April 2027 issuu 117

Month: April 2017 Issue No: 117 Independent monthly community news and business directory for KT5 & KT6

Delivered free each month to homes in Berrylands, plus Surbiton or Tolworth

Happy Easter

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Hello Readers, Well, it does seem that Spring is upon us at last! It came in with a wimper, so to speak.

This month’s edition of A Berrylands Companion has some new advertisers, which is great. But we can always do with MORE! Any business can advertise.

I often get asked whether I know of a particular tradesman, but if they don’t advertise with us, they will miss out on a prospective client.

Talking of new advertisers, we are coming up to the Wedding Season.

Are you involved with helping brides and their Mother’s with planning and preparing? Will you be the make up artist, the hairdresser, the dress designer or maker? Are you the florist, the caterer or do provide the wedding cars? You get the idea, so anyone concerned with

weddings, why not start advertising? Get in touch and you could be advertising in the magazine. Glenmore House is one venue that holds weddings and they are advertising in this issue.

With a recent increase in house burglaries, Ample Security contacted me to ask to advertise their services to home owners.

So you can see that there are many types of businesses and services that can offer you something that you need.

I hope you have a lovely Easter!

Best wishes,

Karen

Useful Numbers Kingston Council www.kingston.gov.uk Action Fraud (Trading Standards) Refuse Collection Electoral Registration Council Tax Citizens Advice Customs & Excise (VAT) Inland Revenue Helpline Environmental Agency Surbiton Library Kingston Police Non Emergency Police Emergency Services Non Emergency NHS Transport: National Rail Enquiries Public Transport Traveline Gatwick Airport Heathrow Airport

020 8547 5757 020 8547 4654 020 8547 5560 020 8547 4630 020 8547 5196 0870 126 4019 0845 010 9000 08459 000 444 0870 850 6506 020 8547 6444 020 8541 1212 101 999 111

Emergencies/Utilities: Gas Emergency Electricity Emergency Water Emergency BT Fault Line Virgin Media Crimestoppers Kingston Hospital Childline Samaritans Age Concern Kingston Relate www.relatekh.org Domestic Violence Helpline www.victimsupport.org.uk Surbiton Safer Neighbourhood Team based at YMCA

0800 111 999 0800 783 8866 0845 920 0800 0800 800 151 0845 142 0000 0800 555 111 020 8546 7711 0800 1111 0845 790 9090 0800 00 99 66 020 8549 3318 020 8547 3202 020 8721 2518

08457 484 950 0870 608 2608 0844 335 1802 0844 335 1801 A Berrylands Companion 18 Kingsdowne Road, Surbiton, KT6 6JZ 020 8274 0096 karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk www.berrylands-companion.co.uk Please mention A Berrylands Companion when responding to adverts

3

Finance Ways To Reduce ‘Hidden’ Spending So You Can Save Money Or Pay Off Debt By Ann Haldon wastage as consumers are encouraged to buy more than they need – a particular danger if you also shop when you’re hungry.

There are the obvious ways to save money, such as using comparison websites or cancelling an unused gym membership, but what about the ‘hidden’ money pits that drain your cash in a less evident way?

Three areas immediately spring to mind – food, cars and technology – all essential parts of life but ones that can seriously deplete your financial reserves. So what can you do to stem the flow of cash, start to pay off your debts, or save towards something special such as retirement or a family holiday?

Food shopping According to Love Food Hate Waste, £13 billion of edible food was wasted by households across the UK in 2015, equating to 7.3 million tonnes.¹ One of the issues is that people don’t plan their food shopping, and overestimate how much their household needs.

Although it’s a very convenient way to shop, supermarkets encourage overspending with so-called ‘deals’ and careful placement of goods around the store. This can result in food

4

Cars An essential part of everyday life for most people, running a car is expensive and constitutes a significant chunk of the annual budget. So although you may already be resigned to spending a small fortune on your car, have you looked closely at all the costs?

Insurance premiums The ever-increasing cost of insurance is a particular bugbear for motorists. On top of the annual increase in premiums, Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) has also risen from 5% to 6%, making insuring your car even more expensive.

Although there’s nothing you can do about IPT, if you plan in advance and can afford to pay in one lump sum rather than by monthly direct debit, you’ll save money in the long-run. It’s also worthwhile looking at the level of cover your current policy provides, and whether it’s still appropriate.

Fuel Fuel is usually the largest cost for motorists, and one of the best ways to save is to alter your driving habits. Avoiding harsh acceleration and braking, and reducing your speed on the motorway, if only by a few miles per hour, will help you save.

You can check the price

of local petrol online using PetrolPrices.com, and plan ahead so you’re not forced into buying expensive fuel at motorway service stations en route. Making sure your tyres are at the correct pressure, and reducing unnecessary weight in the car, will also help.

Servicing and MOT Package deals on servicing are available on new and used cars, and although it may seem a large outlay at first, they can offer long-term savings. As far as MOTs are concerned, you can save the cost of a re-test just by carrying out a few simple checks before taking the car in, such as tyre tread depth and light bulbs.

Phones and technology Most people don’t question the fact that they have a landline, but do you really need one?

If you naturally reach for your mobile to make a call and could manage without a home phone, you’ll make a significant saving on line rental and call costs.

If you prefer to keep the landline, maybe you could save on the cost of your mobile phone. With so many competitive pay-as-you-go deals around, it’s worthwhile checking them against your contract. Also, don’t forget about recycling any old phones to raise extra cash. ¹https://www. lovefoodhatewaste.com/article/ unite-food-waste-fight http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/ money/bills/article-1591904/50ways-save-money.html

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email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

5

At last, it’s Spring at Surbiton Racket and Fitness Club

H

ere at the Club we always look forward to April, in the fervent hope of some decent weather. It’s officially Spring, anyway.

The evenings have been getting ever lighter, tempting more of us out for evening tennis. For this, our nine hard courts, three of them laid in synthetic clay, are available all the year round.

And although we have lots of floodlights if we need them, the extra hour of Summer Time that we have now is a boon for evening tennis enthusiasts.

Always in April there’s an added bustle as the ground staff prepare our eleven grass courts for their traditional opening in May. This year the grass will be really new, as all our grass courts were completely re-laid way back in September last year. We’re all eager to try them out!

Preparations are also on the way for the annual Aegon Surbiton Trophy, the international men’s and ladies’ tournament which runs from the 3rd of June to the 12th, leading up to Queen’s and then Wimbledon itself. This year there are substantial increases in the prize money for the Aegon Surbiton Trophy, reflecting its importance as part of the opening of the grass season, as it has since the early 1900s.

Alongside is our Studio, which is dedicated to regular classes in Zumba, Pilates, Yoga and Indoor Cycling.

Physiotherapy is now a most popular innovation at the Club, with its own Studio. This is run in partnership with Kingston Physiotherapy. We also have our own Chiropracter, Neil Reilly, who is available by appointment on 0208 390 9030.

An important feature of any modern club like Surbiton Racket and Fitness is the depth of tennis coaching. At Surbiton we have no less than fourteen registered coaches who operate coaching programmes designed for different age-groups and diverse standards. Some of our Coaches operate at local schools, with whom we have term-time arrangements.

At Surbiton we’re keen on social activities. Our events are well-patronised and our regular Quiz Nights are usually over-subscribed.

At Surbiton Racket and Fitness Club we offer a unique set of facilities for our Members which is unmatched by any similar local Club. Central to our activities is the Clubhouse Bar, where you can make new friends and relax with a coffee or a drink. If you want cooked food, this can be ordered from our extensive Club Menu.

Indoors, the tempo of the Club is much the same all the year round, with everything buzzing!

Our four state-of-the-art squash courts, all airconditioned and heated as necessary, are usually in heavy demand, not least because Members use them for Racketball as well! And there’s Squash Night on Saturday, with good fun for all abilities.

Why not come round and check us out? No appointment is needed and there’s no obligation.

You’ll be very welcome. Meanwhile don’t miss out on the dates for the Aegon Surbiton Trophy. 3rd June to the 12th – remember?

Our Fitness Suite has become one of the major attractions for our Members. We have some of the most up-to-date fitness equipment, from cardiovascular aids to resistance machines and free weights. Why not come as our Guest and give them a try?

Best wishes

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See you soon, I hope!

Roy Roy Staniland is Director of Surbiton Racket and Fitness Club, Berrylands, KT5 8JT 0209 399 1594 www.surbiton.org

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7

NEW CAT CABINS FOR EPSOM, EWELL & DISTRICT CATS PROTECTION

by Pamela Green Cats Protection Epsom, Ewell & District branch was exceptionally fortunate in being remembered in the will of the late Mrs Patricia Walden of Banstead. The branch committee had long discussions as to how best spend the money left to us in order to both benefit the cats in our care and honor this lady’s memory.

It was finally decided that what we needed most was more purpose built Cat Cabins in which to house the poor distressed cats & kittens who find their way to us. Whilst we have a main fosterer whose garden already houses a number of purpose built cat cabins, due to the ever growing numbers of cats & kittens needing our help we had been relying heavily on the generosity and care of a growing number of spare room fosterers, that is people who kindly take in abandoned cats & kittens and look after them in a spare room in their own homes on our behalf. As you can imagine it’s a hard task for us to find enough spare rooms for all the cats we have.

One of our current spare room fosterers generously offered her garden as the location for the new set of Cat Cabins and so we set about making it happen as quickly as possible.

As you can see from the pictures, the Cabins are now all set up and their first 2 occupants were Alistair (pictured) and Trois.

Alistair, who we think is about 4 years old, was a stray living in a lady’s garden. She had been feeding him for a while and but was going away over Christmas and was worried about him so 2 of our volunteers went and picked him up and settled him into the cabin to ensure he had a safe, warm, well fed happy Christmas.

He is so affectionate the fosterer has had to put a chair in his pen for him to be able to curl up on her lap whenever she goes in to check on him or feed him! Trois was occupant number 2 - her owner sadly passed away and the family were unable to care for

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her. Given the upheaval she has been through she is a very calm, gentle and caring cat. She loves to snuggle up next to the radiator and being brushed.

Trois is 13 years young and has a lot of love to give. (UPDATE Trois has been homed!).

Should you wish to adopt one of the many cats in our care please go to our website http:// www.epsom.cats. org.uk If you cannot adopt a cat but would like to help us you could sponsor one of our new Cabins! It costs approximately £30 a month to care for a cat in one of our Cabins, excluding any veterinary care, , which the majority of cats need. By sponsoring a Cabin you can make a real difference in helping cats in care and with the work we undertake locally. Increasing our Cabin sponsorship to help the cats in care would mean we would be able to devote some funds from fundraising and general donations for other activities.

If you decide to become a Cabin sponsor, for a minimum monthly donation of £5 (or more if you wish), you will receive a certificate which will include details of the Cabin you will be sponsoring and you will receive “Cabin Sponsorship News” every quarter which will give details and photographs for the cats that have been helped by your kindness. All you have to do is decide on the amount you wish to donate every month and then go to our website where you can download a form.

If you don’t wish to sponsor a cabin but still wish to help us please go to https://www. justgiving.com/Epsom-CatsProtection.

Reg Charity 203644 (England and Wales) and SC037711 (Scotland)

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HOME WANTED! FLUFFY

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HOME WANTED!

Your pet matters to us

FLUFFY

Help!! Poor Fluffy has had a run of shockingly bad luck – she is now back in care for the 4th time through no fault of her own. Each time it has been because of the death ofHelp!! an owner or ill-health not throughbad anyluck fault of isFluffy's.

Fluffy is Poor Fluffy has had aand run of shockingly – she now backPoor in care not surprisingly bit through fed upno and new, quiet home ASAP. for the 4th atime faultneeds of her a own.

Each timelong it hasterm been because of the death of an owner or ill-health and not through any fault of Fluffy's.

Poor Fluffy is She is 13 years old, neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. We know she will be not surprisingly a bit fed up and needs a new, quiet long term home ASAP. an ideal companion for someone who appreciates laid back feline company.

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an ideal companion for someone who appreciates laid back feline company.

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on 0208 390 3165 for further information.

