmother, who promises to make her beautiful in return for her mother’s necklace, a precious possession that Cinderella gives up a bit too easily. This Godmother is not exactly kindly or Bibbity Bobbity Boo-ing; she’s a scary plastic surgeon who transforms Cinderella into an awkward blonde Barbie Doll version of herself, the upshot of which is Sebastian doesn’t even recognise her and dismisses her as being as superficial as all the other women without even talking to her. It’s a bit harsh considering the moral of the

THEATRE

story seems to be don’t judge others by their appearances, but he’s waiting for the Cinderella he knows and loves.

Needless to say, there’s a happy ending all round, thanks to a deus ex machina who confirms that Belleville is a town full of vain people, but at least they’re not conservative.

This was one of the few surprises of the evening and wasn’t even terribly surprising given all the extreme hints earlier on. What was disappointing was that this Cinderella doesn’t go far enough in smashing up the fairy tale. Why couldn’t she have decided she doesn’t need a man to be happy and instead should get a good lawyer and fight for her inheritance? There was nothing in the writing to show that Sebastian was so roundly hated by his subjects other than that they kept singing about it. He seemed perfectly normal, handsome, princely and a nice person.

The production seems to be finding its feet in terms of style. It veers between the outrageousness of a drag show or a pantomime, and then becomes a splashy Lloyd Webber musical with his heartfelt 80’s style lovelorn ballads. The ensemble numbers are quite funny, but very cynical and sometimes full of high camp, such as ‘Man’s Man’, with the male chorus members thrusting their pelvises and dancing with heavy golden balls.

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It seems the writer and director were not quite sure who this show is aimed at. The dialogue is also peppered with language a teenager would find funny, but your small child may well be asking you “Mummy, what’s a knob?”

The dialogue is sometimes funny but is very casual, not sparkling enough for a production of this standard and a writer who’s just won an Oscar. It also sounds strangely American, perhaps better suited to a US sitcom.

The performances, however, are stellar.

Carrie Hope Fletcher embodies scrappy Cinderella perfectly and is fun to watch. One only wishes her character was even more rebellious and well rounded; we never really get to know who this Cinderella is. Fletcher’s voice is stunning, soaring in her many solos.

She also has a lovely chemistry with the actor playing Sebastian. In the performance we saw this was the understudy Michael Hamway, replacing newcomer Ivano Turco.

Hamway is a seasoned pro with a beautiful tenor voice and deserves a starring role in a West End musical. His solo ‘Only You, Lonely You’ drew deservedly uproarious applause from the audience.

The Stepmother, played by Victoria Hamilton-Barrit is absolutely hilarious, and provides all of the humour. She’s a brilliant creation, part drag queen, part Disney

villainess, part praying mantis. HamiltonBarrit gives her an unusual voice, a honey mixed with fifty cigarettes a day tone. One of the funniest moments was seeing the Stepmother trying to laugh but only emitting a “haaah” sound as she is too botoxed to move her face. Rebecca Trehearn is also wonderful as the effervescent, ditzy Queen, a bit Queenie from Blackadder as a Folies Bergère dancer. The two step-sisters, played

by Georgina Castle and Laura Baldwin, are ridiculous caricatures as well, but very entertaining, with lovely voices.

The costumes are outstanding, a combination of Alexander McQueen, Marie Antoinette and pure trashiness, full of colour and fantastic headpieces. The set revolves and revolves and then surprises you when it makes some of the audience revolve.

The show looks beautiful, the performances are excellent, many of the songs can compete with Lloyd Webber’s finest. It should be joyous and yet it feels like it is commenting on itself with tongue firmly in cheek. If it had bravely gone for a real fairy tale of an oppressed and taunted young woman who dares to be really different and fight for herself right from the start against real, not cartoon, prejudice, it would have won my heart. As it is, Cinderella is a fun night out with some lovely tunes and plenty of razzle dazzle spectacle.

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INTERVIEW WITH PENN & TELLER Magic Goes Wrong reappears in London this October, Penn Jilette talks about the initial trepidation and ultimate joy of collaborating with Mischief.

When I go to the theatre, I want to see long, slow, pretentious, and depressing. My family have different tastes and when in London wanted to see The Comedy About a Bank Robbery. I knew they were going to like it, the shock was that I loved it. Our family sees a lot of theatre together and this was our best experience ever. The very next week we rushed off together to see The Play that Goes Wrong. I told Teller that he had to see it. He went, loved it and went backstage and met the cast. That’s where Magic Goes Wrong started.

The first day of working together we could barely tell Henry from Henry. Teller and I were referring to them among ourselves as ‘big guy’, ‘little guy’, and ‘other guy’, letting other people into our oblong circle was still kind of a new thing for us and very scary.

Fortunately, on the first day of our arranged marriage - we fell in love. I’d like to believe they were on their best behaviour in front of us because they were perfect, and they can’t be that good all the time. They didn’t argue for anything unless they were right. They didn’t shoot down any idea unless it wasn’t wrong in the right way. We knew they would be funny and smart because we’d seen their shows. We didn’t doubt they were geniuses.

The surprise was that they weren’t assholes.

Working with the Wrong Boys has been awe-inspiring joy. I’ve talked music with Bob Dylan. I’ve played in a band with Lou Reed. I’ve done magic with Amazing Randi, 10

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Johnny Thompson and Paul Daniels. And now I can add to that list that I’ve done comedy with the Wrong Boys.

To be in the room with that amount of raw skill and inspiration takes one’s breath away.

What you won’t see is the sweetness, sanity,

hard work and kindness of Shields, Jon and Henry but I promise you that’s even more impressive. I’m proud to say our business partners are now our friends.

Sometimes arranged marriages work out. www.magicgoeswrong.com

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TRAVEL A Crossing To France

Susan Monshaw Describes Her Journey To France During The Recent Pandemic If you’re swimming, it can take 7 to 23 hours to cross the English Channel, depending on the weather and your determination. If you’re Princess Anne, you made the trip in 1995 in your namesake hovercraft in a record 22 minutes. If you go from England to France via the Channel Tunnel (started in 1988, officially opened in 1994), you’ll arrive in 35 minutes. And if, in August 2021, you travel by ferry, taking your car from Dover to Calais, your trip will have an elapsed time of several months, though the voyage is only 90 minutes.

Pourquoi? Thanks to the global pandemic, Brexit, and the confusing position of being UK residents holding US passports, it took an inordinate amount of preparation and research to make sure we’d be allowed into the glorious land of baguettes, pastis and fois gras, then back into the equally glorious land of cream teas, shepherd’s pie and Cornish pasties. But if you want to go to France as badly as we always do, you keep calm and crack on.

We spent hours combing government websites looking for specific regulations and requirements surrounding pandemic-era, international travel. The rule makers on both sides of the narrow body of water separating England and France were generally vague and contradictory. Also, as the political climate shifted and the traffic light system of policies pertaining to travel between the countries became especially vexing: what colour, exactly, is “orange plus”? Does this mean proceed with caution? Slow down?

Give up? Turn back? We did none of these and continued with our plans. The tricky part, as it turns out, wasn’t our passports, but getting a newfangled one for the dog!

George Beagle, age 6, is better travelled than many humans we know. Though his impeccable bloodlines originate in Boston, his canine passport was issued in the UK, pre-Brexit. A thoroughly complicated and breathtakingly expensive Animal Health Certificate is required for him to cross the channel, and it must be executed within three days of travel. Luckily, our London veterinarian knew what to do, rolling her eyes at the 10-page tribute to bureaucratic efficiency. She was, however, very happy to collect the cash and remind us that a similar procedure would be required for our return trip.

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While George loves his London life, he would never forgive us if he missed the opportunity to enjoy all those baguette ends, affectionately called nubs at our house. So, we loaded up our British car, tucked George into the backseat and set off for the 2-hour drive to the port in Dover.

But if you want to go to France as badly as we always do, you keep calm and crack on When we started to see signs for the ferry terminal, we braced ourselves for the extravagant queues we had been warned of.

Instead, however, we breezed down the hill, entering the access road without touching the brakes. Before we knew it, we were at UK passport control. Where was everybody?

Here, we pulled out our folder, thick with the required entry applications, attestations to our fully-vaccinated, negative-test Covid-19 status, up-to-date American passports and the Golden Animal Health Certificate. We had consulted dozens of Facebook groups dedicated to travel to France, owning a second home in France, travelling to your second home in France, and doing all of this with man’s best friend in tow. Amidst the hand wringing and pontificating, we saw tales of families turned away from crossing because they didn’t have valid tests for their underaged children. We read the horrifying account of a pet owner refused entry because she carried homemade food for her dogs. This, according to the French customs official, would be importing meat across the border.

Forbidden. Interdit.

As we approached the border control booth, it felt a bit like being called to the school principal’s office. We prepared for

the capricious unknown. A smiling young man (well, his eyes were smiling above his required mask) asked if we were vaccinated.

‘Yes’, we shouted, eagerly scrambling for the proof. He waved us off. ‘Do you have the

TRAVEL certificate for the dog’? ‘Yes! Of course!’, we said, as he handed the device for us to scan Mr. Beagle’s microchip. The border guard took our sheaf of documents into his booth for closer scrutiny and we held our breath. In a mere few moments, he handed back our precious paperwork and we were moving again. We had run the gauntlet with shocking ease and speed, finding ourselves at the front of the line, waiting to enter the maw of the gigantic ferry. We followed a few huge commercial trucks onto the ship joining about a dozen cars and a handful of smaller trucks tucked into the front of the ship’s hold. Built to hold 2,000 passengers, 180 commercial vehicles or 1,059 cars, the rear door closed leaving us in an eerily empty cavern. It was tough to leave our disgruntled, four-legged companion, but he was not invited up to Deck 8 for the complimentary, full English breakfast.

