February 2014 issue 85

Incorporating Your Surbiton Month: February 2014 Issue No. 85 Independent monthly community news and business directory for KT5 & KT6

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

Happy Valentine’s Day

Inside this month:* New advertisers * New Year Resolution to Learn to Drive? * Half term ideas for the family * Articles and editorials * Quizzes *And more.......

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Hello Readers

H

appy New Year to everyone. Another New Year and how many resolutions have we all kept, or broken already? After all the Christmas over indulgences, I think the diet is back at the forefront!

For some it may be to learn to drive and this issue sees a new advertiser, Colin from Kingston School of Motoring, who could help you achieve your goal!

Perhaps you want to get back to fitness and a visit to Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club may be your first call, or you may prefer to look at some of the advertisers offering alternative options to the new you, Slimming World, Zumba, Yoga, Iso Barre.

But you might be thinking more about your surroundings and want to deal with home and garden issues! Along with an article on interior design, we have a new advertiser, Personae Interiors who may be able to help. There should be more than enough advertisers offering services for the home improvements.

With half term looming, there are a few ideas listed in the What’s On page, as well as both Kingston Libraries and Museum setting out their plans for families.

So in all, another packed issue for February, and there must be something for everyone to enjoy!

And for the romantics among you, there are a few articles, as well as suggestions for home made meals, but if you want to go out try the restaurants offering special events.

Whatever your fancy, have a lovely month!

Best wishes

Karen

Even if you are considering moving home, and I hope you will still be in our area, we have HJC Estates and Estates Direct to assist you.

Useful Numbers Kingston Council www.kingston.gov.uk Trading Standards Refuse Collection Electoral Registration Council Tax Citizens Advice Customs & Excise (VAT) Inland Revenue Helpline Environmental Agency Surbiton Library Kingston Police Non-Emergency Police Emergency Services

Transport: National Rail Enquiries Public Transport Traveline Gatwick Airport Heathrow Airport

020 8547 5000

020 8547 4654 020 8547 5560 020 85474630 020 8547 5196 0870 126 4019 0845 010 9000 08459 000 444 0870 850 6506 020 8547 6444 020 3541 1212 101 999 08457 484 950 0870 608 2608 0844 335 1802 0844 335 1801

Emergencies/Utilities: Gas Emergency Electricity Emergency Water Emergency BT Fault Line Virgin Media Crimestoppers Kingston Hospital NHS Direct (24/7) Childline Samaritans Age Concern Kingston Relate www.relatekh.org Domestic Violence Help Line www.victimsupport.org.uk Surbiton Safer Neighbourhood Team based at YMCA

0800 111 999 0800 783 8866 0845 920 0800 0800 800 151 0845 142 0000 0800 555 111 020 8546 7711 0845 4647 0800 1111 0845 790 9090 0800 00 99 66 020 8549 3318 020 8547 3202 020 8721 2518

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 3

The Better Life Cutting It Fine

by Derek Thompson The crisp and sometimes frosty mornings now don’t deter nature. It whispers, ‘spring is coming - honest - it’s just stuck in traffic.’ There’s work to be done, and plenty of it. To begin with, Anne decided more snowdrops would be just the thing, so she carefully lifted the clumps and divided them before replanting. My contribution was to go and put the kettle on.

This is a time of year for taking stock in the garden and for preparing to restock.

Inevitably, there are casualties; even perennials have their limitations and our perpetual chard has finally reached the end. We’ll definitely plant out more though, as perpetual chard is the gift that keeps on giving. It’s also time to start onions and spring salad leaves under cover.

The tail end of winter - fingers crossed at time of writing - also marks that point where firewood stocks are running low and it’s time to bring out Charlie the Chainsaw. When I first acquired the saw it spent a long time in the shed with its blade pristine, despite Anne constructing a sawhorse that looked like something out of The Krypton Factor.

I’m afraid my reputation where pointy things, electricity, heat

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or water are concerned is well deserved. My initial worry with the chainsaw was that I’d be all fingers and thumbs.

Fortunately, it’s a small, electric model, so no risk of anything involving the words whirring and ladder. Even so, the first time I used it I somehow managed to slip the chain from the mechanism. It’s all in the preparation: read the booklet first and then watch the clips on the Internet.

Cutting up firewood can be immensely satisfying when you’ve lugged it up from the woods or rescued it from a lay-by. Okay, it might not be up there with building an igloo or trekking through the Amazon but it’s still working in harmony with the environment.

The whole garden gets a bit of a spruce up now, although we leave the anti-frost fleece around the vulnerable plants until warmer weather is assured. Our tools receive some much-needed attention as well, and I generally clean out the dried grass from the lawn mower that I promised myself I’d do before Christmas.

Indoors, the Vietnamese coriander is thriving, as are the cuttings we took of icing sugar, penstemon and heather (it was discarded on a footpath and I thought waste not, want not).

Our seeds are labelled up and ready - the usual vegetable suspects, plus agapanthus, last year’s chillies, a lemon seed or two and a ginger bud.

(I’m ever hopeful of producing a completely homegrown curry sauce one day.)

There are also repairs to consider. The roof of the coalbunker is more plastic sheeting than wood now, so every storm is followed by my own version of rooftop Russian roulette. Similarly, the shed door is surviving by a single, ailing hinge. It will all require time, effort and skill - luckily, I know just the neighbour.

Speaking of which, we had a visitor recently - a former neighbour who moved away a year ago. He said he was just passing and asked if he could borrow our wheelbarrow.

Unfortunately for him, we don’t have one. As it almost says in Hamlet, “Neither a lender nor a barrower be.”

Derek Thompson is a writer and humourist based in the West Country. His writing blog can be found at www. alongthewritelines.blogspot.com and he is also a regular at www. strictlywriting.blogspot.com

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 

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“The Ultimate Class for Mums and Babies” The Times

W R F E O L 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: 12 4 letters: 9 5 letters: 2 6 letters: 1 Hi Karen Just wanted to thank you for all your continuing hard work on the Berrylands Companion. and to congratulate you on a superb issue.

The December/January issue was jam-packed with truly helpful and interesting content, and all so attractively laid out.

Thanks for all your hard work on preparing this great publication for our area!

Wishing you a very Happy New Year.

Deborah

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Success is different things to different people...

To us it’s what our customers have come to expect.

If you're thinking of letting or selling your home, please contact us on Surbiton:

020 8390 0404 Thames Ditton:

020 8398 3707

www.hjc.co.uk

To advertise call Karen on 020 8274 0096 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Life Begins Are you REALLY ready for romance?

It’s that time of the year when we just can’t avoid the subject of romance, from the heart shaped decorations fluttering in shop windows to those indulgent dinner-for-two recipes that appear in your local paper.

This annual overdose of hearts and flowers can provoke a range of different reactions, depending on your age, situation or mindset.

If you’re a teenager expecting your first Valentine card, the 14th February can be a time of excitement. Alternatively if you’re a singleton marooned at home with a ready meal for one, the day can be a depressing experience.

Couples in long-term relationships may have more mixed feelings about St Valentine’s Day. Depending on whether you are a ‘glass half full’ or a ‘glass half empty’ kind of person, you will either see the 14th February as the perfect opportunity to show you care, or as an occasion that highlights the lack of romance in your relationship for the remaining 364 days of the year.

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Of course, there are a lucky few who don’t need St Valentine’s Day to kick-start their romantic feelings: take David and Lauren Blair, who earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records for renewing their wedding vows over 100 times, or Ravi Viswanathan, who paid over £25,000 at auction for a bottle of vintage champagne to celebrate his 10th wedding anniversary. If you must, even take American farmer Dick Kleis, who flew his wife over farmland in a plane to show her a birthday message he’d written out – you guessed it – in cow dung.

With Mills and Boon romantic novels published in 26 different languages and sold in 109 countries world-wide, it would seem that we can’t get enough of romance, but while it’s great to fantasise about other people’s love-inspired exploits, we’re sometimes less comfortable about experiencing

by Kate McLelland them ourselves, in real life.

When football fan James Miller stripped down to his underwear and did a Cupid-style streak across the pitch, firing roses from a bow and arrow in tribute to his girlfriend, it didn’t have the effect he anticipated: she was so embarrassed that she dumped him.

I know how James must have felt when his romantic gesture misfired. Last year on February 14th my partner of fifteen years rang me from work to say he’d booked a table at a new restaurant I’d spotted in town.

“It’ll be like a proper date,” he promised.

Although it was exciting to dress up and go out on the spur of the moment, the whole thing ran out of steam pretty quickly: within half an hour we were discussing how to fix a leaky tap in the bathroom.

Our night out may not have been the height of romance, but on reflection it summed up the comfortable place we have reached in our relationship.

It’s sad that St Valentine’s Day has lost its excitement for many of us, but I still believe it’s worth celebrating. Of course, there are those who condemn the 14th February for its overt commercialism, but you don’t have to spend a fortune to show that you care. Remember farmer Dick Kleis and make the best of the resources you have to hand … however, Dear Reader, if you want your relationship to last, I would advise you not to take his example too literally.

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13

Be Your Own Interior Designer

Fired Earth offers a design service for bathrooms and kitchens (0845 293 8798; firedearth.com).

It can be a tricky business, interior designing. There’s much more to it than pretty colours and nice cushions.

Creating a successful space involves a complex blend of practical and aesthetic considerations, from flooring that’s hard-wearing and looks great to lighting that illuminates the right areas and helps create an appropriate mood. As well as the nitty gritty of wiring and plumbing, there’s wallpaper, paint colours and fabric to select, window treatments to decide on, storage to incorporate, furniture to choose and finishing touches to arrange. How can you ensure that you do it correctly?

Never fear: it’s simply a question of taking things step by step, using a straightforward, logical approach. As all professional interior designers know, careful planning is invaluable in helping firm up your ideas, work out your budget and

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Whether you’re planning a room from scratch or freshening up an existing scheme, it can be hard to know where to start. The answer is to think like a professional, says Katherine Sorrell

timetable and, above all, avoid expensive mistakes.

So before you rush in with your paintbrush, spend a little time with some graph paper, a sharp pencil, scissors and swatches.

They really are the secret to successful interior design.

First comes space planning.

Measure your room accurately and draw a plan to scale on graph paper, marking in windows, doors, fireplaces, fitted cupboards, pipes, radiators, plug sockets, light fittings and so on. Consider the room’s size and shape, and its architectural style. Will they affect the way in which you decorate? Are there special considerations, such as lack of space or light, or an important original feature? At this stage, consider whether it would be helpful to move a wall, pipe or radiator, enlarge a window, hang the door the other way around or add extra plug sockets or light switches. Perhaps you can

conceal wiring or pipework, or build in some extra storage? Once you have gone through all the options – consulting a structural engineer if your changes are major ones – you can draw up a final plan.

Next, plan the positions of major items of furniture.

On a separate sheet of graph paper, sketch the approximate shapes of your furnishings, as if you were looking at them from above, using the same scale as your room plan. Then simply cut them out, place them on your master plan and assess how well they fit in to the space, ensuring that you allow enough activity room between and around them. Think about who uses the room, when and how. On a practical level, is it going to work? Move your ‘furniture’ around as necessary and, eventually, the optimum arrangement will become apparent. You should now have the basics

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of a functional, comfortable room.

