Omni Local Kingston Autumn 2015 by Omni Local

Supporting Local Business & Local Charities

Kingston Upon Thames Issue No. 36

Autumn Edition THIS MONTH • Autumn with the Family • Halloween Activities and Planning • Check out this month’s competition!

www.omnilocal.co.uk â&#x20AC;˘ Edition 36

Authentic Sardinian cuisine. Come and enjoy a great pizza or authentic Sardinian pasta on our terrace on the banks of the Thames. We offer a fantastic selection of wines too.

SEAFOOD & CHAMPAGNE BAR

Our Seafood is brought fresh from a co-operative of day boats that work the Dorset coast. We have an excellent selection of wines and champagne to complement our food. La Luna di Luca and Bagley & Shakespeare are at Riversideedge, next to Kingston Bridge. Kingstonriversideedge

2 RIVERSIDEEDGEKT1

Kingstonriversideedge

OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • October 2015

Hello everyone, It looks like we’ve officially hit the Autumn mark now, and although I am sad to see the end of Summer, I’m so excited for what’s to come! It seems everyone is already getting in the fun, holiday-filled spirit; with plans for Christmas already in mind (not trying to scare you!), Halloween parties and firework displays on the horizon and plenty of friendly gatherings to watch this year’s Rugby World Cup matches. This World Cup has been endlessly entertaining and I can’t wait to see how it ends! I’m a big fan of the rugby and we’ve got a whole programme of Twickenhambased events listed on our website to give our followers the low-down on what’s to come. It s also that time of year when the nights grow darker and there’s a lot less daylight to work with; so remember to make the most of the daytime and stay safe and warm following those late nights at the office and fun nights out with friends! The Omni team have been incredibly busy since the start of September, and although we have put the brakes on our Laugh Kingston Comedy Festival for the time being, we have made plenty of exciting changes and additions to Omni Local magazine. Just take a look at this month’s editorials! We’ve also got a fantastic competition on page 40 to win a delicious roast dinner and a bottle of wine for 2 at the Queens Head! Don’t forget to enter this month by visiting our Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/ omnilocal. Good luck! You’ll also notice on page 40 we have our new Restaurant Review section. This is where we share our own experience of the fabulous restaurants featured in our monthly competition. This month features the brilliant Bagley & Shakespeare seafood restaurant, who generously supplied last month’s winner with oysters and champagne! I am going to finish off this month by saying a huge thank you to all our readers and supporters, we have some fabulous advertisers this month and plenty of valuable advice from some great local professionals, so please read on! Due to a few tech issues, we would also like to apologise for this month’s week-late delay in publishing. Thank you everyone for taking time to read Omni Local. Stay well this season, and have a Happy Halloween!! Kind regards John OmniLocal Ltd. Office 3 - C/O Big Yellow Storage Units 1-3 Wyvern Estate, Beverley Way, New Malden, Surrey KT3 4PH Tel: 0207 183 0404 Email: sales.omnilocal@gmail.com

www.omnilocal.co.uk

Contents: Local Business Focus Cake Walk Patisserie & Coffee House

Community Section 6-11 This Months Charity – KCIL Sharon Pratt - Acheiving for Children Love Kingston - Kingston Business Excellence Awards 2015 Kingston Police Advice Kingston Tour Guides Autumn and your Elders Gardening Section Auntie Planty’s Gardening Mailbag

Family Section Spending October with the Kids

Learning Section Advice from NumberWorks’n’Words

Cooking Corner Lamb Moussaka

This Months Special Feature Plans for October

22-23

Places to Go Rose Theatre Listings Local Events At the Cinema – The Intern Out Now on DVD – Mad Max: Fury Road

24-28

Health and Beauty Section Choosing Make-up Shades

DIY Section Jobs to do Around the Home

Local Trades Section Use One of our Excellent Local Trades

Motoring Section Driving Safety Advice

Business Section Words from David Wimblett - 7 Training Goddards Accountants

21/33

Finance Section Advice from Foster Denovo Property Section Advice from Greenwoods

Games & Puzzles Section Crossword Sudoku Word Search Monthly Competition

38-40

LOCAL JOBS

www.omnilocal.co.uk • Edition 36

STILL WAITING FOR BUSINESS TO COME TO YOU ? DO SOMETHING AND A D V E R T I S E IF YOU DON’T YOUR COMPETITORS WILL.

Call us now 020 7183 0404

OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • October 2015

LOCAL BUSINESS

This section is all about local business owners who support Omni Local, and we would like you to get to know these hard working, dedicated people. This month I am talking to Mr. Emre Arslanturk & Elif Arslanturk from Cake Walk Patisserie and Coffee House.

Supplied by: Leanna Carl and Emre Arslanturk

Q1: So, Emre, when did you start up Cake Walk? A1: We started Cakewalk on October 2014. Q2: Have you been in this type of business a long time? A2: Yes, our background is in Hospitality. We’ve worked international destinations: Istanbul, Turkey, Atlanta, USA and London, including Four Seasons Hotels Resorts, TAJ Hotels and Resorts, and some other Luxury brands over the past 20 years. Q3: What do you enjoy most about working in this type of industry? TripAdvisor, that’s great! Do you get a lot of orders for events, etc?

A3: Serving customers and making people happy. Creating that magic moment for them. Q4: That’s great! What made you decide to run this business in the Kingston area? A4: We love the Kingston and Richmond areas, they’re so natural, full of lovely people. We moved to this area and we were tired of city life. We made a big decision to start a new life here and we are very happy now. Q5: What sets Cake Walk aside from other bakeries and patisseries? A5: Cakewalk is special, because we have the best coffee in town and five star service, as well as homemade and organic products. We are friendly and warm, and most importantly we are special because we believe one golden rule; “to treat others as you wish to be treated”. Q6: You’re also recommended on 5

A6: Yes we are on TripAdvisor with a five star rating and we are Number 1 on TripAdvisor for the last 7 months. Thanks a million to all of our customers who choose us, we love them.... Q7: Wonderful! I’m definitely looking forward to visiting the boutique! Do you have any advice for those looking to get into a similar line of work? A7: We are looking forward to serving you at Cakewalk. Our advice would be that as this business is very hard work, and we work 7 days a week, you must love this job if you want to get involved, and delivering high standards is very important. Make sure to have a detailed business plan before starting any business. To find out more about Cake Walk, or to pay them a visit, please refer to their advert.

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LOVE KINGSTON

Great News from Love Kingston

Supplied by: Elaine Miller - Love Kingston

Its official! Love Kingston is a FINALIST in the Best Charity and Social Enterprise category for this year’s Kingston Business Excellence Awards 2015! The ceremony is to be held on Thursday 15th October at the Holiday Inn, Surbiton, and we are really looking forward to it (keeping our fingers crossed!). For three years, Love Kingston has been supporting five local projects, working on the theme of Pathways out of Poverty. As we move forward into Phase Two of the campaign, our focus will be to build the Kingston Legacy Fund. Most of London’s boroughs have local grantmaking trusts that can support local projects. RBK and Bromley are the only two London boroughs that don’t have any. We need to address this anomaly and grow the Kingston Legacy Fund so that it can support the ever changing needs and growing population of our borough.

integration across the borough.

For this reason, we will be simplifying the fundraising model from 1st November 2015. Instead of choosing groups up front to be part of the initiative, we will focus our efforts on the Kingston Legacy Fund whilst also reserving some of the donations for an annual grantmaking pot. The model will be as follows:

We would like thanks all those running for Love Kingston in the Kingston Run Challenge, and congratulate our 18 riders who took part in the Prudential RideLondon. If you would like to contribute to the Love Kingston campaign, or are interested in taking part in Prudential RideLondon 2016 or the Virgin London Marathon 2016, please get in touch!

• 20% of donations to annual grant making pot

If you’d like to donate to Love Kingston, get involved and do your part for the community, or would simply like to see what we’re all about, please visit www.love-kingston. org.uk and feel free to get in touch! You can also find Love Kingston at: facebook. com/LoveKingstonDay and twitter.com/ LVKingston.