It was a beautiful morning and the sight of the receding, mystical white cliffs of Dover was spectacular. Looking east, from the empty deck, we could just see the faint outline of the French coast. There were a few cargo ships on the horizon and we passed a ferry going in the opposite direction. We couldn’t escape the thought of the 5,000 vessels and 160,000 troops who took the same journey in 1944, theirs to save the world, ours to merely enjoy it more. It was an overwhelming and emotional moment.

Inside the ferry, there are several lounges and the ubiquitous duty-free shop. Here hundreds of bottles of liquors, wine, and beer clink rhythmically, creating a tinkly little accompaniment to the thrumming engines below our feet. The line is long, mostly men, likely the lorry drivers, speaking Polish and Italian. They are buying booze, cigarettes and Cadbury’s chocolate. I can’t imagine needing to take wine into France, surely these folks are continuing to other EU countries!

We land on the French shore with little fanfare. The ferry slides up to the dock, the giant door drops open, foot traffic precedes vehicles, and we have arrived.

Now, after all our white-knuckle driving on the “wrong” side of the road in the UK, we must remind ourselves to stay to the right. We will travel another 12 hours on highways named Autoroute des Anglais (Highway of the English) and Route de Soleil (Road of the Sun). We’ll pass through toll plazas where we would need to get out of the car, run around to pay the toll, saluting the frustrated drivers behind us. Note: there is a solution to this dilemma called Emovis pass. We’ll travel with a lot of Germans, hurtling toward their long-awaited holidays and we’ll pay too much for tiny coffees at the gas stations along the way. ‘No matter’, says George Beagle, ‘it’s all worth it’.

ROBERT MCGUIRE Associate Director/ Global Employer Services Robert.McGuire@bdo.co.uk

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PROPERTY

PROPERTY Welcome to Hampstead With its eponymous park sprawling over 800 acres, yet conveniently close to the city centre, Hampstead has long been one of London’s most popular residential areas. Retaining a distinctly unique atmosphere that feels both separate and yet an integral part of London, Hampstead is elegant, bookish, leafy, villagelike, packed with history, literary connections, cobbled streets and independent stores and eateries, yet remains modern, vibrant and entirely relevant.

Hampstead (commonly known as Hampstead Village) extends to Hampstead Garden Suburbs in the north and shares its borders with St. Johns Wood to the south and neighbouring Highgate to the east. It is part of the London Borough of Camden, and historically known for its intelligentsia of academics, high-brow artists, architects, and musical and literary associations. In fact, there are at least 60 English Heritage blue plaques in Hampstead, making it the most of any London suburb. The area preserves much of its unique village character through its architecture, with Hampstead High Street alone housing no less than 18 Grade II listed buildings.

Hampstead is well known for a number of things, including the former home of the great Romantic poet John Keats, which is open to the public, as well as the beautiful regency home of Kenwood House located within Hampstead Heath, which is also open to the public, and for free. Kenwood House is noted for its gorgeous 18th century-style landscaped gardens. You can WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

find the work of artists such as Rembrandt and Vermeer hanging on the walls, with the gardens used for opera performances throughout the summer.

Hampstead Village has a colourful tapestry of residents, notably intellectuals, thespians, artists, architects and the wealthy. Moreover, the village of Hampstead has more millionaires within its boundaries than any other area of the United Kingdom.

As such, it has always been a popular area for the great and the good that are looking for a slice of serenity amongst London’s hubbub, and yet still have access to chic boutiques and the vast fields of Hampstead Heath where they can frequently be found jogging or dog-walking.

As previously mentioned, Hampstead Heath is also well known for its beautiful expansive parkland. There are around 800 acres of meadows, woods, and gardens to explore, and on a sunny day you can take a dip in the Hampstead Heath pond (separated into men’s, women’s and mixed). You can also visit the zoo in nearby Regent’s Park, spot birds and other wildlife in their natural environments, or join the fitness buffs making use of the open running space. Head to Parliament Hill for a romantic sunset, where you can view the beautiful and legally protected views of the London skyline.

Hampstead is popular with families, particularly because of its excellent education scene. The selection of private primary and preparatory schools in Hampstead is larger than

anywhere else in London, with six all-through private schools. In the state sector, all of Hampstead’s primary schools are judged to be “good” or better by the government’s education watchdog Ofsted.

Houses In Hampstead

The hilltop village of Hampstead has a wide array of properties to offer, including grand Georgian houses, large Victorian terraced houses, detached 1920s and 1930s homes, and smaller cottages.

Take a stroll down the slopes of Back Lane and the surrounding paths of the village and you will find lovely terraced houses with

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serving Modern British and Mediterranean dishes in a skylit conservatory dining room.

Gaucho Hampstead Gaucho Hampstead offers sleek interiors including cowhide fabrics which create a lavish backdrop for delicious Argentine food and wine.

Black Truffle This independent deli and coffee house has all its food produced in-house and is open seven days a week. Brunch (served between 8am and 3pm) is a particular treat. Eggs in all their guises are a house speciality as are the ciabatta-based sandwiches, while there is an impressive range of juices, milkshakes and smoothies when you want a change from coffee.

Chamomile Café Another delightful independent café on England’s Lane, this one opened in 2003 and showcases a love of classic cinema by adorning its walls with vintage posters.

Proud to support local businesses, it sources meat and poultry from Barretts Butchers opposite and serves Mission.

Knight Frank’s Relocation Service

a combination of Victorian and Georgian architecture. Church Row, Elm Row, Willow Road and Cannon Lane all have the same blend of houses with cobbled streets and pavements running throughout.

The Bishop’s Avenue and Winnington are famously known for their large multi-million pounds mansions that are considered some of the most expensive properties in the world.

Shopping

Hampstead Village is great for window shopping, full of quirky stores, fashionable boutiques and exciting places to eat.

Why head into Central London when you’ve got everything you need on your doorstep? Hampstead High Street is just one of the surrounding streets packed with shops, pubs and restaurants. It has all the best bits of that village feel, but also packed with all the things that make London great.

Hampstead has a good choice of chic boutiques, with French brands such as Zadig & Voltaire, Petit Bateau, Comptoir des Cotonniers, Maje, Claudie Pierlot and Cop-Copine all here. Independent boutiques include long-standing Jane & Dada and Linea. For high street shopping, Oxford Street and Brent Cross Shopping Centre are within 15 minutes by car or public transport.

Getting Around

Hampstead is easily accessible by train, plane, bus and car: 16

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Underground: Hampstead tube station is a whopping 192 feet below ground level, making it the deepest underground station on the London Underground network. Hampstead (zone 2) is on the Edgware branch of the Northern line, with direct trains to Euston and central London (20 minutes to Oxford Circus).

The Overground line runs trains to Richmond and Stratford from Finchley Road and Frognal and Hampstead Heath.

Train: London Paddington, London King’s Cross and St Pancras International and Marylebone stations are all within close proximity of Hampstead, offering direct links to the west and north as well as France and Belgium via the Eurotunnel.

Buses: Buses 46, 210,268, 603 all run through Hampstead and serve central London.

Car: The Finchley Road connects Hampstead to Central London; you can be on Baker Street in 15 minutes.

Restaurants, Pubs, Bars And Cafés

Villa Bianca This eatery sits on a quiet side street in the heart of Hampstead and has done for over 30 years. It’s a must for pasta lovers, and the ambience is perfect for a special occasion.

Expect an excellent wine list and al fresco dining in the summer.

The Freemasons Tucked down a quiet road just off Hampstead Heath is The Freemasons, a gastropub

We understand that moving home is a stressful and time-consuming process at the best of times, without the added challenge of that move being to a new country. Our relocation team are on hand to help you with this new chapter, offering a bespoke service with no cost or obligations and full access to London’s property market, to ensure your experience is as smooth as possible.

Sacha Hawkins, Associate, Relocation Inspired by my parents’ love of property, I started out my real estate career in Cambridge, first working as an estate agent.

I jumped at the opportunity to move into the world of corporate relocation and now have over eight years’ experience working in the dynamic and global London market. A vital part of what I do is to listen to my clients’ individual needs, so that when they are matched to their perfect property, they have the best start to their new journey in London.

For any of your property needs or advice, please get in touch. I’d love to help you.

E: sacha.hawkins@knightfrank.com T: +44 20 3504 7337 www.knightfrank.co.uk

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WEALTH MANAGEMENT What To Understand About US And UK Social Security Benefits As You Think About Your Retirement Income Drawdown Strategy US Social Security and UK State Pension benefits often form a cornerstone of an individual’s retirement planning strategy, providing a foundational source of income that will supplement other retirement savings.

The ability to receive such benefits generally depends on employment and having earned income in the requisite countries for long enough to qualify. Understanding what benefit you may be entitled to and the basic principles of the US Social Security and UK State Pension systems for a US-UK connected individual is a fundamental first step. Once you understand what your benefit entitlement may look like, it can then be important to assess your strategy for collecting your social security income, and determine how it will factor into your broader retirement planning.

Social Security Benefit Entitlements In The US And The UK

Under the UK system, anyone who reaches State Pension Age after 6 April 2016, needs to qualify for benefits under the New State Pension rules. Under the New State Pension, an individual needs 10 qualifying years to receive a benefit. A qualifying year is generally one in which you were employed and paying National Insurance Contributions, received National Insurance Credits due to unemployment or illness, or paid voluntary National Insurance Contributions. The full benefit currently (for 2021/22) amounts to £179.60 per week (or £9,339.20 per year), but the ultimate amount you receive is based on your National Insurance record. If you have any gaps in your record, it should be noted that there is currently an opportunity to make voluntary contributions before 5 April 2023 related to gaps in your record between April 2006 and April 2016. You can usually only make any voluntary contributions from the last 6 tax years. This can be a relatively cheap way to pick up an extra retirement benefit entitlement.

