December January 2018 19 issuu 134 by Karen

Month: December 2018 January 2019 Issue No: 134 Incorporating Your Surbiton Independent monthly Month community news and Issue No.

business directory for KT5 &Monthly KT6 community news and business directory

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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

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Hello Readers

ell, here we are already, Christmas and the end of 2018. This edition has slightly more content, which I hope will be useful to you. It is often a time to reflect the past year and look forward to the New Year, 2019. As I write this, the country is preparing to remember the sacrifice made by the thousands in WW1 and since. One thing we have noticed since we returned from a holiday in October, is the fact that fireworks have been let off EVERY night. Just days before Halloween we noticed the bright lights across the sky, and they have continued. Then it was Bonfire Night, which I accept is the night for fireworks, followed by Diwali which is the Festival of Lights. But since then, why? And why are they let off so late at night? For those of us with pets it has been a difficult time, knowing when to bring them indoors, trying to calm them down and what about the wildlife? There does need to be some way of curbing the ongoing nightly barrage and perhaps a time curfew please.

If you have a business, are you making any New Year ResolutionsRates for your advertisingAdvertiser’s budget? Guide Don’t forget that local advertising does work! Contact me to discuss your advertising. Price List - Our Prices Haven’t Increased for 2 Years 1 Issue

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Adverts can be submitted in the following formats: • MS Word • MS Powerpoint • MS Publisher • TIFF & JPEG

Advert copy can be emailed to: karen@berrylandcompanion.com If your ad is not available in an electronic format then we can produce it for you, from your own hard copy text, normally for a fixed price of just £10, although this may be higher if you have a particularly complex advert! (This is a one-off charge - the advert could then be re-used in subsequent issues free of charge.)

WE ARE NOT AVAT REGISTERED, SO THE PRICE YOU SEE IS THE PRICE YOU PAY Contact us for package prices. Premium Pages 5 & 7: £10.00 extra Loose inserts can be delivered with magazine at £297 per 8,000.

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Copy and payment must be received by 16th of each month to guarantee publication of advert. Advertisement space is only guaranteed when full payment is made. Distribution numbers up to 8,000 each month.

The Companion will be published and distributed monthly, on or around the first weekend of the month. 10 editions a year. It will be delivered to over 12,000 homes in and around Berrylands and Surbiton over two months - guaranteed. In addition it is the first source of local information for anyone moving into the area.

Whether you are having family and friends coming to you or you are visiting friends and relatives, do have a very Merry Christmas and best wishes for a Happy New Year. Format & Design

It is an A5 size booklet, stapled with colour plus black and white printed on quality paper. The Companion will be printed on 115gsm gloss paper giving it a very high quality feel. It will have ‘longevity’ and because of it’s size, content, look and feel it will be kept by the majority of households until the next issue arrives, thereby giving advertisers ‘immdiacy’ of access’ when their services are required.

Karen Burgess 18 Kingsdowne Road Surbiton, Surrey, KT6 6JZ Tel: 020 8274 0096 Fax: 07092003581 Email: karen@berrylandscompanion.com Web: www.berrylandscompanion.com

Best wishes, Karen

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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

Short Story Christmas Carol Chris and Sophie had become engaged after what Chris’s parents, Kevin and Jenny, considered a bit of a whirlwind romance, so inviting Sophie’s mum over for Christmas dinner had seemed like a good way for the two families to get to know each other.

run in the family,” Jenny laughed nervously, “for all our sakes.”

Carol had arrived earlier than expected, accompanied by a vibrant purple perm, flashing reindeer antlers and a crate of stout.

“Nah, my daughter’s got her head screwed on right.” Carol waved her almost empty glass. “Of course, she was engaged to that chap from the fish market. Nice lad.” She took a final slurp. “Hold your horses I said to her, do you really want your curtains smelling of crab sticks?”

“I’ll just park myself here.” She wedged herself at the kitchen table. “Pass me a bottle will you?”

“When was this?” Jenny asked casually, turning down the gas under the pan of sprouts.

“I’m surprised our Chris didn’t offer you a lift,” Jenny said, taking a glass off the shelf. “It’s not how we brought him up, is it Kevin?”

“It was after she’d called off the wedding to that other chap, who worked on the bins.” She adjusted her drooping antlers. “I wasn’t keen on him. He had really long arms.”

Carol knocked the cap off her stout on the edge of the table. “Men! My third husband treated his python better then he treated me.” “Have you been married three times, Carol?” Jenny stirred the bread sauce nervously. This was news. “I wish I’d stopped at three.” Carol shook her head. “Mind you,” she added with a belch, “I’m currently young, free and single.” She fluttered her eyelashes menacingly at Kevin, who affected a sudden fascination with the contents of the cutlery drawer. “Let’s hope divorce doesn’t

“Is that right?” Jenny nudged Kevin. “And then there was that fella from Hartlepool.” Carol reached for another bottle. “I’d say, on average, she gets engaged every six months. I’ve stopped bothering the hat shop now.” Jenny looked at Kevin in alarm. “I wonder what’s holding the love birds up?” Jenny folded up a tea-towel decisively. “Kevin, could give me a hand with something in the hall?” “Certainly love.” Kevin followed her, relieved to be

out of the kitchen. “Well that’s Christmas ruined,” Jenny whispered to him at the foot of the stairs. “Why’s that?” Kevin said. “Haven’t you been listening?” She wrung her hands on her apron. “Sophie’s going to break our poor boy’s heart.” “Here they are now,” he said, as the front door opened. “Sorry we’re late.” Chris, his arms laden with gifts, leaned over to kiss Jenny’s cheek. “Merry Christmas.” “What held you up?” Jenny said. “And where’s Sophie?” “We got talking to the Chadburns over the road.” He pushed the door shut with his foot. “Their nutty aunt hasn’t turned up and they’re panicking. Sophie and Rose are helping them call the police.” “Who’s Rose?” Kevin asked, relieving Chris of his load. “Sophie’s mum,” Chris said, taking off his coat. “Then who’s Carol?” Jenny asked. “Carol? That’s what the missing aunt’s called.” Chris sounded surprised. “Apparently she’s a bit of a handful.” By Jackie Brewster

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Finance

By Ann Haldon

Don’t let Christmas costs ruin your New Year: 3 ways to stay in control of spending this December

If you’re wondering how to manage your Christmas spending more effectively, saving, budgeting, and making a list is just the start. Here are three other ways you might not have considered to start the New Year with a healthy bank balance and reduced financial stress. Pre-arranged overdraft facility Intended to be a temporary and controlled use of credit in line with your Christmas budget, an arranged overdraft facility that’s repaid over a few months helps gets you back on track financially. How do overdrafts work? An overdraft that’s prearranged with your bank means you can withdraw more money than is in your current account, up to an agreed limit. There is generally a set period of time that the facility is available, and typically a charge for each day you’re overdrawn. Overdraft fees vary between

banks, but generally include a charge for setting up the facility, a fee for each day it’s used and a renewal fee if you need to extend it. Some providers offer fee-free amounts, whilst others base their daily charge on the level of your overdrawn balance. Daily deals websites Take advantage of the growing number of daily deals websites and you can save a significant amount at Christmas. Wowcher, Groupon, and Living Social are just a few of the sites where you’ll find great deals on gifts, experiences, fitness products and lots more. It’s straightforward to sign up, and you can receive emails with the latest deals. It’s easy to get carried away when you have access to so many discounts, but if you do your research and stick to your list, it should save you money overall. How do deals websites work? You simply sign up with your email address and you can get targeted gift ideas, often with a significant discount. Key in the home town of people you’re buying for and

you’ll receive ideas that are local to them – meals out, afternoon teas or experience days, tailored to your family and friends. Prepaid debit cards Prepaid debit cards are an alternative to bank debit cards and credit cards. You don’t have access to your entire bank balance, or the credit limit on your credit card – it’s preloaded with a specific sum of cash, and you can only spend up to this amount. How do prepaid debit cards work? You won’t be credit-checked when you apply for a prepaid card, but a number of different fees may apply, including application and transaction fees. Some providers charge monthly fees and top-up fees, whilst a renewal charge may apply as these types of card expire after three years. It’s easy to be swept up in the spirit of giving at Christmas, but it can take months to recover from overspending. Whether arranging an overdraft with your bank, applying for a prepaid card, or taking advantage of a few daily deals works for you, they could all help you take control of your Christmas spending and enjoy a peaceful and financially harmonious New Year.

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Taxation advice and guidance to local businesses Taxation advice and sole traders and guidance to for more than local businesses 15 years. and sole traders for more than 20 years.

• • • • • •

• Accounts and Taxation Accounts and Taxation • Assessment Self Assessment Tax Self Tax Returns Returns CIS and Payroll • Returns CIS and Payroll VAT • VAT Returns Tax Planning and Advice • Tax Planning and Advice Book Keeping Services

• Book Keeping Services Contact Mark Baker Contact Mark Baker 020 3044 2747 020 3044 2747 07909 703463 07909 703463 Email: markbaker@mbaccountancy.co.uk Email: markbaker@mbaccountancy.co.uk

Season’s Greetings from Karen & Ken A Berrylands Companion 020 8274 0096

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email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

Brighten up your Winter at Surbiton Racket Club!

hen the outlook’s cold, damp and generally unattractive, our splendid Club is the place to be. We offer our Members more varied facilities than any other similar local Club, and our current deals make it easy to join. So why not come and look us over ? With no obligation, of course.

At this time of year, most of our visitors want to see our spacious Fitness Suite, where we have some of the latest equipment, from cardiovascular aids to resistance machines and free weights. And we have recently installed the latest Indoor Cycling bikes. Come and give them a try!

390 9030.

Squash is always a very important activity at the Club, especially in the winter months. We have four state-of-the-art courts, with heating and air-conditioning, and our Squash Coach is available by appointment for those who wish to improve their game. Squash Club Night is on Saturdays from 5.30pm and Beginners’ Evening is on Sundays from 5pm to 6pm.

Alongside is our Studio, where we have regular classes in Zumba, Pilates, and Yoga. There’s also Cardiotennis and Racketball for you to enjoy!

Ours is a very social and friendly Club, as you would soon find out. We have regular social events during the winter. Our Quiz Nights, for instance, are usually a sell-out. And our Clubhouse Bar is an excellent social meeting-place, where you can relax with coffee or a drink and order cooked food from our excellent and extensive Menu if you wish. Everything is cooked to order.

Physiotherapy is on offer at the Club, in its own dedicated Studio. This is run in partnership with Kingston Physiotherapy. We also have a Chiropracter, Neil Reilly D.C. Appointments at the Club can be made on 0208

Outside in the Winter there’s no doom and gloom, because we have no less than nine quick-draining hard courts. Three of them have been laid in synthetic clay, and these have become firm favourites

with our Members. Another two are protected by our magnificent Dome, which guarantees tennis throughout the winter whatever the weather. And our excellent floodlighting has made evening tennis highly popular at the Club. An essential part of our tennis is our extensive coaching programmes. We have fourteen registered tennis coaches who work at the Club and in local schools. These programmes run throughout the year and cater for all ages and abilities, and are especially important for our growing junior membership. Why not come and join us? Brighten up your Winter! Best wishes, and a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our readers! Roy Roy Staniland is Director of Surbiton Racket and Fitness Club, Berrylands, KT5 8JT 0208 399 1594 www.surbiton.org

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U L D I E T 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.

3 letters: 9 4 letters: 13 5 letters: 2 6 letters: 1

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HIDATO 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.

