Worcester Park Life March 22 by jenny stuart

Worcester Park Life

KT4’s ONLY FREE Independent Community Magazine and Business Guide March 2022 Issue 156

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Would you like to be the one to help Beryl get her lipstick and jewellery on every day? At Home Instead Wimbledon and Kingston, we are looking for compassionate people just like you, to look after our lovely clients in the local area as a CAREGiver. It can be as little as 5 hours a week to suit your lifestyle, and in return you could help someone feel fabulous and stay independent in their own home, for longer. Our CAREGivers come in all shapes and sizes – from a retired art teacher, who loves getting crafty with clients, to an enthusiastic cook, who enjoys conjuring up a storm in the kitchen.

Whatever your experience, we would love to hear from you! For those of you with elderly loved ones in Wimbledon or Kingston, we also have a range of fun events and activity classes, including Love to Move at Lunch Club, every Monday from 12pm to 2pm; Active Ageing Club, every Thursday from 10am to 12pm and Singing for the Brain, every Friday from 10.30am to 12pm. If you would like to find out more about becoming a CAREGiver or coming to our events, please contact Laura on 0208 942 4137 or email laura.hillier@homeinstead.co.uk www.homeinstead.co.uk/ wimbledonandkingston Each Home Instead® franchise office is independently owned and operated. Copyright © Home Instead 2022.

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Welcome to YOUR Worcester Park Life I bought a new kettle recently and returned it after the first use. It heated the water just fine, but every time it reached boiling point, it beeped. I mean, I’ve managed to listen out for the click all of my adult life, why do I need reminding now? It’s just annoying. Those beeps are everywhere though. The microwave, the washing machine, the tumble dryer and the car, oh my goodness, the car. I appreciate that if I’ve left the lights on, I want to know about that and the seat belt reminder has my best interests at heart. But - amongst other noises - mine merrily dings when I press the start button. I’m sat in it, I know I’ve started it! Then our mobile phones. A collection of noises and interruptions to alert you to news, messages and updates. Thank goodness for the nighttime ‘mute all notifications’ setting without which I’d be dreaming in beeps. And if you haven’t discovered the nightime sleep mode then I highly recommend you do. Just need to sort my husband’s out!

& Since ‘08

There’s something to be said for a printed magazine. It doesn’t prompt you to turn the page, or make you watch an advert in the middle of an article. It just sits there quietly, politely waiting for you to read it. It won’t flash a light, make a noise, or insist on reminding you that it’s still there. You can make a cup of tea (I found a kettle without a beep), curl up in a quiet corner, and just take a break – be entertained by the features and puzzles, be informed by community article and be inspired by the services offered by our advertisers. Please do remember we are here if you’d like to promote your business, club or organisation to a wider audience. Just give me a call. Looking forward to speaking to you! Best wishes as always,

Jenny

Deadline for our April editions is 25th March

Since ‘05

Published by Malden Media Ltd Editor Jenny Stuart jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk 020 8336 2915 www.maldenmedia.co.uk 36 Rosebery Avenue KT3 4JS

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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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Worcester Park History Remembering a future King on Worcester Park’s polo field On 6th February HM The Queen became the first British monarch to reach her Platinum Jubilee, 70 years after her accession. In the summer I hope to look back at how local people have marked some earlier Jubilees, and to report on this year’s celebrations, but I thought this month we could pause for a moment to remember the Queen’s father, King George VI, whose death on 6th February 1952 led to Her Majesty’s accession, and who was one of the few monarchs to visit Worcester Park since Nonsuch Palace ceased to be a royal residence – albeit probably only before he came to the throne, while he was the Duke of York. The Duke was an accomplished polo player, as was his brother Edward, Prince of Wales, who also visited Worcester Park. They were both coached by Auriol Auriol-Barker, a solicitor who lived in Worcester Park and who was one of the founders, in about 1902, of the Worcester Park Polo Club. Mr Auriol-Barker continued to play into his eighties, and was believed to be the oldest active player in the country. Auriol Park, and

thus also Auriol Park Road, Auriol Close, Auriol Ward and Auriol Junior School are all named after him. The park occupies land which he owned, and where he probably kept polo ponies, but the club’s matches were played at Motspur Park, in the area where Purbeck Avenue is now situated.

