American in Britain Autumn 2017

AUTUMN 2017

AMERICAN IN BRITAIN Serving the American Community in the UK

Eating Out • Wealth Management • Take Five Theatre • American Women’s Clubs News • Dentistry Travel • Arts & Antiques • Hotel Review • Property Embassy Corner • Legal Issues

AMERICAN IN BRITAIN

AUTUMN 2017

CONTENTS

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3 Eating Out 8 Wealth Management 10 Property

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12 Cooking 14 Legal Issues 16 Theatre 19 Take Five

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24 Hotel Review 26 Dentistry 29 Wigmore Hall 30 Days Out With The Family 32 American Women’s Clubs News 37 Arts & Antiques

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40 Useful Contacts IBC Embassy Corner

ADVISORY PANEL:

PUBLISHER: Helen Elliott, Telephone: 020 8661 0186 Email: helen@theamericanhour.com PUBLISHING DIRECTOR: Damian Porter, Telephone: 01737 551506 Email: damian@theamericanhour.com American in Britain, PO Box 921, Sutton SM1 2WB WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

American in Britain magazine would like to offer a warm welcome to Ambassador Robert Wood Johnson. Cover image of Ambassador Johnson courtesy of US Embassy London.

No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publishers.

Origination and Printing by Gemini Group

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EATING OUT

EATING OUT Restaurant Reviews Mielcke & Hurtigkarl

Frederiksberg Runddel 1 2000 Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark Telephone: +45 38 34 84 36 www.mhcph.com The world has many mysteries, including the Bermuda Triangle, who Jack the Ripper was and whether the Loch Ness Monster exists, but to me the greatest mystery now is why Mielcke & Hurtigkarl does not have more recognition from the food establishment, as I have eaten in many celebrated restaurants and few have even come close to the meal my wife and I had here. Copenhagen does have many celebrated and award winning restaurants, and Mielcke & Hurtigkarl is right up with them with respect to food, service and all round ambience.

We had a little time before our reservation, and so decided to walk from The Andersen, our hotel next to Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, as I always think you get a better feel for a city if you walk around it rather than be in taxis or public transport.

The restaurant is located on the edge of Royal Park in Frederiksberg, which is mistakenly thought of as a neighbourhood of Copenhagen, but is in fact an independent municipality with its own mayor and council and is fiercely independent. Frederiksberg is a well-to-do area and our walk took us up a wonderfully wide tree lined avenue right to the gates of the Royal Park, and Mielcke & Hurtigkarl’s restaurant nestles to the left of its imposing gates.

A restaurant needs to stimulate all of your senses, not just your taste buds, and before we even started on the food we knew we were in for a treat as the location is stunning, and the reception warm and welcoming.

To start our culinary adventure we sat outside on their terrace sipping a glass of champagne whilst looking out over the wonderful royal gardens (it is advisable to come early and take a look around these), watching a pair of peacocks strutting around the gardens whilst enjoying our first few courses. Our first course was Langoustine accompanied perfectly with the delicate sweet and sour contrasts of papaya and kalamansi, closely followed by some cold cuts of wild and tame goose and duck. Then just before we entered the main restaurant we were served probably one of the best dishes I have ever tasted. We were presented with what initially looked like a perfectly white poached egg in a delicate pickled tomato juice, but on closer inspection the white was a delicate cream flavoured with pecorino cheese which when broken into revealed a frozen tomato WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

salad. The texture of the cream against the ice of the tomatoes with the sharpness of the juice was truly a work of genius and so creative. After this course we were led into the main restaurant, a magnificent 18th century pavilion which reminded me of rooms within a French Chateau with tall ceilings and walls minimalistically decorated. Tables are well spaced to allow diners privacy and are laid out around a solitary tree in the centre of the room, and this light and airy room is lit by a stunning raindrop crystal light display which scatters every bit of light thrown at them.

Our journey then continued with delicate and fresh oysters with pea and watercress and then a delightful dish of sliced squid and noodles flavoured with seaweed, cucumber and shiso. This oriental delight was followed by witch flounder with chicken skin and Kombu, where the delicate flounder and crispy chicken skin floated in a creamy butter and thyme sauce, a true explosion of textures. Mieckle & Hurtigkarls signature is bringing flavour from their surroundings, namely the Royal Gardens and their plants into their cooking, and the artichoke in a rich anchovy sauce was insanely fresh and felt like it had been picked just a few seconds before it was cooked.

A seabuckthorn course, also from the garden, was followed closely by slices of slightly pink pigeon in a wonderful truffle and rhubarb sauce that ended the savoury part of our meal, leaving us with the desserts, and the first offering was stunning.

The smell of the passionfruit could be detected before the dish was put on our table and was accompanied by coconut and chilli which shouldn’t work, but just does. Two more

wonderful desserts followed, each continuing the ‘bringing the garden inside’ theme, and it was with a mixture of relief (even I was almost full by now) and also disappointment (that you are coming to the end of a true experience) that we came to the final dessert - a meringue and coffee ice cream lollipop.

To accompany our culinary journey, Mieckle & Hurtigkarl have a wine list of the same quality as the food, but we selected the wine flight which allowed us to sample a number of wonderful wines and unlike many was very generous, and our glasses were never empty for long. Every wine was expertly introduced by the very knowledgeable sommelier, and if we didn’t like one of the proposed wines he was superb at finding alternatives.

As I said a restaurant isn’t just about the food, it is the overall feeling it evokes in its diners, and the service just added to a wonderful experience, as it is slick but warm, with the waiters spending just enough time with you to make you feel special without intruding on your meal.

There are a range of tasting menus ranging from DKK 800 for the ‘Daily Experience’, DKK 950 for ‘The Experience’ or DKK 1,100 for ‘The Metamorphosis’ and the wine pairing differ depending on your number of courses.

I truly cannot find words to fully do this restaurant justice as it is just so good. Indeed, it is almost worth flying to Copenhagen just to experience food and service of this quality as there is no hype here, just inspired and creative cooking in a stunning location.

Here the food does the talking, and boy does it do that.

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The Happenstance Restaurant and Bar 10 Paternoster Square, London, EC4M 7DX Telephone: 020 7618 9520

London never fails to amaze me, as it seems to reinvent itself all the time. During the week London is full of workers busily going about their business, co-mingling with the thousands of tourists, but the time I love London the most is when those commuters have left the city, leaving the same tourists and those who live in the city, and then London’s vibe is very different, namely more relaxed!

Restaurants and bars at the weekend then need to cater for a different clientele from the usual city workers, and The Happenstance in Paternoster Square achieves this effortlessly whilst offering a great place for client meetings and drinks during the week. It is perfectly located in the shadows of the imposing and historic St Paul’s Cathedral and is perfectly located to cater for all of London’s residents whether they are permanent or temporary.

My wife and I visited The Happenstance on a Saturday for brunch, and our first decision was where to sit. We were very tempted to sit on the large alfresco terrace with a view of St Paul’s, but as England was moving painfully towards autumn we plumped for the inside. Even though indoors, the inside is still light and airy and the décor is a mixture of 1970 G Plan glam chairs and copper tables contrasting with the modern building.

The Happenstance also has a number of comfortable booths where the weekend crowd can while away a lazy Saturday with friends enjoying a glass of something cold or a cup of something hot!

The Saturday brunch menu is smaller than

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the weekday menu, but is still plentiful, and even though I am picky I had many things I wanted to eat. Although I love breakfast, I passed on the Full English (£9.50) with black pudding , backed beans and field mushrooms accompanying bacon, sausage and eggs (any style you wanted) and even the breakfast pastries (£2.50) as I am a sucker for a pain au raisin, and instead went for some Crispy Squid (£6.50) from the starter section and my wife chose the Scotch Egg (£5.95). The batter on the squid was light and was accompanied by a lovely sharp lemon mayonnaise, but my wife’s Scotch egg trumped this. The crispy shell and chorizo sausage layer encased a centre egg

...Perfectly located in the shadows of the imposing and historic St Paul’s Cathedral and is perfectly located to cater for all of London’s residents whether they are permanent or temporary.

which was slightly runny and the spicy chorizo and paprika mayonnaise gave just enough heat to offset the richness of the soft egg.

For the mains there is a large selection of burgers including a Cheeseburger (£8.95), a Buttermilk Chicken Burger (£9.25) or a luxurious Wagyu Burger (£13.95) accompanied by blue cheese and tomato chutney, but our selections were the Fish Pie (£10.50) and the Beer Battered Haddock and Chips (£11.95). The fish pie had a cheddar potato crust and was made up of a variety of fish, but for me the sauce needed much more flavouring to do justice to the pies ingredients.

The haddock was well cooked and the batter was again light and crispy, and the chips were what I call ‘chip shop chips’ i.e. substantial and plentiful. As an addition we also had some onion rings (£3.25) with a lovely light batter allowing the slightly chewy onion flavour to burst through.

To accompany any meal The Happenstance has an extensive wine and drink list, including a fabulous South African Chenin Blanc at £17.95 and a full boded rich Merlot at £18.25, which is very reasonable in the heart of London.

I would save some room for dessert as they are well worth it, and The Knickerbocker Glory on the menu for £7.95 was almost as good as the one used to have when I was an 8 year old boy at an authentic Italian ice cream parlour, and I never dreamt of finding anything that came close. Our other choice was the Chocolate Brownie (£5.95) which was light but moreishly fudgy, all bathed in a thick chocolate sauce - absolutely perfect.

This restaurant is a cut above the usual soulless London offerings, as it has a charm and warmth which welcomes diners, and I loved the saying it had on its wall which said ‘ Do more things that make you forget to check your phone’ - and I can’t argue with that.

EATING OUT

The Coal Shed

8 Boyce’s Street, Brighton, BN1 1AN Telephone: 01273 322998 The Coal Shed is tucked away down a little side alley just off one of the main street’s in Brighton, and is a cosy, elegant, relaxed restaurant serving quality, locally sourced food, in a great atmosphere.

My guest and I dined at The Coal Shed on a wet summer’s day, and as soon as we entered the restaurant the buzz of the other diners was immediately obvious, with students celebrating their graduation with their families, business professionals who looked like they were having a great time entertaining clients, and there were also a few holiday makers enjoying their lunch time treat away from the rain and wind!

... is a cosy, elegant, relaxed restaurant We were welcomed by a charming waiter, who sat us in the window table, and who brought us a lovely cold glass of sauvignon blanc and a refreshing gin and tonic, which we enjoyed whilst we perused the menu.

I chose the Asian Pork Belly that was on the specials of the day menu, and was absolutely delicious, so much so, I have suggested they put this on the à la carte menu as I would choose this dish again and again, as the meat was tender with crispy crackling and the Asian spices were perfect. My guest chose a couple of Oysters, which she looked very happy with!

The Coal Shed is known for cooking great steaks over burning charcoal, the best way to cook meat and fish in my opinion, so my guest chose a Fillet Steak, with Chips and Onion Rings, whilst I chose the Black Angus Steak Burger with a side of Macaroni Cheese. Both meals looked rather large when they arrived, but twenty minutes later every morsel had disappeared from our plates, and every mouthful was thoroughly enjoyed! There is a large selection of Steaks to choose from, as well as Lobster, Monkfish, Lamb, Turbot and Vegetarian options.

For desserts we were offered Elderflower Pannacotta, Poached Peaches, Chocolate Delice and Calvados Parfait, but we chose Honeycomb and Rum and Raisin Ice Cream, that we paired with a deliciously sweet dessert wine.

As well as the à la carte menu, the restaurant also offer special lunch menus as well as pre-theatre menus from Monday – Thursdays from 12pm-4pm and 6pm – 7pm and this costs £15 and always includes a steak option. On Sundays they offer a 35 Day DryAged Roast Sirloin of Black Aberdeen Angus Beef on the bone for £38 for two.

There is also a private dining room – The Chef’s Dining Room – that seats 14 people and is a great option for special occasions and exclusive hire of the whole restaurant is also an option.

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Albert’s Table

49C Southend, Croydon CR0 1BF Telephone: 020 8680 2010 It seems that Croydon is currently enjoying a regeneration, and due to its great train connections (16 minutes to central London), along with the plans for a new Westfield shopping centre, it is becoming a desirable location for many families and young professionals. In the light of this, there are some interesting and exciting restaurants popping up in the area.

We had been recommended Albert’s Table, which is approaching its 10 year anniversary having opened in 2008, and is well known locally for its reputation for good food. There is a mainline train station in South Croydon, and the restaurant quarter is only a 5-6 minute walk from here (depending on your footwear!).

Otherwise, it is a 10 minute taxi ride from East Croydon (this is also easily walkable within half an hour) making it an easily accessible spot.

Albert’s Table is listed in the Michelin and Hardens Food Guides, and offers a real alternative to travelling to Central London for a memorable meal out. It is owned and run by Joby Wells who spent most of his career working at a senior level in some of London’s most prestigious Michelin starred restaurants. In 2008, he turned his expertise into Albert’s Table.

The restaurant itself is split into two sections, making it feel suitably intimate for a romantic meal, whilst having sufficient space to cope with much larger groups. On the evening we visited it was pleasantly busy on both sides. The muted lighting, crisp white table cloths and comfortably-chic interiors all hinted at a fine dining experience ahead, and we were not disappointed.

Offering innovative British cooking, the menu at Albert’s Table changes regularly, whilst offering a few staples, which are always on the menu and represent firm favourites such as beef and chicken breast. The options are £28 for 2 courses or £35 for 3 courses.

There is also a Vegetarian and Vegan menu with starters priced at £6, main courses £12 and desserts for £7. A vast variety of fresh local produce from Surrey, Sussex and Kent are used and, according to the website, much of the food is picked the day it is served.

