Selection Crawley #1 by Selection Magazine

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Crawley Edition

July 2013

Austerity Chic Cosmetics and the Credit Crunch Athens An Ancient City in a Modern World

AMR Granite

STUNNING

GR ANITE & QUARTZ WORKTOPS AT AMAZING PRICES...

AMR Granite are a local company who have a dedicated team of specialist stone masons who pride themselves in delivering the best possible finish in your kitchen. We continue to invest in training and technology so that you receive the best finish possible. We pride ourselves on an immaculate service and great after care whilst giving you excellent value for money. AMR Granite provide only the finest quality of granite, marble and quartz. We encourage all of our customers to visit our suppliers and choose from the hundreds of colours available. Our primary business is to template and install granite and quartz kitchen worktops. We also offer services such as vanity tops, tiles and hearths. With our experience and workmanship we are confident to deliver a great product at prices which will hopefully beat your expectations. We welcome both trade and public customers.

For your FREE no obligation quote, please call

01293 550184 w w w.amrgranite.co.uk

SMART PHONES SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION Or visit: AdEnquiry.com/amrgranite

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Blakemore & Sons Blakemore & Sons, is an established estate agency in Crawley. A family business with an enviable reputation and an excellent track record in residential estate agency oﬀering a highly professional yet personal service in Crawley, the surrounding area and beyond. From the initial free valuation of a property, through marketing, negotiating, and completion, our clients receive honest and realistic advice – designed to make your move as smooth as possible. No important tasks are delegated to inexperienced staﬀ. 1 person responsible for your entire sales process. 1 person responsible for lettings always a successful Landlord with years of experience. 1% - and no VAT (Our fees remain untypically upfront, simple and transparent). We have a high percentage of returning clients, and recommendations.

SMART PHONES SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION Or visit: AdEnquiry.com/blakemore

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Objets d’Art

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Galler y & Framers - 01342 315000

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Bespoke Framing

Kate Wyatt

Family Business

Iain Faulkner

Needlework Framing

Fabian Perez

Memorabilia Framing

Rebecca Lardner

Framing on premises

Henderson Cisz

Quotations

& many others

93 Lingfield Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 2EL Tuesday - Saturday 9am - 5pm objets-dart@live.co.uk, follow us on

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A very warm welcome... Welcome to our fresh new look-and-feel Selection magazine.

see Selection magazine cropping up in more and more local areas.

You may have become familiar with us over the past few months as Get Local magazine. So why the change?

We’ve also made it easier for you to learn more about some of our advertisers. Look out for our new ‘Enhanced Ads’ as you go through the magazine, and either visit the web address shown to ﬁnd out more details or to make an enquiry online, or just scan the QR code if you’re a smart-phone user.

Well ﬁrstly, as we’ve been out and about busily talking to both readers and advertisers, it’s become clear that it’s time for something a little diﬀerent. Our unique format, together with regular editorial content, aims to deliver a magazine that you’ll enjoy reading. Secondly, it’s a great opportunity for us to bring together some of our more geographically-distant magazines under one common name, and so you’ll soon

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Finally we’ve simpliﬁed our distribution dates, so you’ll be seeing your new magazine a little earlier in the month. As always, we would love to hear your thoughts - just give us a call on 07715 372448.

Advertisers... Would you like your business to appear in next month’s Selection magazine? We’re reaching thousands of homes each month, almost entirely delivered door to door. If you are looking to ﬁnd new customers, we would love to help. For advertising rates and coverage areas, please call either: Jon: 07846 611290 Tanya: 07715 372448 www.selectionmagazine.com

Mick & Laurie

Double Glazing Repairs & Installation

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Mobile: Mick 07899 946368 Laurie 07900 600658

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DIY disasters How many times have you eagerly started a DIY project full of enthusiasm only to get half way into it and get bored? If this sounds like you, you’re not alone. About 1.7 million of us are living with a DIY or home renovation project that’s remained unfinished for the past two years or more. If you think that’s bad, almost a quarter of a million households are so resigned to their ongoing DIY nightmare that they have lived with an unfinished project for more than 10 years. For many of those DIY part-timers a restful sleep is also out of the question, as 38 per cent have unfinished projects in their bedroom, while culinary creations will be difficult for the 2.8 million of us who are living with unfinished kitchen

