Homes & Gardens
July/Aug 2018
outdoor living
RUBY WAX HOW TO BE HUMAN
And... • Local networking • Family fun this summer • The best health apps
Josh Widdicombe Putney to Edinburgh
Connecting local people to local life
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Welcome...
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t's mid-June at the time of writing and it feels like we've already had a good summer, with fabulous weather actually falling on the weekends! If you love being in your garden, how can you make the most of your outside space? Interior designer and author, Katherine Sorrell, shares her tips from pg 7. The better weather also seems to encourage even those who are dedicated couch potatoes to attempt a little exercise. If you're not sure what sort of exercise would suit you best - or how to maintain it for longer than the first week, our health article this issue focuses on the best apps for health, wellbeing and fitness. Find out more on pg 32. Someone who has focused on her mental health for years and is now encouraging others to do the same is Ruby Wax. She appears at the new Twickenham venue, The Exchange, in September, with her show, How To Be Human. Read more about how she's learned to cope with what life throws at her on pg 16. I have co-founded a new local networking group. While it's called The Sheen Network, it is open to small businesses from Twickenham to Putney. It's an informal event, but businessfocussed, so if you run your own business we'd love you to join us! Find out more on pg 26. Enjoy your summer! We're hoping for a relaxing one - well, until 23 August, when my youngest son gets his GCSE results... Pippa, Editor Connecting local people to local life
Contents
7 12 15 16 18 23 24
Homes & Interiors: Outdoor style Outdoor accessories Gardening: Beating the box caterpillar Ruby Wax: How To Be Human Barnes Fringe Festival Restaurant review: Oliveira Local Talk
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26 28 29 32 34 35 38
The Sheen Network The kids have moved back home! Josh Widdicombe: Putney to Edinburgh Health: Health apps Barnes Fair Family fun this summer What's On
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Contact us:
Also: Living In Richmond, Kew & East Twickenham
Editor & Publisher: Pippa Duncan T: 020 8878 1890 E: pippa@livinginmagazines.co.uk Published independently by: Living In Magazines Ltd Sept/Oct copy deadline: 10 August
@LivingInMagazinesRichmond
Contributors: Valerie McBride-Munro, Katherine Sorrell, Katie McLelland, Sara Tricker
livinginmagazines.co.uk @LivingInMag
Pippa Duncan
Photo:anniearmitage.com
Living In Magazines
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Embrace the great
homes & interiors
outdoors
Make the most of summer sunshine by ensuring your garden is a great place to relax and entertain
Manuti River Garden furniture: gomodern.co.uk
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very outside space, no matter how large or small, has the potential to become an extra ‘room’, whether you plan to use it for tending plants, entertaining friends or simply relaxing in the sun with some music and a book. And, just as you would do with indoor rooms, it is worth spending time considering how to make your garden both practical and beautiful. Perhaps just a few quick, inexpensive changes will do the trick – or you may wish to push the boat out and consider an entire redesign. Look at the bigger picture first. As well as your budget, you’ll need to consider what you really want from your garden. To begin with, sketch a scale plan of the space on graph paper and decide what will go where. Revamping your landscaping is a major job,
but if this is the aim then consider what materials you intend to use – for paving, fencing, pots, furnishings and so on – and ensure that they co-ordinate. Set the dining area nearest the house, with space for a barbecue nearby or, perhaps, a wood-fired pizza oven (build your own or buy one off the shelf ) or even an outdoor kitchen, complete with worktop, storage, sink and bar. In a large garden you could fit a play area at the far end, with swings and/or a climbing frame, trampoline or tepee. And a peaceful area away from both the house and the children would be ideal for a hammock or swing seat – perhaps near some scented flowers or under a tree for shade. You can signal changes of function by altering the flooring materials and introducing interesting changes of levels. Think about lighting at the earliest possible
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Applaro furniture: ikea.co.uk
stage. While solar and battery-powered lights can look amazing, an outdoor lighting circuit (installed by a qualified electrician) will allow your garden lighting to be even more flexible and effective. Consider what elements of your garden would benefit from illumination, whether it’s steps to the seating area or a particularly sculptural tree and add enough general lighting to allow you to enjoy the garden into the evening. Wall lights (perhaps with motion-activated sensors) are ideal for paths and passageways, while strings of lights can be wound around trees, posts and trellises for a party atmosphere. If you are not starting your garden design from scratch, there are still plenty of quick, inexpensive fixes that will make a big difference, including simply moving or rearranging the furniture, adding a canopy or sunshade or setting out a few large pots with dramatic planting. Fit a simple metal archway over a path for a pretty focal point or install a small wooden pergola as a shady resting place. Consider refreshing walls or fencing with a coat of paint – matt black and very dark blue
'Make the most of vertical space with tiered and hanging planters, even a living wall...' are both very on-trend and provide a fabulous backdrop for the vivid colours of plants. To make your outside space feel even more like an indoor/outdoor room, add comfortable seating such as deck chairs, loungers, low-level chairs or even sofas covered with waterproof fabrics. Put side tables nearby for books, drinks and phones, and consider accessories such as outdoor bean bags, rugs and cushions. For eating, it is worth investing in solid, durable dining chairs and tables, bearing in mind that, to make it last longer, most garden furniture should be stored away when not in use. That said, second-hand garden furniture is often readily available at a good price and can be easily disguised with a lick of paint or a pretty oilcloth. Add a selection of plates, bowls, pitchers, tumblers and napkins in this season’s hot, tropical shades and you have transformed your garden into an oasis for outdoor living. Small spaces, cool spaces Tiny gardens, courtyards, decks and balconies can be wonderful places to hang out
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and relax – and have the advantage of being incredibly low maintenance. • All you really need is a couple of chairs and a small table. If they fold up out of the way, so much the better. • Alternatively, cleverly designed built-in furniture can maximise corners and any awkward spaces. • Furniture that doubles as storage (a chest used as a table, for example) is invaluable for holding gardening equipment or picnic paraphernalia. • Make the most of vertical space with tiered and hanging planters, even a living wall. Paint the walls bright white and, if your plants are in pots, choose reflective containers. • Avoid dark corners by installing a variety of lighting, from battery-powered string lights to solar torches stuck into pots. • Increase the sense of space by hanging a mirror on a sheltered wall to reflect the light.
