The accountant's advice when we left the UK in 1967 was to "cash everything in. You never know what is going to happen and it is better to have the money with you."

That included cashing in our National Health contributions "stamps".

We followed that same advice after working in the US for over a year before moving up to Canada .......... we managed to take out any moneys paid into the private pension plan that had been compulsory.

Since then, the only problem has been after my m-i-l died, and her daughter and son (both over here) had to wait for more than a year after probate had been granted until the executor decided that shares in a couple of banks had improved sufficiently that they would not lose too much money, sold the shares and finally wound up the estate.

We've found over the years that the accountant's advice all those years ago was very sound.

The pension either of us would have received would have been peanuts compared with the pensions we have now from Canada, and we have no worries about exchange rates.

Perhaps white with a big red cross on it.

Just like a flag I saw attached to a car going past me in North Van this morning ...

S

Likely Shard is a wind-up on the 'white passport with a red cross'

Old Blue style passport please

I'm a Londoner, born and raised ... so clearly also from England. I have a Union Jack phone case but would never have an English flag phone case.

S

agreed

'when in Rome'

Wow- I thought that was just me (being very pro union jack and not at all enthusiastic about the red cross. And not just because of the healthy dollop of scot in me)

I doff my cap!

revised list from my post #45 up thread

In simple terms, without dealing with a Scotland referendum

- Within 24 months from the Brexit vote, the UK is no longer a member of the EU, deal done, divorce papers signed

- Some sort of trade agreement is in place, whether its an EEA, EFTA or a Switzerland deal... just something. If not, then naff off.

- UK has no the freedom of movement with any of the EEA or EU counties, no Schengen area either

- UK retains full control over its borders, immigration, all welfare, pensions, work, wages & tax

- UK broadens its scope of trade partners & imports from wherever, whatever it is at the best price. Increases trade with the Orient, South America, Mexico, Russia & the US. If one of the European countries has something it wants to sell to the UK at a better price than the UK can get from outside the EU, then its a deal

- UK opens its trading for countries outside Europe for industry & manufacturing to create UK jobs & exports

FWIW, I laugh sometimes (or used to before all this madness) about the fact that I would never have such a phone case if I was living in the UK but I guess it's making a point about my identity here in Canada. After UK citizenship is the only one I have. And no it doesn't mean I want to go back and live there.

S

Again same here!- I now have a union jack on my bike jacket.

The city wants it to be Norway style so they have unrestricted access to sell financial services in the EU. This includes freedom of movement.

The UK absolutely cannot afford for London to lose its status as one of the biggest financial centres in the world so I expect they will get their way.

I read that the EBA was moving as a result of Brexit. I don't know how significant that is with regard to the City of London's continued status.

But my question now is: just because the UK wants London to continue as the biggest financial centre does it mean it's going to get its way now the UK's influence has declined somewhat since last Thursday?

S

I agree, we'll end up with roughly the status quo just with fags and booze costing more.

It is within 24 months of the UK invoking article 50. If no deal has been agreed the UK is out and trading on WTO terms. The remaining 27 countries can choose to extend this period if they want. The UK has no say in this.

Of course, the UK does not have to give notice under article 50. In theory, we can carry on as we are now indefinitely.

Some Euro's already working on denying that.

Ultimately the City provides a lot more money to the economy than the 52% therefore I don't think we'll ever see Article 50 invoked. They're already pushing quietly to delay it till next year.

Those are the stocks that have gone up in recent days whilst everything else has collapsed.