• 70% of donations invested in the Kingston Legacy Fund – with Capital Growth and interest to grant making pot • 10% of donations to The London Community Foundation for Love Kingston catalyst fund Whilst the exact criteria, guidelines and timelines for future grantmaking will depend on the amount available for spend, our overall aim with grantmaking for the next three years will be to support projects that are tackling isolation and encouraging

OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • October 2015

COMMUNITY PERSON

Sharon Pratt: Vocational Development Co-ordinator/ Mentor at Kingston & Richmond Education Business Partnership Achieving for Children

Supplied by: Kingston & Richmond Business Partnership

Sharon Pratt has been working within the Kingston and Richmond Education Business Partnership, as part of Achieving for Children for 7 years now. By working closely with young individuals, Sharon helps to find Work Experience Placements and Apprenticeships to suit their specific needs. She has built a vast network of schools, charities and local businesses, both large and small to provide fantastic placements and deliver the best possible outcome for those looking to work towards a career.

on the job. This position has made her a strong supporter of young adults looking to work their way up.

Sharon and her team are currently working on a project called, ‘Pathways to Self Employment’. They hope to raise awareness of this route for young people (aged 15-24) and help them to see it as a viable option at some point during their careers, giving students the chance to speak to and learn from local entrepreneurs.

Sharon has also taught Travel and Tourism at College. Combining her love of teaching and her mentoring skills, she wanted to help young people to develop themselves, particularly those who are NEET (not in education, employment and training). Her ethos is that she will bend over backwards to help any young person, as long as they have a positive attitude and will turn up to their appointments.

As an initial launch, Sharon and her team are planning to run an afternoon event on Friday 20th November 2015 during Global Entrepreneurship Week, and Zac Goldsmith MP will be attending, along with entrepreneurs to inspire and pass on some of their knowledge. See: http://uk.gew. co/activity/pathways-self-employmentmake-it-happen. If there are any budding entrepreneurs out there, sign up on Eventbrite for some inspiration and taster workshops at:

Sharon enjoys seeing young people flourish, gain confidence and become dependable employees. She has even had contacts stay in touch, following their successes. To see what opportunities might be available for you or someone you know, visit the brand new website Future Hub: http://www.afcfuturehub.org.uk/ If you are part of a small or large business that would like to support and inspire young people in Richmond or Kingston in any way, please contact sharon.pratt@ achievingforchildren.org.uk to find out how you can help.

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pathways-toself-employment-make-it-happen-tickets18530878356?aff=es2. Sharon has also worked and studied in the field of Travel and Tourism, spending 18 years with popular airline, Thomas Cook. Making branch manager at the early age of 20, and being given the opportunity to travel the world, she has a wealth of life experience and in many instances during this role she has advocated for younger trainees learning

Achieving for Children (AfC) is a social enterprise company created in 2014 by Kingston and Richmond Council’s to provide their children’s services. Visit http://www. achievingforchildren.org.uk/ for more information.

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CARE IN THE COMMUNITY

Autumn and Your Elders The Autumn season tends to be the favourite of many - especially with more blatant temperature changes over the year. Now that Summer has gradually passed by, we’ve still got that window of opportunity before it gets too cold to go anywhere; but we also get a breather from all the recent heat and the occasional exhaustion that comes with it. Taking the more scenic routes home so we can wander through the crunchy autumn leaves and breathe in the cool air is a nice change from trudging around in the blazing heat all the time. This comes in handy for those more weather-sensitive, and especially the elderly.

THIS MONTH’S Supplied by: Leanna Carl - Omni Local CHARITY

Of course, mobility is a factor, and you can’t push everyone to keep up the pace when it comes to taking walks etc, but as long as they’ve got the willpower, you could even take them out in their wheelchair for a day at the park or the museum.

It really does a lot for the body to take a brisk walk every once in a while, and with cold weather sometimes causing the flareup of unfortunate ailments -for example: difficulties from arthritis, the common cold, or asthma attacks- some of us can find it difficult to get motivated and go outside more.

A sure fire way to bring everyone closer is to share stories, so why not ask them to dinner or for a cup of coffee and have a nice long chat somewhere? Story-telling and keeping each other in the loop in terms of current events is a treat for both the teller and the listener, and we all love sharing our good news and our troubles with someone close to us.

This season is perfect for those with a slight aversion to chilly weather, as it’s a little easier to handle, and doesn’t call for retrieving your winter gloves and hats just yet. Without overdoing it and forcing your relatives to up and go hiking every weekend, now is the time to get them on their feet and out into the world.

We all need to make time for what matters: family. Now is as good a time as any to host family get-togethers, find out what everyone’s been up to following the Summer holidays and going back to school, not to mention - planning for the upcoming Christmas season! Don’t leave it too late organise meetups while the weather’s mild, figure out those plans for the Winter, and enjoy the Autumn while its here.

Even if it’s just inviting your elders along on a shopping trip or letting them join in a bit of trick or treating fun for your younger children; your encouragement and giving the family fun reasons to spend time together will do wonders for everyone in the long run.

OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • October 2015

LOCAL CHARITY

THIS MONTH’S Supplied by: CHARITYJan Eastaff - KCIL

Empowering disabled people… For over 45 years, Kingston Centre for Independent Living, has provided a range of services to ensure that disabled people who live, work or study in the Royal Borough of Kingston are able to lead independent lives. Disability-related advice and information is also provided to other interested individuals, such as family and carers, or organisations. The organisation’s CEO, Lisa Ehlers, explains, “KCIL’s vision seeks to ensure that all disabled people across the Borough live as independently as they choose. Our mission is to provide information, advice and support to all disabled people living in Kingston and the surrounding areas and to empower them to have a voice, take control of their lives, and be treated equally.” KCIL does this by providing a range of services: Self Directed Support Services This means having real choice for the disabled person and being in control of their own care and support. KCIL offers free, tailor-made and accessible support to suit the specific needs of the service user, providing one-to-one sessions, home visits and regular outreach work throughout the Borough. Maureen Wing, Outreach Support Worker, comments, “Many service users are relieved when they know that they can find help throughout the entire process of their Personal Budget, and comforted in the knowledge that support is only a call or visit away.” This comprehensive service includes assisting with the recruitment of Personal Assistants and managing a budget. Training for SDS service-users and their PAs is also provided, along with regular user group meetings and a peer support network for people who use this service. Local resident, Jenny, comments, “KCIL has been very supportive to my brother and helped him to appoint a suitable Personal Assistant. As a consequence of all this, his quality of life is very good and will just get better.” (Photo of Julian with his PA) Support Brokerage By providing an independent brokerage service, KCIL can help disabled people and 9

their families/carers to broker a personal budget, direct payment or young person’s Education, Health and Care Plan. KCIL’s brokers support local disabled people with planning, budgeting advice and signposting to other services within the Borough. Independent Support This service offers information, advice and support for Kingston children, young people and their families going through the Education Health and Care Plan assessment, advising how the process works and supporting them through the various stages. One family commented, “We are very happy with the outcome; your help has made it so much easier.” If you are disabled, or care for someone who is disabled, and want to find out how KCIL can help, visit www.kcil.org.uk or phone 020 8546 9603. In order to develop new services which meet local needs, KCIL needs your support! Business Development Manager, Jan Eastaff, explains, “We are looking for individuals or local companies to get involved. Whether by fundraising or volunteering, the support you give will make a real difference to your local community.” If you are able to help, phone Jan on 020 8546 09603 for a chat about the opportunities that are available.

