Malden's Village Voice Summer 2020

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Malden’s

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KT3’s ONLY FREE Independent Community Magazine and Business Guide Summer 2020 Issue 174

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Welcome to YOUR Village Voice from jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk

July/August

Well it’s been a strange few months and apologies for being absent since March.

We have bounced back with a Summer edition, delivered to both of our distribution areas, so covering most of the KT3 postcode. Hope you enjoy it. We’ve also been publishing articles from our wonderful regular contributors online over the lockdown. You can read them on our website: www.maldenmedia.co.uk As restrictions continue to be lifted we should be able to start including club and community information again and, hopefully, even some What’s On listings. If you have something to contribute, or would like to advertise in our September edition please do get in touch. And thanks so much to all of our advertisers this month.

& Since ‘05

I hope you like our front cover – isn’t it wonderful!

Sally Henderson, who is a friend of Beverley Park, came up with a wonderful community lockdown initiative. Sally invited local people to paint a rock and add it onto this fabulous stone snake (pictured above) in the Beverley Park rose garden. Lots of people of all ages rose to the challenge - here’s just a small selection on the front cover picture. Thank you everyone!

Until next time, best wishes,

Jenny Deadline for our September editions is 20th August

Since ‘08

Published by Malden Media Ltd Editor Jenny Stuart jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk 020 8336 2915 www.maldenmedia.co.uk 36 Rosebery Avenue KT3 4JS Please note that the opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily represent the views of the editor. All advertisements are commercial and not indicative of any endorsement by the editor who accepts no responsibility for any loss suffered directly or indirectly by any reader as a result of any advertisement or notice published in this magazine.

All in-house artwork and editorial presented in this magazine remains the copyright of Malden Media Ltd. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, stored on any retieval system, or transmitted in any form - electronic, mechanical. recording, photocopying, or otherwise without prior permission from the Publisher.

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New Malden History A walk in the past (2) by Robin Gill Long standing readers will remember that I wrote an article back in October 2007 about a walk that appeared in a 1930s newspaper which I tried to retrace.

This month I want to go back further to a walk written about 1917. It comes from a hard to get book by Walker Miles called “Field-Path And Rustic Rambles By The Silvery Thames” Walker Miles real name was Edmund Seyfang Taylor (1853-1908) and was an early pioneer of rambling in Great Britain. He reinforced our public rights of way by walking them, and provided guide books of the routes he took. Some of these routes have gradually been swallowed up by building developments and new roads, and it is vital that we do what we can to preserve what’s left. In the 1930s there were approximately 9500 footpaths and bridleways in Surrey to be enjoyed, though I would imagine a large percentage have been lost over the last century.

Recently with the enforced restrictions people have been finding and enjoying the walks alongside our waterways (Hogsmill River and Beverley Brook), but there are plenty of other routes for local walkers to enjoy.

This route takes us from Wimbledon to Kingston a distance of about 8½ miles, but whether all is still walkable since it was written 110 yeas ago, I don’t know.

The route “Leaving the underground train at Wimbledon, we go forward along the approach road to Wimbledon Hill Road. on which we turn to the right. The shops are soon left behind, and we ascend Wimbledon Hill, the footpath on the righthand side of the way being screened from the road by a narrow shrubbery.

At the top of the hill we take the rightward road forward (High Street) keeping to the left at the next fork. A little further on a direction post in the centre of the road is reached, and we turn to the left, as to Cottenham Park and Kingston. Wimbledon Common is at once gained, and we take the path across it which passes to the right of the Rushmere Pond. On reaching a junction of roads on the farther side of the common, we take the narrow one in front (Camp

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Road), pass the Fox and Grapes on the right, and beyond it, the Wimbledon Endowed Alms-houses, and then a school.

The roadway now bears to the right and divides into three in front of Wimbledon Common Farm. We take the extreme leftward branch, a guide post indicating a footpath to Coombe and Kingston. At the end of some houses upon the left, the roadway enters, a palisade gate, but to the right of this is a swing gate, through which we pass, continuing forward along a fenced path. The ground on either side, now laid out as part of a golf-course.is known as Caesar’s Camp, for here originally was an ancient earth work, almost circular in shape. Unfortunately, the owner, having been restrained by the Commoners in legal proceedings from making a broad metalled roadway across the common in order to develop his property for building purposes, gave vent to his spite by levelling the embankment. Such an act of vandalism should be remembered, to the perpetual disgrace of the offender.

Although the name associates the earthwork with the Romans, antiquarians conjecture it to have been connected with the battlefield described by early Saxon writers as “Wibbnadun” where Ceaulin King Of The West Saxons, attacked and defeated Ethelbert King of Kent in the year 568, and where Oslac and Cnebba, two of Ethelbert’s generals were killed. Lord Eversley’s Commons Forests and Footpaths is well worth reading in connection with Wimbledon Common, and its preservation as a public open space.