There are a good range of starters, including Grilled Lyme Bay Scallops with lightly curried cauliflower (£5 supplement), Ox Tongue with horseradish and pickled vegetables, and Little Rabbit Pie with bacon, rosemary, and spiced carrot puree, but I opted for the Shortcrust Tart of Dorset Crab, rouille dressing and fine leaves.

My wife opted for the Onion Bhaji, with lightly curried cauliflower, pomegranate and mint, from the Vegetarian menu. The homemade bread served prior to this was absolutely delicious, coming fresh from the oven, and was a dangerous threat to the rest of the meal, in that we could quite easily have gone in for a second and third piece, which would have left little room for what was to follow! However, we 6

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were glad that we had resisted temptation, and both devoured every morsel of our starters.

With too many sumptuous dishes to choose from for the main course, I struggled to make a selection, as usual. However, after guidance from our waitress, I opted for the Grilled Rump of Dry Aged Hereford Beef, with girolle mushrooms, onion gravy and triple cooked chips (£5 supplement). The beef was pink and tender, and complimented well by the rich, sweet onion gravy. My partner enjoyed the Pan-fried Sea Bass, with gnocchi potato, shrimps, fennel, chilli, bisque sauce & fresh coriander. This, she found to be full of texture and not overpowered by the accompanying flavours of fennel and chilli. I took the empty plate beside me to be evidence of how much she had enjoyed the dish.

The wine list offers an excellent choice, with many of the wines available by the glass or bottle (starting at £22 a bottle, and a very reasonably priced selection overall). We should also give mention to Albert’s Prosecco with fresh, seasonal fruit mixed in the kitchen – this seemed popular with other diners during our visit.

After a short respite, we were ready for dessert. On consultation, once again with the waitress, she recommended the Chocolate Tart with vanilla ice cream, and honeycomb. My arm was twisted, which as you likely know is easily done when chocolate is involved. Wow! This tart was superb, and complemented perfectly by the delicious honeycomb. It wasn’t too rich or heavy, as I often find with chocolate tarts, and made the perfect conclusion to my meal. My wife chose the Blackberry Soufflé with walnut ice-cream, fresh blackberries and blackberry sauce. The soufflé was perfectly light and sweet, contrasting with the plump, tangy blackberries. We’ll have to return to give the Victoria Plum Sponge Cake a go!

For people living in and around the suburbs of South London, or further into the South-East, Albert’s Table is the perfect destination for a memorable evening out, or indeed afternoon out, as they also offer a very reasonable Set Lunch Menu, available for two

or three courses. We recommend a visit to this trendy quarter of South Croydon to sample what Albert’s Table has to offer, and whilst this restaurant is one of the nicest fine dining options in the area, there are also a good many others to sample.

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WEALTH MANAGEMENT The Role Of Insurance Protection Within Your Wealth Plan Your wealth plan represents a portrait of your life incorporating a collection of the goals and objectives that are most important to you. It is a picture that can only be seen when you complete the puzzle and fit all of the pieces together. Many people do not appropriately value the role that insurance plays within their wealth plan. But, within the wealth planning jigsaw, insurance is a piece that needs proper consideration to create a whole and complete picture.

Insurance protection is hardly a glamorous purchase and generally people will avoid the topics of illness and death. However, ensuring you have decent protection for you and your dependents is a must. Insurance protection is important no matter your employment, life stage, or the number of children you may have.

Well-structured protection can offer you and your family many advantages. Proper planning can provide your beneficiaries with a tax-free death benefit that will alleviate future financial concerns. Protection can also provide a vehicle to accumulate additional funds on a tax-efficient basis. Most importantly, insurance protection can allow you to prudently and effectively manage the financial risks to which you may be exposed in the event of an untimely accident, illness or death.

Managing several key risks can help ensure financial stability, both now and in the future.

These key risks, whilst not exhaustive, include: (1) Payment of estate/inheritance taxes.

Sometimes families have enough assets to fund their future needs but do not take into account potential erosion of their estate that can arise from inheritance taxes. Protection can help you maximise your estate for your heirs.

(2) Loss of income. A survivor’s income stream may not be sufficient to provide the family with enough security if the primary earner’s income is lost. Protection can safeguard your family’s current lifestyle if your income suddenly changes due to premature death or illness.

(3) Repayment of liabilities. Many families carry mortgage debt or other ongoing liabilities throughout a good portion of their lives. Protection creates a vehicle that can repay any outstanding individual or business related liabilities in the event of a premature death.

(4) Fund future lump sum goals. Many families use their expected income stream to make plans to fund a lump sum goal 8

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such as paying for a child’s education.

Protection allows you to ensure lump sum goals are still able to be funded in the manner you planned.

Other important areas of consideration when assessing the type and amount of protection needed by an individual and their family include: • Business continuity needs • The impact of having a US beneficiary on planning strategies • Multi-jurisdictional tax planning – the impact of a US person being subject to UK Inheritance Tax for a period of time • Investment diversification and management • Charitable giving.

Insurance protection is hardly a glamorous purchase and generally people will avoid the topics of illness and death. However, ensuring you have decent protection for you and your dependents is a must.

As with other aspects of your wealth plan, protection requirements need to be reviewed periodically as life’s inevitable changes often impact a family’s needs. Some common events that may trigger a review of your protection portfolio include: • Change in citizenship or tax residency • The purchase of your first home or scaling up to a new home

• Acquiring new personal or business debts • Getting married or entering into a civil partnership • Having your first child or additional children • Changes in the amount of household income • Moving from an employed role to a selfemployed role • Retirement • Becoming someone else’s dependent.

Many of these changes take up an individual’s time and energy and it is therefore easy to delay revisiting your protection planning needs. However, too many unexpected events show us how important it is to not let too much time go by before addressing any required changes in strategy.

Onshore Versus Offshore Insurance Protection

An insurance solution that is considered to be onshore or offshore for US purposes may be appropriate depending on your net worth, current tax residency, planned future tax residency and overall wealth goals and objectives. In some situations, it may make sense for a US person to take out an offshore policy to facilitate a suitable, tax-efficient estate planning strategy from a US perspective.

An onshore versus offshore policy is ultimately used to achieve different goals. Each have different investment choices and fee structures, but it is possible to find both onshore and offshore solutions facilitated through insurance specialists that are US compliant structures. Using a US compliant structure will ensure that tax-efficiency is maintained for US persons and minimal tax reporting is required.

Having the flexibility to examine various solutions will help ensure an optimal solution based on personal circumstances.

When considering your protection needs, you should carefully analyse various aspects of your personal circumstances within the context of your comprehensive wealth plan.

Once you fully understand all aspects of your situation along with your financial needs and objectives you can then structure solutions to meet those needs in the most efficient manner. Over time, any changes to your personal or financial circumstances should be taken into consideration to evaluate any required modifications to your protection

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

When considering your protection needs, you should carefully analyse various aspects of your personal circumstances within the context of your comprehensive wealth plan. planning. The goal is to ensure that the picture your wealth plan reveals represents a portrait of your ideal life.

Risk Warnings And Important Information

The value of investments can fall as well as rise. You may not get back what you invest.

The above article does not take into

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account the specific goals or requirements of individuals and is not to be construed as advice. You should carefully consider the suitability of any strategies along with your financial situation prior to making any decisions on an appropriate strategy.

MASECO LLP trading as MASECO Private Wealth is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, the Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate tax advice. MASECO Private Wealth is not a tax specialist. We strongly recommend that every client seeks their own tax advice prior to acting on any of the strategies described in this document.

Andrea Solana is Head of Advanced Planning at MASECO Private Wealth where she helps to provide financial planning and wealth structuring advisory services to US expatriates in the UK and British nationals in the US. Andrea spent the first 9 years of her career with a well-known Washington DC based international tax and global wealth management firm where she gained considerable experience advising high net worth individuals with multi-jurisdictional financial interests to design and implement strategies for tax-efficient and risk-managed asset growth. She has written numerous white papers regarding fundamental financial planning and investment strategies for US connected individuals

and has previously been a speaker on financial planning topics at numerous places including both The World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Andrea graduated from University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce with a degree in Finance and Management and completed her MBA at Imperial College London. Andrea holds her UK Investment Advice Diploma and US Series 65 license.

Website: masecopw.com

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PROPERTY An American’s Guide to Buying Property in London

Americans have always had a deep connection to Britain, and London is home to many Americans for its exceptional schools, culture and job opportunities. Given the ongoing dip in property prices and relatively strong dollar to the pound, it’s a great time for Americans thinking of buying in the capital. So here is my summary of some of the major differences between buying a property in the US versus the UK (please note that every US state will have its own laws and processes, so this is just a general guidance on how things work).

Getting Financing

In America, your first step in the buying process is to consult with a bank or mortgage broker to get a sense of what you can afford.

Serious buyers will actually get pre-qualified which means that the lender has checked credit and verified documentation to approve a specific loan amount and interest rates (usually for a particular period). In the UK, lenders will offer a “mortgage in principal” giving indicative mortgage amounts and rates.

However, this will have been done without a formal application so their level of review of your circumstances will not be as in depth.

Hiring An Agent

In the US, the next step is to hire a real estate agent who will get you in to see every property that may be of interest. They will negotiate on your behalf and assist in writing the contract which is presented and negotiated with the selling agent that represents the seller. The seller will usually only list with one agent at a time and will pay a sales commission that is split between the selling agent and buying agent (typically 6%). In the UK, the market is dominated by estate agents who work on behalf of the seller (vendor). The seller will typically pay 2% commission for a sole agency, but may decide to hire several agents, and in this “multiagency” scenario, the fee will be around 3%.

In the UK, potential buyers must register with the specific agent listed on a particular property in order to see it, and that agent can 10

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Given the ongoing dip in property prices and relatively strong dollar to the pound, it’s a great time for Americans thinking of buying in the capital. only show the stock that they have. This can be extremely inefficient as busy professionals and foreign buyers must deal with several different agents and arrange viewings at different times. In the states, your buying agent will typically go out with you and be your consultant every step of the way. This was one of the things that surprised me most as a real estate professional when I moved to London - that people are buying the most expensive purchase of their life with no one guiding or supporting them directly; instead they must rely on the estate agent that really works for the seller.

PROPERTY

Making An Offer

In the states once a buyer wants to make an offer on a particular property, in consultation with their agent, an offer is written including price and any other terms (such as subject to a home inspection, appraisal and financing being obtained). The buying agent then presents the offer to the selling agent and negotiations commence until price and terms are agreed. A legally binding contract is then signed and usually a deposit of around 10% is held in escrow until completion. Next appraisal/ inspections are conducted as per the contract.

If any issues are found, the buyer may decide not to proceed, to renegotiate based on items identified, or to release the contingency and proceed with the deal. In the UK, the offer is made to the estate agent who represents the seller. Once the offer is accepted, both parties engage solicitors and a sales memorandum is issued summarising the details.

Closing Process

During the closing process you will find a stark difference between the UK and the US. In the UK, until you exchange contract - which can be weeks or months later and after solicitors have been hired and title searches, surveys, valuations and financing have occurred - either party can walk away.

For example, a seller can accept a higher offer

(being “gazumped”), or the buyer can simply decide not to proceed. This leaves both parties highly exposed throughout this time. It is only at exchange of contracts that both parties are legally bound and the buyer will put up a deposit of around 10% and a completion date is set (usually a couple of weeks later, though sometimes simultaneously). At completion, the solicitors will arrange for the remaining monies to be paid and keys exchanged.

In America, the legal work and transfer of ownership is handled by a single attorney/title company appointed by the buyer. At closing, all documentation is signed, including loan documents and bank funds. Within a few days after funds have cleared, keys are then released (this also can be done at closing if a cashiers cheque is issued).

If all this sounds overly complicated, it doesn’t have to be. If you are considering buying in London, whether you’re American or a local resident, please get in touch to discuss our buying service. We will navigate and streamline the entire process for you and guide you with sound advice every step of the way. We also work with renters and can help you figure out where to live and will preview properties so you’re only seeing those that meet your criteria.

Our commitment is to deliver exceptional service to all our clients whether they are buyers, sellers, renters or landlords. We look forward to working with you.

Ugo Arinzeh is founder and Managing Director of Onyx Property Consultants. She has an MBA in finance and spent over 10 years with Bank of America Merrill Lynch structuring and negotiating real estate transactions. Over the years she has personally bought, sold and managed properties both in the US and in London. She is passionate about property and founded Onyx to utilise all her skills from her corporate and investor background to deliver exceptional results for her clients. As part of Keller Williams, she is connected to the largest network of agents globally.

E: ugo@onyxpropertyconsultants.com Office: +44 (0)208 450 4187 Mobile: +44 (0)770 318 3750 W: www.onyxpropertyconsultants.com

SECURE HOUSE & PET SITTERS Winston Hayles is your pet’s friend and keeper in the UK so you can stay secure in the trust that your loved one and your home will be cared for as you would desire and expect.

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Winston has a great track record of caring for pets in the UK. He understands how much you worry about yours when you leave them behind, after all he or she is member of your family. It is traumatic and daunting for your pet; they miss you when you are not around and especially if they have to leave their home to go into a kennel or to stay with friends elsewhere.

Secure Sitter is a reputable and well established company that provides you with a premium, fully insured overnight or drop-in house and pet sitting service. Winston’s American clients are also available for References and happy to speak to you for your peace of mind.

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Dr Sam Sherif BDS DMedSc HARvARD UNIvERISTY PhD

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11

COOKING Flavour Your World British: Loving My Life In Britain

by Julie Woodcock

Chocolate Cookies (Biscuits)

Popcorn Balls

Many of us are American by birth and expatriates by choice. We are newcomers of sorts here in Britain as we now venture into our life’s journey of adjusting to sights, sounds, and flavours of our new country.