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Although I have not been able to trace any substantial archive of the club, its activities were often reported in newspapers and periodicals that can now be searched online, thanks to the British Newspaper Archive, and doubtless the presence of a prince made it more likely that a match would feature in print. On 11th July 1922, the Daily News reported that the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York had played at the Club’s ground the previous day, although on this occasion the report gave greater prominence to the elder brother’s role: ‘The Prince, who rode his Indian pony, took part in five games, in two of which the Duke of York was on the opposing side, and the two brothers frequently came into close collision. In each match the Prince was on the winning side, and in three games he succeeded in scoring. Although the matches kept the Prince in the saddle for practically two hours, his love of the game was shown by his continuing on the field after the games were finished and indulging in a quarter-of-an-hour’s solo practice.’ Eleven months to the day later, the same paper, in company with the Yorkshire Post and the Westminster Gazette, included a report of a match on 9th June 1923 when, as the Daily News wrote, the Duke had ‘turned out for Worcester Park against a side of Wanderers on

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the Worcester Park ground. Although the Wanderers won by six goals to five, Worcester Park put up a good fight, the Duke of York hitting three really fine goals.’ The Westminster Gazette described the match, the first in which the Duke had appeared that season, as ‘one of those games in which defence was largely more effective than attack, and the surprise was that as many as eleven goals were hit.’ The winning team included Mr H S Gaselee, doubtless Mr Auriol-Barker’s son-in-law Herbert Gaselee. The Sportsman on 3rd July 1923 gave a report, under the headline ‘Duke of York at Worcester Park’ of a match between White Lodge and Worcester Park. This time the Duke played for White Lodge and scored a goal, but the home side, Worcester Park, ‘won an exciting game within half a minute of time by seven goals to six. Worcester Park...retained the lead till the last chukker, when Mr Pickersgill made the scores “six all”, Mr Grizar hitting the odd goal to win the match.’ Once again Mr Gaselee was playing against the Duke, but this time Mr Gaselee was in the Worcester Park team. This was a first-round game in the Cicero Cup, a trophy which was originally hosted by the Worcester Park club and was presented by their President, the Earl of Rosebery, to commemorate the victory of his

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thoroughbred in the 1905 Derby. Incidentally, the Cicero Cup has long outlived the club where it began – it is today hosted at Cowdray Park – and in 1952 the Duke of Edinburgh was presented with the cup as a member of the winning team; he had scored a goal from 80 yards. Returning to 1923: a few weeks later, as the Weekly Dispatch reported on 29th July, under the headline ‘Duke of York’s Polo / From Our Own Correspondent’, the future King George had returned to playing for a Worcester Park side, against Stoke D’Abernon at the latter’s ground: ‘His side won by 5 goals to 2. The Duke did not score, but he initiated several movements which led to two of the goals.’ Nearly 30 years later, in 1952, the Vicar of St Mary’s, Cuddington, the Revd Idwal Jones, writing in the March edition of the parish magazine, reflected on the King’s death, and on his ‘simple but profound faith in God’ which ‘guided him in all his ways… constantly sustaining him in the great tasks of Kingship’, also commenting that ‘It was as a family man that his subjects treasure his memory’. He also reflected on the Queen’s accession, and the nation’s prayers for ‘the young mother as she undertakes the arduous and exacting duties of State’. Returning to 2022: St Mary’s, which is located at the top of The Avenue, is hosting a musical evening with individual and group items on Saturday 23rd April at 6.30 for 7pm. Tickets are £10, to include a glass of wine and canapes, and can be reserved by contacting Sara Tomlin at sarablairtomlin@gmail.com. Our illustrations are an extract from the Ordnance Survey (6 inch : 1 mile) map revised in 1910-11, showing the polo ground, and a photograph of Mr Auriol-Barker with his son-in-law Herbert Gaselee and grandson Auriol Gaselee. In about 1928 Auriol Gaselee represented Cambridge University in a match against a Roehampton team which included his grandfather, then aged about 79.

