American In Britain Winter 2021/22

WINTER 2021/22

AMERICAN IN BRITAIN Serving the American Community in the UK

FEATURES INCLUDE American Expatriate Clubs’ News Eating Out • Education • Health • Hotel Review • Property Take Five • Taxing Issues • Theatre • Travel • Wealth Management A D V I S O RY PA N E L

AMERICAN IN BRITAIN

WINTER 2021/22

CONTENTS 3 Eating Out 8 Theatre Review

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10 Wealth Management 12 Taxing Issues 15 Property 18 Health 21 Hotel Review

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24 Take Five 30 Plymouth 32 Travel

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35 Education 38 American Clubs' News

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39 Free Annual Subscription 40 Useful Numbers

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: Tua Tagovailoa Miami Dolphins quarterback. Photo credit: Dave Shopland/NFL WWW.AMERICANINBRITAIN.CO.UK

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EATING OUT

EATING OUT

Fenchurch

Sky Garden, 1 Sky Garden Walk, London, EC3M 8AF London has some of the most iconic buildings of any city in the world, and what is amazing is the variety, as some of these, like the Tower of London are very old, and some like 20 Fenchurch Street, where Fenchurch restaurant is located, are ultra-modern.

20 Fenchurch Street is colloquially known as the ‘Walkie Talkie’, due to its distinctive shape, and since 2014 it has dominated the London Skyline between London Bridge and Tower Bridge. On the top 3 floors of this iconic building you will find Sky Garden, a lovely public garden complete with tropical plants and observation decks, an open air terrace and bars and restaurants, all with stunning views of London. To the front you can see the Thames meandering its way through London, to the right the iconic dome of St Paul’s Cathedral, and to the left the glassed skyscrapers of Canary Wharf and the Millennium Stadium.

The views are truly stunning, and what better way to enjoy them than with a glass of something cold, and delicious quality food.

Fenchurch is located on the 37th floor, which you’ll be pleased to know is accessed by lift (once you have gone through an airport like security system), and provides its 60 covers with an intimate dining experience with stunning views.

The challenge for the designers was to have large glass windows that enable the diner to have the uninterrupted views of London, whilst still keeping an intimate feeling, so diners don’t think they are eating in a vast greenhouse, and at Fenchurch they have got this just right, as the lighting and décor create a warm contemporary vibe whilst still keeping the large windows for the views.

As we walked into the restaurant to our table there was a quiet hum of conversation WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

from contented diners all enjoying what Fenchurch has to offer. This hum never fails to excite me, as it creates a positive atmosphere and a warm feeling inside of me with the anticipation of what is to come.

We were lucky enough to have a table by the window, which I recommend you request when booking, and settled down to review the menu. As we were doing this, we were given a ball of warm sourdough cut in to quarters, along with some light and delicate taramasalata and some marmite butter.

The bread was crispy on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside, and although I love marmite, I was a little skeptical of its place here. How wrong was I? There was just enough marmite to give that yeasty flavour, but not enough to overpower everything. It was truly a bold and innovative idea which worked really well. Indeed, it was so good we had to have a second helping!

The menu is compact with a choice of only 5 dishes per course, but there will certainly be something you like, and the detail and thought put into every dish is breathtaking.

For starters, my wife selected the Hand Dived Isle of Skye Scallop, XO sauce, pickled mooli and Fenchurch Tuile (£19), and I chose the Sautéed Veal Sweetbreads, cumin yoghurt and minted shallots (£18). It is so easy to spoil the taste of a scallop by over or under cooking or swamping it with strong flavoured accompaniments, but here the scallop was rightly the star of the show with the accompaniments ably providing a little texture or visual pizzaz. Many would say sweetbreads are offal, but I really love them (apologies for the pun!). They were beautifully sautéed and seasoned perfectly, and were accompanied by a smooth yoghurt and topped with delicately pickled shallots which provided just enough acidity to the dish, and if you haven’t tried them, Fenchurch is the place to start.

Our main courses were the Pan Braised Halibut, confit chicken wing, bacon crumb, cauliflower and a curry sauce (£39.50), and the 30-day aged Rib of Beef, braised cheek, bone marrow, carrot purée and thyme jus (£46). Curry sauce with fish can go terribly wrong as the curry flavour can totally swamp the fish, but the strong flavour of halibut and the delicate flavouring of the curry combined to make it a perfect marriage, and the bacon crumb added a lovely addition to the flaky fish. My beef was so succulent and tender and with the fondant potatoes, the smooth carrot purée and the crunchy fried kale, combined to make a wonderful dish which also looked visually stunning.

For dessert, I just had to have the Fenchurch Chocolate Bar, salted almond and buttermilk ice cream (£13), and my wife chose the Pumpkin Soufflé, rum, pecan and Frangelico custard (£13.50). The chocolate bar dessert was my kind of dessert, with rich chocolate, gooey caramel and an almond crunch, accompanied by a creamy buttermilk ice cream, but the soufflé, from a taste perspective, just pipped it, as it was wonderfully light and packed with lots of pumpkin and pecan flavours.

It would be amiss to finish any review of Fenchurch without mentioning the staff and service which were excellent. The waiters are smart, attentive and knowledgeable without being over attentive, and are a throwback to the olden day values. They were there when you wanted them, and absent when you wanted to enjoy your meal with your companion. This level of service appears simple, but so many restaurants fall short in this respect.

A visit to a restaurant should be special, and with spectacular views, wonderful food and quality service, you can’t get more special than Fenchurch. www.skygarden.london/restaurants/ fenchurch WWW.AMERICANINBRITAIN.CO.UK

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Electric Shuffle 10 Bermondsey Street, London, SE1 2ER

In 2002, I, like many others in the UK, was glued to the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, when Rhona Martin and her Scottish Curling team won their Gold medal against all the odds. That evening, along with Rhona, I released and swept every stone down the lane, started to understand the tactics, and realised that the ‘house’ was not just somewhere you lived!

It has taken 20 more years for my frustrated desire to be a curling champion to be fulfilled, which I feel it now has thanks to Electric Shuffle, the new offering from the people who have reinvigorated social darts via their ‘Flight Club’ franchise. Electric Shuffle, is to the uninitiated like me, curling on a table, so the only ice in this experience can be found in the lovely cocktails they serve!

Shuffleboard’s history is not fully known, but it does date back over 500 years and was a great favourite of Henry VIII. Recently, the initial image of shuffleboard is of the older generation pushing a puck into zones on the deck of a cruise liner, but now this image needs to be updated as this old game has been given a 21st Century uplift. The game has now been supercharged by the advent of new technology which allows the location of each puck to be electronically identified and the scores to be electronically determined.

Each table can accommodate up to 16 people, but the games can be enjoyed by any number, and when we visited there were 4 of us. I am not the most technically experienced person, but even I could understand what to do to set up the table and allocate teams. My first mistake was to make it a boys against girls competition, as that made it really competitive, and the second was to think that I would be good at this game and would be able to recreate the spirit of Rhona’s 2002 triumph.

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There are 3 games to play, one where you score points the closer to the end of the lane you get, the second where you need to get as close to the centre of a target as you can, and a third where you need to take control of areas of the shuffleboard, and in each game you play head-to-head against someone on the other team. The winner of each game scores a point for their team which generates a friendly rivalry, unless all of your players are as competitive as I am!

Whilst I was being humiliated on the shuffleboard, as clearly the technology was not giving the right position of my pucks!, I consoled myself with the wonderfully attentive table service which kept me stocked up with food and drinks.

Our initial choices, whilst we were playing, were Salt and Pepper Squid (£7.95) Halloumi Fries (£7.50), Spicy Buffalo Chicken Bites with blue cheese dip (£6.95) and Garlic and Sea Salt Pizza Bread with cheese (£8.95). The squid was light and crispy and the halloumi fries meaty, and the blue cheese sauce a perfect accompaniment to the buffalo wings, but the gem here was the pizza bread.

This was gooey with a lovely hint of garlic, and frankly it was so good it helped appease the humiliation of my performance in the games. In fact it was so good, we ended up ordering three of them!

Drinks are in keeping with the area near to London Bridge as there are many craft beers, along with all the expected wines and spirits on offer. What is also impressive, is that they cater for those who are not drinking, and the mocktails and non-alcoholic options are plentiful which was a pleasant surprise.

Having finished our game we decided to have our main course at one of the wellspaced tables near to the bar and selected two of the sharing pizzas. We had the Spicy Nduja Pizza (£15.95) with mascarpone and rocket, and the BBQ Chicken and Bacon Pizza with buffalo mozzarella and pickled jalapenos (£15.95). Both had a lovely crispy base, with generous toppings which to me constitutes a perfect pizza.

The cuisine on offer is based on a classic sharing food, which compliments the shuffleboard concept, and I personally love the competitive side of the game, countered by the sharing aspect of the food.

London has many great places to enjoy, but Electric Shuffle is something new, based in both London Bridge and Canary Wharf, where you can have a great laugh challenging yourself and others on the shuffleboard, whilst enjoying wholesome food and drink. What a great combination. www.electricshuffle.com/london

EATING OUT

Giggling Squid 57-59 High Street, Esher, Surrey, KT10 9RQ

The UK has many varied types of cuisine, but my personal favourite is Thai. Thai food takes its influences from India, Malaysia and Indonesia, and to me the sum of the parts has exceeded the individual cuisines making Thai food very special indeed.

Thai food was traditionally eaten with the hands whilst seated with your family, and that’s what makes Thai food so special, as it combines great food with great family values and the Giggling Squid in Esher is really authentic, as although you do have cutlery or chopsticks now, it is run by a family, making it a wonderful example of these Thai traditions. Food is a perfect conduit to bring the family together, and as well as great food, when you dine here you feel you are sharing a meal with family which cannot be topped.

Esher has a multitude of good restaurants, so the competition is stern, but I can understand why the Giggling Squid holds its own confidently, as although this is a chain, so you get the expected quality of food, each restaurant has its own identity and I love this ones family vibe.

The decision as to what to choose from the menu is difficult, as there is a wide and varied choice, all of which sound lovely.

Golden Money Bags (£6.99) which are parcels of chicken herbs and vegetables, or in other words ‘happiness in a mouthful’, or Pork Dumplings (£6.99) that are tasty, but we selected the Salt and Pepper Squid (£7.50), which is rightly one of their best sellers, as the slightly sweet and well-seasoned squid is encased in a light and crispy coating, and tasted fabulous. To accompany this, I selected the Yummy Duck Spring Rolls (£7.25). I love duck as it is rich and WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

succulent, and these spring rolls highlighted these qualities and are accompanied by a rich and moreish hosin sauce - perfect.

The main issue with the Giggling Squid’s menu is the battle between your mind and your stomach as to how many dishes you should choose. The selection for mains is extensive, and is split into ‘From the Water’, ‘From the Land’ Stir Fry, and Curry, and whatever you do finally select you won’t be disappointed. We selected the Chicken Massaman (£10.99) which is a rich and relatively mild curry with coconut milk fragranced with cumin, cinnamon and star anise, Salmon Paneang (£15.50), a salmon fillet in a creamy, red curry sauce with stir fried tenderstem brococoli and pak choi, Pad Thai Noodles (£8.99) and some Jasmine Rice (£2.95). The Massaman curry is always a crowd pleaser and doesn’t disappoint, and you may think that salmon isn’t a fish that would work with the Thai spices, but the salmon flavours are strong and it is well worth a try. Pad Thai noodles are my favourite dish, and they were done perfectly with that hint of sweetness that takes the noodles to the next level.