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Ever considered joining your local Neighbourhood Watch (NHW)? It’s free and there are no mandatory meetings – just the odd email or leaflet – whichever you prefer, you choose! Supported by the Metropolitan Police, NHW is a useful and effective crime prevention tool for our Borough. NHW aims to distribute relevant information to you on local crime and disorder issues together with crime prevention tips via email or leaflet – whichever suits you best. All we need from you is an email address, or another means of getting the information ‘to’ you. Interested? Email Kingston.NHW@Met.Police.uk with your name and postal address to sign up to the email service or contact your local Safer Neighbourhood Team if you are not on email: Beverley Canbury Coombe Hill Coombe Vale Grove Norbiton Old Malden St James Tudor

020 8721 2750 020 7161 8115 020 8721 2804 020 8721 2515 020 8721 2588 020 8721 2000 020 8721 2517 020 8721 2595 020 8721 2580

NHW is also on social media! You can follow us on Twitter @KingstonNHW and like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/KingstonNHW Interviews two and three in The Real Professionals series will be happening shortly. On Wednesday 14th October, Detective Chief Inspector Claire Moxon will be in the ‘hot seat’. Find out the process used by detectives when they investigate crime! On Wednesday 18th November Chief Inspector Gary Miles will be interviewed. CI Miles specialises in internet enabled fraud. Email

POLICE ADVICE Supplied by: Alison McWinnie - MET Police

Alison.McWhinnie@gmail.com if you would like to attend either or both of these events. Both will start at 6pm for 6.15pm at Maple Works, Maple Road in Surbiton. Sam Devereaux is putting the questions to these officers but you also have a chance to contribute one of your own, by emailing me with your question. Some background on the interviewer: Sam trained as an actor at the prestigious Arts Educational Schools and has worked extensively in theatre and film for more than 10 years. Sam began his second career as a Business Communications Coach soon after leaving drama school. For the last 8 years Sam has worked with numerous top brands across the business world helping staff to improve their face-toface communication. Both events are free to attend but registration is essential. Finally, have you seen the fantastic new initiative #KingstonCaptured? A series of photographs taken by Susie Fisher capturing the work of Kingston Police. You can view the pictures on Twitter @MPSKingston and on the Kingston Police Facebook page.

OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • October 2015

Autumn As we enter Autumn, described by Keats as the “season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”, I thought that I would move away from my usual articles of direct concern to Kingston, and share some facts about two events which have come to dominate our autumnal season: Hallowe’en and Firework Nights.

LOCAL HISTORY Supplied by: Mike Seigel - Kingston Tour Guides

In recent years, Hallowe’en has become very much more of a feature in UK life and in Kingston, as elsewhere, householders are regularly invited to participate in ‘trick or treat’ by variously clad youngsters. We associate this practice with the US, and traditionalists abhor the ever-increasing commercialisation of what was originally the Church festival of All Hallows’ Eve; the night before All Saints Day, still celebrated as a holiday in many European countries. In fact, this Church festival, like so many, may have its origins in pagan rites and some people associate it with the Celtic festival of Samhain. However, did you know that the American Hallowe’en in fact came from Scotland?

country, which continued throughout the 17th century, and today’s burning effigies are a memory of this – very politically incorrect!

Robbie Burns wrote a poem called Hallowe’en which was published in 1786, and more than 120 years later, American Hallowe’en cards showed Scots, tartans, thistles and even some of the Hallowe’en customs that Burns described in his poem. This has of course changed a lot over the past century, with more emphasis on witches and pumpkins and anything black and orange! With Halloween barely over, most British children like to celebrate Bonfire Night, traditionally on 5th November to commemorate Guy Fawkes’ failed attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Fawkes was a Roman Catholic, and after his failed attempt he was tortured, tried and executed. The plot revived anti-Catholic feelings in the

However, nobody today (I hope!) sees Firework parties, which are now often held at various times in early November as reminiscent of the burning of Catholics. Indeed, the Hindu festival of Diwali, which sees the triumph of light over darkness, is also an excuse for fireworks, and it is a splendid mark of the 21st century life of Kingston to have a cross-cultural excuse to enjoy these luminous displays. History from its Greek roots, means ‘finding out’ and most historians love discovering new facts. If you too are interested in history and would like to learn more about Kingston’s history, why not join one of our tours, led by specially trained volunteers? These meet in the market place outside the church gates at 11.00 am every Sunday in summer and then from October on every first Sunday of the month until March. The charge is £5 per adult, and we also happily cater for private groups at other times during the week, provided that we are given sufficient notice. For further information please ring 020 8399 0160.

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OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • October 2015

GARDENING SECTION

Auntie Planty’s Gardening Mailbag

Supplied by: Valerie Munro - Auntie Planty

Q1: I want to plant some new daffodil bulbs for the spring, but really do not want them looking like straight rows of soldiers on parade. How do I make them look more informal? A1: First of all choose the general area you wish to plant up, preferably a semi wild area at the back of the lawn or in a circle of uncut grass around a tree. Take a handful of bulbs and gently roll them out onto the ground, and plant them where they fall. Using this haphazard method, you will avoid a regular planting pattern. It will feel as if you are playing lawn bowls, and it is a great game to involve the kids in. Q2: Help! Last year I planted out a whole lot of brand new bulbs and was horrified to find that the local squirrels were digging them up almost as fast as I was planting them. How can I avoid the same thing happening this year? A2: You will never be able to stop the squirrels trying, but you can make it a little more difficult for them to succeed. Probably the best way to protect your bulbs is to plant them as usual, and then cover the planting area with plastic netting or chicken wire, pegging it down well on all sides. It may look a little unsightly, but you could cover the netted area with a bark or other mulch. Q3: My sedums have been really good this year, and I am wondering what I should do with them at the end of their flowering to ensure another good year next year? A3: Under normal circumstances, once perennial plants have finished flowering in autumn they should be cut right back to the base to remove all faded stems and leaves. However, sedums have flower heads that remain attractive even when brown, and you can leave these on the plant to provide winter decoration. Carefully remove them in the spring just as the plant begins to shoot. Q4: The soil in my garden is very light and sandy, which has meant that 13

summer watering has been extremely difficult (and time consuming). Is there anything that I can do to make life easier all round? A4: You can improve the texture and water holding capacity of your soil with a mulch of organic matter – and here you can recycle the contents of already used growing bags. Well-rotted stable manures, garden compost, leaf mould and spent mushroom compost will all work as well. No need to dig it in, just lay it as a covering over the soil around the plants and let the soil animals drag it in for you.

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FAMILY SECTION

Spending October with the Kids

Supplied by: Leanna Carl - Omni Local

With lots of exciting events coming up, and the October half-term on the way, now is a great time to find entertaining ways to keep the kids busy. Why not give them a hand with their Halloween costumes? No matter what age we reach, we all love a bit of fancy dress. Whether its for a Halloween party, to go trick or treating, or even just to spook and amuse the neighbours while you give out sugary treats; a little effort gets noticed and makes for some great family photos. If your little ones are looking for a little more than a bedsheet ghost costume or a simple witches hat, why not take the time to plan and show your creative side? If you’re handy with a sewing machine - all the better, though you can find plenty of great ready-made costumes at your local fancy dress shops, or you can purchase separate components and go for something unique. I personally enjoy spending the start of the month browsing online stores and trading sites like EBay and collecting accessories and articles to work towards inventive and personalised outfits. This way, you don’t have to shell out all at once on a good costume, there won’t be any costume-clashing, and when purchasing something that may take a while to arrive, there’s still a good few weeks until All Hallow’s Eve sets in. For the little ones looking for something to do this month, why not spend some time decorating homemade paper plate masks, and let them invent their own characters? Get some help with the decorating! No doubt, they’ll love gathering together

for some fun, homemade workshops during the half-term, especially on those rainy donothing days. Why not spend a day - or even a few hours - making paper lanterns, orange and black paper chains, spooky spider and bat cut outs or even decorating your own trick-or-treat bags for when they start candyhunting? All you need to do is get creative. You could even print and cut out templates and give them some art supplies (such as crayons, paints, pencils, stickers and glitter) to get decorating - then put them up and add some spookiness to your home! For the older kids, why not challenge them into putting together a nice big skeleton? See if they can organise and stick the bones together after you draw/print and cut them out! You can even attach the limbs and joints together with split pins (poke a hole through both pieces of paper/card and insert the pins, then fold out the ends of the pin at the back so the pieces attach but can still move from left to right) and give your skeleton some animation! Bend the joints as you like and stick/hang up your skeleton in funny positions - great for decorating before a Halloween party!

OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • October 2015

October – time to take stock So it’s that time of year. New class, new teacher, new timetable…phew! BUT, parents always need to think ahead. Year 6 children may be thinking about moving on, knowing where they want to go, some sitting entrance tests - which may or may not work out.

