VantagePoint Magazine December 2014 - Guildford & Villages by VantagePoint Magazine

vantagepointmag.co.uk

Guildford & Villages • December 2014

VANTAGEPOINT MAGAZINE

YOUR COMMUNITY  YOUR VIEW

HAPPY CHRISTMAS to all our readers from your local magazine

Inside: CHEESE AND PORT SEASONAL SPARKLERS WIN PANTOMIME TICKETS GROWING CHRISTMAS TREES PULL OUT CHARITY CHRISTMAS QUIZ

h 0

3 i 3

! Cherts

a Le pa

le Rd

ridge

db Woo

ar Car P

yr Rd

St Ward

ace

Mart

i3 eet h Str Nort

E OF

S HOU

SER

FRA

20 et A3

on Pl

a Leap

“What to buy Santa for Christmas”, mused Mrs Claus. “i KnoW, a trip to Food For Thought, so much to choose from, i’m sure to find something i like, i mean he will like!” ey Stre

Hayd

30 ne le La

! i h

With our dazzling Christmas selection you are bound to find the ideal gifts for Friends and Family, and of course a little treat for yourself!

0 h 20% St High

OFF

Food For Thought, helping you get a bit more for Christmas. Save 20%* when you present this coupon to the cashier at time of purchase. The coupon can be used once only and is valid until the 31st December 2014. We have something for everyone, what will you choose? *excluding any other offers or discounts running during December 2014. Valid at either Food For Thought Guildford or Kingston

GUI1214

2-6, Haydon Place, Guildford, GU1 4LL Tel: 01483 533841 www.foodforthoughtuk.com

TO THE POINT Just as the ﬁled of red at the Tower of London gripped the nation, they also captured the imagination of our readers who were swamping us daily with entries into our competition from last month to win a ceramic poppy. I’m sorry that only two of you could win but it does show what an amazing project it was! We also received some lovely comments on November’s Stefan Reynolds front cover image of the Thiepval memorial, Editor & Publisher which was taken by a local reader, Andy Bailey. He took it last year while undertaking research for two of his local war memorials and more details are available at www.ewhurstfallen.co.uk and www.rudgwickremembers.com. Humph is growing as you can see and continues to make his presence felt in the oﬃce, having recently chewed his way through our internet cable. Thankfully he could not reach anything

The local magazine produced by local people for the local community,

more serious and now limits himself to cardboard when I am not looking. Well, it is Christmas month already and we have a suitably themed edition with contributions from all manner of local businesses and people, including the team here. We are delighted to be supporting the Dan Eley Foundation’s Bumper Family Charity Quiz which seeks to raise money for disadvantaged young people while also oﬀering prizes of £600. Please support them if you can and I hope you have fun doing the quiz around the Christmas table. Together with my colleagues, we wish all of our readers and all of our local advertisers (without whom we’d have no magazine) a very happy Christmas! stefan@vantagepublishing.co.uk

VantagePoint is published by Vantage Publishing, a Godalming based local magazine business which was first established in 2009 when we launched our first community magazine. We now publish five community magazines which are delivered monthly by Royal Mail to 107,714 homes across the South East, which gives us the largest local circulation in the local area, all with guaranteed delivery by your postman.

Vantage Publishing Limited 6 Chestnut Suite, Guardian House, Borough Road, Godalming, Surrey GU7 2AE.

Please visit our website or contact any of us below if you need any more information.

01483 420173 01483 418141 Editorial: 01483 421601 Sales:

For more articles and Jottings, visit it us online at

vantagepointmag.co.uk THE VANTAGEPOINT TEAM Marcus Atkins Sales Director marcus@vantagepublishing.co.uk

Trish Soper Sales trish@vantagepublishing.co.uk

Carol Martin Sales carol@vantagepublishing.co.uk

Georgie Hales Sales georgie@vantagepublishing.co.uk

December 2014

Contributors: Jeremy Blood, Elizabeth Carlos, Penny Kitchen, Louisa Mason,Viv Micklefield, Gill Potterton Print: Polestar Stones

CONTENTS Rugmart 1214_Layout 1 07/11/2014 10:49 Page 1

LE N A O S OW

Rugmart

6 Jottings Your local community noticeboard

8 Seasonal Sparklers We revisit Greyfriars Vineyard

14 Branching Out Viv Micklefield visits a local grower of Christmas trees

20 Canny and Crafty Christmas Ideas

"The Place to buy Rugs" Specialists in Genuine Handmade Rugs including 1000's of diﬀerent types of Tribal Rugs from Afghanistan, Classical Persian Carpets and Runners, Vegetable Dyed Kilims, Fine Geometric Bokhara Rugs from Pakistan, Deep Pile Embossed Indian and Chinese Carpets and Rugs in Finely Woven Silk and Woollen Pile. • Visit our Rug Showroom and be inspired by a Treasure trove of Rugs spread over 3 ﬂoors & 5000 sq ft • The Largest Selection Of Handmade, Modern & Contemporary Rugs Outside London

From the local team at VantagePoint Magazine

23 Bumper Family Christmas Quiz In aid of the Dan Eley Foundation

Large/Oversize Rugs

Afghan Rugs

Persian Rugs

Tribal Rugs

Traditional Rugs

Runners

Contemporary Rugs

Designer Rugs

Modern Rugs

28 The Perfect Cheeseboard 32 Opportunity Knocks We take a look at Port

34 Food Edible gifts for Christmas

40 Walk Ripley and the Wey Navigation

43 Profile

Underlay provided for all types of ﬂooring

Handwoven Wool Striped Rugs - 50% OFF

The League of Friends of Milford Hospital

45 Business Cards Small ads for trades and services

Runner - £99

3’ x5’ - £49 4’x6’- £119 Handmade Afghan Rugs

5’ x8’ - £199

3'x5' - (was £299 now £129 each or 2 for £200)

47 Win Enter our competitions

Rugmart

The contents of this magazine are protected by copyright and nothing can be reprinted without prior permission of the publisher. The publisher has tried to ensure that all information is accurate but does not take any responsibility for any mistakes or omissions. We take no responsibility for advertisments printed in the magazine or loose inserts that might be delivered alongside it. © Vantage Publishing Limited.

2 ‐3 Woodbridge Road, Guildford, GU1 4PU. Tel: 01483 578874 email: info@rugmart.co.uk www.rugmart.co.uk

Surrey's BIGGEST Rug Shop vantagepointmag.co.uk

For your

10%

VantagePoint discount Quote Ref: GU10

Jottings We would just like to thank all those that have emailed us over the past 12 months and for the many kind comments. Please keep your jottings coming in, we do love hearing from you. We’d like to take the opportunity to wish all our readers a very merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year. Surrey Artists’ Open Studios present ‘Art Online for Christmas’. Running from 10th November - 23rd December, it’s an opportunity to buy original art and crafts from Surrey based artists, direct from their website w w w. s u r r e y o p e n s t u d i o s . o r g . uk. The online shop offers a range of beautiful handcrafted artworks for sale, direct from the artist who made them, and all from the comfort of your own home! Browse through the work of over 30 artists, including paintings, limited edition prints, ceramics, metalwork, glasswork, photography, woodwork, woven crafts, textiles and sculpture. There is a wide variety of work with gift ideas to suit all budgets. Once selected, it is easy to buy your chosen piece, which will be carefully wrapped and sent to you. A perfect combination of online shopping and buying local! Some SAOS artists will be opening their

- YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

doors as usual, in the lead up to Christmas, so please check their website for details of these and other events. A Russian Fairytale: The Art and Craft of Elena Polenova is an exhibition at The Watts Gallery which opened on 18th November and runs to Sunday 8th February 2015. Elena Polenova was part of the generation of artists who rediscovered the folk traditions of the Moscow region – its wooden architecture, furniture and children’s toys; its icons and peasant decorations; and its vibrant tradition of folk stories and fairytales. She was the younger sister of one of Russia’s most famous artists, Vasily Polenov (1844 – 1927). During the 1870s and 1880s, Elena and Vasily spent time at Abramtsevo, an artistic colony located in a rural setting outside Moscow, that sought to recapture the quality and spirit of medieval Russian art. Showcasing furniture designed by Elena alongside her paintings of landscapes and folktale illustrations, the exhibition will demonstrate Polenova’s important role in the Russian craft revival of the 1880s. A visit to Watts Gallery is always a pleasure, and this exhibition will make it doubly so! Beauty of the Beasts is an exhibition of oil paintings by wildlife artist Emma Bowring at The David

10>

Shepherd Wildlife Foundation Gallery, Saba House, Kings Road, Shalford, Guildford, GU4 8JU. It runs from 1st December – 31st December from Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and Sat 10am-4pm. Emma will be in the gallery on Saturday 6th December 10am- 4 pm when you will have the opportunity to watch her paint, ask any questions about her work or simply enjoy a chat and a mince pie. Entry is free. View and buy beautiful framed oils, limited/ open edition prints and canvasses, greetings cards. All sales support endangered wildlife. For more see www.davidshepherd.org. Guildford Travel Club welcomes you whether you’re a ‘seasoned’ or an ‘armchair’ traveller. The Club meets on alternate Tuesdays at Onslow Village Hall at 8pm for illustrated talks on travel by a range of photographers, travellers, explorers, mountaineers and writers. On 2nd December, Chris Bradley talks on Ancient Persia and Modern Iran. He visits the sites and ancient monuments which are a unique blend of styles from Egypt, Greece and India and which still delight visitors today. On 16th December, Diana Darke, author, journalist and Middle East expert, explores Eastern Turkey from the mighty Tigris and Euphrates to spectacular Lake Van and Mt Ararat. Membership for the

Jottings is your community noticeboard for local events and information, edited by Nick and Angie Crisell

To feature here, please email us at jottings@vantagepublishing.co.uk

GUILDFORD & VILLAGES DELIVERED TO 20,711 LOCAL HOMES Like us on Facebook at Vantage Point Magazine

@VantageLocalMag

Next Copy Date: 7th December 2014 6

vantagepointmag.co.uk

Breaking up is hard Your New Curtains Delivered in Time For Christmas! Machine Made to Your Exact Window Sizes and Ready for You to Collect in Just Two Weeks!

Please Note: Two Week Delivery does not include Handmade Curtains

FAMILY & DIVORCE SOLICITORS WITH A DIFFERENT APPROACH

For an initial appointment call Dominique Seale on 01483 322022 or email dseale@thelawhouse.com

www.thelawhouse.com

and Why Not Let Our Expert Fitters Hang & Dress Your New Curtains for You Ask In-Store for Details

Visit Your Local C&H Store in TUNSGATE SQUARE, GUILDFORD Tel: 01483 301380 Seasonal Opening Hours Monday - Saturday 9am - 5.30pm (Tuesday 9.30am) Thursday Late Night Until 7pm Sunday 11am - 5pm December 2014

BUT IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE DIFFICULT

Gill, Frank, Lei, Ben, Russell, Simon and Charlotte would like to wish all of our customers the toastiest of days and the cosiest of nights over the Christmas period.

