British Expats Directory

UK Expat Pensioners Lose Fight in ECHR

2010-03-17T14:20:00.004+07:00

The ECHR yesterday announced its judgment on a case brought by UK expat pensioners living outside the EU regarding equality. The case which was claiming discrimination on the part of the UK government against such pensioners was found not proven by a majority of 11 to 6.

You can read a summary of the judgement from the ECHR here.

It is certainly worth reading, particularly the sentences referring to National Insurance contributions and the scope of UK pensions.

Quite where we go from here remains to be seen, who knows perhaps a change of government will improve matters, although I somehow doubt that given the court ruling.

British Expats have less than one month to register to vote

2010-03-06T08:46:00.006+07:00

The editor of this blog has no particular political allegiance nor is British Expats Directory affiliated to any political party. However I thought I'd share this press release from the Conservative Party, since unlike the other major parties they do seem to be taking an interest in UK expats around the world (read into that what you will). You can also read more about voting and registering your vote whilst overseas at "Voting Overseas-British Expats Should Register Now."

Press Release:
Conservative Party Chairman Eric Pickles today reminded British citizens living overseas that they have less than one month to register to vote if they want to ensure that they are registered to have their say at the General Election if it is held on May 6th as expected.

Eric Pickles said; “So many of the laws passed in the UK affect the lives of British citizens living overseas. Expats have, like so many of us in the UK, been adversely affected by Labour’s 13 years of economic mismanagement.” “At the election British citizens living overseas will have a choice. 5 more years of Gordon Brown’s tired government making things worse, or David Cameron and the Conservatives with energy, leadership and values to get the country moving. By registering and voting in the General Election expats can have a say on the policies that will shape their future.”

The Conservative Party have launched a website to assist expats with the registration process. Philip Dunne MP, Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party with responsibility for Conservatives Abroad added: “The Don‘t Leave Your Vote At Home website has simplified the registration process, allowing expats to complete the majority of the form online. Expats can now register to vote in 5 easy steps”:

1. Visit www.dontleaveyourvoteathome.com

2. Complete the registration form

3. Print, sign and date the registration form

4. Ask another British citizen to complete the witness declaration section

5. Post the form to the local electoral registration officer in the area you last lived in the UK – address details of which can be obtained at www.aboutmyvote.co.uk by entering your former postcode or selecting the name of your former local authority

Notes:
There are 2.5 million British citizens living overseas who are eligible to vote in the next General Election under the 15 year rule, which allows British citizens living overseas to register to vote in the UK if they were last on an electoral roll in the UK within the last 15 years.

Expats wishing to register to vote should visit www.dontleaveyourvoteathome.com or www.aboutmyvote.com, the former address is linked to the Conservative Party, the latter is not.

Conservatives Abroad have set a deadline of 1st April for Expats to register to vote to guarantee their vote in the general election. This date has been set due to the timescale involved in international postage and processing the registration by the Electoral Registration Office. Expats who register after 1st April may still receive their vote, although it cannot be guaranteed.

UK Expat Pension Parity and Taxation Matters

2010-03-05T15:21:00.004+07:00

Well March 2010 is here but to date there has been no announcement from the ECHR on the decision about pension parity for UK expats living outside the EEC. You can keep up to date with news as it breaks here but you might also want to check out the breaking news at the pension parity web site.

Whilst on the subject of finances, what about company pensions that are subject to UK tax. Well let me share my personal experience on this one. I get two pensions, my main one from the police and a small one from Teachers pensions. Both are dealt with at different tax offices. One in Swansea(teachers) one in Nottingham(police). Well since the middle of February I have received no less than 6 different notices of coding for the two pensions. I got a £50 rebate for overpayment of tax on my teachers pension and a demand for £70 underpayment on my police pension drop through the letter box on the same day. Both dated in January and posted in Germany!

Now since I only have income from the sources mentioned and it is fixed then I think its fair to assume that some sort of error has occurred internally at HMRC. So I dug around a bit and found this story which I picked up from the BBC, "Pensioner Tax code problem highlighted" You can read the article for yourself but I would highlight one fact and that is that you only have one month to appeal about errors and the mail via Germany takes longer than that to arrive in Thailand. Hardly cricket in my humble opinion.

So if you have had a flurry of notice of coding lately from HMRC, take a close look at them, chances are they will be OK, maybe!

