Darling Winter 2010

Winter ‘10 FREE

Wimbledon’s magazine for local women darlingmagazine.co.uk

VINTAGE ISSUE Inspiring Holly Cupcakes Rising Common Memories Must Read – ‘Forever England’ Pg 46

Julia Boggio Portrait of an Entrepreneur

FESTIVE FROCKS With Nathalie Baur

STRESS & SUCCESS Top Business Tips

LOCAL HEROES TO THE RESCUE * divorce * infertility * inheritance

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editor’s letter

THE PAST IS THE NEW FUTURE

Dear Darling Reader,

Cover: Self Portait by Julia Boggio

Publisher Darling Magazine UK Karine Torr Editor Karine Torr 020 8739 0059 Advertising info@darlingmagazine.co.uk 07930 396356 Email info@darlingmagazine.co.uk Contributing Writers Philippa Hennessy Victoria Carew Hunt Magazine Designer Mark McGough mcgough.mark@gmail.com Photography Taylor Torr Printer Aquatint/bsc jane@aquatintbsc.co.uk Distribution Three Colours Ltd info@3colours.co.uk Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher nor its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. Darling Magazine does not officially endorse any advertising material including within this publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form electronic, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from the publisher.

Amid the doom and gloom of cuts and casualties, as the fading light of autumn foreshadows a chilling winter of discontent, it’s little wonder that looking back has become the new looking forward. Which is why this issue is about revelling in the joys of yesterday’s summers, and letting tomorrow take care of itself !

Julio Boggio, our gorgeous retro covergirl, is awarded Entrepreneur of the Year at the Merton Business Awards - see the full list of winners. Holly Nicholas-Steele inspires us with vintage gems, and our new fashion stylist Nathalie Baur shows us some festive season glitz. High-flying Working Girls share their tips for stress & success.

Cupcakes are all the rage - why do we adore them so? Debbie Brooks, appropriately, has tips on how to curb too much temptation. Other topics that never seem to go out of fashion are infertility, divorce help, inheritance and open-plan living. Deck your halls with advice from The Garden Sage, find out which ex-local King’s boy is showing at Saatchi Gallery, and don’t miss Kate G’s deliciously wicked take on patriot poetry from the past.

Wishing you all a vintage season!

Karine Torr Editor | info@darlingmagazine.co.uk CONTENTS 04 Darling Magazine “Hotspot” collection points.

05 Interview with Holly Nicholas-Steele, Vintage Queen.

09 Festive Fashion with Nathalie Baur.

11 Business Tips from Wimbledon women.

14 David Lloyd Junior Tennis showcase day.

17 Julia Boggio & Merton Business Award winners.

19 Debbie Brooks helps us fight Christmas temptations.

21 Christmas plants from Garden Sage.

23 Cupcakes Craze.

31 Divorce & the financial implications with Richard Hunter.

33 Worried about infertility? Maria Jevtic discusses.

34 Hart Brown - Inheritance Tax Seminars - Darling discount!

37 Open-plan Living is back - Jason Coetzee builds your dreams.

38 Centre Court supports Merton Music Foundation.

41 Saatchi artist, Simon Tarrant - growing up in Wimbledon.

42 Awards, rewards - local charity scene.

43 Important websites information.

44 What’s On for the season.

45 Classifieds and Seasons Florists Workshops.

46 ‘Forever England’ - classic Kate Greenhalgh’s points of view.

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COLLECT COPIES AT OUR “HOTSPOTS” * Nicholas & Steele 78 Durham Rd Tel: 07947 011879 * Maison St. Cassien, Wimbledon Village Tel: 020 8944 1200 * Wimbledon Library on The Broadway Tel: 020 8274 5757 * Truckles Deli on Coombe Lane SW20 Tel: 020 8605 2175 * Aromatica Italian Deli on Leopold Rd Tel: 020 8944 0309 Please call first to check stocks

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inspiring woman

Darling goes Vintage with Holly Nicholas-Steele, ex art teacher turned entrepreneur. Editor Karine Torr gets the Royal Doulton treatment What inspired you to open this gorgeous vintage shop, Nicholas & Steele, in Durham Road?

My love for all things vintage.

I have always been interested in collecting “things”. As a child I once dug up a collection of old glass bottles in our garden and was hooked. We lived in a Victorian house in Cape Town and amazing old things came out of the ground there. Then as a student I worked in a vintage and antique shop in Plumstead where I attended auctions and became the assistant buyer which helped develop my knowledge and eye for the unusual.

What attracts you to old things?

I have always had beautiful vintage pieces around me and am delighted it’s all coming back into fashion. I think in difficult times people turn to nostalgia for comfort. They look to the past at happier times and tend to want to surround themselves with beautiful items from bygone eras that fulfil both function and style.

These days through our shop, Nicholas & Steele, Steve and I source original 20’s – 60’s objet d’art and have even attracted the attention of several A-list fashion designers who have purchased tea

sets and other unusual bespoke items from us.

Where is Vintage heading?

Well, this season’s cat walks are full of 50’s inspired designs. The trend for 50’s/60’s style living has reached interiors and lifestyle. The movies “Made in Dagenham” and “Soul Boy” reflect this.

Even the WI has had a resurgence and the “Make Do and Mend” ethos of post WWII has inspired an exciting array of old crafts and cookery classes.

Major supermarkets and chains have jumped on the vintage brand bandwagon too!

Who has had the biggest influence on your style?

Definitely my grandmother, Iona

Mercedes Foley. She was really ahead of her time and came from a fine tradition of firsts.