Farnham Stoves

01252 717772 – www.farnhamstoves.com

Seasonal sparklers Vines growing, wines flowing at Greyfriars. Penny Kitchen pays a return visit to the vineyard off the Hogs Back I could hardly believe two years had passed since my first visit to Greyfriars Vineyard. Firsttime visitors turning down the long drive off the A31 Hogs Back are amazed at the sight of the North Downs in all their glory rolling away to the south, and even though this time I knew what to expect, the view still made me stop the car for a moment to take it all in. Neat rows of grapevines cover the slopes and even from a distance I could see the bunches of grapes ripening in the September sunshine. My previous visit had been a winter one with 13,000 newly planted vines barely making an impression in the landscape. Two years on, what a different story. These vines, originating in Germany, are obviously thoroughly enjoying their home in the south-east of England. It is now four years since Hilary and Mike Wagstaff bought the vineyard, with precious little knowledge of grape cultivation or viticulture. Together with their brother-in-law David who took on the role of vineyard manager, the three embarked on a steep learning curve, determined to make a commercial success of what had been a hobby vineyard under the previous owners. Mike explained that of the 400 or so English vineyards only 35-40 are on a commercial scale and he was grateful that he’d had enough money to invest in new vines, fermentation vats, anti8

deer fencing and innumerable other necessities involved in modern viticulture. Today the vineyard extends to over 40 acres with another 10 acres they manage at Shere, and after a very disappointing showing due to the weather in 2013, the 2014 harvest looked set to produce some 80 tons of grapes. If only every English summer could be as good, mused Hilary as we walked up the hill past the serried ranks of neatly trimmed vines. (In fact, when I caught up with Hilary in October, she reported a record harvest of 8-10 tonnes a day, over 100 tonnes in total!) She stopped to examine a bunch of grapes, explaining how the leaf cutter on the tractor takes leaves oﬀ the vines late in the season, allowing the last of the summer sun to do the ﬁnal ripening for maximum sweetness in the grapes. “The weather has been fabulous this year,” she said, “perfect for grapes – calm, settled and sunny. This year we shall start picking early in October, whereas last year we were still picking into December to allow maximum ripening. “Leading up to the harvest we do sugar readings on the grapes and when the time is right family and friends come to pick on the Sunday before 20 hired pickers arrive. Then the hard work begins with 300-400kg of grapes being processed by each picker each day for 10 vantagepointmag.co.uk

days while we process them in the winery.” The grape varieties are chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier, vines well suited to the English climate and the chalk downs. In fact, the Downs are blessed with similar geological and soil conditions to the Champagne region in France. Because the English climate doesn’t normally enjoy months of unbroken sunshine, the grapes grown here are lower in sugar, suitable for dry sparkling wines. At Greyfriars the clay/loam topsoil covers several hundred feet of free draining Cretaceous chalk. The chalk was originally deposited over a hundred million years ago when this entire area was submerged under a tropical sea. Three awards On my first visit the couple explained that for the moment they had given up the idea of making still wines in favour of the sparkling champagne-type wine which has lower sugar levels and more acidity. The first vintage produced entirely by the Wagstaffs since taking over Greyfriars in 2010 was their award-winning 2011 Sparkling Rosé Reserve. It was made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes from mature vines planted by the previous owners in the early 1990s. A poor summer and extremely warm September yielded small volumes of very ripe grapes from which 450 bottles were produced. But this wine has won awards and put their name on the map. In 2012 they decided to take advantage of the popularity of the rosé, producing Rosé Reserve 2012, another sparkling pink fizz. This wine is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes partially fermented in used oak barrels and again produced using the traditional method. So far, Hilary explained, Greyfriars are using local wine outlets such as Drakes in Ripley, Fleurie in Godalming and Olivos in Guildford, as well as selling from the vineyard itself. They have been carefully husbanding their supply with Christmas around the corner and their own December 2014

online shop due to open. “With this good summer our volume of bottles will increase exponentially and then we will begin the push to sell more. At the moment it is a juggling act – to release early and run out, or keep some back.” Future plans to buy more tanks for fermentation had to be brought forward, adding another 30,000 litres to the current 50,000 litre capacity. They are also hoping to dig a storeroom into the chalk slope which will provide the perfect yearround temperature for the wine. “We’re delighted with the way things are going,” Hilary told me. “We’ve rarely had negative feedback and we’ve now won three medals which means a lot to us. We entered our ﬁrst wine, the 2011 Sparkling Rosé in a few competitions to see how it would fare against other wines. It won a Silver Medal in the 2014 Sommelier Wine Awards, a Bronze in the Decanter awards and more recently a Bronze Medal in the International Wines and Spirits Competition.“ As more and more quality restaurants start to oﬀer good English wines, there is no doubt that Greyfriars will soon join the Hogs Back Brewery as a local success story. I, for one, am waiting for the 2014 vintage to come on-stream. If the wines are anything like the great summer we’ve enjoyed this year, they should be winners.

10% DISCOUNT

FOR VANTAGEPOINT READERS VantagePoint readers will receive 10% oﬀ the 2011 Blanc de Blancs and the 2012 Rosé Reserve (which both retail at just £20), saving £2 per bottle. At present all wine sales are cellar door only, so please call 01483 813712 or email info@greyfriarsvineyard.co.uk to arrange a collection. Simply present your copy of VantagePoint to qualify for the discount. Greyfriars Vineyard,The Hog’s Back, Puttenham, Surrey, GU3 1AG. Tel: 01483 813712. Email: info@greyfriarsvineyard.co.uk. Website: www.greyfriarsvineyard.co.uk.

Jottings - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD - NOW IN DATE ORDER!

season (October to April) costs £32. Visitors are welcome and will be charged £7 on the door. Please see www.guildfordtravelclub.org.uk for further details or contact Jenny Allan, membership secretary on 01483 452399. I suspect we are possibly too late with this one but hope not. The December meeting of West Surrey Branch of the Historical Association features a talk by Mike Simpson whose grandfather was a senior member of, and meteorologist for, Captain Scott ’s Antarctic Expedition. Mike has private family knowledge of the tragic events of the expedition and some original Ponting photographs. ‘Two heroes of Antarctica – Capt. Scott and George Simpson’ is on Tuesday 2nd December at 7.30pm at St Nicolas’ Hall, Bury Street, Guildford GU2 4AW. Non members are very welcome (£3 at the door). Students free. Further details are available from Rollo Crookshank, 01252 319881 crookshank@starkmann.co.uk

‘Clandon by Candlelight’ is a chance to see Clandon Park near Guildford in a very diﬀerent light. The ground ﬂoor rooms will be lit just by electric candles, very festive! It takes place Tuesday 2nd – Thursday 4th and Sunday 7th, Tuesday 9th – Thursday 11th and Sunday 14th December, 11am-3pm www.nationaltrust. org.uk/clandon-park tel: 01483 222482. Then on Tuesday 16th and Wednesday 17th December, from 3pm-5pm and 8pm-10pm, they are holding Carol Concerts. Join the Oxford Singers as they herald the festive season in Clandon’s stunning Marble Hall. Tickets are Adult £15, Child £7, Family £37 (2 adults and up to 2 children) and includes refreshments at the interval. Booking essential through Guildford Tourist Iinformation Centre on 01483 444334 or www.visitguildford.com. The West Surrey Family History Society (WSFHS) is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and the Guildford branch meets each month in the Friends Meeting House, Ward

12>

Street. There is a varied programme of talks and members’ evenings throughout the year. On Wednesday 3rd December at 8pm they will be featuring Surrey on Film 19141953: A community in Peace and War. A fascinating selection of films from the Surrey History Centre will be presented by Matthew Piggott showing rare moving images of Surrey villages and families in the first half of the 20th century. They are shown celebrating in time of peace and coming together in the stress of two world wars. Visitors are welcome to attend this meeting to find out if they would like to join the WSFHS. Further details from Mrs I Hawkins on 01483 535986. The dates for the antiques collectors and craft fairs in Cranleigh & Shere are: Cranleigh Village Hall, 4th and 18th December, free entry and refreshments available, 7.30am - 3.30pm. Shere Village Hall, 14th December, free entry and parking, 11am - 4.30pm

1964

2014

Departing Monday 8th Dec 2014 Nottinghamshire Somerset Warner Leisure - 4* Thoresby Hall Warner Leisure - 4* Cricket St Thomas 13th April 2015 - 5 Days 13th July 2015 - 5 Days Sale now now from only £200.00pp (supplements may apply) Dinner, Bed on, & Breakfast Dinner, Bed & Breakfast on a dinner, bed & breakfast basis. From only £415.00pp (with early booking discount) From only £410.00pp (with early booking discount) (supplements may apply)

(supplements may apply)

Free door to door pick ups - conditions apply, call for details FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OUR 2015 HOLIDAYS & DAY TRIPS PLEASE CALL 01483 277 011

High Gable, The Common, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8SH. Visit us at www.gastonia.co.uk

vantagepointmag.co.uk

Milford Window Company Oct 13_Layout 1 12/09/2013 12:36 P

The Milford Window Company THE FAMILY RUN BUSINESS THAT’S NO PANE IN THE GLASS!

listening for sleigh bells

• Aluminium Bi-Fold Doors • Composite Front Doors • UPVc WIndows • Aluminium Windows • Conservatories • Porches • Orangeries

An Edwardian Advent Polesden Lacey Every weekend in December

Soak up the charm and sparkle of a traditional Edwardian Christmas this December. Twenty-four festive scenes and activities celebrate the countdown to Christmas with a free glass of mulled wine for every house visitor. Adult £4, Child £2, Family £10

Insurance Backed Guarantees 1st Class Workmanship

01372 452048 | nationaltrust.org.uk/polesdenlacey Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for festive cheer

Christmas pattern inspired by wallpaper at Wimpole Estate, Cambridgeshire.

01483 426141 www.themilfordwindowcompany.co.uk

Providing personalised support in your own home “Based in Guildford we are a family run business that is committed to providing older people and young adults with learining disabilities with friendly & reliable Carers who genuinely care” Lucinda Kalupka, Nurse & Registered Manager

From just an hour a day to 24 hour support

• Companionship • Personal care • Light domestic duties • Post treatment convalescence

• Trips out • Meal preparation • Medicines prompts • Respite & holiday cover

We listen to your needs and together reach a solution

Call us today on 01483 224 985

info@homecountiescarers.co.uk | www.homecountiescarers.co.uk

We also have great opportunities for Carers

December 2014

<10

Jottings - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD - NOW IN DATE ORDER!