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Health

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

Healthier Festive Food Swaps

After weeks of festive foodie temptations, it’s easy to start the New Year a few pounds heavier and feeling far from fit. But the alternative isn’t avoiding treats altogether: it’s choosing the swaps you can live with. Better Breakfasts SWAP a full English fried breakfast for the healthy version. Grill mushrooms, tomatoes and bacon, poach eggs, and choose low-sugar baked beans and a slice of wholemeal toast rather than hash browns. SWAP sugary cereals for a small portion of healthier cereals and add fresh berries and/or a dollop of low-fat yogurt. Start as You Mean to Go On If you must have a starter, keep it small and light. SWAP creamy soups or cheese laden dishes for: • A small prawn cocktail with fresh lettuce and a little lowfat dressing (if you must add bread, stick to half a slice of wholemeal). • A small fresh fruit cocktail – berries or a tropical mix. • A small bowl of cream-free soup. The Main Event SWAP • Duck or goose for turkey or a

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lean cut of red meat. • Butter-basting your turkey for removing the skin (reducing the calories by nearly a third and fat by more than half). • Sausage meat for vegetarian sausage mix in stuffing. • Goose fat or lard etc. for a low-fat vegetable-based oil or spray oil. • Some of your roast potatoes for crispy jacket potatoes (not mash: the added milk and butter is its downfall). • Roasted vegetables for steamed or microwaved ones. Your Just Desserts 113g (a quarter) of a standard Christmas pud usually has 375-400 calories and 40-50g of sugar, although they are relatively low in fat. Fancy something healthier? Try 113g of: • Morrison’s Very Berry Strudel (287 calories, 18g sugar, 13g fat) • Asda Raspberry Tiramisu (257 calories, 25g sugar, 10g fat) • Sainsbury’s Mixed Berry Trifle Desert (171 calories, 21g sugar, 7g fat) SWAP • Ambrosia custard (98 calories, 11g sugar, 3g fat per 100g) • Elmlea double cream (351 calories, 4g sugar, 36g fat per 100ml) for • Sainsbury’s low-fat yogurt (62 calories, 7g of sugar, 1g fat per 100g) Time for Tea SWAP: • Traditional mince pies for

lattices, filo parcels or opentop versions. • Breaded or battered snacks for marinated savouries or home-made herby snacks. • Rich, creamy dips for low-fat or tomato-based versions. • Crisps, salted nuts and chocolate for plain popcorn, rice cakes, pretzels, unsalted nuts and homemade chocolate-covered fruit (dark chocolate is healthier). Raise Your Glass – Not Your Blood Pressure Alcohol is usually high in sugar and calories and recent research has shown there’s no ‘safe’ consumption limit (leading to the Government reducing men’s ‘recommended’ limit to 14 units in line with women). Consider swapping 175ml glasses of some alcoholic drinks for these delicious alternatives. Bollinger champagne (133 calories) for • Shloer Sparkling White Grape Juice (53 calories) • J2O Spritz watermelon (35 calories) Dry River Pinot Grigio (158 calories) for: • Kedem Natural Grape Juice (88 calories) • Welch’s White Grape, Pear and Apple Juice (35 calories) Echo Falls Merlot (125 calories) for: • Asda Grape, Apple and Raspberry Juice (100 calories) Choose your swaps wisely and you could save pounds of both kinds. Merry Christmas!

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Kingston

Clinical Commissioning Group

Kingston provides access to Primary Care Services 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week. This includes: Surbiton Health Centre Kingston Health Centre Mon-Fri 6.30pm - 8.00pm* Mon-Fri 6.30pm - 8.00pm* Sat-Sun 8.00am - 8.00pm Sat 8.00am - 8.00pm Bank Holidays 8.00am - 8.00pm Sun 8.00am - 2.00pm

Merritt Medical Centre Mon-Fri 6.30pm - 8.00pm* Sat-Sun 8.00am - 2.00pm

*For weekday evening appointments please contact your own GP Surgery before 5pm. For a Weekend or Bank Holiday appointment, please call 020 3841 9942. This service covers all the normal illnesses and injuries that you would want to see your GP about. The service does not cover: Emergencies including Dental & Mental Health any Pregnancy related issues – Referrals – Test requests or Repeat Prescriptions. For any conditions that require immediate attention such as shortness of breath or chest pain please go to A&E. Extended Primary Care AD.indd 1

07/11/2018 07:45

Mini Cryptic Crossword Across 1. Plant free for fans? (7) 7. Cut on a tree, say (5) 8. Key a pro ruined! (4,3) 9. A listener’s looked at a duck (5) 11. Singular male representative (5) 12. Sign for a takeaway, perhaps (5) 14. The best stuff around except lead (5) 16. An embargo put on leave (7) 18. Cool bookie’s first gamble (5) 19. One real compound name (7) Down 1. Edge (long inside edge) (5) 2. Wolf tail not entertaining (3) 3. Allude to, one way or another (5) 4. A girl from Oregon or Maine (5) 5. Real crime, a prophet said (7) 6. Produce alien following appeal (5) 10. Vigorous form of Candy I’m sure (7) 12. Scary singer (a soprano) (5) 13. Small-headed fish unsettle! (5)

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

14. Moderate Conservative’s preceding stop (5) 15. Roman round

house (5) 17. Two-faced son ending a row (3)

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Add cushions to turn this day bed into a sofa, pop on some bedding and it’s a single sleep space, or pull out the base and it transforms into a double bed. Hemnes day bed frame with three drawers, £239, Ikea.

Not enough bedrooms? A sofa bed – or other type of informal guest bed – is your answer. Make sure you invest in one that combines both comfort and style, says Katherine Sorrell. noitubirtsiD

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Choose the right occasional bed • Whether you are choosing a sofa, a day bed or a bed-in-a-box, your first consideration is that it should be well made, comfortable to sit on (seats are often firmer than on conventional sofas), and suits the size, shape and style of your room when closed. • Look for a mechanism that is easy to open and don’t squeak, stick or feel overly loose. A lock-down bar is an asset, ensuring that the bed is properly closed. The inner workings should be smooth, with no parts sticking out that might catch on your sheets. • For a sofa bed to be really comfortable to sleep on, wooden slats with webbing offer the best support, while a proper sprung mattress is much better than a thin foam one, though similarly more expensive. Always test before you buy! • Size matters. A two-seater sofa will open out into a great bed for one person, but a couple will struggle for space unless you invest in a threeseater. That said, a large sofa does not inevitably transform into a large sleeping space, so always check dimensions. • If storage is an issue, look for a style that contains space for tucking away bedding.

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This inexpensive and stylish sofa bed is ideal for occasional guests. The back folds down, creating a four-foot-wide sleeping platform. Lunar sofa bed, £399, Carpetright. This sturdy single guest bed can easily be folded away into a good-looking, upholstered box. Alison bed in a box, £560, Living It Up.

Sofa beds come in all shapes and sizes, including this sleek leather version with deep seating, wooden slats and a five-inch deep, fully sprung mattress. Sloane three-seater sofa bed in Old English Hazel, £1,861.50, Darlings of Chelsea. With deep-button detailing and a comfortably deep seat, this sofa bed would be a handsome addition to a sitting room as well as a great bed for last-minute guests. Truffle sofa bed, from £1,845, Loaf.

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With an armless frame, this streamlined, one-seater sofa bed makes the most of small spaces – and modules could always be added at a later date to create a larger seating area. The Minety one-seater sofa bed in Shadow, £930, Willow & Hall.

The legs slide out, the cushion unfolds and voila! Kipster daybed, £1,195, Loaf.

A tempting spot for an afternoon nap, this refined and elegant daybed offers a touch of modern minimalism. Mabel daybed, from £625, sofa.com.

Get some bling on with this affordable, modern sofa bed with a sprung foam seat and back upholstered in hard-wearing PU leather. Vinci sofa bed in gold, £259, made.com.

Groundworks / paving, patios, turfing etc. Interior & exterior painting & decorating. Roofing / UPVC guttering & soffits, fascia. General building, Fencing. Free written estimate. 14 Day cooling off period We are a family run business specialising Roofing & Building company that has built up an enviable reputation. Our goal is to meet and exceed the expectations of every customer. We take on all types of jobs from small domestic work to larger commercial projects, all carried out to the highest standards, and at very competitive prices. We are qualified and fully insured with vast knowledge and experience to complete any job.Only quality materials are supplied and used and all our work is guaranteed.

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Home & Interiors Create a comfortable guest room

By Katherine Sorrell

the mattress? If it has seen better days, a topper or enhancer can help. Have duvets and pillows dry cleaned, and check you have enough bed linen. Bedside tables are useful to store a book, a glass of water, a phone and a pair of glasses, and a folding tray table, a small chair, a stool or just an upturned wooden crate will all be fine. Soft rugs beside the bed and prints on the walls are a lovely enhancement.

Spare room mattress, £345, Loaf: 020 3141 8300; www.loaf.com.

Is your spare room ready for Christmas? Our guide will ensure your guests feel completely at home. Hosting family or friends during the festive season can be as stressful as it is heartwarming, so it is best to prepare well in advance. First, check the spare bedroom, and if it is full of clutter then sell, give or tidy away as much as possible. Create enough space in wardrobes and drawers for guests to unpack their clothes – or at least store your stuff neatly and leave them a few hangers on a hook on the back of the door. If the room is too hot or too cold, address issues such as windows that are stuck or radiators that don’t work – if necessary, plug in a small standalone heater. Draw the curtains in daylight to check whether they adequately block early-morning light, and consider adding blackout lining for curtains or fitted blackout blinds. As well as a clean and clutter-free room, there are key elements that will really enhance your guests’ comfort. First, how is

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Additional pillows and blankets will be welcome, as will a hair dryer, a full-length mirror and a waste paper basket. A spare dressing gown is useful, especially if the room doesn’t have an en suite bathroom. Add an extension lead or an adaptor for charging phones and other devices, and provide your router’s name and password on a small card. If you don’t have a spare bedroom, a sofa bed, day bed, futon, bed-in-a-box or good quality airbed in the living room will all be fine, but clear away as much as possible so your guests have room to put down their luggage, and place a small lamp near the head of their ‘bed’ and a spare throw or blanket. A box, bag or basket into which they can stow bedding during the day will also help keep things tidy, while a note on the door will make sure they are not interrupted before they get up in the morning. Finally, think about the little extras that will make your guests’ stay a five-star experience. Suggestions include an alarm clock, a pen and paper, a carafe of water with matching glass, some books or magazines, a hot water bottle, a sprig of flowers in a bud vase and a scented candle or diffuser. With such care and forethought, your guests are sure to be delighted – and will soon be back to stay again.

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r.J.tree Services, Berrylands, Surbiton 020 8399 0103 07980 903 881 Visit 0096 our website forkaren@berrylands-companion.co.uk information and videos on all aspects of15 our work To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 email: 15

Gardening Get Fit And Garden!

by Pippa Greenwood

If the soil in cleared areas is sufficiently dry, fork it over to help the frosts break up heavier clay soils. Any exposed grubs and other soil pests will feed the birds and minimise pest problems next year. Get some digging done if the soil is not too wet, but limber up first. Keeping your back straight and your knees bent helps to reduce the risk of injury.

There’s nothing like some time in the garden to clear your head and get the blood moving. Fresh, cool air will wake you up and get you thinking positively, and your garden will benefit. Removing damp, clogged up leaves from the lawn with a spring-tined rake will prevent patches of faded grass and is good for upper arm muscles! Collect and bag up the leaves and rot them down to make leaf mould, a brilliant and free soil conditioner.

Winter is a good time to prune apple and pear trees. Use sharp secateurs to remove dead, dying and diseased branches, as well as branches causing the tree’s crown to be too congested. Re-set any loose brick or similar edging around paths, beds or steps, and replace any damaged stones, pavers or bricks. Carefully clear debris, dead foliage and stems from flower beds, but leave some dry foliage and stems over the bases or crowns of plants, especially those of the more tender perennials such as penstemons. Smooth, hard garden surfaces

such as patios, paths and steps become dangerously slippery if algae and debris builds up on them over the winter, especially when wet. A stiff brush or yard broom and plenty of elbow grease is the best solution I know. Wet and very windy weather can cause shrubs and trees to become loosened in the soil, so re-firm the soil around the root area and make sure the plant is still in the soil at the right level. You’re bound to feel better after all that air and exercise, so reward yourself with a cuppa and admire your handiwork before heading inside for a nice hot bath! Visit Pippa’s website www. pippagreenwood.com and you’ll find some great gardening items and perfect Christmas gifts for gardeners: a ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ gift card (great vegetable plants and weekly advice from Pippa), stylish cloches, the fantastic SpeedHoe, raised bed kits, gardening tools, Grower Frames, signed books and more! Or why not book Pippa for a gardening talk at your gardening club?

Limber Up! After too much time inside, and in cold weather, take care before you spring into action: • Wear plenty of clothing when you go outside and remove layers gradually as you warm up. • Limber up gently to slowly loosen up your arms, legs and back. • Don’t do any single task for too long – rotate the jobs for perhaps ten minutes at a time, so you don’t put any one area of your body under too much strain. • Give yourself regular, short breaks and don’t forget to drink enough. • Bend your knees when lifting and if in doubt call on a friend, relative or neighbour to give you a hand.

16 16

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WORDWHEEL

LOCAL CARPENTER GARDENER

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.