For US Social Security, an individual must generally be employed in a job where Social Security tax has been paid in an amount that allows the individual to earn at least 40 credits. A maximum of 4 credits can be earned each year, so this equates to an 18

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individual paying Social Security taxes over at least 10 years of employment. The amount of projected benefit entitlement is based on a formula which indexes your earnings during the 35 years in which you had the highest earnings. In the instance that you have less than 35 qualifying years then the projected benefit is based on the number of years between 10 and 35 that you have paid into the programme. Unlike the UK system, there is no opportunity to make voluntary contributions to enhance your US Social Security record retrospectively.

Unlike the UK system, there is no opportunity to make voluntary contributions to enhance your US Social Security record retrospectively How Is Your Benefit Entitlement Impacted From Years Working Abroad?

Some individuals who spend time working in both the US and the UK may find that they do not meet the minimum requirements to qualify for a Social Security benefit in either the US or the UK. In this instance, you may still be able to obtain a Social Security benefit as there is an agreement in place between the US and the UK called a Totalization Agreement which both eliminates the requirement to pay Social Security tax in both countries on the same income source and provides for a gap fill to benefit entitlement in the situation where individuals have spent

part of their career working in the US and part in the UK. In the instance where qualifying time periods of participation in each of the US and UK Social Security system can be combined, which then subsequently results in an entitlement, then the US and the UK will each pay their pro-rata share in the benefit entitlement being paid.

Whilst you can be entitled to receive both a US Social Security benefit and a UK State Pension benefit, this does not mean that the projected benefit entitlement outlined on your US Social Security Statement will be the amount you ultimately receive. The Social Security Administration applies something called the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) to an individual’s US Social Security benefits if they worked in a job where Social Security taxes were not required to be paid and they have also earned a pension from that job. In this instance, the projected benefits can be recalculated and reduced by up to 50% of the pension benefit you earned from income in which you didn’t pay Social Security taxes. In 2021, if an individual has 20 years or less of substantial earnings, the benefit reduction will be capped at $498 per month (or $5,976 per year).(1) Once an individual has more than 20 years of substantial earnings where you have paid Social Security taxes, the reduction of benefits becomes smaller and if you have more than 30 years of credits then the WEP doesn’t apply.

An example highlights the application of WEP – An individual has 15 years of US substantial earnings towards their Social Security Benefit accrual and is entitled to the maximum UK State Pension benefit of £9,339.20. Let’s assume that in US Dollars the UK State Pension benefit is worth $13,075 per year or roughly $1,090 per month. Fifty percent of the UK State Pension benefit would be $545 per month.

We know from above that the maximum reduction is currently capped at $498 per month. So, in this instance, the individual’s US Social Security benefit entitlement when it commences would be reduced by $498 per month or $5,976 per year.

Some may (wrongly) think it isn’t worth collecting on the UK state pension benefit due to the prospect of their US Social Security benefit being reduced. However, when you look at the numbers, due to the

WEALTH MANAGEMENT fact that any reduction is always capped, it is likely that you would end up better off in total when you collect both entitlement benefits. That being said, it highlights the importance for you to understand how the WEP may impact your total projected benefits, especially if the income stream will form part of the income that is relied upon to meet your retirement needs.

When Does It Makes Sense To Consider Collecting Benefit Entitlements?

There are decisions as to when it is best to begin collecting Social Security benefits and it is important to think about maximising the benefit for your own individual situation.

Some decisions may seem relatively insignificant, but they may cost a material amount over time.

Under current law, the State Pension age in the UK is currently age 66, with it set to increase to age 67 by 2028 and age 68 by 2046.

Recent proposals have indicated the desire to bring the date forward to age 68 from 2046 up to 2039.(2) Once you reach State Pension age, you are entitled to collect your full benefit regardless of whether you continue to work and have employment earnings.

It should be noted that you can choose to defer the start of your payments. Your State Pension increases by 1% for every 9 weeks that you defer. This would amount to just under 5.8% for every year that the payments are delayed.(3) In the US, the current Full Retirement Age (FRA), or age that an individual is entitled to collect full benefits, ranges between age 66 and 67 depending on your date of birth. The US does allow benefits to begin to be collected as early as age 62 albeit at a reduced rate of up to 30%.(4) It should also be noted that if you choose to begin collecting your US Social Security benefit before FRA but you continue to work, your benefit may be reduced based on your earnings until you reach FRA. In 2021, if you earn more than $18,960, $1 is deducted from payment for every $2 that exceeds the earnings limit. (5) Once you reach FRA, your earnings no longer affect your benefits.

Similar to the UK, individuals can also choose to delay their US benefits after FRA until the age of 70. For every year that an individual defers their US Social Security benefit, the monthly benefit will increase by roughly 8%.(6) However, once you reach age 70, benefits will no longer continue to increase.

With all this in mind, you should give some thought as to the underlying purpose that your Social Security income will serve in your retirement and legacy planning. If you are trying to maximise your own income over your lifetime, or maximise the income of the family, and you do not require access to income earlier in retirement, then choosing WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

to wait until FRA or delay payments past FRA may be beneficial. Alternatively, if your health is poor and you think your life expectancy will be shorter than average, collecting a benefit earlier may be beneficial in terms of the amount of benefit you collect during your lifetime. That being said, for married individuals, you must also keep in mind that any surviving spousal benefit would also be reduced which may impact the surviving spouses financial planning should they have a much longer life expectancy.

Choosing to take benefits early means that you are collecting your benefits over a longer time period Choosing to take benefits early means that you are collecting your benefits over a longer time period. However, the monthly benefit is permanently reduced. Additionally, if you continue to work before reaching FRA, your benefit will be reduced further during the time period before you reach FRA. If you are working or you have other assets or income sources that can plug the gap, delaying your payments can permanently increase your monthly retirement income stream over your lifetime. If your US benefit will be subject to the WEP, delaying the commencement of payment can help make up some of the reduction.

Social Security benefits can be difficult to navigate for expatriate individuals. You should start planning early to understand what your benefits may look like, and how they may be impacted by the time spent in different countries. Reviewing this in the context of your broader Wealth Plan will help ensure that you are being prudent in your planning strategies and maximising any owed benefits. Most importantly, it should prevent any unintended surprises at retirement.

may cause the value of an investment and/or a portfolio to go up or down.

The information in this article is provided for information purposes only and does not take into account the specific goals or requirements of any particular individual. You should carefully consider the suitability of any strategies along with your financial situation prior to making any decisions on an appropriate strategy.

The information is based on our understanding of current tax law and practice. However, MASECO Private Wealth is not a tax specialist. We strongly recommend that every client seeks their own tax advice. The tax treatment of any investment or particular strategy will depend on the individual circumstances of each person and may be subject to change in the future. This document does not constitute and should not be construed as investment, tax, or any other advice. The information contained herein is subject to copyright with all rights reserved.

MASECO LLP (trading as MASECO Private Wealth) is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales (Companies House No. OC337650) and has its registered office at Burleigh House, 357 Strand, WC2R 0HS. MASECO LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for the conduct of investment business in the UK and is registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission as a Registered Investment Adviser.

References 1. www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/ wep.html 2. www.gov.uk/government/news/proposednew-timetable-for-state-pension-ageincreases 3. www.gov.uk/deferring-state-pension/whatyou-get 4. www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/ agereduction.html 5. www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/ planner/whileworking.html 6. www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/ planner/1943-delay.html

For further information please contact andrea.solana@masecopw.com All investments involve risk and may lose value. The value of investments can go down depending upon market conditions and you may not get back the original amount invested. Your capital is always at risk. Currency exchange rates WWW.AMERICANINBRITAIN.CO.UK

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The American Hour If you would like to be invited to the events we organise for Americans living in the UK, please sign up for The American Hour’s Monthly email newsletters, by emailing helen@theamericanhour.com with the email address you would like the information sent to, and your nationality.

Our monthly email newsletters are sent out on 1st of each month, and include useful information, special offers and details of events we think you might be interested in.

We will send you separately invitations to Networking Events and Tax Seminars that are organised by Helen and are free of charge for our readers.

We look forward to hopefully seeing you at an event in the near future.

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TAXING ISSUES

TAXING ISSUES Tax Considerations For Remote Workers The following is designed to provide general tax information for Americans living abroad or contemplating a foreign move. As with all tax and legal issues, seeking tailored advice from qualified counsel is advisable.

A rapid advancement of technologies and resources designed to assist remote workers has been borne out of the global pandemic. This development may quickly become the catalyst for a dynamic transition to a permanent remote workforce driven by the elimination of employee commutes and ease of transition from one meeting to the next. With return to office policies being widely met with resistance, the combined productivity gains for organisations and lifestyle enhancements for associates may prove too difficult for the draw of traditional in-office camaraderie to overcome.

The concept of a remote workforce will present many Americans with the opportunity to relocate to another part of the world where the cost of living is manageable, and a new cultural experience brings an exciting change of pace. All without sacrificing the stability of a current employment arrangement. Now with the proliferation of short-term vacation rentals and budget airfare options, the world can truly become the oyster of the remote worker. Breaking up the monotony of working from home every day by taking Zoom calls at the beach could become an increasingly desirable option.

Once the decision has been made to make a move, the first issue to consider will be where to travel. American and British passports offer a tremendous amount of flexibility for short-term business and leisure travel.

Nevertheless, every country will have unique rules with respect to the length of such stay and the type of activities that can be performed within the country under the terms of said visa.

Undoubtedly, short-term and potentially even extended visa avenues will be available to Americans wanting to spend some time outside the United States while continuing to work remotely. Whether this means that tax relief would follow in the US or additional tax exposure will arise in the country where the remote work is being performed will depend entirely on the circumstances involved. The length of the stay, whether the United States has income and social security tax treaties in place with that country, and the extent of the company’s activities within that country, will all be important elements.

Short Visits Abroad

Short visits abroad will typically be neutral from a tax perspective. Pursuant to IRC Sec. 861(a)(3), WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

income from personal services is generally sourced to the location where the services are performed. This means that even though wages are being paid by a US company, the earnings would technically be classified as foreign source if earned while working remotely abroad.

