November 2016 by The Suburb Circular

www.thesuburbcircular.co.uk

november 2016 issue 17

WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Q FOOD & WINE Q HOME & GARDEN Q FASHION & BEAUTY Q HEALTH & WELLBEING Q AND MORE...

6000 copies distributed door to door in Hampstead Garden Suburb

november 2016 | suburb circular | 2

contents

charity feature Headroom Cafe, a unique concept

food & wine Recipe - Mulled Wine

education & politics New stamp duty rules Theresa May

8 12

health & wellbeing Realise your potential Toothpastes that harm your teeth How fast do you go? 6 ways to Help Prevent Dementia

10 11 13 14

gifts & events The Whisky Enthusiast Local Events

16 20

motoring & travel Mileage Reimbursement

homes & garden 9 tips to prepare your garden for winter

business & finance What is Barter?

directory

28 & 30

THE TEAM EDITORIAL EDITOR

FROM THE EDITOR

HENRY MARSHALL CONTRIBUTORS HENRY MARSHALL ELLIE BERGIN PHIL LYONS EDWIN CHONER

Dear Readers,

e are proud to bring you this latest issue of The Suburb Circular in the new B5 larger size and totally redesigned format. We have worked hard to improve every area of the magazine and will be further improving both the quality and the range of content over the forthcoming issues, month on month. We welcome the residents input on what you would like to see more of and perhaps less of. We have now changed our distribution to a more professional letterbox delivery company to ensure that the delivery system does not cause any inconvenience or concern to the Hampstead Garden residents, in particular due to the heightened worries about security in the area. Our newest sections - Forthcoming Local and London Events are proving to be popular and the Directory is a service for the community listing trusted and recommended businesses. We would really appreciate hearing from you about local “heroes” and celebrities in order to add local stories and articles of interest to the magazine. We thank all the residents who read and enjoy The Suburb Circular and in particular the ones who give us valuable feedback and show us such warm appreciation.

Henry

CHARLIE READING ARIE KISELSTEIN JAMES WALKER DAVID HILLEL BURNS VIVIENNE LEVENE MIKE FREER LE0 NEWMAN PUBLISHING CONSULTANT DANIEL FROHWEIN ADVERTISING ARIE KISELSTEIN 020-7101 4042 DESIGN & PRODUCTION KERRIE CALLARD WWW.THESUBURBCIRCULAR.CO.UK INFO@THESUBURBCIRCULAR.CO.UK

Happy reading

020 7101 4042

Henry Marshall 020 7101 4042 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.

november 2016 | suburb circular | 4

charity feature

SIP, SHOP & SHARE HEADROOM CAFE, A UNIQUE CONCEPT A

brand new unique concept hit Golders Green Road last week. Almost the style of a pop up shop, but it’s there to stay! Head Room is a new trendy Bar style Cafe and restaurant mixed together with a boutique style shop selling both vintage clothes and quirky items.

Jami, the mental health service for the Jewish community, has opened the Head Room café on Golders Green Road in it’s old premises and is now a fuelling-stop for both the body and mind. The whole community can Sip, Shop and Share at Head Room.

Sip

Sit back, relax and enjoy fantastic fresh seasonal food from chef Or Golan (former Head Chef at Ottolenghi) and the team behind SoYo and Pizaza. Menu items change regularly and fresh breads are baked in-house. Menu highlights include shakshuka and French toast, a range of toasties and a changing daily menu of salads. Sweet options include a range of ice cream sandwiches made with a choice of toppings. There is also a hot and cold drinks menu.

Shop

The Shop element of Head Room is a regularly changing boutique retail space offering specific ranges of designer, vintage and quirky items.

It is so well designed that you can enjoy your shopping experience whilst enjoying the special atmosphere.

Head Room is a relaxing space for time out as well as to more formal mental health information and support to the Jewish community. During key hours a member of Jami’s team is available in the coffee shop to discuss and explore what services and support are available from Jami and the wider community. There’s also a timetable of activities and workshops that run in the Head Room breakout area – a separate meeting space within the café.

But why support a social enterprise from Jami?

Hardly a day goes by without there being a mental health story in the news. From celebrities revealing their own struggles with anxiety and depression to stories about funding for mental health. Statistics show that one in four British adults will experience a diagnosable mental health problem each year. Jami’s focus is on recovery; moving from lack of control to becoming an active member of the Jami, Jewish and wider community. Jami assists people on this journey, from self-care to being supported, where appropriate, back into education or employment. Jami offers support from four locations across London and the South East. Services include: DAILY LIVING – Jami’s occupational therapists and social workers help clients manage their mental and

physical health, daily routine and housing needs. SOCIAL – Jami visits people in hospital,and if isolated at home. Jami’s hubs run varied programmes throughout the week, including support for carers of people with mental illnesses. WORK AND LEARNING – Jami offers assistance with job searching or finding education opportunities. Jami also runs a social enterprise, offering volunteering and training

HEAD ROOM – the Jami Head Room team runs courses and seminars to educate the whole community about mental health, wellbeing and recovery. The team helps people with mental illness to develop the skills needed for living and work.

Learn more about mental health

Jami’s Head Room educates the community about mental health with seminars to people with experience of mental illness. Events are run in local venues, in Jami centres and at the Head Room café. Philippa Care, Jami’s Recovery Education Manager, says, “There’s been a lot of information across the media about mental wellbeing. We need to look after our mental health needs in the same way as we do our physical health. Going to the gym or for a run, are simply seen as basic ways to look after our physical selves, but up until recently we’ve ignored our mental state. Head Room

“

HEAD ROOM IS A RELAXING SPACE FOR TIME OUT AS WELL AS TO MORE FORMAL MENTAL HEALTH INFORMATION AND SUPPORT TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.

wellbeing. New to Head Room for 2016/17 are “Community Conversations”. These are sessions running from 5-7pm and focus on topics that are current in mental health. Topics include ‘My anxieties have anxieties”, “A conversation for carers” and “My daughter has a mental health problem”.

