May 2014 issue 88

Month: May 2014 Issue No: 88 Independent monthly community news and business directory for KT5 & KT6

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

Inside this month:

*Spotlight On..... Peter Melville *Surbiton Food Festival Fortnight *Catch up with Gareth Malone *Recipes, Puzzles *Community pages and Events New articles: *Hobbies: Keeping Chickens *Beer of the Month *Alternative Therapy, Osteopathy

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Hello Readers

E

ach month we discuss the weather, but I suppose we Brits are famous for doing just that! And as April progressed, the weather definitely improved. So all looks good for the Bank Holidays that will start peppering the diary from now on.

The start of May sees the Surbiton Food Festival Fortnight, now in its second year. It gets better and better. There will be food stalls, competitions, exhibitions, picnic areas, Village Fête and Sports Day. The Freshwater Sardine Festival is a sight to behold, I believe! Plus there will be the monthly Farmers’ Market along Maple Road on the final weekend. Plenty to celebrate in Surbiton.

This month I have started a new series, ‘Spotlight On......’ which I hope you will find interesting.

The first interviewee is Peter Melville from Aspen Veterinary Surgery, who gives us a glimpse into the daily life of his practice. I hope to have some more advertisers participating in the coming months.

Hobbies this month, is on keeping chickens, something we’ve considered in the past. But the cats already bring us small furry or feathered offerings and the local fox comes to visit and stretch out in

the garden to sunbathe. So I did not think it fair on the chickens!

We have an interview with Gareth Malone, the man who started the choir craze with The Military Wives.

There will be plenty to do this month, so, enjoy the sun and celebrate our unique town.

If you think you may have a suggestion for a new article, have a business that needs promoting, have a glowing testimonial for an advertiser, or even the magazine, please let me know! One suggestion I was given was when doing the Wordsearch, just mark the word in the list, when you find it and not on the grid itself. That way, you can pass the magazine on and the next reader can also do the competition.

With best wishes,

Karen Front cover image: safarikids.wordpress.com

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 Non Emergency NHS Transport: National Rail Enquiries Public Transport Traveline Gatwick Airport Heathrow Airport

020 8547 5757 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 8541 1212 101 999 111 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 Helpline www.victimsupport.org.uk Surbiton Safer Neighbourhood Team based at YMCA

0800 111 999 0800 783 8866 0845 920 0800 0800 800 151 0845 142 0000 0800 555 111 020 8546 7711 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 www.berrylandscompanion.co.uk Please mention A Berrylands Companion when responding to adverts

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Foster for Kingston confidence kindness

family

home empathy

support

rewarding

friendship

LOVE laughter

SMILES life

JOY

health comfort

role model

childhood

HUGS

understand

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FUN

training resilient

hope listen

‘If I couldn’t go home, would you share yours with me?’

Fostering is a highly rewarding role that allows you to help shape a child’s future and change your life for the better.

Kingston urgently needs more foster carers. We welcome enquiries from anyone interested in fostering, but we particularly need carers for sibling groups and teenagers.

Just give us a call, email or visit our website!

www.kingston.gov.uk/fostering

020 8547 5004

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OVER

What happened in... ...May 1979?

Margaret Thatcher became Britain’s first woman Prime Minister on 4th May 1979. She was dubbed The Iron Lady by a writer in the Soviet newspaper Red Star. This moniker was meant to be derogatory, but it proved anything but.

The pinnacle of her time in office was when The Iron Lady ordered the Task Force to retake the Falklands after the islands had been invaded by Argentina. She resigned in 1992, having set a record as the longest-serving Prime Minister of the 20th century.

1st: The newest section of the London Underground, the Jubilee Line, was opened, extending from Stanmore to Charing Cross. In 1999 it was further extended, in three stages, crossing the Thames at four points before terminating at Stratford.

8th: At about 1.30 pm a taxi driver on a rank opposite Woolworths in Manchester noticed smoke coming from the store and reported it to his office. By four o’clock the worst fire disaster since WWII had claimed ten lives.

Fifty-three people were taken to hospital, including six firemen.

Jeremy Thorpe, who had resigned as leader of the Liberal Party three years earlier, went on trial at the Old Bailey, accused of attempted murder. He was also accused, along with four other men, of conspiracy to commit murder. All four defendants were acquitted on 22nd of June that year.

12th: The Cup Final at Wembley had been unremarkable, with Arsenal’s two goals to

Average price of a house was about £13,650 A gallon of petrol was about 85p

Three of the bestselling singles this year were: Bright Eyes - Art Garfunkel Pop Muzik - M Sunday Girl - Blondie

Manchester United’s nil.

But just four minutes before the end of the match the score became 2-1; and with two minutes remaining it was 2-2. Just seconds before the full-time whistle the winning goal was scored by Arsenal.

21st: Elton John became the first Western rock star to perform behind the ‘iron curtain’, at a stadium in Leningrad.

24th: Thorpe Park, in Chertsey, Surrey, was opened to the public. It is now the country’s third most popular amusement park, after Alton Towers and Legoland, and boasts the fastest ride. The Stealth reaches 83.9 mph – in just two seconds!

25th: As American Airlines Flight 191 took off from O’Hare International Airport in Chicago its port side engine broke away from the wing. The aircraft rolled to the left and crashed in a field, killing all 271 people on board and two on the ground.

Patrick D Cousins is the author of Rainbows, Dreams and Angels, a double novella set in east London between the Thirties and Sixties. And you can read Patrick Cousins Short Shorts on your Kindle.

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Courses for this summer booking at the King Charles Centre now... browse, book & pay online at:

www.kingston.gov.uk/adulteducation or email us at:

adult.education@kingston.gov.uk Want to learn a new skill, gain a qualification or make a career change? There is a course for you at Kingston Adult Education.

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Home & Interiors A Bathroom, Hotel Style atatHome Hotel Style Bathrooms HomeByByKatherine Katherine Sorrell Sorrell rethinking your entire room, decide on basic layout issues at the start. Should the WC be in a separate room, for example? Do you need to knock down or add partition walls? Or would you like a walk-in shower, underfloor heating or perhaps a pair of his ‘n’ hers basins? Avoid moving existing plumbing, if possible, as it will save money and effort. However, if the floorplan of your current bathroom really isn’t working for you, this one-off plumbing cost could be worth it in the long run.

The best hotel bathrooms are blissful escapes from humdrum reality. Superbly planned to make the most of what is often not the hugest of spaces, they offer sleek efficiency at the same time as indulgence and opulence, from cosy-toes underfloor heating to tactile taps, monsoon showerheads to gleaming glass. And that’s not even to mention the most flattering of lighting schemes, the deepest of deep-fill baths and the fluffiest of fluffy towels. All this and more is why we find it so pleasurable to stay in a hotel that’s got its bathrooms

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right. And if you hanker for this feeling all the time, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t recreate the same sort of haven in which to relax and refresh at home. Simply take some of the essential elements that we have outlined below, and your boring room can be transformed into a true bathing beauty.

Planning A well-designed bathroom feels comfortable and convenient no matter how large or small. If you are

Flooring Bathroom floors must be non-slip, easy to clean and comfortable underfoot; most importantly, though, they mustn’t mind getting wet.

While the upmarket hotel bathroom uses expensive stone or marble tiles, lookalikes made from ceramic or porcelain are a cheaper option.

Vinyl flooring – also much less expensive – comes in a vast range of colours and patterns, some of which replicate natural materials such as ceramic, stone or wood. If you want to go green, think bamboo – which looks similar to timber, but loves humidity; natural rubber – available in gorgeous textures and colours; cork – which now comes in a range of fashionable shades; and linoleum – made from renewable resources. On a tight budget, simply sand timber floorboards and repaint them with glossy, off-white floor paint for a fresh, clean look.

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Storage Great storage is just as important in a bathroom as any other room in the house; sometimes even more so.

Where are you going to keep towels, toilet rolls, bottles of cleaning fluids, razors and a whole host of other (mostly unsightly) things?

Fitted storage, either from a bathroom supplier or made for you by a joiner is ideal if you can afford it (though of course you can’t take it with you if you plan to move house).

Alternatively, there are plenty of less expensive options. A wooden chest or blanket box, for example, could double as both a seat and towel store, while a wall-mounted shelf could be the perfect place to stack lotions and potions. In a large bathroom, a chest of drawers keeps all your bits and bobs in one place, while in a small room a metal rack on

wheels combines both function and style.

Lighting Give your bathroom a boost with a new lighting scheme.

Always use fittings designed for wet and steamy conditions, and combine task lights (for shaving and putting on make-up) with general background light. Downlights set into the ceiling are a great start, or else ceiling tracks with directional spotlights, which are inexpensive to fit.

If you’re renovating the whole bathroom, it may be possible to install two lighting circuits: one for working lights and the other, on a dimmer switch, for soothing, ambient lights.

Alternatively, set the mood for a long, relaxing bath with the warm glow of candlelight.

Accessories and extras Quick fixes for tired bathrooms include changing a dated pair

of taps for some good-looking, modern ones, installing a glass shower screen to replace a flappy old curtain or jazzing up your windows with some decorative window film.

Add a large mirror – it’s not only useful but also helps to increase the feeling of light and space in the room, and can become a focal point.

Small storage items, such as wicker baskets, pretty ceramics or bright plastic tubs, bring texture, colour and interest.

Last – but definitely not least – consider buying a new set of co-ordinating towels.

The fluffier the better and, of course, in clean, bright hotelwhite.

House by John Lewis Mode short shelf, £30, box shelf £40; House by John Lewis bamboo three-tier bathroom shelf, £80, bath linen, from £1.50, pedestal mirror, £15, Bobble bathmat, £15; gloss single mirrored bathroom cabinet, £50; Lascelles Swiss clock, £40, all John Lewis, 08456 049 049; www. johnlewis.com.

