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6000 copies distributed door to door in Hampstead Garden Suburb
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MARCH 2016 | ISSUE 10
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successfully selling for over 26 years
INSIDE
FOOD & NUTRITION • Home & Garden • Education & politics • health & Fitness • AND MUCH MORE...
inside
Contents MARCH 2016
Food & Nutrition
4 Recipe Matters (Salmon Dish)
Education & Politics
6 Politics Matters with Andrew Dismore 8 The Professional Careers Consultancy
Beauty & Fashion
10 Getting to know Someone By Sophie Personne
15
Health & Fitness
15 Remarkable Relationships by Jessica Mcgregor Johnson
Home & Garden
30
20 Grass Roots by Sally Tierney 23 Plant of the Month 24 It’s all Child Play by Sue Gascoyne
Motoring & Travel
26 Auto-Biographies by TimBarnes-Clay
Business &Finance
28 Money Matters by Martin Lewis 30 Pension Doctor by Charlie Reading
020-3659-2399 info@thesuburbcircular.co.uk www.thesuburbcircular.co.uk No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the prior permission of the publishers. While every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the editorial content no responsibility can be taken for errors and omissions. The views expressed in the magazine are not those necessary those of the publishers. Readers are strongly advised to check information published with individual advertisers and take legal advise where appropriate, before entering any transactions.
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EDITORIAL r
Edito EDITORIALKlein Sarah
Editor
Contributors
h Klein SaraShein eez Barber
Dismore AM ribuwtors ContAndre La Belle Table ore AM Andrew Dism Sophie Personne PCCGascoyne The Sue ker an nneSherm Simoeon Sophie Perso Burns Hillel David David Hillel Burns Sally Tierny Johnson Jessica Mcgregor Martin Lewis y -Clay Tiernarnes SallyTimB s Walker Jame oyne Sue Gasc
Sally Tierney ADVERTISING es-Clay TimEliBarn Cohen 020-3659-2399 Martin Lewis IGN & DESing Charlie Read PRODUC TION Jon Hart
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DESIGN & PRODUC TION Kerrie Callard www.thesuburbcircular.co.uk
SuburbCircular1_Jan16_SINGLES.indd 3
the edito r fromW Dear Readers
e British are proud, and rightly so, of our reputa tion regarding etiquette. Wh at I can’t seem to fathom is the lack of etiquette regard ing the use of the mobile ders r Realain ph Allow meDea one. to exp ; On quite a few occasi ons I have sent a ‘wassa to help t messageontoabo can’ I p’ but , ther som the wea ut eon e, seen that they have rea know that I do go er was! Id it, and then witness emb Dec of theama th m mon dis the app mild ing from the ‘chat’ withou zingly ear exclaim how t a peep of a response. It was splendid! So now me it’s mildtalk To emb Dec ing toer.som can’t recall such alike eone in person and, afte r finishing talking, ... the way the per of son out wo uld walk away without that I’ve got that any reaction! A friend told me to stop ‘being sill being abroad k from y’ved arri as itbac just e cou hav ld very well be that the ld wou Many of you recipient is in a situation where s/he can not respond e.g. they are in the presence of someone else. Althou gh a seemingly reasonabl e explanation this didn’t really alleviate the insult -lik thaterienc e to fee d lin pare gs com exp feet 00 40,0 ed when there ience at ul amb re reo ectfccu resp rrence friendly andwe s of this scenar io.castle which to New at 5 feet. It was a recent trip of a train ride plane What I consider to fare had cost as much as a cassn’t reminded me about this. My be a more severedoe e ofseem bad mobile phone this yet etiquet , tion tinaing te was the an Des follow ; a friend had asked me ride to an average Europe something via ‘wassap’, I subsequently began typing out entain resthe min pon pro se so only to be was ch whi el, sho trav air ent’d of to learn that, whilst I wa and style elemcke if you s epol itelzing ama y doi is quit ng ch so, whi t, my exis friend had still to dis ears app app 60’s and 70’s, eared i.e. exited the wassap conversation. Although the same it… ut sug abo ges ted explanation could think have been feasible, it see med more unlikely as she had ini tiated the conversation , not the other way round. py New Year!
I
Wishing you all a very Hap
Prior to the smart phon e era, we (or at least I) didn’t really have this problem with SMS Tex ts because we never knew th, t mon nex il Unt if or when the other person had read it!
