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INSIDE
FOOD & NUTRITION • Home & Garden • Education & politics • health & Fitness • AND MUCH MORE...
inside
Contents MAY 2016
Food & Wine 4 Recipe Matters
Education & Politics
6 The London Mayor Elections with Andrew Dismore MP 8 Momentum on the Rise Mike Freer MP
Health & Fitness
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9 Reflections on the Colours of your Eyes 10 The Junior Doctors Strike By Tomasz Pierscionek
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Beauty & Fashion
12 Prince’s Style By Vanessa Friedman 14 Remarkable Relationships - Time OUT
Gifts & Events
16 It’s all Child’s Play By Sue Gascoyne
Home & Garden
20 Perfect Plants by Steve Law
Motoring & Travel
24 Auto-Biographies The Mercedes GLE 350
Business &Finance
26 Financial Planning - Pensions 28 Consumer Champion - Scammers
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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From the editor Dear Reader,
W
elcome to the latest edition of our magazine The Suburb Circular This issue has arrived at a particularly busy and stressful period here in London, both in the political world and in the business arena. First the Mayoral Elections coming up this Thursday May 5th, plus the unemployment worries with the shocking news that BHS and Austin Reed going into administration, (almost as bad as Woolworths) then last week’s Junior Doctors strike - the first time in 40 years, plus the forthcoming referendum - Brexit from the EU or staying in the EU. We are looking to make some exciting changes in future issues and we would appreciate receiving interesting local articles or stories about local special people or interesting community events that we can run as features in our magazine. Until then
Henry Henry Marshall
The team EDITORIAL Editor Henry Marshall Contributors Melissa Clark Andrew Dismore Mike Freer MP David Hillel Burns Dr Tomasz Pierscionek Vanessa Friedman Jessica McGregor Johnson Sue Gascoyne Steve Law Tim Barnes-Clay Charlie Reading James Walker
ADVERTISING Arie Kiselstein 020-3659-2399
DESIGN & PRODUCTION Kerrie Callard www.thesuburbcircular.co.uk
FOOD&&WINE WINE FOOD
SERVES 2
HANDS-ON TIME 20 min
EASY
Recipe matters
WARM SALAD OF FRIED TOFU, BROCCOLI, ROMANESCO AND MISO This salad is healthy and beautiful, the bright romanesco florets bring a unique beauty and crunch to the miso seasoned tofu. Nutritional info per serving Calories: Fat:
172kcals 8.3g (1.2g saturated)
Protein:
14.9g
Carbohydrates: 8.9g (4.6g sugars) Fibre:
5.5g
Salt
1.8g
INGREDIENTS l Vegetable oil for frying l 250g firm tofu, cut into 2cm cubes l ½ romanesco (see tip), about 300g, cut
into small florets l 250g purple sprouting broccoli l 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped l 2cm fresh ginger, grated l 2 red chillies, finely sliced l 3 tbsp white miso paste l 2 tsp Chinese rice vinegar l 2 tbsp soy sauce l Bunch of spring onions, chopped l Handful of fresh coriander leaves,
roughly chopped
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the Suburb Circular • MAY 2016
TIP
If you can’t find romanesco, use cauliflower florets – quickly blanch instead of steaming.
MAKE AHEAD
Make the dressing up to 2 days in advance, store in the fridge in an airtight jar, then reheat before mixing in the freshly steamed veg.
KNOW HOW
Romanesco is the most unusual of brassicas, its tightly packed, lime green conical florets giving it a slightly alien appearance. It can be used in place of either broccoli or cauliflower as the cooking time is the same.
TO DRINK
Have a cool bottle of white, such as Italian soave or Spanish rueda, on hand.
METHOD ➊ Heat a layer of vegetable oil in a non-stick frying pan, then fry the tofu for 4-5 minutes, turning, until golden on all sides. Drain on kitchen paper. ➋ Steam the romanesco and broccoli in a steamer or colander over a pan of boiling water for 3-4 minutes until just tender. ➌ Meanwhile, heat a little more oil in the pan and gently fry the
garlic, fresh ginger and sliced red chillies for a couple of minutes. Add the white miso paste and a splash of cold water. Stir in the Chinese rice vinegar and soy sauce. ➍ Toss the just-steamed vegetables into the warm miso dressing with the drained tofu, spring onions and roughly chopped coriander, then serve straightaway.
FOOD & WINE
COCONUT MACAROON By Melissa Clark
This is a cheater’s version of those fancy iced bombes from the ’80s, with two or three layers of bright-hued whipped frozen mousse packed into a decorative mold. Here, a layer of mango ice cream swirled with fresh mango sits beneath a layer of macaroon-studded coconut ice cream. It’s a stunning dessert, perfect for a dinner party, and quicker to put together than the time you’ll spend locating the macaroons at the supermarket.
INGREDIENTS l 1 cup coconut macaroons, finely
chopped
l 1 pint coconut sorbet or ice cream,
softene l cup diced mango from 1 large ripe
mango, more for garnish l 1 pint mango sorbet, softened
METHOD ➊ In a 2 1/2-quart bowl, mix the macaroon pieces with the
coconut sorbet or ice cream until well combined; spread the mixture around the bottom and sides of the bowl in an even layer. If the ice cream is too soft to spread, put it in the freezer for 15 minutes and try again. Once you’ve got an even layer, place the bowl in the freezer for 2 hours until thoroughly frozen. ➋ Spread the diced mango all over the macaroon-studded ice
cream or sorbet and freeze for 30 minutes. Fill it with the mango sorbet, smoothing the top, and freeze for 2 hours. ➌ Remove from the freezer and set it in a bowl of warm water for 1 to 2 minutes to loosen it. Place a plate over the bowl, invert it and unmold the bombe. Serve immediately, garnished with more mango cubes.
