community
October 2013
Didsbury
View the latest edition at www.communityindex.co.uk Delivered FREE to homes & businesses in Didsbury
Firewood from £85 m 3
including free local delivery
CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANERS • • • • • •
FAST DRYING SYSTEM FREE STAIN & ODOUR REMOVAL STAINGUARD PROTECTION 10% RETIRED PERSONS DISCOUNT ALL WORK IS FULLY INSURED ALL FURNITURE MOVED BY OPERATIVE
We are a local company based in Chorlton Fully trained to NCCA standards Ring or email for a FREE ESTIMATE
07742 369 231
or leave a message on 0161 881 4822 contact@pro-fresh.co.uk www.pro-fresh.co.uk
We clean your oven… so you don’t have to Call today to have your oven, hob, extractor or Aga professionally cleaned Ian Glancy Mob Tel: 07580 765765
www.ovenwizards.com
The Didsbury Handyman City & Guilds multi skilled Tradesman
Local hardwood firewood | Timber for joinery Mulch for local allotments | Compost Biomass woodchip
Carpentry • Joinery • Electrical • Plumbing Kitchens • Fencing • Built in Furniture • Decks Gates • Shelves • Locks • Hardware
call Nick
0777 852 3088
Domestic & Commercial Small works always welcome
2
www.treestation.co.uk 0161 231 3333
Public Liability Insurance Environmentally Aware
Greater Manchester TreeStation Ltd - A Society for the Benefit of the Community committed to combatting climate change, FSA Mutuals registered number 31552R
v
WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
Welcome
Contents Book Reviews
7
to the new Community Index
Southern Cemetery
8
Friends of Lapwing Arcade
9
Hello and welcome to another edition of Community Index. If you’re a first time reader, I hope you’ll enjoy our great mix of news and features about what’s going on in Chorlton and Whalley Range. It’s always nice to hear what’s going on from community groups and events that are happening so if you’re interesting in featuring in Community Index drop me a line (contact details at bottom of page) or Tweet at us! Even though we’ve seen the back of Summer, there’s no reason to hibernate just yet. This month Chorlton Fireworks (page 5) will provide everything you need to light up the sky with their ranges of fireworks if you’re preparing for an exciting bonfire night! It’s time to start planning for the festive season, so if you’d like to reach 20,000 homes before Christmas, get in touch by October 15th and book your advert. If the weather is making you feel a little glum, take a leaf from Majunaga’s book and look for some peace inside yourself. See page 18 for a preview of his enlightening ‘Reflections’ blog. However you choose to enjoy the month, we host a range of businesses that can ensure you stay warm at home (Tree Station - page 2 and Select Plumbing at Heating page 21). Have a spooky October!
Joe Beech Joe Beech Editor Lesley Swann Director Sam Paechter Accounts
Cover Image Nola Chesworth Contributors Deborah Grace Theo Andrews Nola Chesworth Billie Hall Katherine Watson Geoff Garnett Deadline for next edition 15th September 2013
Didsbury People Dates for your Diary
4 4-5
News from the Vine Project
10
Village Dry Cleaners
13
Local News
15
Manjunaga
18
Community Index
19
September In Your Garden
20
Local Sport
21
Business Index
23
Community Index is delivered to 5000 homes in the local area each month. You can also pick up a copy from the following locations Didsbury Library, The Parsonage, Cafe Nero, Costa Coffee, Saints & Scholars, The Art of Tea, Didsbury Dental Health Centre
Community Index 149 Ayres Road Manchester M16 9WR T : 0787 589 5604 E: editor@communityindex.co.uk @communityindex www.communityindex.co.uk
Didsbury People Andy Ellison
Interview by Deborah Grace Fire fighter, Andy Ellison, is enjoying increasing success as a jazz and swing singer. He and his band perform all over the UK and are well-known to Manchester audiences with regular gigs at Matt and Phreds. Here Andy talks about late nights, his dual career and the joys of people-watching! www.andy-ellison.co.uk
How long have you lived in Didsbury?
When and how did you get into singing?
I moved to Didsbury three years ago, but before that I lived in Withington which is only up the road.
I’ve always been a performer - whether in choirs, gang shows or musicals. I started my solo singing career in pubs and clubs and caught the bug straight away. That’s where I learned my trade and learned the important art of how to read an audience and get them involved in the performance.
What gets you up in the morning? Honestly, not much. I’m not a morning person. I prefer to work until the early hours and sleep all morning. If I do get up early it’s to see my little girl go off to school.
How long have you worked for Greater Manchester Fire Service? I’ve been a fire fighter for nearly 13 years, mainly at Broughton fire station in Salford, one of the busiest in Manchester.
What are the best and worst things about being a fire fighter?
So where do you go from here? I’ve just signed with a management company in London who are taking me on board and fine tuning me. I’m hoping to go on tour in 2014 and aim to release my first single early next year!
What do you think of shows like ‘The Voice’ and ‘X Factor’?