Her aunts were the first British female doctors in India. She herself grew up in India and was eventually sent to Montmartre in Paris where she studied 5

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inspiring woman Iona was incredibly manicured and stylish with loads of flair. At one stage she won the Rhodesian Sweepstakes in the 60’s and bought an enormous wrap-around Victorian home and then treated the family with boyfriends and girlfriends in tow, to a glamorous cruise. Sadly she passed away in the 80’s but left a lasting impression on all her grandchildren, especially me as I seem to have inherited her artistic flair and love of beautiful things.

fashion design and on returning to India became designer to the local aristocrats as well as the maharaja’s family. After independence she relocated her family to Cape Town and helped set up Truworth’s, a famous fashion chain in South Africa.

What impact do you hope Nicholas & Steele will have on the Wimbledon community?

We’d like to shake things up a bit!

Get people talking! We’d like to lead the way in authentic, vintage living. We’re not afraid of being labelled “quirky”. We want to be a shop of ideas, a place of serendipity. Our stock changes

Miglio, South Africa’s hottest range of fashion jewellery is now available in the UK.

Contact local consultant Chantelle Gilbert on 07958 389 384 lovemiglio@hotmail.com | www.lovemiglio.com 6 darling/Winter 2010

daily and you never know what to expect.

How are you combining your passion as an art teacher with your business?

I’m on a mission to encourage people to explore their creativity and offer art classes in the Nicholas & Steele studio where the “art-terrified” rub shoulders with the “art-qualified” in a warm, non-judgemental atmosphere, adults and children alike. In the New Year I will be offering “MAKE” workshops where the old crafts such as knitting and crochet will be resurrected, as well as some exciting new ones too. nicholasandsteele.co.uk Tel: 07947 011 879 Visit darlingmagazine.co.uk for our video interview with Holly

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fashion

By Your International Image Consultant Nathalie Baur

T

he party season is upon us and is alight with high-shine statement pieces in liquid lame, sparkling sequins and pristine paillettes as well as more sumptuous, glamour textures such as silk, velvet and cashmere. From metallic cocktail dresses to wild furry coats, it’s time to shine!!!

@ Debenhams) for a shimmer glamour effect.

Amazing accessories are a short cut to a high-octane glamour.

Power-up an understated dress with sexy heels and a flash of colour in your clutch.

Add a striking statement piece necklace and power-up your LBD, Rosettes of Swarovski crystal coupled with metallic silver leather - £185 from Miglio.

Here is the party glam-up essential guide to make an unforgettable style statement after hours.

The party trends for A/W 2010: Dramatic and sensual fabrics are under the spotlights. The one shoulder effect: Metallic dress (£85 Principles by Ben de Lisi

Effortless party wear, the velvet jacket from TK Maxx Velvet will instantly update your party look.

The perfect coat! Faux-fur in big cat print, long haired or as a shrug (£125 Sarah from LK Bennett - pictured right).

A few tips which will see you through the party season: The long/short combo: A maxi dress teamed up with a jacket or the long weighty coat over a featherlight cocktail dress.

With dramatic dresses: Let the dress do the talking and keep the make-up to a natural subtle look.

Who said you needed to wear dresses to dress up? A seventy look halterneck lame jumpsuit or sequined harem style track pants are perfect for the dance floor!

Visit renaissanceimage.co.uk and find out about the different Image consultancy services and gift vouchers.

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business

Leading Wimbledon business women give tips on how to get ahead and cope with stress in the workplace

Cllr Oonagh Moulton

Councillor Oonagh Moulton The Mayor of Merton.

Mayor@Merton.gov.uk Top Tips Be prepared! As Mayor I am Merton's first citizen I need to give the right impression - looking businesslike and professional requires organising the wardrobe.

I also need to have read up about the organisation and people I am meeting and prepared a short speech.

Stress Tips Juggling work, Councillor and now Mayor alongside the demands of a family brings stress! Sport and music are great relievers and I regularly find time to swim and do aqua aerobics.

I also enjoy a good walk with husband Tom and my three boys and when I can I get great benefit from reading especially with my book club.

Diana Sterck Chief Executive Merton Chamber of Commerce. www.mertonchamber.co.uk

Diana Sterk

Top Tips “It’s really difficult to balance the demands of everyday business with the need to think big and follow your vision. My view is that you really need to be disciplined and make time and create the right envrionment to do this - because you will reap the rewards in the longer term.”

Stress Tips Real stress is about being in distress - so much of the stress we suffer from is really about having a busy life, running around and trying to do too much to do (well that’s me anyway!). I therefore try to find some “me” time everyday - whether it’s something active or indulging in reading a book - it all helps to slow down and put life into perspective.

Josu Shephard

“women are like tea bags, you never know how strong they are until you put them in hot water!”

Take each thing that goes wrong, fix it, learn from it and move on.

Make sure you enjoy what you do as it means you will do it better.

Stress Tips Ray Stevens boot camp – Belinda’s class! Go out and see a comedy show – there are loads around and there’s nothing quite like a good belly laugh for shaking off a bit of stress!

Kate Medina CEO of Getfitter.com and winner of Best New Business at the Merton Business Awards 2010.

Josu Shephard Director of Jakabel Ltd Children’s sun protection swimwear. www.jakabel.com

Top Tips Be prepared for huge ups and downs, but always persevere. It’s easy to let the downs damage your confidence, but keep trying and you’ll come out the other side stronger and better equipped to succeed.

Top Tips As Estee Lauder once said

Stress Tips Do anything non-work related 11

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business

Kate Medina

that totally occupies your mind.

I dinghy sail and windsurf.

