A Berrylands Companion

Greetings Readers

Christmas will shortly be here and like most at this time of year, we are trying to decide on appropriate presents for loved ones. Budgets are understandably tighter, so the choices are limited.

Please remember, when contacting an advertiser, let them know you saw their advert in A Berrylands Companion magazine. We all need some kudos!

Perhaps you have recently started a new business, or have grand plans for your current business. I hope that you have included advertising the fact to prospective clients!

Once again Cats Protection has an appeal for a home for Bandit in time for Christmas. Through no fault of his, he finds himself distressed in the cattery. As he is an older

cat he often gets overlooked, but he has so much love to offer. I know normally, a cat for Christmas is not usually advertised, but Bandit has found life difficult with all the other cats and would love his own new family for Christmas.

Cover photo: Filmbetrachler on Pixabay

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A Berrylands Companion

18 Kingsdowne Road, Surbiton, KT6 6JZ 020 8274 0096 karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

Please mention A Berrylands Companion when responding to adverts

Have a really Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

Until next year, Best wishes, Karen

Little ones will love tucking their new teddy into bed. Lilliputiens Bedtime Ritual Teddy, £35.99, www.littlewhispers.co.uk.

This Leather Cross Body Bag will get better and better with age. £60, shop.nationaltrust.org.uk.

Who needs a coffee voucher? A Bridge Coffee Roasters Hario Drip Kit, £49, will provide freshly brewed coffee for weeks on end. See www.bridgecoffeeroasters.co.uk.

Buying for a colleague? This Anti-Burn-out Mug, £21.72, is sure to raise a smile. Search for PrettySillyShop on www.etsy.com.

It’s always handy to have a spare present on hand, just in case… This Scented Boxed Candle from www.daisypark.co.uk is perfect and it’s just £6.

Buying for a family?

A Biscuiteers

Chocolate Icy Christmas Luxe Biscuit Tin is sure to appeal. £48, www.biscuiteers.com.

The Blendjet 2 Portable Blender can whizz up everything from smoothies to pasta sauces in a jiffy. £49.95, www.cuckooland.com.

Chocoholics will adore this Chocolate and Love Library Box. Each bar is Fairtrade, vegan and organic. You could also split the set to use the bars as stocking stuffers. £12.99, onlineshop.oxfam.org.uk.

Give the gift of relaxation with a Sanctuary Spa Unwind Wonders Gift Set. £25, Sainsburys.

We’re rapidly approaching the annual selfassessment deadline. If you’re self-employed or in a partnership, you’ll need to file your return by 31st January. These are some top tips to make life simple and (legally) cut your tax bill.

Use an expert. If you have very simple business affairs accounts, you may be able to complete the return yourself, but for everyone else, using a tax professional could make sense. Don’t forget accountancy fees are an allowable business expense.

Remember to claim for every allowable expense, which covers most spending that’s ‘wholly and exclusively’ for business purposes. Most office supplies and equipment are allowable expenses, as is software that you use for a short time or on a subscription basis.

You can claim your actual business-related travel expenses, including parking and a proportion of repairs and servicing on your car. Alternatively, you can claim a flat rate of 45 pence a mile for the first 10,000 miles of business driving and 25 pence a mile after that, though this doesn’t cover a regular commute. If you are going to designate some of your driving as a business activity, check how this affects your car insurance.

You can even claim business costs that aren’t for goods or services. For example, you can claim the cost of any interest or fees on business account overdrafts, loans and credit cards. This is limited to £500 if you use the cash basis for your accounts, meaning you list costs and expenses when payment is made rather than at the point of invoicing.

If you use a room exclusively for your business, you can claim a proportion of your household bills. The standard formula is that you base the proportion on the number of rooms in your house, not counting bathrooms or kitchens.

If you only work part-time or the room serves another purpose (e.g. spare bedroom) you’ll need to reduce the proportion in a ‘fair and reasonable’ way. This is often a better option, as designating a room as being solely for business could have capital gains tax implications if you sell your property.

As well as energy, broadband and other utility bills, you can claim the relevant share of council tax and even rent or the interest part of your mortgage payments.

You can instead claim a flat rate of expenses: £10 for each month with 25 to 50 hours of business use; £18 for 51 to 100 hours; and £26 for more than 100 hours. This replaces your claim for actual household costs other than phone and broadband, so you’ll need to calculate if it works out better for you.

Watch out for things you aren’t allowed to claim for, as this could bring extra hassle, delay and potential financial penalties if you include them in your self-employment expenses. Examples include: most clothing other than uniforms or protective gear; legal fees that came about because of your wrongdoing; and most food and drink, including hospitality for clients.

Disclaimer: Nothing in this article is intended to constitute legal or financial advice.

By Kate Duggan

Demon Copperhead – Barbara Kingsolver

Demon Copperhead looks set to cement Barbara Kingsolver’s reputation as one of the best authors of our time. In this modern-day reimaging of Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield, the ‘Demon’ of the title is born to a single, drug-addicted mother in poverty-stricken Virginia. At every turn, the odds are stacked against him, from the broken care system to the lack of job opportunities and his own sense of worth. Raw, angry, starkly beautiful, this book is an absolute masterpiece.

Good Comfort – Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall

Healthy recipes tend to focus on what to leave out – whether the focus is on cutting carbs, ditching meat or reducing fat. With Good Comfort, the focus is on what to add to make a meal or snack more nutritious (and more delicious). Think lamb tagine with apricots and chickpeas, pork ribs with fennel slaw, and hot chocolate with raw cacao powder, oak milk, brown sugar and cardamom pods.

The Paper Palace – Miranda Cowley Heller

Not a new one this, but if you haven’t read it yet, The Paper Palace is definitely worth adding to your wish list. An unexpected passionate liaison with a childhood friend sees Elle looking back over her life and the decisions she made along the way. Tragedy, romance and family dynamics all combine to make this a cracking story. Perfect for curling up with on Boxing Day.

Woman of Light – Kali Fajardo-Anstine

In 1930s Denver, Luz and her brother Diego are battling poverty in a city that needs but doesn’t want them. The pair are expected to keep their heads down and comply, while the Ku Klux Klan has free reign to march against them. When Diego is forced to flee the city, Luz’s visions recall the family history that brought them to Denver. Rich, evocative, with characters that leap out of the page, Woman of Light is a short but highly satisfying read.

The Big Christmas Bake – Fiona Barker and Pippa Curnick

This sweet little children’s book takes inspiration from the Twelve Days of Christmas song. On each day, animals (from the traditional partridge to dancing hippos) bring one ingredient to make a very special cake. Colourful illustrations and amusing rhymes mean this book could well turn into a new Christmas favourite. Plus, there’s a recipe at the end so families can make their own twelfth night cake.