Sarah
Which is why I feel ‘saf er’ to broadcast this me ssage to you via a Magazine as I’ll never know for certain if you sto pped reading this half way through! Until next month,
Sarah www.thesuburbcircular.co.uk
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05/01/2016 09:13
FOOD & WINE
Recipe matters
Poached salmon with soy, lime, spring onion and sesame seeds
l Easy l Serves 8 l Ready in
10 minutes
This light and fresh Japanese salmon dish is a great way to start any dinner party. Lime, spring onion and sesame flavours make it zingy and delicious. Nutritional info per serving Calories: Fat:
161kcals 9.9g (1.7g saturated)
Protein:
16.1g
Carbohydrates: 1.2g (1.1g sugars) Fibre:
0.5g
Salt
1.6g
INGREDIENTS l 600g salmon fillet (not the tail end),
skinned and pin-boned, then cut into 8 (about 75g) pieces l 1½ tbsp white sesame seeds, lightly toasted in a dry frying pan l 4 spring onions, green parts only, thinly sliced at an angle l Bunch of chives, half of them chopped for the dressing l 1½ tsp wasabi paste (see tip) l 4½ tbsp soy sauce l 3 tsp mirin (see tip) l Juice of 3 limes (about 5 tbsp), plus extra wedges to serve METHOD ➊ For the dressing, mix the wasabi paste and soy sauce in a bowl, then stir in the mirin and
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lime juice (you can do this a few hours in advance). ➋ When ready to serve, bring a pan of salted water to a gentle boil, then poach the salmon for 1 minute until it just turns opaque. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to serving plates. While the fish is still hot, spoon over the dressing, scatter over some toasted sesame seeds, chopped spring onions and the chopped and whole chives. Serve.
TIP The salmon here is served rare. Poach for another minute if you prefer it cooked more. Both wasabi paste and mirin (a Japanese rice wine used for cooking) are available from the international section of large supermarkets.
Education & politics
MATTERS ANDREW DISMORE LABOUR LONDON ASSEMBLY MEMBER FOR BARNET AND CAMDEN
Rising probate fees: The conservatives stealth mansion tax
T
his time last year, we were in the full swing of a General Election. One of the issues over which the Conservatives particularly attacked Labour, was the plan for a mansion tax on properties worth over £2 million, with all sorts of scare stories about how much it would be, and that it would be charged on less valuable properties. It’s clear that this policy was not popular in parts of London due to higher property values, and may have played a part
in people deciding to cast their vote elsewhere.
dramatically reduced under the Conservatives’ scheme.
Imagine my surprise, therefore, when lo and behold, the Conservatives are now proposing their very own stealth mansion tax, and a tax that goes much further down the scale, too!
Through this tax increase designed to raise an extra £250 million a year, under the plan, estates worth over £500,000 will have to pay £4,000; those worth £1 million, £8,000; and estates of £2 million or more, a whopping £20,000 - a mega increase on the current fee of just £155, if the application is made by a solicitor.
In a little publicised announcement of 18 February, the Ministry of Justice is now consulting on a huge increase in probate fees, paid on the value of the estates of deceased - and not just real estate, but everything to be passed on. In addition to Inheritance Tax liabilities, beneficiaries would see their inheritance
What’s more, they aren’t going to make it any easier for you - but it will be easier for them, as probate applications will be moved from the current paper-based forms to an online system. The Conservatives say it is all about ‘reducing worry for executors at what is often a very difficult and distressing time,’ – but it seems to me that this new swingeing tax, which bears no relation to the amount of work the government administrators will be doing, will do nothing of the sort: it will increase worry and distress, as executors will have to find the tax up front to take out the grant of probate to finalise their deceased loved one’s estate. This is a stealth mansion tax, pure and simple!