UK Pensions-Tax Breaks

2010-02-11T11:41:00.001+07:00

If you are a British expat living abroad you may well be interested in this article from the Telegraph entitled Tax Breaks for UK Pensions. The article deals with QROPS and the advantages and disadvantages of such schemes.

British Passport Processing Thailand Changes WEF 8th March 2010

2010-01-30T11:03:00.004+07:00

With effect from the 8th March 2010 British passports will not be processed at the British Embassy in Bangkok. Instead applications will be sent to a new regional office in Hong Kong.

The British Ambassador in Thailand, Quinton Quayle has recently posted information on the British Embassy Bangkok web site.

Although currently there is limited information on the web site more is promised. In the meantime applications will continue to be dealt with at the embassy in Bangkok.

Northern Cyprus-Property Ownership-Court Ruling

2010-01-21T11:51:00.002+07:00

Having spent a few very happy years living in Cyprus as a British serviceman and visiting the island subsequently on family holidays I think its fair to say I have a certain love for this jewel in the Eastern Mediterranean.

In my younger days as a soldier stationed near Famagusta I was able to roam freely on the island in both Greek and Turkish sectors. Of course all this changed with the subsequent invasion by mainland based Turkish forces although visits to Northern Cyprus were still possible via Turkey.

Over the years many British expatriates have settled on the island both in the Turkish north and the Greek Cypriot south. But now with the warming of relationships between the two communities, EU membership and a genuine desire for reconciliation being sought it seems that British expatriates living in the Turkish sector may be living on borrowed time, particularly if they have purchased land and built second homes.

A recent ruling in the District Court in Nicosia has ruled in favour of a Greek Cypriot who fled to the south of the island following the Turkish invasion leaving behind land which he legally owned. The land having been subsequently sold by its Turkish occupiers to a British couple.

You can read the full story "British Couple Lose Cyprus Holiday Home Battle" in the Telegraph.

Benefit Reduction for UK Expats

2010-01-12T13:25:00.003+07:00

Quite a few British expats now find themselves subject to yet another UK Government crackdown. This time its not pensions but benefits in the form of welfare handouts that are being targeted.

While the British government refuses to pay certain allowances to British expats living in the EU it continues to pay welfare benefits to migrant EU workers based in the UK.

"The European Court of Justice ruled in 2007 that benefits such as the disability allowance were “exportable” and should continue to be paid even when an individual leaves his country of origin and moves to another member state. Yet despite the ruling, the UK Government has stuck with its policy of withholding the payments – prompting a warning from the European Commission that unless Britain falls into line by the end of this month, ministers will be dragged back into court and forced to defend their decisions." Read more...........(Telegraph)

British Expat Pensions-UK International Pensions Centre

2009-12-18T15:34:00.003+07:00

British expats who are approaching retirement age may well want to contact the UK international pensions centre to make sure that you register a claim for your State Pension.

The pensions office should contact you three months before you are due to recieve payments but if this doesnt happen or you want to check something out here are the contact details.

You can also contact the International Pension Centre by secure email.

LOCATE-Don't Forget to Re-register Every Year

2009-12-14T12:19:00.003+07:00

The LOCATE service offered by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office(FCO) in the UK is a system whereby you can register your presence in a particular country. By providing relevant contact details local embassies and consulates have a way of getting in touch with you in emergency.

Unfortunately, probably because the system was originally designed for overseas travel, re-registration is required every 12 months. However if you provide an email address the FCO will send you an automated reminder when its time to renew.

LOCATE is a free service and well worth considering if you live overseas. It is actually compulsory to register if you wish to use any of your local UK embassy services such as providing officially certified information to government departments in your host country.

Export Vehicle from UK Temporarily or Permanently

2009-12-11T12:16:00.002+07:00

Many British expats may consider taking their vehicle with them when they move abroad. Whether you move is of a temporary or permanent nature there are various procedures that must be followed.

Regulation is fairly complex but you can find full details of taking a vehicle out of the UK permanently or temporarily here.

Interestingly a vehicle purchased for export may be driven by a UK resident for up to six months before export (Road tax applicable) which is quite useful regarding the paying of VAT on the vehicle. However the proposed export must be permanent i.e. for at least 6 months and does not apply to exports to EU countries.

Vehicles subject to temporary exportation are still subject to UK road traffic laws that cover insurance, MOT and vehicle taxation.