Worcester Park, Old Malden and North Cheam: History at our Feet Published in 2012 and available at £10 (plus £2 towards postage if required) from the Rymill family. Ring 020 8330 6563 for more details. This 300-page book tells the story of Worcester Park from the Iron Age to the present day, and includes memories of local life from 1908 onwards, and over 150 maps, photographs and drawings - mostly never published before.

David Rymill rymilldavid@outlook.com 01962 868976.

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The gift of Time

After feeling so restricted for the last 2 years the greatest gift we can give to our loved ones is the gift of time together. There has been a growing trend away from the overconsumption of material objects, swapping products for meaningful experiences, and the isolation caused by the pandemic has only heightened this movement. There is a significant body of science backing up the fact that humans form richer, stronger memories tied to adventures and experiences, compared to memories attributed to material objects. The fact that more shoppers are considering alternative gifts, has also been linked to consumers becoming more eco-conscious. Shoppers are more mindful of what products they’re purchasing, where it’s coming from and how this affects their carbon footprint. Choosing the perfect present for your loved ones can be a tricky business, and it’s even more difficult to find something you can be sure they’ll love, but as we place more value on time spent together and the long lasting memories that experiences create, it gives us a whole new wealth of gifting ideas, from Afternoon Tea to Skydiving, a Sculpture workshop to a weekend Spa break. We feel so much joy with experiences because they’re such a drawn out process, and the time before an adventure can be nearly as exciting as the experience itself. The additional bonus of gifting experiences is that often the bestower gets to be in on the action too- enriching your own life and adding joy to your relationship- so go ahead and get excited about the next gift experience you can choose for your loved ones!

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In your home, you’ll realise when maintenance jobs need doing and rooms need cleaning. But particularly during the winter months, any deterioration to the outside of your property is likely to go unnoticed until the brighter spring days. The roof If any part of your roof is north facing, near trees or both, you are very likely to see a build-up of moss. This is not only unsightly, it’s not good for your roof and the moss is likely to block your gutters too. If your roof is at a low level or can be accessed from an upper window, gently brush the surface to loosen the build-up. Generally though, unless you happen to own the specialist equipment to ensure you are safe on a roof, this really is a job for the professionals. The gutters Some debris in your gutters will get washed away and will mulch down, but more often it’ll just build up. If your gutters are overflowing every time it rains, you are going to need a long ladder and a pair of thick rubber gloves to clear the slimy mess. A professional will have a camera on a pole to see where the worst spots are and to help them clear out all the winter debris. Ask about having gutter guards fitted, too to help prevent future build-ups. Facias and soffits There are two options if your facias and soffits look tatty and the paint is peeling: repainting is lower cost but it won’t last that long and is fiddly to do;

replacement facias and soffits are made of uPVC and will last for years. It’s well worth considering replacing the guttering at the same time. Pathways The inexpensive way to clean your path is a bucket of water and a stiff brush. Alternatively, a jet washer is very thorough and reasonably affordable, although you only need to use it once or twice a year. This is a job you can do yourself, but it’s blooming hard work! You will get quite a workout controlling the pressure washer hose or sweeping a brush. Windows This is another one of those jobs that is hard work and while it’s easy to access the inside of your windows, the upper floor of the outside is much more difficult. Furthermore, a one-off clean is not enough – you are looking at your windows all the time so you’ll notice them getting dirty again within a month or two. It’s better to have a regular arrangement with a cleaning company who will usually have a pole system to reach the heights. They normally use purified water, meaning that the windows dry sparkling clean. In summary There are many jobs around the home that you are probably capable of doing yourself to save the pennies. But these external tasks don’t need to be done very often and a specialist will have the equipment, the safety training and the insurance to do the job efficiently and quickly.

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Community … Proposed Electronics/Coding Club Interested?