“

opportunities to those looking to return to employment.

courses explore ways to look after our mental health and wellbeing.” A good, introductory course at how to improve their mental wellbeing is the popular ‘Stress, bad hair days and finding my mojo’ course, which runs over eight weeks (evening sessions”. The course explores the impact of stress on the mind and body and gives ideas and tips for relieving stress and managing

For more information about Jami and Head Room courses , please visit www. jamiuk.org or call 020 8458 2223. 89 Golders Green Road, London NW11 8EN www.headroomcafe.org

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food & wine

MULLED WINE An easy mulled wine recipe for the festive season, brimming with Christmassy spice. Don’t bother with expensive wine - a cheap red will work beautifully and no one will ever know the difference! Eat, Drink and be merry!

PREPARATION TIME: less than 30 mins COOKING TIME: less than 10 mins SERVES: 4- 6 adults

INGREDIENTS l 1 bottle dry red wine l 2 (5cm) cinnamon sticks l 1 dessertspoon whole cloves l 1 dessertspoon whole allspice l 1 large piece orange rind (avoid the pith) l 1 large piece lemon rind (avoid the pith) l 2-4 tablespoons demerara sugar, (or to taste)

METHOD

1 Pour the wine into a heavy saucepan over medium heat, and add the cinnamon, cloves, allspice, lemon rind and orange rind. Heat gently, but don’t bring to the boil. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the sugar, and once dissolved, taste to see if you’d like the wine sweeter and add more if so (take care not to

burn your mouth as this will be hot!). 2 Keep hot on medium to low heat for 20 minutes to let the flavours infuse the wine. 3 Strain your mulled wine into heatproof glasses or mugs and serve at once, perhaps accompanied by mince pies or just enjoy by the fireside.

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education & politics

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november 2016 | suburb circular | 10

health & wellbeing

REALISE YOUR POTENTIAL ONE STEP AT A TIME It doesn’t matter if you’re old or young, rich or poor, we can all think, speak and do better – in short, we can all realise our potentials when we apply ourselves.

he tricky bit is getting focussed, replacing unhelpful habits or beliefs and generally shifting ourselves back into a higher gear. Thankfully, if we want to achieve specific goals, it only ever takes ‘one step at a time’. And it’s in the single steps that the secret lies. SMALL CHANGES can create big differences. Partly because we experience less of our own sabotage or resistance and partly because small changes are less obvious to those around us and therefore less likely to cause ‘problems’ for those that prefer to keeps things as they are. CHANGE IS A FUNNY THING. Most of us love new and different things, but a new and different ‘me’, not so simple. The truth is, we all live within a comfort zone that works for us on some level, yet so many of us would admit we’d like to be any or all of the following – more fit, happier, sleeping better, worrying less, less stressed, enjoying the mojo I used to have, wealthier, more popular, a nicer shape, the list is endless. So what does it take to realise your potential? What needs considering? What will be the key to your hopes and dreams being realised? Do you already know what your gifts are or do you see yourself the same as everyone else, pretty normal and nothing specifically unique to offer? THE ROAD STARTS WITH GETTING CLEARER ABOUT YOURSELF. In an ideal world, you need to know what drives you, what fires you up and what you are passionate about. It could be something you care deeply

about that is outside of yourself, or it could be a gift you know you have within you and wish you could explore, develop and grow. If you could put your passion to good use that it could also be a source of profit, you would be amongst the privileged minority that enjoy working and loving what they do. Usually, highly successful people or those that would appear to have realised their potential in a particular area, would have shown focus and dedication – even singular vision over a prolonged period of time. This doesn’t mean they are all necessarily happy, nor that they have realised their potential. So it’s worthwhile not confusing material success with realising potential. THE REALITY that is far more common, is that most people don’t know what hidden gifts and talents they have or could have. Most of us are doing what we know and try to do our best with it. Some do brilliantly at what they do, but at the end of their lives, if asked if they realised their potential, the answer wont be sitting in their bank accounts or asset base. TO REALISE YOUR POTENTIAL you need to align your passion with your purpose. It’s simple as a question but it took me twenty-five years to answer it for myself – what is my mission and purpose in life? Aside from being a good person and aside from being a good child, partner, parent, citizen. Aside from providing financial and emotional security for my children. Aside from enjoying life and doing what I love. What is the purpose

of my life – or what purpose can I dedicate my life to? 99% of people live and die without asking why! Why my life, why me? What is it that I bring to this earth, to all the people close and far that I will have touched during my life? How can my unique perspective and passion be harnessed and nurtured to leave a lasting positive impact? Most of us will only ever achieve a fraction of our potential, but if we don’t ask ourselves these basic questions, if we don’t talk with loved ones and those we respect about it, we essentially drift and roll through a life lived less. SO MY INVITATION to you all, is to take some quiet time to reflect on what came up for you whilst reading this article. What did it trigger, what did it remind you of that maybe you’d hoped and dreamt of, but allowed yourself to forget. As we approach the winter season and family time again, give a thought not just to the joy of here and now, but also to all the tomorrows that you have yet to live and ask yourself, What is my purpose? What do I dedicate my life towards? What do I really want to be and do? How can I leave the worlds I touch, better than I found them?

Written by Daniel Frohwein: Writer, Business and Leadership coach, Branding Specialist and Founder of www.realiseyourpotential.com

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november 2016 | suburb circular | 12

education & politics

THERESA MAY

WHAT’S COMING? Mike Freer

Prime Minister who, going forward, will reshuffle people in and out based on performance and not sentiment.