Best of British Awards

2009-12-07T12:06:00.003+07:00

I wonder as a British expatriate do you have a favourite watering hole in the country you now call home. Lets face it there are British pubs in countries as diverse as India and the USA. But what about restaurants or clubs?

Well the Telegraph and British Airways have teamed up to to provide some awards for the best of British, establishments abroad that truly represent Brits abroad. These are the categories in which you can enter your vote:

"Best British Shop; Best British Restaurant; Best British Pub/Bar; Best British Social Club; Best British Business Club and Best British Sporting Club."

Which offers the 5.5 million British expats around the world a fair bit of choice. By way of encouragement(to vote) the sponsors are also offering a luck draw for free tickets to the event if you nominate or vote in the awards competition.

Check out all the details at "Best of British Awards: vote for our finest outposts."

Nominations and voting close on 15th January 2010.

British Expat Interviews-Maggie Hall USA

2009-11-30T11:37:00.003+07:00

As promised last week here is an interview with Maggie Hall author of The Mish Mash Dictionary of Marmite. A big thanks to Maggie for taking the time to answer my questions about being an expatriate in the USA.

Where do you originate from?

I am from Cleckheaton - right in the heart of the old West Riding Heavy Woollen District (now that gives my age away!) And for those who are saying ‘where'?, it's between Bradford and Halifax, Leeds and Huddersfield. You know, close to Heckmondwike!

Where did you move too and are where are you living now?

My home base is Washington, DC. I've lived on Capitol Hill - just a few minutes walk to the US Capitol and the Library of Congress, a bit longer to the White House - for 26 years. Before that I had three years in Manhattan.

What made you choose to move to another country?

Actually I was ‘chosen'! I was posted to the New York bureau of the Daily Mirror, where I worked for 20 years. Those were the halcyon days of the good old Mirror, when they had such postings!

How difficult was the process of moving, do you have any advice for someone seeking to do the same?

I am the wrong person to ask. I left Britain under the protective umbrella of a company. My salary was enhanced with a ‘cost-of-living' payment, plus all incidental expenses of setting-up-a-new home (amazing how much bed linen and a set of crockery can set you back) were taken care of. And I didn't go through the trauma of making the decisions that go into leaving one life behind for another. Originally I went for just two years - and by the time I decided to quit my job and stay in the States as a free-lance journalist, I knew what I was up against. The only bit of advice I would give though is: do not, repeat do not, sell up!! At least not straight away. Knowing that you have a home to go back to (even if the tenants are in the middle of a two year lease) if things go pear-shaped, or you initially go through a difficult time in your new country, will help you survive it. The attitude that clicks in goes something like this: OK, I'll hang on a bit longer, I can always go home, after all I have something to go back to...the next thing you know is that the bad-time is over. And you're settled.

What are medical facilities like in your adopted country?

Well, as I am sure most of you know, in America if you have health insurance (frequently given as a benefit by the company you work for) there's non-better. But if you don't work for that big a company or can't afford insurance (it's expensive) it's tough. Make that horrendous. It's not that you are not going to be treated but when the bill comes rolling in - and you can't pay it - your assets will be severely investigated so a payment plan can be worked out. They will get their money (if you have any) somehow!

What is the climate like and would it suit someone from the UK?

Whatever weather you like, it's here in the States. You just have to chose the region that suits your needs. Here in DC we have four seasons: with the summer being far too hot and humid for many; the winters can be delightfully Alpine, sunny, crisp, snowy, frosty; the Spring and Autumn often with temperatures you can liken to the best of an English summer day. But if you like the snow, go to Minnesota where they're under a blanket of the stuff from Thanksgiving to Easter.

What have you done to learn to speak the local language?

Obviously nothing. But from the day I got here I thought I should learn Spanish! And I am slowly doing something about that - with help from the Latinos who work in the indoor market we have on Capitol Hill.

Do you have any regrets about moving?

I don't. Because to be honest I have not truly ‘moved'. I still have a home in Britain, where I spend the summer (to escape the torrid heat of DC!). And it's not like I live at the other end of the world, or on some island in the South Pacific, where it would break the bank to get home - and several days to do it.

What do you really miss from home?

Friends, family....radio 4.

What are your plans for the future?

Never been any good at making plans! The only one I have is to carry on with my trans-Atlantic life - and traveling in between - as long as possible. There's a lot of the world I still need to see and ‘am working hard at it!