LEARNING SECTION Supplied by: Celia Osbourne NumberWorks’n’Words

But for all, it’s an exciting time - even if nerve wracking - going to open days and exploring schools. Remember, open evenings only give a taste and many schools put on really fun displays and entertainment to entice you. If you can, see the schools in action – how does it feel? Are the children well behaved? Do the lessons seem interesting? How do your ‘tour operators’ come across? You can often tell a lot about the school from whether their pupils seem interested and engaged, and are willing to answer your questions. There are also the questions about whether the children will be streamed in the first couple of years or whether all classes are mixed ability. This could affect your choice. But what about your year 5 child, even your year 4 – is it too soon to be thinking about next steps? Well that depends. I suggest parents of year 5 children should certainly be popping into open days if they can. Many parents and children want to try for selective schools. If you feel your child should do this, it’s well worth thinking about as early as year 4. These schools are very selective and to get in, your child needs to be bright and enjoy school work. There’s no point in children attending grammar schools if they are not able to keep up, or they feel they are at the bottom of the class. Your child should be towards the top of their class in all areas. Even then, most that do get accepted have had to put in a lot of homework.

NumberWorks’nWords comes in. If starting in year 4 or early in year 5, we can encourage children to develop their skills without heartache. We know the curriculum inside out and so know what achievements will be expected at what ages. We help children improve on what they are already good at, but also help them excel in areas they were unsure of. What’s more, children enjoy what we have to offer. BUT if ultimately your child doesn’t get a place at the selective school, it won’t have been for nothing. The work that they will have done at NumberWorks’nWords will have put them in good stead for secondary school. Whereas they might have been in the ‘mixed ability’ groups before, they might now get into the classes for the high achievers. These classes can push them on as fast as many of the grammar schools. Remember, education is never lost. It’s always worth while giving your child that little bit more!

Sometimes children are reluctant to go through workbooks at home and put the extra in for Mum and Dad – that’s where

www.omnilocal.co.uk • Edition 36

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OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • October 2015

Autumn Checklist for Your Home

HOME SECTION Supplied by: Leanna Carl - Omni Local

This time of year is perfect for a big springclean (even if we have moved into Autumn). There is less heat exhaustion holding us back, and no chills to coax us back into the warmth of our cozy beds. Time to get up and start sprucing! With Christmas on the way, plenty of visits from the relatives and a big change in temperatures coming, it’s a great time to get organised before all the fun and mayhem begins! Here are some ideas to add to your list: Find a bit of order Take a moment and decide whether your furniture is as you need it - best you decide before the real clean-up begins. Re-order as you see fit, move your bookcase to the other side of the room, change it up and see how it feels!

As well as a nice scrub down, a simple removal of clutter is something you should check on every so often. It’s hard to keep a bathroom in top-shape when we finish shampoo bottles or give up on disposable razors and forget to throw them away.

Remove unnecessary items from the kitchen

Clean the Windows

From the medicine cupboard to the pantry, you’ll probably realise you have out of date medicines and expired foods, filling cupboards that could allow for fresh stock and replacement medicines. You won’t want to track down pills and syrups when needed, only to find they are out of date.

It isn’t always worth worrying about the windows during the Winter, as they get frosted over and rained on every so often whereas now is ideal for a good wipe down. Straighten up outdoors

Don’t forget your airing cupboard Are there shelves that need repairing? Could you take a shelf out in order to fit more clean linens? If you have family coming over soon, you’ll need to keep it fully stocked! Go through your wardrobes/dressers By sorting through your clothes you’ll be able to determine what you need for your winter collection, and you’ll free up a lot of space. If you’ve got anything valuable hiding at the back of your closet, why not start selling things online and earn a little extra money for Christmas shopping? De-clutter your bathroom

The first thing party guests and distant relatives will see when visiting is your front porch area or balcony - why not make an effort to sweep, scrub, de-clutter and adorn to create a warming, welcoming atmosphere for everyone. Tend to the beds Flipping mattresses, replacing the old ones, bedding washes and repairs to creaky bed frames are important from time to time. Think of the last time you did these things it can become a very easy job to overlook. If you’re looking to reorganize and refurbish, why not look to professionals, such as Taylored Room Solutions (Please refer to their advert opposite)?

www.omnilocal.co.uk • Edition 36

The Cooking Corner About Leonie Wright This month we’d like to tell you about the lady behind our fabulous monthly recipes - Leonie Wright! Leonie has been a long-term friend and supporter of Omni Local since its early days, and always has the most delicious, no added sugar creations to suit the current season.

which can be purchased via her website.

Leonie runs EatWright (established in 2002 by healthy eating expert, Coby Bouwkamp) to help people become healthier, fitter and slimmer. She is a nutritional coach, speaker and author of CookWright, the no added sugar recipe book. It is her passion to inform, motivate and encourage people to look at food as a way to improve their health, fitness and waistline.

I’ve lost about 25 pounds/11 kilos, drink far more water, and exercise more often. I’m walking more too, which is not only beneficial for the body - getting out in nature is also great for the soul!

She offers an individually tailored, fully supported, 6 week healthy eating programme both off-and-on line, individual 90-minute health checks, an online course called ‘The fundamentals of healthy eating’; as well as EatWright lunch and dinner talks at her home in Leatherhead. The 6 week programme has been incredibly successful, and with Leonie’s commitment to help tackle the nation’s sugar intake and obesity (which is steadily on the increase) and promote health and happiness, more and more people are appreciating the benefits of a healthier lifestyle. To help inspire even more people to find healthy alternatives for meals, Leonie has also released her brilliant recipe book, CookWright, 18

Leonie has had plenty of positive feedback regarding her programme, including the following excellent testimonial: “I’ve just completed Leonie’s EatWright programme, and I’m feeling great! I say completed - of course, it’s a programme for life, and I’ve now developed much healthier habits towards nutrition, hydration and exercise.

So I highly recommend Leonie and her process - it’s well-structured and she “holds your hand” along the way with daily tips and recipes to keep you going, and she’s always there to support you if you ‘wobble’. Thank you so much Leonie :)” - Stuart Kerslake - Owner: Being in Business. More fabulous testimonials can be easily found on the website. Leonie understands that in order to be healthy, we have to think about our lifestyle. It isn’t all about crash diets or nibbling on kale - it comes with regular exercise, choosing foods wisely, and avoiding over-indulging. With the EatWright programme, Leonie can help you change your whole lifestyle, in order to really make a long term difference in your health and waistline.. For more information about EatWright, and to order Leonie’s recipe book, visit www.eatwright.co.uk

OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • October 2015

The Cooking Corner Moussaka Serves 6-8 Ingredients: • 2 large aubergines, sliced • 500g minced lamb • 3 onions, chopped • 3 garlic cloves, crushed • 680ml passata • 4 tbsp tomato puree • 2 tsp dried oregano • Olive oil • Himalayan salt and ground black pepper • ¼ of a bunch flat leaf parsley, chopped • For the cheese sauce: • 500ml organic skimmed milk • 1 whole nutmeg or 1 tsp ground nutmeg • 3 tbsp cornflour • 1 tsp of mustard • 80g mature light cheddar cheese Method: 1. Preheat oven to 180°C/350°/Gas mark 4. 2. Arrange aubergine slices into a colander, and sprinkle with salt. Leave to stand for 30 minutes. 3. Cook the lamb gently in a pan at medium heat, until the fat runs. Increase the heat and cook until browned, stirring regularly. Spoon off any excess fat. 4. Add the onions and garlic and cook until soft. 5. Add the passata, puree, oregano, and season to taste; then bring to the boil. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes. 6. Rinse the aubergine slices and pat dry with paper towels.

