Omni Local Kingston July-August 2015 by Omni Local

Supporting Local Business & Local Charities

Kingston Upon Thames Issue No. 34

Summer Events Special THIS MONTH • See what’s happening in Kingston this Summer! • Check out this Month’s Competition! peti Page 40

mer Sum out l Pul ide Gu

www.omnilocal.co.uk • Edition 34

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OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • July 2015

Hello everyone, I hope you’re all having a wonderful Summer! As you read this, I will be in Sunny Spain and I hope you’ll all be taking a well deserved break too! Of course, those who know me will know that I never leave my work at the office!! I have so many great plans for Omni Local this year and we are already working towards our Autumn/Back to School issue, which will be running in September. I want to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported Omni Local, from our brilliant advertisers to our regular readers - THANK YOU! If you haven’t taken a look already, we now have a Local Business Directory tab on our website, which allows local businesses and organisations to spread their services even further. Our site is currently still under construction in some areas, but you can still have a browse in order to get a sense of what our mission is. We especially love to hear from local businesses, as they do so much for the community, so please get in touch if you are interested in being featured! I’m sure you will all agree - there are so many great things happening in Kingston at the moment! From the eagerly anticipated IYAF Festival to the exciting Boating Challenges and this year’s Food Festival, there is no better place to be than in Kingston right now! You will find all the information you need in our special centre pull-out Summer Events Guide on pages 2326. If you’re in town, try to catch as many of these events as possible! Make sure you check out our latest advertisers, too - including: Homecare Experts on page 12, LISC on page 18, All Your Odd Jobs and Able Appliance Repairs on page 34, and Angel Home Improvements on page 35. Please get in touch or pass their details onto a friend or family member, as we have discovered some great local businesses! We also have a great competition on page 40 for a delicious meal at the Holiday Inn restaurant - make sure you check it out! Best wishes to you all, John *LAST MONTH’S COMPETITION WINNER* Congratulations to Amanda Hepple for winning the family weekend away at the Worcester Park River Club! Thank you for taking part. To see how you could win with Omni, please check page 40 for details, or why not like us on Facebook? 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 Taylored Room Solutions

Community Section 6-11 This Months Charity – Shooting Star Chase Community Person: Dan Wheeler - Joel Night Shelter Love Kingston - Kingston Question Time raises money for LK! Police Advice- Tips for Visitors Kingston Tour Guides Cooking Corner Mackerel Salad

Care in the Community Spending Time Outdoors with your Elders

Gardening Section Auntie Planty’s Gardening Mailbag

Family Section Family Fun in the Park

Learning Section NumberWorks’n’Words

Kids Section The Peer Massage Project

This Months Special Feature Summer Events Special Pull-out Guide

23-26

Places to Go 22-27 Kingston Riverside Rose Theatre Listings At the Cinema – Terminator: Genisys Out Now on DVD – The 2nd Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Health and Beauty Section Staying Sun-Protected Relaxation - NLPNOW

28-29

Financial Advice Pensions Freedom and Choice

DIY Section Home Projects and DIY Jobs

Local Trades Section Use One of our Excellent Local Trades

34-35

Motoring Section Car Cleaning Advice

Business Section Words from David Wimblett - 7 Training Goddards Accountants Kingston

38-39

Property Section Advice from Alex Clark Lettings

Games & Puzzles Section Crossword Sudoku Word Search Monthly Competition

42-44

LOCAL JOBS

www.omnilocal.co.uk • Edition 34

Kitchens Bedrooms Home Offices Living Rooms

Give your room the WOW factor ! Why choose us? x x x x x

Unique design for your room No ‘Hard Sell’ Honest pricing 6 year guarantee as standard A family run business

Save Money and Hassle Replace your doors, drawer fronts, trims and worktops Call us now for your FREE design consultation:

020 8942 7556 www.tayloredroomsolutions.co.uk 4

OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • July 2015

LOCAL BUSINESS

This section is about local business owners who support Omni Local. This month, I am talking to Stephen at Taylored Room Solutions.

Supplied by: Leanna Carl and Stephen Taylor

Q1: So, Stephen, how long has TRS been in business now? A1: Since April 2014, when we registered the company. Q2: Have you been in this line of work for a while? A2: Originally, my background has been in Customer Service and Office Management. My business partner (and sister) Julia, has enjoyed working in home design for 14 years. She deals with the technical aspects, and is the design consultant and project manager. Q3: What interested you most about this type of career?

step of the way. Our 6 year guarantee is also something that sets us apart from other companies.

A3: We’ve always wanted to run our own business, and home refurbishment is exciting. It’s great to know that you are making a positive impact on people’s homes.

Q6: What is your favourite area of the job? A6: I enjoy dealing with social media and the website. We have a Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest accounts. (Our Twitter is @TayloredRoom, the others can be found by searching our company name). Julia enjoys interacting with customers whilst helping design their room, and being out and about on the road.

Q4: What types of services do you provide? A4: We provide room refurbishments, including kitchens, bedrooms, home offices and living rooms. We replace doors, drawer fronts, trims and worktops, making the room look completely brand new, and without burdening customers by ripping everything out and starting again. If, however, our customers require new units, we can do that too. Our aim is to create a brand new look to the room, with minimal upheaval for our customers.

We both really enjoy seeing a room go from the design stage to completion and having a satisfied customer at the end. All our customers have rated us very highly. Q7: Great! Do you have any advice for those looking to give their room the wow factor?

Q5: What sets TRS aside from other home improvement specialists?

A7: Think themes: Modern, traditional, minimalist or classic? What styles suit the décor? If you are unsure about what you want, this can be discussed during the design consultation. It really helps to see samples in the light of the room and in person, rather than just looking at a picture.

A5: As a small family-run business, Julia and I are involved in every stage of all our projects. We never do a ‘hard sell,’ or give an instant quote, as we believe that customers should be able to think things through and make an informed decision. We put the customer at the heart of what we do and will make sure that they are fully informed every

To contact Taylored Room Solutions, please refer to their advert opposite. 5

www.omnilocal.co.uk • Edition 34

LOVE KINGSTON

First ‘Kingston Question Time’ Raises Over £400 for Love Kingston

Supplied by: Elaine Miller-Love Kingston

Fund Director of Love Kingston, Elaine Miller, has recently been presented with a cheque for £400.05 towards the Love Kingston campaign! Local young person, James Giles, who edits the local community newspaper, Coombe Monthly, was able to congratulate and award the charity, following the recent “Kingston Question Time” event. This event was held at Coombe Boys’ School on 14th April, which saw Edward Davey, James Berry and Kingston’s Parliamentary Candidates go head-to-head for a pre-election grilling, in the largest hustings within the Royal Borough of Kingston. The popular magazine, Coombe Monthly was originally founded in 2012, with the aim of bringing ‘Local News to Local People’, and has rapidly grown over the past three years to become Kingston’s Community Newspaper. When speaking about Coombe Monthly, Editor James Giles said:

community spirit. And remember, all money raised stays local”. Love Kingston is a very worthy cause and has found many creative, exciting and original ways to help raise money for the local communities, from Chessington to Kingston, New Malden to Norbiton, through Surbiton to Tolworth; but we still need plenty of help and support! Thousands of local residents are being left on the margins of our prosperous borough. With the help of local residents and establishments, we can create a fair and good society for everyone. Love Kingston shares all donations equally between five local projects committed to “Pathways out of Poverty” and building a Legacy Fund for the future.

“There’s a difference between simply writing an article about a piece of news and actually getting to the heart of a story. At Coombe Monthly, we focus all we do around our local community and local charities; events which we organise, such as Kingston Question Time, are a fantastic way for us and the local community to support local charity Love Kingston, a very worthy charity within our Royal Borough.” Love Kingston’s Fund Director, Elaine Miller stated: “We are providing a simple way for everyone who lives and works in the Royal Borough to support our amazing local charity and community groups, as well as building sustainable giving in perpetuity through the Kingston Legacy Fund. James is a remarkable young lad, and I applaud everyone who gets involved. They’re all showing exceptional 6

For more information about the Love Kingston campaign, or to find out how you can donate or get involved in fundraising, please visit www.love-kingston.org.uk. To find out more about the success of the recent Kingston Question Time, visit www.coombemonthly.co.uk or follow @ KingstonQT on Twitter.

OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • July 2015

COMMUNITY PERSON

Dan Wheeler

Supplied by: Becky Mills - Joel Night Shelter

Joel Night Shelter offers so much more than respite from homelessness! We have a holistic way to working with all those who find their way to us. Our strap line is “Food, Friendship, Shelter”. We work very closely with Kingston Churches Action on Homelessness, who refer guests to us. We also work in partnership and alongside groups and individuals from many faiths. We offer plenty of opportunities for exploration of faith with St Peter’s Church, who run Alpha courses and other activities. Some guests have come to see this as their ‘home church’. We achieve this with the help of a team of amazing volunteers from local churches, businesses and other like-minded people. We couldn’t survive without them! We believe that talking is vital. We hold weekly community meetings where staff and guests are able to air differences and resolve any conflicts. Every four to six weeks, we hold a session where guests can reflect on their social interactions and communication skills.

hold a Five Star Hygiene rating. This is achieved in partnership with our guests. Each guest helps with the cleaning daily on a rota basis, and most are keen to do more than is asked of them. In the first year of operation, the Shelter helped 56 guests find longer-term accommodation. We have literally served thousands of healthy, balanced meals, whilst reducing salt, sugar and unhealthy fats.

There are many opportunities for guests to get involved in daytime activities, including: football, art sessions, gardening, gym, cooking, training and volunteering. Some of our guests now hold a City and Guilds Level 2 in Health and Hygiene. Others have left Joel Night Shelter and returned as volunteers; whereas some are now qualified to deliver our Cook and Eat Programme, and have attended training in Mental Health First Aid, or have taken up the position of “Shift Leader,” overseeing the volunteers. All volunteers are well-trained and agree to work to a set of rules or protocols. This ensures that we always work in a way that treats guests with equality, dignity and respect.

We have seen so many people leave the Shelter with renewed energy, housing, hope, purpose, a sense of belonging to the community, and telling amazing stories of how their lives have changed. Don’t believe me? This has been evidenced by our guest book, questionnaires, YouTube videos, letters sent to us, and the fact that we have trained Shift Leaders who were former guests. Please contact me if you feel inspired to volunteer or offer financial support! Daniel Wheeler Joel Community Trust Night Shelter St Peter’s Church London Road KT2 6QL

We understand the importance of cleanliness and hygiene at the Shelter and we

Email: danwheeler@joelcommunitytrust.org.uk 7

www.omnilocal.co.uk • Edition 34

CARE IN THE COMMUNITY

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

Spending Time Outdoors with Your Elders The sun is making a lot more appearances these days, and there are many benefits to getting outside a little more. For example, soaking up a little sun can help give you a well-needed dose of Vitamin-D, which is particularly beneficial for those with a general deficiency, or weak bones. As we get older and our bodies start to slow down, we can really benefit from vitamins and minerals to help strengthen and support us over time. The additional exercise that comes with a day at the park or going for a walk can not only contribute to more family time, but it can also help to keep you in shape. Spending too long sitting indoors and cutting out light exercise can eventually lead to all sorts of health problems.

in a healthy lifestyle and plenty of fun, but it also allows your elders to socialize more with other adults, children, their caregivers, or even with animals. You’ll find yourself a lot happier too. If you’re still stuck for ideas, here are a few more suggestions:

If your parents or grandparents haven’t had a fun day out with the family in a while, don’t overdo it all in one go, plan ahead, keep it local, and remember to take it easy. Try to pick an environment that’s pleasant and calming, as opposed to hectic and full of busy-bodies and see that you all drink plenty of fluids/stay nourished with a good breakfast and lunch - especially if the weather is particularly hot. On the other hand, if your relatives are feeling up to something a little more exciting, as a way to create some memories together, why not sit together and discuss somewhere new to go? Maybe there are sights they’ve been wanting to see, or free events in the area? You could even spend a whole day at the beach together. Spend some time planning ahead and really make an event of it. Spending more time outside will not only aid

1. Go fishing - this activity is ideal for all ages and genders, and can be a great way to spend the day, even for those wheelchair bound. 2. Go swimming - it is a relaxing and refreshing way to get a little exercise, and will really help you cool off during a heatwave. 3. Sporting activities - (as long as you share a love of sports) from watching the little ones play a game of footy to a proper match or ball game. 4. A simple walk - even just walking and talking can be enjoyable, especially if the views are good. Sometimes all you need is good company. There is no right or wrong way to spend a great day out, all you need to do is share in each other’s hobbies and make the effort this Summer.

OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • July 2015

LOCAL CHARITY

THIS MONTH’S Supplied by: Jane De Lay - Shooting Star Chase CHARITY

Shooting Star Chase Shooting Star Chase is a leading children’s hospice charity, caring for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and their families. Whether lives are measured in days, weeks, months or years, we are here to make every moment count. We support families from diagnosis to end of life and throughout bereavement, with a range of nursing, practical, emotional and medical care.

or help spread awareness about Shooting Star Chase, your help will be invaluable. Not only will you enable us to help make every moment count for children with life-limiting conditions, and their families, but we promise you’ll have lots of fun too!

We are currently supporting over 650 families in West London and Surrey and our bespoke support is free of charge to families and available 365 days a year. Our care service includes short breaks at our two hospices (Shooting Star House in Hampton and Christopher’s in Guildford), Hospice at Home, day care, symptom management, end of life care, bereavement care and a comprehensive range of therapies and support groups for the whole family.

We will be here every step of the way to help you, providing ideas and practical support to ensure you have all the materials and tools you need to make your fundraising as successful and enjoyable as possible.

It costs £9.5 million a year just to maintain our current level of care. Around 10% of that income comes from government funding, so we rely on our supporters’ generosity to keep the service running. What’s more, we know there are many more families desperate for our vital support, so it’s crucial we raise more funds to provide more care. We are looking for people who are willing to donate some of their spare time to help us raise awareness and funds through various fun activities and events. Whether you would like to form or join one of our Friends Groups,

We have a fantastic group of dedicated volunteers, who each play an integral role in keeping the charity running. However, we’re always looking for new people to join our team and just a few hours will make a huge difference. Our volunteering opportunities are a great way to use your existing skills and learn new ones, make new friends and have fun, all while helping to make every moment count for the families we support. To find out more about fundraising and volunteering, please visit our website shootingstarchase.org.uk or call the Fundraising Office on 01932 823100. We look forward to hearing from you!

www.omnilocal.co.uk • Edition 34

POLICE ADVICE Advice for Visitors and Event-Goers Entertainment If you are planning to attend a major sporting or concert event or go to the theatre, always buy your tickets from a reliable source, such as an official website. Never buy from a person or ‘tout’ in the street, as you could be paying too much and they may be fake, which means you won’t get in. Always remember: • Don’t leave your bags unattended anywhere in London. As well as attracting pickpockets, you could also create security alert.

• Be aware that it is a criminal offence to carry weapons such as knives and guns in the UK. • Unlike some other European countries it is also illegal to carry CS spray. When Staying in Hotels • Avoid leaving valuables in your room keep them in the hotel safety box or safe. Keep a record of your personal belongings such as cameras, credit cards, passports and travellers cheques. Note down the numbers - it may help police to identify them if they do get lost or stolen. • When you leave the hotel, make sure the door of your room is firmly closed. Always hand your key in to the reception staff or use the key box - don’t leave it on the reception desk.

