Author:  Colleen

So, when I told my husband last night what I blogged about yesterday regarding getting (and keeping) a visa for a UK relocation, his response was, “Geez! Don’t ruin London Relocation’s business by discouraging people to move here!” Yikes! SO not my intention, people, so I genuinely hope it isn’t coming across that way. What I do intend, though, is to just talk straight with you so that you aren’t thrown any curve-balls that could make your UK relocation any less feasible or pleasant than it ought to be. So that being said, today I’ll continue my straight-talk for you spouses and partners of professionals moving to London for work on a Tier 2 visa.

UK Relocation – UK Visas for Spouses and Partners

If you’re the spouse or partner of a Tier 2 visa holder, the good news is that you’ll also automatically have a visa and right to work in the UK by virtue of your dependent status. When my husband and I made our UK relocation in 2008 (yes, I moved here for his job and therefore fall into this spousal visa bucket), our visas were issued for a five-year term. These days, however, it seems the norm is three before you can then apply for indefinite leave to remain.

UK Relocation – Visa Terms and Your Employment

And now for the bad news…Well, feeling out how your employment back home might translate over here isn’t the easiest of tasks—many spouses will attest that making a lateral career move is an especial challenge, and sometimes you have to take steps back in your profession (or try something else entirely) when it comes down to basically taking what you can get. This can make for an exciting new opportunity or royally frustrating setback depending on your perspective.

If you want to find a full-time (i.e., permanent vs. contract) position in the UK, you’ll have to hit the ground running. I know I, for one, wanted to reserve the first couple months following my UK relocation for getting settled in and adjusted. You definitely need that time. But then the job search will require more, and you don’t want to wait too long because once your visa has less than two years left until expiration, UK employment law renders you ineligible for permanent employment. For example, I still have an entire year and a half left on my Tier 2 spousal visa—an arguably longer term than a local might stay in a permanent job—but even after living and working in the UK for going-on four years, I couldn’t apply for anything but temporary, contract-basis work at this point. That’s pretty jarring. So, for your own planning purposes, if you want to find a permanent work role after your UK relocation, initiate your search well in advance of two years prior to visa expiration and hold on to the job you get—unless, perhaps, you find a company to sponsor you in your own right and apply for a new visa based on that.

If, on the other hand, you don’t want/have to work here, then good on you!

UK Relocation – Keep the Faith

Again, the challenge of finding a London job after a UK relocation relates to what I spoke of yesterday: the tendency for locals to win jobs over expats because it’s sometimes a path of least resistance for employers. This isn’t to say, though, that the UK doesn’t recognize foreign talent; companies very much do and welcome it, so you just have to keep morale high and never give up asserting your qualifications to help contribute to this fine society. It’s not you; it’s just a tough market in the current global climate, and everyone is scrambling for their piece of the pie. Like I said before, your perspective dictates your experience. None of us move here just to replicate exactly what we had at home; it’s for taking on new experiences. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, as they say, and I can sure tell you that the road bumps we expats (and accompanying spouses at that) can hit are incredibly character-defining. So don’t lose heart. Just embrace your UK relocation for what it is and has yet to become!

Author:  Colleen

I’m going to speak frankly this week, expat to expat, in case you’re making a UK relocation and could face similar issues. As the title “Visa Realities for a UK Relocation” would imply, my topic relates to visas, which has every bit as much to do with working in the UK as it does moving there to begin with. Whether you’re relocating for your own work or with a spouse or partner, however, impacts the nature of the issues you could face. Today, let’s look at the profile of the Tier 2 visa holder…

UK Relocation – UK Visas for Professionals

Student visas are one matter, work-permit ones another. With the now effectively nonexistent Tier 1 visa, the reality for making a UK relocation happen for most expats pretty much hinges on finding a job here that will sponsor you. Easier said than done. If you’re being asked to transfer or want to and can possibly negotiate it with your employer, great—pursue that, and your company will sponsor your Tier 2 visa. There are no limitations to such. There is a finite amount, however, allocated to corporate-sponsored visas not related to employee transfers; that is, if you are hired for a new job in the UK.