7. Place on a grill rack and brush with oil. Grill 10cm from the heat for 5-6 minutes, until golden on both sides. 8. In a saucepan, gently heat the milk with a good grating of nutmeg, and season. 9. Mix the cornflour with 50ml of milk and whisk together. Bring to the boil, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. 10. Stir in the cheese and mustard and check the seasoning. 11. Spoon half of the meat mixture into a shallow ovenproof dish and top with half the aubergine slices. Repeat with the remaining meat and aubergines, then pour over the cheese sauce. 12. Cook in the oven for 45 minutes or until golden. Nutritional value (100ml): Carbohydrates: 15 Protein portion: 1½ Vegetable portion: 2½ This article was supplied by Leonie Wright from Eat Wright.

www.omnilocal.co.uk • Edition 36

DIY SECTION

DIY Composting

Supplied by: Leanna Carl - Omni Local

With Christmas just a couple months away and a guaranteed drop in temperatures - now is the perfect time to make sure your garden has everything it needs to make it through the season. For most part, it’s about cleaning and organising, i.e. lawn maintenance, greenhouse sprucing, re-stocking supplies and removing fallen leaves from ponds. There are also a lot of things you can do yourself ahead of time to ensure your garden stays in top shape, in eco-friendly and cost-effective ways. Below is an example: Make your own leaf mould compost for next year Most leaves can be used in the process of making leaf mould, but there are certain types that take longer than others to compost. Sycamore, beech and chestnut trees tend to take a little longer than oak, hornbeam and alder leaves. Conifers will need a good few years of composting. However you decide to go about it, storing leaves in black sacks is a simple enough way to start the process.

create a leaf bin. Here’s what you’ll need: 3m x 1m (approx) of Galvanised Chicken Wire Netting Heavy Duty Gloves 20 Galvanised Staples Wire Cutters

A Mallet/Hammer

Four 1.2m x 40mm wooden stakes

Method:

1. Rake any fallen leaves into a pile, and repeat weekly.

1- Hammer the stakes into the ground in your desired (preferably shaded) spot, to form a square frame (about 60cm x 60cm). Try to leave about 90cm of the stakes above ground level.

2. Take a bin liner and pierce some small holes in the bottom and sides with scissors or a knife. 3. Fill the bags with piles of leaves until the bags are almost full. 4. Sprinkle water over the leaves, give the bag a shake and tie it up.

2- Put on your protective gloves and unroll the chicken wire. Attach the width of the wire sheet to one of the stakes using five staples, pulling it tight whilst you move onto the next stake. 3- Attach the wire to each stake the same way, until you’ve created four walls for the cage. Cut off any excess chicken wire using the clippers and fold any sharp edges in towards the cage. You can now start to fill the bin with all those old leaves and allow to compost for next year.

5. Store the bags in a safe place, out of the sunlight, and the following Autumn, they’ll have turned into a rich mulch that can be used around plant bases. If you start to run out of room or you’re looking for more long-term storage, you can

OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • October 2015

B2B SECTION

Self Assessment is Easy!! Or so say the Politicians. Yet in the latest Budget we find that as well as a Personal Allowance of £10,600 2015/16 there is also a Dividend and Interest Allowance of £5,000; and in 2016/17 there will be a Dividend allowance of £5,000 and an Interest allowance of £1,000 (only if your allowance does not exceed £15,600) as well as the Capital Gains Tax allowance of £11,000; and the Annual Investment allowance of 100% on any plant and equipment purchased by Sole Traders etc. up to the value of £250,000 in a year. If you let a bedroom to a lodger, your tax free allowance increases from £4,250 to £7,500 per annum. As you can see, with all of these changes in The Budget, it will be far from easy for individuals to complete. Major changes will occur with regard to Inheritance Tax that should bring personal residences worth under £1 million out of Inheritance Tax; this will affect the minority

Supplied by: Goddards Accountants Kingston Ltd

of Self-Assessment Clients who may have inherited from family or friends. As a result it is necessary that every adult should review his or her will; or if they do not have one, to create a will. If they die “intestate”, as well as taking the Inheritance tax, the government is also a potential beneficiary of the estate. Funding With the economy now coming out of recession, small business owners should remember that more businesses go bust coming out of recession than going into or during recession. As a result Goddards have linked up with Finance Houses in order to assist clients in raising funds for Invoice Discounting, Plant & Machinery acquisition and Stock Funding. In addition we can prepare Business Plans, Budgets and Cash Flows for third party investments into a business. Why not phone us on 020 8941 2187 to discuss your needs/requirements.

www.omnilocal.co.uk • Edition 36

SPECIAL FEATURE

Plans for October This month comes with plenty of fun, and time with friends and family. There is so much to look forward to and so much planning to do - however, we need to make time for the more enjoyable things and really take advantage of the great Autumn weather before it gets too cold! This could mean anything from spending a nice breezy day in the park with the family or starting to plan for the Winter. Here are some ideas on how to spend the month:

Supplied by: Leanna Carl - Omni Local

Spend some time appreciating the weather. You could even take your friends or family on a nature trail or photography walk. When things are getting a little frosty, you could even get some winter-shots and create your own personalised Christmas cards! Another good idea is to make the most of your garden (or a friend or relative’s garden). Just because it isn’t Summer anymore and the Sun doesn’t stick around as long, it doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate a bit of outdoor fun and fresh air. After all, a warm coat and some hats and scarves serve us well in November as we entertain ourselves with firework displays and bonfires. Why not throw a pre-Winter barbeque for the whole family, maybe get a warm fire going? With outdoor heaters, marquees, parasols

and some extremely high-tech options for outdoor grills, there’s no reason the weather should get in the way anyway! Of course, once the garden starts to really frost over, you may need to call it a day. Remember to get all your pre-Winter garden preparations sorted too, if you’re worried about your plant life and particularly cold conditions. This means feedings, prunings and protective measures - refer to our Gardening Section for tips from our horticultural expert, Valerie Munro! Try your hand at knitting! Once you get into the swing of knitting or cross-stitching, you’ll realise how much fun it can be creating your own garments and accessories. It’s a great way to keep your hands busy and be productive, even when you’re just watching television. With the chilly weather on the way, what better reason to get started on a nice homemade scarf, or (if you’re feeling daring and really know what you’re doing) a pair of gloves? This way you get the exact colour and feel you like too! I really enjoy knitting every once in a while, and though I haven’t to-date completed a

OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • October 2015

garment just yet (it’s not easy for beginners and busy bees!), I find it very therapeutic and relaxing. It’s a great idea for those looking to stay at home in the warm, but who still want to do more with their time. If you’re able to knit (or sew!) something lovely and personal before mid-December comes around, you could give someone a really thoughtful and practical gift! Be creative! As you’ll see in our Family Section, we think now is a great time to get the kids together and start up some creative activities - especially on those gloomier days and during the half-term. Why not design some homemade Halloween decorations, or Christmas tree ornaments if you’re really prepared! With plenty of time until the parties and the holidays kick in, you should take this opportunity to stock up on supplies next time you go shopping. If you plan on having a Halloween party this year (or your family generally has a bit of a sweet tooth!), you can delve into some baking fun too, especially if you’re throwing a party. Themed snacks are always a hit! Create delicious and haunted delicacies such as pumpkin-shaped cookies, marshmallow ghosts and toffee apples. You’ll find plenty of inspiration online or through friends and can schedule some fun days at home and get all the ingredients and tools to create the best Halloween ever.

Stock up on this Season’s best fruits and vegetables! If you haven’t gone to a pick-your-own farm before - schedule it in! It’s a great, allnatural experience for you and the kids, and gives you a chance to get the best quality produce for your family. There are plenty of PYO farms in and around Surrey, such as popular destinations Crockford Bridge Farm in Addlestone, Garsons Farm in Esher and Heathfield Farm in Croydon. If you’d rather keep it simple - you can always visit your local Farmer’s Market or Greengrocer and see what’s in. This year is a great time for (of course) pumpkins, corn and apples. Stock up to create delicious meals; maybe you could try a homemade pumpkin pie or pumpkin bread? Sometimes during BBQs at home, we like to foil-wrap corn on the cob and throw it on the grill, for a sweet, crunchy and healthy treat between all those burgers and hotdogs. You could also pick your own apples and create even more delicious and ideally-shaped toffee-apples as a treat this halloween or to munch on while you watch the fireworks. You can even add a little orange food colouring to the toffee mixture and decorate them with icing or fondant to look like pumpkins! Whatever you plan on doing this month - we hope you enjoy the Autumn season. Happy Halloween readers!

www.omnilocal.co.uk • Edition 36

THE WAR OF THE ROSES Wed 16 Sep to Sat 31 Oct Adapted from Shakespeare’s Henry VI Parts I, II, III and Richard III by John Barton in collaboration with Peter Hall. Epic, enthralling, extraordinary. This autumn the Rose stage will be transformed into a battleground for The Wars of the Roses, a gripping distillation of four of Shakespeare’s history plays, directed by Trevor Nunn, one of the world’s leading Shakespearean directors. Rufus Hound will be joining Joely Richardson, Robert Sheehan and Kåre Conradi in The Wars of the Roses. Tickets from £19, plus transaction fees. MUCH ADO ABOUT LOVE Wed 16 Sep - Sat 21 Nov The Rose Theatre is delighted to present this solo exhibition of John Link’s paintings, Much Ado About Love, in our front of house exhibition spaces. John Link is a former theatre director and self-taught painter who began painting full time in 2004. He produces work from his studio in Brighton where he relocated from Kingston and has a fast growing reputation both in the UK and abroad for his contemporary interpretations of Shakespeare’s characters.