But having said that, my book is ‘upsetting' my plans. In the nicest possible way of course. For the last few years my husband Gary and I have spent the winter holing-up somewhere interesting. Not always warm but warmer than DC! Our m.o. is to fly somewhere (Easy-Jet and Ryan Air have given us some great economic head-starts to our winter sojourns) go into a cheap and cheerful hostelry, and ask around for a small flat or house - at a reasonable rate. We have had wonderful winters in Crete, Malta, Goa, the Azores, Mexico. But I have a feeling I'm going to have my head in a Marmite jar for a bit longer. After five weeks ‘back home' promoting The Mish-Mash Dictionary of Marmite, now need to do the same in the States. Which will probably mean I - make that we - can look forward to travelling around the great expanse of this enormously varied country. The idea I have is to hit the road (or maybe the Amtrak) and hit on all the British Food Shops that most regions now have!

So how did I come to write the book? Let me tell you first off: they say that every journalist has a book in them - and that's where it should stay! But frankly Mish-Mash is not a book, so much as a ‘bathroom reader'. When I told the publisher that's what it was going to be, he said: Maggie, you've become far too American. It's a bog-side-book!

Anyway, I wrote Mish-Mash as a result of two things going ‘wrong' in my life. We did not, could not, plan a winter away last year because of my long, on-going struggle with US Immigration to get a Green Card. For years I stayed in the US on a special work visa. In the end I decided I should face up to the trauma of getting a Green Card - not realising it would be a true trauma. Suffice to say I dare not leave the country for any length of time in case I got summoned for my ‘interview', which - thanks to Immigration messing things up - I missed first time round. Once is OK, twice is a cardinal sin!

So we would, I would, pursue my new-found ‘career' as a travel-writer, moving around the US on short trips. But then that grand plan was torpedoed. Gary slipped on Autumn leaves, in the pouring rain, and badly screwed-up his knee. He was stuck, immobile, going nowhere. Suddenly rendered chief nurse-maid, neither was I. Not even an overnight trip. So I salvaged my idea of investigating Marmite - which I got in the mid-90s when the first silver lids came out. I couldn't get my head round the fact that someone would spend £60 to adorn a Marmite jar with silver. Silver to put round you neck, in your ears, maybe. But on top of a kitchen cupboard staple....to replace a perfectly lovely, sunny yellow lid? So it got me thinking: what the heck is going on here; what sort of hold does the black-goo have on people?

I tried to sell the book idea because I was suddenly thrown out of work when Today (I covered the Americas for it for nine years) closed. But could not get a publisher interested. So I stuffed my Marmite file away on a top shelf and went looking for ‘proper' work. But from then on it actually haunted me that someone else would discover what a good book Marmite would make! Anyway the combination of not being able to go anywhere, this winter past, played out in my favour. And even if Mish-Mash does not become the best selling ‘bathroom reader' of the year, at least I've written it! So, thank you US Immigration and thank-you clumsy husband. The latter by the way is responsible for the book's secondary title, ‘Tar-in-a-Jar'. As you will gather, he can't stand the stuff!

Mish Mash Dictionary of Marmite

2009-11-24T08:19:00.004+07:00

I wonder if like me and thousands of other British expats around the world you enjoy Marmite? Maybe also like myself you find it difficult to come by supplies of this "tar in a jar." Well I can't help you with the supply problems but I can recommend a new book written by a British Expat all about the mysterious compound that you either love or hate.

Maggie Hall, a retired Fleet Street journalist and British expatriate living in Washington DC, has just published "Mish Mash Dictionary of Marmite. Here is a short resume of the book that Maggie kindly sent me to share with you.

"Mish Mash Dictionary of Marmite reveals the grip it has on palates - and minds - around the world. Whatever you thought you’d never see linked to Marmite is here.

From the student who got a good history degree based on her dissertation about the black-goo, to the astronaut who picked it as his ‘comfort food’ on his shuttle flight. And how about the American family who set up a website to sell nothing but Marmite. Or, the star London chocolatier whose best seller is a Marmite stuffed truffle and the Parisian boutique hotel that serves it for breakfast, alongside the confiture for the croissants, or the milkshake chain whose best-seller is the Marmite one. Not to mention the science lesson to be learnt - and the practical joke to be played - when beaten Marmite turns white!