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Gardening Winter Colour

Happy New Year to you! Despite the winter weather, with planning and strategic planting your garden can still look gorgeous, with colourful plants to add interest to your plot. Dogwoods or Cornus are great winter stem-colour plants. Planted in a moist sunny spot, the crimson-red stems are stunning during winter, plus in autumn you’ll get red and purple foliage. To keep these colourful stems coming, cut them back to ground level in late spring every alternate year. Winter classic good looks come from hollies, either greenleaved or in variegated form, such as ‘Argentea Marginata’ with silvery leaf edges, ‘Golden Queen’ with golden-yellow leaf edges, or ‘Ferrox Argentea’ with silver-edged leaves covered with prickles! Some willows can be kept quite small, and have stunning coloured winter stems. For egg-yolk yellow stems go for

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by Pippa Greenwood Salix alba ‘Vitellina’, for scarletorange stems there is ‘Britzensis’, or Salix acutifolia ‘Blue Streak’ has purple stems with a sliverygrey bloom and grey buds. These stems also need to be cut back to ground level every two years. The ghost bramble, Rubus cockburnianus, a relative of the standard bramble, has arching white stems that look great in winter sunshine. In summer it produces sprays of small purple flowers. Christmas Roses or hellebores, including Helleborus argutiflorus, have cup-shaped green flowers with prominent stamens, are tough and perform well. The classic Christmas rose proper is white-flowered (developing a pink tinge as they age), and look stunning against the central cluster of golden-yellow stamens. The variety ‘Potters Wheel’ has flowers up to 10cm in diameter. Snowdrops in single and double forms look great planted in drifts or naturalised on a grassy bank. Buy ready-toflower snowdrops in pots now, plant them out, and then plant

them ‘in the green’ in a month or two’s time, when you can get the bulbs, complete with leaves, ready for planting by mail order. Winter aconites have bright yellow, shiny petals and flowers like golden stars, and produce a superb display when planted close to and amongst snowdrops. Plenty of moisture without waterlogging is key. Winter flowering pansies make a splash of colour in any garden, with just about every conceivable colour available. Even when struck by frost, the flowers soon perk up again. Clematis cirrhosa is a winterflowering climber with yellow to white bell-shaped flowers and a delicate lemony perfume. The inner surface of the petals is delicately freckled, with variety ‘Freckles’ having the best dark spotting. The flowers last from early winter until the start of spring. Winter-flowering jasmine can be loosely trained against a wall for a great winter display of bright yellow starry flowers, and will remind you that spring is coming! At www.pippagreenwood.com you can join ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ for great vegetable plants and weekly advice, practical and pretty plant supports, the fantastic SpeedHoe, gardening tools, signed books and more! Or why not book Pippa for a talk at your gardening club?

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ST R N NO YLE AN EW W S & GE AV C OF AI OL LA OU BL RS E

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Technology

How to have ho ho ho, not oh no no

The Christmas technology survival guide It used to be so simple. The only technology you needed to think about at Christmas was a bunch of AA batteries, and setting the video for Die Hard. Now, though, things are a bit more complicated. Even the humblest toys are packing processors, using obscure batteries or demanding an overnight charge before you can use them. Investing in stacks of AA batteries is still a good idea – go for rechargeable ones; they’ll cost more to begin with but they’ll save you a fortune in the long term and they’re better for the environment too – but we’d also recommend having some smaller AAAs and a square 9V battery to hand too. That latter one’s for the smoke detector that’ll start beeping incessantly on Christmas Eve just after all the shops have shut. It’s worth checking individual gifts before you wrap them to see if they need particular batteries: while AA and AAA are the most common, some require LR44s or CR2032s – easy enough to get from the nearest shop, but unlikely to be sitting in your second drawer. If they’re gifts, providing the right batteries too will make you very popular. It’s wise to have a small toolkit handy, or at least a small crosshead screwdriver. Children’s toys, especially big plastic ones, are often screwed to the packaging. Even worse, some use cable ties so you’ll need scissors handy too. Don’t worry if devices such as Pay As You Go phones or handheld devices don’t come with chargers: most such devices use the same

20 20

micro-USB chargers as Android tablets, Kindle e-book readers and other common bits of kit, so there’s no need to get more. If Santa’s bringing pre-owned Apple devices you might need to provide a lightning cable to charge them: not all pre-owned devices come with the original cables. One of the biggest technology pains at Christmas is the big download: from new tablets to games consoles, it seems that everything requires a software update before you can do anything. That’s a particular pain with Xboxes and PlayStations: games often won’t let you play online without the most recent version of the system software. Naturally, the worst possible time to download that is on Christmas morning when everybody in your street is doing the same – if you can, it’s a great idea to install the updates in advance so everything’s ready to go on Christmas Day. It’s also a good idea to prepare for the worst: make sure you have a note of and receipts for any expensive tech items that will be in your home over the Christmas period (some insurance policies automatically increase contents cover over Christmas, but not all do), and if younger children are being given anything droppable it’s a very good idea to invest in a protective case. That’s a lesson we’ve learnt the hard way – even a cheap case can protect an expensive iPad. If you thought the speed of light was fast, you haven’t seen how quickly a four-year-old can accidentally crack an iPad or smartphone screen. Images above left to right - Amazon Fire Kids Edition tablet, Energizer charger and AA batteries, Sony PlayStation 4 special edition games console. Image bottom left - Boompods charging cables.

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Leverett Electrical Ltd

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21 21

Tech for the New You If human beings were any good at keeping New Year’s resolutions, the gyms would be full to bursting and the streets full of joggers all year round, not just for the first few weeks. Tech can’t transform you from couch potato to body beautiful, but it can keep you focused on the goal. The good news is that you might already have most of what you need in your smartphone. Many modern smartphones contain the sensors to track all kinds of exercise apart from (obviously) swimming. If your device has GPS it can track your running or cycling, but even if it doesn’t it can usually track your steps and distance. In some cases they can also track your elevation and tell you how many flights of stairs you’ve climbed. Both Apple and Google have their own fitness tracking apps in the form of Activity and Google Fit respectively, but some of the best fitness tracking apps are by third parties. Nike Training Club is a great workout app, while Runkeeper and Strava are brilliant. It’s not just about exercising, of course. Healthy eating can make a big difference to your energy levels and your body shape. MyFitnessPal enables you to track what your food intake to get an insight into your personal nutrition. The app is free, although some of its more advanced features require a monthly subscription. That’s something to check with health and fitness apps generally: apps that appear to be free are often very limited in what they can do, and

22 22

some subscription plans are frighteningly expensive. If you do decide to get some hardware, even that needn’t cost a fortune. Yes, the latest Apple Watch is pretty expensive at £399-plus, but you can get a perfectly good runner’s watch like the TomTom Runner 3 or Garmin Forerunner 35 for about £99; if all you want to track is your heart rate, you can get a heart rate monitoring watch from Decathlon for £15.99. Even GPS watches are much more affordable: the Kalenji Onmove 220 GPS Watch is currently £69.99. Don’t forget the second-hand market, either. At the time of writing you could get an Apple Watch Series 3 GPS Nike+ watch, a great smartwatch, for £229.99 on eBay. That’s a pretty good discount on the usual RRP of £359. If you do have a smartwatch, there are some excellent fitness apps for those too. The Apple Watch is particularly blessed with endless activity trackers. We like Carrot Fit, which is available for iPhone as well as Apple Watch. Unusually where other apps offer positive reinforcement, Carrot is bad-tempered, judgmental and deliberately offensive. If you have a dark sense of humour though it’s a lot of fun.

Images top clockwise- Apple Watch Nike edition, Garmin Forerunner 35 smart watch, Decathlon heart rate monitor, CARROT Fit smartphone health app.

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Painting and Decorating Roofing and Guttering Plastering and Tiling Household Maintenance Loft conversions and extensions

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Deadlines for submitting new artwork for forthcoming issues of A Berrylands Companion

William Stallion

8th Jan for February issue 8th Feb for March issue 8th March for April issue 8th April for May issue 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

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Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Primary School PTA

Christmas Bazaar 2018

Saturday 24 November 12pm - 3pm Tickets Adults £1 children FREE GRAND DRAW PRIZES 1st - iPad, 2nd - £100 Amazon voucher, 3rd - £50 John Lewis Santa’s Grotto, Mulled wine, Wheel of fortune, Tombolas, Hot food, Cake, Café Held in school hall at 399 Ewell Rd, Surbiton, Tolworth KT6 7DG

24 24

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•Extensions BERRYLANDS BERRYLANDS •Conversions Property Maintenance Ltd •All types of Paving

Property Maintenance Ltd

iPainting and Decorating and Tiling * Extensions *iPlastering Conversions * All types of Paving iHousehold Maintenance and Repairs iBathrooms Fitted and Refurbished Local builders withandover 30 years experience. iCarpentry Plumbing iFlat Packs and Small Jobs

iPainting and Decorating and Tiling Local builders with over 30 years experience. *iPlastering Conversions * All types of Paving Many local customers with excellent references, iHousehold Maintenance and Repairs Marcus &by Sarah Baines viewings appointment Many local customers with excellent020 references, 8390 7549 iBathrooms Fitted and Refurbished viewings by appointment 603a885 Check out 07702 our Check Trade ratings. ders with over 30 years experience. iCarpentry and Plumbing Check out our Check a Trade ratings. iFlat Packs and Small Jobs 71 Chiltern Drive ,Surbiton, Surrey, KT5 8LR berrylands-property@blueyonder.co.uk

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25 25

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‘A Berrylands Companion’ is a small independent operation and is not registered for VAT. Consequently, no VAT is charged on advertisements.

Acceptable Formats

Adverts can be submitted in the following formats: • MS Word • MS Powerpoint • MS Publisher • TIFF & JPEG

Your local MOT TESTER AND SERVICE REPAIRER (Centre 2 page spread)

Distribution

Format & Design

Karen Burgess 18 Kingsdowne Road Surbiton, Surrey, KT6 6JZ Tel: 020 8274 0096 Fax: 07092003581 Email: karen@berrylandscompanion.com Web: www.berrylandscompanion.com

ALL CARS COLLECTED AND DELIVERED (LOCAL AREAS)

Interim Service - £85 Full Service - £145 (Parts and Labour included) CARS UP TO 2000 CC Quotes for cars over 2000 cc - please phone

Diagnostics - Brakes - Clutches - Bodywork - Welding etc. Labour Rate £37.50 per hour Telephone:

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

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.

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

27 27

Everyone loves a top-ten

9. Zenvo TS1 – £1.5 million. 10. Mazzanti Evantra Millcavalli – £900 thousand

At those prices the Mazzanti seems like a steal to me! Speaking of which, none of the above feature on The top 10 most expensive motors, Confused.com’s top 10 most stolen cars: according to Luxhabitat: 1. Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita – £3.6 1. Mercedes C-class 2. BMW X5 million 3. Range Rover Sport 2. Lamborghini Veneno Roadster – 4. Mercedes-Benz E-class £3.4 million 5. BMW 3 Series 3. Lykan Hypersport – £2.6 million 4. Bugatti Veyron by Mansory Vivere 6. Land Rover Discovery 7. Range Rover Autobiography – £2.5 million 8. BMW M3 5. Aston Martin Valkryie – £2.4 9. VW Golf million 10. Audi RS4 6. Ferrari Pininfarina Sergio – £2.3million Finally, from the Honest John 7. Pagani Huraya BC – £2.1 million website, we come to a rogue’s 8. Ferrari Laferrari Aperta – £1.7 gallery top 10 of cars that gave the million Good or bad, everyone loves a Top Ten list, so here are some:

least overall owner satisfaction. Hope yours didn’t make the list! 1. Ford Ka 2. Citroen C1 3. VW Touran 4. Fiat 500 5. Renault Laguna 6. Renault Megane 7. Peugeot 407 8. BMW Z4 9. Citroen C3 10. Vauxhall Vectra So, where do that leave us? No further forward really, apart from knowing that by buying a far-Eastern made, mid-priced, security equipped car, that you are satisfied in owning, won’t make you feature on any of these top-10s. Happy Motoring!

By Iain Betson

MEGA DEALS!

(Ewell)

TYRE SPECIALISTS

MASSIVE DISCOUNTS l l l l

High Performance Cars Light Commercials Family Saloons 4WD Vehicles

l l l l

All leading makes of tyres Available from stock Wheel alignment and balancing While U Wait service

www.k-p-tyres.co.uk Email: enquiries@k-p-tyres.co.uk 169 CHESSINGTON ROAD, WEST EWELL, EPSOM, SURREY

28 28

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Editorial Reviews

£138.00

Final copy must be submitted by the 16th of each month, for inclusion in the following months edition (which will be distributed during the first weekend of that month.)