Queen of Our Times: The Life of Elizabeth II – Robert Hardman

Published before her death, Queen of Our Times provides a fascinating insight into our longest-reigning monarch. Incredibly detailed and impeccably researched, this book is a must for biography fans, history lovers and royalists alike. You’ll read insights from people who knew the Queen well, including former world leaders, and be treated to a range of black and white and colour photographs from throughout the Queen’s life.

Mary Berry, the much-loved The Great British Bake Off judge, has been teaching the nation to cook since first appearing on our TV screens in the early 1970s – and she remains as popular today as ever.

Self-admittedly ‘hopeless’ by academic standards, Mary Berry studied at Bath College of Domestic Science after leaving school, and then at the Paris Le Cordon Bleu when she was 21, recalling: “I didn’t like Paris at all. I stuck it out, but it wasn’t the highlight of my time.”

Born in Bath in 1935, it was in the swinging 60s that Mary landed the role of cookery editor of Housewife magazine. That same decade – in 1966 – she married Paul Hunnings but their relationship wasn’t so straightforward, with Mary admitting to Sue Perkins’ podcast, An Hour or So With, that she played the field. “Paul was the London one and I had a Bath one, actually there were several in Bath. You keep your options open.”

Taking more attempts than Mary probably ever has to perfect a recipe, it eventually took Paul three proposals to succeed in getting her to say “yes” – she refused the first time because he was drunk. The couple tied the knot at Charlcombe Church, near Bath, with Mary wearing a £5 dress and revealing she made her own wedding cake.

Paul and Mary had three children, two sons and a daughter. Tragically, their second-born son, William, died aged nineteen in a car crash. On The Mary Berry Show she recalled the moment police knocked on the door to tell her the news. Mary and Paul rushed immediately to the hospital. “He just looked so beautiful and so lovely, his little cold face and it was nice to say farewell.”

Today, home for Mary and retired antique bookseller Paul is a four-bedroom home, with separate cottage, indoor pool and gym, in Henley, Oxfordshire. “Paul is wonderful. He is always there for me…but him do the cooking? You must be joking! I do the cooking at home and on the rare occasion I’m not well, he will

always make an omelette. After two or three omelettes, I’m normally better!”

With more than 80 books to her credit – her first published in 1966 – how does Mary, who was made a CBE in 2012 and the honour of Damehood in 2020, keep her classic recipes modern and relevant?

“I adapt them by updating and using new ingredients, such as baking spreads, new fruits and vegetables, new grains like quinoa and puy lentils. These are all modern ingredients if you compare them to when the classics were invented.”

With Christmas upon us, Mary and Paul, who have five grandchildren – son Thomas’ two girls Abby and Grace, and daughter Annabel’s three children Louise, Tobie and Atlanta – have previously told how they refuse to spoil them over the festive season. Said Mary: “We’re good at keeping to a budget and nearly always give them an experience, like sailing lessons or tennis lessons.”

The couple entertain family at home for Christmas. “We always have the family over… We have a turkey with all the trimmings, fresh veg, Christmas pudding, trifle, mince pies. I love doing the cooking but we share it on Christmas Day,” said Mary.

Mary Berry’s Cook and Share is out now, published by BBC Books, priced £26, with photography by Laura Edwards. Visit maryberry.co.uk.

Mary Berry and her husband Paul Hunnings

The ultimate cake to celebrate Christmas –add a little sprinkle of glitter or edible lustre before serving if you wish to make it twinkly!

Makes 1 large bundt cake

Preparation time 20 minutes

Cooking time 45 minutes

Ingredients

• 250g soft butter at room temperature, plus a little extra melted to brush the cake tin

• 250g light muscovado sugar

• 5 medium free-range eggs

• 250g self-raising flour, plus a little extra for dusting

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 2 tsp ground ginger

• 2 tsp ground cinnamon

• 75g buttermilk

• 50ml Camp Coffee

For the sugar glaze

• 150g icing sugar, sifted

• 3-4 tbsp water or milk

• 2 tsp vanilla extract (optional) To decorate

• Icing sugar

Our recipe was created by celebrity baker and TV presenter Juliet Sear exclusively for Camp Coffee. For more recipe inspiration, visit www.campcoffeeclub.co.uk.

Method

1. Brush a little melted butter inside the bundt tin, making sure to get in all the nooks and crannies, then dust with flour, shaking the tin to ensure the whole tin is buttered and floured to help the cake turn out without sticking.

2. Preheat the oven to 180°C / fan 160°C / gas mark 4 and place a large baking sheet in the centre of the oven to place the bundt tin onto whilst baking.

3. In a stand mixer, with an electric whisk or by hand with a bowl and wooden spoon, cream the butter and sugar together well until pale and creamy. Gradually add the eggs, one at a time, beating until incorporated.

4. Add the baking powder and spices to the flour and mix to distribute, then mix into the wet batter.

5. Mix in the buttermilk and Camp Coffee then spoon the mixture into the tin, smoothing over with a spoon to ensure it is all pushed into the points of the tin, pushing the batter up the sides of the tin a little.

6. Bake in the preheated oven for 35-45 minutes until cooked through – the sponge should be light and springy, and when a knife or skewer is inserted into the centre of the cake it should come out clean.

7. Once cooked, leave the cake in the tin for 5 minutes, then invert onto a plate or cake stand and carefully release the cake.

8. While the cake is cooling, make the sugar glaze. Place the icing sugar in a bowl and slowly stir in the liquid and vanilla (if using) a little at a time to make a pourable glaze. Drizzle over the cooled cake and dust with icing sugar for a snowy effect. Slice and serve slightly warm. The cake will keep in an airtight container for up to 3 days or can also be frozen for up to 3 months.

9. Once set, cut into fingers using a sharp knife.

Motivating yourself to exercise during the Autumn & winter can be difficult when the days are short, and the weather turns colder. Curling up and hibernating on the sofa until the Spring with only Netflix for company can seem appealing, but this lack of natural light, fresh air, social interaction and physical activity can leave you feeling sluggish, jaded, and even depressed. There starts the vicious cycle of being even less inclined to exercise! Why not shake things up this year and finally break that cycle by shunning the sofa in favour of a fun & varied exercise routine that boosts your energy and floods your body with feel-good endorphins? Get yourself outdoors and you will be really winning; join a bunch of like-minded people for added motivation, enjoyment and accountability and you will feel unstoppable!!

Being outdoors in nature and moving your body in any way has a whole host of benefits for the mind and body. Multiple studies have shown that exercising in natural environments is associated with greater feelings of revitalisation and positive engagement, decreases in tension, anger, and depression, and increased energy. Regular outdoor exercise can help you to find much needed routine during this time

of the year and better synchronise your natural body clock. You might find yourself waking up naturally before your alarm, falling asleep more easily at bedtime and sleeping more soundly so you feel refreshed and raring to go each morning! How amazing would that be?