Interior Design Services When there is no space, there is space.

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Introduce alcoves in your bathroom to store your pampering essentials.

Any decorating question? Simply ask on our website design tips section! www.personaedesign.com sarah@personaedesign.com 07854707999

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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.

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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.

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Est 35 YEARS

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Wheely Good Gadgets

We spend a lot of time driving, and there are stacks of gadgets that promise to make our trips more entertaining and less frustrating.

One of the best in-car gadgets you can buy is a satellite navigation system. The days of devices with limited features and dodgy maps are long gone, and modern kit such as the £109 Garmin Nuvi 2408 comes with free, unlimited traffic information to warn you of accidents, roadworks and other problems. The device will help you find the right lane when you’re on the motorway, and it even has photographic views so that you can compare what you should be seeing with what you can see through the windscreen. Many highend models also double as Bluetooth hands-free kits for your phone, and we’re starting to see heads-up displays such as the £129 Garmin HUD where everything you need is projected onto the windscreen.

One of the most popular in-car gadgets is a replacement stereo. Even relatively cheap stereos such as Sony’s £89 MEX-BT3100U come with Bluetooth connectivity and iPod compatibility, and a growing number of audio units now have DAB digital radios as well as the traditional FM radio.

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In many cases the gap between in-car equipment and tablet computers is beginning to blur.

Take Pioneer’s terribly named AVH-X3500 DAB car radio, for example: it boasts a 6.1-inch touch screen, built-in Bluetooth, displays video and even runs apps. It also demonstrates something else about the in-car gadget market, which is that prices fall very dramatically very quickly. The Pioneer’s RRP is £479, but it’s already widely available for £299.

If you’re thinking that a 6.1-inch screen sounds rather large for an in-car device, you are right: the Pioneer is a double-DIN system, which means it takes up twice as much space as a standard car radio. Many cars already accept double-DIN systems, but if your car has an unusually shaped dashboard or uses a single DIN space you may also need to buy a doubleDIN adapter.

In-car entertainment needn’t be limited to the front of the car either. You can easily keep the kids quiet with a portable DVD system, with standalone models costing as little as £35 (although you’ll also need to invest in a headrest harness unless you want your child to hold the player for the full trip).

Around £90 gets you a player specifically designed for in-car

use with all the necessary harnesses, with twin-screen systems starting at around £129.

Another option for in-car use is a tablet. Cheaper tablets such as Tesco’s Hudl (£119), Google’s Nexus 7 (£199) or Apple’s iPad Mini (£249) make excellent video players, and they don’t suffer from the scratched discs or skipping that can plague in-car DVD systems. Expect to pay an additional £15 to £25 for a headrest mount, and remember to take the tablet out of the car when you stop: a visible tablet is a very tempting target for opportunist thieves.

While in-car gadgets can be handy, you’ll often encounter one downside: more gadgets than you have power sockets for. The good news is that’s easy to address with a multisocket adapter. £7.99 will get you an adapter that gives you two cigarette lighter sockets instead of one, or spend £14.99 on an adapter that turns the cigarette lighter socket into two USB ports. Some adapters offer both kinds of sockets, enabling you to charge almost anything.

Images left to right: Pioneer AVH3500 Dab Car Radio; Garmin Nuvi 2408 sat-nav; Garmin Heads-Up Display (HUD); Tesco Hudl tablet.

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Water, Water, Everywhere

by Pippa Greenwood

A water-feature adds magic to any garden. The sound of tinkling water and the movement of light on its surface can be just the finishing touch you need either for a patio or for a much larger garden. There’s a plentiful choice of water-features of all shapes, styles, and sizes; but before you commit yourself, what are the main points to bear in mind?

First, position. For moving water, your feature will use an electric pump, so there has to be a power-point nearby – something often overlooked. Do you want an eye-catching centrepiece for a formal garden, or just the music of running water as the soundtrack to your alfresco Sunday lunch? In either case, you need to consider carefully the appropriate position.

Water-features can turn bright green in summer due to the build-up of algae. You can go a long way towards preventing this by positioning them away from direct sunlight. Make sure they’re well away from deciduous trees, too, as falling leaves will clog everything up.

For smaller spaces you’re best off with a self-contained feature. There are lots of lovely ones available such as terracotta or glazed pot stacks with the water continuously

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pumped from one container to another, so you’ll only need to top it up in the hottest weather.

Spouts and fountains are great fun. A spitting fish, frog, or gargoyle adds a touch of art – or humour – while oxygenating a pool, reducing algae and keeping the pond-life happy.

If you want moving water but perhaps have toddlers, a millstone with a low, centrallypositioned jet is both beautiful and safe.

Plants are integral to any pond. Surface-floating plants such as waterlilies not only look gorgeous but their leaves also shade the water – again, reducing algae. Waterlilies need still water, so are best avoided if you have a fountain; but a single spitting feature at one end of the pool shouldn’t create too much turbulence.

Plants around the edges of a pools and ponds are called marginals and do best in shallower water or boggy ground. Use plenty: they look gorgeous, they hide the liner and they’re a haven for wildlife. Marginals to consider include yellow-flowered marsh marigold (caltha palustris); white-flowered bog arum (calla palustris); miniature reed-mace (typha minima); pale blue water forget-me-not (myosotis scorpioides); and purplebloomed water and bog iris

(eg iris laevigata). You’ll need about two plants per metre.

For a more formal look choose shapely rushes or ferns.

Water-features attract wildlife, and in summer you might be visited by dragonflies or mayflies. Birds may also come to drink and bathe. And even a small pond needs a safe exit-route in case hedgehogs pop by for a drink and tumbles in. A shallow beach of pebbles should do the trick.

If your feature has a sizeable surface, net it in the autumn to catch falling leaves. Garden netting stretched taut is ideal.

Remove it as necessary to tip off the leaves. Left in the water they’ll both clog the pumps and produce methane, which is toxic.

In winter, don’t let the waterfeature freeze up. If extreme cold is forecast smaller features are best emptied, and the pump cleaned and stored in the shed. Fish need an ice-free area on the surface or they’ll be killed by methane building up under the ice. Floating a football on the surface helps.

Visit Pippa’s website www. pippagreenwood.com for ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ for the AskPippa Q&A service, Nemaslug, natural pest controls and lots more besides!

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21

Spotlight On.....................

PeterSpotlight Melville,On.........................

Veterinary Surgeon, Peter AMelville, Veterinary Surgeon A Man With Mission!

I

n 1988 a young Australian veterinary surgeon came to Britain on a holiday.

Liking what he saw, Peter Melville decided to stay here. In 1991 he took over the Aspen Veterinary Practice in the Ewell Road, and during the past twenty-three years he has become more and more an essential part of life for pet owners in Surbiton and Tolworth.

With Peter’s guidance and hard work the Aspen Veterinary Practice has flourished strongly over the years.

“It’s a wonderful job,” he said. “if, like me, you have a mission to look after animals. We work long days, but it’s always very rewarding and there’s an almost endless variety in what we have to do.”

Peter explained that each day starts with a Consulting Session, for which appointments are necessary. Then the working day ends with another Consulting Session.

This arrangement allows Peter to carry out surgery and other procedures across the middle of the day.

Then, after postoperative care, each animal is usually ready for collection during the evening surgery.

At Aspen around 85% of the work is with dogs and cats. Each one is usually an established and muchloved member of the family, and Peter and his staff respond to that.

They treat their patients with the utmost care and respect, just as a doctor would treat a baby or a young child.

“Our work is naturally very varied, but it isn’t limited to routine healthcare procedures and surgery. Two years ago we introduced Puppy Pre-School, a behavioral training course for 12week puppies. Each puppy attends one night a week for four weeks, and learns obedience and good social behavior. This includes learning to socialise with other dogs. Not surprisingly, Puppy Pre-School has been a big success.”

“Here at Aspen every day brings us different animals and fresh challenges. What else could I wish for?”

“This regime works very well for us and for our dog or cat patients,” stated Peter. “But we know that at any moment a seriously sick animal can be brought in and must be treated as an emergency.

The possibilities are endless, and the variety keeps us on our toes!”

22

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SUPREME BOWLING CLUB FREE OPEN DAYS - YOU ARE INVITED!

Aspen Veterinary Surgery Your pet matters to us

NEW BOWLERS WELCOMED Free Open Days for new bowlers of all ages, abilities and both sexes on:  Saturday 3rd May,  Sunday 11th May,  Sunday 18th May,  Saturday 31st May,  Sunday 8th June.

Sessions 10.00am to around 1.00pm.

Just bring: Comfortable casual clothing, flat-soled shoes We provide: Bowls, advice & coaching.

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23

We’ve a busy Summer ahead!

says Roy Staniland

B

y the time you read this, Surbiton Racket and Fitness Club will be ready for what we hope will be a splendid summer.

As always, the main event for many members will be the opening of our eleven superb grass courts, usually in early May. Already the grass, carefully nurtured by our ground staff throughout the winter and spring, looks brilliant and almost ready for play.

But we never forget our nine hard courts which guarantee play for us except in the wildest weather conditions. Three of these have been laid with synthetic clay, and have quickly become firm favourites with our members.

So with a total of twenty tennis courts to call on we can usually cope with the biggest turnout, even on sunny Saturdays.

We can host a number of important tennis events (see below) and our coaches can occupy several courts when necessary for our coaching programmes.

As a major British club we have no less than twelve professional tennis coaches, and our training and coaching programmes run all the year and involve more than 250 pupils a week, from age 3 right up to the over-80s. Nor is our coaching limited to the Club premises; we visit eleven local schools on a regular basis for coaching sessions.

Meanwhile, our squash enthusiasts carry on as usual, of course, with professional coaching available for those who want to improve their game.

