American in Britain Summer 2021

SUMMER 2021

AMERICAN IN BRITAIN Serving the American Community in the UK

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

AMERICAN IN BRITAIN

SUMMER 2021

CONTENTS 3 Eating Out 8 Wealth Management

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10 Taxing Issues 13 Property 16 Digital Education

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18 Days Out With The Family 23 Hotel Review

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27 Take Five 32 Arts & Antiques 33 Travel 36 Theatre

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37 American Expatriate Clubs’ News 38 Book Reviews

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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

Coco Gauff, American Wimbledon hopeful!

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The 2021 Expatriate’s Guide to Living in the UK was published in March 2021 and we are delighted to have enclosed a complimentary copy in this issue of American in Britain Living and working in the UK can provide a fantastic opportunity to any expatriate individual or family. The UK offers a diverse range of cultures, and if you have relocated for business, family or lifestyle reasons, then the useful information covered inside this Guide will prove to be an invaluable resource.

The 2021 Guide contains content covering: Banking • Conversion Charts • Expatriate Clubs Embassies & High Commissions • Driving & Transport Education - Schools & Universities • Immigration • Legal Issues Property • Serviced Apartments • Taxation If you would like extra copies to share with your American friends and colleagues, please email helen@expatsguidetotheuk.com with the quantity you would like and the address you would like them sent to.

PLEASE ALSO SHARE THE WEBSITE WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY, COLLEAGUES OR EMPLOYEES RELOCATING TO THE UK.

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EATING OUT

EATING OUT

Heritage

Heritage

101 Rosendale Road, Dulwich, London, SE21 8EZ Website: www.heritagedulwich.co.uk If you live in, or near to Dulwich, in fact, if you live within 30 minutes drive of Dulwich, you should rejoice that Chef Patron, Dayashankar Sharma, has decided to open his own restaurant here. Honing his skills over 30 years in the business, Chef Sharma has now taken his experience working in the Tamarind group, which owns London’s many known and Michelin starred Indian restaurants, and has set out on his own in this leafy suburb.

The menu pays homage to all that is best in Indian food and its rich culinary culture, and takes traditional dishes with recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation and gives them a new lease of life with a modern twist. Dishes come from every Indian region and are lovingly created using the finest seasonal produce. The restaurant’s name pays tribute to these traditional recipes and India’s vast and varied ‘Heritage’, and the food is a truly fitting tribute.

The restaurant’s décor is simple and almost minimalistic, but elegant at the same time, and three mini chandeliers provide a welcoming light over the wooden tables and chairs. Covid has truly put a massive spanner in the opening plans of Heritage, which meant the longest soft opening in history (almost a year), where they could only serve takeaways, but now they can welcome diners inside. Just watch this restaurant fly, and it wouldn’t surprise me if it receives many top accolades very soon.

The poppadum’s are light and crisp and are served in small pieces accompanied by a trio of accompaniments, namely a smooth mint WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

yoghurt, a spicy and rich tomato chutney and a mango chutney, and are a cut above the ones you get in lesser Indian restaurants. To accompany these my wife selected a Mewar Colada Cocktail (£9.50) and I, my standard crisp Sauvignon Blanc. The Mewar Colada came in an ice-cold small metallic urn, with a refreshing and very summery combination of Vodka, shaken with lychee, coconut cream and passion fruit - a perfect start to this wonderful meal.

For our starters we chose Dahi Bhalla Chaat (£7.25), the Potato and Quinoa Cake (£7.75) and the Venison Badal Jaam (£9.95).

I have never before seen venison on an Indian menu, and having tasted this I wish it was more available, as succulent chunks of lightly spiced venison were bathed in a spicy tomato salsa, all on a circle of meaty roasted aubergine with cream cheese and yoghurt spread on the side. An inspired combination of subtle tastes and textures. My wife’s Potato Cakes had the twist of being Potato and Quinoa cakes, as quinoa is very rarely used in Indian dishes, and this dish provided a nice hum of spice on the lips. Both of these were ably complimented by the light and creamy Chaat, encompassing light wheat crisps and lentil dumplings with subtle spices and a sprinkling of pomegranate seeds.

It was hard to imagine how the meal could improve, but Heritage effortlessly took us up another notch with a Shatkora Jhinga Kebbab (£18.50). They are described as king prawns on the menu, but frankly that doesn’t do them justice, as I have never seen prawns this big (have they created Emperor prawns during the pandemic?)!

Cooking these prawns in a clay oven also gave them a slightly crispy outer skin whilst keeping the inner flesh moist. The mixture

of tastes were inspired with the freshness of lemongrass and the slight bitterness of the shatkora, providing a tongue tingling contrast to the prawns’ sweet flesh. Having wondered at these mammoth prawns, we needed a little time to relax before tackling our main courses, and took the time to look around and just enjoy seeing tables full of diners again, talking happily and enjoying themselves as much as we were.

For my main, I selected the Gosht Dum Biryani (£17.95) and my wife the Nariyal Wala Jhinga (£16.75). Now I really love a biryani, and I didn’t think that Chef Sharma could top the quality of the previous dish, but how wrong was I? It appears a simple dish to cook, but it is so easy to overcook the rice so it then becomes dry and tasteless, and with no sauce to mask this, any error is really obvious. My biryani was cooked perfectly in a large round urn covered by pastry. The pastry is not only there for show (the waiter breaks the pastry surface and a lot of steam escapes!), it also keeps the moisture in the dish, resulting in a mouthwatering dish of rice and lamb. I was almost beyond superlatives, as this was one of the best biryanis I have ever had.

Do leave room for a dessert as they also provide twists, and I challenge you to find another Indian restaurant where you would find on its menu a Chocolate Brick (£6.25) with black cardamon!

New restaurants this good are a rare find, and one outside of the centre of London even rarer, so it is a true delight when you find one.

Chef Sharma, and his restaurant Heritage, are a real breath of fresh air, and the food is truly wonderful and inventive, and I cannot see how the Michelin inspectors cannot be wending their way to Dulwich very soon.

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Sabine

7th Floor, Leonardo Royal Hotel London St Paul’s,10 Godliman St, London EC4V 5AJ Website: www.sabinelondon.co.uk I absolutely love doing reviews where my first thought is ‘wow, I can’t wait to bring friends and family here’, and that is exactly what I thought when we recently visited Sabine, a new rooftop bar in the centre of London (nearest tube St Paul’s), on what was a perfect, sunny lunchtime.

With its own destination entrance and private lift, Sabine is a secret garden far removed from the busy streets below. Luxe furniture and fabrics sit alongside a stunning array of hanging plants and lush greenery, drawing the outside in; whilst the oval-shaped statement bar is naturally lit courtesy of the glass roof ceiling, providing a clear view of the sky above. Natural woods and soft furnishings in verdant greens and azure blues bring a cool, calm vibe to the bar. Set on the seventh floor of Leonardo Royal Hotel in St Paul’s, this outdoor bar is one of London’s newest secrets, having opened on May 20th, and for cocktail lovers who enjoy sitting outside, is an absolute must, as it has two outside terraces with fabulous views of some of London’s amazing landmark’s, including, most obviously, St Paul’s Cathedral. One of the unexpected thrills of visiting Sabine is how loud the cathedral’s

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clock bells sound at this level. They ring on the hour every hour, their reverberations only adding to the atmosphere on the rooftop.

It cleverly has a retractable roof so that you are kept warm and dry on not so nice days, but can enjoy the sun and fresh air on what will hopefully be many warm, sunny days over the next few months.

The staff are really friendly which just adds to the enjoyment of your time here, and as well as an extensive cocktail list there is a selection of seasonal snacks and sharing platters that include dishes such as Burrata with white peach, pistachio, and toast; Grilled Octopus with Mojo Rojo sauce, lemon and crispy shallots; Roast Asparagus with boquerones, serrano ham and truffle mayo; Spring Peas and Goats Cheese Arancini; through to larger sharers of Grilled Lebanese Chicken Flatbread with roast biber peppers, tamarind yoghurt and pickled red onions; and Tandoori Monkfish skewers with green mango salsa, hot pickled radishes and raita. What is nice is that they have a selection of dishes here that will suite all palates, and can easily be shared.

Small plates range in price from £7 - £11, and larger plates from £14 - £18, and desserts, that include Strawberry Meringue and Elderflower and Lemon Sherbert Tart are £7.

Sabine also boasts an extensive choice of premium spirits, including over 13 types of gin, many from local London distilleries,

and an extensive selection of wine and Champagne, with a range of beers and ciders also available.

As wonderful as the exterior views from Sabine’s rooftop terrace are, the interior views are also lovely, with hanging baskets and artfully draped plants providing a botanical interior accented by wood and tiles.

An array of crafted cocktails embrace the bar’s botanical theme using premium spirits, so why not try a What The Dickens, mixed with Beefeater 24 Gin, Grand Marnier, orange and lemon juice, fresh raspberries, and topped with Fever-Tree Blood Orange Soda.

I personally tried the Whizz Fizz, a refreshing serve made with Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb & Ginger, elderflower cordial, crème de cassis and lemon juice, and The Birds of Paradise Pommery champagne with Belvedere vodka, Chambord and elderflower cordial was dry and sophisticated. Sabine’s G&T Spring is a pretty vision in pink, combining The Botanist gin infused with pomegranate, paired with dried orange, cardamom seeds, elderflower and bitter orange tonic. Mocktails are also on the list for those who don’t like alcohol but do like the fruitiness and glamour of cocktails.

Either way, they are beautifully presented with delicate garnishes making them look extra special.

I know not everyone loves cocktails, and there is a good selection of wine, beer and spirits too, so everyone is able to enjoy the fabulous location and ambience of Sabine.

Sabine has something for everyone, and is a stunning location to while away a few hours with friends and family, and enjoy a summer’s day or balmy evening, with a very impressive view of St Paul’s Cathedral and other London landmarks.

EATING OUT

FENN

194 Wandsworth Bridge Road, London, SW62UF Website: www.fennrestaurant.co.uk Throughout this last lockdown I have been humming a tune, and it has only just struck me how apt it is, as the song, by Joni Mitchell has the lyrics ‘Don’t it always seem to go, that ... you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone’, and I can’t help thinking that these lines just sum up the last year or so when all the restaurants have been closed. I didn’t realise, until ‘it was gone’, how much I love, and have missed, going out and trying new restaurants. Like many, I love eating out, and sometimes I forget just how lucky I am to live near to London and be able to eat in some of the best restaurants in the world. It was therefore, with delight, that with the relaxation of restrictions enabling restaurants to welcome patrons back inside, that I was able to visit FENN, located just over Wandsworth Bridge (if you lives south of the river as we do).

FENN is from the same team behind “Nest” in Hackney, and the three founders, Executive Chef Johnnie, and Front of House Toby and Luke, have found a simple, but very effective blue print for successful restaurants, namely quality food served in an imaginative way by waiters who care about what they are doing. It seems such a simple concept, but it is incredible how many restaurants totally miss the mark on them. The final piece of the jigsaw is the location and décor, and here Fenn also excels. The front of the restaurant is a rustic enclosed terrace with solid wooden tables and cushioned wooden benches, and greener y framing the windows.

Although I loved the outside space, it was with true delight that I walked through this area, and went inside the restaurant and sat down in the warmth.

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Looking at the menu (yes there were menus and not a QR code to torture you as you squint at your phone to try and make out the writing on the menu as it is just too small, or is that just me!!), showed the option of two set menus (£50 for 8 courses), one for vegetarians and one for meat eaters, as well as a few À la carte dishes, all celebrating the best seasonal produce that this country has to offer, from Cornwall for the fish, to the North West Highland Coast of Scotland for the langoustine and handdived scallops. The British theme also stretches to the wine list, and some of those on the ‘sparkling’ list include a number of gems from British vineyards that produce wines which are truly better than their more well-known French cousins.

My partner and I chose the meat set menu, and having ordered, settled back with a crisp and light Sauvignon, to savour the buzz of a restaurant full of people enjoying being out again. The inside décor is similar to the outside with a simple, but classy décor of well-spaced wooden tables surrounding an impressively large table carved from a single piece of wood in the centre of the room. Our first dish was FFC or FENN Fried Chicken. I like KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken), but any comparison with FCC, however fleeting, is truly unfair, as the FCC chicken is beyond succulent and the outside wonderfully crunchy, and is elegantly served with a light (and very green) wild garlic mayo.