UNLIKE the shambolic and interminable reshuffles of Jeremy Corbyn, Mrs May’s was executed smoothly and efficiently. She displayed a ruthless streak on dispatching senior colleagues - Gove and Osborne, the two highest profile losers amongst others. This does suggest that those she feels have outlived their usefulness—who are not up to the job, or simply have personal flaws she thinks renders them unsuitable—will be out! This is a business-like

ALL RESHUFFLES are a balancing act, talent nurtured, supporters rewarded, the losing candidates embraced (keeping friends close but enemies closer still perhaps), the potential awkward neutered by making them Ministers and tying them into collective responsibility. Then there was what to do with the Brexiters. Chris Grayling was a leading Brexiter and was her campaign manager. His dream job wasn’t Home Secretary or leading the UK out of the EU, but Transport. Transport is where he was placed and so far HS2 is on schedule, Heathrow expansion announced, further investment in road and rail in process. There were some surprises and some clever moves. Putting Boris Johnson, Liam Fox and David Davis into key positions for the delivery of Brexit perhaps shows the PM does have a sense of humour? Or simply putting the most ardent advocates in charge of delivering it! Given the premium Mrs May puts on delivering on promises; I’d put my money on the latter.

HERESA MAY became Prime Minister on the 13th July, now over 100 days ago. Yes it seems longer, perhaps because her no nonsense/let’s get on with it style makes us feel secure; lacking the apprehension a ‘stranger’ might evoke. Of course being the longest serving Home Secretary in modern political history also helps that feeling of continuity.

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ON EVERY OCCASION I FOUND HER WELL BRIEFED AND MORE THAN WILLING TO CHALLENGE AND PROBE ARGUMENTS FOR A PARTICULAR COURSE OF ACTION

SO WHAT’S NEXT? I would expect pragmatism, efficiency and drive. Since my election in 2010, I had many reasons to meet with Theresa May as Home Secretary. Anti-semitism, the flying of Hezbollah flags at demonstrations in London, security for Jewish buildings (or any other faith based

building at risk of terrorism), domestic violence, refugees and training for Police Officers handling victims of domestic violence and the treatment of LGBT asylum seekers. On every occasion I found her well briefed and more than willing to challenge and probe arguments for a particular course of action. I usually left her office with a commitment for follow up actions. By the time I returned to my office (a 15 minute walk from the Home Office) her officials had been on the phone following through. Usually promises to follow up action from other Senior Ministers took weeks and relentless nagging. With Theresa May, if she says it will be done, it gets done. THERE IS ALSO a welcome streak of pragmatism. Governments know that they have a limited time to get things done before the election cycle impedes decision making. Often PMs will throw the proverbial kitchen sink at policy changes, hoping something sticks. Mrs May has shown she’s not afraid to do less, if by doing so she can deliver more. Ministers have been tasked to look at what their department has done since 2010 and if it isn’t working, to drop it or tweak it. Education policy, fiscal policy, welfare policy and international aid are just some areas that have been told - if it isn’t working, change it or dump it. That’s a breath of fresh air. Calm, efficient, pragmatic. If the PM wants it to happen, it’s not Theresa may, it’s Theresa will!

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health & wellbeing

The Optometrist Speaks About:

HOW FAST DO YOU GO? THE FOOT MINUTE RULE By DAVID HILLEL BURNS

hortsightedness, as I wrote, usually (but not always) comes on gradually, in the teens or thereabouts. In the issue before last month’s I wrote about shortsightedness and its possible prevention. One way of reducing it is the Foot-Minute Rule. If a young person’s shortsightedness is increasing, observing the Foot Minute Rule will help to slow the increase down. It’s this: not to look for longer than a minute at something nearer than a foot from the eyes. Some people become more shortsighted because of intense prolonged

near vision. There is enough good scientific evidence for this. Some people are affected more than others by excessive close-up focusing, and during an eyesight checkup it is possible to discover whether a person needs to be aware of the Foot-Minute Rule, to guard against that excess of close-up focusing. Being shortsighted does have some advantages but, apart from the inconvenience, it can become related to other eye problems (though it usually doesn’t) so it’s best to keep the level down. Observing the Foot-Minute Rule

may help. Some people concentrate on screens, such as smartphones, very close. Nearer than a foot? Shorter than a minute!

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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november 2016 | suburb circular | 14

health & wellbeing CONTINUED FROM THE OCTOBER ISSUE

6 WAYS TO HELP PREVENT DEMENTIA, ALZHEIMER’S AND COGNITIVE DECLINE 3 Mental Stimulation

The phrase ‘use it or lose it’ could not ring truer when it comes to mental stimulation. It’s a sad reality, but as we get older we become less and less mentally engaged. Look at children: in their first eighteen months alone they go from being completely dependent to learning how to talk and walk. Then, as they grow, children are constantly learning, questioning, exploring and imagining. Our mental power explodes into action as we go to school, enter into the world of work, have children of our own, but then the learning stops. As adults we seem to gradually become mentally stagnant, feeling like we don’t need to know anything else, like we have used up our brain’s quota. And it’s killing us. RESEARCH HAS FOUND that those who continue to learn new things

throughout their lives, challenging their brains, are far less likely to develop cognitive health problems. Exercising your mental muscle is pivotal to staving off the onset of dementia. AND THERE ARE so many things you can do- use your imagination, like you used to. You could start simple by reading a great, new novel, solving crossword puzzles or playing memory games, but why stop there? The world is a wondrous place filed with endless possibilities. Why not use your retirement to study the subject you always dreamt of? Or take up a creative hobby that you’re passionate about? Why not start a blog detailing your journey, so that you can also interact with others around you, helping them with their mental stimulation? There are so many possibilities at your fingertips. Just take the brave step and pledge to never stop learning, creating or exploring.