UK Relocation – Setting Yourself Apart from the Rest

In the case of finding new work in the UK, to start, be aware that you’re effectively being hired as a local so likely won’t benefit from much of an expat package—the art of negotiation will determine what perqs you could get, but you might have a bit less leverage (see my earlier post “Relocating to London: Negotiating an Expat Package with Your Employer” for some considerations—though, mind you, there could be some benefits to not getting that support! See link here).

Beyond that, it’s also critical to understand that UK employers face the burden of proving to the UK government that the position was also open to UK and EU candidates and that such candidates were legitimately deemed less qualified for the position than you. You can understand, then, why employers might be reluctant to hire outside of UK and EU citizens when there’s a talented pool of professionals locally and it’s the path of least resistance. There’s no fast and easy answer to this. My best advice is to network like mad and register with recruiters in your field, if not approach relevant companies directly. Take some time to visit the UK to arrange meetings as well; good face-to-face impressions could ultimately lead to interviews that could ultimately lead to a UK relocation.

UK Relocation – Once on UK Soil

When you’ve proven to that UK employer that you are indeed that rare and unique snowflake deserving of the role, first of all, congrats! You can now initiate your UK relocation. If you’re hoping to be in for the long haul, note that you must live in the UK five years in order to apply for permanent residency, and then another year for citizenship (which requires passing an examination as well that isn’t for the faint of heart). Regardless of your goals, the short-term stretch of a UK relocation for all non-EU expats is all about the visa. So if you want to stay on at least a couple years or so, hold on to that job and hope the position (or company itself) will remain stable, or else ensure you can find another employer willing to sponsor you, as your Tier 2 visa is contingent on that sponsorship.

Take nothing for granted in those first five years, folks. A UK relocation is a beautiful thing, but there are a lot of variables involved that could make it less than a sure thing, especially now that the safety net of the Tier 1 visa is a thing of the past. Stay tuned tomorrow when I speak from the perspective of those involved in a UK relocation as a spouse or partner.

James II of England (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Author: Colleen

If you’re moving to London (or maybe already have) and ever previously followed my Weekend Warrior Sunday series, whoa!! Has it seriously been since the first of year that I’ve left you hangin’ on King James II?? Uh, sorry about that. I’ve been on a months’-long hiatus with blogging as I’ve helped London Relocation with its new website content—for this, the redesigned site, as well as its newly launched pet relocation site and pending one for businesses whose employees are moving to London. At any rate, I’m baaaaaaaack and with a vengeance, just like James II‘s opposers, apparently…

An inevitability of moving to London is encountering its history in every step you take. There is no avoiding a monument here or a plaque there and historic buildings all around that remind you of all the city’s layers of time. Today, we’re ripping up the modern-day pavement to peel back centuries of sediment and new construction to peek at 1665.

Moving to London – Friends in High Places

Already in 1665, his first year of reign, James II has discontinued meetings of Parliament to rule on his own. He appoints Catholics in prominent political, military, and academic places to promote the religion over Protestantism. And it’s in 1667 that he takes his measures for religious tolerance further by issuing a Declaration of Indulgence that he requires all Anglican clergy to recite to their congregations.

Moving to London – The Situation Gets Heir-y

By 1688, in only three years’ time James II has managed to alienate the nobility and burgeoning commercial class largely due to his imposing religious views. To make things more complicated, he has an adult daughter, Mary, who is Protestant and therefore who Parliament wishes to see succeed James’s throne. James’s second wife, however, gives birth to a Catholic son, James Francis Edward. Consider Parliament nervous. But they don’t take a seemingly assured Catholic succession lying down. They appeal to Mary and her husband William of Orange to come to England and assume the throne—in a weird twist of the family tree, they are both rightful heirs. So, William lands in Devon with an army, and as they’re moving in to London, James II is fleeing out of it to avoid capture—he’s alienated his own army and navy by this point, after all, so no one’s got his back.