I would very much like to start up an electronics and coding club for adults in the Worcester Park/North Cheam area. The most likely meeting place would be the Elmcroft Community Halls at North Cheam, close to Sainsbury’s. I have made enquiries and we can hire a room for two hours at a cost of £31.50. If there were six of us, that would work out at approximately £5 each. Obviously if we had more members it would cost less. Coding is the latest word for what used to be called programming. I would like to concentrate on using the Raspberry Pi Pico but we could branch out into using the BBC microbit, Arduino or the Raspberry Pi itself, if required. There is a lot of information on the net. It seems to be that you just need to type in three or four key words and the information just keeps coming. With the advent of open source coding a vast number of free programs are available and all you need to do is copy and paste them into a text file. The Raspberry Pi Pico can be used in conjunction with

an Integrated Development Environment, (IDE) called “Thonny”, which has been developed in Estonia. This IDE is free to download from the net. I would plan to write micropython code to drive LCDs and OLEDs. We could then move onto more interesting aspects such using bluetooth, standard and low energy, to control and sense via modules such as an HC-05 using Android and Iphones. We could make small vehicles that could be controlled from the phone. There are many devices that can be connected to the Pico via an I2C bus or a UART. We could look at mapping and tracking using GPS modules and the measurement of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure and CO2 levels using BMP280/BME280/CCS811 sensors and distance sensing using ultrasonics and movement using servos and rotary encoders. We could also construct logging devices using SDHC memory cards. If you are interested in forming or joining such a club please contact me, Bill Cook at bill.cook.tyco@gmail. com.

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Preparation time: 15 minutes Marinate: 1 hour or overnight Cooking time: 50 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients • 500g lamb fillet • 1 garlic clove, crushed • Grated zest of 1 lemon • 1 tsp cumin powder • 1 tbsp olive oil plus a little extra for frying • 150g green beans or sprouting broccoli, trimmed • 250g mixed green leaves, baby spinach or rocket leaves • 150g cherry tomatoes, halved • ½ red onion, finely diced Dressing • 1 bulb of garlic • Drizzle of olive oil • 200g Greek yoghurt • Handful of mint leaves • 1 tsp honey or maple syrup • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar • Pinch of cumin • ½ tsp Dijon mustard

Spring is the perfect time to enjoy lamb. This is a light flavoursome dish that is delicious served warm or cold. Ideally, marinate the lamb the night before to enhance the flavour. Method 1. For the lamb, mix together the garlic, lemon zest, cumin and olive oil and rub over the lamb. Leave to marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour or overnight. 2. For the dressing, place the garlic bulb in a piece of foil and drizzle over a little oil. Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes. Cool slightly then squeeze out the garlic pulp into a blender. Add the remaining ingredients for the dressing and blend together. Season to taste. 3. Preheat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas mark 7. Sear the lamb in a frying pan with a little olive oil so that it is brown all over. Place in the oven and roast for 15-20 minutes. Allow to rest for 5-10 minutes. Slice thinly. 4. Blanch the beans or broccoli in boiling water until al dente, drain and refresh under cold water. Pile the green leaves on a platter and top with the beans, tomatoes and onion. Arrange the lamb on top and drizzle over the dressing to serve.

Nutrition per serving: 437kcal, fat 33g (of which saturates 15g), carbohydrates 6.7g (of which sugars 5.7g), protein 28g, fibre 1.9g

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Health Is sitting the new smoking? The dangers of ultra-processed foods More than half the calories we eat in the UK now come from ultra-processed foods, but how are these foods affecting our health and what can we do to cut back? Generally, most of the food we eat has been processed in one way or another. Milk is pasteurised to make it safe to drink, beans are dried to extend their shelf life and seeds are pressed to produce oils. However, this doesn’t necessarily make these foods unhealthy. Ultra-processed foods, on the other hand, contain ingredients you wouldn’t typically find in your kitchen cupboard. Some of the foods that fall into this category are unsurprising. Crisps, fizzy drinks, biscuits and ice cream are all highly processed, but did you know that breakfast cereals and ready meals are too? Created to be convenient, cheap and tasty, ultraprocessed foods are typically high in sugars, refined grains, fats and salt. They have very little nutritional value, are highly addictive and have also been linked to heart disease, diabetes, obesity and even some cancers. So, how can we cut back? Check your labels One of the easiest ways to check whether a food product is highly processed is to read the ingredients list. A label full of long words you can’t pronounce is one sign that a food is highly processed. You can also check the Nutrition Information Panel to identify foods with high amounts of saturated fat, sugar and sodium (salt). Find substitutes There are plenty of substitutes to ultra-processed foods on the market. Instead of crisps try low-fat popcorn, which is wholegrain and a good source of fibre. Swap sugary cereals for unsweetened oatmeal, and replace white bread with a homemade or granary loaf. Cook more meals from scratch When you prepare a meal from scratch, you have more control over the ingredients you’re consuming. Start compiling a list of quick and easy meal ideas to prepare when you’re feeling lazy. Salads, omelettes and stir-fries require little effort, and are super tasty too.