refurbishments. You won’t even be able to wash the DIY dirt off yourself if you are one of the 2.5 million British households living with an unfinished bathroom. And you can forget that fancy dinner party you’ve been planning if you’re among the 15 per cent of households awaiting completion of a dining room refurbishment. Make that another TV dinner. However, it’s not only your or your spouse’s sanity you risk by taking on sizeable DIY and renovation projects. You may also risk invalidating your home insurance policies, especially if you take on complex electrical, plumbing or building work that you are not trained to complete. If an unqualified householder causes a fire with faulty wiring or floods the house when installing a shower, they may find they are left picking up the

cost of any claim. A bad workman blames his tools, or so the saying goes, but in the UK it seems a bad workman blames lack of time to complete the job. Half of those living in a property with an unfinished DIY or renovation project blamed too little time for the project being left unfinished. Almost a third blamed a lack of finances for the incomplete project. If it isn’t time or money that’s stopping us completing a task, it’s other people, according to the study. Disputes with tradesmen, planning departments and neighbours have called a halt to nine per cent of unfinished projects. Household appearance isn’t the only thing to suffer as a result of uncompleted tasks. It seems that

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when our DIY projects get left on the back burner, so do our social lives, as a quarter of households living with a never-ending renovation drama (NERD), have been unable to invite friends or family to visit their property. On top of this, unﬁnished DIY projects provide a big source of conﬂict. In a quarter of households this has resulted in arguments between partners. This is hardly surprising when you consider that in 10 per cent of all cases at least one room has been left completely

uninhabitable. As a result, ongoing DIY dramas result in significant mental anguish, according to the study. Nine per cent of us with unfinished projects have suffered from insomnia, while five per cent believe the emotional stress has damaged their performance at work. David Rochester, head of underwriting at Halifax Home Insurance, says: ‘Budgeting

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effectively for the financial cost of completing a DIY project and being realistic about the time it will take to complete it can save significant heartache. Employing a professional tradesperson can be an effective strategy to ensure work is completed on time, on budget and to an acceptable standard. Indeed, employing a qualified tradesperson to complete complex renovation projects is vital if householders don’t want to risk invalidating their insurance policy if a problem occurs.’

PUZZLES

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Brain Teasers They might frazzle your head...

POCKET MONEY

SEQUENCE

2013

TROLL CHARGE

A. The year 2013 uses four diﬀerent digits. When did this last happen? B. The digits in 2013 form a sequence (0, 1, 2, 3). When did this last happen (not necessarily the same digits)? C. The digits in 2013 form a sequence (0, 1, 2, 3). When will this next happen (not necessarily the same digits)?

Between your house and her house, you have to cross 7 bridges, and as it goes in the land of make believe, there is a troll under every bridge!

Last weekend I was given my pocket money, which is meant to last me all week.

Each troll, quite rightly, insists that you pay a troll toll. Before you can cross their bridge, you have to give them half of the cakes you are carrying, but as they are kind trolls, they each give you back a single cake.

On Monday, I spent a quarter of my money on clothes. On Tuesday, I spent one third of my remaining money on a CD. On Wednesday I spent half of my remaining money on sweets. Finally on Thursday I spent my last £1.25 on a comic. How much pocket money did I receive?

HOW MANY WORDS?

You are your way to visit your Grandma, who lives at the end of the valley. It’s her birthday, and you want to give her the cakes you’ve made.

How many cakes do you have to leave home with to make sure that you arrive at Grandma’s with exactly 2 cakes?

Using the grid to the right, how many words can you ﬁnd? Each word must contain the central C and no letter can be used twice, however, the letters do not have to be connected. Proper nouns are not allowed, however, plurals are. There is at least one nine letter word. Excellent: 48 words. Good: 35 words. Average: 28 words.

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BATHROOMS, BEDROOMS, WETROOM SPECIALISTS KITCHENS & STUDIES FULL DESIGN, SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION SERVICE 30 STATION ROAD HORLEY, SURREY RH6 9HL TEL: 01293 823824 www.showers4u.com

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Landscaping • Maintenance • Clearance For free estimates call Tel: 01293 886 798 Mob: 07532 078 287 enquiries@sussexgardencraft.co.uk www.sussexgardencraft.co.uk

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‘Austerity Chic’ the new look as credit c When times are tough women are not buying lipstick, new research from Mintel has revealed.

- with the same percentage giving the same answer for skincare, haircare and fragrance.

The research from Mintel Beauty Innovation shows that the popularly held notion of the “Lipstick Eﬀect” - where women purchase lipstick as a “pick-me-up” in times of hardship - is, in fact, not happening in the current economic climate.