Having gorged myself on the delights of the first two courses I didn’t think I would have space for a dessert, but that was before I saw the choice. I love chocolate, and the Melting Heart Chocolate Dessert (£5.95) is my kind of dessert, as sometimes only chocolate will do!! This is served warm with a molten chocolate core and vanilla ice cream - what’s not to like!! Our other selection was the Coconut Pudding with berry compote (£5.95) which was packed with wonderful flavour whilst remaining light. The coconut pudding floats in a sea of coconut with the sharp and fruity berry compote providing the acidity. A perfect end to a lovely meal.

Thai food has now become one of the nation’s favourites as it caters for everyone, combining wonderful spices with fresh ingredients. The food prides itself on combining all of the six types of taste, and the combinations tantalise the tastebuds. The Giggling Squid prides itself on showcasing all that is good about this cuisine, and at their Esher restaurant they combine this with that family vibe, which makes it very special. www.gigglingsquid.com

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Mariage Frères 38 King Street London, London, WC2E 8JS

My invitation to sample Afternoon Tea at Mariage Frères in Covent Garden was met with great interest, as my preconceived notion was that Afternoon Tea is an English phenomenon, not a French one.

Across the world the British have always been associated with tea, but its origins actually start in China as early as the 2nd Century BC. British involvement, however, started soon after, when they introduced tea production to India in an attempt to break China’s monopoly, and much of the UK’s history involves the very powerful tea companies such as The British East India Company.

Tea, in the early days, was promoted as a medicinal beverage or tonic, but by the end of the 17th century it was thought of as an all-purpose drink, even though it was still very expensive and was only sold in high class establishments. Tea is much more affordable today, but Mariage Frères still keeps that high class establishment feel with its unique shop brimming with prestige, refinement and tradition.

In fact, everything about Mariage Frères oozes class and refinement from the moment you enter. On the ground floor there is the shop, which could easily be from the 18th/19th century, with polished wooden floors and the largest tea wall in the world housing a selection of 1,000 different teas.

There are tea caddies from floor to ceiling housing some of the rarest teas in the world, that are organised with the same precision and care as if they were the finest wines in the world, and indeed, in many cases, they are as special and certainly as rare.

There is a serious fascination with tea here, so in keeping with this there is also a tea museum on the 2nd floor, where you can learn more about the origins of tea, but tempted as I was, our port of call was the Salon Du Thé, on the first floor.

This Salon du Thé, again oozes sophistication, but now instead of the more austere brown wood in the shop, the décor up here is light and airy with a chequered flooring, white tables and chairs, and crisp, white table cloths. The walls are adorned with old French

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posters and a skylight gives lots of natural light via the balcony to the tea shop below.

We were here to sample the Afternoon Tea, and there are two options to choose from - The Parisian Afternoon Tea (£29pp) or the Covent Garden Afternoon Tea (£39pp).

We selected the Covent Garden Tea which was the by far the easiest choice of the day as it involved only two options. The hardest one was what tea to have with it!

I thought I knew a few teas names, but when they brought the tea list I realised I really didn’t.

Did you know there were at least 73 Darjeeling blends? Me neither. Luckily the waitress was knowledgeable, and after a few pertinent questions made suggestions as to what to have, and I selected the wonderfully named Gengis Khan. Indeed, according to legend, Gengis Khan and his warriors used to drink tea to instil in them courage and effectiveness in battle. After taking a sip I was grateful I didn’t actually feel the need to conquer Covent Garden, Ghengis Khan style, but this blend with jasmine flowers and silver tips was invigorating and wonderfully smoky all the same. My wife selected the French Afternoon Tea (the grown up of English breakfast tea!?), which was truly different as it was green (very green) and flavoured with vanilla.

It was no surprise when our Afternoon Tea’s 3-tiered platter arrived that it looked spectacular, in keeping with the rest of the restaurant. The pastries were works of art and tasted as you would expect from expert French pâtissiers.

The savoury part of the tea varies by month, but are innovative and made from the freshest of ingredients. The clever part of the entire meal is that there is an underlying tea theme running through the whole offering, with the best being the scones and jam which had a subtle flavour of tea and made me forget my usual toppings for scones, namely strawberry jam and clotted cream.

Mariage Frères offers much more than just Afternoon Tea, and provides breakfasts, sandwiches and healthy hot and cold dishes, all created with that Gallic flare, from 11am to 7pm, and if you are in the vicinity of Covent Garden take a look. You won’t be disappointed, as the French can do Afternoon Tea just as well as the English. www.mariagefreres.com

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THEATRE REVIEWS

By Tim Baros Life Of Pi At The Wyndham Theatre

I expected the new West End show ‘Life of Pi’ to be mesmerising, but it was much, much more.

The ‘Life of Pi’ is a masterpiece of theatre.

It’s stupendifying and brilliant on every level.

From the amazing sets, to the fantastic story, to the great acting - it’s a show that will not only take your breathe away, but will also enthrall and entertain you.

Based on the 2001 book ‘Life of Pi’ by Canadian Yann Martel (and turned into a 2012 movie directed by Ang Lee, winning 4 Academy Awards), the story revolves around 16 year old Pi (Piscine) - played by Hiran Abeysekera, an Indian boy who is the only survivor of a shipwreck and who survives on a lifeboat in the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal Tiger (named by Pi as Richard Parker).

But the brilliant narrative of the show flips back and forth from when Pi is in a Mexican hospital being overseen by two Canadian psychiatric investigators in 1979 and the telling of how he got there, to how Pi and his family had a zoo and acquired said Bengal tiger, and how they packed it all up to go to Canada on said ship. But things don’t go as expected.

After the shipwreck that kills his whole entire family there are only five survivors; Pi, Richard Parker, a hyena, a zebra and an 8

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orangutang. But are these actual animals or a figment of Pi’s imagination? What did he really experience, and see, while he was stranded on the lifeboat? And what caused the ship to sink? This is what the investigators want to find out.

‘Life of Pi’ is an epic adaptation of the book and movie. The sets change almost constantly, from the hospital room to the zoo, to a busy street market, and to the life raft that Pi is stuck on. And the animals are cleverly held and manipulated by human handlers - you almost don’t notice the humans because the

animals seem so real. But it’s Abeysekera who spellbinds us with his performance. Literally leapfrogging from bed to the boat to the zoo and everywhere in between, Abeysekera gives an epic performance in a show, that while only runs for just over two hours, is one that will stick with you for a long time to come.

‘The Life of Pi’ is one of the most amazing shows to hit the West End in years, it is simply fantastic and Abeysekera is superb.

Now playing at the Wyndham Theatre until February 27th, 2022. www.lifeofpionstage.com

THEATRE

Magic Goes Wrong At The Apollo Theatre

Are you ready for a bit of magic in the West End? Well then look no further than ‘Magic Goes Wrong’.

From the magic pens of Mischief Theatre and world famous magicians Penn & Teller, ‘Magic Goes Wrong’ introduces audiences to magic comedy theatre - funny skits that throw in magic tricks, some obvious and some not, all performed by not so serious performers in a show that’s meant to be lightweight as well as a fun night out at the theatre.

‘Magic Goes Wrong’ jokingly stages itself as a fundraiser for Disasters in Magic Charity Fundraiser, and there are indeed a few magic disasters on stage. We are promised a night of

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fun, blood, partial nudity, among others - and we get it! Emcee Sophisticato (Shane DavidJoseph) ‘holds’ the fundraiser in honour of his late father, but is there something, like a clue, in his late father’s magic wand stick that Sophisticato has missed?

The Mind Mangler (Henry Lewis) attempts to guess audience members names, and makes fun of their occupations. This is a warning that if you sit near the front row you will be picked on. There is also Louise Beresford as Peg, who unfortunately gets sawn in half, and a Mother daughter duo who are a winning combination. Meanwhile, The Blade (Kazeem Tosin-Amore) has the unfortunate luck to be maimed, shot and drowned - all in the span of 2 1/2 hours. And Mel (Scott Hunter) spends the entire time

trying to do his magic act, but no one will let him - Poor Mel. From the same team that brought us the hilarious ‘The Play That Goes Wrong,’ ‘Magic Goes Wrong,’ now playing at the legendary Apollo Theatre, will make you forget about what’s happening in the real world (we all need that about now).

‘Magic Goes Wrong’ is now playing until 27th February 2022, with 200 tickets available for £20 each and every Tuesday, and this is no trick!

Performance times: Tues-Fri: 7:30pm Saturdays: 2:30pm & 7:30pm Sunday: 3pm & 7:30pm www.mischiefcomedy.com/magic-goeswrong-london/london

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WEALTH MANAGEMENT Déjà Vu The world looked on in awe back in the Spring of 2021, when US Consumer Price Inflation stood at 4.2%. Newspaper stands were flooded with alarming headlines, with the Financial Times stating in May, ‘US consumer prices rise at fastest pace since 2008’(1). Here in the UK, things seemed a little more stable, with Consumer Price Inflation rising 1.6% in the same 12 months to April 2021(2). Almost as if the US was 6 months ahead of the UK, we are now coincidently seeing the same headlines – the BBC’s opening paragraph to a recent inflation article reads ‘New figures published on Wednesday reveal the cost of living rose by 4.2% in October, its highest rate in almost 10 years’(3).

What Is Inflation?

To digest these figures it is important to understand exactly what is inflation. In short, it is a term used to describe the rate at which the prices of goods and services are rising. The UK aims to keep annual price rises at 2%(4). Why would the government want prices to rise I hear you ask? Whilst prices decreasing or remaining the same sounds good to us, the consumer, reduced spending could lead to company profits decreasing and people losing their jobs – generally speaking, a little inflation is a good thing, but too much is bad.

If inflation moves more than 1% in either direction, the Governor of the Bank of England is required to send an open letter to the Chancellor explaining the reasons behind the missed target and what the Bank intends to do to get back on track. This may mean increasing interest rates, but the Bank must be conscious that anyone who has borrowed money may see their monthly repayments increase, which could be significant when debt is high, for example, on mortgages. The principle is that if borrowing becomes more expensive people will have to spend/buy less which will lead to prices decreasing in response.

Why Are Prices Rising?

We believe that an unfortunate combination of the pandemic and, in part, Brexit, seem to be the main sources of the UK inflation surge.

Several UK energy suppliers are going bust after the pandemic saw the country’s gas and electricity use fall. With excess oil and gas being produced, this led to prices falling sharply. This saw small energy companies lowering their prices to make

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costs more appealing to new customers.

With the pandemic worsening, the government placed a ban on disconnecting customers so utility companies were obliged to continue to supply energy regardless of customers’ ability to pay. What would have usually been a profitable period turned into an unprofitable period. Now demand is recovering, gas supply is falling, which has resulted in a surge in prices. Suppliers cannot increase their prices in line with the higher gas costs, as Ofgem, the electricity and natural gas regulator, has a cap on energy price increases, so suppliers have had to continue business on unprofitable terms, which is why so many energy companies are failing.