Trying to avoid getting dunked in freezing water really takes your mind off work!

Lisa Sarjeant HR Director at CIPD Winner's of the Merton Business 'Best Large Business' Award 2010. www.cipd.co.uk Top Tips High levels of business awareness across all areas of your business as well as knowing what’s going on externally in your relevant market is key to your business success. Truly understanding your organization’s purpose, strategy, competitors and trends should enable you to actively seek out new opportunities. Building relationships through effective networking is also an important part of achieving your business goals. Every time you make a contact you give yourself a new opportunity for your future success. Your contacts become possible customers, employers or employees.

Stress Tips Try to address issues, especially the ones you can change. Think about your workload and relook at the priorities, you may find that some activities can wait or speak to colleagues to set more realistic deadlines. Even better, be prepared to delegate, even if the work isn't done to your 12

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Lisa Sarjeant

usual standard it's important to empower and develop others and eventually they will improve and your stress levels will go down.

According to Lisa The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have indicated that: • Stress is likely to become the most dangerous risk to business in the early part of the 21st century.

• One in five workers report feeling extremely stressed at work. This equates to five million in the UK. • Self-reported work-related stress, depression or anxiety account for an estimated 10.5 million reported lost working days per year in Britain.

Julie Eltham Athena Network Director for women in business - Wimbledon, Kingston and Putney areas. julie@theathenanetwork.com Top Tips My top tips are get to know what your clients needs are and listen well. Always follow up after networking. Follow your leads, don’t let them go cold and definitely love what you do.

Stress Tips My stress is driving long distances. Breathing exercises help a lot - breathe in, hold, breathe out. I always carry Bach Rescue Remedy pastels, they are fantastic.

Julie Eltham

Hilary Ruttley Yoga Professional Calm Energy Yoga practical, effective yoga solutions for stress - management in business.

Stress Tips A serious business focus is considered key to business success and stress-management the way to achieve it.

Difficult for many women with added family and domestic responsibilities but unaddressed, chronic excessive stress crowds the mind and aches, illnesses and injuries follow. An excellent solution is appropriate yoga – designed for the individual and available “on call” at home, at work or a studio.

Contact Hilary Today! hilaryruttley@calmenergyyoga.com T 020 8946 2131

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event

Junior Tennis Spectacular and Family Fun Day at David Lloyd Raynes Park Great Britain, as well as winners, and finalists of national & international competitions.

The headline news for 2010 has been four Under 10 players representing our club at the nationals, runner up in the Under 14’s nationals and many other top gifted players having success at tournaments all over the UK.

L - R: Alex Jacobs, Rodney Marsh, Omari Maxwell, Rowan Isaacs, Sue Tullett, Daniella Konotoptseva, Olivia Berry and Jenifer Joseph

I

n October David Lloyd Raynes Park hosted a family open day to showcase their extremely talented junior tennis players. The day included an energy filled Group Exercise class taking over an entire tennis court, showcase tennis from our winning adult & junior teams, a talent ID session for young budding stars of the future, an adult sponge tournament and

L - R: Councillor Oonagh Molton, Club Manager Charles Jude and photographer Julia Boggio

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even a Punch & Judy show. It really did have everything needed for the entire family. Rodney Marsh ex England Footballer was also there to help the Junior Tennis Professional, Sue Tullett host this exciting event.

The main idea for the day was to raise awareness of all the fantastic results that were coming to David Lloyd Raynes Park through their Junior Team both Nationally and Internationally.

The club is also very proud to be National Club League champions and everyone had the opportunity to see the top adult professionals playing in the club.

Among our talented juniors, we had several who have represented

David Lloyd Raynes Park currently has over 400 children in their development or brand ‘All Star’ program with a further 150 in their academy/performance section of the program. The club has 11 LTA Matrix Players as well, so David Lloyd Raynes Park is surely the best place to play for all Juniors in 2011! For information on Junior Tennis contact the Sports Department: 020 85457803 sport.raynespark@davidlloyd.co.uk For membership enquiries visit DavidLloyd.co.uk/Raynes_Park David Lloyd Raynes Park Bushey Road Raynes Park London SW20 8 TE

L-R: Punch and Judy, Sports Manager Charles Stockford and Swimming Co-ordinator Lisa Young

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Host a Fun, Interactive Cooking Show and receive FREE products or a cheque for your favourite charity.

Why not consider becoming a consultant?

To find out more contact: Jane Skinner t: 020 8946 5694 e: janeeskinner@aol.com www.pamperedchef.biz/janeskinner

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Come and enjoy a freshly brewed Cappuccino and a delicious Truckles Cupcake at Truckles Deli & Coffee House on Coombe Lane, West Wimbledon. alternatively visit us online at www.truckles-deli.co.uk Not only do we have an array of cupcake choice in the shop, our cupcakes can also be ordered in advance for any occasion.

awards

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with master trainer; Ray Stevens, Olympic Medalist & Commonwealth Champion

adventure

in fitness have fun•lose weight•feel great

1000’s of women around the world have reduced body fat, lost a dress size and changed their fitness for life with the Original Boot Camp Experience.

wimbledon camps now booking 2-4 Week Camps, 1 hr/day, 2-5 days/week now and every month

why not join them? www.fitnesscamp.co.uk 01932 863240 hiking•strengthtraining•obstacles•drills•core•shortdistancerunning 18

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weight management

By Debbie Brooks

T

is the season to be jolly, but at what cost to your weight management plans? December can be a month-long festival of parties, dinners with family and friends and lunches and drinks with colleagues to celebrate a year’s hard work – and the pressure to join in can sometimes make it all too easy to let the focus slip.