• In restaurants, bars or theatres, keep your bags where you can see them, not on the floor or over the back of your chair. In crowded areas such as a bus or underground train, try wearing them in front of you, not over your shoulder. • Don’t keep all your valuables in one place and don’t carry large amounts of cash around with you. Try to use travellers’ cheques, or take a small amount of cash along with credit or debit cards. When withdrawing cash, don’t let others see your PIN number.

• Remember that hotel lobbies and reception areas are open to the public so don’t leave your bags or any valuables lying on the floor unattended at any time.

This page was sponsored by:

OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • July 2015

LOCAL HISTORY

Summer in Kingston

Supplied by: Mike Seigel - Kingston Tour Guides

Have you ever wondered why Kingston is so called? Why the car park opposite Sainsbury’s is called ‘Seven Kings’ and why there is a ‘Saxon Road’ opposite? Have you wondered why Kingston has an Estate Agent called ‘Saxon Kings’? Have you looked at the mural of the Saxon Kings outside BHS in Eden Street? How much do you know of Kingston’s exciting history which goes back to Saxon times? Now that the summer holidays are upon us, you might like to take the time to find out more about the history of our town. 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 on every first Sunday of the month from October to March and the charge is £5 per adult. We also happily cater for private groups at other times during the week, provided that we are given sufficient notice, and, if you are on holiday over the summer, this might suit you well. For further information please ring 020 8399 0160. To whet your appetite to find out more, you might like to know that the first recorded mention of Kingston dates back to 838, when King Egbert of Wessex held a great council of nobles and bishops to discuss the ever-increasing problems with the Danes. Kingston was not yet a town as such, but the centre of a royal estate or ‘tun’ – hence the name ‘King’s Tun’. The Thames marked the border between the Saxon kingdoms of Wessex and Mercia, and soon afterwards the town developed as an important trading and strategic post.

Great, renowned for his efforts against the invading Danes. It was Alfred’s son, Edward the Elder, who is thought to have been the first king crowned here in Kingston around 902, and, if you visit All Saints Church you will see a small exhibition entitled, “Where England Began”. There is a stone plaque commemorating the Queen’s visit during her Golden Jubilee (2002), 1100 years after Edward’s coronation. The Queen’s greatgrandfather, Edward VII, was crowned in 1902, and in Kingston the 1000 years since, Edward’s coronation was duly noted. Tradition, going back at least to Victorian times, suggests that all of Edward the Elder’s six successors were crowned here in Kingston, and you can see the Coronation Stone outside the Guildhall. There is historical evidence to support two of the seven being crowned here, Athelstan and Ethelred the Unready, and as for the others we can only surmise! It is worth wandering along Eden Street to look at the mural outside BHS put up 30 years ago, which graphically depicts the Seven Saxon Kings.

King Egbert is little known in history, but his grandson was the famous Alfred the

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OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • July 2015

GARDENING SECTION

Auntie Planty’s Gardening Mailbag

Supplied by: Valerie Munro - Auntie Planty

The rose is undoubtedly the nation’s favourite flower. To help keep yours in tip-top shape for the summer, here are some questions I’ve been asked recently on specific thorny problems. Q1: I have noticed some large, almost completely round holes appearing on the leaves on one rose bush. Could this be slug damage? A1: No, the smooth outline and regular shape of your holey leaves means without doubt, that there is a leaf-cutting bee about, rather than caterpillars or slugs. Having cut the leaf, the female bee uses these leaf pieces to make thimble-shaped cells in her nest. A nest may contain up to twenty cells. Q2: I have found that one of my roses produces flower buds that fail to open, and then turn brown. A2: This condition is known as bud balling, and is due to the effects of wet weather. The problem will always be worse in shady corners where the plant is not given any benefit from the drying rays of the sun. I would suggest that you prune off the affected stems and buds to an obvious growth point. Keep your plant well fed and watered with a good rose plant food. Q3: Is it true that I should not regularly prune my climbing rose? A3: Climbing roses need very little pruning, and can be left to their own devices. However, the time does come when all the new growth is 20 ft in the air, and you are left with bare wood at the bottom of the plant. This is the time to remove some of the oldest wood right back to the base, to encourage the rose to produce new vigorous growth from ground level. 13

Q4: We have recently moved into a new house, and I want to remove some very old rose plants and replace them, but I have been told that new roses will not grow well in this spot. What can I do? A4: The problem that develops is called ‘rose sickness’ and it’s difficult to say exactly what this is, besides a build up of pathogens in the soil. You can solve the problem in one of several ways. The simplest is by removing the plant/s to give the soil a rest, which means either planting with another type altogether or putting down grass on the spot for about four years. The alternative is to replace the soil. Even in a small garden, this is not impossible and simply means digging a slightly bigger hole than would normally be the case, and replacing with soil from another part of the garden that has not supported a rose plant in the last five years.

www.omnilocal.co.uk • Edition 34

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OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • July 2015

HOME SECTION

Jobs for the Summer This is the perfect time to lay back and enjoy the sunshine, take some time off of work and school and really make up for all that hard work you’ve been doing. However, if you don’t want to completely shirk your responsibilities during the Summer, and you want to keep your family comfortable and your home in top shape - here are a few ways to do so:

Supplied by: Leanna Carl - Omni Local

Ventilate It doesn’t hurt to air out the house a little every so often. If you haven’t already, it may be worth getting a fan or alternative cooling system for the rooms used most, as even letting a bit of air in may not cool you down this time of year - and we’ve had some scorchers already! Is possible, you should also ensure your air con has been serviced (if you have one), as the filters may need replacement or it may have a few leaky joints that could use some mending. Guttering and Window Maintenance Now is as good a time as any to remove any debris left in your gutters with a spoon or a trowel. As long as you know how to do jobs like this safely, you can prepare your gutters for the cooler, rainier season. You should also check if your windows or door frames need caulking, as this is better done on a dry day, and could keep critters from crawling in, which always becomes a problem this time of year. Less Obvious Check-ups Don’t let things slip through the cracks (literally!) or you’ll regret it. Check the hoses in your garden, washing machine, dishwasher or anywhere else you can think of

for cracks or bubbles, as it will be a real pain finding out too late that they need replacing. You sometimes have to look very closely to spot deteriorations within your appliances, or even in woodworks like your staircase or cupboards, so check each crevice and try to clean and seal them as applicable. Take it Outside! A warm sunny day is the perfect time for exterior management. Head outdoors and use this opportunity for things like powerwashing decks/patios, mowing your garden, cleaning those windows, sprucing up the BBQ or even blasting down the outer walls of your home with a garden hose and gentle cleaning products, if you feel that it could use a bit of a cleanse. There are so many ways to keep a happy household and so many jobs that get overlooked, so try to make time and pitch in whenever you can. If you’re concerned about any particular cleaning, replacements or maintenance jobs, contact professionals like Sunlight Cleaning or Taylored Room Solutions.

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OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • July 2015

FAMILY SECTION

Family Fun at the Park There is no better time than during the coming sunnier months for spending some extra time with the family. Not only do the upcoming school holidays mean more free time at home, but the pleasant weather makes for a lot of different activities we don’t get a chance to do during the colder time of year. A sure fire way to make the most of the Summer is spending some time in the park with your relatives. Some are reluctant to head to the park, due to boredom worries, or because they don’t have the equipment they need to make the best of it, but a day in the park enjoying some fresh air is a lot better than staying indoors, glued to the TV. Below are a few ideas on how to really enjoy it. Choose your location wisely, even if it means jumping on a bus or train. There’s no point spending a dull afternoon somewhere, just for the convenience. Saying that, bringing some sports equipment or fun travel games could mean that location isn’t that important. Plan ahead with the family and see what they want to do. Don’t drag the family to your idea of a fun day, or throw them into a game of rounders when they don’t enjoy sports; get some input from everyone to determine the best way to go about it and the best areas to visit. Think about your surroundings. Are you looking for a nice open, quiet space so that you can set up a game of football, have a picnic, or just feed the ducks and take a stroll by the river? Or, would you prefer to go the whole hog, with climbing frames, slides, and

Supplied by: Leanna Carl - Omni Local

swings for the little ones, or a basketball court to have a friendly match with your friends? With the help of the internet, you can see what’s out there beforehand. Your local park may not have everything you’d hope for, or you might want a change of scenery, or to go and take some photos somewhere more vast and full of wildlife, like Richmond Park. Personally, I think mixing it up is a great idea. For example: riding bicycles to your preferred location; laying out a big picnic blanket and lots of nibbles; burning off calories with a game of cricket or throwing a frisbee; taking plenty of pics for the family album or for a portfolio; even just laying back, playing some music from your phone with a cold drink and enjoying each other’s company can be great when the weather is right. As long as you find something for everyone to enjoy, and you plan ahead, there is no reason why you can’t enjoy a low-cost, fun day out with the whole family.