And this riddle highlights the diverse entries found within its 207 pages: what do beri-beri, boils and brill have in common? They're all vastly improved by the mighty- M. Marmite saved many POWs, in both world wars, from the ravages of beriberi; in years gone by doctors recommended a hearty intake of it to clear up boils; and now a top dish at a Michelin One Star restaurant in Nottingham is grilled Cornish brill, smeared with the stuff!

The Mish-Mash Dictionary of Marmite - which is illustrated with 27 cartoon-sketches - is jam-packed with all manner of 'entries', from the informative to the entertaining, from the trivial to the historic, the serious to the silly. And talking of ‘jam’ - it gets a mention. One of the many tales the book tells is the one behind the Marmite Song (yes, there is one), which in turn reveals how jam and Marmite go together. In the supermarket!"

The book has already received several reviews and featured in articles in The Independent and Sun. It even got a mention during an episode of the satirical quiz programme, "Have I got News for You," on BBC TV, along with other media in the UK and Europe.

Now I don't know about you but I think the book sounds like a great idea for a gift. Perhaps for a British expat in some far flung corner of the World missing their Marmite, or even for those hard to please relatives or friends back home in the UK. You can find out all the details on how to purchase The Mish Mash Dictionary of Marmite here.

The author has also kindly agreed to be interviewed here so hopefully in the next day or two I can share some detail on what makes Maggie tick, how she became an expatriate and what led her to write the book.

By the way I copied the image from Maggie's web site, take a close look at the "ingredients" on the jar!

Winter Fuel Payment-Living Overseas

2009-11-15T10:57:00.002+07:00

Its that time of the year when if you qualify, you might find that the UK Government has sent you your winter fuel payment even if you are living overseas. So if you see an entry in your UK bank account with your National Insurance number followed by the letters DWP WFP (Department of Works and Pensions-Winter Fuel Payment) you are the lucky recipient of between £125-400.

Before you get too excited these payments are only made to British expats in EU countries and Switzerland. Although funnily enough I was clearly gone but not forgotten since I got paid last year even though I lived in Thailand!!

To qualify for winter fuel payment you need to be over 60 on 27th September 2009 and to satisfy certain other conditions.

Should you be like me and live outside the EU then you should notify the DWP that you are no longer qualified due to a change of circumstances.

Payments are normally made during November and December.

Back to Dagenham England

2009-11-10T11:29:00.003+07:00

Fellow British expat and author of the best selling, "A Yank Back to England," Denis Lipman has just released his first You Tube video, "Back to Dagenham,England." You also may remember that Denis kindly allowed me to interview him about his life in the USA.

This interview and my subsequent review of his book have proved popular reading here.

In the video Denis does a short reading from his book, which certainly whets the appetite for more of the same, as he sets the scene with his arrival at his parents home in Dagenham. I am not sure if Denis intends to release the book in audio form but if he does then I think he should be the reader.

So if you have a minute to spare why not pop over to You Tube and listen to the man himself. You may then want to purchase "A Yank Back to England," which is available here.

British Expats Urged to Vote In General Election

2009-11-06T15:59:00.003+07:00

With a General Election due to be called in the UK within the next ten months British expats continue to be urged to register to vote.

It seems that now both the Labour and Conservative overseas wings are trying drum up the expat vote abroad in the hope of persuading them to register in time for the election.

Given the grievances that many British expats have with the UK Government it seems somewhat ironic to me that either party has the nerve to approach Brits living abroad. This is especially the case if you live outside the EU, considering the ongoing dispute over the inflation proofing of age related UK expat pensions in the ECHR.

I fancy that a collective gesture, favoured by a former Conservative wartime leader, is called for and probably all that they are likely to get from the majority of British expats living abroad.

British Expats-Rich Rewards for Working Abroad?

2009-10-28T10:22:00.003+07:00

There are many different motivations for becoming a British expat, one of which is working abroad. Well according to today's Telegraph there are some rich rewards waiting for those that take the plunge.

Personally I do not work but instead have a reasonable standard of living making do with my private pensions as my only income source. I certainly agree with the latest NatWest survey that states that 90% of British expats say they are better off abroad than in the UK.

I live in Asia and it is here and particularly in Hong Kong that the most satisfied expats seem to live. Given the lower cost of living in the region I guess this is not surprising. However I also think lifestyle quality when compared to the UK is also a big factor along with the climate in attracting British expats in the first place.

