Meridian Magazine January 2016

Meridian January 2016 ÂŁ1.00

Your Local What, Where and When Magazine

Where Sold

LOVE LOCAL RARE and Scadbury Park

Time for Change

How changes to your lifestyle can really make a difference.

Win

Locale Din for two orner Fitbug Orba

HELLO Every New Year we make those faithful promises to ourselves, but how many of them do we actually keep, or try on for size again the following year? So this year, rather than making specific resolutions, we are encouraging everyone to take the holistic approach instead. We show how changing our lifestyle for the better, rather than trying (and failing) to ‘makeover’ aspects of ourselves, is way more fun and much more effective.

In LIFESTYLE, it’s all about ‘discovering a new you’, we look more closely at resolutions (and don’t worry if you one of the 92% of people who can’t keep theirs) and how making small but consistent changes to you lifestyle can make a bigger and lasting difference, and where you can go in the local area to get you off to a flying start.

Make overs do have their place though – and the home is a great place to begin. Whether that’s upgrading the worktops in your kitchen for something sleeker to freshening up the living room in the latest on-trend shades of pink!

In health and beauty we look at why life does begin at 50 for those living in south east London, how to keep those locks gleaming with summer radiance in the middle of winter, and your legs looking like you’ve just stepped off a Hawaiian beach! Bliss.

If the New Year has a house move on the horizon – our property section will be a huge help. We take a preview of RARE: a new cultural quarter at the Royal Arsenal Riverside and Moat homes answer our questions about shared ownership houses.

Preparing for 2016 will no doubt give you quite an appetite. Head straight to our Food and Drink pages for two ‘sizzling’ reviews, local foodie news and a quick look at up and coming winter food traditions Also in this issue: Local author, Annie Shinn takes a stroll around Scadbury Park Nature Reserve in Chislehurst, in art and design we hear more on the Winter Light exhibition at Canary Wharf, there’s also an education update, love local news and a whole host of events to get you out and about this January and much more.

Wishing all of our readers and clients, a very Happy, healthy and holistic New Year!

The Meridian Team xx

INSIDE THIS ISSUE....

DISCOVER A NEW YOU P20-21

LOVE LOCAL P8

CULTURE P17

LIFESTYLE P22-23

OUT & ABOUT P41

WHAT TO DO 42-45

Meridian MAGAZINE

JA N UA RY 2 0 1 6 Publisher: Joy Johnston Editor: Valerie Breese Art & Production Director: Paul McPherson Display Sales: Cheryl Voller Emma Forbes Gary Smythson Classified Sales: Gary Smythson Social Media Melissa Wright Contributors: Claire McKinson James Haddrell Michael Breese Lionel Lewis Annie Shinn Accounts: Janet Franklin Printing: Headley Brothers Ltd Distribution CWT Meridian Line Publishing Ltd 68 Summerhouse Drive, Bexley, Kent DA5 2EE Tel: 01322 557794 Email: enquiries@meridian-magazine.co.uk

www.meridian-magazine.co.uk facebook.com/meridianmagazine

MeridianmagLDN Meridian Magazine is for you, published monthly and distributed to selected residential properties and businesses within the Royal Borough of Greenwich and in Blackheath, Westcombe Park, Charlton, Eltham, Lee, Hither Green, Bromley and Chislehurst. Copies also go to Greenwich Tourist Information Centre, libraries and leisure centres, pubs, restaurants and hotels. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part (including advertisement designs) without prior written permission will result in legal action. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily shared by the editor or the publisher.

LOVE LOCAL

Perfect at any time of year

The Old Royal Naval College at Greenwich is London’s ultimate riverside wedding location, perfect at any time of year.

intu Bromley presents cheque to Dementia Action Alliance

One of the most spectacular and iconic landmarks in London, this elegant ensemble of buildings offers you a choice of wedding experiences, from the awe-inspiring opulence of the famous Painted Hall, to the intimate ambience of the historic Admiral’s House.

The Old Royal Naval College. www.ornc.org/venuehire. 020 8269 2131.

Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, SE10 9NN.

intu Chairman Patrick Burgess presented a £2000 cheque to the Bromley Dementia Action Alliance at intu Bromley.

The donation was part of a joint second prize win by intu Bromley announced in October at the annual Chairman’s CR Prize for independent Corporate Responsibility (CR) actions. intu Bromley has supported the Bromley Dementia Action Alliance over the last year through initiatives to enable customers with dementia to live well within their community.

Knowyouronions Can’t cook but want to learn? Now it couldn’t be easier with private cookery lessons in your own home from new company, knowyouronions. Or if a member of your family or a friend that might need to learn a useful skill, then vouchers for cookery lessons would be a perfect, practical gift. www.knowyouronions.cooking Knowyouronions2015@gmail.com 07563 753466

DINNER FOR TWO AT LOCALE UP TO THE VALUE OF £80

DINNER FOR TWO

Locale restaurant is situated in the heart of Blackheath village and is a firm fixture on the Blackheath restaurant scene.

New Businesses on the block Royal Arsenal Psychological Services (RAPS) led by Dr Anindita Sarkar is based in Greenwich, and provides expert assessment and treatment for children, young people and adults for a range of psychological needs. For further information please do look at www.raps.solutions or facebook.com/royalarsenalpsychologicalservices.

Please do contact me either on 07801366837 or aninditasarkaruk@yahoo.co.uk to self-refer or ask questions.

Advantages of using RAPS Qualified senior clinical psychologist with doctoral level of training.

Ability to follow evidence rather than being welded to a particular model.

Properly insured and supervised.

Protection offered by profession (HCPC and BPS) registration.

The menu by Executive Chef, Paolo Barone is an exciting mix of homemade pasta and ravioli that Locale is famous for, with new fresh choices including a great selection of seafood, sushi and grilled meats. Specialist meats include steaks from Chianina beef, imported direct from Tuscany, cooked to perfection on a Josper, the world’s hottest indoor barbeque. The menu provides diners with the perfect mix of a treat, family favourites and the chance to branch out and experience some new tastes and flavours. blackheath@localerestaurants.co.uk To enter go to www.meridian-magazine. co.uk/win, or alternatively email your name, address and daytime number to competition@meridian-magazine.co.uk or send a postcard with your details to Meridian magazine, 68 Summerhouse Drive, Bexley Kent DA5 2EE.

www.meridian-magazine.co.uk

ME R IDIA N HO ME

11

Interior make over Twelfth night has passed and the festive decorations are down, the home now looks desperately dull and in need of a make over

Perhaps the bathroom has seen better days, the coloured bathroom suite might have been a good idea at the time but unless you are into retro, it has to go.

Give your bathroom the look of a serene retreat with a color palette reminiscent of the best spas. Pale or dusty blues, soft greens, pale greys, and beige are tranquil options for a relaxing room, especially one that comes with a deep soaking bath.

Add a glam touch to your bathroom with mirrors. A large reflective wall visually opens up a small space and bounces light throughout the room. Proper lighting can enhance your experience in the bath. Provide overhead and task lighting at the sink for getting ready in the morning or refreshed during the day. Include a dimmer to lower light levels for a relaxing soak in the bath at the end of the day.

Has the kitchen taken it hard over the last few weeks? As the hub of the home its the most populated area and has to deal with heat, moisture and all the extra wear and tear.

One of the easiest ways of transforming a tired looking kitchen into a wonderful new space is by replacing the worktops. These surfaces get easily scratched and suffer from water damage, so consider investing in some of the most resistant worktop materials, such as quartz or granite. You can also achieve a modern look by fitting Corian worktops, which are available in more than 100 different colours and in many shapes and thickness levels. Fitting splash backs in coloured glass or adding bespoke cabinets, or freestanding furniture can add a unique and stylish touch to your kitchen decor.

Modern kitchens don’t only look good, but they are equipped with efficient and timesaving appliances. As well as space-saving built-in kitchen appliances, such as integrated refrigerators, freezers and dishwashers, which can be modified so that they actually look like part of your kitchen furniture. By simply fitting inexpensive coloured LED lighting along the underside of cabinets will transform a stark, clinical kitchen into a warm and welcoming one.

Why not treat yourself to one of the latest trends in coffee machines with a bean to cup espresso maker?

Gaggia Coffee Machine Available from Selectric 3 Tranquil Vale, Blackheath Village SE3 0BU 020 8852 0119

No room for an extra bathroom? Think again! A bathroom can be squeezed into an amazingly small space. An area 1metre by 1.75metre handles a sink and toilet; 1metre by 2.5metre is enough for a shower too, especially with today’s stylish shower enclosures. It adds value to the house and stops the squabbles.

Or do the interior walls look grey to match the January weather? just a pot or two of the latest colour paint or creating a feature wall with the new style wall covering, will bring your home into 2016 with a glow.

Pink is the new neutral. No, really. Not bubblegum pink, obviously, or princess, but soft grey-pink, the colour of calamine lotion, flamingo feathers, early signs of a sunset. On walls, sofa fabrics or textiles it becomes grown up, sophisticated, and subtle.

And lets not forget the importance of kerb appeal. If the New Year means putting your home on the market it’s all the more important to make it stand out from the rest. New front door, double glazed windows or just a gardener’s expertise for a couple of hours or even a window box will make a difference.

No, 230 Farrow & Ball www.farrow-ball.com 020 8852 9836 48 Tranquil Vale, Blacheath Village SE3 0BD

BWB Co Ltd based in Greenwich can design, supply and install new window boxes and containers. further informationwww.blackheathwindowbox.co.uk info@blackheathwindowbox.co.uk Call Kate 07814 066138

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ME R IDIA N PRO PERT Y

15

Nelson’s law the Human Rights Act, industrial relations, and civil partnerships.

Whether it was because of the Articles or not, discipline at sea was good and executions were rare. Offenders were usually punished by flogging.

This was used to punish sailors for all manner of trivial misdeeds, such as mistakes when carrying out tasks on the ship. It was also used for offences that in theory could be punished by death, such as falling asleep on watch or even mutiny. No doubt many people considered that to be political correctness gone mad at the time.