Education & politics
MATTERS ANDREW DISMORE LABOUR LONDON ASSEMBLY MEMBER FOR BARNET AND CAMDEN
THE UPCOMING MAYORAL ELECTIONS
I
can’t remember an election which has been so divisive as the Conservatives’ campaign. It’s dangerous and wrong to exploit tensions through smears and innuendo, playing to crude stereotyping. We need a Mayor for all Londoners, bringing the capital’s diverse population together, not appealing to narrow sectional interest. Sadiq Khan’s many years of interfaith work stand him in good stead. I‘ve seen the ease Sadiq visits synagogues, Jewish Care, and CST, and the welcome he receives at Kingsbury Mandir. The Conservatives pray that mud sticks, diverting attention from the real issues - policing and crime, transport and parking, London’s economy and Europe, air quality and the housing crisis- because they’ve consistently failed on all these fronts. The Conservatives cut £600 million from the Metropolitan Police- with £400m more cuts to come. In Barnet alone, the Conservatives axed 201 officers and PCSOs- 26% of our force compared to 2010. They closed Golders Green Police Station. They abolished Labour’s
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the Suburb Circular • MAY 2016
Safer Neighbourhood Teams - 9 officers and PCSOs in the Suburbweakening our ability to tackle crime and breaking the ‘golden thread’ of intelligence, vital in the fight against terrorism. Even the Police Commissioner admitted Barnet crime is up 6.4%. Locally, burglary is up 5.7%. That’s why I back Labour’s priority plan to restore real neighbourhood policing and to stand up for crime victims. Under the Conservatives, public transport fares have increased over 40%. Hard pressed Londoners need Labour’s fully funded fares freeze. Parking in Barnet? I don’t think I need to comment! London’s appalling air quality is the biggest challenge facing us all. After 8 years of a Conservative Mayor, 10,000 Londoners die prematurely because of the capital’s filthy (and illegal) air. Labour’s Sadiq Khan will consult on speeding up the Ultra Low Emission Zone, promote cleaner walking routes to school and push for clean bus technology. We can’t act alone- air pollution is no respecter of national boundaries. We need cooperation with our European partners.
That’s one reason to stay in the European Union. The Conservative candidate demands Britain leaves the EU, isolating us in our battle for a cleaner environment. Whilst all the candidates promise more homes, the real question is who gets to live in them. Sadiq will prioritise Londoners ensuring a fair chance for both buyers and renters. If I am re-elected as your Assembly member, you can rely on me to ensure these policies are delivered, too!
WE NEED A MAYOR FOR ALL LONDONERS, BRINGING THE CAPITAL’S DIVERSE POPULATION TOGETHER, NOT APPEALING TO NARROW SECTIONAL INTEREST. SADIQ KHAN’S MANY YEARS OF INTERFAITH WORK STAND HIM IN GOOD STEAD.
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Education & politics
ON THE RISE MIKE FREER MP FOR FINCHLEY & GOLDERS GREEN
Anti-Semitism is a poison coursing through the Labour Party unchecked.
T
his week alone we have seen the newly elected President of the National Union of Students called out on her views about Israel and Birmingham University (where there is a large Jewish student population) as a Zionist outpost. Then there is Labour MP Naz Shah (parliamentary aide to the Shadow Chancellor) who called for the mass transportation of Israelis to the USA and who has tweeted links to comments comparing Zionism to Al Qaeda. Closer to home we have wantto-be Mayor Sadiq Khan’s warm words mean condemning antiSemitism while he continues to accept support from Corbyn’s radical Momentum group. I have been as shocked as anyone over the last few months reading the seemingly daily reports of anti-Semitic behaviour emanating from the Labour party. Labour’s Mayoral candidate, Sadiq Khan has been going out of his way to distance himself from these shocking reports of virulent anti-Semitism within his party. Khan has even gone so far as to say he is “embarrassed and sorrowful about the state of the (Labour) party.” Anti-Semitism is an issue above party politics and I welcome the fact that Sadiq is speaking out. However, warm words are all well
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the Suburb Circular • MAY 2016
and good but they also have to be backed up with action. And it’s here that Khan’s actions don’t meet his rhetoric. The incidents of anti-Semitism reported in the press in recent weeks all seem to have one consistent theme: the Momentum group. The Momentum group is a set of hard-left activists dedicated to supporting Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour party. Momentum has a particularly strong presence in London and it was only with their support that Sadiq Khan beat Tessa Jowell for the Labour Mayoral nomination, a favour returned after Khan nominated Jeremy Corbyn for Labour leader.
for urging ISIS to attack Israel, attended Momentum events.
And it is this Momentum group where the rise in anti-Semitism within Labour seems to stem. The two people investigated for intimating Jewish students at the Oxford University Labour party were senior Momentum activists. It was reported a few weeks ago that the Jewish Labour MP Louise Ellman has faced an orchestrated campaign against her because of her faith, allegedly led by activists from the Momentum group. Bob Campbell was a Momentum activist suspended from the Labour party for suggesting that Mossad runs Isis and was behind the Brussels bombings. Vicki Kirby, a Labour parliamentary candidate who was suspended
Khan himself has been on a journey. As a lawyer he represented the anti-Semitic hate preacher Louis Farrakhan, and as a minister he lobbied the Labour government for sanctions against Israel. I’m glad to see he’s repudiated this past, but words now need to be backed up with action.
Momentum’s national leaders have also condemned Remembrance Sunday and called for the abolition of the monarchy and for Mi5 to be disbanded. Moderate Labour MPs in London such as Stella Creasy have hit out against Momentum yet Sadiq Khan continues to accept campaign support from them. Just last month Momentum held a two day “Khanpaigning” weekend for Sadiq across London. And just a few weeks ago, Momentum held a telephone canvassing session for Sadiq in Khan’s London HQ.
If we are to take Sadiq’s words on anti-Semitism seriously then he needs to unambiguously break all his links with the highly questionable Momentum group. While he continues to accept direct support from them, then I’m afraid all the warm platitudes are simply empty words.
