Bexley Life August/September 2022 by BL Journals

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Summer across the area This Summer there are vast amounts of events and gatherings all around the Borough. Welcome to the August/September 2022 edition of Bexley Life Magazine the bi-monthly lifestyle magazine for Bexley Borough and the surrounding areas. With Summer in ‘full swing’ there really is a lot on around the area, so why not get out and enjoy it while you can? Inside this edition you will find stories and articles from around the Borough, many of the type you’d expect to see and others representing the differences we all still experience around e area. So, we would like to welcome you to this edition of Bexley Life and if you have any news, reviews, product launches or absolutely anything else of interest across the local market, please email it through to me at info@bljournals.plus.com for future consideration in our forthcoming issues.

Arthur Peaches - Editor

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EDITORIAL Arthur Peaches Editor Tel 01322 352648 Email: info@bljournals.plus.com

‘Gadgeteers’ Summer

Reading Challenge at Bexley Libraries

Children of all ages and reading abilities can take part in a science and innovation themed Summer Reading Challenge at any Bexley Library this Summer until 10 September 2022.

CAR CHARGING POINTS

Together with the six ‘Gadgeteers,’ characters brought to life by children’s writer and illustrator Julian Beresford, the Challenge helps children to discover the science behind a full range of interests, from fashion and technology to cooking and music. Children read six books of their choice over the summer holidays, collect cards and rewards along the way. They also receive a medal and certificate when they complete the Challenge. Children can join the Challenge, which began last month, at any of the six Council run Libraries, or the six community led libraries in the borough. Children can pick up their free collector cards and rewards from their local library and can find more activities on the Summer Reading Challenge website, listed below. Councillor Craske, Bexley’s Cabinet Member for Places, said: “Through L an exciting book collection and accompanying activities, the Gadgeteers will help to spark children’s curiosity about the world around them and encourage them to feed their imagination. They will be boggled by brilliant facts, gaze at the stars, and be inspired by tales of creativity and invention. With plenty of great options across picture books, early readers and middle grade books, there is lots to keep children busy at Bexley Libraries this summer!” The Summer Reading Challenge is run by the Reading Agency and offered from all Bexley Libraries. Bexley Libraries will also be holding a variety of free activities during the summer. www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk www.bexley.gov.uk

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SALES & PROMOTIONS David Peters Publisher Tel 01322 352648 Email: info@bljournals.plus.com Dennis Smith Advertisement Manager Tel 01322 352648 Email info@bljournals.plus.com

PUBLISHING COMPANY BL Journals, 3 Biddenden Way, Istead Rise, Gravesend, Kent DA13 9DE Tel 01322 352648 Email info@bljournals.plus.com @bexleylife Although every effort is made assure the accuracy of the content of this magazine, Bexley Life and it’s Publishers can accept no responsibility for such. All contents of the publication are copyright and remain the sole property of the publishing company.

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Hall Place Summer Garden Trail - Mythical Beasts Imagination Trail Times: 10am-4.30pm Cost: £2.50 per trail sheet

Follow in Sir Baggy Pants footsteps in his quest to find mythical beasts at Hall Place. Are they all beastly? Includes a small prize. Pick up your trail sheet from the Stables Gallery and Shop. Bring your own pencil or buy one for 50p. Pay on the day

This trail was produced in partnership with the onsite partner Centrepieces Mental Health Arts Project. If you would like more information about Centrepieces amazing work in the community visit http://centrepieces.org/ Location: Located outside in the gardens. Pick up your trail sheet from the Stables Gallery and Gift Shop by the Visitors Centre Who would like this: Family groups with children aged 3-10 years. The younger the child, the more family teamwork required. Advise one trail sheet per child as small chocolate prize is not easily shared. Families with under 3’s welcome at their own discretion. What to bring: Please dress for the weather and wear appropriate shoes for walking the site over uneven ground and grass areas. You will also need a pencil or pen, but you can buy one for 50p if required. How does it work: There are 7 locations to find on this garden trail. Each location will have an object to look for relating to a mythical beast. These objects are mostly art works varying in size and content. The locations will also be marked with a trail poster. The poster will name the mythical beast and give additional information of the story of Sir Baggy Pants. You need to purchase a trail sheet for the trail to make sense. The trail sheet will have a map of where to find the locations. It will also include excerpts from Sir Baggy Pants journal to help you find your way, including some fun tasks to complete. Find the trail posters to complete your trail sheet. You will need a pencil to do this, bring your own or buy one for 50p. Our trails are designed for all the family to participate, but you only need buy the trail sheet for each child taking part. If you have any questions, please ask at the shop to look at a trail sheet to make sure it is suitable for your family before purchasing. The prize is usually a small chocolate bar, but please ask before purchasing the trail if there are any alternatives. Booked online: Please bring your ticket email QR code to the Stables Gallery and Shop to pick up your trail sheet. You can buy on the day as well. Accessibility & Facilities: All trail sheets are bagged up with the prize so that you do not need to return to the shop. There may be a queue for the trails at peak times. Please remember to socially distance especially inside. If you are able, ask one person to queue so that the rest of the group don’t get bored. This event is held on uneven parkland. There is the café and toilets nearby including disabled toilet and baby change. www.hallplace.org.uk