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OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • July 2015

Schoolwork in the holidays?? I can remember the first day back at school

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

when I was 8. My hand felt shaky when I wrote, aching after only a few minutes. I had obviously given myself a complete break from anything taxing to do with school and I wasn’t even a child who deliberately avoided writing. Many children need to do a bit of school work over the Summer, but how to do it without tantrums? Teachers often suggest writing a diary. Well that’s fine for your budding novelist, but her sibling?? Here’s what I did to extend my child’s

dictates. It might take some help and a few

literacy skills whilst still keeping the peace:

minutes to get started, but once you’re into

Remember, the most important thing about

it, your child will probably be engrossed

writing is the content – if children don’t know

and it will flow. Write it verbatim changing

what to write, well they can’t write it. Often

nothing but the grammar.

the very act of writing inhibits the ideas and

When you have written a few paragraphs,

can make children believe that they have nothing to say. Holidays can be the best time to sort this out.

read it out – I bet your child will be amazed by how good it sounds and their skills as an author. If they are willing, you could

When queuing for that amazing ride at a

even do a tad of editing (substitute the ‘and

theme park, sitting in a restaurant or in the

thens’ for something better)– but don’t push

airport terminal, why not spend the time

it! To get practice with a pencil, your child

engaged in ‘people watching’? Focus on some

can illustrate the story, draw cartoons with

poor unsuspecting stranger and (discreetly)

speech bubbles or create a cover.

imagine their life story, create their family and think about why they are where they are. The more fantastical the better, but get some details into the story. Alternatively, create a

A folder of holiday stories like this could be as good a memory as photos; often funnier! In the last week of the holiday August 24 – 27, come to NumberWorks’nWords from

story about a castle you have just visited or

10.00 to 12.00 to get your children back into

an event which could happen on the beach.

the swing of doing the writing themselves.

When you get to your tent, caravan or hotel

Give us a ring on 020 8399 1234 for details,

room, you write the story, but your child

or visit www.numberworksnwords.co.uk

www.omnilocal.co.uk • Edition 34

The Cooking Corner Mackerel Salad Serves 1 Ingredients: • 100g of mixed lettuce leaves • 150g steamed or smoked mackerel • 4 slices of cucumber • 2 radishes, sliced • 1 tbsp mayonnaise (home-made, see sauces) or ready made without sugar • Himalayan salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste Method: 1. Arrange the salad leaves in a large bowl or soup plate. 2. Arrange the mackerel on top of the lettuce leaves. 3. Decorate the salad with the cucumber and radishes. 4. Drizzle with mayonnaise and season to taste.

Leonie Wright runs EatWright and is a nutritional coach, speaker and author of the no added sugar recipe book, CookWright. She is passionate about informing, motivating and encouraging people to look at food as a way of improving their health, fitness and waistline. She offers a 6 week healthy eating plan, healthy lunch and dinner talks and 2 online courses. For more information, and to order Leonie’s recipe book, visit www.eatwright.co.uk

Nutritional Value: Carbohydrates: 6 Protein portion: 1 Vegetable portion: 1

This article was supplied by Leonie Wright from Eat Wright.

OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • July 2015

KIDS SECTION IT’S COOL TO BE CALM IN KINGSTON

Working with schools, children and parents to teach relaxation and calmness within the Borough. I do hope you enjoyed the Peer massage strokes in the June Issue and I hope Dad felt relaxed and pampered! For Summer I thought it would be useful to learn a few simple Self-massage strokes. Good to help you and your child wind down and encourage sleep or feel a little more energized.

1 Sit down comfortably with your shoes off, take two slow deep breaths, 'jelly wobble' your arms and hands, smile and think happy thoughts, close your eyes... you are ready to begin. 2 Make circle and cloud shapes on your head and neck.

3 Make circle shapes on your shoulders and squeeze them gently.

Please follow the instructions and read the Health and Safety precautions before embarking on this massage sequence.

Health and Safety Precautions Massage is considered a very gentle, safe and relaxing therapy; however, there are times when massage is not advisable • If someone has a high temperature or is generally feeling unwell • Infectious skin diseases • Contagious disease Consult a Doctor before the massage if someone has • Any form of cancer • Thrombosis, or any heart condition • Diabetes • Epilepsy • Bone disease • Severe back pain or long term injury • Undergone recent surgery NB Massage around and not over cuts, bruises, sunburn, sore eczema or recent scar tissue. Please carry out the massage under adult supervision. The Peer Massage Project cannot accept responsibility for injuries or damage arising out of failure to comply with these guidelines.

www.peermassageproject.co.uk

4 Slide your hands down your back and then make cloud shapes.

5 Let your cupped hands patter over your legs like horses hooves.

6 Make circle and cloud shapes on your toes and feet.

7 Slowly stand up. Sweep your hands from the top of your head to the tip of your toes like a waterfall. If you are feeling sleepy, use your fingertips to make pattering raindrops on your head (stay seated if you wish to encourage sleep).

Make sure your hands are clean before you begin. Find some soft cushions or a soft blanket to rest on. Find a quiet area if possible. Play some soothing relaxing music to chill out, or if you wish to be more energized, play something with a more up beat tempo.

www.omnilocal.co.uk • Edition 34

Suzanna Raymond School of Dance proudly presents CREATION Sat 18 Jul Children from 6 to 18 years old come together in an amalgamation of Classical Ballet, Modern, Tap, Jazz and Contemporary Dance, to tell both sides of this story! Act 1: In the Beginning - depicts the traditional bible story of how the world began. Act 2: From a Mass of Swirling Gases - tells us a more scientific version of events! Tickets from £15 - £19.50, plus transaction fee. ERIKA THE VIKING Sun 19 Jul When Erica’s Dad goes missing, she embarks on a quest to another world, where warrior otters guard against dragons, sea monsters crush ships like kindling, and the Gods have stolen all the adults. Erica must journey with her band of Vikings to the edge of the world and beyond. Tickets from £12 (£8 Concs), plus transaction fee.

KINGSTON WELCOMES KOREA Thu 30 Jul to Sat 8 Aug The Rose is working with the Royal Borough of Kingston and Arts Interlink to produce a Korean Festival between 29th July and 8th August at the Rose Theatre and across Kingston. Please visit www.kingstonwelcomeskorea. org or to find out more about the festival and to sign up to the newsletter and to support. 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 • July 2015 mer Sum out ll u P de Gui

THIS YEAR’S BIGGEST SUMMER EVENTS IN KINGSTON

Supplied by: Leanna Carl - Omni Local

What a Perfect Time of Year to Visit Kingston upon Thames! There are some fantastic events coming up in and around Kingston this year. This pull out Summer Events guide is the perfect way to keep up with each and every fantastic event coming up in the next few months. Guaranteed, you will find an activity to suit all tastes and for residents all over

There are plenty of brilliant events lined up for you this year, such as: Kingston Food Festival, TW12 Jazz Festival, The Dragon Boat Challenge, Prudential Ride London Surrey, The Kingston River Festival and Regatta, Kingston Welcomes Korea, Kingston Tour Guides and Thumbs up Its Thursday. Some of the events don’t even require an entry fee, so head on over!