Income earned during short-term visits to countries with which the United States maintains an income tax treaty will generally be protected from foreign taxation. The flip side of this coin is that even though foreign earnings are produced, limited visits abroad will not qualify a remote worker for the foreign earned income exclusion, which allows up to $108,700 (2021) to be excluded from US tax if certain requirements are met. Eligibility for the exclusion requires at least a year outside the United States and these presence requirements cannot be accomplished with short-term travel.

Furthermore, as local taxes are not being paid in that country on account of the treaty protection, no credit for foreign taxes paid will be available. Though in rare instances, foreign tax credit carryovers from a prior year working abroad could still produce a tax windfall from the short trip overseas and the “foreign source” income generated.

Moreover, a temporary visit outside of a US state will always be insufficient to break state residency, requiring state-level taxes to continue to be paid on the foreign source income. Short-term travel outside the United Kingdom would also be insufficient to break domicile and discontinue worldwide taxation as a UK resident. Special relief may be available for certain remittance-basis taxpayers.

Contrary to US policy, the United Kingdom does not maintain the same citizenship-based tax system, meaning that UK tax residency could potentially be terminated if sufficient time is spent outside the country. American expats in the United Kingdom who are able to break UK domicile would still have American taxes to manage irrespective of where they move.

The experiences gained may be priceless, but a temporary trip abroad would offer no tax savings on the US side to offset any duplicated living expenses. To complicate matters, in the absence of protection from a US income tax treaty, exposure to foreign country taxation could conceivably arise, even in a short-term stay of only several weeks or months. For example, nonresidents visiting the United States from a non-treaty country are only afforded protection from US income tax if present in the United States for less than 90 days during the year, earn less than $3,000 in compensation, and are paid by a foreign employer.

Assuming 240 workdays per year, this would mean that a nonresident earning $100,000 annually would have US income tax exposure on or after his or her eighth remote work day.

Fortunately, if foreign income tax is triggered by the short visit abroad, the tax paid can generally be credited back against the US liability for that year. Each country will have unique rules for how individuals working in the country on a remote assignment are classified and understanding the boundaries to stay within can go a long way to avoiding future hassles.

Impact Of US Income Tax Treaties On ShortTerm Travel

The United States has executed income tax treaties with over 65 countries. The specific provisions will vary, but the goal of all treaties is the promotion of cross border business by allowing business people from one country to spend limited amounts of time working in the other country, without needing to worry about local tax obligations.

If working abroad remotely for a US company, the provision of the Treaty covering income from “employment” or “dependent services” would be operative. Article XV of the US-UK Treaty explains that an American working in the United Kingdom would not be subjected to UK tax provided: 1. The work is performed for a non-UK company; 2. The employment is not operated through a permanent establishment that company maintains in the United Kingdom; and 3. Less than 183 days is spent in the United Kingdom during any twelve-month period beginning or ending during the stay.

Permanent establishment is a term of art, further defined in Article V of the Treaty to mean a “fixed place of business through which the business of an enterprise is wholly or partly carried on.” The term specifically includes a place of management, branch, office, factory, or workshop. The term is clearly not designed to cover a makeshift home office in a short-term Airbnb rental, but given that it still leaves quite a bit of room for interpretation, ensuring that activities performed on behalf of the company within the country will not give rise to a permanent establishment is crucial. Client-facing associates or those in management positions would need to take even greater caution.

Accordingly, with the protection of the Treaty, spending up to half the year in the United Kingdom, working for an American WWW.AMERICANINBRITAIN.CO.UK

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company on a remote contract is possible without triggering UK taxation. The same would be true for a British national working remotely from the United States for half the year, though the additional layer of statelevel taxation would also need to be taken into account. Notably, California does not extend the benefits of income tax treaties to state-level tax.

Income tax treaties do not cover related charges, such as unemployment, disability, or social security-type taxes. As a practical matter, this is typically not a concern if the company has no presence at all in that country and the employee has not spent enough time there to establish residency. But exceptions can always arise in this area and maintaining compliance with non-income tax obligations can be one of the more onerous challenges faced by US remote workers with longer-term visas in a foreign country.

Foreign Social Security Taxes

The United States maintains bilateral social security agreements with 30 countries. The US/UK agreement explains in part that an American employee who is working in the United Kingdom for a US company for less than five years remains covered by US Social Security. Neither the employee nor the company would be obliged to comply with National Insurance reporting obligations.

Corresponding exemptions from US social security tax would be available for a British national working for a UK company remotely from the US for less than five years.

With social security agreements in place with only a limited number of foreign countries, an extended stay in a country where no such protection exists can pose compliance challenges for both company and employee.

Longer Stays Abroad

While visitor visas will typically limit the stay in a foreign country to 90 or 180 days, many Americans will be able to extend the visitor visa, transition to visas for students or entrepreneurs, or apply for nonlucrative visas that do not grant work privileges. When remote employment from the US is still carried out, income tax will generally be due in that foreign country once residency has been established.

Practical challenges can arise when the plan is to continue working on a long-term basis in a foreign country for a US company.

First, nonlucrative or similar visa types that might be appealing to the remote worker generally do not grant work privileges in that country. The remote work arrangement exists in a grey area that could make it difficult to comply with the formality and structure of income tax reporting responsibilities once tax residency is established.

Moreover, compliance with social security, unemployment, disability taxes, and similar charges often requires the participation 22

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of the employer and can make the project even more challenging for the employee to sort out independently. This element of the compliance can create challenges, not only for visa holders without a work permit, but also those who are permitted to work in that country, but whose US employer has no intention of complying with foreign employment and tax withholding obligations.

Yet some Americans will undoubtedly be able to thread the needle and find an overseas living arrangement offering both limited protection against local taxation and opportunities to take advantage of tax relief available for Americans residing overseas.

1. Relocating to a country with no personal income tax. The options in this category are limited, but countries with no personal income tax include The Bahamas, Cayman Island, Brunei, Kuwait, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Monaco, UAE, St. Kitts and Nevis, Bermuda, and Qatar. Long-term visas and residency in these countries may be more difficult to secure, but living in a foreign location with no income tax will greatly simplify the ability to qualify for the foreign earned income exclusion and ensure compliance challenges do not arise for a stateside employer.

2. Splitting time between two income tax treaty countries. Each case will be unique here and the facts of the specific living arrangement and the domestic law of the foreign countries involved will drive the outcome. But a plausible strategy could be developed whereby time would be split between two treaty countries in a way that would effectively leverage US income tax treaties to avoid local taxation without sacrificing eligibility for the foreign earned income and housing exclusion.

A long-term living arrangement overseas would also present an opportunity to break state residency if ties are effectively cut to the former state. This decision should not be taken lightly as severing state residency can make it difficult to secure US banking options, obtain or renew a driver’s license, or vote in state-level elections. Complicating matters, several states have implemented “convenience of the employer” rules that can create additional state tax challenges in the home state of the company when the remote work arrangement is not much more than an employee perk.

If eligibility for the exclusion can be preserved, despite the split living arrangements abroad, meaningful tax savings would follow. The foreign earned income exclusion, combined with the standard deduction, can result in over $120,000 of earnings being protected from income tax in the United States. For someone who has moved from the State of California, this translates to over $25,000 in annual tax savings. Even if sufficient time can be spent outside the United States to satisfy the 330-day physical presence

test, the lesser known qualifications of the foreign earned income exclusion, maintaining a “tax home” and “abode” outside the United States, can throw some additional nuance into the analysis.

Tax home is defined as the location of an individual’s main place of business or work.

If the nature of the work is such that no main place of business exists, the personal home is considered the tax home. If a taxpayer has no main place of business and no main personal home, “itinerant” worker classification would arise. The tax home of the itinerant worker is wherever he or she is working. Abode is defined for this purpose as the location where a taxpayer maintains his or her family, economic, and personal ties.

The tax home and abode analysis would be complicated for an individual splitting time between foreign countries while working for a home office back in the United States. If considerable ties are maintained back stateside or if even a few days are spent working in the US during the year, eligibility for the exclusion could be undermined. Any such strategy will require careful planning tailored to the specific situation involved.

3. Taking advantage of special tax regimes for foreign nationals. Even in countries with high rates of income taxation, special provisions may be carved out for foreign individuals that can offer limited protection against foreign country taxation.

Portugal has enacted tax legislation covering “non-habitual” tax residents who relocate to the country. Under these guidelines, foreign income and earnings are not taxed in Portugal and income earned from specified professions from sources within the country is subject to a tax rate of 21% for the first ten years after having established Portuguese residency. Astounding tax savings could be produced by an American moving to Portugal from the United Kingdom or another higher taxed foreign country, bringing along ten years of foreign tax credit carryovers.

Taxes are unlikely to be the primary driver of any decision to leverage a remote work opportunity for an overseas move. Even so, American expats maintaining longterm remote work assignments in a foreign country will still need to be careful so as not to trigger incremental tax compliance headaches. Nonetheless, with careful planning and a bit of creativity, the possibility of spending some time abroad, funded by tax savings, could become a reality.

Roland A. Sabates, Managing Member, Expat Legal Services Group.

Expat Legal Service Group provides comprehensive tax planning services for Americans abroad. Contact Expat Legal Services Group today at info@expatlegal.com or visit the website at www.expatlegal.com.

The choice of an attorney is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertising.

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HOTEL REVIEW Tewkesbury Park Hotel, Gloucester Gloucestershire, located in the south west of England, is the location for The Tewkesbury Park Hotel, situated between the northerly end of the Cotswolds and the Malverns.

Tewksbury itself, has had a long and rich history, as it stands proudly between two major rivers, the Severn and the Avon. The town’s claim to fame, other than having over 400 Tudor buildings which visitors can enjoy, is that it was the site of one of the decisive battles in the War of the Roses, where the House of Lancaster was completely defeated by the House of York, putting King Edward IV firmly on the throne.