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Students’ Housing Woes At what could be said to be the other end of the scale, I recently visited Middlesex University students to see an exhibition they were promoting, about the problems facing students renting their first home. It was clear that many students were not aware of their rights, being the first time they were living away from home and their first experience of the private rental market. I was particularly struck by the model houses in the exhibition, where students had written comments in the windows on their experiences. Comments such as: ‘Everything you wished wouldn’t
be there, there was. Mould, damp, rats and a terrible landlord.’ ; ‘It feels like you’re signing a contract with Trotter’s Independent Trading Co’; ‘ the landlord cancelled our contract, a week before we should have moved in’ ; ‘ London = Mould, high rent and lazy landlord’. Whilst there may be nothing new about students having poor accommodation (as I recall from my university days many years ago), the complaints that I heard are now far worse than ever before. With such pressure in the housing market, it’s so hard for students and other young people setting up home for the first time to find decent affordable accommodation and, as they are new to the rental
market, there is a real risk that they will be subject to exploitation. It can be tough with bad landlords, poor quality housing, overcrowding and extremely expensive rents. We clearly need to deal with London’s housing crisis in its many disparate forms, but I believe that the next Mayor should pay particular attention to the needs of students and young people in his housing policies, with particular reference to ensuring that they are protected from bad landlords. I believe that this should include a campaign working with universities and college authorities and student unions, to ensure students are aware of their rights as tenants and how to enforce them. AS SEEN ON
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Education & politics
CAREERS CONSULTANCY T
he process for graduates entering the job market is increasingly layered and time consuming. Excellent academics, varied skills and extracurricular activities are all expected by employers, as well as relevant work experience. Thinking about your career starts from sixth form stage when it is important to make careful A level and university course choices and to think about getting that all important work experience or internship. These can be hard to obtain but they are definitely worth persevering for since unpaid work undertaken by students increases the likelihood of gaining a graduate job by one and a half times. “Just wanted to let you know that Birmingham offered me a place! All my other four options did as well. Thank you so much for all your help. I would never have got the offers without it!” University Applicant.
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the Suburb Circular • MARCH 2016
Candidates applying for graduate positions face a number of hurdles and it is increasingly common to be put through up to 5 or 6 rounds of testing and interviewing. It is absolutely essential therefore that every graduate does as much as they can to make themselves stand out from the crowd. The CBI have identified key skills that employers look for from graduates – self management, teamwork, business and customer awareness, problem solving, communication and literacy, application of numeracy and IT. The Professional Careers Consultancy (TPCC) was set up in North West London to help students and graduates promote themselves and understand the transfer of their skills so that they can demonstrate to employers that they are the right candidate for the job. In our experience the real search for a job begins during the first year at university - it’s not just academics and high grades that matter, a part time job with customer interface involvement in a small business or taking part in a society, all help to prove commercial acumen and suitability. Applicants must impress with an outstanding CV, varied work experience, diverse interests and must be memorable at interview.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL THEREFORE THAT EVERY GRADUATE DOES AS MUCH AS THEY CAN TO MAKE THEMSELVES STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD. The TPCC works on a one to one basis either face to face or via skype to prepare applicants for the recruitment process from start to finish. Our advice starts at school with personal statements, university and medical school interviews, covering letters for work experience and CVs. For graduates we offer practical help with application forms and advice on CV style, layout and content. We also provide telephone interview practice, preparation for assessment centre activities and face to face mock interviews with immediate feedback. Each of these elements are vital parts in the selection process. “It was really helpful to practise interview questions and have constructive feedback on them – I think it helped me feel more relaxed for the real thing.” Big Four Accountancy Applicant
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9
BEAUTY & FASHION
SUCCESSFUL By Sophie Personne www.successful-dating.com
I
t can’t be stressed enough that getting to know someone properly is very important. All too often, when we start dating and find a person that we really like, we just rush into things without taking the time to really find out about them. It is unintentional, we actually think that we do get to know as much as we can. With all the excitement and promise of what could be, we don’t always pay enough attention to what they are actually saying or doing and
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instead see what we want to see or hear what we want to hear. Taking the time to really get to know someone is in essence the foundation of whether the relationship will be successful or not. Obviously, it can be argued that it’s a lifelong process anyway as we will all change and evolve with age but the core normally remains the same. A lot of people don’t always understand that you have to
invest a lot of time and emotion into finding out how compatible you both are. There is simply no other way. It is not an easy task as it can leave you feeling like your relationships never work or last more than a few months. This is normally the point where we can become open to settling with anyone just because we want to feel loved and to be honest, that’s the worst thing that could happen. It’s where we normally go into ‘desperation mode’ and close our
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Getting to know someone
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BEAUTY & FASHION ▼
SUCCESSFUL DATING continued eyes because we don’t want to be on our own. There is also a lot to be said about listening to your gut instinct. We often see things that we are really not so sure about as we get to know a partner. I know that I certainly tried to silence the internal red buzzer a number of times over the years and that never served me... quite the opposite. So it is important to remember to dig further when you are unsure about something or to not ignore the signs. When we start seeing somebody, we normally only see the positives and think that they are perfect. This is why there has to be a certain element of time investment. Attention to detail is essential and you need to quickly establish
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what the other person’s flaws are. Some you can live with and some you can’t, we are all different and certain things will matter to us where others don’t. And after all, we all have our own quirks! Sometimes, something that seems like a minor detail and of little importance will actually show that you both have very different values. This is where it is worth mentioning the importance of knowing yourself truly as well as your own ethics, beliefs and life goals. If they differ from the person you are with, you are probably setting yourself up for failure. Honesty at an early stage is paramount. There is absolutely no point in trying to impress the other person because at some point or another, the real you will emerge and this is where relationships fail
Taking the time to really get to know someone is in essence the foundation of whether the relationship will be successful or not. because ‘he/she changed’. Someone should love you for who you are... it is a common statement but just because you really like someone doesn’t mean that they are right for you so always be yourself or it simply won’t work. So take your time, enjoy discovering your new partner and how compatible you both are... There is no rush, it’s all part of the journey.