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Summer workshops ar Lauriann’s STEM Club Summer ‘Careers Advice’ Workshop

• Free CV Check • STEM Careers Advice • 1-1 sessions • Routes into Science, Tech, Eng, Maths • Advice about Apprenticeships, placements, University • Ask a Professional • Pathways into STEM (STEM Pathways) Age Group: Year 7-13 (Ages 11 - 18) Date: 13th August 2022

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Location: The Exchange, The Old Library, Walnut Tree Rd, Erith DA8 1RS Time: 12.00pm - 3.00pm

Summer ‘Coding Camp’ Workshop

• Introduction Into coding; what is coding • Fundamentals of coding • Taster session - How to code • Industry professionals • Career Pathways in coding Age Group: Year 7-9 (Ages 11-14) Date: 1st - 5th August 2022 Location: Online Time: 10am - 3.30pm www.lauriannsstemclub.co.uk

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Sidcup Place Community Garden awarded the coveted Green Flag Award

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Sidcup Place Community Garden is celebrating after receiving a Green Flag Award for the walled garden at Sidcup Place, in the London Borough of Bexley. The news that Sidcup Place Community Garden has achieved the Green Flag Award is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that make the green space a great place that everyone can enjoy. The award is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces. The past two years have seen our parks and green spaces play a vital role for people through lockdowns as a place to relax, exercise and meet friends and family safely. Cabinet Member for Places, Cllr Peter Craske said:” This is great news for Sidcup Place. I know how hard the volunteers and organisers work to keep these gardens looking great. My congratulations go to the whole team.” Roger Harris, Chairman of Sidcup Place Community Garden said: “We are really grateful for the support of the Council in various ways over the years, including the provision of excellent green waste cages. The Parks and Open Spaces Team encouraged us to apply for this accolade and I’m delighted that our small community space has been recognised.” Commenting on the news that Sidcup Place Community Garden has met the Green Flag Award standard, Keep Britain Tidy’s Accreditation Manager Paul Todd said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making the walled garden at Sidcup Place worthy of a Green Flag Award. “Sidcup Place Community Garden is a vital green space for the community in Bexley. This award is testament to all the hard work of volunteers and sponsors, supported by the local authority, who do so much to ensure that it maintains the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.” The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces. It sets the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.

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Night markets in Bexleyheath N E W S

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Bexleyheath’s night markets are still underway on the last Friday of each month on the following dates: 26 August, 30 September and 28 October.

The night markets will run between 6pm and 10pm in the pedestrianised area of the Broadway, Bexleyheath. You’ll be able to discover delicious and affordable street food, local artisan products, craft beers, cocktails and more while listening to the sounds of musicians*. There will be fun activities for the kids to enjoy while you relax into your weekend. Councillor Teresa O’Neill OBE, Leader of the Council, said: “Now that the days are longer it’s great that we have been able to secure this funding to provide something extra in our town centre for local residents. We hope that it will encourage more people to visit the town centre in the evening and that it will increase trade in the shops, delivering a much-needed boost to the community.” Traders will offer a range of specialist products and traditional items. Three of the market’s stalls will feature products from young entrepreneurs in the Borough and this will be managed in conjunction with expert partners. Rai Holdstock from the Bexleyheath Business Improvement District (BID) said: “We are so pleased that the funding is being used to help all businesses get back on their feet. The Friday markets will help revive the evening economy and bring the local community into our town.” London Borough of Bexley and local partners including the BID, have secured funding from the Mayor of London’s High Street for All Challenge. The monthly night market event is part of a collaborative initiative to test new approaches to revitalise Bexleyheath town centre. www.bexley.gov.uk

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C O V E R

S T O R Y

What are the common misconceptions about dental implants?