To complement the floorplan and ensure that all the decorative elements of a room work together, professional designers create a ‘sample board’: a visual memo of all the different pieces that go towards making up the room.

Before you start, you’ll need to find some images – printed off websites, cut out of magazines or brochures, or your own photographs or sketches – of your proposed furniture, flooring, lighting and accessories, as well as swatches of fabric, wallpaper and paint. Try to keep the samples in proportion to the size they’ll be in real life, so

that a curtain fabric swatch is much larger than, say, one representing a cushion. You can also include small real items (or parts of them) such as tie-backs and trims, rope or timber. Your sample board can be highly representative or, perhaps, more of a suggestion of general colours and styles – it’s up to you.

Then, take a large piece of neutral-coloured card as a base, and arrange the images or swatches on it. It helps if you place the samples roughly in accordance with where they will be in the room – flooring at the bottom, pendant lights near the top and furniture in the middle, for example.

With all the ingredients together, you’ll have a really

effective overview of how colours, patterns, shapes and textures work together, and can easily move things around, take them away or add to them. Are there too many smooth textures or is there too much of one colour? Do your patterns clash or your furniture styles jar? With a well thought-out sample board you can easily assess the overall effect.

Paint swatches to the right show colours by Mylands (020 8670 9161; coloursoflondon.co.uk).

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Mini Cryptic Crossword Across 1. Wardrobe shut on first Tuesday (6) 5. Head back for a cooking vessel (3) 7. Vary each kind of pain (4) 8. Girl in one grand jacket (6) 9. War changed unrefined state (3) 10. Cheese made in reverse (4) 11. Corroded and out of practice (5) 13. Despises as the fashion (5) 17. Sharp side found in hedges (4) 18. Possesses in Lhasa (3) 19. Learnt about amount paid for hire (6) 20. Neat way to make a poker stake (4) 21. Hog to scatter seeds over (3) 22. Decorative bunch of cords made from slates (6) Down 2. Come down on gold carriage (6) 3. Sweet or best variety (6) 4. Removes from stake-out (5) 5. Make your hair curl or pass (6) 6. Drying cloths we lost somehow (6) 11. Hastens to plants in wet places (6)

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17

What happened in... ...February 1972?

by Patrick D Cousins

On 3rd February 1972 the Curse of Tutankhamen claimed another victim - allegedly. As the boy king’s mask was being placed on a plane in Cairo, to be flown to Paris, the museum’s Director of Antiquities died – surely proof of a curse many said. It reminds me of another true story, of a man who proposed to his girlfriend, saying “If you won’t marry me, I’ll die.” She turned him down and sure enough, sixty years later, he died. Let that be a lesson to all who scoff.

1st: France requested the extradition of Klaus Barbie after Nazi hunter Beate Klarsfeld found him living in Bolivia. He was convicted in 1983 and died in prison four years later at the age of 77.

4th: The Iran Blizzard, the worst blizzard in history, began. Over the next few weeks it killed more than 4,000 people, burying villages under as much as 26 feet of snow.

8th: A state of emergency was declared throughout the UK due to the coalminers’ strike and dwindling stocks of coal.

15th: A US patent was granted to Willem J Kolff for the invention of the world’s first artificial heart.

17th: Prime Minister Ted Heath narrowly won a vote in the House of Commons on whether or not to join the ‘Common Market’, after throwing all his toys out of the pram and ‘threatening’ to resign. Why didn’t they let him?

The VW Beetle became the most popular car in history on production of the 15,007,034th model. The previous record, 15,007,033, had been held by the Ford Model T. 21st: Richard Nixon became the first US president to visit Communist China.

23rd: Elvis and Priscilla Presley separated. They had married on 1 May 1967 at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas.

24th: Twenty eight men on board a Russian submarine were killed when fire broke out while it was submerged.

Twelve survivors were trapped inside the vessel for three weeks as it was towed from the Arctic Ocean to the Kola Peninsula.

25th: Members of the National Union of Mineworkers voted to end their strike in return for a twenty per cent pay increase.

The average cost of a house was £7,300 Petrol was about 35p a gallon

Three of the bestselling singles this year were: Telegram Sam - T Rex I’d Like to Teach The World To Sing - The New Seekers Have You Seen Her - The Chi-Lites

Patrick D Cousins is the author of Rainbows, Dreams and Angels, available from Amazon. This is a double novella with both stories set in London’s East End, mostly during the Fifties and Sixties.

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Do you want an outstanding education for your child?

SCCN offers free 15 hours funded nursery places from the age of 3 We are currently taking applications for September 2014 Extended hours also available Ofsted say about our Nursery (2012/13) “This is an outstanding school” “Staff are experts in early years practice” “Children make excellent progress”

If you would like further information please contact our school office to arrange a visit: 020 8390 2555 Or Email: office@sccn.rbksch.org Website: www.surbitonchildrenscentre.org Address: Alpha Road, Surbiton, KT5 8RS

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21

True (But Unlikely)Romance From the deepest, darkest depths of mid-winter comes a heart-warming glow: Valentines’ Day. But not every pairing is a match made in heaven; some love stories are short stories, and others fail to spark at all.

We’ve put together a selection of more unorthodox teenage love stories.

The Fault in Our Stars, John Green Terminally-ill Hazel is living on borrowed time thanks to the wonders of modern medicine, but just when she thinks her own story is already written in the stars, into the Cancer Kid Support Group walks Augustus.

Tragically heart-breaking and yet funny to boot, this is a brilliantly-written story of two individuals, coming together in the most unlikely of places and finding that life is often full of the most exquisite pain.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky Always being on the periphery and one of life’s observers certainly may seem to have its advantages. Fifteen year old Charlie is the ‘wallflower’ in question and through a series of letters, reveals his fears about starting high school. Unusually for him, he is quickly befriended by a Senior called Patrick and becomes ingratiated into his group. Far from being another lighthearted high-school novel, the book tackles issues such as homophobia and incest.

Charlie has a tough road ahead of him as he tries to come to terms with his past and learn to embrace his future.

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Midwinterblood, Marcus Sedgewick Eric and Merle love each other but are separated by time and space. If you’ve ever thought that you lived another life, in another time, then spare a thought for this pair. The novel has seven stories which span the centuries, from ancient civilisations to the not-toodistant future and find Eric and Merle trying desperately to return to one another.

Reincarnated as lovers, siblings, and even mother and son, they are repeatedly drawn back to each other.

In this, the most unusual of gothic romances, the pair will eventually have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Ketchup Clouds, Annabel Pitcher It’s not just desperate women who start penning letters to people who are in penitentiaries. 15 year old Zoe decides to unburden herself of her story to a prisoner on Death Row. So terrible is her secret that she feels she can’t reveal what happened to anyone else and so Zoe writes to Stuart Harris in Texas. Zoe’s tale is packed with teenage angst, with the right smattering of humour

thrown in. Her letters of betrayal and the most terrible of love triangles will have you hooked right up until the last page.

Stargirl, Jerry Spinelli Millions of readers have fallen in love with Stargirl, as does Leo, whose heart this kooky, alternative girl wins when she turns up at his high school.

Jerry Maguire had his girl at ‘hello’; Stargirl only needs to smile for Leo to fall for her.

She’s quirky and imaginative; a mysterious being with a celestial name and no one quite knows where she’s from or where she’s going. Whatever your age, Stargirl will stay with you, like a brand new friend.

Every Day, David Levithan Whenever you think you’re not quite feeling yourself, spare a thought for ‘A’. Every morning, A wakes up in a different body, and it’s been that way since A was born. The instability and uncertainty has become the only constant in A’s life. That is, until A meets Rhiannon. On that fateful morning, A wakes up as none other than Rhiannon’s good for nothing boyfriend, Justin. From 24 wonderful hours grows a longing to be near someone and with someone, no matter what it takes.

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H

S C HO

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Getting the best from your child “NumberWorks’nWords has been successfully teaching children for 30 years and is one of the world’s most experienced tuition providers” says Celia from the Surbiton branch in the Ewell Road.

Thousands and thousands of children have benefited from our after-school tutoring, which is based directly around what children are taught in school.

There is a truckload of evidence to show that our English and maths programmes, based on repetition, variety and enjoyment, really work.

The professional team behind NumberWorks’nWords include experienced teachers and tutors, curriculum specialists in both English and maths and programme developers.

Everyone is passionate about education. We bring out the best in all students through: structured targeted teaching, confidence building activities..... and a little bit of fun thrown in.

Assessments and introductory lessons are free.

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Phone today to book a FREE assessment and intro lesson!

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From age 5 to GCSE When calling quote: A Berrylands Companion

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t

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Mrs Jones EDUCATION 11 PLUS TUITION

Aspen Veterinary Surgery Your pet matters to us

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Layout: advert full colour 2

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CODEWORD Each letter in this puzzle is represented by a number between 1 and 26. The codes for three letters are shown. As you find the letters enter them in the box below.

6

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16

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KINGSTON, SURBITON AND THAMES DITTON T: 0208 224 3971 E: kingston.surbiton@monkeymusic.co.uk

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22

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Virgin Active, Kingston on Mondays St Nicholas Church Hall, Thames Ditton on Weds Surbiton Hill Methodist Church Hall on Thursdays St Luke's Church, Kingston on Thursdays YMCA Surbiton on Fridays St John's Parish Hall, Surbiton/Kingston on Saturdays

Group discounts for NCT members when 3+ people join together at the same time.

26

1

24

25 5

16 1

3

24

3 23

11

22

24

21

20

14

1

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20

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Please mention the magazine when contacting advertisers

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To advertise call Karen on 020 8274 0096 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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shanpharmacy@aah-n3.co.uk

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“I’m still independent, but a bit of help wouldn’t be a bad thing...”

• Housework • Shopping • Meal preparation • Companionship • Trips out

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One to One Homecare is the trading name of Halo Homecare Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales: 6686170.

Regulated by the Care Quality Commission.

nd_A6_2.indd 1

9/5/13 10:24:57

Long Ditton Yoga Friendly yoga classes for all levels - beginners welcome.

Would you like to:

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29

Vanish Those Winter Blues Often, you can cope with the start of winter. It may be dark, cold and wet, but but the the early early wet, months months are are full full of of celebrations celebrations to to lift lift your your spirits spirits until until the New New Year Year and and its its the ‘fresh ‘fresh start’. start’.

A A few few weeks weeks later, later, your resolutions your resolutions are are in in tatters. tatters. The The days are days are still still dark, dark, meaning meaning you you drag drag yourself out of bed yourself out of bed and then feel like the and then feel like the day is over by dinner day is over by dinner time. You may be time.

You may be just fed up, but you just fed but you could beup, suffering could be suffering from ‘Winter Blues’. from ‘Winter So here’s howBlues’. to So here’sthe how to survive winter. survive the winter.

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• Let There Be Light!

• Let There Be Light!