There is no denying that at this time of year you may need to venture out in the dark and cold to fit exercise in to your day, but you would be amazed at how enjoyable this can be with the right preparation, mindset, and workout buddies! Dress in layers so you can easily adjust as you warm up – you’d be surprised how quickly you start shedding those layers once you get going; drink plenty of fluids even if you don’t feel thirsty –dehydration is still possible in the cold from dry air, wind chill and increased breathing rate; join an organised group and work out with others for inspiration, motivation, camaraderie and safety.

Did you know there is an outdoor boot camp right on your doorstep? Berrylands Boot Camp runs every weekday morning and Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Elmbridge Avenue Open Space. If you would like to find out more or get involved, then please check out the Facebook page www.facebook.com/berrylandsbootcamp

Give yourself a boost this Autumn and Winter with outdoor exercise

Two-time winner of the Kingston Chamber of Commerce’s Award for the Best Leisure and Hospitality Business, Glenmore House is one of Surbiton’s best kept secrets.

Constructed in 1840, Glenmore House is a fine example of late Georgian architecture situated in the exclusive Surbiton conservation area adjacent to the landscaped park of Claremont Gardens, the Edwardian building was one of the first substantial houses to be built in Surbiton, which has adapted to many uses over time, and today functions as a members’ club and wedding and events venue.

£25 PER PERSON

inc VAT

Next held: 6th November, 4th and 18th December

*Every first Sunday of the month

Next held: 5th January, 2nd February, 1st March

Next held on: 18th December, 8th January 5th February and 5th March

Impressive double gates open on to Glenmore’s free, private car park which can safely accommodate up to 110 cars.

We have acquired an enviable reputation for gourmet cuisine second to none, offering superb value for money, with no compromise on quality.

Come and enjoy the popular Sunday Carvery in the magnificent Elizabethan Suite, Tudor Rooms or Crescent Room.

Our fabulous Elizabethan Suite comprises of a double height ballroom, featuring sparkling chandeliers, minstrel galleries and a sprung dance floor, adjoined by an exclusive bar area.

The Tudor Rooms benefit from stained glass windows and chandeliers, and our light and airy Crescent Room enjoys fabulous views over Claremont Gardens.

Choose from a choice of five starters, five main courses and at least eight desserts, with coffee and complimentary amuse bouche for just £25 per person, all prepared by our brigade of award winning Chefs, using the freshest ingredients.

** The price is £25 incl VAT, (parties over 7 subject to a 10% service charge). Children under 12 half price. Private rooms are also available for a small additional charge.

How many presents can Santa fit in an empty sack? Only one. After that, the sack is not empty.

I hear advent calendars are going out of fashion. Looks like their days are numbered. What are the best Christmas jumpers made from? Fleece Navidad.

Why did the snowman go to the greengrocer? He wanted to pick his nose.

How did Mary and Joseph know Jesus’ weight when he was born? They had a weigh in a manger.

Where is Santa’s favourite place to deliver presents? It’s WestwardHo-Ho-Ho.

What is the best Christmas present you can get a child? A broken drum because you just can’t beat it.

I always get a really sore throat at Christmas. My doctor tells me it’s tinselitis.

Show how much you care by wrapping every Christmas gift with loving atten tion to detail.

Create your own eco-friendly cards and wrap using a specially designed rubber stamp. Merry Christmas calligraphy script rubber stamp, £11, skullandcrossbuns.com.

Fair Isle Christmas wrap ping paper, from £9.95 for five sheets, nancyandbetty.com.

Furoshiki are traditional Japanese wrapping cloths, used for gifts or for trans porting goods. Joy of Print x Tori Murphy Diamond Star and Spruce tea towels, £32 each, torimurphy.com.

This original design has a beauti ful, hand-printed quality and uses sustainable paper and ink. Danc ing trees wrapping paper, £2.75, and gift card, £4.50 for six, both cambridgeimprint.co.uk.

This sweet selection is from Wilko’s Winter Fables range, wilko.com.

Beautifully presented

• With a little preparation you can achieve impressive results, especially if you are able to set some time aside so you don’t need to rush. First, plenty of wrap – rolls or sheets of printed or plain paper, or perhaps something unusual such as old maps, foreign newspapers or comics. Then select tags and embellishments, and think about tape – conventional sticky tape is, after all, a single-use plastic, so you might want to consider string, biodegrad able paper tape or decorative Japanese washi tape. Finally, find a large, flat sur face and grab a pair of sharp scissors.

• For awkwardly shaped items, gift boxes save time and effort, and help create a professional, symmetrical look, with crisply turned corners. Sacks are great for larger presents, while gift bags, of course, are per fect for festive bottles of wine and spirits.

In softest rose, this velvet ribbon with a delicate gold edge offers a touch of old-world luxury. Velvet ribbon in rose gold, £12.50, coxandcox.co.uk.

Simple and stylish, this ribbon will instantly up your wrapping game. Gold-leaf Christmas ribbon (3m), £2.99, gingerray.co.uk.

By Katherine Sorrell

• With the basics done, add coordinating ribbons, tags and festive charms. A wide ribbon looks beautiful when layered with a contrasting slim one, while complementary colours and textures (such as velvet with satin) look great, too. For a display of presents in a group, you could tie some bows in the centre and others to the side, leaving a few plain bands without a bow. For an understated, natural look, raffia or jute string are gorgeous. Finish with a gift tag and a pretty charm: perhaps a tiny pine cone, an evergreen sprig from the garden, a small bauble or a slice of dried orange.

While the world is your oyster when it comes to travelling alone, here are five of our top picks.

Ireland

Ireland is the perfect place to start if you’re new to solo travel. This is a country that’s famous for the welcome it extends to strangers. Pull up a stool in a traditional Irish pub, offer to buy your neighbour a pint and you’ll have a friend for life - or at least the evening.

Thailand

With good transport options and international cuisine, Thailand is one of the best places to start a well-trodden solo adventure around South-East Asia. The people of Thailand go out of their way to help you out.

New Zealand

If you’re nervous about the safety aspect of travelling solo, New Zealand will cwertainly put you

at ease. Kiwis will tell you their country is one of the safest in the world, but it’s the dazzling landscapes, buzzing towns and cities and friendly people that truly make New Zealand a mecca for solo travel.

Indonesia

The setting for one third of Elizabeth Gilbert’s solo travel memoir ‘Eat, Pray, Love’, there’s no denying that Indonesia has a special magic. Bali’s popular town of Ubud is a good place to start and it’s wonderfully laid back place for solo travellers to relax, reflect and recharge.

Costa Rica

US solo travellers have been heading to Costa Rica for years, and now Europeans are finally catching on. As the world’s greenest, most biodiverse country, it has also become one of the happiest countries in the world.

Walking holidays are a fantastic opportunity to see a different side to the country you’re visiting.