Life on board ships of Lord Nelson’s Royal Navy was governed by the “Articles of War”, a set of thirty six rules set down by Act of Parliament of 1757. Today, the Articles seem almost farcically harsh. Of the thirty six, no less than twenty contained offences punishable by death, including mutiny, cowardice, disobeying orders, falling asleep on watch, negligently steering a ship, going on strike over wages, and “unnatural and detestable sin… with man or beast”. Nelson’s navy would clearly have struggled with the modern world of

Flogging was carried out with the “cat o’nine tails” – a handle with nine cords attached. It weighed about a pound and a few lashes would turn the victim’s back into scorched and mangled meat. Salt was then rubbed into the wounds afterwards to prevent infection. That was about as close as the Articles came to “health and safety”.

Drunkenness was not punishable by death but usually (like almost everything else) by flogging.

As every sailor was given a ration of a quarter of a pint of rum a day, this seems sensible. Otherwise a few Christmas parties could have put the entire fleet on death row.

Nelson’s navy had other legal issues that we would recognise today: for example personal injury claims for sailors injured or wounded in service. The most

famous claimant was Lord Nelson himself. The Admiralty reluctantly paid compensation for his right arm, which was amputated at the shoulder at the battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. However, it refused to pay for the loss of sight in his right eye when he was injured attacking Corsica. Nelson pursued his claim for years, and as usual he was victorious. He was awarded a small amount of money shortly before his death at the battle of Trafalgar.

Michael Large is a solicitor at Grant Saw Solicitors LLP specialising in property disputes and an author and amateur historian of the Napoleonic Wars.

Grant Saw Solicitors LLP is a leading firm of solicitors based in South East London. We provide a range of legal services for individuals and businesses including conveyancing, wills and probate, contesting wills, powers of attorney, commercial leases, disputes, divorce and separation. www.grantsaw.com Call 020 8858 6971

ME R IDIA N CULT URE

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RARE preview of exciting new cultural quarter in Woolwich

Already home to over 4,000 residents as well as a host of cultural, community, retail, leisure and employment spaces, Royal Arsenal Riverside offers a creative and vibrant environment for work, rest and play in south east London.

Berkeley Homes launched its vision for a new cultural and leisure destination in Woolwich, south east London at the end of last year.

Branded Royal Arsenal Riverside Explore (RARE), the event provided a taste of what can be expected in the forthcoming cultural and commercial quarter, which will account for 900,000 sq ft of the 88acre development.

Held in the Grade II listed former Royal Carriage Factory (known as Building 10), which dates back to the early 1800s, the 40,000 sq ft brick warehouse was the perfect venue to give a flavour of what Woolwich has to offer.

Working with the Royal Borough of Greenwich, Berkeley Homes is supporting a significant investment in arts and culture to stimulate regeneration and increase access to the arts.

The Royal Borough is already recognised as a superb centre of culture, and its rich mix of arts and entertainment help to attract nearly 20 million visitors from all over the UK and worldwide every year. The aim is to build on the cultural and military heritage at Royal Arsenal so that Woolwich shares in the benefits which tourism already provides to Greenwich – over £1.2bn to the local economy each year, supporting more than 16,000 jobs.

To showcase what Woolwich already has to offer, as well as provide a flavour of the sort of things to come, Berkeley Homes invited Academy Performing Arts whose young performers provided a spectacular tap dance and ballet recital, while guests enjoyed generous helpings of hot food and drink from a selection of stalls that form part of the regular Royal Arsenal Riverside farmers’ market. Local vendor, Souvlaki the Greek gave a live cooking demonstration, while sourdough pizzas and craft beers were provided by the newly opened Taproom and popular on-site microbrewery, Hop Stuff. There were also a number of live music performances to give the evening a festive feel.

Karl Whiteman, Managing Director of Berkeley Homes (East Thames), said: “Halfway through a 30-year regeneration project, Royal Arsenal Riverside is a growing community in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. It is home to over 2,000 homes already and the new cultural and commercial tenants who will be coming to the site will further contribute to the existing lively and thriving community.

“With its own Crossrail station set to open in 2018, residents and visitors will have easy access to Royal Arsenal Riverside Explore. It’ll take just 8 minutes to travel to and from Canary Wharf and a mere 21 minutes to Bond Street. Along with the Council, we want Royal Arsenal to be a place where people choose to spend leisure time as well as live and work here.”

LOVE LOCAL

Councillor Miranda Williams, Cabinet Member for Culture and Creative Industries, said: “The Council is developing this new cultural quarter which we are sure will be London’s newest and most exciting cultural destination. We want to attract a whole new group of arts organisations to complement and celebrate Woolwich’s rich heritage in the performing arts. I am looking forward to working with our friends at Berkeley Homes on attracting new groups and developing the quarter.

I have no doubt that Royal Arsenal Riverside is set to become a new tourist and visitor riverside destination, adding to the wealth of culture and history in the Royal Borough of Greenwich.”

RARE R|A|R|E is Berkeley’s exciting vision for the commercial and community offering at Royal Arsenal Riverside. Already home to over 4,000 residents as well as a host of cultural, community, retail, leisure and employment spaces, Royal Arsenal Riverside offers a creative and vibrant environment for work, rest and play in south east London.

For more information and to follow events at Royal Arsenal Riverside, please follow @RARE_explore

www.meridian-magazine.co.uk

M E RID IA N PRO PERT Y

18

CHISLEHURST – Offers in the region of £3,250,000

Two years of reinvention and reconstruction in the late 1990’s has seen this former Government nuclear shelter converted into a stunning modern home complete with a central indoor swimming pool surrounded by the living accommodation and an atrium style opening glass roof above. Triple garaging and games room/au pair suite was built under the sizable lawn. Walking round The Glass House one has to marvel at the foresight and vision of the architects and builders in turning a grey, austere and purely functional building into a fabulous luxury home to be proud of. So many features. EPC rating D.

CHISLEHURST - £1,695,000

Presented to the market in excellent order this home has been fully extended and refurbished with no expense spared creating an extremely stylish house. Extensive accommodation includes some 4 reception rooms, 30’ kitchen/dining area, utility room and downstairs cloakroom while to the upper floors there are 5 double bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. EPC rating D.

Buyers still around!

The schools have started their autumn term now and most families are back from their summer holidays, so September always sees an increase in activity on the housing front. If you are thinking of moving before Christmas, now is the ideal time to call us for a valuation and get the ball rolling.

BROMLEY - £1,350,000

Built just four years ago this 5 bedroomed detached house has 4 bathrooms, 3 reception rooms and a fabulous Stoneham built kitchen/breakfast room with a glass wall overlooking the very pretty landscaped south facing garden. Large bright lounge and a separate dining room.

Double garage and 49’ garden. Chislehurst station is just 0.4 of a mile away. EPC rating C.

Feel free to contact Richard Piddock or Jonathon de Maid for any further help or to arrange a free valuation of your home.

Richard can be contacted at Blackheath 020 8463 0091 richard@jdmestateagents.com Jonathon at Chislehurst 020 8325 8000 jonathon@jdmestateagents.com

CHISLEHURST - £3,500,000

Location is everything and it is a rare privilege to be able to offer such a beautiful 6 bed, 5 reception room house on a large plot in such a fabulous sought after road. Sympathetically extended by the current owners the house retains its existing character but with all the modern facilities expected in a 21st century home of this calibre. Hand-built fitted kitchen and 4 modern bathrooms. EPC rating E.

Established 1996

BLACKHEATH - £1,600,000

Location, location, location. Though a much over used phrase when it comes to talking about what is the most important factor when considering purchasing your dream home, ultimately it’s hard to argue against that logic.

Fabulous 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom semi-detached townhouse is in the heart of Blackheath village yet tucked away in a hidden spot. Off street parking and enclosed garden. EPC rating C Blackheath 020 8463 0091

Locksbottom 01689 880440

Bromley 020 8313 6800

Petts Wood 01689 819819

Chislehurst 020 8325 8000

Lettings 01689 838040

ME R IDIA N LOV E LO CAL

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A walk in the park

LOVE LOCAL

By Annie Shinn It’s January, it’s cold outside and there you are wondering what to do, the days are short and it’s warm inside. But wait, how about getting out into the fresh air, take a walk in the park and there’s one not that far away.

Tucked away on the eastern edge of Chislehurst, is Scadbury Park, a 300-acre Nature Reserve that is full of history, buzzing with wildlife, some of it rare, an amazing selection of trees, grasses and plants and, to cap it all, the ruins of a moated manor house.

So, what is the history of the park? Archaeological research has shown that it dates back to the 13th Century when the de Scathebury family lived there.

By 1424 it was the home of the Walsingham Family who were linked with Chislehurst for more than 200 years. Various Walsinghams came and went, including Sir Edmund who was knighted for his part in the battle of Flodden and became Lieutenant of the Tower of London with prisoners such as Sir Thomas More and Anne Boleyn. It was at Scadbury that another Walsingham – Thomas IV was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I. Various owners followed the Walsinghams including Thomas Townshend, Viscount Sydney - Sydney in Australia is named after him.

The remains of the Manor House and the moat surrounding it can be seen from the public footpath.

The Orpington and District Archaeological Society

excavate there and run an Open Weekend in September – www.odas.org.uk The park is home to plants, trees and wildlife which can be seen if you take the circular walk – The Acorn Trail. Along this walk there are numbered posts and if you have downloaded a leaflet from the Scadbury website, this explains what you have around you.

You can expect to see trees such as birch, alder, sycamore, yew and some ancient oak trees thought to be more than 400 years old. Trees, bushes and plants have been used for centuries for various duties in homes - Dogwood was once used for lamp oil, fleabane was put on the floors of houses to deter fleas or young hawthorn leaves were eaten and known as bread and cheese.

The park is also home to a meadow where there are a lot of different grasses such as Yorkshire fog, cocksfoot and many wildflowers. Plus, there are various ponds some of which are home to great crested newts.

Visit in the spring and you might be lucky enough to hear and see a chiffchaff which is normally the first migrant bird and heralds the start of spring.