Wooded area As we proceed, we see in front the wooded heights of Coombe, to the left of which extends a glorious view towards the North Downs, with Kingston and Surbiton lying below in the foreground. After a while the wire fences give way to wooden ones, and farther on a hedge succeeds that on the left and then a stile gives access to an outlying spur of Wimbledon Common. We keep straight on over this cross the Beverley Brook by a footbridge, and then reach a couple of footpath guide posts, that to the left being almost hidden among the trees. Beside this latter, we pass between some posts following the path which is indicated as leading to Coombe Lane etc. The path runs through a delightful copse which borders the brook, and coming out into the open, continues forward, still with the brook to the left.

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On reaching Coombe Lane, we turn left across Coombe Bridge, and soon find on the right a guidepost, directing to New Malden. Here we turn along what is described as a footpath but is, in fact, a private roadway which, at some future time may become a residential thoroughfare. We soon cross the Beverley Brook for the third time, and presently pass through a gateway, the roadway at length terminating upon Coombe Road beside the Parish Church of New Malden. We cross the road and continue along Lime Grove, in front, and when this ends upon Elm Road, turn to the left. The road, after crossing the Kingston branch of the L & SW RY on the level, and passing beneath the main line, leads into Kingston Road.,

which we cross, and proceed by Westbury Road, which has a Baptist Chapel upon the left-hand corner. We leave this road by first turning to the right- Albermarle Gardens- at the end of which we turn to the left along South Lane, but in about fifty yards turn to the right by a rough lane- an old bridle-road. A footpath shortly leads off upon the right and another to the left, but our way lies straight on, a guide-post directing to Surbiton.

River walk When the lane comes to an end, we cross the Hogsmill River by a footbridge, and go forward over the field in front until a tiny runnel is reached, in front of which we turn to the left. We keep beside until a new bridge

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is gained, crossing which, we continue forward (the stream being now to the left) to the end of field, where we pass through the gatewaying the right-hand corner.

We have a hedge to the right through the next field, at the end of which the track for a while becomes a lane. Passing Bridle Path Cottages on the right, we have a wire fence to the left through another field, then, bearing rightward, we again have a hedge on either hand. In about a quarter of a mile the lane turns to the left, and then enters the farmyard of Berrylands Farm at Surbiton. Here we pass through the bridle-gate to the right of the roadway, and bearing rightward, come out into Berrylands Road, on which we continue forward.

After skirting the fence of Regent House, the road turns to the left, and at the cross-roads in front of the Paragon Arms we turn to the right along King Charles’s Road, soon crossing the main line of the L & S W Ry. On the farther side of the bridge three roads radiate, and to the left of the centre one is a gateway admitting to a footpath known as Villiers Path. By this we proceed, it presently bears to the left and ends upon Surbiton Hill Road, which we cross leftward, continuing by a road bearing the curious name of Avenue Elmers. The road descends to Maple Road, and slanting to the left across this, we follow Uxbridge Road out to the river side, where we descend to the Kingston Promenade and turn to the right along it, the opposite (or Middlesex)

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bank being pleasantly bordered by Hampton Court Park.

When the promenade merges in the Portsmouth Road, we continue forward into Kingston High Street, soon finding ourselves cut off from the river by the shops. The High Street bears to the right across the Hogsmill River, and passes on the right the ancient Coronation Stone, mounted upon an octagonal base and surrounded by an ornamental railing. The base is inscribed with the names of the Saxon Kings who, between the dates 901 to 978 were, it is claimed, crowned upon this stone.

Continuing through the Market Place, we keep to the left of the Town Hall, along Thames Street, which leads into Clarence Street at the foot of Kingston Bridge, at which point we may get motor bus or tramcar back to various parts of London.� (Good Luck With The Tram).

Because of the lockdown, I have been unable to follow this route, so if anybody tries to undertake it, I would appreciate hearing if you have any problems. One that immediately springs to mind is the building of the Kingston Bypass in the 1920s...

Illustrations 1) Copy of rather frail map in the book.

2) Royal Oak New Malden

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Clubs Rotary Club Of New Malden

If you have interest in joining our club please contact our Secretary on 07946526783

JUNE, as Oscar Hammerstein put it so eloquently, is “BUSTING OUT ALL OVER!” That may be a bit of an exaggeration this year but at least in New Malden we have signs of the High Street coming to life again and we are delighted to see that the hanging baskets have been installed to welcome the returning retail traders.

We wish all our retailers, particularly the locally owned small businesses, every success as they cautiously re-open their doors. Let’s all support them as best we can to ensure the future of our High Street.

Our thanks to all those who enabled us to get the Hanging Baskets done. We particularly thank Kingston Council, our local Councillors and those firms who contributed to the costs this year. We hope that the floral displays will, as they grow in the next few weeks, give us all a brighter and more welcoming High Street.

to join us, or just help out, get in touch and find out more with no commitment.