Payment

Full Colour

(Max 1 in every 4 issues for any one advertiser)

(Centre 2 page spread)

VAT

‘A Berrylands Companion’ is a small independent operation and is not registered for VAT. Consequently, no VAT is charged on advertisements.

Acceptable Formats

Adverts can be submitted in the following formats: • MS Word • MS Powerpoint • MS Publisher • TIFF & JPEG Advert copy can be emailed to: karen@berrylandcompanion.com If your ad is not available in an electronic format then we can produce it for you, from your own hard copy text, normally for a fixed price of just £10, although this may be higher if you have a particularly complex advert! (This is a one-off charge - the advert could then be re-used in subsequent issues free of charge.)

Distribution

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Karen Burgess 18 Kingsdowne Road Surbiton, Surrey, KT6 6JZ Tel: 020 8274 0096 Fax: 07092003581 Email: karen@berrylandscompanion.com Web: www.berrylandscompanion.com

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

D Dec-Jan 18. 25-32.indd 29

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

29 29

12/11/2018 16:38:37

WVM can manage all your vehicle needs. Our workshop is located in Berrylands and we carry out mobile smart repairs in the surrounding areas. › SERVICING & REPAIRS

› AIR CONDITIONING

› MOT’S

› VEHICLE SALES

› HEALTH CHECKS › DIAGNOSTICS › ACCIDENT REPAIRS

& PURCHASING › FREE LOCAL COLLECTION & DELIVERY

For FREE giveaways follow us on twitter @walsh_vm or search @walshvm on facebook 65 The Avenue, Berrylands, Surbiton KT5 8JW 020 3816 0441 \ info@walshvm.com \ walshvm.com

WVM_A6ADVERT_3.indd 2

Be Prepared in Winter Do you recall the weather we had a mere eight weeks before the start of last year’s hot spell? The “Beast from the East” dumped snow across the UK. And we had to drive in it. It’s said every year, but it is worth repeating: a little preparation time on your car will pay dividends if the “Beast” comes back. Check your vehicle’s lights work, windows are clear, wipers work, fluids are full, the battery is charged, and your tyres are in good and legal condition. On this last point you could consider changing to winter tyres, as they have proven

30 30

14/01/2017 22:24

benefits when the temperature drops below 5 degrees. Alternatively, I have found a pair of snow socks around the driving wheels of my car a viable, if short-term, alternative. When making a journey it’s wise to take the following: warning triangle, a torch, boots, de-icer, ice scraper and a fully charged phone, perhaps with spare battery pack. Some recommend taking a tow rope and shovel too; if you are likely to use country lanes then yes, but on a trip to the shops, perhaps not. If you must make a long journey, even via the motorway network, and snow has fallen or is expected, take a blanket and a hot drink in a flask. We have all heard the stories of blocked motorways, the resultant tailbacks and motorists spending a freezing night on the hard shoulder. Being prepared is the watch word in winter. By Iain Betson

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Berrylands Autocare Rates

Advertiser’s Guide

Price List - Our Prices Haven’t Increased for 2 Years 1 Issue

2 Issues*

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£1050.00

Half Page

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Saving 5%

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Half Page

3 Issues* Saving 7.5%

4 Issues* Saving 10%

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5 Issues* Saving 20%

£118.00

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£713.00

£1320.00

£83.00

£157.00

£305.00

£446.00

£830.00

Quarter Page

£47.00

£88.00

£171.00

£250.00

£470.00

Front Cover Banner

£28.00

Final copy must be submitted by the 16th of each month, for inclusion in the following months edition (which will be distributed during the first weekend of that month.)

Payment

Full Colour

(Max 1 in every 4 issues for any one advertiser)

Back Cover

£182.00

Inside Front + Back Cover

£143.00

Double Page

£193.00

Editorial Reviews

£138.00

VAT

‘A Berrylands Companion’ is a small independent operation and is not registered for VAT. Consequently, no VAT is charged on advertisements.

Acceptable Formats

Adverts can be submitted in the following formats: • MS Word • MS Powerpoint • MS Publisher • TIFF & JPEG

* MOT Testing (while you wait) * Diagnostic Testing * Servicing & Mechanical Repairs * Open until 5.30pm weekdays * Saturdays: 9.00am to 1.00pm (Centre 2 page spread)

Distribution

Format & Design

Karen Burgess 18 Kingsdowne Road Surbiton, Surrey, KT6 6JZ Tel: 020 8274 0096 Fax: 07092003581 Email: karen@berrylandscompanion.com Web: www.berrylandscompanion.com

250 yards from main line Berrylands Station Providing a service for our local community

020 8399 4362

info@berrylandsautocare.co.uk www.berrylandsautocare.co.uk

167 Surbiton Hill Park, Surbiton, Surrey, KT5 8EJ

Christmas

Advent Angel Birth Cards Carols Coal Festive Gifts Hearth Hymns Ivy Joy Lights Love Manger Myrrh Noel Nutmeg Ornament

Party Turkey Peace Yule Priest Punch Santa Claus Sled Sleigh Snow Song Star Thanks Tree

Find the words associated with Christmas in the grid and the remaining letters will spell out a related phrase

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

31 31

Life Begins Are Aging Lines a Good Thing? By Kate McClelland

Walk into certain Superdrug stores nowadays and you might come away with more than toothpaste, deodorant and bubble bath. Once you’ve filled your basket with all the usual health and beauty products, you can slip into a private room for a BOTOX® injection. BOTOX® has been around as a cosmetic treatment since the early Nineties, when it was hailed as a miracle anti-aging procedure. The procedure eases out ‘dynamic’ facial wrinkles (created by muscle contractions) by paralysing the muscle underlying the wrinkle, resulting in a smooth and more youthful appearance that can last up to four months. By public demand? Superdrug’s new ‘Skin Renew’ initiative, which brings antiaging treatments to the high street, is part of a wider beauty marketing trend designed to persuade us that non-surgical cosmetic treatments such as BOTOX®, dermal fillers and chemical peels should be considered as part of a normal beauty routine. Caris

32 32

Newson, Head of Superdrug’s Health and Wellbeing Services, insists that the firm is only “listening to what people are telling us they would like” following feedback from 10,000 customers, but the initiative has been criticised by the British Association of Aesthetic and Plastic Surgeons, who say that customers could suffer from skin infections or even permanent muscle paralysis if treatments are not administered correctly. Preventative measures Controversially, Superdrug’s ‘Skin Renew’ service is available to customers over twenty-five, and this has led to accusations that the company is encouraging younger people to seek unnecessary treatment. Cost may be another factor that encourages consumers, old and young alike, to experiment with anti-aging treatments. Customers who would previously have expected to pay around £300 for BOTOX® injections at a beauty clinic can now book a Superdrug appointment from just £99. While this may make nonsurgical cosmetic treatments available to all (rather than just the rich and famous), it seems ironic that this high street rollout has come at a time when

many celebrities are resisting the pressure to stay younglooking for as long as possible. Celebrities speak out Last year Marie Claire magazine asked a number of high-profile stars for their opinion about cosmetic treatments, and the results were surprising. Out of those in favour of BOTOX®, fortyfive-year-old Broadchurch actor Olivia Colman admitted “I LOVED it” after having a course of injections, while plain-speaking film star Scarlett Johansson bluntly declared: “I don’t want to be an old hag!” But a greater number of celebrities seemed to be against anti-aging treatments. Julia Roberts (star of movies such as ‘Pretty Woman’ and ‘Notting Hill’) has been a vocal opponent of cosmetic surgery in recent years. She says: “Your face tells a story… and it shouldn’t be a story about your drive to the doctor’s office.” Whether you love the fact that BOTOX®, chemical peels and fillers are becoming more affordable and easier to obtain, or you support Julia Roberts’ views on aging naturally, as our population steadily ages (we’ll see 8.6 million extra people aged 65 years and over in 50 years’ time) it’s likely that we’ll see more and more of our high street outlets promising to iron out our wrinkles and restore the glow of youth for less than £100. By Kate McLelland

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mrs bennet’s ballroom

Regency Dance Classes

M o b i l e b i c yc l e S e r v i c e & r e pa i r

Learn to dance like Jane Austen’s heroines & heroes and cut a dash!

Wednesdays in Surbiton

Yo u r H o m e | Yo u r W o r k | Yo u r r i d e

rebelwaltz-cyclesolutions.co.uk

St Mark’s Church Hall, Church Hill Rd, Surbiton KT6 4LS Time: 8pm – 10.30pm

Dates:

Sept 5 Oct 31

Sept 19 Nov 14

Oct 3 Nov 28

• I can pick up your bike from your home or place of work then return to you at your convenience.

Oct 17 Dec 12

Christmas Ball on Saturday 1stDec

Entry £5 per class tea included www.MrsBennet.co.uk

As Jane said “To be fond of dancing is a certain step towards falling in love”!

• Will contact you immediately if any other defects are spotted so there will be no unpleasant surprises.

We must make haste to the dance class!

• From a safety check, new build to a full service, all work and repairs will be quoted prior to commencing.

• Free pick up and drop off within a five mile radius of Surbiton.

Contact: Libby mrsbennetsballroom@gmail.com

Contact: Jon Martin jon@rebelwaltz-cyclesolutions.co.uk | 07514 435855

MrsBennetsBallroom 020 8391 1215

KING GEORGE FIELD INDOOR BOWLS CLUB

Season’s Greetings from Your Post Office 104 Alexandra Drive Berrylands 020 8399 0567

Learn to Bowl, Free Coaching, All Ages & Abilities Welcome Bar . Restaurant Social Events Large Car Park FUNCTION ROOM FOR ALL OCCASIONS

Jubilee Way,.Chessington, KT9 1TR Tel: 020 8397 7025 www.kgfindoorbowlsclub.co.uk

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

33 33

Beauty Gifted Inspiration

by Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk For fragrance fans If you’re looking to surprise someone with a new fragrance, Angel Muse could be a good choice. It might be Angel’s little sister, but it’s lighter, warmer and a bit more grown-up. The freshness of grapefruit and pink berries is combined with the warmth of hazelnut and the earthiness of patchouli and vetiver. The giftset is priced at £65, which gets you the full 50ml eau de parfum plus a handbag-friendly 9ml bottle. For teachers Teachers often need to wash their hands several times a day, so a soothing hand cream is likely to be gratefully received. Dr. Organic’s Shea Butter Hand & Nail Cream is full of natural ingredients, including shea butter, aloe vera, coconut oil and rose oil. It provides instant relief for sore hands and feels lovely and rich. £7.99 from Holland and Barratt. For crackers Planning to swap the plastic fish and silver keyrings for luxe cracker gifts? Bobbi Brown’s Lip Crush Kit (£39.50) might be the answer. There are five mini lipsticks in a range of wearable shades. They’re pretty generously sized so are good value if you consider that one full-size lippy is £24.50. For chocoholics Chocolate lovers will adore Akamuti’s Chocolate Marshmallow Face Mask. Organic cacao, crushed rose petals, gentle marshmallow, warming vanilla and detoxifying pink clay combine to make this mask a real treat for skin and senses. Add a bar of Green & Blacks to the gift and you’ll really make their day. £7.96 from www.akamuti. co.uk.

34 34

For a Secret Santa gift Clarins Festive Treats crackers are just £10 each. The Eyes & Lips one is particularly good value for money as its contents (a mini Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector and Supra Volume Mascara) are worth a total of £17.33. For your best friend Origins’ Best of the Best collection is a celebration of their most popular products. There’s the Mega-Mushroom™ Skin Relief Soothing Treatment Lotion, Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream, Ginzing Energy-Boosting Gel Moisturizer, Modern Friction™ Nature’s Gentle Dermabrasion, Clear Improvement™ Active Charcoal Mask, Checks and Balances™ Frothy Face Wash and Spot Remover Blemish Treatment Gel. Most are travel-sized. You’re getting over £58 worth of products for £32 so it’s fantastic value for money. For you! Green People’s Green Regime Beauty Box contains £125 worth of full-sized and mini goodies for £75. There are two exfoliators, three moisturisers, a lipstick, mascara, eyeshadow duo, shampoo, shower gel, night cream, cleanser, facial oil, reusable cleansing pad and organic cotton bandeau. All products are organic and cruelty-free. Treat yourself or add it to your Christmas wish list. For stockings Some giftsets are just made for splitting up and adding to stockings. Korres’ The Greatest Mini Shower Collection is a case in point. Six gorgeous smelling 40ml shower gels are just waiting to be popped into individual stockings. Add Kneipp’s Herbal Bath Collection (£9.95) to your basket for another six stocking fillers. Both sets are available from www. biggreensmile.com.

