How to Retire Without Money
BEST PLACES TO RETIRE: GREAT BRITAIN (page 3)
THE BRITISH. If you have in mind the classic cartoon character of an Englishman wearing a monocle, lacking in humor, and limiting his conversation to an occasional "By Jove"-forget about it. As far as physical appearance is concerned, the British look about the same as we do. Possibly they average a bit shorter in height. As far as a sense of humor is concerned, you'll find every type of humor in England, just as you will in our own land. And the one big advantage is that in England you can understand their jokes and they can understand yours.You can find every type of Englishman, just as you can every type of American. Good, bad, indifferent. No, I take that back. There is one kind you'll never find; one that wears a monocle and says "By Jove."
The British people are good natured, hospitable, courteous, well disciplined, averagely handsome. And eat absolutely the worst food in the civilized world.
MONEY. British money is the most incomprehensible on earth. Who dreamed up their money system I haven't the vaguest idea but it makes no more sense than their weights and measures. (The English "foot" which is also used in America, was decided upon because it was the length of the king's foot some centuries ago.)
At any rate, $2.80 in American money makes one British pound.
A pound is divided into twenty shillings which in turn consists of 12 pennies.
Coins come in halfpenny, one penny, three pence, six pence, one shilling, two shillings, two shillings and six pence. And paper money comes in 10 shillings, one pound and five pound notes.
If the above doesn't confuse you, you'll find that many prices are listed in guineas which are worth a pound, one shilling. But there is no such coin or note as a guinea. They also call their two shilling six pence coin a Half Crown, but there is no such thing as a "Crown."
To top it off, all the coins are called by slang terms. A shilling is a "bob," a pound is a "quid ," sixpence is a "tanner," two shillings is a Florin.
Until recently it was illegal for a foreigner to bring more than ten pounds into England from abroad but the law has been changed and now you can import as much British money as you wish. However, the pound is currently strong in New York and Switzerland and you make no gain on the free market exchanges. You can also bring as many dollars or other foreign currency into the country as you wish.
§ WORK PERMISSION. As I mentioned under Entry Requirements, you are not allowed to work in Great Britain without a work permit. This is issued-sometimes-by the Ministry of Labour and National Service, St. James Square, London, S.W.I. If you are either an immigrant or a student, such permission is quite readily granted. If you are neither, it can be difficult.
If the company for which you wish to work can prove to the government's satisfaction that an English citizen can't do the job, then you're in like Flynn. But if you're displacing an Englishman, you're out. For instance, Elizabeth Arden was able to employ a U.S. "face dress specialist" but Time magazine had trouble hiring American secretaries.
However, we don't particularly recommend working in England at regular jobs anyway. The pay is miserable and working conditions far below American standards. Your best bet is either to work for an American firm, or the U.S. government, who pay off in dollars-or find some occupation which doesn't call for a work permit.
Rules and regulations change periodically and your best bet is to get hold of the current copy of the Anglo American Year Book which is published by the American Chamber of Commerce in London. There are copies available in the larger public libraries and in the offices of the British Information Service in New York, Chicago, Washington and San Francisco. This also gives you a run down on the addresses of the airlines, publications, banks, film companies, advertising agencies, manufacturing concerns, and others that have offices in both England and the U.S.
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