Farncombe Music Club has two great gigs in December. On Friday 5th December, they present Any Colour You Like - The Pink Floyd tribute at St. John’s Church, Farncombe. The 11-piece band are bringing their spectacular show to St. John’s Church with their trueto-the-original, exciting and skilful performances of many of Pink Floyd’s greatest works. The band performs solely for the beneﬁt of charities and the entire entourage of the band pay their own expenses and ancillary costs and donate 100% of all proceeds to charity. www. acyluk.com . Tickets: £12 advance (£15 door). Then on Friday 12th December, it’s Judie Tzuke “Songs and Stories” at St. John’s Church, Farncombe. Judie returns to St. John’s Church following her sold out show here in 2012; this time to perform acoustically in a show titled ‘Songs and Stories’. This promises to be an intimate evening of old favourites and new songs and tales from across her life and career. www.tzuke. com. Tickets: £18 advance (£22

door). Both concerts are selling fast. For more information and to book tickets, see www.julianlewrymusic. com, www.wegottickets.com/ julianlewrymusic. Also on facebook www.facebook.com/ farncombemusicclub. ‘A Family Christmas’ is a concert for all the family at Cranleigh Baptist Church at 6.30pm on Saturday 6th December, where you can expect an unforgettable performance of ‘Love Shone Down’ from the little ones of the Surrey Hills Training Choir, plus arrangements of Winter Wonderland and Silent Night from the local talents of Surrey Hills Young Voices and Glebelands in Harmony. The young choirs are joined by the Surrey Hills Singers and Adult Choir of the Year 2012 and Cheltenham Gold Cup winners 2014, the Surrey Hills Chamber Choir, both of whom promise an exciting programme of music. The concert will also mark the commemoration of WWI with a small selection of musical hall favourites – It’s a long

NEW INSPIRATIONAL COLLECTIONS

17>

way to Tipperary, Daisy Bell and others. Refreshments are inclusive after both concerts, where you can join the choir for a glass of wine and a mince pie (or two). Tickets are £10 for adults and £4 for children and are available online at www.surreyhillschoirs.co.uk/tickets. Alternatively you can call 01483 892474 or email tickets@surreyhills-choirs.co.uk. There is a Carol Praise on 6th December from 7pm-8.30pm at West Horsley Methodist Church, next to West Horsley Village Hall on The Street, West Horsley. This is an opportunity to sing traditional carols with a break for refreshments of mulled wine and mince pies. It is also possible to request your favourite carol as well. From December, the sumptuous state rooms at Petworth House will be styled to evoke an era of faded decadence and eccentricity. Inspired by period issues of Country Life magazine, this magniﬁcent 17th century mansion will present ﬁve

NI ou

MeG eac lo bef th

1. O p 2. pS 3. m C cha 4. H A 5. M A 6. aC “E rele se and C 7. IC re yea che A app P onth 8. fo M m the re 9. to F und p

AUTUMN SALE SAT 18TH OCT SAT 8TH NOV

LIGHTING Showroom open 9:00am - 5:30pm Monday - Saturday Elstead Lighting Ltd, Elstead House, Mill Lane, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 2QJ Tel: 01420 590510

Discover more at elsteadlighting.com

“ fc

vantagepointmag.co.uk

“Thankisyou “Mum veryfor fond of for herdad” carer” caring Melody Care are always there

NINE steps to ensure only the best Live-In Carers look after our clients by Simon Carter, Owner of Melody Care

Melody Care are very thorough in of ourusapproach to findingThose the best possible Good health is something many take for granted. whocarers have to care forfor a each client. are 9 rigorous stepsonly thattoo wewell insist our Live in effects Carers go loved one There with failing health know thealldevastating thisthrough has on before they areofassigned to a client: their quality life. So often people’s worlds are turned upside down when a parent or spouse become seriously ill or lose the ability to care for themselves. It is when this hap1. On line application viahelp our web siteneeded. confirming name, address and other details. for pens that professional is often Melody Care has an enviable reputation Live-In Care Assistants to help share the burden. Whatever the circumstances 2. providing Submission of a detailed CV listing all previous work experience and qualifi cations. be, Melody Care will designed be there when the help isTest, needed most. 3. might Completion of a specially Psychometric which helps us to determine

character, integrity and attitude towards vulnerable people. Recommended 4. Highly A telephone interview typically lasting 15 minutes. Care areinterview increasingly being recommended by health professionals and grateful clients 5. Melody A face to face typically lasting 90 minutes. whoof have at first hand the wonderful care provided by the Melody Care 6. alike Copies theexperienced carers passport, driving licence, utility bill, bank statement andteam. any “Each of your carers I have met are lovely! We all really appreciate the care package you have relevant training certiﬁ cates are taken as part of the process to conﬁ rm their identity set up so efficiently at such short notice” wrote one client recently. Another wrote: “Melody and status. Care have done a wonderful job of looking after mum and I know she is very fond of her carer. would also like say how accommodating haveplaces all been andhave the care mum has5 7. ICompletion of atoregistration form listing you all the they livedthat in the last received been really is excellent.” years. Thishas information then used to apply to the “Disclosure and Barring Service” to check there is no criminal record (previously known as CRB check). Melody Care also Attitude apply to theLive-In Independent to ensure carer is not Providing care takesSafeguarding a very special Authority kind of person. Melodythe Care select theirregistered carers for understanding, as well as their abilitywith to run a house and care in all regards ontheir any patience list that and would preclude them from working vulnerable adults. our clients. We also the provide extensive trainingand using our own reference in-house training depart8. for Melody Care contact previous employer a personal to verify that ment. This is to ensure each carer is up to date and fully conversant with current rules and they have provided these and that the information given is genuine and complete. regulations. Before the service begins we would always meet with our clients and their family 9. to Finally, Melody Care arrange for any additional training that needs to be done toand be determine exactly what their needs and desires might be. We then produce a detailed undertaken. Sometimes “refresher” course is required and Melody Care provide this. personal care plan so thatathe Live-In Care Assistant knows exactly what is expected of them.

For more information call

A typical day for a Melody Care Live-In Care Assistant w Arise and prepare the house for the day (draw curtains, open windows, etc) w Feed and walk any pets w Deliver morning tea or breakfast, newspaper and post in bed or to desired location w Prompt or assist with any medication requirements w Prepare bathroom for washing w Assist with all aspects of personal care if necessary (including toileting, bathing, etc) w Assist with dressing and hair care etc w Perform household duties (cleaning, laundry, etc) w Accompany Client to shops/dentist/ doctor/hairdresser/ friends or family w Prepare and serve lunch w Break 14.00-17.00hrs w Perform household duties (cleaning, laundry, etc) w Prepare and serve dinner

01252 220080

w Close down the house for the night (draw curtains, turn on night lights, lock doors and windows etc)

www.melodycare.co.uk

w Assist with all aspects of personal care and undressing, ready for bed.

or visit

w Run a bath and prepare bedroom

Branching Out From our homes to our high streets, the sight of a Christmas tree delivers the very essence of glad tidings at this time of year. Viv Mickleﬁeld visits one local grower to discover the mystery behind the magic Is it too big, or too small? Is it too bushy or too skinny? Traditionally the purchase of the allimportant Christmas tree marks the start of the festive season for many families, so down at Oxenford Farm in Elstead near Godalming, the pressure is on. Anthony and Jo Baker are fourth generation farmers on the site, which sits in the shadow of a Pugin designed gatehouse; the farm’s history stretching back to when Anthony’s ancestors were originally tenants in the 1800s and the land was still part of the nearby Peperharow estate. Where once there was a dairy herd, now they rear beef stock and the market crops have been replaced by cereals. With around a tenth of the 500 acres here dedicated to growing Christmas trees, what’s interesting is how this particular diversiﬁcation came about. As we step out on a walk around the plantations, Jo recalls how 14

it all began during WWII. “Then there were so many Canadian soldiers based near here and at Witley. We had some Christmas trees growing wild in the woods, nothing formal, and the soldiers wanted them. So Anthony’s father began to grow trees properly almost 60 years ago. Originally a large number were sold to wholesalers and greengrocers, but with supermarkets coming along, it’s changed a lot over time.” These days, the ﬁrst trade orders can arrive at Oxenford from July onwards, with the bigger trees – anything up to an impressive 30 feet in height, being installed in shopping centres and government buildings. However, with several thousand sales to the public each year, this represents a growing part of the business. Here they specialise in the four most popular varieties of Christmas tree. The Norway vantagepointmag.co.uk

Spruce with its deep pine smell instantly evokes childhood memories, although thanks to a (slightly unfair) reputation for shedding needles in our centrally heated homes, its popularity has dropped too. The new favourite is the Nordman Fir recognisable by its glossy needles which will still get thirsty and can lose their shine if not properly cared for once brought inside. For branches that are more spaced out, the Noble Fir comes out tops. Easiest to spot amongst the forest in front of our eyes, is the distinctive Blue Spruce, renowned for being a bit spiky but as Jo says, it’s a good choice if you want to stop inquisitive house cats taking a climb.

A potted history of the Christmas tree • Evergreen ﬁr has been used to celebrate winter festivals for thousands of years. Ancient peoples believed these warded oﬀ evil spirits and promoted good health, while early Romans celebrated the winter solstice by decorating their homes and temples; • Germany is credited with starting Christmas traditions in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes and many of our associated customs began here; • In the 1840s Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their family appeared in a sketch gathered around a Christmas tree and the fashion for a decorated tree caught-on both in Britain and America; • During Victorian times trees were lit with candles to remind children of the stars in the sky at the time of the birth of Jesus; • Thomas Edison’s assistants reputedly came up with the idea of electric lights for Christmas trees; • Britain’s most famous Christmas tree stands each year in London’s Trafalgar Square – a gift from the people of Norway since 1947 as an expression of thanks for support during WWII.