• Don’t mix too many different materials. When choosing hard landscaping, pots and furnishings, stick to a limited palette to avoid a jumble of colours and textures.
Katherine Sorrell is the author of 17 books on design and interiors
Alcoves Bookcases ●
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Made to order in my local workshop Superior quality and delivery within an agreed time span. Wood and painted finishes 07961 321126 Call Jamie for an informal discussion of your requirements www.yellowchisel.co.uk
Cupboards
Wardrobes
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Fitted Furniture & Woodwork
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Photo: Rattan lounge chair - idyllhome.co.uk
'Second-hand garden furniture is often readily available at a good price...'
Kitchens Shelving ●
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fun in the sun
Meals are so much more fun when you’re outside, so make sure you’ve got the best accessories, says interior designer, Katherine Sorrell Decorate your outdoor area with batterypowered fairy lights, lanterns and some bunting. Get comfy with camping chairs or deck chairs. Music adds atmosphere (though don’t disturb the neighbours). Do you need shade? On a hot day you’ll appreciate a tepee, canopy or mini popup tent for the children.
Main photo: creative-tops.com
Left: Relax in style with the Mandala deck chair by Kirsten Star, £120 by Art Wow. artwow.co Right: Hang pop-up paper lanterns for a party atmosphere. £4.99 for five by Ginger Ray. gingerray.co.uk Below left: Outdoor rugs should be easy to carry and have a waterproof backing. Pure new wool Polo picnic rug in rainbow grey stripe, £69.95 by Black by Design. black-by-design. co.uk Below right: Bundle up napkins and cutlery in this hand-woven pom-pom basket, £30 by Postcards Home. postcardshome.co.uk
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SUDUKO
aun
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3 x 3 box contains the numbers 1 through to 9. You solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic - there’s no maths involved and no adding up. Have fun! ANSWERS: pg 37
www.auntieplanty.co.uk
Neighbourhood support
FiSH is a neighbourhood care organisation, providing assistance and support to those Mondays living in East Sheen, Mortlake and Barnes 1.15 - 2.30pm
Mortlake Community Association Activities and courses for everyone! Monday What's On in Mortlake 1.15-2.30pm: Gentle exercise Tuesday Gentle Exercise. Mortlake Hall, 30 Mullins Path, SW14 8EZ
Congratulations to FiSH 12-1.30pm: Come & sing! Tuesdays 2-4pm: Computer club Neighbour Care, which as 12.00 – 1.30pm won the Queen’s Award Come and sing! St. Mary’s Rooms, Parish Church, SW14 8JA Wednesday for Voluntary Service. 2.00 - 4.00pm 10-11.30pm: Gardening group FiSH – which stands for Computer Club, St. Mary’s Rooms, Parish Church SW14 8JA (1st & 3rd Weds of the month) Friendship, Independence, 12.30-2.30pm: Positive living Wednesdays Help & Support) helps 10.30 – 11.30pm Gardening Group. 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month locals to combat loneliness Thursday Community Garden, Alder Road, Mortlake and social isolation 10.30-11.30am: Yoga 12.30 - 2.30pm 1.00-3pm: Healthy cooking lunch club in older and vulnerable people in Barnes, Positive Living. The Old Bakery, 67b Lower Mortlake Road, Mortlake Mortlake and East Sheen by organising Friday talks, events and outings. The award is Thursdays the 10.30 – 11.30am 1-3pm: MIND drop-in equivalent of an MBE for voluntary groups Yoga, St. Mary’s Rooms, Parish Church, SW14 8JA 2-4pm: Drawing group and is recognition of the great work that the Club for Years 4-7 12.30 – 2.30pm 6.30-8.30pm: Drawing Group.Youth Free Taster Session volunteers do. The Old Bakery 67b Lower Mortlake Road, Mortlake Barnes Green Centre, SW13 9HE Tel: 020 8876 3335 fishhelp.org.uk 14
1.30 – 3.00pm Fridays
Activities held at various venues - visit Reminiscence Group. 3rd Thursday of the month St. Mary’s Rooms, Parish Church, SW14 8JA mortlakecommunityassociation.org.uk for more details or call Robert: 020 8487 5500
12.30 – 2.30pm
MIND Drop-in. Connecting local people to local life - 020 8878 1890 The Old Bakery, 67b Lower Mortlake Road, Mortlake Youth Club for Years 4, 5, 6 & 7 Power Station, 121a Mortlake High
gardening
Striking - but deadly There is a pest around that needs to be shown who’s boss! It’s the box tree moth caterpillar causing havoc and I was slightly annoyed that two presenters of the recent TV Chelsea Flower Show coverage said that there’s no solution. But, if you have box plants, read this before digging them up
© Valerie McBride-Munro 2018
T
he box tree moth caterpillar is quite striking looking with green and yellow stripes from head to foot, with black dots on either side. It has a voracious appetite and, left to its own devices, this caterpillar will completely defoliate your expensive box plants at great speed. The moth is also quite pretty – mainly white with iridescent brown bands on each of its wings, although in some cases these can be completely brown. It has a wing span of around 4cm. In winter, small caterpillars hibernate in an envelope of two box leaves that have been spun together the previous autumn. It’s a relatively new insect to Britain. Whilst the adult moth was first reported in the UK in 2008, caterpillars were not found in private gardens until 2011 and it has since become widespread in London and surrounding areas. The damage that the caterpillar causes is often mistaken for the fungal infection box blight – but if you look closely and find any cobwebs or leaves that appear to be stuck together, then you need to act fast. First, get your hands on a product such as Bug Clear Ultra or Westland Resolva Bug Killer and spray thoroughly and forcefully every 14 days or so - not just on the outside of the plant, but part the branches and reach inside. Then remove the damaged foliage, keep the plants well fed and watered and keep spraying every 14 days. Little is known about this insect and it’s thought that there are up to three