This is my American British life and for me the upcoming holiday season is a perfect occasion to learn about local holiday seasons and traditions. I find that the love of food is a common element of life and something we all share.

The food flows as the banquets begin and we are served a steady stream of holiday cookies, cakes, candy, scrumptious savoury dishes, and many memorable treats.

With each year I spend in Britain, I find autumn, referred to as Fall in the US, to be my favourite. This particular time of year offers a strange excitement for me as I prepare for the approaching festive holiday seasons of the year; Halloween, American Thanksgiving, Christmas time, and New Year’s.

Each year, Halloween becomes a growing British event with Trick or Treat visitors at our door and parties with everyone dressed in fancy dress costumes. American style homemade goodies such as Popcorn Balls and Chocolate Cookies are perfect party treats. The recipes are as follows:

Chocolate Cookies (Biscuits) Three Ingredients; 1. One cup Flour (Plain, not self-raising) 2. One cup Chocolate Spread (or substitute Peanut Butter can) 3. One Large Egg Pre-Heat to 180 C Fan assisted. Blend together flour and chocolate spread, then mix in the egg, stirring until thoroughly combined, mixture should be thick. Form into balls and place on a baking sheet (tray), slightly flatten with a spoon. Bake for about 7 minutes until cooked around the edges.

Leave to cool for several minutes. The centres will be soft. Eat and enjoy.

My Popcorn Ball recipe is a quick shortcut recipe with only three ingredients found at most local shops eliminating the problem of trying to find the necessary American products.

1. One jar of Marshmallow fluff 213 g 2. Three tablespoons butter. Place these into microwave safe bowl and microwave for approximately 3 minutes, until smooth stirring occasionally. Then add 3. Six cups Popped Popcorn in with the marshmallow mixture and form into balls.

Set out to air dry, wrap in cling film (recipe can be reduced, if desired add candies, nuts, raisins or sprinkles, best eaten same day, can be frozen).

Cranberry Salad, a dish always found on my American table and now included on a British holiday spread.

1. One jar or can of Cranberry sauce (whole berry works best) 2. ¼ cup crushed drained pineapple or one small can of drained mandarin oranges 3. ¼ finely chopped apples. Mix these together in a bowl, chill until serving time, chopped nuts for garnish.

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A roast turkey, scrumptious sides, and delicious deserts are perfect holiday treats and a memory maker. The food served at our American Thanksgiving meal is similar to that at an English Christmas dinner with the exception of the sides. American and British foods are extremely complementary to each other and the holiday season is a fantastic way of combining the two.

You can never have too many sides and I am always ready with a few simple, but tasty, dishes.

We expats now have an extra day to celebrate on December 26, the honoured traditional British Boxing Day. My American slant slips into the English menu on this day as well. I

Julie Woodcock

serve all the traditional left over Christmas goodies and include some flour or corn tortillas with an array of savoury, sweet and spicy sauces. This adds a bit of South of the Border twist to the day.

The Best Of Both Worlds

It is my intention to combine some of my American ways into new British life, carefully blending the two but keeping my state side style in with my English life. I do stress during the holiday seasons as I work to show my British family that as an American I can properly prepare their most important meal of the year.

Helpful shortcut tips are time savers, so I keep this conversion cheat sheet taped inside my cupboard door for quick reference: 350 F - 175 C - 4 Gas 375 F - 190 C - 5 Gas 400 F - 200 C - 6 Gas When baking using American recipes or American mixes converted from Fahrenheit (USA) to Celsius (UK), I find it best to shorten the total cooking time by approximately 5 minutes, more or less.

A simple guide for converting Fahrenheit to Celsius degrees is; subtract 32 from your Fahrenheit temperature, multiply that by 5, and then divide by that number 9 (-32, divided by 5, then divided by 9).

An example of this is if the recipe temperature is originally 350 F, subtract 32 from 350 to equal 318, and then multiply that number by 5 getting 1,590, divide the 1,590 by 9 equalling 176.66. Then round off your 176.66 C temperature to 180 degrees C. Calculate a few Fahrenheit to Celsius oven temperatures using your favourite recipes, and keep them handy ready when you bake.

My life is flavoured American British.

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LEGAL ISSUES A United Approach To Estate Planning Benefits And Dangers Of Lifetime Revocable Trusts For Nationals And Internationals In The UK The United States and the United Kingdom have been described as two nations divided by a common language. Like our language, the establishment of New York’s common law is a legacy of our nations’ pre-revolution connections, but that too has evolved on both sides of the Atlantic to create distinct approaches to estate planning. A UK citizen with assets in or currently living in the US, or a US citizen living in the UK, needs to be aware of the difference in these approaches when preparing Wills and lifetime trusts to avoid an unexpected tax in one or both countries.

Revocable trusts (also known as living trusts) are a popular estate planning device for national and international clients owning US property.

Both in and out of the US, revocable trusts solve problems that arise when you die owning US property. Without a trust, the court process (known as probate) freezes property held in your name at death. No one can access or manage the property until the court confirms the validity of the Will (if there is one) and appoints someone resident in the US (your executor) to be responsible for managing the property, paying debts, expenses and US taxes, and ultimately distributing the assets to beneficiaries. In the US, revocable trusts also provide flexibility in case of illness and incapacity.

These court proceedings for probate or administration in the US can take months to conclude and are expensive. The problem is worse when a person owns property in multiple US states or in different countries: probate (or a similar process) must be brought in each location. Revocable trusts enable US property holders to escape probate in the US entirely.

Probate is necessary for US property held in your individual name, such as a home, investment accounts and tangible personal property. But some assets don’t require probate to be transferred at death, such as a US home held with a spouse with right of survivorship; the house goes directly to the surviving spouse, bypassing the Will and probate. Similarly, a financial asset such as an IRA with a designated beneficiary goes directly to that beneficiary on death. Assets titled in this fashion bypass your Will and the required court proceeding; there is no need for a revocable trust. (However, if you are planning for illness or incapacity, you may want to retitle even these assets to a revocable trust. The trust organises your assets into one 14

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convenient ownership “package” and enables a co-trustee to act immediately should you become too ill to manage your financial affairs).

How A Revocable Trust Works

You are the trustee of your own trust. You simply name the trust as the owner of each of your assets. You access the assets the same way you did before. The co-trustee you appointed under the trust instrument steps in only if you become incapacitated or die. There is no need for probate. There is no tax impact in the US because you maintain the right to revoke or amend the trust and the trust is identified by your social security number.

A UK citizen with assets in or currently living in the US, or a US citizen living in the UK, needs to be aware of the difference in these approaches when preparing Wills and lifetime trusts to avoid an unexpected tax in one or both countries.

On death, the trust functions like a Will.

Your co-trustee functions like an executor: he/she manages the property in the trust, pays your bills, debts and taxes and finally

distributes the property to your beneficiaries according to the instructions in the trust. A revocable trust provides the same continuity of management after your death that it does after a disabling illness.

Property In Multiple Jurisdictions

Often people don’t realise that owning property in their name in different US states will require their executor to bring separate court proceedings (called “ancillary probate”) in each state where property is located. For example, if you own real estate in Florida, New York and Maine, your executor may have to bring separate court proceedings in each state to gain control of each piece of property. No one can access, transfer or sell the Maine property, for instance, until a Maine court issues the appropriate papers empowering someone to act in Maine. Similarly, if you own property in different countries, your executor will have to comply with each nation’s procedures to access property after your death.

Probate and ancillary probate procedures are time consuming and require attorney and court fees for each jurisdiction. You can skip this entirely if all your US property is held by a revocable trust. Then, there is no disruption in access, management and control. The trust significantly reduces the expense and time before the property is distributed to a beneficiary.

Problems With Setting Up Revocable Trusts In The UK

Problems arise when a person domiciled in the UK puts assets into a revocable trust.

Setting up a US revocable trust while still UK domiciled can expose you to an immediate charge to Inheritance Tax (at the rate of 20%) on the value of assets transferred over the current maximum threshold of £325,000 (no matter where the assets are located).

If a US citizen or resident, before moving to the UK, uses assets located outside of the UK to establish a revocable trust, the wording of the agreement should allow for a completed gift for UK tax purposes and an incomplete gift for US tax purposes. An attorney can advise how to fit your revocable

LEGAL ISSUES trust into both categories. With correct language, the trust will be considered an “excluded property trust” producing in the UK the desired result that the assets are excluded from UK Inheritance Tax even if the US person becomes domiciled in the UK. Therefore, it is vital for US and UK advisors to dovetail their estate planning advice to ensure their clients avoid the UK tax (or mitigate it as far as possible). In addition, if the US revocable trust is to determine how assets are distributed on death, an effective UK Will is needed to transfer to the trust any assets outside the trust at your death.

The Inheritance Tax consequence of this arrangement needs to be checked.

Domicile And Inheritance Taxation In UK Vs. US

People living in the UK should be aware of the distinction between “domicile,” “residence” and “citizenship.” For Inheritance Tax, the UK has chosen the concept of domicile to determine how to tax a person on death.

Domicile is where you call home; and under common law is determined by (i) residence in a country with (ii) the intention of remaining permanently. (You can also be deemed domiciled for Inheritance Tax purposes if, before your death, you have accumulated 15 years of residency in the UK out of the last 20). The US also uses the concept of domicile to determine estate taxes, but adds the additional classification of citizenship. “US citizens” have to pay US estate tax on their worldwide assets no matter where they are domiciled. A US citizen permanently domiciled in the UK or another country could therefore owe estate tax to both countries. (The US-UK estate tax treaty attempts to address this, but does not do so perfectly). In contrast, a UK citizen domiciled in another country is only responsible for paying UK Inheritance Tax on assets located within the UK.

Probate For UK Property Owners Domiciled In Other Countries

The UK has a procedure similar to US ancillary probate when an overseas Will is presented to transfer UK assets. In the UK, this is largely a paper procedure that doesn’t require physical attendance in court. However, the procedure can involve multiple steps such as preparing affidavits by lawyers qualified in the appropriate jurisdiction, translation of these documents, liaising with notaries overseas and with the UK’s tax authority (HM Revenue and Customs) to ensure Inheritance Tax attributable to UK assets has been paid. With these costly and time-consuming hurdles in mind, it is easy to see the benefits of a device such as a revocable trust to bypass them, WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

A US citizen permanently domiciled in the UK or another country could therefore owe estate tax to both countries. particularly for the immediate family tasked with administering the estate at a time of grief.

Problems When Spouses Have Different Domiciles

Married couples can avoid UK Inheritance Tax on the first death by leaving assets directly to a spouse as an outright gift or by using an “Immediate Post Death Interest Trust” (‘IPDI’) written in the Will itself. This device permits a 100% exemption from UK Inheritance Tax (provided assets are not passing from a UK domiciled spouse to a non-domiciled spouse). An English Will passing assets to a US revocable trust also requires review to ensure that the UK spouse exemption can be obtained. A co-operative approach between US and UK advisors will ensure the best outcome for your estate planning objectives.

A co-operative approach between US and UK advisors will ensure the best outcome for your estate planning objectives.

Conclusion

Revocable trusts and other estate planning devices offer valuable tools which provide efficiencies and savings for estates of international clients. In a global environment, it’s easier than ever to get tripped up by conflicting inheritance, tax and anti-money laundering laws of different countries. And these laws themselves

are constantly evolving. A knowledgeable adviser with international partners and resources is well positioned to protect your interests and keep you up to date on effective wealth planning strategies.

Article by Julie Jaggin, UK-based Senior Associate in Mundays Private Wealth team and Susan Rothwell, US-based Partner at Dunnington Bartholow & Miller LLP. Julie is a Senior Associate in Mundays’ longestablished Private Wealth department and specialises in trusts, probate, Wills, capital tax-planning, domicile, international Julie Jaggin succession, Court of Protection and elderly client work.

As a full professional member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and full accredited member of Solicitors for the Elderly, Julie aims to deliver comprehensive, clear and practical advice to a wide range of overseas and UK based clients.

Email: Julie.Jaggin@mundays.co.uk Susan Rothwell is a member of DBM’s estates, trusts and private clients practice area, as well as its charitable, not-for-profit and religious institutions practice area.

Susan Rothwell She advises clients on estate and tax planning for wealth preservation and prepares wills, trusts and other vehicles to achieve client goals. She assists clients with strategies to protect assets, minimise taxes and transfer wealth to future generations. For clients who wish to make charitable donations, she advises on strategies that benefit the charity while maximising tax benefits to the donor.

To avoid the financial and emotional costs of litigation, Ms. Rothwell works closely with clients to manage conflict among family members. She also works with Executors and Trustees on tax, fiduciary and estate administration matters. She provides assistance to small business owners with estate and succession planning.

Email Susan: srothwell@dunnington.com.

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THEATRE A Review of ‘Apologia’ at Trafalgar Studios

by Lydia Parker Apologia by Alexi Kaye Campbell is receiving a revival only eight years after it premiered at the Bush Theatre, with a new version tailored for Stockard Channing. Although she is known for her film and television work, such as The West Wing and The Good Wife, she is also a seasoned stage actress with a slew of awards and Tony nominations. Her craft is on display here as she takes on the role of Kristin, a famous art historian who has just published her memoirs. The fact that she neglected to mention her two sons in the book is the centre of the storm that brews throughout the play.