These days, we are so busy rushing around and don’t take in what is around us, but if you just stop and listen it is amazing how many different sounds and bird songs there are. In addition to common garden birds you might also encounter song and mistle thrushes, green and great spotted woodpeckers, tiny goldfinches, bullfinches and the elusive treecreeper. Other birds which will have flown thousands of miles to return to their breeding

sites in the park include stock doves, nuthatches, swallows, blackcaps and whitethroats. Oh, and of course, you are bound to hear the screeches of the parakeets.

The Friends of Scadbury are very active in working with the present owners of Scadbury, London Borough of Bromley, to make sure that pathways, ponds and undergrowth are kept in good condition and cleared as necessary. They are also developing a broader and more active programme for everyone of all ages which will not only include regular Bird and Nature Walks but activities that will encourage the younger generations to come along and appreciate the park and nature. So, if this article has whetted your appetite, sign up for the newsletter or become a friend. www.scadbury-park.org.uk So, even if the weather is bleak, get out and enjoy the fascinating world that is Scadbury Park - you never know what you might see!

www.meridian-magazine.co.uk

Even if you aren’t the resolutions, January to reflect, take stock – and make a positiv lifestyle, for your ben your family and frien

e type who makes y is an ideal time and look forward ve impact on your nefit as well as nds’.

MERIDIA N L IF E S TYL E

21

Discover a New You If you are anything like me, as 2016 chimed in I was making a mental note of all the things I’d like to change this year, and all the improvements I’d like to see.

If you have been making the same promises to yourself every year, you’re not alone. According to research carried out by the University of Scranton, only 8 per cent of us achieve our New Year’s resolutions. Rather than making specific, isolated resolutions, now might be the time to try taking a more holistic outlook and consider making positive changes to our lifestyles as a whole instead.

As we are all multi-dimensional by nature, we need to address all areas of our wellbeing: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual, to keep to those New Year goals. That might sound like a bigger job than tackling a few chosen resolutions, but remember, gentle and consistent change is more powerful than trying to completely ‘makeover’ your life with a drastic transformation; So where do you start? The good news is, there is plenty of help and inspiration available on your doorstep to get you on your way: Emotional health can often be put on the back burner, but it’s the backbone of a healthy lifestyle. If stress is stopping you from enjoying everything you have to the full - stress therapies, message and detox treatments can be wonderfully relaxing. In the long-term, taking regular time out of your week to focus just on you can be spiritually nourishing, too. Yoga, mindfulness and meditation are all recognised practices, in use all over the world, for good reason.

If your health and wellness is your first priority, then a health screening or wellness check would be a great place to begin - especially if you’d like to be more active after a period of inactivity. It may be that you want to be in better shape in mind as well as body. Taking up an adventurous sport, for instance, could make you feel great mentally and help you to keep in fantastic shape too. Think of all those endorphins buzzing around your body!

Research also shows that you are more likely to make lasting lifestyle changes when you have some company or are backed up by a group, whether that’s dragging your partner or a friend with you, or participating as part of a community. Think about what interests you and join a local society, sing in a rock choir, learn to dance or even learn a new language.

You’ll either gain knowledge in something new or involve yourself in something that really interests you, while meeting new people with similar interests at the same time.

Remember change perpetuates change, and you may find that by improving your lifestyle you naturally start to tackle some of those annually promised resolutions that always seem to get broken. Whatever you decide to do (no matter how small) it will have a positive impact and help you feel more fulfilled. So get out there and discover a new you for 2016! Claire McKinson

Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions Lose weight / Exercise more Eat better Stop smoking Drink less alcohol Learn a new language Learn to play a musical instrument Spend more time with the kids Spend less time on social media sites Secure a dream job Improve qualifications

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M E RID IA N LIFEST YLE

A Confident, Healthier and More Sparkly You

Keep it Raw

Can you believe it is time again to take stock of the year that has just passed and plan what is to come in the next 12 months?

Wouldn’t it be great to be able smile confidently at every one you come into contact with, accept dinner invitations or to eat whatever you fancy off the menu without fear of teeth chipping or dislodging.

Sparklysmile are able to whiten your smile efficiently, make sure broken teeth are restored so that you can eat the food you really enjoy, and replace missing teeth with implants if they have become too loose to save.

If you want to go that step further, Sparklysmile can also relieve those winter frown lines with line relaxing treatments.

Sparklysmile has been in Blackheath for over 40 years and has brought many new treatments to Blackheath. But it is not all about looking good.

Deep down we all know that one part of your body can affect another part and at Sparklysmile

they see that a healthy mouth can help keep other illnesses at bay and help manage problems that you may already be suffering such as the complications of diabetes. More recent health studies now back this up and it has also been shown that a healthy mouth is connected to the birth of healthier babies and less chance of strokes and cardiac problems.

2016 can be the start of a more confident and healthier you - and that truly helps you feel good.

Email health@sparklysmile.co.uk for a poster about all the ways that taking care of your teeth can help your health.

Call 020 8852 0442 for a free consultation and start the New Year in style.

Sparklysmile, 19 Montpelier Vale Blackheath London SE3 0TA 020 8852 0442. www.sparklysmile.co.uk

Raw food is the most delicious, nutritious way of improving your health as well as losing weight.

Visit the Village Greengrocer for friendly service, fantastic range of fruit and veg, and local honey!

Village Greengrocer 020 8319 8611 2 The Village, Charlton London, SE7 8UD

Introducing South London Talking Therapy Service Dr Joel E. Parker is a Clinical Psychologist, experienced in providing talking therapy. Joel grew up in south east London, before completing his undergraduate degree in Leeds and Doctoral training in Surrey. His Eltham based, South London Talking Therapy Service offers a responsive, effective and personalised approach for a wide range of difficulties.

It is a safe space for individuals, couples and families to slow down and reflect upon the direction they wish to take to move forward.

Joel, who has Chartered status with the British Psychological Society, told Meridian “The stresses of modern life can open the door to low mood, anxiety and sleep problems affecting our lives. Struggles with relationship issues, losses or post-natal issues can provoke feelings, which cloud our experience. I offer a safe, warm and authentic space in which people are able to make sense of difficulties, connect more deeply with what is precious to them and develop a greater sense of passion and vitality in order to reclaim their lives.”

to enjoy life because my mind was full of troubling thoughts. I am now getting control back and wake up every day happy and looking forward to what life has in store for me.”

Joel draws on a range of evidence-based models and his caring, committed and compassionate style also enables positive change: another client commented “You’ve been more than just a professional to me, but also a human companion that has truly helped me become a better person.”

Joel can be contacted for a free telephone consultation on 07951720855 or by email drjoeleparker@gmail. com and aims to respond to messages within 24 hours.

More information can be found at www.drjoeleparker.com

Joel’s approach promotes a sense of autonomy, with one client feeding back: “I had been finding it very difficult

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23

Health’s Angels RejuvaDetox is the world’s first guaranteed weight loss and wellness system. If you want to lose weight Health’s Angels guarantee results or offer you free treatments until you do. Alternatively to this, if you want to tackle a health problem, our clients have achieved life-changing results, many coming off long term medication (in conjunction with their GP’s consent).

The 40 minute electronic, lymphatic detox treatment, coupled with a 1,500 + calorie a day food, plan of natural healthy and deliciously ‘clean’ foods allows the body to purge unwanted intestinal plaque and toxins..

Call now for a free 20 minute consultation and intestinal scan to see how toxic you are and how we can help

Health’s Angels www.healths-angels.com 01322 555600 23 Bourne Road, Bexley, Kent DA5 1LW facebook.com/healthsangels

The next BIG thing in the fitness industry Group Personal Training is now taking the industry by storm. Enabling more people to enjoy the benefits of a personal coach but in an even more enjoyable, small group environment. A maximum of 4 people attend each coaching session and follow their own personal programme, which leads to guaranteed results.

Participants enter into the programme at 1 of 4 levels after an initial Body MOT assessment and fitness test. Each participant will continually progress towards their specific goals be it fat loss, increased fitness, strength and conditioning, toning, core stability, sports specific training or a combination of these and more. Half the price of personal training, more fun, more sociable and less intimidating! Burn It Fitness now run Group Personal Training sessions 7 days a week at their studio at Blackheath Standard.

The Fitbug Orb will help you lose weight, get fitter and feel better!

A FITBUG ORB

Reiki at Blisski

For a free consultation call 020 3601 2365. www.burnitfitness.co.uk

Pilates & Rehab What better way to start a New Year than taking care of yourself? Focusing on correct alignment and technique, our Pilates Mat and Equipment classes can help you strengthen the core, increase flexibility, tone and alleviate aches and pains. Enjoy a healthier you!

Pilates and Rehab www.pilatesandrehab.com 020 3490 4480 pilatesandrehab@gmail.com 115A Trafalgar Road Greenwich SE10 9TX

Get fitter and lighter, feel healthier and happier with the ultimate movement and sleep tracker - the Fitbug Orb. Track your movement and sleep, day and night, 24/7, whenever you want.

Track your progress online or with the Fitbug app.

The Orb uses an advanced 3-axis accelerometer to accurately measure your every step and move.

Send your stats wirelessly and see your progress on screen.

Three different modes (On-demand, Beacon and Stream) combined with wireless technology means you can simply forget it’s there. Set it up, fire your steps and go.

Your own digital coach.

Fitbug digital coach calculates your targets for activity, food and sleep. So if you want to lose weight or get fitter, it will set you daily targets to help you achieve your goal.

WIN your own Fitbug Orb! To enter go to: www.meridian-magazine.co.uk/win, or alternatively email your name, address and daytime number to competition@meridianmagazine.co.uk or send a postcard with your details to Meridian magazine, 68 Summerhouse Drive, Bexley Kent DA5 2EE.

www.meridian-magazine.co.uk

ME RID IA N HEALT H

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Life does begin at 50... for Seniors Becoming older doesn’t have to mean getting less active or more isolated

Seniors is an activity and resource centre for the over 50s in Lewisham, based in a stately looking grade II listed building. A registered ‘not for profit’ charity, officially known as Lewisham Elders Resource Centre, it is run by and for people aged 50 and over.