If you’ve been watching your waistline, the temptation to let things slide in pursuit of the Christmas spirit can be all too real. Yet you have probably found in the past that taking a break from an exercise or a balanced eating plan, however brief it was intended to be, can often lead to a loss of routine, the pounds starting to creep back on – and you finding yourself back at square one in the New Year.

But sticking to your plans shouldn’t mean that you have to hide away or miss out on the fun. For example, meet Olivia, a LighterLife client at my Raynes Park practice. Throughout the summer, Olivia has been following her LighterLife Weight Loss Programme and is now reaping the rewards of her success as she prepares to attend her first Christmas party.

What Olivia now realises is that “ I can still have a great social life – I just weigh up what I

want most – the temporary and instant gratification of a highcalorie dessert, or the long-term satisfaction of being able to get into my party outfit long after the party season has ended?”

e-Newsletter, containing articles on successful weightmanagement, send me an email on debbie.brooks@ lighterlifecounsellor.com

LighterLife is a safe, simple, sustainable weight-loss and weight-management programme providing unrivalled support to help clients address why they overeat and learn how to make healthier choices around food and drink.

As Olivia tells us: “If you do go wild with the sausage rolls and mince pies, don’t beat yourself up over it, but also don’t let one slip become a landslide. Instead of thinking, ‘I’ve blown it, I may as well carry on until the New Year’, recognise it for what it is – one lapse – think about how it happened and plan how you’ll manage the situation differently the next time you’re temped to overindulge. The trick is to put things in perspective and aim for a little healthy balance to ensure that you enjoy the festive fun without piling on the pounds.”

And on that note, I’d like to wish you all a very merry festive season and a happy and healthy 2011.

If you would like to receive a copy of Debbie’s regular

Debbie Brooks LighterLife Counsellor t: 020 8540 3023 lighterlife.com/debbiebrooks 19

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garden

Your local horticultural heroes Liam Latham and Robert Stacewicz on hand for Christmas Any of these plants could make beautiful and unique gifts. Aside from the outdoor plants, there are some great indoor plants such as the opulent Cymbidium orchid or fruiting citrus trees. Jasmine is a glorious plant to have in the home over the winter for it’s spicy scent.

Left to Right: Lisa Azarmi, Liam Latham, Robert Stacewicz, Kerrill Groák, Liz McElligott Matthew Wilson (“Landscape Man” – Channel 4) and Sally Stratton

W

hilst 2010 was a very exciting new year of trade for us at The Garden Sage, a highlight for us was having Channel 4’s ‘Landscape Man’, Matthew Wilson, at the shop in Raynes Park doing a talk for the local garden enthusiasts.

Who knows what 2011 will bring? We are sure it will be exciting!

As the year draws to a close, there is one grand finale which seems a world away from gardening. Christmas.

At The Garden Sage we will be celebrating a traditional Christmas, with wreaths, garlands and of course Christmas trees on offer. Decorative holly and mistletoe will be available, as well as seasonal plants. If your garden tends to look a bit

bleak over this time of year, it can be quite simple to get some colour and interest all the way through winter. Perhaps you have a front door entrance that needs something to make it more inviting? Come into the shop and see us - we can help.

Green-budded Skimmia ‘Kew Green’ planted alongside white Cyclamen will provide a fresh and festive style to pots or beds.

The Skimmia buds open in early spring to release their beautiful scent.

Alternatively for a truly Christmas-themed combination, use the startling red-berried Skimmia reevesiana planted with red Cyclamen.

Topiary bay trees, or box balls are a classic choice which can be tarted up for Christmas with ribbons and baubles.

Aside from the plants, there will be a range of gifts available for the keen gardener such as pots, gloves, basket ware and various quirky items. If you cannot decide, we always stock Garden Sage gift vouchers!

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your support, and we hope to see you soon.

Come and see us in Durham Road or get in touch today!

Tel. 020 8944 9756 info@thegardensage.co.uk Visit thegardensage.co.uk

books

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Maggie O’Brien gives us a taste

F

eeling a little low, need a pick me up, I know just the thing; yep, you’ve guessed, a cupcake! Those ubiquitous, enticing, comforting handfuls have become all the rage and Wimbledon is no exception.

merchandise too. Everything from baking equipment to cupcake shaped cushions, stationary and even underwear!

Robert Dyas alone is apparently selling 500 cupcake stands a week.

I am probably typical of many of my generation; we (the girls) made the classic Victoria Sandwich cakes and buns, lots of buns, at school. Brought out at every school fair, village fête and family ‘do’s’. It seems those ‘buns’ are now ‘cupcakes’, only bigger with more icing, bespoke, made to order for every occasion.

Why have they become so very popular?

Cupcakes, cupcakes and more cupcakes, in every conceivable variety, taste and form.

Like Starbucks, (naturally they have them), it’s catching on fast.

Here on our doorstep we have Truckles, the Deli and Coffee Shop in Coombe Lane, with a wonderful selection. I asked owner Yvette Cleary, why she introduced them and why they’d been so good for business.

“A Truckles cupcake is a little more special than a plain old slice of cake and it’s roughly the same price. The secret is to bake them fresh each day and make sure there are a variety of colours and designs so they appeal to both children and adults. Given the choice who wouldn’t choose a cheerful cupcake?”

Anyone can have one. They are available for every purse. With an excellent feel good and wow factor, let’s face it, we all need that more than ever, it’s hard times.