Albania

Mountains make up 70% of the terrain here. Book a tour to discover towering waterfalls, meadows of wildflowers and charming mountain villages, or soak up the coastal charms of the ‘Albanian Riviera’ – home to some of Europe’s best beaches.

Amalfi Coast, Italy

Covering a stretch of coastline from Punta Campanella to Salerno, the trails here are truly out of this world. Carved out by Greek settlers as early as the eighth century BC, the mythical Sentiero degli Dei is perhaps the coastline’s most famous.

Camino de Santiago, Spain

Travelling through undulating countryside, rural farmland and medieval villages, what makes the Camino so popular is that you can walk as much or as little as you like. Spend a month walking from St Jean Pied de Port, or just a few days trekking the final stretch.

Madeira, Portugal

Madeira’s levadas are irrigation canals which were built to bring water from the northern slopes to the south side of the island. They now give hikers a way to explore the island’s secret interior and dramatic landscapes with trails to suit all experience levels.

La Gomera, Canary Islands

La Gomera is shaped by cloud forests, steep-sided valleys and ancient hiking paths – the most famous of which wind their way through Garajonay National Park.

Albania Camino de Santiago Amalfi Coast Madeira La Gomera

Dental disease is very common in dogs, second only to ear infections, and can be extremely uncomfortable – much as it would be for us. Checking and cleaning your dog’s teeth should be part of their regular grooming routine.

Most dogs dislike having their teeth brushed but starting a routine while they are still young will help you both.

Gain their confidence slowly It is a good idea to let them get used to the taste of toothpaste before brushing. They should lick it off your finger to start with, and then off the brush you are going to use.

Once accustomed to the taste of their toothpaste and the sight of the brush, it won’t be such a shock when you first brush their teeth properly.

Brush and paste

You could use a ‘finger brush’ when your dog is young, as this type is soft and small, giving you

more control when brushing. A normal child’s toothbrush is suitable too but you are likely to need something larger as they grow.

Toothpaste must be specifically formulated for dogs though – human toothpaste is not suitable. Problem signs

The signs of teeth and gum problems in your pet are just the same as in humans. Bleeding gums, bad breath, deposits or flinching when brushing are all indications that something more needs to be done. You can’t do this yourself, though, and must see a vet for treatment and ongoing care advice.

HOME WANTED! Bandit

Bandit is a 10 year old ginger male who came into care as his owner could no longer care for him. He is a very sweet and gentle cat who loves cuddles and still loves the odd playtime. He is looking for a quiet adult only home with no other pets (he doesn't like all the noise in the cattery!) with a safe garden to explore and no busy roads nearby. Whilst he loves his cuddles he is also quite independent so in that respect, would suit a variety of households.

Epsom Ewell & District Branch http://www.epsom.cats.org.uk

As we have around 7,000 cats and kittens in our care at any one time, we will find you the perfect feline friend. www.cats.org.uk Reg Charity 203644 (England and Wales) and SC037711 (Scotland)

Cats are usually very clean, so finding signs of urine (wee) or faeces (poo) in the house is a sign that something is wrong. A one-off accident may not be easily explained, but if it starts to happen regularly you will need to find out the cause as soon as you can.

Possible causes

• Another local cat is in the area, in the garden or appearing at the window.

• You buy new furniture, as the old furniture would have carried their scent.

• A new baby arrives, or another pet.

• You redecorate your home.

• They are suffering a urinary tract infection. What to do?

It’s important not to be angry with your cat, as this will increase its anxiety levels and make the problem worse.

Unfortunately your cat’s sensitive nose encour ages them to revisit the place they’ve soiled. Keep them away from the area for as long as possible and clean the area thoroughly.

If a strange cat has been in the house, you could lock the cat flap for a while to make your pet feel more secure.

Otherwise, make sure they have plenty of quiet, safe places to escape to if it’s something else in the house, such as a new baby. A warm airing cupboard is a safe bet, or a quiet upstairs room. Bear in mind that a medical condition such as cystitis could be the cause, so a trip to the vet would be worthwhile if the problem continues.

Christmas… the most wonderful time of the year, but for many it can also be one of the most stressful. Here are twelve tips to get you through the festive season.

Ease the stress

Plan ahead

Start stocking up as soon as possible – add extra items over the remaining weeks along with your regular shop ping. Have an emer gency supply of a few small gifts to save you from embarrassment if someone arrives unex pectedly with a present for you.

Budget-conscious

Instead of splashing out on expensive gifts, you could: a) all decide on a budget per head and pull names out of a hat for who to buy for, or b) all family members chip in to buy tickets for a show, day out or meal out.

Everything in moderation

You don’t have to have everything. It won’t spoil Christmas if you don’t have pigs in blan kets, themed napkins, candles, luxury crackers etc. Let some of it slide and you’ll save on your Christmas spend too.

Write a to-do list. Delegate jobs: get younger family members to wrap the presents; ask guests to bring a starter, dessert, the mince pies or sau sage rolls. Set the table the night before – that’ll give you extra time to be with family on Christmas morning.

Get up, get out

Finding time to exercise during the festive break can be a challenge but keeping motivated and active is beneficial to both your body and your wellbeing.

Happy families

For some families, Christmas is the only time of year they all get together – and there are bound to be some heated moments. Young guests can get overexcited and too loud, which in turn can upset older guests, so have a supply of games, movies to watch and books to read to calm the situation and ease tensions.

Sleep

Sleeping is the time when our bodies recover from the excesses of life – and the overindulgence of festive food and drink can severely affect our sleep patterns. Turn off mobile phones at bedtime to give your mind and body time to unwind and relax.

Others less fortunate

For many, Christmas can be the loneliest day of the year. From checking on an elderly neighbour to volunteer ing, a small gesture can mean so much to others.

New traditions

Create your own family traditions. Is there a particular country that holds a place in your family’s heart? Why not have a culturallythemed Christmas and recreate its celebra tions.

A final word…

Time

off If possible, plan time off work in the run-up as this will prevent you from being overworked and overstressed by the time Christmas morning arrives.

Party animal

We’ve all been there –the office party! All too often people go a bit too far…remember to take things easy and have no regrets.

If you’ve found pre vious years have not been enjoyable then why make the same mistake again? Work out how much you’re likely to spend, then use that amount to do what you really want to.

By Katherine Sorrell

Christmas trees

In the UK we buy between eight and ten million ‘real’ Christmas trees each year that are taken down a few weeks later. So buy local if possible, and look for Forest Stewardship Council certi fication and Soil Association approval. Always use your local authority’s dedicated collection service if available. A tree with a root ball or in a pot that is planted out for the rest of the year is environmentally friendly, or rent a tree, which will be collected and replanted afterwards. Arti ficial trees are sadly still plastic, so if you have one reuse it for as long as possible.