And as she goes on to explain, how fast a tree matures depends on the variety. “Norway Spruce is the quickest growing at about a foot a year. We start with small plants known as transplants that we get from another grower. It’s very important to get the right seed stock so there’s a really good provenance. The Nordman Firs grow about six inches a year but this depends hugely on the weather, and on the growing conditions. “What we want is for it to be not too dry, not too wet, with some sunshine at the right time. Actually, it’s the same as growing vegetables in your garden, you need a bit of everything. When planting the trees you need rain and especially here, because with the sandy soil it’s like the Savannah sometimes. We have to make sure they don’t dry out.” By working the land in a 10-year rotation this ensures that trees can be oﬀered in all shapes and sizes. And the good news is that this is a sustainable crop, which has a positive eﬀect on the environment. In fact, the British Christmas Tree Growers Association claims that over 74,000 acres are currently given over to Christmas trees in the UK, each acre of which absorbs 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. Judging by the number of the birds around us these plantations also appear to provide a haven for wildlife. However, I’m curious as to why there are some areas enclosed by wire fences, while others not. “I don’t think people December 2014

Your local Christmas tree farm Above: Cutting trees at Oxenford Farm

Oxenford Farm Where: Milford Road, Elstead GU8 6LA When: 9am - 6pm daily (until 24 December) www.oxenfordfarm.com / 01252 702 109 Santa Fir Christmas Tree Farm Where: Guildford Road, Shamley Green GU5 0SQ When: 9am - 6pm daily (until 3pm 24 December) www.santaﬁr.com / 01483 271 770 Wylds Farm Where: Warren Road, Liss GU33 7DF When: 9am - 5pm (until 22 December) www.wyldsfarm.co.uk / 01730 891 490 These farms are quality marked by the British Christmas Tree Growers Association, www.bctga.co.uk 15

realise that it’s not just a case of popping trees in the ground, and just leaving them,” says Jo. “We have problems here with deer, especially when the antlers are in velvet, they rub against the bark and completely destroy it; they also eat the new shoots. The rabbits munch the tiny trees and all you’re left with is a twig. Once they wiped-out an entire plantation which has a knock-on effect six years later, when they’d usually be ready to sell.” Aphids pose a threat too and even when the trees become established, the care doesn’t stop there. “They’ve got to be pruned every year to make sure they grow into a good shape, and we need to keep an eye out for any disease they might get. You do need to give them a lot of attention.” And it’s become so labour intensive, that the Bakers now have a full-time member of staff dedicated to looking after their trees. Once the Christmas season arrives, it’s all hands on deck with the help of several dozen extra helpers to keep up with the demand. “The trees are cut on a daily basis. You can get very sophisticated machinery but we are a relatively small grower so, instead, use men with chainsaws. For public sales trees are wrapped using net funnels. But for the really big trees it takes a lot of manpower, even having mechanised balers we often have to pull these out with tractors.” So otherworldly are the majestic boughs reaching to the wintery skies, you almost expect to see reindeers and a sleigh appearing any moment. And while there’s little doubt that it’s exhausting work running the farm, Jo and Anthony hope that at least one of their four sons will someday take over the reins. Having seen the love that goes into making so many people’s Christmas special it’s definitely well worth supporting a local grower. Not only are you doing your bit for the planet, it’s the equivalent of buying something with zero food miles, and as these are freshly picked trees; if looked after, they will keep for longer. Just as importantly, who’d want to miss out on such a lovely shared community experience, even if it takes a bit of a ‘discussion’ when it comes to agreeing on the perfect tree? Viv Micklefield is a locally based writer and can be reached at vivmicklefield@aol.com.

Caring for Christmas trees • Leave the tree out of doors, or in cool, moist conditions until required for decorating; • Saw one inch oﬀ the stump and mount in a water holding stand OR plant a rooted tree in damp soil; • Water daily keeping away from direct heat; • If you decorate the tree with lights use a low heat producing type; • Avoid knocks by positioning near a wall or corner.

Recycling Christmas trees Unless you plan to plant out a rooted Christmas tree, the branches and trunk are biodegradable and can be composted for garden mulch. Alternatively, recycle a tree at your local garden waste collection point (Godalming, Haslemere) or at your local tip (Cranleigh, Dorking, Farnham, Guildford, Milford, Midhurst). If you subscribe to a garden waste collection service, Christmas trees can usually be put out in the New Year. For more information on all local recycling services visit: www.waverley.gov.uk www.guildford.gov.uk www.molevalley.gov.uk www.chichester.gov.uk vantagepointmag.co.uk

Jottings - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD - NOW IN DATE ORDER!

<12

rooms dressed for a vintage-style country house Christmas, with a Great British twist. You’ll step into a welcoming atmosphere of log ﬁres and wellingtons, warm tweed rugs and evergreen trees. Even on the chilliest of Winter days, Petworth House will be sure to leave visitors with a warm seasonal glow. £5 per adult (NT members and children free). 6th Dec to 2nd Jan, 11am-3pm (closed 24th and 25th Dec). There is much more going on, so please call 01798 342207 or visit www. nationaltrust.org.uk/petworth.

available online at www.surreyhillschoirs.co.uk/tickets. Alternatively you can call 01483 892474 or email tickets@surreyhills-choirs.co.uk.

18>

On Sunday 7th December, Guildford Rambling Club is meeting at 10am at Lightwater Leisure Centre for an 11 mile walk. See www. guildfordramblingclub.org.uk for full details.

person (under 12 months are free). Booking in advance is essential. Also 50 minute festive boat trips, with light refreshments on board, will run on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day at 11am, 12noon and 2pm. Tickets cost £5 for adults and £2.50 for children. Booking in advance is advisable. Call 01403 752403 or email oﬃce@ weyandarun.co.uk Visit www. weyandarun.co.uk/tripboats.

Join in the fun of a festive Santa Cruise on board a beautifully decorated boat and travel along the Wey & Arun Canal and through On Sunday 7th December at 8pm a restored lock. Children under 12 in an atmospheric candlelit concert years will receive a gift from Santa at St Nicolas’ in Guildford, the who will board the boat at the lock Surrey Hills Singers and Surrey Hills whilst adults enjoy mulled wine and Chamber Choir present ‘A Family mince pies. The boat departs from Christmas’, a concert for all the The Wharf next to the Onslow Arms family. With a soloist performance on the B2133 in Loxwood (free car from Mike Winterbotham, there will parking). The trips take 40 minutes be Christmas favourites from both and depart at 11am, 12noon and choirs. Refreshments are inclusive so 2pm on Sunday 7th, Saturday 13th, join the choir for a glass of wine and Sunday 14th, Saturday 20th, Sunday 1 07/11/2014 1 22nd and Tuesday 21st, Page Monday aOxenford mince pie2012_Layout (or two). Tickets are £12 15:36 for adults and £5 for children and are 23rd December. Tickets cost £9 per

‘Amnesty International: Send a Greetings Card to a Prisoner of Conscience’ is on Monday 8th December at St. Nicolas’s Church Hall, Bury Street, Guildford and takes place from 6.30pm – 10pm. (Pub parking opposite for £1). Join members of the Guildford Amnesty Group at their annual social event for a glass of festive cheer and to sign greetings cards to people suﬀering human rights abuse all over the world. Messages of friendship and solidarity give hope and encouragement to victims of imprisonment and torture. Drop in for 15 minutes or an hour; all

CHRISTMAS TREES

Jessica Pilates

Member of the British Christmas Tree Growers Association

Awaken your body and mind Keep in control of your body this Christmas! BUY DIRECT FROM THE GROWER LOCATED ON THE B3001 BETWEEN MILFORD AND ELSTEAD BRING THE CHILDREN TO SEE THE REINDEER AND FARM ANIMALS

Open Every Day from 29th November, 9am to 6pm

OXENFORD FARM, ELSTEAD Tel 01252 702109 e-mail: xt@oxenford.go-plus.net www.oxenfordfarm.com

December 2014

Jessica Pilates offers a way to a stronger core, a toned tummy, longer, leaner muscles and a stress free festive season. ‘Private sessions are available in Guildford and small matwork classes around Surrey, including Onslow Village, Normandy, Worplesdon, West Horsley and Bookham.

Group classes are of varying level to accommodate all abilities and ages with first taster session FREE! So indulge yourself with a difference this Christmas! To book your place contact Jess Curnier on 07789 176416 or email jess@jessicapilates.co.uk www.jessicapilates.co.uk

<17

Jottings - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD - NOW IN DATE ORDER!

welcome. Queries to Marilyn Jarrett, secretary AI Guildford at ai@1square.org Go along to the Royal Surrey County Hospital’s Fair on Tuesday 9th and Wednesday 10th December from 10am-3.30pm. This year it will be held in the Restaurant’s covered courtyard on Level A and everyone is welcome! There will be stalls selling gifts, books, bric-a-brac and cakes plus a tombola and a Name the Bear competition. Wise Blue Owl Therapists will be offering FREE individual demonstrations of Reiki, Emotional Freedom Techniques and Hypnosis. Also, don’t forget the Royal Surrey County Hospital’s Charitable Fund’s Christmas Raffle ,tickets are currently on sale for £1 each and all funds raised will go to their Detecting Women’s Cancers campaign. First Prize - £1,000! Contact the Fundraising Office at the Royal Surrey to purchase tickets or call 01483 464146/email rsc-tr. fundraising@nhs.net for more information.

Looking for inspiration for that special Christmas present? Then the Wey Valley Decorative and Fine Arts Society may have the answer. Why not join them for their next lecture, by Mrs Clare Phillips, entitled Stocking Fillers from Faberge at Shalford Village Hall on Wednesday 10th December for a look at the work of this iconic Russian jeweller and at the privileged realms of Edwardian Christmas shopping. Refreshments are available from 9.45am and the lecture starts at 10.45am, followed by wine and mince pies. The Society oﬀers a monthly programme of varied and fascinating talks by ﬁrst class speakers. There are also special interest days, visits and an annual tour for members. New members and visitors are warmly welcomed. Annual membership is £40 and visitors pay £6 per talk. If you are interested, contact the membership secretary on 01932 355113 or visit their website at www.theweyvalleydfas.org.uk.

22>

Cranfold Job Seekers Club is a registered charity based in Cranleigh. For more information visit them at Cranleigh CAB, Village Way, Cranleigh GU6 8AF or call 01483 272252. They are open Wednesdays from 9.30am to 5pm and Fridays from 9am to 5pm. Les Amitiés Françaises’s popular series of lectures in French continues on Thursday 11th December in the Baptist Church Hall, Queen Street, Godalming at 7.30 pm. Cédric Cabanne, who spoke about Marseilles last year, returns to talk on La Corse - Not just Napoleon... Corsica has a long history of occupation along its coastline; the poverty in its centre has contributed towards its tradition of violence and banditry. The island came under French rule in 1769 - the year Napoleon was born. Under the French it was almost ignored but the arrival of ‘pieds noirs’ repatriated from Algeria changed its economic prospects. This talk ﬁts in perfectly with the lecture on Napoleon – not

vantagepointmag.co.uk

Crawley Clinic_Layout 1 11/07/2013 14:29 Page 1

CLANDON WOOD NATURAL BURIAL

Calm - Unhurried - Relaxed - Informal

Laser Treatment for the Fungal Nail Infection and Warts Healthy Feet For Winter

Best Natural Burial Ground in the UK 2014 Cemetery of the Year 2014 T: 01483 479 614 www.clandonwood.com Extraordinary Funerals in an Extraordinary Place

December 2014

A safe, effective treatment for toes and feet including toenail fungus and warts. The treatment involves painlessly passing the laser beam over the infected nails. Treatment sessions will take approximately 15 minutes. GenesisPlus is very safe. No side effects or adverse reactions have been reported. Most patients describe the procedure as being painless with a small hot pinch at the end.

50% OFF a course of treatments* 3 treatments 4-6 weeks apart *terms and conditions apply.

Crawley Clinic

16a Brighton Road, Southgate, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 6AA Ring the clinic for weekly cosmetic treatment special offers Tel: 01293 538538 info@crawleyclinic.com www.crawleyclinic.com

CANNY AND CRAFTY

CHRISTMAS IDEAS It’s not even here yet but do you already feel ‘bah humbug’ about the festive season? Is it the thought of all the expense, hassle and running around that’s making you dread the next few weeks? The VantagePoint team have pulled together some of their favourite money-saving, time-creating and stress- busting tips to share with you.