HEALTH & FITNESS
REFLECTIONS ON THE By DAVID HILLEL BURNS
T
he most common eye colour in the UK is blue (38%) followed by brown (30%). Not many people have other colours such as green (10%) grey (4%) and mixed shades of green with blue (4%) green with grey (also 4%) and blue with grey (6%). Who do we like? Blue is the most preferred eye colour (35%) followed by brown (27%) while around one in seven people have no special preference. Psychologists also tell us that
lower-income groups prefer blue (40%, versus 33% of the betteroff). It’s regional too: in London, preference for brown eyes is above the national average, and lower up North. We don’t rate our own colour as number one: those with blue eyes themselves are no more likely than people in general to prefer blue eyes, and those with brown eyes are no more likely than the public as a whole to prefer brown eyes. Green-eyed people say they like brown eyes best (37%, against
33% preferring blue). Blue is a little more popular among 15-44 year-olds (37%) compared with older people (32%). Perhaps it just depends who you know, yet apparently about half of all married people aren’t sure of their spouse’s eye colour.
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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HEALTH & FITNESS
FIRST DOCTORS STRIKE IN T
his week, England’s junior doctors undertook industrial action for the fifth time this year. In contrast to strike action taken earlier this year, a full withdrawal of labour occurred. Withdrawing our labour entirely for two days is an action most of us did not wish to take. However, as Jeremy Hunt’s obstinacy and refusal to negotiate with the BMA was unrelenting, our union was forced to respond. In October 2013 talks began between the BMA’s Junior Doctors Committee (JDC) and NHS England — an “executive non-departmental public body of the Department of Health” — to negotiate a new contract for junior doctors for the first time in 13 years. Negotiations broke down a year later after the JDC felt the government’s proposals would adversely affect doctors’ working patterns and thus place patient care at risk. The British government then asked the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB) to make recommendations
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the Suburb Circular • MAY 2016
pertaining to new contractual arrangements. The DDRB published a report in July 2015 which favoured the government’s proposals. The JDC subsequently sought its members’ views and, after 99 per cent of 4,500 doctors responding to a BMA poll said the DDRB’s recommendations were unacceptable, decided on August 13 not to re-enter negotiations. Consequently, the British government announced that in August 2016 it would impose a new contract on 56,000 junior doctors in England. The Scottish and Welsh governments stated they would not impose a new contract on junior doctors. In brief, the proposed contract would adversely affect junior doctors’ salaries with some expected to receive an overall pay cut of up to 30 per cent. It does this by re-designating some unsociable hours (considered to be 7pm-7am on weekdays and weekends) as sociable, making 7am-10pm Monday to Saturday “normal working time” and thus eliminating the on-call supplement doctors earn when they work those hours. Doctors who work part-time, take maternity leave or take time out of clinical practice to perform research would also lose financially. Patient care would be placed at risk as the new
contract would abolish financial penalties for trusts that breach regulations preventing junior doctors from working excessively long hours. A number of royal colleges have issued statements voicing their concerns about the new contract. Contrary, to the propaganda seen in some media outlets, these strike actions did not lead to patients being harmed. There were several reasons for this. Firstly, whilst we were on the picket lines, our colleagues such as consultants and staff grade doctors (a category of doctors below consultant but not classed as junior doctor) were manning the fort. Secondly, there is an unwritten agreement that in the event of an emergency, such as a
PATIENT CARE WOULD BE PLACED AT RISK AS THE NEW CONTRACT WOULD ABOLISH FINANCIAL PENALTIES FOR TRUSTS THAT BREACH REGULATIONS PREVENTING JUNIOR DOCTORS FROM WORKING EXCESSIVELY LONG HOURS
major accident or terror attack, junior doctors would leave the picket lines and return to their posts. Although the media focus on routine clinics and operations that will be cancelled as a result of the strike, they omit to mention that such an outcome would also be the hallmark of an underfunded NHS. In the case of privatisation and further efficiency savings, as being pushed by the Tory government, some cancellations may be permanent.
Many of my colleagues are now understanding that our struggle does not exist in isolation but is only one reflection of the impasse of the capitalist system. They are gaining a greater awareness about the nature and context of our struggle, and how
this fits in relation to austerity, the future of the NHS, and the wider crisis of capitalism. The BMA must build upon and strengthen its links with other unions and the TUC and create a national movement for the defence of the NHS, as part of a socialist programme, to ensure a better future for all.
Tomasz Pierscionek Junior doctor at Edgware Community Hospital and member of the BMA.
www.thesuburbcircular.co.uk
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BEAUTY & FASHION
PRINCE’S STYLE By VANESSA FRIEDMAN
I
n February, during New York Fashion Week, the audience at the Hood by Air show had a “moment,” one of those rare shocks that jolt you out of your catwalk stupor and stick with you long after the lights have dimmed. It came courtesy of a model named Hirakish, who careened down the runway in a patentleather suit and spiky high-heeled bootees, and who proceeded to go off-piste and to spend the rest of the show running in and out of the stands, interrupting other models’ struts and otherwise joyfully, and challengingly, sticking his stiletto-shod feet in our faces
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the Suburb Circular • MAY 2016
I thought of this on Thursday when the news came that Prince Rogers Nelson, the diminutive musician with the oversize talent, had died. Unlike David Bowie, another musical icon who recently passed away, Prince was not often name-checked by designers as a collection reference. Though fashion played a big part in his image, as the many slide shows making their way around cyberspace attest, and though he made a surprise guest appearance in 2007 at Matthew Williamson’s 10th anniversary show, serenading
HE WORE THEM SO MUCH THAT THERE WERE RUMORS HE NEEDED HIP SURGERY. AND HE WORE THEM, HE SAID, NOT BEACUSE HE WANTED TO BE TALLER, BUT BECAUSE ‘WOMEN LIKE ‘EM
the attendees and grinding with dancers and models (as one of the attendees, I can tell you, that was another “moment”), he wasn’t a go-to aesthetic inspiration. Prince refused to adhere to genres in clothing, just as he refused to adhere to genres in music, which meant he tended to ooze into the designer imagination, instead of immediately leaping to mind. But in the way he assumed the tropes of kitsch femininity — lace, ruffles, sequins, peekaboo and high heels — and transformed them into the vehicles of an in-your-face masculine sex appeal, Prince had enormous influence. Most of which can be summed up by the shoe.