Tree ornaments

Nothing is as sustainable as using Christmas baubles you already have and if you want to refresh your stock of tree decorations, consider buying vintage ones. Buy from a local craftsper son or an online platform such as Etsy or Folksy (ideally someone using sustainable materials), or make some yourself. There is a world of inspi ration in books, magazines, online or in hobby supply stores.

Front-door wreaths

Making a front-door wreath using fresh foliage is a wonderful, sustainable way to adorn your home (and it can be composted afterwards). Artificial wreaths are only sustainable if reused, but can easily be refreshed with a few extra seasonal em

These ethical, sustainable and recyclable candles are individually hand-crafted in Cornwall. Mulled Wine soy-wax eco candle, £12.99, earthcandleco.com

Use a simple wreath as a minimal decoration, or add your own embellishments such as twining leaves or tiny fairy lights.

Rattan door wreaths, from £30 each, gardentrading.co.uk

bellishments, such as dried, sliced oranges, pine cones or sprigs of holly.

Lights

Choosing LED lights for your festive decorations saves energy and money, and is good for the planet, too. Use a timer, or switch them off overnight and when you’re out.

Gift wrap

Stick to paper if possible or consider fabric, Japanesestyle (furoshiki). Use alternatives to sticky tape such as brown-paper tape, twine, ribbons and washi tape, which is made from renewable sources.

Table settings

Use fabric that can be washed repeatedly for Christmas tablecloths and napkins. Choose reusable card or fabric crackers that you fill yourself with personalised gifts year after year.

Advent calendars

DIY perpetual advent calendars can be brought out ev ery year and filled with carefully chosen small goodies. Either make your own or buy from a great choice, from tiny knitted stockings on a string to wooden houses with numbered doors.

Scent

You generally get what you pay for with scented candles in terms of a gorgeous scent and longer burn time, so it’s worth spending a little more if possible. Choose veg etable wax or beeswax candles, and scents made from essential oils rather than chemicals.

Are you dreaming of a green Christmas? Then try these ideas!

16 A rewarding and warming task at this time is to add compost on beds to form a mulch, provided the soil is not frozen. Ensure the soil is damp and this will help to keep roots warm and lock in a little moisture ready for potential drought in the future. It will transform the look of your beds and make you feel good too.

Winter pruning

It’s also a perfect time to prune woody species such as acers, figs, vines and deciduous shrubs, before the sap starts rising. Pruning is carried out in order to remove dead, damaged or diseased parts and to control the growth of something that might be a little too large for the space it occu pies. It is also the best way to define the shape of a plant, and at the right time of year pruning will help to create flowering and fruiting branches for the next season.

Not everything should be pruned at the same time, however. Plum trees and other prunus spe cies, for example, should never be pruned during winter because it increases the risk of silver leaf disease. Spring flowering shrubs should be pruned in late June or early summer just after flowering –otherwise, their flowering shoots will be removed.

By Caroline Knight: Gardendesignideas.co.uk

Many plants will benefit from being pruned around August when their growth has slowed, but evergreen shrubs tend to grow best when they are pruned in spring, just at the beginning of the growing season.

In the past, a fresh cut on a tree or shrub would be sealed using pruning paint. We now know that pruning at the correct time of year allows a cut to heal naturally and this is preferable.

A great symbol of Christmas

One of the many symbols of the season that we all love is the fresh Christmas tree - it is never adequately replaced with plastic. The Norway spruce was once the traditional British choice but because it has a tendency to drop its needles, it has been nudged down the popularity chart by ‘non-drop’ varieties. The blue spruce, as it is known, generally holds onto its spiny needles un til the end of festivities and beyond. The Douglas fir is also a good choice because it also holds its needles well – although it can be rather expensive. Undoubtedly, the bestselling tree of the ‘non-drop’ variety is the Nordmann fir (Abies nordmanni ana). This fast-grower can reach heights of up to 30m in the wild, so it’s perhaps best not to plant it outside the kitchen door once it has done its duty indoors.

Of course, there is no point in planting a tree that has been cut from its rootstock. But containergrown or trees freshly dug from the field can often transplant rather splendidly. Bear this in mind when you are making your choice.

Christmas tree growing outdoors

Home made mulch

Community carols by torchlight in the gardens of St George's Church, Hamilton Avenue, Tolworth 4pm on 17th December 2022

is nearly upon us! So why not come and celebrate at our Community Carols by Torchlight. Held in the gardens of St George’s Church, Tolworth, in the dark, this will provide a truly atmospheric start to the Christmas celebrations. There will also be a short, but fun, Nativity story, and we invite all children to participate (no preparation necessary) --- we will provide costumes, but you can come in your own if you wish. This is an occasion for all ages, so please join us at 4.00pm on Saturday 17th December for Community Carols by Torchlight (don’t forget your torches!), mince pies, hot chocolate and mulled wine. See you there!

Bucks Fizz for breakfast, chocolate boxes passed round before lunch, heaps of deliciously crispy roast potatoes – Christmas is a holiday of complete, unadulterated indulgence.

We’re all guilty of it, and this over-indulgence is nothing to feel ashamed about – it’s Christmas, after all! The festive season simply wouldn’t be the same without fantastic food, but if you’re feeling a little more health conscious this year, there are lots of ways in which you can treat yourself without going overboard.

Pack in more veg

Traditionally, Christmas dinners were always packed with a wide variety of vegetables, includ ing carrots, parsnips, Brussels sprouts and cabbage. However, over the years many of our plates have become more and more beige. This Christmas, why not make it your mission to make your plate as colourful as possible? If you’re in charge of the cooking, try steamed or boiled vegetables, and steer clear of cheese sauces and excess amounts of butter.

Take it slowly

A common mistake many of us make at Christ mas is not listening to our body. Instead of load ing up your plate at lunch, eat a normal-sized portion before taking a twenty-minute break to see if you’re still hungry. This is how long it takes for the brain to register that the stomach is full. If you feel full, you know it’s time to take a break before going back for seconds. You’ll avoid the formidable food coma – plus, you’ll be hungry again in time for dessert!

Enjoy a Christmas walk

On Christmas Day, it can be tempting to laze around on the sofa for the majority of the day. While movie marathons are a tradition for many families, there’s nothing like a Christmas walk to boost your festive spirits – and offer a break between films.

Take the family for a walk around the park and bring along any new outdoor toys and games. You’ll have lots of fun as a family, and you’ll give your body a chance to digest your Christ mas lunch!

Go easy on the booze

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a tipple or two. However, if you want to cut back, check the labels on bottles to see how many units they contain. The guidelines recommend drinking fourteen units a week which, in the lead up to Christmas, it’s easy to exceed. You could also try adding more mixer to any spirits to make them last longer, and refrain from drinking early on in the day.

Upgrade your snacks

Snacks and nibbles are everywhere come Christmastime. From cheese platters to shortbread biscuits and endless amounts of choco late, festive temptations are now arriving in our supermarkets as early as September – which makes them hard to ignore!