Sales of cupcakes rose by over 40% in the UK last year (source: Bakeryinfo.co.uk) and British Baker magazine organised their second National Cupcake Week in September, supporting the baking trade in capitalising on this fashionable delight.

Not only have they become a must-have item at every function, from leaving work gifts to baby showers; there’s all the

Emily Smith, from local company, Tempting Cake believes that the UK is influenced by US trends and with cupcakes featuring regularly in popular TV shows like ‘Sex and the City’, it’s understandable. “A beautifully decorated box of cupcakes makes people smile and promises a portion of contained naughtiness

– sufficient to satisfy a craving for something sweet without going overboard”, says Emily.

In the summer, at the Wimbledon Village Fair, I was lucky enough to win a dozen gorgeous cupcakes from the Village Cakery stand.

Not bad for a £1. Set up by yet another excellent local cupcake entrepreneur, Rebecca Reid, who even does vintage tea parties including the china!

So, murmurs of a backlash against cupcakes? I don’t think so anytime soon, not in this area anyhow!

CUPCAKE VENDORS IN YOUR AREA Truckles | 020 8605 2175 255 Coombe Lane truckles-deli.co.uk Tempting Cake | 07887 571076 temptingcake.com The Village Cakery | 07976 782 874 thevillagecakery.com Cupcake-A-Licious | 07717 772588 cupcake-a-licious.co.uk Cup Cakes To Go | 07531 090554 cupcakestogo.co.uk

And... A Brilliant Book Idea for children by local mother and author Helen Nathan.

‘Flossie Crums’ (D. Button Publishing) An inspirational child’s dream book with, you have guessed, cupcakes.

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Asthma Gift Fair Fundraiser at L.K. Bennett

L-R: Lisa Wood, Julie Lenon, Brita von Plato, Nicola Miles and Alison Combe

L-R: Stylist Natalie Bauer, Rachael Lavelle, Fiona Ferguson, Darling’s Philippa Hennessey, Sandy Reid CoOrganiser for the Asthma Gift Fair and Nick Flynn, Marketing and Events Officer for L.K. Bennett

L-R: Margie Brown (Co-Organiser), Ladan Hall, artist Louisa Tebbutt, Joey Burgess and Susie Hoddell

Fuller Gilbert Estates in Kingston

Wimbledon Village Stables 30th birthday at Cannizaro House

L-R: Nadia Power, Olivia Page, Kate O’Brien, Lucy Brown and Natasha David

Opening of the new branch of Fuller Gilbert & Company Estate Agents in Kingston. L-R: Pam White, Vera Gestrin, Sarah Bower, Peter Gilbert and Sue Summers

L-R: Stephen Stent, Carol Andrews, Nadia Power, Sasha Andrews, Steffi Andrews, Ella Stevenson, Caroline Stevenson and Peter Stevenson

Live Music at Cafe Rouge

L-R: Abby Dayton, Mario Lee and Caroline Geraerts

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“Local Celebs, Keith Chapman of “Bob the Builder” fame and Ray Stevens

Talking Sport at Chamber Event

Ruby May Revamps

L-R: Commercial Director of AFC Wimbledon Ivor Heller, Manager Terry Brown, Merton Chamber of Commerce MD Diana Sterck, LTA CEO Paul Hutchins and Head Coach at the AELTC Dan Bloxham

L-R: Client and Sia owner Mie Baekke with Ruby May’s Lisa Gordon and Donna, ace nail technician

L-R: Photographer Bruce Hearn, Caroline Cook from the Chamber, Mari Lawrence from Seasons Florist, Caroline Geraerts from StarTurn and Angela Allright from Tennison Property

<< LEFT Merton Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast in Bar 191 Raynes Park

Darling Girls at hmvcurzon Cinema

L-R: Katrina Verdon-Roe, Penny Burgess-Smith, Wendy Powell, Marja Moffat and Stella Kirby enjoying a preview of “Another Year”

hmvcurzon Collaborates with Wimbledon College of Art MA Students

L-R: Marouso Marinopoulous, Rebecca Hope, Sarah Blaszczok and Niki Rolls

L-R: Charlotte Turton, Sarah Praill, Francis Scott and Nicholas Quenzer

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David Lloyd Raynes Park Bowling Event For Businesses

L-R: Annelis Winter, Christine Phizackerley, Club Manager Charles Jude and Natalie Stevens, Director of Ray Stevens Judo Club

L-R: Andy Beddingfield, Sarah Beddingfield, Stuart Main, Emma Beacham, D.L. Operations Manager, John Delf, Barbara Evans and Graham Evans

L-R: Front, Bronte Michell, Bridget Dicks, Lauren Russouw, Petrina Rhiel, Clare Vivian. Back, David Lloydâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Charlie Stockford, Ali Atcha, Simon Plummer and players, Shaun Stevens & Steven Driver

L-R: Back, Vicky Hiscutt - Food and Beverage Assistant and Simon Plummer- Business Development Manager with the All England Club bowling team

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Macmillan Coffee Mornings Around Wimbledon

L-R: Maureen Shilston, Bernadette Hoxley, Jane Thomas, Alison Marshall, Debbie Whatling, Annette Gilles, Maxine James and Wendy McEvoy

Seen at Forest Bailiff Blue Badge guide, L-R: Sarah Pell, architect Lisa George, Stephanie Lane from Menzies, Suzanne Higgins Farrow & Ball consultant and Hanne Rhodes from Menzies

With Darling Magazine you can now have a short advertising clip to deliver a personal message to an even wider audience on darlingmagazine.co.uk L-R: Zoe Penny, Prof Gail ter Haar, Ali Jinnah, Linda Defriez, Stephen Hammond MP, and Jan Phillips

