NOVEMBER 2020 ISSUE 153 by Karen

Month: November 2020 Issue No: 153 Independent monthly community news and business directory for KT5 & KT6

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

Inside this s is ssue:

D NEEO F A RO

AIRGE? REPON PA

EYB ON

Lest We Forget

U I N G. C O.

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FIND US 21 XX

* Health issues * Planning Changes by Sir Edward Davey * Recipes * Puzzles & Quizzes * Articles * New Advertisers And d more......

12/10/2020 10:09:53

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Hello Readers

nce again it’s almost Christmas! I just cannot believe how Covid 19 has allowed another year to go by so quickly. This month we have a few new advertisers, which I hope you will find useful. No Christmas Fair adverts in this issue, again due to Covid 19. But if your organisation can hold one in December, remember to send in the details. Back to this month, I hope you all have a safe and enjoyable firework night. Please remember to check for sleepy hedgehogs in any bonfire bases, before lighting them.

safe, and let the neighbours know about your party, so they can check their pets as well. I do hope that you and your family stay safe and well in these uncertain times. Whether there is a full lockdown or not, be sure to use your mask, wash your hands frequently and stay at least 1 metre apart, if not 2 metres!! Until next month, Best wishes, Karen

Check all your pets are somewhere

Useful Numbers 020 8547 5000 Kingston Council www.kingston.gov.uk Action Fraud (Trading Standards) 0345 040 506 020 8547 5560 Refuse Collection 020 85474630 Electoral Registration 020 8547 5007 Council Tax 0870 126 4019 Citizens Advice 0845 010 9000 Customs & Excise (VAT) 0300 200 3300 HMRC Helpline 0870 850 6506 Environmental Agency 020 8547 6444 Surbiton Library 020 8541 1212 Kingston Police 101 Non Emergency Services 999 Emergency Services 111 Non Emergency NHS Transport: 08457 484 950 National Rail Enquiries Public Transport Traveline 0870 608 2608 0844 335 1802 Gatwick Airport 0844 335 1801 Heathrow Airport

Emergencies/Utilities: Gas Emergency Electricity Emergency Thames Water Emergency BT Fault Line Virgin Media Crimestoppers Kingston Hospital NHS Direct (24/7) Childline Samaritans Age UK Kingston Relate www.relatekh.org Domestic Violence Helpline www.victimsupport.org.uk Surbiton Safer Neighbourhood Team based at Millbank House surbitonhill.snt@met.police.uk

0800 111 999 0800 40 40 90 0800 714 614 0800 800 151 0845 142 0000 0800 555 111 020 8546 7711 0845 4647 0800 1111 116 123 0800 169 2081 020 8549 3318 020 8547 3202 020 8721 2518

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12/10/2020 10:09:55

By Kate Duggan

From historical fiction to dystopian literature plus new releases to older books that deserve more attention, there’s plenty to get your teeth stuck into this month. The Midnight Library – Matt Haig Nora’s overdose doesn’t result in, as she’d hoped, nothingness. Instead, she’s transported to the Midnight Library, where she gets the chance to try the other lives she could have led if she’d made different choices. As she faces her regrets (from not marrying to not becoming an Olympic swimmer), Nora discovers that the path not taken isn’t always the panacea she thinks it is.

A Song for the Dark Times – Ian Rankin Rebus is back, but this time it’s personal: his son-in-law is missing. Rebus heads out to solve the mystery. His daughter seems to be the obvious main suspect, so which role will Rebus prioritise – detective or father? Meanwhile, back in Edinburgh, DI Siobhan Clarke is on her own case, that of the murder of a wealthy Saudi student. These two very different cases may turn out to be part of the same tangled web. A Song for the Dark Times is a gripping crime thriller with plenty of twists to keep you turning the pages. Gather the Daughters – Jennie Melamed On the island, girls are little more than wives-in-training – following the decrees of the founding ancestors and submitting to every demand of their fathers. They have one brief period of freedom over the summer, when they live wild and do as they please. The summers are short-lived, and the girls know that they’re destined to be married once they hit puberty. But one day they decide to take back their freedom, at whatever cost. Gather the Daughters is pretty disturbing and there are a lot of triggers, but as dystopian literature goes, it’s one that will stick with you for a very long time. Little Fires Everywhere – Celeste Ng Whether you’ve watched the Amazon Prime series or not, the book is well worth a read. To the outsider, Shaker Heights seems like the perfect town. And no one is more perfect than Elena Richardson. Her daughter Izzy, on the other hand, is impetuous and disinclined to follow the rigid path laid down by her mother. When artist Mia Warren arrives on the scene with her daughter Pearl, the fragility of a ‘perfect’ life becomes all too apparent. A many-layered read about motherhood, secrets, race and the many nuances of right and wrong. A Room Made of Leaves – Kate Grenville A Room Made of Leaves is the fictionalised account of a real woman’s life – Elizabeth Macarthur. It’s set in the late eighteenth century. Women had few prospects beyond marriage, so when Elizabeth marries the cold, ambitious John Macarthur she has little choice but to follow him wherever he decides to go, even if that’s to the other side of the world to live in a new settlement in Australia. A must for historical fiction fans.

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E B R E B O O T R H R G P

12/10/2020 10:09:58

Travel Insurance Advice

As thoughts turn to holidays in 2021, the issue of travel insurance has never been more complicated. The disruption from COVID-19 led many travellers to discover their policy wasn’t quite as comprehensive as they assumed. The big lesson is that it’s never been more important to read the small print in full. With local lockdowns, travel bans and quarantine an ever-changing situation in recent months, all too many people have found planned trips either impossible or no longer quite what they expected. That’s exactly the type of unwanted surprise you’d think travel insurance should cover, but that’s not always proven to be the case. If you’ve got an annual policy, your first step should be checking the date the policy began. The precise details will vary between insurers, but as a general rule any ordinary policy taken out after the start of April 2020 will almost certainly exclude any claims related to COVID-19. That’s because it’s now classed as a foreseeable risk. Instead, you’ll need to look for a policy that specifically covers coronavirus. Most such policies will only cover the medical effects, such as expenses arising from developing the symptoms whilst abroad. A few policies will also cover cancellation. Whether you are relying on a pre-April 2020 policy or take out a new one that includes COVID-19 cancellation, check the conditions that will trigger a payout. Some policies will only

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cover you getting COVID-19 while some will pay out if a family member gets it. Some will only cover a positive diagnosis while others will cover cases where you are told to self-isolate, for example because you’ve been in close contact with somebody who has tested positive. Unfortunately few if any policies will cover cases where you can’t travel because you live in a place affected by a localised lockdown. Coronavirus has also brought much greater attention to Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advisories, something that’s normally only been an issue for people travelling to far-off war-torn nations. At the time of writing, the FCO still had a default position advising against any non-essential travel to any country that wasn’t specifically e empted. (That e emption is commonly referred to as an air corridor.) Such a travel advisory has a double impact on insurance customers. Firstly, if you do travel to a country that’s under such an advisory, your insurance is automatically invalid. That means no payouts for disruption and the risk of hefty medical bills if you fall ill. Secondly, a travel insurance policy almost certainly won’t cover you cancelling a trip because the FCO advice has changed. Instead you’ll be left reliant on the refund policies of airlines, hotels and tour operators. To make things worse, you’ll likely get neither a refund nor an insurance payout if a country bans UK citizens from entering because of COVID-19, even if there’s no FCO advisory in place.