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d be inspire with

Slimming World

TUESDAY Worcester Park Wesley Halls, Christ Church & St Phillip Ruskin Drive, KT4 8LG 7:30am & 9:30am Tel: Jane 07711 422380 Surbiton Surbiton New Life Baptist Church 1 Balaclava Road KT6 5PW 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel: Justine 020 8224 3336

THURSDAY New Malden The Graham Spicer 15 Dukes Avenue KT3 4HL 9:30am, 5:15pm & 7:00pm Tel: Vanessa 07504 522453 FRIDAY New Malden The Graham Spicer 15 Dukes Avenue KT3 4HL 9:30am Tel: Vanessa 07504 522453

WEDNESDAY Surbiton Surbiton New Life Baptist Church 1 Balaclava Road KT6 5PW 9:30am & 11:30am Tel: Justine 020 8224 3336 7.30pm Tel: Jane 07711 422380

slimmingworld.co.uk

0344 897 8000 To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

35 35

Health

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

The Most Effective Drug Ever? tion and prevent constipation. By improving your physical health and preventing falls, exercise can increase your longevity too. However, exercise can do a lot more than that. “If exercise were a pill, it would be one of the most cost-effective drugs ever invented,” says health promotion consultant Dr Nick Cavill. That’s true, because the benefits of exercise go way beyond simple ‘fitness’. Physical Health Benefits Research has proved that regular exercise can actively help to prevent disease and debility. It can: • Lower blood pressure (in turn lowering risk of stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney disease). • Increase muscle mass and strength, bone strength, cardiovascular endurance, flexibility and balance, helping to prevent strains, injuries, falls, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. • Help prevent some cancers and diseases, including colon and breast cancer, Alzheimer’s and Type 2 diabetes. • Regulate hormones that control appetite and sleep patterns. • Help control weight. • Release endorphins that ease pain. • Improve bowel func-

36 36

Mental Health and Wellbeing Benefits Exercise can: Improve your mood, selfesteem and sleep patterns Exercise can improve sleep patterns and release endorphins that can lift your mood and increase your energy levels. By improving your fitness and appearance, and giving you goals, routine and a sense of achievement, it can also increase your self-esteem. Improve your mental health Poor sleep can contribute to physical health issues and depression, anxiety, poor memory and concentration. Exercise can improve your sleep and is proven to help alleviate anxiety, stress and mild to moderate depression. Just 10 minutes of brisk walking can increase mental alertness, energy and positivity, while increasing your activity from zero to exercising three times a week can reduce your depression risk by almost 20%. Improve your sex life Regular exercise may increase your desire for, and enjoyment of, sex by improving your selfesteem, fitness and flexibility. Research shows that more ac-

tive men and women have more sex, and that regular exercise may enhance arousal for women and make erectile dysfunction less likely for men. Give you ‘time off’ Some of your exercise should make you out of breath, but you can also do more relaxing forms of exercise like tai chi, Pilates and yoga. Any exercise can give you time to focus on you, rather than your everyday concerns. Get you outdoors Research has proved the benefits of ecotherapy and being active outdoors. Getting outside to enjoy some fresh air and sunshine is great for your mental and physical health, helping you produce the Vitamin D essential for absorption of calcium and good bone health. Improve your social life and family life – and have some fun! Exercise can be fun, and by joining exercise classes or activity groups, you will also benefit from the positive effects that socialising and friendship can have on your health and wellbeing. Team sports can bring a sense of belonging and motivation, while becoming fitter may help you to take part in more family activities Zumba, tennis, rowing, boxing, karate, netball, Pilates, dancing… there are many types of sport and exercise, so try out a few to find something you really enjoy.

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Fruiterer & Greengrocer

155 Surbiton Hill Park, Berrylands, Surbiton Tel: 020 8399 5550 Mob: 07753 690 518 Fax: 020 8390 9231

Vegetables in Season

Fruits in Season

Broccoli, Cauliflower, All types of Baby Carrots Parsnips & Baby Parsnips Brussel Sprouts, Sprout Stalks, Brussel Tops Swede

Satsumas, Clementines, Sharon Fruit, Melons, All Berries, Cranberries, Fresh Figs, Fresh Dates, Avocado, Lychees, Physalis, Chestnuts All varieties of Nuts

May we wish all our customers A Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Martyn and Team We have the following available: Dairy products, milk, cream, yogurt, cheese, fresh bread daily and a choice of mince pies Free delivery on Christmas Trees, Holly, Mistletoe and fresh Christmas Wreaths. Homemade fruit and Vegetable Hampers for Christmas gifts, made to order. Please contact us to discuss your requirements Tel: 020 8399 5550 Take the stress out of Christmas with our free local delivery service. Please pop in to collect your Christmas order form. To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

37 37

Potted Smoked Salmon Serves 6

Ready in 30 minutes, plus chilling time

This is the perfect starter for the lunch on the big day – you can make it the night before and the recipe will easily double up if you are feeding a crowd at Christmas!

• 275g honey roast

salmon flakes • 250g smoked salmon

slices, chopped • 100g unsalted butter,

softened • 125g full-fat soft cheese • 2 tsp creamed

horseradish • 1 tbsp lemon juice • Salt and freshly ground

black pepper • Fresh dill sprigs and

green peppercorns, to garnish • Slices of toasted brown

or granary bread, to serve 38 38

Reserve about 25g of the salmon flakes for garnish (cover and chill in the fridge until required). Place the rest of the salmon flakes in a food processor with the smoked salmon, butter, soft cheese, horseradish and lemon juice. Process until smooth and creamy. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper and process for a further few seconds. Divide the mixture between 6 small ramekin dishes and level the surface. Cover and chill in the fridge until required. Garnish with the rest of the salmon flakes, dill sprigs and green peppercorns. Serve with toasted brown or granary bread. TIP Most supermarkets sell packs of ready-flaked honey roast salmon but if unavailable just buy ready-cooked smoked salmon fillets and roughly flake the fish, discarding any skin and fine bones.

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Rates

Advertiser’s Guide

Price List - Our Prices Haven’t Increased for 2 Years 1 Issue

2 Issues*

Full Page

£105.00

£198.00

£387.00

£564.00

£1050.00

Half Page

£61.00

Quarter Page

Black & White

Saving 5%

3 Issues* Saving 7.5%

£115.00

£224.00

£32.00

£61.00

Full Page

£132.00

Half Page

4 Issues* Saving 10%

Copy Deadline

5 Issues* Saving 20%

£327.00

£610.00

£118.00

£172.00

£320.00

£251.00

£489.00

£713.00

£1320.00

£83.00

£157.00

£305.00

£446.00

£830.00

Quarter Page

£47.00

£88.00

£171.00

£250.00

£470.00

Front Cover Banner

£28.00

Final copy must be submitted by the 16th of each month, for inclusion in the following months edition (which will be distributed during the first weekend of that month.)

Payment

Full Colour

(Max 1 in every 4 issues for any one advertiser)

Back Cover

£182.00

Inside Front + Back Cover

£143.00

Double Page

£193.00

Editorial Reviews

£138.00

(Centre 2 page spread)

VAT

‘A Berrylands Companion’ is a small independent operation and is not registered for VAT. Consequently, no VAT is charged on advertisements.

Acceptable Formats

Distribution

Format & Design

Karen Burgess 18 Kingsdowne Road Surbiton, Surrey, KT6 6JZ Tel: 020 8274 0096 Fax: 07092003581 Email: karen@berrylandscompanion.com Web: www.berrylandscompanion.com

Built in 1840, Glenmore House is a fine example of late Georgian architecture situated in the exclusive Surbiton conservation area adjacent to Claremont Gardens; a landscaped park providing the perfect backdrop for wedding photographs. Impressive double gates open on to Glenmore’s free, private car park which can safely accommodate up to 110 cars.

an ideal setting for your wedding ceremony with elegant 16th century reclaimed cathedral glass windows adding to the sense of occasion.

Every wedding we host is unique and our experienced, dedicated Wedding Co-ordinators ensure that your special day is one that you will remember forever. Glenmore House is licenced for civil ceremonies and can accommodate wedding parties from 25 to 140 guests.

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

Recently refurbished, all our rooms complement each other perfectly. Our light and airy Tudor Rooms offer

With a very competitive room hire charge of just £300 for the private use of our Elizabethan Suite and a £200 hire fee for the use of our beautiful civil ceremony room, Glenmore House represents outstanding

value for money, setting us apart from the majority of extortionately priced wedding venues. Your choice of wedding breakfast is prepared in-house by our brigade of award-winning chefs, who can boast culinary experience in some of the UK’s finest establishments including the Fat Duck in Bray. Our delicious food is created for you using the highest quality, fresh ingredients. We have acquired an enviable reputation for gourmet cuisine second to none, offering superb value for money with no compromise on quality.

0208 399 1415 6 The Crescent, Surbiton, Surrey KT6 4BN info@glenmorehouse.co.uk www.glenmorehouse.co.uk

Banqueting & Celebrations • Weddings • Private Dining • Carvery

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

39 39

Sweet Recipe Christmas Mincemeat Slice This delicious festive slice can be served warm as a pud with custard, thick cream or brandy butter or simply cool completely and serve instead of mince pies.

Ingredients:

1. Sift the flour into a large bowl and rub in the butter with your

fingertips until the mixture resembles very fine breadcrumbs (alternatively pulse in a food processor until fine breadcrumbs).

• 225g plain flour • 165g unsalted butter, chilled and diced • 1 egg yolk blended with 1 tbsp cold water

2. Remove 100g of the breadcrumb mixture and cover and chill in

the fridge. Stir 25g of the sugar into the remaining mixture, then stir in the egg and water and mix to a firm dough (adding a little more water if needed). Knead lightly then wrap in cling film and chill for 30 minutes.

3. Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas mark 6. Roll out the

dough on a lightly floured surface and use to line a 23cm square tart tin. Prick the pastry all over with a fork. Line the pastry case with baking paper and baking beans and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the lining paper and beans and bake for a further 5-7 minutes until the pastry is crisp and pale golden. Cool slightly. Reduce the oven temperature to 180C/160C fan/ gas mark 4.

• 75g caster sugar • 300g good quality mincemeat • 50g ground almonds • 2 tbsp flaked almonds

4. Spread the mincemeat in the pastry case. Mix the rest of the

sugar and the ground almonds into the reserved pastry crumb mixture and scatter over the mincemeat to cover completely.

5. Return the tin to the oven and bake for a further 25-30 minutes or until the crumble topping is pale golden. Scatter over the flaked almonds and leave to cool before removing from the tin and cutting into 12-14 thin slices.

Makes 12-14 slices Ready in 1 hour 15 minutes, plus chilling and cooling 40 40

TIP Add some finely chopped toasted hazelnuts or walnuts to the crumble topping for an extra nutty flavour.

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Karen Burgess 18 Kingsdowne Road Surbiton, Surrey, KT6 6JZ Tel: 020 8274 0096 Fax: 07092003581 Email: karen@berrylandscompanion.com Web: www.berrylandscompanion.com

We are now taking bookings for Christmas Day and New Years Eve Celebrate your Christmas party with us • 3 Course Lunch £25.00 • 3 Course Dinner £29.50 • Private Function Room Available • Late Licence till 1 a.m. • Live Music

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CONTACT US E: info@langleysrestaurant.co.uk T: 0208 390 7564 F: 0208 390 4596 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk 41 158 Ewell Road | Surbiton | 41 Surrey KT6 6HE

Lemon Pot Puddings These delicious individual hot lemon puddings are the perfect sweet treat after a hearty winter supper or Sunday lunch.

Ready in: 40 minutes | Makes 6 Ingredients 100g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing 175g golden caster sugar Zest and juice of 2 large lemons (you will need about 120ml lemon juice) 4 medium eggs, separated 75g plain flour 130ml milk 2 tbsp flaked almonds

TIP

Icing sugar, for dusting

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Preheat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas mark 4. Grease six 175ml ovenproof ramekin dishes with butter. Beat the butter and sugar together in a large bowl until pale and creamy. Beat in the lemon zest then beat in the egg yolks, one at a time. Sift over half the plain flour and fold in, then fold in the lemon juice and milk. Sift over the rest of the flour and fold in. Divide the mixture evenly between the prepared ramekin dishes and sprinkle over the flaked almonds. Place the dishes in a large roasting tin and pour in enough hot water to come halfway up the sides of the dishes. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden on top. Serve immediately, dusted with icing sugar.