24

The Fitness Suite is an important feature of the Club. We have some of the latest fitness apparatus, from cardio-vascular aids to resistance machines and free weights.

In our Studio we run regular classes for Zumba, Pilates and Yoga, with Indoor Cycling as an added attraction. And after your chosen activity, there’s no better place to relax than the Clubhouse Bar, which is open all day for coffee and other drinks.

No other local Club offers our range of activities, so why not come and take a look at us? There’s no obligation, and you’ll be sure of a warm welcome Some exciting events this Summer County Week. From Monday to Friday, 21st to 25th July, we will host Division 3 of the Ladies’ County Week. An excellent opportunity for all of our friends in the neighbourhood to watch some sparkling competitive tennis. There’s no charge, and weather permitting, all matches will be on grass.

Earlier in the season we will also host teams from Lithuania and America over the weekend 20th - 23rd June. Another opportunity for us all to watch some top-class tennis!

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

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MOUSE CROSSING

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25

What’s The Alternative: Osteopathy Origins and Principles

Osteopathy is used to diagnose, treat and prevent health problems.

It’s based on the principle that good health depends on all parts of our body - bones, muscles, ligaments and connective tissue – working harmoniously.

Osteopaths do not use drugs or surgery.

Instead they use manipulation, massage and stretching of joints and muscles to improve blood and nerve supply, ease pain or tension and increase flexibility, encouraging the body to heal itself. Usually they treat back, shoulder or neck pain or muscle and joint conditions, but some osteopaths claim to treat other conditions, including asthma.

Having an Osteopathy Treatment

Osteopathy sessions last around 30 minutes.

During the first session, the osteopath will

discuss symptoms and general health before carrying out a physical examination. The osteopath should then either suggest a treatment plan, or advise the patient that their condition isn’t suitable for osteopathic treatment.

While most osteopathic techniques – massage, stretching and articulation (movement of the joint through its natural range of motion) - are gentle, manipulation of the spine can be forceful, involving short, sharp movements which may cause a loud but harmless clicking noise. None of the movements should cause pain unless an inflamed injury is being treated; if they do, tell your practitioner.

Efficacy and Evidence

While osteopathy uses some conventional medical techniques, not all osteopathy practice is based on scientific evidence. But its proven efficacy against lower back pain has earned it a recommendation from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a back pain treatment. There’s also some evidence that it helps help shoulder, neck or lower limb pain, and recovery after hip or knee operations.

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

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27

Sleep: You Can Do It With Your Eyes Closed

By Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk Sleep is supposedly involuntary.

So we take it for granted when we can sleep, and often ignore it when we can’t. But we shouldn’t.

Research has proved that sleep is as important to our health as diet and exercise. Lack of sleep affects memory, mood, concentration and reaction times, and long-term it can affect language processing, planning abilities and our sense of time. Some sleep disorders can contribute to serious health problems.

So what stops us getting the sleep we need, and how can we improve the quantity and quality of our sleep?

Our sleep has recurring cycles of around 100 minutes, starting with Non-REM sleep.

Non-REM (non rapid eye movement) sleep progresses from Stage One (light sleep), through Stages Two and Three (when heart rate and breathing drop) to Stage Four’s deep sleep (when bed-wetting, night terrors or sleepwalking occurs).

REM (rapid eye movement) sleep (dream time) follows. Our brain is active, breathing and blood pressure rise, and our eyes move; but we can’t move our bodies. Afterwards, the cycle restarts.

Sweet Dreams aren’t made of this. Enemies of good sleep include pain; the need to urinate; stress or depression; the menstrual cycle (hormonal changes affect temperature

28

and melatonin production), the menopause and snoring.

There are also sleep disorders, including night terrors; sleep walking, talking and paralysis; teeth grinding; restless limb syndrome; and the more serious sleep apnoea (which can starve the brain of oxygen).

To help you sleep soundly: • Eliminate Physical Factors Cure snoring with nasal strips, sprays or minor surgery. See your doctor about physical or mental health issues and sleep disorders; they may recommend Cognitive Behaviour Therapy or sleeping tablets. PMS (Pre-Menstrual Syndrome) treatments may help if you sleep badly before a period.

• Drink Warm Milk - Eat a carbohydrate-rich snack beforehand to improve the efficacy of the milk’s tryptophan (a raw material for the sleep hormone melatonin).

Milk may help by making you feel warm and full too.

• Don’t Go to Bed Hungry Avoid large, late meals but have a light snack if you’re hungry.

• Avoid Alcohol and Caffeine in the Evening, and Stop Smoking - Caffeine is a stimulant and will keep you awake. Alcohol makes you sleepy, but impairs sleep quality – as does nicotine.

• Get enough Sunlight and Exercise - Light and exercise help regulate our body clock and mood, so try to spend

time outside and get regular exercise.

• Avoid Light in the Evening However, bright light before bedtime will suppress melatonin secretion, so dim the lights. Either avoid TVs, laptops, tablets and smart phones within two hours of bedtime, or turn down their brightness settings (some screens have a night mode).

• Establish a Routine Establish a relaxing routine before bed. Avoid watching TV in the bedroom or reading anything too emotionally charged or terrifying.

• Make your Bedroom a Haven - Avoid using your bedroom as a work or dump space; clutter will nag to be cleared up. Ensure your bedroom is well ventilated, dark, and not too hot or cold.

Consider earplugs to eliminate noise, and invest in a really comfy mattress (try before you buy).

• Declutter your Brain Download your brain by jotting down tomorrow’s jobs and any worries (particularly therapeutic if you write a positive action beside them).

• Have A Warm Bath Before Bed - Add relaxing bath oils, too.

• Try not to worry about it Worrying about lack of sleep could start a vicious circle.

If you can’t sleep, leave the bedroom and do something absorbing but calm: read a magazine or do a jigsaw until you feel sleepy.

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

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29

Beauty Age-Proof Your Hair

By Helen Taylor Always Be Aware of Your Hair Try to limit extrinsic damage.

Lay off the heated styling tools; prevent your hair from being frazzled by the sun by applying a deep conditioner to the lengths and ends when you’re on the beach; and cut right back on products that can dry your hair, like hairsprays.

You’re probably all too aware that you need to look after your skin if you want to stay looking younger for longer – but have you ever thought that you might need to age-proof your hair as well?

Hair, like skin, suffers two types of ageing: extrinsic and intrinsic.

Extrinsic ageing is the effect of everything that your locks are exposed to, like heat-styling, sun damage, and colouring.

Intrinsic ageing comes from below the scalp and reveals the signs that your hair is past its prime: reduction in melanin, decline in sebum production, and a change in hair diameter.

What that means is that greys start to appear, the shine starts to disappear, and your hair loses its bounce.

Hair growth also begins to slow over the years, so it’s harder to achieve the length you loved when you were younger.

Ageing a natural process, but there’s plenty you can do to slow it down.

30

Reconsider Your Colour Although you might colour your hair to hide greys, choosing the wrong hue can be very ageing.

An all-over colour can be hard to wear as you get older.

Instead of opting for a block shade, choose a base colour that’s no more than two shades lighter or darker than your natural hue, and add highlights.

Not only will your hair look younger, your face will too.

Condition, Condition, Condition Smother the lengths and ends of your hair with a rich deepconditioning treatment once or twice a week. Try hair oils and products that are specially formulated for ageing, thinning, or dried-out hair.

Try a New Hairstyle It’s easy to get stuck in a rut, but out-of-date, unflattering styles really do make you look a lot older than you are. That’s why it’s important to take a fresh look at yourself every so often.

Talk to your stylist, or try a new

salon. The opinion of someone who doesn’t already know you and your hair can result in a fantastic new look.

Any hairdresser worth their salt can advise on what styles work best for thinning or ageing hair, but generally it’s worth considering the following: Length – Long locks look lovely if they’re bouncy, thick, and full of life, but if that’s not the case then they really aren’t worth holding on to. Chopping long hair into a flattering, blunt, midi-cut is a quick way to create more youthful-looking hair.

Ridding your tresses of dead split-ends improves condition, and a blunt cutting technique will create the look of fullness.

Frame Your Face – Try a fringe, or have some soft layers added to the styling around your face. This lifts your features and makes you look younger.

A Professional Opinion is Best Although it’s normal for your hair to show signs of change such as thinning over the years, it’s worth seeing your GP if you notice any sudden changes.

Hair loss can be caused by hormone deficiencies – low thyroid levels, for example – a deficiency in nutrients, stress, and the side-effects of various medications.

So if you’re in doubt, ask your doctor’s advice.

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Mrs Paula Maple

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31

32

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33 33

Surbiton brings the community together in a celebration of food and drink

T

he Surbiton Food Festival will once again be celebrating its local community this spring with the second Surbiton Food Festival. Between the 3 and 18 May 2014 local businesses will showcase a wealth of foodie delights within the community, from the home cook to the high end restaurant, the local pub and everything in between.

The Surbiton Food Festival contributes to a national conversation, exploring how communities can contribute to and support their local economies. The Surbiton Food Festival increases awareness of local dining experiences, drinking establishments, and food suppliers, supporting new ventures and exposing the face behind the food.

Launched in 2013, the Surbiton Food Festival enabled new businesses to blossom, reminded our community of the great independent local businesses, and developed a new found pride in our community and all its delicious offerings.

Robin Hutchinson, originator and Chair of the Surbiton Food Festival, said: “The Food Festival is very special for the way in which it celebrates local business and reveals the hidden culinary talents in our community. In addition to its focus on food and drink it also stimulates people to think about the importance of an active and vibrant community and how that adds to a sense of pride in where you live. What we are truly doing is celebrating people and their positivity."

Oliver Frost, owner of Sausalicious HotDogs took part in the first edition of the festival and saw a positive impact on his business. He said: “The Festival was brilliant for Sausalicious HotDogs and opened lots of doors for me. It gave me some really positive exposure to the local community and put me in touch with lots of other people working in the food industry. I have got events and discovered new suppliers through this great fortnight.”

