Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with britain

April tax year advantages?

devnull — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:17:59 -0800

What are the (unintended) advantages to Britain of having a tax year that starts in April?

Books about the British Empire in Afghanistan?

epersonae — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:27:35 -0800

I was talking with a friend about the "graveyard of empires," b*tching about politics, and we both realized that we knew pretty much nothing about the British experience in Afghanistan in the 19th century. (I have a vague recollection about it being background for some Sherlock Holmes stories. She remembered some Kipling.) What books would you recommend for getting a good understanding of that period of history? Bonus points for an engaging writing style and for not being the length of an encyclopedia. Thanks!

I love listening to people from Northern England

reenum — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 20:39:30 -0800

Looking for podcasts or radio shows with women talking in Mancunian accents or similar Northern English accents. I love Manchester accents and want to listen to more of them. I used to watch 'Frasier' only to hear Jane Leeves speak, and also loved the accent used by the character Betty Slocombe in 'Are You Being Served'.

Podcasts, audiobooks, or any other aural media I can take with me and listen to are wanted. Thanks a bunch.

Is a 14-year-old girl really fat if she can't fit into a size 10?

so much modern time — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 18:44:47 -0800

Is she fat? A question about a fictional British girl and whether or not she would actually be considered fat. I'm currently reading Julia Bell's Massive about Carmen, a fourteen year old with a nagging mother who is constantly on her about her weight. In the book, her mother despairs when Carmen finds it difficult to fit into a size ten. It's made clear that in the book that her mother has an eating disorder herself.

As a non-Brit, I'm curious if Carmen would be considered fat as an English teenager, since in my opinion she seems pretty thin if she is just above a size ten. But I'm not familiar with the cultural expectations for English teenage girls in terms of their weight. It's also hard to tell for me since Carmen spends a lot of time in the book eating junk food.

I'd love to have some insight into this as it seems a fairly crucial distinction to understand the book properly.

A Concise History of Britain (book recommendation)

nam3d — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 03:11:26 -0800

BookFilter: I'm looking for a concise book on the history of Britain (prehistory to modern day), any suggestions?

I am looking for a book that depicts life as a factory worker in Industrial Revolution Britain?

jacobean — Fri, 22 May 2009 17:02:01 -0800

I am looking for a book recommendation that depicts life as a factory worker in Industrial Revolution Britain? Can anybody recommend a book (factual narrative or fictional) that depicts life as a factory worker in Industrial Revolution Britain?

Getting away from it all in the UK?

Mwongozi — Wed, 13 May 2009 10:40:34 -0800

Secluded nature style summer holidays/vacations in the UK? I live in the UK, and a friend from the USA will be visiting me for a couple of weeks in the summer. (Sometime around July.)

Despite living here, I've never gone on holiday (read "vacation" if you prefer :) in this country, I've always gone abroad.

Can anyone recommend good holiday destinations in the UK, with an emphasis on seclusion and "getting back to nature". So, good things would be forests, beaches, anywhere without any other people, etc. etc.

Help me find this book!

thermonuclear.jive.turkey — Mon, 04 May 2009 18:29:20 -0800

Help me find an old spy novel (details inside) ... Hello, I'm trying to locate an old spy novel... I have not read this novel but the details were related to me by an older gentleman who has since passed on.

So:

-The setting was post WWII (or if not, during WWII).

-the main character was British, he was in the U.K. after the war, and had served in the U.K. military.

-I believe he spent time in a POW camp or had some exposure to the german military in spite of the fact that he was part of the British military.

-one day, in his day-to-day activities, he sees a man who he recognizes as a former german military official.

-the british man then reports this to the authorities.

-the authorities then instruct him to follow the german in turn, as a counter-espionage activity, and the story takes off from there.

-the villain, which may or may not be this german, had one leg.

-at the climax of the story, I think this peg-legged man is climbing the stairs, and the sound of his wooden leg plunking on the stairs makes for a suspenseful climax.

-the book would have been written no later than the late 1950's.

-the final trick: I'm not sure of the original language this novel was written in.