Seniors celebrates maturity, working on the concept that older people should be appreciated as valuable resources for the whole of the community. Seniors patron, ex councillor and chair for positive aging group, Peggy Fitzsimmons says, ‘People are able to make friends and find new avenues of expression. If it’s health and wellbeing you are looking for in the New Year choose from: Pilates, line dancing, tai chi, zumba, wellness group, qi gong, yoga, table tennis, french art, book club, knitting and much more.’

The house itself, which is Grade II listed, is undergoing a £1.5 million refurbishment to make it completely unique and accessible; the charity has raised about half their target amount already. Phase one, now completed, meant replacing the crumbling roof, and phase two will see the beautiful conservatory to the side of the building restored to its former glory.

Soon, the upper floor office space will also be home to Care Outlook: a local home care company who support the excellent work already undertaken at Seniors. They will bring considerable extra funding and expertise to provide new services and opportunities at Seniors and across south east London.

Classes start from just £1.50 and a lifetime membership costs £20.

020 8291 1164. Seniors, 260 Stanstead Road, SE23 1DD.

Hair - the best ways to keep your locks healthy this winter

B Brown this winter with a spray tan

Avoiding hot showers and washing your hair just twice a week are just two of the best ways to keep your locks healthy in winter.

Lauren’s Way is the ultimate spray tan choice to achieve a natural, golden holiday glow, all year round. The tan is designed to give you the perfect-bronzed colour that will illuminate your complexion, leaving you with silky soft skin. The fake tan comes in 3 different shades and applications (Medium, Dark, and Darker than dark) allowing you to pick the perfect shade for your skin tone.

Your hair reacts to sunlight and may appear dull in colder, darker months. Try combining two or three shades when you colour your hair to add texture and lift.

Meridian are loving the reddish-browns and golden balayage, (a freehand technique where the colour highlights are applied by hand rather than using the traditional foiling or cap) trending this year.

Keep your hair in good condition in these harsh months by visiting your salon regularly. Aim to go every six weeks to keep your ends tided up.

Legs only - £18 and full body - £26.

Available from B Brown www.bbrown.co.uk 020 8293 3939 8 Old Dover Road, Royal Standard, Blackheath SE3 7BT

For seriously damaged hair try Nanokeratin System’s extensive treatment menu caters to various hair types and needs, but leads to a single result, your hair: beautiful, vibrant, shiny, silky-smooth and full of body.

Available from Good Looks www.goodlooksbeauty.co.uk 020 8852 0651 22 Blackheath Village, SE3 9SY www.meridian-magazine.co.uk

ME RID IA N HEALT H

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Keep healthy this winter

with 10 tips from BMI The Blackheath Hospital

BMI The Blackheath Hospital have launched a ‘Brace yourself for Winter’ campaign with 10 top tips to help residents keep healthy during this winter. While there is a rise in bugs and flu during the cold snap, winter doesn’t have to be the unhealthiest time of year.

1. Flu -The best way to reduce the risk of flu is to have the flu jab (or use a flu nasal spray for children from 2 and over). Those aged 65 or over and with long-term health conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease are especially vulnerable, so seek advice from your GP as required.

2. Joint pain - While pain and stiffness can be impacted by the weather it is unlikely to cause damage and keeping to a daily exercise plan can help keep you supple.

3. Norovirus – the dreaded winter vomiting bug.

This can affect people all year round but seems to thrive during the winter, especially at schools or workplaces. Anyone suffering from this should keep drinking fluids to avoid dehydration and especially keep a close eye on children and the elderly. Your local pharmacist can also provide oral rehydration fluids.

4. Heart attacks – Cold snaps can increase blood pressure, putting strain on the heart and because it has to work harder to maintain body heat when it’s cold. If you have a heart condition stay warm at home on very cold days – use hot water bottles and electric blankets to keep warm and if you do have to go out wear layers - and a hat, gloves and neck scarf.

5. Asthma – If you suffer from asthma you should take extra care over winter as cold air can act as a trigger, creating shortness of breath and wheezing.

Ensure you take your prescribed medications and always have your emergency inhaler. Again keep indoors on very cold or breezy days and if you do have to go out, cover your mouth and nose with a warm scarf.

6. Sore throat – These are virtually always caused by viral infections and are more common during the winter months. While lots of throat sweets and medicines are available from your pharmacist, a simple home treatment is to gargle with warm salty water – just a teaspoon of salt – which will soothe the throat and has anti-flammatory properties.

feet. Smoking or drinking caffeine can worsen symptoms. Your GP may be able to help with medication but keeping warm with gloves, socks and shoes when going out will help – two pairs of socks and hand warmers inside your gloves can be even better.

9. Up your milk intake! - Dairy milk is actually a great source of protein and vitamins A and B12 – and will help to keep your immune system nice and healthy (don’t forget fruit and veg too!). It’s also a great source of calcium to keep bones strong, especially important as falls are more common over winter.

7. Sleep – Lack of sleep and running on empty can make us more prone to illness and infection. Try to ensure you have six to eight hours of sleep a night.

If you do lose some sleep, make up for it as quickly as possible the following night.

10. Falls – We can forget how icy roads, pavements and paths can be, even in the city.

During a cold snap always consider your footwear and wear shoes with proper grip – it’s not just high heels that cause a problem, many mens’ work shoes also have very smooth soles. You can always change into your work shoes or party shoes once you get safely to your destination.

8. Cold hands – Known as Raynaud’s phenomenon, very cold hands are a surprisingly common condition which can make your fingers and toes painful in winter and can change their colour, so fingers can go white, blue, red and also throb and tingle. It’s often caused by poor circulation in the small blood vessels in both the hands and

If you need fast access to urgent care visit BMI The Blackheath Hospital’s Urgent Care Centre next to Blackheath Station. No appointment is needed and staff will aim to see all patients within 15 minutes of arrival.

Visit bmihealthcare.co.uk/blackheath/ucc or call 020 8297 4519 for more information.

www.meridian-magazine.co.uk

New Year New Career!

Special offer on Self-funded / 24+ Student Loan Courses!

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Shop 2, Eros House, Catford, London SE6 2EF

ME R IDIA N EDUCAT IO N

Three Reasons Why Handwork Helps Learning

1. Developing Numeracy Have you ever thought about just how much counting is involved in knitting or sewing? Helping children to develop basic maths patterns, using all the four mathematics processes, and simple geometry too, offers children a strong foundation in numeracy that lasts a lifetime.

2. Concentration Imagine sitting in front of a ball of wool and then ending up with a very beautiful pair of socks!

How did that happen? The ability to start a project from start to finish is not only immensely satisfying, requiring powers of concentration, but it also develops good hand-eye co-ordination too.

Handwork develops children’s ability to focus on a project for an extended period of time.

If you’ve ever visited the Greenwich Steiner School, you will have no doubt noticed how much we love handwork. Our children learn practical skills for life, such as knitting, crochet, hand-sewing, embroidery, pattern-design and machine sewing to name but a few.

But our handwork curriculum is much more than just fun, creative craft work.

There are a number of ways in which learning handcraft can support your child’s learning – as well as of course developing patience. Here are our top three favourite reasons why handwork helps learning:

3. Respect Working on a project sometimes requires a lot of focus and quiet – particularly if you are learning a new stitch. As a child in a bigger classroom you also have to learn to respect the needs of others as you wait your turn for help. Children also learn respect for their belongings as they make pencil cases to look after pencils and crayons and knit recorder cases for their instruments.

If you think learning handwork at our school might best support your child’s learning journey, please do come and visit us to find out more. greenwichsteinerschool.org.uk

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Inspiring Students

International rugby player Mike Stanley, who played in the Rugby World Cup 2015 for Samoa has signed for Old Elthamians RFC and as part of his duties will be coaching Rugby at Eltham College. In addition, Sam Howard has left Dulwich College and joins Eltham College as the new Director of Rugby, further expanding the team of professional coaches and inspiring students across all ages and teams with their vast wealth of experience and knowledge. www.elthamcollege.london 020 8857 1455.

M E RID IA N EDUCAT IO N

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Educating girls for life.

Recent headlines in the press reported some surprising statistics following surveys undertaken

by Professor Jonathan Black at Oxford University.

56% of boys and 75% of girls think men receive higher pay in their jobs after university and on a scale of one to six (with six being most confident), girls rated their job prospects after university as 3.7 while the figure for boys was higher at 4.3.

Why despite all the progress that has been made in achieving relative equality for women in the last century, do girls continue to talk down their own prospects and talents?

Research suggests there are a number of reasons underlying this perception. Reasons include: the influence of outdated but influential gender stereotypes; an absence of powerful female role models; unconscious messages absorbed by girls that being ambitious or ‘pushy’ is unattractive and the view that bringing up a family and career success are incompatible, amongst others. Is education failing our girls by allowing them to leave school with attitudes that undermine their confidence from the outset? It is certainly a key issue that educational leaders need to engage with if they a truly educating their students, and specifically their girls, for life as opposed to simply passing examinations.

At Blackheath High School, I am confident that our graduating Sixth Formers would not reflect this national trend. A specialised education for girls, honed over the last 135 years, ensures that the education we offer sets them up for their future with an inner confidence based on self-belief and awareness of their own strengths and talents and individuals, as opposed to a shallow or superficial self-image based on comparison to others or gender stereotype. How do we do this?

We are incredibly fortunate to belong to one of the most powerful organisations in UK girls’ education: the Girls’ Day School Trust. A network of 24 schools and 67,000 alumnae means there are no shortage of inspiring role models and mentors in every conceivable profession and avenue of life. At Blackheath girls are the leaders – head of school, captain of games, leader of the debating society. They find their voices, and get used to the challenges of leadership. Our curriculum and co-curriculum is imaginatively designed to provide a plethora of opportunities to take intellectual risks, ask questions, or make judgements in every area.