Liz Lewis, landlady of the Lamb said: “We’re lucky to have such a supportive community who value their local businesses and clearly like to have a good time. There was a fantastic turnout at the Festival events and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.”

Alongside the foodie goodness, the Surbiton Food Festival will showcase the diversity and vibrancy of the area with three major community events, created, in partnership with local community volunteers.

34

The notorious Seething Sardine Festival, which for the past two years has celebrated the idea of locally sourced food, will take place on Sunday 4 May. During the weekend of the 10 May, the local community will come together around the two day, Village Fete. This event truly celebrates the community, bringing all aspects together to share in all it has to offer, including creative, culinary and business talent. The final weekend of the Surbiton Food Festival delivers a day of further celebration in the form of a traditional sports day on 17 May. Throughout the three weeks of the Surbiton Food Festival, local businesses will hold a series of “In House Events” inspired by the themes of food and drink. In 2013 such events included Meet the Brewer at a local pub, a series of exclusive Supper Clubs within private homes across the area, and an evening of Bhangra dancing and traditional food at a local Indian restaurant.

The festival will also see the first public trial of a local currency, the Kingston Pound (K£). Seventeen businesses have so far agreed to accept the K£ during the festival and many more are expected to join.

Members of the local community have so far pledged £1,510 to be spent during the festival.

Surbiton Food Festival website: http://www.surbitonfoodfestival.org/Home.html - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SurbitonFoodFes The Kingston Pound The Kingston Pound (K£) is a local currency, which aims to strengthen the local economy and keep our high street diverse and distinct. So far £1,400 has been pledged to be spent by visitors to the festival. Founders of the Kingston pound expect this to reach at least £2,000.

During the trial the currency will be distributed in the form of a voucher, the first 100 people to make a pledge will have their name on the voucher. To preorder Kingston Pounds email andrew@kingstonpound.org

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Moroccan Stuffed Loin Of Pork Serves 6

Ready in approx 3 hours

This roast pork is full of flavour and the spiced fruit and nut rice stuffing makes a change from the usual sage and onion. For really crispy crackling, the pork rind needs to be finely scored right through to the layer of fat underneath– ask your butcher to do this for you.

Ingredients: •

1 tbsp olive oil

•

1 small onion, peeled and finely chopped

•

2 tsp each ground coriander and ground cumin

•

40g ready-to-eat dried apricots, finely chopped

•

25g pine nuts

•

25g sultanas

•

100g cold cooked basmati rice

•

1 tbsp beaten egg

•

1.5kg joint boned and rolled loin of pork with skin scored

•

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Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and fry the onion for 5 minutes until softened. Stir in half the ground coriander and cumin and cook for 1 minute. Add the apricots, pine nuts, sultanas and cook rice and fry for 2-3 minutes until piping hot. Leave to cool completely then season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Preheat the oven to 220C/ fan 200C/gas mark 7.

Unroll the pork loin and spoon the cold stuffing down the centre. Re-roll the pork to enclose the filling and secure tightly with fine string at intervals.

Mix together the rest of the ground coriander and cumin and rub into the scored skin. Weigh the stuffed joint then place it in a roasting tin.

Roast for 30 minutes then reduce the oven temperature to 190C/fan 170C/ gas mark 5 and roast for a further 35 minutes per 450g. Cover loosely with foil towards the end of the cooking time if the cracking starts to overcook.

Remove from the oven and cover with foil. Leave in a warm place for 20-30 minutes to allow the meat to rest before carving.

TIP To make a delicious gravy, pour off any excess fat from the roasting tin just leaving a little fat and the meat juices in the base. Heat the pan juices on the hob until sizzling. Stir in 1 tbsp flour and cook for 1 minute then gradually stir in 400ml apple juice or cider and 2 tsp Dijon mustard, scraping up any sediment from the base of the roasting tin.

Bring to the boil then simmer, stirring all the time, until reduced and thickened. Season to taste then pour into a warmed jug or gravy boat.

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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 BBQ Specials Burgers, Sausages & Kebabs Racks of Ribs, Butterflied Legs Lamb, Marinated Chicken Scotch Beef Steaks Rump, Rib-Eye, Sirloin, Fillet, T-bone

Supporting the 2014 Surbiton Food Festival Come and see us at the Village Fete in St Andrews Square on Sat 10th & Sun 11th May

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

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

For more information view our website www.cdjenningsandsons.com email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

37

Cake and Bake Ginger and Rhubarb Muffins Quick and easy to make these fruity muffins are ideal for a mid-morning treat. They are best eaten on the day of making but can be frozen for up to 2 months – just thaw and pop in a hot oven for a few minutes for that just baked taste!

Ingredients:

1.

Preheat the oven to 190C/fan 170C/ gas mark 5. Line a 12-hole muffin tray with 12 paper muffin cases. Cut the rhubarb stems in half lengthways then chop into 1cm pieces.

2.

Sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl and stir in the sugar and orange zest. Make a well in the centre.

3.

Whisk together the butter, milk and eggs and pour into the well. Stir until just combined but don’t over-mix.

Gently fold in the rhubarb and stem ginger.

4.

Divide the mixture evenly between the muffin cases. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until risen, golden and just firm to the touch.

Sprinkle with the crystallized orange peel, if liked. Serve warm or cold.

• 175g thin rhubarb stalks, trimmed • 275 g plain flour • 2 tsp baking powder • 125g caster sugar • 1-2 tsp finely grated orange zest • 150g butter, melted and cooled for 5 minutes • 100ml milk • 2 medium eggs, beaten • 1 large piece stem ginger, finely chopped • Chopped crystallized orange peel to decorate (optional)

Makes 12 Ready in 40 minutes

38

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Will this be a real BBQ Summer?

asks Alan Jennings

A

fter several indifferent summers, surely the weather owes us a favour or two? You never know, this could be the summer we’ll all remember. Here’s wishing!

In a good year, May usually means a busy start to the BBQ season. Suddenly everyone’s dusting down last year’s BBQ or buying themselves the latest apparatus for outdoor cuisine. And we all look forward to those long sultry evenings when eating outside isn’t just a pleasure - it’s a must!

Whatever the weather, it’s the food that makes the BBQ memorable, and you can make absolutely sure of the very best food for you and your guests.

A proper BBQ today is no scrappy snack in the garden - it has to be a really succulent meal with a careful selection of choice meats.

So what could be on your list for a successful BBQ, an event which will amaze your family and your guests? We can offer you a fabulous range of different cuts from beef, lamb, pork and chicken. Our famed BBQ steaks are always top of the market for BBQ style. These are all cut from Scotch beef which has been hung for three weeks to give you maximum flavour and tenderness.

Whether you go for Fillets, T-bones, Sirloins, Rib-Eyes or Rumps, you’ll find the same mouthwatering quality right across the board.

Nowadays many BBQ enthusiasts are going for a BBQ joint, such as a Butterflied Leg of Lamb. This is boned and opened out flat ready for the grill, and would be ideal, say, for a Sunday BBQ lunch with a group of friends. Or we could open out a boned Shoulder of Lamb for you, or a Topside of Pork or a rack of pork ribs. Or you would enjoy Shoulder of Pork, or Loin or a Rustic Leg. What a wonderful selection! Another very popular choice for a single joint is a chicken, spatchcocked ready for the BBQ.

Nowadays there is an exceptionally tasty alternative to the traditional cuts. Our readymarinaded range is becoming very popular, as all the cuts have been prepared specially for the BBQ. This year we have some new American style flavours in the form of Louisiana, Tex-Mex, Kentucky Bourbon & Memphis.

And we mustn’t forget all the traditional standbys for the BBQ. Our high-quality sausages feature many popular varieties from Traditional Pork to Spicy Spanish and French Merguez. Then we have Kebabs, super-tasty Beef Burgers, Steak Burgers, Ribs and many other delights for your guests.

Above all, we know from our customers that the most important factor in a successful BBQ is the quality of the meat. The better the meat, the better it will BBQ and the better it will taste. Plan well ahead for what you’re going to need. And, if the weather suddenly plays tricks, our meats can always be slipped away into the freezer, ready for the sun to shine another day. But let’s hope for a real BBQ summer this year!

Happy BBQing and please come and see us at the Surbiton Food Festival. We will be cooking and selling a variety of our famous sausages at the village fete on Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th May in St Andrew’s Square.

Best wishes Alan C.D.Jennings and Sons Traditional Quality Butchers since 1962 146 ewell Road Surbiton KT6 6HE

020 8399 4870

The single-joint BBQ is the ‘in’ thing, because you can cook it to perfection without having to worry about the different cooking times of other meats which you’re grilling at the same time, a big advantage.

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

39

The Better Life May Day Foraging

by Derek Thompson The 1st of May usually means one thing in our house - a trip to the Obby Oss festival at Padstow, on Cornwall’s north coast. It’s generally a glorious day, especially when it doesn’t fall on a weekend or a bank holiday (less traffic).

We like to get to Padstow early and soak up the atmosphere.

There is drumming and singing, streets bedecked with greenery, and people wearing sprays of cowslips and other flowers. Some say it’s a half-remembered nature and fertility festival, but even if its origins lie in the 1800s it’s a great way to welcome in the summer. And after the winter we’ve had - and the spring too - our garden needs all the help it can get.

Mixed in with all the folklore is a tradition of our own - the annual Padstow crazy golf match in which, invariably: a) Anne will forget to write down her score and then introduce a new version of mathematics. b) I will play one or two epic holes yet somehow still end up losing by a wide margin.