The surge in gas costs has made oil a more costefficient alternative for power generation, which has increased demand and in turn the price The surge in gas costs has made oil a more cost-efficient alternative for power generation, which has increased demand and in turn the price. At the end of September, oil prices surpassed $80 a barrel for the first time in three years (5) - bad news for UK motorists. In April 2020, petrol was hovering around 108p a litre (6). In November of this year, prices hit 146.89p (7) a litre – a new all-time high (8).

The rise in commodity prices has been partly responsible for the rise in the price of goods, along with a global shift in demand from services to goods as the nation closed for various lockdowns to curb the spread of the virus.

Supply bottlenecks have also contributed to a rise in global shipping costs which have led to companies passing on these costs to

the consumers. Specifically, semi-conductor shortages have led to a disruption in the production of new cars resulting in used car prices increasing by 18% over the twelve months to August 2021.

Lastly, the UK government was forced to issue temporary visas for 5,000 EU lorry drivers after the Road Haulage Association (RHA) cited a shortage of over 100,000 qualified drivers in the UK in the summer of 2021. This has led to wage inflation, which increases the costs of both goods and services.

What Can I Do?

In terms of controlling the price of goods and services there is very little we can do, but the OECD believes inflation will remain higher for the next two years (9). For reference, if you have $1,000,000 in your bank account today and inflation continues at 4% for the next two years, that $1,000,000 will purchase ~$924,556 worth of goods/services in two years, assuming you are earning 0% interest in your bank account.

With banks offering interest rates well below current inflation figures, keeping cash over and above your required expenditure and emergency expenditure pots in the sanctuary of a bank account guarantees a negative real rate of return.

Investing in the capital markets may hypothetically give you a better chance of a positive return in real terms, above inflation, although this is not guaranteed because risk and reward are correlated. Historically, value stocks have outperformed growth stocks in the short-term when inflation has been high because they have an intrinsic value higher than the price they are currently trading at and generally have a good cash flow, which is why our portfolios are built to target the value premia, inflation aside.

When investing your hard-earned cash in the capital markets you are essentially passing on the increasing costs of goods and services to consumers over time. It is important to understand when you will need various pots of cash because a longer time horizon generally dictates a higher allocation to growth assets and a short-term time horizon may render capital market investment unsuitable, as the funds won’t have time to ride out any short-term dips which will inevitably come with the volatility associated with investing – especially as markets are generally more volatile during periods of higher inflation.

Whether the current level of inflation is transitory or here to stay, it is one of the many

WEALTH MANAGEMENT unfortunate ramifications of the pandemic.

We are far from the dizzying UK inflationary highs of the 70s, where inflation peaked at 24.21% in 1975 (10), but given the average UK inflation rate of the last 20 years has been around 2.49%, we are well above the norm.

If you would like to understand the potential impact of inflation on your individual circumstances, you should speak to a Wealth Manager to determine your needs.

George Fisk CFP™, MASECO Wealth Manager Contact: George.fisk@masecopw.com Telephone: 020 7043 0455

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MASECO has helped hundreds of High Net Worth US citizens residing in the UK with their finances since its inception in 2008, and we would be delighted to have a complementary initial call to see if we can add value to your situation.

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 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.

This document does not constitute and should not be construed as investment, tax or any other type of advice. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of MASECO as a whole or any part thereof. 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. The partners are Mr J E Matthews and Mr J R D Sellon; Mr D R B Dorman, Mr H Q A Findlater, Mr T Flonaes, Ms A L Solana and Mr N B Tissot. For your protection, telephone calls may be recorded.

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.ft.com/content/dfffa56a-6450-4a5897a6-b3d12ea72d9c 2. www.ons.gov.uk/economy/ inflationandpriceindices/bulletins/ consumerpriceinflation/april2021 3. www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12196322 4. www.bankofengland.co.uk/monetarypolicy/inflation 5. www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58727437 6. www.gov.uk/government/statistics/ weekly-road-fuel-prices 7. www.gov.uk/government/statistics/ weekly-road-fuel-prices 8. www.theguardian.com/money/2021/oct/15/ uk-petrol-price-highest-in-almost-a-decade 9. www.ft.com/content/55300c7b-ab06-40c4a5f4-ed02ddb31374 10.www.macrotrends.net/countries/GBR/ united-kingdom/inflation-rate-cpi

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TAXING ISSUES Cross-Border Tax Impact Of Gain From The Sale Of A Personal Home In The United Kingdom The following is designed to provide general tax information for Americans residing in the United Kingdom and does not constitute legal advice. As with all legal issues, seeking tailored advice from qualified counsel is advisable.

Considering a challenging and overly burdensome tax landscape, American expatriates living in the UK will be pleasantly surprised to find that owning a personal residence remains a relatively tax efficient investment. Many who own homes in the United Kingdom will be able to effectively shield gains from both US and UK tax by using the tax benefits in place. But the tax laws in both countries are not identical, and the protection provided in the United Kingdom through personal residence relief can be substantially more favourable than the sale of home exclusion benefit provided in the United States.

The result is that some American expatriates who have been able to generate significant gains from the sale of a personal home in the United Kingdom could be facing a US tax bill. Given the tremendous performance of the UK real estate market in recent years, many American expatriates are in fact finding themselves in a position where the tax benefits in place for homeowners in the United States do not offer adequate protection. To complicate matters, the dynamic exchange rate between the US dollar and the Pound sterling over the past decade can also have the potential to materially impact tax attributes and create difficulties with UK mortgages.

For American expatriates who own or are considering purchasing a personal home in the United Kingdom, this article will provide a brief overview of the cross-border tax framework you will encounter and explain how the US tax treatment of foreign currency fluctuations can turn a foreign mortgage into a tax trap.

To illustrate these rules, we’ll consider the following scenario: • Elaine and John are American citizens who moved to London in 2011 and purchased a flat for £500,000, financing it with a mortgage of £300,000. The exchange rate at that time was £1 : $1.65.

They paid a stamp duty tax of £10,000 when the home was purchased and made no significant improvements • In 2021, after having lived in the property for over ten years, they accepted an offer to sell 12

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for £1.1 million. The outstanding balance of their mortgage at that time was £100,000 and the exchange rate was £1 : $1.37 • Elaine and John are both taxed in the United Kingdom as residents and they file a joint federal tax return in the United States. The taxable income reported on their 2021 US tax return before any gain from the home sale was $280,000.

Under personal residence relief provisions, there is generally no limit on the amount of gain that can be protected from capital gains tax

Given that Elaine and John have lived in the London flat for their entire period of ownership, they would qualify for full personal residence relief and would not be subject to capital gains tax in the United Kingdom from the sale.

US Tax Guidelines For Homeowners

Sale of Home Exclusion As a general rule, American taxpayers who have owned a residence that has been their main home during at least two of the five years prior to the sale will not be taxed on the first $250,000 of gain produced. This exclusion is doubled to $500,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint tax return, but periods of non-qualifying use that occurred in the five-year testing window prior to the two-year test being satisfied can result in a reduction of the eligible threshold.

The exclusion is available in full to Americans who reside overseas and own foreign property.

For Elaine and John, as they have owned and lived in the London flat for more than the two-year requirement, they would qualify for the full $500,000 exclusion available to married taxpayers filing jointly. However, given that the gain produced from the sale will likely exceed this threshold, tax will still need to be calculated for US tax purposes.

Currency Fluctuations UK TAX GUIDELINES FOR HOMEOWNERS Personal Residence Relief

Broad relief exists in the United Kingdom protecting homeowners from capital gains tax. To qualify for full relief, the property must have been a main home for the entire period of ownership, not been used for trade or business purposes, and not acquired as an investment. Limitations are also in place for properties larger than 5,000 square meters.

Under personal residence relief provisions, there is generally no limit on the amount of gain that can be protected from capital gains tax. And when periods of nonpersonal use have occurred subsequently, the portion of the gain allocable to the period of time the property was a main home will still be eligible for limited relief.

For US tax purposes, the sale of an asset will always need to be reported in US dollar terms.

Therefore, when property is acquired outside of the United States, fluctuations between the dollar and the currency in which the transaction is denominated will be factored into the gain or loss calculations. Accordingly, in scenarios where a currency has fluctuated significantly against the US dollar during the period of ownership, a material impact on the gain or loss calculated from the sale of the property will result.

To figure the gain or loss from the transaction, the purchase price is converted to US dollars using the exchange rate in effect on the date the property was purchased. The sales proceeds are then converted using the rate in effect on the date of sale. Any capital improvements to the property would be added to the cost and converted to US dollars using the effective rate on the date the expenses were paid.

TAXING ISSUES For Elaine and John, with the exchange rate of £1 : $1.65 in 2011, cost basis for calculating gain from sale would be $841,500 ($825,000 for purchase price plus $16,500 for stamp duty).

Gross proceeds from the transaction of $1,507,000 will result by applying an exchange rate at the time of sale of £1 : $1.37 against the £1.1 million received.

The result will be $665,500 in gain for US tax purposes. From this amount, $500,000 will be eligible for exclusion, leaving $165,500 of taxable gain. While a gain is still produced, the amount calculated does take into account a foreign currency loss attributable to the depreciation of the Pound against the dollar during this time.

Capital Gains Tax

Any gain produced beyond the $500,000 threshold will be taxed at long-term capital gains rates of either 0%, 15%, or 20%. UK capital gains tax paid on the sale of the property can be credited against US tax.

John and Elaine would qualify for a 15% long-term capital gains rate, resulting in a projected US tax liability of $24,825. As no tax is due from the transaction in the United Kingdom, there will not be a foreign tax credit available to reduce this amount.

Net Investment Income Tax

Additionally, the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) will also be applicable to the taxable portion of the gain from the sale to the extent it exceeds the $200,000 ($250,000 for jointly filing taxpayers) threshold.

With Elaine and John having taxable income at $280,000 before accounting for gain from the sale, it is assumed that the entire portion of the taxable gain of $165,500 will be subject to NIIT resulting in an additional tax of $6,289.

Elaine and John’s total U.S. tax projected from the sale of the London flat in 2021 would be $31,114 ($24,825 in capital gains tax and $6,289 of NIIT).

While the US tax liability on gain from the sale of the UK home could very well come as a surprise, the foreign currency gain that could be produced by redemption of the mortgage encumbering the property will always be a bitter pill to swallow.

Complications Of UK Mortgages

Owning the home itself may be relatively straightforward from a US tax standpoint, but foreign currency denominated mortgages can complicate matters.

Mortgage Interest Deduction

Mortgage interest paid on a loan for a main home in the United Kingdom is deductible WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

for US tax purposes pursuant to normal guidelines. However, to claim the deduction for mortgage interest, a taxpayer must elect to itemise deductions, which is less common following the increase to the standard deduction in 2018.

Unfortunately, in most scenarios the positive impact from deducting UK mortgage interest will be nominal, though the deduction can be beneficial for American expatriates who still receive considerable US-sourced income or have significant itemised deductions. And mortgage interest deductions could also be beneficial if there were to be a plan in place to leverage foreign tax credit carryovers in future years on the US side.

No tax relief is available in the UK for mortgage interest paid on a main home.

No tax relief is available in the UK for mortgage interest paid on a main home Impact Of Foreign Currency

The primary concern for American taxpayers with respect to UK mortgages relates again to the way the US tax rules view foreign currency-denominated transactions.

Two important considerations must be kept in mind: 1. Foreign currency gains are taxable, with the exception of “personal” transactions where the net gain is less than $200. This would generally cover gain attributable to any monthly mortgage payment but is unlikely to protect a redemption of the remaining principal balance when the property is sold.