Dental implants are an effective solution when it comes to missing teeth. They look - and feel - like real teeth and can require much less attention and maintenance than other options if you’ve lost teeth Most dental implants will be created from a titanium post that is implanted into the jawbone. A crown is then attached to the top and this can be made from ceramic, resin or porcelain. The end result is a smile that looks as though there were never any teeth missing from it. Dental implants are popular today but there are still some misconceptions that surround them - these are the most common: ● Implants are only for retirees - It’s true that it’s as we get older that we are more likely to experience tooth loss so that’s when implants can be most useful. However, a dental implant is the ideal choice for replacing a lost tooth at any age, whether that’s the result of an injury or accident, or due to genetics or diet.

● The process of fitting dental implants is painful - Anesthetic is used during the process of fitting a dental implant so it is no more painful than a regular dental procedure. You won’t feel the drilling part and will be able to manage any discomfort that happens afterwards with regular over-the-counter pain medication. Any discomfort that occurs after the first stage of fitting an implant is unlikely to last longer than a week. The second stage - fitting the crown - is painless. Your dentist will be able to talk you through the process, including anesthetic and pain management.

● Implants feel fake and look fake - In fact ,there is no indication that the implant isn’t simply one of your teeth because they are designed to be very realistic. A dental implant will be drilled into your jaw so that it sits next to other teeth and the crown is designed to fit the colour of your other teeth. For most patients, neither they nor anyone else can tell the difference between their teeth and the implant.

● You must have perfect teeth for implants to work - In fact, the reason many people opt for dental implants is often because their teeth are far from perfect. You will need to have a healthy jaw bone to be eligible for implants, as this is where the dental implant will attach. Your dentist will also look at the health of your gums and surrounding teeth to ensure that the implant is going to be the right choice for you.

● The cost of dental implants is prohibitive - If you’re looking for a solution to something like a missing tooth then a dental implant is simple in cost terms. After the initial payment for having the implant fitted, as long as you look after it, there should be minimal costs associated with the implant on an ongoing basis. Because of this it can actually work out to be cheaper than other options that require more frequent updating and maintenance.

Dental implants make a real difference to your smile - don’t let these common misconceptions stop you from getting them. One major bene to dental implants is it is a fixed set of teeth so you do not need to worry about removing the teeth each night and you get the benefit of an instant restoration of your smile, confidence and ability to chew better. Zental offer a haven of tranquillity, thoughtfully designed to stimulate the senses and complemented by state-of-the-art technology that makes your experience calm, relaxing and ultimately re-energising. Book your appointment with Zental and find out more. www.zental.uk

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Monsterous good fun in Eltham

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

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In present-day England, 13 year-old Conor O’Malley wakes up from his usual nightmare to hear someone calling his name. The yew tree across from his house has transformed into a humanoid monster and threatens to eats him alive. The next morning, Conor finds no evidence of the monster’s visit except for pile of yew tree berries in his trainers.

Conor’s mother is sick, and Conor keeps the household running when his mum is too tired. At school, Conor is isolated from the other students, who know about his mother’s illness. He is bullied by Harry and his gang, and his only friend is Lily, whom he is not speaking to because she told the whole school about his mum’s illness. Conor has strained relationships with the other adults in his life. His parents are divorced and his dad lives in America, and Conor does not get along with his fussy grandmother. Except for his mother, Conor feels very alone, and he has a dark secret that he won’t tell even her: the truth of what happens in his nightmare every night. The monster visits Conor regularly and says it will tell him three stories. After which Conor must tell the monster a fourth story - the truth of what happens in his nightmare. Despite Conor’s protestations, the monster begins to tell his tales. www.bobhopetheatre.co.uk