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LONELINESS AND LACK OF SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT CAN ACTUALLY LEAD TO ALZHEIMER’S AND DEMENTIA TOO, SO IT PAYS TO GO AND HAVE A CHAT WITH THIOSE AROUND YOU! AS HUMAN BEINGS WE ARE HIGHLY SOCIAL CREATURES WHO CANNOT SURVIVE IN ISOLATION

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BY CHARLIE READING

Our online community has loads of tips and guides on a huge range of topics, so use these as a starting point to fire your imagination.

4 Quality Sleep

With my grandma suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, I have a fair understanding of how people with this illness can often suffer from insomnia. In the early days of her illness, my grandma would often be found walking the streets of her home town in the early hours, purely to while away the time until the rest of the world woke. But insomnia is not just a side-effect of cognitive decline, it can also be a cause. MORE AND MORE studies are showing links between disrupted sleep and the production of higher levels of beta-amyloid. Coupled together, these

your sleep pattern. If you really must nap, only do this for 30 minutes and in the early afternoon.

5 Stress Management

prevent deep sleep taking place, which is vital for memory formation and the flushing out of brain toxins. Not to mention the detrimental effect lack of uninterrupted sleep can have on your mood, logic and general health. IT WOULD BE very easy for me to just say “get 8 hours sleep every night and you can reduce your risk of dementia”. But it’s not always that simple. Sleep can be problematic for many people, so, if you think that insomnia is occurring on a regular basis and taking a heavy toll on your wellbeing, I urge you to go to your GP and talk to them about sleep apnoea. HOWEVER, there are some techniques that you can try out on your own too. The emphasis here is on relaxation and establishing a routine: l Try to go to bed at the same time every day and wake up at the same time too- that’s right, no weekend lieins, because they are actually bad for your mental health! l Have a long, hot bath before bed. We do this to help our children sleep, but seem to have forgotten to apply the rule to ourselves. A soak in the tub can often help to ease away the stresses of the day and make you feel sleepy. l Reserve your bedroom, or the area where you sleep, for that. Banish TVs, computers and paperwork from the bedroom- I’m all for mental stimulation, but not when you are trying to sleep! l Try meditation for 5-10 minutes before you go to bed. Clearing and calming your mind helps to alleviate the mental ‘chatter’ that keeps so many of us up all night. l Try not to indulge in siestas. Napping, on the whole, is not advisable, as it can adversely affect

Leading on nicely from relaxation techniques comes stress: an illness in its own right that can manifest itself in a variety of ways. I just want to clarify what I mean when I’m talking about stress here; it’s a broad spectrum that is open to interpretation and effects everyone differently. In terms of dementia, it is chronic stress that can be damaging: the type of stress that adversely effects your everyday functions. This type of stress has been shown to lead to shrinkage in the brain tissue and hampering nerve cell growth, thus increasing the likelihood of the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia. But stress can often gather momentum, like an avalanche, so ‘nipping it in the bud’ is often the best strategy. Don’t let daily stresses evolve into a crippling illness. These simple tools may help, but as ever, if you are concerned with stress, seek medical advice. l Meditation and Yoga. These two often go hand-in-hand but of course can be practised separately. The key element of these practices is breathing: to increase oxygen levels in the brain, restore inner peace and give you time to sit in quiet contemplation. I appreciate that it sounds a little ‘new age’ but it is an incredibly power practice that is free and could save your life. l Have Fun! Don’t take life to seriously- set time aside to enjoy the things you like to do. That could be a walk in the countryside with your grandchildren, a trip to the cinema or just getting together with your friends to reminisce and enjoy a treat (sometimes sugar has a place!) l Make Time for You. Being sociable is important (as you will see in a moment) but sometimes time by yourself to reflect, calm your emotions or unwind is just as important. My ‘me’ time is usually done in the bath whilst reading a book or walking the dogs.

Do whatever makes you feel calm and relaxed.

6 Social Engagement

Something that truly saddens me is the correlation between our age and our loneliness. It seems the older we become, the less we interact socially. There are too many stories of the elderly in the press who have died, lonely in their homes, not found for days because they had no family or friends left to check on them. In my mind that’s a huge problem, and thankfully one that wonderful people like the team at charities like ‘Be a Friend Today’ are helping to combat. http://www.beafriendtoday.org.uk/ about-us/friends-of-the-elderly/ Loneliness and lack of social engagement can actually lead to Alzheimer’s and dementia too, so it pays to go and have a chat with those around you! As human beings we are highly social creatures who cannot survive in isolation. Research even goes as far to show that socially engaged people tend to stave off the effects of Alzheimer’s and dementia for far longer. So, make sure that you keep on building your social interactions, whether that’s talking to your partner, attending a weekly workshop or undertaking some volunteering work. Regular, quality interactions are great fun and a boost for your help. SO THERE WE HAVE IT: 6 ways that you can help to prevent Alzheimer’s, dementia and cognitive decline- and most them are actually fun! Keep active, eat healthy, sleep well, have fun, keep calm and never stop growing as a person. I’m confident that education will help to reduce the devastating cognitive illnesses that are sweeping the globe but only if we start by making sure we are the healthiest we can be. 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 copy of Charlie’s book, ‘The Dream Retirement: How to Secure Your Money and Retire Happy’ by visiting www.dream-retirement.com

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november 2016 | suburb circular | 16

gifts & events

The Whisky

ENTHUSIAST AN INTRODUCTION TO WHISKY FOR ALL OUR READERS,

Types of Whisky – THE GRAIN

Types of Whisky – THE FINISH

MALT WHISKY – is made almost exclusively from malted barley grain. If a whisky is made from the only type of grain at a single distillery, then it can be called “Single Malt Whisky”. In Scotland every malt whisky has to have aged a minimum of three years.

SINGLE MALT – is whisky that is made from one batch of grain and produced at a single distillery. It is often mixed with other whisky casks to achieve a suitable flavour.