Lack of sunlight can increase Lack of sunlight increase melatonin levels can (making melatonin (making you sleepylevels and lethargic) you lethargic) and sleepy reduce and serotonin and reduce serotonin levels (affecting mood and levels (affecting mood and appetite). It’s also thought to appetite). It’s also thought to influence your ‘body clock’ influence your ‘body clock’ (your circadian rhythm that (your circadian rhythm that controls body functions). So controls body functions). So spend spend time time outside. outside. When When indoors, indoors, try try to to work work or or relax relax near a window. near a window.

A A sunrise sunrise clock clock may may help help you you wake wake up; up; they they aim aim to bring your body out to bring your body out of of sleep sleep gently, gently, by by gradually gradually increasing increasing the the light light they they emit. emit.

• • Stay Warm Stay Warm If If your your body body is is fighting fighting to to keep keep you you warm, warm, you’ll you’ll feel feel sluggish and struggle to concentrate. Keep yourself as warm as possible; wear layers and heat your home adequately. What about spending time somewhere else warm and cosy - a pub or library?

• Eat and Drink Healthily Warm, stodgy food and extra tea and coffee seem tempting when we’re chilly and low, but resist – think hot but but healthy. healthy. Eat Eat plenty plenty hot of fruits fruits and and vegetables vegetables of of of different different colours colours and and choose choose low low sugar, sugar, low low fat alternatives to stodgy fat alternatives to stodgy puddings. Healthy Healthy soups soups are are puddings. a great great winter winter warmer, warmer, as as a are are fruit fruit teas, teas, orange orange juice juice with with cinnamon, cinnamon, honey honey and and lemon, or malted drinks lemon, or malted drinks made with skimmed made with skimmed milk or hot water (but milk or hot water (but beware versions beware versions loaded with fat and loaded with fat and sugar). sugar).

• Socialise • Socialise There’s scientific There’s scientific proof that proof that the company the company of others, of others, if particularly particularly if laughing and laughing hugging isand hugging involved,isis involved, is great for our great for our wellbeing.

So wellbeing.

So invite friends invite friends

round, go visiting and round, go visiting and attend sociable gatherings attend sociable gatherings wherever possible. wherever possible.

• Exercise - Exercise will • Exercise - Exercise willyour warm you up, increase warm youand up, alertness increase your immunity and immunity and alertness and make you feel good too. So make you feel good too. So bundle yourself up for a walk bundle yourself up for a walk outdoors on brighter days, outdoors on brighter days, and and find find an an indoor indoor activity activity you enjoy – you enjoy – perhaps perhaps an an exercise exercise or or dance dance DVD DVD or or video game.

Whatever video game. Whatever you you do, your mind and body do, your mind and body will will feel feel better better for for it. it.

When you’re not just blue, When you’re not just blue, but SAD but SAD Over Over 2 2 million million people people in in the the UK UK suffer suffer from from SAD SAD (Seasonal (Seasonal Affective Affective Disorder), Disorder), a a more more severe form of Winter Blues.

SAD is at its worst from December to February when days are shortest, and causes either depression, or mood swings between depression and hyper-energy. Sometimes stress or trauma such as bereavement or a new baby seems to be a trigger, and it’s most prevalent in 18-30 year olds. If you are a sufferer, you can help yourself by: • Following the Winter Blues advice above advice above • • Trying a light box Trying a light box Therapeutic light light boxes, boxes, Therapeutic available to to buy buy or or rent, rent, available produce produce light light that’s that’s at at least least ten ten times times as as intense intense as as normal daylight.

Rent one normal daylight. Rent one first first to to see see ifif itit works works for for you. you.

• Seeing your GP • Seeing your GP They They may may suggest suggest counselling or CBT counselling or CBT (Cognitive Behaviour (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) or in some Therapy) or in some circumstances, circumstances, antidepressants or a antidepressants structured courseorofa structured course of light therapy. light therapy.

For support and For support and information, visit information, visit http://www.sada.org. http://www.sada.org. uk/ (The Seasonal uk/ (The Seasonal Affective Disorder Affective Disorder Association Association (SADA)) or http:// (SADA)) or http:// www.sad.org.uk/ www.sad.org.uk/

By Alison Runham

By Alison Runham

love

Slimming World

Join a warm and friendly group today…

WEDNESDAY Surbiton Surbiton New Life Baptist Church, 1 Balaclava Road Morning Group: 9.30am Evening Groups: 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel: Justine 020 8942 6117

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with Cheryl Ditch the workout, Join the party!

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To advertise call Karen on 020 8274 0096 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

31

Beauty Professional Beauty Secrets: Revealed

Ever wondered how models and actresses manage to look so gorgeous all the time? Well, here’s the low-down on those all important tips and tricks that are used by professionals all over the world.

Clever Contouring Kim Kardashian is known for her flawless make-up look which perfectly accentuates her features and draws attention to her razor-sharp cheekbones.

Skilled in the art of contouring, her make-up artist cleverly uses cosmetics to emphasis particular parts of her face, which creates her striking trademark look.

Here’s how you can get cheekbones which rival Kim’s: Firstly you’ll need to prime your skin. Choose the primer that’s right for you: green toned versions neutralise redness in the skin and mattifying primers eradicate shine. Smooth the product over your entire face, after applying a light moisturiser.

Next, select two foundations in two different shades; the first should be one shade lighter than your natural skin tone and

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the other one shade darker.

Apply the lighter foundation to the centre of your forehead, bring it down onto the middle of your nose, in a straight line (this will make your nose appear straighter and slimmer), apply under your eyes and to the tops of your cheekbones, then lastly to the centre of your chin.

Sweep the darker shade under your cheekbones, along the outer sides of your nose, either side of the lighter colour, and on your temples and jaw line.

Blend down onto your neck so that you don’t end up with a visible foundation line.

Use a light-reflecting - not a glittery or overly shimmery - highlighter to make certain areas of your face really stand out. Apply the product under the arch of your eyebrows, along the tops of your cheekbones, down the centre of your nose and on your cupid’s bow.

To finish, and to bring the entire look together, dust translucent powder over your entire face and add a touch of colour to the apples of your cheeks using a pink blusher.

Perfect Pout Here’s how to achieve a red carpet pout.

Grab a neutral-coloured lip liner and begin lining just outside

By Helen Taylor

the coloured part of your lips to create a full effect.

Define your cupid’s bow by drawing a ‘V’ in the centre curve of your top lip, bring the line round and down using soft feathery strokes. Line the curve of the bottom lip with the same light movements, and soften by lightly blending with your finger.

Choose a striking shade of red lipstick and carefully apply the colour within the line using a lip brush.

Finally add a touch of shimmery clear lip-gloss to the centre of your lips to add instant fullness.

Lovely Lashes Long, luscious eyelashes are a must for anyone in the spotlight.

Most celebrities will be sporting high quality lash extensions, but you can still achieve an impressive look with just a few basic tools.

Eyelash curlers are a must for every woman – they serve to immediately open-up eyes and add shape to lashes.

Liquid liner is essential too; not only does it add definition, but it helps to create the look of a thick lash line, so always apply to your upper lashes before your mascara.

Choose a quality mascara to lengthen and colour your lashes.

Wipe the applicator before use and work the brush through your lashes using a quick side to side motion, ensuring that every area is covered.

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TO CELEBRATE OUR 5TH ANNIVERSARY IN SURBITON, WE HAVE HAD A MAJOR REFURBISHMENT IN THE SALON! BRING THIS ADVERT TO ENJOY 10% OFF ALL SERVICES BETWEEN 15TH JAN and the end of FEB or JOIN US FOR SOME FIZZ ON SAT 16TH FEB FROM 6PM. LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU

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Iso Barre is a unique and challenging programme of full-body, group exercise classes. Clients are expertly led through a series of conditioning intervals which systematically target each muscle group through a combination of isometrics, resistance, and barre work for core strengthening and alignment.

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SURBITON HILL GARAGE

Word Ladder Change one letter at a time (but not the position of any letter) to make a new word - and move from the word at the top of the ladder to the word at the bottom, using the exact number of rungs provided.

PETROL & DIESEL AVAILABLE

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WHILE YOU WAIT SIX DAYS A WEEK CATALYST AND DIESELS

BODYWORK

FREE ESTIMATES

SERVICING REPAIRS

ALL MAKES ALL MAKES

WELDING

AIR CONDITIONING SERVICING

020 83991938/39 1938 020 8399 65 The Avenue, Surbition

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WEEKDAYS SATURDAY 8.00am - 6.00pm 8.00am - 12.30pm

P I G S

ALAN SURSHAM (MOTOR VEHICLE TECHNICIAN)

Registered Office: 1, Orchard Close, West Ewell, Epsom, Surrey, KT19 9NS

Your local MOT TESTER AND SERVICE REPAIRER

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:

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

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020 8399 4945 www.tolworthmotorcompany.co.uk

A genuine “fresh” approach to used vehicles Tolworth Motor Company is jointly owned and managed by Andrew Hawkins and Nick Kift.

Between them they have more than 50 years experience in the motor trade and finance industry.

Throughout their working lives they have gained a wealth of knowledge and are renowned for their extensive contacts and expertise. This has enabled them to hand pick the finest cars from around the country.

Their experience allows them to give honest advice and valuations. The finance service is extensively utilised by a range of garages, companies and private individuals the service is exceptional, providing a finance brokerage which has access to more than 40 finance companies covering all products and has the ability to fund vehicles and most business assets.

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, we will be giving a FREE bouquet of flowers with every car purchased, this month

Cars are purchased and the money immediately transferred to your bank. Cars can be re-financed to raise cash or alternatively re-structure your existing finance agreement to suit your needs.

Prior to collection all cars have a thorough pre delivery check, are fully valeted, come with a minimum of 6 months MOT, a fully comprehensive warranty and a HPI certificate. If required there is a 7 days free insurance option.

The showroom is located behind M&S at Tolworth within easy reach of the A3. Its fresh appearance and welcoming layout ensures that all vehicles are visible, and accessible for immediate test drives. AA and RAC inspections are welcomed.

The friendly non pressurised atmosphere and welcoming coffee entices your attention!

Please come in to discuss your requirements.

1 The Crossways, Raeburn Avenue, Tolworth, Surrey, KT5 9DN Email: sales@tolworthmotorcompany.co.uk Web: www.tolworthmotorcompany.co.uk We are proud to be able to offer RAC Warranty and Membership with all our cars Warranty Warranty To advertise call Karen on 020 8274 0096 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

35

Hidato

Berrylands Autocare

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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Testing (while you wait) * Diagnostic Testing * Servicing & Mechanical Repairs * Recovery Services Available * Open until 5.30pm weekdays * Saturdays: 10.00am to 1.00pm

1

020 8399 4362

13 22

5

23

16

34

40 38

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

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

8

43 42

45 49

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* MOT

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

MEGA DEALS!

(Ewell)

TYRE SPECIALISTS

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To advertise call Karen on 020 8274 0096 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

37

Short Story The Secret Admirer “Someone has a secret admirer.” The delivery man winked as he handed Adeline Coles a huge bouquet of flowers. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Love.”

Her nosey neighbours, the Peggs, had also opened their front door, and she distinctly heard Mr Pegg whisper to his wife, “Bet she’s sent them to herself.”