As the play opens, mid conversation, Kristin’s son Peter has just arrived to celebrate her birthday with his girlfriend, Trudi, an American physiotherapist. Kristin declares the stove and oven are not working and she hadn’t realised Trudi was vegetarian, so she’ll have to throw together a salad of some sort. Trudi is desperate for Kristin to like her and presents her with an African tribal mask from Liberia that she picked out especially for her birthday because she thought it was so beautiful. Kristin’s stunned reaction is hilarious yet she has hurt Trudi’s feelings which angers Peter. He evidently has pent up fury which he has been trying to contain in the presence of Trudi. It is not only his mother’s barbed comments: “All those nice English

girls and you show up with an American. It’s a little Oedipal“, but the omission of Peter and his brother Simon from her memoir that has him so infuriated. He is also worried about Simon who is having mental health issues and disappears for days at a time, sleeping rough.

Peter is clearly a disappointment to Kristin: a successful banker who travels the world and met his girlfriend at a prayer meeting, he could not be more different in personality from his radical, left-wing intellectual mother. She is also disappointed by his choice of partner; Trudi seems ridiculously dim when she admires “that beautiful picture of the old man over the toilet” who turns out to be Karl Marx.

Not particularly troubled by this, Trudi states “I’ve never met a communist before, especially an American. I thought they were all dead”.

We then meet Claire, the soap actress partner to younger brother Simon. She was supposed to bring him over to the party but seems not at all bothered that he isn’t there.

Claire continually defends her soap as a well-written serial drama, despite Kristin’s insistence that it is tripe. As she is a wearing a designer dress worth thousands of pounds, Claire obviously does not miss her days doing low paid theatre work. The dinner party of takeaway Chinese food continues without Simon but with the delightful presence of Hugh,

Kristin’s old friend and fellow former activist.

He gives her the one birthday present she loves, a framed photo of them in their old protest days.

Simon does eventually turn up, once everyone has gone to bed. He has fallen onto a broken bottle and Kristin picks glass out of his hand as he relates a horrifying story of being left alone in a train station in Padua because Kristin never came to pick him up. She blames her ex-husband but listens, wracked with guilt.

Both brothers cannot forgive their mother for not fighting for custody after they were taken away by their father when they were young; it has devastated Simon’s life and permanently scarred Peter’s.

Kristin is a fascinating character; she is not only the smartest person in the room, she is also the most powerful; her withering looks are enough to make anyone quake in their boots.

However, she is also witty, charming and charismatic. Her sons blame her for not being a good mother, yet she has had an exciting life with plenty of lovers, travelled extensively and devoted herself to art which is her real passion, as seen in the long monologue where she explains the genius of Giotto to an awestruck Trudi. She may be described as monstrous by Peter because she is not the typical mother, but it begs the question would she be treated differently if she were a man? She makes it APOLOGIA: Freema Agyeman, Laura Carmichael, Joeseph Millson, Stockard Channing.

Image credit – Marc Brenner.

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THEATRE clear that she chose a career in art history rather than stay in an unhappy marriage or struggle as a single mother. She does not suffer fools gladly but is she wrong to dislike the self-involved, vain Claire who is cheating on Simon? Kristin’s relationship to Trudi is more complex as she realises she judged this good-hearted innocent a bit harshly.

The dialogue is refreshingly fastpaced, clever and original, producing many laughs in the first act.

The dialogue is refreshingly fast–paced, clever and original, producing many laughs in the first act. Although the “dinner party goes wrong” premise has been used extensively in theatre, it doesn’t feel hackneyed, but is actually reminiscent of the best Alan Ayckbourn plays.

The prolific director Jamie Lloyd happily shows a certain restraint here, focusing on the dynamics between the characters rather than

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showy staginess. He leaves the story and the actors to speak for themselves.

Laura Carmichael, best known as Lady Edith in Downton Abbey, gives a career changing performance as Trudi. She completely transforms herself into the ever optimistic, eager to please American with a voice that can just so slightly get on your nerves. Joseph Millison is excellent as both Peter and Simon, believable in two very different roles. His Peter is imbued with the same haughtiness as his mother in contrast to the fragile Simon. Freema Agyeman seems slightly miscast as Claire; she captures the vacuity of a materialistic soap star but not the intelligence of an actress who supposedly gave a great performance as Nora in A Doll’s House. I found her character confusing and didn’t know whether it was the writing or the performance. Desmond Barritt gets all the best lines as Kristin’s gay best friend Hugh, continually trying to smooth over arguments and keep the birthday girl happy.

Stockard Channing is stunning as Kristin, a role that seems written for her. She manages to convey so much in just a look but also delivers each line as though she’d just thought it up. It is gratifying to see such skill on stage from an American actress who is known here as Rizzo from Grease. If it draws in the crowds to see her, they will not be disappointed. Her performance, along with that of Miss Carmichael, makes this a production that is not to be missed.

For tickets visit www.atgtickets.com/shows/ apologia/trafalgar-studios

APOLOGIA: Stockard Channing.

Image credit – Marc Brenner.

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TAKE FIVE

TAKE FIVE London: Top of the Tours

by Judith Schrut It’s often said that London is made for walking and wandering, a city of small streets and hidden courtyards, twists and turns, secret passages leading to unexpected views and moments of wonder. This fact is particularly appreciated by those who, like the author, grew up in the unwalkable urban sprawl of cities such as Los Angeles.

Whether you’ve arrived here for the first time or have called this town home for many years, we think autumn is the perfect season for a London wander, and slow is the best way to do it. Join us as we explore some of the capital’s most tantalising tours.

1. Eat And Feet

London’s foodies won’t hesitate to tell you their city is the eating and drinking capital of the world. Why not check this out for yourself with a guided tasting tour? And if you’re also looking for fresh air, gentle exercise, a sprinkle of sightseeing and a full-on, fivesenses introduction to Londoners’ London, the Eating London East End Food Tour will seem like heaven to you.

Eating London is part of Eating Europe Tours, brainchild of American expat Kenny Dunn. He had moved to Rome and decided to launch culinary walking tours to share his favourite food places and real neighbourhoods with visitors. His company now runs successful food tours in Rome, Florence, Prague, Amsterdam and London. Other London tours are Twilight Soho Food and Cocktails, Old Docks Historic Pubs and Classic Grub and Brick Lane, Flavours of India and Beyond.

Each aims to introduce you to places you might not visit on your own, neighbourhoods and side streets you might otherwise miss and foods you might not otherwise try.

The East End tour is a unique chance to sample eight different eateries in East End hot spots from Spitalfields to Shoreditch, each serving great British food of a particular kind. You’ll also view historic houses, famous lanes, pop-up shops, mosques that were once synagogues, a former brewery now an arts and Bethany can’t resist a Brick Lane Salt Beef Beigel (Corned Beef Bagel Sandwich to you and me), photo by Judith Schrut

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Californians Carole & Michael sample Poppies famous fish & chips & mushy peas, photo by Judith Schrut

fashion hub and once-derelict walls now covered in extraordinary street art. The tour suits all ages and walk-abilities but be forewarned: come with an empty stomach, comfortable shoes and an adjustable waistband.

Yes, it’s a four-hour walking and eating tour, but the pace is sensible and relaxing, allowing plenty of photo opportunities and time to stroll, taste, digest and learn fascinating facts and back stories about this most diverse part of town. For centuries, the East End has been home to waves of refugees and immigrants, including French Huguenots, East European Jews and Asian Bangladeshis, all of whom left vibrant marks on the local architecture, atmosphere and edibles.

Led by expert guide Bethany, our first stop is St John Bread & Wine for an introduction to its award-winning bacon sandwich. This is no ordinary ‘bacon sarnie’, but the delicately cured, sliced and unsmoked backside of rare breed pig served on the restaurant’s grilled and buttered sourdough with a side of homemade ketchup. Or, as St John’s founder and chef Fergus Henderson proclaims, “the bacon sandwich of your nocturnal fantasies”.

Henderson is renowned for his ‘nose to tail’ style cooking and that’s reflected in St John’s menu of revitalised meat classics plus some rather scary-sounding items like blood cake, deep fried lamb brains, ox heart and crispy pig’s cheeks.

Next on our mobile menu is the atmospheric English Restaurant. Warmly wood-panelled, with furniture upcycled from historic local buildings, this is the place to try updated versions of traditional dishes such as devilled whitebait, pan haggerty or steak and onion pudding, as well as real ales and country wines aged in the restaurant’s cellars.

We were thrilled with our exquisite miniatures of the restaurant’s superstar bread and butter pudding, made with rich brioche and smothered in fresh, hot custard.

Proceeding to deliciously stinky Androuet’s Cheese Shop, we sample mature cheddar and Blue Stilton, which the charming French cheesemonger tells us are but two of 700 different British cheeses. As we leave, fellow food tourist Carole expresses regret that “you can’t put the smells of this tour in your article”.

Then it’s across the street to Poppies and a joyous taste of the nation’s favourite, fish and chips, wrapped in edible inked newspaper.

Owner Pat ‘Pops’ Newlands survived The Blitz, served at Dunkirk and met the Kray twins, although for the past 60 years he’s more likely to be found dipping the deep fryer or arranging vintage memorabilia at this regular finalist in the National Fish and Chip awards.

This is followed by a liquid stop for cider and ale at a traditional pub, famed for an inflationbusting £4 lunch menu and Lenny the Pub Cat; a triad of fragrant curries at one of 50+ curry restaurants on Brick Lane; samples of freshly baked East End style ‘beigels’ and salt beef; and finally, loosening our belts one last notch, we make room for a divine slice of salted caramel chocolate tart and a cup of tea at Shoreditch’s trendy Pizza East.

As we bid Bethany goodbye, with some of us needing a little help to rise and roll out the door, Californians Carole and Michael spoke for all: “We’ve been to London many times before but have never seen any of the places on this route. The pacing was excellent, and we were able to taste many different flavours and take time to savour each”.

Further information: www.eatinglondontours.co.uk WWW.AMERICANINBRITAIN.CO.UK

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Lively, lovely Leadenhall Market, Tally Ho Cycling Tours, photo

by Geoffrey Davies

Whiskey Mick, guide extraordinaire for Tally Ho Cycling Tours, photo

by Geoffrey Davies

2. Pedal Power

Tally Ho Cycle Tours offer a unique way to explore London’s timeworn streets and to celebrate Britishness in a fun and quirky style.

Riding a hand-built classic Pashley bicycle, a bike style you’ll recognise if you’re a fan of BBC’s Call the Midwife (think wicker baskets, comfy leather saddles and ‘ding dong’ bells), you’ll follow an energetic local guide along quiet streets and dedicated cycle lanes to see the city and get up front and personal with both iconic sights and hidden gems. As you connect the dots between each fascinating location, your guide will regale you with delightful facts and curious tales, as well as ensure you get the best photo opportunities.

There’s even a stop along the way at a characterful pub for a refreshing pint of real ale with your group.

Tally Ho’s founder Jack Harris confesses it was a “mix of madness and desperation” which led him to set up the company in 2011.

The desire to be his own boss and move away from office-bound jobs meshed perfectly with London’s cycling revolution and two of Jack’s favourite passions, exploring by bike and visiting old pubs. “I realised there were probably many people who, like me, enjoy a good day out full of discovery topped off with a chat over a craft beer or two,” he told us.

So, Jack invested in a few vintage bicycles and started leading tours. Six years and hundreds of glowing Trip Advisor reviews later, Jack’s Tally Ho has a fleet of over 60 gorgeous Pashleys and a devoted team of guides who share his passions.

Three tour styles are available, with something for all ages or cycling abilities. The London Landmarks and Old City tours will immerse you in the capital’s grit, grime and glory while the Gin and Markets Ride lets you discover London through the story of gin from the 18th century to the present day and sample open air food markets full of tasty delights.

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The Landmarks Tour is ideal if you are new to London and is also most suitable for families since it covers the shortest distance. You’ll take in famous landmarks like Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and Big Ben, stop off at an award-winning pub and visit a legal graffiti zone with a chance to have a go yourself, spray paint supplied.

We loved every minute of our Old City Tour, led by the gloriously moustachioed ‘Whiskey Mick’ and his able accomplice, Harry. This tour is perfect for those wanting to look deeper into London’s diverse history and experience the hustle and bustle of the city with its contrasting architecture, cultures and time lines. It’s an invigorating trip through 12 miles and 2000 years of London’s past and present, illustrated with loads of Mick-style weird and wonderful facts and memorable stories. Did you know Waterloo Bridge is also known as the Ladies Bridge, entirely built by women during World War II? That the inside-out design of Lloyds of London is an example of ‘bowellist’ architecture? And although there are plenty of streets, squares and alleys in the City of London, there are no roads? Mick even gave Pause for a pint at London’s oldest riverside pub, photo

by Geoffrey Davies

us a lesson in Cockney Rhyming Slang as we paused beneath the bells of Bow Church and alongside a statue of colonial founding father, Captain John Smith, who is buried nearby.

We pedalled cycle lanes, canals, docklands and Victorian back streets, zipped along cycle ‘Superhighways’ and wheeled our way between ultramodern skyscrapers, with nicknames like the Gherkin, the Cheesegrater, the Scalpel and the Walkie Talkie. We viewed chunks of Roman wall, atmospheric Leadenhall Market, 11th century churches, Cable Street’s antifascist mural, the Queen’s boat, Gloriana at St Katherine’s Dock and plenty of other sights that the natives on our tour had never seen, stopping at the city’s oldest riverside pub for a pint and a peep at the hangman’s noose out back, where smugglers and pirates met their grizzly end.

Tally Ho’s tours start and end at The Walrus Pub, SE1 and cost from £25 including bike hire. Private tours can also be arranged on request. Unforgettable and highly recommended.