GRAIN WHISKY – is made using at least one other type of grain than malted barley. The most common of these are corn, wheat or rye. Whiskies using both barley and other grains are often called “Blended Scotch Whisky”. Two popular American whiskies found over here are; Rye Whiskey (consists at least 51% rye) and Bourbon Whiskey (consists at least 51% corn maize)

SINGLE CASK – is whisky made from a single process of one cask. It is not mixed with any other previously produced whisky. Normally the bottles have specific information about the cask it came from. BLENDED MALT – is made from single malt from more than one distillery BLENDED WHISKIES – are made from mixing several types of malt with other grains and additives to help produce the flavour of the drink CASK STRENGTH – is a much stronger type of whisky. Most normal whiskies will be between 40%vol and 46%vol. Cask strength whiskies will on the whole be between 50%vol and 60%vol. Most people will add a drop of water to these to open the flavour up and to make it not seem so strong. I personally like to try it first without water and then with, just to see the difference in the taste.

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SPEYSIDE. THIS SMALL AREA OF LAND LOCATED TO THE NORTH WEST OF ABERDEEN PRODUCES MELLOW, SWEET, AND PARTICULARLY FRUITY MALT WHISKIES.

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Whisky or Whiskey?

WHICH SPELLING IS CORRECT?

Well they both are. American and Irish prefer WHISKEY and the Scots, Canadians and the rest of the world WHISKY This originated in the 19th century when the quality of Scotch whisky was very low. For the export market to America, the Irish distillers wanted to differentiate their product from the poorer Scotch whisky so they added the ‘e’ to make a crucial distinction.

The word Whisky means ‘water of life’

november 2016 | suburb circular | 18

gifts & events The Whisky Enthusiast continued An introduction to whisky for all our readers, (reprinted from an earlier issue)

THERE ARE 5 WHISKY REGIONS (SEE MAP ABOVE) LOWLAND – Only 3 distilleries remain open, the most well known of these is Auchentoshan. SPEYSIDE – This tiny area has the largest number of distilleries and includes: Aberlour, Balvenie, Cardhu, Glenfarclas, Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Glenrothes and Macallan as some of the top names from the area. HIGHLAND – this area includes distilleries such as: Dalmore,

Dalwhinnie,Glenmorangie, Oban and Old Pulteney. The Islands (excluding Islay) are a sub region of the Highlands and include distilleries such as Arran, Jura, Highland Park and Talisker. CAMPBELTOWN - Once home to over 30 distilleries, has only 3 in operation now; Glen Scotia, Glengyle and Springbank. ISLAY – 8 distilleries operating from here are: Ardbeg, Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Kilchoman, Lagavulin and Laphroiag.

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SPEYSIDE. THIS SMALL AREA OF LAND LOCATED TO THE NORTH WEST OF ABERDEEN PRODUCES MELLOW, SWEET, AND PARTICULARLY FRUITY MALT WHISKIES.

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Whisky Regions

TASTES FROM THE DIFFERENT REGIONS THE LOWLANDS. Whiskies from the Lowlands tend to be soft and light in character. They often display very malty, grassy characteristics and subtle delicate aromas. THE HIGHLANDS. As it’s such a large area whiskies will vary greatly in character. Generalisations about the Highland region are less valid, as its whiskies will range from dry to sweet and some even have a touch of smoke and peat. SPEYSIDE. This small area of land located to the north west of Aberdeen produces mellow, sweet, and particularly fruity malt whiskies. CAMPBELTOWN. Whiskies from the town tend to have a little peat and salt to them, and are generally medium to full bodied ISLAY. The island produces very distinct malts, generally heavily peated and smoky in taste. This whisky flavour map gives a guide to some of the most popular whiskies and how they compare between Delicate and Smoky to Light and Rich.

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november 2016 | suburb circular | 22

motoring & travel

MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT

AND CAR FUEL BENEFIT Employees can save themselves hundreds and potentially thousands of pounds a year in fuel-related costs by selecting an electric vehicle as their company car.

ADVISORY FUEL RATES

EVs deliver major fuel savings to fleets and drivers alike and the absence of official tax-free company

car Advisory Fuel Rates (AFRs) for pure electric vehicles should not stop the corporate sector from including them on choice lists, according to experts. AFRs are used by employers to reimburse employees’ business travel in their company cars or for employees to repay the cost of fuel used privately. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) publishes AFRs quarterly, but does not recognise electricity as a fuel, hence the lack of a figure for pure electric cars. HMRC’s decision not to provide an AFR was based on the premise that it would be unviable, considering the wide variation in electricity costs during certain times of the day; the likelihood that EV drivers would charge both at home and at work where the electricity was paid for

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IF DRIVING AN ELECTRIC CAR WITH AN EMPLOYER PAYING FOR ALL ‘FUEL’ – PRIVATE AS WELL AS BUSINESS – THEN NO CAR FUEL BENEFIT CHARGE ARISES DUE TO HMRC NOT RECOGNISING ELECTRICITY AS A FUEL.

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avings on fuel – as well as tax – deliver the biggest benefits, but other cash wins include free parking in many locations, exemption from the London Congestion Charge and a grant to assist with the installation of a home vehicle chargepoint. While it is obvious that pure electric vehicles (EVs) must be plugged-in to recharge the battery, industry experts advise that it is also essential that drivers recharge plug-in hybrids regularly to ensure they are driven at maximum efficiency. Electricity is not classed as a fuel by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) so for mileage reimbursement – whether using Advisory Fuel Rates (company cars) or Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (privately owned cars) – electric and hybrid cars are treated in the same way as petrol and diesel models. Advisory Fuel Rates for plug-in hybrid and range-extended electric vehicles are based on the size of the car’s petrol or diesel fuelled engine. If driving an electric car with an employer paying for all ‘fuel’ – private as well as business – then no car fuel benefit charge arises due to HMRC not recognising electricity as a fuel.