2. Personal losses cannot be claimed. What this means is that even though currency gain over $200 from the redemption of mortgage on a personal home would be taxable, if the same transaction were to produce a loss, it would not offset the gain from the sale.

The unfortunate result of this rule is that in many scenarios where a disallowed loss would be produced from the redemption of a personal mortgage, the gain calculated on the same property will encompass foreign currency gain that would be taxable if in excess of the sale of home exclusion threshold. And when a taxable currency gain is produced by the redemption of the mortgage, it will be taxed at ordinary income tax rates, not the reduced capital gains rates applied to gain from the sale of the property.

For American expatriates who currently hold UK mortgages that have been taken out for personal homes during the past decade, there is likely a risk of phantom income being produced upon redemption of the note due to how the currencies have performed in recent years. The phantom income is created by the fact that it now requires fewer dollars to pay off the mortgage than it would have when the loans were taken out initially.

For Elaine and John, while the $200 limit would likely have protected them from tax exposure for monthly payments made prior to the redemption, currency gain will be produced when the remaining £100,000 mortgage balance is paid off with the sales proceeds.

Considering the exchange rates in effect when the loan was taken and subsequently paid off, a currency gain of $28,000 is produced ($165,000 initially received and $137,000 needed to repay the balance in full). They will face an estimated $6,720 in tax from the foreign currency gains from the mortgage redemption assuming they are in the 24% tax bracket in 2021.

In total, for a property that more than doubled in value, Elaine and John can expect to pay no income tax in the United Kingdom but will owe an estimated $37,834 in total tax in the United States.

Undoubtedly, options will be available to American expatriates to help manage the potential tax risk associated with foreign currency mortgages and working with a lender who will understand this risk is crucial.

Moreover, given the differences in tax rules, planning opportunities available to married individuals for owning or financing a personal home in the UK when only one spouse is American should not be overlooked.

The challenges identified in this article are largely unavoidable in many cases.

Planning against the prospect of your personal home doubling in value can be challenging. Moreover, acquiring a home without mortgage financing is not financially realistic for the vast majority of American expatriates. Simply being knowledgeable of the differences in the rules impacting American expatriate homeowners in the UK and accounting for a potential US tax liability will be the most prudent course of action.

Roland A. Sabates, Expat Legal Services Group Expat Legal Services Group offers unique legal services for American expatriates and foreign nationals with financial interests in the United States. Our firm serves the expat community in the areas of international tax, immigration law, and cross border business and estate planning leveraging a suite of modern technology solutions. 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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PROPERTY

PROPERTY Welcome to Marylebone Marylebone has been one of London’s most elegant, quintessential and fashionable areas since the 17th century, having enjoyed a period of development under various aristocratic families over the centuries. The area is enjoying a boom and continues to attract a host of high-end brands, both in terms of fashion and food. Marylebone’s ‘village feel’ is often commented on, despite being just a stone’s throw from the crowds that populate Oxford Street, and tourist attractions such as Madame Tussauds Waxwork Museum and the British Museum.

With a Sunday farmers’ market and its proximity to the green spaces of Regent’s Park and Hyde Park, as well as a host of independent restaurants, cafés and bars and excellent schooling, it’s little wonder that the area never dips in popularity.

Despite being in central London, Marylebone is known for being an area of calm and serenity. The heart of Marylebone is found on Marylebone High Street, which is overflowing with charming coffee shops, eateries and boutiques. Regent’s Park offers 410 acres of mainly open parkland and is Grade Il listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. It contains Regent’s University London and the popular tourist attraction of London Zoo. There are also sports pitches, playgrounds, a boating lake and an open-air theatre which hosts some excellent performances in the summertime.

If the wonderful parks will not attract you to Marylebone, then the fashionable shops, WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

restaurants and entertainment no doubt will.

Selfridges, which has been voted the best department store in the world multiple times, is located on Oxford Street, surrounded by an abundance of affluent shops and boutiques.

Marylebone also holds a Summer Fayre each year which is an occasion not to be missed.

As expected W1 and NW1 is made up of a colourful tapestry of residents. Marylebone has become increasingly popular with city workers due to excellent transport links to the City. Students are attracted because both the University of Westminster and Regent’s University are close by. Families also love Marylebone because of its safe atmosphere and excellent schools including the likes of Wetherby Preparatory School in Bryanston Square, The Old Grammar School on Marylebone Road, Portland Place School, and Queen’s College. The world renowned medical district, Harley Street is also just around the corner.

Culture lovers will be delighted with the array of attractions on their doorstep, including Madame Tussauds, the Wallace Collection in Manchester Square, Royal Academy of Music, and Wigmore Hall, theatres on the West End, London Zoo and the BBC headquarters in Portland Place.

Perhaps it doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to work out why we love Marylebone so much, as our Global Headquarters is positioned on Baker Street, but if you want to be sure, you can find him just a few doors up at iconic number 221b.

Houses In Marylebone

Most well-known for the beautiful, highly sought-after, Georgian squares, Victorian terraces and mansion blocks, the majority of the period buildings here have been converted into stylish apartments yet retain their traditional features. There are grand houses surrounding garden squares - Montagu Square, Bryanston Square, Manchester Square and Fitzroy Square to name but a few. These are the most soughtafter, as they are both picturesque and traditional.

There are some stunning mews houses creating an oasis of calm scattered around Marylebone. Newer developments such as

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Le Relais de Venise This very popular French restaurant serves a simple set menu of salad, steak, fries and dessert. The steak comes with a secret homemade sauce and the praline dessert is a popular choice. It doesn’t take bookings so be prepared for a wait.

Chiltern Firehouse Possibly the most exclusive place to dine in Marylebone, the Chiltern Firehouse is the brainchild of hotelier André Balazs and manned by head chef Nuno Mendes. The dining room of the 26-suite hotel serves upscale American treats in the former garage of the Marylebone Fire Station.

The Marylebone Bar Last, but by no means least, is Marylebone’s namesake drinking hotspot, a relaxed yet upscale venue situated in the heart of the High Street, specialising in cocktails with the unique twist of in-house infusions.

Knight Frank’s Relocation Service

The Chilterns have been designed with luxury living in mind, with interiors from designer Rabih Hage. The W1 London is one of London’s new luxury residences occupying a prime location on Marylebone High Street. The Park Crescent, London’s only Royal crescent, looks out onto eight acres of outstanding private gardens. Harley Street and Wimpole Street are famous for the medical ambiance.

Shopping

In Marylebone, you really can shop till you drop, with every possible type of retailer nestled in one of the district’s distinguished corners. At the bottom of Baker Street, you will find one of the world’s most iconic department stores, Selfridges, founded in 1909 by American Harry Selfridge, now a cornerstone of London’s shopping scene. Arrive at Selfridges and you will arrive on Oxford Street, perhaps London’s most well-known shopping area, offering just over a mile of the world’s biggest high street names. Head south in the direction of Piccadilly and you’ll find Bond Street, highly regarded for its exclusive brands. And of course, right on your doorstep is the truly beautiful Marylebone High Street, with its market-town feel and elegant and eclectic stores, including Instagram-worthy Daunt Books.

Getting Around

Marylebone is easily accessible by train, plane, bus and car: By car: For road trips up north, head to the A1 or M1 with connections to the M25.

By train: London Marylebone is the nearest 16

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major train station and provides good links to Oxford and Birmingham. The Elizabeth line, due to open soon, will offer a high-frequency service to Reading and Heathrow Airport.

By air: Heathrow Airport is your closest – just hop on the Piccadilly line.

Underground: Marylebone is very well connected and offers multiple tube stations, including Baker Street (Bakerloo, Jubilee, Hammersmith. District and Circle lines), Regent’s Park (Bakerloo line), Goodge Street (Northern line), and Bond Street (Central and Jubilee lines).

Overground: There is an overground mainline station which stands midway between Euston and Paddington.

Buses: Numerous buses from Baker Street serve central London including the 74, 82, 2, 189 and 139.

Restaurants, Pubs, Bars And Cafés

The Harcourt This elegant neighbourhood pub offers dishes devised by a Finnish chef and drinks concocted by a Swedish mixologist. This fine-dining establishment is part of Harcourt Inns, winner of ‘Food-led Pubs of the Year’. It serves beers from family-run breweries and a good selection of wines.

The Barley Mow The Barley Mow is a traditional pub with bags of character. It has been in Dorset Street since 1791, and its wooden snugs are listed. Enjoy the friendly vibe with a pie and a beer.

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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HEALTH How To Stay Healthy And Injury Free In The New Year The New Year is seen by many as an opportunity to reform and make decisions that will improve one’s life in some way.

Improving fitness is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions out there, with gyms full to the brim and new runners pounding the streets in January.

In order to maintain an active lifestyle, aside from motivation, it is useful to keep some basic principles in mind, which when acted upon, should contribute to a healthy body, and help prevent injuries:

Lower Limb Health Needs To Be Taken Into Account

The hips and knees (the large joints) especially do a lot of work and play an essential role in carrying the weight of the body. Without care and attention, and particularly if one is slightly out of practice, these joints are vulnerable to wear and tear. It is important to warm up before and after exercising, stretch regularly, and build muscle up gradually to avoid injuries.

When getting into, or re-starting any sport, enlisting the support of a personal trainer or a virtual ‘supervisor’ would be worthwhile. An expert, who is able to demonstrate correct technique and create a personalised development plan for you, is an invaluable asset.

Load The Joints

Bodies are built for motion and regular exercise is very important. Try to incorporate a variety of workouts into your week, which cover both cardio and weight training. Weight bearing exercises are particularly important for maintaining good bone health, as with age the body slowly begins to lose bone mass. Men have a higher peak bone mass than women and their bone width and size is greater.

Women are more vulnerable to developing osteoporosis due to physiological hormonal changes. This is where the bones become more fragile and brittle, making them more prone to fractures and breaks. As such, it is decidedly equally important for women to persevere with weight training exercises in order to sustain a healthy bone density.

The bone, contrary to what many might think, is a continuously growing tissue and keeps growing and remodelling at any age. Human requirements will differ depending on their age and gender, so it 18

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is important to be aware that as we grow older, capabilities will change and dietary intakes may need to adapt to an evolving body. It is most important to be mindful of this when kick starting an exercise regime, which for whatever reason, may have fallen by the wayside in recent months or years. It is when starting an exercise routine again after a break when injuries are most likely to take place.

A good diet, rich in proteins, calcium and vitamin D is very important. If one is doing a lot of exercise, but is not getting enough dietary nutrients, this could be doing more harm than good Enjoy A Healthy Diet

A good diet, rich in proteins, calcium and vitamin D is very important. If one is doing a lot of exercise, but is not getting enough dietary nutrients, this could be doing more harm than good.

The skeleton is our body’s storage bank for calcium - a mineral that is necessary for our bodies to function. Calcium is especially important as a building block for bone.

We must get calcium from the foods we eat. If we do not have enough calcium in our diets to keep our bodies functioning, calcium is removed from where it is stored in our bones. Over time, this will cause bones to grow weaker and will eventually lead to osteopenia and then osteoporosis.