The gentleman I knew, read this novel when he lived in hungary, and the novel was in hungarian. I do not know if this was an authentic hungarian novel or it was translated into hungarian from english.

Any insights would be appreciated.
Thank you.

Tax advice, UK?

tavegyl — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:04:13 -0800

Where can I get good tax advice in the UK? I am not a UK national, but moved here a few months ago to marry one. Two money related questions - if they can be answered on AskMeFi, great, otherwise recommending a London accountant you or an acquaintance have had experience with would be great.

1. I've got permission to work in the UK (National Insurance number on its way), but my employment is a little complicated, as I work remotely, as a consultant, with an international development organisation's country office in another country. How should I sort out tax? As a self-employed individual?

2. My savings, a few thousand pounds, are still in a bank account in my home country. Will transferring them to my UK account (electronically) mean they'll have to be taxed? Having already paid tax on them once it seems a pity, but if that's how it is... I thought of transferring part of them to an ISA immediately but of course, they'll move through my account first.

3. Do you know of a good London accountant whom I could consult about all this? I'm not enough of a high roller to employ an accountant, but I think a consultation should do to avoid problems in the future.

Travelling in Britain

Taurid — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 09:33:11 -0800

What are ways to travel in Britain outside of the public transportation system? I will be travelling to England from Toronto Canada in the next 3 to 4 months. The trip will include my wife, my older sister (senior) and myself. We are to meet up with my daughter who is already living over there while attending university in Newcastle upon Tyne. We will probably either start our travels there or London depending on my daughters schedule. Our trip will last a total of between 10 and 14 days, possibly more, staying in various towns and villages. I understand the public transportation system ( buses and trains) is very good in Britain, however some of our travels will take us outside of that system. We also plan on going into Scotland as well as England. My main concern with renting a vehicle is driving on the left hand side in the more populated areas. I have driven in downtown Toronto and don’t find it too much a of a problem, but driving on the left is much different. Or is it? The only other option we can think of is a taxi when needed, but this may be too costly.

What are our options regarding our trip? Any ideas would be most appreciated.

Won the war. Lost the war poet.

taramosalata — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:57:20 -0800

Help me identity this 1910s/20s/30s British poet (from precious little information). * Auden admired his work -- this is definite but I've lost the source and cannot be sure whether Auden ever reviewed his work.

* He's not usually ranked among the great WWI poets like Sassoon, Owen, Brooke, et al. And I cannot find him on this Wikipedia list. But I do remember reading a short Wikipedia entry devoted to him.

* And he did write about war -- before WWII, if not during WWI -- and was particularly well-known for one longish poem (or short epic) that was published as a single volume. With 80% certainty I believe its title to be a definite article followed by a multisyllabic latinate (but not too complicated) abstract noun. It was something like 'The Ambiguity.'

* First name might be David. (20% certainty here).

[Apologize for the sparse clues. As soon I read about his work I knew I was determined to track it down -- then neglected to bookmark or jot down the actual info. So this riddle is really a passionate query.]

Books about the IRA and the "Troubles"

proj — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 15:20:08 -0800

What are the best -- in terms of compelling writing and in terms of comprehensiveness -- books about the "Troubles" between Ireland and the UK over the past 50 or so years? Bonus points if available on Kindle. AskMe produced some results on Irish history in general but not specifically the Troubles.

London calling; can I answer?

punishinglemur — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:17:43 -0800

The documents that the UK wants from me for a visit are extensive and horrifying. Will I be able to get into the country? I'm planning to visit my girlfriend, who is currently in the midst of a nine-month working gig in London, for a week (spring break) in late March. Looking over the list of documents they expect from me is horrifying.

I get the feeling they're going to think I'm a bum. I have no property, and my bank statements will show that I have a habit of not having much money at all. My employer is my college's cafeteria. I'm going over spring break, so there's no work to be excused from. I own no property. If it weren't for my parents' generosity, I wouldn't have the funds to make this trip work.