The best thing is the people you work with. You build a strong bond with your colleagues from the experiences you go through. You know you can trust them and they can trust you. The negative side is definitely the incidents I attend. Some of them can be pretty awful, which is why it is so important to work with a good group of people.
I enjoy them; they’re a strong base for developing talent. I just worry that they give young performers a false impression of the industry with the idea that the competition is their only way of having a singing career. You don’t have to win a TV talent show to build a successful career in performing. But you must be prepared for long hours and a lot of hard work!
Who are your biggest musical influences?
Complete the sentence: ‘I love Didsbury because …’
I’d have to go with the obvious and say Frank Sinatra. He was the first ‘celebrity’ singer. He knew how to entertain an audience and sell himself, not just to his fans but to the world and the press. I’d then go with Michael Bublé; again, he knows how to give an audience a good time.
4
There’s always somewhere new to go - new bars, restaurants, cafés, delis and shops. The people are nice and take pride in where they live and work which creates a great atmosphere. I love nothing more than to sit in a Didsbury café with a double espresso and my laptop. I can get work done, enjoy a spot of people-watching and just watch the world go by.
WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
% 0 6 to Up RRP off
Chorlton Fireworks Spend £60.00 or more for Halloween and get a pack of 4 GHOULS PARTY FOUNTAINS FREE (while stocks last)
Fireworks for all occasions | Open all year round We stock a range of fireworks, hand picked by us from all the UK’s leading brands All fireworks we sell are British Standard fireworks. Many more offers in store for Halloween and bonfire night
TEL : 0161 881 3990 | EMAIL : BOOM2BLOOM@HOTMAIL.CO.UK 350 BARLOW MOOR ROAD, CHORLTON, MANCHESTER M21 8AZ
index
community Community Index Didsbury is a monthly full colour A5 magazine. Established in May 2010, we print 5,500 copies each month and deliver 5,000 to the north of Barlow Moor Rd/School Lane one month and then 5,000 to different homes to the south side the following month. The remaining copies are available to pick up in various Didsbury locations each month. So, by advertising for at least 2 months you’ll achieve a coverage of 10,000+ homes.
Advertising rates are per edition per month. We offer a discount for bookings of 4 months or more. We also publish a Community Index magazine for Chorlton & Whalley Range with a similar distribution pattern. Advertising in both magazines for two months gives you a coverage of over 20,000 local homes.
Advert Size Twelfth Eighth page Quarter page Half page Full page Back Cover
1 month
4 months
monthly equivalent
£35 £49 £69 £99 £169 £250
£100 £156 £220 £340 £596 £800
£25 £39 £55 £85 £149 £200
5% discount if you book in both editions. Leaflet Insertions - £35 per thousand. Advert design service available - please call or email for details.
Contact: Joe Beech
Tel: 0787 589 5604
editor@communityindex.co.uk
Book Reviews handsome new tenant, life for the poor drudges below stairs must have been considerably less pleasant. ‘If Elizabeth Bennet had the washing of her own petticoats, Sarah thought, she would be more careful not to trudge through muddy fields.’
Longbourn - Pride and Prejudice: The Servants’ Story Jo Baker It is a truth rarely acknowledged that while the Bennet girls, simpering over their cross-stitch, extolled the charms of Netherfield and its
It is wash-day at Longbourn and Sarah’s chilblained hands are chapped and bleeding. An orphan rescued from the workhouse, she is one of just four servants – exhausted and overworked – employed in the Bennet household. Sharing Elizabeth’s ready wit and love of reading, but without the prospect of a dazzling marriage to a Mr Darcy, Sarah’s future appears in drab contrast to that of her young mistress. However, deeper and more mature of the two works, although less well constructed because of the many transformations during its writing.
Tender Is The Night F. Scott Fitzgerald Published in 1934 after eight years of rewritings and revisions, Tender is the Night is Scott Fitzgerald’s second best known novel after ‘The Great Gatsby’. Nonetheless, I would argue that it is the
Set in the 1920s in France and Switzerland, it’s the story of Dick and Nicole Diver, an affluent American couple, and their equally privileged set. But very little is rosy in this outwardly elegant and sophisticated circle. Dick has compromised his career as a rising psychiatrist by marrying into the fortune of his beautiful patient, Nicole. He has to experience her gradual recovery and independence against the disintegration of their marriage and his own drunken demise.