Common Injuries

In my clinic, I see many instances of injuries as a consequence of slipping, tripping, and falling, as well as overuse injuries. It is important that before undertaking any exercise, you know what you are doing. This can be managed by enlisting professional support, as well as starting slowly and building up capability and technique over time. For example, when taking up running, it would be sensible to start with a short 10-minute run, and gradually build up to longer runs over time. When it comes to weight training, starting with lighter loads is essential to avoid muscle strains and tears. Focus on perfecting technique first, whilst building up strength, before making the loads more challenging.

Always make sure to listen to your body and don’t overstrain – this is when injuries occur.

Overuse injuries are also very common.

Simply put, overuse means that the body has been put under slightly more stress than it can tolerate at that moment in time. A cause, which I often encounter, is people picking up exercise after a break of some time, and assuming their abilities have remained the same. In the intervening months or years however, bodies and capabilities have changed. In these cases, kick starting a vigorous exercise regime will more often than not result in an injury.

An easy way to avoid this type of injury, which will be of particular relevance to all those with health resolutions this January, is to start small, make incremental gains, and most importantly, listen to your body. Eat a varied and balanced diet, drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, and remember that rest is essential to integrating the benefits of exercise.

It is also worth saying that there are seasonal variations in injuries. Knee ligament injuries are extremely common in winter; one of the most common being an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) sprain or tear. The ACL runs diagonally in the middle of the knee and prevents the shinbone from sliding out in front of the thighbone, as well as providing rotational stability to the knee.

There is always a flurry of people coming into clinic with ACL injuries sustained after bad twists or falls, either due to winter sports, most commonly skiing, or simply from slipping on wet and icy winter roads.

The London Marathon is another trigger for injuries and I see many cases of bone stress, fractures, and breaks, as well as muscle fatigue, as a consequence.

HEALTH Common causes for these are over-training, and unbalanced training regimes, with too much focus on cardio, and too little on strength, stability, and stretching.

What To Do Following An Injury

The first thing to remember is that injuries are normal and par for the course. Most injuries sustained during every day exercise, such as aches and sprains, can be managed at home. It is important to recognise there may be a problem rather than ignoring any pain and pushing on through, which could make an injury much worse. Stop your activity. If necessary, take painkillers and anti-inflammatories, ice the injury, and then get plenty of rest. If you are worried, many doctors now conduct virtual appointments, or Urgent Care Clinics, such as the one at St John & St Elizabeth Hospital, offer appointments, many on the same day, for treatment of minor injuries and illnesses.

Should you have commenced treatment at home, but are not seeing any improvement after a day or two, seek help.

Alternatively, should you injure yourself, feel intense pain and cannot put any weight on the limb, do not delay in seeking help. In this situation, seeing a specialist straight away would be advantageous and could avoid complications further down the line.

Mr Sujith Konan is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at St John & St Elizabeth Hospital In my clinic, I focus on all aspects of hip and knee surgery including hip and knee arthroscopy, reconstructions for sports injury, hip and knee replacements and revision hip and knee surgery. As such, by the time a patient comes to me, they will have already conducted some investigations into their issue, seen a GP, and sought advice from family and friends. I will always take a history from the patient, and will ask such questions as; how did it start? How has it progressed?

Has it happened before? Does the person have other medical issues? Clinical examination is also very important to get a

general feel for what the bone/joint is like; the muscle is like and so on.

Imaging, such as CT, x-ray, or MRI scans- depending on what we are looking at, will confirm the diagnosis. This final step helps with counselling a patient, looking at options, and creating a bespoke management plan.

The reality is that a very small proportion of people will need surgery. Surgery is only undertaken when it may achieve faster rehabilitation, or if it will help preserve and rehabilitate the injury better than the body’s own healing process. Should surgery be needed though, most patients will be able to walk and go back home the same day.

Get in touch: 0203 763 7082 E: patomrkonan@gmail.com

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

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HOTEL REVIEW

HOTEL REVIEW Francis Hotel, Bath The UK has so many attractions and places to visit it is really very difficult to decide where to go first, but one place that is truly worth a visit is Bath, the largest town in Somerset.

Bath has so much history dating back to the Roman times that there is enough for both couples and families to do for a few days, or at least a weekend, and finding the right place to stay to enjoy all Bath has to offer is critical.

Bath boasts hundreds of hotels, but few with as much history as the Francis Hotel, and even fewer with such a perfect location right in the heart of Bath itself, a stone’s throw away from many of the sights, including the Roman Baths, The Pump Room, The Thermae Bath Spa and the main High Street.

Bath is renown for its stunning honey coloured Georgian architecture, which is straight out of a Jane Austen novel, and the Francis Hotel occupies seven of the original 18th Century townhouses which occupy the south side of Queens Square, right in the heart of Bath.

Although these townhouses are now cleverly joined to create 98 individually styled bedrooms, there is still the odd throwback to when they were individual houses, namely a WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

fireplace just outside the lift on the first floor, or the many winding corridors to take you to your room, which provides period character.

The Francis Hotel is part of the unique MGallery collection, a group which promotes all that is special about their hotels by retaining the character and features of each of their properties, and the Francis Hotel is an eclectic mixture of modern and period features. It’s General Manager, James McDevitt, is a fellow American from Boston, and has great plans for the hotel this year, so we are already looking forward to returning in the near future.

The hotel was developed from a boarding house, and in 1884 the townhouses were all knocked into one and the Francis Private Hotel was born, named after Mrs Emily Francis, the boarding house owner. The Grade 1 listed building has had a number of transformations since those early days, none more dramatic than in 1942, when it was blitzed by a 500kg bomb! But despite all these changes, it has always retained its 18th century Georgian style and the current owners have started a number of projects to bring this more to the fore. Indeed, at the boundaries of each of the houses there are blue plaques celebrating some of each of the

house’s more notable residents, including John Wood the Elder, who originally built the façade of townhouses in 1736.

Stepping through the doors of the Francis Hotel transports you back to a bygone age, with a parlour to the left which is decorated in the same style as it would have been around the time of the courtship of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy.

Our room was on the first floor, and although it had been renovated recently, it still retained its oldy, worldy charm. The large bed was really comfortable and the finest Egyptian cotton linen ensured a great night’s sleep after a long day enjoying the sights Bath has to offer.

What makes a hotel special is the little extra touches, and here the Francis Hotel excels. The first touch is the heated bathroom floor, which as we visited in December was a God-send and very welcome. Other nice touches are the hotel’s plans to create special events and experiences for its guests to make their stay more special, the most recent being a Bridgerton Afternoon Tea and walk, which provides a printed guide around Bath showing you where the Netflix programme, Bridgerton, was filmed, along with many of WWW.AMERICANINBRITAIN.CO.UK

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Stepping through the doors of the Francis Hotel transports you back to a bygone age, with a parlour to the left which is decorated in the same style as it would have been around the time of the courtship of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy

the sights of Bath, and then ending with an opulent Afternoon Tea. Bath is one of the most visited city’s in the UK, and it is not hard to see why, as there is so much to see there. The Francis Hotel provides a wonderful option of where to stay, as its location is second to none, it has lots of history, and staff who want to make your stay special.

Website: www.francishotel.com Telephone: 01225 424105

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TAKE FIVE Wonderfully Winter!

by Judith Schrut

The Bewitching Cast of Hex at the National Theatre, photo courtesy NT Press Office.

By the time you are reading this, the holiday bright lights and seasonal buzz will be fond memories and it will be some weeks until the snowdrops, crocus and chocolate mini eggs of spring are with us. Yes, it’s the perfect time to snuggle up and savour the first treats of the brand new year! Let us introduce you to five of our favourites.

1. Best In Show

After spending most of 2021 in darkness due to Covid shutdowns, British theatre is hotting up for a glorious New Year comeback, and we can hardly wait to tell you about it! Whether your fires are best lit by toasty and traditional pantomime, steamy and serious drama or toe-tapping, soul-warming musicals, you can rely on UK Theatreland to deliver a snowplough of great shows. All that’s needed is a big dose of old-fashioned audience love - we urge you to give generously.

There’s always a time and place for cherished West End oldies but goodies, especially when re-energised with fresh casts and creatives. Shows like Phantom of the Opera, Wicked and the Lion King still take the breath away, and Hamilton continues to live up to its hype. We’re looking forward to seeing all of these again soon.

If you’re after something new, West End newbies include a lavish and luscious revival of My Fair Lady and the eagerly awaited premiere of Moulin Rouge the Musical. It’s ‘Wilkommen’ and ‘Bienvenue’ to 1930’s Berlin, as the Kit Kat Club takes over London’s Playhouse Theatre, in a gobsmacking version of Cabaret, starring Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley. Amy Adams makes her stage debut in Tennessee 24

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Williams’ classic, the Glass Menagerie. And don’t miss the rare second chance to be mesmerised by Mark Rylance as ‘Rooster’ Byron in the return of Jerusalem.

The eternally superb National Theatre presents Hex, a dark new musical that goes beyond the kiss that woke the Sleeping Beauty and tells the fairy’s tale; a revival of The Corn is Green, with Nicola Walker as a teacher determined to teach struggling Welsh coalminers to read and write; and The Father and The Assassin, by exciting Indian playwright Anupama Chandrasekhar.

It’s the gripping story of Nathuram Godse, who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi in 1948.

You can also catch NT-originated Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime on tour across the UK. Even better knowing that friends and family back home can also enjoy these marvellous shows, as NT continues to broadcast in movie theatres across the USA and around the world with National Theatre Live.

London’s many off-West End venues offer a pleasure and quality match for West End best at a fraction of the price. The Young Vic has a thrilling Oklahoma, re-orchestrated for the 21st century, and Islington’s innovative Almeida Theatre brings us the world premiere of House of Shades.

For something completely different as well as beautiful, historic and inexpensive, you’ll love an evening at Wilton’s Music Hall. This one-of-a-kind gem in the heart of London is the oldest Grand Music Hall on the planet. Wilton’s proudly hosts a yearround programme of exceptional shows and community events. Upcoming highlights include Tonight You Belong to Me, featuring heart melting, smoky-voiced Christine Bovill singing well-loved tunes from the Jazz

Jessie Buckley sizzles in Cabaret at the KitKat Club, photo credit Joel Palmer, courtesy RawPR.

Age; the ever-popular Carradine’s Cockney Singalong; and Gilbert and Sullivan’s joyful and witty HMS Pinafore.

Britain’s excellent regional theatres should not be overlooked for outstanding drama, musicals and family-friendly shows.

Belfast Theatre celebrates the late, great Stephen Sondheim, in a sparkling production of Into the Woods. Chichester Festival Theatre, home to world-class theatre productions including many West End transfers, premieres The Unfriend and The Taxidermist’s Daughter, while its acclaimed 2021 production of South Pacific transfers to Manchester Opera House, followed by a spectacular UK and Ireland tour. Sheffield’s theatre triplets, the Crucible, Lyceum and the Studio, mark their 50th birthdays with a packed and adventurous programme such as Rock/ Papers/Scissors, a trilogy which will play simultaneously at all three theatres, the same cast mindbogglingly moving from venue to venue while performing. Newlytouring shows in 2022 worth going that extra mile for include Chicago, Bugsy Malone, Anything Goes and Les Miserables.

Further information: wiltons.org.uk nationaltheatre.org.uk youngvic.org

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Paul Cezanne, The Basket of Apples c1893, courtesy Tate Press Office, Art Institute of Chicago, Helen Birch Bartlett Memorial Collection.