Moving to London – Reconciled to Exile…Eventually

James doesn’t quite get away with it. He is indeed captured, but William goes easy on him and allows him a safe journey to France to live in exile. In 1689, Parliament renders his throne abdicated and jointly coronates William and Mary the King and Queen of England. James hasn’t given up yet, though; he makes his way to Ireland to assemble French-backed troops there. William’s forces defeat him, however, at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, so James lives the rest of his life (just over another decade) in exile in France.

Well, if you’re moving to London, hopefully your movements to and from the UK go a bit more smoothly, hey? No need for drama when your loyal London Relocation agent is there to ensure a smooth transition every step of the way. So use the time you’re saving on moving to London to expand your knowledge on its history—join me here next Sunday for more bite-sized bits!

Author:  Colleen

Researching your options for a London relocation agent can be a tedious task, as there are many out there in a city as large as this. Yet when it comes to finding a London relocation agent who will guarantee your placement in the perfect London apartment and neighborhood for you—with a 98% chance it’ll happen in only one day, no joking!—then you’ve got yourself an effective search filter that whittles down your London relocation agents to just the one company: London Relocation.

London Relocation Agent – Award Night a Bit of a Bummer

I’ll ‘fess up: we didn’t win the awards we were shortlisted for at Re:locate Magazine‘s 2011/12 awards on Thursday night. But in that same confession is admission that we were, in fact, shortlisted for multiple awards (Best Property Provider or Solution and Relocation Service Provider/Team of the Year) in the first place, which was an honor—especially when we were up against larger companies who have been around the block a few more times. I know, you’re thinking, “That’s what all losers have to say to make themselves feel better.” Well, yes, that’s true, but that’s really not why I’m saying it. If it was, why on earth would I broadcast it here and make it so obvious??! I’ll tell you the real reason why in a moment, but first allow me to applaud all of the evening’s victors, who represented the industry spectrum from London relocation agents to moving logistics to HR professionals. Bravo!

London Relocation Agent – Our Loss is Our Own Gain

No one likes a cocky London relocation agent, or any service provider or person for that matter. Not when it comes to those you need to rely on to give you peace of mind and a helping hand. With fair weather can come complacency, and I’ll tell you this: the London Relocation team prefers to play it like old-school Little League, not these days where every player gets a trophy in the end. We want recognition we deserve. And we still hold our heads high when we don’t get recognition we deserve. It just means we’ll work that much harder to deserve it more. And we know the recognition that means the most anyway—that would be our clients’ satisfaction, not a trophy to ultimately use as a really neat paperweight. Because this isn’t Little League. We’re playing in the big leagues now and endeavoring more than ever to meet the high bar we’ve set for ourselves and continually raise. Self-congratulation among industry peers is all well and good, but at the end of the day, if a client doesn’t have a London flat to call home, that would be the real loss. And we never lose in that respect. Not on our watch.

London Relocation Agent – So, What Were We Doing Instead of  Winning Awards on Thursday??

Well, believe it or not, as I sat at our dining table enjoying good company, I looked to my left and saw Phillippa checking her phone for client calls and emails and receiving signed terms and conditions to employ our services. And as I looked to my right, I saw Mat likewise checking in to ensure the week’s clients had gotten sorted all right with their estate agents. I spoke with Ryan about his viewing day before the event, and he mentioned how the clients had invited him for a pint in what will be their new neighborhood thanks to that day’s successful searches—because rapport between London Relocation agent and client is consistently that friendly and honest-to-goodness enjoyable. I saw Kenny across the table likewise with his phone at the ready so as not to let any incoming client communication slip through the cracks. And me? Well, I’m just the writer. I sat back and drank wine. But at one point AJ leaned toward me and simply said, “You know, I never wanted all this,” as he gestured to the grand banquet room at large. “I’ve never been in it for this or the money.” To which I replied, “You just want to help people. That’s why business is doing so well. So just keep doing what you’re doing.” And what they’re doing is embracing a young, progressive spirit to move forward in ways the greater industry can admittedly remain rather stodgy and stagnant. And LR is wrapped up in a package of expats who empathize with what you’re going through when you initiate an international relocation; that personal understanding makes for a personal service that’s all sorts of intangible-value-added.