with the arrival of a mysterious stranger, the new footman, Sarah’s life is about to change. 200 years after the publication of ‘Pride and Prejudice’, there have been countless tributes - including spoofs, prequels and sequels. But Jo Baker’s homage, retelling the story from the servants’ perspective, is utterly engaging and provides a fascinating, new slant on the original. In Austen’s novel, the servants are barely mentioned, but Baker places them centre stage, giving them a voice at once powerful and poignant. Without attempting to parody Austen’s style, Baker achieves an authenticity which makes you wonder why you have not noticed these characters before. • Deborah Grace critique of the hollowness of the moneyed classes and their tendency to exploit and crush people they consider less lofty than themselves. In this sense it resembles Evelyn Waugh’s later work, Brideshead Revisited. However, it is also the tragic chronicle of a loving relationship gone wrong, very similar to that of the author and his troubled wife, Zelda. Apart from the emotional quality, more evident here than in the glacial ‘Gatsby’, what makes this book extremely readable is the detailed depiction of an era which, despite its excesses, was brilliant in the rich creativity of its culture. • Theo Andrews
The novel is ultimately a
WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
7
Southern Cemetery L.S. Lowry (1887-1976)
by Nola Chesworth
Step inside the Cemetery Gates, you not only step into one of Manchester’s finest nature reserves; you walk into the peaceful grounds, which are now home to some of Manchester’s finest historical figures. The cemetery office offers a list of ‘Notable Graves’ so you can find your way to the resting places of many Mancunians whose names are known much further away than Lancashire. In this new regular feature Nola Chesworth introduces us to some of those characters.
Laurence Stephen Lowry (1887-1976), was born in Stretford and is quite possibly Southern Cemetery’s most famous resident. Buried under a stone cross alongside his mother and father, paintbrushes have been left beside his grave by fans that have travelled to pay their respects. The Lowry in Salford holds the world’s largest collection of his work; frequently changing the exhibitions, allowing even regular visitors to discover a painting they have never seen before, while Manchester Art Gallery also has on display a number of paintings.
To Mancunians, bumping into a Lowry in any gallery is like bumping into an old friend; his familiar figures, grey skies, and industrial landscapes as recognisable to us as any Picasso, Van Gough or Monet. Whether you are viewing his paintings in MOMA, in New York or The Christchurch Art Gallery in New Zealand, you will instantly be taken home through his unique style. A major Lowry retrospective at Tate Britain is running until the end of October, allowing people from all over the world to discover why L.S Lowry is so loved not only in Manchester, but all over the country.
Dates for your diary Christ Church, West Didsbury
Didsbury Traders
Thurs 31st October - 7.30pm
Thursday 10th October : 6 - 7.30pm
Eucharist Service for All Souls incorporating the Fauré Requiem.
Meeting at Fletcher Moss Pub
Performed by the choirs of Christ Church and St Paul’s Withington.
8
WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
Please enter our raffle! With some editions of the Community Index you will receive a book of raffle tickets raising funds for local charity FOLLA. FOLLA (Friends of Lapwing Lane Arcade) is a group of local residents who desperately want to save the glorious old canopy in front of the shops on Lapwing Lane where it meets Palatine Road. The canopy is rusting and close to collapse. The campaign has been running for 18 months and raised well over £50,000 but needs at least another £10,000 to make sure this Edwardian
gem can be saved. FOLLA plans to get the restoration work underway this winter. Please support FOLLA by buying the book of tickets, or selling them on to your friends. The ticket stubs and the money can be returned to Fusion Deli on the Lapwing Lane Arcade, where more books of tickets are available, if required. The grand draw for the raffle will take place on Saturday October 5th at a Quiz/Auction night to be held at the Albert Club on Old Lansdowne Road. Tickets for this event are also on sale at Fusion Deli.
To become a Friend Of Lapwing Lane Arcade pop into Inmans, and for a contribution of £5 you will receive a membership card and be subscribed to our regular newsletter.
www.folla.org.uk
Friends Of Lapwing Lane Arcade
Open
HOUSE Calling All Didsbury Renters! We’ve launched a new review website for people just like you. To find out more and to be in with a chance of winning a £100’s worth of Ikea vouchers, log on to www.ratedrentals.com
www.ratedrentals.com WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
9
News From The Vine Project Enjoy frills & thrills at a charity fashion show! When? 7.30-10 pm, Friday 1 November
Where? Emmanuel
Church, Barlow Moor Road, Didsbury
What? Charity fashion
show to raise funds in aid of vulnerable children
Didsbury’s beautiful Emmanuel Church will be the setting for an evening of fun, fashion and catwalk glamour on Friday 1st November (7.30 pm). From understated French elegance to extreme makeovers, there will truly be something for everyone. Watch out for stylistic fireworks from Feverish Imaginings, the exciting new label of bespoke corset maker, Yasmin Kaberry. Other highlights include collections from Chorlton boutique, Nood, and fashion retailers, Captain Tortue and So In Fashion. The evening, compèred by Didsbury-based entertainer, Peter Chapman, will also feature live music, refreshments and stalls selling handmade Zulu
Feverish Imaginings (back view of corset) - photo by Natasha Roger, model Navada Rudden Stewart
jewellery. Proceeds go to The Vine Project. The Didsbury-based, volunteer-led charity supports vulnerable children in a township in KwaZulu Natal who have lost their parents through AIDS - now the leading cause of death in South Africa. Fashion show organiser and Vine committee member, Joanne Kaberry, said: ‘This is going to be a fantastic evening with lots of drama, some surprises and a wide range of high quality fashion to suit all ages and styles. “By supporting this event you will be boosting The Vine Project’s vital work, helping create opportunities, mainly through education, which will make a difference to the lives of some of the world’s poorest children.”