2. Cosy Culture

Great Britain is happy host to the world’s top museums and art galleries. With free entry, first class collections, splendid late night events, family activities, mouthwatering foodoptions and tempting gift shops, a winter’s outing to one of Britain’s 2,500 museums and galleries is a perfect way to cheat the chill and cut those frosty feelings down to size.

Tate Modern and its gallery siblings Tate Britain, Tate St Ives and Tate Liverpool, are gearing up for a landmark year of exhibitions. Tate Liverpool opens with Radical Landscapes, while Tate St Ives gives us a retrospective of the life, work and Cornish connections of Barbara Hepworth, one of the 20th century’s greatest sculptors.

Tate Britain’s shows include Walter Sickert, Hogarth and Europe and Life Between Islands Caribbean-British Art 50s–Now. An awe-inspiring place to start your visit to Tate Modern is its 10th floor viewing gallery, with panoramic views of London’s skyline and the River Thames below. Entry to the Tate remains free, although you won’t want to miss this coming year’s paid ticket shows (free with membership). They’re topped by a retrospective of powerful and poetic artworks

Beatrix Potter’s The Mice at Work Threading the Needle, The Tailor of Gloucester artwork, 1902 ©Tate, courtesy V&A Press Office.

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by Lubaina Himid; Surrealism Beyond Borders, Surrealist art and objects from around the world; and Cezanne, a fresh look at the artist who had such a huge influence on modern art.

If you’re not quite sure what you’re after, but just want a cosy-cultural day, head for the Victoria & Albert Museum in London’s South Kensington. The V&A, as it’s affectionately known, is the world’s greatest museum of art, design and performance and has a gallery for almost everything. From the moment you step into this exciting space and are greeted by the astonishing Dale Chihuly blown glass candelabra in the main entrance, we think you’ll be hooked. From that point the challenge is deciding which of its 150+ galleries to visit, from breathtaking jewellery, fashion, theatre and photography collections to vast and gorgeous displays of gold, silver, ceramics, glass and sculpture.

This year’s ticketed shows (members go free) include Fashioning Masculinities, the first major exhibition to tell the story of male attire, and Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature, a familyfriendly show revealing the extraordinary life of the beloved children’s author-illustrator.

Be sure to check out V&A’s recently refreshed Design 1900-Now and Raphael Cartoons galleries, and have tea and scones in the oldest museum café in the world, designed by none other than William Morris.

The museum’s splendid gift shop is a show in itself, featuring a wide selection of original fashion, jewellery, homewares and toys crafted by contemporary British designers.

Yes, it’s a BIG place, so if you’re not sure what to see first, the V&A’s range of free guided talks are an ideal way to start.

The British Museum was the world’s first national public museum when it opened in 1753. It reveals the history of humanity through 8 million objects, many of which you should be sure to see at least once in your lifetime, such as the Egyptian mummies, Rosetta Stone and Lewis Chessmen. Opening soon (ticketed; members

free) is The World of Stonehenge, followed by the intriguingly titled Feminine Power.

The British Museum is, but one masterpiece in London’s Museum Mile. A walk along Museum Mile will provide you with fascinating insights into London past and present and an opportunity to discover 15 museums and galleries and their diverse collections. These include the Dickens Museum, Sir John Soane’s Museum, Wellcome Collection of Science and Medicine and London Transport Museum.

From hundreds of museum and gallery gems outside London, we highly recommend the International Slavery Museum, Liverpool, telling the history of the transatlantic slave trade through stories of resilience and resistance; the Thackray Museum of Medicine, Leeds; and Pontypool’s Big Pit National Coal Museum, with its astounding underground tour. The delightful American Museum, housed in an 18th-century manor outside Bath, is the only museum of Americana outside the USA. Scotland is home to some of Britain’s family-friendliest museums. Glasgow’s Science Centre and Kelvingrove Gallery and Edinburgh’s Museum of Childhood and National Museum of Scotland are all enchanting places to while away a winter’s day, whatever your age or interest.

If you love curiosities and unusual treasures, Oxford’s Pitt Rivers Museum is a must. It displays one man’s (Augustus Pitt Rivers) obsessive collecting over a lifetime of exploration and discovery. The sheer quantity of stuff here becomes evident as soon as you step inside the main hall, where glass cabinets brimming with exhibits fill the walls and floors from top to bottom. Most visitors end up finding at least one object they wish they could take home with them.

Further information: vam.ac.uk tate.org.uk museum-mile.org.uk prm.ox.ac.uk WWW.AMERICANINBRITAIN.CO.UK

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The dynamic Mitsuko Uchida, plays and conducts at London’s Southbank Centre, courtesy Southbank Press Office. ©May Zircus

3. The Magic of Music With hundreds of live music venues, it’s no wonder music lovers liken Britain to Music Heaven. When it comes to jazz, classical, do-wop or hip-hop, this may be a small island, but it’s one with an unrivalled set of musical grooves.

If all goes well, 2022 looks like a bumper crop musical year, with gigs, concerts and festivals tuning up and stepping once more into the spotlight after nearly two years’ silence.

London’s Southbank Centre ushers in the new year with an adventurous, diverse music programme throughout its Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and grandly refurbished Purcell Room.

Particular treats include the Transatlantic Sessions, joining up top folk musicians from both sides of the ‘pond’; a centenary gala concert in honour of the late Ravi Shankar, featuring daughters Nora Jones and Anoushka Shankar; the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Concert; and the unique Chineke!

Orchestra performing Duke Ellington’s wonderful, swinging Nutcracker Suite.

Classical fans won’t want to miss Sir András Schiff playing and conducting all five Beethoven piano concertos. Many other outstanding soloists, orchestras and conductors will also be appearing, like pianists Mitsuko Uchida and Yuja Wang, violinist Nicola Benedetti, cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason and singer Bryn Terfel.

Amongst several American performers will be two of our favourites, singer Renee Fleming and conductor Marin Allsop.

Southbank’s much-loved festivals will also be back, including Imagine Children’s Festival, WOW (Women of the World), Grace Jones-curated Meltdown and the EFG London Jazz Festival. New this year will be the Purcell Sessions, bringing a year-long feast of contemporary culture.

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You can count on the Southbank Centre to offer plenty for families and young people, like its FUNharmonics family concerts and OAE Tots, as well as loads of free options such as weekly after-work concerts, social dances and foyer events.

Few call it beautiful; many call it brutal, nonetheless the Barbican Centre boasts some brilliant sound spaces and welcomes 2022 with a glorious glut of world-class orchestras, bands, choirs and solo artists.

For those not yet familiar, the Barbican is a 35-acre art, culture and housing complex in the heart of London, built over an area left flattened by World War II bombs. It’s home to the London and BBC Symphony Orchestras, Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Museum of London, and includes concert halls, cinemas, a theatre and major art gallery as well as shops, pubs and restaurants, several hundred luxury apartments, magical roof gardens, a manmade lake with fountains and the best public library in the UK. Barbican Centre’s upcoming year promises a wondrous variety of music and international artists, including a generous sprinkling of top musical Americans. There’s something for every age and taste, from a Frank Zappa Total Immersion Day, ‘ethnochaos’ with Ukraine’s DakhaBrakha Quartet, and a 24-hour concert of new music, London Contemporary Orchestra:24; to an afternoon of Antonio Vivaldi, an evening with Grammy-award winning bandleader Maria Schneider and her jazz orchestra, and a night with singer extraordinaire Joyce DiDonato. Her latest project, Eden, brings together timeless arias, poetry and drama to explore our place within nature.

Away from London we can’t wait for the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, showcasing global stars, up and coming newbies and lots of sound surprises under its very big

jazz umbrella. Looking ahead to summer, we’re hoping for a full-on season of music festivals, much missed in 2020 and 2021. We recommend Nocturne Live, five nights of incredible sounds set against the stunning backdrop of Blenheim Palace’s Great Court; Love Supreme, the best of jazz and blues played out in a Sussex countryside setting; and WOMAD, the world’s greatest festival of Music, Art and Dance. So stay tuned: we’ll be back in a few months to tell you more about these and other magical music events.

Further information: southbankcentre.co.uk barbican.org.uk lovesupremefestival.com

Erykah Badu headlines this summer’s Love Supreme Jazz Festival, photo courtesy Baxter PR.

TAKE FIVE

4. Great Illuminations Who doesn’t dream of a little more light in winter? Well, with this winter’s outdoor illuminations more abundant and adventurous than ever, many shining their lights well into the new year, that dream may well be a reality.

Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire will be illuminating its Pleasure Gardens nightly until the end of January. Follow the light trail and be dazzled by colourful tree canopies, giant dandelions and a brilliant tunnel of light loops. Each day as the sun goes down, the Manor’s façade will be illumined by lights dancing to sequenced music.

In January, Winter Lights will transform London’s Canary Wharf, with 25 installations designed by light artists from around the globe. Look out for the pack of mammoths in Harbour Quay Gardens, sittable lit benches and twelve illuminated swans dancing in the dock. As well as stunning artworks, there will be pop-up street food and hot drinks stalls The Clew, part of Canary Wharf’s Winter Lights Festival, photo by Nunzio Prinna

along the way, and firepits where you can toast marshmallows and sip hot chocolate.

Winter Lights is free, with a downloadable map available to guide you.

Marston Park in Somerset will be lit up through springtime, with Fields of Light, a shimmering show by internationally acclaimed British artist Bruce Munro. The display features thousands of giant coloured spheres on stems, ‘planted’ along the Park’s lakeside path and through its woodlands.

As darkness falls, the lake’s black mirror splendidly reflects the changing patterns of surrounding trees. You can even make a night of it by booking into one of Marston Park’s luxurious bell tents, each with its own mini lightwork: a firepit surrounded by illuminated stems, blooming with coloured light.

London’s Illuminated River is a recently completed, permanent display of lights designed by American Leo Villareal. It’s the world’s longest piece of public art, stretching for 3.2 miles from London Bridge to Lambeth Bridge. This environmentallyfriendly installation transforms the River Thames at night with a beautiful and spellbinding series of light artworks spanning nine historic bridges.

Brits have an endearing habit of nicknaming public favourites as ‘national treasures’. This includes the Queen, the BBC, Sir David Attenborough and Dame Judi Dench. The National Trust is another of these. In case you are not yet acquainted, the National Trust is the biggest conservation

Bruce Munro Lightworks, Marston Park at Dusk, photo courtesy Marston Park.

charity in Europe, looking after hundreds of historic houses, millions of objects, vast areas of coastline, countryside and green spaces for the British public to enjoy and cherish.

This year, National Trust sites are putting on some of the UK’s best light shows, with many staying aglow through winter.

Ignite: Fire and Fantasy at Nymans Gardens, West Sussex, is one to book now, in case you haven’t had enough illuminated fun by the time it opens in February 2022. The intimate gardens of Nymans, set around a romantic house and ruins, will be the backdrop for a fantastical family-friendly trail of light and soundscapes, put on by Ignite Trails. Ignite’s unique after-dark experience also comes to Tyntesfield near Bristol, lighting up the grounds and gardens of this iconic Victorian gothic mansion with glittering flora, fiery stars and scintillating spheres.

Further information: canarywharf.com marstonpark.co.uk nationaltrust.org.uk

Iluminations on London’s South Bank, Photo by Pete Woodhead.