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If you cannot adopt a cat but would still like to help us please go to If you cannot adopt a cat but would still like to help us please go to https://www.justgiving.com/Epsom-Cats-Protection https://www.justgiving.com/Epsom-Cats-Protection

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Four Strange Cat Behaviours Explained Cats are amusing and fun to be around, but sometimes their behaviour just seems downright bizarre. If you’ve ever wondered why your cat behaves in a certain way, from kneading its paws to eating plastic bags, we might be able to offer a little insight.

Head butts - When your cat bumps its head against you, it means they’re trying to bond and is an expression of affection. They’re also demonstrating trust in you and marking you out as a ‘member of their club’.

Staring - Staring is a common trait in cats, if a little unnerving when you’re on the receiving end. They generally stare at their prey before pouncing, but in your case it could be a determined request for food or entertainment.

You should also rule out any potential medical reasons if their pupils are constantly dilated it could be the result of an eye or other health

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

PETS

issue.

Eating plastic - Eating non-food items such as plastic, paper, wool or even electrical cords may be a sign of ‘pica’. This is an eating disorder that can be caused by dietary deficiency, stress, boredom or in some cases an underlying health problem.

Kneading - When your cat sits on your knee and starts to knead, it’s a sign of contentment and is usually accompanied by a loud purring.

They also have scent glands on the bottom of their paw pads, and may be kneading to leave their scent behind – effectively claiming you as their own. http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/cat-health/catbehavior/6-strange-cat-behaviors-finally-explained http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/10-strange-catbehaviors-explained http://www.sheknows.com/pets-and-animals/ articles/994845/25-random-cat-behaviors-finallyexplained/page:2

By Ann Haldon

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Lungworm Awareness Month

L

ungworm (Angiostrongylus vasorum) is a parasite that can cause serious health problems. It affects dogs and can even be fatal if not prevented or treated.

Lungworm can have visible symptoms

Lungworm is spread via a host Slug or snail which carry the lungworm larvae.

When a slug or snail travels over grass or a water bowl left outside they leave a trail and dogs can become infected when they accidentally (or purposefully) eat a snail or ingest larvae which are left in the snail trail on grasses and bowls.

According to records, there have been 696 cases of lungworm in a 50 mile radius of Kingston and Tolworth. We have also treated many cases over the years. This means it is a real problem locally and we do encourage local dog owners to educate themselves about lungworm and take the necessary steps to prevent their dog contracting it.

in puppies or older dogs however it can also show no outward symptoms in dogs that are otherwise healthy, until the worm burden becomes too great.

If you have questions about Lungworm or would like advise on how to prevent and treat it please contact us at the Aspen Veterinary Surgery or visit our website www.aspenvets.co.uk

An animal that suffers from lungworm without showing symptoms can be problematic.

Lungworm affects the clotting abilities of the blood. This means a perfectly healthy looking dog who is secretly suffering from lungworm can have major complications in routine surgeries such as neutering.

Complications in surgery can be avoided, either by treating your pet with a recommended product, known to prevent or treat lungworm, as well as simple blood tests for detection (which can be carried out routinely at your vets prior to surgery) Please mention the magazine when contacting Advertisers 10

Paradise Pets and Homes launch pet food app!

As the saying goes: when you're happy inside, you're happy outside. The same is true for our fur babies. The food you feed your pet can affect everything from their health to their behaviour, this is why we advise all our customers that the first step to a happy pet is nutritious food and a balanced diet.

Behavioural and health problems in dogs can more often than not be linked to their diet. If they are not fed enough, their hunger can manifest itself in aggression. If they are fed too much, they can become overweight which can lead to a multitude of other health issues. Like humans, dogs can be fussy eaters, which is why we recommend buying different flavours so that you can get a feel for what your dog does and doesn't like but it also makes their eating experience a lot more enjoyable as it should be for us all!

Poor quality and poor ingredients found in some pet food products can also have a negative impact on your dog's physical and mental health, therefore it is always wise to be cautious when buying new pet foods. For more advice on how much you should be feeding your dog and what products are best for their lifestyle, always consult your vet.

After almost 7 years of taking care of cats and dogs, here at Paradise Pets, we have been able to observe and experience the fundamental importance of feeding our animals well. After having tried and tested almost every pet food product on the market, we have decided to become official supplier of Lily's Kitchen. This awardwinning company has a wide variety of pet food made from 100% natural ingredients to ensure your pets get a deliciously balanced and nutritious meal. After converting many of our customers to Lily's Kitchen, the feedback has been incredible.

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

From dogs having shiner coats, to dogs becoming a lot calmer; which is why we have embarked on a mission to ensure that all our precious dogs are fed well, but most importantly, that they are happy!

We have recently launched our Paradise Pets and Homes App to make it simple and easy to order food from us. On our app you can find all of Lily’s Kitchen products at a fraction of the price you might find on the high street, meaning that not only does your pet get to enjoy their delicious products but you get to save some money too! If that’s not enough, we are also offering 20% off on orders from Kingston and the surrounding areas and every order comes with a free surprise gift.

To place your order, simple download our app and click on ‘Lily’s Kitchen’ for the full range of pet food. To enquire about any of our other services simply visit us online at www.paradisepetsandhomes.co.uk or give us a call on 02082417525.

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Ricotta Stuffed Chicken Serves 4

Ready in 1 hour 10 minutes

This recipe is a great way to turn chicken fillets into something special. You can prepare them a couple of hours in advance and keep covered in the fridge, then simply cook when needed.

Ingredients: • 75g ricotta cheese • 2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves • 2 tsp finely grated lemon zest • 4 large skinless chicken breast fillets • 12 thin-cut rashers streaky bacon • 5 tbsp olive oil • 2 tbsp white wine vinegar • 1tsp Dijon mustard • Pinch of sugar • 100g baby spinach leaves • 2 tbsp pine nuts, toasted

TIP

Instead of ricotta you could use low-fat soft cheese such as Philadelphia or a mild and creamy goats’ cheese.

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Use a sharp knife to make a deep pocket in each chicken fillet, making sure not to cut right the way through. Place the ricotta cheese in a bowl and stir in the thyme leaves and the lemon zest. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Place one-quarter of the ricotta mixture in the pocket of each chicken fillet. Use the back of a knife to stretch the bacon rashers. Wrap 3 rashers around each chicken fillet and secure with a metal skewer. Preheat the oven to 180C, 160C Fan, Gas Mark 4.

Heat 1tbsp of the oil in a frying pan and fry the chicken fillets over high heat for 2-3 minutes until the bacon is browned, turning once.

Transfer to a roasting tin and cook for 35-40 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.

Cover and leave in a warm place to rest for 10 minutes.

To make the dressing, whisk the remaining oil with the vinegar, mustard and sugar in a small jug and season to taste. Slice each chicken fillet into 6 pieces and arrange on the salad leaves.

Scatter over the toasted pine nuts and spoon over the dressing. Serve immediately.

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C.D Jennings & Sons Surbiton’s High Class Traditional Family Butchers Meat of the Highest Quality from the Finest Sources

Serving Surbiton Since 1962 .

Easter Specials Call: 020 8399 4870 Scotch Highland Lamb Legs, Shoulders, Loins, Best Ends

Scotch Beef Fore Ribs, Fillets, Sirloin, Topside, Silverside Free Range Chickens, Ducks, Turkeys, Geese Follow us on: Facebook: CDJenningsandSons Twitter: @surbitonbutcher Instagram: @jenningsbutchers Visit our shop at 146 Ewell Road, Surbiton, KT6 6HE (Opposite Sainsbury’s Local) or call us to place an order on 020 8399 4870

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

For more information view our website www.cdjenningsandsons.com

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

13

Cake and Bake Chocolate & Orange Hot Cross Buns

Give the classic hot cross bun a delicious twist with the addition of chocolate chips, orange zest and piped chocolate crosses!

Ingredients:

1. Sift the flour into a large bowl and stir in the salt, mixed spice, orange

• 500g strong white plain flour, plus extra for dusting

2. Bring the milk almost to the boil in a small pan then stir in the butter

zest, sugar and dried yeast. Make a well in the middle.

until melted. Leave the liquid to cool until it’s just hand hot. Pour the liquid into the well with the beaten egg and mix with a round- bladed knife to make a soft and slightly sticky dough. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic, adding a little more flour if the dough is too sticky.

• 1/2 tsp salt • 2 tsp ground mixed spice • Zest of 1 orange

3. Place the dough in a clean, lightly greased bowl and cover with oiled

cling film. Leave the bowl in a warm place for about 1 hour or until the dough has doubled in size.

• 50g caster sugar • 1 x 7g sachet easyblend or fast-action dried yeast

4. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, flatten out with the palms of your hands and scatter over the dried fruit and chocolate chips. Fold and knead the dough until the fruit and chocolate chips are incorporated. Divide and shape the dough into 12 even-sized buns and place on a large greased baking sheet.

• 300ml hand-hot milk • 55g butter, cubed • 1 large egg, beaten

5. Cover loosely with oiled cling film and leave in a warm place until the buns have risen by at least half again and are almost touching each other - this will take about 45-60 minutes. Preheat the oven to 200C, 180C fan, Gas Mark 6.

• 75g dried mixed fruit • 50g dark chocolate chips

FOR THE GLAZE

AND CROSSES • 1-2 tbsp warmed golden syrup • 50g dark chocolate, melted

Makes 12 Ready in 2 hours, 45 minutes

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6. Bake the buns in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until risen

and golden brown. Leave on the baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack. Brush with the warmed golden syrup whilst the buns are still warm.

7. When the buns are cold, spoon the melted chocolate into a small

disposable piping bag, snip off the end and pipe a cross on each bun.

Leave until set then serve.

TIP

These buns are best eaten on day they’re made, but if you have some left over the next day simply split and toast and serve with butter or chocolate spread.

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Wednesday

Ladies Night

0208 390 7564

Enjoy a night out with the girls

Free Wine all night with your meal

3 course meal ÂŁ25 To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

www.langleysrestaurant.co.uk

CONTACT US E: info@langleysrestaurant.co.uk T: 0208 390 7564 F: 0208 390 4596 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk 15 | 158 Ewell Road | Surbiton Surrey KT6 6HE

Don’t Just Leave Your Care To The Kids

by Kate McLelland A debate about how we will fund social care - now and in the future - is currently raging, with politicians blaming each other for the looming crisis.

These days the media is full of stories about vulnerable older people let down by fifteenminute home care visits. Added to this, the Guardian recently reported that the country has lost almost 1,500 residential care homes in the past six years.

All this may leave you wondering what quality of care we can expect in the coming years. If you have children, it may be tempting to ignore the negative headlines, in the hope that your offspring will look after you when the time comes. But given the way lifestyles are changing and new working patterns are emerging, this could be a risky strategy: you would be wise to put an alternative plan in place.

Blame the economy Nowadays, economic pressures are forcing families to live further apart. Research carried out by the WRVS found that a reduction in job security, coupled with changes in the labour market, has driven many families to live elsewhere. 82 per cent of adults who moved

16

away from their parents did so for work reasons, with the result that 10 per cent of older people now live more than an hour’s drive away from their nearest child.

We’re all living longer Thanks to improvements in health care, older people are now living longer. Parents are also waiting longer before having their first child – statistics gathered last year showed that first-time mums in their thirties and forties now outnumber those giving birth at age 20 and under.

With the state pension age due to rise again from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028, our working lives are getting longer, too. It’s likely that you will start to need care just as your children are working through their final years before retirement. Even after retirement it’s entirely possible that – exhausted by years of work and parental responsibility – your children may be reluctant to swap full-time work for the job of full-time carer.

Thinking ahead If you are intending to downsize, then consider moving to a property that can be modified as your needs change, with a toilet - and ideally a shower room - on

the ground floor, and a reception room that can be adapted into a bedroom if you become unable to climb the stairs. If the property is close to shops and good transport links, so much the better.

As you grow older, you should continue to discuss your situation with your children. It may be that you all agree to move into a property with a ‘granny flat’, or compromise by moving separately to an area where there is a good residential care home nearby, so you can still maintain close contact with your loved ones if your health deteriorates.