In keeping with our greener aspirations, a trip out is a perfect opportunity to do a bit

40

of foraging. Our first stop is a lay-by that has fresh mackerel on sale (top tip: always check the eyes). From there, with our trusty wild food guides stowed aboard, we head west a little, still hugging the north coast, to visit friends on the north coast who are blessed with both fields and patience.

We don’t travel up country that often, so knowing more experienced foragers is a real bonus. Left to my own devices I can easily find wild garlic and nettles, but that’s not much of a meal. Successful (i.e. safe and bountiful) foraging requires knowledge and experience, as well permission from the landowner.

Last time we ventured north, we managed to forage for cow parsley, chickweed and the aniseed flavoured sweet cicely. We thought we were doing brilliantly until our friends told us that they had created a variety of soil types and seeded them to encourage wild food. Even so, a find is a find.

When we get home, while Anne cleans the fish (I can’t help it if I’m squeamish), I introduce the foraged leaves to a homegrown lettuce and usually we wrap the mackerel

in foil with butter and pop it in the oven.

Once, in a spirit of adventure, I tried smoking mackerel indoors, following Alan Titchmarsh’s Complete Countryman (an encouraging gift from a neighbour). To be honest, it was a bit of a kerfuffle, what with salting the fish beforehand, lining the pan with foil, adding the smoking mixture; laying the fish on chopsticks, popping it in the pan and then covering it with a lid. Smoking fish is one talent I’ve yet to master properly, but if you haven’t put the pan lid on properly it’s also a great way to test your smoke alarm.

A foraged salad has a surprising range of subtle and bitter tastes, while steamed chickweed really tastes like spinach. As summer finally reaches our garden, it is possible to forage there for wild garlic, nettles and dandelion leaves (yes, really). Sadly, though, in my experience, you can never find a wild strawberry when you want one.

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Shan PHARMACY

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To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

41

Realistic Revision For Students (and Parents!)

By Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk This month, thousands of students will start study leave in preparation for exams.

Ideally, they’ve been revising as they go, so their parents are confident they’re well prepared.

But in reality, students and parents may be panicking; how do they structure all this ‘free’ time and how much revision is enough? So here are some study leave survival tips: StudentS Plan • Check the time, date, structure and content of your exam.

Check revision books before purchase, ensuring they’re specific to your course – there are often several versions, each focussing on a different examining board, topic or text.

• Make a realistic timetable.

Vary subjects throughout the day and week, and concentrate initially on subjects with the earliest exam dates. Factor in commitments, longer breaks and unfinished work.

• Revise somewhere without distractions – remove your mobile, turn off the TV and laptop (or block social media sites).

• Pace your work, allowing for unexpected delays and particularly tough topics.

Organise • Collate everything on a topic in one place.

• Mix old topics with new, and easy with difficult; revise easy, recent topics at the start of the

42

day as a confidence boost, or the end, when you’re tired.

• Have a specific target for each session – ‘I’ll revise osmosis’ is woolly, but ‘I’ll summarise osmosis down to 1 A4 page’ ensures you’re achieving a measurable outcome.

• Keep sessions short - around 30 minutes – then take a short break. After four or five sessions, have a longer break for lunch or watching TV. tips for Better Revision Passive reading does not work.

Effective revision is active; you must engage with the material.

Here’s how: note-taking helps you to focus and make sense of your reading in words and ways you understand, and it’s great revision in itself. Reducing notes to a card or A4 page makes them portable and easily digestible. Use colours, highlighting, underlining, tables, patterned notes, bullet points, mind maps or diagrams. Why? Read on. engage Your Senses You’re far more likely to visualise that fluorescent spider diagram you did, with underlined keywords, than to a closely written page of onecolour, linear notes. Try using post-it notes in eye-catching places, or make ‘washing lines’ across your room.

Make good use of your ears too - record key phrases and equations; march around first whispering facts, then

increasing volume until you’re shouting. use helpers Revising with friends can be more fun and help you fill gaps or understand tricky topics.

Make question cards and ask parents or friends to play Trivial Pursuit with you.

Practice answering exam format questions Gather relevant facts and write an outline for essay answers, or design a multiple-choice quiz.

Beware the Internet Some websites feature worryingly inaccurate quizzes and facts uploaded by students.

Stick to reputable ones with contributions from teachers, e.g.

BBC’s Bitesize.

PaRentS & HelPeRS Be interested and positive – ensure nagging isn’t your only input, and don’t impose your own anxieties and ambitions; they have their own. Don’t compare them to others. Listen to their worries and reassure them that exams are important, but not the end of everything; your affection isn’t dependent on exam results. don’t expect them to work every waking hour – brains need time to sort and assimilate information. Ensure they get enough rest and relaxation.

Be an active helper – Test them, play quiz games or time their practice runs.

Pre-arrange an end-of-exams treat.

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email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

43

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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.

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

45

Short Story Candles

by Jackie Brewster

As Cassie walked up College Street she was accompanied by the unsettling feeling she had forgotten something.

She was still in a bad mood with Mum for not allowing her to wear high heels, and Bethany for crying because she wasn’t invited to the party.

Bethany was a strange kid.

Her current obsessions were blowing out birthday candles and answering the phone.

Cassie could tolerate the candle blowing, but the phone answering was too much, especially when a boy called for her. Mum encouraged Bethany, saying she was the perfect device for getting rid of both cold callers and boys.

So Cassie had told Bethany that once you’re a teenager you don’t have candles anymore and Bethany had cried even louder and vowed never to become a teenager.

The last thing Cassie heard as she slammed the front door was Mum saying, “One teenager in the house is quite enough, thank you”.

Spots of rain splashed onto the pavement. She’d spent ages straightening her hair and now she was going to arrive at the party looking like an otter.

With horror, she remembered what she had forgotten.

She had borrowed Mum’s straighteners without asking and left them lying on her bedroom carpet; even worse, they were still switched on.

The carpet would be melted.

The straighteners would be ruined. Mum was going to be furious. Her life wouldn’t be

46

worth living. There had to be a way out of this.

A devious thought crept into Cassie’s head. She had always forbidden Bethany from going in her bedroom but today she might make an exception. She pulled out her phone and dialled home.

As expected, after a few rings, Bethany picked up.

“Is Mum there?”. Cassie whispered.

“No”. Bethany said.

“Can you do me a favour?”.

Cassie asked.

“Okay”. Her four year old voice sounded even younger on the phone.

“Go into my room and very carefully un-plug Mummy’s straighteners”. Even as she spoke Cassie knew this was a terrible idea. “I’ll bring you back some cake if you don’t tell Mum”. This bribe did not make her feel any better.

“Mummy said I’ve got to stay in the lounge”. Bethany said.

“Where is Mum?”. Cassie asked.

“She’s in the loft”. Bethany answered.

“What’s she doing up there?”.

“She’s gone to get the candles”, Bethany said, “I’m allowed to blow them out later”.

“Okay, so while she’s up there, sneak into my room”. Cassie continued.

“No. I’m waiting for the candles”. Bethany insisted and hung up.

Cassie stamped her feet in fury. The melting carpet

would be beginning to smell.

Mum could discover the straighteners at any moment.

Cassie looked at her watch.

The party was about to start.

She should turn off her phone, go to the party, and by the time she got home Mum might have calmed down. She would be grounded forever but at least she wouldn’t miss the party.

She groaned, and looked down at her feet.

Ten minutes later Cassie burst through her own front door.

“Only me!”. She yelled, dashing upstairs, “Forgot something!”.

She flicked her bedroom light on. The bulb had gone.

Cassie cursed and dropped to her knees, feeling gingerly around on the carpet for the straighteners. When she finally closed her fingers around them they were completely cold. The carpet was undamaged.

“The power’s been off since you left”. Mum called, “Do you want a candle?”.

“No need!”. Cassie stealthily returned the straighteners to Mum’s dressing table and skipped back downstairs. She was out the front door, on her way to the party once more; grateful she wasn’t wearing high heels.

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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:

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

Berrylands Autocare * MOT

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

020 8399 4362

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

167 Surbiton Hill Park, Surbiton, Surrey, KT5 8EJ 250 yards from main line Berrylands Station Providing a service for our local community To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

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email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

47

Buying a New Car The average householder doesn’t usually have enough spare cash to enable them to walk into a car showroom and make an outright purchase.

Yet as current figures are showing healthy growth in the new car sales market, it’s clear that the money is being raised one way or another. In fact over the last 12 months the number of vehicles obtained using a finance arrangement has risen by 27%, whereas the number bought outright was below 15%.

Information from the Finance & Leasing Association puts this trend down to the postrecession realisation that we have to stick within our budgets and manage our cash flow. As the majority of finance deals come with fixed interest rates, new car owners know exactly what their monthly/weekly repayment costs will be for the lifetime of the arrangement.

But there are many finance options available and many terms to understand and this can be pretty confusing for a prospective buyer.

Not just monthly payments

There is much to consider when looking into a finance

48

plan, and a low monthly repayment alone is not enough information on which to base your decision. For example, many finance agreements have a mileage limitation, with penalties for going over this. Some manufacturers will charge more than others but the average pricing is between 5p and 20p for every mile you exceed. You would probably be surprised at just how many miles you do so it’s important to be realistic – you don’t want to find yourself in the position of avoiding using your vehicle for the last few months of your agreement, just to avoid the penalty.

Contracts Bank loan: You can seek a loan agreement from your bank for the purchase of a vehicle, which will give you the sum outright. If you are successful then the car will be your own and it will be the bank you owe the money to. Your success in securing personal finance will depend on your credit rating, employment status and ability to prove you can repay the money. As with all loan agreements it is important to look for any small print, and to

check you aren’t signing up for payment protection insurance (PPI) unless you want it.

Hire Purchase (HP): You will usually have to put down a deposit and then you will the balance in instalments over 12 – 60 months. Because you are repaying the full value of the car, the monthly payments can be high, especially if your deposit was small. Although this sounds similar to a bank loan, the dealer will usually organise hire purchase for you which can make it less hassle.