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Somerset House Ice Rink, photo by Luke Dyson, courtesy Somerset House Press Office

5. Get Your Skates On Whether you’re a champion figure skater, a rink regular or a nervous novice, you’ll be wowed by the UK’s terrific choice of winter ice skating options.

Favourite London skate sites include rinks at the Natural History Museum, Somerset House’s magnificent 18th century courtyard and Canary Wharf, nestled beneath the Poldark & friends, Ice Skating under the Dome at the Eden Project, courtesy Eden Project Media Office.

soaring buildings of Canada Square’s financial giants and surrounded by twinkly lights, glamorous shops, bars and restaurants. Most venues offer skating lessons as well as skate aids for the young ones in the form of adorable childsize polar bears and penguins.

There’s plenty for ice lovers outside the capital too. Take a spin round the fairytale skate setting at Hampton Court, Henry VIII’s riverside palace. In Scotland, you

can skate-stroll up and down Edinburgh’s famous George Street. Enjoy icy thrills and spills beneath the fabulous bubble domes of Cornwall’s Eden Project.

Brighton Ice Rink is always popular, with its illuminated light show and spectacular Royal Pavilion backdrop. And it’s uniquely Green, powered solely by wind and solar energy. Bath Ice offers 1000 square metres of winter wonderland against the backdrop of Georgian Bath. After skating the day away why not try your luck at nearby Glow Golf, complete with fairy lights and glow-in-the dark golf balls.

Further information: somersethouse.org.uk edenproject.com bathonice.com royalpavilionicerink.co.uk All venues, events and shows featured in this article have announced they will have Covid safety measures in place and follow the latest UK Government Covid safety guidelines.

Take Five brings the best of British to Americans in Britain each quarter. We’d love to hear how you’re wonder-fulling your winter – get in touch with Judith at judith0777@gmail.com.

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PLYMOUTH Britain’s Ocean City - A Feast For History Lovers Walk In The Footsteps Of The Mayflower Pilgrims And Discover Plymouth’s Proud Maritime Heritage

Nestled on the border of Cornwall and Devon, on spectacular coastline, oozing history from every pore, Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City, is a paradise for those who enjoy delving into the past and learning more about their US connections as well as savouring Britain’s stunning seascapes.

The combination of history and glorious surroundings is an irresistible mix that has drawn sailors, adventurers and visitors to the city for centuries.

And over the last year, Plymouth has been the centre of international commemorations marking the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower Pilgrims’ sailing from the port to the New World, an event the city continues to commemorate and will continue to, for many years to come.

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When the Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts in the harsh winter of 1620, the religious separatists were met by the Native American Wampanoag people who helped them survive. Today, more than 30 million people can trace their ancestry back to the 102 passengers and 30 crew on board the Mayflower – and the American tradition of Thanksgiving is a legacy of the bumper harvest they enjoyed in their first year, thanks to the Wampanoag nation whose sage advice saved them from starvation.

For anyone with a family connection to the Pilgrims, the Mayflower Steps, close to the site where their ancestors boarded the ship, is the perfect place to start their own voyage of discovery around Plymouth – and the city is just waiting to welcome them.

The historic Mayflower Steps Memorial, flanked by British and American flags, is in the Barbican, where narrow cobbled streets house Elizabethan warehouses, specialist shops, art galleries, cafés and restaurants.

Learn more about life in Plymouth 400 years ago at the nearby Elizabethan House, a rare surviving example of a home in the late 1500s. Take in the sights and smells of the times through an immersive, authentic experience and meet some of the many people who have lived in the house down the centuries from a washerwoman to a wig maker, the rich and the poor.

Then visit the Mayflower Museum, including the Mayflower Pilgrims Remembered Gallery featuring a scale model of the Mayflower, before calling in at the city’s stunning new museum, The Box, for a range of fascinating exhibits and the impressive sight of a flotilla of 19th century ships’ figureheads floating from the ceiling.

Plymouth is as rich in walking trails as it is in maritime heritage, and visitors can explore the Mayflower Trail with a selfguided tour app that introduces the stories of the Pilgrims, where they were from, and why they travelled, and lets tourists follow in their footsteps at their own pace.

Download the Plymouth Trails App for options including the Hoe Trail, from the ruins of medieval Plymouth Castle to the 1930s Art Deco Lido, or trace Plymouth’s connections with Indigenous North American peoples through Beyond the Spectacle: Indigenous Plymouth.

For those who like to get their history lesson from an expert, Plymouth Tour Guides offer regular, bookable walking

PLYMOUTH tours that include a visit to iconic Plymouth Hoe with its distinctive red-and-white striped lighthouse, Smeaton’s Tower.

The Hoe is also the setting for a bronze statue of American-born Nancy Astor, the former Nannie Witcher Langhorne of Danville, Virginia and the first woman MP to take a seat in the House of Commons just over 100 years ago, in November 1919.

The wife of Waldorf Astor, she represented the Plymouth constituency of Sutton for 25 years and was also Lady Mayoress of Plymouth during the Blitz of World War II – a defining period in the city’s recent history.

One of the best ways to appreciate the city and its setting, is taking a trip to sea with Plymouth Boat Trips providing sightseeing cruises, private charters and party nights. A harbour cruise sets sail daily from the Barbican Landing stage, adjacent to the Mayflower Steps.

And when you’re exhausted from a day of investigations and adventure, head for one of a cornucopia of excellent restaurants, dotted around the city, or indulge in a sinfully delicious traditional Devonshire cream tea of freshly baked scones, lashings of clotted cream and homemade jam. Could there be a better excuse to put Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City, on the schedule this year?

Plan your trip now at: www.visitplymouth.co.uk.

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TRAVEL Susan Monshaw Shares Her Recent Visit To Positano, Italy Italy’s Amalfi coast on the Tyrrhean Sea has so many blessings of nature that the world can’t stay away. Sunny weather, breathtaking views, warm people and the most delicious food, usually sourced just steps from the terrace table where you’re enjoying it. Like so many of the beautiful coastal towns in the region, Positano grew from a tiny fishing village to one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.

The most important item to pack for your visit to Positano is comfortable shoes. Most of the central village is accessible only on foot and usually that trek involves many stone stairs, and sloping, cobblestone streets. Hotels, restaurants, and shops are all set into the steep hillside, making for an iconic view of the village, as if a giant spilled his Lego blocks from the top of the cliffs right down to the sea.

Il San Pietro, one of the luxury hotels perched high on the cliff with commanding views of the Gulf of Salerno, is famous for its private rocky beach, daily boat tours for lucky guests, and respect for the natural environment. A shuttle bus takes you to the edge of town (the winding roads being too dangerous to walk) where you are on foot

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from there. It’s possible to take day trips to the ancient excavated Roman cities of Pompeii or Herculaneum, hike to the top of legendary Mount Vesuvius (Europe’s only active volcano), or ride the ferry to the famously chic island of Capri.

For something a little different than the usual touristic fare, there is a hike along the Path of the Gods, and a lesson in southern Italian cuisine at Mamma Agata’s hidden kitchen in nearby Ravello.

For something a little different than the usual touristic fare, there is a hike along the Path of the Gods

Atmospheric is the only way to describe this truly hidden gem of a cookery school.

Descend the stairs from the alleyway entrance and you are assaulted by a sensory overload. Before you, lies a vast view of the sparkling, blue sea, made even wider from this vantage point 1,000 feet above sea level. Terraced gardens march away below, featuring lemon and olive trees, grapevines, miles of tomatoes and all manner of vegetables. The scents of salty air, freshly cut grass and enticing aromas from the kitchen make your belly rumble.

There is a huge terrace table, set with wine glasses and distinctive, locally handpainted dishes. Beyond that is a grassy area with lounge chairs, a small patio and a huge pizza oven. The sound of a cock crowing and church bells in the distance compete with our hostess Chiara Lima’s invitation and broad smile, “I hope you’re hungry”.

What follows is six hours of bliss. Chiara, the youngest daughter of Mamma Agata and the fifth generation to cook and farm on the property, demonstrates how to make the perfect meatballs and eggplant parmigiana. She puts together a simple yet unforgettable tomato sauce for the Farmer’s

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Spaghetti she creates with pasta made from her own durum wheat. “Piano, piano”, she exhorts the group of eager students.

“Slowly, slowly”, she says, referring to both the sizzling garlic and simmering ragu.

A day at the first cookery school on the Amalfi coast begins with an “Italian breakfast” consisting of a huge cappuccino and a slice of perfect lemon cake. Made with type 00 flour, the cake is dense and not too sweet. Students come away with recipes, tips and big plans to recreate these dishes at home.

A great way to combat all those lovely calories is to hike the Path of the Gods.

So named in Homer’s tale of the Odyssey, where the path is said to have been created by the gods rushing to save Ulysses from the singing Sirens of Capri. The name can WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

also refer to the magnificent, top-of-theworld views along the 8 km trail which people have been walking for centuries.

While it can be physically breathtaking to reach the summit, the worthwhile vistas are truly breathtaking. For the seasoned and hardy, you can start your trek in Praiano, requiring a near vertical climb up a series of stone steps through a charming neighbourhood with tiered gardens, leading to the trailhead. From there, the trail is mostly stairs with wooden handrails, necessary to steady yourself as you stop to take in the grand views of the shimmering sea and craggy cliffs. Along the way, you’ll spy elements of a local art installation featuring sculptures and painted ceramic tiles. Halfway to the summit, there is a gorgeous medieval chapel with well preserved frescoes inside.

Further up the hillside, farmers were harvesting olives while their small terrier stood guard. Terraced farms are set directly into the hillside, caves often serving as home to goats or people. Another, easier, access to the Path begins in Bomerano. This way allows walkers to visit a picturesque convent and even grab a bite and a drink at a small café. Either way, the trail ends at Positano where a well-deserved pizza and glass of Tuscan red rewards weary hikers at the beach front restaurant Le Tre Sorelle.

It is best to visit this region of Italy, the entire coast was named a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1997, during the warmer months. While the weather is mild throughout winter, many hotels and restaurants take a hiatus, closing at the end of October and re-opening in early spring.

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EDUCATION

EDUCATION Navigating The Pandemic As An International School Community Like all schools across the world, since March 2020 we have been working hard to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic – including multiple lockdowns, school closures, exam cancellations and endless restrictions, all while supporting the wellbeing of the community.

Almost two years on from the start of the pandemic, students and teachers from across our campuses reflect on the key challenges they have overcome, and what they have taken away from the experience.

Adapting To Online Learning

Of course, one of the biggest hurdles for schools in the early days of the pandemic was the immediate switch to online learning.

For the majority of teachers around the world, the delivery of large-scale distance learning was a completely new entity, but within a matter of days our students and teachers were up online ready to keep learning.

Dr Robert Harrison, our Education Strategy Director played a pivotal role in ensuring both teachers and students were equipped to manage online learning. Reflecting on the response from our community, he comments: “Our teachers immediately stepped up to deliver new models for emergency remote learning. There were, of course, teething issues as everyone got up to speed with tech and adapted to the loss of face-toface interaction. We were also amazed at the resilience and overall engagement of students - many of whom were really missing the day-to-day interaction with teachers and friends at school”.

For both teachers and students, online learning provided many important lessons about effective education delivery, and the use of technology in the classroom, particularly methods of blended learning, is something we will certainly be embedding more going forward. Across our schools, however, the pandemic helped facilitate a deeper appreciation for on-campus learning.