Get in touch by visiting our website www. newmaldenrotary.org.uk or email Richard on racan.rs@gmail.com

Although the lockdown has of necessity slowed down Rotary’s activities since the end of March, we have not been totally idle. Funds have been distributed to support the needs of front line staff at Kingston Hospital as well as contributing, in conjunction with Kingston Rotary to the Kingston Hospital Charity, supplemented by a grant from the Rotary International Foundation which doubled our contributions.

Our fundraising activities have, of course, been severely curtailed and our meetings restricted to virtual gatherings on Zoom. We are looking carefully at plans for the future; how and when we are going to come back to regular meetings, how we can fund our projects and how we can best make practical contributions to the community life of our town.

Can we help to harness the massive goodwill and volunteering initiatives which have sprung up since the crisis began? Administratively Rotary runs from July to June so from next month we shall be looking at new initiatives, new ways of doing things and new ideas in a changed world.

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We welcome contributions from the community to our discussions. Any ideas for ways we can work together will be welcomed … we will talk, and listen, to anyone with the right community spirit. And if you would like Please remember to mention the Village Voice when you speak to our advertisers

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W A Truelove & Son Ltd Four Generations of Expertise Since 1885, W A Truelove & Son Ltd has offered a sensitive yet professional approach to funeral arrangements. Four generations of the Truelove family have handled every aspect of funeral arrangements with pride, sensitivity, and compassion.

The time-served tradition of Truelove’s continues as our experienced team of funeral directors and monumental craftsmen are led by Simon and David Truelove.

Our Worcester Park/Old Malden facility offers complete privacy, air-conditioning and a private car park for our clients at the rear of the premises. The branch, which has been open since 2015, is run by Sharon Vickery, who is a fully qualified funeral arranger. Sharon has received her Certificate in Funeral Arranging and Administration with Merit from the London Association of Funeral Directors and she is ready to greet you and listen to your funeral requirements at our premises at 350/352 Malden Road.

The pandemic imposed some very limiting restrictions on our service. However, we are pleased to announce that, in line with government guidance, many of these restrictions have now been relaxed.

We can once again offer face-to-face funeral arrangements and chapel visits at our branches for a maximum of two visitors and by appointment only.

Our limousines have been fitted with Perspex screens to separate the driver’s compartment from the funeral party. Each limousine is limited to members of the same household only.

We feel these relaxed restrictions allow us to continue providing the community with the first-class and professional funeral service for which the Truelove family is known.

There is a reason for the longevity of our service, and that reason lies within the Truelove name and ethos.

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Pets

Unusual Summer Tips for Dog Owners Summer is a great time for you to be out with your dog, making the most of the sunny weather, but it’s also a time to take extra care.

The sun can take its toll on dogs in various ways, so here are three tips to help you protect your fourlegged friend and make sure they stay fit and healthy this summer.

Check the ground they’re walking on We’ve all experienced how quickly hot sand can burn our feet when we’re on holiday and it’s the same for dogs, both on the beach and on the pavements. To check that it’s safe for them to walk on, put your hand flat on the ground for five seconds – if it’s too hot for you, then it’s definitely too hot for your dog’s paws.

Use sunscreen Dogs with thin coats can easily get sunburnt, particularly around their face, nose and ears. Don’t let them stay in the sun for too long and apply sunscreen to those vulnerable areas, especially after they’ve been swimming.

Keep their head inside the car When your dog leans out of the car window there’s a risk of serious injury. This could be from debris flying up from the road or other vehicles passing too close, so make sure they’re properly restrained with a seatbelt through their harness.

Although probably not your typical summer health advice, these tips will help to protect your beloved pet from severe discomfort or serious injury.

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Silver Splendour

by Pippa Greenwood

Why not bring a bit of silver in to your life with some sensational silvery plants for your garden?

If you are rather partial to aromatic plants then there are several that have not only a pungent aroma but also striking silvery foliage, such as the cotton lavender and the curry plant. With attractively divided silvery leaves, they look gorgeous and need not take up too much garden space either. The aroma is one you’ll either love or hate – it is up to you to decide!

Hostas are well-loved herbaceous perennials often grown with great effect in shaded spots, especially those that are also rather damp. Their large, showy leaves come in a range of colours including some smart, silvery blues. When paired with the also somewhat silvery and densely hairy Alchemilla mollis they make a great ground cover display, and the Alchemilla will soon self-seed, giving more plants at no cost to you.

Both the English lavenders and their French cousins (with rather more elaborate and often winged flowers) are a good ingredient for any garden where silver foliage can play a part. The aromatic leaves and the flowers smell gorgeous and have a naturally relaxing quality for most people. Bees adore the flowers too, and add to their silvery magic.