'The damage that the caterpillar causes is often mistaken for the fungal infection box blight...' generations a year, so knocking off the first onslaught doesn’t mean that you can put your feet up for the rest of the year. I’m afraid that the combined active period of these munchers is from April to October. There is a way to be ahead of the game, to prevent the moths from laying eggs in the first place. It’s a pheromone trap which provides season-long biological control; it captures the moths, therefore breaking the life cycle, allowing the box tree to flourish. The contents of the pheromone trap will last for three months, at which time you can re-charge the unit. One trap is effective for around 180 sqm. Controlling this pest is possible although it requires vigilance on your part. Better that than giving up all those expensive plants without a fight! Valerie McBride-Munro is a chartered horticulturist offering a plant problemsolving service. Tel: 020 8892 9243
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RUBY WAX
HOW TO BE HUMAN Ruby Wax, who has gone from comedy to cognitive behavioural therapy and back again, shares what she's learned over the years in her show How To Be Human, writes Pippa Duncan
Photo: Steve Ullathorne
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or a girl whose parents were constantly disappointed in her and didn’t think she would amount to much, Ruby Wax hasn’t done too badly. She’s acted with the Royal Shakespeare Company, been a stalwart on the BBC and Channel 4 for decades with shows such as Ruby Wax Meets, was a script editor of the massively successful Absolutely Fabulous, is a stand-up comedian, an author of numerous books, obtained a 16
Masters in Mindfulness based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy from Oxford University and has been awarded an OBE. She is a woman who is nothing if not constantly evolving. And how we have evolved is the main theme of her latest book – and new touring show – How To Be Human. If we humans are the result of survival of the fittest, the ones with the best brains, why aren’t we happier? How have we got to the point where we all seem to have a constant need for ‘better’ –
Connecting local people to local life - 020 8878 1890
papers for them to the latest iphone, tablet, watch, wife? leave Austria, too. As a species we’re doing fine, but as By the time she individuals? Not so good. Many of us obtained them, aren’t happy – and are struggling - as the document Wax has admirably admitted herself – requirements had with mental illness. changed. They Co-written with Buddhist monk, were sent to a Gelong Thubten (who explains how our concentration minds work), and neuroscientist, Ash camp where they Ranpura (who explains how our brains died. work), Wax calls the book ‘the answer Wax also found to life’s big questions’ – how can we out that two move forward as compassionate, kind relatives of her human beings rather than just ‘being mother had been sent able to nuke each other into oblivion to a mental asylum, which she believes and rape the earth for oil’? could explain her The show covers mother’s erratic the book’s main behaviour – and topics: thoughts, her own struggle emotions, the body, with depression. relationships, sex 'Drawing on her own As she said: and addiction and childhood has been ‘Rather than how they influence doing therapy, I our everyday lives a common thread should have done – and those of our through a lot of genealogy’. children. Wax’s OBE is for Drawing on her Ruby Wax's work...' her services to own childhood has mental health. She been a common has been an open thread through a lot and vocal advocate of bringing mental of Ruby Wax's work, most memorably instability out into the open and shows in her critically acclaimed memoir, such as How To Be Human are helping How Do You Want Me? - a raw and many to understand how we humans unflinching look at how her parents, work, how we so easily bring ourselves who escaped from the Nazis in Austria down and how mindfulness is a great in 1938, lived an almost bizarre life for tool as a coping strategy. a young girl. The furniture in their flat While growing up with her parents was still covered by plastic to protect was not a bed of roses, it also gave her it, her mother obsessively cleaned and screamed non-sensical sentences, while the fodder for her early comedy which made her so successful and gave her her volatile father would leave her in a voice that would be listened to when fear. They refused to talk about the talking about mental health. Her father Holocaust or the family members they never thought she would amount to had lost. anything, but after he died she found It was only when she took part in the programme, Who Do You Think You Are? out that he kept a box of newspaper cuttings about her that he would that she found out much of her family proudly show visitors. We humans. history. Her father had been thrown in jail for being Jewish and was tortured. How To Be Human is at The Exchange He was only released rather than being sent to Dachau as he promised to leave on 27 September. Tickets £18-22. 75 London Rd, Twickenham TW11 1BE the country. Her mother, who managed exchangetwickenham.co.uk to escape separately, was asked by family members to help get the right Please mention Livinglocal In Magazines contacting advertisers Find more great articles atwhen livinginmagazines.co.uk
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That's Amore Barnes gallery, Boécho, opens its latest exhibition, highlighting the careers of two notable locals
The Boécho Gallery in Barnes continues the year with its third exhibition entitled, That’s Amore, opening mid-July through to September, moving away from the theme of Landscape and onto human relationships. The exhibition features two local artists, Mick Rooney RA who lived in Mortlake for 20 years but now lives in Oxford and Colin Jones who has lived in Barnes for around 50 years. Mick is a former Head of Painting at the Royal Academy while Colin is widely regarded as one of the greatest British photographers, following a prolific career with the Observer magazine - the current show exhibits some previously unseen images from his early career with the Royal Ballet.