Feverish Imaginings - photo by Lubino Do Rego, model Lucinda Shale
Tickets (£8) and further details: Joanne Kaberry 07855 790 995 jositak@hotmail.com
thevineproject.org.uk
from small borders to whole gardens
grass roots garden design
garden design, landscaping, planting plans horticultural and landscaping advice
Contact Severine Cochard on 07790 631 078
mail@grassrootsgardening.org.uk www.grassrootsgardening.org.uk
10
WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
clive victor gale freelance hairdressing
CUTTING AND STYLING
PRICES FROM
Ladies Cut and Blow Dry Gents Cut and Blow Dry
£28 £21
COLOURS AND TREATMENTS £51 Re-growth Tint £65 Full Colour Change Highlights from £65 inclusive of cut and blow Want a change from the Salon experience? Having your hair done should be an enjoyable and relaxing experience. I have been hairdressing for 25 years and take great pride in listening to clients and understanding their expectations.
mob 07947 509 411 tel 0161 281 1122
Osiris Lashes Eyelash extensions with Lash Perfect Qualified technician. · Home salon for convenient appointment times · Lash and brow tinting · ‘Party lashes’ for that quick-fix · Fully insured. osirislashes@yahoo.co.uk | www.osirislashes.co.uk Tel:07930 544152 or 0161 881 7542
Get Your New
Tag! Pass It On Card Now!
visit tagpassiton.com or pick up from participating stores
Alexander Technique individual sessions and groups
Sue Fleming MSTAT www.alexanderteaching.co.uk ☎ 861 8848 mob 07796470163 The Burton Road Clinic Didsbury Chequers Road Chorlton Pauline Leng
MSTAT
www.alexandertechniquemanchester.net
☎ 445 8530 mob 07821470349 The Didsbury Holistic Centre and Lidgate Grove Didsbury
WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
11
Rewarding customer loyalty up to
20%off
with our customer loyalty card scheme (terms & conditions apply)
Celebrating 30 years in Chorlton • Experts in stain removal • Ironing Services • Repars & Alterations
Same Day Service Available OPENING TIMES Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri 8.30-5.30pm Thurs (late night) Saturday
8.30-7.00pm
8.30-4.00pm
The Village Dry Cleaners A Family Affair Chorlton’s Village Dry cleaners was set up by husband and wife team Masoud and Nooshin back in the autumn of 1982. Their background had been in clothing manufacture and in tailoring respectively so when it came to fabrics they had a wealth of experience. From the outset, they worked hard to build up the reputation of the business, gaining a name for themselves for outstanding cleaning with friendly customer service. When their children were old enough to help out, their son and daughter used to come in on Saturdays and school holidays but it was their son Amir who took a real interest in the business. Learning his trade at his father’s side, Amir spent over 25 years working alongside Masoud. In 2008 Masoud decided it was time to retire and Amir took over the reins. Since taking over, Amir decided that The Village Dry Cleaners of Chorlton would be the best cleaners in Manchester. He has invested heavily in the latest machinery and technology which not only offers superb cleaning but is also more environmentally friendly. He did not stop there; he has modernised the whole shop, with glass frontage making a clean and airy space, and new interior décor which gives a more boutique look. Outside there is customer parking and
a new ramp giving easy access for wheelchairs and parents with pushchairs. He further modernised the business by adding late night opening hours on a Thursday and by creating a very sleek and extensive website which is well worth checking out. Amir is always looking for new ways to improve the business and stay ahead of the times whilst keeping that family feel and the friendly service that they are famous for. So what is new at the Village? Recently Amir has invested in one of the newest innovations in dry cleaning technology in the form of an Ozone machine. This can kill bacteria and eliminate odours without the use of potentially damaging chemicals. It’s particularly useful for getting rid of mould or the smell of clothes that may have been in storage for a long time and is proving to be very good at freshening up the Man Utd mascot Fred the Red! Another new addition is the hydrocarbon machine which can clean the most delicate of fabrics and all clothes which require F cleaning. The Village Dry Cleaners’ reputation for quality and professionalism has led it to become the first choice in cleaning for many of Manchester’s finest Bridal Boutiques so with so many delicate and ornate (not to mention expensive) dresses needing to be cleaned it is
WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
essential that they have not only the best cleaning methods but also the safest. Word has spread about the high standards employed and, particularly for bridal and vintage wear, people are travelling from far and wide to use their services. Amir can not only clean wedding dresses but also veils and shoes and can place them in a beautiful handmade preservation box to keep forever. Another new line is the handbag cleaning and handbag care products. If you have an old beloved bag that has seen better days then take it in and see what they can do. So what’s happening next? A new computerised till which will make the dropping off and collecting of clothes a simpler process and which will notify customers via email when their clothes are ready for collection. And finally a new loyalty card scheme which offers customers up to 20% discount off their cleaning bill and which replaces the old 3 for 2 offer, so no need to wait until you have 3 dirty suits to clean just come in and pick up your free customer card and loyalty bag and start saving straight away!