Are they going to stop me at the border? Do I really need written proof from my college that I am on spring break? Is this whole thing really as rough as it sounds?

They want their money back - but should they get it? (UK)

almostwitty — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:31:32 -0800

My British employer overpaid me back in June 2008 to the tune of £1k. I pointed this out at the time, but never heard from anyone. Now it's December, and they want the money back. However, I've heard that I can contest this, on the grounds that the employer made a mistake, and that it's illegal to force employees to rectify companies' mistakes. Is this true? And what legalese can I quote? :)

Britains Lower Class Kids - Would Like the Tour, Please.

watercarrier — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:31:42 -0800

Movies about Britain's Lower Class children and the society they live in? Having read about a British minister coining the phrase *feral children* who've gone wild, where most of the population now fears them for the crimes they commit and their *anti-social* behaviors, my curiousity is peaked. Where can I find videos and movies that depict the lower class/poverty level society in Britain with the main focus on the children that grow up in that environment and their behaviors? Not looking for YOBS - just the kids that raised in these families - ages 0-12 and how they act out.

Logistics of registering for British citizenship by descent

paultopia — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:53:24 -0800

Registering for British citizenship by descent: do they return the documents? Also: cutting a check in foreign currency? (Yeah, this is about an obscure a question as you can get. Perfect for AskMeFi.)

I'm planning to file the paperwork to register as a (dual with my U.S. birth citizenship) British citizen by descent via my mother, under this law.

This process has come up before here, but nobody seems to have said what actually happens after you file. Can someone with experience in the process tell me?

Particularly: do they return your documents? The application requires one to send in originals of one's passport (presumably, the passport from one's birth country), as well as one's mother's birth certificate and an expired passport for her. All of those documents are obnoxious to replace, and I'd really like to get them back.

If so, how long does it take them to return the documents? Does it take until the application is processed? (How long is that, anyway?)

Relatedly, does anyone know how I actually get a check cut in pounds from the U.S.? I'd like to purchase pounds now (while the exchange rate is relatively favorable) and then cut the check in a couple months when I get around to filing. My credit union doesn't do foreign currency trades. Can I just get pounds in cash, and then take them to a bank to have them cut a check in pounds at some point in the future?

How do credit checks/histories work in the UK?

metaBugs — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 07:01:51 -0800

UK Credit Reports / Histories: I've seen loads of posts referring to the USA system of credit scores, credit histories, etc. but never seen anyone refer to an equivalent UK system. Presumably we have one, but how does it work? So far in my life I've been lucky, and never taken a bank loan or had a credit card. This is great, but means I have no clue how the system works and I'm about to leave student life for the real world.

In my bank the other day, the manager tried to persuade me to sign up for a credit card (which I later found she gets commission for) and mentioned that it's useful to "build up credit". I assume she's talking about building up my credit rating so I can get loans more easily in the future, which I thought was just a US thing. Most importantly, I'm reluctant to take advice from someone who's getting paid to sell a credit card to me. I'd much rather ask... um... a bunch of strangers on the internet. Hmmm.

So:
Do I, having lived my whole life in the UK and never used credit, have a credit "score" like I've read about for the USA? If so, how do I find out what it is?

Is having a credit card and not using it (I'm terrified of spending money I don't have) really better for me than not having a credit card AND not having and debts?

Why, when performing credit checks, do companies always check my current and past addresses? I've been told that putting a student hall as my address will automatically get my phone contract refused so I put my parents' address and got through. Given that I haven't lived anywhere for longer than a year for nearly seven years now, why is my address more important than my name and bank account?

Big girls want cute clothes too.

santojulieta — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:26:17 -0800

Help me find some new British plus size clothes. I'm heading over to England and Scotland for a bit next week, and I'd like to pick up some new clothes.

Here are the irritating catches:

1. I'm a bit on the big side. I wear a US size 18 pants and usually an XL t-shirt and I'm 5'10".

2. I'm hoping to pick up clothes that I couldn't easily find in the states. H & M is too easy to find in Chicago, and I can't really wear any of their clothes anyway.