The high heel was the throughline of his wardrobe for the four decades he was in the public eye, the consistent base upon which he layered all sorts of style and character changes. Prince wore heels when he barely wore anything at all (just bikini bottoms and a trench coat); he wore them in “Purple Rain” and with baroque brocade; he paired them with pastel suits, laser-cut, bottom-baring jumpsuits; he wore them with white hippie tunics at Coachella and slinky metallic gold at the Grammys; he wore them offstage, out to dinner in Sweden in 2013, and, according to Mike Tyson’s
PRINCE REFUSED TO ADHERE TO GENRES IN CLOTHING, JUST AS HE REFUSED TO ADHERE TO GENRES IN MUSIC, WHICH MEANT HE TENDED TO OOZE INTO THE DESIGNER IMAGINATION, INSTEAD OF IMMEDIATELY LEAPING TO MIND. memoir, “Undisputed Truth,” to play basketball. He wore them so much that there were rumors he needed hip surgery. And he wore them, he said, not because he wanted to be taller, but because “women like ’em.” He wore them as they were originally designed to be worn, as demonstrated in “Standing Tall,” an exhibition last year at the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto about men in high heels: as an expression of power and privilege reserved for male royalty, and only later co-
opted by women in the 17th and 18th centuries. It made some sense. His name, after all, was Prince. And in doing so — in wearing them so regularly, unapologetically (he did not hide behind the acceptably masculine heels of cowboy boots) and effectively — he transformed the idea of men in heels to possibility from joke. On women, heels suggest sex; Prince showed they could function the same way for men. It is a meaningful part of the equation that has added up to the current trend toward gender fluidity in fashion. Which, let’s face it, really means men in women’s wear, since women have been borrowing from men’s wear for decades. Put another way: There was Prince, and then there was Hedi Slimane’s fall 2015 men’s wear show for Saint Laurent, with its three-inch heels; the heels in the men’s wear collections of Rick Owens and Gareth Pugh (and Hood by Air); and the black velvet midcalf heeled boots Kanye West wore in Paris last year, to name just some examples. In the end, his shoes were, as Prince once sang,
a sign o’ the times. www.thesuburbcircular.co.uk
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BEAUTY & FASHION
RELATIONSHIPS By JESSICA MCGREGOR JOHNSON
Time Out - It’s Important
D
o you ever have that frazzled feeling? Does your life feel completely out of balance? Talking about this with clients always make me think just how it question is to take time out This, of important course, brings up the of fidelity and jealousy. So often we are brought up to think that we can only love one nowperson, andthat again. person,every that one special soul mate. If we love True unconditional love has no rules, no contracts, no agreements and no payoffs. True unconditional love is totally free; it costs nothing to give and nothing to receive. It is limited to no one. You can love as many people as you want; you can feel that deep heart connection with one or a hundred people. The choice is yours.
more than one, we are unfaithful and it threatens our primary relationship. I believe these are two completely different and separate situations.
Creating balance in your everyday life is key and I love my partner, deeply and as unconditional as I can from momentsomething to moment. That doesn't mean all that she doesn't we can aim fordoto things that drive me nuts as much as I know that I do things some or toother. Even if Iyou that drive her nutsextent too. I just love the best of my ability. also love many other people. Friends who I have known for haveI meet a mega busy life will years, people for the first time and loveyou instantly, those who I have known for lifetimes. I choose only one as benefit from having some part my partner. I choose to give exclusivity - not of my love - but sharing of of my person,day my focus, my commitment, my your doing something support, my desire to share of myself at a deep level, one to one. We can't give love; we canout only be in our love and allow that balances the efforts you them a space to be in their love. In this way we are love. put in elsewhere – the things Just think how different our world would be if we all chose unconditional love. Nice idea huh?
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 you 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 http://www.jessicamcgregorjohnson.com
AFTER YOUR MEDITATION MAKE YOURSELF A LOVELY BREAKFAST ALL YOUR FAVOURITE THINGS AND THAT GOES FOR ALL YOUR MEALS THAT DAY. WHATEVER WILL FEEL NOURISHING, NURTURING AND LOVING. 14
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that can cause you stress. These balancers can be everyday things like stopping and going outside for 15 minutes with a nice cup of tea, or going for a walk, or reading something uplifting – or watching those funny videos you have bookmarked but never got around to seeing. It is about putting a pause in the day. Sometimes clients come to me specifically to work out how to have a better work/life balance – it is the main goal of the coaching. Step-by-step we look at every area of their life and define what can shift and change whilst still honouring all the responsibilities they may have. When we feel this we need to pay attention – because it is at these times that we are very
close to feeling burnt out – we need to identify something that would put a break in the pattern. Something that we can do to really take time out and redress the balance within ourselves. For some people it might be about taking time out for an individual retreat – time to recharge the batteries and gain some insight into what’s next in life. However, if taking a retreat is not possible for you right now you can take that time out for yourself at home. This does not mean just clearing your calendar and doing nothing, although doing nothing may be a big part of it. Just as in the retreats I offer, coming back to yourself, getting back in touch with who you are and what you want from your life is also part of it too. If this sounds like a great thing to do, then identify what day or days you are going to gift yourself this space. Then tell anyone who may have claim on your time that you are not available that day. You giving yourself the gift of space does not mean that you just don’t work – it means that you are with
yourself totally and no one can ask anything of you that day. It is also about making decisions just for you. I had someone come on the retreat and I asked her when she wanted breakfast and her response was “I don’t mind” and in all truth she probably didn’t mind. But that’s not the point – when you are gifting yourself this day out you want to mind – you want to do whatever feels right for you and for you alone. So plan your day. I suggest you start with a meditation. If you meditate regularly that’s great but if you have not meditated before you can go to my website and download a free meditation here. (http://jessicamcgregorjohnson. com/free-resources/) Meditation is a great way to start any day; it brings you into the present and permeates your day. After your meditation make yourself a lovely breakfast - all your favourite things and that goes for all your meals that day. Whatever will feel nourishing, nurturing and loving. The rest of your day is up to you. You might like to read an inspirational book, book a massage (preferably someone who will come to your home), go for a lovely walk, sleep, just sit and be, write, draw, sing, dance. The
main thing is that whatever you do on this day (or days if you can swing it) you are doing things that feel good to you, rejuvenate you and things that you wouldn’t normally do on a ‘day off ’. When I am on retreat with someone we always set an intention about what they want to take home with them. Feeling more in touch with their heart, a clarity about next steps, a decision made, feeling better about a situation, a plan of action to move forward. Do the same for yourself, set an intention on what you want from this time out. Once you set an intention the day will unfold with more purpose.