Be warned though that you will not own the car until the final payment, so the vehicle can be repossessed if you don’t keep up with the repayments.

On the other hand, as this gives the finance company some security, it can be easier to get a hire purchase agreement than it is to get a bank loan.

Personal Contract Purchase (PCP): This is a variation of hire purchase but rather than paying for the car in full, you agree to pay the difference between the sale price and the estimated value at the end of the agreement period. This will usually mean the monthly payments are lower. At the end of the agreement you

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Find the names of the different household appliances in the grid and the remaining letters will spell out a related phrase

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

49

The Countryside is Calling When Shakespeare wrote, ‘Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,’ it’s highly unlikely he was picturing Ma and Pop Larkin and a ‘perfick’ lifestyle in the rural southern counties of England. Comparing your love with a summer’s day though goes hand in hand with ripening apples in the orchard, meadows of wild flowers blossoming and our love affair with the lush, green pastures of early summer.

Here are a handful of novels to spark the romance of this often tempestuous relationship with our landscape.

The Darling Buds of May H.E. Bates Get yourself some scones, clotted cream and jam and settle down with a nice cuppa. This is the story of the infectiously joyful and downright gorgeous Larkin family. If ever there was a couple with a lust for life, it’s Ma and Pa, who are just brimming over with unbridled enthusiasm for each other, their growing and extended family, and the idyllic rural setting they inhabit.

It’s all apple and strawberry picking combined with family life and love. H.E. Bates’ love of the English countryside just exudes from the pages, bringing sunshine, even in the pouring rain.

Far From the Madding Crowd Thomas Hardy To Wessex first where young shepherd Gabriel Oak has put all his money into sheep.

He falls for the younger and fiercely independent Bathsheba Everdene, who has come to live with her Aunt. Oak’s rejected marriage proposal is the least of his worries when tragedy strikes in the most dramatic and memorable way, ruining his livelihood. This was Hardy’s fourth novel, but his first real literary success, and his descriptions of a pastoral Dorset are just beautiful. It’s more English than Churchill drinking a pint of stout, sat astride a bull-

50

dog, and is wonderful escapism.

A Kestrel for a Knave Barry Hines To Yorkshire now, and a coming of age tale of love and respect between a boy and his bird of prey. Billy Casper’s life is far from the rural idyll of the Larkin family. It’s a tough existence in the mining town of Barnsley and he struggles to find any joy in his world at all. His life is transformed when he takes Kes under his wing, so to speak. Billy learns how to train and care for his bird in this gritty and poignant novel that’s been a classroom favourite for years. Escaping to the surrounding rolling hills enables both bird and boy to soar. It’s a fantastic novel and one that will stay with you for a long time.

Swallows and Amazons Arthur Ransome Life is going swimmingly for the Walker children, aka the ‘Swallows’, until they come across the ‘Amazons’: the fearsome Blackett sisters. John, Susan, Titty and Roger must stand their ground on Wild Cat Island as adventures abound in this classic tale. Set in the Norfolk Broads across a glorious summer holiday, it’s a story about growing up, and life on the ‘high seas’. This is what the six week break was created for; it’s time to escape and live out an alternative life where the children

rule the waves and the grownups are nowhere to be seen.

Cold Comfort Farm Stella Gibbons Newly-orphaned Flora Poste uproots and moves to rural Sussex to live with her relatives.

And what a bunch of oddballs they are! The Starkadders are a family in crisis and Flora’s arrival at Cold Comfort Farm couldn’t have been timed better. She wastes no time in whipping them into shape with her own brand of common sense, resourcefulness and her willingness to boss other people around. This is a brilliant comic novel that will make even your family seem normal.

Wuthering Heights Emily Bronte Set against a backdrop of the wild Yorkshire Moors, Wuthering Heights is Bronte’s masterpiece of jealousy and revenge, deep passion, and a love so intense that it’s destructive. Heathcliff is adopted by Catherine Earnshaw’s father and falls in love with his guardian’s daughter. When Mr Earnshaw dies, Catherine’s brother convinces Heathcliff that she doesn’t feel the same way and he leaves, returning some years later as a wealthy man, hellbent on getting revenge. And so begins his unravelling, with the chaotic and tempestuous moorland helping to make this a violent and brutal novel.

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Beer at Home Twenty-odd years ago, a new style of beer began to appear in Britain’s pubs and off-licences. Now, it’s not every day that an entirely new beer-style emerges, so you’d think there’d be a bit of fanfare, a bit of tada. But no.

Because this beer-style wasn’t the brainchild of a marketing expert in a big brewery.

It was the simultaneous invention of a handful of microbrewers who faced the same problem: how to stop drinkers switching from their real ales to ice-cold refreshing lagers as soon as the weather improved.

They invented pale, clean beers, aromatic like lager, and around the same strength.

But it took a brilliant and insightful beer writer to identify them as a discreet style and come up with the name Golden Ale. That brilliant and insightful beer writer?

It was me. (Honest! Check the Institute of Brewing Journal May-June 1995 if you don’t believe me!)

Anyway, now everybody brews one, and I’ve chosen two from East Anglia – for May. St Peter’s Golden Ale at 4.7% from St Peter’s Brewery at Diss is a darkish gold with a fresh, grassy aroma that carries a hint of citrus. The palate is dominated by bitterness, enough bitterness for the hottest of hot days. The intense bitterness carries on into a very long, dry finish.

From Adnams of Southwold comes Spindrift at 5%, an altogether softer, smoother offering. The aroma first whacks you with lemon and leaves a hint of new-mown hay, while the palate is light and zingy with a warm suggestion of honey. The finish is more American than English: short and sweet. But nice.

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TURN YOUR SPARE ROOM INTO EXTRA INCOME AND HELP A YOUNG PERSON...

We are on the hunt for some amazing people to rent out their spare room to a young person aged 16 to 25.

We are recruiting hosts in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames who can provide a safe environment for a young person, for which you will receive £100 a week rent. All new Hosts will receive £100 in vouchers once they have completed the recruitment process.

If you think you could make a difference to a young person or would like to find out more, call Zoe for an informal chat: T: 020 8544 6661 / E: zoesargent@ymcalsw.org

www.ymcalsw.org/ypsl To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

The Young People’s Supported Lodgings is run by YMCA London South West. YMCA LSW is a registered charity.

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Hobbies Beginner’s Guide to Keeping Chickens

by Ted Bruning

ventilation, enough perches and nest-boxes, and robust, secure construction – you don’t just want to keep the chickens in, you want to keep the foxes out!

Having said that, you need to be able to move the henhouse from time to time as the soil on which it stands becomes fouled and soggy.

Keeping chickens has become one of Britain’s most popular pastimes.

Everyone wants their own fresh eggs, but there’s more to it than that: chickens aren’t just productive; they’re also absorbing and friendly. They become pets. They’re relatively inexpensive to keep, but they do need a certain amount of daily maintenance to keep them in good condition.

General Considerations Before you jump in, though, there are a few considerations you need to take into account.

First – and this is really important! – check with your local authority in case there are restrictions on keeping livestock on your property.

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Next, you need to decide how many birds you would like to keep. As a beginner you need to be sensible and start small.

Depending on how much space you have, two to six is a good start and will supply enough eggs for the average family.

Housing For such a small flock, a henhouse measuring 6ft by 4ft will provide all the space the birds need, as long as they have an outside run and the house is just for sleeping. It certainly won’t be large enough if you have to keep the birds confined.

Buying a henhouse needs careful thought. A ready-built one can be expensive, but if you’re handy enough you can build your own. Whether readybuilt or home-made, it needs to be easy to access and maintain – that is, both chicken- and keeper-friendly.

As well as access, check for good but not draughty

Suitable Breeds Chickens come in all shapes and sizes, which can be a bit confusing. But if you’re looking purely for egg-laying birds then commercial hybrids may be your best bet. Isa Brown, Black Rocks, White Star, Lomans, and Bluebell will all lay in good quantities for most of the year: an average of 300 eggs per bird isn’t out of the way.

These hybrids are excellent as a starter bird, being both productive and quite easy to feed and keep. If you’d prefer something a little more special such as a pure breed chicken, though, then you need to track down a recognised breeder and get expert advice. There are some spectacular pure breeds that will still give you a good supply of eggs, although not as many as the hybrids.

Look for breeds such as Rhode Island Red, Light Sussex, Barnavelder, Maran, and Wellsummer – all reasonably easy breeds, and not too flighty.

Water A constant supply of clean, fresh water is absolutely central to your flock’s wellbeing.

Chickens by and large are happy to drink out of a bucket, but a proper poultry font will keep their water cleaner and fresher.

Please mention the magazine when contacting Advertisers

Thurs 17.15-18.15 (starting 18th April 2013), Cost: ÂŁ6 per lesson

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Home Malone......... An interview with Gareth Malone He’s as British as they come, and after opening up the world to a brand of choral cordiality, Gareth Malone is back in Blighty doing what he does best.

by Shaun Curran , Interview Hub.

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V personality, chart-topper and OBE - Gareth Malone is the national face of choir singing, singlehandedly making cool a whole genre in the eyes of a previously indifferent public.

His BBC series The Choir and its subsequent spin-offs have been the best of the new breed of TV reality shows in recent years, with Malone as choirmaster-in-chief coaxing emotional and cathartic singing out of the uninitiated, uninterested and (quite often) undervalued.

But alongside his commendable work helping others - his series Military Wives not only highlighted the plight of soldiers’ widows, but scored a number one single with Wherever You Are - it has made an unlikely star of the 38-year-old from Bournemouth. So much so that, on the back of his album Voices, where he and a carefully-selected choir reinvented a selection of modern classics, Malone is heading out on tour this spring.