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HEALTH & FITNESS
CONTACT LENSES By DAVID HILLEL BURNS
A
mazingly, contact lenses were invented by Leonardo da Vinci. He got the science right in 1508 but his ideas could not be put into practice until 1887. They were not available in the UK until around 1930 and became popular in the 1950s followed by more comfortable soft contact lenses in the 1970s. Nowadays there are so many different types of contacts that, with specialist fitting, almost anyone can wear them all day for the best eyesight possible and in comfort. They have many clear advantages over specs!
– and some disadvantages so David discusses how they can be for each individual. To find out what’s best, please book an appointment. Contact lenses can do more than glasses. One of their first uses was in keratoconus, an eye condition affecting one person in about every two thousand and often starting in the teenage years. In keratoconus the front of the eye (the cornea) grows very slightly the wrong shape, causing blurry eyesight.
good as special contact lenses, available here, to restore the sight. So if you know anyone who might be suffering from keratoconus, please let them know that there is specialist help locally.
Specs for keratoconus are not as
David is always happy to answer questions from local people about eyesight. David@Davidhillel.co.uk 119 East Finchley High Road 020 8444 2233
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15
HEALTH & FITNESS
RELATIONSHIPS By JESSICA MCGREGOR JOHNSON
My life doesn’t fit anymore!
H
ave you ever had the feeling that you no longer fit your current life, or it doesn’t fit you? Maybe you are feeling bewildered, frustrated, or even angry. I know that feeling personally, life as do many of the people I work with. There you are having worked so hard, strived to create a certain lifestyle, and after all this time and effort you find that it doesn’t fulfil you anymore. You no longer look forward to the things that you used to enjoy, and even when things go well and you achieve your objectives, it feels like an empty victory. Why is this? Why do we seemingly grow out of our life? Well because growing up never finishes. What interested us and gave us joy when we were twenty changes as we move through life But there is still the question about why it happens and dealing with the disappointment that it has. When we first choose our lifestyle - which includes career, where we want to live, our interests, hobbies, and the people we have fun with - we do so from the person we are in that moment. Our likes, dislikes, desires, beliefs, interests, and outside influences all have a bearing on what we choose. However, a lot of people who made a conscious choice about their life now find themselves
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the Suburb Circular • MARCH 2016
There are different phases in our life. This is a good thing. When we first start out we are looking to launch ourselves into the world. Only later, as we see what things are more important to us personally, as we define what our personal values are, do our life desires change too. Often this can involve a feeling of making a contribution in the world, being more focused outside of ourselves. disinterested and disillusioned. When I hear this I cheer! Why? Because it means that they are growing as a human being. They are moving and changing and learning more about themselves, becoming more in tune with who they are. Often they also find that people they once had a lot in common with now longer feature in their lives. It is all an indication of how we all grow and evolve as we go through life. Things that may have been of interest in the past no longer are, and as those interests change so do life choices.