Finally, keep an eye on options for funding your long-term care. There are some excellent sources of advice available, including the Money Advice Service (www. moneyadviceservice.org.uk).

None of us can predict what will happen in the future. In the best-case scenario you could remain fit and healthy throughout your old age, but if that isn’t the case, considering your options now may make life a little easier for yourself, and your family, as you grow older.

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Receptions in Loving Memory at Glenmore House At Glenmore House, we understand that organising a wake reception for the passing of a loved one can be a difficult time for all involved.

With years of experience, our

dedicated events team are

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little touches and attention to detail. Glenmore House offers a number of different rooms with suitable settings including beautiful period features for such an event.

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17

Home & Interiors Refresh Your Home For Spring it away; don’t let worn out, unusable and unnecessary items take up muchneeded space. Let go of them and you’re bound to feel better: it’s like therapy for your interior.

As our gardens start to grow and blossom fills the trees, it’s time to think about refreshing and re-energising our homes ready for a stylish spring.

Clear the clutter There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned tidy up to make your home feel re-booted.

Heavy winter duvets, furry throws and cable-knit hot water bottles can all be stored out of the way, while at the same time this is a good opportunity to go through shelves and cupboards and get rid of anything you no longer need. Give it to charity, hold a car boot sale, sell it in on Ebay – whatever works best.

If it’s broken, mend it or throw

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Clean house Now that you have lots of lovely clear space, you will probably notice that some of your house could do with an extra-special deep clean. How good will you feel when you have washed down your front door, wiped all your shelves and light fittings, shampooed your rugs, washed your loose covers and curtains and taken your duvets to the launderette?

To say nothing of cleaning your mirrors and windows – there’s nothing like a bit of scrunched-up newspaper and white vinegar for giving them a wonderful sparkle.

Have a brush with paint Take a long hard look at your paintwork. Be honest: has some of it seen better days?

Perhaps windows need sanding and repainting, or door frames need touch-ups where they’ve had knocks and bashes over the years? Or maybe a whole room could do with a makeover? You simply can’t beat the spick-and-span look

By Katherine Sorrell of a newly painted space; it’s a relatively quick and inexpensive DIY job that creates an overall impression going above and beyond the effort involved.

Introduce colour Now’s the time to ditch dark, heavy and gloomy winter shades and get fresh with spring-like colour. Yellow, blue and green are all traditionally associated with spring – and it just so happens that Pantone’s colour of the year is gorgeous ‘Greenery’, described as ‘a fresh and zesty yellow-green shade that evokes the first days of spring when nature’s greens revive, restore and renew’. Use liberally with plenty of bright white for a really clean, fresh look for the season.

Include a dash of pattern Your clean, clear backdrop of pale spring colours is perfect for adding pops of pattern to make an impact. Chevrons are still having a moment, as are triangles and geometrics in general (especially if they have a tribal feel), as well as tropicals, textures (think chunky knits or grassy weaves), graphic botanicals such as ferns and leaves and the natural patterns of marble and stone.

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Up your game with accessories Out with the old and in with the new: replace accessories that have seen better days with ontrend items such as cushions and throws, duvet covers, vases, prints, small storage containers, mirrors, clocks, table lamps and plants (quick tip: grab a succulent, a cactus or an air plant for fashionforward houseplant style). You really don’t have to spend a fortune to overhaul your look dramatically.

Add some scent We all want a beautifully scented home – but instead of artificial air fresheners, whether spray or plug-in, use scented candles, avoiding paraffinbased ones in favour of natural wax. Alternatively, try reed diffusers with essential oils, or simply arrange locally sourced,

warm enough to sit outside in a patch of sunshine – so think about pressure washing your patio, scrubbing up your barbecue and cleaning down your outdoor furniture ready for some outdoor entertaining.

After all, it’s not that long until summer…

scented flowers (the ones imported from abroad don’t tend to smell so good). And one last thing – if possible, try to dry your laundry in the sunshine outdoors – you just can’t beat that beautiful fresh smell.

Bring the outdoors in Now the warmer weather is here, open the windows as much as possible, and get some air circulating around your home. It might even be

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Image Top Left: Artificial bulb jar £5; faceted vase (set of three) £12; short botanic herb jug £12 (small) and £25 (large); green glass tea light holder £5 (large) and £4 (small); fern glass tea light holder £10.50: all from The Contemporary Home, 02392 469400; tch.net.

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19

History Time For Tea By Catherine Rose

Tea is enjoyed all over the world but the English adopted it as their own around four hundred years ago.

Believed to have originated in Southern China, tea drinking dates back to around 3000 BC. However, it didn’t become popular in England until the 17th century, when it was made fashionable by King Charles II and his Portuguese wife Catherine de Braganza, who brought it over to the Royal court from her native country.

Coffee houses had recently been established in London and the custom of tea drinking was quickly introduced. Samuel Pepys referred to it in his diary of 1660: ‘…I did send for a cup of tee (a China drink) of which I never had drank before’.

The coffee houses also sold loose leaf tea so that women, who did not frequent them, could enjoy it at home. It soon became popular for wives to host tea parties and invite their friends.

Tea was very much the privilege of the wealthy. It was expensive to import and seen as a valuable

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commodity, kept locked inside ornate caddies.

Teapots, tea-cups and saucers were prized possessions and there were many different designs produced during this time.

Because it was so expensive, the tea smuggling trade flourished.

In 1785, following pressure from tea merchants, the government slashed the high import tax on tea, making it much more affordable to the masses. Thus, tea drinking grew in popularity among the working classes, sparking a debate about whether tea was bad for the health, causing ‘idleness’ and ‘melancholy’ amongst other things. Eventually, alcohol came to be viewed as the far greater evil and working class people were then encouraged to become ‘teetotal’.

The concept of afternoon tea is a peculiarly English tradition but tea served with food was only introduced in the mid-19th century by Anna Russell, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, to bridge the gap between lunch and dinner, which in those days was traditionally served quite late in the evening. Soon friends were joining her for ‘afternoon tea’ at her home in Woburn Abbey and, thanks to her frequent trips to London, the custom grew to become a fashionable social event amongst the upper classes.

During the Victorian era, a wider selection of tea began to be imported from Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and India. Tea rooms serving afternoon tea grew in popularity, especially among women, being one of the few places where they could meet without a chaperone.

By the early 20th century, many establishments had expanded on the custom of a musician playing in the background and were holding tea dances in the afternoons.

Today, tea has become an integral part of our daily routine and could be described as Britain’s national drink. Although invented in America in the early 20th century, the tea bag didn’t become popular in England until the 1970s, when it revolutionised our tea drinking habits and put fortune tellers who read tea leaves at the bottom of a cup into decline!

Still considered a rather genteel English custom, today, sumptuous afternoon teas are served by many top hotels with a bewildering number of different tea blends on offer along with a ‘tea sommelier’ to help you choose. They are often booked up months ahead - a testament to tea’s enduring popularity.

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21

Hobbies The Sky’s No Limit For Amateur Photographers

By Kate McLelland Ever since the BBC launched its ‘Weather Watchers’ feature in November 2015, the work of the UK’s amateur photographers has enjoyed unparalleled public exposure, with images contributed by keen volunteers appearing on our TV screens morning, noon and night.

According to the BBC’s Head of Weather, Liz Howell, the goal of Weather Watchers – launched as part of the BBC’s flagship Make it Digital initiative - was to create a new, crowdsourced weather club that would “enable people across the UK to help tell the story of the great British weather”. While it has definitely achieved that aim, it has also showcased the talent of Britain’s amateur photographers in an unexpected way.

So what do you need to become an amateur photographer?

Which camera?

When you start to shop for cameras, you may be confused by terms such as ‘SLR’ or ‘DSLR’ and ‘mirrorless cameras’.

‘SLR’ stands for ‘single lens reflex’. ‘DSLR’ is, of course, used for a digital single lens reflex camera. Both types use a mirror between the lens and the film (or digital image sensor), which means the image you see

22

through the viewfinder or display screen is the same as the one that will appear on the final image. The lighter, less bulky ‘mirrorless camera’ (also known as a compact system camera) is becoming more popular.

There are many, many websites available to guide you towards the best purchase. If you are still finding it hard to make a decision after your research, you could drop into your local camera shop for some face-toface advice.

What subjects excite me?

Before you stock up on expensive equipment, it may be helpful to decide on the kind of photography that really interests you. Wildlife shots? Portraits of people? Urban and rural landscapes? Macro images?

Once you’ve decided, you’ll be able to focus on the specific items of equipment you need – for example, would a tripod be useful for shooting in low light without flash? Will you need a telephoto lens for long distance shots? How about a wideangle lens, for photographing a high building or an expansive landscape?

hard copies and create a portfolio of your work, or maybe share them online, using an image hosting website such as Flikr?

If you decide to go digital rather than use film, you will probably need to download some photo editing software. This can be expensive, but don’t worry if you can’t afford products at the top end of the market. You can download free software such as GIMP, Paint.NET or Photoscape that perform most of the functions you’ll need, without adding to your budget.

How do I learn?

There are many ways to develop the skills you need. You could take an adult education course, join a local camera club, buy a ‘how to’ book or simply look online for sites that offer advice to beginners.

Of course, it may be some time before you feel confident enough to share your work with a wider audience. Then it will be up to you whether you become a BBC Weather Watcher, an entrant for ‘Amateur Photographer of the Year’ or someone who simply loves to share their work with family and friends.

Final finish You may also want to think about how your images will be used. Will you print them as

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HIDATO

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Starting at 1 and finishing at 49, track your way from one square to another, either horizontally, vertically or diagonally, placing consecutive numbers into the empty squares as you go.

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23

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CODEWORD Each letter in this puzzle is represented by a different number between 1 and 26.

The codes for three letters are shown. Once you have filled these throughout the grid you can start guessing words and reveal other letters. As you find the letters enter them in the box below.

24

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WORDWHEEL

Using only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have ten minutes to find as many words as possible, none of which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns. Each word must be of three letters or more, all must contain the central letter and letters can only be used once in every word. There is at least one word that uses all of the letters in the wheel.

TARGET Excellent: 43 or more words Good: 36 words Fair: 30 words

D M

L A

A N E

N H

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Flower Power

by Pippa Greenwood

Blooming Hollyhock Flower

You can grow a huge range of flowers from seed at home. It’s amazingly inexpensive and surprisingly easy too. If you’re after some long-term residents for your flower borders then rather than paying several pounds for each and every plant you buy, why not be a bit more adventurous and grow your own from seed?

Just about every perennial flower - that’s those that last for years and don’t have to be replaced on an annual basis - is available to grow from seed, and although you’ll have to wait until the plants have put on plenty of growth before they start to perform, once they have reached flowering size, they’ll just keep on and on performing! There are lots to choose from, including lupins, silene, Echinaceae, geranium, perennial poppies, delphiniums, gaillardia, hollyhocks, rudbeckia and salvia. Pay a visit to your local garden centre or study the pages of some seed catalogues and start plotting and planning what you’d like; you could save

26

yourself a fortune, and all from a packet or two of seed.

To get started, all you need are some containers into which you can sow the seed – I like to use half-sized seed trays, RootTrainers or smaller individual cells. You will also need some good quality compost and your chosen seeds. The job will be all the easier and better if you have something to tamp down the compost too, plus labels, a permanent marker, a dibber and some vermiculite (for covering seeds that need some light to germinate well).

Compost often has a fair number of lumps in it, so sieving it through a compost sieve (which has much larger holes than a kitchen sieve) will allow you to remove the larger lumps, leaving fine compost perfect for seed sowing. If you sieve it straight into the pots, cells or trays, make sure you collect up any that falls on the surface below.

Once the compost is in the

tray or pot, firm it down so that there are no large gaps beneath the surface, as you don’t want subsidence later on. Levelling it off will make it easier to ensure the seeds are all sown evenly and at the same depth. You can make your own tamper using a piece of wood with a small block of wood nailed to it to make a ‘handle’.

When it comes to sowing the seed, it is worth remembering that it is easier to look after the seedlings later on if the seed has been sown in rows, rather than randomly scattered.

Straight rows are easily made using a plastic plant label.