Martin Hall, Head of our Hillingdon School, summarises: “The best part about the return to school was seeing children active and energetic, running around on the sports pitches rather than cooped up in their houses”.

Elhussein Elsharif, Middle School Teacher of Mathematics, added: “The difference between remote learning and face-to-face learning is like watching or playing football.

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The passion and enthusiasm are still there but it is nothing compared to the team spirit and collaboration that happens on the pitch.

I am so glad to have my team back!”.

Speaking about the return to school in March 2021, one of our students said: “I really missed my friends and the whole school environment during lockdown. I am excited for different activities in lessons that we weren’t able to do over Zoom, meeting new people and socialising with friends that I haven’t seen in a while. I did enjoy distance learning but I think being back will improve my schooling experience a lot, including my grades and my mental and physical health”.

Alongside continuity of education delivery, the health and wellbeing of the school community has been a top priority for us throughout the pandemic Ensuring Wellbeing And Building Resilience

Alongside continuity of education delivery, the health and wellbeing of the school community has been a top priority for us throughout the pandemic. With endless uncertainty, loss and loneliness, the importance of supporting each other’s mental health has reached a whole new level in the last two years.

Our students and teachers have access to a robust support network, including counsellors and advisers as well as a range of external partners who provide higher-level counselling support and mental health first aid training to our pastoral care teams. This network is

essential for ensuring that when someone needs help, they have it, and they don’t need to worry or feel afraid about asking for it.

Speaking about how students navigated the challenges of the pandemic and how it impacted their wellbeing, Sophie Mazaz, a Middle School Principal, says: “The resilience in young people I have witnessed is phenomenal. Children have had to keep going with their learning and I think they have coped tremendously well. They have had to deal with being isolated and without their peers. They have had to manage their own anxieties around the pandemic, while also seeing the anxiety of their parents or their family rising. We need to see children and what they have achieved as remarkable”.

Students Going Above And Beyond

Indeed, not only did students cope extremely well with the endless changes and challenges, but they actually went a step further and a range of student initiatives to support one another were set up throughout the pandemic. By way of example, when the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) exams were first cancelled in May 2020, final year students from across our schools, determined to do something meaningful with their time in lockdown, developed a series of peer-to-peer educational resources to support Grade 11 students who were studying the DP. Haya and Annefien, two students of our students, developed and launched ‘IB Aid’ last academic year to provide tips, experiences and revision examples for four DP courses, as well as the IB core subjects. Haya commented: “The end of the first year is one of the most challenging times in the DP, and we felt it was only right that we share our experiences and provide advice on things that would have been useful for us to know at this time. Throughout the DP, you often look to other students to provide more personal support and offer their expertise, but, during the pandemic, it wasn’t as easy for students to reach out to their teachers and peers for help. We hope IB Aid helped bridge some of these gaps”.

Two other students, Jaden and Eemil, also created a database of example work and guides across all IB courses, as well as delivering a series of virtual masterclasses on IB core subjects, the extended essay and theory of knowledge. Jaden commented: WWW.AMERICANINBRITAIN.CO.UK

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“I think having the perspective of another student always has massive benefits, and, particularly with the extended essay masterclass, we think it was helpful for students to hear our approaches to the project, what strategies we applied and how we wrote our own first drafts”.

Moving On From School In A Time Of Disruption

COVID-19 was a huge disruptor for many of our final year students who, as well as navigating exam cancellations, were trying to make decisions about their next steps after they finish school. At the best of times, moving on to university can be one of the most daunting times of a young person’s life. So, what was it like starting university in a different country in the middle of a global pandemic?

Simon Ogundare, a graduate from one of our campuses, moved to New York to study the Pre-Med track at Columbia University in September 2020 and immediately dived into remote university study. He commented: “This was a little disappointing as I know learning remotely can feel isolating at times, but it was good that the university was clearly prioritising our health and I felt lucky that I could still get started with my higher education – albeit not in the way originally imagined!’’.

Summarising the experience of his first semester, Simon said: “Moving to a different country for higher education is a common track for many of our school’s graduates, and it’s been good having others – including my twin sister – in the same boat as a support network. Columbia has also really gone above and beyond to support new students.

Over the summer the university ran a variety of virtual induction events and we had a very robust online orientation programme as we couldn’t be on campus this year. No matter where you were in the world, it was no secret that university life was going to be different, but it’s all manageable, and I’m grateful for all the support systems I have in place to make this weird year a bit easier”.

This article has been supplied by ACS International Schools.

ACS International Schools has three UK campuses in Hillingdon, Cobham and Egham, and a fourth campus in Doha, Qatar. The ACS community is made up of students and staff members representing over 70 countries, with ACS Cobham offering boarding for families living further afield from the schools and outside of the UK. Like all schools across the world, since March 2020 ACS has been working hard to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic – including multiple lockdowns, school closures, exam cancellations and endless restrictions, all while supporting the wellbeing of the community.

For further information please visit www.acs-schools.com.

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Hillingdon campus

Egham campus

Cobham campus

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AMERICAN EXPATRIATE CLUBS NEWS Kensington Chelsea Women’s Club (KCWC) KCWC’s calendar is full of exciting events for our members and their guests.

At our General Meeting Speaker Series on January 11th we welcome Jess Phillips MP, and on February 3rd, Royal Biographer, Robert Hardman, as our guest speaker.

High on our list of sought after tickets is a seat at a Zoom lecture to highlight the heralded Fabergé exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Enjoy Fabergé with expert Cynthia Coleman Sparke on January 20th at 18:30.

We encourage you to visit www.kcwc.org. uk and join KCWC to participate in our many wonderful activities.

You can also contact KCWC at info@kcwc.org.uk for more information on our upcoming activities and events. We look forward to opening London’s doors for you in 2022.

AWS International Women’s Group Twilight At The Palace

This past September, the AWS International Women’s Group held “Twilight at the Palace” at Hampton Court, and the night was nothing short of magical. We welcomed over 150 guests to enjoy the spectacular beauty of the Orangery and the Privy Garden overlooking the historic River Thames. This event was one of the first in-person activities we had held since the pandemic began in March 2020, and you could feel the excitement of our members at the chance to reconnect in such a beautiful setting. The event was held on the 20th anniversary of September 11th, and we took a moment to recognise the significance of the day and honour our service members, including those who were in attendance that evening. It was a momentous beginning to the 2021/2022 AWS Club Year!

During the pandemic we welcomed nearly 100 new members and kept our membership engaged with online monthly meetings, quiz nights, happy hours and unique guest speakers. We were able to continue our 38

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The American society in London’s annual thanksgiving dinner

socially distanced hiking club which allowed us to connect with members while enjoying the beautiful countryside. We were thankful for the generosity of our members for raising over £15,000 for our charities during this difficult time.

Since September, we have been busy with over 16 activity groups, including our English Hikes, London Calling, Pub Club, Golf, Houses and Gardens, Book Club and our 2nd annual Charity Turkey Trot for Thanksgiving.

We also raised over £1,500 with our Virtual Giving Tree to support the needs of our four local charities over the holiday season.

AWS International Women’s Group is proud to represent over 37 nationalities in our Club. We are an international group of women who help to create social connections for expatriates while providing philanthropic support to local charities. www.awsurrey.org

The American Society In London The American society in London hosted their annual thanksgiving dinner this year.

To find out more about the society and their event, visit www.americansocietyuk.com.

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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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.

Located close to London on a beautiful and historic 46-acre estate.

PET SITTING SERVICE SECURE HOUSE PET SITTER 11c Compayne Gardens.

West Hampstead, London, NW6 3DG Telephone: UK Cell - 0776-837-4677 USA Toll Free: 1-866-290-0504 Contact: Winston Hayles Email: SecureSitter@hotmail.com Website: www.SecureSitter.com Adding colour and fun times to your pet’s lives in their own home whilst you are away.

I am Police checked. Insured. Home security conscious. Fantastic client Testimonials.

Trusted, reliable overnight, or Drop-In service.

All-Inclusive - walks, play, feed, administering of medication. Photos, videos WhatsApped for your peace of mind. Ask for details.

TAXATION

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.

TAX AND ACCOUNTING HUB Hallings Wharf Studio Office, 1A Cam Road, London, E15 2SY Telephone: +44 (0)208 221 1154 and +44(0)7914393183 Email: Kader@taxandaccountinghub.com Contact: Kader Ameen, US Tax & ITIN/EIN Specialist Website: www.taxandaccountinghub.com Website: www.itincaa.com We are UK based American expatriate personal tax and ITIN (IRS approved CAA) specialist service team with many years of big 4 US/UK tax experience (FATCA, Tax Treaty, 1040 tax return, UK tax return, ITIN, Foreign Bank Account PFIC Reporting, US/ UK Tax treaty claims). Our team aims to provide personalised professional service at affordable fixed fees.

US TAX & FINANCIAL SERVICES 3 Harbour Exchange Square, London, E14 9GE Telephone: +44 20 7357 8220 Contact: Joni Trulock Email: j.trulock@ustaxfs.com Website: ustaxfs.com Twitter: @ustaxfs With over 35 years’ experience, our US/UK expat tax specialists provide US and UK tax return preparation, planning, compliance, and expatriation as well as all US business tax services, wherever you are in the world.

The core of our expertise at London & Capital is managing investments for wealthy families and our clients generally share similar requirements; they have amassed wealth or capital and now need it to be structured and invested in a way that preserves and grows it for the future.

We build investment strategies that are designed to be resilient and help clients achieve their long-term financial goals. Many of our clients are international, with finances, business interests, property and family across multiple countries. We provide clear comprehensive financial strategies and global reporting regardless of currency or location.

US CONNECTED FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS We are also one of the few wealth managers who actively welcome US clients and are both SEC (US) and FCA (UK) regulated, with a dedicated team looking after the wealth of international American families since 1989.

Whether you are a US Citizen or Green Card holder living abroad, a British expat in the US or a foreign entity with US reporting, we are uniquely positioned to work you to organise your wealth into a coherent global strategy, invest with a focus on capital preservation and provide clear, concise global reporting.

MASECO PRIVATE WEALTH Burleigh House, 357 Strand, London, WC2R 0HS Telephone: +44 (0)20 7043 0455 Email: enquiries@masecopw.com Website: www.masecoprivatewealth.com MASECO Private Wealth gives peace of mind by providing expert guidance to US families on how to simplify their cross-border wealth management needs. We serve and care for Americans living at home or abroad through the planning and implementation of rational, practical and tax efficient wealth management strategies.

To discuss advertising or annual print & digital promotional packages in American in Britain magazine

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

and www.theamericanhour.com,

LONDON & CAPITAL Two Fitzroy Place, 8 Mortimer Street, London, W1T 3JJ Telephone: +44 (0) 207 396 3200 Email: invest@londonandcapital.com Website: londonandcapital.com

please email Helen at helen@theamericanhour.com

FREE NETWORKING EVENTS FOR AMERICANS LIVING IN THE UK WE ARE DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE WILL AGAIN BE ORGANISING OUR EVENTS FOR AMERICANS LIVING AND WORKING IN THE UK

If you would like to register for these events, that are held in London, and are FREE TO ATTEND, please email helen@theamericanhour.com and Helen will send you an invitation once the details for the next event is finalised.

In the meantime, we would like to wish all our readers a very Happy 2022 and a Prosperous & Health New Year.

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