In fact, lip colour came top of the list of cosmetic products women would be most likely to spend less on or stop using.

The research was conducted in three countries, UK, France and the USA, revealing fascinating insights into how female consumers are reacting in terms of beauty purchasing. Just 3% of women in each country said that they purchased a lipstick to make themselves feel better

However, the research also reveals that the beauty business as a whole is resilient. Six out of ten women surveyed in all countries reported no change in their beauty buying habits, despite the troubled economy. In addition, it seems certain products are able to weather the impact of the economy. More than 60% of women in each country spent the same or more on their foundations and

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women in all three countries were most likely to spend the same or more on essential products such as shampoo and cleansers.

“It is a common perception that lipstick sales go up in times of economic adversity, yet this research reveals a very diﬀerent picture. Haircare and skincare are actually the beauty categories where women are spending the same or more,” said Nica Lewis, head consultant, Mintel Beauty Innovation. “In this recession, Austerity Chic - or looking good for less - is replacing the Lipstick Eﬀect. Beauty is now marketed as a necessity rather than a luxury and women are being creative with their spending to keep up appearances,” she continues. “This means women are investing in moisturisers, body lotion and hair care, rather than lipstick.â€� They are also - not surprisingly adapting their spending on beauty treatments. Americans are most likely to cut back on beauty treatments by extending the time between treatments or switching to DIY at-home for facials, manicure/pedicure, waxing, blow-dry or hair colouring). Of users, 50% claim to have cut down on beauty treatment

crunch bites spending. On the other hand, women in the UK are least likely to stop having beauty treatments with only one in four claiming to have stopped going for treatments. And French women are the most frugal - they are most likely to switch from the salon to doing treatments at home. Reﬂecting the fact that the US has been in a recession for longer than Europe, a third of women surveyed there said they’d switched to a lower priced brand for their skincare, hair care or cosmetics, compared to just 25% in the UK and France. The research also showed that the US market favoured quantity Americans were most likely to buy value sized or multi-action products, followed by the British. French women are most dedicated to their beauty products, with 12% saying they had cut back on other things in order to keep buying their favourite beauty products. In contrast, fewer than one in ten consumers in the US and UK said the same. French women also rated highest in terms of frugality - with the highest percentage saying that they prefer to wait until beauty products are on sale.

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Make up you can wake up in... For most women in the UK, applying make-up in the morning is like getting dressed or having breakfast - it’s just part of the normal routine. But what if you didn’t have to spend a fortune on regularly buying beauty products or spend hours prettifying yourself? What if you woke up every day with your make-up looking as fresh as a character from a TV show? It may be possible, if you opt for semipermanent make-up. One woman who investigated this area a few years ago and has since become an expert on it is

HUGHES

Debra Robson-Lawrence. Based in her discreet Harley Street clinic, RobsonLawrence pioneered semi-permanent make-up over 20 years ago and these days is acknowledged as a leader in her field. She is sought out by everyone from actresses desiring high-definition perfection right through to women who’ve lost their eyebrows through chemotherapy or alopecia and who want to look their confident best again. Cosmetic surgeon Dr Rajiv Grover has described Robson-Lawrence as having ‘a magic touch’.

So, what is semi-permanent make-up? It’s easy for Hollywood horror stories to spring to mind when you think of this form of make-up. But we’ve come a long

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way since the days of bold and scarylooking tattooed-on eyebrows. These days the whole point is that it’s subtle enough to make you simply look fresher and prettier, which is the main reason that it’s good to visit a practitioner who really knows what they’re doing. Semi-permanent make-up can be an option for a number of looks including enhancing brows, contouring and defining lips or adding a flattering infusion of rosiness to lips that are grey or have a lifeless appearance. It can even be used to successfully recreate the appearance of eyelashes - a godsend for anyone who has lost their own eyelashes through alopecia or cancer, or for burns patients. Robson-Lawrence has trademarked a micro-pigmentation technique called Fame (Facial Aesthetic Micro Enhancement), which is ultra-delicate. The clinic also has a technique that can be used for optical nipple and areola reconstruction in women who’ve had implants after partial or total mastectomies. Ten per cent of the cost of each reconstructive procedure is donated to Breast Cancer Care. So if you fancy turning back the clock a few years or simply correcting a few flaws, then semi-permanent make-up may well be worth considering. For more information visit: www.permanent-makeup.com.

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For the kids...