While it’s fine to indulge in the odd mince pie, there are loads of healthier snack options that you can put together at home. Why not try choc olate protein balls packed with dates and raisins, apple chips spiced with cinnamon or avocado chocolate mousse? ‘Healthier’ by no means has to mean boring!

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. Some numbers are already given.

Little gifts that’ll bring big smiles this Christmas

We’re all watching our money this year, and that means when it comes to Christmas presents we’re perhaps being a little more careful with what we’re buying for the people we care about. But you don’t have to splash the cash to get great tech gifts for family, friends or colleagues. There are stacks of great gifts for every kind of person.

If you’re buying for someone who’s mad about music, wireless Bluetooth speakers can be great buys. Amazon’s Echo Dot speaker is a good choice of smart speaker, currently £25.99, and the JBL Go 3 is a fun and very small speaker that’s easy to take anywhere. It’s around £30. We’re also very impressed by the Earfun Air headphones, which are an incredible bargain at £33.95. If you’re buying for kids, Belkin’s Soundform Nano (£29) sounds great, comes in fun colours and has a volume limit to protect their hearing.

Phone and tablet accessories can be great gifts too, whether that’s a genuine leather phone case (typically £30 to £60), a Popsocket phone grip (around £11 for the nicest ones) or an AirTag or Tile tracker (£20 to £35) for someone who’s always misplacing their purse or their keys.

There are lots of clever gifts for outdoor types too, including self-cleaning water bottles with UV light (around £49), multitools to cope with every conceivable kind of task (from £20) and solar lanterns (from around £20).

If the person you’re buying for would rather cook in a kitchen than halfway up a mountain, there are some great cooking gadgets for relatively low prices including the Thermapen instant-read thermometer (£39), which has saved many of our meals from over- or under-cooking, and the brilliant Stirr automatic pan stirrer, which you can use to prevent sauces and stews from sticking to the pot while you go and do something more interesting. And for coffee fans there’s the excellent AeroPress coffee maker (£31), which makes delicious coffee incredibly quickly without making it bitter. There’s a mobile version too, so the lucky recipient can get great coffee wher ever they may roam.

Stirr Automatic Pot Stirrer

The Stirr is a simple solution to a common problem: some things stick to your pots and pans if you don’t constantly stir them, but stirring is often very time consuming and extremely boring. Stirr sits in the pot and uses cooking-grade nylon legs to do the stirring for you. £20-£40, amazon.co.uk

Cases don’t just look good: they help protect your pricey phone so you can get a better trade-in price when you replace it. Official leather cases are often quite expensive but that’s not the case with Samsung. From £24, amazon.co.uk

Gerber Truss Multi-Tool

You can spend huge sums of money on multitools such as the famous Leatherman, but brands such as Gerber make excellent alternatives that deliver all the key features for considerably less money. Other brands may be even cheaper. £40, amazon.co.uk

This little speaker has excellent go-anywhere energy and it’s not so loud that you’ll get complaints from the recipient’s nearest and dearest. It sounds great for its size, it’s really affordable and the battery life is very good. £34, uk.jbl.com

Apple AirTag

Apple’s AirTags and its main rival, Tile trackers, can be attached to keys, put in purses or snuck into schoolbags to make it easy to find them again if they get lost, misplaced or even stolen. The battery lasts for months. £35, Apple.com

Official Samsung Galaxy S22 leather case

Can Britain’s economy be rescued? by Sir Edward Davey M.P

With mortgage rates up, higher energy bills and soaring food prices, things are getting really tough for almost everyone. When I visited Kingston’s food bank recently, they said they had never been busier and feared it would get worse.

While some of this damaging inflation should slow next year, the fear is people’s wages and pensions will still not keep up. And the Government seems determined to make us all pay more – with large spending cuts and some new unfair tax rises.

Is there any way out of this painful mess?

Lessons from elsewhere

While Ministers may argue every economy worldwide is suffering from various global problems – from the impact of the war in Ukraine to the aftermath of the Covid pandemic – the sad truth is the UK is faring far worse than other countries.

Take the world’s major economies – the US, Canada, Italy, France, Japan and Germany. And compare their performance over the last 3 years with the UK’s – starting with these various economies just before Covid hit.

Every other economy has grown over that period, despite Covid. The UK is the only country where the economy is still smaller than before Covid.

The US economy is a full 4.2% larger than it was preCovid. Italy and France are both over 1% larger. Only the UK has seen our economy shrink.

With worse to come. In the three months to this September, the UK was the only major economy shrinking, again - with the Bank of England is now forecasting the longest recession in history.

We have to ask why other countries’ Governments have done so much better than ours – in other words, learn and change.

Stability, people and trade

The obvious first difference between the UK and other large developed economies is our Government – and the damaging political instability and divisions inside the current British Government.

It’s not just the disastrous “mini-budget” of Liz Truss - that caused a run on the pound, higher Government debt, higher mortgages and a pensions crisis.

The political chaos started well before then and has continued.

When the Government keeps changing and when the governing party is so unstable and divided, Ministers can’t set a direction for policy. Such chaotic government hits investment and confidence – and thus hits our economy.

My fear is, these underlying political problems are now so deep, only an election can resolve them.

But in addition to restoring political stability, we need a new economic strategy. I argued in September’s edition of the Berrylands Companion that the key challenge businesses tell me they face, is the lack of people. It’s astonishing the Government has done so little to address this critical problem – not least when other countries have stepped up.

From investing in our NHS so people aren’t waiting for months on waiting lists, unable to return to work, to investing in young people’s skills. We must also encourage people who retired early after the pandemic to return to work – for example, by improving conditions at work, including enhanced employment rights, or, in the case of doctors, reforming the taxation of their pensions.

And then there’s trade. The UK’s export performance is dire – with this summer seeing one of our largest trade deficits ever. Exports to the EU have fallen sharply and many businesses report much longer lead times for importing what they need for their British customers.

I voted against Boris Johnson’s EU Trade Deal –because I thought it would damage our trade with extra red tape, costs and delays. With the evidence mounting daily that things are even worse than I expected, it’s clear that damaging trade deal will have to be renegotiated.

And to fully pump up trade, we need to see more support for small businesses and the self-employed and a much greater emphasis on innovation and technology. That’s how other countries are forging ahead. It can be done.

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

Events in November:

Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month;Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Kingston Christmas Market

10th: Christmas in Kingston begins. There will not be a lights switch on event, but lights will be on in the town. For more information check out: www.kingstonuponthames.info/christmas

Kingston Christmas Market with Gift stalls open until 24th December

The Christmas Market stage, bar and food stalls and Alpine Village will be open from 10th November until 2nd January 2023.