Our next course is described on the menu as Lincolnshire Poacher Dumplings, and are moreish cheesey zeppelins drenched in parmesan cheese - a true delight. After some home-cooked potato sourdough which managed to have a slight taste of potato without being too heavy, we were treated to succulent Beef Tartare with fermented chilli and smoked oil. The quality of the beef was exceptional and this

was heightened by the warmth of the chilli, and the introduction of Worcester sauce and pickles. The next course is optional (an extra £11), and was a sweet and meaty Hand-Dived Scottish Scallop bathing in a roast chicken butter with an apple and pistachio crumb. I have often wondered if, by being hand dived, the scallop tastes better, but either way this dish is beautifully structured, with the sweetness of the apple and scallop complimented by the rich chicken flavoured butter and the texture from the crunch of the pistachio.

Our next two courses were the mains, one fish and one meat. The soft and flaky Cod was cooked perfectly and was accompanied by a cold Cornish Crab, which although wonderfully fresh, I am not sure was a perfect match with the warm cod. The meat course was Aged Beef with broccoli and walnut. The beef was again top quality, but the piece-de-resistance of this dish was the braised ox cheek which was a rich and sticky delight, and frankly the only issue that I had, was I could have eaten so much more of it!!

To cleanse our palate before dessert we were treated to a Granny Smith Sorbet, which was sharp and sweet at the same time, and packed a real punch of apples. The final course was Pump Street Chocolate and Yoghurt Sorbet, which combined a smooth ganache with a rich and cold yoghurt, which along with the crunch of the chocolate, was a fitting end to a wonderful meal.

A good dining experience is a combination of many things, and it is rare that the restaurant you visit gets everything right, but at FENN I don’t think it is that rare, as the food is great, the service knowledgeable and attentive without being patronising or overbearing, and the décor stylish. But don’t take my word for it, go yourself and you won’t be disappointed.

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The Garden At Corinthia Corinthia London, Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2BD Website: www.corinthia.com/london

London is an architectural enthusiast’s dream, and located a stone’s throw from Trafalgar Square and the Thames is a majestic example of this, the Corinthia Hotel.

From floor to ceiling this luxurious hotel is opulence personified, where the smallest detail is thought of and nothing is too much trouble.

In the heart of this luxury there used to be an open courtyard, but this has now been turned into The Garden Restaurant, utilising a lovely open-air space in the heart of our Capital. Although it is open-air, the restaurant, covers its tables with large awnings, so diners are protected from the weather, whatever the time of year. The English weather is always unpredictable, and although it was May, the weather wasn’t that warm on the evening of our visit, so we were impressed that once we had sat down we were offered blankets to keep our legs warm as well as hot water bottles, both of which we gratefully accepted.

Whilst reviewing the menu we were treated to a welcome drink which was a combination of vodka, lemoncello and vermouth, and whilst sipping this we took a better look at our surrounding. No expense has been spared in creating The Garden, with impressive awnings intermingling with fragrant lemon trees, giving a Mediterranean feel right in the heart of London. We were even told we could take a lemon home as a souvenir!

The menu is simple with only a few choices in each of the 5 sections: Small Plates, Starters, Mains, Pizette and Desserts, but for me simple is best, as the kitchen can then focus their attention on quality, and there is still plenty to satisfy all tastes.

For starters, I selected the Yellow Tailed Tartare with apple, lemon and coriander (£18), and my wife selected the Heirloom Tomato with Burrata, olive and caper (£14).

We also decided to add to this the Vegetable Fritto Misto (£11) to share. The presentation 6

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of my tartare was, as you would expect from the Corinthia, a work of art, with tiny chunks of apple shaped in a ring around the meaty tuna. The sharp apple provided a lovely contrast to the mild taste and firm texture that the yellow fin variety is known for. Burrata is ‘the queen of Italian Cheeses’, and it is not difficult to see why, when on breaking through the smooth white outer skin, my wife was treated to an oozingly soft and creamy interior. This creaminess was accompanied by a multitude of coloured tomatoes and olives, making it not only tasty, but again visually appealing. The vegetable fritto misso was a good accompaniment to our other dishes, and provided us with a variety of quality vegetables covered in a light and crispy batter.

My wife chose a Pizette for her main covered with Nduja, tomato, olive, spiced salami and mozzarella (£18) which was perfectly cooked, but was a little small for a main course, although the size would be ideal for young children. I love a steak, and so went for the T-Bone with roasted tomatoes, rocket and basil (£38). T-Bone steaks are one of my favourites as you get the best of both worlds, with one side of the bone the tender fillet and the other side the flavoursome sirloin. Steaks, however good, do require proper accompaniments, and unfortunately there was no triple cut chips or creamed spinach on the menu for me to choose, so I had to settle for roasted crushed new potatoes (£7) which although great, for me just didn’t add anything to the steak.

For dessert, my wife and I had the crepe (£18 to share) with orange blossom, mascarpone and Mara des Bois Compote, although I was sorely tempted with the Ricotta Cake with Piedmont hazelnut sponge and pear (£12). If you do choose the same dessert as us, take note that it is served cold, as we were both expecting something warmer.

The Garden also has an extensive selection of cigars which it allows diners to smoke after 9.30pm in the restaurant, so time your dining depending on whether you like a cigar after your meal or like us, don’t like smoke at all!

Rudy’s Dirty Vegan Diner 206 Upper Street, Islington, London, N1 1RQ Website: rudysvegan.com

Those who know me well, or have read my reviews, know that I am a real carnivore and love my meat, so it was with interest that I was asked to review Rudy’s Dirty Vegan Diner’s new restaurant/diner in Islington.

Almost under the shadow of the Emirates, Arsenal Football Club’s home ground, is the second diner from the team that brought London’s first all-vegan diner, along with the interesting concept of a vegan butcher right next door.

Vegan food has come a long way from when Dorothy Morgan and Donald Watson coined the word vegan in 1944, when they formed the Vegan Society, with its founding philosophy that people should not only not eat animals, they shouldn’t use animals either, for anything.

Rudy’s Diner is on a meat free mission to provide people’s favourites, in an authentic diner environment, but in a vegan way.

American diner classics are now given an imaginative vegan overhaul, and I selected the Buffalo Wingz (4 for £5.20), Mac ‘n’ Cheeze (£6.90), and Cajun Chick’n Popcorn (£5.50).

The wings were southern fried seitan, a high protein option made from wheat gluten, accompanied by a truly spicy hot sauce, and the popcorn was again quite spicy and made from crispy soy with Rudy’s special dip. To accompany these I selected a fascinatingly named Freakshake called a ‘Girl Scout’, which was based around a classic chocolate milkshake with peppermint cream, and was smooth and creamy, and frankly I couldn’t tell the difference from a ‘milk’ shake.

Our mains were again based around classic American diner dishes, and I selected the Ridiculous (£9.70), which was a grilled soya beef mince patty, baycon, cheeze slice, grilled onions, pulled porc, lettuce and gravy, and my wife chose the Ribz (£8.80). I don’t think I have ever had so many toppings on a burger and it was hard to see how so much fitted into one bun, which could actually explain the name! The Ribz were made from Jackfruit and smothered in BBQ sauce, and had a texture just like meat ribs.

To accompany both we selected a regular portion of Rudy’s fries (£3.50) which were wonderfully seasoned and crispy and light.

The final dish on our initial vegan experience was a warm brownie (£5.90), served with vanilla bean ice cream and cream. The brownie was lovely and fudgy even without the usual butter, milk or eggs.

I enjoyed my first fully vegan experience, but am not sure I am converted yet to the vegan way, but who knows in the future!

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WEALTH MANAGEMENT No mo’ FOMO – The Importance Of Being A Rational, Long-Term Investor The acronym ‘FOMO’ (short for “Fear of Missing Out”), has become a rallying cry for the Instagram generation in recent years. Whilst it may not have the same eloquence as Horace’s ‘carpe diem’ or Henry David Thoreau’s plea to ‘suck out all the marrow of life’, it nonetheless has served as a powerful mantra to those wishing to make the most of the present.

However, when the world was largely locked down, where did one go when there was nothing to miss out on? With restaurants and nightclubs shut and holidays a distant memory, it may come as no surprise that the FOMO mentality has crept into the investment world, particularly as investing in stocks, funds or even precious metals is now as easy as opening an app on a ‘phone.

Akin to some speculative periods in the past, the FOMO mentality - investing in popular assets to avoid the fear of missing out on investment returns - has played a part in the remarkable recovery of major stock markets since the lows of March 2020.

However, this attitude of investing has also led to speculators purchasing unprofitable companies, niche cr yptocurrencies, and even viral videos of babies biting fingers, simply because their friends and acquaintances are buying similar positions and may have made money. Some fund managers have even attempted to capitalise on this type of investing, with one such manager releasing an exchange-traded fund that offers investors exposure to trending assets. It should not come as a surprise that its ticker symbol is ‘FOMO’.

Although reports of investors reaping the rewards of large increases in valuations have been commonplace, so too have been the articles interviewing investors who had lost out, buying when values were high and panic selling when there was a correction in the pricing. As the world begins to return to normal, it is important to consider how to keep one’s sentiments in check when investing in an attempt to avoid the common emotional biases that impact many investors.

Impact Of Social Media On Asset Valuations

In a world where the social media image of a plain orange square led hundreds to buy tickets (some available at a cost of $100,000(1)) to the so-called ‘greatest party that never happened’ (a quick Google of 8

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the ‘Fyre Festival’ will tell you all you need), it should come as no surprise that a single post on social media has also been known to precipitate a rise or fall in an asset’s value.

Some of the most publicised examples of a post or tweet impacting an asset’s price are those of Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk. For example, on 12th May, Musk tweeted that Tesla would no longer accept Bitcoin as payment due to the environmental impact of Bitcoin mining. The same day the price of Bitcoin dropped by approximately 12%.(2) In an example of another asset class impacted by social media posts, publicly traded shares such as GameStop and to a lesser extent, AMC, Bed Bath & Beyond and Blackberry, saw their values spurred higher by users of the Reddit social media platform.(3) Although it was said that the impetus for artificially increasing the value of these companies was to punish hedge funds for short-selling these stocks, the dramatic increases in value led to retail investors piggybacking on the Reddit activists, seeking to realise gains, as opposed to punish professional investors.

In a quote often attributed to Alexander Hamilton, it is said that ‘those who stand for nothing, fall for anything’ The volatility of such companies share prices during the first few months of 2021 was extreme. GameStop’s stock price began 2021 at a cost of approximately $19 per share, and by 28th January reached its 52-week high of $483, an increase of approximately 2,442%.

One week later, on 4th February, the stock price was down to approximately $50.(4) In times of market volatility, it is important to stay disciplined, think long-term and stick to one’s investment plan. The difficulty with

FOMO investing is that the investment plan is fallible, predicated simply on buying an appreciating asset because not doing so would lead to regret.

How To Be A Rational, Long-Term Investor

In a quote often attributed to Alexander Hamilton, it is said that ‘those who stand for nothing, fall for anything’. In many ways this creed is the antithesis of FOMO investing, advocating the importance of staying disciplined and sticking to a plan.

Admittedly, maintaining discipline is difficult, particularly when the markets are at their apex or nadir. However, adopting a systematic process for investing can help to eliminate typical behavioural biases and could increase the chance of a successful outcome.

For example, despite major corrections and crashes, markets have historically rewarded investor discipline, maintaining one’s investment and reinvesting dividends.

An investment of £1 in 1970 would have delivered gross returns of approximately £125 at the end of 2019.(5) However, despite the long-term performance of the markets, the average investor rarely achieves the same returns as the relevant benchmark or index. DALBAR’s 2020 Quantitative Analysis of Investor Behavior showed that the annualised return of the S&P 500 from 1st January 1999 to 31st December 2019 was 6.1% yet, the average equity fund investor enjoyed returns of only 4.3%. This gulf in returns represents underperformance of nearly 30% and can be attributed, in part, to humans’ inability to maintain discipline during times of panic or exuberance.

Professor Shiller at Yale has shown that since 1881, less than 10% of volatility in the markets is attributable to a company’s change in value or fundamentals. (6) The main driver of volatility is therefore sentiment, allowing one’s emotions to cloud judgment based on measurable attributes. The consequences of investing based on sentiment alone has not only been witnessed in relation FOMO assets, but also during market corrections or downturns.

In March 2020, investor pessimism as measured by the VIX was higher than any point during the global financial crisis.(7) Those who acted on their emotions likely sold assets when volatility was high and prices were low. Those same investors were

WEALTH MANAGEMENT unlikely to reinvest later in March or in early April therefore missing out on the April 2020 bull market. This pattern of buying high and selling low, just as panic sets in, is commonly seen in investors without a plan and is known as the wealth destruction cycle.