And I’ll be honest. When I looked around my table, I also saw quite a bit of merrymaking. And why not? These folks work really darn hard day-in and day-out and deserved to blow off some steam in an evening of camaraderie. And even so, it was still business as usual: three sets of signed terms and conditions came in that night. Not a single hiccup in client communication no matter if the champagne came close to producing the literal kind. It was an evening of laughter, dancing, and team solidarity, and that night we toasted not ourselves but all of YOU, dear existing and future clients, and the great success your London Relocation agent will help you make of your shiny new London lives. Cheers!

Author: Colleen

As you do your research on London relocation services (and perhaps whether you think one is necessary for your international move or not), whatever Google search or referral that has brought you right here, right now has most assuredly led you to just the right place.

Pardon me as I get a little schmaltzy, but I’m gushing with pride in the London Relocation team and particularly today because TONIGHT they’re being recognized by the relocation industry for their outstanding London relocation services. Walk with me, if you will, down memory lane as I reflect on what’s made this relocation agency what it is today.

London Relocation Services – An American Expat in London

An American expat who relocated to London himself, Anthony (“AJ”) Gallo incorporated London Relocation Ltd. as a one-man-band in 2005. He learned about the logistics of international relocation the hard way and wanted to apply his personal experience to providing London relocation services to other expats so they could skip over the tough stuff. From the get-go, his knowledge of London’s culture and property (and how such differs from clients’ home countries) reduced clients’ stress, and especially key was birthing the concept of London Relocation’s 18-to-25-properties-in-one-day approach. For international transferees who need to hit the ground running in their overseas assignments, AJ wanted his service strategy to spare both time and money and promote a simple business model of efficiency and personable service. But as demand for his London relocation services grew, he realized he could no longer do it alone…

London Relocation Services – The Little Business That Could

AJ’s discerning eye in recruiting staff over the years brought aboard the right people in the right capacities. Business really picked up momentum as a result, and 2010 saw record growth when the company doubled in size and earnings, meeting an overseas client placement rate of nearly 100%. Like AJ and his staff, the business maintained a lean, no-nonsense, no-frills attitude—they saw to it that administrative procedures stay purposeful, not bureaucratic, and that their London relocation services be refined and straightforward to remain adaptable to the fluctuating market and interactive with clients every step of the way.

These efforts in growing and streamlining the business weren’t in vain. A year ago this month, AJ Gallo won Re:locate Magazine‘s 2010/11 Rising Star in Relocation award! And man, you can bet the entire team was royally psyched about that. But that didn’t mean they settled back in contentment. No, sir—this award only set their gazes higher and motivated them to work harder…

London Relocation Services – Looking Forward, Reaching Farther

Over the last year, continued client satisfaction with LR’s London relocation services spoke for itself in the form of 50 new testimonials; past client referrals also accounted for nearly a quarter of new business. Mind you, LR only added one new agent to the team during this time and still managed to more than double its clientele over the previous year while maintaining its high-level customer service. The team enjoys a steady client placement rate of 100%, 98% of which is accomplished in only one day of viewings. And the business has not only gotten a face-lift with the redesign of this website, but it’s London relocation services have expanded to include pet-placement, a department newly launched at www.londonpetrelocation.com.

And, once again, they aren’t going unnoticed. I’m proud to announce that the London Relocation team has been shortlisted for not one Re:locate Awards category this year but TWO, and they’re bigguns: the 2011/12 Best Property Provider or Solution and Relocation Service Provider/Team of the Year! The official winners will be announced at the awards banquet tonight, and we’re not a little antsy about it.