Embarrassed, Adeline hurried inside. The flowers were beautiful, lots of lilies which weren’t her cup of tea, but expertly arranged. They were probably from her niece, but you never know, thought Adeline, they might be from Mr Wellbrook. He occasionally offered her a lift in his Jaguar when he saw her struggling with groceries. She could always dream.

Adeline sighed, put on her reading glasses, and read the little card which accompanied the flowers. It said, ‘From a Secret Admirer’.

Adeline gasped. The delivery man was right, she did have a secret admirer. But who could it be?

There was only one florist in town, Blossom’s, run rather fittingly by Brian and Daisy Blossom. She’d ordered flowers from them for her niece’s wedding. She would walk into town, and ask them who’d sent the flowers. The mystery would be solved.

On her way she kept her eyes peeled for the Jag, but her potential secret admirer was keeping a low profile. Once at Blossom’s she was perturbed to

38

find Brian stood at the counter.

She was fond of Brian, but she would have rather discussed the matter with his wife, woman to woman.

“Good morning Miss Coles, lovely to see you,” Brian smiled as she entered. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“It’s a delicate matter.” Adeline placed the little card on the counter. “I’d like to know who sent me these?”

“Ahh.” Brian looked uncomfortable. “I’m afraid we have a policy of client confidentiality.” Adeline blushed.

Brian leaned in closer, “How would you feel if I said your secret admirer is in this shop right now?” Adeline looked around her.

“But there’s nobody here.” And then she realised,

“I don’t want to get you into trouble. Perhaps if I suggested a few names you could nod or shake your head?”

“Mr Blossom!” She declared, “How would your wife feel?”

The shop was empty, yet Brian performed a theatrical glance to check the coast was clear.

“Have you told that to Daisy?”

Adeline arched her eyebrow.

“Go ahead,” he said.

Heeding the words of Mr Pegg, Adeline asked, “Did I send them to myself in a senior moment?”

Brian laughed, “I can reassure you that you didn’t.”

“Remember to nod or shake, Brian,” Adeline smiled. “Was it my niece?”

Brian slowly and deliberately shook his head. Adeline felt a glow of relief. She adored her niece, but would much rather have a proper secret admirer.

She decided to go for broke.

“Was it Mr Wellbrook?”

“That chap who flashes about in his Jag?” Brian frowned.

“Certainly not.”

Adeline was stumped, and a little disappointed. “Could you give me a clue?”

Brian looked shocked, “I don’t have a wife.”

“Daisy’s not my wife, she’s my sister,” Brian said crossly. “Why does everyone think that?”

Oh dear, thought Adeline, I’ve only just got a secret admirer and we’re already having our first row.

“In that case,” she said, “I apologise, and thank you for the flowers”. Flattered and embarrassed, Adeline decided now was a good time to leave.

As she opened the door, Brian called, “Would you be amenable to receiving Valentine flowers from me again?”

She paused, then threw a look over her shoulder which she hoped was smouldering, “Possibly. Though less of the lilies, I’m a roses kind of girl”.

By Jackie Brewster

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

For a beautiful new kitchen...

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Have you always wanted the kitchen of your dreams, but can’t quite justify paying the expensive price tag that comes with it? Now you can by just swapping the doors and worktops.

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For a FREE NO OBLIGATION home visit telephone 020 8399 1226 Or visit our showroom: 406 Ewell Road, View our credentials at Tolworth, Surrey KT6 7HF advertise call Karen on 020 8274 0096 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk EmailTokt@dreamdoorsltd.co.uk 39

MEDIA RELEASE

17 January - 18 March 2014 Kingston Museum kicks off the New Year with a playful exhibition!

Bring the whole family to explore and enjoy an exhibition where you can touch and play with the art! Based on the 'creative exploration of materials', eight artists have created new work which has been designed to engage with pre-school children and their carers.

Before producing this work, each artist spent five days working with children in pre-school settings to develop a greater understanding of how they think, play, explore and create.

Participating artists are; Linda Arkley, Lucy Fergus, Alex Hallowes and Pete Rogers, Kate Sully, Jason Taylor and Kathryn and Rachel Welford.

The exhibition is produced by A 20-21 Visual Art Centre touring exhibition and is supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Bubbles by Linda Arkley

Magical Labyrinth by Pete Rogers and Alex Hallowes

For more information, please contact: Tove Bellingham, tove.bellingham@rbk.kingston.gov.uk Kingston Museum Wheatfield Way Kingston upon Thames Phone: 020 8547 5006 www.kingston.gov.uk/museum Tuesday, Friday, Saturday 10am-5pm Thursday 10am-7pm Free admission

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Love Food, Love Gadgets A helping hand to prepare a romantic meal

Valentine’s Day is like Christmas for restaurants, but all too often their love-struck customers end up fobbed off with overpriced set menus and a distinct lack of atmosphere.

If it’s true that the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach, wouldn’t it be better to wow your partner with something you’ve cooked up yourself? Best of all, you can use it as an excuse to splash out on some new kitchen gadgets too.

We’re big fans of Joseph Joseph’s brightly coloured (and quite expensive) cooking gadgets, such as its foldable TriScale (£30), its Elevate raised utensils and its very useful Chop2Pot foldable chopping boards. If the price is a little high you’ll find shopping around online can save you a packet, and there are plenty of more affordable imitations too.

Grating, chopping, blending, pureeing, julienning, mixing, do-everything Food processors are fantastic things, and while they can be pricey there are plenty of deals around: a quick bit of online research uncovers Kenwood’s FP736 for £89.99 instead of the £120 RRP, and multi-function blenders such as the Shef Collection for £17.99 instead of £49.99. If that’s still

too much or you just don’t have room for all the attachments, electric choppers can be picked up for around £12.

Some of our favourite gadgets are the simplest ones: Microplane graters were originally designed for woodworking but are fantastic for parmesan and can be found for as little as £10, while mandoline slicers take the effort out of preparing fruit and veg. Expect to pay around £10 to £20 for a good one.

If your partner’s a barbecue fan, don’t let the fact it’s still winter deter you: Philips’ Avance Table Grill promises all the taste of a smoky barbecue without having to leave the house. It looks like a chunky George Foreman grill and at £95 costs quite a bit more than one, but unlike some of George’s grills the plate is detachable and dishwasher safe and you can use its unique infusers to add smoke flavours (from real wood chips) or liquids such as marinades.

Just make sure you put it near a cooker hood if you’re using it to smoke your food, or your romantic evening could end up involving the local fire brigade.

We’re keen on celebrity chefs here in Britain, and one of the biggest is Jamie Oliver - and

he hasn’t been shy when it comes to lending his name to everything from tea towels to salad servers. He’s also put his name on Philips’ Homecooker, which promises “a completely fresh approach to cooking”.

It’s a cross between a slow cooker and a food processor, and it chops, slices, shreds, grates, cooks, stirs, steams and keeps cooked food warm.

The HomeCooker is a fairly frightening £250, and if you want one you’ll have to go to John Lewis.

No romantic dinner would be complete without a nice bottle of wine, but if you’re worried about wrestling with a traditional corkscrew there are plenty of alternatives. Le Creuset’s Screwpulls make opening wine particularly easy, and while the larger models cost around £30 you can pick up plastic ones for around £11.

They’re much easier to use than traditional corkscrews and less likely to damage the cork, although if you’d rather keep things old-school you can pick up a waiter’s friend corkscrew for as little as £2.45. Even good ones won’t cost much more than £10.

Images left to right: Joseph Joseph TriScale; Screwpull Corkscrew; Jamie Oliver Homecooker; Philips Avance Table Grill

To advertise call Karen on 020 8274 0096 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

41

Finance All Change

By Jasmine Birtles, moneymagpie.com These days, many of us are unfaithful – to our service providers, at least; happily flitting between mobile service providers, internet providers, energy companies and insurers to get the best deal. Yet according to the Independent Commission on Banking, on average we only change bank accounts every 26 years.

So why aren’t we all browsing comparison sites, checking out the best current accounts?

Because we hate the hassle.

How could we switch over all those outgoings and incomings?

Say a direct debit gets ‘lost’ and we default on a bill?

The Current Account Switch Guarantee Relax. Banks know it’s in their best interests to make it easy for you to swap your account to them; some even offer financial incentives. In September, seventeen banks joined the new Current Account Switch Guarantee scheme which should see your bank account transferred within seven days.

It means once you’ve chosen a new bank, they take responsibility for the switch (including settling missed direct debits, incurred charges etc and informing everyone concerned). Just chose a switch date (allowing seven working days), then relax as your new bank transfers your incoming payments, outgoing payments and balance, and then closes your old account. Payments

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via your old account are automatically re-directed for 13 months to cover once-a-year payments.

You don’t need to do a thing. www.simplerworld.co.uk has full details of the Switch Guarantee and the banks and building societies signed up so far. What it doesn’t have is information or comparisons on available accounts. So where can you find them? www.moneysupermarket. com/current-accounts/ Use their handy dropdown filter menu or sidebar categories to search for accounts including ones with interest, overdrafts, cashback, or rewards - or from banks signed up to the 7 day Switch Guarantee. http://www. moneysavingexpert.com/ banking/compare-best-bankaccounts This site has detailed discussions and comparisons of the best buys in a number of categories, including the best ethical banks. http://www.which.co.uk/ money/bank-accounts/ reviews-ns/bank-accounts/ Which? also advises on best bank accounts if you’re always in credit or need overdrafts.

Fee-charging accounts are listed separately, so it’s worth considering them alongside other options. Sometimes paying a fee can be the best option, so before you search always: THINK LONG AND HARD ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT FROM YOUR CURRENT ACCOUNT There’s a bewildering array

of account types these days.

Some modern current accounts (often described as ‘Offset Mortgages’ rather than current accounts) work in tandem with your savings or mortgage, allowing you to shift money from one to the other – reducing interest payments on your mortgage in good times, and providing a cheap ‘loan’ to cover unexpected calamities like boiler breakdowns. Then there’s cashback, airmiles, points, rewards, special deals on savings and mortgages from the same provider, breakdown cover, travel insurance... so think about which deal saves you the most in real terms, and how you want to operate your account (online, post, branch or all three?).

Some great deals can be found outside the Big Four (Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland and HSBC), so keep an open mind. Clydesdale Bank and Nationwide both offer good interest rates if you pay in a minimum of £1000 per month.

First Direct isn’t currently offering in-credit interest, but does offer financial incentives for switching and a high interest linked savings account, plus a small free overdraft facility. It’s also won both Money Saving Expert and Which? customer service polls.

So why not take a look? These deals probably won’t be around in 26 years...

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Windows • Doors • Conservatories Orangeries • Garage Doors • Roofline

Add a New Dimension to Your Home

Our Conservatories, Orangeries and Bi-Folding Doors will completely change the way you enjoy your home.

7 Grand Parade, Ewell Road, Tolworth, Surrey KT6 7BE www.warmlite.co.uk Tel: 020 8399 3377 To advertise call Karen on 020 8274 0096 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

43

Pet Proofing Your Garden

by Pippa Greenwood

There’s always a lot to say about small pests such as greenfly, caterpillars, vineweevil and so forth, but early in the year it’s some of the bigger ‘residents’ which can really drive you around the bend. I’m talking about cats and dogs.