Making your money go further Reduce the number you buy for – if you’ve not already done your present shopping agree with your family to put all your names in a hat and draw out one each to buy for. You could all agree to set a price limit on gifts too. Buy pre-loved gifts – a new twist on buying from charity shops, try buying nearly new items in pristine condition. Second Thoughts in Chiddingfold have toys and clothes for all ages and A Change Of A Dress in Godalming has lots of branded clothing. As Nicki Bartley from Second Thoughts explains “ We can provide you with perfect presents even without the original packaging – just nestle in amongst colourful tissue and place in an attractive box tied with ribbons”. Make several outfits out of one - if you are spashing out on a new outfit to wear this season buy something that will see you through several social occasions rather than focusing

on buying that one special dress. Our fashion columnist and independent stylist Kirstie Smilie suggests opting for an outfit that you can dress up or down with a different jacket, shoes or accessory to make for a completely different look. She recommends asking for advice when shopping in boutiques like Blush in Haslemere as shop owners and assistants know their stock. By adding a cardigan here or necklace there you can make more than one outfit. This makes your overall spend more value for money. Edible gifts - can be quick and easy to make. Turn to our food page for some ideas. Recycle unwanted presents – but remember who gave them to you originally! Give useful inexpensive items – like pens, toothbrushes and soap. These are guaranteed not to end up unwanted in the back of the cupboard. Personalised gifts needn’t be dear - use family photos and frames from a charity shop or find out that person’s favourite song or a tune that you both remember and track down that single on CD or as a record (try Record Corner in Godalming). If you can find the original record you can frame it as a meaningful gift if the recipient doesn’t have a record player. Use old maps or comics as wrapping paper Or brown paper and buy lovely ribbon to add a festive twist. You could also buy a Christmas stamp and ink and decorate your brown paper. Arty Crafty in Godalming have a wonderful selection of ribbons and stamps. They also have a great display of Christmas card ideas if you have time to make your own.

vantagepointmag.co.uk

Get a free Christmas tree - you can harvest your own Christmas tree on Hindhead Common on the 20th December from 10am to 12 noon. Bring along a saw, sledge and a pair of gloves to cut down your own tree. Car parking at GU26 6AB. Donations for the trees gladly accepted.

Creating time, experiences and memories Keep children busy making their own presents while you get on with the rest of the preparations! C&H do a fabulous range of inexpensive kits. These include making friendship bracelets, candles, soap, cards and paper beads. The nearest C&H store is in Guildford or you can buy online at www.candh.co.uk. Offer your services - create a hand crafted voucher offering your time to help friends or family with gardening, cleaning or decorating for a gift that lasts beyond Christmas. Think this would only be of benefit just to elderly relatives think again! Skills like knitting, crochet and sewing are all in vogue. If you are a Nancy Birtwhistle you’ll have the grandchildren queueing up! Skills to offer but are on your own this Christmas? You could volunteer with Voluntary Action South West Surrey who would love your help. Contact them on 01483 565456 (Guildford) or 01252 725961 (Waverley) or see the website for details: www.voluntaryactionsws.webeden.co.uk. Meet up with friends rather than buying them gifts - Make a date with a friend and do something festive as your Christmas present to each other. Try a Christmas wreath making workshop for example and you could even make a gift in the process. Some local ones include: Bookham Common - with the National Trust on 5th December, £25 per person. Telephone 01372 220644 to book.

Send (nr Woking) - with the National Trust on 10th December, £25 per person. Telephone 01483 561389 to book. The Nationalk MTrust has other courses but further away. Check www.nationaltrust.org.uk for more information.

Reducing the hassle factor Bring a dish - if you are hosting Christmas you don’t have to do all the catering and entertaining yourself. Ask guests to contribute, whether it’s the crackers, a pudding or wine. In fact if you don’t ask your guests might bring something anyway and you could end up with 10 boxes of chocolates instead! Have homemade food but without making it yourself - The WI Country Market is a great place to buy cakes, sausage rolls and mince pies. You can even buy your entire Christmas lunch from a COOK outlet (and if you heat meals in their ceramic dishes you can pass them oﬀ as your own!). Take a break and ﬁnd sanctuary - if it’s all getting too much step inside any local church and sit in the silence. And if a traditional Christmas and New Year really isn’t your scene avoid it all and go on retreat (www.thegoodretreatguide.com). Start early for 2015 - save your Christmas cards and cut them up to make gift tags for next year. Buy your pudding and cards cut price after Christmas and put them by for next December. However you prepare and spend Christmas this year we wish you a joyous time and a happy and healthy 2015 from all of us at VantagePoint.

Farnham - Made in Farnham on Sunday 7th December and Thursday 11th December 10am1pm, £45 pp at The Packhouse, Runfold. Contact Susanne Hales on 07721 770969 to book. Milford - Squires in Milford on 10th December 10am and 6pm £20 per person. Ring 01483 324077 to book. December 2014

<18

Jottings - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD - NOW IN DATE ORDER!

just Corsica... which follows on 22nd January. Non-members are very welcome at the lectures (£6 at the door). Brochures on Les Amitiés are available in libraries and museums. As well as a programme of lectures, members enjoy convivial dining occasions together and visits to historic houses and gardens, all with a French connection. For further information, please contact John Petty, membership secretary on 01483 861974, john.petty@which. net and on www.amitiesfrancaises. com. Beautiful, amazing, breathtakingthese are some of the words used to describe the Crib Festival held in Christ Church, Shamley Green last year. Due to many requests they are repeating the event on Friday 12th December, 3pm-8pm, live music and wine 6pm-8pm, and on Saturday 13th 10am-4pm .Last year they attracted hundreds of visitors to see 55 cribs from around the world in such diverse mediums as olive wood from the Holy Land to wooden spoons and Murano glass. Their charity this

year will be Cherry Trees, a home in East Clandon providing respite care for children and young people with severe learning and physical disabilities. They assure you that you will find the exhibition very inspiring and fascinating. Further information at Daphne@shamleygreen.net. Queen Eleanor’s Junior School have their Christmas Fayre on Friday 12th December from 6pm - 8pm at Queen Eleanor’s Junior School, Onslow Village, Guildford GU2 7SD. Entrance £1, children free. Festive family fun with Santa’s grotto, stalls and games, face painting, raffle, tombolas, Christmas florist, choir, BBQ, bar, mulled wine and mince pies, plus much more! Guildford Rugby Club has had a great start to the season in their new league, London Division 1 South. Having won 7 of their 9 fixtures to date, they are fourth in the league. The next home fixture at their Broadwater ground is on Saturday 13th December against Twickenham, kick off at 2.15pm. If

30>

you like your rugby do come down and support your local team. The standard is very high and there is a great atmosphere. The VantagePoint team will be there in force! There’s a special event at The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, 7 Kings Road, Shalford GU4 8JU on Saturday 13th December from 1pm. Join David in the gallery for their ‘Celebration of Steam’. Take your children, family and friends to meet David and enjoy a flavour of the real steam experience when the Clan Line stops to water at Shalford Station. A great opportunity to find those last minute gifts for Christmas too! (Times are subject to change, so please check the website for details.) All sales support endangered wildlife. More information see www. davidshepherd.org. Cranleigh Arts Centre has a seasonal children’s theatre offering - Santa’s Little Helper. Who will help to save Christmas? Young Albert Tuttle is nearly seven years old and is in for a big surprise. For as he sleeps on

Lynn Henderson t: 01483 901060

e: lynn@hendersonsfamilylaw.co.uk

For all family law matters: • Specialist legal advice • Collaborative law • Mediation FREE initial half hour The White House, 2a Meadrow, Godalming, Surrey GU7 3HN 01483 901060 www.hendersonsfamilylaw.co.uk 22

Rebecca Dziobon t: 01483 901058

e: rebecca@hendersonsfamilylaw.co.uk

Samantha Mabey t: 01483 901057

e: samantha@hendersonsfamilylaw.co.uk

Paul Linsell t: 01483 901060

e: paul@hendersonsfamilylaw.co.uk

vantagepointmag.co.uk

BUMPER FAMILY BUMPER FAMILY CHRISTMAS QUIZ CHRISTMAS QUIZ! Fun questions for ALL ages Funds will give disadvantaged young people vocational skills and support. For more details, visit www.daneleyfoundation.org.

Fun Questions For ALL Ages!!

Funds will give disadvantaged young people vocational skills and support.

OVER

OVER £600 IN IN PRIZES! PRIZES!!

£600

£200

£150

£100

£75

£50

£25

First correct adult entry

First adult entry drawn

First correct child entry

First child entry drawn

Best adult saying

Best child saying

£200

£150

- correct or not

£100

£75

- correct or not

£50

£25

Dan, from Surrey, was an aid worker with street children before a freak accident in the Amazon left him paralyzed from the1stshoulders down.Child He fought toBest survive and the generosity 1st Correct adult 1st Adult entry Correct child entry adult sayingBest child saying and kindness of thousands of people helped save his life. entry drawn – correct entry drawn drawn – correct or not

or not

He founded his charity so that disadvantaged young people can also be helped to overcome suﬀ eringfrom and Surrey, despair and producti ve and llingchildren lives. 80% of all funds raised go in Dan, was live an aid worker withfulﬁ street before a freak accident towards our training programmes. the Amazon left him paralyzed from the shoulders down. He fought to survive and Charity No. 1146478. the generosity and kindness of thousands of people helped save his life. Thank you for your support. Have fun and enjoy a loving Christmas. He founded his charity so that disadvantaged young people can also be helped to overcome suffering and despair and live productive and fulfilling lives. 80% of all funds raised go towards our training programs. is delighted to be publishing this quiz in support of the Dan Eley Foundation. Charity No. 1146478. December 2014

Thank you for your support. Have fun and enjoy a loving Christmas.

The Dan Eley Foundation Christmas Quiz 2014

Here is a Christmas Quiz for you to do with your family. Simply complete the phrase or title using the letters and word clues provided. There are even prizes if you don’t get all the answers correct. Good luck!

A. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

To do with inanimate objects B A R A A Hard P ...................................................................................... T P C T K Black ......................................................................................... A D Edged S ............................................................................................. A P P A T Words ....................................................................................... T M A G T P O A Old F .............................................................................. T A No P I S .............................................................................................. A W P Never B ......................................................................................... L T Blue T P ...............................................................................................

B. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

To do with animals A C I A H D B A Committee ....................................................................... A L C C Its S ............................................................................................... D L A G H In T M ....................................................................................... L T C T G The C ......................................................................................... T P T C B The H ......................................................................................... L A L To T S ............................................................................................... T S T B T C Back ........................................................................................ T Take T B B T H ........................................................................................

C. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Botanical Section A S B Forth M F ........................................................................................ T A O M Eye .............................................................................................. A R B Two T .............................................................................................. A R S G No M ............................................................................................ T Nip I I T B ............................................................................................... Y C M Bricks W S ....................................................................................... A F As A D ................................................................................................. A A A D Keeps T D A ..................................................................................

D. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Relating to parts of the body T Point T F O B .......................................................................................... T P T Wool O S E ....................................................................................... T Put Y F I Y M ........................................................................................... A M T H Grow F ........................................................................................ A E F A E A A T For A T .............................................................................. T W T A Man’s H I T H S ............................................................................ T H A F I Both C ......................................................................................... T W Y F T T Bone .......................................................................................

vantagepointmag.co.uk

E. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

To do with money H W H The G M T R ................................................................................... A P S I A P Earned ..................................................................................... T T U L A Bad P ......................................................................................... N A B Nor A L B ......................................................................................... L See T C O Y M ......................................................................................... W There’s M T B ....................................................................................... M M T W Go A .......................................................................................... T L Of M I T R O A E ..................................................................................

F. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Film Titles O F Over T C N .......................................................................................... S O The L .................................................................................................. H P A T C O Secrets ................................................................................... S Private R ................................................................................................ T Years A S ................................................................................................ The K S ..................................................................................................... The L O T M .............................................................................................. T Man W T G G .........................................................................................

G. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Diﬃcult sayings (no words, but cryptic clues) F L W (star’s dying statements) ............................................................... B Y H I T S (seaside internment) .............................................................. A A A O N (large bird necklace) ................................................................ A D I T R (golfer’s sparkling ﬁnd) .............................................................. A F I T O (cream surprise) ......................................................................... B S O T F (Bo’s troublesome sibling) ......................................................... B B (Marilyn’s explosive device) ............................................................... C A A A A L (expensive limbs) ...................................................................

H. Invent Your Own Proverb using these letters (Adult Section) A T T W T A L A N W S L …………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………..……………………………………………………………………............................... .............................................................................................................................. I. Childrens’ Section 1. G A T Three B ......................................................................................... 2. L Bo P ....................................................................................................... 3. H D Dock .................................................................................................. 4. Three B M ................................................................................................ 5. T Three B G G ........................................................................................... 6. T T Tank E ................................................................................................. 7. L Boy B ..................................................................................................... 8. B The B ..................................................................................................... J. Childrens’ Saying (in no more than 10 words) “ I love Christmas because…………………………………………………………………………........” Please see overleaf for entry details...

December 2014

BUMPER FAMILY CHRISTMAS QUIZ!

The goal of the Dan Eley Foundation is to help young people help themselves by giving them the skills and training to ﬁnd legitimate employment in both Surrey and Colombia. We hope your whole family enjoys doing our Christmas quiz.

Fun Questions For ALL Ages!!

When you have completed the quiz, detach it from the magazine and please send your entries either by post to The Dan Eley Foundation, Fieldview, Petworth Road, Witley, GU8 5QW with a Funds will give disadvantaged young people vocational skills and support. small donation to the work of the charity. We suggest £5 (cash or cheque payable to The Dan Eley Foundation) to accompany your completed quiz.

OVER £600 The Toy Box, 3 Wharf Street, Godalming GU7 1NN IN Café Mila, 1 Angel Court, Godalming GU7 1DT Enzorosario Hair Salon, 112 High Street, PRIZES!! Godalming GU7 1DW

If you live in Godalming you may prefer to drop your sealed envelope oﬀ by hand at either:

Richmond Arms, 149 High Street, Godalming GU7 1AF

Name ……………………………….......................................................................................................... Address ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………............................................................................................................................. £200 £150 £100 £75 £50 £25 Post Code ………….............................. Tel ......................................................................................

1st Correct adult 1st Adult entry 1st Correct child Child entry Best adult sayingBest child saying entry drawn – correct entry drawn drawn – correct enclose my donation or ofnot £ …….... and, as a UK taxpayer, I wish this donation to be subject to or not

I Gift Aid if applicable …… (please tick if Gift Aid is applicable and sign below). Dan, from Surrey, was an aid worker with street children before a freak accident in Please the gift aid this donati on paralyzed from the Signature Amazon left him shoulders………………………………….................... down. He fought to survive and the generosity and kindness of thousands of people helped save his life. Closing date is 6th January 2015. Winners will be informed by the end of January. The results foundedinhis that disadvantaged young people can also be helped to will beHe published thecharity charity’ssowebsite at www.daneleyfoundati on.org. overcome suffering and despair and live productive and fulfilling lives. 80% of all funds raised go towards our training programs. Thank you so much for your support.Charity A veryNo. happy and loving Chrtistmas to you all. 1146478. 26

vantagepointmag.co.uk

Thank you for your support. Have fun and enjoy a loving Christmas.

R.A.Robertson & Sons

We can service and repair most household items!

“For All Your Electrical Needs” A family business for over 85 years

• High Street, Bramley, GU5 0HE • Telephone: 01483 892207 • Email: sales@robbo.co.uk Bosch

Bosch

LEC

7 KG Load 1200 RPM Delay start A+++ Free installation

14 place settings 5 programmes Load sensor Anti ﬂood A+AA Free installation

172h x 55w Frost Free A+ Free installation

WAE24367UK Washing Machine

£399 £50

cash back!

SMS58T02GB Dishwasher

£429 £70

cash back!

£349

3 Year Guarantee

HOME WIRING FOR ALL YOUR ELECTRICAL NEEDS STOCKISTS OF PANASONIC AND LINSAR TVs Most TVs have a 5 Year Guarantee

£489

£319

TX32AS600B

24LED2000T

Miele

TF5517W Fridge Freezer

COLOURED ROBERTS RADIOS

NO JOB TOO LARGE OR TOO SMALL!

WMF120 Washing machine 8 KG Load 1600RPM Delay start Stains option Quick and power wash £100 cash back! Free installation 5 Year Guarantee A+++

£1199

Miele

G6200SC Dishwasher 14 Place Settings Perfect glasscare Auto sensor Half load 30 cutlery tray A+++ 5 Year Guarantee Free installation

£799

WE REPAIR MOST VACUUM CLEANERS • WASHERS • DRYERS • DISHWASHERS

E&OE

A HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM ALL AT ROBERTSONS

December 2014

The Perfect Cheeseboard

As the festive season approaches, buffets are set, dinner parties are hosted and hospitality ramps up. In all the festivities it’s easy to forget that a cheeseboard can be an easy-to-make, impressive addition to any celebration. Rather than leaving it to the last minute and simply grabbing whatever is nearest, Louisa Mason from Flavour Tastings gives us some top tips to create an impressive cheeseboard. “Variety is the key to a perfect cheeseboard,” she suggests. “Combine different styles, colours, shapes and flavours so there is something for everyone.” Start with a soft and creamy cheese like a brie or camembert. Find one that is unctuous and will be at the peak ripeness when you are ready to eat it. This means keeping an eye on it in the fridge and even taking it out a few hours before eating to finish its maturing process. French bries and camemberts tend to be stronger compared with British ones so choose the flavour profile you most enjoy. For something really British try Isle of White Soft a rich creamy cheese made with Jersey milk, or the rich and deep flavoured Tunworth from Hampshire. Add to your board a hard cheese. The obvious choice is a mature cheddar but also consider less well known cheeses like Old Winchester, a cross between an Old Amsterdam, Parmesan and Vintage Cheddar produced in the New Forest. Continental-style hard cheeses also go well such as an aged Gruyère. Whilste 28

many people just use Gruyère for cooking this is a deeply complex cheese, especially if you can acquire some Premier-Cru matured for 14 months. Of course, the nation’s favourite cheese is cheddar and this in itself comes in variety of flavours and styles. From the more earthy, farmhouse flavour of an unpasteurised Montgomery all the way through to the sweet, soft Godminster Vintage, there is a plethora of good cheddars to choose from. Barbers 1833 Vintage Cheddar is a good mix of savoury and sweet notes which will suit most palettes and is over two years old. Often over looked are the semi-soft cheeses. This includes soft delicate cheeses like Cornish Yarg and also the washed rind cheeses. “Washed rind cheeses are seriously underrated in the UK”, Louisa tells us. “They are much more popular on the Continent which is a shame considering how good they have become in the UK now.” She suggests looking further afield than Stinking Bishop too. “Sussex has an amazing washed rind cheese vantagepointmag.co.uk

called Burwash Rose. It’s creamy, rich in flavour and washed in rose water giving it a lovely floral aroma. If that’s not to your taste try a firmer washed rind cheese like Drunken Burt whose producers are winning numerous awards.” Of course, no festive board would be complete without a Stilton, nick-named ‘King of English Cheeses’. There are now six producers who can make Stilton under the Protected Designation of Origin Scheme. Under these rules the cheese must be made in Derbyshire, Leicestershire or Nottinghamshire and only from pastuerised milk. This means the unpasteurised form cannot be called Stilton but is actually named ‘Stichelton.’ Stilton needs very little explanation but do try out the different producers. Colston Basset tends to be slightly lighter in texture while Cropwell Bishop has more tang. Stichelton can be very piquant and goes wonderfully with a glass of ruby port. For a truly stunning board consider the colour and shape of each cheese and try to bring in some variety. The other consideration is to include at least one non-cow’s milk cheese, like an ash-covered goat’s cheese or square ewe’s milk cheese like Flower Marie. “I love Flower Marie,” writes Louisa. “It’s definitely on our board this year. Soft, lemony with a lingering tang this Sussex cheese is a gem.” Finally presentation is everything so make sure you have a nice platter to serve it on. This can be wood, marble or slate and feel free to experiment with how you decorate it. Frozen grapes, walnuts, edible flowers, the list is endless. However, don’t get too carried away as sometimes less is definitely more!

Cheesy gifts

Natural Slate Cheeseboard £17.95 Handpicked Collection www.handpickedcollection.com

Camembert Cookware

£16.49 Steamer Trading Cookshop 168 High St, Guildford, Surrey GU1 3HS

Christmas Cheese Box £25 Flavour Tastings www.ﬂavourtastings.co.uk

So what ever you decide to have on your Christmas cheese board, make sure you give it some thought. FIND OUT MORE

If you want some more ‘cheesy’ advice or want to buy some hard-to ﬁnd cheeses then see Louisa’s website at www.ﬂavourtastings.co.uk or follow her on Facebook and Twitter. December 2014

The Big Cheese Making Kit – For Kids £22.95 The Truckle Cheese Co www.victoriasdeli.co.uk

<22

Jottings - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD - NOW IN DATE ORDER!