Enjoy your time out – it is important – it says to your heart “I matter, I count” - and you do.
Jessica is a Life Guide and Coach, and she offers a free six month e-course called ‘Life Lessons’, designed to help you live your life being more present with your choices and create a way forward to achieve your heart’s desire. She also offers coaching and individual retreats. If you want to sign up for her free course or know more, you can visit her website: jessicamcgregorjohnson.com
www.thesuburbcircular.co.uk
15
GIFTS & events
IT’S ALL
By SUE GASCOYNE sue@playtoz.co.uk
May day Madness
A
s you sit with your feet up or are out and about with the kids this May Bank Holiday I doubt you, like me, give a thought to the history behind this holiday, unless of course that is you double up as a Morris or Maypole dancer in your spare time! Up and down the country communities are discovering that not only do such traditional May festivities keep traditions alive but they also help tourists beat a path to their village or town to spend much needed cash. Most children will be enthralled by the curious sight of Morris Dancers, clapping and jingling their way back and forth and round and round in a dance not unlike Waggle dancing bees communicating the location of some yummy food. Children will watch enchanted as a May Queen leads a parade or swirling dancers weave their way round a Maypole, said to represent new growth in the transition from Spring to Summer. Many May Day celebrations may owe their origins to Roman times, but their costumes and unusual rituals are still relevant today as they help bring history and learning to life.
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Of course Morris dancers and Maypoles aren’t the only traditions associated with May. If you’re looking for something a bit more exciting the ancient sport of cheese rolling has made a huge comeback in recent years, as adrenalin junkies delight in chasing a cheese wheel as it hurtles down perpendicular slopes at 70 miles per hour! With the incentive of winning the cheese for a mega fondu no doubt, participants risk their lives and limbs for the glory of the chase, with ambulances on hand to ferry eager entrants to the nearest hospital fracture clinic! Said to have been a Roman fertility ritual, there’s no doubt that participants have got to love cheese or the thrill of the chase. As ‘would be children’ delight in the opportunity to relive the joy of childhood rolling down grassy banks I wouldn’t be surprised if the cheese was entirely superfluous! Other weird and wonderful festivals include Cornwall’s Masked Ball, where for one weekend of the year, the cliffs above the sleepy Cornish town of Porthleven are thronged with mask wearing festivalgoers. Fun as this sounds, my pick would be Sydney’s Vivid festival, an international music
and light show whose magical displays of light promise to enthral the senses. With the entire city transformed into one huge canvas for extraordinary light projections, what’s not to like about seeing landmarks like the Sydney Opera House transformed into pulsating psychedelic bubbles? If a long haul flight is not an option head to Germany instead. May marks the start of the Rhine in Flames festival, a tradition dating back to the 1930’s. Expect to see the waterfront of the Rhine bathed in lights and spectacular fireworks illuminating the skies, creating the illusion that the Rhine is on fire.
CHILDREN WILL WATCH ENCHANTED AS A MAY QUEEN LEADS A PARADE OR SWIRLING DANCERS WEAVE THEIR WAY ROUND A mAYPOLE, SAID TO REPRESENT NEW GROWTH IN THE TRANSITION FROM SPRING TO SUMMER
Most families have their own traditions at Christmas time be it digging up and decorating the tree on Christmas Eve or making mince pies together. But who says we can’t have other year-round traditions too like planting willow withies in the garden for your very own Maypole or converting the lounge into a cinema, complete with tickets and popcorn for a monthly movie night? Plan a seaside trip for the first day of the summer holidays or vote on a low cost family activity to do this May Bank Holiday. Creating your own traditions is a great way of ensuring that children get loads of opportunities for exploring and being creative, they also
provide vitally important family time – a precious commodity in our busy lives. It is traditions like these that help shape children’s memories, spark interest and build confidence and creativity, so if you’ve got nothing planned this Bank Holiday, why not call a meeting to get everyone’s ideas and plan a special day out for you all to enjoy. It doesn’t have to cost the earth or involve hours stuck in a car, so challenge yourselves to plan the cheapest
day out, offering something fun for all the family. Remember that what matters more than a costly trip to Lego or Harry Potter Land is quality time together, even if that does mean leaving the mobile phone and tablet behind!
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.
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HOME & GARDEN
PERFECT By STEVE LAW, http://brightonplants.blogspot.co.uk/
Flowering Plants versus Foliage Plants
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ne thing that makes the difference between a merely nice garden and a genuinely special garden is the quality of the foliage. I think the message about growing plants specifically for foliage has got through, but they’re not really what I want to talk about. As with a garden full of as many flowers as possible, a garden with nothing but bold foliage can be over-stimulating. I don’t think I’m alone in feeling that often, what we want is less thrilling - a more peaceful temperate green space.