Further information: www.tallyhocycletours.com

TAKE FIVE

3. Wild About Harry

London has long been a top location for filming movies, TV, fashion and advertising, so you won’t be surprise to learn that tours with a media theme are a hugely popular choice.

In fact, there’s a tour for every shade of film fan, from Sherlock Holmes, Call the Midwife and Doctor Who location strolls to James Bond, Alfred Hitchcock and Gangster Movie jaunts. Outside London, you’ll find luxury guided trips to Poldark’s Cornwall, Downton Abbey Country and Inspector Morse and Lewis’ Oxford.

We were invited to join current Trip Advisor favourite, the Harry Potter Tour for Muggles.

The Muggles Tour is ideal for Potter movie and book devotees of any age, the proudly selftitled ‘Potterheads’. If that’s you, you’re sure to find loads to see and much to love on this 2½ hour ramble, filled with fascinating facts and Harry, Ron and Hermione legends as you ‘potter’ the magical underbelly of London at a comfortable pace. Included is a short ride on the London Underground although not, we’re sad to say, on a Knight Bus or a Gringotts Wizarding Bank mine car.

Adoring fans will cherish viewing the site of the Leaky Cauldron (Borough Market), alleyways which inspired magical Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley (off Charing Cross Road), bridges under which characters flew on broomsticks (Blackfriars, Southwark)

or the Death Eaters attacked (Millennium Bridge), and the spot where Mr Weasley struggled with his Oystercard (Westminster Underground Station). This tour is also a great way to see some of London’s most famous landmarks with Potter connections such as Big Ben, 10 Downing Street and many more.

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour in the company of charming, knowledgeable and vividly-dressed guide Ellie Lovegood, (cousin of Luna) and an international group of Muggles which included Americans Matthew from Washington DC, teen Chloe and Grandma Carmella from Southern California and Allyson, Scott and son Zach from Oregon.

All Tour for Muggles’ guides are genuine fans. When not wizarding, serious Potterhead Ellie is a budding actress and playwright, who confessed she got the guiding job by writing a long ‘nerdy’ letter effusing why she wanted it.

Dedicated followers longing for more will want to progress without delay to the Warner Brothers Studio Tour just north of London, with behind-the-scenes tours of movie sets, costumes and props from the seven films. For the ultimate treat, £99 will get you a place on the Studio’s Breakfast at Hogwarts, a deluxe dining reception complete with Cheeri-owls, Pixie Puffs, a visit to original sets like the Great Hall, the Forbidden Forest and Diagon Alley and a complimentary sample of Butterbeer.

Further information: www.tourformuggles.com

Wands at the Ready! Diagon Alley, Harry Potter Tour for Muggles, photo by Geoffrey Davies A visit to the Ministry of Magic, Harry Potter Tour for Muggles, photo by Geoffrey Davies

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London Blue Badge Erica Moss, photo by Judith Schrut

4. Private Passions

Blue Badge Guide and native Londoner Erica Moss has been leading bespoke tours for a mainly American clientele for nearly four years. Following a first career in journalism, Erica decided to undergo the rigorous training required to gain the London Blue Badge, considered the Gold Standard of tour guiding.

Since qualifying, Erica has created a repertoire of over 40 different tours. Each tour she gives is then refined for a particular client’s wishes and desires, with the aim of making it fun and interesting in a way they will always remember. One day she might be guiding three generations of the same family through medieval London, the Jewish East End or British rock and pop history, the next she could be leading a honeymooning couple on a chauffeur-driven foray to Windsor Castle, Oxford or Stonehenge.

As Erica tells us, “I think of myself as the London Genie: the client rubs the lamp and I am the genie that comes out of the bottle.

I especially love it when clients share their own knowledge and experience or come up with new and interesting questions during a tour.” She considers it a genuine pleasure to spend time with Americans and share with them because “their openness and directness makes me more direct and open myself”.

What might clients expect on one of her tours? “Lots of walking, fun, views and sights that are not obvious-- off the beaten track stuff.

I like to aim for the ‘Oh Wow’ factor. Why does she do it? “I really love sharing. London is a world city and my city; it’s brilliant and I like showing it off. It’s always personal. While a client is with me I’m their new best friend and I’m going to look after them”.

Current fees for a Blue Badge Guide start at around £158 per half day and £255 per full day.

Further information: www.britainsbestguides.org/guides/erica-moss WWW.AMERICANINBRITAIN.CO.UK

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5. Browsing On A Budget

Few would deny that a privately guided, chauffeur-driven tour of the town is a splendid way to go, but don’t worry if your budget doesn’t stretch quite that far. You’ll be delighted to hear there are plenty of great tour options at the free or cheap end of the spectrum.

City Guides host dozens of free or inexpensive walks around London’s historic areas. All start from the City Information Centre near St Paul’s Cathedral. Popular ones include Charles Dickens Walks, London’s Burning, Roman London and Monuments to Murder.

City Garden Walks lead low cost, environmentally-friendly tours of colourful gardens, ancient burial grounds, secret green spots and other downtown horticultural delights, while Walk London run free guided weekends thrice a year. Look out for their Autumn Ambles in late September and Winter Wanders in early 2018.

Footprints of London specialise in cultureconnected walks; upcoming choices include Rumpole and the Legal Life, Constable’s Hampstead, Soho and all that Jazz and Tracing the Tudors: the Real London of Wolf Hall. Throughout October the company runs an innovative Literary Footprints Festival.

London’s top museums offer free gallery tours and self-guiding trails along with free entry. Highly recommended are daily tours at the award-winning Victoria & Albert Museum, opening your eyes to some of the treasures on display at this, the world’s greatest museum of art and design. Choose from a dazzling variety covering Theatre & Performance, Medieval & Renaissance, LGBTQ, African Heritage or Britain 15001900. Many old churches run inexpensive, fascinating crypt-to-belfry tours. Try the one at lovely St Brides, with its many royal, literary and longstanding US connections like Benjamin Franklin and North Carolina’s first colonists.

The East End Street and Graffiti Tour is one of the most popular daily tours offered

by Free Walks by Foot. Led by a local street artist, it’s packed with visits to some of the capital’s most eclectic, shocking, beautiful and imaginative street art, from massive murals that take up entire buildings to tiny hidden treasures you’d miss if you didn’t have someone to tell you where to look. The tour is bookable and free to take, with an unpressured “pay what you think it’s worth” collection at journey’s end.

Last but not least, for the mere price of a single bus ticket you can enjoy a bird’s eye view of the best of London atop an iconic red double decker bus. We recommend Heritage

Route 15 for a whistlestop tour of the city’s most famous sights including Trafalgar Square, the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Royal Courts of Justice.

Further information: www.freetoursbyfoot.com www.cityoflondonguides.com www.citygardenwalks.com www.vam.ac.uk/info/tours Take Five is our quarterly feature bringing the best of British to Americans in Britain.

Have you tried an unmissable tour you’d recommend to our readers? Email Judith at judith0777@gmail.com.

Dan Vo leading the unique LGBTQ tour, Victoria & Albert Museum, photo courtesy Dan Vo and the V&A

A colourful stop on the Graffiti & Street Art tour, photo by Emily Arlen

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HOTEL REVIEW The Andersen Hotel, Copenhagen

Andersen Hotel

Vunderful, vunderful Copenhagen is reached in less than two hours from London airports and is Denmark’s capital city.

Famed for The Little Mermaid statue (which is really quite small in real life!), and for the author Hans Christian Anderson, this city has everything. Canals, shopping, open bus tours, a beach that is a few miles out of the city centre, galleries galore and the famous Tivoli Gardens, that houses restaurants, fairground rides, a lake and entertainment from ballet to jazz and swing, throughout the day.

We were invited to stay at the conveniently located Andersen Hotel, literally a two minute walk from Central Station, and just over 5 minutes from Tivoli.

This modern boutique hotel is a home from home. Our welcome was second to none as were greeted by a very charming receptionist who informed us that we had just missed the complimentary happy hour, where guests are invited to join fellow residents for a glass or two of wine on the house, and although we’d missed the six o’clock curfew, we were invited to partake in a glass of wine anyway!

We were then given the key to our room, which was a light and spacious room with beautiful turquoise and lime coloured curtains, a settee, three double windows that looked out onto the fairly quiet street, and a large super kingsize bed.

What sets this hotel apart from others, is its little quirks. There is a basket of knitting, and guests are encouraged to spend a while helping knit scarves which are going to be handed to the homeless in the area. There is an honesty bar in reception, as the hotel

doesn’t have a bar and restaurant as such, but there is an area that is amply set up for the buffet breakfast each morning. Happy hour takes place in the lobby every day from 5pm – 6pm, where guests sit side by side and mingle to discuss their travel plans, where they are from, and tell their tales. The atmosphere during this hour is welcoming and quite buzzy, especially if everyone starts drinking at 5pm!

There is a small courtyard with outdoor seating, and bicycles that guests can hire for the day, and does seem to be the preferred method of travel for the Danish around the city centre.

Breakfast is served from 7am – 10am every day, and includes yoghurts cereals, breads, pastries, cold meats and fish, eggs, fruit salad, fruit juices and tea and coffee.

The en suite bathroom had a bath as well as a shower, and Molton Brown toiletries.

The Andersen Hotel is perfectly located to visit all that Copenhagen has to offer and on our first day we walked to Nyhavn which took about half an hour from the hotel, and is a must for visitors to Copenhagen. Nyhavn is a 17th-century waterfront, canal and entertainment district stretching to the Royal Playhouse and is lined by brightly coloured houses of which Hans Christian Anderson lived in three houses on this street. The weather was glorious and we spend a lovely time having a cold Carlsberg (the beer is brewed here) and something to eat watching the world go by. You can also take canal trips from here that will take you up to The Little Mermaid and takes about an hour.

There are many squares and restaurants with outdoor dining and drinking facilities, Andersen Hotel

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HOTEL REVIEW

Andersen Hotel

lots with blankets and outdoor heaters, as the temperature in Denmark can often be a few degrees lower than that of the UK. We were also kindly invited to review one of the most superb restaurants we have dined in – Mielcke & Hurtigkarl, situated at the end of a beautiful, wide, tree lined street slightly north of the hotel. The service was first class, and our 15 course dinner did not disappoint.

In fact it was so good it is being mentioned twice in this issue, here and in our Eating Out section! Serious gourmet lovers will not be disappointed, and in our opinion this restaurant should have at least one, if not two Michelin stars. The flavours, colours and presentation of every course was incredible, and the setting is beautiful. Set in one of Copenhagen’s royal

Andersen Hotel

gardens, the restaurant aims to bring the garden to your plate, and does exactly that. In fact, we would even recommend flying over to Copenhagen for the night, just to enjoy the same dining experience that we did. You may have already read the full review on page 3, but if not we recommend that you do!

Several airlines fly to Copenhagen from the UK, although Easyjet is notorious for its flights to this destination being delayed, and they did not disappoint us, as our return flight was delayed by over three hours!!

For further information please visit: The Andersen Hotel www.andersenhotel.dk Mielcke & Hurtigkarl - www.mhcph.com

Mielcke & Hurtigkarl

Mielcke & Hurtigkarl

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DENTISTRY Seven Secrets To Choosing The Right Dentist Choosing the right dentist is the first step to achieving the dental health and confidence that you desire, but it is important to know what to look for. Here are the top tips for selecting the right dentist for you:

1. Manoeuvre Around The Marketing

Before and after photographs of a dentist’s work – in addition to practice reviews from patients themselves - are often far more revealing than mere paid-for adverts. Whilst basic internet searches can yield plenty of information, the order in which that information is received on search engines and Google rankings often depends more on how much money a practice has invested in online marketing than on the quality of a dentist’s clinical results.

Choosing the right dentist is the first step to achieving the dental health and confidence that you desire, but it is important to know what to look for.

2. Say “No” To Specials

Specials, seasonal deals, ‘buy one get one free’ offers – these are more suited to the supermarket than to a dentist’s chair. When your health and appearance are concerned, a ‘special’ or discounted price unfortunately does not always mean better results.

3. Seek Out The Specialist

The phrase ‘Jack-of-all-trades, master of none” is especially important in the fields of dentistry and medicine. When a particular dentist devotes his days to performing selected categories of procedures, there is a greater likelihood that the safety and quality of the results will be significantly 26

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higher. Whether you are thinking about braces (an orthodontist), a root canal (an endodontist), care for your child (pediatric dentist), or aesthetic and implant dentistry (a prosthodontist) specialists focus on this particular form of dental care each and every working day, having completed an extra three to five years of specialty training in a university after dental school. Given that there are only a very small number of US trained dental specialists in London, it is important to find the dentist that will deliver the clinical and aesthetic results that you require. If your family dentist cares enough to refer you to a specialist, you are onto a winner with your general dental care.

4. Trust The Teachers

In addition to their standard work, some dentists are affiliated with universities, are well published, or lecture to their colleagues. The key is a good mix of teaching and practicing so as not to be left behind in new technology and procedures. And if the finest dental schools and experts in the world respect them enough to learn from them, it is a good sign that you will be receiving excellent care.

5. Focus On The ‘Feeling”

Cosmetic dentistry is both an objective science and a subjective art form, making it all the more crucial to select a practitioner about whom you have a positive gut feeling.

Choosing a dentist whom you trust, one whom you can be sure is willing to dedicate the time and expertise to achieve the results that you want. This willingness to give you his or her time can usually be seen in an initial consultation – if it is under an hour in length, or feels rushed, perhaps this is not the right dentist for you.

6. Local Laboratories

When your dentist works with a local laboratory technician, or ideally one that is in-house, you have the added assurance that the dentist and technician will be collaborating intimately to give you the very best clinical and aesthetic journey in your smile makeover. It also means that corrections can be made on-site instead of you being sent home with temporary crowns again and again while your case is mailed to a distant laboratory.