Be wary of false advertising Don’t be fooled by phrases like ‘fat-free’, ‘natural’, ‘no added sugar’ and ‘sugar-free’. Foods that are advertised as healthy often contain artificial ingredients or other chemical additives, such as artificial sweetener, which make them significantly more processed – and unhealthy – than they might first appear. Keep healthy snacks on hand If you’re in a rush, grabbing a packet of crisps and a cereal bar on your way out the door is tempting. However, keeping your kitchen stocked with portable, nutritious snacks can make it much easier to make healthy choices on the go. Fresh fruit, unsalted nuts and hard boiled eggs are simple, tasty snacks that’ll keep you energised throughout the day. Take it slow If ultra-processed foods constitute a large portion of your diet, reduce your intake slowly to begin with. Going cold turkey increases your likelihood of craving the high-fat, high-sugar foods your body has become accustomed to, so start by trying to enjoy one unprocessed or minimally processed meal a day, and gradually increase as you see fit.

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Conifer Charm by Caroline Knight

If there’s one particular group of plants that people love to despise, it tends to be conifers. Could it be that many of us dismiss the huge variety among conifers with just one word – leylandii? The Leyland cypress, Cupressocyparis leylandii, seems to fire up a lot of hatred. It is believed that there could be around 55 million of these trees within the UK – that’s more than one for every adult. The problem is all about size. The trees can grow up to 90cm per year and people have a habit of planting them inappropriately, then failing to keep them under control. The citrus-scented foliage of leylandii actually makes a magnificent, dense hedge, which acts as a perfect screen or windbreak. It also provides noise reduction, which can be very valuable for those living next to a main road. When clipped regularly, it’s a perfect garden friend. But nobody knows exactly how tall the tree can grow because there are no ancient leylandii, though estimates suggest they could reach heights of 61 metres (200ft) or even more. These are relatively new plants that originated from a cross created in the late nineteenth century in Wales. The parent species are the Monterey cypress and the Nootka cypress, both from the USA. One parent brings its hardiness to the mix, whilst the other provides a pretty amazing growth rate. The tree is unable to reproduce without human help and all existing leylandii therefore come from cuttings. Whilst legal disputes involving neighbours and leylandii run into thousands, others celebrate the beauty and grandeur of a rather spectacular tree, which can take pride of place in a suitable setting. It grows into an impressive specimen and also plays host to many birds and other wildlife. Indeed, the National Pinetum in Bedgebury, Kent, is rightly proud of what is believed to be the tallest and oldest leylandii hedge in Britain, measuring over 40 metres. Conifers possess many charms that should never be overlooked. These cone-bearing trees are hugely diverse and they hold impressive carbon-capturing statistics. The largest tree in the world, measured by volume, is a giant sequoia, Sequoiadendron giganteum, in California, measuring 83m tall with a diameter of 11m at the base. It is considered to be middle-aged, being around 2,000 years old. The magnificent cedar of Lebanon, Cedrus libani, can easily grow to 35m high and almost as wide. This is the oldest cedar of all and there are some situated on the slopes of Mount Lebanon that are said to be 2,500 years old.