Top: Nureyev and Fonteyn, Nervi, Italy, 1962 by Colin Jones Bottom: All at Sea by Mick Rooney
Boécho Gallery 6 The Broadway, Barnes SW13 0NY boecho.com
BARNES FRINGE FESTIVAL Two weeks of comedy and culture
With events at OSO Arts Centre, Olympic Cinema and The Bull’s Head, this year the Festival is bigger and better than ever. Spanning two weeks, the Festival there are shows from top comedians on weeknights, a weekend of hour-long plays in the middle, culminating with a day of Free Fringe at the Barnes Fair. Acts include Angela Barnes (pictured), Viv Groskop, Lou Sanders, Gyles Brandreth and Sindhu Vee. Many of the comedians and theatre companies are trying out work-in-progress ahead of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Tickets from £12 adv, £14 on the door. osoarts.org.uk/fringe 18
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L O N D O N
INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY ART 6 THE BROADWAY, B ARNES, LONDON, SW13 0NY t: 0208 6171515 12-5pm wed-sat www.boecho.c om Please mention Living In Magazines when contacting advertisers
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IMAGE (DETAIL): SLEEPING BEAUTY AFTER PARTY, ROYAL OPERA HOUSE, 1963 BY COLIN JONES - THAT’S AMOREE SUMMER EXHIBITION
boécho gallery
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215 Upper Richmond Road West, East Sheen, London, SW14 8QT Tel: 020 7723 2925
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SIX MILES HIGH DESIGN graphic design, logos & branding squarespace website setup & training keynote presentations design & training mark@sixmileshigh.com +44 (0) 7495 965306 www.sixmileshigh.com
N P R E U D
Answers: pg 37
3 Letters DEN DUE You have two minutes to find all the words of three or more letters that can be made from the DUN letters above. Plurals are allowed, proper nouns END PEN are not. The 6 letter word will always be just a PER normal everyday word. PUN 3 letters: 12 4 letters: 9 5 letters: 5 6 letters: 1 RED
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restaurant review
OLIVEIRA
Oliveira Organic Vegetarian Kitchen - a new vegetarian restaurant in East Sheen - is a delight in taste if not décor, writes Sara Tricker
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warmly welcome this vegetarian restaurant to the local area - with two vegan millennials in my family, Oliveira increases our choice of places to eat! Opened just three months ago by Brazilian Chef, Amelio de Oliveira, it offers ‘modern living inspired vegetarian food with strong roots in old traditions’. Amelio states that his greatest challenge is cooking vegetarian food which is also interesting to non-vegetarians, and I would say he is succeeding! The menu offers a wide variety of choices drawn from cooking cultures across the world. These include Polish Pierogi, Korean Dim Sum, Cuban hotpot and Norse Aubergine. We visited on a Saturday evening with a little trepidation – they don’t take bookings - and this makes planning for a group a little risky. We were seated straight away, but the 25-30 seat restaurant was nearly full within the hour. We shared all our dishes, starting with Garlic Sourdough (£3) – delicious Rosemary Bruscheta (£5), which was toasted and topped with tomatoes and basil. The Mandoo (£6) Korean dim sum stuffed with kimchi - was beautifully presented but, unfortunately, a little bland in flavour. The Grilled English Asparagus and Confit Heirloom Tomatoes (£7), was disappointingly small and plain. Our service throughout the evening was attentive and friendly from both the waiting staff and the chef. There are several dishes on the menu which include Jack and Breadfruit and, upon asking, we were shown the fruit in all its forms and explained how they are cooked – fascinating! We had to try the most popular main course - Breadfruit Curry (£11), roasted breadfruit and legumes in a thick coconut curry, served with jasmine rice (vegan, gluten free). This was delicious and prettily presented. The Potaje De Panapen (£12) – Cuban style hotpot, breadfruit and chickpeas (vegan, gluten free) - was good but very spicy! We couldn’t resist the Espeto (£11) – grilled
breadfruit skewers in hot Brazilian peanut and chilli sauce, with grezzina zucchini fritters in plantain flour with pumpkin chilli sauce (vegan, gluten free). The courgette fritters were deliciously crisp and worked well with the peanut and pumpkin sauces to dip into. We also tried White Spiced (£11), an interesting mix of caramelized potatoes and yams, sautéed in coconut oil, crisp parsnip, cauliflower, white chocolate and horseradish sauce. We couldn’t identify the white chocolate but enjoyed the ‘mushroom like’ texture and flavours. We indulged in three of the six available desserts, (£6). Dark Amazonian Chocolate Fudge (vegan) was devoured by the chocoholics amongst us. The Passion Fruit and Mango Torte was unfortunately light on flavour; however, the Banoffee Pie was suitably gooey and readily despatched. Oliveira is a great addition to the area, the ingredients are organic and locally sourced (wherever possible), the dishes are skilful, imaginative and interestingly presented. However, whilst the welcome by staff is warm, I don’t feel that this is reflected in the décor, which is very plain, brightly lit and much more suited to a day-time café. I would love to see tablecloths and candle light next time we visit! oliveira-restaurant.com 469 Upper Richmond Road, SW14 7PU
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local talk... barnes
• Plastic Free Barnes & Mortlake The local plastic-free campaign has been supported by both residents and shops as we all try to cut down on one-usage plastic and find other options. Cafés are losing their plastic drinking straws and packaging and choosing more eco-friendly alternatives. There are easy ways for residents to cut down their use of plastic by not using: cotton buds with plastic sticks, disposable razors, plastic cutlery, condiment sachets and taking their own coffee cups to cafés. Find out more on the Facebook page: @plasticfreebarnesandmortlake
east sheen & putney Photo: Prudential RideLondon
• Prudential RideLondon – 28/29 July
Don’t forget that many roads will be closed or partially closed on the weekend of 28/29 July for the annual Prudential RideLondon. The race was developed 24
by the Mayor of London as a legacy of the 2012 Olympic Games. The 100-mile challenge means thousands of riders will cycle through Putney and East Sheen before heading through Richmond Park. Entrants have raised more than £53m for charity since the Ride started in 2013. prudentialridelondon.co.uk
mortlake
• IT sessions with Age UK Richmond Age UK Richmond is hosting regular IT sessions for those struggling to get to grips with modern technology and using the internet. The last session before the summer break will be on 19 July and then weekly classes will start again in September. 10.30am at East Sheen Baptist Church, Temple Sheen Road, East Sheen, SW14 7PY
putney • Pop into Putney library Putney’s library is more than a place to pop in to borrow a book. There are weekly activities for all ages, including reading groups, Baby Rhyme Time for little ones under two, Story Time for 2-5 year-olds, Knit & Knatter, Spanish classes and Messy Mornings – creative sessions for 1-4 year-olds. Or, if you’re a little older, IT help for all ages! More information on classes and sessions at: better.org.uk
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Affordable art The Mixed Summer Exhibition at The Russell Gallery in Putney offers art you can afford
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e look forward to celebrating our 15th Anniversary with our Summer Exhibition which starts on 28 June. Throughout the year we constantly look for new, talented artists and exhibit their work in our Mixed Summer and Christmas shows which last for eight weeks. In our current summer show we have more than 120 paintings, hung both upstairs and downstairs. We replace as we sell, so the artwork is constantly changing. Prices range from £300 to £5,500. The show continues until Saturday 8 September.