When your health and appearance are concerned, a ‘special’ or discounted price unfortunately does not always mean better results.

7. Counting The Cost

While it makes absolute sense to be prudent with the cost of dental treatment, by using a well-regarded dentist, you should expect the cost to be dependent upon the level of expertise of the dentist, and the charges of the laboratory technician. A more custom technician, who spends longer on fewer cases, may have a higher price, but it will show in the results. In any field, work that is done on the cheap is often easy to see, and nowhere is this more true than with your smile. Moreover, dental work that cuts corners is much harder to repair than work performed with care, attention, and expertise.

Article by Dr Sam Sherif BDS DMedSc, Harvard University.

Sam is a Specialist Prosthodontist who qualified from Harvard University and practised in Beverly Hills 90210 and is Licenced in New York. He accepts new patients for cosmetic and family dentistry.

Veritas Dental Care, 40 Harley Street, London W1G 9PP Call: 0207 580 5954 Visit www.veritasdentalcare.com

American Thanksgiving Service

Hosted by London Episcopal Chaplaincy Essex Church, 112 Palace Gardens Terrace, Kensington, London W8 4RT Sunday, November 19 at 5pm – 6.30pm, 2017 Come Celebrate American Thanksgiving using the US Book of Common Prayer (1979) and featuring traditional hymns.

All are welcome!

Please note that this is not affiliated with the US Embassy.

Please see further information on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/LondonEpiscopal LondonEpiscopal About London Episcopal Chaplaincy Episcopal Ministry to all but especially Americans using 1979 Book of Common Prayer. An outreach of the Progressive Episcopal Church of America.

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WIGMORE HALL

From the world’s greatest classical musicians to young artists making their debut, Wigmore Hall’s 2017/18 Season promises to be accessible to more people than ever before.

Situated in the heart of Marylebone, London’s Wigmore Hall is a unique venue to experience exceptional performances, set apart from other concert venues by the clarity of the acoustic in the iconic and intimate auditorium. Nowhere else in London can you get as up close and personal to the performers and musicians. If it is your first time visiting, or your five-hundredth time, the 2017/18 Season is packed with something for every musical taste.

In announcing Wigmore Hall’s 2017/18 Season John Gilhooly, Director of Wigmore Hall, who is responsible for all areas of the Hall’s programming, commented: “Our partnerships with artists have never been stronger. Musicians love the atmosphere in the Hall, they love the intimacy, they love being able to communicate with everyone in the audience.

This is reflected in the number of projects they are prepared to take on specifically for Wigmore Hall. Everyone at Wigmore Hall is deeply grateful to our many supporters who enable us to present such a rich, diverse and adventurous programme and for making all artists feel like they’re returning home”.

Wigmore Hall has a strong history of supporting and profiling American classical artists. In past seasons the likes of mezzoWWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

soprano Susan Graham and the Chamber Music Society of the Lincoln Centre have taken to the Wigmore stage. 2017/18 Season will be no different as the Hall is pleased to welcome some of the greatest American performers in the industry.

Joyce DiDonato, the acclaimed mezzosoprano, will be performing a programme of Strauss and Debussy at Wigmore Hall this autumn, alongside the Brentano String Quartet.

DiDonato will also be performing a piece written specifically for her by the American composer Jake Heggie that responds to the creative genius and tragic end of Rodin’s muse and lover Camille Claudel. DiDonato’s artistry and consummate professionalism promises to enthral the audience, and she will be sharing her experience and wisdom in a Masterclass a few days earlier.

Violinist Joshua Bell stands among today’s great performers. He is renowned for impassioned music making and will be in London this season with the musicians of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Bell and the ASMF are uniting further in a performance at Wigmore Hall that will show the clarity and beauty of works by Bach and Tchaikovsky.

Wigmore Hall welcomes the best of all instrumental performances and have a strong Jazz programme. For the last season, Jazz pianist, bandleader and composer Vijay Iyer has held a residency at the Hall. In the final concert of his series, Vijay is expanding his

WIGMORE HALL

classic Trio with three great horn players to build the Vijay Iyer Sextet, for a concert not to miss. The extraordinary Dianne Reeves takes to the stage in March when she will be performing works from her GRAMMY Awardwinning albums.

Whatever your interest or experience of chamber music, there is something for every taste at Wigmore Hall.

Support Wigmore Hall

American Friends of Wigmore Hall was set up to strengthen classical music ties between the UK and the US. Funded by its membership, the organisation supports American artists and projects on both sides of the Atlantic, with a preference for those where there is a connection with Wigmore Hall.

If you would like to support chamber music and song and international musical partnerships, please consider making a donation to American Friends of Wigmore Hall.

American Friends of Wigmore Hall is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organisation (TIN 30-0125674). Donations to it are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

For more information please contact: Marie-Hélène Osterweil President of American Friends of Wigmore Hall americanfriends@wigmore-hall.org.uk or call +44 (0)20 7258 8220 WWW.AMERICANINBRITAIN.CO.UK

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DAYS OUT WITH THE FAMILY If you have younger children, who are energetic and fearless, then Go Ape’s Tree Top Junior Adventure is just the afternoon out you could be looking for!

There are several locations throughout the UK, but we took my nine and eleven year old Godson’s, with their 8 year old sister to the Chessington Go Ape, and a great time was had by all three children and my husband.

Unfortunately for me, my fears got to me once I started to walk across the rope ladder that was suspended several metres above the ground, and as I had decided to go first, this meant all five of us reversing so that I could be unstrapped and set free to enjoy watching their excitement and fearlessness as they tackled the course above me!

There are two courses in the Junior Tree Top Adventure, the first being slightly easier, and the second one a bit longer and a bit more tricky! However, all four of them absolutely nailed it, and thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the zip wire at the end of each course, which I was allowed to climb up to so that I too could do it, but typically whereas the kids landed facing forward, just as I got to the bottom I ended up bumping along on my backside,

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much to everyone else’s amusement!

Safety at Go Ape is paramount, and you will be shown how to use the safety equipment you

For children who are energetic and fearless, then Go Ape’s Tree Top Junior Adventure is just the afternoon out you could be looking for!

various platforms across the course that you get to before you start the next section of the course.

There are simple wood platforms to walk across, a climbing wall that you edge your way across, swinging noughts and crosses, as well as single planks of wood that you negotiate by holding on to swinging ropes.

You can do each of the courses as many times as you like within a reasonable time period, so you can channel your inner ‘Tarzan’ or ‘Jane’!

There is a minimum height of 1m, although there is no minimum age, but adults must accompany under 6’s (you can take two children of this age or under per adult), and the course is generally aimed at children aged 6-12 years old, and costs £18 per person.

For those with older children, or a desire to go with friends, then there is the Adult Tree Top Adventure, that I have actually done twice, and is also good fun and shows who out of your friends and family are more team orientated than others!!

are attached to, and they are very strict that only two people can be on one stage at any time, and a maximum of three people can be on the

For further information on the activities that Go Ape offer, and their locations throughout the UK, please visits www.goape.co.uk

DAYS OUT WITH THE FAMILY

Go Ape

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AMERICAN WOMEN’S CLUBS NEWS Hampstead Women’s Club

The Hampstead Women’s Club (HWC) is a multinational, social organisation for women living in the London area. Our purpose is to provide a sense of community through social, educational and charitable activities.

The HWC offers many activities to its members, from Arts & Antiques to Theatre, Hiking, Book Club, Speakers Series, Creative Writing, Wellness, Dining Out, Charity Volunteering and much more.

Recent Highlights A great time was had by all at our first annual ‘Spring Fling’ in May. The rain didn’t dampen our spirits as we took over the Stag Pub in Belsize Park for a lovely evening to celebrate our club. Friends and partners joined us for nibbles and drinks and we also raised funds for our chosen charity Age UK and Henderson Court. Also in May, we had a great turnout for a foodies and bar themed walk through Soho with a Blue Badge Guide. We now know where all the cool hidden bars are! Lastly, we launched a new interest group called Made by Mums, where one of our talented members led us in Arts

a crafting/upcycling event. We made jewellery and handbags out of old t-shirts! Look out Etsy!

June highlights included a private tour of the Zabludowicz Collection where we were treated to the art of Bea Bonfini and an interesting photography exhibit. We also launched another interest group called Wellness, which will focus on having monthly speakers and activities all supported around the idea of keeping a sound body and mind. We kicked it off with an event with 3 speakers about different wellness topics: Midlife Diet, Pilates and Meditation. Our hikers also had a great June hike from Sunningdale to Windsor - taking in Virginia Water, Valley Gardens and the (very) Long Walk to Windsor Castle.

Upcoming Events In addition to our ongoing regularly scheduled activities like our creative writing group, golf, book club, tennis, running, heath walking, hiking and yoga, here are a few fun events lined up for Oct-Dec: • Kids Halloween Trick or Treat Parade and Cinema showing • Lunch at the Peers Dining Room in the Houses of Parliament 32

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• Haunted Pub Tour of Highgate and Hampstead • Art outings to Fahrelnissa Zeid and Cézanne’s Portraits • Our annual Christmas Lunch The calendar is still getting filled up so these are just a few of the MANY activities we will have this Fall.

If you’re interested in finding out more about our club, join us for one of our monthly Link-Up events, which allows you to come and meet some members and get questions answered. We’ve got one on Thursday, 12th October at 7:30pm and another one on Wednesday, 8th November at 9:30am.

Contact Sumi at linkup@hwcinlondon. co.uk for locations and more details.

To find out more about the HWC in general, visit our website: hwcinlondon.co.uk or find us on Facebook and Twitter.

AWBS International Women’s Club

Our club is looking forward to starting our 36th year in operation!!! Last year we had a very successful transition in moving our monthly

AMERICAN WOMEN’S CLUBS NEWS meetings to exciting new venues like Wentworth Golf Club and Pinewood Studios and continuing with our wonderful roster of speakers such as Princess Michael of Kent, Eddie the Eagle and Sujo John of You Can Free Us. We are an international club of over two hundred members who have moved to the UK, some for their first overseas assignment, others for their umpteenth; some have settled in, others are on short assignments.

Additionally, we have many English members, often who have been expats themselves and feel an affiliation with an international group.

This year we are moving to a new venue again, to Great Fosters Country House Hotel, a Grade One listed building set amongst 50 acres of stunning gardens and parkland in Egham, Surrey. We already have fantastic speakers lined up to educate, entertain and inform! Our varied programme of activities and social events are among the highlights of our coming year.

For further information about the club please go to our website: www.awbs.org.uk or by e-mail to info@awbs.org.uk.

North American Connection, West Midlands

We can’t believe it’s the Autumn already!

Whilst many of our members have been busy this summer either travelling home to the States or entertaining relatives and friends here in our adopted UK home, we still found time to squeeze in some fabulous NAC events for our members, including our very popular 4th July barbecue attended by 90 expats and friends.

Held on Sunday, 2nd July, the weather was kind to us and we had a fantastic afternoon complete with American style hamburgers, hot dogs, home made potato salads and coleslaw and a range of delicious cakes and pies. The kids were entertained with face painting and water balloon games. We also invited members from other American expat groups in the Midlands area and it was great having us all get together and also meeting new people.

We are now looking forward to our autumn events where we will be welcoming some of our new members who have arrived over the summer and are just about to begin their adventure in the UK! We have a lot of exciting activities planned including our very popular coffee mornings, lunches out, our evening and day time book clubs, cinema, theatre, pub nights and dinner outings. We also have our charity events and evenings where we combine having fun with quizzes, games and party themed nights whilst raising money for worthy causes. Also in November, our muchanticipated American Thanksgiving dinner is taking place at a lovely hotel near Solihull, Birmingham. Last year we had 80 expats and family members joining us for a delicious sit down lunch with the roast turkey and trimmings provided by the small private hotel, and our own members bringing side dishes and desserts to WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

share, made from favourite family recipes. We expect this year to be as popular and delicious as ever! If you haven’t found us yet, please do visit our website at www.naconnect.com. Our club is open to all women with a particular connection to North America or a specific interest in the club’s activities. We are here to provide friendship and support, as well as social, educational and philanthropic activities for our members be they new expats, or long-term/ permanent UK residents. We come from all areas of the Midlands but most members reside within an hour’s travel radius of Birmingham, including Solihull, Leamington Spa, Stafford, Derby, Worcester and Stratford-upon-Avon. A very warm welcome is always extended to new members! We are happy for you to come join us for a couple of events before deciding to become a member so please do get in touch via our website as we would love to meet you!

You can also look us up on facebook, (The North American Connection) and like our page!

FAWCO Club

2017-18 FAWCO Club Year The fall kicks off the upcoming club year for the 64 FAWCO clubs around the world. Clubs participate in many newcomer events in their local communities. This allows clubs to actively engage with recent arrivals to their cities, and to be a contributing member of their host community’s activities.

FAWCO Target Project Matching Grant The FAWCO Foundation’s Backing Women Campaign announces a $10,000 Matching Grant Program sponsored by The de Groot Foundation benefiting the FAWCO Target

Project – Hope Beyond Displacement.

Every dollar raised by FAWCO clubs through fundraising events between September 2017 and March 2018, up to $10,000, will be matched by the foundation until all $10,000 has been dispersed.

Hope Beyond Displacement offers educational opportunities, vocational training, and leadership training for hundreds of refugee women and girls living in Jordan.

Registration for UN CSW 62 In November registration opens to attend the annual meetings of the UN Commission on the Status of Women at UN Headquarters in New York. FAWCO sends annually a delegation of up to 20 people to participate.