Sadly, what we often get is a monotonous green lump. Flowers help but can look bland – random colours on a plain green background. Maybe we tend to think too much in terms of categories - Flowering Plants versus Foliage Plants. If the plant has flowers, we don’t worry too much about the foliage and
MANY PLANTS HAVE RED, PURPLE OR DARK TINTED NEW LEAVES, OR VERY FRESH PALE GREEN ONES. SOMETIMES THE VEINS OR THE STALK IS PICKED OUT IN RED, YELLOW OR EVEN BLACK. 20
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vice-versa, and a lot of popular flowering plants have very boring foliage. I’m thinking of daisy family especially, but also some of the big spring flowering shrubs like Forsythia and Philadelphus. But the keen plants-person will be aware that often there is a similar plant with much nicer leaves and a better overall effect. What makes them better? Shape, colour and texture are obvious factors. Philadelphus is a good example. The common species is P.coronarius – the traditional Mock Orange. It’s an immense shrub – fabulous scent for about a week but then a scruffy green mass until autumn when it becomes a huge bundle of sticks. For a long time I wouldn’t even consider planting a Philadelphus until I saw P.delavayi. It’s still a big shrub, and also doesn’t flower for long but its leaves are more solid and have a better texture. There are many smaller Philadelphus, better for a small garden, but if you want a big one, don’t choose P.coronarius. Many people complain that Peonies flower briefly then take up too much room for the rest of the summer. However, I’ve always loved peonies and that is partly because the ones I’m thinking of have among the best foliage of any border perennial – broadly lobed and cut, in various shades of green, with red tints and veins. The young shoots are usually a
good rich red and the leaves may colour up well in the autumn. So these are the features to look out for – new growth and autumn colour. There are plants grown almost entirely for these features, but there are plenty more that, although not show-stoppers, are still worth looking at. Many plants have red, purple or dark tinted new leaves, or very fresh pale green ones. Sometimes the veins or the stalk is picked out in red, yellow or even black. It doesn’t sound like much but it makes all the difference. Later, while some plants become tatty and wan with age, others keep their shape and take on tints of buff or maroon. Finally, it is important to consider how well a plant bows out once it has done its bit. Many fabulous plants only flower briefly in the spring but then sit there for the rest of the summer. Do they take up space like a big green blot, or do they slip demurely into the scenery? Big evergreens are an obvious concern, and the old hybrid Rhododendrons more than most, but there are those with a lighter shape and attractively textured and coloured foliage. Most produce their new shoots after flowering and these can be very ornamental. Trees and shrubs with a light, open structure and fresh green leaves make a lush backdrop for vivid summer flowers.
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the Suburb Circular • MARCH 2016
LASTYEAR 5,000 PEOPLE PLEDGED TO REMEMBER ONYOM HASHOAH HONOUR THAT PLEDGE
Last year we hosted the largest Holocaust commemoration ever held in the UK. In many ways, this year’s 71st Anniversary is more important than the 70th, because we, as a community, will honour the pledge made last year to Survivors and Refugees.
As Survivors and Refugees grow fewer in numbers we must come together as the UK Jewish community, to keep the memory alive, to continue their legacy and to stand as British Jews, defiantly saying: ‘Never Again!’
We promised to carry the flame of remembrance and Yom HaShoah UK together with all its community partners have agreed to hold a similar scale event.
To book your free tickets now visit our website at www.yomhashoah.org.uk/nationalevent
Join with us and be out in force to remember the murdered, honour the Survivors and Refugees - and stand united, AS ONE. never again, means
never Again!
To book your free tickets VISIT:
yomhashoah.org.uk/nationalevent Parking is available but pre-booking is essential to receive your permit. @yomhashoahuk
#iremember
www.facebook.com/yomhashoah
Operating under the auspices of The Board of Deputies Charitable Foundation Charity No. 1058107
MOTORING & TRAVEL
AUTO-BIOGRAPHIES Mercedes-Benz GLE 350d Coupe 4Matic AMG Line REVIEWED By Tim Barnes-Clay, Motoring Journalist Twitter: @carwriteups
I
f you love pomp and ceremony, you will adore this broadshouldered offering from Mercedes-Benz. The GLE 350d Coupe 4Matic AMG Line, on test here, doesn’t know the meaning of ‘subtle’. It doesn’t need to. After all, why buy a machine of this magnitude if you don’t want people to notice you? The car’s looks will divide opinion. It’s a bit like looking at a certain well-known, generousnosed, French actor. Some women swoon, other’s scowl at the sight of him. But, whether you think the GLE is handsome or hideous, it is definitely mesmerising. So, what exactly is the GLE Coupe all about? Well, it’s
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FAST FACTS Max speed: 140 mph 0-62 mph: 7.0 secs Combined mpg: 39.2 Engine layout: 2987 cc, V6 turbo diesel Max. power (bhp): 255 CO2: 187g/km Price: £60,680 Mercedes-Benz’s answer to super-SUVs, such as the Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover Sport and BMW X6. The goliath houses either a 3.0 litre V6 diesel, churning out 255bhp or a far less sensible V6 petrol, producing 362bhp. Both engines come hooked up to a slick-shifting
nine-speed automatic ‘box. Behind the wheel, the diesel model has more than enough pull for British roads and, in AMG Line trim, you can either waft or thunder along encased in splendid surroundings. Kit includes: heated front seats, climate control, a DAB radio tuner, auto dimming and folding mirrors, parking sensors and a reversing camera. On the move, body roll is not really noticeable – which, considering the heft of the GLE, is a feat of engineering and design in itself. The permanent four-wheel drive set-up provides tons of traction, too, so the mighty Merc is safe, as well as talented at delivering driving enjoyment. You can sharpen up the steering and throttle response, and you can even adjust the air suspension at the touch of button. For instance, the Stuttgart’s firm’s ‘Sport’ setting just ups the ante a bit, providing a heavier steering reaction and a more ‘on-rails’ like experience through corners. But, if you don’t want your passengers throwing up, the Merc is best left in its standard ‘Comfort’ mode. Here, the SUV is in its ‘natural’ state, allowing
you to control its power in a more measured way, while the well-weighted steering guides the car through twisty tarmac effortlessly, rather than crazily. The air-suspension hides the fact that you’re riding around on 21 inch alloys by soaking up even the evillest of potholes. There is only one price to pay for the awesomely outsized wheels – and that’s a bit of extra noise. This is only really noticeable at motorway speed, but combined with 70mph wind-blast around the wing mirrors, the calm of the otherwise hushed cabin can become threatened at times.