Cannizaro Open Studios

Cannizaro Open Studios at Cannizaro Park. Resident artists L-R Front: Susan Berry, Sally Booth, Barbara Aldridge, Deana Lee, Julian Rena Back: Moira Jarvis and Tim Norris

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Morrisions Networking Breakfast

L-R: Liz Love, Z-Card Ltd, Jeanette Zahler, Zest, Gill Hynard, Financial Director for Morrisons Solicitors, Kellie Williams, Morrisons and Nelly Berova, Art Division Ltd

207 Health Beauty & Toning 207 Worple Road, Raynes Park London SW20 8QY Tel 020 8946 6444 www.207healthandbeauty.co.uk 30

Free Touch darling/Winter 2010 Therapy hand or foot treatment included

finance

Richard Hunter Equity Invest can guide you

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o matter how amicable your separation has been, the practical process of divorce can often introduce unexpected challenges and stress. New skills may need to be acquired and if you have never had to deal with financial decisions in the home before, then a whole new and rather intimidating world, may need to be embraced.

But you don’t need to do it on your own.

Equity Invest have been working alongside solicitors for many years now, assisting local clients consider, negotiate and navigate through some difficult questions: • Is any financial offer going to provide you with a sustainable income?

• Will it cover all your families’ expenses now?

• Is there enough provision for your old age?

Also, once you have agreed a financial settlement, then it’s down to the business of investing your nest- egg intelligently. At Equity Invest we take as much time as necessary to answer your questions and provide advice, assisting you to make informed investment decisions.

So if you are worried about the future and would like to discuss your financial affairs confidentially with a professional adviser, then please call us to arrange an appointment. We can either come to your home, or alternatively meet you in our relaxed offices in Wimbledon Village. Your first meeting with us is free of charge and of course, without obligation.

“First and foremost, I know my financial affairs are safe with Equity Invest.

I would not hesitate in recommending them.”

Equity Invest 60 High Street Wimbledon Village SW19 5EE Get in touch today!

020 8879 1273 advice@equityinvest.co.uk

Jonathan Edwards CBE. Client of 10 years.

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full page wimbledon studios

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homeopathy

Wimbledon homeopath, Maria Jevtic looks at the general causes

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nfertility is becoming a common condition. About 1 in 10 couples in the UK are said to experience difficulties in having children. Infertility is split almost evenly between male and female, so that if a couple has difficulties, it may be due to either partner.

Many infertility cases have known causes but nevertheless cannot be treated with conventional medicine. In these cases, as well as in infertility by unknown causes, IVF seems to be the only way of conceiving.

Unfortunately, IVF is not always successful and may have sideeffects such as weight gain, nausea, skin problems, mood swings and overstimulation of the ovaries.

Homeopathy, on the other hand, may provide answers to some underlying problems. For males, homeopathy may be able

to improve sperm count and quality as well as increase libido.

For females, homeopathy may be able to improve conditions such as blocked fallopian tubes, inhospitable uterus, absence of ovulation, hormonal imbalances and uterine fibroids.

Homeopathy may also be successful in cases of infertility with unknown cause. This is because homeopaths recognise nutritional deficiencies as well as heavy metal excess as a cause for infertility. Other causes may include a combination of hidden infections, overheating of testicles, smoking, high alcohol consumption, poor dietary choices, environmental pollution and stress. Homeopaths also investigate the possibility of emotional blocks preventing pregnancy ranging from fear of the birthing process to unhappy childhood experiences.

In my own practice I use an integrated approach which addresses all the above factors.

I also advise women on natural fertility management including monitoring of the monthly cycle and recognising the most fertile time of the month.

If you experience difficulties falling pregnant, you may first wish to try homeopathy and my

integrated approach before you decide to use medical infertility treatments. Homeopathy is safe, gentle and natural and there are no harmful side-effects. Besides helping your fertility, homeopathy also aims to improve your energy, immunity and general well-being.

And this must be a good thing for every prospective parent!

Homeopathy may help with: uterine fibroids polycystic ovaries blocked fallopian tubes irregular cycles absence of ovulation hormonal imbalances sexually transmitted infections inhospitable womb/vagina low sperm count poor sperm quality poor sperm motility nutritional deficiencies mercury/lead/aluminium excess stress low libido emotional blocks

Maria is a fully qualified Homeopath and Nutritionist practicing in Wimbledon Village Maria Jevtic BSc (Hons) LCHE RSHom DNTh mBANT

t: 020 8946 8526 m: 07704 232 117 e: maria@jevtics.net www.familyhomeopathy.co.uk 33

darling/sept - oct 2010

legal

By Chris Thurlow

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he much hyped preelection promise to increase the threshold for inheritance tax (IHT) was quickly abandoned in the government’s drive to reduce the deficit after the bailout of the banks. Now, the threshold has been frozen for five years, bringing more and more estates into the chancellor’s net. It is forecast that the government will collect inheritance tax of £2.2

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billion in 2010/11, rising to £2.9 billion in 2014/15 – an increase of £700 million (Office for Budget Responsibility Forecast, June 2010).

Hart Brown solicitors are running a free seminar on sensible strategies to considerably reduce the impact of this 40% tax.

As one of the few solicitor practices with both legal and

“Hart Brown solicitors are running a free seminar on sensible strategies to considerably reduce the impact of this 40% tax.”

legal 020 8971 0478 chris.thurlow@hartbrown.co.uk www.hartbrown.co.uk

financial planning experts in house, we are well placed to assist you with your estate planning. So why not come along to see if you’ve already been caught and to plan your escape?