For more information about FAWCO, or to find a local FAWCO Club in the UK, please visit our website at FAWCO.org.

About FAWCO Founded in 1931, FAWCO is a global women’s NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation), an international network of independent volunteer clubs and associations comprising 64 member clubs in 34 countries worldwide, with a total membership of around 12,000. FAWCO serves as a resource and a voice for its members; seeks to improve the lives of women and girls worldwide, especially in the areas of human rights, health, education and the environment; advocates for the rights of US citizens overseas; contributes to the global community through its Task Forces and The FAWCO Foundation, which provides development grants and education awards. Since 1997, FAWCO has held special con-sultative status to the UN Economic and Social Council.

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Fashion show at the Roof Gardens

Duchess of Rutland speaking to members at General Meeting

Jo Malone with President Catia Dal Poz

The Kensington and Chelsea Women’s Club (KCWC)

Are you new to London or interested in attending lectures and tours from leading experts, enjoying exclusive and exciting experiences, and meeting new friends? Then The Kensington and Chelsea Women’s Club (KCWC) is a great starting point.

As one of London’s longest established and largest women’s organisations, we have more than 800 British and international members from over 52 countries.

Each month KCWC holds a General Meeting with a high-profile guest speaker at a prime London location. Past speakers have included HRH Princess Michael of Kent, Anthony Geffen, Earl Spencer, Anton Du Beke, Alexandra Shulman and Jo Malone.

The meetings are a good way to meet other members, sign up for activities, enjoy listening to a keynote speaker and join fellow members for an optional lunch at a prestigious local restaurant afterwards. The General Meetings are also a great opportunity to know more about discounts and promotions offered by our preferred partners as they display their products and offers at our showcase tables. KCWC members benefit from special discounts on these showcase tables.

In addition to the General Meetings, KCWC also offers approximately 35 activities. These are organised by members who volunteer their time and skills by running a wide variety of weekly and monthly activities. Topics include history, culture, art, design, fashion, music, theatre, local tours, UK and international travel, special events, technology, sports, golf, tennis, languages, arts and crafts, food, dining, wine tasting, book and lecture groups, country walks, bridge, feng shui, and much more.

There are also a variety of evening and weekend activities which working women can enjoy. These include theatre, happy hour, dining out, jazz and music appreciation, evening speakers, and special events. For those interested in making a difference in the 34

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AMERICAN WOMEN’S CLUBS NEWS community, KCWC’s Volunteers for Charity group works with several local charitable organisations. There is so much on offer at KCWC and members get to discover London while making new friends at the same time.

Members enjoying a country walk during the summer

Recent Highlights After a year of unique and interesting General Meetings with extraordinary guest speakers – April with former Editor of British Vogue Alexandra Shulman, May with the inspirational and scent maverick Jo Malone and June with the fascinating Emma Manners, Duchess of Rutland to name a few – KCWC gets set for another exciting year of equally interesting General Meetings.

Every General Meeting is followed by an optional lunch for Members in a great London venue and the conviviality among the members has made these events more and more sought-after. None more so than the special June luncheon which closes off the KCWC year before summer holidays. This year KCWC had the wonderful opportunity of being able to host the annual luncheon at The Roof Gardens in Kensington with a fashion show with the Summer Look.

Last year, before their well-deserved summer break, the KCWC volunteer Activity Leaders worked hard to put together an array of events and activities in their respective domains, be it history, art, culture, sport, beauty or fashion.

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In addition to the ever-popular Art History and British History tours and lectures other highlights of the year included a private fashion preview of Liu Jo’s Summer 2017 Collection, evening talks and conversations at the Victoria & Albert Museum marking 150 years of Harpers’ Bazaar Magazine and Seven Decades of Dior, walks from London Bridge to Rotherhithe, in the Jewish East End of London and Hampstead, trips to Portugal and Italy.

A special exclusive evening at the Urban Retreat Salon in Harrods during which members were treated to drinks, canapés, beauty treatments, discount vouchers and gift bags was another note-worthy highlight of the spring which was very well-received among the members and had some excellent feedback.

Members were also treated to beautiful presentations of the English National Ballet, making this a very special year for the art lovers in the club.

Upcoming Events For our upcoming General Meeting on Thursday 12 October, we welcome multiple award winner, CNN Senior International Correspondent Clarissa Ward. She will share details of her impressive career as a war correspondent in Syria and other areas of conflict around the world.

The new KCWC year will once again see a rich offer of varied activities that is guaranteed to leave its members spoilt for choice. After Six in the City hosts dinners at the BBar and Da Mario, Antiques and Design will host an introduction to the iconic House of Fabergé, Art History will host lecture series on London Masterpieces and Surrealism. They will also explore exhibitions of Cézanne’s portraits, Jasper Johns and Jean-Michel Basquet.

British History will conduct its final year of the long-running, extremely sought-after History of London Course. Following the success of the Mozart Concert last year the Classical Music and Opera Group offers us a unique opportunity to listen to the award-winning British soprano Louise Alder with the Mozartists.

With the Evening Speaker Series, members get a chance to spend an evening with famous Notting Hill Mummy Isabella Davidson at a private launch of her book The Beta Mum, Adventures in Alpha Land. And Foodies cook up a sweet start to their year baking Capri’s traditional cakes with chef Serena De Filippis from Le Cordon Bleu, London.

Coffee Mornings and Happy Hour activities with the Hospitality team or one of the several language specific conversation groups with the Languages team are also a good way to meet other members and make new friends. For those who would rather play a game, there is Bridge, Golf or Tennis to choose from and for those who prefer to walk, Stamford Hill and Euston – Somers Town organised by London Walks and Treasures are on the table. And then if one were to fancy something outside the UK, a walking holiday in Minorca and a trip to Bruges and Antwerp from the Travel Group 36

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may be tempting. Another great opportunity to socialise are the events hosted by Wine Society and this autumn, members can choose either The Spectator Magazine Wine Luncheon or the Decanter Fine Wine Tasting with Steven Spurrier, Decanter Man of the Year.

For a bit of entertainment, the Theatre Group proposes plays such as Queen Anne, Comedy about a Bank Robbery and Motown – The Musical. And finally, but in no way less important than any of the other activities, Volunteers for Charity continue their good work at the Wandsworth Food Bank and Befriending Plus.

Learn More About KCWC KCWC General Meetings are open to nonmembers for a guest fee of £10, redeemable if joining on the day. The meetings are usually held on a Thursday of each month between September and June. Prospective members are welcome to attend a Coffee Morning or a Happy Hour, where guests can come along for an informal chat over coffee or a drink and enjoy the company of other international women. For further information, please on how to register please contact potential@kcwc.org.uk or visit the website: www.kcwc.org.uk. To join KCWC, please visit www.kcwc.org.uk and click on Join Us or email potential@kcwc.org.uk.

Save The Date: October General Meeting: Thursday, 12th October 2017, British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), 195 Piccadilly, London W1J 9LN, 9:30am – 12pm. £10 to non-members.

November General Meeting: Thursday, 16th November 2017, Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR, 9:30am – 12pm. £10 to non-members.

December General Meeting: Thursday, 7th December 2017, Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR, 9:30am – 12pm. £10 to non-members.

Junior League of London

The Junior League of London is a charitable organisation of women bound by one goal: to help women, children, and families throughout London break the cycle of poverty. Founded in 1985, we are a member of the Association of Junior Leagues International, which is one of the oldest, largest, and most effective women’s volunteer oroganisations in the world. Within Junior League of London (JLL), we are committed to promoting voluntary service, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.

Some examples of the impact we’ve had on the London community in the past year include: • Served 1,765 meals to homeless men and women • Helped 105 women learn English during Literacy Lunches • Hosted 285 children for Arts & Crafts at the Venture Centre

• Removed 800 litres of leaves in a Garden Clean-Up • Spent 36 hours helping the elderly with their computer skills at Kensington & North Kensington Libraries.

We have several activities in the next few months and look forward to having you participate!

Our signature and our longest-running community programme is Holiday Hampers.

Each year the Junior League of London provides hampers filled with gifts, food, books, toiletries and other essentials to some of London’s most vulnerable populations during the holiday season. For many of these families, these are the only gifts they receive, and give parents selfworth by providing presents to their children when they wouldn’t have this opportunity otherwise. We request donations of goods and/or corporate sponsorships to ensure an abundance of supplies to fill our hampers. Learn more here: www.jll.org.uk/holiday-hampers/.

To support our community activities, we host a holiday market fundraiser, Boutique de Noel, now in its 38th year. You will have access to bespoke vendors not available on the high street throughout the afternoon, followed by an elegant evening event featuring a Giving Tree, silent auction and signature cocktails. This is a great opportunity to get a kick start on your holiday shopping while having some fun at the Chelsea Old Town Hall, on Monday, 13th November 2017! Learn more about it here: www.jll.org.uk/ support/boutique-de-noel2017/.

Further to the core of our mission is to promote and develop women’s skills through training and mentorship. We’d love to speak to women that want to join the League and receive leadership coaching to support your professional and civic goals. Learn more here: www.jll.org.uk/join-us/.

We’d love for you to get in touch!

The Society of Mayflower Descendants In Europe

The year 2020 will mark the 400th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower. Plans to commemorate this important historic event are underway in the UK, the US and the Netherlands.

The Society of Mayflower Descendants in Europe is the official UK and Europe branch of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants.

In addition to Mayflower descendants who are members in the UK and Europe, a growing number of US residents are joining us. We offer options to transfer US membership to the European Society or to hold dual US/European memberships. If you might be a descendant of a Mayflower passenger and are interested in becoming a member or learning more about the organisation, please contact mayflower. europe.info@gmail.com. Reach us on our public Facebook page: European Society of Mayflower Descendants. Or just send a personal email to Nancy Naro, Governor (nancy.naro@ gmail.com), or Molly J. Wagner, Historian (mollyjwagner_gsmd@yahoo.com).

ARTS & ANTIQUES

ARTS & ANTIQUES Petworth: Antiques Abound In The South Downs

By Dr Susan House Wade

Image 1: Petworth

Who would guess that a town with a population of about 3,500 would also be the location of some 30 fine antique merchants, a number of shops with decorative objects for the home, a sensational florist, and at least four art galleries? Petworth, a vibrant market town in West Sussex, (image 1) is the place to go to choose from a vast selection of high end antique furnishings, with the added benefit of some outstanding dining establishments and B&B options, all of which are centrally located within walking distance of one another. Find out more at www.discoverpetworth.org Situated in the South Downs National Park, Petworth is also home to the magnificent National Trust property, Petworth House and Park, (image 2) which features the finest collection of art maintained by the Trust, including many paintings by the artist JMW Turner (1775-1851). The parkland surrounding the house was developed by the landscape architect, Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown (17161783). Constructed between 1688-96, the house and associated property were given to the National Trust in the late 1940s, and was described as containing ‘a valuable and remarkable collection of works of art’ by the Illustrated London News (April 24, 1948 p472).

See www.nationaltrust.org.uk/petworth for further information.

Petworth is unconventional in the contemporary British context in that it has almost no high street shops or chain stores.

The town is, instead, composed primarily of small, independent retailers. Petworth Antique and Decorative Arts Association (PAADA) www.paada.co.uk is an associate member of London and Provincial Antique Dealers Association (LAPADA), and represents many of the antique shops and centres, dealers and interior designers in Petworth, all of whom WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

Image 2: Petworth House

adhere to the high standards which modern buyers have come to expect.

Who would guess that a town with a population of about 3,500 would also be the location of some 30 fine antique merchants, a number of shops with decorative objects for the home, a sensational florist, and at least four art galleries?

In early May, there is a three day antiques and fine art fair held in Petworth Park, adjacent to Petworth House. Sellers are mostly LAPADA and BADA members, and generally number around 50. Included among objects offered

Image 3: Patch Rogers

for sale are fine period furniture, silver, vintage watches, clocks, indoor and garden sculpture, jewellery, glass, lighting, oil and watercolour paintings, ceramics, 20th century design, antiquities, and decorative and unique works of art which span several centuries. The next show will run from Friday to Sunday, 11-13 May 2018. Visitors to the fair are allowed access to Petworth House and Park alongside entrance to the show. Go to www.petworthparkfair.com to learn more.

Further festivals take place elsewhere on the calendar. The Petworth Festival, which will run from 18 July - 4 August 2018, features classical, jazz and world music, as well as contributions from the theatre, comedy and visual arts world. The Petworth Festival Literary Weekend begins on 31 October through to 5 November this year; look for this years’ line up to be published closer to the time.

A few highlights on the extensive Petworth antiques and decorative arts front include Tudor Rose Antiques and Interiors, located on East Street. This shop, owned by Elizabeth Lee, is one of the oldest in Petworth, and is set over two floors. It features a wide and always-changing range of furniture, clocks, silver, and all manner of decorative objects. Details are found at www. tudor-rose-antiques.co.uk. Housed in the same premises are the productions of Kinky Roots, which offers highly unique, glass-topped tables set on ancient root systems, all of which have been sourced in the UK. These individual, hand crafted tables are nothing short of amazing. See www.kinkyroots.co.uk Patch Rogers Design, in The Clockhouse on Lombard Street, sells arts and crafts-period furniture, furnishing fabrics, textiles and rugs, as well as books and other material, dating from 1850 to the present (image 3). Especially well represented are objects which were WWW.AMERICANINBRITAIN.CO.UK

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Image 4: Rugs of Petworth

Image 5: Petworth Antiques Market, Oriental Room

Image 6: Tallulah Fox

Image 7: David Swanson Antiques

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originally made for and sold by Arthur Lasenby Liberty (1843-1917) at his Regent Street shop in London and elsewhere across Great Britain.