THE PERMANENT FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE SET-UP PROVIDES TONS OF TRACTION, TOO, SO THE MIGHTY MERC IS SAFE, AS WELL AS TALENTED AT DELIVERING DRIVING ENJOYMENT.
The GLE Coupe will take five-up, no problem - and even though it’s a coupe, rear passenger head and leg-space is ample. Only six-footers, upwards, will be vaguely bothered by the low-slung roofline. Room in the boot is very good, too, with plenty of space for a pushchair and the weekly shop, or a stack of suitcases. Only the high load lip rains on the parade, making the lifting of heavy items into the cargo area more of a chore than it should be. When all is said and done, the Mercedes-Benz GLE 350d Coupe 4Matic AMG Line is a wellappointed, fine-driving vehicle. The engine and automatic gearbox are nothing short of perfect; the steering response and handling are bang on the money – and even the sophisticated switchgear takes some beating.
You could argue that the Porsche Cayenne has a cooler badge, and that the Range Rover Sport is more of a thoroughbred. And you could even maintain that the BMW X6 has better kerbside appeal. But the Cayenne is not as striking - and everyone seems to have a Range Rover Sport. The same goes for the BMW. No, the Mercedes is one rung higher up the ladder of ‘different’. And that’s a good thing – especially when you take into account that the Porsche and Range Rover have a higher price-tag. At the end of the day, none of the cars mentioned here are bad. In fact, they are all stonkingly good. It’s very much a case of “one man’s meat is another man’s poison” or “one man’s pleasure is another’s pain” when it comes to choosing between SUVs of this high calibre. www.thesuburbcircular.co.uk
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Business & Finance
Pension Doctor
FINANCIAL PLANNING
AA
long longwith withpolo, polo,fine finewine wineand andopera, opera,financial financialplanning planningisisoften oftenmistakenly mistakenlyregarded regardedasasthe thepreserve preserve ofofa acertain certaindemographic: demographic:the thewealthy, wealthy,socially sociallyelite, elite,privately privatelyeducated educatedand andthose thoseaged agedover over50. 50.This This rather ratherarchaic archaicview viewisisgrossly grosslyerroneous; erroneous;it’s it’salso alsoincredibly incrediblydamaging, damaging,asasititisisputting puttingananinvisible invisible barrier barrierbetween betweenthe thebenefits benefitsofoffinancial financialplanning planningand andthose thosewho whowould wouldactually actuallygain gainthe themost mostfrom fromit.it. The Thetruth truthis,is,financial financialplanning planningisisfor foreveryone everyoneand andthe thesooner sooneryou youembrace embraceit,it,the themore moreyou youcan canbenefit. benefit.
Financial planning offers a whole host of advantages, most importantly giving you the ability to live more comfortably and confidently, which, I’m sure you will agree, are values we all strive towards. That’s why everyone should adapt their financial planning. Don’t believe me? Well, let’s start by considering exactly what financial planning is. At Efficient Portfolio we define this term as ‘a mechanism that enables people to clarify and realise their goals and dreams’. We equip our clients with expert knowledge, give them access to a range of tools and services to support them on their journey and continually review and assess their position, to make sure they’re on track. You’ll note that there’s no mention of wealth, age, social position or educational background. To use a rather apt simile, financial planning is like compound interest: the sooner you start, the more you will get back. More than that, the earlier in life you start to save, the less you have to regularly put away in order to achieve your desired goal. The same analogy can be applied to financial planning
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in general. USA based Chartered Financial Planner Tom Pemberton sums this up best in Forbes Magazine Online (August 2013), when he says ‘The sooner you start making smart decisions, the sooner you know where you want to go, and if you have a plan to get there, the more likely you are to attain it. The longer you wait, the more you have to save to make that goal.’ I can almost hear some of you shouting ‘that’s great, but what if I haven’t got any money in the first place?’. To quote Pemberton again ‘The way you get into the higher income bracket is to have a financial plan’. If you don’t have a goal, aim or ambition how can
THE WAY YOU GET INTO THE HIGHER INCOME BRACKET IS TO HAVE A FINANCIAL PLAN. IF YOU DON’T HAVE A GOAL, AIM OR AMBITION HOW CAN YOU EVER ACHIEVE IT.
you ever achieve it? Sitting down to write your goals will give you clarity on what you need to do to reach your target. Whether that’s done on your own or with a qualified professional, it’s essential that if you want to make a change then you have to plot out the steps you need to take and act upon them. Whether your goal is small, like go on holiday next year, or huge, like being financially free by the age of 40, by planning you will see what you need to do to get ahead. For those without any spare income, planning, using money management systems, could also show you how to reduce your outgoings and maximise your saving potential. So initial lack of wealth is absolutely not a reason against financial planning! Hopefully you can see that my point is quite simple: financial planning is not just for the wealthy and it’s certainly not reserved for people over a certain age. In fact, financial planning is for everyone and can benefit all and sundry. And, in my opinion, there has never been a better time to start encouraging the population, at all levels, to tackle their financial concerns.