Surrey, from music lovers to foodies, and sailors to cyclists, we highly recommend that you spread the word to your friends and family! Once again we are very excited about this year’s International Youth Arts Festival, working closely with the team, and we know that this year is going to be even better! Everyone involved has been working incredibly hard to bring fun and entertainment into Surrey this Season. Here’s hoping for plenty of lovely, sunny weather this year. SEE YOU THERE! Photo Credits - Zoe White Photography, Creative Youth, London & Surrey Cycling Partnership, Leanna Carl.

www.omnilocal.co.uk • Edition 34

THIS YEAR’S BIGGEST SUMMER EVENTS IN KINGSTON Special Events 2015

TW12 Jazz Festival

International Youth Arts Festival

Friday 17th July - Sunday 19th July

Friday 3rd July - Sunday 19th July

The TW12 Festival is back for its third consecutive year with even more events over an entire weekend in South West London. Full of talented local artists and musical marvels, this is an event all music-lovers will want to add to their calendar!

The International Youth Arts Festival (IYAF) is one of the largest and most diverse youth events in the world. Each year, over 19,000 young people are involved, nearly 5,000 artists are performing in 350 events over 18 venues.

On Friday evening, the event will feature a jam session at the Jazz Cafe Posk in Hammersmith, London. On Saturday afternoon/evening, all events will be held at Garrick’s Temple in Hampton, Middlesex. Sunday will hold events all day at the Hampton Hill Playhouse.

Now in its 7th year IYAF is coming back with an “in your face’ programme of events and aweinspiring performances bringing theatre, dance, music, comedy, visual art and technology to your doorstep. IYAF Heroes aren’t only taking over theatres and pubs but we are bringing art to the streets, for anyone and everyone to enjoy! Even before the festival begins you can expect to see flash mobs in the Market Place, on the riverside and even in the Bentall Centre; turning around to see groups of teenagers krumping and jiving is bound to brighten up your lunch hour!

As well as great live music, all events will provide refreshments and a brilliant atmosphere. For more information, refer to the TW12 Jazz Festival website. http://www.tw12jazzfestival.co.uk/

Dragon Boat Challenge Sunday 19th July

www.iyafestival.org.uk

Kingston Regatta & River Festival Saturday 11th July - Sunday 12th July The Kingston River Festival has been held annually in Kingston for more than 150 years. This event runs from 9:00am - 7:00pm and helps to bring schools, clubs and associations throughout the area together, to compete in almost 300 rowing races. The Kingston River Festival runs alongside the Regatta and highlights Kingston Maritime heritage. Many Olympians have graced the event for helping them in beginning their own rowing careers, so it could provide a great opportunity to look out for future rowing superstars. If you want to join in the fun, and spend some time on the river, remember to save the date! This July, hundreds of clubs and schools, both local and national will compete in over 300 races. www.kingstonregatta.co.uk

Each year when July comes around, Kingston upon Thames becomes home to its very own Dragon Boat Challenge. This event is organised by the Kingston Rotary Club, with many teams from across the country competing throughout. With drums, cheering and plenty of colourful boats, it is a truly impressive event to watch. Visit the website for more information about this year’s event. www.kingstonrotaryclub.org.uk/dragon-boatchallenge

Thumbs Up It’s Thursday Thursday 23rd July - Thursday 27th August Thumbs Up It’s Thursday offers plenty of fun and educational activities and events for children during the school holidays. Every week on Thursday there are tons of activities planned throughout the town throughout the day,

OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • July 2015

THIS YEAR’S BIGGEST SUMMER EVENTS IN KINGSTON including storytelling, face painting, craft activities and entertainers. You can find more information regarding these events by visiting the Kingston First website. www.kingstonfirst.co.uk

Kingston Welcomes Korea Festival Thursday 30th July - Saturday 8th August

surrounding areas.

The upcoming Korean Festival celebrates Korean culture and all the ways it has enriched our community. This event brings delicious food, arts and entertainment to all local residents and visitors to Kingston upon Thames and the

Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 Sunday 2nd August Celebrating the legacy for cycling, created by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Prudential RideLondonSurrey 100 starts in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, then follows a 100-mile route on closed roads through the capital and into Surrey’s stunning countryside. With legtesting climbs and a route made famous by the world’s best cyclists at the London 2012 Olympics, it’s a truly spectacular event for all involved. www.prudentialridelondon.co.uk

Kingston Tour Guides

For more information, visit the website. www.kingstonwelcomeskorea.org

Every Sunday until the end of September

Kingston Food Festival Saturday 1st August - Sunday 9th August Calling all foodies - You won’t want to miss out on another year of fun and flavour from Kingston’s annual Food Festival. This event has always been incredibly popular with local residents. Previous events have seen demonstrations from top chefs, plenty of award-winning produce and dozens of brilliant market stalls to feast your eyes - and your tastebuds - on. You’ll be able to indulge in the very best of Kingston upon Thames and the surrounding areas, starting with the entertaining and Food-filled Riverside Festival on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd August. There will also be a weekend packed with free food events on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th August, with the return of an even bigger Big Kingston Market. This will feature many local restaurateurs, delightful local drinks, fantastic food and growers and producers from all over the Surrey, Hampshire and Sussex areas. www.kingstonfoodfestival.com 25

Come on a Guided Walk in Kingston upon Thames or Surbiton, led by the Kingston Tour Guides. Discover all the wonderful history behind Kingston upon Thames, and get fascinating insights from the professionals. Kingston Tour Guides are made up of volunteers from the local community who have been trained and independently assessed. Only when qualified are they entitled to wear the official badge. All walks begin in the Marketplace for Kingston, and Surbiton Railway Station forecourt for Surbiton. Read more about the Tour Guides via the website. www.kingstontourguides.org.uk

www.omnilocal.co.uk • Edition 34

Riverside-edge is a great new pop up space where you’ll ﬁnd some of London’s most exciting new restaurateurs. We also have live music, DJ sets and more.

Check out social media for news! Kingstonriversideedge

RIVERSIDEEDGEKT1

Kingstonriversideedge

Find us next to Bill’s on RIVERSIDE WALK, right by Kingston Bridge 26

OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • July 2015

In The Cinema

(Scan the QR Codes to see the trailers)

Terminator: Genisys

Supplied by: Leanna Carl Alongside our commonly quoted hero (portrayed by the legendary Arnold Schwarzenegger), we also follow the incredibly skilled fighter Sarah Connor’s story (played by “Game of Thrones” favourite - Emilia Clarke), as she teams up with Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney, from such blockbusters as “Jack Reacher” and “Divergent”).

Finally the long awaited return of our favourite ass-kicking Austrian cyborg is upon us! Fans of the Terminator franchise will be beside themselves with joy, as these brilliantly futuristic and action-packed stories come back to life on the big screen. Rated 12A, this film isn’t suited to all ages, but it is definitely one for the older kids, and action/sci fi fanatics.

Kyle is sent from the future to protect his mother Sarah in the year 1984, and to help her in the quest to prevent “Judgement Day” from befalling. This of course calls for our favourite Terminator! Our team are faced with many unexpected and dangerous events that could sufficiently alter the timeline, effectively giving Kyle a new objective: to reset the future.