HERE BE MONSTERS Fri 06 Nov - Sat 07 Nov Join the villainous Captain Cut-Throat and his fearsome crew as they set sail through monster-infested waters in search of a mysterious island crammed with jewels and gemstones. The Captain is certain that “monsters simply don’t exist,” but as they near the island and the mist closes in around them, his crew are not so sure. A thrilling new musical adventure, performed by five talented actor musicians who bring this exciting story to life. Run time: Approx 55 mins. suitable for 3 + Tickets £12.50 (£10.50 Pit Cushions), plus booking fees CAFÉ EVENTS RHYME TIME Mondays weekly, 11.15am Bring the little ones down for a free morning of rhyming, singing and laughter in the Café at the Rose, and that’s just the parents. JAZZ FIRST TUESDAYS Tuesdays weekly, 1.15pm– 2pm SWING DANCE Last Sunday of the month, 2pm – 5pm Lunchtime live jazz presented by Kingston University

OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • October 2015

In The Cinema

(Scan the QR Codes to see the trailers)

The Intern

Supplied by: Leanna Carl puts himself forward for the job in an attempt to get back in the game. Later we find Ben right within the eye of the storm, as he is taken on board by the young chief of the company, Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway, star of The Devil Wears Prada and Les Mirables). Her online clothing business has been sky-rocketing since she started up her workfrom-home job as a fashion entrepreneur.

This heartwarming and entertaining take on internships comes to us from the writer and director of “The Holiday”, “It’s Complicated” and “Something’s Gotta Give”. Seventy year old widower, Ben Whittaker (played by the immortal Robert De Niro, of Goodfellas, Taxi Driver and many more classics) realises that retirement isn’t what he hoped it would be. Life is getting a little uneventful and Ben just isn’t ready to take it easy quite yet. Upon discovering an advertisement seeking a senior intern for a startup company in Brooklyn, Ben

Being in charge of 250 employees and run off her feet - as well as balancing her family life with her husband and daughter - Jules isn’t feeling too confident about having an older guy thrown into the mix. She soon learns though, that he is invaluable - as an employee, and as a dear friend. Sometimes wisdom and compassion is a great addition to any buzzing business. Of course, the process isn’t without comedy and some awkward situations! This movie is guaranteed to bring some smiles, and maybe even a few tears.

Out on DVD

Mad Max: Fury Road and Legend) star Tom Hardy takes the reins as our new Mad Max. The modern execution of the formercop’s story is exciting within itself, and following new fights and epic struggles, this is definitely one to watch for action fans.

If you know about the classic, action-packed Mad Max, starring the legendary Mel Gibson, you’ll be familiar with his story. Max Rockatanasky is an ex-police officer residing in Australia. Civilisation is falling to the hands of war and a decrease in resources, and after Max loses his wife and child to a vicious biker gang - he turns to a life filled with revenge and drifting one place to the next. Following three successful movies, (Batman, Warrior 25

Max is captured by a tribe, who are known to many as the “War Boys”, lead by the immortan Joe (played by returning Mad Max star, Hugh Keays-Byrne). Max is captured in order to become blood donor for one of their War Boys who is ill. Meanwhile, Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron, star of Monster and Hancock) is running errands for Joe whilst plotting her escape with some of his captives. After Joe orders his men to hunt her down, Max finds his chance to escape with the good guys (or girls!) and teams up with Furiosa. Can they escape the clutches of the dangerous gang and make it out alive?

www.omnilocal.co.uk • Edition 36

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OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • October 2015

Choosing your Shades

HEALTH & BEAUTY Supplied by: Leanna Carl - Omni Local

When it comes to looking our best, a lot of us depend on the magic of make-up. This doesn’t mean covering everything up and never leaving home without a face on, as you need to let your skin breathe from time to time, but simply that some of us grow to treasure our collections as a regular essential. I personally see make-up as a way to change up your style, make an effort, and enhance your best assets in order to feel more confident. It’s nice to mix it up and try different colours for different occasions, or lighter looks and more evening-suited looks. However, there are certain hues that you may personally feel are a little over the top, or highly unsuited to certain features, such as colour clashes with blue eyes or dark hair. I feel that there’s no wrong shade for anyone, only the wrong occasions! Black mascara or black eyeliner can define any eye colour and make any colour combination pop, whereas using a clear mascara or a crazy colour like blue can actually make you look a little washed out sometimes, depending on the combinations. Lighter hues in eyeliner and mascara such as browner shades are ideal for more of a natural look, as they can give you a brighteyed look without overdoing it.

colours. Looking at the veins on your wrist, you can tell what the coverage is like. Firstly, if you can no longer see the veins and the colour is blending into the colour of your skin - you’ve found great coverage. Secondly, it’s worth remembering that warmer undertones will give a yellowish tint, meaning the veins on your wrist turn a slightly green colour, and cooler undertones give a pink tint, meaning veins look more purple. If your foundation has very natural undertones, you’ll find your veins stay the same shade of blue. For lipsticks and blushes, it’s been said that taking an ice cube to your lips and cheeks for a few seconds will show you the rosy shades you should be aiming for. So by creating a natural flush for a moment, you can find the nearest match in colour. Of course, this doesn’t always work when you’re out and shopping (unless you’ve got an icy drink in your hand) but remember to try and keep within 2 shades darker when it comes to lip colours and bronzers, as a general rule of thumb.

When deciding on the perfect shade of foundation, blush or lipstick, you should apply a small amount on the back of your wrist. Apply one shade lighter than your usual choice and one shade darker. Then use a brush or sponge to apply a small amount of each to your jawbone, and see how well it blends. Remember to make sure the lighting is accurate, as flourescents can distort

www.omnilocal.co.uk • Edition 36

EVENT LISTINGS

Local Events Try Energy Healing & Reiki (Every Thursday afternoon) Donations Welcome Energising the body, releasing tension and stimulating self-healing with experienced and qualified therapists. All welcome from 1:30pm - 3:30pm. Call 07814 914 163 or pop into the Healing Trust for more information. Location: 2nd Floor, United Reform Church, Eden Street, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 1HZ (opposite old post office) Argentine Tango Classes and Dancing (Every Wednesday until 16th December 2015) £5pp for dancing only, £10pp for evening class + dancing Experienced teachers Leonardo and Tracey share their techniques through fun, enjoyable classes to suit all levels. Call 07702 081 529 or visit www.tangofandango.co.uk/kingston.html for more information Location: Kingston Workmen’s Club & Institute, 25 Old London Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT2 6ND Friday Rhymetime (Every Friday until 16th December 2015) Free entry From 10.30am - 11.00am. A half hour session full of rhymes, songs and stories for newborns to three year olds. All welcome. Location: New Malden Library, Kingston Road, New Malden, Surrey KT3 3LY Get back to work Group (Every Thursday until 17th December 2015) Free entry From 10.30am - 12.00pm. In partnership with Jobcentre Plus and supervised by Jobcentre staff - job searching and application, CV (writing, access to basic skills training and more for job seekers, incorporating an IT drop-in session for PC queries. Call 020 8547 5006 for details Location: New Malden Library, Kingston Road, New Malden, Surrey KT3 3LY Outside the Box Comedy Club (Every Other Monday from 8th May 2015) 28