Check the seed packets for the precise depths at which the seed needs to be sown as this will differ from variety to variety. If you are sowing seeds in small cells then it is easier to make the holes using a dibber. If you don’t have one, a pencil works perfectly well!

RootTrainers are particularly useful for larger seeds such as sunflowers. Sowing the

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seed thinly along the drills in a seed tray makes life easier later on. Sown too densely, the seedlings that emerge will need more thinning out, and will be more likely to become drawn, leggy and weak, whereas given a bit more space they tend to be a lot sturdier.

Once in place, just cover the seed with compost.

If you are sowing larger seed into cells, just pop the seeds in to the prepared holes and cover to the required depth.

The ideal sowing depth will be stated on the seed packet – it is not too exact a science, but it is best to get it about right!

When all the seeds are sown, use a watering can with the rose attached to water the compost thoroughly. If the seed sown was quite small

then it is best to water the compost by standing the tray in a shallow tray or bowl of water, and allow the compost to absorb the water from below – this way the seeds are less likely to be displaced.

Finally, don’t forget to label your seed trays clearly, ideally with a permanent marker. You may think you’ll remember what is in each tray, but seedlings don’t always resemble the full-grown plants that closely. Many perennials need heat for the seed to germinate reliably. Put the trays, pots or cells into a propagator, standing each on moist capillary matting. Once the seedlings appear, gradually lower the temperature and then prick each one out into its own pot. Allow them to

grow on, keeping them fed and watered as necessary. In just a few weeks or months you can have some great plants ready for the garden.

Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood. com to buy gorgeous UK grown vegetable plants accompanied by weekly advice emails from Pippa, or to peruse the really useful selection of Pippa’s favourite gardening items including SpeedHoes, SpeedWeeders, raised bed kits, Nemaslug and other nematode controls for leather jackets, vine weevils and other pests, pull-out EasyTunnels, signed books and lots more besides.

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27

And Another Thing...

Tom Has A Spring Clean

by Tom Hughes @groomsdaybook

“Tom look at the state of the house, it’s a disgrace.”

Placing my copy of Vauxhall Insignia Monthly onto the coffee table (after pushing the empty tea mugs to one side) I tossed yesterday’s paper onto the floor and bid my dearly beloved to snuggle down next to me on the sofa. “Now, my Little Chickadee, what seems to be the problem?”

“It’s getting beyond a joke. This place needs a good going over. It needs bottoming!”

Blanching slightly, I pressed Sarah to elucidate. “When you say -” “What I mean Tom, is that we need to spring clean the house.” Sensing my rendezvous with Nigel in the Old Paraffin Lamp suddenly under threat I made a gallant attempt to head the cleaning cavalry off at the pass. “No problem, just name the day

28

darling.”

“The day Tom, is today, and the time is now. Here.” A pair of bright yellow gloves landed in my lap. And so, it came to pass that my Saturday afternoon, just like my very first car (a red Renault 5), was written off.

“Right Tom, first job is the spare room upstairs. It’s like an Aladdin’s cave up there.

Start with the skirting boards - yes the skirting boards.

And Tom? Please don’t start rummaging.”

My school report from 1983. English - Tom is an inquisitive boy who unfortunately is easily distracted, he -” “Tom what are you doing?”

My yellowing report slipped from my grasp. “Nothing.”

“Exactly, nothing. You haven’t even made a start on the skirting boards. You’re rummaging.”

“Im not rummaging, I’m organising.”

“Well it looks like rummaging to me.”

Shamefully, I pulled out my tongue at the back of the slammed door.

My rummaging - sorry, organising continued. Old concert tickets, football programmes, all manner of nostalgia collected over half a lifetime all snuggled together in plastic bags. The bucket of soapy water sat cooling at my feet. But Sarah was right, this room wouldn’t clean itself, I had to take action - and quick. I Googled cleaning services near our post code. But there was no time for delegation. Taking a deep breath I dropped to my hands and knees and attacked the woodwork. And do you know something?

In scrubbing away, I felt a pride and dignity in honest physical labour I hadn’t experienced since snoozing

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away the night shift at the Sunblest bakery during my student summers. After an hour of toiling the room was cleaned to within two inches of its life. What next? Of course - our own bedroom.

Replenishing my pail with hot water I attacked our bedroom woodwork. It was then I saw it - and life would never be the same again. It was my damascene moment.

On Sarah’s bedside cabinet was a copy of Spark Joy, The Art of Tidying by Marie Kondo. Eventually Sarah reappeared with two mugs of tea to find Yours Truly sat cross-legged, Spark Joy in one hand and a rolled up t-shirt in the other.

doing? And why are all the drawers open?” Folding some pyjamas, I gently enquired of my wife, “Why have you never mentioned this book before? It’s a revelation - look at my sock drawer.” Proudly I pulled the handle to reveal my socks laid out like little fat soldiers. “Well that’s fine, but that pair is odd and those are mine. And what have you done in my wardrobe?”

Sarah’s face told me my attempts at reorganising had not achieved the desired effect. Tutting and muttering, Sarah began the task of undoing all my good work.

Opening another drawer she closed her eyes and hissed -”Tom, just, just leave everything to me and go

“Tom, what on earth are you



   

        

“Oh, no reason.”

“Well you’ve done very well today. Come and snuggle down next to me.”

“If it’s all the same to you dear, I’ll stand.”

Legal – contracts, corporate policies, codes of conduct…

Business – business processes, corporate communication Marketing

         

   

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To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

“No. Why?”

 M.A. in Translation  Diploma in Police Interpreting (DPI)  18 years of experience  French native speaker

 



“No. By the way, have you ever mistaken Flash disposable bathroom cleaning cloths for Andrex moist toilet tissues?”

Stéphanie Son English/Spanish  French Translator and Interpreter



    

  

and clean the bathroom. You can’t do much damage in there surely!” An hour later I limped gingerly downstairs to find Sarah sipping coffee whilst flicking through Good Housekeeping. “Tom are you ok ? Have you been crying?”

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R.J. Tree Services & professiona R.J. Tree Services qualified & professional staff arequalified dedicated the highest levels of service in every in to the highest levels of service intoevery instance.

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r.J.tree Services, Berrylands, Surbiton 020 8399 0103 07980 903 881 andAdvertisers videos on all aspects of our work Visitmagazine our websitewhen for information Please mention the contacting

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AO I D R N You have two minutes to find all the words of three or more letters that can be made from the letters above. Plurals are allowed, proper nouns are not. The 6 letter word will always be just a normal everyday word.

If you’re texting pictures or emoji - the little icons of smiley faces or clapping hands - on your mobile, beware: many networks class those things as picture messages, and charge serious money for sending them.You’ll often find that even the most expensive contract bundle only gives you free text messages, not picture ones.

The good news is that there are plenty of alternatives.

If you use an iPhone and the recipient has an iPhone, you can send anything you like over Messages using your internet connection, bypassing the phone network altogether, and if you don’t have that possibility you can connect with friends or family via Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp or one of the many hundreds of chat/ messaging apps available for PCs, smartphones and tablets. You can even use apps to bypass the phone network to make voice and video calls: Skype is available for almost every platform, while Apple users can FaceTime one another for voice or video.

3 letters: 13 4 letters: 8 5 letters: 5 6 letters: 2

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Across 1. Bear mascot, wrong height (7) 7. Singular twit turned distant (5) 8. City somehow reddens (7) 9. Artful snare comes closer! (5) 11. Small seabird back on a ship (5) 12. Canoe going back and forth (5) 14. Sandwich bar totally empty (5) 16. Country song gripping people (7) 18. Meal egghead inside doesn’t eat (5) 19. See newt turn to sugar (7) Down 1. Chair Danes moved around (5) 2. Poem in Arapaho delights! (3) 3. Mountains with less inside (5) 4. Cheers, sans its lead actor (5) 5. Change given finally in secret (7) 6. Key letter put in an odd font a lot (5) 10. Appalling sort of balm, say (7) 12. Blade a snitch sent back east (5)

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13. Limerick’s ending bothers poet (5) 14. Dessert was a failure when cut (5)

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31

Health

By Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk

Wheezes and Sneezes: How to Tackle Hay Fever of steroid nasal spray users were using them correctly in the study).

Hay fever or seasonal allergies can be caused by the pollen of numerous trees, grasses or plants and it affects around 18 million people in the UK. Diagnosis If you’re unsure it’s hay fever causing your symptoms, see your GP. They may refer you for an allergen test to determine whether you’re allergic to pollen or other organic material such as animal hair or dust mites.

A skin prick test only tests for the most common allergens, so it may be inconclusive. Your skin is pricked and exposed to a tiny dose of allergen - it should react if you’re allergic.

A blood test for the Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody, produced when you encounter pollen, may also be used.

Symptoms Symptoms can range from mild to life-impacting: • itchy and/or runny nose • sneezing • irritated, itchy, watery eyes Treating Hay Fever How you treat your hay fever will depend on the type and severity of your symptoms.

Research by Allergy UK in 2014 showed that 62% of sufferers found their current medication ineffective – yet they failed to seek better alternatives or didn’t use it properly (only 14%

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Ask a pharmacist for advice on the right medication and alternatives if it’s ineffective.

Ensure you follow doctor’s, pharmacist’s and manufacturer’s instructions carefully. See your GP if over the counter treatments aren’t working, or you develop sinus or ear infections.

Oral Medications (Tablets and Liquids) Antihistamines block the action of histamine, a chemical triggered by allergen exposure, to reduce or stop your allergic reaction. They may not relieve a blocked nose but are usually effective against other symptoms. As a preventative, they work best if taken regularly and started in advance of high pollen count periods. They can also be taken as required when symptoms begin.

Some older antihistamines (e.g. chlorpheniramine, known as Piriton) make you drowsy and can affect your ability to do your job or drive. However, most people now choose newer, nonsedating antihistamines (e.g.

Loratadine).

Steroids are only usually used short-term if other medications aren’t working or if your hay fever causes or aggravates asthma. They reduce symptoms by reducing inflammation.

Nasal Sprays and Drops Decongestant nasal sprays unblock your nose but can cause rebound congestion after a few days, so only use them for occasional relief or as an additional treatment on days

when symptoms are severe.

Steroid nasal sprays or drops prevent and reduce inflammation in the nasal lining and can help relieve eye itchiness too.

Antihistamine nasal sprays relieve an itchy nose and reduce sneezing.

Eyedrops Antihistamine eyedrops reduce itchiness and watering.

Inhalers and Injections If seasonal allergies cause or exacerbate asthma, you may be offered a steroid inhaler and/or a ‘reliever’, such as salbutamol (‘Ventolin’). Injectable medications may sometimes be recommended if steroids aren’t adequate. Monoclonal antibody treatments (‘mabs’) such as Xolair block a substance involved in allergic reactions.

Immunotherapy If your symptoms are persistent or severe, your doctor may suggest immunotherapy to progressively build allergen immunity. A specialist will gradually introduce your body to small amounts of allergen by injection or a sublingual tablet and monitor your reaction.

Treatment is started three months before your trigger pollen season.

Prevention Reduce pollen contact by avoiding drying washing outside, showering before bed and closing windows. You can check the Met Office pollen forecast at www.metoffice.gov. uk/health/public/pollen-forecast For more information: AllergyUK: www.allergyuk.org; Helpline: 01322 619898

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Getting your bike out of hibernation this Spring?

Show it some TLC with a preventative maintenance service with Rebel Waltz Cycle Solutions before you hit the open road!

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33

Beauty British Beauty

by Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk

This month we’re celebrating British beauty brands, from boutique perfumers to global bestsellers.

The founders of Scottish skincare brand Ishga include a beauty therapist, a scientist and a seaweed specialist.

So it’s perhaps no surprise that Ishga products harness the power of organic seaweed to deliver noticeable, lasting results. Along with Hebridean seaweed, key ingredients include thistle oil, jojoba oil and aloe vera. Ishga products are a real pleasure to use and the brand has built up a devoted fan base (which includes me). You’ll find the Ishga range in a number of five-star spas across the UK, as well as online. If your skin has a tendency to feel dry and tight, try the Hebridean Marine Toner, £25. It’s really hydrating and packed with antioxidants; see www.ishga.co.uk.