A sixth-form girl might begin the day presenting an assembly on the English Journal she has co-authored, spend her lunchtime co-ordinating a problem-solving maths club for younger students

and complete her day in introducing a visiting speaker to an audience of staff and students. All this, sits alongside an inspiring and engaging timetable of lessons and enrichment activities. It is this rich diet of challenge and opportunity that enables our girls to try themselves out, learn from their experiences and understand their strengths, unconstrained by gender stereotypes.

Carol Chandler-Thompson, Head www.blackheathhighschool.gdst.net Tel: 020 8853 2929 Vanbrugh Park, London SE3 7AG

M E R IDIA N FO O D & DRINK

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Food traditions – Or any excuse to go out to dinner! Over the next few weeks we will celebrate the following…

Burns Night is annually celebrated in Scotland on or around 25 January with the piping in of the Haggis, traditionally served with neeps and tatties.

It commemorates the life of the bard (poet) Robert Burns, who was born on January 25, 1759. The day also celebrates Burns’ contribution to Scottish culture. Burns’ best-known work is “Auld Lang Syne”.

Chinese New Year falls on the 8 February and will be the year of the Monkey.

“Monkeys” are witty, intelligent and have a magnetic personality. For people born in the year of the monkey (1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004), 2016 is considered an auspicious year.

A few days later on the 14 February this festival of love is celebrated around the world, but here in the UK, Valentine’s Day began to be popularly celebrated around the 17th century. By the middle of the 18th, it was common for friends and lovers of all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes, and by 1900 printed cards began to replace written letters.

Now it’s estimated that 16 million couples in the UK pull out all the stops and celebrate Valentine’s Day with a romantic meal. Time to book a table!

Bianco43 I first visited Bianco43’s Greenwich Church Street branch – a small, cosy restaurant, warmed by the authentic pizza oven and always full of happy customers. The Blackheath restaurant is bigger, but retains the cosy, warm atmosphere of a traditional Italian pizzeria. Wafts of freshly-baked dough greet you at the door. I’m already won over.

We share a couple of starters between us – a classic cherry tomato bruschetta and a selection of Italian meats and cheeses. Just enough to get us ready for our mains without leaving us too full. Having seen the size of the pizzas arriving at the neighbouring table, I already know I’m going to need to leave some room!

After some good conversation and a few glasses of Prosecco, dinner is served! A classic lasagne and two large pizzas – a spicy diavola and a margherita. The lasagne is labelled as ‘fatta in casa’ (or ‘homemade’ to us non-Italian speakers). It looked wonderful, as if Mama herself had freshly prepared it in her kitchen in Italy. Not that I got to try it, it wasn’t around for long! Drizzled in chilli oil, my diavola was (Italian hand gesture) delizioso! Not a slice was left behind, I can rather proudly point out.

For dessert, chocolate was the order of the day. Homemade profiteroles for one and torta al cioccolato (chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream) to be shared, would delight any chocoholic.

Bianco43 has managed to create an authentic Italian restaurant with friendly Italian waiting staff, quality produce and a completely Italian wine list to complete the immersion in all things Italian. They even have a crèche at weekend lunchtimes for young children, so parents’ get a little ‘me’ time.

BIANCO43 BLACKHEATH 1-3 LEE ROAD, LONDON SE3 9RQ blackheath@bianco43.com Tel: 020 8318 2700

BIANCO43 GREENWICH

43 GREENWICH CHURCH STREET LONDON SE10 9BL info@bianco43.com Tel: 020 8858 2668

WWW.BIANCO43.COM

Katherine Fielding

www.meridian-magazine.co.uk

M E RID IA N FO O D & DRINK

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Aqua Mediterranean Bar & Grill “the warm ambience of the restaurant encourages you to just relax and enjoy the meal”

I recently took my youngest daughter to Aqua in Blackheath Village for a post birthday meal. The restaurant was full and we took the only remaining table in the front window under the Christmas lighting, to quote my daughter, ‘perfect’.

This is a Mediterranean restaurant and the menu features Italian pasta dishes, fish and grilled meats including steaks and Souvlaki (cubed meat on skewers in the Greek style). The ancient Greeks ate mostly pork, but nowadays lamb is the regular meat.

While my daughter opted for Tagliatelle with smoked chicken with shredded mange-tout, I couldn’t resist Kleftiko, another Greek classic. A rustic, traditional dish made with slow cooked lamb, first marinated in garlic, olive oil and lemon juice. Cooked to the point when the meat falls from the bone, pure ambrosial food for the gods. Served with a full-bodied glass of Malbec. We agreed it was one of those meals you don’t want to hurry and the warm ambience of the restaurant encourages you to just relax and enjoy the meal.

The dessert menu, normally a slow process as each decision is suppercede by the next dish on the menu. But this time, in an instant (if only she could always be so decisive). I wanted to keep with the Greek theme and went for Baklava while my daughter swooned over sticky date and toffee pudding, accompanied with a glass of Muscat de Baumes de Venise dessert wine. A very enjoyable evening came to an end.

A stylish restaurant, reasonably priced, that ticks all the boxes. Michael Breese Aqua Mediterranean Bar & Grill 020 8318 1143 3-5 Montpelier Vale, Blackheath SE3 0TA.

www.meridian-magazine.co.uk

ME R IDIA N FO O D & DRINK

Farmers Market Royal Arsenal Riverside in Woolwich host their very own Farmers Market, which provides quality locally, sourced artisan food for residents and visitors to buy on the day. Traders range from bakers, greengrocers, cheese mongers, florists. Even a locally brewed beer, Hop Stuff is sold at the market.

The market offers the opportunity to find out more about the produce, how its made and even sign up and have a go yourself with the likes of Wildes Cheese who run cheese making courses in north London.

The market is held every second Saturday of the month – the January market is being held on 9 January, 10am – 3pm In Building 10 (the former Royal Carriage Factory).

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The Blue Nile Hop Stuff Two residents founded Hop Stuff Brewery on the Royal Arsenal in 2013. Since opening Hop Stuff has grown by over 200% and now employs 7 guys and girls. Everyone at the brewery has one simple aim; to brew fantastic, flavourful beers for the people of London and the South East. Hop Stuff is permanently stocked at the Royal Arsenal’s first independent bar and restaurant, The Taproom.

SE18 has a lot to offer. www.hopstuffbrewery.com

African food: The next gastronomic trend? Shewa Hagos and her sons changed their sandwich shop into a traditional Eritrean cafe in 2014. The Blue Nile is a family run Eritrean - Italian café and restaurant, harking back to Eritrea’s colonial history.

The menu has a mix of Italian and Eritrean classics, from Italian coffees, pasta and ice-creams to Eritrean ‘kemem’ tea and warm ‘ful’, meat stews infused with cardamom and cinnamon. info@bluenilecafe.co.uk 020 8855 0369 Blue Nile, 73 Woolwich New Road, Woolwich SE18 6ED

ME R IDIA N OUT & ABOUT

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Mahler Revisited Gustav Mahler was an Austrian lateRomantic composer, and one of the leading conductors of his generation. As a composer he acted as a bridge between the 19th century Austro-German tradition and the modernism of the early 20th century Born: July 7, 1860 Died: May 18, 1911

Blackheath Music Appreciation Society with Matthew Taylor How many people are there who can say they actually look forward to Monday mornings? Not many I warrant. But there is an enthusiastic group in Blackheath who relish Monday mornings.

They are the members of the Blackheath Music Appreciation Society who meet on each Monday morning in term time at Blackheath Halls. They come together to listen to illustrated lectures given

by Matthew Taylor, on subjects in classical music.

Matthew, one-time composer in residence at the Halls, conductor and pianist, is the linchpin of it all.

worry about. You do not need technical knowledge and can enjoy new horizons. For others, however knowledgeable, they will always find they can learn something new.

Each term consists of ten lectures and is devoted to one subject. This January, for instance, it will be “Mahler Revisited”; last term, it was the Nineteenth Century Russian Nationalist Composers. Over many years Matthew has lectured on Bach, Mozart, Beethoven through to Prokofiev and Stravinsky and a host of others. Sometimes a series covers more than just one composer as when Debussy and Ravel were coupled together or there is a series subject as when Matthew lectured on “Chamber Music of the Romantic Period” or “Music 1914-18”.

It all started off almost twenty-five years ago when Matthew gave adult education lectures in Westcombe Park. When ILEA folded up a small group kept going and moved into its permanent home in the Halls where the lectures continue to take place between 10am and 12, on Mondays of course. They remain enormously popular. More recently, some one- off additional lectures have been given at Charlton House in the Old Library.

These series are a happy get together for beginners or experienced listeners alike. Matthew has the knack of keeping both happy. For those with less musical experience there is nothing to

Background information is given in each lecture and then excerpts are played by Matthew who demonstrates with wondrous skill at the piano, seemingly reproducing in his hands what an orchestra might do. Our listening to the disc then follows this.

Lionel Lewis, who has written over fifty biographical sketches of the composers that Matthew has illustrated, runs the group.

In 2014, Matthew celebrated his 50th birthday and the group clubbed together in support of the flute concerto Matthew composed for the occasion.

Matthew Taylor’s lecture series “Mahler revisited” starts on 11th January. You can turn up before 10 am on the day or contact Lionel Lewis. A warm welcome awaits you and an opportunity to share your pleasure with others.

Currently the cost for a term’s course is £85. One can also come to individual lectures at £10 each.

For those not quite certain there is a taster for free to give it a try.

There is also a student rate. www.blackheath-music.co.uk.

For further information, contact Lionel Lewis on 020 8297 1975.

www.meridian-magazine.co.uk

WH AT TO DO W HERE & WH E N

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT

ONGOING ART, DRAMA, MUSIC, LANGUAGE & WINE COURSES

One-to-one instrumental & vocal tuition for all age groups, plus a range of courses. The Conservatoire, Lee Road Blackheath, SE3. Info: 020 8852 0234 or info@conservatoire.org.uk

BLACKHEATH DECORATIVE & FINE ARTS SOCIETY

Stimulating lectures and intriguing outings. Fourth Thursday of the month except Aug and Dec 2.30pm. www.artsinblackheath.org.uk St Mary’s Hall, Cresswell Park, Blackeath SE3.