You can even use silver foliage to create a water-free waterfall, as there are several silver-foliaged plants that have a naturally trailing or cascading effect. The best known is probably Helichrysum petiolare with long trailing stems edged with small, rounded leaves, each so densely covered with hairs that they are like silver coins. They are great for hanging baskets, creating a waterfall effect within weeks of planting. For a yearround effect, grow one of the variegated ivies such as Hedera helix ‘Glacier’ whose grey-green leaves are edged with silvery white.

Many of the small Artemisias have the most elegant of silvery foliage, not least Artemisia ‘Powys Castle’, whose finely divided foliage takes on the appearance of silver filigree lace. They will look their best grown in a fairly sheltered, sunny spot and will provide you with a fabulous display for many, many years.

Sometimes that touch of silver comes after flowering, in the form of seed heads. There are many plants whose flowers may be brightly coloured that then offer

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a gorgeous, silver display once the flowers themselves are long forgotten. The seed heads of the lovely purple or white flowered alpines called Pulsatilla, for instance, are a real delight. Each seed is equipped with feather plume to help it disperse, making a wonderful wisp of silver. Some of the clematis too have very fluffy seed heads – the silvery furry seed heads of the wild clematis are aptly known as old man’s beard. For a similar effect on a shrub take a look at the Cotinus – most have wonderful autumn colour to their leaves and the seed heads explain why this shrub’s common name is smoke bush!

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Many of the silvery foliaged plants have their origins in the Mediterranean, where the dense layer of hair helps to reduce the amount of water that is lost through the leaves and their pale colour helps to reflect some of the sunlight, thus adding to their ability to withstand dry or hot conditions. So, when you’re looking for plants for a sunny, dry area of your garden, you won’t go far wrong with silver foliage!

Many plants whose leaves appear silvery look this way because the leaf surface is covered with a dense matt of short hairs. As an added bonus, after rain or even a heavy dew many silvery plants will become studded with water droplets, making them look as if studded with pure silver gems. It is almost enough to make you glad when the dewy autumn mornings arrive in a few months’ time.

For the tiniest space, even a small window box, you can still enjoy growing some silver – try the houseleek Sempervivum arachnoideum with its evergreen, fleshy rosette of red-tipped leaves that is covered with a web of silvery white hairs – and not a spider in sight!

Silvery foliage plants may produce their absolute best display in bright sunlight, but use a few in a slightly shaded spot, ideally combined with some plants with large, pale-coloured flowers, and you will see how they also have the ability to make that dull spot look brighter.

Combine silver foliage plants with some with either very dark-coloured leaves or those with rich blue or purple hues and you’ll introduce a really magical effect, as the richness of the dark colours is brought to life with the sparkle of the silvery foliage. Plant silver foliage close to, say, Cotinus ‘Royal Purple’ with darkest purple leaves, and you’ll see what I mean.

Visit Pippa’s website (www.pippagreenwood.com) to book Pippa for a gardening talk at your gardening club or as an after-dinner speaker.

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Summer wines by Charlotte Dean The bottle of wine you choose says a lot about you…

Make the most of Summer with these wines, with more to them-a background story or famous connection-they make a great gift or for just sitting in the garden let them transport you to foreign climes….

Court Garden English Sparkling Blanc de Noirs £28.99 comes from Ditchling in West Sussex, the home of Dame Vera Lynn. When she died on the 18th June at 103, a Spitfire circled her home. Crisp, serious dry fizz from Pinot Noir & Meunier grapes.

Hampton Water Provence Rose.

France £19.99 Crisp, dry Syrah Grenache blend made by Jon Bon Jovi in France and named after his favourite beach-not our local outdoor pool but we wont tell anyone if you don’t! The punt is moulded so that if the bottle digs into the sand it leaves the shape of a strawberry.

Cora Loxarel Organic & Biodynamic, Spain £13.99 Just South of Barcelona this delicious light and lifted refreshing wine has very little sulphur and is made in tune with the rhythms of the moon from the grape that’s makes Cava and Muscat.

This wine will not leave you with a headache!

2018 Morgon La Chaponne, France £15.99 A light red that you can chill is perfect for those who want a bit more oomph and flavour from their wine to accompany that steak or burger on the grill. This is Gamay from one of the Beaujolais Cru villages and the 2018 vintage gives amazing colour and ripeness, more like a Pinot Noir with a burst of red cherry, raspberry and strawberry fruit.

Over 300 wines to choose from…

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A painting fit for the Queen

Sybil, a resident at Speirs House nursing home in New Malden, set her care home’s manager a challenge. She noticed that the care home’s Royal Lounge was missing the portrait of Her Majesty the Queen and at the resident meeting last year she suggested that the care home residents with the help from Home Manager, Kathleen Liang, should paint a portrait of the Queen. The aim was to complete the portrait for Her Majesty’s Birthday on Saturday 13th June 2020.