This year, 2021, is the 550th anniversary of this battle, and there is a trail you can follow which re-enacts the battle, but for me, one of the nicest activities is taking a relaxing boat trip along the river Avon, where you can view the Abbey that has dominated the landscape here for over 900 years.

Tewkesbury is just 10 minutes from the M5, and the perfect place to stay and enjoy all of its delights, is the rejuvenated Tewkesbury Park Hotel, which is to be found on the outskirts of the town and has wonderful views over the Cotswold Hills on one side, and the Malverns on the other.

The hotel’s core is a beautifully proportioned 18th century property, which was clearly the country house of a wealthy 24

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family in days gone by. Over time, a number of bedrooms have been added to the building, as well as a spa and fitness centre, and a challenging 18 hole golf course. As part of the renovation, Tewkesbury Park Hotel have created 9 luxury historic suites, an orangery, and a cocktail lounge with an outside terrace and bbq area, which overlooks the 16th and 18th greens. They have also created some terrace rooms, which is where we stayed, that have stunning views, and are a great place to sit and enjoy the peace, view and sunshine, if you are lucky with the weather!

On entering the hotel, the décor belies the slightly dated exterior, as it is smart-casual and clean and fresh and the vaulted ceiling gives a feeling of light and space. Once you pass the check-in desks and traverse a few stairs, you are presented with a cocktail bar and the public lounges all of which are newly decorated with modern blues and mellow yellows, where bar snacks and small bites are served, and diners can sit and enjoy their after dinner-drinks.

Tewkesbury Park Hotel has a variety of rooms, all recently redecorated, ranging from what the website describes as ‘just right’ rooms which are cosy, the new ‘terrace’ rooms, which are stylish, with breath-taking views, luxury interiors,

Nespresso coffee machines, Grohe rain showers and Smart TVs, and ‘Indulgence’ and ‘Opulent’ rooms which are located in the main building. These suites would grace the best hotels in London with beautiful bay windows, sumptuous furnishings, Bramley toiletries, many with double ended baths and bathroom TV’s, but with something even better than London can offer - sumptuous views over central England’s rolling hills.

The quality of the rooms continues with the facilities on offer. A well maintained 6,554 yard par 72 golf course provides a good and interesting challenge for both the good and not so good golfers, and surrounds the property. Other facilities include two tennis courts and two squash courts, a gym and an indoor swimming pool. There is also an indoor steam room and a new state of the art outside Jacuzzi, with relaxing lighting, and also a barrel sauna, which to me looks a little like a Hobbit house fresh out of Middle Earth, to help those who have been either playing golf, or sightseeing, relax before dinner.

With all the stresses of the last few years, Tewksbury Park Hotel offers a solution to release that stress as well, with 2 spa rooms offering a wide range of treatments, but do book early to get the time and treatment you want. One of the treatments on offer, was a full body massage, that can be tailored to

HOTEL REVIEW

It is a perfect location to visit not only historic Tewkesbury, but also the Cotswolds and Central England your needs. I chose a sports massage that had me laughing and crying in pain at the same time, but was exactly what I needed to remove the stresses and strains of the past two years! In fact, I asked Abby if she would like to relocate to Sutton as she was good, but she is thoroughly enjoying working at the hotel and looking after the needs of the guests, so you too can enjoy her expertise.

The owners of Tewkesbury Park Hotel are really investing heavily on making this a premier resort ,and it is well on its way to becoming just that.

It is the perfect location to visit not only historic Tewkesbury, but also the Cotswolds and Central England, or just to have a relaxing weekend away.

For further information please visit: www.tewkesburypark.co.uk

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HEALTH You’re Doing Better Than You Think Let’s kick off with some honesty: growing up can be a s**t show. Navigating from childhood to young adulthood is rarely straightforward: it’s a complex process of loosening the ties to your family of origin, finding your tribe, forging your identity and striving to succeed in various endeavours (social/academic/sporting etc.,) within a constantly changing body. It’s not a surprise to anyone, then, that the pandemic - which brought a world of polarised perspectives, conflicting messages and ongoing uncertainty - would have an impact on young people’s psychological wellbeing.

Many of those who thought they’d properly set off on life’s exciting journey came back and got more family time than they’d ever had - or wanted. And it was depressing.

It was depressing for them and it was anxiety-inducing for their parents who realised that they’d much rather worry about how their offspring are misbehaving at school or university than know that they’re on their best behaviour because it’s government mandated that they should be sitting at home.

When it came to the case of American expat families living in the UK, there were added layers of complexity to contend with When it came to the case of American expat families living in the UK, there were added layers of complexity to contend with.

Many had taken up the opportunity to live and work here secure in the understanding they could travel ‘home’ regularly and freely.

There was an unspoken understanding of the excitement and good fortune that came from becoming a member of a new and different community (with its enthusiastic 26

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contributions to local initiatives) whilst also having the freedom to stay physically and frequently connected to loved ones across the pond, thanks to Air Miles. As with everything in life, however, having access to this lifestyle didn’t come free.

The Mental Health Status of Expatriate vs. US Domestic Workers, for example, found that twice as many expatriates as home-based Americans expressed feelings of stress and anxiety, while three times as many expressed feelings of depression.

These pre-Covid findings were associated with separation from close family and friends, as well as adapting to differences in culture, religious expression and/or social mores.

Recent evidence indicates an escalation in these challenging emotions in response to the pandemic. This isn’t surprising when we consider that ongoing travel restrictions (if we can figure out what they are from one day to the next) continue to curtail expats’ ability to spend time with the family and friends they left behind in their home countries. Additionally, as expats tend to be proactive and resourceful in approach, this forced inability to act can exacerbate a sense of bewilderment about what one can do. Lack of control and stress are disempowering and can reduce our sense of personal agency, but also of our identity.

If I cannot do what I usually do, if I do not contribute as I usually contribute, how do I know how to be or even who to be? It’s a practical as much as an existential question.

People assume that in my line of work all we see is the dark side of mental health and they ask me how it’s possible to retain a sense of light and optimism when I’m constantly exposed to people’s fears, sadness and anxiety. The truth is that the people who ask these questions literally don’t know the half of it: the other half.

Undoubtedly, the pandemic has brought with it a huge rise in demand for mental health care: a rise of depression in adults, anxiety in children and a deluge of selfharm and eating disorders in adolescents.

But by the same token, we get to see the resilience of young people and their families. Resilience is defined as ‘the ability to cope in the face of adversity’.

That is what so many children and families have been doing over the past 18 months and we’re seeing it live and in beautiful technicolour in our therapy rooms. A young person told one of our psychologists that since they hit rock

bottom during lockdown and came out the other side, “I know it passes and I know I can cope”. Hearing that was a ‘this is why we do what we do moment’ for all of us.

We’ve seen parents who’ve battled through so many difficulties with their children and found themselves now with a stronger relationship. We’ve seen children whose anxiety has worsened over the course of the pandemic, but whose resolve to get better has never been stronger as they fight to return to a world they’re determined to miss no more of. We’ve seen families who’ve experienced loss and hardship, but who’ve been moved and strengthened by a support network they never knew they had. We’re seeing children and young people talking with a wisdom and maturity that we don’t know they would have if they hadn’t been through the pandemic.

We’ve seen parents who’ve battled through so many difficulties with their children and found themselves now with a stronger relationship Yes, children and young people are vulnerable in many ways, but they’re also flexible, adaptable and resilient, and as a society we can be hopeful for them. They – and their parents – have had to manage so much, and from where I’m sitting, I can tell you that they’re doing a really good job of it.

Maryam Meddin is founder & CEO of The Soke, a private mental health centre based in South Kensington.

Contact: maryam@thesoke.uk www.thesoke.uk

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VETERINERIAN ADVICE

ADVICE ON CHOOSING A VET IN THE UK Navigating the veterinary medical sector, whilst leading an extremely highpaced international lifestyle, can be a labyrinthine process! It’s therefore worth doing some research before making the ‘big move’ to make sure you’re comfortable with the process of finding the right veterinarian, and practice (a.k.a. surgery, clinic), for you and your pet’s exacting requirements.

WHERE DO YOU START? Personal Recommendation

Personal recommendations, in preference to online reviews, can be a really useful way to finding a reputable vet in your local area.

It’s definitely worth exploring fellow expat’s experiences with various practices, including location and accessibility, Out-Of-Hours provision (24-hour emergency care) and also a practice’s general bedside manner. You may yearn for a more personalised family doctor environment where everyone knows your (and pet’s) name (enter Cheers Theme tune). On the other hand, you may wish for a no-frills, one-stop-shop experience because going to the vet is just another task to tick off a never-ending list of things to do…time is of the essence! Nevertheless, there’s no shortage of choice when it comes to vets and a good personal recommendation goes a long way in whittling down those numbers!

Distance

It’s a good idea to choose a practice close to your home which is easily accessible. Not only should it be convenient, but if there’s an emergency it’s also good to know that you can get your pet to the vet as soon as possible.

Have a think about where the practice is located in relation to your home, if it’s near any public transport links or, if you drive, does it have a car park or public parking nearby?

Out Of Hours (OOH) Cover

Whatever the size of the premises, veterinary surgeons are required to offer 24-hour emergency cover for their clients every day of the week.

They can do this in several ways; a practice may provide this themselves, or some practices get together locally to provide this service, which may mean that you have to travel to a different practice in a emergency.

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Other practices choose to use a dedicated out-of-hours service (similar to what we’re familiar with from our own GPs).

Bedside Manner, Trust And Communication:

All animal lovers want to know that their pets are in good hands. Do all the staff treat you and your pet sympathetically, empathetically and seem genuinely interested? Trust is the absolute cornerstone of the pet owner and veterinary relationship. Trust is defined as ‘assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.’

Trust does not usually result from just a single interaction, but rather a cumulation of experiences built over time where opportunities of trustworthiness can be tested.