GREENWICH DECORATIVE & FINE ARTS SOCIETY

Monthly lectures at King William Court, Room 315, University of Greenwich, Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, SE10. 8pm on 2nd Monday of the month, except April & August. Refreshments from 7.15pm.

020 8852 7873 or www.gdfas.org

EVERY MON ROTARY CLUB OF LEWISHAM & PENGE

JAMES HADDRELL, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF GREENWICH THEATRE

Local businessmen and women giving help locally, national and internationally. We meet at 7pm for a dinner, with speakes on a variety of subjects. Contact Peter Earll 020 8303 3361 or Alan Davis 020 8467 2032. Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley.

WOOLWICH SINGERS A trip to the theatre is a fantastic opportunity to be transported out of this world to a new place, free of the day to day worries of our everyday lives, and coming out of our pantomime season we’ve just had two months of exactly that.

Anyone who came to see Red Riding Hood, our biggest selling show ever, will have been whisked away to a fairy-tale version of the Swiss Alps to help Scarlett do battle against the wolfish Count Fracula.

However, there are times when theatre can do the opposite - instead of presenting magical flights of fantasy it can bring to life real stories about the people living all around us. GOODSTOCK, an already acclaimed production by the multi-award winning Lost Watch Theatre Company, does just that.

Coming to Greenwich from 20-23 January, GOODSTOCK is about BRCA1, the genetic mutation made famous in recent times by Angelina Jolie and others. BRCA1 carriers have a 40% lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer, and an 80% chance of developing breast cancer and so many, like Jolie, take the decision to have major surgery while still relatively young to avoid that.

Olivia Hirst, a young writer and actress, tested positive for the condition, and GOODSTOCK

tells her story - but this is not a worthy piece of docu-drama about a tragic emotional discovery. Lost Watch have succeeded in making an uplifting, funny, honest show that deserves all the plaudits it has already received and more besides.

In a recent piece for The Guardian, Olivia wrote “When we were creating the show, the company and I chatted a lot about why we were doing it and who we were making it for. It is a show about an ‘issue’ and it’s a topic that people may think of as ‘worthy’ – words that are said with a slight sneer. But we decided we were going to make it anyway. Ultimately, we made Goodstock to start a conversation.”

If you’d like to see one of the most exciting theatre companies of the future, or a piece of theatre unlike anything you’ve seen before, and want to leave the theatre challenged and uplifted, come and spend an hour in the company of Lost Watch Theatre Company this January - I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Goodstock - Wed 20-Sat 23 January Greenwich Theatre Box Office 020 8858 7755 www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk

A community choir. No audition required to join. The aim is to sing together and have fun! £2 per week, refreshments provided. 6.30pm-8pm.

Call 07812 477 775. Public Hall, Wellington St, Woolwich SE18 6PW (entrance via Town Hall).

EVERY THURS ROTARY CLUB OF GREENWICH

For like-minded business people to meet & help the community. If visiting please contact Sarah Campbell 07958527877 Old Colfeans Rugby Football Club, Horn Park, Eltham Road SE9 8UE.

EVERY FRI LUNCHTIME CONCERT

1pm – 2pm. Free. www.charlton-house.org 020 8856 3951. Charlton House, Charlton Rd; SE7

TANGOWORKOUT

Classes connecting Tango with health and well being, for men and women. 7.15pm - 9.15pm. Beginners and intermediate classes. £7. West Greenwich Community Centre, 141 Greenwich High Road, SE10 8JA.

BROMLEY GREEN GYM

Meeting weekly to carry out wildlife gardening tasks to bring back some of the site’s heritage, and transform the space for the benefit of wildlife and the local community. www.tcv.org.uk. Free. 11am-2pm.

07740 899 689. College Green & Slip, West Street, Bromley, BR1 1PA.

E:MAIL events@meridian-magazine.co.uk

CHARLTON JUDO CLUB

Judo training sessions for anyone aged 10 years and over. If you do not have a judo suit wear baggy t-shirt and old jog bottoms. From beginners upwards.

8.15-9.30pm. £3 per session. Call Lorraine on 07932767385 or email lollyjudo1975@aol.com.

NCCA Community Hall, 217 Maryon Road, Charlton SE7 8DB.

EVERY SUNDAY CHRISTIAN SCIENCE SOCIETY

Blackheath. Services and Sunday School held at the Clarendon Hotel, Blackheath at 11am. Also at the Clarendon Hotel, our monthly Testimony Meeting is held every second Wednesday of the month at 8pm.

BLACKHEATH QUAKERS

Meeting for worship. 10.30am-11.30am every Sunday. Visitors welcome. For more details, including room hire on 07908 587 695 or email quakerhall@ aol.com. Quaker Meeting House, Lawn Terrace, Blackheath SE3 9LL.

UNTIL SUN 10 JAN DON’T MISS - ELVIS AT THE O2

The Exhibition of His Life chronicles the rise of the rock ‘n’ roll icon and how Elvis impacted popular culture around the world through his music, movies and personal style. £9-£18. 10am-5.30pm. www.tickets. axs.com. The O2, Peninsula Square, London SE10 0DX

12 MAR WATERCOLOURS – A SENSE OF PLACE

Showcasing the Trust’s watercolours collection, this exhibition displays a selection of paintings including landscape, cityscape and waterscape settings from across the borough and beyond. Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust. 020 8854 2452. Tues – Sat 9am-5pm.

Greenwich Heritage Centre. Artillery Square, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich SE18 6ST.

WED 6, 13, 20 & 27 JAN TAPESTRY GROUP

Would you like to be involved in a community sewing project creating wall hangings panels, illustrating Gospel stories set in the world we know.

If you have sewing skills already, or would you like to learn skills? Tel: 020 8853 0687 Email: jenny.bracey@st-alfege.org.uk). Caton Room, St Alfege Church, Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich SE10 9BJ.

THURS 7 JAN THE DOORS ALIVE

The Doors Alive take you back to the band at their psychedelic peak as they flawlessly meld the styles the original members honed: flamenco, Blues, Jazz, Rock and Bossa Nova. 7.30-11.00 pm (no admission after 10.00 pm). £12 in advance/£13 on door. See www. thebeaverwoodclub.co.uk for details. The Beaverwood, Beaverwood Road, Chislehurst, BR7 6HF.

THURS 7, 14, 21, & 28 JAN LUNCHTIME RECITAL

Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. Visit trinitylaban.ac.uk/whatson for details. 1.05pm. Free.

St Alfege Church, Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich SE10 9BJ.

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NEW DISPLAY BRINGS THE JUNGLE TO THE FOREST

FRI 8 JAN TRINITY LABAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The Side By Side series returns with Jonathan Tilbrook conducting well-known works by Debussy and Ravel.

Debussy: La Mer, Ravel: Alborada del Gracioso. 6 7pm. Free. www.trinitylaban.ac.uk. Blackheath Halls, 23 Lee Road, SE3 9RQ.

FRI 8 – 17 JAN THE LONDON BOAT SHOW

Lucy Watson, star of hit Channel 4 series ‘Made in Chelsea’, is to open the 62nd annual London Boat Show .The television personality, model and avid sailor, will open the 10-day Show at ExCeL London, kick-starting the 2016 boating calendar in style.

Thousands of boats and brands will be showcased at the event all from leading British and international companies. Exhibitors will range from world-class boat builders through to fashion, travel operators and watersports companies. 10am-6pm (Thurs 14 10am – 8pm). £15, children under 15 free (max 2 per adult entry). www.londonboatshow.com. ExCeL London, One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London, E16 1XL.

The curious world of Victorian London’s exotic animal trade is explored in London’s Urban Jungle, a new display opened at the Horniman Museum and Gardens in Forest Hill.

Curated by historian Elle Larsson, London’s Urban Jungle centres around the role of businessman and naturalist Charles Jamrach, one of Victorian London’s leading dealers in exotic animals, shells and other artefacts, and his impact on the trade and upon popular culture at this time.

SAT 9 JAN LUNCHTIME RECITAL

Objects from the Horniman’s collections sit alongside newspaper prints and articles, offering an insight into how creatures such as tigers, bears, buffaloes, eagles and monkeys came to be a familiar sight in Britain - even on London’s streets – and how the trade operated.

SAT 9, 15 & 16 JAN CINDERELLA

Based in the East End, near to the London Docks, Jamrach traded from a number of premises bustling with species from across the globe, including a bird shop and museum in St. George’s Street East, a menagerie in Bett Street and a warehouse in Old Gravel Lane.

With James Kirby. 1.05pm. Free. St Alfege Church, Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich SE10 9BJ.

Presented by the New Eltham Methodist Church Pantomime Group (their 45th Panto!) This family friendly panto has something for everyone. 9 & 16 mat 2.30pm & 9,15 & eve 7.30pm. £8. 020 8851 9881. www.necp.org.uk. New Eltham Methodist Church, 435-439 Footscray Road, New Eltham, London SE9 3UL

MON 11 JAN BLACKHEATH HALLS LUNCHTIME RECITALS

Ensemble Lux Musicae London. 1.10pm. Free with retiring collection for the benefit of Blackheath Halls.

23 Lee Road, Blackheath SE3 9RQ.

MON 11- WED 13 JAN RUSSIAN STATE BALLET OF SIBERIA

Classical ballet: Mon – Giselle 7.30pm, Tues - Sleeping Beauty 7.30pm & Wed - The Snow Maiden 2.30 & 7.30pm. £25.50 Eve, £15.50 Mat. www.atgtickets. com/bromley. 0844 8717 620. Churchill Theatre, High Street, Bromley BR1 1HA.

London’s Urban Jungle can be seen in the Horniman’s Natural History until Sunday 21 February. Entry to the Gallery is free. www.horniman.ac.uk 020 8699 1872 100 London Road, London SE23 3PQ

TUES 12 JAN OUR COSMIC ORIGINS AND DESTINY

Talk by Dr Paniez Paykari. Less than 5% of the Universe is made up of conventional matter such as atoms, humans, stars and galaxies. The nature of the remaining 95% - the dark sector - is a profound mystery.