See website for prices Showcasing the best UK and International comedians, including some huge TV names. Previous acts have included Bill Bailey, Jimmy Carr and Robin Williams. Book tickets at: www. outsidetheboxcomedy.co.uk Location: The Fighting Cocks Pub, 56 Old London Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT2 6QA Live Music at Pizza Express (Every Wednesday) Free entry Bringing you a collection of vibrant, energetic music played by world class musicians, singing songs by world renowned artists from Stevie Wonder to Daft Punk; Pizza Express Kingston offers fun and great food. Call 020 7439 4962 or visit www. pizzaexpress.co.uk for more information. Location: Pizza Express, 41 High Street Kingston, Surrey KT1 1LQ The Jungle Body KONGA Class (Every Thursday) (£2.50 for beginners, £5 onwards) From 5:45pm each Thursday, you can join Calasara Fitness in exciting full body workouts that include Tyga, Konga, Jagua and Vypa. (Remember to bring drinking water and an exercise mat/towel). Call 07950 747 983 or visit www. calasarafitness.co.uk for more information. Location: Kingfisher Leisure Centre, Fairfield Road, Kingston, Surrey KT1 2PY A Gift of Happiness (From Thursday 1st October 2015) (Nominal £10 administration fee only) To celebrate their 20th anniversary, Registered Educational Charity Practical Philosophy invite you to join a 10 week course to help you enjoy life, live in the NOW, and turn your problems into opportunities. Please enrol in advance by calling 07779 036 111 or at www. practicalphilosophykingston.org Locations: The Cambrian Community Centre, 1 Grove Road, Richmond TW10 6SN John Lewis Community Room, Wood Street, Kingston, Surrey KT1 1TY

OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • October 2015

Staying Safe on the Roads Everyone agrees that being able to drive is a great feeling. The freedom of owning your own car, the opportunity and the convenience are all huge factors when deciding to purchase that first set of wheels. However, we’ve also got to remember that cars come with responsibility. Car accidents are incredibly common. There are so many reckless drivers out there, so many safety checks that get overlooked, and the occasional spell of bad weather conditions that make the road a dangerous place. In order to ensure you’re in the safest possible position when driving, here are a few suggestions:

MOTORING SECTION Supplied by: Leanna Carl-Omni Local about. Many of us assume we are safe to blast out our favourite songs to our heart’s content. We don’t think about how we may not be able to hear nearby drivers, cyclists, sirens and pedestrians when we need to; nor do we account for the fact that getting too into a song (singing and dancing) can steal focus sometimes. When going for a drive, try to keep the noise down. Don’t opt for anything that induces aggression or that has you belting out to your own reflection in the rearview mirror and fidgeting with the buttons and dials. Try opting for some easy-listening if possible. Remember you have a responsibility to your passengers, to your car and to your own well-being.

Know when to listen to the signs Reading instructions isn’t something a lot of people want to do, but it can be incredibly important. When someone ignores a blatant signal, you assume they’ll be to blame if anything bad happens, but if the signs weren’t around, the careful drivers would probably be targeted for being overly cautious and causing problems due to a lack of clear instruction.

For more vehicular advice or damage repairs, contact great professionals like AutoRefinish.

It’s hard to stay concentrated when focusing on all of those symbols and words along the motorways and junctions, and some say it may even impair your driving - but that doesn’t mean you should ignore the warnings and guidances. Keep your eyes peeled. Ensure your mirrors are angled correctly Many see to it before they drive, but don’t do it correctly. It’s guaranteed that like anyone else, you will have your blind spot when it comes to your wing mirrors; but you can improve what can be seen by ensuring that the reflection of your car is not visible in the wing mirror. It only takes a moment before you drive, and could drastically increase your awareness of nearby vehicles. Extend the mirrors outwards until the body of your car is no longer in sight from your driving view. Manage your music -A more unusual tip, but something to think 29

www.omnilocal.co.uk • Edition 36

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OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames â&#x20AC;˘ October 2015

Here at Omni local, we want to demonstrate to you how many fantastic businesses are right on your doorstep. We are always appreciative for the support we get from the local businesses and residents in and around Kingston, and we aim to provide plenty of support to the local community by giving these businesses more recognition. Every month, our magazine gets published as a result of some great contributions from advertisers, as well as our loyal readers. We believe in offering quality service for everyone, and spreading the word of great service throughout our publications. This helps our readers discover what great professional local traders are out there. We aim to help you find exactly what you need, from electricians to beauticians, and from local eateries to schools within the area. Remember to think local! There is no need to

LOCAL TRADES look any further from the great businesses around the corner. We are passionate about supporting local businesses within Omni Local, however, in order to keep doing so and to let our readers know what services are out there, we still need your help! Some businesses may not have discovered Omni Local or other local publications, and we aim to show them more ways to promote their services - this is where you can help! If you know of any LOCAL trades businesses that have yet to feature in Omni Local, and you feel they deserve a mention in our magazine, please do not hesitate to send us their company details and we will do our best to provide support and assist them in promoting their business. Contact John on 07898 870 870 or email sales.omnilocal@gmail.com

www.omnilocal.co.uk â&#x20AC;˘ Edition 36

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OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • October 2015

Is this you? As business owners, something we should be doing every day is looking for new business. Because if your business isn’t growing, then your business is dying; there is no such thing as standing still. I met with a new client recently and we were reviewing his marketing and sales strategy. One of my questions was what, out of everything he did, worked the best? He told me that he had a leaflet delivered which had given him great results. In fact, it was one of the best things he had ever done. I asked him when the leaflets had gone out. His answer was two and a half years ago. His answer to my next question didn’t surprise me, as it’s common mistake made by many business owners. He’d never sent the leaflet out again but tried something else instead. Many years ago I worked with a company, who sent out thousands of leaflets each month, and got queues of people wanting their product. They did this for over three years with the same amazing results. Then one day, out of the blue, they decided to have a change. The leaflets stopped being delivered and the queues disappeared.

BUSINESS SECTION Supplied by: David Wimblett of 7 Training

Calculate your ROI (Return on Investment). Anything that isn’t working, stop; save the money. For many business owners their marketing budget is either what they can afford to lose or what money is left over after everything else has been paid for. Neither is a brilliant idea, and certainly not the way to run a successful business. There’s no magic formula for writing and designing the perfect advert but there are ways to ensure your advertising will give you the best chance of securing the business you are looking for. However, as I said earlier, there are ways of finding out if your advertising is working and if it’s not to stop wasting money.

So, what’s my point? First, if you find something that works, do it again, and secondly, if it works keep doing it until it stops working. It never ceases to surprise me how much money is wasted on marketing that doesn’t work and is not spent on marketing that does work. There is absolutely no excuse for this in today’s marketplace. My suggestion to you is to review all of your marketing and advertising right now and find out what is working and what is not.

There is a vast amount that goes into making a good advert, too much to cover here, but here are a couple of essentials. First is an attention-grabbing headline and second is a strong call to action. If you need help with your current marketing, I can be contacted by phone or email: david@7training.co.uk Tel: 01483 575078 www.7training.co.uk

www.omnilocal.co.uk â&#x20AC;˘ Edition 36

OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames â&#x20AC;˘ October 2015

The Domino Effect of Losing One Key Person

FINANCE SECTION Supplied by: Mukesh Savani - Foster Denovo

Recent independent research commissioned by Legal & General (L&G) has highlighted risks that Small to Medium sized businesses (SMEs) are exposed to. The report highlights the clear lack of awareness among business owners on the need for protection and how it can reduce or eliminate the risks a business could face following the death or diagnosis of a critical illness of a key person, business owner or partner. L&G found that 63% of sole traders and 46% of new businesses said that they would cease trading immediately if they lost a key person. Fundamentally, it comes down to a lack of knowledge, not only of the risks involved but of the solutions available. The research also showed that 82% of businesses have accountants compared with 49% who have a financial adviser. There are 4.8million private-sector businesses in the UK and 98% of them have less than 10 employees. Other facts revealed in the research showed that 60% of business owners either do not have a personal will, business will or even mention their business shares in their will. This is amazing, since this could be their biggest asset apart from their home and it is certainly their lifeline. In the worst case situation, this could leave the ownership of the business wrapped up in the probate process for months, which is not good for the family or other shareholders and could prove terminal for the business.

they had received no advice on protecting their debts. Only 28% of business owners had heard of Relevant Life Plans, where a business can get tax relief on life cover. In my conversations, Company directors love the fact that they can get life cover paid for by the company and tax efficiently. They love that it is not a P11D benefit, and that it does not impinge upon their lifetime allowance for pension purposes. Few people are aware of the use of business trusts to mitigate Inheritance Tax and protect businesses. Business owners are very good at planning for IT failures or a security breach, yet often overlook protecting key people and owners through a simple lack of awareness or education.