How to play... At ﬁrst glance, these two pictures might look the same. But there are actually a number of small diﬀerences between them. Can you see how many? Ask a grown-up to text your answer, together with YOUR name and YOUR age, to 07846 611290 (normal text rate). We will pick one lucky winner at random, who will receive 3 free lessons for themself and a friend at Little Kickers. Winning classes must be for children between 18 months and 6 years old. All entrants will receive one free class!

Spot the Difference

Win THREE FREE CLASSES at Little Kickers! Plus EVERY entry receives one free lesson!

Local Classes in Crawley & Horley and other Sussex locations

Free Trial Class 01293 226201 CRB Checked Coaches Fun Based Learning Enjoyed By Girls & Boys

Where learning’s a ball Crawley, Horley, East Grinstead, Horsham and Brighton too. ��

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�� Family Insight - Advertisement If you would like to learn more about your family or ancestors, Family Insight may oﬀer the perfect service for you. Brian, who runs the business, has been able to successfully put relatives in touch with eachother for about 20 years. He comments, “A recent client asked me to trace both his mother’s and father’s descendants back to the early 19th century. We discovered that although my client was born in Barnet, his parents originated in Devon and Norfolk. I have since discovered that the father’s family have been in the same small Devon village for 4-5 generations.’

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Why not ﬁnd out more about your family? Please call Brian 01293 406753

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Athens

An ancient city in a modern world With its magniﬁcent architecture, legendary cultural attractions and unparalleled place in history, the Greek capital continues to captivate. The city blends the classical and the contemporary and boasts some of the world’s oldest landmarks. The Acropolis No visit to Athens is complete without a journey through the acropolis - the sacred rock of Athens. Acropolis Hill dates back to the Archaic period (650-480 BC), when precious oﬀerings were made to honour the city’s patron goddess, Athena Parthenos. During the Classical period (450-330 BC) three temples were erected on the site: the Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Nike and the Erechtheion, along with the monumental entrance called the propylaea. Today, the temple ruins still command the city landscape. Ancient legends Near the acropolis is the Hill of the Muses (Philopappou Hill), where philosopher Socrates was sentenced to death for his antidemocratic views and advanced ideas on youth and religion. Socrates was ordered to take his life by his own

hand by drinking a cup of hemlock in accordance to Athenian law. In Horologion, known as the Tower of the Winds, listen closely for the voices some say speak from an ancient time.

It is not known when the building was destroyed but, like many large buildings in Greece, an earthquake probably brought it down during the mediaeval period.

A Roman legacy In what was the ancient walled quarter of Athens, you’ll also discover the striking Hadrian’s Arch, a gift from the Athenians to the Roman emperor Hadrian. The marble arch, inaugurated by Hadrian in 131AD, lies on an ancient street that led from the old city of Athens to the new Roman section he built.

Ancient in setting, modern in feel Athens’ historic appeal is well balanced with its modern and sophisticated restaurants, shops and colourful outdoor markets. The Plaka is a lively shopping district at the foot of the acropolis, dating back to the 19th Century. Here you’ll ﬁnd a maze of cobblestone pedestrian streets lined with shops, boutiques, souvenir stands and antique ﬂea market stalls that beckon to all who visit.

The Temple of Olympian Zeus The ancient temple is now in ruins in the centre of Athens. Although begun in the 6th Century BC, it was not completed until the reign of the emperor Hadrian in the 2nd Century AD, when it became the largest temple in Greece. Hadrian dedicated the temple to Zeus, known to the Romans as Jupiter, to the king of the gods. He erected a giant gold and ivory statue of Zeus and placed an equally large one of himself next to it.

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Introducing Jackie Wright Not Just Travel Jackie, your personal travel consultant, has been working in the travel industry for 27 years, so has a wealth of knowledge and expertise to share with you. Jackie sells worldwide holidays, with a particular specialism in holidays to Florida. She lived in Florida for 5 years and is very passionate about the destination; you’d be hard-pressed to ﬁnd something she doesn’t know about Florida!

Jackie’s service in the travel industry has enabled her to travel to many of the destinations that she sells, and experience them ﬁrsthand. Jackie believes that customer service is paramount, and she will ensure that the whole booking experience is a seemless and enjoyable process. This is why Jackie has many loyal, repeat customers, and we’re sure you will become one too!