These puddings will form a lovely layer of thick lemon custard under the sponge topping so take care not to overcook them. They will still have a slight wobble in the centre.

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The Life List Job Done A job interview is an opportunity to shine. It’s like a first date after the prospective employer has read your carefully prepared (i.e. highly subjectively written) CV. What could possibly go wrong? Here’s a handy list of things not to say at a job interview: 1. “Do you get to keep the pens? I’m always running out at home.” 2. “What’s the policy on making international calls? Or should I

Season’s Greetings from Addington’s Curtains and Blinds 020 8399 1445 rosemaryadd@aol.com

just keep it to Skype to show I have financial acumen?” 3. “How much sick leave can I take in the first year?” (Not helped by coughing or clutching a body part while you’re speaking.) 4. “I sometimes look after a cat – any problems with bringing it into work? It hardly ever scratches people.” (Sharing cute cat pictures is unlikely to sway things in your favour.) 5. “It is okay to leave early on Fridays because my buddies and me like to get into the weekend mood early?” 6. “I don’t do courses; can someone go for me instead and take notes? Or can we rely on Wikipedia for everything?” 7. “Can I get Internet TV on my computer? It’s only for financial forecasts. And sport. And cartoons.” 8. “I think qualifications are overrated. Nothing beats learning on the job. Ask my dad – he’s an air traffic controller.” 9. “Where do I want to be in five years? Somewhere that pays better than this place.” 10. “I’d now like to give an overview of my skill set through the medium of interpretative dance.”

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

Fear & Anxiety Specialist Feeling trapped, overwhelmed, unable to move on and achieve a ballanced life? and start living life the way you want. 0800 193 3690 www.georgiemacs.com To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Tandoori Lamb with Naan A pot of yogurt and a few spices can transform lamb steaks into a delicious spicy supper. If you prefer, serve with pilau rice or on a bed of spiced couscous.

Ready in: 30 mins, plus marinating time | Serves 4 Ingredients 4 large lamb steaks 6 tbsp natural yoghurt, plus extra to serve 2cm piece root ginger, peeled and grated 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed 2 tsp each garam masala and ground cumin 1 tsp each ground coriander and chilli powder 1 tbsp lemon juice 4 garlic and coriander naan breads

TIP

Rocket leaves and sliced tomatoes, onion and cucumber, to serve

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Place the lamb steaks in a shallow dish. Mix together the yoghurt, ginger, garlic, spices and lemon juice and add 1/2 tsp salt and some freshly ground black pepper. Spread over the steaks. Cover and leave to marinate in the fridge for 2-3 hours (or overnight). Grill the marinated steaks under a preheated medium grill for 6-8 minutes on each side until just cooked and lightly charred in places. Cover the cooked steaks and leave to rest for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, sprinkle the naan breads lightly with water and heat under the grill for 2-3 minutes. Top with rocket leaves and sliced tomatoes, onion and cucumber. Slice the steaks and pile on top of the salad. Serve with the extra yogurt on the side and mango chutney, if liked.

To make tandoori fish, replace the lamb steaks with 4 salmon fillets. Spread the marinade over the fillets and leave to marinate for 1-2 hours. Bake the fish in a preheated oven at 200C/fan 180C/gas mark 6 for 20-25 minutes until just cooked.

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C.D Jennings & Sons Surbitonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s High Class Traditional Family Butchers Meat of the Highest Quality from the Finest Sources

Serving Surbiton Since 1962 . Order Now For Christmas & New Year! Call: 020 8399 4870 Kelly Bronze Free Range Turkeys Free Range Geese, Ducks & Chickens Scotch Beef & Scotch Highland Lamb Free Range & Gloucester Old Spot Pork Balmoral Venison Gammons & Hams Chipolatas, Bacon & Sausage Meat

Thanksgiving and Early Xmas Celebrations We can supply Kelly Bronze turkeys and other festive meats in the weeks before Christmas. Please call us for further details or to order.

Visit our shop at 146 Ewell Road, Surbiton, KT6 6HE (Opposite Sainsburyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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

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Festive Foods To Avoid Feeding Your Pets At Christmas

ne of the best things about Christmas, is sitting down at the table with family and friends and tucking into all that lovely Christmas food! Many people like to make a special dinner for their furry friend too, so they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss out on the festivities. However, did you know that many of the foods we eat at Christmas are actually bad for your pet? Here is a list of the most common foods to avoid sharing with your pet: * Chocolate: Chocolate is the most common poisoning we see at Christmas and it can be fatal. The severity does depend on a few things, such as the cocoa content (dark chocolate is the worst) the amount eaten and the size of your dog, so always call us for advice. Chances are if your pet ate the chocolate they also ate the wrapper! Foreign bodies in the gut can sometimes require surgical removal. Try to avoid chocolate and sweet decorations on your tree. * Blue Cheese: Although some cheese can be fine for dogs in small amounts, dogs are extremely sensitive to the additives in blue cheese. Blue cheese contains roquefortine C which is a type of fungi and can cause myotoxicity in

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dogs. The most common symptoms can be twitching, sensitivity to light, panting, increased temperature and sometimes more severe seizures.

* Christmas cake and Christmas pudding: Christmas cakes are full of Raisins (and sometimes alcohol) both not good for your dog or cat. Raisins and grapes can cause kidney failure and we always recommend seeking advice, even if your dog only has a few. * Garlic, onions, leeks and chives: These are commonly used ingredients in Christmas cooking, such as stuffing. All members of the Allium family, they can cause damage to red

blood cells in both cats and dogs and can cause reduced oxygen delivery to tissues, symptoms vary but include increase breathing, increase in heart rate and gut problems. *Nuts: Some nuts are fine for dogs, such as peanuts however there are others that can be very toxic, especially macadamia nuts. The symptoms are nonfatal, however they can be severe, so best to avoid. If you are at all concerned over the Christmas period please do not hesitate to contact us at the Aspen Veterinary Surgery on 202 8399 6437 or visit our website www.aspenvets.co.uk. We would like to take this opportunity to also wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! From all of us at Aspen Veterinary Surgery

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Aspen Veterinary Surgery

HOME WANTED!

Your pet matters to us

Tabitha

Tabitha is a delightful 7 year old female who came into care as her owner was unfortunately no longer able to care for her. She is really affectionate and has a sweet personality, although she can seem a little shy at first. She needs a quiet home with plenty of human company but no other cats or young children please. If you feel you can give Tabitha the loving forever home she so desperately deserves please call Rosemary on 01737 350307 Epsom Ewell & District Branch http://www.epsom.cats.org.uk

Join Aspen Pet Care Plan Save Money, Spread Costs, Pay Monthly, Open Mon-Fri: 8am-7.30pm Sat: 8.30-11am 24 hour Emergency Service

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

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As we have around 7,000 cats and kittens in our care at any one time, we will find you the perfect feline friend.

351 Ewell Road, Tolworth, KT6 7BZ

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How to keep your pets warm this winter

PETS

protection from the winter cold, and as temperatures drop, even dogs with the thickest fur will benefit from the extra insulation when exercising or playing outside. A fleece-lined inner layer with a waterproof outer is a good choice, particularly if As winter deepens and the the two layers can be detached weather starts to bite, it’s and used individually as the important to make sure our pets weather dictates. are warm and comfortable to avoid illness and distress. Even Making sure your cat is warm those animals with thick, furry this winter coats are susceptible to the It’s more difficult to ensure your cold, so what can we do to help cat is warm in the winter given our dogs, cats, and rabbits stay their independent nature, but warm this winter? they have a natural inclination to find warm places. That’s Keeping your dog warm and why it’s advisable to provide a cosy cosy shelter in your garden, to A warm dog coat offers

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

reduce the likelihood of them sitting underneath cars or in other warm but dangerous places. Protecting your rabbit from the worst of the winter weather If your rabbit is spending the winter in an outdoor hutch, you’ll need to provide additional protection from the elements. Siting their hutch away from the cold winds and driving rain, providing extra bedding, covering the hutch with a blanket and their run/ outdoor area with tarpaulin, will all help to keep them healthy and safe By Ann Haldon

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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PARENTING A Calmer Christmas by Kate Duggan Or why not do a good deed as a family, for someone closer to home? You could make a meal together for an elderly neighbour, take a busy friend’s dog for a walk, or donate a gift to a homeless shelter.

The season of goodwill can sometimes feel more like the season of discontent. If you’re hoping to avoid the tantrums, sugar crashes and slamming doors this year (or some of them at least), keep reading… Family time It can be incredibly difficult to fit everything in around Christmas. Kids often seem to demand the most of you when you have the least to give. If you’re time-poor, think quality over quantity. Half an hour spent on a family activity now might well avoid a lengthy meltdown later on. Arts and crafts with the kids can be fun, but you might want to leave the messier aspects until the new year. (Unless you really enjoy cleaning out paint pots, scrubbing slime out of the carpet and hoovering up glitter.) Paper craft is a good alternative. Paper snowflakes are cheap, easy and not too time-consuming. Cut them out at the table so you can sweep most of the scraps straight into the recycling bin. Paper chains are even easier. Or pick up a paper craft book. Christmas Paper Play by Lydia Crook (£9.99) is packed with things to cut out and make, including decorations, mini crackers and games.

Jigsaw puzzles can be a good way to unwind and de-stress. If your children are older and you have the space, buy a Christmas-themed 1,000 piece puzzle and leave it out so family members can do a few pieces of it when they need some quiet time. Charity gifts If Christmas is starting to feel a bit too commercial, how about choosing charitable gifts? Wild animal adoptions tend to prove popular with kids and adults alike. You can adopt King the lion from Born Free for just £3 a month. The adoption pack includes King’s story (he was rescued from a Parisian apartment), a glossy photo, cuddly toy, personalised certificate and window sticker. You’ll also be sent Born Free’s biannual magazine. Other animals to adopt include elephants, polar bears and monkeys. See www.bornfree. org.uk/adopt.

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

Setting limits It’s easy to let the usual rules slip at Christmas. While it’s good to have some flexibility, you might want to set some boundaries. Try to agree rules as a family for the Christmas holidays, whether it’s no screen-time after 5pm, no more than two sweet treats a day, or a set bedtime. Agreeing a few chores for the kids to do can help to keep them occupied and you from getting too frazzled. Even young children can make a bed, feed the pets or swish a duster around. Forget perfect Above all, try to accept that perfection is impossible. There will be sulks, fallings-out, spills and arguments. When you look back at this Christmas, you won’t remember whether the sprouts were perfectly cooked or your child wrote their thank you cards, but you might remember the time you spent doing a jigsaw together or hunting the Gruffalo through the woods.

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

The Gift of a Great Read Stuck for the perfect present this Christmas? Or need some inspiration for your own wish list? Read on… For historical fiction fans Washington Black – Esi Edugyan 11-year-old slave Washington Black is taken from the sugar fields and lent to his tyrannical master’s brother, Titch, to work on a ‘cloudcutter’ hot air balloon. The duo form an unlikely friendship that, coupled with Washington’s artistic talent, could provide a way out of slavery. For history buffs Bloody Brilliant Women – Cathy Newman This book uncovers the ‘pioneers, revolutionaries and geniuses your history teacher forgot to mention’. Read about women such as engineer Beatrice Shilling, whose work played a role in helping RAF pilots in the Battle of Britain, and developmental biologist Anne McLaren, whose work paved the way for IVF. For foodies Tasty Ultimate From quick and easy midweek dinners, to showstopping dinner party favourites, Tasty has them all. Recipes include Nashville Hot Turkey Tenders, Roast Pork Tex Mex Burritos, The Best Crispy Chicken Parmesan, Slow-

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Cooked Honey and Spice Lamb Shank, and Latte Coffee Cake. Recipes are simple to follow and bright photographs make every dish look mouthwateringly tempting. For romantic fiction fans A Miracle on Hope Street – Emma Heatherington When she learns that one act of kindness has transformed a man’s life, Ruth decides to put her own loneliness aside and create a Christmas to remember for people in need. A heart-warming tale that’s perfect for fans of JoJo Moyes and Marian Keyes. For parents Parent Alert, How To Keep Your Kids Safe Online – Nadia Sawalha, Kaye Adams and Will Geddes Thousands of kids will be receiving new smartphones or tablets this Christmas. But how do you make sure they’re not being bullied, giving too much information away to strangers or being targeted by predators? This book gives parents lots of actionable advice on how to keep kids safe online. For Harry Potter Fans The Crimes of Grindelwald – The Original Screenplay Albus Dumbledore enlists Newt

Scamander to recapture Gellert Grindelwald, who’s recently escaped and is gathering followers. This is the second in the Fantastic Beasts series. It’s a screenplay of the recently released film, rather than a traditional novel, so it’s quicker to read but no less enjoyable. For young children The Jolly Christmas Postman – Janet and Allan Ahlberg This is an all-year-round favourite in our house. The Jolly Postman sets off to deliver letters and parcels to fairy-tale characters. Kids aged three and up will love opening each envelope to reveal the surprise inside – whether it’s a Christmas card for Baby Bear, a jigsaw for Humpty Dumpty or a game for Red Riding Hood. For older children A boxset Head to www.thebookpeople. co.uk to pick up a boxset. When I checked there were lots to choose from, including twelve Diary of a Wimpy Kid books for £14.99, ten How to Train Your Dragon books for £17.99, fifteen Roald Dahl favourites for £21.99, and six David Walliams books for £23.99. Bargains galore.