57% of businesses admitted to having some form of borrowing and the make-up of this indicates that the banks are beginning to lend more freely, particularly for property. However, 55% of business owners said that

So, whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the next step? A good start is to have an initial meeting with a Financial Planner specialising in this area. I can provide an initial Discovery meeting, free of cost to you. After which, it would be clear if there are issues to be addressed and we can work together on creating a strategy and timescale of actions to address these issues. Protecting your business and family can be more straight-forward than you think.

About Foster Denovo

2800 or email mukesh.savani@fosterdenovo.com.

At Foster Denovo, our specialist financial advisers, like Mukesh Savani, can discuss your options with you. Our financial advisers can provide advice over the telephone or face-to-face. There is a cost for this service but your first discovery meeting, or call with an adviser, is at our expense. Your adviser will always agree costs with you before carrying out any work. If you would like to learn more about your options, please call Mukesh Savani on 0207 469

The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate taxation and trust advice. Foster Denovo Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered office: Foster Denovo Limited, Ruxley House, 2 Hamm Moor Lane, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 2SA. Telephone: 01932 870 720 Email: info@fosterdenovo.com Website: www.fosterdenovo.com

www.omnilocal.co.uk • Edition 36

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OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • October 2015

Tips on Buying a Property

PROPERTY SECTION Supplied by: Leanna Carl

Buying a house is one of the biggest decisions we are likely to make in our lives, so it is something you’ll definitely want to get right. Spending a short afternoon racing through the full tour of a place is not the way to go. Always make sure you think it through, as you and your family are likely to stay there for many years to come. You may already have an image in mind of your perfect house, and perhaps the one you just looked at slightly fits the bill, however, research is essential, and you can’t go from looks alone. Here are some examples of more in depth issues you may encounter, which you should try to keep an eye out for: Damp areas Plaster tends to flake away in damper regions of the house, and walls and ceilings can develop watermarks, as well as a slight smell of mould. Even if signs aren’t as obvious as that, always check around skirting boards and ceilings. Few or faulty power points Does the building have plenty of power points to use, and are they in fair condition? Rarely checked and dangerous wiring can definitely cause problems after you move in.

need to make sure your new home provides you with plenty of space for all of your belongings. Consider things like vacuums, kitchen appliances, and spare towels etc. Window damages If the paintwork on the window frames are chipped or the double glazing needs repairing/replacing, this can indicate to you how well maintained the building is. You’ll know whether double glazing is faulty because it will have a layer of condensation between the glass. You should also look out for rotting wooden frames. Re-evaluate your first impression

Minimal storage space

There are ways we can improve on the first viewing of a house, such as making rooms look bigger through the use of mirrors and creating pleasant aromas for when guests come in. Therefore, although it isn’t always “staged”, you should always be aware of the general look and feel of the house, and should make sure that it really meets your needs.

Some of us tend to hold onto a lot of our possessions when we move, and some of us just take the necessities. Either way, you’ll

For more tips on buying, selling or renting contact professionals like Greenwoods Sales & Lettings (See advert on back page).

Poor structure If you pick up on any cracks in the walls, especially around adjoining areas and wall edges, it may be worth getting a surveyor, in order to get a professional second opinion as to how sound the structuring of the building is.

CROSSWORD

www.omnilocal.co.uk â&#x20AC;˘ Edition 36

ACROSS

DOWN

1 9 10 11 12 15 16 17 18 19 21 22 24 27 28 29

2 One departing bar is heard (6) 3 Northerner puts son on bed (4) 4 Around lake thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s poor protection (7) 5 Above taking part in wildcat operations (4) 6 Ageing tree starts to look yellowish (7) 7 One justifying V-sign (10) 8 ould be holy popish thinking (10) 12 At sea patrol boat loses a little time in Welsh seaside town (4,6) 13 Responds excessively when engineer gets stuck into ham (10) 14 Sailor takes exercise to become thinner (5) 15 Reversed roles for band (5) 19 Homeless person in Virginia given allowance (7) 20 Is familiar we hear with happy bunch... (7) 23 ...a toff, too (2,4) 25 Predatory creature rising with tide (4) 26 A danger to swimmers in Oregon and California(4)

Narrow escape from encounter with sharp razor? (5,5) On reflection Val is hard but generous (6) Gran gets ring back in very short time (10) Person revered by one pretty girl mostly (4) One who foretells financial advantage for the auditor (7) Cuts around university floodgates (7) Irritable character in Grahameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story (5) Rocks and Ecstasy impounded by judge (4) Prevent vessels returning (4) One following strict diet, say, in the lead (5) Territorial dispute causing conflct at the racecourse? (4,3) Left with beam after show (7) Metal item used to control pet (4) Symbolic tales spreading lies galore (10) Striking single, move faster than opponent (6) Forced away gentle bird (5,5) 38

OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • October 2015

WORD SEARCH COMEDY MOVIES Find the words hidden in the grid of letters.

U K J X T H E R U T L E S V

K C U R T S N O O M B N C T

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R Z D H I T C H A R L P L A

O H O T W E Y T T A S U S N

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L R Q D B A G A D S P A A M

I V E I H I S Q B L I T D A

G E G N N U E R D C R B A L

Y Y A D I M O L L R T A H H

P M I T F T A E A V S L C O

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Solutions on our website - www.omnilocal.co.uk

www.omnilocal.co.uk • Edition 36

RESTAURANT REVIEW

Bagley & Shakespeare Recently I had the opportunity to go to Bagley and Shakespeare’s new seafood and champagne restaurant. They have a selection of pop-up bars in London, but have set up a permanent restaurant by the riverside in Kingston. The restaurant has 2 areas, to sit comfortably at the bar for live music and canapes, or to have a relaxed sit-down dinner to converse and still enjoy the music. The canapes were delicious - crab, oysters and scallops so well presented I didn’t know where to start! The Shellfish Bisque starter and poached oysters were extremely wellcooked, and the cod loin and vegetables that followed were so satisfying! There is also an option of pork loin for those who aren’t that into fish! As it was midweek, the restaurant offered a pre-theatre menu to allow you to eat quickly before a show, but the weekend and Thursdays offer more choices.

with champagne and delicious seafood nibbles. I personally cannot wait to go back! Thank you very much to Rupert Shakespeare for looking after us so well, we really enjoyed our evening. www.bagleyandshakespearedining.com CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNER OF OUR LAST COMPETITION! Thank you Colin Gill for entering our competition to win £30 to spend at the fabulous Holiday Inn Riverside Restaurant, we hope you enjoy it!

I would certainly recommend anybody go there for a meal or to start off your evening

OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • October 2015

JobSpot Calling all temps full and part time- all levels required for immediate bookings in the local area. Competitive rates Email: beverley.pope@absolutelyrecruitment.co.uk Or call: 020 8546 8686

Accounts Assistant required for local service company. £23-25,000 per annum Email: daniella.asante@absolutelyrecruitment.co.uk Or call: 020 8546 8686

Due to a new contract, we are recruiting for various management and sales positions for a local company. Competitive salaries. Email: daniella.asante@absolutelyrecruitment.co.uk Or call: 020 8546 8686

Enthusiastic Business Development Representatives required for global companies. IT sector knowledge required. £30,000 per annum, basic with excellent OTE Email: daniella.asante@absoluteyrecruitment.co.uk Or call: 020 8546 8686

Calling bright graduates - globally recognised companies, recruiting for entry level administration/customer service. Competitive salaries. Email: georgina.carter@absolutelyrecruitment.co.uk Or call: 020 8546 8686

Calling all PR/Account Management professionals for local company! All levels required. Competitive salaries Email: daniella.asante@absolutelyrecruitment.co.uk Or call: 020 8546 8686

Senior Product Manager required for local electronics company. Degree educated or equivalent. £45-50,000 per annum Email: georgina.carter@absolutelyrecruitment.co.uk Or call: 020 8546 8686

Send us your job listing for free. Just call us: 0207 183 0404

www.omnilocal.co.uk â&#x20AC;˘ Edition 36

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OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • October 2015

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