Although it wasn’t an easy task, residents and Home Manager set to the task. It took many hours of painting but the final touches were made just before Her Majesty’s birthday.

The residents are planning to write to the Queen and present her with a framed photo of the portrait as a gift.

Sybil, a resident who suggested painting the portrait, said: “It was better than what I expected, my wishes came true and today feels like a magic moment for me.”

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Another resident Nelia said: “My Mum used to do painting, I used to do a lot of painting work with school children and they loved it. Helping to paint this special portrait brought back many fond memories.”

Kathleen Liang, Home Manager, said: “At Speirs House, we offer a variety of activities to accommodate our residents’ individual needs. Art is very popular at Speirs House, it is lovely that many of our residents participate in art classes we run at the care home and it gives me a great joy to see the residents’ smiles when they accomplish something creative.”

Speirs House care home with nursing in New Malden, provides specialist nursing and end of life care to 36 residents. The home is part of an awardwinning charity Greensleeves Care. Speirs House has recently been awarded the Top 20 Care Home in London accolade from the leading care directory carehome.co.uk.

For more information about Speirs House, please contact Kim Mears, Family Liaison Manager, on 020 8016 2505.

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TEL: 020 8949 0094

11 HIGH STREET, NEW MALDEN, KT3 4DQ

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Malden’s

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Tomatoes FOOD FACTS:

Tomatoes originate from the Andes in South America, where they grow wild in what is now Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Ecuador. They were first cultivated by the Aztecs and Incas as early as 700 AD. Tomatoes are more nutritious when cooked and even better for you if cooked with a bit of oil, as that helps the nutrients to be absorbed.

The heaviest tomato ever grown weighed 3.51 kg – about the same as the average newborn baby.

Tomatoes can keep longer if you store them with their stem down.

British tomato production accounts for half of our consumption in the summer, but just twenty per cent in the winter.

Premium tomatoes, such as tomatoes on the vine, are driving growth in the market. Vine tomatoes now account for around two-thirds of the UK’s tomato production area.

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Puzzle Time fairly easy

not so easy

Quick Quiz Twins 1. By what name are twin sisters Gabriela and Monica Irimia more commonly known?

2. Which planet’s two moons are named after twin brothers from Greek mythology who personify fear and dread?

3. On the TV show The Simpsons, what is the name of Springfield’s neighbouring city that is treated as its twin city, even though it has a strong rivalry with it?

4. Which two actors played the title roles in the 1988 film Twins?

5. According to legend, which twins founded Rome?

6. In the TV series Twin Peaks, Twin Peaks is a town in which US state?

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7. The pop group The Thompson Twins took their name from detectives called Thompson and Thompson who featured in comic strips centred around which character?

8. In which Star Wars film is it revealed that Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia are twins?

9. In 2012, which village in Perthshire in Scotland was twinned with the town of Boring in Oregon?

10. Of the three Gibb brothers who made up the Bee Gees, which two were twins?

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Codeword Each letter in this puzzle is represented by a different number between 1 and 26. The codes for three letters are shown. Once you have filled these throughout the grid you can start guessing words and reveal other letters. As you find the letters enter them in the box below.

C

LP

Computer Solutions

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Home or Office, I come to you.

20+ years commercial IT experience.

Fully Insured.

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Computer repairs Upgrades Virus Removal Windows 10 Training Memory Upgrades Email / Spam System clean-up ADSL / Broadband Wireless Networking Printer setup Setup / Data Transfers Tablets and Cameras Video transfers Lotus Notes /Domino

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25

Paella

Makes 4 Ready in 1 hour

Ingredients • 1 tbsp virgin olive oil • 225g chorizo, diced • 1 large onion, chopped • 275g paella rice • Few strands saffron • 1.1l fish or chicken stock • Salt and freshly ground black pepper • 1 red pepper, deseeded and chopped • 100g frozen peas • 2 tsp paprika • 250g cooked peeled prawns, thawed if frozen • Few fresh mussels, scrubbed

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Enjoy the flavours of Spain with this classic rice dish. It makes a great one-pan supper served with crusty bread and a green salad.

Method 1. Heat the oil in a large deep frying pan over a medium heat.

Add the chorizo to the pan and fry for 3-4 minutes. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside.

2. Fry the onion in the pan juices for 5 minutes then stir in the rice and saffron and cook while stirring for 1 minute. Pour in the stock, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring frequently.

3. Return the chorizo sausage to the pan and add the pepper, peas, paprika and prawns. Simmer gently for a further 10 minutes until the rice is nearly tender and all the liquid has been absorbed, stirring occasionally. Top with the mussels and cover and cook for a further 4-5 minutes until the mussels open (discard any that do not open). Adjust the seasoning to taste then serve from the pan.