The Candy Cane Forest in Memorial Gardens is open from 26th November to 2nd January 2023

24th: Thanksgiving 27th: First Sunday in Advent

Bob Barter Quartet at Berrylands Hotel, Chiltern Drive. 12.30 -3pm. £12 tickets at the door. Featuring Jimmy Hastings and Jenny Howe. 30th: St Andrew’s Day

Events in December:

until 3rd Jan 2023: A Magical Menagerie at the Tower of London, book tickets

2-4th: Hampton Court Palace Festive Fayre

3rd: Small Business Saturday

10th: Christmas Fayre and Cafe at St John’s Church, Grove Lane, KT1 2SE. 10-2pm Come and enjoy some mulled wine, a turkey bap with trimmings, toasted sandwiches, mince pies and homemade cake with a coffee or cup of tea. Browse around our Christmas stalls which will include gifts for Christmas, toys, good books, records/CD’s, cakes and preserves, a tombola and activities for the children. All welcome

15th: Christmas in Kingston free family Christmas Trail until 24th December

21st: Winter Solstice Shortest Day

24th: Christmas Eve

25th: Christmas Day

26th: Boxing Day Bank Holiday

27th: Bank Holiday

30th: Hogmanay, New Year’s Eve

Events in January 2023

1st Jan: New Year’s Day

2nd Jan: Bank Holiday

8th: Submission deadline for the February edition of A Berrylands Companion magazine

22nd Chinese New Year, Year of the Rabbit

25th: Burn’s Night

1st Feb: LGBTQ History Month

14th: Valentine’s Day

21st: Shrove Tuesday

22nd: Ash Wednesday

Ice Rinks in London

Canary Wharf: 22 Oct - 25 Feb

Hampton Court Palace: 7 Nov - 8 Jan

Somerset House: 16 Nov - 15 Jan

Queen’s House:17 Nov - 8 Jan

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland: 18 Nov - 2 Jan

karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

What’s On/Local Events

1st Tuesday: NHS Retirement Club, For information call Lorna: 020 8337 4121

Last Sunday of the month: Women on Wheels, 020 8547 5865. E-mail: ccst@ rbk.kingston.gov.uk

Chit-Chat Sketch: We meet at Court Farm garden centre on Mondays at 2pm, and Thursdays at 10am. Times are subject to change & availability spaces are limited. To book your space please contact 07889 897 017 kppart@ outlook.com Please bring your sketch books & pencils. £8 session includes a drink.

Christ Church Surbiton Hill: Midweek Communion, simple service of Holy Communion at 12.30-1pm. Open from 11am for quiet prayer, alternate Wednesdays www. ccsurbiton.org

Cornerston Church, Tel: 0208 549 0733. info@cornerstonechurchkingston.org

Encore Singing Group: For info: gillyvor@ hotmail.com or call 020 8241 5513. All welcome, contact or pop in.

Fircroft Listening Café: Phone or text: 07598 910797. Email: listeningcafe@ thefircrofttrust.org Buses 71, 465, K1, K4.

Free Healing Meditation Workshop for Stress & Anxiety: For more information on what to bring & to sign up, go to: www. georgiemacs.com

Hook Church: If you would like to pray with someone, Hook Church Brook Road KT6 5DB is open Saturday mornings, 11-12.30. You would be most welcome. Info: 0208 391 0335

Hope in Depression: Free course that educates &equips adults & their supporters, with tools & proven tips about how to cope better with depression & anxiety. Hosted by Christ Church, Surbiton Hill over 6 Tuesday evening sessions. Expert speakers explore different aspects of mental health. For more information www.ccsurbiton.org/hidc

Kingston Camera Club: For more information visit: www.kingstoncameraclub.com

Kingston Circle Dance Group: Kingston Quaker Centre, 14 Fairfield East, KT1 2PT, 2:30-4:30, First Saturday every month, Social Dancing -- all welcome, Tel: 020 8399 8684. Tel: 020 8399 8684

Kingston Jazz Society: every other Tuesday, 7.30 - 9.30pm at The Druid’s Head, in Kingston. Listen, with us, to the best of recorded jazz. New members warmly welcomed. Contact:kingstonjazzsoc@gmail. com

Kingston Pensioners’ Forum: Contact Diane Double, Tel: 07762 663 483/020 8397 5084, email: kingstonpensionersforum@hotmail. co.uk

Kingston Philatelic Society: Info: Brian Sole Tel: 01932 220 677 or email: brian.sole@btinternet.com

Kingston Speakeasy: Contact Alick Munro on alick@munro. com or call 0208 892 9243 for date of next meeting.

Ladies Exercise Club: Keep Moving friendly & fun exercise classes for over 60s Fridays 10.15am. Mid Sept to June. 1st class free, then £6/session. Call Mary, 01483 284 716 or maryedwards77s@gmail.com

Mind in Kingston:www.mindkingston.org.uk or 020 8255 3939

Oasis daytime group for over 60s at Emmanuel Church, Grand Avenue, Tolworth. Our meeting on Weds 7th December at 2.30 pm. We’ll meet to sing carols hear Bible readings & listen to a Bible based talk and enjoy refreshments including mince pies. January meetings on 4th & 18th at 2.30pm. For further details, please call 020-8390 2372.

Open Door: Open Door will meet on:8th December at 2pm for our Christmas Carol Service. 22nd Dec at 2.15pm for our usual Christmas celebrations. Next meetings:Jan 5th & 19th. A friendship group, aimed mainly at seniors, gathering from 2.15-3.45 in the lounge at Christ Church, 8 Christ Church Road just off King Charles Road. A chance to chat, meet people, with refreshments served and a programme of speakers or activities and a “Thought for the Day” at the end of the afternoon. For more information see www.ccsurbiton. org or call the church office : 020 8390 7215

What’s On/Local Events

St John’s Church: Community Café open at St John’s Church, Grove Lane KT1 2SU from 10am - 1pm. Come for your elevenses, or an early lunch with friends. Enjoy toasted sandwiches, real coffee and home made cakes to eat or take away. Vegetarian & gluten free provided. All Welcome. Proceeds of cake sale to Water Aid. For more info: see website or email parishhall@ stjohnskingston.co.uk

St Marks Church:Weds mornings 10.0011.30 Stay and Play for Toddlers and Carers at St Mark’s Church Hall, St Mark’s Hill. Friday Mornings Coffee and Cake corner 1011.30am, drop in for coffee at St Andrew’s Church, Maple Road, no booking required for any of them.

St Matthew’s Church: Come along to the Balance Community Cafe every Wednesday 10am-2pm for tea, coffee, cakes and light lunches, with a Bereavement Cafe meeting on the 4th Wednesday each month at 10.30am. Everyone welcome.