13
Community Courses in South Manchester
Village Physio & Sports Injury Clinic
Understanding Understanding and and Reducing Reducing Stress Stress Sat Sat 5th 5th Oct Oct 2013 2013
Developing Developing Assertiveness Assertiveness Skills Skills Sun Sun 6th 6th Oct Oct 2013 2013
Being Being in in aa Long Long Term Term Relationship Relationship Sat Sat 30th 30th Nov Nov 2013 2013
Listening Listening to to Our Our Dreams Dreams Sun Sun 1st 1st Dec Dec 2013 2013 Times: 10 – 5
• • • • • •
Physiotherapy Sports Massage Massage in Pregnancy Core Strengthening Podiatry Ergonomic Assessments
Cost: £45.00
For more information, please contact the centre
Manchester Gestalt Centre for courses, psychotherapy, counselling and supervision Manchester Gestalt Centre 7 Norman Road Fallowfield M14 5LF www.mgc.org.uk Tel: 0161 257 2202 email info@mgc.org.uk
3 Warburton Street, Didsbury Village, Manchester M20 6WA 0161 448 7844 didsburyphysio@btinternet.com www.didsburyphysio.co.uk
Responsible financial advice for a world of difference We’re still here! With more than 20 years of providing ethical financial advice in South Manchester the Gaeia name will be known to many of you. Despite moving from Didsbury to central Manchester we continue to look after many loyal clients in the area.
• Ethical savings & investment advice • Prudent pensions & retirement planning
Since our merger with Castlefield, we’re now part-owned by a charitable foundation, our employees and even our clients – unusual in financial services!
• Income protection & health insurance • Ethical financial advice for businesses • Investment management for Charities and not-for-profit organisations
Whether you are an individual, business, charity or not-for-profit organisation, Gaeia can provide a financial planning service which incorporates both your ethical values and your financial needs.
Contact us at our new office: 0161 233 4550, 1 Portland Street, Manchester M1 3BE. Visit us at www.gaeia.com SGCOMINDX/010413
Gaeia is a trading name of Castlefield Gaeia Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales No. 04605261. Registered office 3 Brook Office Park, Folly Brook Road, Emersons Green, Bristol, BS16 7FL.
14
WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
(www.didsburyphysio.co.uk/ downloads/ for advice on setting up a desk).
Physio Tips: School Bags by Billie Hall Village Physio Lift up your child’s school bag – does it feel heavy? Heavy bags and limited locker space can contribute to back pain in children and adolescents, which can make them more prone to back pain as an adult. As well as carrying heavy school bags, ill-fitting classroom furniture combined with sedentary lifestyles; computer
games, using laptops etc slumped on a bed or couch and poor posture means many adolescents could be exposing themselves to back trouble.
What to do? · Use a rucksack and encourage them to use both straps. · Clear out their bag daily. · Set up a desk with a supportive chair for schoolwork
· Improve your own posture– kids learn by example. · Limit the use of ipads, laptops etc on the sofa to a maximum 20 minutes – for longer use a desk and sit back in the chair. · Help your child find something they enjoy exercise wise – martial arts are very good at strengthening postural core muscles. · MOVE MORE!
Community Cash Grants
from South Manchester Regeneration Scheme We are giving community groups across Didsbury a chance to improve their local neighbourhoods, having set aside funding to help local people improve their areas and make them cleaner, safer and better places to live in. The Cash grants scheme aims to help local residents groups and community groups take on the projects that can make a real difference to their lives and neighbourhoods. We believe local people know best what changes are needed
to improve their environment and quality of life and these grants help turn these ideas into reality. In the past we have seen many excellent, innovative schemes. Many of those have made a real difference to the way people feel about their local communities, the satisfaction they get out of using new and improved facilities as well as the pleasure of becoming involved. Grants can be used to fund projects that will improve the local environment, build a
stronger sense of community or contribute to delivering ward plan priorities, which you can get from your regeneration ward officer. What you need to do: Submit an application form with all the relevant questions completed and ensure that you have provided any supporting evidence that is required. Contact your regeneration ward officer on 0161 882 1316 or e-mail p.williams1@manchester. gov.uk to request a copy of the application form.
Acorn
CHIMNEY SWEEPING SERVICES
Call John 0161 445 3650
NACS member
open fires, boilers Agas, multi-fuel stoves, birds nests removed www.acornchimneysweepingservices.co.uk
WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
15
ThePurplePages Welcome
JP & Brimelow are proud to support
to JP & Brimelow’s Purple Pages. This month we introduce you to Kim, Property Manager at the Didsbury Lettings office. Also six of the best properties available to let in Didsbury. To arrange a market appraisal give Didsbury Lettings a call on 0161 445 2300. Lucy Brown Didsbury Lettings Manager MARLA
Meet Kim
Property Manager to inspecting a property when tenants have vacated and of course all sorts of things that happen in-between. What’s special about Didsbury as a place? I like the way such a vibrant town still has a close village feel. It speaks for itself that so many of our tenants move from other areas across the UK usually by recommendation! Describe your job. As the Property Manager in the Didsbury Lettings branch, I look after all aspects of a tenancy from move in to move out. My day can bring anything from renewing a Tenancy Agreement
Where’s your favourite restaurant/café in Didsbury for a Lunch time meal? Saints and Scholars, they do a cracking hot chocolate and have a great menu with a really friendly atmosphere.
interests out of the wonderful world of JP & Brimelow? I’m currently doing up my house and I’m very handy with a sledgehammer! I also have a very bouncy Labradoodle that keeps me on my toes and needs plenty of exercise. And finally, describe your perfect day. Anything that involves shopping, eating or baking gets my vote. Any normal day off usually combines all three!