The future of the Universe is highly dependent on the nature of the mysterious dark sector, and its discovery continues to be a driving force in current cosmological research. 5.15-6.15pm. £6, £5 Members. Planetarium & Astronomy Centre, Peter Harrison Planetarium, Royal Observatory, Greenwich.

THURS 14 JAN LAURENCE JONES BAND + MIKE BROOKFIELD BAND

Mentored by Walter Trout Laurence, who took him on tour in 2013, Laurence signed to Ruf records and cut ‘Temptation’ . His new ‘What’s it Gonna Be’ album features special guests Dana Fuchs and Sandy Thom who appears on the new single ‘Don’t Look Back’.

Co-produced by Laurence and bassist Roger Innis, it’s one of the blues -rock albums of 2015. 7.30-11 pm.

Tickets: £12 in advance/£13 on door. See www.thebeaverwoodclub.co.uk for details. The Beaverwood, Beaverwood Road, Chislehurst, BR7 6HF.

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W H AT TO DO W HERE & WH E N CONCERT FOR HOMELESS

SAT 23 JAN THE CORRS AT THE O2

The four-piece family band from Dundalk, also known as Andrea, Caroline, Jim and Sharon, perform softrock and folk. 7.30pm. £35-£65. www.tickets.axs. com. The O2, Peninsula Square, London SE10 0DX

TREASURES OF THE FAN MUSEUM

MON 25 JAN BLACKHEATH HALLS LUNCHTIME RECITALS Paul Blakemore photography.

St Alfege Church in Greenwich is hosting a concert of works by Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert by the nationally acclaimed English Piano Trio on 24 January at 4pm to raise funds for The 999 Club Winter Night Shelter in Deptford. The money raised helps the St Alfege Cooks who volunteer to provide hot meals to the shelter during the cold winter months when good warm food can make all the difference. Any money left over once the meals are prepared will goes to the night shelter budget. For more details about the concert, the Cooks and the 999 Club see www.stalfegecooks.org.uk.

Tickets for the Homeless Sunday concert and the reception afterwards are £10 each from www.ticketsource.co.uk/homelesssunday or at the door.

FRI 15 JAN BLACKHEATH SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY

Managing the Crossness Nature Reserve, a talk by Ms. Karen Sutton of Thames Water. 7.45pm. Visitors welcome with a donation of £3. Mycenae House, 90 Mycenae Road, SE3 7SE.

BEAVERWOOD PARTY NIGHT

Come and have some fun at the best party in town where DJ Dave Collins will be in full swing. Age restriction 30+. Please note this is a ticketed event. £8 Members, £10 non-members. See www.thebeaverwoodclub.co.uk for details. The Beaverwood, Beaverwood Road, Chislehurst BR7 6HF.

SAT 16 JAN LUNCHTIME RECITAL

With Olga Jorgenson. 1.05pm. Free. St Alfege Church, Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich SE10 9BJ.

MON 18 – SAT 23 JAN PRIVATE LIVES

A major new production of Noel Coward’s best loved and multi-award winning comedy. Sat eve 7.30pm, Thu & Sat mat 2.30pm. From £15. www.atgtickets. com/bromley. 0844 8717 620. Churchill Theatre, High Street, Bromley BR1 1HA.

TUES 19 JAN GREENWICH INDUSTRIAL HISTORY SOCIETY

Talk on Ballast Quay by Michael Graham Smith and Polly Carter. 7.30pm. The Old Bakehouse (rear of Age Exchange), Bennett Park, SE3. No parking.

WED 20 JAN FROM DAY INTO NIGHT: WALKING THE GINGER LINE

Join author Iain Sinclair for a talk at London Transport Museum about the day he decided to walk the full circle of the London Overground line, or the “Ginger line” as it is affectionately known. In one single day Sinclair visited 33 stations and walked its 35-mile route from Haggerston via Wapping and Peckham Rye, Willesden Junction and Hamsptead Heath to Camden Town. 7-8.30pm. £10, £8 concs.

Visit www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/events-calendar#sinclair or call 020 7565 7298 to make a booking. London Transport Museum, Covent Garden Piazza, WC2E 7BB.

THURS 21 JAN FLEETWOOD BAC PLAY RUMOURS

The best of ‘Rumours’ - still one of the bestselling rock albums of all time including: The Chain, Dreams, Don’t Stop, Go Your Own Way, Sarah, Gold Dust Woman...plus more! 7.30-11 pm. Tickets £12 in advance/£13 on door. See www.thebeaverwoodclub. co.uk for details. The Beaverwood, Beaverwood Road, Chislehurst, BR7 6HF.

Simon Watterton, piano. 1.10pm. Free with retiring collection for the benefit of Blackheath Halls.

23 Lee Road, Blackheath SE3 9RQ.

TUES 26 JAN BACH TO BABY

Classical Concert series for Baby and You founded by concert pianist and mum, Miaomiao Yu. 10.30am. £10. 020 8858 1749. Bromley United Reformed Church, 20 Widmore Road, Bromley BR1 1RY.

TUES 26 – SAT 30 JAN LET IT BE

Seen by over 1 million people worldwide, Let It Be has established itself as one of the West End’s most popular shows. The music defined a generation, caputured the hearts and ideals of millions. . Sat eve 7.30pm, Thu & Sat mat 2.30pm. From £20. www.atgtickets.com/bromley. 0844 8717 620.

Churchill Theatre, High Street, Bromley BR1 1HA.

THURS 28 JAN BACH TO BABY

Classical Concert series for Baby and You. Be amazed at how your child will love Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. 4pm. £10. 020 8858 1749. Mycenae House, 90 Mycenae Road, SE3 7SE.

BLACKHEATH DECORATIVE AND FINE ARTS SOCIETY

See if our lecturer, Aliki Braine, really can give a bracing précis of 7 centuries of Art concentrating on 12 Key masterpieces. 2pm for 2.30pm. Visitors £5.

Refreshments. www.artsinblackheath.org.uk.

St Mary’s Church Hall, Cresswell Park, Blackheath SE3.

HATS OFF TO LED ZEPPELIN

Close your eyes and let these four world class musicians take you back to when Led Zeppelin ruled the earth! Having played with Queen, Ray Davies, Shaun Ryder & the Seahorses etc., as well as appearing West End shows, these guys are a truly professional outfit guaranteed to give you a night that you won’t forget in a hurry! 7.30-11 pm. Tickets £12 in advance/£13 on door. See www.thebeaverwoodclub.co.uk for details. The Beaverwood, Beaverwood Road, Chislehurst, BR7 6HF.

The UK’s only museum dedicated to the history of fans and craft of fan making celebrates its twentieth fifth anniversary. To mark the occasion an exhibition of the Museum’s finest fans, Treasures of The Fan Museum, will run from 16 January to 5 June.

The Museum’s curators have delved deep into the collections, handpicking a remarkable array of fans.

Exhibition highlights include fine examples of English fan making such as two mid-eighteenth century folding fans. From France, generally regarded to be the epicentre of European fan making and fan use, the exhibition includes seventeenth century richly painted fans.

From the East, the exhibition shows an outstanding Chinese ceremonial fixed fan and a number of Japanese fans.

Contemporary fan making is represented in the form of fans made by gifted éventailliste Sylvain Le Guen.

The Fan Museum, 12 Crooms Hill, London SE10 8ER Special Offer: Free entry* to Royal Greenwich borough residents from Saturday 16 to Sunday 31 January. * Proof of address required

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FRI 29 JAN NATURE TRAIL DIG-IN

Over the last couple of years a group of volunteers has helped with removing unwanted invasive species in the Nature Trail and planting appropriate native specimens. This is a continuing project. If you have not been involved before, do come along. Equipment is provided as well www.as refreshments. 9.30am until about 12.30pm, meet up at the Wildlife Centre, Near the South end of the lake in the Flower Garden, Greenwich Park SE10. For more info contact Sue Yates on 020 8692 1760.

BEAVERWOOD PARTY NIGHT

Come and have some fun at the best party in town where DJ Dave Collins will be playing the best Chart - Club - Soul - RnB + so much more! Age restriction: 30+. Tickets £8 members/£10 non-members. See www.thebeaverwoodclub.co.uk for details. The Beaverwood, Beaverwood Road, Chislehurst, BR7 6HF.

FRI 29 – SAT 30 JAN GREENWICH DANCE: RAHEL VONMOOS

Moving between silicone curtains, in a space that changes from stark monochrome to full cinematic colour, four dancers investigate the physical, social, psychological and emotional aspects of displacement.

Through the use of video projections, the dancers are joined by a group of thirteen people. Together, they explore how displacement manifests itself in the body.

7.45pm. £12, £9 concs. www.greenwichdance.org. uk. 020 8293 9741. Greenwich Dance, Borough Hall, Royal Hill, SE10 8RE.

SAT 30 JAN GOLDSMITHS RAMBLING CLUB

An easy 5-mile linear walk, starting at Three Mills Island, then following the East End waterways to Victoria Park. Meet 10.45am at Bromley –by-Bow tube station. Contact Rona Sullivan on 020 8850 4417 for details. New members welcome.

DROP IN AT THE WILDLIFE CENTRE

A chance for children to find out about the wildlife in Greenwich Park. Included are craft activities and guided tours of the Nature Trail. 1-30pm. Free. The Wildlife Centre, Near the South end of the lake in the Flower Garden, Greenwich Park SE10.

THE LIBERTINES

The reunited four-piece, fronted by Pete Doherty and Carl Barat, perform it’s notoriously anarchic brand of indie-rock. 7.30pm. £34- £45. www.tickets.axs.com.

The O2, Peninsula Square, London SE10 0DX.

SUN 31 JAN LIVE JAZZ + SUNDAY LUNCH

Enjoy the ultimate Sunday experience - a delicious lunch while listening to a live Jazz concert. See www.thebeaverwoodclub.co.uk for details. To make a booking call us on 020 8300 1385 or email info@thebeaverwoodclub.co.uk. The Beaverwood, Beaverwood Road, Chislehurst, BR7 6HF.