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

• • • • • •

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

Contact Mark Baker 020 3044 2747 07909 703463

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12/10/2020 10:10:01

Title

Penzance

By Catherine Rose

The origin of our village and town names can provide a fascinating insight into their history. Did you know that the study of place names is called toponomastics? Generally, places have earned their names from the people that founded the settlement, the surrounding landscape, or the ora and fauna that have featured there. Over time, with the evolution of language and through local dialects, place names have changed throughout generations, sometimes becoming quite different versions of what they were hundreds of years ago. The UK has had a varied history, having been home to many conquering invaders and numerous tribes. Consequently, our modern place names have been contributed to by the Celts, the Anglo-Saxons, the Vikings and even the French. We often think of the Romans as having founded our major cities but their Latin names were either based on the existing Old English ones or were so radically different that their use hasn’t survived (for example, the Roman Verulamium for what is now St Albans). Many people think the word ‘chester’ is Roman but in fact its roots are Celtic. Manchester is derived from the Celtic words mamm meaning ‘a breastshaped hill’ and ceaster – ‘a fortified city’. Most of our current city, town and village names were given to them by our most ancient ancestors. Tre in a place name denotes a homestead or hamlet and was usually paired with the name of

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the person who owned it, so Tregare in Wales means ‘Gare’s home’. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given their proximity across the Bristol Channel, this prefi is seen even more widely in Cornwall. Another common Cornish prefi is penn which is a ‘headland’. Penzance is a conjugation of penn and sans which together mean ‘holy headland’. Like tre, a town or village name ending in by is Old Norse for ‘homestead’. The Vikings are also responsible for place names that begin or end with holm. In Old Norse, this meant ‘island’ and usually referred to a settlement surrounded by marsh or water. Water, especially rivers, features widely in place name origins. For example, Luton is derived from ‘Lea’ after the river that ows through it and tun which is Anglo-Saxon for a large farm or settlement (which probably later evolved into our modern word ‘town’). Another common place name inclusion is ‘ham’. Hamm was AngloSaxon for ‘small village’ and is almost certainly the origin of the word ‘hamlet’. Mor(e) or Mer referred to a ‘lake’ in Old English (mer also means ‘sea’ in French). ou can find variations of it in town names such as Cromer and Swanmore. Numerous places have the word bury in them. This did not refer to a burial plot as it might sound but is the Old English word for a large estate, known by the Anglo-Saxons as a burh. The root has also given rise to towns with ‘borough’ and ‘burgh’ in them.

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Are you eating enough fibre?

Discover the benefits of increasing your fibre intake by Guts UK charity

ibre is the indigestible part of plant-based foods that does not get absorbed into our body. Many of us are aware of fibre and know it’s an important component of any healthy diet, yet most of us don’t eat enough of it. We used to believe that fibre didn’t do much at all, assuming that because the human body couldn’t digest it, it just ‘travelled’ through our digestive system. In fact, fibre is absolutely vital for gut health, helping to prevent constipation and even bowel cancer. Fibre makes us feel full and affects the way that the small bowel absorbs fat, but perhaps most importantly, fibre is the food for over 100 trillion microorganisms that live in your gut. This ‘good gut bacteria’ is vital to your well-being, defending against harmful microorganisms and easing absorption of some essential vitamins. Therefore, it’s important that we feed it! “The average person in the UK eats less than 20g of fibre per day, or less than two-thirds of the recommended 30g amount. Through recent research, we know that additional fibre in the diet reduces the risk of chronic common conditions, such as bowel cancer, cardiovascular disease, strokes and type 2 diabetes,” says Julie Thompson, specialist dietician and information manager at Guts UK charity. Foods that are rich in fibre include wholegrain cereals, wholewheat pasta, oats and wholegrain bread. Fruit and vegetables such as berries, pears, melon, oranges, broccoli, carrots and sweetcorn are also rich in fibre, as are peas, beans, pulses, nuts, seeds and potatoes. There are a number of simple steps you can take to increase your fibre intake, like swapping white or brown bread for wholegrain, opting for wholewheat pasta or choosing potatoes with skins, such as baked potatoes, wedges or boiled new potatoes. When snacking, try

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fresh fruit, rye crackers, oatcakes and nuts or seeds. Think about adding beans, lentils or chickpeas to stews, curries and salads. If you’re struggling to encourage your children to eat their vegetables, adding plenty of vegetables to stews or curries is a good start. Pay attention to food labelling, as pre-packaged food will most likely include the amount of ‘dietary fibre’ included. Don’t make assumptions – despite beans being known as a fibre-rich food, a small 200g tin of beans only provides 7.4g of fibre. “If you are planning to increase the amount of fibre in your diet, you should do this gradually,” Julie continued. “Increasing your fibre intake dramatically and suddenly could cause symptoms such as wind and bloating.” The science never lies. A paper published in the Lancet medical journal that analysed 185 studies and 58 clinical trials discovered just how important fibre can be in contributing to a long and healthy life. “The paper suggests that if you shifted 1,000 people from a low fibre diet (less than 15g) to a high-fibre one (2529g), it would prevent thirteen deaths and six cases of heart disease,” Julie explained. “The paper analysed really robust studies that tended to follow people and their diets for one to two decades. It’s simple – the more fibre we eat, the better!” Guts Uk is the charity for the digestive system. The digestive system is truly fascinating, but it is very complex. Millions are affected by digestive diseases, yet our guts have been underfunded, understaffed and under-represented for decades. With new knowledge and research, we can diagnose earlier, develop kinder treatments and ultimately, a cure. Learn more at gutscharity.org.uk, call 01484 483 123 or email info@ gutscharity.org.uk - we’re here to help.

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

12/10/2020 10:11:44

What is the pancreas?

November is ‘Kranky Panky’ Pancreatitis Awareness Month, but do you know what your pancreas does? Our digestive system doesn’t get enough credit. It’s highly complex, turning food and liquid into the building blocks that our body needs to function effectively. This process involves a variety of digestive enzymes and other substances, breaking food down into smaller molecules. This is where your pancreas comes in.

Almost 40% of the UK population don’t know what their pancreas does, so it’s no surprise that 43% don’t know where to find it in the body. The pancreas lies in the upper half of the abdomen, behind your stomach and in front of your spine. It’s salmon pink, six inches long and about as thick as your wrist at its widest part. “This kipper-like organ is small in size, but plays a huge role in digestion,” explained Julie Thompson, dietician and information manager at Guts UK charity. “Our pancreas produces very powerful digestive enzymes (juices), breaking down food so our body can absorb it. It also produces hormones such as insulin. Without a pancreas, our body wouldn’t be able to digest and absorb essential nutrients from the food we eat.” Because our digestive system is so complex, sometimes things can go wrong. Pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas becomes inflamed, which can present as ‘chronic’ or ‘acute’.

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Acute pancreatitis is a sudden inflammation of the pancreas, where it becomes red, angry and swollen. The main symptom is sudden onset of severe abdominal pain, sometimes accompanied by vomiting. Gallstones and alcohol account for approximately eight in ten acute attacks. It can be serious and life-threatening. Around 5,000 of the 30,000 individuals in the UK affected each year will be admitted to ICU. Chronic pancreatitis is a longstanding inflammation of the pancreas. A normal pancreas is smooth with a soft surface, but a damaged pancreas will become hard and knobbly. The major symptoms are pain, diarrhoea and weight loss. People may also experience nausea, abdominal discomfort and bloating. Pale, floating, oily stools are also another symptom (due to undigested fat in the stool).

pancreas, patients may need treatment in the form of digestive enzymes. Some may even need complex surgery further down the line.” Guts UK is the only UK charity funding a research fellowship into pancreatitis, proudly supporting people with pancreatitis and their families, and the only UK charity funding research into the digestive system from top to tail: the gut, liver and pancreas. We understand that our subject is seen as ‘taboo’, but we can’t stress how important it is to visit your GP if you have digestive symptoms you’re concerned about, or contact the team at Guts UK – we’re here to help. Learn more about your fascinating digestive system at www.gutscharity.org.uk

“Many people who have an attack of pancreatitis will spend some time being monitored in hospital and once recovered, will be able to lead a normal life without symptoms or complications,” Julie said. “However, sometimes if an attack was severe or regular enough to cause permanent damage to the

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12/10/2020 10:11:47

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12/10/2020 10:11:49

Feeling ill? Seek medical attention

West Midlands NHS doctor is urging people to seek medical attention straight away if they are feeling unwell, following growing evidence that people are going to GPs and doctors too late. Dr Ron Daniels BEM, an intensive care doctor at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, working at Heartlands and Good Hope Hospitals, said it was imperative that people laid aside their fears of “catching Covid-19” at GP surgeries and other healthcare facilities. “We are now in a position of unintended consequences and after effects on mental health as a result of lockdown, which means people are not presenting with symptoms early,” he said. “We’re not seeing a holistic approach to these conditions, perhaps because we’re focusing unilaterally on Covid-19. In making decisions around reopening or restricting society, we need to look at PCR tests <which test for viruses and viral fragments> in the context of case fatality rates, ICU occupancy and how many tests are being done. “There is a perceived fear around Covid-19 but this has to be balanced by issues caused by other health problems. We’re seeing people come into hospital who are severely ill who would’ve presented earlier, were it not for Covid-19 and this is a massive problem because we’re seeing some severe pathology. “There’s huge anxiety among the population at the moment even when there are very few patients in hospital with Covid-19. “Of course, we have to be mindful of Covid and follow the guidelines but the NHS has capacity and it is open for business – we are urging anyone who is unwell to seek medical attention.” Dr Daniels, who is also Founder and Executive Director of The UK Sepsis Trust, said clinicians are seeing late cancer, sepsis, pneumonia and heart attack presentations. “We are also seeing young, healthy people who have developed sepsis as a consequence of pneumonia,” he said. Dr Daniels also warned that there is potential for as many as 20% of Covid-19 survivors to be at risk of sepsis within 12 months of being discharged from hospital.