THINGS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN OF INTEREST IN THE PAST NO LONGER ARE, AND AS THOSE INTERESTS CHANGE SO DO LIFE CHOICES
It really doesn’t matter what our choices are as long as they make us feel happy and fulfilled. They need to be an expression of who we are now. So if you are beginning to feel that your life doesn’t fit you anymore just know that it is fine. It is perfect time to explore all the possibilities that lie before you and you can start right now. Be bold, be outrageous and go for what would truly make you happy!
Jessica offers Life Guidance and Coaching, and she sees her job as helping you remove all the blocks and limitations out of your life, so together we can peel back the layers and find your truth within. This then points to a clear way forward to achieve your heart’s desire. If you want to know more you can visit her website jessicamcgregorjohnson.com
GIFTS & events
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the Suburb Circular • MARCH 2016
TAX AND FINANCIAL PLANNING SEMINAR & MEETINGS
London & Manchester • Tax implications of making Aliyah – Israel & UK perspectives • Residency • Domicile
• Mitigating UK Inheritance tax
• Offshore pensions (QROPS)
• Retirement investing • Offshore investing • New rules on UK property
• Setting up business in Israel
• Working in Israel for UK company, • Tax liabilities when working in Israel
Tax & Financial Planning LONDON: MARCH 14TH
MANCHESTER: MARCH 16TH
1-1 Meetings: 9:30-17:30 Seminar: 20:00-22:00
1-1 Meetings: 13:00 - 19:00 Seminar: 20:00-22:00
Pre Aliyah meetings London: March 14th & 15th Manchester: March 16th To register for a NBN Meeting or Seminar:
www.nbn.org.il/uk • 0800-075-7200 In cooperation with: Ministry of Aliyah and Immigrant
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19
HOME & GARDEN
Grassroots
By Sally Tierney, www.yorkshiregardendesigner.co.uk
GARDEN TV Makeovers This month, I’m going to have a little ‘rant’.
T
he TV programmes on gardens and garden design are entertaining, informative and inspiring, aren’t they? Yes they are, but in my opinion, they do not tell the full story. You might think that, as the MD of Yorkshire Garden Designer, this is a case of ‘sour grapes’ between one garden design opinion and another but let me give you an illustration.
The presenter of a particular type of show gets the owners of the garden to leave on some flimsy excuse and gets to work on it in their absence, with his/ her crack team of landscapers. They strip the garden of all the old, sad plants, the old, sad furniture and any other debris that they can find . They then bring in lots of lovely new plants, perhaps lay a new lawn, install a beautiful new water feature, lay a patio, meander a few paths around and generally tidy the place up, the like of which it has never seen before. The garden owner comes home again and is amazed, delighted and charmed by the changes that have sprung
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the Suburb Circular • MARCH 2016
up. The whole thing has taken 2 days from start to finish and the overall impression imparted is that giving the garden a ‘makeover’ is easy, simple and anyone can do it. If they can, so can you!
This is where my point of the TV programmes only giving half the story comes in. Yes, it is easy to learn what to do, if you take the time to do so (as with everything) but what the programme has not shown you was how long it took to survey the garden accurately, draw it up, test out ideas, find the right plants that are suitable to the conditions in that particular garden, check the drainage, find the hard landscaping materials etc etc. The principles of design have evolved through hard-won experience and for a garden
to become a wonderful place, they must be followed. There are other essential steps that must be implemented into the planning stages as well, such as establishing the brief and talking about the after care. What is the point of giving someone a garden makeover if you don’t know what they want or if they are able to look after the garden once the TV crews have left? So when you see someone on TV, transforming a dull space into a delightful one, remember that they are the ‘tip of the iceberg’ and spare a thought for the rest of the team who are out of sight - the designer who created and developed the idea, the contractor who built it, the electrician who put in the lighting or the pump for the water feature and the nurseryman who’s skill raised the plants that were put into the garden. OK rant over.
Written by Sally Tierney MSGD BSc (Hons). She specialises in making the most of the space in small to medium sized gardens through the use of good design and the right plants. She passionately believes that no garden should become a burden on its owners and so she goes to great lengths to design a garden that fits in with the client’s life style, not the other way round. You can see pictures of successful gardens on her website here www.yorkshiregardendesigner.co.uk
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HOME & GARDEN
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the Suburb Circular • MARCH 2016
HOME & GARDEN
Plant of the month
SNOWDROP T
The first sight of a snowdrop is always such a treat. With their delicate drooping heads, rich green leaves and stems, they burst their way into the garden with a quiet vigour that brightens up even the gloomiest of corners. Snowdrops come in a variety of shapes and sizes but whichever
type has bloomed you’ll be sure to identify it as a Snowdrop. Pick a few stems and pop the posy into an egg cup ‘vase’ you’ll enjoy a beautiful sweet scent like honey in the room. They enjoy a well-drained spot in light shade similar to their natural woodland habitat.