Our expert speakers will give a short presentation of the current situation, after which there will be an opportunity to ask questions over a glass and a nibble.

Hart Brown’s inheritance tax planning seminar will be held at Dorich house on Thursday 25th November. It is free to attend however registration is essential and places are limited. Email marketing@ hartbrown.co.uk quoting “Darling Magazine” to reserve your place.

Will you be affected by Inheritance Tax? The people Mrs A, her two children and her three grandchildren.

The problem Mrs A received several million pounds from the sale of her shares in the family company plus a large Inheritance Tax (IHT) problem. She had inherited the shares in the company, following her husband’s death, a few years

earlier.

The solution On our advice Mrs A created a trust for her family and lent it £1 million.

currently £400,000 and rising.

The loan trust arrangement was part of an overall financial strategy that we recommended to Mrs A.

She used an insurance company’s loan trust scheme which:

Our ongoing involvement has ensured that the trust’s investments have been professionally monitored and that the annual loan repayments to Mrs A have been smoothly administered and properly documented.

Careful financial planning has benefitted Mrs A and her family significantly with tax savings.

• provided her with annual repayments of 5% of the original loan • means she has no tax liability on the repayments • means all the investment growth belongs to the trust • puts the investment growth outside Mrs A’s estate for IHT purposes.

13 years later, Mrs A is alive and well. Her Hart Brown financial planner has regular review meetings with her. £650,000 of the loan has already been repaid to Mrs A through the annual repayments. The trust’s investments have performed well and the trust fund is now worth £1.35 million.

Mrs A is still owed £350,000.

This means the net trust fund available for the benefit of Mrs A’s family in due course is £1 million.

The potential IHT saving from the loan trust arrangement is

If this article affects you, contact Chris Thurlow on 020 8971 0478 for a free no obligation discussion about your situation.

Our Inheritance Tax Planning Seminar may also be of interest, send an email to chris.thurlow@hartbrown.co.uk for more information. Visit www.hartbrown.co.uk for more information.

“Our Inheritance Tax Planning seminar will be held in Guildford and Wimbledon through November.”

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home improvement

With Jason Coetzee, Darling’s resident building expert

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Photographs from Living Space UK

one are the days of the formal lounge and dining room. Nowadays the trend is heading towards an “open plan” lifestyle. The sense of having more space is now far more important than separate functioning rooms. The way we live has changed and the children are now seen and heard! The family has become more of a unit, doing everything together in a creative space.

By removing key internal walls, people can create spaces where they really want them. For example, kitchens have become more integrated into the living areas, courtesy of all the cooking lifestyle TV programmes where men and women are now more equal in this arena. The open plan kitchen/diner has also become a firm favourite, enabling the chef

to socialise whilst creating his/ her masterpiece.

Open plan living does however require careful thought and planning. Noisy appliances and dirty dishes may well be better off in a separate utility room.

These practicalities should be taken into consideration when designing the open plan kitchen.

After all, any change made should add to your comfort and ease of living and create a positive calm space in which to live.

Jason says “70% of all our enquiries are largely related to open-plan requirements. We find these projects very exciting as the contrast between the before and after can be staggering, especially then you consider that you are often using the space that already exists.”

Call Jason Coetzee m: 07932 753 328 www.rhinoconstruction.co.uk 37

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community

Centre Court Shopping Centre supports Merton Music Foundation as its nominated charity

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entre Court Shopping Centre is delighted to be supporting Merton Music Foundation as our nominated charity for 2010/11.

We look forward to helping the charity raise funds and assist their excellent work and contribution to the local community.

The Foundation is the borough’s approved schools music service provider and works in partnership with teachers and other professionals to help strengthen and develop the delivery of music both within the school curriculum and through its external youth music activities.

Merton Music Foundation is a charitable trust based in the London Borough of Merton.

It aims to provide a variety of musical tuition, ensemble opportunities and creative activities for Merton’s Primary, Secondary and Special schools and young people across the borough.

Centre Court will work closely with Merton Music Foundation to support instrumental lessons and instrument hire for children who are from low-income families. The support is open to all pupils in Merton schools. We will also sponsor the 2010/11 project “With One Voice” a large-scale song writing and

Some members of the Merton Youth Jazz Orchestra who performed at Centre Court in September.

Bottom Left: Sam Brown from Centre Court Management and Sue Bishop Deputy Director of the Merton Music Foundation.

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choral project involving 1,500 pupils from Merton primary and secondary schools. This will culminate in MMF’s 20th birthday event, which will be held on 29th March 2011 at the Royal Albert Hall.

Our support for Merton Music Foundation was launched at Centre Court in September with a performance from Merton Youth Jazz Orchestra between. John Mander, Chief Executive of MMF said: “We are delighted to have been chosen by Centre Court Shopping Centre as their nominated charity. Everyone at MMF feels passionately about the importance of music in a child’s education. Over recent years, studies have shown that music has a profound effect on children’s intellectual and creative development. For those of us who are deeply involved in the teaching of music, it is apparent what a central role music can play in the development of children. By supporting MMF, Centre Court has taken a ground breaking decision that will impact on the lives of thousands of children and young people in Merton”.

For more information, please contact Soo Bishop on 0208 640 5446 soo.bishop@mmf. org.uk or Samantha Brown on 0208 944 4385 sbrown@ centrecourtshopping.co.uk

Grant Fuller and Peter Gilbert Estate Agents, Valuers, Development Consultants 316a Worple Road West Wimbledon London SW20 8QU 020 8947 4764 www.fullergilbert.co.uk 39 darling/Winter 2010

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art

Growing up, coming out, making good Saatchi artist Simon Tarrant recalls an uncommon childhood

I

was born at the nun run maternity hospital St Theresa’s on the Downs and like my father and grandfather before me was educated at King’s College School Wimbledon.