TIP To make a vegetarian version omit the chorizo, prawns and mussels and replace with a selection of vegetables of your choice, such as celery, green beans, chopped tomatoes and courgette. Use vegetable stock and fry a couple of crushed garlic cloves with the onion to give extra flavour.

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WINDOW REPAIRS TO DOUBLE GLAZING DON'T REPLACE!!

GOOD AS NEW

REPAIR! BROKEN OR DAMAGED?

• All Types of Locks • Misted Sealed Units • Handles for Windows or Doors • Window Hinges and Stays • Patio Door Wheels and Tracks

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27

Best weather app: Dark Sky (Apple) It’s just been bought by Apple so unfortunately Android users can’t rely on it much longer (try Carrot or Accuweather instead), but on iPhones and iPads Dark Sky is the weather app to beat thanks to its accurate one-hour forecasting and weekahead views. Don’t plan a trip without it.

Best traffic app: Waze Navigation & Live Traffic (Apple, Android) Waze is a brilliant app for drivers: it uses information from all its users to develop a really accurate real-time picture of what’s happening on the roads to help you avoid accidents, roadworks and other causes of congestion. It even helps you find the cheapest petrol stations.

WORDWHEEL

Using only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have ten minutes to find as many words as possible, none of which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns. Each word must be of three letters or more, all must contain the central letter and letters can only be used once in every word. There is at least one word that uses all of the letters in the wheel.

TARGET Excellent: 32 or more words Good: 25 words Fair: 22 words

O

U

E

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P C

T

R

Pictograms 3 words FUNCTIONING

2 words

Best exercise app: Strava (Apple, Android, fitness trackers) Strava’s traffic tripled during the lockdown, with good reason: it’s a superb app for any kind of outdoor exercise on foot or on wheels.

In addition to accurate GPS tracking and health monitoring it enables you to track your progress and compete in leader boards with friends or with complete strangers.

M

D E H S I R E H C

5 words

i t

The best apps for outdoor activities

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- Decking and Lawns - Hedge Trimming - Landscaping

- Strimming and Weeding - Garden clearance - Path and Patio Washing

NEW MALDEN REPAIR & ALTERATIONS CLINIC Hems shortened, Sleeves shortened,

Jackets re-lined, Trousers repaired ‘PUT YOUR GARDEN MAINTENANCE INTel: THE020 8330 info@cypressgardenservices.co.uk HANDS OF SOMEONE WHO REALLY CARES’ and Dresses re-shaped etc. www.cypressgardenservices.co.uk Mobile: 07958 - One off Tidy Over 25yrs Experience - Garden Maintenance 07904 880 448 - Decking and Lawns - Hedge Trimming - Landscaping - Tree surgery - Stump Grinding GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE SERVICE - Strimming & Weeding • Garden design • Hedge Trimming - Garden clearance • Lawn mowing • Borders - Path & Patio Washing • Treatment and • Landscaping CE IN THE Turfing • Reliable, Friendly, MAINTENAN N E D R A G R CARES' 'PUT YOU HO REALLY • Clearance Fully Insured SOMEONE W HANDS OF

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29

30

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Offering care and help at any stage of your life Supporting you at home Our CAREGivers are carefully chosen and matched to your individual needs, providing continuity, compassion and someone who really cares.

Services include:

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31

Parkin’ some thoughts Passing the Time by Nick Hazell Aaaarghh. Four months!! Four months during which the wheezing spectre of Covid-19 has been constantly lurking in the background, drunkenly swiping the drinks off the table and vomiting into the cutlery drawer like the most unwelcome of party guests. The resulting confinement, though initially novel, has become as frustrating as playing UNO with a group of colour blind octogenarians. For a man who might look upon his glass as being occasionally half empty, this has been a difficult time to think of shuffling his way back to the bar for a top up, not least because it’s shut.

There have been occasional glimpses of the odd silver edged cumulonimbus as we’ve navigated our way through these virus infested waters. For example, I’ve been inspired to embrace my inner Green Goddess, combine it with a dash of Blue Peter ingenuity and so create a selection of obstacle courses using little more than toilet rolls and double sided sticky tape. These were energetically completed on a daily basis by the youngest family member with something approaching enthusiasm.. and a dog in hot pursuit. It created a sort of father/daughter/canine bonding experience that may not have arisen but for the need to find a lure away from the siren call of the digital screen and the need to bark at the neighbours (Dudley that is, not me).

Anna on the other hand doesn’t really do exercise. The closest she gets is running up a large on-line shopping bill with ASOS. However, she has introduced me to the hilarious human spectacle of “Gogglebox”, a viewing experience we now share. I don’t really watch television and the prospect of watching other people watch it was odd to me, but the hilarious conversation between two Bristolian ladies in their 80s about one of them having recently had a Brazilian, had me choking over my popcorn and looking forward to the next episode.