YOU’LL ENJOY A BEAUTIFUL SWEET SCENT LIKE HONEY IN THE ROOM
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HOME & GARDEN
IT’S ALL By SUE GASCOYNE sue@playtoz.co.uk
I
All change!
t’s April and it’s no surprise to discover how changeable the weather is, going from sunshine to rain in a matter of minutes. In fact Spring is a time of huge change as we shed the thick cloak of Winter and move into the season of verdant growth and transformation. Fur-lined boots give way to anoraks and wellies that children can’t resist testing to the limits in inviting puddles. Watch toddlers in the rain and the allure of water is plain to see as, like scientists at work, they explore what happens when I jump, splash, stir, scoop or simply look in a puddle. If allowed, children are naturally driven to experiment with ideas and discover how things work. In short they are fascinated by change in the natural world and in particular, being children, themselves as agents of change! So a child obsessed with what happens when they poke a stick, or better still their finger in a puddle; plop a stone into it mesmerised by the ripples; or inevitably jump with two feet to make a satisfying splash, are all discovering about the world and their role in bringing about change. Children’s minds are hardwired to seek out novelty and interest so sopping wet clothes are signs of something wonderful at work! Nature provides a wealth of opportunities for exploring change, be it: autumnal leaves,
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watching butterflies or witnessing chicks hatch, growing seedlings or watching ice thaw. Through these and a myriad of other fun and absorbing activities like mixing paint and experimenting with gloop, children can understand the world and develop key life skills. As well as being great fun and essential for early sensory exploration, messy and sensory play are also good for the soul, as I discovered from my work with troubled children. Messy play brings with it positive health benefits from the release of endorphins and opportunities for problem solving and selfexpression. But creativity and healing are also closely linked, as the right hemisphere of the brain is associated with creativity and this is where childhood trauma is ‘stored’. Using messy resources like shaving foam, mud, sand, water, gloop and paint not only helps children develop creativity but also increases wellbeing. Used therapeutically, a child who has endured things that no child should, can be given an opportunity to develop mastery and control and ultimately heal. Like the child caught between two parents, that hastily tipped milky-
FUR LINED BOOTS GIVE WAY TO ANORAKS AND WELLIES THAT CHILDREN CAN’T RESIST TESTING TO THE LIMITS IN INVITING PUDDLES white gloop from one container to the other, splashing and spilling it as they did so, much like the emotions spilling out in their life. Without a doubt messy play has a particular appeal to children. Perhaps this is because of its highly sensory qualities which offer opportunities for escapism or calm? Its potential for creativity and fun, being open-ended and different to everyday play or school, or the fact that making mess may be seen as rebellious and therefore dangerous, powerful or exciting? Whatever the attraction, Spring is the ideal time to get outdoors and let children experiment with Nature’s store cupboard of natural messy play resources, safe in the knowledge that the mud-streaked clothes have satisfying fun and calming relief written all of over them!
Sue is a published author, trainer, educational consultant and therapeutic play practitioner. She is the founder and Creative Director of Play to Z Ltd, specialist providers of award winning Sensory Play resources. For more fun sensory play activities, Sue’s latest research, resources and training go to www.playtoz.co.uk.
HOUSEHOLD tips
ALL ASPECTS OF BUILDING & ROOFING WORK UNDERTAKEN INCLUDING
- New Roofs and Repairs - Loft Conversions - Extensions and Renovations - New Kitchens - Garage Conversions
DISPLAY YOUR BOOKS If you find yourself
running out of space to keep your books there’s no need to panic. Utilise your books to help fill empty space in any room by stacking them or displaying them on flat surfaces such as a coffee table or a desk. Either stack them neatly or slightly angled. This then makes them a nice focus to catch someone’s eye and you don’t have to throw any away!