But, you know, being shortlisted among the ranks of much bigger, longer-established relocation companies is already a victory in our book. It’s a sign that London Relocation has come of age as a worthy and exciting contribution to the industry, and while tonight’s awards are a chance for team members to pat themselves on the backs, the fact remains that their primary focus has been and always will be on YOU, providing nothing less than top-notch London relocation services to make your international move a rather pleasant experience!

Author:  Colleen

James II, King of England - London Relocation agency - Image via Wikipedia

Hello there, Weekend Warriors! Continuing with our British history lessons on Britain’s monarchs (if you’re relocating to London and wanting to learn more about it), today we meet the successor of King Charles II: James II.

Like his brother Charles, James II was exiled to France when Cromwell took over as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth in Britain. When Charles II returned to restore the monarchy, James likewise came back and was ultimately named Charles II’s heir to the throne. This had initially met with resistance given James II’s Catholic faith, but Charles II’s efforts in his later years to secure his brother’s position were not in vain: as James takes to the throne in 1685, he inherits a Tory-dominated Parliament and strong executive office. You might recall from my last Weekend Warrior Sunday post that King Charles II did indeed have sons; the reason his brother James is now king is because none of Charles’s sons were born to his wife. Ah, such technicalities…

As a result, early in King James II‘s reign, he faces resistance from one of his illegitimate nephews vying for the throne, the Duke of Monmouth. This Protestant rebellion is squashed after the Battle of Sedgemoor in 1685, and Judge Jeffries presides over the “Bloody Assizes” in doling out punishment in the form of execution, torture, or slavery; the Duke of Monmouth himself is beheaded gruesomely. It’s only a matter of time, though, before King James II meets more resistance, and from within his government at that. His appointments of Catholics in high places is looked on with disfavor, and he loses his Tory support. Doh!

Join me next week to see how this King of England fares through the rest of his reign as opposition stacks against him. And as you wage your own battle against the London property market in implementing your international relocation to London, enlist the services of the London Relocation agency to make sure all runs in your favor.

Related articles

• Weekend Warrior Sunday: London Leaders (londonrelocationservices.com)
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• Weekend Warrior Sunday: London Leaders (londonrelocationservices.com)

Author:  Colleen

The New Year in London - London Relocation agency - Image by Getty Images via @daylife

If you haven’t made your international relocation to London yet, perhaps you were able to catch its SPECTACULAR New Year’s fireworks display. The city really outdid itself in ushering in 2012, as the entire ten-minutes-long show ran like an ongoing finale, and this was the first year the fireworks were set to music. They exploded from everywhere—Big Ben, the London Eye, and along the river—right after a giant countdown projected onto the side of the Shell Centre on London’s south bank. The masses gathered in and around Westminster for the show, and, while I didn’t envy their commute home in such crowds, it’s awesome that London runs the Tube trains all night for such occasion.

We unfortunately didn’t have a direct view of the display from our London apartment, but we could see its throbbing glow silhouetting the buildings at the end of our square and imagined that’s what the Blitz may have looked like from our same window decades ago. BBC HD on the telly makes for a fine substitute as well: we watched BBC’s live footage and listened to the actual pops and bangs illuminating the sky outside.

If you’re moving to London in 2012, cheers to you and your new year of possibilities! Much luck and joy to you as you make your international relocation, and, to add a little pomp and circumstance to the occasion, check out the BBC video of the New Year’s fireworks in London below. (To further reflect on the old year and what’s coming up in London in the new, see also my previous post, “Relocation to London – London 2011 in Review“)

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE LONDON RELOCATION AGENCY!!!