As a final point, which fittingly sums up the FOMO investing phenomenon, one would be remiss not to mention Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency which was created as a joke in 2013 as a way to satirise the cryptocurrency speculation of the time. In early May this year, DogeCoin’s market capitalisation approached $80billion which, somewhat ironically, put DogeCoin’s market capitalisation higher than Elon Musk’s SpaceX.(8)

Risk Warnings And Important Information

MASECO LLP (trading as MASECO Private Wealth and MASECO Institutional) is registered in England and Wales as a Limited Liability Partnership (Companies House No. OC337650) and has its registered office at Burleigh House, 357 Strand, London WC2R 0HS. For your protection, telephone calls are usually 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 Advisor.

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This article is not intended to be, nor should be construed as, investment advice.

It is provided for information purposes only; is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice; and does not constitute a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any products or to adopt an investment strategy. You should carefully consider the suitability of any strategies along with your financial situation prior to making any decisions on an appropriate strategy. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of MASECO as a whole or any part thereof.

All investments involve risk and may lose value. The value of your investment can go down depending upon market conditions and you may not get back the original amount invested. Your capital is always at risk. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

transaction costs or taxes. The figure is for illustrative purposes only and is not indicative of any investment.

6. www.forbes.com/sites/ greatspeculations/2020/04/07/ so-how-much-wealth-destructionhas-truly-occurred-sincefebruary/?sh=2b9a682b5ea2 7. Derbyshire, M (2020, April 17) Vix ‘fear gauge’ in recovery from Covid-19 shock.

The Financial Times. Retrieved from http:// www.ft.com 8. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/ gadgets-and-tech/dogecoin-price-2021spacex-snl-b1843038.html Stephen Johnson Stephen.Johnson@masecopw.com

References 1. www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-46904445 2. www.cnbc.com/2021/05/19/the-cryptocollapse-heres-whats-behind-bitcoinssudden-drop.html 3. www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/ what-are-meme-stocks/ 4. Ibid, 3 5. Growth of a pound based on MSCI World Index (net div). Hypothetical and assumes reinvestment of income and no

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TAXING ISSUES Foreign Tax Credit vs. Foreign Earned Income Exclusion – A Comparative Analysis The following is designed to provide general information for Americans filing US tax returns from the United Kingdom. As with all tax and legal issues, seeking tailored advice from qualified counsel is advisable.

As an American citizen, you are required to comply with long-standing US tax policy creating an obligation to continue filing US tax returns, even after a permanent move abroad.

With the potential for double taxation to arise, taking advantage of the various tax breaks available in the United States is crucial. To this end, one of the most important tax planning opportunities impacting American Expatriatess working abroad is often neglected.

The choice between electing the foreign earned income exclusion or opting instead to claim a foreign tax credit can produce a variety of different outcomes that will continue to influence your tax situation for years after the initial decision is made. While both options may have the ability to reduce your US tax exposure to zero, the nuances of each and the underlying tax planning opportunities will vary. This article will provide an overview of the basic eligibility guidelines for these two important benefits, and outline some of the specific scenarios that might lead you to follow one path over the other.

Foreign Earned Income Exclusion

The foreign earned income exclusion allows employees and self-employed individuals to exclude up to $108,700 (2021) of earned income from US tax. To qualify, the following requirements must be satisfied: 1. The taxpayer must receive earned income; 2. The taxpayer’s tax home must be located outside the United States; and 3. The taxpayer must meet either: a. The physical presence test, or b. The bona fide residence test.

Earned Income Requirement For this purpose, earned income means payments for the performance of personal services. This can come in the form of salaries and wages or other taxable benefits provided through employment. Interest, dividends, capital gains, and other investment income are not treated as earned and not eligible to be excluded. Pension distributions, though attributable to services previously performed, are also classified as unearned income.

This is a straightforward determination for freelance service providers or individuals 10

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drawing a salary. However, it can become a bit more complicated for partners in a partnership or owners of businesses that require a substantial initial investment.

Income will not qualify as earned if capital is a material factor in its production.

Tax Home Requirement Tax home is defined as the city or general vicinity of the taxpayer’s principal place of business or employment, regardless of the location of his or her residence. An overseas assignment that is less than one year generally will not result in a change of tax home.

Physical Presence Test. The physical presence test is based exclusively on time spent outside the United States. Taxpayers qualify by spending 330 full days in a foreign country during a consecutive twelve-month period. Time spent in international waters or airspace and partial days of presence will not be counted. The 330 days can be spent in any foreign country that is not subject to US travel restrictions. A two-week holiday in Italy would still be counted for purposes of this test for someone living and working in the UK. Importantly, the twelve-month period does not need to coincide with the calendar year.

This means that partial exclusions can be claimed when a foreign work assignment commences or concludes during a given year. If a partial exclusion is claimed, the maximum exclusion amount for that year will be prorated to account for the days from the other tax year that are used to qualify. A twelve-month period that runs from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021, would allow for an exclusion of $54,350 in 2021 (exactly half of the maximum exclusion amount of $108,700).

Bona Fide Residence Test The bona fide residence test does not require presence in a foreign country for the entire 330-day period. Instead, it obliges the taxpayer to demonstrate considerable, ongoing connections to that country, looking to the nature of in-country housing, whether family members have also made the move, and general personal and economic connections.

Meeting the bona fide residence test requires a full calendar year of residency in that country, though short-term trips can be taken to the United States during the qualifying year.

Notably, taxpayers cannot qualify as bona fide residents if they have taken a position that they are non-residents of that country for tax purposes. This would be an issue for someone who has taken a treaty-based position that they

are not UK residents, but electing remittancebasis in the United Kingdom would not eliminate eligibility as a bona fide resident.

Waiver Of Time Requirements The time requirements for both tests are only waived if one must leave the country due to war, civil unrest, or similar adverse conditions.

The IRS publishes a list of the countries where the waiver will be available during any given year. While generally limited, in Rev. Proc.

2020-27, the IRS expanded this list on account of the pandemic to include Americans leaving any foreign country after February 1, 2020. The list of countries covered by the waiver will be published again for the 2021 calendar year sometime during 2022.

The Foreign Tax Credit

The foreign tax credit offers a dollar-for-dollar offset against US tax for UK income and capital gains taxes paid or accrued in that year. The credit can be claimed for tax paid or accrued both on foreign earned income as well as foreign investment income.

Tax Credit Baskets Although the credit is available for all types of taxable income, multiple “baskets” of foreign tax credits have been established to prevent income tax attributable to one type of income from offsetting tax due from another. The two main baskets are the general category, which applies to wages and pensions, and the passive category, which applies to investment income.

The Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017 created a new basket for “foreign branch” income that may broadly impact the calculations for selfemployed individuals. A separate category also exists for foreign tax attributable to US source income for which a credit is available under terms of a US income tax treaty.

Tax Credit Carryovers. Foreign taxes within a given basket that are in excess of the effective US rate on that basket of income can be carried back one tax year and forward ten years. These credit carryovers can produce tremendous tax planning opportunities in later years.

Making The Best Decision Under The Circumstances

With respect to earned income, most American Expatriates living and working in the United Kingdom will be eligible for both benefits.

However, credits are not available for foreign

TAXING ISSUES tax paid on excluded foreign earned income, meaning that both benefits cannot be claimed for the same earnings. The option that makes sense for you will depend on the attributes of your specific tax situation, with the following elements driving the decision-making.

1. You are eligible for refundable tax credits The Additional Child Tax Credit is available to American Expats and can produce cash payments for tax filers who have not actually remitted any income tax to US. Treasury through withholdings or estimated payments. Single Americans earning less than $200,000 and married taxpayers filing jointly earning less than $400,000 will be potentially eligible to receive a refundable tax payment of $1,400 per child below the age of 17 through the 2020 tax year.

The additional child tax credit was further expanded for 2021 with the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021, and the credit amounts may be increased for taxpayers in certain income categories.

Those ineligible for the expanded credit will continue to rely on pre-ARPA eligibility guidelines and amounts. Importantly, if you claim the foreign earned income exclusion, you will not qualify for the additional child tax credit, irrespective of whether you meet the other eligibility requirements.

Further complicating this decision, the Recovery Rebate Credit of 2020, another refundable credit designed to administer the 2020 Economic Impact Payments (EIP) to individuals who did not receive the full benefit in the form of advanced checks, applies an income calculation that would not reflect excluded foreign earned income. For higher income taxpayers who did not receive EIP benefits, eligibility for the Recovery Rebate Credit would need to be balanced against loss of additional child tax credit benefits and limitations on claiming and revoking the foreign earned income exclusion year-to-year.

2. You want ease of tax compliance - If you are working as an employee and your only income source is a UK salary below the foreign earned income exclusion threshold, you will have a straightforward tax compliance obligation. Just report your salary in USD, provide some basic information about your employer and your travel dates, and call it a day. For self-filers looking to easily eliminate their annual US tax liability, this will be the path of least resistance. Large US tax companies are beginning to roll out “do-it-yourself” tax preparation products that are tailored to the needs of the American Expatriate community.

3. You receive tax-protected UK income or US investment income below the standard deduction threshold - US source income or tax-protected UK income would generally produce a US tax liability. Nevertheless, the interaction between the foreign earned income exclusion and the standard deduction can shield up to $12,550 (2021) WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

from US tax exposure. For example, if you earn a $100,000 salary, generate $5,000 of US source capital gains and $3,000 in interest from a UK tax-protected ISA account, the salary would be exempt by claiming the foreign earned income exclusion and the standard deduction would fully offset the US gains and UK interest income. In this scenario, a small amount of US tax may be due if the foreign tax credit were to be claimed instead.

4. You have already been claiming the foreign earned income exclusion and will soon move to a low-tax country - If you have been claiming the exclusion and opt instead to claim the foreign tax credit in a particular year, this is treated as a revocation of the exclusion election. When a revocation occurs, you would be unable to claim the exclusion again for five years without requesting IRS consent in the form of a private letter ruling. If you end up working in a country with lower tax rates than the United States during this window, the inability to claim the exclusion would have serious negative tax consequences. Nevertheless, while the opinion is non-binding, in recently issued Private Letter Ruling 202122001, the Service did consent to a Taxpayer claiming the exclusion after a recent revocation following a change in circumstances that led him to move to a country with tax rates relatively lower than the United States.

5. You may be working in a country with tax rates relatively lower than the US in the future - Subject to the exclusion revocation issue discussed above, if a possibility exists that you will be relocating to a country with low personal income tax exposure, being able to leverage the prior ten years of excess foreign tax credit carryovers from your time working in the United Kingdom can produce a considerable windfall. Foreign tax credits for UK tax paid in prior years could be carried over to offset US tax on income earned in a later year in Dubai, Hong Kong, or Zurich.

6. You want to continue funding a US IRA account - Funding an IRA also requires that you have generated earned income. This means that you either need to opt to claim the foreign tax credit or have generated income in excess of the foreign earned income exclusion threshold if you still wish to participate.

Excess contribution taxes would be due on contributions to an IRA in a year that you have excluded all your UK earnings from US tax.

7. You are funding a UK pension - Because of the relatively higher rate of tax in the UK, it could potentially be beneficial to forgo treatybased benefits that would otherwise shield contributions to registered UK pension arrangements from US tax. Instead, using the excess UK tax credits to offset the US tax on the contributions in that year can result in the build-up of an amount that would not be subject to US tax once distributed at retirement age, potentially producing meaningful future tax savings for you.

8. You are receiving equity compensation from your employer - The foreign earned income exclusion is only available for income received less than one year after it was earned. Claiming the foreign tax credit will often be the only way to reduce US tax on the compensation component of stock options and grants or similar deferred compensation arrangements that vest over several years.

9. You are working in a self-employed capacity - For self-employed individuals, the foreign earned income exclusion is applied against gross income with expenses attributable to excluded income being disallowed. For example, if you were to generate $200,000 in revenue, with $100,000 of expenses, although your net income is below the exclusion threshold, you would still be showing taxable income. Furthermore, with the new “foreign branch” basket impacting foreign tax credit calculations and carryovers for self-employed individuals, examining the details of the specific business operations is necessary.

10.You have retained state-level residency back in the US - If you are still filing tax returns at the state level, it will be imperative to first determine whether your state of residency permits its residents to claim one of these benefits. With all states having different rules for handling foreign income, you may need to start the credit v. exclusion analysis with a determination of state tax exposure.

Have You Overlooked This DecisionMaking In Prior Years?

Many American Expatriates will often be balancing several of these elements and better option may not be entirely clear without further analysis. Making a choice that will provide you with the best overall benefit and create the greatest opportunity for future tax planning should ultimately be the goal. Fortunately, if you have not been giving this decision the attention that it deserves, you are permitted to go back up to three years to make changes to your tax return that could potentially produce cash refunds for you. While refundable tax credits cannot be claimed beyond the threeyear statute of limitations, certain claims related to the foreign tax credit are granted an extended ten-year window to make corrections to carryover items.