“It is a new step, but it is a logical one - I am, after all, a musician,” he says. “I love performing live. I have done lots of TV, but the bit where I go and do the performance at the end, that was the part I’d really relish. So I am looking forward to going out there and playing live, building a rapport with the audience and having a good time doing what I love to do. Playing live is such a special thing. With a choir, it is much better live than a recording. Hearing those voices in a room is infinitely better than hearing them on a CD player.”

Promising a night of new, contemporary and classical pieces, Malone will offer a show that is fun, upbeat and big on audience participation, and acknowledges that the size of some of the venues (many boasting capacities of 2,000+)

is recognition of the impact that he has in bringing choir to the masses.

“It’s been incredible how successful The Choir has been and how much attitudes to singing - and singing in choirs - has changed. It seems like a normal thing to do now, and I think this has, in part, been due to having a programme about it on BBC2, and the huge impact that offered. Ten years ago, we couldn’t have done an evening of choir music at these venues.”

Of course, choir singing still has some way to go. And Malone believes he knows why.

“It’s too closely linked to the church, and that puts people off. But we’re looking at continuing to reinvent the idea of what a choir is. People sing at football matches or at karaoke and that’s okay, but the idea of singing in a choir is somehow not and that’s ridiculous really. It’s an artificial distinction.”

Malone has specialised in cajoling people to sing, often against their better instinct. Does everybody have the potential to be a good singer?

“Most people have got a voice and can make a contribution and improve; most people are better than they think they are. It’s very rare that someone has got no ability to sing whatsoever. We’re not all going to be Beyoncé, but we can all give it a go.”

The success of Military Wives, Malone says, has been his greatest achievement.

“It was wonderful and in terms of national impact the best thing I’ve done. Sometimes, you can affect the life of one person in a seemingly small way and that can be powerful.

And that’s the great power of music; it goes beyond words.

People who hadn’t even seen the series found out about it.

It was life-changing for them and for me. It was going well before, but that changed my whole life really.”

So much so that, alongside his musical prowess, Malone is now seen as something of a sex symbol. What does she think about that?

“It’s a bit strange,” he laughs. “For years and years, working in music, being a student, generally huffing around, I was routinely ignored by women. And you grow up a bit, grow into yourself and get on TV, people look at you in a different way. I think it is revenge of the geeks. We are finally reclaiming what is rightfully ours!”

CREDIT LINE Gareth Malone gives his first UK tour in May and June 2014 joined by his new choir Gareth Malone’s Voices.

Information and tickets from garethmalone.com/ tour. Their debut album Voices is out now.

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Do you want an outstanding education for your child?

SCCN offers free 15 hours funded nursery places term time only for children from the age of 3 We also offer extended hours 8.00am to 6.00pm all year round

We are currently taking applications for September 2014

See our outstanding Ofsted Report http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspectionreport/provider/ELS/102560

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

PROOF B Mini Cryptic Crossword Across 1. Chief in charge of subject (5) 4. Fade out, unable to hear (4) 6. Care about a measure of land (4) 7. Part of the leg visible in the sunshine (4) 8. Unusually remote celestial body (6) 11. Hire faulty easel (5) 12. Wise person’s herb? (4) 14. Impetuous skin complaint (4) 16. Nothing in measure to indicate (5) 18. Poorly signed blueprint (6) 20. Capital city for wrongly delivered mail (4) 21. Mean altering appellation (4) 22. Recently holding currency unit (4) 23. Timer goes back to send (5)

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Down 1. Chief London flower (6) 22 2. Treaty that’s crammed full, we hear (4) 3. Light boat in churning ocean (5) 4. Stressed about puddings (8) 13. Aim for praise somehow 5. Foreigners from an isle (6) (6) 9. Animal from the panel (8) 15. Truthful, as the son 10. Quick when a drip is fixed (5) could be (6)

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

23 ©puzzlepress.co.uk

17. One no occasion in one version (5) 19. Time shift thing (4)

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Quiz Solutions

Codeword Solution

Wordsearch Riddle: Nature abhors a vacuum and so do I. Anne Gibson Childrens’ Page:

Nessum Dorma = None shall sleep.

Soprano = Highest Vocals Opera: Crescendo = becoming louder Maestro = Conductor Spaghetti = Bowl C.

Mini Cryptic Solution Hidato Solution

Word Ladder Here is one possible solution others may exist

Two Minute Trial Solution

STAR soar roar roan moan MOON 56

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In Europe, In Work

by Edward Davey, M.P

T

here are many reasons why I believe Britain must stay in the European Union.

The peace and security Europe has enjoyed for nearly 70 years is partly a result of European nations working more closely together than ever before. As we commemorate the centenary of the First World War this year, for many people peace will be reason enough to stay in the EU. But it’s also the safety and security we get in the UK, because of the close co-operation there now is on fighting crime across the European Union. Previously we relied on Interpol, but the level of co-operation there is far too limited and it’s no longer up to the job of tackling sophisticated globally organised crime. Fortunately, the EU’s Europol gives us much greater and more effective sharing of information and intelligence – on everything from terrorists to drug traffickers, from financial fraud to human traffickers.

Coupled with the European Arrest Warrant and EuroJust, we have dramatically enhanced the ability of British police to track down some of the most serious criminals – from murderers and rapists to armed robbers and drug barons – when they go abroad to try to escape justice.

The outrageous “Costa del Crime”, where wicked villains lived it up in Spain immune from arrest, is now history.

And it’s also the ability of European nations to co-operate on issues like energy and climate change. By increasing our subsea electricity cables to France, Belgium, Norway and Ireland, we can improve Britain’s energy security and reduce people’s energy bills. That’s why, for example, I’m such a fan of the ElecLink project to run a new “interconnector” cable through the Channel Tunnel.

On climate change, Britain’s voice at the global talks is amplified many times. But as importantly we can persuade our European friends to be more ambitious in the actions they take to tackle global warming: last year, for example, I established the “Green Growth Group” of 15 European Ministers, from nations who share Britain’s view that we must act urgently on climate change.

Through this, Britain is shaping much more ambitious targets for greenhouse gas reductions than people had expected, and helping to influence nations outside the EU too.

Jobs, jobs and jobs Yet arguably the most immediate benefit of the EU for millions of British families is the economic advantage.

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

From the trading benefits of Europe’s single market to the trading benefits securing stronger trade deals when negotiating with global players like the US, China and India, millions of jobs are at stake.

There are firms employing people here in the Royal Borough of Kingston which depend on Britain being in the European Union – British firms as well as the many firms from other countries who’ve invested in the UK because we are “in” and so are employing British people.

Of course, you will hear complaints about Brussels’ red tape. And we must tackle that. In fact, I have. As a Minister in the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, I attended the European Council on Competitiveness. By engaging with other countries, I helped drive a strong pro-single market, pro-free trade and pro-deregulation agenda. At one council, thanks to close working with French and German colleagues, we secured the first ever derogation from a directive for “micro” firms (employing 9 people or less), benefiting Britain’s smallest firms by an estimated £400 million per annum. And there’s now, for the first time, a presumption that such small firms are excluded from future directives. For some reason, the press weren’t interested in reporting that.

Yet when people complain about the EU and Brussels, I often agree with them. Just as I often agree with people complaining about Westminster in the UK – or who complain about the Mayor of London or Kingston Council. All these forms of Governments – local, regional, national and European – all of them are imperfect. All of them were created by human beings. All represent the compromises and complexities of history passed down to today.

So whether it’s Brussels or Britain, Governments and organisations will forever need reform. The question is, are we better with imperfect Governments and imperfect forms of co-operation like the EU, all in need of reform – or are we better off with no Governments, and less cooperation?

In today’s interconnected world, you can’t cut yourself off. International co-operation is essential. You can’t keep international peace by yourself. You can’t trade by yourself. You can’t catch nation-hopping criminals by yourself. You can’t defeat international terrorism by yourself. You can’t stop global climate change by yourself.

A “stop the world I want to get off” hostility to all things European is a dangerous fantasy. It’s time Britain was more confident. Got in the middle of Europe’s debates.

Shaped them and led them.

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

57

COMMUNITY PAGE

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.

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!

Why not send in details for Summer or other events Call Karen on 020 8274 0096 or email: karen@berrylandscompanion.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@berrylandscompanion.co.uk Next submission deadline is by 8th May for the June edition.

Please Note: The following deadline will be 8th June for July/August issue.

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When you have finished with this magazine, please RECYCLE IT. Remember, you can pick up a copy of A Berrylands Companion magazine at the following places: C.D.Jennings, Hypoxi Centre, Surbiton & Tolworth Libraries, Shan’s Pharmacy, YMCA, Tolworth Recreation Centre Read it while you wait at: Aspen Veterinary Surgery Berrylands Autocare Surbiton Hill Garage Cornerhouse Dental Surgery If you would like copies at your business please call me on:

020 8274 0096

Please mention the magazine when contacting Advertisers

COMMUNITY PAGE HOOK ALLOTMENTS AND GARDENS ASSOCIATION Did you know there is an association in Hook which exists to support gardeners and allotment holders?

Are you interested in gardening? If so our association, which 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 notfor-profit club prices to our members.

Membership costs only £1 a year and our trading facility is situated next to the entrance to the allotment plots, just beyond the rugby club pavilion, at the rear of King Edward’s recreation ground, Hook Road, Chessington.

We are open:Sundays - 10am to 12 noon - February to October 10am to 11am - November to January If you want to make further enquiries come and see us during the above times.

A warm welcome and friendly gardening service awaits you.

SURBITON HISTORICAL SOCIETY Tues 6th May: In honour of one of our

founders Mr Philip Grevatt, Mr John Davis will give an illustrated talk on “The Bletchley Park Codebreakers”.