Bradford born Leighton Denny is probably best known for his nail varnishes. There are now 101 of them, in pretty much every colour you could want. But Leighton’s talent doesn’t stop

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there. His tanning products, lip colours and fragrances have attracted a league of fans in their own right. His perfume Light and Dark Lively, £43.50, beat numerous big brand top-sellers to be crowned Elle Magazine’s Readers’ Choice in the Fragrance Foundation UK awards last year. It’s a unisex fragrance that’s citrusy, woody and very wearable; see www.ld-boutique.com.

Narynda Kumar first started experimenting with skincare when she developed stressrelated dermatitis. Rather than resorting to steroid creams, she created a balm using the beeswax from hives in her garden. It was so successful that she made more for friends.

As demand grew, Narynda decided to take the plunge and set up her own business. She created a range of skincare products using natural ingredients, such as beeswax, oat extracts and seed oils. To begin with, Narynda sold her skincare products at craft fairs and farmers’ markets, but they’re now available from online retailers such as notonthehighstreet.com and Love Lula, as well as from Narynda’s own website. Try the Day Cream, £17.50. It’s gentle enough for even sensitive skin, but powerful enough to give your skin a real boost; see www.narynda.com.

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Spanish-born Marina Barcenilla now lives in Glastonbury, where she’s been creating award winning fragrances for several years. One of her perfumes, India, was named Best New Independent Fragrance by the Fragrance Foundation UK. While I do like India, my favourite has to be Spring Rain, £70. With notes including bergamot mint, rosemary, geranium, rose, blood orange, lemon and Indian frankincense, it’s fresh, vibrant and unlike anything else on the market; see www.mbparfums.com.

Akamuti was launched by aromatherapist Lindsey Hedges back in 2003. Since then it’s developed a reputation for great quality, natural products. Everything is handcrafted, using ethically sourced sustainable ingredients, such as seed and nut oils, organic shea butter and essential oils. Every product I’ve tried feels really decadent – nourishing, soothing and a real joy to use. The Fragrant Tranquillity Bath Salts, £8.50, for instance, are a real treat at the end of a busy day. They leave skin feeling super soft, and smell divine; see www. akamuti. co.uk.

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email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

35

They Drive Amongst Us...

This piece was inspired by a video of a driver doing something earth-shatteringly stupid - and the internet is full of this stuff. Though worth a chuckle, they serve as a reminder to avoid such people.

My top 5: 5. The car trailing a pump nozzle and 3m of hose from its filler cap. Like you didn’t hear some sort of bang as it snapped off the pump?

4. The 4 x 4 driver who exits, via a tight lefthander, a car-wash set on a bank. They floor it, shoot off the road and roll over-and-over down the bank. Pity you wasted your money on that premium wash eh?

3. Those classic instances of tail-gating over a

rising bollard, which is designed to stop such an act and has signs saying so. Still, some drivers think it doesn’t apply to them, until their transport is lifted three feet off the ground.

2. How difficult can it be to drive into a workshop with an inspection pit? Line the car up and drive slowly in. Alternatively, speed in at a crazy angle and jam the car sideways down the pit.

1. Top place must go to the video that prompted this piece. Taken by the dashcam of a car waiting to fill-up at a petrol station, it shows a driver using a cigarette lighter to see how much fuel is in the tank, with predictable results. The dashcam driver, seeing the conflagration unfolding before their eyes, drove off before things really got out of hand, but presumably it didn’t turn out well.

You have been warned: they drive amongst us.

By Iain Betson

ALAN SURSHAM (MOTOR VEHICLE TECHNICIAN)

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Labour Rate £37.50 per hour Telephone:

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Office - 020 8397 8654 Garage - 07784 716 567 (For instant attention)

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E pages 33-40.indd 37

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

37

18/03/2017 19:02:17

Scientist Baird Becquerel Bell Bernoulli Boyle Bunsen Celsius Crick Curie Darwin Davy Einstein Fleming Galen Gauss Halley Hopper

Joule Kepler Lovelace Marconi Newton Nobel Pasteur Rutherford Volta

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Berrylands Autocare * MOT Testing (while you wait) * Diagnostic Testing * Servicing & Mechanical Repairs * Open until 5.30pm weekdays * Saturdays: 9.00am to 1.00pm

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Free ‘Fit as a Fiddle’ courses for April 2017 Are you over 50, live in the borough of Kingston, and want to get fit, lose weight and improve your wellbeing?

Why not join a free 6 week course ! Choose an activity that suits you from: Nordic walking: Richmond Park, Tuesday 18th April,10.30am Aquacise: Kingfisher, Kingston, Wednesday 19th April, 11.30am Body Balance: Tudor Drive library, Kingston, Thursday 20th April, 1pm Chair based exercise: Tolworth Hospital, Surbiton, Friday 21st April, 1pm

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41

Changes Our books this month are all about change, from shifting viewpoints to rewriting history.

Stickertopia, The Flower Garden – Mitchell Beazley Walk into any bookstore and you’re likely to see at least one shelf dedicated to grown-up colouring books. So it’s not too much of a surprise that sticker books are having a similar grown-up makeover. This one includes 30 garden illustrations, from Klimt’s garden path to the butterfly garden in Bronx Zoo. You can add extra colour and detail with stickers of flowers, leaves, butterflies and birds. It’s surprisingly relaxing, and there’s something rather satisfying about putting your own mark on the designs.

All Our Wrong Todays – Elan Mastai No one expects Tom Barren to amount to much. They certainly don’t expect him to go back in time and completely change life as they know it. But that’s what happens. In Tom’s world 2016 looks rather different than it does to us. The discovery of a clean, almost effortless form of energy back in the 60s has made the world something of a utopia. But then Tom becomes the first time traveller, and accidently rewrites history.

When he gets back to 2016, everything has changed.

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Take Courage, Anne Brontë and the Art of Life – Samantha Ellis Anne is often seen as the ‘other Brontë’. Most of us would struggle to remember the names of either of her books.

In part this is because of the way she’s usually portrayed – quiet, reserved and, well, less interesting than her siblings.

Ellis goes to great lengths to show that this was far from the case. Anne’s novel, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, was, in many ways, more subversive and ahead of its time than those of her sisters. As Ellis talks us through her research, a very different Anne Brontë starts to emerge. Take Courage is far from a dry clinical biography; Ellis is clearly indignant at Anne’s treatment and the book is a real pleasure to read.

Good Me, Bad Me – Ali Land Can a child brought up to be a killer change her fate? That’s the question posed in this gripping psychological thriller.

Milly is in foster care with a new family and a new name. All she wants is a fresh start. But Milly’s mum is a serial killer, and Milly was the one who put her behind bars. As the trial approaches, Milly has to decide what she

wants from life, and how far she’s willing to go to get it.

The Art of Contribution – Ann Skinner The Art of Contribution aims to help people live a more meaningful life. Life coach Ann Skinner shares her advice for making a positive impact on the world. The book is broken up into short, easily digestible chapters. They focus on lessons that Skinner has learnt herself, from embracing imperfections to contributing not ‘from a place of feeling that some things in the world need fixing, but from a place of wanting to add joy to it’.

Homegoing – Yaa Gyasi Homegoing follows the descendants of two African sisters – one sold into slavery, the other married off to a slave trader. We meet warring tribes in Ghana, brutalised slaves on American plantations, men forced into hard labour once slavery has supposedly been outlawed, drug addicts and numerous other characters.

Brilliantly written, vivid and, at times, harrowing, this is one of those books you’ll find yourself recommending to anyone who’ll listen.

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Dementia Friends

C

hanging the way the nation thinks, talks and acts about dementia This year there will be 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK and over 21 million people know someone affected by the condition. All too often people with dementia experience loneliness and social exclusion. By mobilising society together we can make sure that people living with dementia are understood, included and feel a part of their communities.

What is the Dementia Friends initiative?

Dementia Friends is a social action movement run by Alzheimer’s Society that aims to give people an understanding of dementia, and the small things we can all do that could make a difference to people living with dementia in our communities.

Dementia Friends and your business You are one of the many thousands of people in the UK who provide a service.

Some of your customers will be people with dementia and many others may go on to develop dementia in the future and want to continue using your business.

Having a basic understanding of what dementia is and some of the small things you can do to help those affected by dementia to live well can make a huge difference to their experience as your customers.

You can make a difference

Dementia costs UK business ÂŁ2.6 billion per year and 89% of employers believe that dementia will become a bigger issue for their organisation and their staff.

As a trained Dementia Friends Champion, I would like to deliver a free one hour Information Session to your staff.

If you would like to find out more about Dementia Friends and would like to book a session:

Email lene.wood@staywellservices.org.uk Or call 0208 942 8256 DEMENTIA FRIENDS SESSIONS for 2017 ALL WELCOME John Lewis Kingston community room On first floor behind the opticians 12-1pm LEARN AT LUNCHTIME (The session is actually 45 minutes) VISIT: dementiafriends.org.uk (to book your place) Feb 6 March 6 April 3 May 8 June 5 July 3 Aug 7 Sept 4

Become a Dementia Friend! This is someone who has attended an Information Session and has committed to an action that will make the lives of people living with dementia a little better. Every action counts - from taking a bit more time when serving someone to spreading the word about dementia.

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Short Story The Last of the Wild Chickens Vinny burst through the door of the community centre. “You’ll never guess what’s on top of the bike shed!”

At the mention of the bike shed Eunice’s heart skipped a beat; had Vinny discovered her guilty secret?

She’d been stacking chairs, assuming that all the members of her ‘Trimmer You!’ slimming club had departed. It had been a tough session. She’d had to be particularly strict with the group about avoiding the temptation of chocolate over the Bank Holiday weekend.

There had been tears. Now Vinny was back, his ‘Trimmer of the Week’ rosette flapping in the breeze.

“An actual chicken!” he continued breathlessly. “Sat there bold as brass.”

Eunice stared at him, her mind racing. A chicken was not what she was expecting.

“Don’t be daft,” she reasoned.

“There’s no way a chicken could get up there - they can’t fly.”

“Try telling that to this one,” Vinny laughed.

“It’s probably just a pigeon,” Eunice said firmly, hoping this would be enough to make Vinny finally go home.

“I’m no Bill Oddie, but I think I know the difference,” he said.

“Come and have a look if you don’t believe me.”

Very reluctantly Eunice pulled on her anorak and followed Vinny to the bike shed. A

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fat brown bantam sat clucking on the flat roof admiring the view.

“I wonder where it’s come from,” Eunice said, her eyes searching the rest of the roof. “Someone round here must keep chickens.”

“Perhaps it’s been living wild,” Vinny said.

“A chicken wouldn’t last five minutes in the wild.”

“Well they had to live in the wild originally,” Vinny answered. “This might be the last of the wild chickens.”

“We’ll have to get it down,” Eunice said irritably, reminded, more than ever, how annoying Vinny could be. “We can’t lock up and leave it there. Can you reach up and grab it?”

“I’m not sure.” Vinny looked worried. “I’ve never held a bird before.”

Eunice did not find this at all surprising. The bird ruffled her wings and stared at them indignantly.

“Just grab her firmly around her sides,” Eunice said. “I’ll go and phone the caretaker to see if he knows who she belongs to.”

Eunice went back into the community hall and paced up and down. She needed time to think. Within moments Vinny popped his head around the door.

“Mystery solved!” he said cheerfully. “This lady walked into the car park and asked if

I’d seen her chicken.”

“Who was it?” Eunice hoped her ordeal was finally over.

“Someone from the village,” Vinny said. “She said chickens can fly, they’re just not very good at it. Apparently this one’s always trying to escape.”

“So it wasn’t a wild chicken then?” Eunice smirked.

“No, but I think it was a magic one. Look...” From behind his back Vinny produced a large Easter egg wrapped in pink foil. “It had rolled down the side of the shed. That chicken must have laid it.”

Eunice stared first at Vinny in disbelief, and then at the incriminating confectionary.

She had one last trick up her sleeve.

“A chocolate egg laying chicken!” she gasped. “I’ve heard of them but I’ve never seen one in real life.” She held out her hand for the egg. “I’d better take care of that.”