Expat Legal Service Group can help you determine if you have missed out on tax planning opportunities or refundable credits in prior years. We offer flat fee pricing for tax compliance in conjunction with a unique suite of legal services for American expatriates and foreign nationals with financial interests in the United States. 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 Wimbledon With an internationally recognisable name thanks to its eponymous tennis championships, Wimbledon itself is every bit as glamorous as the two-week midsummer sporting showcase for which it is best known.

However, there’s far more to this beautiful corner of South West London than just tennis whites and strawberries and cream.

Wimbledon falls within the borough of Merton, which covers a diverse 14.5 square miles, superbly connected to both Central London and the rolling hills of Surrey. Located south of the River Thames, Wimbledon’s residential area is split into two sections - the “village” and the “town”.

The high street forms part of the original medieval village, set amongst handsome period buildings, and providing a good selection of bistros, restaurants and pubs – catering for all tastes and budgets.

Wimbledon’s history dates back to the Iron Age, when the hill fort on what is now Wimbledon Common is believed to have been constructed. The area features in the Domesday Book of 1087, when it formed part of the manor of Mortlake. In the intervening years, the area has had more than its fair share of grand homes, including Eagle House, Southside House and Wimbledon Manor House. The last was briefly owned

by Thomas Cromwell before his execution, when it passed to Henry VIII’s last wife and widow, Catherine Parr.

To the west of the borough, you’ll find delightful Wimbledon Village, where the WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

residential streets are lined with charming and spacious Victorian and Edwardian houses. Head into the shopping area and it’s easy to imagine that you’ve been transported to Paris or Barcelona – with quirky boutiques, cafés and restaurants, including The Ivy Cafe and The Light House, making this the perfect place to while away an afternoon.

Beyond the village lies beautiful Wimbledon Common, one of the largest areas of common land in London, and home not only to badgers, plenty of deer and tawny owls, but to an elusive species that residents are never likely to glimpse… These are, of course, The Wombles. Created by the author Elisabeth Beresford in 1968, Wombles are furry creatures that live in burrows on the common and do their bit for our environment by collecting and recycling rubbish. If only they weren’t fictional!

It’s unsurprising that Wimbledon is a particularly popular area among families and is a great place to raise children, with a host of excellent nurseries and schools to choose from. Among them is King’s College School, which was named as the UK’s best boys’ or co-ed school by The Sunday Times in 2018, as well as Rokeby School, Putney High School and Wimbledon High School.

With glorious open spaces, vibrant night life, proximity to the countryside and easy access to the city, top-notch shopping and desirable homes, it’s fair to say that when it comes to experiencing the very best of London’s lifestyle, Wimbledon has it all.

And of course, last but not least, Wimbledon residents also have doorstep access to the home of the tennis championships, the world-renowned, private members’ club All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club.

Houses In Wimbledon

Architecturally, Wimbledon is extremely diverse. In and around the town centre there are a lot of period properties, particularly Victorian, whereas the Village has everything from the old labourers’ cottages built by William Hanford in the 1760s on Hanford Row, right up to more modern builds as recent as 2016.

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Homes in Wimbledon are known for being spacious, both indoors and outdoors – made even more attractive with the Common on the doorstep. Many properties in this area have large and private gardens.

They are highly sought-after by both families and first-time buyers, due to the area’s warm, village-like feel, meaning there is a consistent demand for housing and a perpetually active market.

Shopping

Wimbledon town supplies the main shopping area, with Centre Court shopping centre just outside the station covering all the essentials. Wimbledon Village also provides an eclectic variety of boutiques and independent clothes shops, along with a few high street favourites.

Elys of Wimbledon has been the premier independent department store in Wimbledon for over 125 years. Whether you’re looking for men’s and women’s clothing, children’s items, pieces for the home or a new furniture suite – you’ll be able to find it here. Why not visit the in-store restaurant to refuel after a hard day’s retail therapy?

Getting Around

Wimbledon is easily accessible by train, plane, bus and car: Underground: District Line in Wimbledon, Wimbledon Park and Southfields, and the Northern Line in South Wimbledon.

Train: Wimbledon mainline station is just 17 minutes to London Waterloo, while Clapham Junction is just 10 minutes away and offers great connections.

Buses: Wimbledon has good bus connections, covering routes 200, 93, 57 and 131.

Car: Wimbledon is a short drive to Putney, Richmond and Kingston, as well as offering easy access to the A3 which links to major motorways providing access in and out of London, including the M25 – the London Orbital motorway.

Restaurants, Pubs And Bars

Chez Bruce For years, Chez Bruce has held the only Michelin star in this part of South London.

Consistently delicious food and great service has kept it at the top of its game. The Glasshouse in Kew is a sister restaurant.

The Ivy Cafe Perfectly located in the heart of Wimbledon Village, this branch of the much-loved chain presents a relaxed yet stylish dining experience. The cocktails here are great too.

The Hand in Hand Known for its comfort food and real ales, this popular pub is just by Wimbledon Common and transports you to village life, away from the hustle and bustle of busy London. The pies are a must-try!

Dog & Fox The Dog & Fox might be Wimbledon’s oldest pub, but having been renovated at the end of 2019, this pub has everything you’d expect of your favourite local. It’s also just 10 minutes from the tennis club – an excellent spot to soak up that competitive atmosphere in July.

Hemingways Wimbledon’s smartest cocktail bar and the only independent left. Try an espresso Martini or, if it’s late, go for a Pomme d’Hemingways – Jack Daniel’s, organic apple sauce, orange bitters and lemonade.

Knight Frank’s Relocation Service

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 14

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MARK WALTERS mark. walters@bdo.co.uk +44 (0)207 893 3497 PAUL FLANNERY paul.flannery@bdo.co.uk +44 (0)207 893 2128 HARMI SEKHA Harmi.Sekha@bdo.co.uk

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DIGITAL EDUCATION Expat Life, A Sick Family Member, and The Ability to Flex If someone would have said 2 years ago that the majority of school children would not be attending school and instead would be educated, online, at home, for most of 2020 and 2021, I am sure that most parents would have not only pulled their hair out as their children would be at home 24/7, they also wouldn’t have believed it!

There are many stories about the quality of the education that has been provided to our children over the last year or so, with some schools managing to cope with the lockdown and restrictions by moving all of their lessons online, whilst others struggled leading to the many negative stories in the news about how children’s education has suffered during the pandemic. These negative stories may have clouded parents opinion of online education, but these problems have arisen because of the failings of some schools to provide that education properly, and not the failing of the method in which it was provided. It is important to put the record straight, and highlight the many benefits of

When moving to a new country a parent always wants to make sure the transition for their family is as painless as possible, and maintaining continuity in their children’s education is a great start 16

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online education, especially for those living abroad, as online schooling does not mean that your children’s education will suffer, but instead gives them, and you as parents, so many options and opportunities that are not available to those attending schools.

As an expatriate, when relocating to a new country, your choice of schooling and the education your child will receive is limited to the school system in the country you have moved to. In many countries the school system is well developed and sufficient for your child’s needs, but it may not be. The other consideration is how compatible the new educational system is with your child’s previous education, and also with any further education when you return to the US. But if you use online schooling this problem disappears. Using online schooling allows you to seamlessly transfer your child’s education, wherever you are in the world, as your school travels with you, and your child can continue the same education remotely.

When moving to a new country a parent always wants to make sure the transition for their family is as painless as possible, and maintaining continuity in their children’s education is a great start.

Another issue that so often arises for expatriate families, is that there you sit, as a mobile family in a foreign country with all of its highs and lows, when you get the dreaded phone call you prayed would never come. A family member is sick, and you have to pack up your family and rush home.

It is not like it was when you lived in your home country. You can’t drive across town and be “there” in 15-20 minutes. Everything becomes a checklist. A list of what we need to pack. A list of services to stop or turn off before leaving the current country.

A list of travel documents needed. A list of transportation needs (taxis, planes, trains, etc.). Everything is a list.

There are many things that consume your time during the next 12 hours after receiving that phone call. These decisions and lists consume your decisions, money, and stress. In the back of your mind you think, “My family must come first,” but it isn’t always so black and white. Educating your children should not be stopped, but it frequently is during these tense situations.

Depending on the length of the trip home, a student will either miss several weeks of classes, or he/she must be unenrolled in their in-country school and re-enrolled

midyear at a school “back home.” There is a lot of research in the education community that shows these transitions are extremely difficult for students to overcome - especially mid-year. I can only imagine the added pressure of moving from one type of school to another. Moving from an IB campus to a traditional public school is very different and is going to add stress for the child during an already stressful time.

Luckily, a not-so-new anymore, and finally mainstream option is available to mobile families: Digital Learning Luckily, a not-so-new anymore, and finally mainstream option is available to mobile families: Digital Learning.

Students can log into their digital school from anywhere in the world and at any time of the day 24/7 to access their digital curriculum. A major benefit of the digital school is that all instruction can be recorded and played back at a more convenient time.

No more staying up through all hours of the night for live instruction which was a problem with online schools in the past.

Additionally, a good worldwide online school will have teachers staffed across multiple time zones to support students with questions and concerns all day (or night).

Education shouldn’t be an added stress for mobile families - it should follow you effortlessly. Anywhere with an internet connection becomes a schoolhouse for your children.

One word of caution - not all digital education options are created equally. This became painstakingly clear during the spring of 2020. Just because a school has a digital

DIGITAL EDUCATION option, doesn’t mean it is a good digital option. There were many good traditional schools that threw something together during the COVID-19 spring and subsequent year, but having good intentions and doing your best isn’t the same as finding a school where every aspect of the scholar’s journey has been intentionally built from the ground up. Building every piece of the education journey for a digital student is vastly different and so much more than adjusting the in-person experience for an overnight digital student body. What we saw last year was a great effort in emergency remote learning - a quality digital school will look and feel exponentially different from that experience.

Many times, the stress of getting back to an ailing friend or family member involves hours and sometimes days of stress, rushing here and there, and frustration of the unknown. It changes very quickly once you arrive, however. Many times, it becomes a strange time of sitting, waiting, and hoping for a quick recovery. Don’t let that time at a bedside of a loved one detract from your children’s education. Whether from a home, a hospital, or a coffee shop down the street, keep that normality of education intact.

Students with the same teacher, friends, and schoolwork, to keep their minds busy, will help during a time like this.

In fact, a good question to ask your digital education provider is, “What kind

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Education shouldn’t be an added stress for mobile families - it should follow you effortlessly.

Anywhere with an internet connection becomes a schoolhouse for your children

student and ultimately your family during a crisis will become invaluable - especially during a time like this.

While there are many places and entities that offer these types of options, just to let you know, we have a pretty great option we think you’ll like.

Chase Eskelsen, M.Ed. For more information on one education option that solves this problem, check out The Bridge School. We would love to showcase our full-time online school designed specifically for mobile families in transit.

Email: Chase@verano.org Website: www.bridgek12.org

of social-emotional learning (SEL) and support is included in your educational option’’? Knowing that the school can offer not only a good curriculum, but a world class digital SEL offering to support your

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DAYS OUT WITH THE FAMILY As foreign travel continues to be problematical, we are lucky that there are so many wonderful places closer to home in the UK to visit. The UK is a wonderful place and has many ‘hidden gems’ which are not as well-known as the usual sights, and I want to highlight a few of these.

Days out do not need to be expensive, and my selection only scratches the surface on what is on offer, and will hopefully inspire you with some ideas of trips which will delight and educate you and your family without making a large hole in your pocket.

The Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s beautiful botanic garden was established in 1670, and is renown for its rare plants, especially the largest collection of wild-origin Chinese plants outside China.

It is also the home of a stunning rock garden containing approximately 5,000 alpine specimens and the Windows on the World glasshouse, which is a tropical paradise with ten different climate zones containing everything from rubber and banana plants to rare flowering species from Asia, Africa and Australia.

Find out more: www.rbge.org.uk National History Museum, London

The Poison Garden At Alnwick

Another treat for nature lovers is the poison garden at Alnwick in Northumberland.

This garden is not only beautiful and tranquil, but also deadly. It has a macabre fascination as it is home to over 100 plants that can kill, and is the brainchild of Jane Percy, Duchess of Northumberland.

Nature lovers will love it, as will the children, who will delight in the danger, as long as you remember not to smell or touch the plants! For those who like gardens to be a bit less dangerous, the rest of the fragrant 14-acre gardens won’t kill you, and you can grab a bite to eat in the splendid Treehouse Restaurant (one of the largest in Britain).