The Russell Gallery Tuesday-Saturday: 10am-5:30pm 020 8780 5228 / russell-gallery.com
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Local business networking - come and join us! If you would like to meet other local business owers and talk about your own business, join us at The Sheen Network
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any of us run our own small local businesses, whether we have a shop or work in an office or from a room at home. And while it’s great being the one in control it’s also tough being the one in control! The Sheen Network is the brainchild of two local businesswomen, Jane Cox of Jane Cox Photography and Pippa Duncan, editor and owner of Living In Magazines. We set up at the beginning of this year and the Network has two equal aims: to help local business people get to know and support each other and, of course, to make great connections and do business together. The meetings have been a great success, with around 25-35 businesses attending each session. We also hold the occasional morning event for those who can’t make the evenings. We've had great feedback about the amount of new business people have had as a result.
The meetings are open to anyone in the area (not just Sheen!) – Richmond, Twickenham, Barnes and Putney. More details on the opposite page. Our next meetings are: 17 July 25 September 16 October If you’d like to attend or just find out more, contact Jane or Pippa at: hello@thesheennetwork.co.uk. Pippa Duncan
Care and Nursing at Home
Do you need a helping hand? With 28 years of experience in caring for people within their own home, and a commitment to using only directly employed carers, we have the expertise to provide the best care possible from 30 minutes to full-time live-in care.
Looking for care? 02080 038 757 26
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• Award-Winning Team • Fully Managed Service • Family Owned and Run • Dementia Specialists www.helpinghands.co.uk
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Back to stay
(and not just for the weekend) Kids living back home? How to ensure you keep your relationship - and your sanity
W
hen the Chancellor announced a relief on Stamp Duty payments for first time buyers in November 2017, millions of parents across the UK breathed a sigh of relief. It is estimated that 3.4 million parents in the UK are living with children who’ve returned to the family home, and these mums and dads may have hoped this tax incentive would be the nudge their offspring needed to finally fly the nest. The phenomenon of ‘Boomerang Kids’ (adults who return to the parental home after living independent lives) hit the headlines recently when the London School of Economics and Political Science carried out research with parents aged 50-75 from 17 European countries.
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The study, published in the journal Social Science and Medicine, examined the effects on quality of life for older people who shared a house with a grownup child. The results were disturbing. The authors of the study concluded that: ‘parents experienced a decline in quality of life when one of their children returned to live with them. Parents enjoy their independence when their children leave the home and refilling an empty nest may be regarded as a violation of this life course stage.’ The biggest mistake reported by people who have been through the ‘Boomerang’ experience is that they didn’t discuss the terms of the arrangement before their child moved back in. This is the time to establish the ground rules and set clear goals for the end of their stay. If your child has a job, you should agree upfront on the amount they will contribute towards the household bills. If they are not working, ask them to help out in various ways, such as cleaning or shopping. Discuss how things will work if your child invites friends round. It may be less stressful if you restrict visits to certain days or hours. Finally – and most importantly – it’s vital to treat your child as the adult they have become. In the years they have been living away from you, it’s likely they will have established a lifestyle that’s very different to the family life you shared together, so give them space and don’t be tempted to ‘parent’ them in the way you used to do. Kate McLelland
Connecting local people to local life - 020 8878 1890
Josh Widdicombe from Putney to Edinburgh
Gits & Shiggles Comedy 24 July
A regular on Channel 4’s The Last Leg as well as Mock The Week, Have I Got News For You, 8 Out of 10 Cats and star of his own XFM radio show – Josh Widdicombe is trialling his comedy act before taking it up to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Called the ‘undisputed king of the exasperated petty gripe’ by the Evening Standard, expect an evening of humorous moans about life. Supported by London-based Malaysian stand-up and rising star, Nigel Ng. Half Moon Putney, 93 Lower Richmond Rd, Putney SW15 1EU. Tickets £8 adv/£12 door. tickets.halfmoon.co.uk
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* O F F E R * Complimentary 4D eye health scan (worth £40) when you book an eye test. Call 020 3327 1510 WHY SHOULD I HAVE A 4D EYE HEALTH SC AN? Early detection can prevent debilitating eye conditions because perfect vision doesn’t necessarily mean healthy eyes.