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Ballet in Surbiton Season’s Greetings from Edward Davey MP 21 Berrylands Road KT5 8QX 020 8288 2736

Royal Academy of Dance Examinations St Andrew’s & St Mark’s Junior School Surbiton

Classical Ballet Spring Term begins Saturday 12th January 2019 For more information contact:

020 8398 2463 / 6140 EMail: balletinsurbiton@aol.com www.balletinsurbiton.co.uk

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

Life Begins Rural retreat or urban hub: where will you retire?

In recent years an increasing number of Baby Boomers have shunned a conventional ‘roses round the door’ retirement, taking the decision to move to cities like London or Manchester, where they can enjoy a wider range of cultural activities. Good transport links, adequate healthcare provision and enjoyable leisure-time activities are all essential to a successful retirement, so if you’re making a choice between town and countryside, which one offers the best quality of life? Getting around COUNTRY: Rural bus routes have been shrinking for many years and the Campaign for Better Transport has recently claimed that these services are “in crisis”, as older people can no longer rely on them to access healthcare, shops and social activities. If you are able to drive, this shouldn’t be a problem, but before you fall in love with that pretty, isolated cottage, remember that in winter some rural roads can get cut off by snow or floods.

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TOWN: Urban transport services are generally much better than those in rural areas and, as bus journeys are free to the over 60s, you may be able to get by without a car. A Senior Rail Card can reduce the cost of rail travel, but if you are planning to take frequent rail trips to visit friends and family, be aware that the costs will mount up.

air pollution levels, which can increase your chances of stroke, lung cancer, heart disease, respiratory illness and possibly dementia.

Healthcare COUNTRY: In a recent report the Local Government Association declared that “Overall, health outcomes are more favourable in rural areas than in urban areas” but went on to admit that there were “reductions in resources to care for the older population”. Living an active life is undeniably good for your health, but the downside can be poor public transport (making it harder for you to reach your doctor or local hospital) together with slower emergency response times.

TOWN: As a town-dweller you’ll be able to make the most of the cultural activities available. However, while many museums and art galleries are now free of charge, city life can be expensive in other ways. If you’re counting the pennies, don’t forget to factor in the total cost of a day or evening out in town.

TOWN: Make your home in a town and you’ll probably be within reasonable travelling distance of a hospital; you’ll also have better access to specialist doctors. On the flip side you can expect higher

Having fun COUNTRY: Country-dwellers can participate in outdoor pursuits such as Nordic walking, golf, riding or swimming, but trips to theatres, cinemas and shopping destinations will inevitably involve travelling to a town. Prepare to join local societies and clubs, attend church or offer your services as a volunteer if you want to build up a social network.

Whether you decide on the town or the country, bear in mind that we are all living longer these days, so it may not be the last time you move house. Provided you are in good health and up for adventure, this is a time when you can focus less on the approach of old age and more on enjoying your welldeserved retirement. By Kate McLelland

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PARENTING Ditching the 9-5: Flexible Working by Kate Duggan The Citizens Advice has a lot of information for people who want to change their working hours. See www. citizensadvice.org.uk.

Achieving a decent work-life balance can seem like the Holy Grail of parenting. But it doesn’t have to be… Decide what you want This may seem obvious (MORE TIME!), but it’s a good idea to set out exactly what it is you want to achieve, and what you’re prepared to do to get there. Do you want to pick the kids up from school more often, or have more time with your toddler during the day? Do you need more time off during the school holidays? Or do you just want to attend sports days, school plays and other activities without using your holiday allowance? How much of your salary can you afford to sacrifice? Making your current job work for you If you’re happy in your current job, could you reduce your hours? When you factor in childcare costs you might not be as out of pocket as you

might expect. Or perhaps you could work at home more often (saving time on the dreaded commute) or change the hours you work? Starting work just 15 minutes earlier each day and cutting your lunch by 15 minutes might mean you could leave the office 2.5 hours earlier every Friday. If you want an extra day off, perhaps you could work longer hours but fewer days? Your rights Most employees have the statutory right to make an application for flexible working and employers need a good reason to turn down such a request. ‘Flexible working’ covers everything from changing your hours to sharing your job with a colleague. Parents are also entitled to take up to 18 weeks off work (up to four weeks a year) unpaid to look after their child, as long as they’ve been in the same job for at least one year.

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

Looking for a new job More and more employers are starting to wake up to the fact that happier employees usually leads to a better standard of work. You’ll find that a lot of job adverts now mention flexible working. According to the Office of National Statistics, more than 7 million people in the UK have some kind of flexible working arrangement with their employer. If you’re struggling to find a suitable job and know someone in a similar position, could you apply for a job share together? While it’s still not common place, job sharing is becoming more accepted by employers. The Civil Service, for example, states that it ‘positively promotes all forms of flexible working, including job sharing’ and offers guidance to managers on how to make it work. There are several job search agencies and websites specialising in roles that allow flexible working, including job shares. Try www. capabilityjane.com, www. workingmums.co.uk and www. flexibleworks.co.uk. Coming up next month: Next month we’ll be looking at going self-employed: the highs and lows, and how to make it work for you and your family.

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

Finance

Spot the Pension Scammers By Ann Haldon

Since new regulations were introduced in 2015 allowing greater pension freedoms, criminals have been targeting retirees, and those approaching retirement, in an attempt to fraudulently exploit the system. Figures published by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) show that victims of pension scams lost £91,000 each on average in 2017, with more than 30% of pension holders aged 45-65 being unaware of how to check that they’re dealing with a legitimate pension adviser.¹ So how do you know if you’re being targeted by pension scammers? Unexpected contact Unsolicited contact by someone offering advice on your pension is likely to be a scam. They may claim to be backed by the government, but no legitimate pension-related organisation or adviser would cold-call you. This type of contact could also be made by email, text, post or in person. Free pension review A common tactic used by

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scammers, and one that gives them access to a considerable amount of personal and financial information, is offering a free pension review. If you’re under 55 they may try to persuade you to take your pension early; otherwise it could be with a view to transferring your pension into a fraudulent or unregulated scheme. Releasing pension monies early If you’re under the age of 55, pension scammers may tell you it’s possible to access your pension early. This isn’t the case unless you meet certain, very limited, criteria regarding your health. Withdrawing your pension below the age of 55 will trigger a tax liability of 55% of the amount withdrawn. You may also lose your pension entirely if the proposed new scheme/ investment plan is fraudulent or unregulated, and still face this tax charge. Higher/guaranteed returns One of the fundamental aspects of investing is that there are no firm guarantees. Scammers may tell you guaranteed returns at a certain percentage are available, or perhaps that you’ll receive higher returns from the investment product they’re offering, but this is not the case. They may also say their investment strategy is low risk, but a low-risk strategy is not

associated with high returns. Time-limited offers Scammers sometimes pressurise their victims into signing quickly, saying it’s a time-limited offer. They may even arrange for a courier to deliver their documents and then wait until you sign them. This gives you little time to go through the documents properly, and to carefully consider what you’re doing. Tax loopholes Pension fraudsters might say they know of tax loopholes, or ways in which you could make extra savings on tax. There are no tax loopholes with legitimate pension arrangements. Withholding contact details If they don’t want you to call them back, have limited contact information available, only a mobile phone number or a PO Box address, for example, you should cease communications with them straight away. Hopefully, being aware of the common tactics used by pension scammers, and when they’re likely to be used, will offer some protection, and help you avoid becoming one of the unfortunate and startling statistics. ¹www.fca.org.uk/news/ press-releases/regulatorswarn-public-pension-scammertactics-victims-report-losingaverage-91000-2017

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Making Kingston Better, Together Lessons from Reykjavik, Calgary and Detroit Rates

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by Sir Edward Davey, M.P Full Colour

’ve been looking at new ideas for giving people a bigger say and role in what happens in our area. You might say, that’s what happens at elections – so councillors and MPs can get on with delivering improvements locally. But do you want to leave it only to us? To the Council and Government? Do you want your influence restricted only to election day. Many people don’t. And already get involved. If you look at our vibrant voluntary sector, there are thousands of people making Kingston better. From Kingston Carers’ Network to the CAB, from our superb local Scout and Guide groups to Kingston Churches Action on Homelessness, people are working hard to help others in our area. But I’d make 2 observations. First, there are probably even more people who want to do things for our area. Second, there are more people who want to have a real say in decisions about our area, including outside election time. So I’ve been musing on how to break down the barriers, so more people can get involved - both in doing things and in helping to make decisions about what should happen. And I’ve been impressed by 3 different experiments – from Iceland, Canada and the USA. In Iceland, Reykjavik City Council wanted to let people generate new ideas for their neighbourhood, and then let the community decide which ideas were best. So

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they developed the concept of “Better Reykjavik” – an internet based platform, to allow citizens to participate more in ideas and decisions about their community. In Better Reykjavik’s first 7 years, over 20,000 people used the platform – and 769 of the ideas proposed by residents were approved by the council. You can find an English language version of this at https://betrireykjavik.is

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Editorial Reviews

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share resources, enjoy art and vote on the project they think benefits the city the most. At the end of the night, we count the ballots and the winner goes home with all of the money raised to carry out their project. Winners come back to a future SOUP dinner to report their project’s progress.” (Centre 2 page spread)

Distribution

Format & Design

Karen Burgess 18 Kingsdowne Road Surbiton, Surrey, KT6 6JZ Tel: 020 8274 0096 Fax: 07092003581 Email: karen@berrylandscompanion.com Web: www.berrylandscompanion.com

In 5 years, Detroit Soup has had 95 dinners and raised over $85,000 for local projects.

Then there’s Calgary, Alberta. Here the first Muslim Mayor in North America, Naheed Nenshi, launched his “Three things for Calgary” as part of his civic engagement. With echoes of Better Reykjavik, the aim is to allow residents to put forward ideas for improving something in their street, neighbourhood or city.

And it’s come to Britain. Now there are over 60 “soups” across the UK – raising money for community projects. Is it time for a Kingston soup?

The main difference to Better Reykjavik is that Calgary’s three things are mostly three things people say they will do themselves. From picking up litter in their local park, to donating blood, from volunteering in the local YMCA to planting a tree. “Three things for Calgary” helps celebrate what people are already doing – and stimulates more. See ww.3thingsforcalgary.ca

There’s the new SHEDx project in Tolworth that’s engaging the local community to take ownership of their unused and green spaces to help define and improve the future for their town. Visit www.thecommunitybrain.org/shedx to see what you are missing.

Finally, there’s Detroit Soup https://detroitsoup.com In their own words: “SOUP is a public dinner: for a donation of $5 attendees receive soup, salad, bread and a vote and hear from four presentations ranging from art, urban agriculture, social justice, social entrepreneurs, education, technology and more. Each presenter has four minutes to share their idea and answer four questions from the audience. “At the event, attendees eat, talk,

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

I know our Borough already has amazing people and groups doing different versions of this.