Surbiton Chess Club: Now meets every Tuesday evening at Tolworth Reform Church, 90 Elgar Avenue, KT5 9JR from 7.30pm -10pm. New members welcome. Further details & our Covid policy from: www.surbitonchessclub.co.uk/ email: enquiries@surbitonchessclub.co.uk or at twitter@SurbitonChess.co.uk/

Scottish Country Dancing: Check website: www.surbitoncaledonian.co.uk or call: 01932 784 866

Surbiton Club for the Blind and Visually Impaired: We meet every other Tuesday 2-4pm in the Methodist Church next to the fire station. Chat, entertainment and afternoon teas are served. We welcome newcomers readily. Lifts available. Further details 07443643716 Volunteer drivers very welcome.

Surbiton Floral Club: Tel: 020 8399 8193

Surbiton Women’s Institute: The meeting on Tuesday 13th November Christmas Entertainment with ‘The Swinging Sixies’ and Christmas Fare. January 10th our speaker will be Tim Harrison on ‘Mrs Beeton’. Held 2.00-4pm British Legion, Hollyfield Road, Surbiton, KT5 9AL, on the

2nd Tuesday of the month. All visitors are welcome, first meeting is free then guests are asked for a £4 donation towards the WI funds. Refreshments provided.

Talking of Trains in Surbiton: Programme of talks at Surbiton Library Hall, each Wednesday evening Details on www. talkingoftrains.co.uk More details on website: www.talkingoftrains.co.uk

Tolworth United Reformed Church, please call Roger on 07525 410 083 / 0202 8393 4270 or email jones.ra@btinternet.com for information.

Tolworth World of Dance: Dance for Fun, Fitnes & Friends Wednesday (term time) Mornings: 10.30-12.00. St George’s, Hamilton Avenue, Tolworth KT6 7PT. First time FREE, then £5/week, pay as you go. Contact Phil or Brenda: EM: philip.steventon@btinternet.com Facebook/Tolworth World of Dance. Tel: 020 8397 9649

Twickenham Jazz Club: Wednesday nights at The Cabbage Patch in Twickenham, from 7.30pm-10.30pm. World renowned Jazz Musicians live! Please visit our website to check the upcoming events: www. twickenhamjazzclub.com

Women do Craft: Christ Church, Surbiton Hill, Every 2nd Weds of the month in the lounge 7.30-9.15pm. Catch up, chat and do craft together. Check website: www.ccsurbiton.org

These pages are for local clubs, societies and groups to have their information available to readers of A Berrylands Companion.

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

If your club is now able to restart after Covid, please send in the updated information.

Can Secretaries please ensure all dates and details are submitted each month.

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

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

HOOK ALLOTMENTS AND GARDENS ASSOCIATION

Our friendly allotment association was founded over 50 years ago and is run by volunteers.

We provide a wide range of composts, fertilisers, seeds; gardening products at not-for-profit club prices to members.

Surbiton Bird Club

Fully accessible monthly talks at St Matthew’s School, Langley Road, Surbiton, KT6 6LW 7.30pm-9.30pm Non members always welcome, £2 for tea & cake and donation appreciated!

Membership includes access to Hogsmill Nature Reserve and hides

Tues 13th Dec: Members’ Slides accmpanied by mince pies and cake Tues 17th Jan 2023: Zoom talk by Paul Stanbury on Vancuver Island and the Great Bear Rain Forest.

October Crossword

Membership costs £5 a year and our trading facility is situated next to the entrance to the allotment plots, just beyond the rugby club pavilion, at the rear of King Edward’s Recreation Ground, Hook Road, Chessington. Sun: 10am-12noon Email: hooklga@outlook.com

Hook Leisure Gardeners Association

Of little substance or significance (7)

At the right time of year (2,6)

Plant - sucking insects (5)

Down: 1. Terminate gradually (5,3)

Field Outings: Friendly walks for beginners to experts. To confirm participation, arrange time and meeting place, and pre-arrange lifts if needed and available: Full details Surbitonbirds.org. 020 8399 9121

23rd Nov: Mid Week Walk morning, Tolworth Court Farm, Leader Elliot Newton

4th Dec: All day, Pagham Harbour PO20 7NE. Salt marsh and shallow lagoons. Migratory and over wintering water birds and waders.

14th Dec: Mid Week Walk: Barnes WWT, SW13 9WT 4th Jan: Local bird walk over Kingston Bridge, along the River Thames & Home Park 8th Jan: Isle of Sheppey ME12 2NL Seabirds, waders and many migratory birds

Full details Surbitonbirds.org. 020 8399 9121

Disclaimer

A Sultanate in northwestern Borneo (6)

Horologist (10)

Slightly open (4)

Engage somebody to enter the army (6)

Represents or performs as if in a play (6)

Come to terms with (7)

Shortened term for provocation (5)

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.

Returning to political office (10) 15. Unusually great in size (7) 16. After sunrise and before sunset (8) 17. Strong and sharp (5) 18. Having little emotion or sensibility (6) 20. Add to the very end (6) 22. The highest point; culminate (6) 24. Compass point (4)

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

A Berrylands Companion magazine will be left for pick up at the following: MBE Mail Boxes, Shan’s Pharmacy, Lib Dem Offices, Berrylands Post Office Surbiton & Tolworth Libraries

Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club, The Lamb Slimming World Group Surbiton, Ex-Cellar, Hill Park Express, Kingston Care Tolworth Recreation Centre

Read it whilst you wait at: Aspen Vets, Berrylands Autocare Garage, Confidental Surgery Emma’s Salon

Vets4Life

If you would like copies at your business please call me on: 020 8274 0096

karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

Home & Garden

Berrylands Builders Ltd Berrylands Property Maintenance Carpets4U

Roofs of Epsom Honey Bee Roofing Instaservices

KB Design

Kevin Robinson Decorators Leverett Electricals NKM Studio

Richey Brickwork R.J.Tree Services Will Lord William Stallion Electricals House & Interiors Home Products Gardening

Care & Health Bootcamp

From One Home to Another Steph Edwards Natural Therapist Health

Rest & Relaxation

Christmas Tree Corner Emma Parker Travel Emmanuel Church King George Field Bowls Club Little Copper Washer Rebel Waltz Cycle Solutions St George’s Church Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club

Travel: Solo Travel, Europe Travel

Veterinary

Aspen Veterinary Surgery Cinnamon Trust Cats’ Protection Pet Care

Solicitors

Lewis & Dick

Christmas Baubles: Addington Furnishing Carpets4U FW Paine Sir Edward Davey M.P

Car Maintenance

Alan Sursham Berrylands Autocare K&P Tyres

Food & Drink Glenmore House Carvery Prithi

Baking: Bundt Cake Accountant M&B Accountancy Services Ltd Finance

Children & Education Kids Page

Funeral Directors Frederick W Paine

Articles & Editorials Community Pages What’s On/ Local Events Crossword Book Review

Useful Telephone Numbers Sir Edward Davey MP

Last UK Posting Dates for Christmas Celebrity Interview: Mary Berry Momentum Charity Special Gifts 12 Days of Christmas Survival