In veterinary medicine, our clients expect that we, as patient caregivers, will advocate and protect the pet’s best interests whilst simultaneously enhancing their quality of life. In this relationship, the pet owner is the trusting party and must have confidence that we, as vets, will act in their pet’s best interest. This intrinsic trust in vets is expressed in the discretionary latitude pet owners give their veterinarian when allowing permission to do what’s necessary in an attempt to benefit their pet’s long-term well-being.

In the world of veterinary medicine, trust results from a number of interconnected interactions including the pet owner’s perception of their veterinarian’s technical competency, interpersonal attributes and communication skills, aligned values, as well as the pet owner’s impression of how a professional system works. This is especially true for an expatriate trying to navigate new ‘cultural codes’ in a different country!

Trust is vital for a healthy GP veterinarian - pet owner/pet - Specialist veterinarian relationship. (‘Triad of Care’). It is an indispensable virtue of a good physician.

Without this virtue, the relationship disintegrates. With trust, we as vets enhance our ability to assure worried pet owners and heal beloved pets.

Communication: A Means Of Developing Trust

If trust is a defining element in any interpersonal relationship, then

communication is the most effective and efficient means of engendering trust.

Communication is a skill which is based on the art of empathetic listening.

Communication is how we behave, the way we listen, the manner in which we deliver on what we say, how we treat others, and how others perceive our message(s) we’re trying to deliver. It is the way we relate to the pet, the pet owner/family and household staff. All the ways we communicate have a tremendous impact on developing, building, and reinforcing trust.

One of the greatest challenges our profession is facing is trying to balance the post-Covid-19 surge in veterinary demand with a pressing recruitment and retention crisis. This will eventually have a knock-on effect with veterinary teams trying to desperately deliver high quality care and also preserving the time to foster the many interpersonal relationships we have with their clients. Communication and trust is a bilateral experience and therefore equally important for clients to also demonstrate empathy towards our hard working profession especially. when things don’t go to plan!

And Lastly…Price

The prices that veterinary practices charge can vary depending on their location, the facilities they offer and their overheads. Staff should be able to give you typical costs for routine treatments and don’t forget to ask exactly what’s included when you’re given a quote. If your pet is having surgery, find out whether there will be further charges for post-op check-ups. It’s definitely worth getting reputable pet insurance – you’ll be breathing a sigh of relief when you’re faced with a bumper vet bill.

Some charities, like The Blue Cross, provide veterinary treatment to people on benefits for a donation or at a reduced fee.

Contact your nearest charity for advice.

How Do Vet Practices Work?

GP Veterinary practices and hospitals in the UK, companion animal practices can be classified as independently-owned, corporate-owned (e.g. CVS, Medivet, Vet Partners, Linnaeus-Mars, IVC-Evidensia) yet still retain the name of the local practice, and a charity (e.g. RSPCA, PDSA, Blue Cross).

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Some veterinary practices operate with just one veterinary surgeon and one member of staff. Others may operate from massive facilities comprising of 30 or more vets with a similar number of nursing and support staff. Practices may operate from more than one site-– the main practice being supported by one or more branch surgeries or ‘satellite surgeries’. The branch surgeries may have limited on-site facilities and equipment; however, they allow you to see a vet without having to travel long distances. Facility offerings do vary between practices. Some may have extensive equipment and skill sets on-site whilst others may contact services to fill in the gap (e.g. ‘Peripatetic Specialists’ - a Specialist who comes to your local practice to see a case) or alternatively, refer you to a distant tertiary referral centre.

Referral practices and hospitals, like GPs, can be independently-owned, corporate-owned (e.g. CVS, Linneaus-Mars, IVC-Evidensia, Medivet, Vet Partners), or an academic veterinary teaching hospital (e.g. Royal Veterinary College, Cambridge University, University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, University of Bristol).

What Do All The Letters Mean?

Every veterinary procedure must be decided and mostly performed by a vet, but what’s the difference between a veterinary surgeon, an official veterinarian, a certificate holder, and a Specialist?

Veterinary Surgeon (MRCVS): A veterinary surgeon a.k.a Vet, Veterinarian, GP Vet etc. is a title granted to anyone who has completed a veterinary degree and are registered doctors with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (UK Professional Regulatory Body). They’re given the title ‘MRCVS’ which stands for Member of Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. It’s illegal for someone not registered with the RCVS to practice as a veterinary surgeon in the UK. Qualified veterinarians will have the initials MRCVS or FRCVS after their name.

You can check if your vet is registered on the RCVS website (www.rcvs.org.uk).

Most GP vets carry out a variety of medical and surgical procedures from their local surgeries. There may be times, however, when it’s better for a specialised vet to take over more complex cases – for example if your pet needs an MRI scan, endoscopic procedure or has a complex fracture. If your local practice is unable to provide the expertise, or equipment, required for an investigation or procedure, then they may refer you on to an Advanced Practitioner (Certificate Holder) or a Specialist (Diploma Holder).

Official Veterinarian (OV): Vets may undertake additional training to become an OV which authorises them to carry out tasks on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, such 30

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as testing cattle for tuberculosis or the issuing of documentation for the export of animals and animal products.

Levels Of Qualification

There are different levels of veterinary practice available to you in the UK and are similar to the different levels of care offered in human medicine. Your own GP (general practitioner) may refer you to a Consultant (Specialist) in a hospital for further investigations and/or surgery. In the same way, GP vets handle most of the routine healthcare for dogs and cats from your local practice; however, should your pet require diagnostics and/or treatments which fall outside their level of expertise, they may arrange a referral. Sometimes, an owner feels that they would like a second opinion before embarking on expensive treatment or where the diagnosis is not clear.

REMEMBER: In the UK, pet owners are able to freely choose where to take their pet - GP, emergency and Specialist vet and/or hospital. Specialist vets can work from either a referral centre or alternatively, they can visit your local veterinary practice (‘Peripatetic Specialist’).

Advanced Practitioners And Certificate Holders: Veterinary Surgeons can be further classified as Advanced Practitioners depending on their area of interests.

Unlike human doctors once a vet has completed their degree, they’re allowed to perform surgery; however, they can opt to do further qualifications which may gain them different titles which highlights their particular level of interest and experience.

These vets have completed a ‘Certificate’, usually a 1-2 year long course gaining them an extra qualification in their chosen field of interest. Certificates cover a wide range of areas, including small animal medicine, small animal surgery, large animal medicine, exotic animal practice, welfare ethics and law, public health, cardiology, orthopaedics and advanced veterinary practice (Cert AVP).

For example, if you have an unusual or exotic pet, it’s worth finding a vet who has experience with that species. If you’re not sure your local practice should be able to point you in the right direction or alternatively you can search for a practice by species on the RCVS website.

Veterinary Diplomates: These vets have completed a post graduate degree in their chosen field awarded a Diploma by a governing body: Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), EBVS® (European Board of Veterinary Specialties), ABVS® (American Board of Veterinary Specialties) and FANZCVSc (Australian & New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists). The RCVS specifies which qualifications and extra training a vet must have to call themselves a Specialist. To become a Specialist, the vet

has to train directly under other Specialists focusing 100% of their time on their area of specialism for a minimum of 3 years. This period is usually called a Residency. They will do between 3 to 5 years training in their discipline and publish clinical research in order to be eligible to take Board examinations to become a Diplomate. This is the highest level of expertise that a vet can attain in the UK and abroad. The letters after their name will start with a ‘Dip’ or ‘D’.

This then entitles the vet to call themselves a Veterinary Specialist and the vet will be able to apply to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to be registered as a RCVS Recognised Specialist in their field.

Fellow Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (FRCVS): These vets must prove to the RCVS that they have made a valuable contribution to their chosen field usually involving national and international publications, significant teaching and educational contributions, the creation and interpretation of new knowledge through original research and scholarship and a systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial body of knowledge which is at the forefront of an academic discipline or area of professional expertise. **REMEMBER: In the UK, you as the pet owner, have the autonomous choice to request where you want to be referred to and who you wish to see and does not obligate you to see vet within the structure of any particular veterinary group.

So whether you’re moving for work, family, or to just start afresh, the UK’s multicultural and welcoming nature makes it a great destination for American expats.

It may take some time to fully familiarise yourself with all the quirks and perks of British culture but hopefully, this guide has given you the necessary information and confidence to register with your first veterinary surgery (clinic)!

When Dr. Elise Robertson founded Coûtant Private Veterinarian®, it was with fellow American expats in mind. “I remember what it was like when I first moved to the UK and how I yearned for services that reminded me of home,” she admits. The global lifestyle is very rewarding, but when it comes to your cat or dog’s wellbeing, nothing provides more comfort than on-demand access to a skilled veterinarian who understands your needs. Licensed to practice in the UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia, Dr. Elise Robertson accepts a limited number of households for private veterinary care in the UK and across borders.

To learn more about the Coûtant Private Veterinarian service, please visit www. coutantprivatevet.com, or get in touch with Dr. Elise at e.robertson@coutantprivatevet. com or +44 (0) 203 918 6098.

Links: www.rcvs.org.uk

COMETH THE HOUR, COMETH THE MAN

COMETH THE HOUR, COMETH THE MAN There are many places to visit in the United Kingdom that recall Britain’s long and varied history, and leaders of those times are remembered in the many statues that can be found, particularly in London. Queen Boudica, Sir Walter Raleigh, Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington are but four of Britain’s leaders who fought against those who invaded or sought to invade our island. But in more recent times there is one leader who stands above all those who preceded and have since followed him – Winston Churchill.

A statute of Sir Winston Churchill stands in Parliament Square, but there is a far more important and interesting place to visit that recalls not only Churchill’s leadership of the nation during the Second World War, but his life’s history. It is located a three minute walk from 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the UK’s Prime Minister, at Clive Steps, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AQ, and is named the Churchill War Rooms.