Find out more: www.alnwickgarden.com

Llechwedd Slate Caverns, Blaenau Ffestiniog

Although not as kind on your wallet as many of the other attractions in this article, I have included this, as where else can you zip wire and trampoline in such a unique location? Once an old Victorian slate quarry, Llechwedd Slate Caverns now boasts the

world’s first subterranean playgrounds, from giant trampolines to underground zip wires. Nestled deep within the Welsh caves of Snowdonia, why not let the kids start with Zip World’s ‘Bounce Below’ a subterranean trampolining playground, with giant trampoline nets in a cave the size of a cathedral.

Find out more: www.zipworld.co.uk

Guided Walks Of Bath, Somerset

Bath is one of the world’s oldest cities as prehistoric evidence suggests humans lived here thousands of years before it became a Roman settlement, and what better way to experience all it has to offer than taking a free guided tour? Passionate locals have been leading free guided tours of Bath for over eighty years, and these tours take in Bath’s most famous landmarks, including its beautiful Royal Crescent and historic Great Pulteney Street, which is the grandest, and widest street in the city.

Natural History Museum, London

London has so many wonderful museums, and I could fill the whole article with them, so I have selected my favourite, and you’ll need more than a few hours to explore this enormous museum. I loved this museum as a child and still get the same pleasure as a parent taking my children there now. I know it is free, but I make an impassioned plea to please donate a few pounds in the collection boxes at the exit so the next generation can continue to be amazed at the wonder of the natural world.

I have always loved the dinosaurs’ section and always marvelled at the size of the Blue Whale, and in addition to these, the museum also puts on new exhibitions to enjoy and participate in, making the natural world really come to life. This is a place to enjoy again and again, as you can never see everything you want to in one visit, and as its free you can visit time and time again.

Find out more: www.nhm.ac.uk

The Tolkien Trail, Birmingham

I went to school in Birmingham, and JRR Tolkien had been a head boy at my school, so to celebrate this noted writer the city’s tourist board has created a downloadable 18

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DAYS OUT WITH THE FAMILY guide which allows you to walk in the author’s footsteps. Afficionados of ‘the Hobbit’ and ‘Lord of the Rings’ can channel their inner Bilbo or Gandalf and explore the areas connected with JRR Tolkien, and a great starting point is Sarehole on the city’s outskirts, believed to be the inspiration for Hobbiton and the Shire. The forested wilderness of Moseley Bog is referenced when the author wrote about the “Old Forest” and the beautiful King Edward’s Grammar School (my old school), is where Tolkien took his entrance exam. The trail also passes by the towering Victorian waterworks next to Edgbaston Reservoir. This building inspired his descriptions of the Two Towers of Gondor, after which the second volume of Lord of the Rings was titled.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London

The site of the London 2012 Olympic Games has been extensively redeveloped since the excitement of those magical sporting events, and offers all sorts of activities, from playgrounds to pixel art.

Award winning parklands, waterways and playgrounds are free to visit every day, and surround the iconic former Olympic and Paralympic venues including the London Stadium, the London Aquatics Centre, the Copper Box Arena and Lee Valley VeloPark. The Tumbling Bay playground features treehouses and rock pools, while the Pleasure Gardens feature a climbing wall and 195 computer-controlled fountains which your kids will love dashing between to try and keep dry. You can turn the blocks on the Pixel Wall to spell out a message, and make sure to pose for a photo next to the Olympic Rings. There are also a number of paid tours on offer, including a look around the Olympic Stadium and a boat trip along the canal, but entry to the park is free.

Bank of England Museum, London

Bank Of England Museum, London

Money always fascinates people, and where better to learn about it than in the Bank of England Museum, the headquarters of the UK banking system. Here you can find out about who designs the bank notes, how much gold the Bank of England holds (spoiler alert - it is actually only one bar and that is in the museum!!).

The Bank of England has been managing the UK’s finances for over 300 years and it is fascinating to learn about the people who have shaped the UK’s finances and the pitfalls experienced over the years. There is also a section highlighting forgeries and how to spot them, and you would think it would be fairly easy to spot them, but you would be wrong! Don’t take my word for it, get the family to test their skills on which notes are forgeries in the challenge the museum provides. If you want to cheat

you can learn how to spot fakes first, but I would recommend doing the test first.

This is a great museum to spend a couple of hours, right in the heart of London’s financial district, and will give you a better understanding of how the financial system worked, and works now, in a clear and simple way.

Find out more: www.bankofengland. co.uk/museum

The British Museum, London

Ever since Carter came back from Egypt with his treasures people have been fascinated with the Pharaohs, and this is the place to wander through the galleries in awe of the artifacts and mummies from this ancient civilisation. One interesting fact, that is not well known, is that many of the Egyptian artifacts on display here have been duplicated, and so the original and

The British Museum, London

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Brighton

copy are on show at either Highclere Castle (the house in the Downton Abbey series) or the British Museum. This duplication was done for safety, as only a few people know in which location the real artifact is kept, thus deterring thieves as they don’t know whether they are targeting the original or the copy! There are so many other things to see at the British Museum, but my other suggestion here is take a look at one of the most amazing finds, namely the Rosetta Stone, which unlocked a whole new language to us, Egyptian Hieroglyphics.

Find out more: www.britishmuseum.org

Outdoor Treasure Hunt Game Of Stones (Kingston)

Looking for something a little different to do just outside London? Gather a team together for an afternoon of clue decoding and riddle breaking at this Game of Stones Outdoor Treasure Hunt. You’ll be tasked with racing against time to find various locations around Kingston in a bid to win a prize. Once you have succeeded you could then take a walk along the River Thames from Kingston Bridge down to the dramatic Hampton Court Palace, one of only two of Henry VIII’s palace’s still standing, which was extended to rival the Palace of Versailles. There are tours of the buildings or just marvel at its wonderful gardens.

Tour For Muggles

The Warner Bros studio might be the top ticket for Harry Potter lovers visiting London, but the city also has so many magical movie locations for fans to explore. Join a group of fellow muggles for a walking tour and see the real-life locations that inspired sets such as Diagon Alley, the Leaky Cauldron, and the Ministry of Magic. As you walk through London your expert guide will answer any questions you may have, as well as answering ones you haven’t, and is a must for all Harry Potter lovers, and let’s face it, who isn’t? The tours are limited to small groups to ensure a personalised 20

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experience, and there are many departure times available.

Find out more: www.viator.com

Brighton

Brighton is only 47 miles from London and is an eclectic mix with the more commercial sea front boasting miles of shingle beach and a pier with all the seaside amusements you would expect, right alongside ‘the Lanes’, a labyrinth of narrow alleyways housing predominantly independent clothing stores, jewellers, antique shops and cafes and pubs, where you can relax after some retail therapy and watch the world go by. This town has something for everyone and is a great day out from London or a lovely weekend away.

Whitechapel Art Gallery

London is well known for the National Gallery, the Tate etc., but why not be more adventurous and venture a little further afield to this gallery. For more than a century the Whitechapel Gallery has premiered world-class artists from modern masters such as Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and Frida Kahlo, to contemporaries such as Sophie Calle, Lucian Freud, Gilbert & George and Mark Wallinger. The gallery is open all year round, with beautiful galleries, exhibitions, artist commissions, collection displays, historic archives, education resources, inspiring art courses, dining room and a bookshop.

Find out more: whitechapelgallery.org

built in the world in 1779. The trust here has 10 museums showing all aspects of the industrial revolution, and the life people lived in those changing times, and is a great way to bring the Industrial revolution to life for you and your children.

Find out more: www.ironbridge.org.uk

Verulamium

Verulamium was a large Roman city, which at its heyday was of similar importance to London, and the museum, theatre and hypocaust on display here are definitely worth a visit. How the Roman’s lived is well explained, and the marvels of how the Romans designed a heating system is fascinating. The city was raised to the ground by Boudica in AD61 and is also the site of the martyrdom of the first British martyr saint, Saint Alban, from which the nearby city is named. You would usually have to visit Italy to see such sights, and Verulamium is a wonderful example of Roman life right on our doorstep.

Find out more: www.stalbansmuseums. org.uk/visit/verulamium

Camber Sands

Camber Sands has the distinction of being the closest sandy beach to London, and is a wonderful place to go down on a hot sunny day to enjoy the sea and a sandy beach which is patrolled by life guards. There is a kiosk for refreshments and toilet facilities and parking is plentiful.

IronBridge Gorge Museum

Many know that Stonehenge is a world heritage site, but few know that in 1986 the Ironbridge Gorge was one of the first locations to be designated as a World Heritage Site within the UK. This designation recognised the area’s unique and unrivalled contribution to the birth of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century; the impact of which is still felt across the world today and is the site of the first iron bridge to be

Camber Sands

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HOTEL REVIEW

HOTEL REVIEW NYX Hotel, London There are many hotels in London to choose from, therefore to stand out as a newcomer you need a unique selling point, or to just be a little different, and NYX has certainly got the latter.

Recently opened in May 2021, NYX grabs your attention immediately you enter the hotel, with two large black leopards ‘guarding’ the door, and walls adorned with a mixture of pop and bohemian art, along with multi-coloured tiger heads!

The entrance hall is open-plan and leads into the bar and restaurant area that is dominated by a neon bar rising to the ceiling, displaying every spirit you care to name, and continues the modern and quirky vibe as can be seen from these photos. There is something here for everyone, from business travellers, to couples, and even families, as I spotted in the corner of the reception area, two arcade machines which I know the children will love to play on.

The hotel also boasts a Spa in the basement where after a hard day’s work, sightseeing, or shopping, you can re-charge your mind and body with a variety of massages and spa treatments, or take a dip in the 13m pool. The pool is a great size for swimming, with the water at a perfect temperature, and it is the same depth

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throughout. In fact, I think this is one of the largest pools I have seen in any London hotel, and definitely the only one that plays funky music whilst you are swimming! You can also enjoy the sauna and steam room, which are situated just off the pool area, The hotel is situated in Holborn, and could not be more perfectly placed to reach all of the sights and sounds that London has to offer, with the British Museum and the vibrant Covent Garden all within walking distance, and despite its central location the noise level of the traffic doesn’t interfere with your ability to sleep.

There are five different type of rooms ranging in size from the Little Star at 18 sqm to the aptly named Heaven at 45sqm.

All rooms have been tastefully decorated, with similar art to the foyer, continuing the quirky vibe, but always with an eye on quality, and this is equally demonstrated in the rooms’ amenities. Our room boasted a superking sized bed, free Wi-Fi, and thankfully marvellously powerful air conditioning, as the temperature in London on the night of our visit reached 30 degrees! Rooms also have large flat screen TV, en-suite bathrooms and tea and coffee making facilities, and even a pillow menu, along with a SMEG fridge with a host of goodies to buy.

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The NYX is a good addition to the London hotel scene, and provides something a little different in a very conservative market The bed is not only massive, it is also supremely comfortable, and I slept soundly, which is unusual, as I usually struggle to sleep in hotels, and I awoke suitably refreshed to even go for an early morning swim and sauna before facing the world again.

The NYX is a good addition to the London hotel scene, and provides something a little different in a very conservative market. Its rooms are spacious and wellappointed and individually decorated, and the facilities surpass many competitors in less well-placed locations, and I for one will be returning when I need to stay in London again.

For further information please visit: www.nyx-hotels.com/londonholborn

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TAKE FIVE

There’s something for everyone in Womad’s Global Village, WOMAD, photo © Judith Schrut

TAKE FIVE Celebrate Summer!

by Judith Schrut It’s been a long time coming, but welcome to the Great British Summer - at last!

There’s loads to enjoy and plenty to celebrate, but will this summer’s theme tune be “Here Comes the Sun” or “Stormy Weather”? Although Britain’s famously fickle climate can’t be guaranteed, whatever the weather, the coming months promise a bumper crop of open air music, movies, shows and other alfresco cultural treats. So, pack up your sunhats, wellies, waterproofs and stiff upper lips and join us for a preview of the season’s best.

Anoushka Shankar, photo courtesy Borkowski Arts & Ents

1. Around The World With WOMAD

It may not be the best time for an African eco-safari, European bike tour or a hike up the Inca trail. But this summer you can travel to the biggest international festival on the planet without plane ticket, passport, or health certificate. We’re talking about WOMAD - or World of Music, Art and Dance - which takes place at the end of July, bringing together hundreds of world music fans and dozens of performing artists from WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

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Taste the World Cookery Stage, WOMAD, photo courtesy Borkowski Arts & Ents

across the globe to a splendid open air site deep in the Wiltshire countryside.

If you’ve ever been to WOMAD, you’ll know what a unique and joyous festival it always is. Topping this year’s line-up are mesmerising singer and sitar genius Anoushka Shankar and award-winning musical polymath Nitin Sawney.

Other hotly anticipated artists (announced at time of writing, with more to come) include thrilling taiko master Joji Hirata and the London Taiko drummers; trailblazing Gambian kora player Sona Jobarteh; heady and hypnotising Moroccan gnawa from Electric Jalaba; and vibrant bhangra and Bollywood beats from the Dhol Foundation.