F r e e n o o b lig a t io n q u o t a t io n s G u a r a n t e e s a n d r e fe r e n ce s a v a ila b le Members of National Federation of Builders and Guild of Master Craftsmen.
www.thesuburbcircular.co.uk
25
MOTORING & TRAVEL
AUTO-BIOGRAPHIES New MINI COOPER S CLUBMAN AUTO. TESTED: BILBAO, SPAIN By Tim Barnes-Clay, Motoring Journalist www.carwriteups.co.uk Twitter: @carwriteups
T
he old Mini Clubman was no oil-painting, but this one could easily earn its place on the podium at Legs 11. It’s a looker alright. The brand new Mini Clubman must have been breast fed at birth, because it’s far bigger than its siblings. That doesn’t mean it’s fat – no way. This car is well formed and its proportions are just right. And because it’s not exactly a shrinking violet, the Clubman is likely to win over quirkier types who might otherwise have gone for mid-size family car choices, such as the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus. The story hasn’t always been good for the Clubman, though. The first generation had a useless, single rear door that meant UK passengers were forced to step into the road. This didn’t help sales and the Clubman therefore wasn’t exactly the rock star that BMW, Mini’s owner, was expecting. But the Germans have seen the light and the previous
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rear-hinged ‘clubdoor’, has been kicked to the kerb in favour of two ‘normal’ back doors. They make it far easier for passengers to get in and out of the car. Then there’s the barn-door boot. You’ll remember that from the last model. Well, that stays put, but now the doors can be released manually, or if you ticked the hands-free tailgate option, a sassy little kick under the rear bumper will open them up. As the Clubman is the largest of the current Mini litter, it has, predictably, the most capacious cabin. To be frank, with a big load area too, the word ‘mini’ seems rather outmoded. The whole motor is 270mm longer than the five-door Hatchback, allowing for oodles of room in the front and respectable space for two adults in the rear. The boot is about the same as a VW Golf ’s, so you’ll get the family shopping in – and a toddler’s buggy. 189bhp can be squeezed from the S’ 2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinder lump, and with the eight speed auto box, a zero to 62mph sprint in 7.1 seconds is easily achievable, finishing up with a top speed of 142mph. Even though these figures might make the car
Pros ‘n’ Cons Pleasurable√ Eye-catching √ Roomy √ Real-world √ Some body-roll X sound insatiable for fuel – it’s not. With the superb automatic gearbox you can officially get an average of 48.7mpg out of the Clubman - and the CO2 emissions are 134g/km, meaning road tax is a trifling £130 per annum. The state-of-the-art 2015 Mini is a gargantuan step-up from its forerunner, and it puts right pretty much everything that was awry. The Clubman now has more doors, better space, good looks, and it really is exciting to drive. The Cooper S version is especially guaranteed to bring a grin to the face of anyone who slips behind its wheel.
FAST FACTS
Max speed: 142 mph 0-62 mph: 7.1 secs Combined mpg: 48.7 Engine: 1998 cc, 4 cylinder, 16 valve turbo petrol Max. power (bhp): 189 Max. torque (lb.ft) : 221 CO2: 134 g/km Price: £24,445 on the road
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Business & Finance
AFTER THE New Year By MARTIN LEWIS
A
t the beginning of the New Year we’re all supposed to create resolutions to become better people, better citizens, better eaters and better with cash. And, let’s be honest, most aren’t likely to last as long as the December Christmas turkey. Yet when it comes to finance there’s an advantage. There is a raft of resolutions that you can do now even if the ‘I WANT TO BE A BETTER ME’ fervour has died down, and the impact lasts all year.
Earn cashback every time you spend and get £100s a year back.
Why not get paid every time you spend? You can do this with a cashback credit card. Yet, set up a direct debit to repay the card IN FULL every month, so there’s no interest cost – or it’s pointless. The americanexpress.co.uk Platinum Everyday card is the top fee-free payer, giving 5% back for three months (max £100), then up to 1.25% after. If you don’t fully pay it each month, it’s 22.9% representative APR.
Sort out a power of attorney
One in three over-65s die with dementia. Younger people can get it too, or lose faculties due to strokes, accidents and more. If you do lose your faculties, don’t assume relatives can walk
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into the bank and access your money – even to pay for your care. They’d need to apply to take over via the Court of Protection – this can drag on for months with fees of over £1000. The solution is getting a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) while you have mental capacity, where you nominate a trusted friend or relative to take over your affairs. It only comes into effect if and when you’re no longer capable. I’m 43 and have done this myself purely as a precaution. You can choose the DIY route or pay a solicitor for advice – the Alzheimer’s Society’s has a useful fact sheet at http:// tinyurl.com/jyrs8g2.