3. I don't have to totally restock my wardrobe, but I wouldn't mind finding a quality winter coat, some great boots, and some other basics, like jeans, a skirt, and a few tops.

Where can I shop?

Looking for British Folk Music

interrobang — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 10:37:23 -0800

Where can I find old recordings of British folk music? Is there a British Isles equivalent to the Smithsonian Folkways series of recordings? I'm interested in hearing real folk music--maybe from the 1900s to 1930s--not Fairport Convention-type bands that were influenced by old folk music. I'd love it if this music were freely downloadable online, but any suggestions for albums to buy would be appreciated, too. I'm hoping that there's something like this online, but for English music. Thanks!

What was the programme I watched?

Kiwi — Sat, 17 May 2008 06:24:43 -0800

What was the name of this BBC documentary? It was broadcast sometime around 2000. It was about how Britain has changed post-WWII, dwelling on rail closures due to the Beeching Axe, the construction of the motorways, and the subsequent death of the 'traditional' rural Britain. Its tone was pretty melancholic, and it was (to me) quite a moving piece. P.S. I am assuming it was a BBC thing, it may have been shown on ITV or Channel 4. Probably not Channel 5.

The Ninth Circle Of CS Hell

chuckdarwin — Wed, 14 May 2008 06:49:40 -0800

Which body oversees British Telecom: Ofcom or Otelo? Or is it BOTH? Two weeks ago, BT unceremoniously cancelled the DSL line in one of my offices. No warning; no red letter; there is no outstanding balance on the account... they just cancelled the service.

It is getting turned back on next Tuesday, but I can NOT get anyone from BT to tell me WHY they did it.

After spending all day on the phone with every BT Local Business branch from Leeds to Birmingham to Hereford (I'm not kidding), I am now waiting for a call back and some explanation.

You and I know both know the answer, though, don't we? The answer is that someone simply fucked it up. My boss wants the answer, though, and *compensation* for the petrol, man hours, spare router we purchased, the alarm engineer visit (these were all the hoops BT made us jump through).

Some poor drone in a call centre is going to apologise, and she/he will think that's going to be the end of it. Nope.

I have a letter drafted to:

Customer Service Director BT plc
Correspondence Centre
Durham
DH98 1BT

... I just need to know which government office to CC.

TIA for any help.

Which Right Honourable Gentlemen first said 'cheese'?

boubelium — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:04:16 -0800

Who was the first British Prime Minister to be photographed? And, who was the first PM to be photographed while holding the office?

I'm assuming it would be someone after Canning. I would guess that Wellington must have been photographed in his later years. Perhaps Peel was photographed while PM? Sadly my google-fu has failed me, but I hope you all will not!

taxes in the UK

arcadia — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 07:37:50 -0800

Can my wife claim my tuition as a tax credit in the UK? I am a PhD student in the UK. My wife is currently supporting both of us. We are from Canada and are ignorant about how taxes work in the UK. Can she claim the money we have spent on my tuition as a tax deduction?
Extra credit question: How?
Super bonus question: What forms do we need?
Thanks.

Driving on the Wrong Side with the Wind in my Hair

MasonDixon — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 06:36:51 -0800

Looking for great scenic and historic drives in England, the wind whipping my hair as I wind through cottages and countryside. Thus far, The guidebooks and my google-fu are failing me. I'll be in England with a convertible I am looking for some great scenic and/or historic drives.

I have some flexibility but I will be based in around Oxford, so it can't be anything too remote (No Scotland, Northumbria, Lake District or Yorkshire). I will also be in Wales for a little while. It's not hard to find great American drives on the web or in guidebooks, and I'd like to find a parallel listing for British ones.

Oh, and I've been to the Cotswolds before, but any specifically great itineraries would be welcome.

Should I reschedule a trip to Longleat?

ascullion — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 07:08:04 -0800

So, I've agreed to drive a group of people to Longleat Safari Park this weekend. It's been in the diary for months, but the weather forecast is not good. If you've been to Longleat before - is the bad weather going to spoil the trip? should we reschedule?