Early memories of Wimbledon include the Pinky and Perky pigs in the village sweetshop, conker picking, the summer drought of ‘76 when the Common was ablaze with fire, the magical day the Wombles set up camp at Cannizaro and the huge bomb that nearly ruined my English education…. Our beloved English teacher at King’s, the legendary Frank “get out of the bloody room” Miles, had a narrow escape when the IRA exploded a bomb outside his neighbour’s house on Woodhayes Road. The neighbour in question was the Attorney-General, Sir Michael Havers, who represented the Crown in the trials of the Guilford Four.

Then of course the golden month of June when the excitement of my birthday would be almost eclipsed by the fabulous fair next to Rushmere and of course the tennis where we queued all night to cheer Björn Borg in his final five set triumph over John McEnroe. Always the Common

though, long walks with our dogs Pluto, Womble and Mel, bike rides on our ‘Chippers’ and ‘Choppers’ to the Windmill and witnessing my sister Jane’s terror when riding her horse “Tizzy” (short for Anticipation).

Then there were the halcyon days of pints of snakebite on the grass outside the Hand in Hand, my first foray into plein air oil

“Get out of the bloody room!” painting in the long rushes lining the old gravel pits and the time we all ran to see Pope Jean Paul land in a helicopter at the Papal legate on Parkside.

There were only girlfriends in those days… I was too scared to go to the Prince of Wales pub down Wimbledon Hill, which had a reputation for being gay. It seemed unimaginable to contemplate a gay life in Wimbledon in spite of my flamboyant and colourful New Romantic fashions, which included fingerless gloves, a torn David Bowie T-shirt, a melted school tie and the obligatory Winklepicker shoes. The only near gay experience of my youth was on the common, when a

flasher followed me and I hid up a tree!

The happy innocent memories of my Wimbledon upbringing were jolted when I left school to pursue a career in diamonds.

My first job was in the Congo where I lived until I was twentyone. Then after a decade of international travel which culminated in a job as De Beers Marketing Director in Hong Kong, I decided to throw it all in and become an artist. It was a huge but satisfying leap and these past fifteen years I haven’t looked back. Self taught, I have worked hard to hone my skills and establish my reputation. I exhibit work every year and paintings of mine have been exhibited at the Royal Academy of Art and currently at the Saatchi Gallery.

A long held ambition is to exhibit some paintings back in Wimbledon, perhaps a series of the common…

Simon’s “Red Sky” at the Saatchi

local charities

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points of view

By Kate Greenhalgh

I

’m not buying a poppy this year. This isn’t because they go curly, or end up pinned to your other jacket, or even that I‘m anti-military. The reason is because the literature of World War 1 is finally off the A level syllabus, woo hoo, and I don’t have to teach it any more, after ten long years! For a decade I’ve emoted tearfully to classes of nonplussed teenagers about Wilfred, Rupert and Siegfried; about the sacrifice, the suffering, the waste, and the not very good poetry, in many cases.

I’ve shivered in the cemeteries of Ypres, waded through the trenches around Hill 60, made annual pilgrimages to the Imperial War Museum trailing an entire generation of pampered peacenik 21st century youths, and, frankly, I think I’ve done my bit for Remembrance.

When you’ve choked up about the death of Rupert Brooke from a mozzie bite, and the blowing out of Wilfred Owen’s brains on a bit of duckboard for the Nth time, terrible to say, but a certain callous indifference creeps in! I just couldn’t muster the enthusiasm anymore. I hope my students couldn‘t tell from the way I was saying, “Yeah, like, loads died on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, guys.

Shame. Whatever.”

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Now the Gothic is on the syllabus instead. Men in capes biting girls’ necks, little children dismembered by monsters, and so on. Still morbid, but Death funned up a bit! A sort of Halloween syllabus, where parody and pastiche have gloriously overtaken the original, (so we have an excuse to watch The Munsters on YouTube as a break from reading Dr Faustus. Yah. Generic decline.

Fascinating.)

“For a decade I’ve emoted tearfully to classes of nonplussed teenagers...”

To get myself into the right frame of mind, I went to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show currently touring the country.

I missed it in Wimbledon, (unlike your Editor - did you see how tarty she looked in the photo in the last issue?) but tracked it down in Brighton, which was all together more appropriately surreal. Brighton is The Rocky Horror Picture Show, confirmed by a wander round the Pavilion, with its creepy extravagances of Chinoiserie, beds and windows strewn with a modern

installation of hundreds of black glass butterflies to emphasise, I dunno, mortality, (if in doubt, that’s what Art is always about), then the strange scarecrow woman proclaiming aloud from Anna Karenina in the street, the shops selling giant wooden phalli and voodoo paraphernalia - Brighton is rather unsettling with its juxtapositions. By the time we stood in the foyer for the show, with the arrival of hordes of Brighton’s senior gay community, heavily made-up, in lacy basques, feather boas and ripped fishnets, to enjoy a musical celebration of violated innocence and unimaginable deviance, it felt like a perfectly normal, Post-Modern way to spend an evening.

And this is what they were fighting for? Knowing Rupert, Wilfred and Siegfried as well as I do, I don’t think they would mind.

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FOR A FINE SELECTION OF PROPERTIES INCLUDING SEVERAL AROUND THE COMMON