What can you do to ensure that you continue to garden happily, successfully and safely, despite the fact the garden is visited by cats and dogs… and without harming these lovely creatures either?

You may need to consider actively fencing off one part of the garden for your dog, and trying to keep another area completely dog free. If you have problems with dogs coming in from next door, then it’s essential that you make repairs to fences. Now is a good time because there’s relatively little plant foliage to hide holes, gaps or loose panels in fencing.

Remember that the dog is also likely to be able to squeeze underneath or around many types of fence, so you may need to use chicken netting or similar. Don’t forget that gates as well as fences need to be dog-proofed, and never left open for the dog to wander through. If you really have a serious problem that this won’t resolve then you can try a fox deterrent such as ‘Fox-Watch’.

Sometimes a few strategically planted dense and prickly

44

shrubs such as pyracantha may help to deter digging paws.

Obviously you don’t want to cause the animal actual harm, but something sharp, prickly or simply very dense can act as a good deterrent.

Next door’s cat or others in the neighbourhood are trickier to deal with as unfortunately they do tend to try and do their ‘toileting’ along the edges of their own territory, making your garden a prime target area.

If your cat or a neighbour’s cat is a problem, bear in mind that the more bare soil there is, the more likely that a cat will start to use it as its loo. Ground cover planting is essential and you could always use temporary annual flowers to fill in gaps between longer term planting.

If you find that these too are scuffed up shortly after you have planted them, then the best thing to do is cover newly planted areas of bedding with an arch of chicken mesh or with sticks with taut string tied between them. Obviously this will look a mess but can be removed promptly once the plants have rooted well and started to establish. I have found that the electronic cat deterrent ‘Cat-Watch’ works very well too.

Mulching materials can sometimes cause problems and despite what the label says, many gardeners have told me

that they found that the cocoa shell mulches seem to attract cats. Generally speaking soggy mulches like this or anything with a strong smell do tend to deter cats, as they hate digging in moist material. Take extreme care if dogs use the garden as cocoshell mulches can prove fatal to them. Mulches made of large pebbles or stones also tend to keep them at bay, but smaller diameter gravel or shingle seems to be quite attractive to some cats.

Areas of freshly sown seed look very attractive to a cat or dog and again are best protected either by chicken mesh or sticks and string. Remember to keep the string taut at all times, as there’s a slight risk that birds could become entangled in it.

Visit Pippa’s website www. pippagreenwood.com for a great range of gardeningrelated items including ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ veg growing system, electronic cat and fox deterrents, lots of slug controls, Pippa’s favourite weeding tool, and many other useful garden items.

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LOCAL CARPENTER GARDENER CITY & GUILDS QUALIFIED

07714592 592650 650 07714

020 8390 7151

R.J. Tree qualified & profession R.J. Tree Services qualified & professional staffServices are dedicated Doors/Skirting Maintenance Repair Work Hedge Trimming to the highest levels of service in every i to the highest levels of service in every instance.

Trimming, tidying & mowing Shelving/Carpentry Gates Joinery We are happy Fencing We are happy to give advice – on all you to give advice – on all your arboricultural queries. gates & sheds Fencing, decking, Stud Walling Clearance Wardrobes Decking

maintenance timberwork • Free quotes paving are dedicated • Fully NPTC qualified design Friendly, reliable and tidy service

Patios & paths • Free

quotes • Fully NPTC Scaled drawings & planting plans qualified • Tree reductions / cr • Tree reductions crown thins For a/friendly, reliable service at a competitive rate ultural queries.

• Tree felling • Tree felling Landscape construction • Stump removal • Stump removal & Will: 020 8399 7872 • Hedgeworks • Hedgeworks R.J. Tree Services qualified & Fencing professional staff are dedicated Mobile: 07961 450 618 • Tree surveys & repo • Tree surveys & reports to the highest levels of service in every instance. ns

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We are happy to give advice – on all your arboricultural querie • Free quotes • Fully NPTC qualified R.J. Tree Services qualified & professional • Tree reductions / crown thins staff are dedicated to the highest levels of service in every instance.

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Look out for the LookOffiout for the red tree! ce: 020 8399 0103

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8399 0103 07980 903 881 Surbiton 020 Mobile: 07980 903881 Visitallour website for information and videos Visit our website for information and videos on aspects of our work info@rjtrees.co.uk LOOK FOR THE RED TREE!

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R.J. Tree Services, Berrylands, Surbiton Visit our website for information and videos on all aspects of our work www.rjtrees.co.uk

3 07980 903 881 call Karen on 020 8274 0096 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk To advertise pects of our work

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Sausages and Puy Lentils Serves 4

Ready in 40 minutes

If you fancy a change from the usual sausage and mash why not go Continental?

Tasty Toulouse sausages wrapped in pancetta and served on a bed of flavoursome puy lentils make the perfect mid-week meal.

Ingredients: • 225g puy lentils • 225g shallots, peeled and halved • 1 tbsp olive oil • 1 tsp brown sugar • 150ml vegetable stock • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard • 8 Toulouse or chunky pork sausages • 8 rashers pancetta or smoked streaky bacon, stretched with the back of a knife • 2 tsp clear honey • 3 tbsp chopped fresh flat leaf parsley

Tip Try your local butcher or deli or visit a farmers’ market to find the best quality Continental-style sausages.

If you can’t find Toulouse sausages, Lincolnshire, Cumberland or pork and leek varieties will work just as well.

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Place the lentils in a pan and cover with water. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a deep frying pan and fry the shallots for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until just starting to soften.

Sprinkle over the brown sugar and cook for a further 8-10 minutes until the shallots are golden and caramelised.

Drain the lentils and add to the frying pan with the stock, vinegar and 2 tsp of the mustard. Simmer for about 15 minutes until the lentils are just tender. Stir occasionally and add a little more stock, if necessary.

While the lentils are cooking, wrap each sausage with a pancetta rasher. Cook under a medium-hot grill for 8-10 minutes, turning frequently until the sausages are almost cooked through. Mix together the rest of the mustard with the honey and brush over the sausages. Cook for a further 3-4 minutes until the pancetta is crisp and browned.

Stir half the parsley into the lentils and season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve the lentils and sausages on warmed plates garnished with the remaining parsley.

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

Serving Surbiton for over 50 Years C.D Jennings & Sons Valentine’s Day Specials Call us on 020 8399 4870 Steaks T-bone, Fillet, Sirloin, Rib Eye, Rump, Centre Cut, Onglet, Flat Iron, Flank Skirt, Hanger All of our beef is dry aged for 21 days at our shop and comes from the finest farms in Scotland

Visit our shop at 146 Ewell Road, Surbiton, KT6 6HE (Opposite The Victoria pub) or call us to place an order on 020 8399 4870

For more information view our website www.cdjenningsandsons.com

To advertise call Karen on 020 8274 0096 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Winter Warmers - just the job for February!

says Alan Jennings

F

ebruary always seems such a bleak month to me, when we all need some warming and nourishing food to cheer us up a bit.

beef shin might need two hours, whereas diced pork might be ideal with only one hour. A chicken casserole might need less than that. Keep checking - the only real test is the tenderness of the meat.

So what would I advise? At this time of year stews and casseroles really come into their own , and Best wishes, and keep warm this winter! there’s plenty of variety to be had from the many cuts of beef, lamb and pork. Not to mention the Alan ever-useful chicken! For proper stewing you need C D Jennings and Sons to choose cheaperSolutions cuts of beef, lamb and pork,and installs premium Traditional Quality since 1963 DMthe Contract Ltd manufactures quality timberButchers windows and combine English which are atdoors their which best with long,traditional slow cooking to style with modern technology: 146 Ewell Road Surbiton KT6 6HE bring out the flavours.

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Sliding Sash Box Windows – Lead and Spring Balanced • Casement Windows • Starting •with beef, excellent Don’t Forget Valentine’s!

French Doors choices for a stew would Sliding-Folding Doors and more.

• steak be braising or shin. Oxtail is another favourite If you’re dining at home on the 14th, we

which is Our rightly celebrated for its distinctive flavour. recommend steaks to celebrate the occasion. state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques combine aesthetics, comfort, convenience Our beefand comes from ourpreserving long-termits suppliers in It simply Juicy exceeds fillet, rump or T-bone. You security while classic lines. all expectations for choose! its price.

Aberdeenshire, and whatever part of the animal you select, we can vouch for its high quality. www.dmcscontractsolutions.co.uk

windows@dmcontractsolutions.co.uk

Lamb casseroles have a delicacy which any foodie can admire. Shoulder and neck are ideal for stewing, and the meat will slowly cook down to a mouthwatering tenderness. Or there’s lamb shanks, newlyfashionable for pub menus. They taste just as good at home when braised slowly in stock and vegetables to bring out the flavour and juices. Our lamb comes from Scotland and from the English salt-marshes, so they can bring plenty of flavour right to your table.

Leverett Electrical Ltd

Qualified electrician Part P registered.

If you like pork casseroles there’s plenty on offer for Alliswork certifi you. Pork belly renowned for itsed. special flavour.

It excels as the a really nourishing dish, Nobasis joboftoo small. cooked either a piece considered or separated into segments Allaswork beforehand. Another pork delicacy for slow cooking Qualitymeat, at the ourandwork is shoulder whichheart can be of diced stewed very slowly to bring out all the flavour.

Our pork • Installation & maintenance is the famous Gloucester Old Spot strain, raised for us Rewires • ideal under conditions in East Anglia.

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Security lighting

Stews and casseroles are among the easiest of dishes alarms • Fire to prepare.

It’s usual to start by browning the meat in hot•oil toCentral seal in the juices.

Then meat or vegetable heating wiring stock is added to cover the meat and braise it very Stuart Leverett slowly, adding any vegetables you might fancy.

Maybe Offichopped ce: 020onions, 8390carrots 0617and celery. Very tasty!

Mobile: 07710 123 628

contact@leverettelectrical.co.uk Email: How long do you need to cook your casserole? www.leverettelectrical.co.uk It depends on the meat, of course. For instance,

call us: 0203 174 0208

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.

Any errors, omissions or offers are the responsibility 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 dates.

To advertise any event, community activity in the magazine, please call

Karen on 020 8274 0096 or email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk karen@berrylandscompanion.com

advertise in A Berrylands Companion call 020 advertisers 8274 0096 mention the magazine when contacting 48 ToPlease

13

What Is Love, Anyway?

“Love”. It is one of the most frequently spoken words in the English language but often the word is used to express a general enjoyment as in “I love going to the cinema”. But, if asked to define what the word means, most people would think of romantic love – the one that attracts you to another human being. But what is that love and why do we feel it?

In reality what we think of as love has three distinct phases: • Lust, or erotic passion • Attraction, or romantic passion • Attachment, or commitment

Phase 1: Lust This really needs no explanation. It’s the one that starts as we hit puberty and it evolved for the purpose of mating and reproduction.