Urgently check if you’re owed £100s after being mis-sold AI (Sentinel) protection. Are you one of 2 million people who got a letter from the “The AI Scheme”? If so, it means you were mis-sold one of its Sentinal card protection plan policies via your bank. All you need to do is fill in the form to get a refund (free template to help at www.mse. me/AI). Yet, unfortunately, many people thought the letters looked like spam and chucked them. Like Patrick who tweeted me nearly did: “Just got £313 from AI reclaim. If it wasn’t for your email I probably would have binned it.” If you think you got one, then call 0800 678 1930 to get another sent.
Check if you’re due up to £212/year with the marriage tax allowance. If you’re married or in a civil partnership, you may be able to get up to £212 a year more in your pocket with the new marriage allowance. It’s a way for couples to transfer a proportion of their personal allowance (the amount you can earn tax-free each tax year) between them. You’ll be eligible if: At the beginning of the New Year we’re all supposed to create resolutions to become better people, better citizens, better eater l You’re married or in a civil
partnership l One of you earns £10,600 or less l The other is a basic 20% rate
taxpayer l You were both born after 6 April
1935 If so, you can shift £1,060 of their allowance to the other which means you don’t pay tax on it, a gain of £212. Register at gov.uk/marriage-allowance.
Business & Finance
Pension Doctor
HOW CAN I BOOST MY
T
his is always a difficult question to answer. So many people have already reached retirement and then start to ask, “How can I boost my retirement income”? The problem is that you have reached your retirement, but the money you have saved is just not going to be enough. But there are solutions out there. Here are some strategies to help you boost the impact of the money you have saved in retirement, and still create your Dream Retirement™.
Downsize
If you have a house where the mortgage is paid off, an easy way to boost your retirement income is to move to a smaller or a cheaper house. Releasing this equity, and accepting a less dramatic abode, can provide you with valuable funds that you can use to generate an income. You also have the option of equity release here, however financially downsizing is likely to be a more astute choice if that is practical.
Take More Now and Accept Less Later
With the new ‘Pension Freedom’ flexibility being available, you can take the gamble of spending the amount you need now, accepting that your income may be diminished when you are older. For example, if you have a Personal Pension of £50,000 and a State Pension of £8000 per annum, traditionally that would have meant you would have to settle for an income of about £10,000 per annum. Now you might say I want an income of £15,000, so I need £7,000 from my Personal Pension. If you draw an income out at this rate your pension will probably run out in roughly year 10. This isn’t ideal, but if you are happy knowing that an income of £15,000 until 75 is sufficient and that from 75 on you are going to be able to live off £8,000, then at least you are making an informed decision
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Move Somewhere Cheaper Often overlooked, but moving to a part of the country or world that has a lower cost of living gives you a bigger bang for your buck. Whether that’s a move from Surrey to Slough, Stratford to Spain or Sandbanks to South Africa, only you can decide, but getting much more for your money is a good way to boost your retirement lifestyle.
Defer Your Retirement By deferring your retirement you can allow your funds to grow more, with the added benefit of needing to draw them for less time. This doubles the impact of deferring your retirement. You can even achieve the same with your State Pension. Deferring your State Pension currently allows you to take a higher income or a lump sum when you do then draw it. The lump sum option is however being withdrawn in 2016.
Phase Your Retirement
For me, if I ever found myself asking “How can I boost my retirement income”, the most obvious answer would be to phase my retirement. Rather than retiring overnight, why not gradually ease yourself into retirement? Go down to 3 days a week and enjoy the benefit of not taking your pension as early, and the growth that comes with it. This doesn’t have to be your current job; why not start working in a role you have a passion for, even if it doesn’t pay you quite as much as your current one does. This isn’t meant to be an exhaustive list, but some food for thought. Try to think creatively if you ever find yourself asking “How can I boost my retirement income?”
Charlie Reading was recently rated by the Sunday Telegraph as one of the UK’s top financial planners. To read more about how to positively impact your wealth, health and happiness in retirement, download your FREE preview of Charlie’s book, ‘The Dream Retirement: How to Secure Your Money and Retire Happy’ by visiting www.efficientportfolio.co.uk and clicking on the image of the book.
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