One thing I did find interesting in the article is the fact that most British expats leave home with less than £5000 in the bank!

Read the full article, "Rich rewards for working abroad."

UK Expat Pension Equality-Latest

2009-10-22T13:27:00.002+07:00

The European Court Of Human Rights heard the latest submissions in the ongoing battle for UK expat pension equality on the 2nd September 2009.

There is a webcast of the proceedings available here.

The ECHR has programmed the final decision in this case to be brought down in March 2010.

Further information and background can be found on the web site of UK Pension Parity.com.

If you are a British expat living outside of the EU and certain of the old Dominions I suggest you bookmark this page for future reference.

British Expats-Health Tourism Scroungers?

2009-10-15T10:21:00.002+07:00

I couldn't help but smile when I read a recent article in the Guardian entitled "Scrounging foreigners? British expats accused of health tourism in Spain."

It seems, that if the article is accurate, an increasing number of British expats are using the Spanish health care system to by-pass the queues back home in the NHS.

For me this raises a couple of issues, since Spain is a member of the EU and therefore has reciprocal health care arrangements with the UK. However it seems that the Spanish beef might not actually be with full time British expats but instead those often referred to as "dippers" i.e. folk who spend some time each year in both countries.

"Charity workers who help Britons with health problems in Spain say there is evidence that some who live in both countries – known in expat jargon as "dippers" – cherry pick the best health services from each place. "I haven't come across anyone who has come to Spain specifically for an operation, though," said Pat Lee-Patten, of the Help charity in Alicante province, who rejected the idea that expats' activities amounted to health tourism." read more.....

Sadly for a lot of British expats living in none EU countries the chance to even use the NHS back home is now not possible. British expats-health tourism scroungers? Sounds like a storm in a tea cup to me!

State Pension for Britons Living Abroad-Changes October 2009

2009-10-08T12:19:00.002+07:00

The State Pension for Britons living abroad can be paid into a local bank in your country of residence if you live in the following countries:

"Your State Pension can be paid electronically into any of the following countries: Antigua, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Barbuda, Belgium, Canada, Channel Islands, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica (Commonwealth), Dominican Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Grenada, Guyana, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, South Africa, Spain, St Kitts – Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and Grenadines, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America."

However from October 2009 the following countries have been added to the list:

"From October 2009 additional countries will be: Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Colombia, Egypt, Greece, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey and Yemen."

This is certainly good news for me since I live in Thailand. That said I note that the transfer will be made in the local currency so it might still make better sense to maintain a UK bank account and transfer money in Sterling from there. Definitely a case of swings and roundabouts!

More news on the state pension for Britons living abroad can be found on the Direct Gov web site.

Voting Overseas-British Expats Should Register Now

2009-09-30T11:18:00.002+07:00

British Expats living overseas have the right to vote in all National and Local elections in the UK. However you need to register in order to qualify. Providing you were registered to vote in the UK during the last 15 years the process is easy and applications can be made online.

For people who have been away longer the process is slightly more complex and this covers young people now old enough to vote.

Full information on your rights can be found under the article British Citizens living Abroad on the About My Vote web site.

Since one of the options offered is postal voting early registration is important with a general Election due before June 2010.

The Sweet Smell of Home- The Scent of England.

2009-09-29T09:49:00.002+07:00

I have to admit that as an expat living in Thailand there are certain smells that remind me of home. Top of my list would be freshly mown grass followed closely by that beautiful perfume when fresh rain falls in the heat of the tropical day.

With this in mind I thought I might share this article from The Telegraph expat section entitled The Scent of England. Which seems to have got one or two people in a tizzy!

Mind you bearing in mind my thoughts of new mown grass after reading the article perhaps I need to revisit the drawing board?

"According to Visit England, “England” smells a lot like cut lawns with a distant hint of diesel, which is probably fair enough. It could be a summer meadow with a ride-on lawn mower chugging off into the distance or a Home Counties roundabout on a warm day."

The sweet smell of home? I will leave you to make your own mind up after you have read "The scent of England."

Understanding QROPS (3)

2009-09-20T18:45:00.000+07:00

Understanding QROPS (2)

2009-09-13T12:29:00.001+07:00

Understanding QROPS (1)

2009-09-09T10:36:00.000+07:00