Out on DVD

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel personal life, however. The more claims the new hotel is making on his time, the less he has available for his new wife and the love of his life, Sunaina (Tina Desai). He is also hoping to purchase a promising new property, following the success of the first hotel, and now his priorities are becoming hard to balance. This heart-warming and hilarious tale of adventure and dreams is one that’s guaranteed to spread a few smiles. Following the last movie’s happy ending and the eventual success of the “Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”, Sonny (played by Slumdog Millionaire’s Dev Patel) dreams of expanding even further, by opening none other than the just as appropriately titled, “Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”. His dreams come with a little extra strain on his 27

The Best exotic Marigold Hotel for the Elderly and Beautiful has hit a snag, there is only one single vacancy left, which makes for an awkward situation for new guests, Guy (Richard Gere) and Lavinia (Tamsin Greig). With more returning stars such as Judi Dench, Bill Nighy and Maggie Smith, along with plenty of witty humour and giggle-inducing occurrences, this sequel is sure to be a hit for the family.

www.omnilocal.co.uk • Edition 34

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Skin Safety

Supplied by: Leanna Carl - Omni Local

With all of us planning holidays, and spending more time outdoors - we are a lot more prone to getting sunburnt this time of year. Sunburn can lead to serious skin conditions, not to mention, it can be very irritating and painful! It is vital that we do everything we can to avoid this problem when the sun starts to stick around a lot longer. Though it can be difficult to ensure your skin is protected, here is a list of precautions you can take: 1. Cover up! Although the heat gets to us all, showing too much skin under those blaring rays won’t help your skin at all. Sometimes its better to wear long-sleeved, or floor-length clothing, such as flowy/ loose fitted tops, maxi skirts or even lightweight trousers. A floppy hat, pair of sunglasses or a cap won’t hurt either. 2. Don’t sunbathe for hours on end. We all like to get that sunkissed glow that comes with tanning, but it is incredibly damaging to lie in the sun for a large part of the day, especially at the beginning of the season, as you are a lot more likely to burn up. Allow yourself to tan gradually, over a period of time, and remember UV’s can go through clouds too! 3. Consider your scalp. Especially if you’re thinning on top a little, you need to be careful. If you’re worried, apply a small amount of natural oils or sunscreen to your scalp to avoid a very irritating burn. Alternatively, you could cover up with a hat or a scarf of some kind.

especially if you are very fair-skinned. You must also re-apply sunscreen every couple of hours to guarantee protection, as it can wear off, and definitely will when swimming. Chapsticks will help your lips too, and you must not forget the less obvious areas, such as behind the ears and neck, or the backs of your knees. If you do end up getting burned, there are some ways to ease the discomfort and speed up the healing process. Aloe vera gels and alternative after-sun solutions can be very soothing when applied. Some have even suggested vinegar to take away the sting, though it may be pungent. It may also help to sit or lay in ways that won’t affect your burns, such as sitting on stools so that your back doesn’t push against anything, or sleeping with a light sheet instead of a heavy quilt that may cause you to overheat. Try to avoid wearing synthetic materials or wool, as they may irritate your sunburn. Remember, sunshine in small doses is a good thing! Just remember to take care of yourself.

4. Use sunscreen on any exposed areas of the body. We’re talking SPF 45+, 28

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

WELLBEING SECTION

Relaxation

Supplied by: Phillip Holt - NLP Now

Last month I wrote how, by using hypnosis, we can eliminate pain in oneself and others, and hypnosis is really self-hypnosis. The term hypnosis was first coined â&#x20AC;&#x201C; see OMNI May 2015 issue - by Dr James Braid (1795 -1860), but the state had been used for thousands of years, and was known as yoga, meditation, mesmerism, prayer, and had been used to cure, to foresee, predict by its users, and why? Because it works. Self-hypnosis and promoting deep conscious relaxation can help you at every level, right down to your genes. Research has shown that practicing deep relaxation minimises the flight or fight response we are often subjected to during stressful situations. The clinical effects of being under stress can promote such conditions as hypertension, diabetes, anxiety, and ageing, to name a few. Studies have been conducted to show where interventions to the mind and body using relaxation techniques can reduce stress and enhance wellbeing, plus, aid in memory recall. Have you ever ran into someone you know, and the more you try to remember their name, the more it eludes you? You become stressed as you try to recall their name, and the body enters the flight or fight state. In this state of stress, leftover from when we lived with dinosaurs, chemicals flow through the body to prepare us to fight or run away, to stop us feeling pain and to pump energy into our bodies to help us run faster. These chemicals affect the functionality of the brain, causing difficulty in recalling/ remembering information. Why remember the wedding anniversary date when we need to save ourselves from danger? It is when we are sitting in a coffee shop, thinking about what is on TV later, or where we will go on holiday, that out of the blue, without even thinking about the lost name, it suddenly pops into mind. And so it is with the body. Under stress, bad chemicals are pumped through the body, when relaxed, the body can heal. 29

Research undertaken by Dr. Herbert Benson, Professor of Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, found that regular practitioners of relaxation techniques recorded beneficial changes almost immediately, particularly the function of mitochondria (the powerhouse of cells) as they became more resilient and stable. The production of insulin secretion was increased, and those genes involved with stress, inflammation, trauma and cancer were suppressed. Those who are studying for an exam, or have children under stress with school performance, learn to relax to help with memory recall. Those who are feeling below par, learn relaxation techniques to allow the body to repair and perform better. After-all, dinosaurs died-out millions of years ago, we do not need the flight or fight response any more. Phillip Holt is a registered/licensed trainer with the NGH (National Guild of Hypnotists) and the Society of NLP, and is available for consultations. 08451306213, holt@nlpnow. net

www.omnilocal.co.uk â&#x20AC;˘ Edition 34

OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • July 2015

FINANCE SECTION

Pensions Freedom and Choice

Supplied by: Mukesh Savani - Foster Denovo

What does it actually mean for you and your pension? From 6th April 2015, we have seen the biggest change in pension rules in over a decade come in to force. Pension freedom allows you to choose how you access money saved in your pension pot. The most common types of pensions affected include: • personal pensions; • group personal pensions (GPPs); • self invested personal pensions (SIPPs); • additional voluntary contribution schemes; • defined benefit occupational schemes.

National Statistics) Decisions, decisions… The introduction of pension freedom and choice is liberating and exciting but it comes with a lot of pressure. The choices you make now will impact on how you live in retirement, so it is essential you make the right decisions for you and your family. How we can help you

These types of pensions are commonly referred to as money purchase schemes, defined contribution pensions or defined benefit schemes.

At Foster Denovo, our specialist financial advisers, like Mukesh Savani, can discuss your options with you. Through the use of cash-flow modelling, we can help you make the right financial planning choices to achieve the lifestyle you want in retirement. Whether you want to:

How will you be affected? Typically most people approaching retirement bought an annuity to provide a guaranteed income in retirement. But once purchased, it meant you couldn’t change your mind. Pension freedom means you’re free to choose what you do with your pension savings.

• retire now; • postpone retirement; or • phase in your retirement; we can help you.

If you are aged 55 or over, you can choose to: • take your whole pension fund as cash -You can take up to 25% tax free as a lump sum. If you take out more than 25% cash from your pension pot, income tax will then be charged. • take regular smaller lump sums of cash -You can opt to take regular lump sums of cash from your pension at times that suit you. However, each withdrawal will only be tax free for the first 25%. If you withdraw more, income tax will be charged.

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 2800 or email mukesh.savani@fosterdenovo.com. Important note-

• keep your money invested and draw a regular income -You can take 25% tax free and then receive a regular income from the remaining amount. This could be through income drawdown, where income is taken directly from the pension fund, which remains invested, or you could receive a guaranteed income for life by buying an annuity.