At the other end of the scale, many miniature conifers will not reach even 100cm tall at maturity. Pinus mugo is the dwarf mountain pine and it sits comfortably within a mixed border or can even be grown in a large pot. There are hundreds of different shapes, colours, contrasting textures and forms of conifers that can provide colour and interest throughout the year. The pencil-slim Italian cypress is widely used in Mediterranean-style gardens here in the UK, creating vertical impact and drama all year round. In contrast, prostrate, spreading junipers, such as Juniperus horizontalis, provide excellent ground cover and colour-changing foliage from summer through to winter. Juniperus is known for its dark berry-like cones, which can be used in food dishes such as casseroles and stuffing. They are also the main flavouring for gin. However, the red, fleshy berries produced by Taxus baccata, the English yew, are highly toxic. Some conifers, such as yew, respond extremely well to clipping, whilst others, including leylandii, go brown and won’t re-grow if you cut back into old wood.

Tunes’n’Tea Once again, come and enjoy an afternoon of live music, tea, coffee, cakes and conversation. Hear a selection of Rock, Pop, Jazz, Country, Folk and Standards – great tunes, old and new for you to enjoy and join in with if you wish. There’s a live band of seasoned musicians making a fun afternoon in a relaxed environment of friends. Every second Thursday of the month. Doors open at 1pm. Music from 1.30pm-3.30pm St John’s Church Hall, Station Approach, Stoneleigh, KT19 0QZ (next to Stoneleigh Station, West Side) Entrance: £4.00. Enquiries to 020 8224 1351, leave your name and details on the answerphone and we will call you back.

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fashion during the late 1980s, although there are still examples to be found in public parks and larger estate gardens. Conifers are, however, back! They can be used with spectacular success as specimens and can be blended within planting schemes to bring year-round colour and interest. Never underestimate this amazing family of trees – there is something suitable to lend a touch of unique magic to any outdoor space.

Not all conifers are evergreen. The beautiful, native larch tree loses its soft, needle-shaped leaves in winter. Others change colour throughout the seasons, including Cryptomeria japonica which is coloured blue-green in spring, turns green during summer and rusty-red in winter. This conifer has soft, tactile foliage, whereas the monkey puzzle tree, Araucaria araucana, has sharp foliage that can cut like a razor blade. The dwarf conifer beds of the 1970s era have now been largely usurped by more naturalistic planting. Island beds filled with rocks and conifers fell out of

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

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R.J. Tree Services, Berrylands, Surbiton Visit our website for information and videos on all aspects of our work www.rjtrees.co.uk To advertise email jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk or call 020 8336 2915

Friday Night Cocktail Club A pot of gold by Ali Warner February has departed in a blink and here we are in March. As an ex pat of the Emerald Isle, March for me is all about St Patrick’s Day. I mean what’s not to like about a saint who chucked all the snakes out of Ireland. In my childhood home the Saint’s Day was also an excuse to break lent for the day - apparently it’s allowed. For the rest of the world it remains an excuse to drink beer, turn rivers green and sing maudlin songs about potatoes. Thinking about a cocktail to celebrate this great saint and my son’s name sake took a bit of thought. Should I go for that uni favourite - the Snakebite? But just the thought of the hangovers I had on the lager, cider, blackcurrant combo was enough to put me off. Green beer? No I’m not an animal. A Guinness cocktail? Acquired taste. Bailey’s? Over creamy, a bit too Christmas. You see I do think about these things - it’s not just an excuse for me to clear out my drinks cupboard and experiment on my mates by dropping odd concoctions on their doorsteps. Instead I decide to get a bit sophisticated. Tap into folklore and re-create a Pot of Gold. According to legend - Irish fairies known as leprechauns hid a pot gold at the end of the rainbow and if you ever caught one, he’d take you there and the treasure was yours. Exciting possibilities - except the cheeky wee tricksters knew you can’t get to the end of a rainbow - much like the National Lottery know you’ve got a snowball’s chance in hell of winning the lottery. But this Pot of Gold is very possible to achieve, it’s got a lovely freshness that will leave you with a spring in your step and potentially seeing fairies after a few. There are a few varieties of this recipe but the one I favour is fresh, fun and doesn’t contain whiskey. Its key ingredient fittingly is a drink made of potatoes and it’s colour is every so slightly green. But in a good way that doesn’t involve creme de menthe, melon liqueur or absinthe.