There’s helpings of self-described “instrumental psychedelic sunshine” from all-women cumbia band, Los Bitchos, whilst Amaraterra serves up hot and spicy pizzica from Salento, the bottom of Italy’s ‘boot’.

Appearing at WOMAD for the first time will be vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and “one to watch” Antipodean talent Jordan Rakei.

Fabulously family-friendly, WOMAD is free for under 13s and welcomes young people of all ages and abilities to its dedicated kids zone, the World of Children, numerous workshops and annual Children’s Parade.

Traipsing from stage to stage in the fresh country air is hungry work, and WOMAD is well-prepared for this. Not far from the multiple performing stages, and beneath hallmark giant flags waving majestically in the breeze, is the Global Market. Here, you can eat your way around the world from a mouthwatering range of international food and drink. There’s also a chance for blissful browsing amongst WOMAD’s huge selection of crafts, clothing, musical paraphernalia and worthy causes on display.

Although WOMAD’s music is its main draw, you’ll find loads of other imaginative events to tickle your festival fancy. Taste the World serves up a popular combo of food, music and conversation under one intimate tent, as WOMAD artists take time out to cook, chat and share favourite dishes from their homeland. Breathe in deeply the cool air of the Arboretum, sip tea and munch homemade cake in the shade of the ancient turkey oaks and discover myriad ways to bathe the body, mind and soul in the World of Wellbeing. Here’s your chance to sample sunrise yoga, gong baths, holistic massage, shamanic healing, butterfly life coaching and back inversion therapy (hanging upside 28

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down to you and me). Debate and discuss in the World of Words, check out a book from the Human Library, and lose your inhibitions at a workshop in the All Singing, All Dancing tent.

For a little extra indulgence, invest in a weekend pass to the La Di La Loos or the WOMAD Spa, an oasis of pampering treatments set in a sumptuously-decorated oriental tent, replete with coffee and cocktail bar, Spa gardens with wood-fired hot tubs, Finnish barrel saunas, jacuzzis and hammocks, and that luxury of festival luxuries, hot showers!

Further information: WOMAD, Charlton Park, 22-25 July 2021: womad.org

2. Promful Pleasures

For classical music lovers it doesn’t get much better than the BBC Promenade Concerts, affectionately known as The Proms. A British national treasure since Victorian times, this greatest festival of classical music roars into London’s Royal Albert Hall at the end of July, setting off 52 concerts and six weeks of nonstop musical feasting.

The original Proms’ promise, to create a joyous celebration of music and reach the widest possible audience, means there are plenty of affordable options, including halfprice for under 18s and 1300 ‘Promming’ (standing) tickets for every Prom at £6. All Proms are broadcast live on BBC Radio 3, with 20 Proms also available on BBC TV and I-Player.

Every Prom season is imaginative and unique. This year welcomes a gobsmacking choice of orchestras, choirs, ensembles and over 2000 musicians. There are 50 artist debuts, 20 world or UK premieres, lunchtime Performers and BBC Proms presenter Katie Derham, the Royal Albert Hall, credit BBC, Jude Edginton, courtesy BBC Proms Press Office

Proms, unprogrammed “Mystery Proms” and special events for families.

As well as the usual generous helpings of Bach, Beethoven and Mozart, among this year’s delights are a celebration of Broadway’s Golden Age, an evening of music from across Africa, a concert of Renaissance polyphony, and a jazz night featuring virtuoso saxophonist Nubya Garcia.

The Proms love anniversaries, and 2021 is no exception. There’s a Prom honouring what would have been tango master Astor Piazzola’s 100th birthday, and an all-Stravinsky programme marking 50 years since Igor Stravinsky’s death, conducted by the dynamic Sir Simon Rattle. Camille Saint-Saëns, who died 100 years ago, is feted at two special family Proms. The seven talented KannehMason siblings join former Children’s Laureate, Michael Morpurgo, for a fresh take on Saint-Saens’ Carnival of the Animals.

Last but not least, this year’s Proms salute the Royal Albert Hall itself, as she blows out the candles on her 150th birthday cake and gives virtuoso performances on her glorious organ, originally powered by two Victorian steam engines.

As ever, the season culminates in that beloved ritual known as the Last Night of the Proms, complete with traditional fancy dress, party poppers, balloons and flagwaving sing-a-longs to ‘Rule, Britannia!’ and ‘Land of Hope and Glory’. If you can’t make it to the Last Night in person, join the party via giant video screens around the country, or sing along by telly, tablet, smartphone, laptop or radio, thanks to the BBC. Further information: BBC Henry Wood Promenade Concerts, 30 July-11 September 2021 bbc.co.uk/proms

TAKE FIVE Movie Magic, Luna Cinema, Hampstead Heath

3. Movie Magic

The joys of open air cinema date back to 1932 New Jersey, when salesman and film fan Richard Hollingshead nailed a bedsheet between two trees in his yard and a Kodak projector to the hood of his car. He opened the world’s first commercial movie drive-in the following year, proudly advertising “the whole family is welcome regardless of how noisy the children are”. By the 1950s, there were over 4,000 drive-ins across the USA. Famed for iconic roller-skating waitresses bringing cheeseburgers, shakes and fries right to your car window, and boasting a reputation as teenage ‘passion pits’, driveins enjoyed many boom years. Then, in the 1970s, with the coming of home videos and more profitable options, like turning drive-in lots into high rise property blocks, drive-ins faded almost to extinction.

Low and behold, 50 years later and driveins and outdoor movies are riding high on a global comeback! And nowhere more so than in the UK, where screenings have become increasingly inventive. Who needs walls when you can bring cushions, blankets, picnics and homemade popcorn to an alfresco screen near you? Today’s quirkier venues include castles, clifftops, cemeteries and racecourses.

Luna Cinema has a habit of hitting locations other screens can’t reach. For its upcoming Summer of Surprise, Luna promises projections at 50 stunning outdoor locations on state of the art screens across the UK, including Blenheim Palace, Ascot Racecourse, Guildford Cathedral and Bath’s Royal Crescent. Films include classic crowd pleasers like Grease, Some Like it Hot and Notting Hill. There will also be singalongs to The Greatest Showman.

The UK’s top themed cinema experience, Backyard Cinema, is really going places this summer. Select its Miami Beach or LA Nights experience and be whisked away to non-stop sunshine, cocktails under palm trees and, literally, the feel of sand between your toes, while enjoying film gems like WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

Back to the Future, Crazy Rich Asians, Chicago and Rocketman, or recent hits like Nomadland, Judas and the Black Messiah and Cruella. You’ll also find a range of family friendly favourites on offer, or treat the whole brood to one of Backyard’s popular Singalong Saturdays.

Fancy a drive-in movie on a dramatic clifftop overlooking Cornwall’s Watergate Bay? If so, Wavelength Cinema kicks off its season with surf classic Big Wednesday, followed by family films and old favourites throughout the summer. Meanwhile, Rooftop Cinemas invites you to sit back and kick back, under the sky, on comfy deck chairs, with personal headphones, awesome food and drink, and incomparable rooftop views, for a season of new releases and classics.

How about a self-drive zip around Regents Canal for up to 8 people on a very cool ecoboat, followed by a pitch-up near Paddington

to watch vintage pics on a waterside big screen? The country’s only floating cinema, The Häagen-Dazs Openaire, returns this summer after last year’s premier success.

You’ll find lots of movie choice here, from Pulp Fiction and Pretty Woman to Bohemian Rhapsody and Mamma Mia singalongs, although you might think carefully before watching Jaws while on water. For the more budget conscious or the sea-sick, there’s a landlubber option of canalside deck chairs.

Yummy snacks on offer include homemade pasta, artisan nibbles and drinks, and, of course, Häagen-Dazs ice cream.

Further information: Miami Beach & LA Nights: backyardcinema.co.uk Luna Cinema: thelunacinema.com Rooftop Film Club: rooftopfilmclub.com Openaire Float-In Cinema: openaire.co.uk

Dip your toes in the sand at Miami Beach, Backyard Cinema, photo © Grant Walker

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4. Gorgeous Gardens

The garden has always held a special place in British hearts and history. Roman villas and medieval monasteries were famed for kitchen herb gardens. The Plantagenets had their red rose and white rose, and the Tudors their knot gardens. King Henry VIII and Shakespeare were both renowned gardeners. The Georgians followed with dramatic landscapes, while the Victorians gloried in gardens with massed flower beds, exotic colours, complex designs and the invention of the public park.

More recent times brought garden cities Letchworth and Welwyn, wartime Victory Gardens, organic gardening, allotments and everyday back-garden pride. Every British town, village and suburb has its garden centre, complete with tea room and gift shop. With most people confined to home during the Covid pandemic, backyard and windowsill gardening have surged to new heights.

Britain’s seemingly insatiable appetite for all things botanical extends to TV and other media. BBC2’s hugely popular Gardeners World is in its 54th broadcasting year, whilst Love your Garden, Garden Rescue and The Edible Garden are all massive hit shows.

Gardeners’ Question Time has been pitting BBC Radio listeners against celebrity gardeners from village halls around the UK weekly since 1947. Vertical Veg, Guerrilla Gardening, Real Men Sow and Plew’s Potting Shed are among hundreds of dedicated websites, blogs and magazines.

Whilst the nation’s passion for plants thrives year round, it’s particularly potent in the summer season. Is there anything more quintessentially British than our gardens in summer, fragrant with roses, lavender and jasmine; floribundant with hollyhocks, Midsummer gorgeousness, Beth Chatto Gardens, Essex

peonies and delphiniums? The Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, Midsummer Garden Life Festival and Shed of the Year are ever-flourishing annual summer events.

The Chelsea Flower Show, the most famous garden event of all - postponed this year due to the pandemic - takes pride of place in September.

If you’d like to participate in the nation’s horticultural hysteria, there’s an infinite variety of superb gardens to visit around the UK, from stately homes and castles to wildflower meadows and urban parks.

Among our favourites are Wisley Gardens, Surrey, a mixed paradise of the formal and the wild, Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire, with its magical collection of trees and breathtaking treetop walkway, and Mottisfont, Hampshire, home to the national collection of old-fashioned roses.

In summer, Mottisfont is a vast rose bouquet of colour and fragrance, displaying over 500 types of scented, climbing, rambling and bush. Add a romantic medieval house, art gallery and riverside gardens, and you have the recipe for a total feast of the senses.

Mottisfont also warmly welcomes children, with devoted wild play areas and plenty of space to run, bike and frolic.

We also highly recommend the remarkable Beth Chatto Gardens in Essex. In 1960, plantswoman Beth took an overgrown wasteland of bramble, bog and dry gravel and transformed it into inspirational gardens, using her successful mantra of “the right plant for the right place”. Lush themed areas include neverwatered gravel gardens, splendid and serene water gardens and cooling canopied woodlands. There’s an imaginative programme of activities like the Green Art Academy and Hands on Propagation the Beth

Chatto Way, a wonderful plant nursery and a quaint tea room with homemade scones and tantalising cakes. Until her recent death, aged 95, Beth continued to oversee her gardens, often seen zipping around the grounds on her mobility scooter.

Bloomsbury fans will want to pilgrimage to Charleston House in Sussex and Sissinghurst Castle Gardens in Kent. At various times a Saxon pig farm, Elizabeth mansion, prison and Victorian poorhouse, Sissinghurst was transformed by Vita Sackville West in the 1930s to its current magnificence, attracting garden lovers from all over the world. Charleston House is the former home of 20th century artists and creative partners Vanessa Bell (Virginia Woolf’s sister) and Duncan Grant. Get up close and personal with a digitally-guided tour of Charleston’s fabulously decorated interiors and walled ‘artists gardens’ created

by Bell and Grant, joyously filled with plants, sculpture, mosaics, tile-edged pools and touches of Bloomsbury humour.

Poldark fan or not, you’ll find Cornwall’s abundant and varied gardens well worth a visit, from the world’s largest greenhouses of the Eden Project to more intimate gardens like Trelowarren, Glendurgan, Tresco Abbey and Tregothnan Botanic. We especially love the Lost Gardens of Heligan, with their exuberant subtropical jungle, romantic pleasure grounds, pioneering wildlife conservation projects, awesome setting and onsite plant centre, shops and eateries, specialising in handmade ice cream and delicious baked treats.

Further information: The Lost Garden of Heligan: Heligan.com Beth Chatto Gardens: bethchatto.co.uk Charleston House: charleston.org.uk More at: greatbritishgardens.co.uk It’s fun getting lost in the Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall

The Jungle, Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall

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TAKE FIVE Night falls on Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, photography David Jensen

5. The Shows Must Go On

Outdoor shows have long been a cherished part of every British summertime. Sure, the weather may not be great, but everything else is first class-fabulous. And when did a little summer hail, horizontal sheets of rain or a few lightning bolts ever stop the Brits?