The Victorian's approach to London property - London Relocation Services - Image via Wikipedia

Author:  Colleen

Moving to London is a multi-layered process with one critical component being your London apartment search. The London Relocation agency is comprised of expat experts who can answer all your questions concerning a relocation to London—the London property market, local culture, UK visas, etc. As so much of London housing is dominated by Victorian-era architecture, I decided to supplement your relocation knowledge with some historical context. In Part 1 of my “Moving to London – London Apartment Search, Victorian Style” mini-series, I shared with you some primary considerations in “taking a house” per The Pocket Enquire Within: A guide to the Niceties and Necessities of Victorian domestic life. This 1856 book was an essential reference for Victorian society in maintaining a healthy and proper way of life, from domestic roles and responsibilities to socializing to home remedies and all-around self-betterment. Today, I bring to you a continuation of this good ol’ Victorian advice on “Household Management,” which factors in practical considerations along with a healthy dose of Victorian moralizing :

HAVING CONSIDERED THESE material and leading features [see my Part 1 for said features], examine the house in detail, carefully looking into its state of repair; notice the windows that are broken; whether the chimneys smoke; whether the paper on the walls is damaged, especially in the lower parts, and the corners, by the skirtings; whether the locks, bolts, handles of doors, and window fastenings are in proper condition; make a list of the fixtures; ascertain whether all rent and taxes were paid up by the previous tenant, and whether the party from whom you take the house is the original landlord, or his agent or tenant. And do not commit yourself by the signing of any agreement until you are satisfied upon all these points, and see that all has been done which the landlord had undertaken.

IF YOU ARE ABOUT TO FURNISH A HOUSE, do not spend all your money; be it much or little. Do not let the beauty of this thing, and the cheapness of that, tempt you to buy unnecessary articles. Doctor Franklin’s maxim was a wise one – “Nothing is cheap that we do not want.” Buy merely enough to get along with at first. It is only by experience that you can tell what will be the wants of your family. If you spend all your money, you will find you have purchased many things you do not want, and have no means left to get many things which you do want. If you have enough, and more than enough, to get everything suitable to your situation, do not think you must spend it all, merely because you happen to have it. Begin humbly. As riches increase, it is easy and pleasant to increase in comforts; but it is always painful and inconvenient to decrease. After all, these things are viewed in their proper light by the truly judicious and respectable. Neatness, tastefulness, and good sense may be shown in the management of a small household, and the arrangement of a little furniture, as well as upon a larger scale; and these qualities are always praised, and always treated with respect and attention. The consideration which many purchase by living beyond their income, and, of course, living upon others, is not worth the trouble it costs. The glare there is about this false and wicked parade is deceptive; it does not, in fact, procure a man valuable friends, or extensive influence.

Hm, methinks we struck a nerve with our fine Victorian narrator. I get the impression that household spending is a soapbox this particular author loved to preach upon time and again…

Regardless, it is good advice and important to consider when you’re furnishing your new London apartment. Many (if not most) London apartment rentals do come furnished, but you might still have some odds and ends to pick up. For more contemporary advice on sorting out furnishings for your international relocation (such as whether to ship stuff you already have from home and where to buy new stuff here in London), see my post, “London Flat-Finding: Furnished or Unfurnished?” as well as “London Relocation’s Top 5 – Money Matters” for additional spending advice where cost of living and cost savings are concerned. Your London Relocation agent can, of course, expand on all of these practical matters, so don’t hesitate to call the London Relocation agency or contact them via their online web form!

Author:  Colleen

What the Victorians looked for in London property - London Relocation Services - Image via Wikipedia

Finding a London apartment to rent is an essential step in your international relocation to London, England. The London Relocation company’s agents and website here are invaluable resources for flat-finding advice, and I thought I’d supplement that with a bit of historical fun; i.e., how the Victorians were advised to approach the house-hunting process. Knowing my nerdy penchant for Victorian London history ever since we moved into our 19th century terraced house on moving to London from the US, my husband just gave me the book, The Pocket Enquire Within: A guide to the Niceties and Necessities of Victorian domestic life. Oh my gosh, do I love it. Originally published in 1856, this was an actual reference book that Victorians consulted for guidance on living properly. Some bits are outright hilarious to read given their outdated context, but I thought you might be interested in the diligent advice offered for “taking a house” if you’re making a relocation to London and in need of a home [Licks thumb and turns page to chapter on "Household Management"]:

TAKING A HOUSE – Before taking a house, be careful to calculate that the rent is not too high in proportion to your means; for remember that the rent is a claim that must be paid with but little delay, and that the landlord has greater power over your property than any other creditor.