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The UK Sepsis Trust has launched its Blurred Lines campaign to raise awareness of the problem, which could save the Government millions of pounds and save lives. Dr Daniels said a £1 million investment in awareness of the symptoms of sepsis, made right now, could save as much as £200 million in treatment and benefits. About 245,000 people are affected by sepsis in the UK with at least 48,000 people losing their lives every year. The UK Sepsis Trust and the York Health Economics Consortium have calculated that for every patient who is diagnosed early there is a cash saving to the NHS of more than £5,500, which means that 20,000 sepsis patients could cost society more than £1 billion in patient care and benefits. Dr Daniels said: “Covid-19 is a disease caused by the immune system over-reacting to infection, which is exactly what sepsis is. The question to ask is: if I feel ill, could it be sepsis?” In adults, sepsis may feel like ‘flu, gastroenteritis or a chest infection at first, with early symptoms including fever, chills and shivering, a fast heartbeat and quick breathing. Other symptoms of sepsis or septic shock include feeling dizzy or faint, confusion or disorientation, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea and cold, clammy and pale or mottled skin. For details about The UK Sepsis Trust, visit www. sepsistrust.org

HOW TO SPOT SEPSIS IN ADULTS * Slurred speech or confusion * Extreme shivering or muscle pain * Passing no urine (in a day) * Severe breathlessness * It feels like you’re going to die * Skin mottled or discoloured It is vital to seek medical attention immediately if you or another adult has these symptoms.

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Mini Cryptic Crossword Across 1. Learn by repetition to bore a hole (5) 4. Fine by church, grand, when reptile turns up (5) 7. Stubborn set in boat somehow (9) 8. Periods to multiply? (5) 11. Arctic people from unit I changed (5) 12. Small bird that goes back and forth (3) 13. Big lager brew (5) 14. Two points state written composition (5) 17. City built by Basil and Adam (9) 18. Woman to have trust or confidence in (5) 19. Tie round little lady unable to see (5) Down 2. Jumper trimmed for a holy man (5) 3. Ignited regarding short liquid measure (5) 4. Tangier form of rock (7) 5. Her cubs turn into little angels (7) 6. Lot very shaken in an open manner (7) 8. Reprimanded and informed not on (4,3) 9. I follow this man for a cocktail (7) 10. Furtiveness found in the salt mix (7) 15. Play for time and stand in a market (5) 16. First letter to acquire once more (5)

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12/10/2020 10:11:57

End of Life Wishes

by Jeanette James

he coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the reasons why those of us who, like me (I am 78), are more at risk should consider recording our end of life wishes. This is now known as an Advance Decision, sometimes referred to as a Living Will. Dying is the one thing no-one can avoid but it is generally considered morbid to mention or discuss it. This can lead to distressing consequences. Why we need an Advance Decision If families are able to have a sensible discussion, when they are well, clarifying how they feel about illness and dying, it is much easier for their relatives, and the medical team, if there comes a time when decisions have to be made about treatment and the person themselves is unable to make them. Before the advances in medical care now available, many patients died peacefully at home, with appropriate medication administered by their GP. Others suffered a painful prolonged illness in hospital but either way their choices were limited. Now doctors are able to prolong life in the case of many terminal or chronic conditions, which can offer a reasonable quality of life for several years. However, it may then lead to a situation where, for some people, the side effects of the treatment and/or the progression of the illness become intolerable . Relatives may put pressure on the patient to continue treatment which can add to the patient’s distress. If this has been discussed earlier, and preferably recorded, people can all support each other at this difficult time.

You must always ask the person you wish to appoint and discuss your wishes. It is helpful if people have discussed this more widely with their relatives. It also makes things easier for relatives and the Attorney if people record their wishes. The Power of Attorney method for either Finance or Health and Social Care does involve costs, especially if you feel you need to use a solicitor, unlike the Advance Decision which is free. For ﬁnances though there is no alternative to a Power of Attorney. Other considerations Earlier during the Covid pandemic 35 doctors wrote to the Sunday Times and I quote:- ‘Medical decisions will be much easier for us, the patient and their families if we have a clear sense of their preferences for treatment, well before they ﬁnd themselves in a busy intensive care unit’ The letter included contact details for Compassion in Dying, an organisation which offers comprehensive advice and information on Advance Decisions (including free forms). Although this is more important during the pressures of the pandemic, the same principle applies in any case of serious illness. The alternative of a Health Attorney is also better for doctors with a patient who can’t decide for themselves but it places great responsibility on the Attorney. Once an Advance Decision is completed it should be remembered that it can be amended at any time provided it is dated, signed and witnessed again. There is scope on the form for a wide range of requests, and for people to explain their wishes further if they want to, with helpful guidance notes and an advisor on the number below if required. Anyone of any age can do an Advance Decision but it should always be revisited periodically and updated if need be.

In the case of a sudden unexpected collapse, it becomes even more important for the next of kin to know what their relative would want. A friend of mine was in intensive care after suffering a severe heart attack and the medical team asked his wife seven times if he would want to be resuscitated. She was unable to give a clear answer as he had always avoided any discussion about illness or dying. Her children disagreed about what he would want, making a painful time even more difficult.

Compassion in Dying – for information pack free of charge:- Telephone 0800 999 2434 or email info@compassionindying.org.uk Website - compassionindying.org.uk

An alternative As an alternative to an Advance Decision, some people appoint a Health Attorney to make decisions if they are unable to speak for themselves but this can be a difficult role, especially if family members disagree. This is similar to but separate from a Financial Attorney, i.e. you ﬁll in a Power of Attorney form naming the person you wish to make decisions on your behalf, either ﬁnancial or health/ social care, should you be unable to make these decisions yourself. It can be anyone you like but it is often a relative.

Assisted Dying Several polls in the UK over the years have shown that approximately 80% of those polled supported a change in the law to allow assisted dying, under certain speciﬁc circumstances, with thorough safeguards. This is illegal at present and cannot therefore be included in an Advance Decision. However many people, including MPs would like to see a proper inquiry into laws (which vary greatly) in operation in other countries. See dignityindying.org.uk if you would like further information.

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Best for budgeting: Yolt Yolt can connect to your various bank accounts, credit cards and even pensions to give you all your ﬁnancial information in one place. It can help you track and budget your spending, set saving goals, move money from account to account and even send money to your friends.

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12/10/2020 10:07:33

Fun science experiments that the whole family will enjoy Iceberg For this experiment, you probably have everything you need already. You’ll need: A glass Ice cubes Salt String What to do Dangle a piece of string in the glass with one hand. Pop ice cubes into the glass so that it’s at least half-full.

A homemade lava lamp This lava lamp is short-lived, but pretty magical. You’ll need: A glass Vegetable oil Water A bright food colouring (e.g. red or green) An Alka-Seltzer tablet What to do: Fill the glass to about halfway with vegetable oil. dd around a fifth of a glass of water. Add around 10 drops of food colouring. Drop in the Alka-Seltzer tablet and watch the marvel unfold. Why it works: he oil floats on the water. hen you drop the tablet in, it reacts with the water to make carbon dioxide bubbles. They carry the coloured water to the top, before popping and sinking back down. Colour changing flowers This one requires a bit of patience but minimum effort. You’ll need: hite flowers ideally largish ones, rather than daisies Glass jars or drinking glasses Food colourings (ideally at least three different ones) Water What to do Fill each jar half-full with water. Add at least 10 drops of food colouring to each jar, so each one has different coloured water. ut each flower stem diagonally and pop one flower in each jar. heck on the flowers every hour. ithin hours, they’ll have turned from white to the colour of the water. Why it works he flowers ‘drink’ the water and move it to the petals.

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Can you pull the ice-cubes out of the glass using the string? epeat the ﬁrst two steps. Pour a couple of tablespoons of salt over the ice cubes and the string. Wait 10 seconds and pull the string out. This time, the ice cubes should come out with the string. Why it works The salt makes the edges of the ice cubes start to melt but then they partially refreeze, sticking to the string as they do.

Runaway milk Don’t worry, this is a lot less messy than it sounds. You’ll need: A plate or wide, shallow bowl Full fat milk Food colouring (ideally three different colours) Washing-up liquid What to do Pour some milk into the plate. (You only need it to be around a centimetre deep.) Add a few drops of food colouring in different areas. Not too many, there should be large gaps between each one. ip a ﬁnger in the washing up li uid and then touch one of the spots of food colouring. Repeat with other spots of food colouring. The colour will swirl away from your touch. Why it works The milk and washing-up liquid can’t mix. What you’re seeing is the fat particles swirling away from the washing-up liquid. Don’t have food colouring? Try touching a felt tip pen to the milk instead.