I’m the meantime, Victoria has been using the moment to cultivate a veritable market garden of produce from potatoes to strawberries and constantly slipping into conversation the benefits of having your own chickens in the hope I might absentmindedly agree to a batch arriving through Amazon My style of gardening is more Fred Dibnah than Monty Don. I tend to dig first

32

and ask for forgiveness later. My horticultural skills are about as good as my sense of direction.

Plant, weed, weed plant. Left, right, right left. Much the same to me.

As a result, Mrs H has often been heard calmly but with a hint of menace advising me to “put the weapon down and walk away” if I emerge from the shed with a spade, assuming I’ve found my way out.

I also thought that perhaps I could use this period of enforced confinement to ignore a lifetime of tone deaf incompetence and learn how to play an instrument. Nothing complicated you understand. Something fool proof. Lara suggested the ukulele. Well, as Bette Midler once said “if you pick up a ukulele, it will make you feel unbelievably happy.” Perfect. Thing is, my attempt at not just picking it up but also attempting to make it play something resembling a tune seem to inspire little more than sniggering from my 11 year old tutor and the odd remark along the lines of “it must need tuning” from the Wife.

It took me two weeks to contort my Parkinsonianly static right hand into the required shape to master a G and another three to work out how to get from there to an F. At least I think that’s what I was doing. It may have been an A. The only way I could conceive of experiencing the sort of happiness Bette had in mind was by taking an axe and setting about the tuneless piece of wood. I can play none of the right notes in anything near the right order.

It twangs when it should strum and if I ever hear “Let it Be” again I can not held be responsible for the consequences.

The frustration of being locked down has indeed been as great as those colour blind octogenarians throwing down their cards to discover that Twister is the only other game in the cupboard. But when I come to look back on this time, it won’t just be with a sense of disbelief that we could ever find ourselves in this position or of relief that (hopefully) we’ll get out of it. I will also be secure in the knowledge that how ever difficult life becomes, its hard to be depressed around a Ukulele. Especially one that’s smouldering away in a fire pit!

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ST R N NO YLE AN EW W S & GE AV C OF AI OL LA OU BL RS E

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33

A Photographer Dreams...

by Hugh Griffiths www.creativelight.org.uk

and the child blurred. I reckoned that this would make a more interesting image than everything being sharp.

I like the way that this enables you, the viewer, to focus on the main point which is the butterfly resting in the hand of a child. A lovely photo, in my view.

Last July – and it’s getting increasingly difficult to think of a time before lockdown and corona virus – we spent a weekend in Stratford upon Avon. A whole mix of my wife’s family came, and we had a couple of lovely days together. One of the problems we have is that (obviously) we live here in New Malden, and most of our families live in very different parts of the country; so, we don’t get to see them as often as we would like.

But we have started a tradition (alright, we’ve done it twice) of meeting up like this in Stratford once a year.

The weather was lovely, the town was full of people like us – gawping at the theatre, walking through the gardens around Shakespeare’s church, sitting by the river and watching the canal boats go by. Oh, and enjoying eating good food as well! There is also a Big Wheel, which some of us enjoyed going on, and an absolutely fantastic butterfly farm. My sister in law and her granddaughter and I went around the butterfly farm … in my experience of these places, the butterflies are zipping around and are very difficult to photograph.

But here, they were quite happy to welcome all their ‘guests’ and show their glory to us. The farm – it seems the wrong word, but that is what it was called – had a huge variety of butterflies and also had an incubator where you could see the larvae growing in their cocoons, transforming from colourful caterpillars to the rather drab cocoons, and finally pulling themselves out of the cocoon as glorious flying colours.

34

And they also were very happy to settle done on their visitors. In this picture, my niece has a butterfly perched on the end of her fingers while she was ecstatic with the experience. And the butterfly stayed still long enough for me to take this photograph: I used fairly small aperture so that I could have the insect in focus,

We also went to stay at a country mansion for a night the same month. It was a terrific place – very comfortable and excellent food! A couple of days before we were due to go, our dog fell ill with some tummy problem – and the vet told us that she couldn’t go to kennels while we were away. Luckily for us, the hotel did allow dogs and so Poppy came with us for the stay. She was given a royal treatment with her own personal poo bag bin and a huge cushion to sleep on.

Unfortunately, she was not eager to use that basket and spent a lot of the night padding up and down the room; and was very keen to stop me snoring by pushing me with her nose. But we managed to get enough rest!

In the grounds of the hotel there was this beautiful pond with water lilies and with a lush reed bed at the far side. This photo captures both quite well … when I looked at it while selecting my photos for this article, I thought at first that pond stopped at the end of the water lilies and the reeds started there. Looking more carefully, I can see that the water carries on and the reeds are in fact a reflection of the actual bed.