“What are you going to do with it?” Vinny whispered as though afraid to wake it. “Do you think it will hatch?”

“Maybe,” Eunice said, “particularly if I take it home and put it somewhere nice and warm.”

Which, in a roundabout way, had been Eunice’s plan for that egg all along.

By Jackie Brewster

Please mention the magazine when contacting Advertisers

Extensions or New Build • Planning + Building Regulation Consents • Health and Safety for Construction • Party Wall Awards

Ken Burgess

Tele: 07976 837 031 Fax: E-mail: kcbdesign69@gmail.com

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

K B Design

• Architectural Services • Residential + Commercial

070 9200 3581

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Parenting Children’s Parties Balloon candles available from www.dotcomgiftshop.com

Keep the fun levels up and your stress levels down with our top party tips.

• Raid the recycling box to make robots, spaceships or monsters.

Outdoor parties Most kids love a treasure hunt, and it ties in well with a pirate, knights or princess party. You could leave a series of clues leading to one big stash of small prizes to split (chocolate coins tend to go down well). Or you could hide sweets, trinkets and other mini prizes around the garden. Just make sure you keep a few extras to hand, to avoid any tears.

Make sure you tell parents that the children will need old clothes or painting aprons. And bear in mind that paint may not have dried by the time the party finishes, so you’ll have to deliver the artwork at a later date.

Once they’ve found the treasure, you could: • Have a water pistol fight.

• Challenge the kids to an obstacle course.

• Hold a mini-Olympics, complete with ‘real’ medals.

• Set up a tin can alley, or a game of skittles.

• Host a sleepover, complete with movie, popcorn and a chocolate fountain.

• Hold a fashion show. Just raid some charity shops and let kids loose on the clothes with fabric pens, glitter and badges.

• Have a disco party, with glow sticks, a glitter ball and a dance-off.

Parties for craftloving children If your child loves nothing more than creating a new work of art, why not dedicate the party to ‘making stuff’? Depending on the age of the children, you could: • Make masks out of paper plates, feathers, stickers, glitter and so on.

• Paint pots or trinket boxes.

• Decorate plates or mugs with porcelain pens.

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Parties for pre-teens Pre-teens may prefer to head out somewhere with a couple of friends. If they do want a party though, you could:

Parties that let you take it easy If this all sounds like a bit too much work, you could turn to the professionals. From hiring a children’s entertainer to heading to a soft-play centre, there are plenty of options to choose from. And they’re often not as expensive as you might think. Some companies offer a full package including

by Kate Duggan entertainment, food and a party bag, which can actually work out around the same price as you’d pay to buy it all yourself.

Alternatively, you could let your child choose two or three friends to take out for the day.

Head to the zoo, trampoline park, cinema, theme park, or just out for a picnic.

Top tips for a successful party: • Don’t invite too many people.

A good rule of thumb is to only invite one or two more than the age of your child.

So if your son is turning five, you might want to invite six or seven children. However, it is a very rough guide, as all children are different.

• Consider how many children there are in the class or friendship group. Inviting 12 of the 14 girls in your daughter’s class could cause a lot of upset.

• Don’t overwhelm your child.

Younger children may struggle with lots of excited guests, loud music and bright lights. Try to create a safe, quiet space where they can retreat if they need to.

• Don’t feel you have to spend a fortune. Often the simpler, cheaper parties are the ones that children love the best.

• Rope in as many helpers as you can!

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Painting, decorating & handyman services Repairs Shelving

Wallpapering

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Free quotations.

Furniture assembly

No job too small.

Gardening

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Friendly, professional, reliable, quality service

e: info@sosheatingandplumbing.com

www.sosheatingandplumbing.com

Call: 07443561032 Good rates, efficient, clean and tidy.

The Life List

Yes, we do clean the toys regularly. What about your children’s hands?

Coffee Shop Etiquette

We do not make the rules here; otherwise we’d call it a plain coffee too.

Walk down any high street and it’s clear that Britain is now a nation of coffee shopkeepers (and caffeine addicts!). And even though some of us can tell Arabica beans from Robusta we still have a lot to learn. Baristas are sworn to secrecy, but here’s what they’d like to tell you...

The newspapers are for everyone. Not just for you to show off your prowess at crosswords.

If you bring your children with you, please don’t ignore them to play with your mobile phone because our table is not a colouring book.

I see you stealing the sugar - does it give you a rush?

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

WiFi is free but staff wages aren’t. Please buy something every hour or so.

Please don’t ask to charge your phone. You get your WiFi and every 10th drink for free.

Surely you have electricity at home?

You grumble about the price of a coffee which we don’t set - and then flaunt your designer trainers and hipster man-bag. You deserve a roasting.

Yes, of course my body piercings hurt. Allow me to demonstrate.

No, this isn’t my career. You’ve found me out.

I am indeed a writer, actor, spy, or a secret millionaire. Confidentially, we all are.

A skinny latte isn’t a heathy option if you add chocolate cake to the tray.

By Derek Thompson www.alongthewritelines.blogspot.co.uk

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

47

Lake Atitlan Guatemala

By Solange Hando In the central highlands of Guatemala, ‘the most beautiful lake in the world’ shimmers at the foot of mighty volcanoes, its crystal-clear waters constantly changing from emerald and blue to turquoise or aquamarine. It’s the deepest lake in Central America, created some 85,000 years ago by a massive volcanic eruption.

colourful frenzy, but for much of the year the shore is quiet, dotted with hidden gems like San Pedro La Laguna and its hot baths, or Santa Cruz set among verdant peaks and ravines and challenging trails climbing into the hinterland.

Here and there a mountain road comes down to the water but none circle the lake.

Today, new volcanoes mingle their reflections along the south shore: San Pedro, seemingly extinct, Toliman, a sleeping giant, and at 3,535 metres Volcan Atitlan, the highest, which last erupted in 1853. At dawn, when the first fishermen cast their nets in the reeds and barely a ripple disturbs the water, it’s almost surreal, but by late morning the Pacific breeze whips up the waves to clear the air and ‘carry away sin.’

In the Sierra Madre rising above Lake Atitlan, the road leads to Chichicastenango, a bustling town where the Maya speak K’iche, one of 23 ethnic languages in Guatemala.

Their traditional shrine nestles among the pines up on the crest while below, the church beckons at the top of 18 steps, each one symbolising a month in the Maya calendar. With its cobbled streets and red tiled roofs, ‘Chichi’ has a touch of magic and, twice a week, the market spills down the lanes in a head-spinning kaleidoscope of colours, sounds and scents.

Clad in vibrant Maya dress, the locals wait for custom while the tourists shuffle around, bewildered by the stunning hand-woven textiles, the ritual masks, the tiny crib figures, the roses, the lilies, the dried fish from the lake and the fruit of the land. All around, the slopes are

It’s a blessing for the devout Maya who live in colourful villages scattered along the shore, worshipping both Christian and indigenous gods.

Most fearsome is Maximon whose shrine is set up in a different house every year in Santiago Atitlan, just steps away from the church and the alleyways brimming with embroidered clothes. At festival time, the village bursts into a

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laced with avocado orchards, small coffee plantations and generous patches of maize, the Maya’s staple diet and, they say, a life-giving gift from the gods.

Meanwhile, at just over 1,560 metres, the lake glistens in the cusp of the hills. Boats set sail now and then, gliding around an island, heading to a village or ferrying a handful of visitors within arm’s reach of the volcanoes. Most stay in the pretty resort of Panajachel on the north-east bank, where red tuk-tuks rattle down a ‘high street’ lined with outdoor eateries and stalls full of bags, hammocks and shawls in dazzling colours. There’s a small promenade draped in palms and bougainvillaea, thatched restaurants perched on stilts at the water’s edge, and a handful of boats bobbing at anchor along rickety pontoons.

There’s no better place to watch the sunset as the sky turns deep pink and gold and the dark silhouettes of the volcanoes loom eerily above the water. In these mystical highlands, at the heart of Guatemala, legends come to life and you can almost see the lost city lying deep down at the bottom of Atitlan.

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I P FE N J AY BR A NO UA NU VA RY AR T Y 20 & 13

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

49

Don’t Be An April Fool Keep your stuff safe with PC protection

Connecting an unprotected PC to the internet is rather like stripping naked, covering yourself in honey and throwing yourself into a nest of angry wasps: the question isn’t whether you’re going to get stung, it’s how bad the results are going to be. The internet is full of unpleasantness, and some of it is trying to make you an April fool.

Trying to con people on the internet is very cheap and safe: the likelihood of getting caught is incredibly small, and the cost of contacting even millions of people is incredibly small too. So entire call centres make fake technical support calls to unsuspecting people, trying to convince them that their PC is broken and they need to download software to fix it. That software then nabs their personal information, or their online banking details, and that information is used to compromise their various accounts and steal their money.

It’s important to stress this: if you’ve ever tried to call the support lines of Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, BT or any other big firm, you’ll appreciate how long it takes to get through.

These companies don’t have the resources to make proactive support calls, let alone monitor your computer for

50

any problems.

Apps can help. A powerful but simple password manager such as the excellent 1Password solves a big problem with the internet - you need different, strong passwords that can’t be guessed for each individual site or service, but you also need to remember them. 1Password creates and remembers them for you, automatically filling them in when you need them.

This means that if, say, your favourite photo site is hacked, your login details can’t be used to get into your Amazon account, eBay account or PayPal account.

Macs don’t generally suffer from malicious software, but Windows PCs do: there are more Windows users in the world, so they’re a more tempting target. That means security software is essential.

BitDefender Anti-Virus Free Edition, AVAST anti-virus and AVG Free anti-virus can protect your PC from malicious files and apps, and they’re constantly updated with details of the latest threats. In the case of apps such as BitDefender, they can also scan links in your emails to let you know whether that email from the bank or Apple is fake (the answer, 99 times out of a hundred, is yes).

These apps matter because in addition to fake emails and malicious software, there’s a new villain in town: ransomware. Ransomware is a program that sneaks onto your computer and locks you out of it completely, meaning you can’t access your email, your photo library or anything else of value on your PC. The only way to unlock it appears to be to call the supplied telephone number and pay the ransom, which is usually a few hundred pounds. That’s a really bad idea, because the details you use to pay the ransom are then used again and again until you have no money left.

Security software such as the apps mentioned above can protect you from ransomware in two ways. They can prevent it from getting onto your PC in the first place, and remove it if your PC is already infected.

When you consider the cost of the software is zero and the likelihood of an unsecured PC getting something nasty is 100%, security software is a must-have for anybody with a PC.

Images L to R: 1Password password manager; Avast free anti-virus; AVG Free anti-virus; screenshot of typical ransomware demand

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S

Help us find a new home!

taff, parents and children of Stepping Stones Pre-School were left upset and dismayed as they were served notice to leave the home they’ve operated from for 17 years.

The charity run pre-school, rated ‘Outstanding’ in its recent Ofsted inspection and providing valuable pre-school sessional education for two to five year olds in the surrounding area, was disappointed to learn that the site they rented from the Local Authority run nursery setting next door, Surbiton Children's Centre Nursery (SCCN), would no longer be available to them.

It’s not clear as to why the decision has been taken by the Governors of SCCN and whether they would then make places available for the 70 families which Stepping Stones PreSchool currently serves.

Parents have been encouraged to write to Conservative Council Leader Kevin Davis and Charis Penfold, Director of Education Services for Achieving for Children, the privately run body which now oversees the running of the Local Authority’s Education Services, to express dissatisfaction at the termination of the lease and ask

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

for their support in overturning the decision or finding a new home.

Both Kevin Davis and Charis Penfold claim to have no influence over such a decision taken by the SCCN governing board. Mr Davis has been invited by parents to visit the pre-school to demonstrate his support for keeping the pre-school open but has, so far, not accepted the invitation.

The Stepping Stones leadership team is determined that the preschool will continue to operate and ensure those children planning to remain with the setting or joining this coming September will have pre-school places to go to. They are keen to find premises close to the current location on the Alpha Estate and Sarah Doman, Manager, would love to hear about any properties which might be available to rent and could be turned into a suitable home. If you have any ideas that could help, please don't hesitate to contact her!