Christmas Eve, a big fat man wearing bright red pyjamas tumbles down his chimney like a roly poly pudding. It’s Santa and he’s come for Albert’s help! This delightful new show comes to life with an irresistible blend of music, puppetry, and high energy story telling. With lots of laughs and singalong songs this is the perfect treat for Christmas, Oh, and there is the chance to meet Santa himself! Little people aged 3-7 will love this heart warming tale. It’s on Saturday 13th December at 11.30am and 2.30pm. Tickets: £8 (£7 Group deal). Call 01483 278000 (Tuesday - Saturday 10am-4.30pm) or visit www.cranleighartscentre.org. Get in the Christmas mood with Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice’s Santa and Rudolph Fun Runs, and raise money for the Hospice whilst dressed as Santa! These festive fun runs are a fundraising event with a diﬀerence. All participants are issued with a Santa suit on the day – children wear Rudolph antlers and a ﬂashing red nose – and complete the course dressed in their festive attire, along

with hundreds of other Santas and Rudolphs! The ﬁrst of the two fun runs will take place in Hindhead, at 11am on Saturday 13th December, where participants will follow a 3.5km route around the Devil’s Punch Bowl, with stunning views of the beautiful Surrey countryside. The second will take place at 11am in Aldershot, on Sunday 14th December, where the Santas and Rudolphs will complete two laps of the impressive Queens Avenue Playing Fields. Everyone is welcome to take part, and participants can walk, run or jog either of the courses at whatever pace they prefer. Registration costs £12 for adults and £5 for under 14s and everyone who completes the course will be given a medal and a selection of festive goodies! And this year you can still take part in the fun even if you don’t want to run, as the Hospice is inviting all spectators to come in festive fancy dress, with a prize for the best dressed! Registration fees are higher on the day, so book your place now by visiting www.pth.org.uk, emailing

fundraising@pth.org.uk or calling the Hospice’s fundraising team on 01252 729446. To celebrate Guildford’s twinning with the German city of Freiburg, now in its 35th year, the GuildfordFreiburg Association is running a German Christmas Market in the Guildhall in the High Street on Saturday 13th December from 10am to 4pm. Wooden toys, candles and Christmas bakery items from Freiburg will be on sale and there will be a tasting of wines from the Freiburg area. Glühwein (mulled wine) will be available, there will be a tombola and literature about Freiburg will also be on display. Hatchlands Park, near Guildford is holding a traditional festive evening of music and prose in the Music Room. It’s on Saturday 13th December, from 8pm-10pm and features music and readings by Ayres and Graces. Tickets cost £16 adult and £8 child, and can be booked through Guildford Tourist

www.architecturesurrey.co.uk

vantagepointmag.co.uk

Jottings - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD - NOW IN DATE ORDER! Information Centre (TIC) on 01483 444334 or www.visitguildford.com. On Sunday 14th December at Hatchlands Park they are holding a Christmas Animal Visit from 1 to 3pm. See the animals in the festive cobbled courtyard and then meet Father Christmas in his grotto. The gift shop will also be open. Normal admission applies. More information at www.nationaltrust. org.uk/clandon-park tel: 01483 222482. Then in the evening, enjoy festive carols and readings for all the family. Adult £8, child £4, family £20. Booking essential through Guildford TIC on 01483 444334 or www. visitguildford.com. Guildford Rambling Club is meeting at 10am on Sunday 14th December, in Shamley Green, for a 5 mile walk. Then on Sunday 21st in Shere for a 10 mile walk with the option to drop out after 6 miles and on the 28th for a 10 mile walk from Pilgrims Way. See www.guildfordramblingclub. org.uk for full details.

The wonderful Harlequin Chamber Choir presents a candlelit evening of festive choral music on Saturday 20th December at Holy Trinity Church in Bramley. Starting at 7.30pm Harlequin will be performing a selection of new carols as well as many well-loved popular Christmas classics. There will be an opportunity for the audience to participate, robustly supported by the choir in full harmony ably accompanied by organist Roy Woodhams. Proceeds from the concert will go to the Bramley Music Fund, which has recently paid for Holy Trinity’s new Steinway grand piano, making this a wonderful venue for intimate concerts. A donation will also go to Harlequin’s current charity, Sing for Pleasure, which, among other things, hosts choral events for adults and children from a whole variety of backgrounds. For tickets (£10 including refreshments, with £5 tickets for under 18s and students) telephone Stuart White on 01483 892645 or email stuart.white@rpc. co.uk.

36>

As you would expect, there are lots of Christmas events at RHS Garden Wisley, Woking GU23 6QB. One that struck the eye is the Rose Theatre Kingston presentation of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe Story Trail which runs from Saturday 20th December to Sunday 4th January 2015 (closed 25th and 31st December). Leap into the magical world of Narnia this Christmas ... Meet in the Garden and discover a land inhabited by fantastical fauns and busy beavers. Only the most intrepid children can unlock the secrets and save Narnia from the White Witch’s spell. The event is free once you have entered the Garden. Also, The Christmas Display in The Glasshouse is another stunning display of seasonal plants and is open from Saturday 6th December to 4th January from 10am – 3.45pm. More details at www.rhs.org.uk/ wisley . Guildford Choral Society will be performing Handel’s ‘Messiah’ in Guildford Cathedral on Saturday

* Fabulous food for your festive table * Luxury chocolates & sweetie novelties * Fresh fruit, vegetables & salads * Quality gifts for all the family * Onsite Butcher & Flower Shop * Fair Trade Clothing, Gifts & Tea Room * Hampers

December 2014

time not spent drinking port is a waste of time”. So with thoughts not just of Christmas 2014 but also for next year here is the essential guide to port and what to eat with it. Port is a fortified wine made by blending a variety of Portuguese grapes that grow in the harsh conditions of the Douro Valley. How harsh I hear you ask? Well workers have to dynamite the rocky ground in order to plant the vine, the roots need to grow down at least 25 metres just to get a drink. Furthermore, the vines are planted on such steep terraces that the grapes can only be harvested by hand. All this and we haven’t even picked a grape yet! It takes three weeks to harvest the grapes as each variety ripens differently so workers need to climb the steep terraces time and again to get to ripe grapes. Once picked grapes are taken to Quintas (farms) where some are still crushed by foot treading. Foot treading is not just done for tradition or fun, it has been proved that treading grapes by human feet brings out the full concentration of flavour.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS Jeremy Blood from Surrey Wine School takes a look at a seasonal favourite Like it or not it’s now the time of the year when our thoughts turn to parties, socialising, eating and drinking. There is just so much to fit in even before the second week of December! I often ask guests at Surrey Wine School what their favourite seasonal tipples are. Not surprisingly many say Champagne and wines from Bordeaux or Burgundy, but sadly Port and other fortified wines such as Madeira or Sherry are still regarded as the drink to leave out for Santa. Port is a wine that some people enjoy just once a year, which is a real shame as it is far more that just the rich, sweet, taste of Christmas. Get to know the different styles and you will be enjoying one of the world’s great wines all year round. As Percy Croft of Crofts Port said, “Any 32

While the juice is fermenting, a high alcohol spirit is added that kills the yeast and stops the sugar turning into alcohol, leaving the wine sweet. This process is called fortification and differentiates port, sherry and Madeira from other sweet wines. So port is born in the Douro but its first steps are taken near Porto in Villa Nova de Gueia at the many port houses where it is blended. The ageing process is started during the following year. The essential difference between styles of port is whether it is aged in wooden casks (such as ruby, tawny) or in the bottle (such as vintage). Cask aged ports are ready to drink as soon as they are bottled and don’t improve with age. Bottled aged ports will get better as they mature. Depending on the quality of the year a vintage port may take 15-30 years to reach perfection. Basic ruby and tawny ports have young fruity aromas, are aged in wood casks for twothree years and are ready to drink as soon as it is bottled. I love to drink these wines with chocolate mousse or strawberries. The best cheese match I have found is with a full flavoured goats milk cheese. vantagepointmag.co.uk

made from a single year and coming from high quality vineyards and does not need decanting unlike vintage port. This is the top match with chocolate. It also works very well with soft cream cheese like Brie de Meaux. Taylors created the LBV style and I am a real fan of these wines.

White port is made in the same way as ruby except that white grape varieties are used. It makes a great aperitif wine. Simply pour 1/2 white port and 1/2 tonic over ice and add a sprig of mint or basil and you’re all set. I love to match with hard crumbly cheese such as Cheshire, or Wensleydale.

Vintage port is the pinnacle of all port production and is high on the list of the world’s greatest wines. Made with grapes from a single year, vintage port spends only two to three years in cask and is immediately bottled and released for sale. Although it can be drunk when released it can be a further 20 years before it reaches perfection. These wines leave a sediment in the bottle so it is wise to decant them before drinking. My perfect match with a vintage port is hazelnut and chocolate tart or the classic pairing with Stilton cheese.

Tawny ports can be aged in cask for 10, 20, 30 or 40 years (the year shown on the bottle is an average of the years in the blend) producing wines of real concentration. The colour changes as it ages from rich ruby to beautiful amber and golden hues. They also develop nutty and caramel flavours. Tawny ports are the most versatile, as they can be drunk chilled as an aperitif, matched with desserts or paired with sheep’s and cheddar cheeses. Choose your pairing carefully with tawny port as the age can make a big difference. The older the port the more it will match with raisiny flavours. I absolutely love a 20-year-old tawny such as Churchill’s matched with traditional Christmas cake or mince pies. If you prefer desserts such as crème brûlée or toffee puddings then try a 10-year-old tawny.

FIND OUT MORE

Surrey Wine School together with Flavour Tastings run wine and cheese evenings throughout the year. Cheese and wine, cookery and wine with a professional chef, and all the other fabulous tastings are available to buy as gift vouchers. For more bookings and information visit www.surreywineschool.com, email info@ surreywineschool.com or call Jeremy on 01306 898569 or 07436 072518.

Late bottled vintage (LBV) is a port lovers dream come true. An excellent value port

Feel right at home with Worplesdon View Care Home

With the winter months approaching there’s no better time to think about care options. From expert care to delicious home-cooked food and engaging activities, our staff pride themselves on making sure all our residents feel at home. Nursing care • Residential care • Dementia care

Please call me to discuss the care options available:

01483 238 010 Lynda Garner General Manager Worplesdon View Care Home • Guildford, Surrey, GU3 3LQ • www.barchester.com December 2014

Edible Christmas Gifts

by Gill Potterton of Glorious Food

Here are some simple recipes for different festive sweet treats which are fun to make and give as rather special edible gifts. Plan to make them just before you intend to give them, if possible, although they do keep for several days in an airtight tin - but they never last that long in my house! Remember to set aside some time to package them in coloured boxes or gift-wrap them in shiny cellophane with sparkling ribbons. The last recipe is for an unusual chutney which serves beautifully with cold meats, especially gammon, and is very easy and quick to make, so collect some fancy jars for the Spiced Pineapple Chutney and decorate with hand-made labels. As well as running her catering business, Glorious Food, Gill hosts regular cookery demonstrations, sometimes followed by a meal. Gift vouchers for these events make brilliant foodie gifts. A great supporter of local food, Gill is an approved member of LocalFoodBritain.com. Find out more about her on the Surrey section of the website and view the events noticeboard for information about her latest demonstrations. www.LocalFoodBritain.com/Surrey

Christmas Cookies 1. Pre-heat the oven to Gas 4/180C. Cream together the butter, syrup and sugar until pale. Stir in the flour and the chosen flavourings, until you have a workable dough. 2. Roll pieces of the cookie dough into balls, arrange them on a baking tray, spaced well apart, and flatten slightly. 3. Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden. Leave to cool on the baking tray before lifting off with a palette knife.