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12/10/2020 10:07:33

Hidato

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

Starting at 1 and finishing at 34, track your way from one hexagon to another (touching) hexagon, placing consecutive numbers into the empty shapes as you go. Some numbers are already given.

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

reb belwaltz-cyclesollution ns.co.uk • I can pick up your bike from your home or place of work then return to you a t your c o n ve n ience. • Fro m a s afeet y c h ec k , n e w b uilld to a f u ll servv i ce, all w o rk and ree pa irs wii ll b e quoteed prior to commencing. • Will contact you immediately if any other defee cts are spott te d so o there w i l l be no p r i s e s. u n p l easant surp • Free e p ic k u p a n d dro p o f f w ithh i n a f i ve mi l e radiiu s of Surr bi t on. Contact: Jon Martin jon@rebelwaltz-cyclesolutions.co.uk | 07514 435855 ©Puzzlepress.co.uk

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12/10/2020 10:07:40

For tech shoppers, November is Gadget Christmas. That’s because the last Friday of the month, the 27th of November, is Black Friday. Black Friday is when online shops and many high street retailers off ffer f amazing discounts on all kinds of products. And the discounts can be massive, with hundreds of pounds off fff high-end laptops, big TVs and other bigticket purchases.

Xbox One X Expect big discounts on Microsoft’s superb console and Sony’s PS4 too: as their replacements are imminent there will be big savings to be had, especially on bundles with included games. Usually £395, www.xbox.com

The name Black Friday is a little misleading because many of the retailers now run deals the week leading up to Black Friday and/or the week after.

Instant Pot We love the Instant Pot, a programmable electric pressure cooker that’s brilliant for soups, stews, chilli, curries, rice and pretty much anything else you can cook in a pot. It’s usually Amazon’s Black Friday bestseller. Usually £84, www.amazon.co.uk

Many of the deals are genuine, but it’s important to do a little homework because some of them are a little creative. Some deals are rather like the supermarket wine promotions where the price of a £6 bottle of wine is brieﬂy raised to £9; the shop then goes back to the original price and sticks a ‘Save £3.00!’ sticker on it. In tech, the same thing can happen with prices going up just before Black Friday to create a discount that isn’t really a discount. Another common trick is to quote a recommended retail price that nobody sensible ever paid. For example, a TV supposedly reduced from £1,799 to £999 may well have been on sale for £1,099 for the last six months. You’re still getting a saving, but it’s not as exciting as the shop wants you to think.

Big-name laptops If you’ve bee en looking for a new laptop, you’ll se ee some great deals on laptops frrom big names such as Microsoft,, ASUS and Lenovo. Some of the e best discounts are on the most ex xpensive models but you’ll ﬁnd goo od budget deals too. Various prices, www.currys.co.uk

Amazon Echo Amazon’s smart speakers get discounted for every Amazon sale event and Black Friday is s no exception. The thirdgeneration Echo delivers surprisingly great sound despite itts compact dimensions. Usually £89, www.amazon.co.uk

Technology can help here. Use Pricespy. co.uk to see what other retailers are charging for the same product, and for Amazon deals use CamelCamelCamel. com to look at a product’s Amazon price history to see if a deal is good or just too good to be true. As with any sale, don’t let the prospect of a big discount persuade you to buy something you don’t want or need, and if you pay by credit card make sure you pay it off fff as soon as you can. The interest on some cards can easily wipe out your Black Friday savings.

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Philips Ambilight TV There are always great Blacck Friday discounts on smart TVss, and some of the biggest we’v ve seen were on Philips’ cleve er Ambilight range, which use es coloured light to make the room m match what’s on screen n. Various prices, www.philips.co.uk

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REPAIR? ND THE WE CAN EXTE ROOFS LIFE OF MOST

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12/10/2020 10:07:48

Heroic dogs with skills that save lives By Kate McLelland

The legendary image of a St Bernard dog, determinedly trudging through the snow on a mission to save a mountain climber, was turned on its head recently when a Cumbrian mountain rescue team set out to save a St Bernard called Daisy. Weighing in at 8st 9lb (55kg), Daisy was heading down Scafell Pike with her owner last July, when she collapsed and refused to move. A team of sixteen volunteer rescuers then had the unenviable task of carrying her down England’s highest mountain on a stretcher, whilst negotiating narrow paths, avoiding sheer drops and even crossing a waterfall. So how was it that a dog belonging to a world famous search-and-rescue breed ended up at the sharp end of a dramatic mountain rescue mission? One of the main problems with rescuing Daisy from Scafell Pike was her size. Her impressive bulk is actually the result of cross-breeding, making today s St ernard dogs significantly larger than they were in the seventeenth century, when the breed first developed its reputation for life-saving amidst the snowy Alpine peaks. St Bernards were originally used to herd and guard cattle on Alpine farms and the dogs earned their name when the monks of the Great St Bernard Pass Hospice, providing a refuge for travellers on the Italian/Swiss border, adopted them to help with mountain rescues. St Bernards were first used as rescue dogs by the monks in the seventeeth century and for the next 400 years they worked tirelessly to locate lost and injured travellers, traditionally wearing a small barrel attached to their collar containing brandy to revive survivors. Despite the fact that alcohol is now considered to aggravate hypothermia, this hardy and agile breed continued to be used in mountain rescues until 1955, building up an impressive record for saving lives. The most famous St Bernard of all, a dog named Barry, is reputed to have rescued up to 100 people.

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‘Newfies’, superdogs of the sea One of the breeds that contributed to the St Bernards’ bloodline (and their present-day size) is the massive Newfoundland. Coincidentally, these dogs are also famous for saving lives, but at sea rather than on land. Newfoundlands (or ewfies , as they are often called) were originally used as working dogs by Canadian fishermen, who valued their calm and loyal nature almost as much as their strength. With their muscular build, thick coats and webbed paws, Newfoundlands are completely at home in the water. At Portishead Marina near Bristol, a charity called Newfound Friends makes the most of the ewfies remarkable talents. he dogs not only work in children’s hospices as therapy dogs, they also take part in sea rescues and rescue training, showing off their skills at festivals across the UK. Ellie Bedford, a volunteer and trainer with the charity, told the TV channel Beastly: “No human can do what these dogs can do. I’m a lifeguard myself and I would struggle to tow two people, whereas these guys can pull in ten people.” Dogs with a special talent Today many different breeds are used in search and rescue operations, but the lives they save are not always human. This year’s terrible bushfires in ustralia displaced and killed up to three billion wild animals, including thousands of koala bears. During an epic rescue mission in some of the areas worst hit by the bushfires, a very special Australian Koolie dog – aptly named ‘Bear’ – was brought in to search for surviving koalas.

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Aspen Veterinary Surgery

HOME WANTED!

Your pet matters to us

Damson & Forest

15 week old Damson (female tortoiseshell) and Forest (male) are looking for a very special home together. They came in as stray kittens from a colony of cats and were around 10 weeks old when they came into care. The progress they have made, particularly Damson, is very impressive and she is growing into a confident and cuddly cat. Forest remains wary and whilst he will happily interact with humans he knows, he is cautious of new situations and people. As a pair they balance each other well and with the right home and some love and patience we are really hopeful Forest will learn to be more trusting. However, we are looking for an understanding home who would be happy to accept him for who he is. They are well on the way to a full physical recovery and now need to take the next step of their journey into their forever home. A full medical history will be provided to any suitable potential adopter. If you feel you can give Damson & Forest their ideal, well deserved forever home please email adoption@epsom.cats.org.uk

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

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Fireworks Phobia If your pet becomes really distressed during bonﬁre season, it could be that they have ‘ﬁrework phobia’.

RSPCA animal behaviour expert Dr Samantha Gaines says: “Firework phobia in pets is a treatable condition and we recommend planning ahead to help your pet cope. For example, if your dog really seems to suffer, your vet may suggest referral to a clinical animal behaviourist to teach him/her to deal with the sounds, or suggest the use of diffusers which disperse calming chemicals into the room.”

their enclosure could be covered by a blanket for extra insulation and soundproofing. If you are planning to bring them indoors just before the fireworks are likely to start, then introduce this a week or two in advance. Finally if you are using fireworks yourself, try to stick to traditional celebration dates like Bonfire Night, when most animal owners will be expecting fireworks and will hopefully have made preparations to help their animals cope.