What are your hobbies and m
u. T yo e. LE m EE m st o R o ju y fr a F r h ve wa r you ha a fo n e rs ay o W oo tod isal d w us pra fe ll a Ca t ap ke ar
GRAB YOUR FREE BAG
0161 445 2300 DIDSBURY LETTINGS 721 Wilmslow Rd Didsbury M20 6WF
0161 445 2300 lettings@jpbrimelow.co.uk www.jpandbrimelow.co.uk
We’re passionate about M20. So much so, we’ve emblazoned our appreciation for all things Didsbury on our very own eco-bags. So, come into our office today and grab yourself a bag, for FREE! Use it for your Cheddar from the Cheese Hamlet, or your Angus Beef from Axons...Go on show your love for M20!
DIDSBURY SALES 748a Wilmslow Rd Didsbury M20 2DW
0161 448 0622 didsbury@jpbrimelow.co.uk
the be Eight of st all let
Philip Godlee Lodge
Philip Godlee Lodge
Barlow Moor Road
Jefferson
Citi Peak Block
Wessex Lodge
Riverside Lodge
Didsbury Gate
@jpandbrimelow
www.jpandbrimelow.co.uk
OďŹƒces also in: Chorlton 0161 882 2233 chorlton@jpbrimelow.co.uk Withington 0161 445 9700 withington@jpbrimelow.co.uk
Does the Body rule the Mind, or does the mind rule the body? by Manjunaga Morrisey of the Smiths once asked the question “Does the body rule the mind, or does the mind rule the body?” and Morrisey is not the only person to have pondered such a question – the 17th century french philosopher Descartes had asked similar questions. He is famous for his dictum ‘I think therefore I am’ – the idea that thinking proceeds experience. In Western thought we generally
view the body and the mind as separate entities. This results in a splitting and dualistic view of the mind and body. Eastern thought tends not to split the mind and body, which may be due to the practice of meditation having been an important part of oriental culture for thousands of years. When, in yoga and meditation, we bring our full awareness to our embodied experience we notice a complexity of thoughts, feeling, emotions and sensations – all coming into our awareness and then passing away. The Buddhist view of mind holds a perspective that includes our feelings, bodily
Yin & Yang Yoga with Manjunaga in Didsbury Explore dynamic, Yang flowing movement through a combination of circular and spiral patterns as well as Yin style practice, focusing on restorative and deepening meditative practices, relaxing into body, heart & mind. Tuesday
6.30pm - 8.00pm Yoga & Meditation course (Beginners) (7 week course) The Old Parsonage Stenner Lane, Didsbury M20 2RQ. (book a place via web site) £60.00 / £47.00 conc. Next date starts Tuesday 29th October.
Follow me on : www.facebook/yoga.manjunaga Follow me on : @twitter.com/yogamanjunaga
Read more on my blog : Manjunaga.com/reflections
Basement Conversions
home office • gym • playroom wine cellar • bathroom • wetroom
Roy Nesbitt Tel: 0161 300 0530 Mob: 07921 710 563
northwest
best ce ars basement conversions
www.bestcellarsnw.co.uk
Tel: 07914 304 402 Email: yoga@manjunaga.com www.manjunaga.com
18
sensations and emotions. As a yoga practitioner I have found it more helpful to view my mind as something that exists within my body rather than something that sits aloft at the top of my head, reducing me to experiencing the world within largely conceptual models (which often leaves me feeling more isolated and disconnected from myself and other people). By reclaiming our relationship to our bodies we experience a sense of arriving home again – what it means to be alive and human on this planet.
Best Cellars North West • Unit 204 792 Wilmslow Rd • Didsbury • Manchester • M20 6UG
WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
Community Index Societies & Groups
didsburyvillagewi.co.uk
Acting For Fun Central Didsbury 431 4794
Monday of each month, 8pm - 10, Whalley Range Venue. Ring Ann 07814 861285
Didsbury Amateur Dramatics celestaplayers. co.uk
Didsbury Civic Society didsburycivicsociety. org.uk Didsbury Cricket Club didsburyccsports.co.uk
Didsbury Dinners
Dolls House and Miniatures Group 2nd
Friends of Didsbury Park friendsofdidsbury park.co.uk
Friends of Fletcher Moss Park Alan Hill 215
0971 awhill@globalnet. co.uk
didsburydinners.wordpress. com For general enquiries/ Community growing group: didsburydinners@yahoo. co.uk
Friends of Marie Louise Gardens
Community cooking group community. cooking@yahoo.co.uk
MMU Sports Centre, Tuesdays 8.30pm Ben Pollock, 07894108944
Didsbury Good Neighbours Every Tues
Oneness Deeksha Meditation Saturdays
marielouisegardens.org.uk
Manchester JKF Karate Club Didsbury
10-11.45am coffee morning. Holt Pavilion, Didsbury Park 07749 504298 www. didsburygoodneighbours. org.uk
11am-12 at The Didsbury Parsonage, Stenner Lane Didsbury M20 2RQ. Donation £2. Enquiries to Christine 07734 072040.