It’s a rush of hormones that occurs less frequently as we age, along with the ability to reproduce.

Lust drives us to find a partner and in doing so may develop into phase 2 and 3. It is exciting and addictive. The serial philander may genuinely love their partner, but is so hooked on the high that comes from phase 1 they are unable to give it up.

Phase 2: Attraction or romantic passion When ‘love’ moves from lust into passion, we lose our

ability to think rationally and can develop an obsession with the object of our desire. The phrase ‘love is blind’ is true in this phase, and we may be oblivious to our partner’s faults, even if they are obvious to all around.

Researchers at University College London found that people in love have lower levels of serotonin. These lower levels are the same as those found in people with obsessivecompulsive disorders, possibly explaining why those in love can think of little else than their partner.

Couples in this stage spend many hours together – they really can’t get enough of each other. If this attraction remains strong and is mutual, then they usually enter the third stage: attachment.

Phase 3: Attachment This is the commitment phase, the one that creates a relationship which will last.

Typically the passion will be fading and although not as exciting as lust and attraction, attachment is a deeper more contented feeling.

Studies have shown that the more someone idealises their partner, and turns a blind eye to their faults and less endearing personality traits, the longer the relationship will last.

If however the behaviour is unforgiveable such as being

unfaithful, or one person simply cannot learn to live with the other’s ‘little ways’. the foundations of the relationship are undermined. Then every difference is highlighted and the couple may reach the conclusion that they are incompatible where they were perfectly happy in the attraction phase.

Of course no relationship will endure unless both parties put in the effort and Valentine’s Day is your opportunity to confirm your lust, attraction or attachment to your other half.

Professor Arthur Aron, of the State University of New York at Stonybrook, has studied what happens when people fall in love and has found that simply staring into each other’s eyes has tremendous impact.

Professor Aron conducted an experiment where he put strangers of the opposite sex together for 90 minutes and had them discuss intimate details about themselves. He then had them stare into each other’s eyes for four minutes without talking. The results?

Many of the subjects felt a deep attraction for their partner after the experiment, and two even ended up getting married six months later.

To advertise call Karen on 020 8274 0096 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

49

There are plans for a Kingston £

H

ere is some background about the Kingston Pound project so far in case you readers might be interested.

What lead to the starting of this project?

I was one of a number of people asked to help promote Surrey Save our local Credit Union. As you know, the news about Credit Unions and their fight against pay day lenders has been very topical. My initial research into Credit Unions lead me to read about Bristol Credit Union and their successful tie up with the Bristol Pound. The membership of the Credit Union increased as the users of the currency, both consumers and businesses increased.

How will it work?

Essentially £1 is worth 1K£ and the idea is that it formalises a commitment to buy local. A consumer must spend the money locally to get the value back. A business can offer K£ as change or they may be able to use with their suppliers.

This makes the consumers look out for traders who accept K£ and traders can do the same with their suppliers. We would also like the council to accept them as part payment of business rates and use them with local traders and suppliers.

What is the point of K£?

If K£ can only be spent in the borough it means that this money cannot leak away from the local economy. The more K£ circulating the bigger its economic impact which has to be a good thing – more trade, diversity and jobs.

So it’s a payment and loyalty system right?

Not entirely - if K£ was only a payment system we would fail.

There are plenty of payment systems out there that could do the job. A payment and loyalty system essentially operate between two parties, the business and the consumer. K£ aims to operate between business, customers and the wider community.

What do you mean wider community?

A payment and loyalty system on its own has a very narrow remit. K£ aims to operate a payment and loyalty system in a way that can link in with the wider community. For example financial education for the schools, promotion of the Credit Union, linking in with the University and offering them practical ways to practice their skills and also linking in with the voluntary sector. A payment and loyalty system on its own cannot do this and what is more K£ will be a ‘community currency’ with roots in the community in which it wants to serve.

What about the Council?

The Council are behind our endeavours and see it as “an exciting catalyst for our local economy, bringing local people together with local business like never before” Council Leader Liz Green.

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When will the currency be available?

One thing to say is it is much easier to launch a currency than set up and run a business. However it does take time to put in place the foundations and generate support for the idea. We are looking to trial somewhere in the borough during 2014 and we don’t expect to launch properly until June 2016. That said we expect we will be making visible progress during the years before full launch.

How do you know it will work?

These systems are working elsewhere in Europe and the US and the reason why they are rare in the UK is because of the lack of a local bank structure. Having the Credit Union as a partner is therefore important because they are our local bank. We are not immune to the fact that this project needs to be carefully managed and that is why we have team members such as Peter Scherschel and Kat Hipsey who have the experience in running and managing projects in the business sector. We also have John Hall who is experienced in creating loyalty and payment systems for international sporting events in Norway. We are taking this project very seriously because we want it to work.

What’s in it for the management team of K£?

The Kingston Pound will be set up as a formal community project with no financial benefit to the management who are all volunteers.

What is the plan for 2014?

During 2014 we will want to speak with business owners and traders about the project. The more businesses we speak to the more they will feel comfortable in joining in.

We want to trial a few times before launch in both printed and electronic formats.

How do you know that people want a K£?

We have conducted two main surveys during 2013 and spoken with 180 individuals. One survey was for consumers and one was a survey of businesses in and around the borough. The business survey was conducted

by The Kingston University Students. The upshot is that 46% of businesses were likely to accept K£ with a further 33% needing more information before they decide. For consumers, 41% said they were very likely to use K£ and a further 43% quite likely. These statistics are interesting when you consider we have not yet formally approached businesses to discuss the project and the only way of engaging with the public was by Facebook and Twitter.

Why have you not approached the business community before now?

The first thing to say is that ‘now’ is still early in the project.

However, we felt that to speak to business earlier would have been counter productive. We had nothing but an idea and enthusiasm. Now we have a basic structure to talk about which includes a local bank, Council support and a growing awareness of the project in the wider community.

Please mention the magazine when contacting advertisers

advertising for less than Introducing Lewis &Imagine theDick price of aSolicitors daily cup of coffee!

What are the costs involved for a business to accept the K£?

We have designed the K£ so that businesses can join in at no cost to themselves, except for the purchase of a mobile phone. We have purposely avoided going down the route of having to purchase or rent expensive point of sale technology. Co-founder Kat Hipsey is an accountant and will work with businesses and their accountants to demonstrate that reconciliation will not be a problem and that the transaction charges involved in the Text2Pay system will be less than accepting a credit card payment.

L

ewis & Dick have a reputation for providing high quality legal advice to individuals and businesses.

We were founded by Mr Lewis and Mr Noltingk in 1946 and, due to Mr Noltingk’s German sounding surname, they decided to use his wife’s maiden name “Dick” Kingstonpound.org instead! Over 60 years later we might have taken What are the risks for a business?

K£ is a backed currency so it is treated like the national currency. If the system were to break down, there will always be money in the Credit Union so that any K£’s can be changed back into Sterling. The Text2Pay will be governed by the FCA regulations in relation to e-money and the printed note will have security features on them to avoid forgery. Essentially we are trying to make it an easy decision for a business to join in but we are aware that there will be some who will need more information and we are happy to speak with any business owner.

a different approach, but we continue to maintain the of now service which Call level Karen on has been synonymous 020 the 8274name 0096 of Lewis & with Dick since it began.

We take a traditional, personal approach to each client, whilst using modern case management technology to provide a quick and efficient service.

Advertise in A Berrylands Companion

LEWIS DICK

solicitors

Need a DIVORCE, SEPARATION OR HELP WITH CONTACT speak to Carol Stevens-Stratten Need to MOVE HOUSE OR GET HELP WITH YOUR BUSINESS speak to Jonathan Owens Need to MAKE A WILL OR POWER OF ATTORNEY OR ADMINISTER AN ESTATE speak to James Winfield

WE ARE YOUR LOCAL LAW FIRM, AND PROVIDE A HIGH QUALITY SERVICE For more information or a no obligation quote

Call: 020 8393 0055

Email: ewell@lewis-dick.com or visit our Website: www.lewis-dick.com Lewis & Dick, 443 Kingston Road, Ewell, Surrey, KT19 0DG

To advertise call Karen on 020 8274 0096 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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QUIZ SOLUTIONS WORD LADDER 3 Letters elf few foe for fro low ore owe owl

roe row woe 4 Letters flew floe flow fore fowl lore

Here is one possible solution (others may exist) GOAT GOAT boat boat beat beat peat peat peas peas pegs pegs PIGS PIGS

role wolf orle 5 Letters lower rowel 6 Letters flower

HIDATO

Wordsearch Riddle Dogs laugh, but they laugh with their tails.

Max Eastman

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Children’s page Answers Numbers on pyramid: 16,8,8,3,5 Hieroglyphics Sahara Desert CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

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Please mention the magazine when contacting advertisers

Library and Heritage Service

Your Library Needs You: Mark 100 years since the First World War this February half-term.

Using skills taught in schools during 1914-1918 and a ‘Make Do’ recycling mantra we will be creating knitting, bunting and cross stitch projects for the whole community.

All events are drop in

Free

Age 6 – 106!

Saturday 15th February Surbiton Library 10am – 1pm Bunting Workshop Wednesday 19th February Tolworth Library 10am – 4pm Community Cross Stitch Project.

Contribute to our library banner, be part of a lasting tribute.

Thursday 20th February Surbiton Library 10am – 4pm Community Cross Stitch Project.

Contribute to our library banner, be part of a lasting tribute.

Saturday 22nd February Tolworth Library 1 – 4pm French Finger Knitting Workshop.

Make your own yarn to create keyrings, bracelets and much more Tutors present throughout

All materials supplied

If you would like to be a volunteer for these and future events contact childrenslibrarians@rbk.kingston.gov.uk www.kingston.gov.uk/libraries www.kingston.gov.uk/libraries

To advertise call Karen on 020 8274 0096 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

53

Cake and Bake Bakewell Tart Modern commercial versions of the Bakewell Tart are easily found in most supermarket cake departments, but they are generally oversweet with a stodgy texture. This home-made Bakewell Tart is well worth the effort then, being light, crumbly and full of flavour.

Ingredients: • 1 packet shortcrust pastry • 200g raspberry jam • 175g butter, room temperature • 175g caster sugar • 4 large eggs • 2 dessertspoons lemon juice • 1 teaspoon lemon zest • 1 dessertspoon almond extract • 250g ground almonds • 60g flaked almonds

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Preheat the oven to 190°C/170°C (fan)/Gas mark 5.

Grease either a round dish (28cm diameter) or an oblong tin (20 by 30cm) with soft butter. You can also put some greaseproof paper in the bottom of the dish, to help the finished tart come out if you want to serve onto a plate before cutting.

3. Roll out the pastry until it’s fairly thin and then put into the dish or tin, trimming off the excess pastry.

4. Cover the base of the pastry case with greaseproof paper and then blind bake for 15 minutes by covering the paper with ceramic beans or dried pulses.

5. Remove the paper and beans from the baked pastry, then return to the oven for a further 5 minutes until the pastry is golden. When the pastry case has cooled, spread the jam evenly over the base.

6. In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy. Whisk the eggs in a jug then gradually add to the mixing bowl, beating as you go.