This article is based on our current understanding of the Taxation of Pensions Act, the Pension Schemes Bill, the Budget

It is important to note, although 25% of any money you withdraw from your pension is tax-free, the remainder will be treated as income for that year and will be taxed accordingly. For some, it could mean you are pushed into the next tax bracket (40% or 45%); especially if this is added to your salary or any other income you might receive.

not take, or refrain from taking, any action based on this information. Tax treatment can change and depends on your circumstances. Unless stated otherwise, all figures apply to the 2015/16 tax year. Please remember, taking money out of a

For example, if you earned the average income of a pre-retiree of £33,288, and took your 25% tax free cash and an additional £20,000 as a lump sum from your pension, it could, potentially, push you into the higher income rate tax bracket for that part of your pension payment1. If you took an even larger lump sum, you could end up paying a much higher rate of tax than you are used to. You may also have to complete a self-assessment tax return.

and subsequent treasury announcements as at 30 March 2015. It is a summary and cannot cover every nuance. You should

pension will impact standards of living in retirement. This information is not personal advice. If you are unsure an investment is right for you, contact us and we can put you in touch with an adviser. The value of investments can fall as well as rise so you may get back less than you invest. FDPCPF_0315

(MGM Advantage - http://newsroom.mgmadvantage. co.uk/pension-freedoms-threaten-to-push-60000into-higher-rate-tax-bracket - 17th November 2014. On average people aged 55 today will live to their mid to late 80s. Around 1 in 10 men and 1 in 5 women will live to a 100. 2Source: the Office of

Foster Denovo Private Clients is a trading name of Foster Denovo Limited, which 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 â&#x20AC;˘ Edition 34

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OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • July 2015

DIY SECTION

Building a Picnic Table This time of year is definitely one of the best for gathering the family together. With sunshine overhead, school holidays coming, and a lot of us taking a well-deserved break from work, we all appreciate a relaxing day in the garden. This article will hopefully help you get the best from your garden, creating a good, sturdy picnic table to lay out your Summer spread! Its great to have a table in your garden all year round, whether to sit and get some fresh air, to gather for drinks, or even just to have a pleasant dinner outside when the weather’s looking better. For a standard 6ft (approx) tableWhat you will need:

Supplied by: Leanna Carl - Omni Local

• You will also need to cut five “2x4” lumber braces to support the table top and bench seats, as well as two “2x8” crosspieces to support the legs. Be sure to sand the edges of each piece of wood. • Face the five top boards (“2x6”) in a row about 1 quarter inch apart, and nail two “2x4” braces across them length-down, spacing them 4 inches from the ends. Attach the third brace dead centre, widthdown.

• Durable Lumber Decking Planks, such as pre-treated pine or oak • Decking Planks of the same material • 2.5” Deck Screws • 3.5” Exterior Carriage Bolts

• Attach the four “2x8” legs on to both “2x4” braces (on the inward widths) so that they point outwards. Support these legs by attaching the “2x8” crosspieces from leg-to-leg about halfway (15” approx). These crosspieces will overlap by just over 4 inches.

• A Rafter • (Electronic) Saw • A Sander • Screwdriver Method: • Using a rafter, cut 4 equal “2x8” legs at a 45 degree angle, so that the corners meet, long point to long point, like an upside down “V”. • Cut nine “2x6” boards. Five of these will be used for the table top, and four for the bench seats.

• Place two “2x6” boards 1 quarter inch apart on either side, atop the crosspieces, to form the bench seats. • It isn’t essential, but its worth treating the wood, as you would decking, to help it through the rainy weather. Decorate the bench to your liking, with a coat of paint, or nothing at all.

www.omnilocal.co.uk â&#x20AC;˘ Edition 34

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

LOCAL TRADES

We make it our mission to show you what great businesses are out there. As a huge thank you to both our readers and our advertisers for all of their support, we aim to give as much support and recognition to establishments large and small, throughout the area. We would not be able to publish our magazine each month without the help of our wonderful advertisers and our followers, and we believe that having a diverse variety of different services throughout our publication gives everyone plenty of options when seeking professional help from local traders. Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in need of an electrician or gardener, a great restaurant or tutor - even a therapist or support for your own business, we hope to find you exactly what you need. Remember to always think local! There are so many brilliant services right around the

corner. All we want is to uncover them and show the support they have shown to us. In order to keep doing this and to let our readers know what services are out there, we still need your help! Some new local 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 come in! 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 • Edition 34

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OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • July 2015

MOTORING SECTION

Car Interior Maintenance

Supplied by: Leanna Carl-Omni Local

During our hectic schedules and the general hustle and bustle of life, a lot of us tend to neglect certain areas of hygiene and organisation, especially in our cars. Think about it - when was the last time you cleaned out the inside of your vehicle? Was it just a quick sprucing - removing takeaway containers, receipts and plastic bottles? Or was it a full on freshen up and vacuum, with attention to detail? If the answer to when you last had a clear up is either “I don’t remember” or “just a quick tidying” - it could be in serious need of a good cleanse. After all, they say mobile phones can carry thousands of germs. Why? Because cleaning your every-day handheld companion isn’t something that always springs to mind or that you’ll even know how to do, and it is something you will use very often. Should a car be any different? Particularly if you have children who can cause a bit of a mess in the back, or you have a tendency to visit Drive Throughs on regular occurrences - regular hygiene is a must. For some, it is hard to know the best methods and products to use in really giving your car a thorough clean. After all, you wouldn’t want to damage anything or end up with the end result being worse than before. If your interior consists of leather, it can be even more of a challenge. Leather is very delicate, and will require specially formulated leather cleaning supplies. Some leather cleaning products can make the leather go tacky, or become sticky to the touch, whereas others could make it a lot shinier or slippier. Always ensure you use any new products on a small area of a car seat, to guarantee that you get the result you were

looking for. Always use a soft clean towel or rag when wiping down seats - never use paper towels, as they can leave scuff marks. You also need to be cautious with leather steering wheels and shifters, as they may become slippery or sticky, which won’t help when driving! An easy fix is to simply use a slightly dampened towel on areas like this. Using a soft brush attachment, try to gently vacuum any seat crevices or floors to remove any crumbs or dust. You can use the same cleaning products on the carpeting of the car too, or even laundry detergent to remove stains and dirt tracked in. Try not to use too much water on the carpeting either, as you’ll want to dry it out as soon as possible to avoid mould or damp smells in your car. There are many ways to care for your car. For more advice, pick up our next issue, or contact professionals such as Auto Refinish or eTyres.

www.omnilocal.co.uk â&#x20AC;˘ Edition 34

Problems Facing Business To Business Marketing

B2B SECTION Supplied by: Goddards Accountants

Marketing well is the most important thing that a business can do. We market our business to try to generate a steady flow of customers and eventually gain a strong, trusted customer base. One of the ways that smaller business owners try to market their business is through Business To Business marketing. This would include exhibiting at business exhibitions and networking events, such as business breakfasts and lunches, in the hope of connecting with other businesses and as a result to further try to generate sales or gain a client. Business To Business marketing has its advantages for certain companies, but there are also problems that it is facing such as: Business To Business having a limited market Business to business has its downfalls, one of them being that you as a business are only reaching a limited market. By limiting the amount of potential clients you are reaching, your chances of gaining a customer or client as a results decreases. If you are reaching a wider potential market, you will find that you will have a better chance of gaining more clients. Slow Sales Process Another challenge Business To Business faces is the slow sales process that it may take to gain a client. Some businesses may decide to oppose Business To Business as it is too time consuming, and focus on building a solid marketing structure in which it may take less time to gain clients. Some smaller business owners and entrepreneurs donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the time to go to 3 meetings in a week to follow up leads from a Business To Business Exhibition, which may not guarantee any business. E-Commerce Taking Over E-Commerce has been the main challenge facing Business To Business Marketing, and

with the progress in technology helping smaller business to market them online, the Business To Business Model has been seen as a more expensive and a less successful way of marketing. Some business however like companies which are based more about necessity and compliance may feel that the Business To Business model is something integral to their marketing plan, As Accountants we believe that Business To Business marketing is important as we deal with compliance that all businesses need to do, whereas more leisurely companies may not believe in the Business To Business model and would use E-Commerce to find more customers and generate more sales. For advice and information, contact Goddards Accountants: Tel: 020 8941 2187 Email: info@gandco.co.uk Web: www.cloudaccountingkingston.co.uk

OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • July 2015

BUSINESS SECTION

Keep the Cash Flowing Lack of cash will eventually kill any business, large or small, and it makes no difference whether the business is making good profits. I’m sure that you have heard the saying ‘cash is king’ and this is important in business, because it means that you can always cover your costs. A business owner contacted me because he had serious cash-flow problems. In truth, there was no flow of cash at all. His profitability was good and the company’s turnover more than adequate. So why was there no flow of cash? Simply that no invoices had been sent out for over six weeks. Six weeks and he was wondering why the cash had dried up! Now before you say, ‘well, that’s surely a one-off’ let me tell you that lack of invoicing is pretty common in business. And I’m not just talking about being slow at getting invoices out; I know many companies that don’t send all of their invoices out. It’s totally astonishing!