Here’s what you need to make 1 serving • 5 cucumber slices • 8 fresh mint leaves • 2 oz of vodka • 1/2 oz elderflower liqueur or syrup • 1 oz of ginger beer • Mint sprig, for garnish - Prep your cucumber slices and mint leaves. Apparently if you slap the mint into your palms before adding to the cocktail shaker it wakes up their taste a bit. Who knew? - Add both to the bottom of a shaker and muddle - you can use a pestle to do this or the end of a wooden spoon - it just means mush the two ingredients up a bit to release their flavour. - Add some ice, the vodka and elderflower liqueur to your shaker, given it a good shake. - Strain the drink into a coupe cocktail glass. - Add 1oz of a strong flavoured ginger beer. - Add your final fifth cucumber slice to the side of glass and garnish with fresh mint. Serve and Enjoy. Happy St Patrick’s day and Slainte - which in Irish is our way of saying ’to your very good health’.

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Puzzle Time fairly easy

not so easy

Malden’s

We deliver to 24,000 homes in KT3 and KT4

Call 020 8336 2915 to advertise from just £21 plus VAT a month maldenmedia.co.uk 26

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Codeword Codeword Each letter of the alphabet has been

Each letter in this puzzle is replaced by a number represented by a different number shown1in the between and 26.grid, The with codesthe for three are shown. firstletters few entered forOnce you.you have filled these throughout the grid you1 can start words and 2 guessing 3 4 reveal other letters. As you find the letters enter them in the box below. 5

Pets come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and variations of appeal, so there is no reason why spiders shouldn’t feature amongst the choices. Most pet shops with an exotic section sell spider tanks, together with heating equipment for those that originate from warmer climates. The tanks allow observation of web-building, hunting, burrowing and many other activities. Spiders are arachnids, from a family that also includes scorpion and ticks, and there are more than 45,000 different species worldwide. Tarantulas are one of the best-known, and although they can deliver bites that result in pain and swelling, rather like a bee or wasp sting, these spiders are very popular. It is always important to handle them with great care, not only to avoid the risk of a bite, but also because they are delicate creatures that can easily be stressed and injured.

Some of the most poisonous spiders include the Brazilian wandering spider, also known as the banana spider. The Australian redback spider and the funnel-web are highly toxic, as are the various widow spiders, including black, brown and red widow. The advice for those wanting to keep a spider as a pet is to avoid highly venomous species! You might need to obtain a Dangerous Wild Animal Licence and you should always check the Dangerous Wild Animals Act for updates before going ahead with your purchase.

To advertise email jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk or call 020 8336 2915

By Caroline Knight

The best apps for gardening Garden Answers Available for both iOS and Android, Garden Answers is the most downloaded gardening app in the UK. It’s effectively Shazam for plants, enabling you to identify and get information about specific plants by pointing your phone at them. It’s also packed with advice and recommendations from gardening experts.

Garden Manager: Plant Alarm One of the biggest causes of plants dying is because they don’t get enough food or water. This Android-only app makes it easy to keep track of when your plants need to be watered, fertilised, sprayed with pesticide and so on. You can also use it as a photo diary of your favourite plants.

iScape If you’re planning a brand new garden or a significant change to the one you already have, iScape (iOS only) makes it easy to plan the perfect landscape. It’s a paid-for app so the free version is quite basic, but it does still include the core tools needed to bring your ideas to life.

Shops 1.

What name would be used in the UK for what would be called an op shop in Australia and New Zealand?

The 2018 BBC TV documentary series Flatpack Empire went behind the scenes of which retailer?

A 2021 Christmas TV advert for Tesco was cleared of causing widespread offence after over 5,000 complaints were made regarding a scene in which Father Christmas proves he is what?

In the film Notting Hill, Hugh Grant’s character owns a shop that sells what?

Which well known retailer has a logo that features a yellow arrow going from the first letter in its name to the fourth to represent the wide variety of products it sells?

In January 2021, which online retailer bought the Debenhams brand and website for 55 million pounds?

Specialising in home shopping, the letters in the name of the company QVC stand for what three words?

In the Harry Potter novels, Ollivanders is a shop that sells what?