7. Add the lemon juice, lemon zest and the almond extract, then gently fold in the ground almonds.

8. Spoon the mixture evenly into the case and gently spread to the sides of the dish.

9. Sprinkle the flaked almonds over the top and bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes until the filling is golden on top and feels firm in the middle.

10. Remove and allow to cool for 15 minutes before serving.

1.

2.

Magazine printed by Warwick Printing, Warwickshire

Campaign Success, campaign update

S

by Edward Davey, M.P

urbiton Post Office Modernisation and Surbiton station rezoning In wishing everyone a “Happy New Year”, I’d like to update you on two of my long running local campaigns. From improving the service at local post offices to rezoning Kingston and Surbiton train stations, I think 2014 will be an interesting and critical year.

Post Offices For years, we have been battling to stop the closure of local post offices as well as improving the service people get at the counters. So when my first responsibilities in Government in 2010 included being Minister for Post Offices, I introduced some major reforms. The aim was to transform Britain’s network of post offices so they had new investment and were able to provide a higher quality of service – more customer focused, with longer opening hours and shorter queues, with more services using better technology.

Those national reforms are bearing fruit and we can now see this locally. Main post offices like Kingston, Surbiton and New Malden are being transformed whilst our many community post offices have remained open, with new commercial options for their owners.

Surbiton Post Office, for example, now has a more modern open-plan design – the type of environment people have been used to for years in other high street businesses from shops to banks. The glass screens have mostly been taken down making it a far more friendly experience.

Better still, Surbiton’s opening hours have been extended by 12.5 hours a week, and it’s open 7 days a week. The aim is to enable more people to access post office services and cut queues. The new opening hours will be Monday to Saturday 08:00 – 18:30 and Sunday 09.00 – 12.00.

This largest ever investment programme for the Post Office also includes new technology aimed both at providing new services and speeding service times up. New booths to take your digital photograph and record your digital signature make tasks such as getting a driving licence more efficient and secure, while self-service machines for letters and small parcels means in some post offices you can skip the queues entirely.

While my ministerial responsibilities changed two years ago now, you can guess that I’m still following these major changes closely. So if you have any feedback – positive or negative – I’d be keen to hear it. Please send me your comments to daveye@ parliament.uk or to Edward Davey MP, Kingston

Liberal Democrats, 21 Berrylands Road, Surbiton KT5 8QX Rezoning I have been campaigning to rezone Surbiton and Kingston train stations from zone 6 to zone 5 ever since 2007 when Labour brought in zonal pricing for London’s overground trains: overnight some fares from Surbiton rose by nearly 40%. Our analysis shows that Surbiton and Kingston commuters were hit especially hard by that change: my rezoning idea was the obvious way to offset those fare rises.

You can visit my website at www.edwarddavey. co.uk to read the many twists and turns in this long campaign but as we enter 2014, I have a sense that my behind-the-scenes efforts of the last two years have at last got the full attention of both South West Trains and the Department of Transport.

A key development last year was a very sensible decision by Kingston Council under the new leadership of Surbiton Councillor Liz Green to fund a small study into what would be the actual costs to the train industry of implementing my proposed rezoning – and thus the benefits to local people.

This showed that the net cost to SWT, Transport for London and the wider industry, in terms of lost ticket revenue, would be around £6 million a year.

Or to put it another way, the commuters from Kingston and Surbiton stations are collectively paying at least £6 million a year more than they should.

To cut a very long story short, this latest analysis and my considered arguments based on six years of meetings and letters with civil servants and SWT managers is now sitting with the Secretary of State for Transport.

His Department of Transport is due this year to enter Direct Award negotiations with SWT to extend their franchise from 2017 for two extra years, and these negotiations will effectively cover the period from 2015 to 2019. I am arguing that the rezoning of Kingston and Surbiton should be part of those negotiations.

Now we have to wait to see what my Coalition colleague replies!

Of course the local campaigning doesn’t stop at post offices and trains! Last year, for example, the urgent need for yet more primary school places became even more apparent, but after a little pressure we were pleased to win extra funding from the Department of Education.

Now we have the challenge of how many new schools to build and where to put them! I told you 2014 would be interesting!

To advertise call Karen on 020 8274 0096 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

55

Advertorial

YOUR BRAND IN A NUTSHELL

T

he start of the New Year is a natural time to take stock and set objectives for the year ahead – not just for personal development but for business growth and development too. Typically, business objectives focus on financial goals which is reasonable as financial achievement represents success for most businesses; however, the strategy required to reach these financial goals is often less obvious.

Whether you are selling products or services, your customers will be considering both the tangible and intangible benefits of your offering - in other words, what your business is providing in terms of quality, price and convenience as well as how engaging with your business makes them feel, what they gain emotionally from doing business with you.

Tangible benefits are important but are easy to copy and don’t tend to deliver long term competitive advantage – they are generally the benchmarks you need to achieve to be in the business you are in. Intangible benefits are more difficult to replicate, they form the basis of a unique look and feel and tone of voice for your business and help you to emotionally bond with your customers which leads to longer term customer loyalty and greater financial gains.

Emotionally engaging with customers – both end user consumers and business to business partners, is the key to success and something that great brands do very well. They have clear brand propositions that are easy to understand and compelling brand personalities that instil trust and confidence, perhaps offer a sense of fun or enjoyment or of responsibility. They may make us feel we have made the right ethical or moral purchase or leave us with a thrilling sense of reward. They have an emotional impact, build strong bonds and often help to deliver strong, internal cultures that positively impact productivity and loyalty of employees.

56

Big brands have complex brand strategies and access to big budgets to pay for expert advice and support but the benefits of a clear and concise brand platform are as important for smaller companies as they are for bigger businesses.

A clearly defined brand platform helps you to clarify who and what you are, which will positively impact your relationships with investors, partners, customers and employees. Clarity on your brand will also save you money longer term as there will no longer be a need to reinvent the wheel every time you communicate your brand whether by mouth, through a brochure, product packaging or online. You will know how your brand looks and speaks in a concise, simple and compelling way.

BRAND IN A NUTSHELL is a fast track, low cost approach to solidifying a company’s core brand principles. It is a unique branding process developed by local brand and marketing business, Brand Arkade.

‘Our considerable experience developing brands at the most senior levels, across a variety of sectors, and often with a global view, enables us to cut through challenges quickly and cost effectively.

We’ve developed BRAND IN A NUTSHELL to give businesses with smaller budgets access to the value and benefits of brand thinking and we’d love to help you.

www.brandarkade.com info@brandarkade.com

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February a very active month at Surbiton Racket and Fitness Club

Roy Staniland explains

S

ome people may think of February as a dull, dead month. But at SRFC we find just the opposite. Maybe because we probably offer a wider range of activities than any other local Club.

And our Members are always free to choose from any or all of them.

Our Studio is an important facility in the Club’s social life. We run regular classes which range from Pilates and Yoga to Zumba and Indoor Cycling. And afterwards you can happily relax in the Clubhouse Bar, which is open all day for coffee and a range of other drinks.

A special attraction at this time of year is indoor tennis. This uses two of our hard courts under our magnificent Dome, which guarantees perfect conditions for winter play through to the end of March.

As I said, there’s always plenty going on in our friendly Club. Why not pop in and see for yourself? You can be sure of a friendly welcome, with no obligation.

Give me a ring first if you like, but you don’t have to!

Of course, when the weather is kind, we can play on the remaining seven hard courts outside. They drain quite quickly, a help if there has just been some rain!

Three of these courts are laid with synthetic clay, and these are very popular with our Members.

We also have a variant on tennis, Cardio Tennis, a unique fitness programme which uses a normal tennis court, indoor or outside, according to the weather. We run Cardio Tennis in hour-long sessions.

Why not come along and give it a try?

Indoors we always have plenty going on. Our spacious Fitness Suite is wellequipped with some of the latest apparatus, from cardio-vascular aids to resistance machines and free weights.

Squash is an all-the-year round activity with us, but especially during the darker months. Our four courts are heated and air-conditioned, and our experienced coach can be on hand to offer his advice where it’s needed.

In my last article I mentioned the great number of world-class tennis players who have, over the years, contested our international tournament, the Surbiton Trophy.

People now ask me, who was the greatest player to grace our famous grass courts?

For me, there’s no argument. In 1999 a young Swiss reached our semis, but lost to the eventual champion of that year. The Swiss was only eighteen but his immense talent was plain to see. His name was Roger Federer.

Best wishes Roy Roy Staniland is Director of Surbiton Racket and Fitness Club, Berrylands, KT5 8JT. 0208 399 1594 www.Surbiton.org.

To advertise call Karen on 020 8274 0096 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

57

What’s on in February:25-26th Jan: RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch weekend.

31st January - 2nd Feb: Chinese New Year Year of the Horse. Chinese New Year Celebrations in and around London’s China Town.

1st Feb: Until 8th: National Storytelling Week at the Old Royal Navy College Se10 9NN. Until 23rd: Astronomy Photographer of 2013 at National Maritime Museum.

Until Sat Dec 20th: The Alternate London Tour, East London as you’ve never known it! Old Spitalfield’s Market, Brushfield St, E1 6DT Booking essential on: www.alternativeldn.co.uk Until 6th May: Collider at The Science Museum. 10-7pm. A new exhibition on the Hadron Collider and the subatomic Higgs Boson particle, a journey of discovery through film, recreations etc. Exhibition Road, SW7 2DD 2nd Feb: Grimaldi Clowns’ Church Service at Holy Trinity Church, the Clowns’ Church, Beechwood Road, E8 3DY. 68th year with clowns, Harlequins, jesters and pierrots, followed by a clown show for children in the church hall.

2nd February: From 17th Jan - 18th March: Kingston Museum: Art & Play.

Family activities, free admission, Tues, Fri & Saturdays 10am-5pm, Thursday 10am-7pm.

4th: Surbiton Historical Society, 7.45pm at Surbiton Library Hall Annex, a talk

by Mr Roger Bone on The History of Kenwood House and Hampstead Heath.

6th: Queen Elizabeth’s Accession Gun Salutes.

10th - 23rd: Imagine Festival at South Bank Centre, Imagine Childrens’ Festival with dance, theatre & art.