by their employer; and the lack of reliable data on miles per kilowatt consumption rates. The Miles Consultancy (TMC), the UK’s leading fuel card and mileage expense management specialist, says that fleets should reimburse ‘fuel’ used by EVs at a pence per mile rate calculated to closely reflect actual cost using available data: manufacturers’ figures for miles per kilowatt (kW) and electricity cost data from the Energy Saving Trust, which publishes representative costs for domestic electricity. What’s more, it has even calculated a recommended mileage reimbursement rate. For example, says TMC, a car with a 25 kWh battery and a typical range of 85 miles returns 3.4 miles per kWh. Using an average cost of 10p per kWh – assuming the vehicle is primarily charged at home overnight, the cost per mile is 2.94p. That, it says, should be the mileage reimbursement rate. TMC managing director Paul Hollick said: “This approach enables the company to agree a pence per mile rate for an electric car based on known parameters: car’s battery capacity, range in real world conditions and the average cost of electricity from typical

Plugged-in ADVISORY FUEL RATES FOR PLUG-IN HYBRID AND RANGE-EXTENDED ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE CAR’S PETROL OR DIESEL-FUELLED ENGINE

sources – home, workplace, public chargepoint.” Agreement came from Jon Burdekin, head of product management at business mobility specialist Alphabet, which has 3,000 EVs on its fleet with more than 1,000 on order. He said: “It’s vitally important for fleets to understand the true position on reimbursing EV recharging costs. “It’s not that HMRC won’t pay for plug-in vehicle recharging. It’s that it doesn’t have a defined rate. “Fleets must be proactive and go to HMRC with a realistic suggestion for a pence per mile rate for the cost of electricity. We’ve helped customers calculate the charging cost for their vehicles, which is typically 2.5p-3.5p per mile. They’ve gone to HMRC with the figures behind the proposal and been given the go-ahead. “Fleets will benefit far more from being proactive on this than if they’re reactive. Once a figure has been agreed, a big perceived barrier between drivers and the substantial cost advantages on offer to both sides if they choose electric vehicles is removed.” Mr Burdekin concluded: “I realise that some managers genuinely perceive the AFR issue as a real barrier to adopting electric vehicles, but if they looked closely they would see that it isn’t. However, some seem to use AFRs as a convenient, official-looking excuse for not looking seriously at plug-in vehicles, despite the mounting evidence of their potential to cut fleet costs.”

DID YOU KNOW?

FLEETS CAN REIMBURSE BUSINESS MILEAGE COSTS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES WITHOUT USING AFRs AND STILL COMPLY WITH HMRC

APPROVED MILEAGE ALLOWANCE PAYMENTS

Similar calculations can also be reflected in mileage rates paid to employees who receive a cash allowance in lieu of a car and elect to drive a 100% electric vehicle. Employers typically use tax-free Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) of 45p for the first 10,000 miles and 25p thereafter to reimburse business mileage. The AMAP rate is intended to cover the vehicle’s ownership and running costs, including fuel. However, there is not an official ‘fuel element’ in the AMAP rate. Nevertheless, said Paul Hollick, from The Miles Consultancy, it was accepted practice to apply the appropriate AFR in circumstances

where fuel needed to be calculated. As a result, for owner-drivers at the wheel of electric cars, ‘fuel’ would account for a much smaller proportion of their total cost of motoring than it would for the employee driving their own petrol or diesel car on business. In relation to a cash allowance driver, Mr Hollick said: “The employer needs only to pay for the fuel element of an employee’s business use of the vehicle, since ownership overheads are ostensibly covered by the allowance. “Calculations would suggest a rate of 2.5p-3.5p per mile is applicable. Employers might therefore decide to pay the driver 3p per mile for business trips in their cash allowance car, a significant business saving compared to internal combustion engine cars. “Cash allowance drivers can then claim tax relief (42p) on the difference between the rate they receive and the full 45p AMAP rate. The driver can claim relief on 42p per mile (45p – 3p) whereas a diesel car driver claiming 14p per mile would be able to get relief on 31p per mile. Assuming both are higher rate taxpayers, the electric car driver will get 4.4p per mile more tax relief than the diesel driver.” TMC recommends that employees driving their own EV, which was not funded through a cash allowance, should receive the full AMAP rate due to the higher purchase price of the car.

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november 2016 | suburb circular | 24

home & garden

SIMPLE TIPS to prepare your home for winter

For once we can’t moan about the summer, given most of us had more potential barbeque days than has been possible in recent years. But those happy days are over and it’s time to go all A-Team on the house before the weather turns really moody. Here are 9 jobs to do before winter sweeps in.

GET UP A LADDER

Clearing out gutters and gullies may not be the most appealing task -especially if there’s a gale blowing. But over a year moss, leaves and other rubbish builds up and can cause all sorts of problems including blocked downpipes, gutters and gullies. This can be a big issue if it snows and the whole length of a gutter buckles under the weight, potentially bringing down a torrent of winter weather and plastic tubing on your head, driveway or back yard. Use a garden trowel to scoop out any rubbish, placing it into a plastic bag that you hang off your ladder, rather than dumping it on whoever you have holding the bottom of the rung It’s a quick and simple job, providing you’re careful.

2 3

GIVE YOUR GARDEN A HAIRCUT

So much damage is caused by heavy snow and high winds, so inspecting trees and bushes for loose or hanging branches and severing any limbs that might cause a problem makes a lot of sense.

4 INDOORS AND UPWARDS

One of the biggest home disasters over the winter is ice in pipes, which expands and ruptures resulting in floods of water when the temperatures rise. So, it’s worth splashing out on pipe lagging to nip the problem in the bud. It’s easy to fit - all you need do is wrap it around any copper water pipes to prevent them from freezing in the winter. Don’t forget outside water pipes either, such as those running to your garden tap.