Introducing Donna Rowe travel-pa.com My name is Donna Rowe and I can help you to arrange your perfect holiday. I delight in arranging dream holidays for all my customers. I’ve travelled extensively so can give you ﬁrst hand advice on numerous destinations. Some of my favourites are: Australia, Mauritius, California, Greece, Egypt, Turkey and Italy. I have helped clients organise their weddings whether it be an occasion for just

the bride and groom, to large family aﬀairs; honeymoons in all four corners of the world; city breaks, holidays tailored just as required and of course lots and lots of summer and winter breaks. My motto has always been ‘it’s not what you know, it’s knowing where to ﬁnd it’ and that means that you can be assured that whatever your requirements I will put 100% into getting it right!

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Cake Matters ��

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Cakes and Cake Toppers For Special Occasions

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Advertise here Served in 4 Pint containers, poured straight from the cask, chilled and ready to drink

Opening times: Monday 10am - 4.30pm Tuesday 10am - 4.30pm Wednesday 10am - 6pm Thursday 10am - 7pm Friday 10am - 6pm Saturday 10am - 1pm Sunday Closed

Your business could be seen by thousands of local readers. To advertise in next month’s magazine, please call:

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Also 1:1 Tuition, Classes & Demonstrations British Sugarcraft Guild Accredited Demonstrator

Carolyn Harvey

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Katie Wells Photography Katie Wells Photography is a locally based professional photography service, specialising in capturing real people at special moments in their lives. Katie is based in Horley and has been a wedding and portrait photographer for over 7 years. In that time covering nearly 200 weddings and over 700 portraits or family photo shoots. Whether shooting an intimate wedding or spending an hour on the beach with a madcap family, or in the mobile studio with a mummy to be, newborn or toddlers and tiara’s Katie brings out the best in her subjects whilst maintaining a fun relaxed atmosphere. Each of the packages Katie oﬀers includes a disc of ALL the images - so you and your family can remember every last moment.

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Katie has achieved much success and praise for her magical images - featuring in Vogue in Jan 2013 and most recently with a front cover of NCT Mid Sussex Magazine. Katie says “ I love people & I love photography - my aim is to capture what someone has in their minds eye - the diﬀerences people have in their personalities whether they are little people or grown ups saying ‘I do’. “I am a very lucky lady - I get to do what I love for a living and people let me in to really special moments to capture memories that last forever for them!’ www.katiewellsphotography.co.uk Capturing Your Memories katie@katiewellsphotography.co.uk 01293 775542 or 07545 463448

Create a productive urban For those of us with small urban gardens or maybe just a balcony or patio, the idea of growing our own fruit and veg may seem a distant dream. But with a little innovation and eﬀort, it’s quite possible to provide food for the table from a very limited space.

you will be surprised to find that you can grow an amazing range of fruit and veg in a very small space. The tumbling type of tomatoes and strawberries have been popular with container gardeners for a few years, but peppers, chillies and aubergines are just as easy to grow and offer different additions to your table. Herbs are easily grown in an upright strawberry pot, a trough on a window ledge or in an old sink, while bay trees do very well in a pot, providing they are protected during the harsh winter months.

Varieties are now available that have been speciﬁcally brought onto the market for container growing. The biggest choice is from seed catalogues, although there are plug plants or ready-grown plants also available from garden centres and mail order companies. Browse through their available selections, and

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Why not try something more exotic and plant a blueberry bush in a pot to enjoy the tasty, dusty fruits in the summer? Grow your own spuds in black sacks or an old dustbin for extra special new potatoes for the family to enjoy. The pickand-come-again salad and leafy greens are great for container growing. Containers for your plants need not be expensive, and nowadays there are attractive plastic pots available which are not only cheap, lightweight and practical, but have the advantage of not absorbing precious water, unlike terracotta, so your compost stays moist for longer. Buy a range of sizes suitable for the individual needs of your plants, paying special attention to the mature size. When planting, general purpose com-

post is suitable for most plants, but always check the label or seed packet for any special requirements before planting. A handful of water-retaining crystals added to the compost will help with water retention. Fill the pot up to an inch from the top, then tap down to gently firm the compost. Scoop out a hole in the centre a little bigger than the root ball on your new plant, then pop the plant in, gently firming the compost around it. Water generously and check that the soil is level with the top of the original root ball. When sowing from seed always follow the seed manufacturer’s instructions regarding depth, time of year to sow and aftercare. Now all you have to do is make sure your containers are regularly fed and watered. When flowers appear, step up the feeding with a feed that is high in potash, readily available at your local garden centre. Some plants, like tomatoes and other upright varieties, will need support to prevent the stems snapping in the wind or when laden with fruit.

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With simple plant care, you and your family can look forward to plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables from your very own container veg patch.

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