Contact Stepping Stones at info@steppingstonessurbiton.org.uk

or learn more about this Outstanding local pre-school at http://steppingstonessurbiton.org.uk/ email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk 51

Welcome to Surbiton Bowling Club Have you ever thought about playing bowls?

Surbiton Bowling Club have a green in the middle of Alexandra Recreation Ground, where you are welcome to have a go. We have a special day on Saturday 29th April, at 2.30pm, we call it a ‘taster day’, when you can come and whether you would be interested. You are also welcome to come on Tuesdays from 5.30pm onwards during the summer, to try to your hand. Dress is casual, the only essential is that you play in flat shoes.

How to find the green The green is surrounded by a privet hedge, next to the basket ball court. The entrance can be found by coming into the park from Alexandra Drive, and taking the path between the croquet club and the tennis courts, crossing the stream and continuing in the same direction until you get to a gate. Go through the gate and take the path in front of the various buildings. Surbiton Bowling Club’s Clubhouse and bowling green are at the end of the path.

It is not a difficult game to play - just a matter of getting the right bias and push, or weight, to get the wood near the jack. It is up to you how much you want to get involved, some members just want to come for roll - ups with other members. You can however, play in intrnal competitions, or in matches with other clubs at the weekend or during the week, if you find you would like to play in these, The matches usually take about 2½ hours, with a small tea at the end.

This space was reserved for an advertiser........ but they had to put their advertising on hold for a while as they have become TOO BUSY through using A Berrylands Companion magazine!

This is not unusual!

When it comes to promoting local companies, we know what works So why not contact me before the 8th April and you could be advertising your business in the May edition.

Call 020 8274 0096 or email karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk 52

Please mention the magazine when contacting Advertisers This space was reserved for an

Easter It’s been a long road from the glory of Jesus Christ’s death resurrection – the central miracle of the Christian faith – to gorging on chocolate. And it’s a road that those of a philosophical bent might liken to the descent of Western civilisation into gluttonous consumerism. But leaving such considerations aside, how did it happen?

Let’s start with the word itself, Easter. We have it on the word of the Venerable Bede, writing in the very early 8th century, that “Eostre” is derived from “Eostremonath”, the month in which pagan Saxons celebrated the festival of the goddess Eostre.

It’s a simple explanation, and one with which with which scholars of philology have had endless fun ever since – some even denying that there ever was a goddess Eostre and that Bede (uncharacteristically) made the whole thing up. But “eostre” is cognate with “öster”, the German for east, and is therefore associated with sunrise and hence spring, so Bede’s explanation at least has context on its side.

Indeed the feast is only called “Easter” in Germanic countries: in France it’s called “Pâques”, a variation on the Jewish spring festival Pesach, and other Latin countries use names of the same derivation.

Fascinating stuff, but it doesn’t get us much closer to the chocolate.

And the answer is eggs. Eggs have been associated with spring since... well, since birds started

laying them in spring. There are Persian wallpaintings of eggs being given as gifts from 2,500 years ago; the tradition survived the country’s conversion to Islam and persists to this day. In Egypt, another Islamic country, there is a seasonal tradition of egg decorating of unknown antiquity; in eastern Orthodox countries they paint eggs red (for Christ’s blood) and green (for returning spring); in England and North-Western Europe there is a tradition of rolling coloured eggs down hills at Eastertime, echoing the rolling away of the stone from the Holy Sepulchre; in America the White House puts on an annual display of decorated eggs from every state of the union, and favoured children (how are they selected?) are invited to a spot of eggrolling on the White House lawn.

Egg decoration seems to have evolved into making eggs out of solid chocolate in France or Germany in the early 19th century, and the first Easter egg in England came from Cadbury’s in 1842. These eggs can hardly have been for the mass market since the chocolate of the time was very expensive and also very bitter. Finer, less harsh, and less expensive chocolate was made possible by more sophisticated processing equipment in the later 19th century, and Cadbury’s produced its first hollow egg (filled with sweets) in 1875. The first milk chocolate Easter egg followed exactly 30 years later and... well, what more do we need to know? Except that Easter eggs sell for a far higher price per gram than the slab chocolate of which they’re made, and as they’ll keep almost indefinitely any left unsold can simply go into cold store until next year – at which time next year’s prices can be charged for last year’s stock. As I said, it’s all a very long way from the Mount of Olives!

Well, that’s just about it for Easter – except that I forgot Easter bunnies. Well, springtime, fertility, rabbits, breeding, etcetera... need I say more? Oh, and Easter bonnets.

Sorry, no idea.

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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ADVERTISING IS AS EASY AS CRACKING EGGS! Your advertising can be a package for as little as £51 a month when you advertise for a year in A Berrylands Companion

Tel Karen on: 020 8274 0096

CONTACT: email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

ELECTRICIAN RELIABLE & PROMPT SERVICE FREE VERBAL ESTIMATE 50 YEARS EXPERIENCE CERTIFIED NO JOB TOO SMALL 24 HOUR ANSWER PLEASE RING: 020 8974 2711 MOB: 07929 786 895

CHESSINGTON HYPNOTHERAPY CLINIC Hypnotherapist, Psychologist

Stress, Weight, Smoking, Phobias, Insomnia, Depression, Lack of Confidence, Panic Attacks, Exam nerves, Migraine and many other problems.

Also regression and self hypnosis.

Catherine Bayliss D.H.D.P., M.B.C.H.

Principal of the British College of Hypnotherapy Established 1981

020 8397 3146

If your budget is tight, this size advert could suit you.

Just £22 a month, over 4 months Call 020 8274 0096 or email:

karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

54

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Are you over 50?

Do you want to improve your bone health?

If you are at risk of osteoporosis or have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, you could benefit from our FREE 14-week exercise course and/or information session.

New Malden Library

Kingston Road, New Malden, KT3 3LY starting Tuesday 18th April, 11:00am

Star Centre

King Charles Crescent, Surbiton, KT5 8SU starting Wednesday 19th April, 17.15pm

St George’s Church

111 Hamilton Avenue, Tolworth, KT6 7QA starting Thursday 20th April, 2.30pm Places are limited. Please register by: Tel: 0300 123 8086 Email: KINCCG.betterbones@nhs.net Web: http://betterbones.kingston.gov.uk/become-a-member To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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QUIZ SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD SOLUTION

HIDATO SOLUTION

CODEWORD SOLUTION

3 Letters ADO AID AIR AND DIN DON ION NOD

NOR OAR RAN RID ROD 4 Letters ARID DARN IRON

RAID RAIN RIND ROAD ROAN 5 Letters ADORN DRAIN NADIR

RADIO RADON 6 Letters INROAD ORDAIN

WORDWHEEL ANSWER MANHANDLE WORDSEARCH ANSWER Wonder is the seed of knowledge Francis Bacon

CHILDREN’S PAGE

Column 1: Butterfly, Rabbit, Lamb, Chick Column 2: Chick, Lamb, Rabbit, Butterfly Column 3: Lamb, Chicken, Butterfly, Rabbit Column 4: Rabbit, Butterfly, Chick, Lamb Maze: You pick up 6 Easter Eggs when taking the most direct route to the basket.

Unjumbled Word: SPRING

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WORD LADDER ANSWER (This is one solution, there may be others)

FIRE hire here herd head HEAT

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18th Kingston Beer Festival

T

aking place in Kingston soon will be the Kingston & Leatherhead branch of CAMRA’s (Campaign For Real Ale) 18th beer festival. This will be taking place at the Kingston Workmen’s Club & Institute in Old London Road, just by the ‘falling over telephone boxes’, on the 11th/12th and 13th of May 17.

The festival will be open on the Thursday at 5pm through to 11pm, Friday 11am to 11pm and Saturday 11am to 9pm, or until the beer runs out. It will be pay on the door costing £3, Friday £2 before 4pm and Saturday will be free all day.

For this year’s theme, the Sopwith Camel aircraft, dating from the first world war, has been chosen as this year’s festival logo, as it was designed and built in Kingston one hundred years ago.

There will be up to 60 real ales available, light and dark ones coming from all parts of the country, and also with a selection of 12 ciders and perries. Hot and cold food will be available.

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

The festival will be staffed by CAMRA volunteer members, some coming from near and far, hoping to make this another successful festival for all those who come to try the real ales that will be available.

For any more information go to www. camrasurrey.org. uk

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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COMMUNITY PAGE SURBITON Maple Road KT6

Supporting local charities!

FARMERS’ MARKET

2017

3rd Saturday of the month - 9am - 1pm

January

February

March

April

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18

18

15

May

June

August

20

17

July

September

October

16

19

November

December

18

16

Disclaimer

For all gardeners and allotment holders!

We are a small friendly local society providing gardening supplies at very reasonable prices to our members: 9 Seeds, summer and spring bulbs, onion sets, seed potatoes.

9 Summer bedding plants and other young plants according to season.

9 Traditional and organic fertilizers and soil improvers/conditioners.

9 Lawn and rose treatments, weedkillers, pest controls.

9 Growbags and bagged compost, pots, gloves, trays, canes, netting etc.

Annual membership just £2, senior citizens £1.

Website:www.horticultural.moonfruit.co.uk Email: chesshort@live.co.uk

Our trading hut is conveniently sited at Moor Lane Allotments (just off Moor Lane near The Bonesgate pub) Open every Sunday 10am to 12noon, except December.

In accordance with our "members only" policy, new members are always welcome to join!

Annual Membership just £2.50, senior citizens £1.50

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21

15

Whilst all reasonable care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information included in A Berrylands Companion , the publisher takes no responsibility for the accuracy of statements made by contributors or advertisers, or for the loss arising from non-publication of any advertisement.

Any errors, omissions or offers are the resposibilty of the advertiser. All artwork is accepted on the condition that the advertiser has obtained permission from any copyright holder for its use by A Berrylands Companion. Whilst every care is taken when printing artwork, we cannot guarantee an exact colour match due to variations in print processes. Bookings are accepted only on this basis.

It is the advertiser’s responsibility to submit any amendments to adverts by the deadline date of the 8th.

To advertise any event, or community activity in the magazine, please call: Karen on 020 8274 0096 or email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

Please mention the magazine when contacting Advertisers

27. Plant - sucking insects (5)

Down:

COMMUNITY PAGE

1. Terminate gradually (5,3) 2. A Sultanate in northwestern BorneoSociety (6) Surbiton & District Historical 3. Horologist (10) 4. Slightly open (4) Tues 4th April:somebody Mr David C Taylor 5. Engage to enter the army will (6) talk Represents or performsFamily as if in a play about 6.“The Lushington of (6) Esher” 8. Come to terms with (7) whose9.members met with Royalty, Dickens, Shortened term for provocation (5) 13. Returningand to political office (10) the Rothschilds Government.

15. Unusually great in size (7) 16. After sunrise before Parson sunset (8) to speak Tues 2nd May: MrandBrian 17. Strong and sharp (5) on “Frederick Paine - Serving the 18. Having littleW emotion or sensibility (6) 20. Add to very& end (6) Community intheWar Peace” 22. The highest point; culminate (6) 24. Compass point (4)

Tues 6th June: Mr David Sheen is the John Lewis Archivist and will talk on the history of the store, from its very beginnings.

October Sudoku Meetings start time: 7.45pm at Surbiton Library Hall, Ewell Road, Surbiton. Visitors welcome, Contribution of £2 appreciated

For more details about meetings and the Society, call The Secretary: 020 8399 4473 Email: lenandmarilyn@virginmedia.com

HOOK ALLOTMENTS AND GARDENS ASSOCIATION Are you interested in gardening?

Did you know there is an association in Hook?

Our Association was founded over 50 years ago and is run36 by volunteers, can provide a E Page 33-40.indd wide range of composts, fertilisers, seeds and other gardening products at not-for-profit prices to our members. We support gardeners and allotment holders.

We currently have full and half plots available to rent. Contact: John on 07807 300 749 Membership is £2.50 a year and new allotment holders have free membership for the first year Our trading facility is situated next to the entrance to the allotment plots, beyond the rugby club pavillion, rear of King Edward’s Recreation Ground, Hook Road, Chessington Open: Sundays 10am - 12 noon Feb - Nov 10am - 11am Nov - Jan

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

Remember, you can pick up a copy of A Berrylands Companion magazine at the following: C.D.Jennings, B&M Budget Store, Surbiton & Tolworth Libraries, Shan’s Pharmacy, Tolworth Recreation Centre, The Lamb, MBE Surbiton, Superstore Ewell Road, Collinson Optician, Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club.