Some of the best open air entertainment you’ll ever see takes place at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. Wondrously set amidst the lush undergrowth of London’s most beautiful Royal Park, the Theatre has been putting on award-winning alfresco entertainment for nearly 90 years. Many top actors debuted here, including Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes and Damian Lewis. The Theatre can be notoriously hard to find– only adding to its charms– so if you’re a first time visitor be sure to leave a little extra time for the search. You’ll know it’s worth the effort when you pass through those semi-hidden gates and enter a secret garden of delights, complete with rambling picnic lawn, BBQs and the longest bar in London, glittering with fairy lights.

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Equally glittering is this summer ’s programme, with uplifting American musical Carousel sharing the stage with Shakespeare’s timeless tale of forbidden love, Romeo and Juliet. The season also features Dragons and Mystical Beasts, a magical family treat, plus Sunday comedy and music nights.

From May until the end of September, Brighton Open Air Theatre, aka BOAT, presents a refreshing round of live comedy, music, drama and drag. There are lots of family offerings, including Beauty and the Beast, Jungle Book, Treasure Island and The Twits, as well as a Gilbert & Sullivan Festival, a Legends of Swing evening and an appearance by those harmonious Sussex sensations, The Brighton Beach Boys. Cornwall’s glorious cliffside-set Minack Theatre is staging gothic thriller the Wolves of Willoughby Chase, a magical version of Shakespeare’s Winter’s Tale and many other goodies.

Do, however, come prepared, since these theatres are completely uncovered and the show will go on, whatever the weather.

The author recalls a memorable visit to

Regent’s Park Theatre some years ago, when a sudden thunderstorm blackened the sky, blew over stage sets and drenched a line of dancers in floor length Elizabethan dress.

The company persevered to the end, in wind, lightning and pouring rain, and somehow we had the feeling the show was being directed from the heavens - this was A Midsummer Night’s Dream after all!

Further information: Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre: openairtheatre.org BOAT: brightonopenairtheatre.co.uk Minack Theatre: minack.com Please note: 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 is our quarterly feature bringing the best of British to Americans in Britain.

Have you been to any of our recommended events this unusual summer? We’d love your feedback, so please email Judith: judith0777@gmail.com.

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ARTS & ANTIQUES Antiques Are Back - In Fashion, And In Town!

London’s well-loved Battersea Decorative Fair returns this Autumn

After a year of lockdowns and working from home, there has been a seismic shift in what we want from our interiors. Regardless of endless zoom calls and meetings when our walls and décor have perhaps been found wanting, many people have come to want greater comfort, graciousness and ease in their surroundings.

Antiques are definitely back, adding a layered look and a sense of history and place; there is a renewed demand for cosseting, deeply upholstered large armchairs to curl up in, more objects to decorate our shelves and mantelpieces for that properly lived-in look, and plenty of art to fill once-sparse walls.

Whilst there will always be proponents of minimalism, the fact is, maximalism is back in style. There was a huge surge in cottage, and country-inspired settings last year in the first lockdown: pretty floral and chintzy fabrics, traditional tapestries to create a sense of history, colourful china tea and dinner services, whatnots and bookshelves. The reassurance of past times. These are all back in fashion, even amongst the younger set. (Lulu Lyttle of Soane, who helped decorate Boris and Carrie Johnson’s Downing Street flat, is one of the UK’s leading designers of traditional interiors).

Of course for some of us, maximalism has never gone away. Some of us have willingly embraced inherited pieces from parents or grandparents, whether cherished heirlooms or simply well-loved family pieces. But it turns out, a few well-chosen pieces of good ‘brown’ furniture, as they call it in the trade – the rich hues of polished oak, mahogany, walnut and elm – intermingled with more modern decoration works very well, and can often prove highly cost-effective when compared to newlymade designer furniture. Oh, and you can have it at home with you right away (not wait eight weeks for delivery, often from overseas).

Antiques provide instant interior gratification.

One of the most popular events in the UK for buying antiques for interior decoration is the respected Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair. In 32

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business since 1985 it takes place in a large airy marquee in Battersea Park, and brings together over 150 specialist dealers in great-looking as well as fine traditional antiques, 20th century design, works of art of all periods, and plenty of surprising and delightful vintage and period accessories – from antique French printed textiles to treen and pottery, prints and paintings, lighting and mirrors, garden ornament and architectural elements such as mantelpieces.

The event is much favoured by leading decorators from not just the UK but America too, and across the world. Rose Tarlow, a regular, once flew in with Oprah Winfrey on a private jet to shop at the Fair, and Michael Smith – White House decorator for the Obamas – has been multiple times. The new generation of British decorators finding fame for the ‘country house’ look, such as Flora Soames and Beata Heuman, never miss the fair, and hoteliers Olga and Alex Polizzi regularly source there.

This year the biggest trends to look out for are antique and vintage bamboo, wicker and rattan furniture (if you want to lighten up an already traditional look, or bring a bit of country to a contemporary home); glass-fronted display cabinets to show off colourful ceramics and tableware collections; weathered garden dining furniture for outdoor living and entertaining, and cheerful, uplifting art for the walls, both abstract and figurative.

Those who previously favoured contemporary looks are now opting for sleek art deco pieces – sideboards, metal standard lamps, glowing glass or ceramic wall lights. For a more country feel, look out for multi-drawered artisan chests, sculptural folk art, patinated treen bowls, and animal or country house pictures.

So whether your penchant is for painted European furniture or a lovely old-fashioned (yet hugely practical) tallboy or ‘whatnot’, rustic ladderback chairs, scrubbed pine tables and Victorian larder cupboards; or Venetian mirrors and gleaming vintage glass, you will find it all at The Decorative Fair. And the best bit? Antiques and preloved objects offer true sustainable style.

The Autumn edition of The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair takes place 28 September to 3 October at The Marquee (Evolution London), Battersea Park, via the Chelsea Bridge entrance. Visit the website www.decorativefair.com for more details and information about ticket booking. Follow the fair on Instagram @decorativefair for plenty of visual inspiration. Given the ongoing ups and downs of Covid, please check this website before travelling: www.decorativefair.com.

TRAVEL

TRAVEL Haworth, Yorkshire

By Susan Irving Monshaw Whether your taste in literature runs to modern comic books or Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, a visit to Haworth, the picturesque Yorkshire village that was home to the 19th century author and her writer sisters, is an excellent introduction to the endlessly wild and lovely moors of northern England. What was once a remote and lonely location is today, a delightful village full of charming shops, excellent restaurants and abundant opportunities to wander the moors and get full use of your wellies, various layers of clothing and even, perhaps, some sunscreen.

I was a member of a group of adult Master Class students on the 3-hour train from London to Leeds, then another hour to Keithley, and we were armed with two bottles of champagne (we drank one on the way), saving the second for our final destination, St. Michael and All Angels Church in Haworth, where we planned to toast the inspiration for our trip, the three famous literary Bronte sisters, as this is their final resting place.

The church, where Reverend Patrick Bronte preached, is at the top of the Main Street hill in Haworth, and is built around a medieval tower that is still visible today.

Built in 1879, it remains a vibrant part of village life.

A short walk through the church graveyard (where tin-lined coffins were poisoning the water supply downhill and needed to be

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repositioned) brought us to the Parsonage, built in 1779, where the family lived from 1820 to 1861. Here, Patrick and his wife Maria, raised a son and three precocious daughters, whose literary works written here would make England’s moors famous around the world, and shake up Victorian ideas about mental and physical cruelty and moral values.

It is now a beautiful example of a house museum run by the Bronte Society, founded in 1893. Here we were treated to a comprehensive slide show taking us through life in Haworth at the time of the Brontës, highlighting the loneliness of the location and how Emily, Anne and Charlotte, used their vivid imaginations to entertain themselves and eventually the world. Their school, known as the Annex, remains in use today, and was hosting a local crafts fair, doing a brisk business on a grey, rainy afternoon.

The Parsonage is furnished with many original pieces, and hosts a rotating art exhibition which, at the time of our visit, presented a film depicting the fascinating and sad story of an 18th century lottery system where unwed mothers drew either a white or black ball from a fabric sack, thus determining the plight of their infant that they could not care for themselves. White meant admission to London’s Foundling Hospital and possible adoption for the baby, black meant rejection and an unknown future for mother and

child. Heathcliff, the main character in Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, is a foundling and the inspiration for the film.

To achieve our pilgrimage and share our champagne toast on the gravesite of the Bronte sisters, we had to first make our way through a delightful Halloween gathering of witches, pirates, clowns and tiny cows on the church steps. Looking down to the end of Main Street, we saw the rest of the parade climbing the hill where a winning costume would be selected. Hopeful smiles were all around as one small fairy, perched on her father’s shoulders, touched us with her magic wand as we passed by. Through the massive wooden doors, we slipped inside. Our goal, the small memorial chapel, beckoned from the far end of the church, directly beside an intimate wedding in progress. Apologetically, we tiptoed to the brass plaque embedded in the stone floor. Raising our tiny paper cups, we saluted the Brontës, then turned and offered our well wishes to the very surprised bride and groom!

Lunch at the Hawthorn followed our church adventures. Once the home of a family of clockmakers, the Georgian inn is cosy and inviting, adorned by period furnishings and flickering candles.

The intimate private dining room has a commanding view of the lively village scene and we enjoyed a delicious meal with excellent wine.

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A wander into the shops along Main Street yielded many different treasures. From vintage clothing to togs for dogs, we also found the Cabinet of Curiosities shop, and a most enchanting tearoom, oddly called 10 The Coffee House. Inviting sofas and small tables beckon you to truly relax and savour the most exquisite cakes, teas and coffees. The best part of this remarkable pause is the possibility to order half portions of the many, tempting, homemade cakes on offer - no need to settle! Windows at the back of the main tearoom overlook bucolic fields and farms, beyond to the edge of the moor.

Our guide to the moors, Johnny Briggs, told us we would experience all four seasons in one afternoon. He was absolutely correct as we variously donned sunglasses, removed hats and scarves, then put everything back on and shivered in the strong winds when we finally reached Top Mithen, the ruined stone farmhouse thought to be the inspiration for the setting of Wuthering Heights. We followed him like a string of ducklings, walking along the sandy pathways amidst faded purple heather as he shared his encyclopedic knowledge of various plants and animals, including the importance of the red grouse as an ancient and essential element of the moors’ ecosystem. Johnny’s been at this for more than a decade and speaks in a friendly, warm way, sharing his love for the Upland Heather Moor. He believes this wild and sometimes forbidding landscape inspired and sustained the Brontës. Signposts along the walkways are carved in English and Japanese to accommodate the huge popularity of this area as a tourist destination.

Our local history lesson with Johnny continued as he lead us back through the town to the West Lane Baptist church where he prepared a vegetable soup lunch for us. As he handed around steaming bowls, Johnny explained that the church strives to be an integral part of the community, thus featuring in his tours. Weekly, he serves a similar meal for an open lunch club, where anyone can show up to enjoy some food and stave off loneliness. As we ate, he regaled us with stories of contemporary village life.

Back in the village, at the bottom of the Main Street hill, sits the Old Registry Guest House, simply the perfect place to rest your head while visiting Haworth. This inviting, historic building was where all births, deaths and marriages were recorded for most of the 20th century. Today, it’s filled with dark antique furnishings, the walls are covered with old photographs of local faces, and copies of some of the certificates issued from this very building, including those for Charlotte Bronte’s marriage and her brother Branwell’s death. The main dining room has red walls, and warm candlelight invites you to linger over dinner and wine.

The accommodations are eclectic and unique, the Lilac Attic Room is especially 34

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charming at the top of a creaking staircase.

It is small, but has a magnificent view of the countryside for miles. Full English breakfast is expectedly delicious with local cream making the scrambled eggs and porridge memorable. This is the kind of place where you’ll be forgiven for reading a book at the dining table, as one does.

Signposts include Japanese directions as this is such a popular tourist destination for the Japanese

Tour guide Johnny Briggs with a group of Master Class literature students from London

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THEATRE

Leopoldstadt Wyndham’s Theatre

Leopoldstadt is a district of Vienna known for its Jewish population but with a very mixed history of Christian and Jewish inhabitants over the centuries. Playwright Tom Stoppard, whose original name was Tomas Straussler, escaped from Nazioccupied Czechoslovakia with his family and eventually ended up in England. This is the first time even a hint of autobiography has featured in a Stoppard play, and the first time he’s explored his central European Jewish heritage in writing. He has deliberately set it in Vienna rather than the country of his birth, but there are clear parallels with his own life.