It is also a good idea to provide your dog with a safe haven – perhaps under some furniture or in a cupboard – and it is best to get them used to this before the season starts. Choose somewhere quiet and help him to learn that being there is positive and that no harm will come to him. You can do this by giving him toys or a variety of chew toys. Small animals that live outside should have lots of extra bedding so they can burrow. Some of

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12/10/2020 10:07:54

Last International & UK Posting Dates 2020 Wed 9 Dec Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Central and South America, Far and Middle East Thurs 10 Dec Cyprus, Malta Fri 11 Dec Australia, Greece, Eastern Europe (except Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia), New Zealand and Turkey Sat 12 Dec Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Poland, Sweden, USA Wed 16 Dec Austria, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland Fri 18 Dec UK 2nd Class and 2nd Class Signed For Mon 21 Dec 1st Class and 1st Class Signed For; Royal Mail Tracked 48 Tues 22 Dec Royal Mail Tracked 24 Wed 23 Dec Special Delivery Guaranteed

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RICHEY BRICKWORK

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Each word to be three letters or more (but no plurals), and all must contain the central letter. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at least one word which uses all of the letters. Target: Excellent: 58 or more words Good: 47 words Fair: 39 words

Brickwork Blockwork Garden Walls Structural Alterations Damaged Walls Repaired No job too small 35 years experience Please call Paul

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12/10/2020 10:21:11

Making an Entrance

Your hallway needs to be a good-looking, welcoming space for visitors and a practical area for storage. Get the basics right, says Katherine Sorrell, and the rest will follow.

Colour and pattern for the walls Choose a paint colour or wallpaper that you love, and that coordinates with the colours that can be seen in adjoining rooms. While pale colours reflect light and emphasise a sense of space, dark schemes can be both cosy and interesting. In busy households with young children and pets, it’s a good idea to protect at least the lower halves of the walls from wear and tear. Extra-tough paint is a good choice, or consider adding a dado rail and cladding the walls below it with tongue-and-groove panelling, tiles or hard-wearing vinyl wallpaper. Periodstyle patterned tiles or embossed wallpapers are particularly appropriate for older properties with period features; you might want to choose patterns that echo other elements of the house, such as cornices or fireplace surrounds. Choosing the right flooring It makes sense for the flooring to be durable, non-slip, dirt-resistant and easy to keep clean – pale carpet is probably not a good idea. So, what to choose? Tiles are very easy to care for, and there are various options, including stone, ceramic or quarry, or colourful Victorian encaustic (perfect for period properties). Floorboards or parquet will need regular polishing or waxing, but be careful with wood laminates – they are cheaper, but may not last long. Good quality vinyl flooring, in sheet or tile form is sturdy, cleanable and comfortable underfoot. If you prefer a more luxurious feel, a dark wool carpet in an 80:20 mix of wool and nylon with a twist pile should withstand heavy usage or, for a more rustic look, how about tough natural matting such as coir, sisal or rush? Lighting makes all the difference Halls are often windowless and dark and, while they do not need to be very bright, should be welcoming and lead the eye into your home, as well as safely illuminating any steps or thresholds. One small change that may help is to use a specialist light-reflecting paint, or wallpaper with a metallic sheen. Add a large

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A spacious sideboard, if you have room for one, is an excellent addition to any hall, combining hidden storage and surface display space. This one blends pale timber with classic black for a smart and minimal look. Greenwich large sideboard, £229, Nala mango wood table lamp, £25; Butterscotch rush basket, £22; all Dunelm: 0345 165 6565; dunelm.com.

mirror, too – also helpful for checking your reflection just before you leave the house. In terms of light fittings, wall lights are not ideal in a narrow hall, as they may just act as obstacles; a series of recessed ceiling downlights is better or, if your ceilings are high enough, a pendant (or a row of them) that suits the style of other furnishings works well. Storage is essential Most people store a variety of things in their halls and the type of storage you choose is best moulded around what you need to store, how much space it will take up and how frequently you need to access it. Built-in storage makes the most of every inch of space. Shallow, floor-to-ceiling cupboards with doors painted the same colour as the walls, or mirrored to maximise light, will hold masses yet be barely noticeable. Alternatively, make a statement with a choice of free-standing, perhaps vintage or upcycled, cupboards, sideboards or benches. Umbrella stands, dog beds and boot racks are ideal for spacious, country-style halls, while narrow, urban halls might benefit from a high-up hook for a bike and a slim shelf above a radiator on which to keep post and keys.

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Add a finishing touch In a hall that has windows, think about how your blinds or curtains will complement the rest of the space. The colours and patterns of fabric can co-ordinate with cushions or upholstery on seating, for example. A long, thin floor runner adds a nice touch of softness, pattern and texture on hard floors but always use a non-slip underlay beneath. Hang paintings or photographs on the walls, in rows or informal groupings, taking care that their frames coordinate with each other and with the décor overall. Finally, why not add some plants, books or a pretty lamp on a console table? You can create a beautiful display that shows off your personality and creates a lovely welcome to your home.

 In a spacious hallway, more than one item of storage furniture will work a treat. They don’t have to match exactly – this pairing helps create a welcoming, eclectic look that has heaps of character. Wiltshire console table in natural solid oak, £299.99, St Ives tallboy in natural and painted oak, £299.99; both Oak Furnitureland: 0800 440 2254; oakfurnitureland.co.uk.

A pale wood ﬂoor is practical and beautiful, and tongue-and-groove walls are easy to maintain in case of muddy splashes. Tegola Westminster traditional oak wood ﬂooring, £49.99 per square metre; natural coir Bee doormat, £15; both Carpetright: 0330 333 3444; carpetright.co.uk. 

Leverett Electrical Ltd

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Will: 020 8399 7872 Mobile: 07961 450 618 To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

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Qualified electrician

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12/10/2020 10:21:29

By Katherine Sorrell

Why not give the entrance to your home a stylish update? A new piece of furniture, or even a change of accessories, will give it a fresh and fashionable feel.

ç These slender, elongated hooks provide a tidy, elegant spot from which to hang a coat or robe. Small antique brass hooks, £45, coxandcox.co.uk.

This vintage-inspired piece will make a bohemian statement in your home. Bali rattan coat stand, £125, oliverbonas.com. è

é Handy for post, reminders and invitations, this wirework display rack has an appealingly functional feel that would look great in a modern space. Farringdon memo board, £30, gardentrading.co.uk. With a small footprint but a big impact, this glamorous lacquer and brass cabinet is finished with solid acrylic cabochons. Globo console, £1,995, uk.jonathanadler.com. è

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é A soft rug will welcome guests. This runner is rich and inviting, in patterned peach, nude and grey. Nova Runner, £150, coxandcox.co.uk.

Say hello to hallway style • Choose a runner that leads guests from the front door to the heart of your home. Think about how its colours and patterns interact with the rooms leading off the hall – but make sure it’s dark enough not to show the dirt. • Shoe and coat racks, console tables, benches and the like can be selected with an eye for style as much as storage. Consider not only colour but also shape and surface texture. This is where adding an upcycled or vintage piece could really make a statement. • A hallway mirror is not only an essential but can really up the fashion stakes. All sorts of designs are possible in terms of frame and shape; right now, a rattan frame would be very on trend. • No hallway is complete without a row of hooks, whether rustic or traditional, industrial or modern. They come in a multitude of shapes, sizes and colours – and will make more of an impact than you might think. • Add an accessory or two, such as a work of art, a table lamp or simply a pot of succulents to complement and enhance the existing colours and textures in your hall. The ultimate aim is that the combination of pieces overall makes you feel happy every time you come through the front door.

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12/10/2020 10:21:29

ç In a soft colour palette and matt finish, these striking hooks have a minimal, Nordic feel. MADE Essentials Apartment wall hooks in tonal grey, £35, made.com.

A clean-lined shape and subtle colour makes this a useful piece for any style of hallway. Garden Trading Clockhouse hallway storage bench, £260, cuckooland.com. è

ç Get the luxe look with a gilded mirror that also offers convenient space on the shelf below for bits and bobs. Medium Lene Bjerre Hildia mirror in gold, £90, sweetpeaandwillow.com.

é Generously sized hooks in a traditional design will hold coats, scarves and even hats comfortably. Country wall hooks, £75, amara.com. ç Combining a wooden frame with joints in steel, the Steelwood by star designers Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec is sure to become a design classic. Magis Steelwood coat stand, £493, nest.co.uk.