There are two elements to the Churchill War Rooms, the war rooms themselves and the Churchill Museum. There was a WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

moment in history when the destiny of Europe, and perhaps the world, was played out in this underground bunker from where Churchill led the nation’s war effort against Nazi Germany, particularly during the period between September 1940 and May 1941, when German bombers attacked London day and night. From here, then known as the Cabinet War Rooms, Churchill and his War Cabinet planned Britain’s defence against an impending invasion.

Churchill became Prime Minister on 10th May 1940, and addressed his new War Cabinet with the words “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat”.

There were those in the War Cabinet who wanted to sue for peace with Hitler, notably Lord Halifax. As you look through the glass window into the original Cabinet War Room you can imagine the arguments between Churchill and Halifax which continued until Churchill’s famous “We shall never surrender” speech in the House of Commons when he gained the support of Parliament to oppose and fight Hitler’s Nazi Germany.

The Cabinet War Room was not just for meetings with the War Cabinet, they were also used by the Chiefs of Staff for their own meetings and by the Defence Committee chaired by Churchill.

From the Cabinet War Room you visit the Map Room, the strip lights of which were never switched off from the time a handpicked team of officers took up their duties until six years later. Here, intelligence information was displayed by colour coded pins, threads and miniature flags which helped the Joint Planners assess daily military situations around the world and plan courses of action.

Improvisation at its best.

Many of those who worked at the War Rooms, and there many secretaries, cleaners and cooks who supported the military staff, often lived there in an area known as the Dock, or the Dreaded Dock.

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the heat and humidity or clear the smoky atmosphere. Mice and bugs were common.

Some staff preferred to risk a journey home during Germany’s bombing blitz, but staying in the Dock made it easier to work the long hours that were necessary, sometimes fifteen hour shifts. The many typists, clerks and administrative staff had their desks located in the Dock. Heat, noise and vermin were part of their everyday lives.

In early 1941, the Cabinet War Rooms were expanded to provide a bedroom for Churchill’s wife, Clementine, a kitchen and a dining room for the couple’s private use. Concerned for her husband’s safety, Clementine once made Churchill promise to go to bed in his underground bedroom.

A few hours later he got under the covers, then promptly climbed out again. He had gone to bed downstairs as promised, but now he was going upstairs to sleep! Senior military personnel and administrators also had their own bedrooms with desks and telephones, and Churchill’s two detectives shared a room with bunk beds.

On 13th June 1944, a week after D-Day, the first V1 flying bomb hit London. On 19th June, the War Cabinet met at the Cabinet War Rooms for the first time that year and it continued to do so until 9th September 1944, when the V1 threat began to dwindle in the face of more effective defence measures.

However, on your tour you will see an original log of ‘Flying Bombs’ from 16th June to 22nd August 1944. This records 7,369 such bombs

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of which 2,359 were aimed at London; 3,400 were destroyed by RAF fighter planes and 1,291 by anti-aircraft fire. The devastation caused by these unmanned bombs is shown in the number of recorded casualties – 4,918 fatal and 14,625 seriously wounded.

However, over the winter of 1944-45 the V1 flying bombs were gradually superseded

by V2 rockets which once again drove the War Cabinet underground for most of its meetings. The meeting of the War Cabinet in the Cabinet War Rooms on 28th March 1945, turned out to be the last occasion on which it took place underground. It was the 115th War Cabinet meeting to be held on the site out of a total of 1,188 held between September 1939 and July 1945.

Following a tour of the Churchill War Rooms you move to the Churchill Museum which divides the story of Churchill’s life into five chronological ‘chapters’, beginning with the period most relevant to the Churchill War Rooms – his time as War Leader 1940-1945.

There were many pivotal events during the course of the Second World War in which Churchill played a leading part.

The rescue of some 300,000 British troops marooned on the beaches at Dunkirk as France fell to the Germans. His “No surrender” speech in Parliament. The RAF’s victory in the Battle of Britain after which Churchill said “Never in the course of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few”. His appointment

COMETH THE HOUR, COMETH THE MAN

of General Montgomery to command the Eighth Army in North Africa where Britain achieved its first major victory, defeating Rommel’s Africa Corp at El Alamein, after which Churchill said “This is not the beginning of the end, but it is perhaps the end of the beginning”. Much of Churchill’s leadership involved his use of the English language. At a formal dinner in the City of London when there was still the possibility of a renewed air bombardment he concluded his speech in a reference to Hitler with the words “You do your worst, we will do our best”.

Churchill did not spend all his time in the War Rooms. Indeed, during the course of the war he flew in excess of 60,000 miles to meetings in America, Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere, gaining agreements and support from allies. He also toured Britain with his customary trilby hat, cigar and V for victory hand sign encouraging the British people, and visited Britain’s military personnel where they were stationed abroad.

The museum then covers the period between 1945 and 1965, termed ‘Cold War Statesman’, when, during a visit to America in March 1946, he gave a speech in which he used what became the famous phrase “iron curtain” to describe the geopolitical split that had descended on Europe at the end of the war. After losing the General Election in July 1945, Churchill WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

was re-elected as Prime Minister in October 1951, but after a series of strokes he retired in April 1955, five months after his eightieth birthday. He remained an MP until October 1964, a month before his ninetieth birthday and sixty four years after entering Parliament.

Churchill died on 24th January 1965, and was given a State funeral at St Paul’s Cathedral. Speaking in the House of Lords the day after Churchill died, Clement Atlee, Churchill’s wartime deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party said, “The greatest Englishman of our time – I think the greatest citizen of the world of our time” – praise indeed from his political opponent.

Queen Elizabeth II also referred to Churchill as “The greatest Briton”.

The museum then heads back to ‘Young Churchill’ 1874 – 1900. From 1895 to 1900, Churchill served as a young officer in Cuba, India and the Sudan, after which he covered the Boer war in South Africa as a journalist for the ‘Morning Post’. He was captured by the Boers but made a dramatic escape and was given a hero’s welcome on his return to Britain.

The next stage is termed ‘Maverick Politician’ and covers the years 1900 – 1929. When the First World War broke out in 1914, Churchill was First Lord of the Admiralty. He was blamed for the disastrous attack on the shores of Gallipoli in Turkey and was forced to resign. In 1916,

he commanded a battalion on the Western Front. He returned to government as Minister for Munitions and then became Secretary of State for War and Air in July 1917. His experiences from 1895 to 1918, may well have given him military insights, including mistakes as well successes, that served him well in 1940 to 1945.

The final chapter is entitled ‘Wilderness Years’, and covers the period 1929 to 1939, during which time the Conservatives were voted out of office and Churchill was also out of office. During this period Churchill published speeches, some of which were critical of the government’s policy of appeasing Hitler, works of history and biographies. At the outbreak of the Second World War Churchill was brought back into government as First Lord of the Admiralty.

If readers of this article have an interest in modern history and in an individual who changed the course of that history, then a trip to the Churchill War Rooms is an exciting and informative place to visit. Visits must be pre-booked and hour long private tours for up to ten guests are available; these can even take you behind the glass and into the Cabinet War Room itself.

Open Wednesday to Sunday (except during school holidays and half term, when they are open seven days a week. Also open bank holidays): 9.30am – 6pm. Last admission 5pm.

Admission including voluntary Gift Aid donation: £27.20 Adults; £24.75 Concessions (Senior, Student, Disabled); £13.75 Child (5-15); Free Child (under 5); Family Tickets available; special rates for groups of ten plus. Free for Members. Audio guides are included in the admission price.

Churchill War Rooms, Clive Steps, King Charles Street, London, SW1A 2AQ T: 020 7416 5000 iwm.org.uk @I_W_M www.facebook.com/churchillwarrooms To book call 020 7416 5000, email iwmprivatetours@iwm.org.uk or visit iwm.org.uk/events/Churchill-war-roomsprivate-tours.

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AMERICAN EXPATRIATE CLUBS NEWS AWBS International Women’s Club – Welcome To A New And Special Club Year!

We do hope you’ve had a safe and happy Summer!

The AWBS International Women’s Club is proud to be a social, intellectual and philanthropic club for women who have made a home in Berkshire and Surrey.

We welcome you to find out more about us and what we do as we open a new and special club year on 13th September at The Wentworth Club. Why special? Well, 2021 marks the Clubs 40th year anniversary!

We think it’s pretty great to keep a Club thriving over 40 years and we’re thankful to those enterprising women who started AWBS back in 1981, as they laid the path for the AWBS International Women’s Club of today. So we’re looking forward to having a birthday year and celebrating 40 years of fun and socialising, 40 years of helping and supporting our members and 40 years of raising money for local charities to give back to our community. Keep a look out for details of our Special Gala being held at the new Windsor Fairmont Hotel on the 27th November, where we will be celebrating in style, and our Anniversary Edition of the AWBS Members’ Guide featuring photos and an interview with one of our founding members, Jonatha Dornan.

It is the start of a new Club year which kicks off in earnest on the 13th September at the Wentworth Club. The first meetings are always a special occasion in themselves as we not only welcome new and returning members, but a new Board too, who are excited to make their mark and continue the good work, particularly with announcing the Charities we will be supporting through our philanthropic efforts. We already have a packed Calendar from London visits to Potluck Lunches (a huge favourite!) and tennis to meditation, we really do offer something for everyone, and with the Club run on Volunteers, 34

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there’s always an opportunity to get more involved or host an event.

Like many organisations we had to adapt very quickly to the restrictions of Covid-19 and we went digital in a big way to keep our members connected and supported. Zoom has now become a permanent friend in continuing to offer many Activities online, for example, our well attended English History series, relaxing meditation sessions and cookery classes.

General Meetings are monthly and are open to all members running from September to May. We have the pleasure of holding these at noteworthy venues such as Great Fosters Hotel and the Wentworth Club and have a wonderful programme of notable guest speakers. Coming up this Club Year, we have classical pianist Nicholas McCarthy, 90s party girl turned menopause campaigner Meg Matthews, Jessica Doyle of the Telegraph, Amelia Dalton and actress Anna Friel just to name a few.