Supplied by: David Wimblett of 7 Training

Again this reduces future problems, like invoices having never been received and then delaying payment. 6. If, for example you do a lot of one-off jobs, consider getting a mobile credit card terminal. Don’t be put off by the cost of this service as it is far out-weighed by the advantage of time saved not having to chase up payments later. Plus it’s instant cash. 7. If you provide credit, call your customer five days before the money becomes due to check that all is okay and that the payment is scheduled.

So here are eight tips on how to make your invoicing process not only effective, but that will ensure that the cash keeps flowing. This is one area where having a good system in place will, literally, pay rich dividends:

8. If payment should fall overdue, call immediately and ask when the payment will be made. Get the name of the person you speak to and the date for when the payment is promised. Don’t be put off from doing this; remember it is your money. It will also demonstrate that you operate a well-run business.

1. Invoice every day, week or month, whichever is the most appropriate. The most important thing is to be consistent. 2. Confirm the amount to be invoiced is correct with your client before invoicing. This solves a lot of problems later on.

If you have any questions or need help improving your cash-flow process contact me today!

3. Ensure that all order numbers, etc., that are required are included on the invoice. Again this solves problems later on. 4. Ensure that any credit terms are clear and agreed. 5. Check that your invoice has been received. 39

David Wimblett is a Business Builder and author and can be contacted by email at: david@7training.co.uk www.7training.co.uk

www.omnilocal.co.uk • Edition 34

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OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • July 2015

PROPERTY SECTION

Sales News! As Kingston homes rise in value, there simply isn’t enough instruction for demanding buyers.

Supplied by: Peter Greenwood-Alex Clark

With the housing market holding it’s breath, and waiting to see the results of the election last month, the property market has not exploded as most predicted. What has happened is the classic situation of demand and supply - huge demand and not enough supply! This has forced the housing market into a price rise almost instantly. We have seen some homes increase by over 5% in just 2 weeks, post-election. In some cases this has meant a £1,000 a week increase. Instructions which have been on the market for around a month pre-election have sold literally overnight, at full asking price! There have been more and more enquires from property investors, looking for family homes to rent. This is a sign of confidence in the market, as they look to capitalise on and increase in value, which is bad news for first time buyers.

LETTINGS UPDATE - Now has never been a better time to rent your home! As the economy goes from strength to strength, many professionals look to live and work in Kingston. We have a huge demand for properties to rent from the corporate sector. These kind of enquiries offer landlords a stress-free and secure income; coupled with investors snapping up the lower end of the market, demand has never been as fierce.

Although this seems like doom and gloom, it is very good news. The market has been relatively flat for the past 3 months, however, with Summer here we are expecting an increase of properties for sale and to rent.

STOP PRESS!

Home improvements

OUR FAIR FEES POLICY:

From our own local market survey carried out in May, many home owners in the KT2 areas are opting for improvements. This means that homes in this area are getting bigger and better, resulting in good quality homes on the market.

SALES - We’ll beat any other high street agents fees on a sole agency basis by 0.25%

As we are expecting a surge at present, we are offering FREE post-election evaluations. To get yours, call us TODAY!

Contact Alex Clark Sales & Lettings on 020 8239 0535, or visit 129 Richmond Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, KT2 5BZ 41

FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY - we are offering a SALES Guarantee. If we do not sell your home within 8 weeks of marketing, we will sell it for free. (Subject to T’s & C’s)

LETTINGS - We’ll beat any other high street agents by 2% on a fully managed service or 1% on any other rental service.

CROSSWORD

www.omnilocal.co.uk â&#x20AC;˘ Edition 34

ACROSS

DOWN

1 6 9 10 11 12 14 15 18 19 22 24 26 27 28 29

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 13 16 17 18 20 21 23 25

City of ancestral suffering (9) Evasive about son being comfortable (4) Sue assumes two fellows in charge to be enough (7) Disrupted most of literary film preview (7) Blades appearing when people have a row (4) Note lack of talk about one displaying toughness (10) B in test characteristic of a certain group (6) Calming drug is vetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s idea possibly (8) Reliable-sounding Scottish city (8) They work with a tool (6) Applaud â&#x20AC;&#x201C; yes, one goes wild, see (4,4,2) Encourage some of our generation (4) A complex plotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beginning to engross Peter perhaps (7) Loose rocks by church make an unpleasant sound (7) Advance payment for poet first off (4) Former Blue Peter presenter wearing vest? (9) 42

Stick it to the end, leaving after the others (4,3) Tent fire destroyed one Egyptian queen (9) A family related by blood (4) Two letters read aloud in tent (6) Crooked Eritrean lawyer may ask for one (8) Generous cleanerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s given one board (10) Ring lost in bar or beauty parlour (5) Country producing oil we hear (6) Middle name put first in place for telephone operators (4,6) I close home â&#x20AC;&#x201C; thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s serious (2,7) E.g. insert mobile numbers (8) For example, American backed Charles (4,2) Chap is to walk with female (7) Relative keeps us in money (6) Decorate for a party with sailors (5) Exam offers alternative to a student (4)

OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • July 2015

WORD SEARCH

Find all the listed seaside related words in the grid. Words can run across, backwards, up, down and diagonally but always in a straight line.

P C I C E C R E A M R V W E

V S A N D A L S G V T A L S

G S E O T I U Q S O M C K A

V G W O Z G R K O B Y A V D

T O C I N C I P L C T T C C

G N I P M A C U I E A I B Q

C N G B M M E B B C D O A S

S P S G W S I O Q U E N R V

G R N E K H A N L R F E B E

N N U Y I R F L G T L Z E N

I H I G D L A I L K O D C I

H O S N O B F H N S G D U H

S T N W E Y J I T S E S E S

I O E S T D R U N X E E N N

F R A T T P R Q N I Y C B U

S B D W S Q N A G P Q Y T S

A V S U N T A N G S P Y O S

BARBECUE BASEBALL BEES BICYCLE BLUE SKY CAMPING FISHING FLIES FLOWERS GARDENING GOLF HOT ICE CREAM INSECTS MOSQUITOES PICNIC SANDALS SKATEBOARD SPRINKLERS SUNSHINE SUNTAN SWIMMING VACATION

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

www.omnilocal.co.uk â&#x20AC;˘ Edition 34

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

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

JobSpot Calling all temps full and part time- all levels required for immediate bookings in the local area. Competitive rates Email: anne.lapham@absolutelyrecruitment.co.uk Or call: 020 8546 8686 As a result of a new contract gained, we are recruiting for a number of management and sales positions for a local company. Competitive salaries. Email: daniella.asante@absolutelyrecruitment.co.uk Or call: 020 8546 8686 Calling bright graduates looking to start a career in globally recognised companies as entry level administrator/customer service. Must have graduated from a top 40 university or equivalent with strong numerical reasoning. Competitive salaries. Email: georgina.carter@absolutelyrecruitment.co.uk Or call: 020 8546 8686

Database Executive/Administrator required local to Kingston upon Thames. Must have SQL and data reporting experience. ÂŁ40-45,000 per annum. Email: daniella.asante@absolutelyrecruitment.co.uk Or call: 020 8546 8686 Senior Product Manager required for local FMCG. Must be degree educated or equivalent. Fantastic opportunity to continue career. ÂŁ45-50,000 per annum Email: georgina.carter@absolutelyrecruitment.co.uk Or call: 020 8546 8686 Fantastic opportunities available for Insurance professionals at all levels. Medical experience preferable. Competitive salaries. Email: daniella.asante@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 34

OmniLocal - Kingston Upon Thames • July 2015

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