There are wonderful residents now sponsoring the upkeep of their local train station in Berrylands, people clearing and making accessible the Raeburn Open Space and people volunteering at local night shelters for the homeless over the winter. And we have organisations like Kingston Voluntary Action and Love Kingston that exist to support and raise money for local charities and community groups. www.lovekingston.org.uk Do you think we can do more? What do you think of these ideas? Let me know – by email at

edward.davey.mp@parliament. uk or post at 21 Berrylands Rd,

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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You collect 10 mince pies going on the possible route to the finish. 56 56

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What’s on in December:15Nov-31st Dec: Kingston’s Christmas Market 22Nov-1st Jan: London Zoo Light Trail 22Nov-5th Jan: Christmas at Kew Gardens 22Nov-6th Jan: Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park 29Nov-2nd Jan: Christmas by the River at London Bridge City 30Nov: Fircroft Trust Quiz Night, 7pm for 7.30pm. 96 Ditton Road, KT6 6RH. Tickets £8 in advance only, tables of 6, light supper included. Contact: ann@thefircrofttrust.org Tel: 020 8399 1772 24th Nov: Christ Church Christmas Fair, 11.00am - 3.00pm. With crafts, stalls, tombola, Santa’s Grotto, Festive games and more, Free entry. Until 30th Nov: Centenary of the Royal Air Force

Events in December:

1st: World Aids Day; Crohns & Colitis Week Grand Avenue School Christmas Fair, 11am - 3pm. Santa’s Grotto, games, tombolas, children’s crafts, face painting and more. Entry: Adults £1, accompanied children free, unaccompanied children 50p. 1st Dec-2nd Jan: RHS Wisley: Christmas Glow, Thurs - Sat 4-8pm, last entry 7pm. £1 booking fee for confirmed entry time. 1st-31st: Christmas Festival at Royal Albert Hall Christmas in London at Trafalgar Square 2nd: International Day for the Abolition of Slavery Small Business Day 3rd-15Jan: Royal Ballet: The Nutcracker at Royal Opera House 8-6th Jan: Southbank Centre’s Wintertime Festival 9th: Made in Surbiton Christmas Market at The Lamb, 73 Brighton Road, KT6 5NF, 1-7pm. Come along to The Lamb for a Christmas market with a difference, all items are hand made by people from in and around Surbiton. Lots of beautiful gifts to buy including stained glass, knives, jam, artworks, cards, jewellery and more! Have a look on our facebook page for more information. 10th: International Animal Rights Day; Human Rights Day 10 -21st: Christmas Carols in Trafalgar Square 15th: Surbiton Farmers’ Market 21st: Winter Solstice - Shortest Day 24th: Christmas Eve 25th: Christmas Day Bank Holiday 26th: Boxing Day Bank Holiday 31st: New Year’s Eve Fireworks at Coca Cola London Eye. Buy your tickets in advance for admission

Events in January

1st: New Year’s Day Bank Holiday New Year’s Day Parade Big School Birdwatch Day; Love Your Liver Day;Start of Dry January 4th: World Braille Day 8th: Deadline for sumbission for February edition of A Berrylands Companion 14th: National Obesity Awareness Week 17th: New York’s Knocks v Washington Wizards NBA at the O2 Until 20th Jan: Natural History Museum Ice Rink 25th: Burn’s Night Until 6th Jan: Museum of London, Votes for Women, Centenary of Women’s Vote Until 28th Feb: Diana, Her Fashion Story, at Kensington Palace. Need to book tickets from £15.40/Conc: £12.60/Kids free. website: https://tickets.london

If your club or society is not listed on the Local Events, send in the details!! Why not send in your events for Valentine’s Day for the What’s On page? 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

What’s On/Local Events

1st Tuesday: NHS Retirement Club, 10-12pm at Royal British Legion Hall, Hollyfield Road, KT5 9AL. 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 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. 10-13.00pm Contact Gwen: 020 8398 7313. Beginners & intermediates welcome. Cornerston Church, Kingston KT26LF: every 3rd Wednesday of the month: a cream tea, open to all, at 2pm. Plenty of cake on offer plus a short bible talk. An international café, every Tuesday evening at 7pm for free English lessons, and at 7.30pm food, games & bible talk. Craft Morning 3rd Saturday every month 11am-1.00pm. Tel: 0208 549 0733. info@ cornerstonechurchkingston.org

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 Jazz Society: meets alternate Tuesdays at the Druid’s Head pub, Kingston Market. We are a friendly group who listen to recorded jazz from all periods and would welcome new members. Contact Mike Crimmen (Sec) on 07795 574 776 or m.crimmen@ btinternet.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 ‘Keep Moving’ exercise/movement class for ladies 60+ at Berrylands Christian Centre, King Charles Road. Friday 10.15 - 11.15am plus refreshments. Come & try first, free first class. Then £5.50 pay as you come. Call Mary, 01483 284 716 or maryedwards@uwclub.net

Encore Singing Group: Mondays, 10am - 12.15pm in Berrylands. For info: gillyvor@hotmail.com

Mind in Kingston: Drop in and café at Alfriston Day Centre Berrylands Road, Thurs 6-9.30pm, Sat & Sun 2-5.30pm. Also at Welcome Centre 53-55 Canbury Park, Mon & Fri 6-9pm. All welcome, www. mindkingston.org.uk or 020 8255 3939

Fircroft Listening Café: Every Friday, 2-4pm. 96 Ditton Road KT6 6RH. No appointment needed. Just turn up if you or someone you know is struggling to cope. Buses 71, 465, K1, K4.

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:

58 58

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What’s On/Local Events

curzone@hotmail.com Oasis daytime group for over 60s: at Emmanuel Church, Grand Avenue, Tolworth. We have flower arranging talk at 2.30pm on Wednesday, 21st November, with plenty of opportunity to chat, play games do jigsaw puzzles and includes a 5 minute Bible-based talk followed by refreshments. Tel: 020 8390 6631 or 020 8395 2645 Open Door: Meetings held at BCC Hall King Charles Road. Alternate Thursdays, 2.15 - 4.00pm. Meetings on 8th & 22nd November. A friendship group aimed at seniors. Afternoon tea, chat and short talks from local organisations.

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 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 ‘Sing on Purpose’ at the CornerHouse, Douglas Road, KT6 7SB. All welcome, £5 per session. Adults: Mondays 9.30 10.30am; Youth: Fridays 4.45 - 5.45pm. Contact: Steve or Pam 07763 081320 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

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

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 19th 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 Tolworth United Reform Church, Elgar Ave: PILOTS Mondays in term time 5.30 7pm, children’s activities, crafts, stories for 5 -11 year olds. Weekly cost £1.50 Tolworth United Reform Church: Drama & Performance - interested? We are looking to a small group to explore taking part in a drama performance - possibly 12 Angry Men/ Jurers, and are looking for adults / all ages to take part in any capacity. It is a new initiative, and if you are interested please call Roger on 07525 410 083 / 0202 8393 4270 or email jones. ra@btinternet.com for information. Tolworth World of Dance: Weds 8 9.30pm (term time). Dance for Fun, Fitness & Friends, beginners always welcome, see advert. Contact: Brenda 020 8397 9649 or philip.steventon@ btinternet.com If your club or society is not listed on the Local Events, send in the details!! Why not send in your events for the year for the What’s On page, Clubs, Schools, Churches, & Charity events should be submitted to karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

59 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk 59

COMMUNITY PAGE

Surbiton & District Bird Watching Society

Tues 18th Dec: Members’ slides & digital photos of birds & other wildlife. Tues 19th Jan 2019: A talk by Lee Morgan on ‘The Wildlife of Baja, California and Mexico’ Venue: 19.30 for 20.00 start in Main Hall, Surbiton Library Annexe Ewell Rd, Surbiton. Outings: Dec 9th: Farlington Marsh & Hayling Island, Info through John Barkham Tel: 01372 458 739 Sun 6th Jan 2019: Outing to Kempton Park. Contact Tony Quinn, Tel: 020 8241 6087 Sun 13th Jan: Outing to Petts Levels East Sussex. Contact Mike White Tel: 07981 037 004 Please note that it is imperative to phone the leader to confirm participation, arrange time and meeting place and/or pre-arrange lifts.

SDBWS Publicity Annemarie Stiegler

Kingston upon Thames Archaeological Society Thurs 13th Dec: Annual General Meeting and Christmas Celebration. Thurs 10th Jan 2019: Carolynne Cotton, Local History Officer for RBK, will be ‘Digging in the Records’ for Archaeological research. Thurs 14th Feb: ‘Did the Romans reach Cornwall?’, this talk has been prepared by Dr Julie Wileman and will be given by Patricia Smith Meetings, unless otherwise stated, are held on the 2nd Thursday of the month, at 7.30pm for 8pm start, in the Surbiton Library Hall, Ewell Road, KT6 6AG.

Surbiton & District Historical Society Tues 4th Dec: The Christmas Social meeting will include refreshments, a raffle, quiz and short talk. Visitors welcome, extra £2 for refreshments. Tues 15th Jan: Ms Seoyoung Kim, a curator at Kingston History Centre will talkon “A Famous Kingstonian - Eadweard Muybridge” This is an afternoon talk, starts at 2pm. Tues 5th Feb: Ms Mel Harrison will talk on ‘The Wars of the Roses’ Tues 5th March: This is our AGM. There is no charge for visitors this evening, please come & find out about our Society. Refreshments at the end will be free.

Visitors will be asked for £3 donation towards expenses.

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

http://www.kingstonarchaeology.com/

For more details about meetings and the Society, call

The Secretary: 020 8399 4473 Email: lenandmarilyn@virginmedia.com

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27. Plant - sucking insects (5)

Down:

COMMUNITY PAGE

1. Terminate gradually (5,3)

2. AALLOTMENTS Sultanate in northwestern (6) HOOK ANDBorneo GARDENS 3. Horologist (10) ASSOCIATION 4. Slightly open (4) 5. Engage somebody to in enter the army (6) Are you interested gardening?

6. Represents or performs as if in a play (6)

8. know Come to termsiswith Did you there an(7) association in Hook? 9. Shortened term for provocation (5) 13. Returning to political ofﬁce (10)

Our Association 15. Unusually was great infounded size (7) over 50 years ago and is run by and volunteers, can 16. After sunrise before sunset (8) provide a Strongofandcomposts, sharp (5) wide 17. range fertilisers, seeds 18. Having little emotion or sensibility (6) and other gardening products at not-for-profit 20. Add to the very end (6) prices 22. to The our highest members. We support point; culminate (6) gardeners and allotment 24. Compass point (4) holders.

October Sudoku

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

Disclaimer

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. E Page 33-40.indd 36 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

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

For all gardeners and allotment holders! We are a small friendly local society providing gardening22/01/2010 supplies at very00:22:03 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

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

61 61

Index Please mention the magazine when contacting advertisers 13 17 25 23 5 23 2 19 24 23 21 21 17 63 15 21 17 24 26 9 14 12 16/18

Home & Garden All Aspects Builders All Your Garden Needs Berrylands Building Company Berrylands Property Maintenance Carpets4U Chris Mould Plumber D&SLandscaping Dream Doors (Kingston Kitchens) James Anthony KB Design Kevin Robinson Decorators Leverett Electricals Pests Away Pro-Fit Windows Systems R.J.Tree Services Shaun Overy Heating & Plumbing Will Lord William Stallion Electricals Winkworth Estates Zoe Rourke Interiors House & Interiors Home Products Gardening by Pippa Greenwood

43 11 35 34 10

Care & Health Georgie Mackenzie Kingston Health Centre Slimming World Beauty Health

43 33 33 33 7/9 64

Rest & Relaxation Cine Sanctuary King George Field Bowls Club Mrs Bennet’s Ballroom Classes Rebel Waltz Cycle Solutions Snappy Snaps Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club

Children & Education Ballet in Surbiton 51 Our Lady Immaculate Christmas Bazaar 24 49/53 Parenting Veterinary 46/47 Aspen Veterinary Surgery Cats Protection League 47 Pet Care 47

62 62

27 31 29 28 30 28/30

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

45 41 9 39 37 38/44 40/42

Food & Drink C.D.Jennings Langley’s Restaurant Prithi Glenmore House Stears Greengrocer Recipe Baking

7 6/54

Accountant M&B Accountancy Services Ltd Finance

Solicitors Lewis-Dick

Articles & Editorials 60/61 Community Pages Kids Page 48 58/59 What’s On & Local Events Pages Crossword 11 Book Review 50 Useful Telephone Numbers 3 Edward Davey MP 55 Last Posting Dates for Christmas 26 Letter to Santa 51

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 £33 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

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