HAVING DETERMINED the amount of rent which you can afford to pay, be careful to select the best house which can be obtained for that sum. And in making that selection let the following matters be carefully considered: -

FIRST – Carefully regard the healthfulness of the situation. Avoid the neighbourhood of graveyards, and of factories giving forth unhealthy vapours; avoid low and damp districts, the course of canals, and localities of reservoirs of water, gas works, &c.; make inquiries as to the drainage of the neighbourhood, and inspect the drainage and water supply of the premises. A house standing on an incline is likely to be better drained than one standing upon the summit of a hill, or on a level below a hill. Endeavour to obtain a position where the direct sunlight falls upon the house, for this is absolutely essential to health; and give preference to a house the openings of which are sheltered from the north and east winds.

SECOND – Consider the distance of the house from your place of occupation: and also its relation to provision markets, and the prices that prevail in the neighbourhood.

Got that, ole chap? Pip-pip. Well, I reckon your London Relocation agent would agree with all aspects of that second point. As for the first, perhaps I should be more concerned that I live near an utterly awesome and atmospheric Victorian cemetery, hmm… In any case, more Victorian advice to follow in my next post. Why? Because I think it’s funny. And I know the London Relocation agency will provide you the more modern housing advice you seek in the meantime.

Author:  Colleen

An international relocation to London includes learning about new foods and traditions as you adjust to British culture. That’s all part of the fun of moving to London once the challenging relocation logistics (like finding and moving into your London apartment rental) are behind you. One thing that’ll never get left behind, though, is the cultural knowledge you’ll learn after living in London a while.

Christmas was a case in point for my husband and me this year. While they can be found in the States at import stores like World Market or even Starbucks, Christmas crackers from Marks & Spencer traveled overseas in our luggage to add an extra dazzle to our Chicago Christmas Eve at my parents’. I’m not talking something you can eat with cheese—”crackers” in this context are cylindrical poppers that two partygoers pull from each end in opposing directions to crack them open and delight in the little prizes found inside. Contents can range from little toys to card games to even fingernail clippers and mini screwdrivers (as my siblings discovered), but every cracker will contain a joke and paper crown. Such a simple, quirky thing, but, man, did it get everyone hyper and unite us in laughter—children and adults alike! It was a new and special twist to the holiday, and I’ll always treasure the image of everyone wearing their colorful crowns.

It’s believed that the crown might derive from Twelfth Night celebrations when a king and queen presided over festivities, and the idea of wearing a hat at parties goes all the way back to the ancient Romans’ Saturnalia celebrations around the 25th of December. The Christmas cracker itself dates back to 1846, when it was originally a sweet wrapped in paper twisted at both ends; rather than a joke, it contained a love poem as it was traditionally a gift given by men to women. The banger (the chemical strip that makes the cracker pop) was added around 1860. As time went on and imitations were made, the original creator, Thomas Smith, replaced the candy with a surprise gift, and,  in the early 1900s, his sons replaced the poem with a joke and added the crown.

The second British invasion of our holiday took place on Christmas Day, when we cooked some traditional fare for my mother-in-law: deliciously golden chicken pie with homemade cranberry sauce, brussel sprouts with bacon, and gingerbread stuffing on the side. That last deviation from the traditional turkey stuffing was compliments of British presenter Nigella Lawson, whose Christmas Kitchen special made us salivate and inspired our meal. The dishes were a flavorful success, and if you’d like to try the same, the pie and stuffing recipes can be found at the BBC links below:

Chicken pie: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/9433/chicken-pie
Gingerbread stuffing: http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/gingerbreadstuffing_84757

How might an international relocation to London inspire your future holiday traditions? There’s only one way to find out: move on over here! Your London Relocation agent is here to help.