•Extensions •Conversions •All types of Paving Local builders with over 30 years experience. Many local customers with excellent references, viewings by appointment

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12/10/2020 10:21:42

Would you like to grow some fruit in your garden, but are a bit short on space? There’s a simple solution: make the fruit work in more ways than one. Fruit trees, canes and bushes need not be just productive and tasty, but can also be made to perform other functions in a garden – and with a bit of extra thought and creativity, you can make best use of their good looks too. Fruit plants are available at most times of year, but it is between about now and early next year that the widest selection is available from specialist fruit nurseries as ‘bare root’ plants, and this is also the perfect time to plant fruit. A simple and otherwise boring metal arch can easily be transformed into a fruity delight if you train tree fruit such as apples or pears up the vertical sides and over the top. Make sure you have perfect pollination (and so maximum crops) by choosing two different apples, one planted up each side of the arch. Choose apples in the same pollination group and they will each pollinate the other. You can use cordon apples or simple ‘whips’ (basically a straight stem and the least expensive way to buy fruit). A good fruit tree nursery will be able to advise you as to the best combination to grow. Cherries can do surprisingly well in a large pot or planter, or in a wooden half-barrel. The combination of their lovely white blossom in

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spring followed by shiny cherries in the summer also means that they make an attractive plant for a sunny, sheltered patio or back yard. When you buy your cherry make sure you ask for one on what is called a ‘dwarfing rootstock’, such as Gisela 5, meaning that the variety you select has been grafted on to a different cherry – one that will ensure it does not get too big. If space is really limited then there are many types of fruit that take up extremely little space. You can either get varieties sold as Ballerina apples or, for even better value and to increase the range of varieties you can choose from, choose cordon apples or pears and simply train them vertically. These will form columnar trees that can be spaced 60-90cm (2-3ft) apart. To keep the shape good and compact, you’ll need to prune the fruiting laterals in summer and restrict the height of the trees to 1.8-2.4m (6-8ft). Perfect for planting at the front of a vegetable plot or a flower border, a stepover is basically trained to form just one ‘arm’ of fruit to the left and one to the right. You can buy these readytrained and the horizontal arms are generally about 45cm (18ins) above ground level, meaning that you can easily step over the apple. Covered with blossom in spring and fruit later in the summer, they look great and taste wonderful too!

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12/10/2020 10:21:43

Hybrid berries can also be trained over arches to form useful shade and a very delicious crop. There are several options – one of my favourites is when they are loosely tied to a chunky wooden arch. You can then enjoy the ﬂowers in spring or summer, and the rich good looks of the fruit in summer or autumn.

Vines are another great option, and have the potential to produce a good crop in the UK if grown in a sheltered, sunny spot. They can be trained over a wall or allowed to grow over a pergola to create shade. Many vines have leaves that take on fabulous autumnal colours. There was a time when growing a peach in this country meant having massive greenhouses (and fleets of gardeners to tend them!), but nowadays there are a number of varieties readily available that grow well and produce a very worthwhile crop. If you have the space, I’d recommend Avalon for its ability to crop in a warm summer, but there are several varieties available on sufficiently dwarfing root stocks that will do well in goodsized containers. Try peach Bonanza grafted on to a St Julien rootstock to keep it compact, which has attractive pink blossom and, despite its dwarf size, produces full-sized fruit.

Strawberries in a pot can crop heavily if kept well fed and watered. Either plant them into a large pot or other container full of good quality compost, or go for a special strawberry planter – which is rather like a large urn with lots of planting holes around the sides where one strawberry plant goes into each hole. The end result looks good and you’ll have the added advantage that it is harder for the slugs and snails to get to the fruit! Visit Pippa’s website (www.pippagreenwood.com) to book Pippa for a gardening talk at your gardening club or as an after-dinner speaker.

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12/10/2020 10:21:46

William Stallion

150 Elmbridge Avenue, Surbiton, Surrey, KT5 9HF

*Alterations & Additions *New Installations *Maintenance *Rewires *Testing & Inspection EICR/PIR *NIC/EIC Registered,insured,certiďŹ ed

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Painting and Decorating Roofing and Guttering Plastering and Tiling Household Maintenance Loft conversions and extensions Marcus & Sarah Baines 020 8390 7549 07702 603 885 berrylands-property@blueyonder.co.uk

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12/10/2020 10:21:48

Electric Scooters

YOUR HIGH SPEED RIDE TO A GREENER FUTURE The next generation of E-Scooters transforming your new commute into a safe, enjoyable experience. All terrain scooters available. Visit our Leatherhead warehouse or, Order online for free next day delivery PRICES START FROM AS LITTLE AS £279

www.hikerboy.co.uk Tel: 01372 236100 Email: contact@hikerboy.co.uk

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

Ken Burgess

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

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

E Nov 20. 33-40.indd 33

K B Design

• Architectural Services • Residential + Commercial

070 9200 3581

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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12/10/2020 10:16:59

This warming veggie stew will hit the spot on a cold autumn evening. Serve with steamed couscous or orzo pasta instead of rice, if preferred. Serves 4 • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Ready in 50 mins

1 tbsp olive oil 2 onions, peeled and diced 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed 1 tsp ground cumin 2 tsp smoked paprika 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper 2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes 2 tbsp tomato puree 1 tsp brown sugar 2 x 400g cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed Salt and freshly ground black pepper Cooked long grain rice, to serve 2 tbsp freshly chopped parsley, to garnish

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1. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onions and fry for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and golden, adding the garlic after 5 minutes. 2. Stir in the spices and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant then add the tomatoes, puree and sugar. Simmer gently for 15-20 minutes until the sauce has thickened, stirring occasionally. 3. Stir in the chickpeas and simmer for a further 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve with cooked long grain rice and garnished with the parsley. TIP Stir a handful of baby spinach leaves in to the stew just before the end of cooking time, if liked.

Please mention the magazine when contacting Advertisers 12/10/2020 10:17:01

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

Serving Surbiton Since 1962 . Order Now For Christmas & New Year! Call: 020 8399 4870 Due to the situation with Covid we will NOT be selling turkeys this year. Please order directly from Kellybronze.co.uk We will be taking orders for ALL other items. Thank you for all your support at this time. Christmas Offerings Free Range Geese, Ducks, Chickens & Game Scotch Beef & Lamb Free Range Pork Gammons & Bacon Balmoral Venison And of course our own make sausages! Visit our shop at 146 Ewell Road, Surbiton, KT6 6HE (Opposite Sainsburyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Local) or call us to place an order on 020 8399 4870

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

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For more information view our website www.cdjenningsandsons.com

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

35 35

12/10/2020 10:17:02

By Kate Duggan

Beauty gifts that Santa will wish he thought

Eco lovers will appreciate Biovene Solid Shampoo and Conditioner Bars (£4 each). They’re also a great gift for anyone planning on going as they take up very little space in a suitcase but last for weeks. The bars are free from parabens, sulphates and other harsh chemicals and use natural goodies like macadamia oil and shea butter to gently cleanse and nourish hair. See www.justmylook.com. Alternatively, the Eco Warrior Mini Cube by the Little Soap Company (www.littlesoapcompany. co.uk) is as pretty as it is eco. For £8, you get a Sensitive Facial Bar, They’re all plant-based, free from synthetics and packed with natural ingredients such as essential oils, pink clay, oatmeal and coconut oil.

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What make-up lover isn’t a fan of Urban Decay’s Naked Eyeshadow Palettes (£43)? The Ultraviolet one is likely to cause squeals of delight on Christmas Day from any fan of a of mattes, metallic and shimmers. The focus is purple, from lilac to deepest aubergine (but with names like ‘Euphoric’ and ‘Cyber Punk’…), and there are complementary nudes and golds to from Urban Decay (www.urgandecay.co.uk), the shadows go on easily and stay put for hours. Pair the palette with the Lash Freak Mascara

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New Podiatry Foot Clinic Open in KT5 Surbiton Instep Therapy 7 Elmbridge Ave Berrylands KT5 9EX

Marcella Bell State Registered Practising Nurse and Podiatrist www.marcella.co.uk

07809282288

Food Facts: Sugar

In the twelfth century, sugar was grouped with other tropical spices like ginger, cinnamon and saff ffron. f Sugar was a medicine in ninth century Iraq, where it was combined with fruits and sp pices to make medicinal powders and infusions. One eighteenth century British physician suggested blowing sugar powder into the eyes to cure eye ailments and irritations. When Columbus sailed to the Caribbean in 1493, he took sugar cane for a planting trial. The climate and environment meant that the crop grew faster there than anywhere else in the world. While foods rich in fibre, fat and protein help make a person feel full, sugar does not create feelings of satiety, which is why it’s so easy to overindulge. The scientists who discovered sucralose (Splenda) were trying to make an insecticide. An assistant thought he had been instructed to ‘taste’ a sample he had been asked to ‘test’.