CHAMBER MUSIC ON VANBRUGH HILL

Every month the Steinberg Duo open the doors of their purpose-built chamber music studio for a small audience to listen to an hour’s recital followed by refreshments. Brahms & Franck. 6pm. £10 booked in advance on line at www.steinbergduo.com. Steinberg Studio, 137 Vanbrugh Hill, Greenwich SE10 9HP.

THURS 4 FEB SOCIAL DANCE THURSDAYS

Ballroom with Thomas Michael Voss this spring with a different style of social dance each month. With bar open throughout, these special evenings offer a relaxed and sociable setting for newcomers, experienced social dancers and everyone in between!

Each evening is led by one of our fabulous Greenwich Dance teachers. 7.30-9.30pm. £10 / £7.50 Concs. www.greenwichdance.org.uk. 020 8293 9741.

Greenwich Dance, Borough Hall, Royal Hill, SE10 8RE.

SAT 6 FEB TEA DANCE

Join us for a vintage afternoon Tea Dance. Live music from The Cosmopolitans and guest singers will feature a range of styles for Ballroom, Latin, Jive and Sequence dancing. A cup of tea and slice of cake is included in the entry price and the bar will be open throughout. 2- 4.30pm. £5. www.greenwichdance. org.uk. 020 8293 9741. Greenwich Dance, Borough Hall, Royal Hill, SE10 8RE.

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GREENWICH MUSIC TIME Greenwich Music Time returns to the spectacular setting of The Old Royal Naval College this summer and the organisers have revealed details of the first two headline acts. 80s chart toppers Roxette will perform classic hits from their back catalogue on Friday 8 July and the Golden Globe-winning jazz star Jamie Cullum will close the series on Sunday 10 July.

“Our aim continues to be to programme an exciting and multifarious concert series and as such we are delighted to have two world class acts already on board for next year in the form of jazz superstar Jamie Cullum and one of the biggest bands of the 80s and 90s, Roxette” said event organisers Neil O’Brien and Peter Taylor.

“We will release details of our remaining three headliners over the coming months.”

Greenwich Music Time launched in 2014 and has quickly become one of the highlights of the live music calendar thanks to shows from a string of high profile names including Ray Davies, Tom Jones, George Benson, Jools Holland and many more.

Tickets are available from greenwichmusictime.co.uk or by calling 0844 499 9999.

SUN 7 FEB WEDDING SHOW AT BEAVERWOOD PLACE

If you are planning a wedding, this is the place to be with over 30 exhibitors staged in the beautiful venue.

Special Fair offers available. Free. 11am-3.30pm.

See www.thebeaverwoodclub.co.uk for details. The Beaverwood, Beaverwood Road, Chislehurst BR7 6HF.

MON 8 FEB BLACKHEATH HALLS LUNCHTIME RECITALS

Maria Canyigueral, piano. 1.10pm. Free with retiring collection for the benefit of Blackheath Halls. 23 Lee Road, Blackheath SE3 9RQ.

UNTIL SAT 27 FEB VISIT LONDON’S LARGEST OUTDOOR ICE RINK

Ice Rink Canary Wharf offers the chance to skate amongst the twinkling trees beneath Canary Wharf’s striking architectural backdrop.

Adult (+13yrs): £14.95 Children (4-12yrs): £9.95 Family (2 Adults + 2 Children or 1 Adult + 3 Children): £41.95 Concessions (F/T Students & +60yrs with photo ID) £12.50 Tickets from www.icerinktickets.co.uk or call 08456 531 431 Polar Bear Skate aids (available at the box office 30 minutes prior to the skate session): £5 Booking fee: £2.50 online booking fee applies per transaction For safety reasons children under the age of 4 years old are not permitted to skate. Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf E14.

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M E R IDIA N ART & DESIGN

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It Fell from Earth

on show at Gerald Moore Gallery Alexandra Darbyshire (née Flood) is a Canadian artist and graduate of the National Academy School of Fine Arts in New York, and now lives in the UK. Over the past twenty years, she has exhibited her paintings in solo and group shows across North America, and in Europe. She has been recognised by national and international organisations with awards and honours for her work, including the Canada Council for the Arts and the Delphina Studios Trust, London, England. A four time nominee for the Sobey Award, Canada’s most prestigious contemporary art prize, her work is in numerous private and public collections across Canada. Her work was presented in the group exhibition You Are OK at Y Helling, Amsterdam, and a solo show Hundreds of Thousands, at Red Handed in London in February 2014.

From 16 January to 20 February 2016 Alexandra will present a solo show of her current series It Fell From Earth at Gerald Moore Gallery in London.

Talking about her practice, Alexandra says: “My work springs from fragments of the world we inhabit, often beginning with elements of photos I’ve taken myself, or images found on the internet.

The artworks in It Fell From Earth mark the departure I’ve recently taken with painting, and with the component of collage. Working with oil paint on board, torn pieces of paper and collage, this transition has evolved my compositions into a new conversation about the surreal, while vaguely referencing the things that surround us.”

Gerald Moore Gallery is a centre for modern and contemporary art set within the grounds of Eltham College, an independent school in Mottingham, southeast London. Working with its interesting and unusual context within an educational environment, learning lies at the core of the Gallery’s programme.

It Fell From Earth An exhibition of paintings for sale by Alexandra Darbyshire Open 16th January to 20th February 2016 on Saturdays, 12-4pm, Free Entry Gerald Moore Gallery, Mottingham Lane, London SE9 4RW www.geraldmooregallery.org

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Winter Lights at Canary Wharf The sculptures, structures and installations on display are the creations of some of the most innovative artists and designers around today, presenting work using a great diversity of different forms of light technology. Together the artists represent four continents across the world with projects that are interactive, performance or visual spectacles to be admired from close up or from afar.

Appealing to art lovers, lighting enthusiasts, families, the young and the old, there is something for everyone as soon as dusk falls, and all for free.

Many pieces explore how we communicate in the modern world such as Julius Popp’s bit.fall that taps into live news feeds creating a digital typography waterfall and Bitone’s Totem that responds to the presence of mobile phone signals in the air around it. Other installations such as Jen Lewin’s The Pool encourages viewers to physically touch and engage with it and create visual and audio reactions.

Best seen after 4pm, all the installations and light effects will come alive throughout the evening until 9pm so on a dark January night come and experience a wealth of inventive and spectacular creativity that will illuminate the Canary Wharf skyline.

Winter Lights 2016 is free to the public and can be seen across the Canary Wharf Estate from 11 - 22 January. The illuminations can be discovered in a wealth of different locations and a full list of the installations are on www.canarywharf.com In conjunction with the Winter Lights Festival, an exhibition by artist Nathaniel Rackowe featuring spectacular sculptural works using light will be on display in the lobby of One Canada Square from 11 January to 12 February, presented in collaboration with The House of the Nobleman.

Flood Gallery Following the successful Royal Albert Hall exhibition, world-renowned photographers and graphic artists, Carl Glover and Lasse Hoile, will be exhibiting their work at The Flood Gallery in Greenwich Market, Thursday 28 January. Drinks reception from 7:30-10pm, all welcome. www.the floodgallery.com 020 8269 0372 8 Greenwich Market, Greenwich SE10 9HZ

GREENWICH PRINTMAKERS

Michael Reid Current exhibition Selecion of prints from local artists.

Peter Luty 5 -24 Jan, Michael Reid 26 Jan – 14 Feb. Tues – Sun, 10am-5.30pm. www.greenwich-printmakers.co.uk.

020 8858 1569 Greenwich Printmakers Gallery, 1A The Market, Greenwich SE10 9HZ.

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M E R IDIA N PRO PERT Y

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How does shared ownership work?

Shared ownership is a government-backed initiative that helps you to become a home owner.

Sometimes known as part buy part rent, you buy a percentage share in a brand new home (or a resale), as much as you can afford, and pay a subsidised rent on the remaining share.

If you buy a home through shared ownership: Your monthly mortgage and rent can work out cheaper than buying outright. Sometimes the costs of shared ownership are the same, or cheaper, than privately renting. It is a good idea to work out your own calculations and comparisons, depending on where you wish to live. An independent mortgage advisor (IMA) can help you work through these calculations.

You buy as much of the property as you can afford You can buy a larger share in the property at a later date (this is called “staircasing”). You can either staircase all the way to 100% ownership in one go, or in three stages. The more shares you buy, the less rent you pay. We will help you when you are ready to staircase.

Staircasing is the process by which you can increase the percentage share that you own in your home. Details of staircasing are provided to you within your shared ownership lease.

It is a good idea to make plans for staircasing at the time when you first buy your shared ownership home. Talk to your independent mortgage advisor about your plans and intentions.

You can staircase by buying further shares in your property, with the amount you pay based on the market value of your property at the time you apply to staircase. The value is determined by an independent RICS (Royal Institution of

Chartered Surveyors) qualified surveyor. As the share you own increases, so your rent reduces proportionately. You can take your ownership up to the full 100% value of the home if you choose, meaning you would then pay no rent.

At Moat, we encourage home owners to increase the shares in their homes, so they can build a better future for themselves and their families.

This is especially important as you approach retirement age if you are close to paying off your mortgage and wish to avoid paying rent out of your pension.

The more shares you buy, the less rent you pay – although your mortgage payments may increase for the period of the mortgage term.

Service charge payments and buildings insurance payments remain the same.

We recommend you make plans early to increase your shares to eventually own your home outright. Historically and generally-speaking, house prices have a tendency to rise at a more rapid rate than incomes; as a result, shared owners who delay decisions to staircase are less likely to be able to afford to buy extra shares in their homes as the price of these could be outside your affordability range.

As a charitable housing association, Moat supports the development of mixed tenure communities and is proud to provide homes for affordable rent and shared ownership across the South East of England. We are here to guide you through the process and to help you find a suitable and affordable home.

Shared ownership is one of the most affordable home ownership options. Other options are outlined at HelptoBuy.org.uk.

Find out more If you’re interested in buying a home or finding out more about shared ownership, go to www.moathomes.co.uk or contact Katie May New Homes Officer at Moat, on 0845 359 6836 or via email at katie.may@moat.co.uk.

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