The bird (I’m not sure what brand it is – but possibly a moorhen) makes the picture work. The photo is nice enough with the vegetation, but the bird adds an extra point of interest and a focal point for your eyes as you look at it. That’s an important need in most photographs, as the viewer needs some guidance on where to look – the picture can feel jumbled and messy otherwise.

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This photo was also taken there on the Sunday morning. I think that the image on the left is OK, but slightly unexciting; so, I decided to play with it in Photoshop. This editing software has a large variety of tools – very few of which I have used or, indeed, understand – so playing with them is a fun and surpriseinducing experience.

My aim was to turn the original photo into something that looked like a painting – in this case I was trying to give it a feel of an oil painting from the late 19th Century. I wish now that I could remember what I did to it – which filters (a Photoshop term) did I apply and in what sequence. But I do like the result; it’s never going to win a prize, but I can see this hanging in my hallway or dining room on a fairly large canvas. I will just have to learn how to write my signature on to the photo!

As an aside, if you do have a photo editing program, then it is always worth fooling around with it to see what the results can be. But always make sure that you have a copy of the original or there is a risk you might lose that to some monstrosity that you have created!

The Malden Camera Club has cancelled its physical meetings while the Coronavirus is around, but we still have virtual meetings through video conferencing and other online tools.

If you want to know more about us, then contact us via the details on our website. We will be back in full swing in the Autumn!

Our website gives a lot more information … www. maldencameraclub.org.uk

New office open to serve the community building needs, loft conversions, extensions, refurbishments 196 Central Road, KT48HG (near station)

ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND HONEST APPROACH AT EVERY STAGE For extensions, loft conversions, and refurbishments please get intouch.

07954 425509 / 07930 949009 flahertybuilders@hotmail.com www.flahertybuildersltd.co.uk To advertise email jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk or call 020 8336 2915

35

Solutions

CodeWord

Quiz

1. The Cheeky Girls 2. Mars (the moons are called Phobos and Deimos) 3. Shelbyville 4. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito 5. Romulus and Remus 6. Washington 7. Tintin 8. Return Of The Jedi 9. Dull 10. Robin and Maurice

Sudokus

Pictograms

1. Running On Empty 2. Loved Up 3. Lay It On The Line

Pengilly Shoe RePaiRS

and Key Cutting

Specialising in Quality Shoe Repairs Key Cutting Polish and Sundries leather goods School Bags 153 High Street New Malden KT3 4BH

020 8336 2268 36

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Royal British Legion Malden & Coombe Branch These sad and difficult times have prevented so many commemorations and celebration at Malden and Coombe Royal British Legion. We are keeping in touch with members and know that our care homes are continuing to run with upmost care.

It was sad to hear the death of Dame Vera Lynn who was such a great support to many service personnel during the 2nd world war and who’s music continued to give so many veteran’s joy.

Our committee commemorated the death of our local VC Cyril Barton this month and our thoughts are with his family, as usual.

I hope that there will be better news to report in the next edition but in the meantime please stay safe and report any veteran in need to 0808 802 8080

Tree Surgery • Tree Felling Stump Grinding Tree Surveys and Reports Planting• Hedge Maintenance Fruit tree management

If you would like to join Malden and Coombe please contact me at janfeist@hotmail.com.You will all be made very welcome. Please visit our new branch website at www.rblmalden.co.uk which has information and photos of the branch. Any future events will be posted there.

TO THE MEMORY OF THE FALLEN AND THE FUTURE OF THE LIVING

Fully qualified Arborists £5 Million Liability Insurance Local Authority Approved Free Quotations and Advice

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37

FEELY

DRIVEWAYS

Resin Driveways

BLOCK PAVING AND DRIVEWAY SPECIALISTS Block Paving • Patios Driveways • Concrete Driveways • Driveway Cleaning Swimming Pool Surrounds

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feelydriveways@gmail.com • www.feelydriveways.co.uk

Sales-Spares-Repairs

For all your appliance needs call 01372 748275 38

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Or visit us in store: 29 Waterloo Road Epsom KT19 8EX

LO D G E B ROT H E R S F U N E R A L D I R E C TO R S

“Seven generations of our family have been serving the local community for 240 years” Robert Lodge – Chairman and Funeral Conductor

Trust the Lodge Family Difference 26 Coombe Road, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 4QF 020 8075 6112 newmalden@lodgebrothers.co.uk

F U N E R A L D I R E C TO R S • M E M O R I A L S TO N E M A S O N S • F LO R A L T R I B U T E S P E R S O N A L I S E D F U N E R A L P L A N S • W I L L S & P RO B AT E S E RV I C E S LdgMaldenVlgVoiceFeb20-125x185-FINAL.indd 1 To advertise email jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk

or call 020 8336 2915

17/02/2020 12:05

39

CARPETS U NUMBER

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Carpets_4_U_(A5_Ad)_SUMMER-2020_AW_V3.indd 1

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27/04/2020 19:55