Past guests have included Ruby Wax, Anton Du Beke, Lady Carnarvon, Martine McCutcheon, Judy Murray, Sharron Davies and HRH Princess Michael of Kent, Lucy Worsley, author and historian; Terry Waite and many more including the lovely Roshan Seth, British Indian actor, who didn’t want to say goodbye!

Our General Meetings are also an opportunity to welcome some established local vendors through our partnership network to showcase their businesses and also introduce new ones. Yes you get to shop too!

It may not have been the sunniest of English summers, but we have a lot to look forward to over the coming months, especially with some firm fixtures in the diary including a Christmas Luncheon on 7th December this year being held at the stunning Great Fosters Hotel, our muchloved Hats and Handbags on the 18th May 2022 at Coworth Park, and we’ll be at Ascot Races with a force since many of us couldn’t attend this year!

Joining the AWBS International Women’s Club connects you to a wonderful group of friendly, accomplished and diverse women offering support, friendship and opportunities. Our membership is growing with ages ranging between 25 to 74 and hailing from 45 different nationalities from the United States to Russia. We welcome women who are open, educated world travellers looking to meet like-minded women, share life experiences and expand their knowledge, as well as integrate

into their local communities in a fun and friendly way. Contact our membership team membership@awbs.org.uk for any questions and for more on the Club and our up-andcoming events, visit www.awbs.org.uk.

KCWC

KCWC continues its singular tradition among international women’s organisations of its monthly Speaker Series General Meetings. Usually held the first Thursday of the month, at 10-12 at the Royal Geographical Society, we invite guests for free on October 7 to hear photographer Dazeley discuss London theatre, and on Wednesday 3 November, we will feature journalist Linda Dubeney discussing media challenges today.

We will ring in the festive season at the RAF Club, Piccadilly Tuesday 14 December for lunch with food historian Marc Meltonville.

For information on these events and the numerous activities and discounts KCWC membership offers, please email info@kcwc.org.uk. Our website is www.kcwc.org.uk

If you are a member of an American Expatriate Club and would like to share your news, events and photographs with fellow Americans in the UK, please email ben@theamericanhour.com

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CHRISTMAS WREATH WORKSHOP

CHRISTMAS WREATH WORKSHOP For Readers Eager To Unearth Their Creative Side And Decorate The House This Christmas, Blooming Haus’ Christmas Masterclasses Will Help You Achieve Just That!

Yes, it is only September and I am already talking about Christmas, but this is thanks to an invitation from Blooming Haus in Battersea to trial their Christmas Wreath Making Masterclass which I attended in August, so I am already one step ahead of the Christmas game as I already have a beautiful wreath ready to be either hung on our front door in a few weeks’ time, or to be placed on a table with a candle in the centre, and you too can have a lovely, homemade wreath ready in time for Christmas, as Blooming Haus are running several courses over the next few weeks. However, if you are unable to make any of the publicised dates on the next page, Blooming Haus are happy to come to a venue of your choice and host the masterclass from there, and I can guarantee everyone will have great fun, as well as creating a beautiful Christmas Masterpiece!

The courses are run by founders Master Florist Michal Kowalski who ran our class, and has a bold, brave and incredibly cultured blend of experience, and a flair for creating immersive, striking and sustainable floral experiences, born from both his upbringing and his floristry studies in Switzerland, Austria, the UK and his native Poland. Michal’s business partner, Michael Dariane, is driven by an ambition to create and operate a zero-waste, sustainable and

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eco-friendly floristry business, and it is this passion for sustainability that has become central to the Blooming Haus approach, where together they seamlessly blend the artistic and creative with the ethical and sustainable to deliver an exceptional, holistic brand experience.

Besides the pioneering and original designs that are created, one thing that is key in their work is their respect for the environment. Steering away from nonrecyclable materials that are commonplace in the industry, the course will provide sustainable tips that will ensure budding floral designers can enjoy a guilt-free ecofriendly hobby.

On arrival at the studio we were offered a delicious coffee and the largest chocolate croissant I have ever seen – good news for those working at or visiting the American Embassy, as the shop it was bought from is a stone’s throw from the Embassy and the new train station that is due to be opened shortly.

Once all the introductions were made, and the croissants had been devoured, we were taken into the studio where we sat and firstly listened to Michal explain how the products we were using were sustainably friendly, and what to look for when buying the items required, including sizes of frames

and materials that are required to make the perfect wreath. The plant material, flowers, soil and other materials they work with are their major source of waste and it is all sent to a composting facility. They avoid using materials that are not compostable, such as floral foams, and opt to use floral frogs, mesh and organic structures as well as dry plant material that they can reuse.

Flower buckets and storage items are returned to their suppliers and replaced at every delivery. Carton boxes and all other recyclable packaging in which they receive their supplies are recycled. Their team ensures that no waste which can be recycled, recovered or composted is sent to landfill. They also clean their studio and tools sustainably and hygienically using no harsh chemicals, thereby reducing these reaching our waters and affecting aquatic ecosystems.

Instead, they turn to probiotic cleaning products, with a bacterial flora, which not only ensure cleanliness but also leave no chemical residues. When they leave their studio after a long day of work, the beneficial bacteria fight all the harmful bacteria and viruses, as well as dirt and grime and leave their surfaces clean and keep them, their employees, their guests and the environment safe. Great news for us, especially after 18 months of a global pandemic!

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The process of making Christmas Wreaths takes a lot longer than we had anticipated, but once we had watched Michal demonstrate how to attach the moss to the frame we then followed the process ourselves, and once the moss was firmly secured to the frame we then attached fern to it giving it the body it needed to then adhere and adorn all sorts of baubles, stars, and shiny items (if you head the way I went), or feathers, cinnamon sticks, dried apples, oranges, cones, and other natural products if you choose the more traditional wreath like the other ladies on the course did. My advice would be to add quite a bit of the fern, as this is what you will be sticking your items of choice on to, so the thicker it is the easier I think the items will be to adhere to the wreath. The items are adhered to the wreaths with glue guns, which I had never used before, but I ordered one an hour after leaving the course as they are easy to use and incredibly effective. All this was done with Christmas music playing in the background, and glasses of mulled wine that added to the Christmas experience, Et voila, almost two hours later we had our stunning wreaths, all showcasing each individual’s personality, that were then beautifully boxed for us to take home.

Our Masterclass didn’t include the trip to New Covent Garden Flower Market, where Michal and Michael teach you about what to look for when buying flowers, but the Masterclasses on offer do include that, but my cousin Susie and I have already decided we are going to take ourselves there early one morning in December to buy our Christmas flowers, as I am sure it 38

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is a fantastic experience, as long as we can get up early enough!

Priced at £150 per person, the Masterclasses will take place on the following dates: Friday, 12th November - Tablescapes & Fireplace Decorations Friday 26th November - Christmas Wreaths Friday 3rd December - Tablescapes & Fireplace Decorations Friday 10th December - Christmas Wreaths And includes the following: • 7.30 am - Meet at Blooming Haus studio, Battersea • 7.45 am - Proceed to New Covent Garden Flower Market • 8.00 am - Arrive and tour market • 9.15 am - Group to make their way back to studio • 9.30 am - Arrive back at studio, coffee and festive pastries

• 10.00 am - Commence masterclass • 12.30 pm - Masterclass finishes Not only do Blooming Haus run classes on Christmas Wreaths, they also run floral themed workshops and masterclasses, and Michal gave us a glimpse of what to expect when making a floral table arrangement, that he put together in about 20 minutes and looked absolutely stunning once finished!

Blooming Haus believe we all have a responsibility to do everything we can to fight climate change, as this phenomenon poses the biggest threat to our ecosystem, nature, and the world we live in, so if you agree with this philosophy (which I am sure you do), you love being creative, and your love flowers and everything floral, then I can’t recommend this experience enough.

For further information, www.bloominghaus.com

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USEFUL CONTACTS EDUCATION - SCHOOLS TASIS THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN ENGLAND Coldharbour Lane, Thorpe, Surrey, TW20 8TE Contact: Sarah Travis Telephone: 01932 582316 Email: ukadmissions@tasisengland.org Website www.tasisengland.org The educational pathways TASIS England offers to day (3-18) and boarding (13-18) students include a broad-based American curriculum, AP courses, the International Baccalaureate Diploma, and EAL support.

Taught in small classes, every student in our diverse community from 50 nations is encouraged to reach their academic potential. Participation in co-curricular activities, the arts, athletics, and leadership programs provides balance, fosters curiosity, and develops Individual talents.

With excellent exam results and one-to-one college counseling, 97% of TASIS graduates gain acceptance to their first- or secondchoice university in the US, the UK, and worldwide. Extensive summer opportunities are also offered to students from all schools.

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BUZZACOTT LLP 130 Wood Street, London, EC2V 6DL Contact: Carlo Gray Partner - Expatriate Tax Services team Telephone: +44 (0)20 7556 1200 Email: enquiries@buzzacott.co.uk Website: www.buzzacott.co.uk Buzzacott is a top 20 UK accountancy firm in London, with a team in Hong Kong. For more than 50 years, our dual-qualified US/UK tax experts have helped individuals, companies, partnerships and trusts to comply with ever40

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increasing tax regulations and minimise their tax liabilities. We specialise in preparing US/UK tax returns and providing bespoke advice tailored to individual circumstances. Rely on us for exceptional service with empathy and authenticity.

EXPAT LEGAL SERVICES GROUP Website: Expatlegal.com Telephone: 1.888.502.8579 Contact: Roland Sabates Email: roland@expatlegal.com Expat Legal Services Group, with its background in international taxation, offers unique legal services for American expatriates and foreign nationals with financial interests in the United States.

We leverage a suite of modern technology solutions that enable us to bring our international expertise directly to you no matter where in the world you might be living.

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