Which of the following retailers started life as a “penny bazaar” in 1884, using the slogan “don’t ask the price, it’s a penny”?... a) John Lewis; b) Marks and Spencer; or c) Sainsbury’s?

10. In 2019, who launched an online shop called Gross Domestic Product, with a disclaimer saying it “may prove to be a disappointing retail experience - especially if you’re successful in making a purchase”?

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Each word to be three letters or more (but no plurals), and all must contain the central letter. There’s at least one word which uses all of the letters. Target: Excellent: 50 or more words Good: 43 words Fair: 38 words

I A

M T

Develop and improve techniques quickly with friendly, professional cricket coaching. 1to1’s and group sessions in New Malden and Tadworth for juniors / adults with ECB qualified cricket coaches.

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Tel: 07855 123 579 info@michaeljacobscoaching.co.uk

SPORTS CLUBS SCHOOLS DISABILITY 1 TO 1 COACH MENTORING

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ACH I E V E

Solutions Quiz

CodeWord

1. Charity shop (“op” is short for “opportunity”) 2. Ikea 3. Vaccinated 4. Books 5. Amazon (the arrow goes from “A” to “Z”) 6. Boohoo 7. Quality, Value and Convenience 8. Magic wands 9. b) Marks and Spencer 10. Banksy

Sudokus Pictograms

1. Eyes On The Prize 2. Thorn In My Side 3. A Sorry Sight

Wordwheel MINARET / RAIMENT KING GEORGE FIELD INDOOR BOWLS CLUB

Learn to Bowl Free Coaching All Ages & Abilities Welcome Bar • Restaurant Social Events Large Car Park FUNCTION ROOM FOR ALL OCCASIONS Jubilee Way, Chessington KT9 1TR

Tel: 020 8397 7025

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This no-bake ‘cake’-like dessert is naturally sweet with the addition of apple and dried fruit. Easy to make, you can also press the mixture into individual ramekins or rings for serving. Maca and lucuma powder are readily available from large supermarkets or health shops. Preparation: 20 minutes plus 2-3 hours chilling time Storage: Will keep in the fridge for 2-3 days Makes: 12 portions Ingredients • 2 carrots, peeled and finely grated (about 200g) • 2 apples, peeled, cored and finely grated • 115g pecans, finely ground (use a food processor) • 85g desiccated coconut • 2 tbsp lucuma or maca powder • 2 tbsp cacao powder • ½ tsp ground cinnamon • Pinch of salt • 150g raisins • 60g dried apple, soaked for 15 minutes • 60g pitted dates, soaked for 15 minutes • 1 whole orange, peeled

Method 1. Grease and line a 20cm (8 inch) springform cake tin. Alternatively, you can place the mixture into individual ramekins or rings. 2. Place the apple and carrots in a large bowl with the pecan nuts, coconut, lucuma or maca, cacao, cinnamon, salt and raisins. 3. Drain the dried apple and dates and place in a blender or food processor with the orange. Process to form a smooth paste – this will help bind the mixture together. Add the paste to the nut mixture and combine thoroughly. 4. Place the mixture (you may need to do this in batches) in a food processor and pulse to form a wet dough. Do not over-mix – you still want some texture. 5. Press the mixture into the cake tin or ramekins or rings and chill for 2-3 hours to firm up before serving. 6. Cut into slices and top with yoghurt if wished.

Nutrition per serving: 203kcal, fat 11g (of which saturates 4.3g), carbohydrates 21g (of which sugars 19g), protein 2.2g, fibre 3.6g

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Able 2 Build & Sons Ltd

LOFT CONVERSION & EXTENSION SPECIALISTS • • • • • • • • • • • •

Loft Conversions Extensions Full Refurbishments Part Refurbishments Driveways & Patios Gas & Electrical Works Plumbing Carpentry Tiling Plastering Painting & Decorating Property Maintenance

• Highly skilled, professional and extremely trustworthy workforce • All work will be completed efficiently with minimal disturbance to your lifestyle • We come highly recommended with many references • Fully Insured • Free Quotations

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07889 255 097

www.able2build.co.uk

info@able2build.co.uk

Constructing Your Future 32

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