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020Connecting 3327 1510 local | info@blinkoptics.co.uk | www.blinkoptics.co.uk people to local life - 020 8878 1890
business profile
Avoid tennis elbow this summer Repetitive strokes can result in tennis elbow – but prevention is better than cure
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ennis elbow is a common complaint which is difficult to help once it becomes chronic. The good news is there are steps you can take to reduce your chances of developing it.
Symptoms
Symptoms are typically pain and tenderness over the outer point of the elbow, which can radiate over the muscles of the back of the forearm. This is aggravated by tennis strokes and can be triggered by something as simple as lifting a kettle. The muscles that extend the wrist and fingers, and that are involved in gripping, blend into one tendon that attaches at the point of the elbow. After too much repetitive movement, this tendon breaks down and becomes unable to cope with the forces that are being put through it.
How to prevent it
Maintain flexibility throughout the year. If you start playing in the summer, having taken the winter off, you are setting yourself up for trouble! Stiffness in the neck and shoulders and weakness in your abdominal muscles can all contribute to strain. Our physios can design exercises to build up strength in your arm, shoulder, upper back and core muscles. Warm up and stretch before a game. Start on the service line with some mini-tennis until your muscles are warm before stepping back to the baseline and letting rip!
Correct your technique so you don't use your wrist too much let the strength come from the trunk and shoulders. Try to strike the ball with a good solid, neutral wrist position. Make sure your racket is the correct size, shape and weight for your build. Ensure your grip is not too small or too large, allowing your racket to twist too much in your hand. A flexible racket with a large sweet spot and lower string tension will reduce the load. Just taking up tennis? Come and see one of our physios first. We can do a screen assessment, identify potential injury sites and give you a tailored programme to correct imbalances. If you are unlucky enough to develop the problem, we have a Shortwave Therapy machine for chronic tendon problems. Diana Wilson runs Physio on the River by Barnes Bridge Station where her team of physios and other therapists can help you recover from pain and injury. We are celebrating 25 years in business! Call: 020 8878 5690 physio-on-the-river.co.uk
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Better health?
health
there's an app for that
Not sure how to improve your health? There are some great apps that make it easy to look and feel a whole lot better, writes Alison Runham
T
here are plenty of apps to help you improve your fitness, health and wellbeing - so try a couple for a healthier, happier you.
FITNESS APPS
Daily Workouts, Daily Workout Apps LLC An Amazon top seller, this app offers 39 area-targeted 5-10 minute workouts, including stretch, Pilates and kettlebell exercises. They can be combined randomly or in custom mode to create longer sessions that exercise the whole body. Try before you buy with the popular free version, limited to 10 workouts. Pay. Ratings: Google Play 4.6/5; iTunes 4.7/5; Amazon 4/5 Fitbit, Fitbit Inc. Designed to work with Fitbit activity trackers and smart scales, it tracks your daily goals and food intake and assesses your progress over time for steps, distance and calories burned. Free. Ratings: Google Play: 3.9/5; iTunes 3.8/5; Amazon 4.3/5; Windows 3.7/5 Active 10, NHS Active 10 tracks your walking, prompting you when you need to increase your pace to a brisk walk (about 3 miles an hour). It also sets you goals and rewards your progress. Free. Ratings: Google Play: 3.1/5; iTunes 3.2/5 Couch to 5K, NHS The nine-week programme tracks your progress as it gradually builds you up to running 5K, using a mix of running and walking. It offers different weekly schedules 32
and celebrity trainers tell you when to run and when to walk. A countdown timer shows how long you’ve got left on each run. Free. Ratings: Google Play: 4.3/5; iTunes 4.7/5
HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Deep Sleep with Andrew Johnson, Hive Brain Software Another Amazon top seller, this app provides relaxing guided meditations intended to clear your mind, beat insomnia and help you to get deep, restful sleep. Pay. Ratings: Google Play: 4.5/5; iTunes 4.3/5; Amazon 4/5 Headspace: Meditation and Mindfulness, Headspace Inc A Google Play top seller, this app teaches you how to meditate and live mindfully, with exercises on everything from managing anxiety and stress to breathing, sleep and focus. It claims to train your mind in just a few minutes a day, using guided meditations. Free. Ratings: Google Play: 4.6/5; iTunes 4.9/5; Amazon 4/5
Connecting local people to local life - 020 8878 1890 How's your health? More health articles at livinginmagazines.co.uk
DIET AND NUTRITION
Carbs and Cals, Chello Publishing Ltd Suitable for everyone but ideal for diabetics, provides photos and nutritional values for over 3,500 UK food and drink items, compiled by a diabetes dietary specialist. Has a meal calculator, calendar, recipe builder and exercise tracker. A special diabetes section allows you to record blood glucose levels and carbohydrate intake. Pay. Ratings: Google Play: 3.6/5; iTunes 3.2/5; Amazon 4/5 Foodvisor, Foodvisor The Foodvisor app claims that if you take a photo of your plate, it can recognise your food, estimate your serving sizes and instantly provide a detailed nutrition report (and add the details to your food diary). It can also track your physical activities and calories burned, highlighting weak areas that need attention. Free. Ratings: Google Play 2.7/5; iTunes 4.5/5 My Fitness Pal, My Fitness Pal Inc This hugely popular app is a calorie counter, diet tracker and exercise tracker all in one. It