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Lots to treasure at Greenwich Theatre by James Haddrell, Artistic Director of Greenwich Theatre. As I write this we are in the first week of rehearsal for this year’s summer family show – and there surely couldn’t be a more fitting tale for Maritime Greenwich than Treasure Island. Robert Louis Stevenson’s adventure story, which sees Jim Hawkins set sail with Long John Silver in search of buried treasure. However, while our version of the story includes all of the well-known characters, from the onelegged Silver to the marooned pirate Ben Gunn, I have been lucky enough to track down the funniest adaptation I’ve ever read for this show – a stage version by theatre company Le Navet Bete. Written for a cast of four actors playing over 20 characters between them, the show features a string of madcap additions – with Silver’s parrot Alexa constantly misunderstanding whatever is being said, the friendly Captain Birdseye who leads Jim’s crew and has a penchant for fishfingers, and a very unexpected relationship between Jim and a mermaid… Treasure Island launches a string of family shows coming to Greenwich Theatre over the coming months. On 5 and 6 August, we bring one of my favourite emerging theatre companies, Bucket Club, to the garden of the Kings Arms in Greenwich for two special outdoor performances of Catch That Beast, a magical, deliciously silly show exploring how we interact with wild things. Then on 8 and 9 August, Eric Carle’s iconic books are brought to life in The Very Hungry

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Caterpillar, with a menagerie of 75 lovable puppets and charming music bringing the caterpillar to the stage alongside Brown Bear Brown Bear, 10 Little Rubber Ducks and The Very Lonely Firefly. On 10 and 11 September we welcome the locally based Moon On A Stick with their show Baby Bear, with parallel performances created for children either 0-18 months or up to 3 years old. At half-term we have not one but two productions from Little Angel Theatre in Islington transferring to Greenwich. First, audiences will be running down the grassy bank, wading through the cold river, squelching over the oozy mud, stumbling into the dark forest, then peering into a cave when Michael Rosen’s much-loved story We’re Going On A Bear Hunt is brought to life with puppets and music. Then, a stellar line-up including Emma Thompson and Rag’n’Bone Man have lent their voices to the stage production of There’s A Rang-Tan In My Bedroom. Inspired by the Greenpeace campaign films There’s a Rang-Tan in My Bedroom and There’s a Monster in My Kitchen written by James Sellick, shows young audiences what they can do to help the natural world – because nobody is too small to make a difference. The year comes to a close with the return of the Greenwich pantomime – this year an all-new version of Robin Hood – complete with a star turn from Anthony Spargo as The Sheriff Of Nottingham. As the theatre industry has slowly emerged from the pandemic, it has been heartening to see so many families returning to the theatre quickly. We’ve missed them, and can’t wait to share this season’s shows with all ages. www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk

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Wonderful musical entertainment at Bexley Park in September Friday 9th September AMELIA STREET

Amelia Street are David Clark and Lee Ellis who met in the midnineties and then first played together in the full band line-ups of pop bands ‘Judge’ and ‘Amelia’.

With a common love of good song-writing, melodic acoustic guitars and vocal harmonies, Amelia Street continue to write and record new material as well as performing live shows that include their back catalogue of songs alongside influential covers from their pasts. The four-track EP ‘Haven’t Got a Clue’ was released recently and is available on all of the major download and streaming platforms. Music | Amelia Street (ameliastreetsongs.com) https://www.facebook.com/ameliastreetsongs/ https://youtube.com/c/AmeliaStreetSongs

THE BIG BLUE

The Big Blue has played blues festivals, beer festivals and private gigs at garden parties, BBQs, birthday parties, weddings, charity gigs, New Year parties, end-of-term celebrations, biker gatherings, anniversaries and many other special occasions.

They don’t churn out the usual song covers (you won’t be singing along to “Hi Ho Silver Lining”) but if you’re looking for music that’ll have you reaching for your air guitar and shimmyin’ and shakin’ your booty, The Big Blue may be just right for you. For more information visit: www.bexleypark.co.uk

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‘Pomona’ at Erith Playhouse

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Written by Alistair McDowall Directed by Charlotte Jacobs 12 – 17 September 2022

“I think I’d sleep a lot easier if I knew none of us would wake up tomorrow.”

Ollie’s sister is missing. Searching Manchester in desperation, she finds all roads lead to Pomona – an abandoned concrete island at the heart of the city. Here at the centre of everything, journeys end and nightmares are born. A sinister and surreal thriller from Alistair McDowall, Pomona received its world premiere at the Orange Tree Theatre, London, on 12 November 2014..

Pomona - 12th to 17th September

www.playhouse.org.uk

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