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Disclaimer

Whilst all reasonable care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information included in A Berrylands Companion , the publisher takes no responsibility for the accuracy of statements made by contributors or advertisers, or for the loss arising from non-publication of any advertisement. Any errors, omissions or offers are the resposibilty of the advertiser. All artwork is accepted on the condition that the advertiser has obtained permission from any copyright holder for its use by A Berrylands Companion. Whilst every care is taken when printing artwork, we cannot guarantee an exact colour match due to variations in print processes. Bookings are accepted only on this basis. It is the advertiser’s responsibility to submit any amendments to adverts by the deadline date of the 8th. To advertise any event, or community activity in the magazine, please call: Karen on 020 8274 0096 or email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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12/10/2020 10:17:23

OTRYFS o ha e t o in tes to find all the ords of three or ore letters that can be ade fro the letters abo e l rals are allo ed, proper no ns are not he letter ord ill al a s be st a nor al e er da ord 3 letters: 13 4 letters: 11 5 letters: 6 6 letters: 1

£11.95 *Please note King Prawn & Fish Dishes are £2 extra

020 8399 0030/3904

Book now for Christmas & New Year Book now for Valentine’s Day

285 Ewell Road, Surbiton

38 38

Season’s Greetings from your business name address/ telephone number/ web site Book your Christmas Bauble, blue, red, green, gold, silver Just £15 each Call Karen on 020 8274 0096 or email

karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

www.prithicuisine.co.uk

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12/10/2020 10:17:30

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

dediicatedd evennts team are

always on hand to help organise a fitting farewell in a discreet and understanding way. A postt funeral reception should be a tion of a person’s life and so celebrrati we feell thhat it is important to create a bespokke experience in which guuests caan reflect and look back on fond mem mories in an environment that feells personal through the

little touches and attention to detail. Glenmore House offers a number of different rooms with suitable settings including beautiful period features for such an event. We can accommodate receptions of between 15-140 guests.

Packages start from £15.95 per person

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

Ban nqueting & Celeebrati tions • Weddings • Private Dining • Carvery

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

E Nov 20. 33-40.indd 39

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

39 39

12/10/2020 10:17:35

By Jackie Brewster

“If you want my advice on how to impress girls,” Mabel declared, “you’ve got to show a bit of chivalry.” Even though Lewis desperately needed advice on how to impress girls, his Aunt Mabel would be the last person he’d ask. “She’s a nice young lady.” Mabel pointed at the girl jogging across the park. “She would be just right for you.” “Keep your voice down,” Lewis blushed. “She’ll hear you.” Lewis had volunteered to walk Mabel’s dog, Berkley, round the park. Unfortunately, he hadn’t planned on Mabel coming too. She wore mismatched wellies and a hat that looked as though it was part of a jester costume. “You just need to get her to notice you,” Mabel said. Being noticed was certainly something Mabel was an expert on, Lewis thought ruefully. “She’s called Becky,” Lewis muttered under his breath. “She’s at my school.” Becky trained on the park every day after school. Lewis desperately wanted Becky to notice him, but he wasn’t about to tell Mabel that. In class that morning he’d overheard Becky telling her friend how much she loved dogs and would always stop to pet them. He hatched a plan to borrow Berkeley, stroll casually past Becky and strike up a conversation. Keep it simple. His aunt had other ideas. “She’s not seen us yet has she?” She glanced over her shoulder at Becky, who had paused to do some stretches. “She doesn’t know we’re together?” “Whatever you’re planning,” Lewis panicked, “don’t do it.” But Mabel wasn’t listening. “You take Berkley over to the swings and wait.” She handed him the dog’s lead. “When I give the signal come running over and give me assistance.” “Assistance with what?” Lewis was alarmed. “What are you going to do?” “Just pretend we don’t know each other, and it’ll look like you’re helping a lady in distress.” Mabel adjusted her hat. “That’ll impress her. You’ll be the talk of the school playground.” “We don’t call it a playground,” Lewis protested. “I’m

40 40 E Nov 20. 33-40.indd 40

in the sixth form you know, we don’t play.” Mabel was already walking away from him, her wellies squelching as she went. Berkley sniffed a tree and Lewis watched his aunt warily. As she reached the edge of the path she deliberately sat down on the ground. “Help, I’ve fallen!” she called out. e is as ortified res abl this as his c e to go dashing over and rescue her. However, Becky as closer and reached abel first “Are you hurt?” Becky sounded concerned. “Can I help?” “Not you!” Mabel protested. “I need that young man to help me.” “What young man?” Becky looked around. “That chivalrous young man.” Mabel pointed at Lewis. “Who I’ve never met before in my life.” Lewis dithered. His aunt’s plan was ludicrous, but it might just work. llin er ele , he ran o er, reached for hand and hauled her to her feet. here o o, you’re alright.”

ada , he said stif ,

abel s

hope

Berkeley yapped excitedly and licked Mabel’s face. “Aww Berkeley,” Mable laughed. “Were you worried about Mummy?” Becky scowled at Lewis. “Were you trying to steal this lady’s dog?” She turned to Mabel. “Should I call the police?” “Don’t worry,” Mabel said, cuddling Berkley, “I’m sure he was just borrowing him.” “Alright,” Becky nodded, looking at her watch. “I’ve got to go but shout if he gives you any more trouble.” “Why did you say that?” Lewis cried, as soon as Becky left them. “She thinks I’m a dog thief now.” “Say what?” Mabel dusted herself down. “It was a co plete s ccess he s definitel noticed o no

Please mention the magazine when contacting Advertisers 12/10/2020 10:17:36

Est 35 YEARS

ROBINSON & SON

ALL OF YOUR PLUMBING NEEDS BOILER SERVICING OR REPAIRS

NO JOB TOO SMALL FOR FREE ESTIMATES JUST CALL CHRIS

Phone 07922 246673

E Mail chris@cjmplumbingandheating.co.uk

PROFESSIONAL PAINTERS & DECORATORS Wallpapering

INTERIOR & EXTERIOR PRIVATE & RESIDENTIAL High Quality WORK AT LOCAL RATES Experienced professional Tradesman

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CJM Plumbing and Heating

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F Nov 20. 41-48.indd 41

A FAMILY RUN BUSINESS

EMail: robinsonandson24@talktalk.net

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

41 41

12/10/2020 10:18:50

Makes 14 Ready in 30 mins, plus chilling 50g hazelnuts, chopped 50g pecans, chopped 50g dried ready-to-eat apricots, chopped 50g Medjool dates, stones removed and chopped 2 tbsp smooth peanut butter 1 tbsp coconut oil, melted 50g desiccated coconut 1 tbsp honey or agave syrup

These no-bake energy balls are packed with dried fruit and nuts and are great for on-the-go snacks. They can be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks. 1. Place the hazelnuts and pecans in a food processor and pulse until finely ground. 2. Add the apricots, dates, peanut butter, coconut oil and half the coconut to the processor and process until everything is combined. Add the honey or agave syrup and pulse briefly. 3. Divide and shape the mixture into about 14 balls. Spread the rest of the coconut on a plate and roll each ball in the coconut to coat. Chill for 1 hour or until firm. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

TIP Use any combination of nuts you prefer and replace the dried apricots with dried figs or prunes for a change of flavour.

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12/10/2020 10:18:52

Changes to planning rules

by Sir Edward Davey M.P

uring the health and jobs crises created by Coronavirus, it’s odd perhaps to write an article on planning.

However, I must. As your MP, I have to alert you to this Government’s reforms to planning laws which could seriously damage your road, your neighbourhood and our Borough. In new planning laws already pushed through Parliament and in proposed new planning laws in a White Paper, this Government is taking away your democratic voice over planning policy and will prevent you from objecting to planning applications that directly affect you and your property. The justifications behind these planning reforms are at best flawed. And while they purport to be addressing the country’s need for more housing, they will not. Planning reforms already passed Last month, new laws passed the Commons that allow developers, without planning permission, to: - add up to two new floors on to any block of flats; - demolish and rebuild empty buildings; - allow people to add multiple floors to their homes. This means that you as local residents, and your locally elected councillors, will have no power or say in stopping or even commenting on such proposals. As one Conservative MP said, leaseholders could suffer extra floors added to their building without any consultation. He added that freeholders, by contrast, had been “given a gift…of billions of pounds.” Across Berrylands and Surbiton, there are many such buildings. Thousands of such leaseholders. I can confirm, I voted against these shocking new laws. Planning reforms planned But it gets worse. The Government’s latest proposals for the planning system go much further. Based on some new algorithm, a Whitehall computer will tell each Council and every community how many homes it must build. You might have thought the Government might not rely on an algorithm to run the country, after this year’s chaos with A-levels and young people’s futures. But no. An algorithm is going to dictate where the nation’s future homes are built. Even before this, Whitehall was ordering Kingston to build eye-watering amounts of new homes: the White Paper containing these undemocratic plans implies the algorithmic solution for Kingston will be even more homes. And it gets worse. Currently, planning law has two stages. First, it requires a council to develop its local plan, in consultation with local residents. And second, anyone wanting to build a property, or make major alterations, has to submit a planning application, which has to be consulted on, and