can scan the barcodes of over 4 million foods and recognises over 2 million others, giving you detailed nutrition information about them. It can also suggest exercises, link to some other exercise apps, log your exercise and track your steps. With goal-setting, a recipe importer, a restaurant meal logger and the ability to add photos and share your progress, it really is the app that has everything. Free. Ratings: Google Play 4.6/5; iTunes 4.7/5; Amazon 3.7/5
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BARNES F AIR Saturday, 14 july barnes common - 9.30am - 5.30pm
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onjour! This year’s Barnes Fair falls on Bastille Day, so, not surprisingly, the theme is all things French. Look out for the red, white and blue floats at the Grand Parade, which sets off down Barnes High St from 11am. Of course, there will be a wonderful range of French food and wine to taste, plus there will be a hint of Gallic influence on the Bandstand and Events Stage. As usual, there will be some wonderful entertainment, including Punch & Judy shows and live music. There will also be a wide selection of stalls to browse through – everything from jewellery to crafts, bric-a-brac, clothes, gifts and more. Local pubs and restaurants are keen to let you buy their offerings, including Rick Stein Barnes, The Brown Dog and The Treehouse. Local Barnes brewery, Barnes Charity Bike Sale Jeffersons, will be launching a special ale in celebration of the Fair. Sale of Children's bikes on 13 July The Fair is 3.30-5pm organised by at St Mary's Churchyard Barnes, SW13 9HL the Barnes Come for free tea and cake after Community school on 13 July and go home with Association a bike! and is kindly Pre-loved children's bikes for sale. sponsored by Come along and pick up a bargain, Knight Frank bikes of all sizes, many hardly used. and Berkeley Cash is preferred. Homes, and fundraising To get in touch and for more details e bikes@stmarybarnes.org goes towards @barnesbikesale local charities. barnescharitybikesale Admittance is free. Full timings of the events taking place Main sale starts 9am on 14 July are in the Barnes Fair programme and at barnes-ca.org. All proceeds to St Mary’s and the charities it supports. barnes-ca.org www.timbulmerartist.com
Bike sale tea party!
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Connecting local people to local life - 020 8878 1890
Summer fun with the family There are lots of lovely long, lazy days ahead this summer, but if you feel like being a little more active, here are some great ideas for the children Hampton Court Palace The Magic Garden Delve into the Palace’s past, with mysterious mythical beasts, a chance to storm the battlements, besiege the towers and explore the secret grotto - or try to find your way out of the maze. Legends, myths and stories come alive in the Magic Garden. Magic Garden & Maze: adult £7, child £5.20, plus usual entrance fee. hrp.org.uk The Wetlands Centre: Dusty’s Wildlife Rangers 21 July – 2 Sept Join Dusty for a day of adventure – pond dipping to find what’s lurking beneath the water’s surface, learning how to use binoculars and jotting down all your findings in your own Wildlife Ranger log book.
10am-4pm, free with general admission ticket (family tickets of 2 adults, 2 children, £31.29) wwt.org.uk Pony Week Club All summer The Stag Lodge Stables in Richmond Park offers four-day clubs throughout the summer for children aged 5-12. Split into age groups, the children get two rides per day, learn stable management such as grooming and mucking out and do a gymkhana in the afternoon. 10am-3pm Tues-Fri. Cost: £325. staglodgestables.co.uk Kew Gardens All summer Lots of things to delight children in the Temperate House this summer, as well as enjoying the lush plants and humid atmosphere. Gnomus, the giant gnome and caretaker of the Earth, will be showing children around while sharing stories behind the plants living there (daily throughout the summer). And don’t forget to look up to see Cirque Bijoux – a breath-taking aerial performance in the rafters (20 minute performances on weekends and Bank Holidays, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm). Tickets from £4 for children, £16 for adults. kew.org
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useful numbers doctors surgeries/hospitals
schools
Barnes Surgery Chartfield Surgery Danebury Ave Essex House Surgery Sheen Health Centre Seymour House The Surgery Kingston Hospital Queen Mary’s Hospital
Barnes/Mortlake Barnes Primary 020 8876 7358 Lowther Primary 020 8748 3984 St Mary Magdalen’s Catholic 020 8876 6679 St Osmund’s Catholic 020 8748 3582 East Sheen East Sheen Primary 020 8876 7484 Sheen Mount 020 8876 8394 Putney All Saints C of E 020 87885196 Hotham Primary 020 87886468 Oasis Academy 020 7884 6000 Our Ladies of Victories Catholic Primary 020 87885196 St Mary's C of E 020 87889591
020 8748 7574 020 8788 3252 0844 477 3782 020 8876 1033 020 8876 4086/8876 3901 020 8940 2802 020 8748 1065 020 8546 7711 020 8487 6000
clubs, groups & societies Barnes Community Association 020 8878 2359 Barnes Literary Society 020 8876 3817 Barnes & Mortlake History Society 020 8878 3756 Barnes Music Society 020 8876 1563 Barnes WI barneswi.co.uk FiSH Neighbourhood Care Scheme (For help and to volunteer) 020 8876 3414 Friends of Barnes Common 020 8392 2566 Friends of Palewell Common 07771 970017 Friends of Richmond Park 020 8549 8975 Mortlake with East Sheen Society 020 8876 7744 Mortlake Community Association 020 8487 5500 Neighbourhood Watch 020 8247 5807 OSO Community Arts Centre 020 8876 9885 Putney Music putneymusic.org.uk Putney Bridge Club 020 8892 9429 Putney Scouts 5thputneyseascouts.btik.com Putney Society putneysociety.org.uk Putney Theatre Company 07900 216 197 Richmond Orchestra 020 8876 4728