Leopoldstadt, the play, is the story of two fictional inter-married Viennese Jewish families: the Merz family and the Jacobovicz family. It’s a sweeping historical document describing what happens to them over the period from the eve of the 20th century right through to post-World War 2, and its five scenes are set on five different dates: 1899, 1900, 1928, 1938 and 1955. It is funny, warm-hearted, fascinating, and ultimately devastating. It has a huge cast of adults and children: over the years more protagonists appear as family members marry, children are born and historical events take place. Do buy the programme as it contains a printed family tree which I found really useful to look at on the train home afterwards.

The families are educated and forwardlooking – well-rounded and believable people who live life to the full with humour 36

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and emotion. The characters we meet first include a maths professor, a doctor, a would-be concert pianist, and a factory owner. As time goes on and we chart the ups and downs of these Jewish families’ experiences in Vienna, we see history happening on stage through Prussian officers, communists, bankers and Nazis among others. Tom Stoppard’s plays are always clever in their use of language and breadth of content and this is no exception, with threads of maths, the arts and politics in particular following through the generations. We hear about Mahler, Klimt, Freud and other key figures through the characters’ conversations and arguments.

This also feels like a very timely play in that it covers the rise of nationalism, racism and anti-immigration during the first half of the 20th century in Austria, with which you can easily draw parallels across Europe and America today.

The play is both epic and intimate and the characters are beautifully drawn and realised. I particularly enjoyed Adrian Scarborough as industrialist and key player Hermann Merz; Faye Castelow as his ethereally beautiful wife Gretl, whose portrait is painted by Klimt; Ed Stoppard (the playwright’s son) as mathematician Ludwig Jakobovicz; and Luke Thallon as both Prussian officer Fritz, and Ludwig’s grown-up grandson Leo. The whole cast is wonderful, including a large company of talented children. The costumes are gorgeously detailed and fit perfectly within the era in which each scene is set. The

staging of every scene is the same drawing room in the family house in Vienna, but its furnishings and mood change over time.

We were sitting at the side of the front row of the stalls, where seats were comfortable with good legroom. Although we were looking up, the stage is relatively low so we had a great, close-up view, apart from one or two scenes where furniture on stage slightly blocked our view. I’ve sat right at the back of the stalls at this theatre too and also had a great view of the stage. The theatre is absolutely beautiful inside – a lovely jewellery box with ornate plasterwork. Box office staff, front of house staff, and ushers were helpful, personable and considerate.

The last Tom Stoppard play I saw was the excellent Travesties, directed, as this new play is, by Patrick Marber. I was eagerly expecting this to be a very good play, and, looking at the timeframe that it covers, and the fact that its topic is the history of Jewish families in central Europe, I was obviously assuming that it would be hard hitting. But the way the scenes from 1938 – the year of Kristallnacht – onwards are written and realised, it is far more devastating and emotional than I could have imagined. This play’s understated portrayal of real events through mere words, and stunning acting, had me and most of the rest of the audience weeping through the final scenes.

Written by Alice Dallosso Feature supplied by www.theatredesk.co.uk where theatre tickets for many shows can be purchased.

AMERICAN EXPATRIATE CLUBS NEWS

AMERICAN EXPATRIATE CLUBS NEWS AWBS International Women’s Club

We a r e t h e AW B S International Women’s Club and we serve as a social, intellectual and philanthropic club for women who have made a home in Berkshire and Surrey. Founded in 1981, we are very proud of our heritage supporting American women and their families settling in the UK and now celebrate a more international presence amongst our membership.

We have a diverse and growing membership of over 215 women ranging between 25 to 74 and hailing from 45 different nationalities from the United States to Russia.

Our members are educated world travellers looking to meet like minded women, share life experiences and expand their knowledge, as well as integrate into their local communities in a fun and friendly way.

AWBS turns 40!

2021 is a celebratory year for us and we do intend to celebrate in style with a number of events lined up.

We’re particularly excited to plan a special Gala for our 40th Club Anniversary in the soon newly opened Windsor Fairmont Hotel.

And there is a lot to celebrate. As we draw a close to the Club year, we can honestly say that we’re very proud of all our members and the effort made to keep the Club fun, supportive and entertaining, as well as still being able to raise money for our chosen charities over a very challenging year.

The Club has maintained a great number of speakers who have become firm favourites amongst our growing members, including Lucy Worsley, author and historian, Terry Waite, humanitarian and author; Cassidy Janson, West End star; Robert Lacey, author and historian to the popular series, The Crown, Alex Denman from the Royal Windsor Rose and Horticultural Society, and we welcomed British Indian actor Roshan Seth – who we believe would quite happily be an honorary member!

Just recently we had a wonderful talk

by Jennifer Kehoe MBE, serving British Officer, author and professional skier, competing with visually impaired athlete, Menna Fitzpatrick, becoming Britain’s most decorated winter Paralympians.

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Our General Meetings are open to all members and run from September to May, and are held at noteworthy venues such as Great Fosters Hotel and the Wentworth Club. These are well attended with some notable guest speakers. Pre-pandemic we have invited Anton Du Beke, Ruby Wax, Lady Carnarvon, David Emanuel, Martine McCutcheon, HRH Princess Michael of Kent, Judy Murray, Eddie The Eagle, Sharron Davies, Simon Sebag Montefiore, Jennie Bond and Cassidy Jansen.

Although the Club is officially on its Summer break, we do still offer a number of calendar events, from Tennis to Horseback Riding, for beginner and experts! Old favourites like Country Walks are always a feature, providing the perfect way to make new friends and catch up with old. Our membership now offer’s a buddy system to help connect you with like-minded people and navigate your way around the Club. The pandemic has taught us a lot in terms of offering online events, and the feedback from our membership is that virtual events work and, in some cases, work better. So, while it’s great to see everyone face to face, we will continue with some virtual offerings like Art Appreciation and English History – great if you’re one of our overseas members too!

Joining the AWBS International Women’s Club connects you to a wonderful group of friendly, accomplished and diverse women offering support, friendship and opportunities.

We would love to hear from you and welcome you as a member! Contact our friendly membership team at membership@ awbs.org.uk for any questions, and for more on the Club and our up-and-coming events, visit www.awbs.org.uk.

KCWC

KCWC is an organisation of international women who want to enjoy everything London has to offer. Entering our 39th season of edifying and exciting speakers and activities, KCWC invites women of all ages and nationalities to join our organisation.

An impressive list of upcoming speakers and activities is available for view on our website www.kcwc.org.uk. We offer a variety of topical lectures, cultural and sport activities, history, and language groups.

Please log onto www.kcwc.org.uk for information or email info@kcwc.org.uk. We look forward to welcoming you to experience as a KCWC member all that London has to offer.

American Women’s Club of London

For more than 120 years, the American Women’s Club of London (AWC London) has provided a warm community for expat women living in the Greater London area.

After many months of hard work, AWC London is excited to announce a club rebrand, including a new website and logo design. The rebrand combines a modern and classic look to align with the club’s rich history and identity.

Additionally, AWC London is holding free, virtual New Member Interest Sessions this summer. These interest sessions are a great way to learn more about the club, ask questions, and meet other potential new members. Following each New Member Interest Session, registrants are invited to attend an AWC London event as our guest. Upcoming interest session dates are as follows: • Thursday, July 1 at 11 am • Wednesday, July 21 at 6 pm.

To register for either of these sessions or to learn more information, please visit our website: https://www.awclondon.org/join-us or contact membership@awclondon.org.

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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BOOK REVIEWS

BY WATER BENEATH THE WALLS The Rise of the Navy SEALS

Benjamin H. Milligan A gripping history chronicling the fits and starts of American special operations and the ultimate rise of the Navy SEALs from unarmed frogmen to elite, go-anywhere commandos - as told by one of their own.

How did the US Navy - the branch of the US military tasked with patrolling the oceans - ever manage to produce a unit of raiders trained to operate on land? And how, against all odds, did that unit become one of the world’s most elite commando forces, routinely striking thousands of miles from the water on the battlefields of Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, even Central Africa?

Behind the SEALs’ improbable rise lies the most remarkable underdog story in American military history - and in these pages, former Navy SEAL Benjamin H. Milligan captures it as never before.

Told through the eyes of remarkable leaders and racing from one longshot, haircurling raid to the next, it’s a tale of the unit’s heroic naval predecessors, and the evolution of the SEALs themselves. But it’s also the story of the forging of American special operations as a whole - and how the SEALs emerged from the fires as America’s first permanent commando force, when again and again some other unit seemed predestined to seize that role.

Here, Milligan thrillingly captures the outsize feats of the SEALs’ frogmen forefathers in World War II, the Korean War, and elsewhere, even as he plunges us into the second front of interservice rivalries and personal ambition that shaped the SEALs’ evolution.

In equally vivid, masterful detail, he chronicles key early missions undertaken by units like the Marine Raiders, Army Rangers, and Green Berets, showing us how these fateful, bloody moments helped create the modern American commando - even as they opened up pivotal opportunities for the Navy.

Finally, he takes us alongside as the SEALs at last seize the mantle of commando raiding, and discover the missions of capture/kill and counterterrorism that would define them for decades to come.

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Written with the insight that can only come from a combat veteran and a member of the book’s tribe, By Water Beneath the Walls is an essential new history of the SEAL teams, a crackling account of desperate last stands and unforgettable characters accomplishing the impossible - and a riveting epic of the dawn of American special operations.

Benjamin H. Milligan became a US Navy SEAL in 2001. He is a recipient of the Bronze Star and other awards. A native of Indianapolis, he currently lives in the Chicago area and has three sons.

LOCH DOWN ABBEY

Beth Cowan Erskine Loch Down Abbey, was written and published by Hodder & Stoughton during lockdown.

One party parody, one party country house mystery, it has been described as PG Wodehouse meets Agatha Christie.

It’s the 1930s and a mysterious illness is spreading over Scotland. But the noble and ancient family of Inverkillen, residents of Loch Down Abbey, are much more concerned with dwindling toilet roll supplies and who will look after the children now that Nanny has regretfully (and most inconveniently) departed this life.

Then Lord Inverkillen, Earl and head of the family, is found dead in mysterious circumstances. The inspector declares it an accident but Mrs MacBain, the head housekeeper, isn’t so convinced. As no-one is allowed in or out because of the illness, the residents of the house - both upstairs and downstairs - are the only suspects.

With the Earl’s own family too busy doing what can only be described as nothing, she decides to do some digging - in between chores, of course - and in doing so uncovers a whole host of long-hidden secrets, lies and betrayals that will alter the dynamics of the household for ever.

Loch Down Abbey has also been optioned for a television series by Madison Wells, a Los Angeles production company headed by Gigi Pritzker.

Beth Cowan Erskine is an American expat who married into a mad Scottish family with their own tartan and family tree older than her home country. Using them as inspiration, she wrote her first novel during the coronavirus lockdown, hoping it would be enough to get her dis-invited from

the annual family walking holiday! Sadly, it backfired, and led to long discussions of who will play whom in the film. When not writing, she owns an interior architecture and design studio in the Cotswolds. www.elizabetherskine.com

EM’S AWFUL GOOD FORTUNE

Marcie Maxfield debuts as a novelist with her raw exploration of the expat journey, not just through various countries, but through the personal road to selfdiscovery.

What was originally meant as a memoir, turned into the autofiction feminist statement Em’s Awful Good Fortune.

Maxfield’s novel is a biting comedy about a woman’s global journey to reclaim her autonomy in a relationship stretched by the unfamiliar landscape of expatriate life.

This is not your typical American Abroad story. Instead, Marcie Maxfield pulls back the curtain on the globe-trotting world of an expatriate wife, to explore issues of marriage and compromise. Moving backwards and forwards - both in time and between cities and countries - Em’s Awful Good Fortune is woven together thematically by bits and pieces of Em’s life: love, loss and betrayal. A voicedriven narrative that is raw, comic, and authentic, this is, true to life, a disorderly journey - one that ultimately arrives at a new understanding of self-love and the complexity of relationships.

Marcie Maxfield’s voice is fierce, authentic and personal. Her debut novel, Em’s Awful Good Fortune, is based on her experiences living overseas as a tagalong wife. Her play Girls Together Always - a collection of coming-of-age stories about “growing up girl” - won the ENCORE! Producer’s Award at the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Maxfield is a teen mentor and volunteer for WriteGirl - an L.A. organisation dedicated to empowering girls through creativity. She is married with two kids, a French bulldog named Rue Bader, and two rescue cats named Hunky and Dory. They live in Los Angeles, CA. Follow Marcie Maxfield on social media: Facebook: @MarcieMaxfieldauthor Instagram: @marcie.b.max

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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.

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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 30 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.

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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

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