Business & Finance
From a survey conducted in March 2016 by The Money Charity, researchers found that, in the UK, 222 people a day are declared insolvent or bankrupt. Coupled with this, ‘the average total debt per household, including mortgages, was £54,080 in January 2016’ and currently ‘25 properties are repossessed every day’. The general populous’ finances seem to be in tatters, which is shocking when you learn that unemployment rates have consistently fallen in the last 6 months. So what are we doing wrong? More of us are earning, yet a huge proportion of us are in serious debt and certainly not fulfilling our lifetime goals. The answer is, we’re not planning our finances! So what is the solution? Obviously financial planning, but more so education and the normalisation of talking about money, our goals and our concerns. It’s not often that I praise UK banks, but a certain institute, the one represented by the blue eagle, is actually leading the way in this field, by providing financial education to children from the ages of 4-16. This bank is teaching children how to budget, how to pay bills, how to save and most importantly how to plan. Now, if a 4-year-old is adopting financial planning, there is absolutely no excuse why you can’t. As an innovative and forward
WE BELIEVE THAT FINANCIAL PLANNING IS ONE OF THE PILLARS TO A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE. iT HELPS YOU TO GAIN CLARITY AND DIRECTION, BUILDS WEALTH, MITIGATES AGAINST RISKS AND MAXIMISES YOUR FUTURE POTENTIAL. thinking firm, Efficient Portfolio want to be pioneers in the financial planning world, by providing financial planning for everyone. We believe that financial planning is one of the pillars to a successful future. It helps you to gain clarity and direction, builds wealth, mitigates against risks and maximises your future potential. Our firm also regularly reviews our client’s financial plans, so financial planning is also used to measure progression, reassess goals, to make sure they are still realistic, and overcome small obstacles before they become insurmountable hurdles. By doing all of this, our financial planning service ensures that clients can lead comfortable, confident and fulfilled lives.
This year our ultimate goal is to provide financial planning on a variety of levels and in a range of mediums: from our expert Life Planning Service through to free, educational webinars, seminars and workshops, to help people at all stages of their financial planning journeys. We are also in discussions with several financial technology companies, with the goal of putting together a selfadministered system, where clients can manage their own savings and investments online. If you want to reach your goals, then you must first plan your finances. Financial planning really is for everyone, so take the first step today and decide what it is you want to achieve.
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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Business & Finance
CONSUMER By JAMES WALKER WWW.RESOLVER.CO.UK
James walker “FIGHTING FOR YOUR RIGHTS” Consumer Champion – the man who helps you resolve your consumer complaints!
Beat the eBay scammers! How to avoid the pitfalls of buying from online auctions and classified ad marketplaces
I’ve put together a simple guide to protect you when you step out into a busy online marketplace – whether it’s eBay or any other listings site.
General Principles KEEP A RECORD – Make sure you make a note of (or save) all correspondence with the seller or buyer. That way, if something goes wrong and you need to
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complain, you’re armed with plenty of evidence USE PAYPAL WHERE YOU CAN – Even though Paypal charges 20p plus 3.4 per cent of the sale price, you have a better chance of getting some form of refund. In fact, even in cases of fraud, if you pay by a simple bank transfer you might not get your money back. There is some protection if you use a credit card for purchases over £100 under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act and, for debit card purchases, there is the option of attempting to get a chargeback from your bank. If it’s too good to be true, it probably is – Be suspicious of anything that is obviously far too cheap. It could be fake, stolen, or even just a ‘phishing’ scam to get money from you for a product
that doesn’t really exist. DO YOUR RESEARCH. Have a look at the prices of similar products, or search the internet for stories of similar scams, or even just ask friends. ASK PLENTY OF QUESTIONS – Don’t be embarrassed to ask about the product. If it’s a genuine sale, the seller will have no problem in answering any questions you might have. If something doesn’t feel right to you, walk away. There’s more protection if you buy from a trader rather than a private seller - If you buy online from a business, then they are bound by the Consumer Act 2015 and Distance Selling Regulations. Part of this is that you have 14 days to return any goods you’ve bought online. If you buy something from a
t
T
ens of millions of people use eBay every week and, as with any busy marketplace that attracts a lot of people, there will always be some unscrupulous elements that are trying to separate you from your money. But how do you know what to look for? And how do you make sure you have the best chance of getting your money back?
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Business & Finance
Consumer champion continued
private individual, however, this does not apply. If you feel you’ve been scammed, tell someone – report it to the site owners, the police and Action Fraud.
The Big Buy – Cars eBay has hundreds of thousands of cars listed for sale, and sites such as Auto Trader and PistonHeads.com and Gumtree host ads for even more. Used cars on these sites can be sold by private sellers or traders, and the vast majority are honest ads, but there are a small minority of frauds out there. Here’s how to spot them… PRICE IS KING – Find out the market value of a vehicle. If it’s suspiciously cheap, there is more than likely a reason.
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FAKE PICTURES – Fraudulent ads will often ‘steal’ a set of images from another genuine advert. One way to test this is to right-click on one of the images, select ‘copy image link’ and paste that into a Google search. This will then reveal if the image is on another advert somewhere and therefore whether the ad is genuine or not. FAKE ESCROW – A genuine escrow service allows sellers to send goods safe in the knowledge that funds exist and are being held safely until the goods have been delivered. As a scam, however, a fake escrow site run by the ‘seller’ often asks for money to be paid into a specific service before the seller will bring the car for you to view. Costs of shipping the car from one country to another, or problems with timewasters are commonly used excuses.
If it’s a genuine sale, the seller will have no problem in answering any questions you might have. If something doesn’t feel right to you, walk away. THE RIGHT PLACE – Whether you’re buying from a trade seller or a private individual, make sure you’re comfortable with the location of the purchase. It seems obvious, but an anonymous car park or a pub is far from safe. The seller’s house or garage forecourt is a much more secure location to do business, as you have some means of contacting them if things go wrong. James Walker is the founder of online complaint-resolution tool Resolver.co.uk. Follow James via @resolvercouk, or email James@ resolver.co.uk
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Cornwood Close, N2
Hill Top, NW11
Instruct Us To Sell Your House Litchfields have been successfully selling homes in Hampstead Garden Suburb for over 26 years. Call us on 020 8458 5000 and our expert staff will guide you to ensure the best price for your property
Hampstead Way, NW11
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