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F Nov 20. 41-48.indd 43

voted on by local councillors. Effectively, that second stage will go, under the Government’s new plans. And there are other flaws in the plans. The ability of councils to insist on affordable homes will largely go, for example. It’s not just Liberal Democrat MPs objecting to these changes. A certain Theresa May said these plans were “ill-conceived” and “mechanistic”. It seems, under the cover of Covid, Johnson-Cummings want to tear up the planning regime that’s existed since 1947. Why these reforms are unnecessary Supporters of these planning reforms say it’s all about building new homes – and say the planning system is the biggest barrier to this. Despite the facts proving that wrong. In the past 4 years, councils have granted planning permission for, respectively, 291,000, 370,000, 383,300 and 371,800 homes. The problem is the house building industry is not completing on those permissions. In the last 4 years of published completions, the industry’s under-delivery is revealed, respectively with 155,078, 163,939, 183, 571 and 195,294 new homes. What should happen to build more homes First, we need a housebuilding industry with the capacity to build the homes. The shortage of skilled people has been a real problem. A government review published 2 years ago concluded “an insufficient supply of bricklayers would be a binding constraint in the immediate future, if there was not either a substantial move away from brick-built homes, or a significant import of more skilled bricklayers from abroad, or an implausibly rapid move to modular construction techniques.” Perhaps the current recession will help. Brexit won’t. Second, we need to build more social and council homes, directed by the public sector. When Britain current housing and planning system did work well, that coincided with several decades of local authorities being allowed to carry out substantial amounts of housebuilding. I’m sorry if this article has depressed you. But I am deeply worried about the centralisation of political power in this country over many things. And yet this Government’s plan now, is to centralise even further the control of what happens in our community. To cap it all, these reforms take no account of the significant changes to our working lives, to our daily travel and to where people will want to live, post-Covid, post-Zoom. These planning reforms are profoundly wrong.

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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12/10/2020 10:18:53

Coronavirus restrictions on clubs Due to Coronavirus restrictions, some of the clubs and societies that feature in the magazine on the What’s On Page and on the Community Pages, are unable to hold meetings at present. Please contact the club for further information on re-opening. NHS Retirement Club: Lorna: 020 8337 4121 Women on Wheels: email: ccst@rbk.kingston.gov.uk Berrylands Boot Camp: Rachel: 07841 422 879 email: bootcamp@embracesports.co.uk Broadway Sequence Dance Club: Brenda Deane: 020 8390 0233 Cornerstone Church: 020 8390 0233 email: info@cornerstonechurchkingston.org Encore Singing Group: 020 8241 5513 email: gillyvor@hotmail.com Fircroft Listening Club: 07598 910 797 email: listeningclub@theﬁrcrofttrust.org Golden Slippers: Meryl: 07944 246 778 Hope in Depression: 07423 144 803 email: ccsurbiton.org/hide Kingston Camera Club: www.kingstoncameraclub.com Kingston Circle Dance Group: 020 8399 8684 Kingston Jazz Club: Mike Crimmen: 07795 574 776 email: m.crimmen@btinternet.com Kingston Pensioners’ Club: www.kingstonpensionersforum@hotmail.co.uk Kingston Philatelic Society: Brian Sole: 01932 220 677 email: brian.sole@btinternet.com Kingston upon Thames Archaeology Society: http://kingstonarchaeology.com Ladies’ Exercise Club: Mary: 01483 284 716 email: maryedwards@uwclub.net Mind in Kingston: 020 8255 3939 www.mindkingston.org.uk Mrs Bennet’s Ballroom: Libby Curzon: 020 8391 1215 email: curzone@hotmail.com Oasis Club: 020 8390 6631 Open Door Club: email: gvosper29@gmail.com St Mark’s Church: Scottish Country Dancing: 01932 784 866 www.surbitoncaledonian.co.uk Surbiton & District Bird Society: Elizabeth O’Brien: 020 8241 0005 www.surbitonbirds.org Surbiton & District Historical Society: email: paulhowardlang1011@gmail.com Surbiton Club for the Blind & Visually Handicapped: 07443 643 716 Surbiton Floral Club: 020 8399 8193 Tolworth Model Railway Club: Mike: 07488 346 293 Talking of Trains: David Blackmore: 020 8391 1116 email: dandp@blueyonder.co.uk Tiny Tunes: www.tinytuneslive.com Tolworth United Reform Church: Roger: 07525 410 083 / 020 8393 4270 email: jones.ra@ btinternet.com Tolworth World of Dance: Brenda: 020 8397 9649 email: philip.steventon@btinternet.com Chessington Horticultural Society: email: chesshort@live.co.uk www.horticultural.moonfruit. co.uk Hook Allotments & Gardens Association: Mark: 07970 692 395

If your club, society or group is able to hold meetings again, please let me know. Also if you are holding Zoom meetings let me know, so the details can be listed.

44 44

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12/10/2020 10:18:55

QUIZ SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD SOLUTION 3 Letters for rot soy for toy try fry foy fro oft sot

sty ort 4 Letters fort foys orts rosy rots ryot soft sort tors

tory toys tyro 5 Letters forts forty frost story tyros

ryots 6 Letters frosty

HIDATO SOLUTION

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

PEAR sear scar seam slam slum PLUM

CODEWORD SOLUTION

WORDSEARCH ANSWER Never let a computer know you are in a hurry. Anon

WORDWHEEL ANSWER NEWSPAPER CHILDRENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PAGE Corals C and F are identical To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

F Nov 20. 41-48.indd 45

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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12/10/2020 10:18:56

Index Please mention the magazine when contacting advertisers 7 32 29 32 2 41 38 41 21 33 41 27 31 25 47 27 32 26 28 30

Home & Garden Abre Etteh Architect All Your Garden Needs Berrylands Building Company Berrylands Property Maintenance Carpets4U Chris Mould Plumber Elsa Brown Florist Epsom Rooﬁng Honey Bee Rooﬁng KB Design Kevin Robinson Decorators Leverett Electricals Parish Arborculture Richey Brickwork R.J.Tree Services Will Lord William Stallion Electricals House & Interiors Home Products Gardening by Pippa Greenwood

5 7 37 36 9 10 12 14

Care & Health Emma’s Hair Salon Happy Place Reﬂexology Marcella Bell Podiatrist Beauty Health What is the Pancreas? Sepsis Living Wills

33 19 19 48

Rest & Relaxation Ikerboy UK King George Field Bowls Club Rebel Waltz Cycle Solutions Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club

16 18

Children & Education Kids Page Parenting

23 23 22 23

Veterinary Aspen Veterinary Surgery Cats Protection League Animal Tales Pet Care

46 46 F Nov 20. 41-48.indd 46

11 13 15 24 17

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

35 38 39 34 42

Food & Drink C.D.Jennings Prithi Glenmore House Wakes Recipe Baking

7 6

Accountant M&B Accountancy Services Ltd Finance

44 13 4 3 43 24

Articles & Editorials Community Clubs Crossword Book Review Useful Telephone Numbers Sir Edward Davey MP Last Posting Dates for Christmas

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 £54 a month your advert can feature here for a year! An email with your artwork will ensure it is featured.

So What is Stopping You? Call Now!

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

Magazine printed by Warwick Printing, Warwickshire 12/10/2020 10:18:57

R.J. Tree Services providing excellence locally for 15 years. Our qualiﬁed & professional staﬀ are dedicated to the highest levels of service in every instance. Free Quotes Tree Felling Stump Removal Hedgeworks

Tree Reductions / Crown Thins

Tree Surveys & Reports

£10 million insurance liability cover Diploma qualiﬁed NPTC licensed Oﬃce: 020 8399 0103 Mobile: 07980 903881 info@rjtrees.co.uk LOOK FOR THE RED TREE!

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

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

F Nov 20. 41-48.indd 47

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

47 47

12/10/2020 10:18:58

TENNIS AND SQUASH ARE BACK ON COURT FITNESS CLASSES ARE UP AND RUNNING JOIN THE CLUB TODAY

SURBITON.ORG 020 8399 1594

48 48 F Nov 20. 41-48.indd 48

BERRYLANDS, SURBITON, SURREY, KT5 8JT

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12/10/2020 10:18:58