Tues 3rd June: Miss Julie F Chandler will give an illustrated talk on “The City of London Livery Companies”

Tues 1st July: Mr Ian Chatfield, Curator at the Infantry Museum, Clandon Park, will give an illustrated talk on “The Surreys Go To War”, to commemorate 100th anniversary of WWl The meetings will start at 7.45pm, at Surbiton Library Hall, Ewell Road, Surbiton. Visitors are welcome, a contribution of £2.00 is appreciated.

Details about meetings and the Society:

The Secretary: 020 8399 4473 lenandmarilyn@virginmedia.com

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

Do you have a Church Hall for hire?

Or a school Hall?

Advertise your hall with a two line entry for £8 a month for a year.

Call me on: 020 8274 0096 or email me on: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

COPY DEADLINES 8th May June issue 8th June July/Aug issue 8th Aug September issue 8th Sept October issue 8th Oct November issue 8th Nov Dec/Jan issue 8th Jan February issue Call Karen on: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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What’s On In May:

3rd Children’s Good as New sale at Esher College 1.30-3.30pm, in aid of Cancer

Research UK. www.crukgoodasnewsale.org.uk 3-10th Get Walking Week. www.ramblers.org.uk 3-18th Surbiton Food Festival. www.surbitonfoodfestival.org See page 32 4th Seething Freshwater Sardine Festival, Claremont Gardens, Surbiton. 1-6pm,

stalls, food, entertainment, Sardine Procession and BBQ at 4pm.

5th Bank Holiday 8th Deadline for June issue of A Berrylands Companion magazine 10th Fircroft Trust Spring Fair at Fircroft Trust 96 Ditton Road, jumble sale, cake stall and

good as new stall. From 11.30am -2.30pm Entrance 50p adults, children free. To donate

items for sale or for the raffle contact: 020 8399 1772. Collection can be arranged.

10-11th The Surbiton Village Fete, entertainment, food, bands, competitions & displays. 12-6pm 11th Covent Garden May Fayre & Puppet Festival, www.punchandjudy.com/coventgarden 11-17th British Sandwich Week, www.britishsandwichweek.com

Christian Aid Week, www.christianaidweek.org.uk 12-17th CornerHouse Theatre oneActs 2014 Festival, door open 7pm starts at 7.45pm.

Tickets: £8, £6 concession. www.thecornerhouse.org 12-18th Action for Brain Injury Week, www.headway.org.uk 12-25th Foster Care Fortnight. See advert on page 4.

13-17th Arthritis Care Awareness Week. www.arthritiscare.org.uk 13-19th Cancer Prevention Week www.wcrf-uk.org 15-17th Museums at Night. www.museumsatnight.org.uk 16-16th Aug Kingston Museum’s Heritage Lottery Funded Exhibition to Commemorate

WW1. Wheatfield Way, KT1 2PS. Tel: 020 8547 6463 17th Surbiton Maple Road Farmers’ Market 9-1pm

The Seething Community Sports Day Victoria Recreation Ground, Balaclava

Road. 1-4pm 18-24th Dementia Awareness Week. www.alzheimers.org.uk 19-25th Deaf Awareness Week. www.deafcouncil.org.uk 20-24th Chelsea Flower Show. www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/chelsea

Acorn Antiques The Musical! Hampton Hill Playhouse, www.hmos.org.uk T:020 8942 6867 24-31st Surbiton Arts Group is holding their Spring Exhibition in Surbiton Library

Annexe. Open to the public on 24th at 2-5pm. Weekdays: 10.30am-6pm. Closed Weds 21 May-31st Dec: Bond in Motion at the London Film Museum. www.londonfilmmuseum.com 26th Spring Bank Holiday

Events in June:

8th Whit Sunday

Deadline for July/Aug issue of A Berrylands Companion magazine.

11-25th Hampton Court Palace Festival. www.hamptoncourtpalacefestival.com 14th Hourse Guards’ Parade. www.royal.gov.uk 14-15th The Giant Children’s Game, The Lamb Public House, Surbiton.

15th Fathers’ Day 17-21st Royal Ascot 19-22nd Taste of London, Regent’s Park 20-28th Greenwich & Docklands Festival 21st Summer Solstice, Longest Day. Surbiton Maple Road Farmers’ Market 9-1pm 23-6th July Wimbledon Tennis Fortnight.

28th Armed Forces Day

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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 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 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 Rd, Thames Ditton. All sessions 40 mins long, features music, dance, parachutes, bubbles & pom-poms. Age 3 months -5 years, pay as you go £5, siblings £2.50 www.tinytuneslive.com Kingston Camera Club: Camera enthusiasts welcome. Meet Mon eves, aat St John’s Ambulance HQ, Athelstan Rd off Villiers Avenue. 7.30pm - 10pm with coffee break. New members welcome. Contact Tim Moreland 020 8541 0126, email: tim.moreland@yahoo.com See www.kingstoncameraclub.com Kingston Philatelic Society: Meets 8-10pm on 1st Thurs & 3rd Fri, at Surbiton Library Hall, Ewell Road. Info: Brian Sole Tel: 01932 220 677 or email: brian.sole@btinternet.com 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 on 0781 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. Info: 020 8399 8596 or 020 8399 3022 if places available.

Oasis daytime group for over 60s at Emmanuel Church, Grand Avenue, Tolworth. 1st & 3rd Weds at 2.30pm Plenty of opportunity to chat, play games, do puzzles. Meetings include a 5 minute Bible-based talk relevant to life. Tel: 020 8390 6631

PRESS RELEASE / 7th April 2014

Residents flock to have a butchers!....

On 5th April, the market filled with anticipation as Laurence Head of ‘The Real Butchers’ skilfully butchered a whole lamb in front of an ever increasing crowd.

It was the markets first free advertising demonstration…. and a rip roaring success!

Laurence commented:” My mum and dad brought the shop when I was

Laurence Head-‘The Real Butchers’ New Malden Farmers' Market

3 years old and I haven’t been able to get away, so it will be 33 years this July!

We’ve always liked to do things in the shop instead of buying in products, so we know where they’re from and what has gone into them. We do a good range of additive free sausages and burgers.

We also cure all our gammons and bacon.

We’ve been doing the market since it started in Dec 2012 and it’s turning in to a great thing.

For our business, a shop, it’s nice to get out and speak to all the public and get their feedback. It is great to be able to go to one place and get everything from meat for the week, fish, veg, cake for dessert and unusual gifts like glass and jewellery.

The Demo Stall concept is a very good idea. It gives people a platform to show off their skills and also gives the public an idea as to what work and craftsmanship goes into making different products.”

‘The Real Butchers’, 135 Kingston Road, New Malden. www.therealbutchers.co.uk Tel: 020 8942 0582

The Fountain Pub Car Park (By the Fountain round about) Burlington Road, New Malden, Surrey

Every first Saturday 9am – 2pm

All proceeds are donated to local charities and good causes.

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

If you would also like to give a Free Food Demonstration Please contact the market via our website.

www.nmfarmersmarket.co.uk

New Malden Farmers’ Market is a non- profit making, community project, run solely by volunteers. All proceeds are donated to local charities and good causes.

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 (Kingston Kitchens) Estates Direct Hire a Handy Man HJC Estates James Anthony KB Design Kevin Robinson Decorators Leverett Electricals M. Duffle Decorating Oven Cleaners Personae Interiors Pro-Fit Windows Systems R.J.Tree Services Roofing & Gutters Shaun Overy Heating & Plumbing Time for You Domestics Warmlite Will Lord William Stallion Electricals

21 35 17 5 17 15 8 19 25 23 35 14 17 19 14 11 7 21 18 11 12 13 21 23

Care & Health Cornerhouse Dental Practice Julie’s Nail Cutting Service One 2 One Homecare Paula Maple Chiropodist Shan Pharmacy Slimming World That’s Healthy (Herbal Life) YMCA

2 31 29 31 41 27 26 51

Rest & Relaxation Anna Coe CineSanctuary Emily Johnson Judo & Karate King George Field Bowls Club Mobile Disco Supreme Bowling Club Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club Yoga Zumba Classes

29 55 26 53 45 31 23 64 27 29

Children & Education 17 Berrylands Scouts Kingston Adult Education Unit 9 4 Kingston Foster Care 43 Gwenda Jones 45 Monkey Music 43 Rugby Tots Surbiton Children’s Nursery Centre 55

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Veterinary Aspen Veterinary Surgery Spot Light on Peter Melville

23 22

Office Stationery MBE Surbiton

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Car Maintenance Alan Sursham Berrylands Autocare K&P Tyres Surbiton Hill Garage

47 47 49 47

Food & Drink C.D.Jennings Prithi

37 31

Solicitors Lewis-Dick

19

Articles & Editorials Community Pages 58/59 Recipe 36 Baking 38 Kids Page 44 Events Pages 60/61 Crossword 55 Book Review 50 Useful Telephone Numbers 3 Gardening by Pippa Greenwood 20 Ed Davey MP 57 Surbiton Food Festival 32-34 Gareth Malone 54

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 £27 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

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 •   • 

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  •  •    • 



  To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

63

oad ill R Surbiton H

Villiers Road

Berrylands Station

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Surbiton Station

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Ewell Road

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Berrylands Rd

WE ARE HERE

ds lan rry Be

We are a 10 minute walk from Surbiton and Berrylands stations

time for tennis Facilities include:

• 6 all weather, 3 artificial clay and 11 grass tennis courts • 4 heated / air conditioned squash courts • “Life Fitness” gym and studio • A comprehensive coaching programme for tennis and squash for all ages: junior - senior • Personal training in the gym • Bar and a great social event calendar • A club for all the family

NO CONTRACT | NO COMPARISON Berrylands, Surbiton, Surrey KT5 8JT 020 8399 1594 | E: info@surbiton.org Please mention T: the magazine when contacting Advertisers 64 www.surbiton.org