Read it whilst you wait at: Aspen Vets, Berrylands Autocare Garage, Confidental Dentist Surgery If you would like copies at your business please call me on: 020 8274 0096

Deadlines for submitting new artwork for forthcoming issues of A Berrylands Companion 8th April for May issue 22/01/2010 00:22:03 8th May for June issue June 8th for July/Aug issue Aug 8th for September issue Sept 8th for October issue 8th Oct for November issue 8th Nov for Dec/January issue 8th Jan for February issue 8th Feb for March issue 8th March for April issue For more information call Karen on 020 8274 0096 or send an email to

karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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What’s on in April:-

Bowel Cancer and IBS Awareness Month; Stress Awareness Month; Mathmatics Awareness Month National Pets’ Month

Events in March: 23rd: World Meteorological Day 24th: World Tuberculosis Day; Red Nose Day 25th: Head of the River Race, Mortlake to Putney 26th: Mothers’ Day

British Summer Time Begins: Put Clocks Forward.

International Purple Day (promote awareness of epilepsy) 27-2nd April: World Autism Awareness Week 27-31st: World Autism Awareness at Schools 30th: World Bipolar Day

Life Drawing with a Difference: Tattooed Bodies. Join Art Macabre for a

life drawing workshop dedicated to tattooed bodies. You will also get to try

drawing directly onto our human canvas. Suitable to 18+, all levels of

drawing experience and beginners welcome. Call Kingston Museum to

book. 7-9pm. Fee.

Events in April:

1st April Fools’ Day 1st April-May 2nd: National Pets’ Month 1-17th: Easter Eggstravaganza. Come along and celebrate spring with our

seasonal fun! There will be free craft activities, Thumbs up it’s Thursday

activities, and our annual Easter Egg Hunt, too. Ages 5+, younger siblings

are welcome. Kingston Museum.

2nd: Oxford versus Cambridge Boat Race 3-11th Sassy Stirrers events for 5-12 year olds: To book: www.sassystirrers.com

or email: info@sassystirrers.com for more information.

3rd at All Saints Weston Church Hall, Esher, Easter Baking 10.30 - 3pm.

£45 per place, inc lunch.

4th as above, Dinner Time Bake Off Workshop, 10.30 - 3pm. £45 per place

inc lunch.

10th Easter Baking at St George’s School, Weybridge, Easter Baking, 10.30

-3pm, £45 per place (£43 for St George’s staff and pupils) inc lunch.

11th Dinner Time Bake Off Workshop, at St George’s School, 10.30-3pm,

£45 per place (£43 for St George’s staff and pupils) inc lunch.

7th: Walk to Work Day 10-16th:Parkinson’s Awareness Week 13th: Maundy Thursday 14th: Good Friday Bank Holiday 15th: Surbiton Farmers’ Market Maple Road, 9am-1pm.

16th: Easter Sunday 17th: Easter Monday Bank Holiday

World Haemophilia Day 17-21st: Orchid Male Cancer Week 21st: Queen Elizabeth ll actual birthday. There will be gun salutes

National Skipping Day 23rd: St George’s Day, celebrations in Trafalgar Square

Shakespeare Day

Virgin Money, London Marathon 23-29th: World Immunization Week 24-30th: National Stop Snoring Week

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Please mention the magazine when contacting Advertisers

What’s On/Local Events

1st Tuesday: NHS Retirement Club, 10-12pm at Christ Church Hall, Christ Church Road, Surbiton, KT5 8JJ. For information call Lorna: 020 8337 4121 Last Sunday of the month: Women on Wheels, meet outside Clas Ohlson Market Place 10.00. 020 8547 5865. E-mail: ccst@rbk.kingston.gov.uk Art Classes: Every Monday 10-12noon & 2-4pm, with Berrylands Artists at Berrylands Christian Centre, 41 King Charles Road, Surbiton, KT5 8PF. Info: 020 8644 0941 Berrylands Women’s Club: Meets every Mon evening, 8pm at Elgar Hall, United Reform Church, Raeburn Avenue, . Talks, slides and outings. Contact: Joyce Johnson Tel: 020 8390 5817 Broadway Sequence Dance Club: Meets every Monday from 8pm at The Raeburn Hall, Tolworth United Reform Church, Raeburn/Elgar Avenues. New sequences are taught, some knowledge of ballroom dancing required. Contact Brenda Deane for more info: 020 8390 0233. www.broadway sequencedance.co.uk Chinese Brush Painting: Held once a month at Sunray Community Centre, Knollmead, Tolworth. 1013.00pm Contact Gwen: 020 8398 7313. Beginners & intermediates welcome.

Encore Singing Group: Mondays, 10am - 12.15pm in Berrylands. For info: gillyvor@hotmail.com Kingston Camera Club: Camera enthusiasts welcome. Meet Mon eves, at St John’s Ambulance HQ, Athelstan Rd off Villiers Avenue. 7.30pm - 10pm with coffee break. New members welcome. For more information visit: www.kingstoncameraclub.com Kingston Pensioners’ Forum: Meets 2nd Monday each month at Reform Church, Eden Street, at 2pm.

New members welcome. Talks, outings and tea and coffee. For more info: Pam Wilson Secretary, 020 8241 9913, www.kingstonpensionersforum@hotmail.co.uk Kingston Philatelic Society: Meets 8-10pm on 1st Thurs & 3rd Fri, at Surbiton Library Hall, Ewell Road.

Info: Brian Sole Tel: 01932 220 677 or email: brian.sole@btinternet.com Ladies Exercise Club: Friendly & fun exercise/movement class for ladies 65+ at Berrylands Christian Centre, King Charles Road. Friday 10.15 - 11.15am plus coffee. Come & try first, free first class. Call Mary, 01483 284 716 or maryedwards@uwclub.net Mrs Bennet’s Ballroom:Wednesdays. Learn Regency dancing at St Mark’s Church Hall, Surbiton, 8pm - 10.30pm. Cost £5 per eve. See advert. Contact Libby Curzon, 020 8391 1215. Email: curzone@hotmail. com Oasis daytime group for over 60s: at Emmanuel Church, Grand Avenue, Tolworth. Plenty of opportunity to chat, play games, do puzzles. Meetings, Wednesday 5th and 19th April, includes a 5 minute Biblebased talk. Meetings on Wednesdays fortnightly, at 2.30pm. Tel: 020 8390 6631.

Open Door: Alternate Thursdays, 2.30 - 4.15pm, from February. Meetings on 13th and 27th April. A friendship group aimed at seniors. Afternoon tea, chat and short talks from local organisations. Christ Church Lounge, King Charles Road, Surbiton. 020 8390 7215 St Marks Church:Weds mornings 10.00-11.30 Stay and Play for Toddlers and Carers at St Mark’s Church Hall, St Mark’s Hill. Friday Mornings Coffee and Cake corner 10-11.30am, drop in for coffee at St Andrew’s Church, Maple Road, no booking required for any of them.

Scottish Country Dancing: On Thursdays 7.30pm - 10.30pm at St Mark’s Church Hall. Tuition for half an hour from 7.30. Membership £5 a year, Members £3/evening, non-members £4. Join our friendly, informal club for good fun and an easy way to excercise. Check website: www.surbitoncaledonian.co.uk or call: 01932 784 866 Surbiton Arts Group: Meets monthly on Mondays 8-10pm for lectures and demonstrations in Surbiton Library Hall. Exhibitions twice a year. For info: Call Alan 020 8397 1050 Surbiton Club for the Blind and Visually Impaired: Meets alternate Tues 2-4pm at Surbiton Hill Methodist Church, Ewell Road. Social club with entertainment and tea. Transport available if necessary.

For information: 0744 364 3716 . Volunteer drivers very welcome.

Surbiton Floral Club: 1st Weds of the month at Raeburn Hall United Reform Church, Elgar Avenue. 7.30 for 7.45pm start. Floral demos, talks, workshops & outings. Tel: 020 8399 8193 Talking of Trains in Surbiton: Programme of talks at Surbiton Library Hall, each Wednesday evening from 23rd Sept, throughout winter months. First meeting free, fee for complete year is £50. Details on www.talkingoftrains.co.uk For further information contact: David Blackmore, 020 8391 1116.Em: dandp@ blueyonder.co.uk Tiny Tunes: Mon 10am & 10.50am at Surbiton Library Hall. Tues 10am & 10.50am at St Nicholas Parish Church, Summer Rd, Thames Ditton. All sessions 40 mins long, features music, dance, parachutes, bubbles & pom-poms. Age 3 months -5 years, pay as you go £5, siblings £2.50 www.tinytuneslive.com

If your club or society is not listed on the Local Events, send in the details!!

Why not send in your events for Summer for the What’s On page ?

Clubs, Schools, Churches, & Charity events should be submitted to karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Index Please mention the magazine when contacting advertisers 27 7 25 25 5 19 47 49 54 24 45 23 19 23 63 30 24 47 21 27 23 18 26

Home & Garden All Your Garden Needs Ample Security Berrylands Building Company Berrylands Property Maintenance Carpets4U Chris Mould Plumber David Millea, Decorator Dream Doors (Kingston Kitchens) George Curren Electrical James Anthony KB Design Kevin Robinson Decorators Leverett Electricals Oven Cleaners Pro-Fit Windows Systems R.J.Tree Services Richie Brickwork Shaun Overy Heating & Plumbing Time4U Will Lord William Stallion Electricals House and Interiors Gardening by Pippa Greenwood

55 2 54 39 34 32

Care & Health Kingston Council Better Bones Confidental Dental Practice Chessington Hypnotherapy Clinic Fit As A Fiddle!

Beauty Health

7 17/45 40 29 33 52 64

Rest & Relaxation Emmanuel Church Glenmore House King George Field Bowls Club Mrs Bennet’s Ballroom Classes Rebel Waltz Cycle Solutions Surbiton Bowling Club Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club

29

Children & Education Stephanie Son Translations

9/10 8/9 11 9

Veterinary Aspen Veterinary Surgery Cats Protection League Paradise Pets Pet Care

62

36 39 37 38 40 36

Car Maintenance Alan Sursham Berrylands Autocare Community Motors K&P Tyres Walsh Vehicle Management Drive

13 15 31

Food & Drink C.D.Jennings Langley’s Restaurant Prithi

35

Solicitors Lewis-Dick

58/59 41 60/61 31 42 3 46 50 48 12 14 43 51 57

Articles & Editorials Community Pages Kids Page What’s On & Local Events Pages Crossword Book Review Useful Telephone Numbers Parenting Technology Travel Recipe Baking Dementia Friends Stepping Stones Nursery CAMRA Beer Festival

Want To Advertise Your Business?

Just because there is already an advert for a similar one, please do not think we will not take your advert!

There are so many businesses, trades and services that are not represented in

A Berrylands Companion From as little as £42.50 a month your advert can feature here for a year!

An email with your artwork will ensure it is featured.

So What is Stopping You? Call Now!

Contact Karen: tel: 020 8274 0096 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

Magazine printed by Warwick Printing, Warwickshire

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Spring into action!

Whatever the weather there’s always something going on at Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club. Come and try!

Indoor and Cardio Tennis, Squash, Racketball, Zumba, Pilates, Indoor Cycling, our Life Fitness Gym and much, much more. Drop in and look for yourself.

For a FREE one day gues t pass, text ‘Surbiton’ followed by yo name and em ur ail address to 85500 (Norma l text rates and terms and conditions apply)

oad ill R Surbiton H

Villiers Road

Berrylands Station

oad es R harl gC Kin

Surbiton Station

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d Ewell Roa

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Berrylands Rd

NEw healthy menu for Spring! *Text messages will cost your standard message rate. You will not be charged to receive texts from us.

Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club, Berrylands, Surbiton, Surrey, KT5 8JT T: 020 8399 1594 | E: info@surbiton.org | www.surbiton.org

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