Didsbury Ladies Probis Club Alternate Monday
South Manchester Camera Club Mondays
afternoons in East Didsbury. Joan Woodall 0161 434 2532
at 8pm - 10pm, Didsbury Methodist Church smcc. org.uk
Didsbury Village East Residents Association
Didsbury Over 50s Group 247 2323
dvera.co.uk
South Manchester U3A
Didsbury Village WI
1st Tuesday of the month
Advertise to 10,000+ homes for as little as £25/month. email editor@communityindex.co.uk
WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
2pm, Emmanuel Church. Edna 434 2509
Manchester City Council
West Didsbury Bookgroup Meets every
Didsbury East Councillors
four weeks at 7.30pm. Lively mixed group of all ages. Call 445 4483 leaving your name, address & landline
West Didsbury Residents Association Pam Siddons
445 5406 westdidsbury. org.uk
Social & Support Groups Manchester Diabetes Support Network
diabetesinmanchester@ gmail.com 0161 860 5688/07414 635992
New Family Social UK charity for LGBT adopters, foster carers and their children. Meets every month in south Manchester. newfamilysocial.org.uk email: nwdevelopment@ newfamilysocial.co.uk
Useful Numbers Didsbury Library 227 3755
Environment on Call 954 9000
Mersey Valley Countryside Warden Service
234 5000
Andrew Simcock
cllr.a.simcock@manchester. gov.uk
Andrew Taylor
cllr.a.taylor@manchester. gov.uk
Bridie Adams
cllr.b.adams@manchester. gov.uk
Didsbury West Councillors Mark Clayton
cllr.m.clayton@manchester. gov.uk
Carl Ollerhead
cllr.c.ollerhead@ manchester.gov.uk
David Ellison
cllr.d.ellison@manchester. gov.uk
If you run a Community or voluntary Group in Chorlton & Whalley Range and would like to be featured in Community Index please get in touch at editor@ communityindex.co.uk
905 1100
M & H BUILDING CONTRACTORS over 10 years experience
• Extensions • Renovations • Plastering General building repairs • Garden wall Re-pointing • Patios • Bricklaying/block work Cheap rates, excellent quality & reliable friendly team
Tel: Stephen Harrison 07912351114 Joe Murphy 07525415612 email: m.hbuilders@hotmail.com
19
October In Your Garden by Katherine Watson Having been given a lovely wooden handled bulb planter as a present, I was determined to go like the clappers, planting thousands of glorious bulbs in my garden last year. Actually, it was more trouble than it was worth because the soil that satisfyingly and quickly came out of the ground then wouldn’t come out of the planter without a lot of coaxing which made the whole process annoying and it’s been relegated to the cupboard of other attractive, unnecessary garden items. However, I am determined to get some bulbs in and October and November are the best times to do so. There is a vast range of bulbs to try at home and we can be tempted, glassy eyed, to buy enormous amounts of different varieties when faced with the lovely pictures of spring flowers on the internet. The thing to think about as always is location and preparation. Some bulbs like sun and well-drained conditions: Tulips (which can also be planted along the base of a dry hedge, which is handy), daffs and Fritillaries fall into this camp. Camassias like sun
and damp as do Leucojums (big snow drops) and there are bulbs for shade: Erythronium and Anemone nemerosa for example.
Growing bulbs in pots is always a good option because you can move the pots to the best vantage point for viewing when the bulbs are in flower. Growing bulbs in pots is always a good option because you can move the pots to the best vantage point for viewing when they’re in flower. Narcissus are particularly lovely in pots as a cheery spring burst of colour. This year, I’m going to try some more unusual bulbs as an experiment. Two tulips have caught my eye – T.acuminate which has flame orange coloured, spidery petals and T. ‘Ice Cream’ which is brilliant because it actually looks like an ice cream. On the same theme, Oxalis
versicolour has swirling vanilla ice cream petals that look like they’ve been drizzled with strawberry sauce. I’m also going to try the Allium amplectans ‘Graceful Beauty’ – one to be studied closely with its starry white flowers, purple stamen and pink centres like cup-cake decorations. One to try for a pot is Sparaxis commonly called the Harlequin flower which looks like a cross between a Sysirinchium and Auricula flower. You’re looking for non-mouldy, plump, firm bulbs – aren’t we all – and get them in as soon as you buy them. For unusual bulbs try internet stockists Blomsbulbs, Sarah Raven and Kissmygrass.