12th: Italian British Association presents a Gala Night at the CornerHouse, 116 Douglas Road, Tolworth. From 7-9pm. For the month there will be an exhibition dedicated to Italian artists. The exhibition will host works by painter Maria Virginia Cheli and photographer Milena Cull. For information: Maria Iacuzio, President of Italian British Association, mar_iacuzio@hotmail.com 14th: Valentines’ Day 22nd: An Evening of Clairvoyance with Maria Antonio at Tolworth Spiritualist Church, Scout Hall Princes Avenue, Tolworth. Starts at 7pm, Admission: £2.50 Safer Neighbourhood Team Meetings: Berrylands: 6th Feb: Drop In at Walnut Cafe, Chiltern Drive, 8.30 - 9.30am 1st March: Street Briefing at junction King Charles Road & Berrylands Road, 4-5pm Alexandra: 4th Feb: Drop In at Tolworth Library, 11-12pm 11th March: Street Briefing at Alexandra Park, 12.1pm Tolworth: 12th Feb: Street Briefing at Culsac Road 7-8pm 14th March: Street Briefing at Kent Way, 7-8pm Surbiton Hill: 15th Feb: Street Briefing at Mandeville Drive, 4-5pm

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What’s On/Local Events 1st Tuesday: NHS Retirement Club, 10-12pm at Christ Church Hall, Christ Church Road, Surbiton, KT5 8JJ. For information call Lorna: 020 8337 4121 1st Weds: SHARES (radio club) The Coffee Bar, Surbiton Hill Methodist Church Ewell Road, 8-10pm. For information: email: info@mOsha.com Call: 0845 269 8971 www.mOsha.com 3rd Weds: Oasis - daytime group for over-60s at Emmanuel Church, Grand Avenue, Tolworth. Plenty of opportunity to chat, play games, do puzzles. The meeting includes a 5 minute Bible-based talk relevant to life. Tel: 020 8390 6631 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 Life Drawing Workshop Drop-in Life Drawing Workshop in contemporary gallery surroundings suitable for all levels.

Easels/boards provided, materials available. Male and female models. Refreshments & friendly atmosphere. Every Monday and Wednesday from February 7th, drop in or book to be sure of spaces . 63a Park Road, Kingston upon Thames KT2 6DE Contact: 0208 547 1835 email info@gallery63A.com St Marks & St Andrews Church:Weds mornings 10.15-11.30 Stay and Play for Toddlers and Carers and Friday Mornings Coffee and Cake corner 10-11.30am. In addition to this we have a regular craft group meeting . They are all hosted at St Andrews Church, Maple Road, no booking required for any of them.

Tiny Tunes: Mon 10am & 10.50am at Surbiton Library Hall, Tues 10am & 10.50am at St Nicholas Parish Church Summer Road, Thames Ditton. All sessions are 40 mins long, feautures music, dance, parachutes, bubbles & pom-poms. Ages 3months-5years, pay as you go £5. Sibling £2.50. www.tinytuneslive.com Kingston Camera Club: Camera enthusiasts welcome. Meetings Mon eves at St John’s Ambulance HQ, Athelston Rd off Villiers Ave, 7.30pm-10pm with coffee break. New members welcome: Tim Moreland 020 8541 0126 or email: tim.moreland@yahoo.com See website: www.kingstoncameraclub.com Kingston Philatelic Society: Meets 8-10pm 1st Thurs & 3rd Fri, at Surbiton Library Hall, Ewell Road, Info: Brian Sole Tel: 01932 220 677 or email: brian.sole@btinternet.com Surbiton Floral Club: 1st Weds of the month at Raeburn Hall, United Reform Church, Elgar Avenue, 7.30 for 7.45pm start.

Floral demos, talks, workshops & outings. Tel: 020 8399 8193 Energy Healing & Reiki every Thurs 1.30-3.30pm in Room 22, United Reform Church, Eden Street, Kingston. Turn up or leave a message: 07814 914 163. Donations only.

Surbiton Club for the Blind: Alternate Tues 2-4pm at Surbiton Methodist Church Ewell Road, transport available if nec.

Social club with entertainment and tea. For info call: 020 8399 8596 or 020 8399 3022 if places available.

MARCH National Bed Month, Veggie Month, Great Daffodil Appeal for Marie Curie Month.

1st St David’s Day 4th: Shrove Tuesday. Pancake Races at various locations in London 5th: Ash Wednesday 11th: Commonwealth Day 16th-17th: St Patrick’s Day Parade through London, with marching bands, floats, street theatre and more, with a festival in Trafalgar Square.

20th: Spring Equinox 29th: Head of the River race.

30th Mothers’ Day. British Summer Time, clocks go forward

Why not send in your event for Mothers’ Day & Easter Call Karen on 020 8274 0096 or email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk Get your school, church or charity event mentioned in A Berrylands Companion magazine Call Karen on: 020 8274 0096 or email details to: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk Next submission deadline is by 8th February for the March edition.

Please Note: The following deadline will be 8th March for April issue.

To advertise call Karen on 020 8274 0096 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

59

COMMUNITY PAGE HOOK ALLOTMENTS AND GARDENS ASSOCIATION Are you interested in gardening?

Did you know there is an association in Hook?

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

We currently have full and half plots available to rent. Contact: John on 07807 300 749 Membership is £2 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

TOLWORTH & DISTRICT LEISURE GARDENERS’ SOCIETY

For all gardeners and allotment holders!

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

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

9 Traditional and organic fertilizers and soil improvers/conditioners.

9 Lawn and rose treatments, weedkillers, pest controls.

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

Annual membership just £2, senior citizens £1.

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

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

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

Annual Membership just £2.50, senior citizens £1.50

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Open to all gardeners & allotment holders.

Established over 90 years Run by members for members, non-profit making & can offer seeds, seed potatoes, fertilisers, composts and other gardening supplies to members at favourable rates.

Alexandra Store, King Charles Road, alongside Travis Perkins Yard Open Wednesday 2.00-4.00pm Saturday 2.30-4.30pm Open from February to November A newsletter is provided for members four times a year with information, tips and offers.

New members always welcome Annual membership £2.50/ concessions £1.50 To find out more please come and see us at one of the stores during trading hours or call: 07803 239016

Please mention the magazine when contacting advertisers

26. At the right time of year (2,6) 27. Plant - sucking insects (5)

Down:

COMMUNITY PAGE

1. Terminate gradually (5,3) 2. A Sultanate in northwestern Borneo (6) 3. Horologist (10) 4. Slightly open (4) 5. Engage somebody to enter the army (6) 6. Represents or performs as if in a play (6) 8. Come to terms with (7) 9. Shortened term for provocation (5) 13. Returning to political office (10) 15. Unusually great in size (7) 16. After sunrise and before sunset (8) 17. Strong and sharp (5) 18. Having little emotion or sensibility (6) 20. Add to the very end (6) 22. The highest point; culminate (6) 24. Compass point (4)

Please note that all deadlines for submitting artwork will be by the following dates:

8th February for March issue; 8th March for April issue; 8th April for May issue; 8th May for June issue; 8th June for July/August issue 8th August for September issue; October 8th September for Sudoku October issue; 8th October for November issue; 8th November for December/January issue.

Remember, you can pick up a copy of A Berrylands Companion magazine at the following: C.D.Jennings, Budgens, Surbiton & Tolworth Libraries, Hypoxi Therapy Centre, YMCA, Tolworth Recreation Centre, Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club

If you have any queries, please call me on 020 8274 0096 or email me at: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk Please note the change of email address.

Read it whilst you wait at: Aspen Vets, Berrylands Autocare, Cornerhouse Dentists, Surbiton Hill Garage,

KINGSTON & DISTRICT PHILATELIC SOCIETY

Surbiton & District Historical Society

Mike Smith F.R.P.S.L., gave us a magnificent display, in November, of rare and interesting postal stationery of the Orange Free State. He explained E Page 33-40.indd 36 the history and intricacies of printing the cards and covers in Southern Africa. The society has held two members meetings this autumn. The latter was themed on the letter ”N” and took place on the evening that Nelson Mandela passed away, although stamps featuring him had not been displayed earlier.

Our last meeting of the year was a social when our star guest was a young lady, Kerry Heavens, who had taken up self-publishing her own novels. She explained how and why she started on this venture and expressed her amazement at the friends and following she had experienced over the air-waves.

Help and encouragement had been forthcoming on a large scale.

All are welcome to any of our Society meetings, which are held at 8.00pm in Surbiton Library New Hall, Ewell Road, Surbiton KT6 6AF on the 1st Thursday and 3rd Friday in each month between September and June. Details of these, and other meetings of the Society will be obtained by contacting the Hon Secretary, Brian Sole, F.R.P.S.L. on 01932 220677 or on brian.sole@btinternet.com

The magazine is on line at: www.berrylands-companion.co.uk

Tues 4th Feb: Mr Roger Bone will give an illustrated talkon “The History of Kenwood 22/01/2010 House &00:22:03 Hampstead Heath”. The meeting starts at 7.45pm, visitors welcome, a contribution of £2 appreciated.

Tues 4th March: This is the most important date in our programme as it is our AGM.The meeting starts at 7.45pm and there is no charge for visitors.

Refreshments will be served at the end of the meeting and there is no charge.

Meetings held at Surbiton Library Hall, Ewell Road. For more information call: The Secretary on 020 8399 4473 or email lenandmarilyn@virginmedia.com

To advertise call Karen on 020 8274 0096 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Index

Please mention the magazine when contacting advertisers

Home & Garden All Your Garden Needs Berrylands Building Company Berrylands Property Maintenance Carpets4U Chris Mould Plumber Dream Doors Estates Direct Extreme Clean/HandyMan Frost Fireplaces HJC Estates James Anthony KB Design Kevin Robinson Decorators Leverett Electricals M.Duffle Oven Cleaners Personae Interior Design R.J.Tree Services Roofing and Guttering Shaun Overy Heating & Plumbing Time for You Domestics Warmlite Will Lord Will Stallion Electricals

45 11 17 5 17 39 12/13 16 17 7 19 11 16 19 15 19 15 45 10 19 37 43 45 17

Care & Health Corner House Dental Practice Emma’s Hair Salon Julie’s Nail Cutting Service One 2 One Homecare Shan Pharmacy Slimming World Yoga Zumba Classes

2 33 16 29 28 31 29 31

Rest & Relaxation Anna Coe Cine Sanctuary Iso Barre King George Field Bowls Club Kingston Council Kingston School of Motoring Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club

6 25 33 25 27 6 64

Children & Education 25 Gwenda Jones 53 Kingston Libraries 40 Kingston Museum 21 Lime Tree School 26 Monkey Music 24 Numberworks 21 Rugby Tots Surbiton Children’s Nursery Centre 21 23 Westbury House School

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Car Maintenance Alan Sursham Berrylands Autos K&P Tyres Surbiton Hill Garage Tolworth Motor Company

34 36 36 34 35

Veterinary Aspen Veterinary Surgery

25

Office Suppliers MBE Surbiton

63

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

47 9 15

Solicitors Lewis-Dick

51

Articles & Editorials Community Pages Recipe: Sausages & Puy Lentils Recipe: Cake & Bake Bakewell Tart Kids Page Edward Davey MP Events Pages Your Brand in a Nutshell Book Review Useful Telephone Numbers Gardening by Pippa Greenwood Kingston Pound

60/61 46 54 20 55 58/59 56 22 3 44 50

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

To advertise call Karen on 020 8274 0096 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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DON’T BE LEFT OUT IN THE COLD

EE FR

G T R IN S * U IN IR N! O A F I H R HE JOPLY E L T T O AP N A R HONS O ON FOE WNDITI N L O RS IO P S & C RM PE SS EO P *TE SE25

IN 2014

GET YOURSELF IN SHAPE AT SURBITON RACKET & FITNESS CLUB

NO CONTRACT | NO COMPARISON Berrylands, Surbiton, Surrey KT5 8JT

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T: 020 8399 1594 | E: info@surbiton.org | www.surbiton.org