sports clubs & activities 144 (Richmond) Squadron Air Cadets Barn Elms Sports Centre Barnes Sports Club Barnes Runners Pools on the Park Putney Leisure Centre Rocks Lane Tennis & Football Ctr Sheen Common Bowling Club Shene Sports & Fitness Centre Sheen Shufflers
020 8940 2223 020 8876 7685 020 8876 1270 020 8241 6574 020 8940 0561 020 8785 0388 020 8876 8330 020 8878 6279 020 3772 2999 020 8876 6819
council Richmond Council Wandsworth Council Crimestoppers
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08456 122 660 020 8871 6000 0800 555 111
Secondary Schools ARK Putney Academy Christ’s Grey Court Richmond Park Academy
020 878 83421 020 8940 6982 020 8948 1173 020 8876 8891
local police Barnes Police Station Richmond Police Station (8am-8pm) Putney Safer Neighbourhood Teams East Sheen Mortlake & Barnes Barnes Putney
020 8392 1212 101 101 07879 433 391 020 8721 2007 07768 178 731 0208 247 7860
libraries Castelnau Mon, Tues, Fri 9.30am-6pm, Weds 10am7pm; Thurs & Sun closed. Tel: 020 8734 3350 East Sheen Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri 9.30am-6pm; Weds 10am-7pm; Sat 9.30am-4pm, Sun 1-5pm. Tel: 020 8734 3337 Putney Mon, Weds, Thurs 9am-8pm, Tues closed, Fri 9am-2pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 1pm-5pm. Tel: 020 8871 7090
recycling Richmond Borough (Townmead Rd) Opening Times Mon 10am - 6pm; Tues-Sat 8am - 6pm; Sun & Bank Hols: 9am - 4pm. Closed: 25, 26 Dec, 1 Jan. Richmond residents only. Last admission 15m before closing time. Wandsworth Borough (Smugglers Way) Mon-Fri 9am - 4pm; Sat 8am - 6pm; Sun 8am - 5pm If you have a club, society or association that you would like listed here please email me the details at: pippa@livinginmagazines.co.uk
Connecting local people to local life - 020 8878 1890
Index of Local Businesses Appliances Coopers Audio Visual Lasyl Beds Westend Beds Builders/Extensions DPS Care in the Home Helping Hands Carpet Cleaner Right Clean Carpenter Dave Casswell Yellow Chisel Car Services Colin Ferns - Mercedes Catering Katie’s Kitchen Charity Back Up Computer Services Computer Trading Curtains & Blinds Curtain Call Design Six Miles High Design Drama Classes Stage Coach Dry Cleaner Hamlyns Family Hosting College Guardians Gallery Boecho Gallery The Russell Gallery Gardening Auntie Planty Grout & Tiles Grout
21 5 20 3 26 11 13 11 39 22 33 13 11 22 40
Martial Arts Pee Wee/Funakoshi
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Networking The Sheen Network
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Opticians Blink Optics Physiotherapy Physio On The River Property Maintenance Zest Property Services
30 31 10
Solicitors D & G Family Law
10
Windows Ayrton Bespoke Bespoke Windows
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TRIAL ANSWERS: 3 Letters: DEN, DUE, DUN, END, PEN, PER, PUN, RED, REP, RUE, RUN, URN 4 Letters: DUNE, DUPE, NERD, NUDE, PURE, REND, RUDE, RUED, RUNE 5 Letters: NUDER, PRUDE, PRUNE, UNDER, UPEND 6 Letters: PRUNED
S U D U KO
22 22 19 25 14 6
Heating Engineer David Harris Insurance Shene Insurance
13
Lofts & Extensions Loft Solutions
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Disclaimer: While all reasonable care has been taken to ensure that the information in this magazine is accurate, the Publisher cannot accept, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any party for loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. The Publisher accepts no responsibility for the claims made by contributors in advertising content or Business Profiles or for loss arising from non-publication of any advertisement. Reproduction of text, images or artwork is strictly prohibited without prior permission of the Publisher.
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what's on LOCALLY Well, why not? A group of buff men, showing off their half-naked and welltoned bodies? Hang on, would I write that about a group of women? Nooo. If men shouldn’t comment on women’s looks alone, we shouldn’t write about men. Except they are on stage for their muscled bods to be admired. Maybe they talk, too. Richmond Theatre. Tickets £17£32. Recommended 18+ Box office: 0844 871 7651. atgtickets.com
The Dreamboys 13 July
How The Vote Was Won
24, 25, 28-31 August In 1918, women – albeit only those over 30 – won the right to vote. The Putney Theatre Company celebrates their political and theatrical history with three one-act plays, written during the suffrage campaigns. How The Vote Was Won and A Chat With Mrs Chicky were both written by women, while Press Cuttings was penned by George Bernard Shaw, an ardent supporter of women’s rights. A homage to women’s commitment and tenacity at a time of absurd beliefs and contradictions. Putney Arts Theatre, Ravenna Rd, Putney SW15 6AW. putneytheatrecompany.org.uk. Box office: 020 8788 6943
Alan Price 9 August
For those of an age to remember, Alan Price is the former keyboard player of the legendary 1960s group, The Animals, which produced hits such as the mega House Of The Rising Sun. Alan now regularly plays at the Bull’s Head in Barnes to audiences keen to hear his wit as well as his musicianship. Bull’s Head, Lonsdale Rd, Barnes SW13. Tickets £16, on the door or from tickets. thebullsheadbarnes.com 38
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Unlock your child’s potential with our expertly led singing, dancing and acting classes for 4 -18 year olds.
Find out more today: stagecoach.co.uk/kew Kew@stagecoach.co.uk 020 8487 1456 40
Creative Courage For Life
Stagecoach Performing Arts is the trading name of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Limited. Stagecoach Theatre Arts schools are operated under franchise and Connecting local to local life 020 8878 1890of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Limited. are independently owned by their Principals. Stagecoach andpeople Creative Courage For Life are -registered trademarks