Garden Design Planting Advice Consultation Service Project Managment
07989968841 www.fatgrass.co.uk 20
WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
Local Sport in Didsbury by Geoff Garnett
Chris looks to revive tennis in Fletcher Moss Former tennis coach Chris Keaney is resurrecting the tennis courts in Fletcher Moss, Didsbury. Chris said: “The courts are in a most beautiful location, but what has happened to them is tragic. Many people fancy a game of tennis from time to time but might feel intimidated by the prospect of joining a club. “I’ve formed the community tennis group, ‘Fletcher Moss Tennis’ and thanks to several willing helpers we’ve restored three courts. We now need people to come down and enjoy playing. “I’m organising games and coaching for free on Saturday afternoons between 2-4pm - all welcome!”
Select Plumbing & Heating Central Heating Installation Power Flushing Servicing & Repairs Gas Cooker & Fire Installations Landlord Safety Certificates All types of Plumbing Work Fully Tiled Bathrooms Contact Tony Goss 0161 865 6657 07973 908 592
Pic : Chris is pictured with some of the Saturday afternoon players
Peter remembered at memorial match Bedians FC were delighted to stage the Peter Williams Memorial Match at the club where he had done so much good work for many years. Match organiser Vinny Dowdall said: “It’s nearly a year since, tragically and prematurely we lost our great friend Peter. He had football running through his veins and did great work playing, running teams, in the club house or just organising Five a Sides. He also served on the L&C League committee for several years – he is our very own legend! “We invited his many friends to play in a special match (Man United v Man City) for a memorial trophy. “Man United were convincing 1-0 winners with the predatory Bedians’ scoring legend Martin Burke eventually netting from a host of chances.”
Gas Safe
Registered No. 196842
WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
If you have any stories about sport in Didsbury contact Geoff on 0161 881 7550 or ggggarnett@aol.com
21
Hazel provides a real treat for Northenden ladies NORTHENDEN Golf Club ladies were given a memorable Lady Captain’s Day in their Centenary Year by Lady Captain Hazel Foster.
with a fresh perspective.
Home-made treats and drinks served to them in impeccable style by Hazel’s husband and Northenden Captain, John assisted by some Northenden juniors.
This hole is ‘well adapted to women of different size’!
A unique feature of the day was a special Centenary Course planner. Each hole commemorated a significant event or birthday of 1913 with Hazel guiding players around their grand old course
For example – ‘Lift and Separate’
The elevated tee should ensure a good uplift with your drive and as you separate for your second shots, the springy fairway offers firm support.
Pic : Hazel (centre) is pictured with John and a junior member serving ladies at the halfway house
Linked to Mary Pehlps Jacobs’ 1913 patent of the first modern bra which was sold as ‘well adapted to women of different size’.
Local advertising from £25/month Delivered to 20,000+ South Manchester homes Have your own leaflets? Let us deliver them for you!
index
community
advertise@communityindex.co.uk Tel: 0787 589 5604 22
WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
Business Index Accountancy & Finance Gaeia
14
Beauty Osiris Eyelash Extensions
11
Building & Maintenance
Samatha Meditation
23
Yoga with Manjunaga
18
Languages Instituto Cervantes Tag! Pass It On
Best Cellars
18
Painting & Decorating
M & H Building Contractors
19
Carol Smith Home Improvement
15
Cleaning Oven Wizards
2
Profresh Carpet Cleaners
2
Dry Cleaners Village Dry Cleaners
12-13
Estate Agent JP & Brimelow
11 15
Plastering
Chimney Sweep Acorn Chimney Sweeping Services
24
Loyalty Card
16-17
Fireworks
SK Plastering & Decorating
11
Plumbing Select Plumbing & Heating
21
Physiotherapy Village Physio
14
Rental Review Rated Rentals
9
Tree Services Tree Station
2
5
MEDITATION CLASSES FOR BEGINNERS
Fat Grass Garden Design
20
AT THE MANCHESTER CENTRE FOR BUDDHIST MEDITAITON 21 HIGH LANE, CHORLTON
Grass Roots Garden Design
10
Chorlton Fireworks
Gardening
Gas Safe Engineer Select Plumbing and Heating
21
Hairdressing Clive Victor Gale
11
Handyman/woman Didsbury Handyman
2
Health & Wellbeing Alexander Technique
11
Gestalt Centre
14
Please note: Community Index accepts no responsibility for transactions entered into or work undertaken by any of the businesses advertising in the Index or any loss, harm or damage arising from using any of the products & services listed.
New classes starting 16th Sept Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening at 8pm, Monday at 1.30pm, and Saturday at 11am. These classes are open to all comers, but the Tuesday evening session is particularly designed for under 25s.
The form of meditation offered here is called ‘Samatha’ which means ‘calm’ To find out more, see our website www..samatha.org or ring 0161 2251808
please mention Community Index when responding to adverts
23