Artistic production by the likes of AWN Pugin, William Morris, and CFA Voysey are also frequently available here. Rogers curates the annual selling exhibition of arts and crafts material at Liberty. www.gallery.acfc.co.uk is where you’ll find all the details.

Rugs of Petworth, on East Street, is the home of all manner of handcrafted rugs, throws and cushions, sourced by them from locations throughout Asia (image 4). Every size and shape is represented, and, as is the case with most Petworth merchants, they are more than delighted to arrange shipment worldwide.

See more at www.rugsofpetworth.co.uk Over 25 antiques dealers join forces at Petworth Antiques Market, also on East Street. There is, quite literally, ‘something for everyone’ here, and merchandise changes constantly. An added bonus is that they are open all week. Specialising in English, Continental and Oriental furniture, rugs, paintings, prints, textiles, pottery, porcelain, silver, clocks, jewellery and garden ornaments, with prices mostly skewing towards the reasonable side, there is a lot from which to choose (image 5). Find out more about them at www.petworthantiquesmarket.co.uk Tallulah Fox, located on Lombard Street, has a slightly rustic and very inviting ambience (image 6). Unusual homewares and English, French and Swedish antique furniture are what you will find here, as well as a full array of cushions, glassware, ceramics and textiles. Everything in the shop mixes well with either a contemporary or traditional decor. Www.tallulahfox.co.uk gives opening hours and other details.

Top marks for their window display go to Augustus Brandt. Two locations in the centre of Petworth reveal a whole array of sophisticated antique, as well as modern, furniture, light fixtures and decorative accessories for the home interior. Brandt also offers bespoke furniture, including dining tables, desks, consoles, benches, garden furniture, chairs, bar stools, ottomans, and lighting, all created by artisan craftsmen in the UK and France. Check their website at www.augustusbrandt.co.uk to find out more.

David Swanson Antiques (image 7) on High Street, is packed with unusual and hard to find early English Country and French Provincial furniture. Swanson is generally available to answer questions and elaborate on the significance of all the objects, which usually include ceramics and antique metalware, as well. Look at www.davidswansonantiques.co.uk for more.

Some two dozen other shops, not specifically mentioned here, also offer high end antiques, and are well worth a browse.

See the Petworth and PAADA websites for individual details.

Stylish accommodation, as well as superior dining options, can be found in Petworth,

most within easy walking distance of the shops mentioned above. The Angel www. angelinnpetworth.co.uk is a newly remodelled inn with six bedrooms, located 300 yards from the Market Square (image 8). All the rooms are tastefully furnished from a pleasantly mellow palette of colours. Further afield lies Buckfold Cottage B&B www.buckfoldcottage.com, which requires a taxi or car for the short run in to town, but the picturesque location in the South Downs and luxurious amenities make it an excellent choice.

The Leconfield, on New Street, is situated right in the centre of Petworth, and it consistently receives rave reviews from London-based food critics. Featured in the Michelin Guide 2017, the menu focuses on British Cuisine using seasonal and local produce - www.theleconfield.co.uk For coffee, lunch or an afternoon break, try The Hungry Guest. There are two locations in Petworth, the Café is in Lombard Street in the centre of town, and a further location, with a shop and deli, is in Middle Street. Everything on their menu makes this charming little café (which also features patio seating) well worth the stop - www.thehungryguest.com.

Coco Café and Sugar Lounge, in Saddlers Row, is American owned and operated.

Coffee, ice cream and sweets are the primary offerings, but there is also a delicious hot chocolate available. Extremely popular with the local population, the interior is loaded with vintage memorabilia and antiques scattered around the shop. FB page: Coco Café & Sugar Lounge @cococafeuk.

Sussex is, without a doubt, one of the prettiest counties in England, and the South Downs National Park covers more than 1,600 square kilometres of it (image 9). From Winchester to Eastbourne, there is a lot of diversity, including ancient heath and woodlands, chalky cliffs, beaches, and picture book English villages, where thatched roofs and tearooms are the norm, but which, increasingly, include cosmopolitan cafés and restaurants featuring modern British cuisine.

Walking the 100-mile South Downs Way can provide a great inspiration for painting, sketching, or photography.

Petworth lies within close proximity to a number of other important art-related venues, most notably the outstanding Pallant House Gallery, in Chichester (about 14 miles away) www.pallant.org.uk. Renowned for its collection of British Modern Art, one of the finest to be found in the UK, it has been the recipient of the prestigious Gulbenkian Prize.

Exhibitions include not only British, but also international and contemporary art. There is a restaurant and outdoor café, in addition to a wide ranging book shop, within the gallery complex. Closer still is the Cass Sculpture Foundation www.sculpture.org.uk, founded in 1992 by Wilfred and Jeannette Cass. Situated on the Goodwood Estate, this sculpture park comprises a 26 acre woodland, in which is featured a constantly evolving display of

ARTS & ANTIQUES over 50 monumental sculptures. A Gormley, E Paolozzi and P King are just some of the makers whose work is scattered over the property.

Plan to allocate about two hours to view it all.

Sculpture is sold on site, as well, and that can be found in the main building.

Goodwood has come to be synonymous with racing, whether for horses or cars. The Festival of Speed takes place each summer, and has become an internationally-renowned affair, since its founding in 1993. Formula 1 cars, supercars and drifters all take part in action.

Look at www.goodwood.com.

Cowdray Park, on the substantial Cowdray Estate in the nearby market town of Midhurst, features a whole variety of activity. Known as the ‘Home of British Polo’, spectators are welcome at all games during the polo season (April-September). For the past 100 years, polo has been hosted at this elegant venue, but there is also golf, clay pigeon shooting, a farm shop and café, as well as accommodation, available. Check www.cowdray.co.uk for more details.

Transportation to Petworth is relatively straightforward. From London Waterloo, the Southwest Trains Portsmouth Harbourbound train makes a stop at neighbouring Haslemere (third stop), from where a taxi rank offers regular service for the 10 mile journey to Petworth. Service from London Waterloo runs approximately every half hour. This makes sense, since Petworth parking can be limited,

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and, as previously mentioned, since the dealers there are more than happy to ship to most world destinations. The entire town is eminently walkable. However, if driving is the preferred mode of transport, there is a convenient, pay and display, town car park in central Petworth.

Gatwick Airport is some 30 miles away.

Note: A recent issue of Architectural Digest (American Edition) August 2017 featured an article, entitled ‘Annual Return’, which deals with the wisteria pergolas in the private garden of Lord and Lady Egremont at Petworth House: ‘Annual Return’ AD, Vol 74, No 8, pp74-79 www.archdigest.com.

Dr Susan House Wade is a design historian who specialises in East-West cultural exchange.

Contact her at housewadephd@gmail.com

Image 8: The Angel Inn

Image 9: South Downs National Park, West Sussex

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USEFUL CONTACTS EDUCATION - SCHOOLS

AMERICAN SAT/ACT TUITION London W1B 3HH Contact: Elizabeth von Nardroff Email: Elizabeth@AmericanSATtuition.com Telephone +44 (0)20 7692 0766 Website: www.AmericanSATtuition.com Twitter: @elivonna American SAT/ACT Tuition is a small, independent company based in the London, UK area. Our focus is on the needs of American, British and International students applying to US Colleges/Universities or Prep Schools. We offer SAT/ACT/PSAT/SSAT advice, tutoring and bespoke online courses, as well as help with applications, admissions advice, and interview technique coaching. Our specialists are knowledgeable, experienced, and we love what we do! Plus we’ve shown results - past students now attend Yale, Princeton, MIT, Harvard, Dartmouth, and other top US Universities.

DWIGHT SCHOOL LONDON 6 Friern Barnet Lane, London, N11 3LX Contact: Karen Strickland Email: kstrickland@dwightlondon.org Telephone: + 44(0)20 8920 0600 Website: www.dwightlondon.org Twitter: @DwightSchoolUK Dwight School London, formerly known as The North London International School is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School and is one of the first schools in the UK to offer the full IB Programme.

ISL GROUP OF SCHOOLS ISL SURREY Old Woking Road, Woking, Surrey GU22 8HY Contact: Admissions Telephone: +44 (0)1483 750 409 ISL LONDON 139 Gunnersbury Avenue, London W3 8LG Contact: Yoel Gordon Telephone: +44 (0)20 8992 5823 ISL QATAR Po Box 18511, North Duhail, Qatar Contact: Nivin el Aawar Telephone: +974 4433 8600 Website: www.islschools.org

The International School of London (ISL) Group has schools in London, Surrey, and Qatar.

The internationally recognised primary and secondary curricula have embedded language programmes (mother tongue, English as an Additional Language, and second language) which continue throughout the student’s stay in the school. A team of experienced and qualified teachers and administrators provides every student with the opportunity to grow and learn in an environment that respects diversity and promotes identity, understanding, and a passion for learning.

TASIS THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN ENGLAND Coldharbour Lane, Thorpe, Surrey TW20 8TE Contact: Karen House Telephone: +44 (0)1932 582316 Email: ukadmissions@tasisengland.org Website: www.tasisengland.org TASIS England offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma, an American college preparatory curriculum, and AP courses to its diverse community of coed day (3-18) and boarding (14-18) students from 50 nations.

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MOVING

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TAXATION

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WEALTH MANAGEMENT

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To advertise please contact damian@theamericanhour.com

The 2017 Expatriate’s Guide To Living in the UK has just been published! Order your free copy now!

WWW.EXPATSGUIDETOTHEUK.COM 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 2017 Guide will contain content covering: Banking & Wealth • Expatriate Clubs • Embassies & High Commissions • Driving & Transport Education - Schools & Universities • Healthcare & Hospitals • Legal Issues Moving & Relocation Residential Lettings • Private Health Insurance • Serviced Apartments • Taxation To order your FREE copy please email: damian@expatsguidetotheuk.com, providing the mailing address you would like it sent to. If you would rather receive a soft (pdf) copy, please let Damian know.

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

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EMBASSY CORNER A Message from US Consul General Karen Ogle The Special Relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom exists on many levels, but what really brings it to life are the everyday interactions between Americans and Brits. Each year UK citizens make more than four million trips to the United States, and a like number of Americans travel here.

These travellers aren’t just site-seeing: they’re making friends, forming families, signing business deals, creating and sharing art, studying and teaching at universities, and much, much more all the while strengthening the bonds between our countries.

The Consular Section at the US Embassy helps make all those interactions possible by adjudicating US visas for foreign citizens, while also supporting and protecting American citizens in the United Kingdom. I recently arrived in London as the US Consul General, heading up our Consular Section, and I’m pleased to be leading a top-notch team of more than 120 committed employees, including American diplomats and locally based staff.

The US Embassy in London, along with our consulates in Edinburgh and Belfast, have no greater priority than assisting US citizens in the United Kingdom, whether tourists here for a couple of days or long-term UK residents.

You’re most likely to encounter us when it’s time to renew your US passport, and we have been working hard to make that process simpler and faster. Often, renewing your passport doesn’t even require an in-person visit; you can apply by using a secure courier service, and your new passport will usually arrive within a few weeks. For those who cannot wait that long, we’re often able to issue an emergency passport much more quickly.

Children must always appear in person when their US passport applications are submitted, so we’ve created a comfortable play area in our waiting room to help them pass the time. And for everyone visiting the Consular Section, we now allow you to bring your mobile phones and tablet devices inside, and we offer free wi-fi, so you can stay in touch while you’re here.

The best advice I can offer to any American abroad is to stay on top of your passport’s expiration date. Some countries, including WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM

many on the European continent, won’t let you visit unless you have three or even six months of validity left on your passport. A rule of thumb: If your passport expires in the next 6-8 months, now is the time to renew it. For more information about passport applications, including instructions, forms, and fees, please visit the Embassy’s website.

Of course, our support for Americans abroad goes far beyond passport services. For example, in the tragic event that an American dies in the United Kingdom, my team assists bereaved family members and helps arrange for the return of their loved one’s remains. Every day we provide assistance to vulnerable or endangered Americans, like those who have endured violent crimes or children who are victims of international parental child abduction. And in the case of an incident of terrorism abroad, like those that sadly occurred in the United Kingdom earlier this year, we provide close assistance to any affected Americans.

More routinely, we document US citizenship for newborn Americans, provide guidance on how to vote in US elections, help replace Social Security cards, and offer notary services for legal documents that are to be used in the United States. Information about accessing all of these services and more is available on the Embassy website.

Many Americans ask us about security when travelling abroad. The US Department of State has developed an excellent resource for that kind of information, available on the Department’s website at travel.state.gov. There you’ll find travel information about every country in the world, and you can request emailed updates about the security environment by enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Programme, or STEP, at step.state.gov.

I’m very excited to be in London, one of the great cities of the world. My staff and I hope to meet many of you during your visit to the Embassy, or on our travels around this beautiful country as we continue to foster the Special Relationship. In the meantime, if you have questions you can find our contact information on the Embassy website at uk.usembassy.gov, and I invite you to follow my team on Twitter at @USAinUKConsular.

EMBASSY INFORMATION US Embassy, 24 Grosvenor Square, London W1K 6AH uk.usembassy.gov Switchboard: (020)7499 9000 Business Hours: 8:30am- 5:30pm, Monday-Friday.

Closed on American and UK holidays.

An officer is available via the switchboard all day, every day, for a life or death emergency involving a US citizen in the United Kingdom.

Passport and Citizenship Services:

By Appointment Monday - Friday Notary Services: By appointment Appointments available only online at uk.usembassy.gov Federal Benefits Unit: uk.usembassy.gov General Social Security information: ssa.gov Travel Advice: travel.state.gov

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