CHECK THOSE DRAFTS

My nan used to have great big fabric snakes at the bottom of her front door. Most of her friends and relatives on the Bourne Estate in Holborn bought the same draught excluders from the same stall on Leather Lane, and they worked. These days we rely on double glazing, but if yours is getting old, or you don’t have it installed, then it might be worth buying a draft excluder. A fabric snake will probably be cheaper than the amount you’ll spend on cranking up the heating to level out the cold. It’ll even have something of a chintzy retro charm too. You can even get nifty sausage dog ones nowadays, as above.

If there’s one thing you don’t want to pack up over a long, dark winter, it’ll be your boiler. So, get it serviced. It may cost from £50 to £100, depending on where you live, but it’ll almost certainly be cheaper than getting it fixed if it breaks down. Also, bleed the radiators once you turn the heating off to ensure everything is running at peak efficiency.

CHECK YOUR DETECTORS

Pressing a test button or buying smoke alarm may just save your life. If you want to go a stage further, you could invest in a carbon monoxide detector while you’re at it.

A FABRIC SNAKE WILL PROBABLY BE CHEAPER THAN THE AMOUNT YOU’LL SPEND ON CRANKING UP THE HEATING TO LEVEL OUT THE COLD. IT’LL EVEN HAVE SOMETHING OF A CHINTZY RETRO CHARM TOO.

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GET A HEALTH CHECK

GIVE YOUR ROOF AND FENCES THE ONCE OVER

As winter arrives, strong winds, which can dislodge loose roof tiles and cause fences to fall like dominoes. Check your fences are secure and keep a beady eye out for wobbly-looking tiles, both of which could seriously dent your finances, especially if they happen to fall on your car.

PREPARE FOR A WINTER EMERGENCY Ensure you have a few portable heaters (oil filled radiators are very efficient & useful during the Autumn prior to switching on the central heating) An LED Lantern, Wellington Boots, Bag of Salt for your front path or a Snow Shovel, plus additional blankets and or duvets. Emergency numbers to hand for Plumbers and Electricians.

CHECK YOUR STOPCOCK Amazingly, not everyone knows how to turn off their mains water supply, and even if you know where it is, it’s worth checking it’s not seized. Most stopcocks are located under the kitchen sink, although you may find one outside the house in a covered trench or just outside the boundary of your property.

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november 2016 | suburb circular | 26

business & finance

WHAT IS BARTER?

HOW CAN IT HELP YOUR BUSINESS? A

barter economy is a cashless economic system in which services and goods are directly traded at negotiated rates. Barter-based economies are some of the earliest, predating monetary systems and even recorded history. People can successfully use barter in almost any field. Informally, people often participate in barter and other reciprocal systems without really ever thinking about it as such, providing web design or tech support for a farmer or baker and receiving vegetables or baked goods in return, for example. Strictly Internet based exchanges are common as well, exchanging content creation for research, for example. Because barter is based on reciprocity, it requires a mutual coincidence of wants between traders. This requirement complicates barter, but in a sufficiently large system (bank) traders can be found to supply most wants. According to proponents, the mutuality fosters a sense of connectedness and community among traders. In recent years, barter has enjoyed a resurgence as a means of countering economic insecurity with Barter Banks offering credit terms and a reliable service.

Helping your Business

Business owners love bartering because it saves them cash, moves excess stock or idle inventory and fills up their downtime or spare capacity. Chances are you have conducted a one-to-one barter deal in the past and the outcome was win-win. However, while these direct barter deals can be effective, they lack flexibility, which limits how often they may occur. The challenge with a direct one-on-one barter is you might want something that one business has but they may not want what you have. By creating a trade currency you can barter-trade conveniently with thousands of members worldwide.

Barter Banks / Communities

Barter Banks have created a flexible, secure and fully accountable way for

businesses to barter their goods and services with businesses all around the country and the world.

Members can effectively use barter to

l gain new customers who generate increased sales income l move excess stock or utilise downtime l Increase Cash flow & free up cash to pay existing expenses l increase profits from introduction of new business

Create Business Opportunities & New Customers

CONVERTING SURPLUS INVENTORY INTO ASSETS Without a doubt, the single largest opportunity for reduction of waste in

an organisation rests with efficient management of inventory. Developing a strategy on inventory management is an effective way of flushing out many opportunities. Converting un-utilised Capacity Into NEW Business By taking advantage of their slow periods, printing companies can take on new business on barter and use trade credits earned to purchase products and service which they would have paid for in hard cash. Increasing Sales in competitive service industries Your overheads are

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IN A PLETHORA OF OUTDOOR ADVERTISING MEDIA THAT HAVE SURFACED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, BILLBOARDS, TAXI TOPS, BUS PANELS, AUTOMOBILES, BUS STOP PANELS, LED SCREENS, AND SEASONAL DEMAND, MEDIA OWNERS ARE FINDING IT INCREASINGLY CHALLENGING IN FILLING THEIR SPACE WITH ADS THAT PRODUCE INCOME.

built in, you have to pay rent, staff and salaries regardless of whether your time is fully utilised or your capacity is underused. CAN YOU AFFORD TO HAVE A TABLE SIT THERE UNOCCUPIED? Are you having difficulty securing new accounts? How do you fill that last minute hole? Are you running more ads than youwould prefer? In a plethora of outdoor advertising media that have surfaced in the last few years, billboards, taxi tops, bus panels, automobiles, bus stop panels, LED screens, and seasonal demand, media owners are finding it increasingly challenging in filling their space with ads that produce income.

Improve your cash flow

The Barter Bank system adds another dimension to your business by giving you the freedom to accept trade dollars /pounds, to attract new customers and increase your sales. You then use this additional income to pay for needed goods or services within your business, saving your valuable cash flow for other expenses and investments.

to use the inventory on a regular basis.

Enhance productivity

The barter system helps companies put inventory, equipment and employees to more effective use, converting downtime and spare capacity into extra revenue by utilising the The Barter Bank network as an additional business/revenue source. How often do you have staff that are under utilised, tables or hotel rooms unoccupied? When you are dealing in ‘time’ - once it is gone, it is gone. By accepting the extra business that Barter brings, you gain an additional revenue stream.

Expand distribution channels

Barter Bank members can cost-effectively expand their business reach by promoting within their network. Barter Banks have thousands of businesses worldwide. This provides barter bank members with strong marketing and trading options through its national and international directory service, plus the online business website where members actively promote their business and conduct business transactions.

Move excess stock and idle inventory

The barter system is the easiest way to sell your excess or slow moving stock without heavy discounting. If your business experiences seasonal markets, barter provides a profitable way

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november 2016 | suburb circular | 28

PROPERTY & MAINTENANCE

HOUSE & HOME

l Litchfields - 020 8458 5000 - Estate agents

l Moiety Kitchens - 0208 455 3226

l Jeremy Clive - 020 3691 0992 - Estate agents

l Neil Lerner - 020 7724 7234 - Kitchens

l Leo Newman - XXX XXXXX - Property Management

l Coraff Carpets - 020 8731 7766

l A & L Window Repairs - 07719 196 744

l Posners - 020 7625 8899 - Flooring

l Living In Space - 020 722 3131 - Architects/Designers

l Parquet Flooring - 020 8458 6037

l Pinnacle - 020 8806 5353 - Architects

l St Johns Wood Interiors - 020 7722 9204

l Bird & Wedge - 020 8808 2812 - Roofing

l Ella Jade - 020 3146 3000 - Furniture

l HGS Joinery & Glazing - 020 8536 0300

l Mobili Domani - 020 8202 0525 - Furniture

l Apple Construction - 01483 281 515

l Tommy Appliance Repair - 07739 988 199

l City Builders - 07813 871 286

l Porcelain Tiles - 020 8731 6787

l Gas Force - 020 8342 8559 - Heating Engineers

l Tiles & Baths Direct- 020 8202 2223

l Monsoon - 020 8 209 3608

l Wharfside - 020 7253 3206 - Furniture

l B & C Securities - 07970 073 115 - Locksmith

l BOconcept - 020 7749 8049 - Furniture

l B & C Securities - 07970 073 115 - Safes l G & M Power - 020 3371 7971 - Decorators

l Protect-Me - 020 8800 9492

HEALTH & FITNESS

l J & J Security - 020 8203 0999

l The Laboratory Spa - 020 8457 3300

l Banham - 020 8905 0922

l Alan Nevies - 020 8458 3874 - Osteopath

l A & M Surveyors - 020 8371 0379

l Barnard Levitt - 020 8458 0599 - Optometrist

l Debonaire Design & Build - 020 8922 0034

l David Hillel Opticians - 020 8444 2233

l Hampstead Builders Ltd - 0845 003 6886

l Physiotherapy on the Move - 07815 886 607

l Kings Removals - 020 8338 3999

0207 722 3131 43 Englands Lane NW3 4YD

info@living-inspace.co.uk www.living-inspace.co.uk

Developments, Extensions, Basements & Loo Conversions Planning Applicaaons & experience with HGS Trust Bespoke Joinery, Kitchen & Bathroom Design, Soo Furnishing Design Interiors showroom open 9am - 6pm, Mon - Fri

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november 2016 | suburb circular | 30

MEDICAL & DENTISTRY

TRAVEL & MOTOR

l Prais Dental Care - 020 8201 8877 - Dentist

l Collets Travel - 020 8202 8101 - Cruises

l Bergin Davis Sidelsky - 020 8458 1611 “

l Travelink - 020 8931 8000 - Travel Agents

l JDOC - 0800 043 1492

l Mercedes Temple Fortune - 020 8731 0200

l 999 Medical - 020 8455 9939

l Finchley Road Audi - 0203 733 6178

l Doctor Today - 020 7433 1444 l Highgate Hospital - 020 8347 3854 l Wellington Golders Green - 020 8736 1100

GIFTS

l Lifepoint Healthcare - 020 3348 9868

l Princess Grace Hospital - 020 7486 1234 l Royal Free Hospital - 020 7794 0500 l LCTA Acupuncture Clinic - 020 8371 9793 l Heyman Acupuncture - 07729 817 757

FASHION & BEAUTY l Mitch - 020 7586 0030 - Ladies Fashion l Miri - 020 8458 9977 - Ladies Fashion l After Dark - 020 8343 3535 - Ladies Fashion l Beige Plus - 020 8455 1122 Ladies Fashion l Boutique Homme - 020 8455 6607 l Browz - 020 8617 3433 - Beautican

l Isara Diamond Jewellery - 07866 581 991 l Kristal - 020 8209 1499 - Flowers l Catto Gallery - 020 7435 6600 l Caxton London - 0208 455 4443 - Gifts

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We love advertising in such a great magazine that is seen by all the local residents in Hampstead Garden Suburb. With interesting articles and a wide variety of adverts. I would 100% recommend to advertise in The Suburb Circular.

l HOB Hair Salon - 020 8381 4041 Hair

Charles Bobroff, Director of Litchfields

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l Harley Street Clinic - 020 7935 7700

World Class Showrooms

www.furniturelondon.com 53 - 59 Watford Way, London, NW4 3AX 020 8202 0525

Selling more cottages than any other agent

11 , NW Road * d o o Oakw 1,100,000 £

Oakw

ood R o £830,0 ad, NW11 00 *

Temp

le Fo rtun £1,095 e, Hill NW ,000 * 11

, NW11 d Way * l ie if l Wil ,000 £1,095

ay, NW ead W * t s p m 50 Ha £759,9

Cresw

ick W a £949,9 lk, NW11 50 *

* denotes asking price

Hampstead Garden Suburb Office 800 Finchley Road, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London, NW11 7TJ Telephone | 020 8458 5000 Email | sales@litchfields.com Web | litchfields.com