Ingredients 4oz/100g butter or margarine 4oz/100g soft light brown sugar 1 tablespoon golden syrup 6oz/150g self raising ﬂour 2oz chocolate/marzipan/dried cranberries/nuts Makes 12-16

Brandied Date and Walnut Shortbread 1. Pre-heat the oven to Gas 5/190C. Cream the butter and sugar until very pale, then mix in the ﬂour and almonds, to make a soft pliable mixture. 2. Press half of this mixture into the base of an 8 inch square tin, pushing down with the heel of your hand, to make it smooth. 3. To make the ﬁlling, combine the walnuts, dates and brandy in a food processor, to make a coarse paste, then spread this over the shortbread. Chop the cherries roughly by hand and sprinkle them over the top. 4. Crumble the rest of the shortbread mixture evenly over the top, to cover 34

the filling and press down firmly, to make a smooth finish. 5. Sprinkle with caster sugar and bake for 30-35 minutes until pale gold.

Ingredients 7oz/175g plain ﬂour 3oz/75g ground almonds 5 oz/125g butter 4oz/100g caster sugar 3oz/75g walnuts 2oz stoned dates 1 tablespoon brandy 1 ½ oz/40g glace cherries Makes 12-16

vantagepointmag.co.uk

FOOD

Brandy Snaps 1. Pre-heat the oven to Gas 6/200C. Line 2 or 3 large baking sheets with baking parchment. 2. Melt the sugar, butter and syrup together in a pan. Remove from the heat and stir in the ﬂour. Add the lemon juice and ginger, stirring well until thoroughly combined. Place dessertspoonfuls of the mixture onto each baking sheet, spaced at least 4 inches apart, as the mixture will spread. 3. Bake one tray at a time (or you will not be able to deal with the hot brandy snaps) for 6 minutes. The brandy snaps should go golden brown, but still be soft. Watch carefully, as they burn easily. 4.Cool for a minute or two then slide a greased palette knife under each

biscuit. If you work quickly, you can shape them while still hot. Roll each one carefully around a rolling pin or wooden spoon handle. If the biscuits cool too much and they become too brittle to shape, pop them back in the oven for just 10 seconds and try again.

Ingredients 4oz/100g caster sugar 4oz/100g butter 4oz/100g golden syrup 4oz/100g self raising ﬂour juice of 1 small lemon large pinch of ground ginger Makes 12-16

Christmas Flapjack 1. Pre-heat the oven to Gas 4/200C. Weigh the butter, sugar and syrup into a saucepan and heat gently until everything has melted together. 2. Remove from the heat and stir in the oats, mixed spice and mincemeat. Spread the mixture into a shallow 8 inch square tin lined with baking parchment and level it out with a palette knife, right into the corners. 3. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until

golden. Cool completely, remove from the tin and cut into bars or squares.

Ingredients 6oz/ 150g butter 2oz/50g golden syrup 4oz/100g demerara sugar 8oz/200g rolled oats 1 level teaspoon mixed spice 8oz/200g mincemeat Makes 12-16

Spiced Pineapple Chutney 1. Peel and quarter the pineapple, making sure all the ‘eyes’ are removed, remove the core and cut into bite-sized pieces. Peel, core and chop the apple. Peel and ﬁnely grate the fresh ginger. 2. Put all the ingredients into a large pan and stir over a low heat until the sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer gently for 5 minutes. 3. Uncover and simmer for a further 10-20 minutes until most of the liquid has evaporated. Discard the cinnamon and spoon into sterilised jars. Seal and keep in the fridge. December 2014

Ingredients 1 large pineapple 1 large cooking apple 4 tablespoons cider vinegar 8 tablespoons muscovado sugar 1 inch piece fresh root ginger 1 cinnamon stick 2 teaspoons chilli jam/pinch of dried chilli ﬂakes Pinch of salt Makes 2 x 1lb jars

<31

Jottings - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD - NOW IN DATE ORDER!

20th December at 7.30pm. For many music lovers, Handel’s Messiah defines both choral music and Christmas. Ever since its first performance in 1741, this work has remained at the heart of musical life. Guildford Choral, under conductor and Music Director Jonathan Willcocks, is joined for this performance by a quartet of outstanding soloists and one of the leading baroque ensembles, the Hanover Band. Tickets: Front Nave: £25, Mid Nave: £17, Rear Nave: £10, West Gallery: £19. Concessions: £10 on all seats except Front Nave. Concessions are available for children, students, disabled and ES40. Tickets are available from: boxoffice@guildfordchoral.org or directly from Derek Lake on 01494 675571 and also from the Guildford Tourist Information Centre: 01483 444333. Good news for Guildford Rugby Club. Spinal consultants and team members from BMI Mount Alvernia Hospital have donated a spine

board to Guildford Rugby Club to help improve its first aid response. The spine board, which is used primarily in pre-hospital trauma care, is designed to provide rigid support during movement of a patient with suspected spinal or limb injuries.BMI Mount Alvernia Hospital, who became a sponsor of Guildford Rugby Club this year, made the donation to boost the first aid response available to players during matches. The spinal board will be installed pitch side at the club and will be on hand at home games to help in case an injury occurs. “We have a duty to provide safe, effective and immediate care to our players should they become injured during a game,” John Hines commercial director at Guildford Rugby Club commented. “We are delighted to be working with sponsors such as BMI Mount Alvernia Hospital and would like to thank them for helping us ensure a safe and prosperous future for the club and our players.”

39>

HCPT – The Pilgrimage Trust takes disabled and disadvantaged children on a trip to Lourdes every Easter at no cost to them or their families. The charity has a catholic foundation, though children and helpers come from all backgrounds. All helpers are trained and DBS checked. For more information please go to www.hcpt.org.uk see the HCPT youtube channel or email group1@hcpt.org.uk. New recruits at Cranleigh Sub Aqua Club have just completed their Ocean Diver training and their Diving Officer, the “Boss”, is well on the way to achieving his Advanced Diver qualification. Last season saw them diving off the Farne Islands as well as from their boat, a 6.8 metre RIB, on sites and wrecks along the South Coast, and several members dived in the Red Sea. They meet at 7.30pm every Tuesday at Cranleigh School Pool for an hour’s training/ lecture/swimming and then at the Cranleigh Sports and Social Club to plan dives for next year and

vantagepointmag.co.uk

December 2014

EAT

Burford Bridge Hotel and looked pretty on the plate. My main course was ﬁllet steak which I asked for rare, and it was a huge slab cooked to pink perfection. Mr Carlos chose the rib-eye steak, rare again, also done just as he likes it. Before ordering, we told the waiter what style of wine we liked and asked him to recommend a bottle to go with our steak. He chose a bottle of Argentinean Malbec that was absolutely spot on, full bodied and full of fruit. It was a fantastic bottle, and we savoured every drop.

The weather had just taken a turn for the autumnal when I was asked to write a review on the Burford Bridge Hotel and I was delighted at the prospect of a night with Mr. Carlos in a hotel with character, a good meal and a big glass or two of red wine. I had looked at the hotel’s website and liked the look of the old building and the newly refurbished interior. When I looked on Tripadvisor the night before my stay, however, my heart sank a bit. The reviews were not good and my husband and I set oﬀ for our night away expecting something like Fawlty Towers without the humour. However, to my surprise our experience of the hotel was really good. On arrival we checked in and were shown to our room. The room was impressive, large, clean, smart and very well appointed. It had in it possibly the largest bed I have ever seen; there would have been room for our four children (who we had happily left behind). It even had a Nespresso coﬀee machine and a minibar stocked with complimentary soft drinks.

We slept like logs in the enormous bed and in the morning enjoyed a real coffee in our room before going to breakfast. Breakfast was good, there was an excellent selection of buffet items to choose from, cereals, croissants, toast, sausages, bacon, scrambled eggs, baked beans as well as items cooked to order. I had kippers and Mr Carlos had eggs Benedict both of which were good. All in all a very enjoyable stay, much better than expected and I imagine that the standards will increase week on week as the staff become more experienced. The hotel deserves a chance to succeed and I look forward to returning in the future. Elizabeth Carlos

MERCURE BOX HILL BURFORD BRIDGE HOTEL At the Foot of Box Hill, Dorking RH5 6BX 020 7660 0684 www.accorhotels.com BOX HILL NORTH DOWNS

We then headed for the bar to enjoy a few proper drinks. I was impressed with the new style decor, it was contemporary and smart while remaining cosy and comfortable. The bar staff were very keen and enthusiastic, although some obviously quite inexperienced. I witnessed a manager showing one of them how to trim away the foil properly on the top of a bottle of wine before presenting it and pouring a glass for a guest. We had a long chat with the new food and beverage manager Christian, who had only been there for 10 days but who was highly experienced in the business and clearly had firm plans for improvement. It looks as if the management understand the teething problems that they have suffered since reopening after the refurbishment, and are working tirelessly to get everything up to the correct high standard. We had been told that there wasn’t yet a head chef in the kitchen, so we were apprehensive about what we were about to experience for dinner. We need not have worried. For my starter I had salad Nicoise which was presented on a square slate plate, lovely rare seared tuna and soft boiled quails eggs, very good indeed. My husband ordered seared scallops with squid ink sauce which were cooked very well 38

Project2:Layout 1

Project5:Layout 1

12/10/14

17:41

24/10/14

17:03

Page 1

WEST SUSSEX

Connell & Todd combines a passion for great British places with an obsession for vintage prints, ceramics and textiles. To view our complete range, please visit www.connellandtodd.com vantagepointmag.co.uk

Jottings - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD - NOW IN DATE ORDER!

<36

chat over a pint. To learn more and book a free try-dive go to www. Cranleighsubaquaclub.co.uk. Pilates classes are held weekly in Cranleigh, Hascombe, Fernhurst and Redford; massage clinics are also available. For more details, please contact, Laura, kaizen.pilates@ outlook.com or 07557 018276. Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice is appealing to its local community for any unwanted furniture. For the past few weeks the Hospice has witnessed a sharp decline in donations, which has impacted on the amount of money raised by the charity’s two Furniture Showrooms. “Furniture donations are an extremely important part of the Hospice’s income,” says Peter Foxton, Head of Income Generation. “Without the generosity of our local community we would be unable to continue delivering such an exceptional level of care to our patients and their families. We accept most items - from wardrobes to sofas - so if

you have any unwanted furniture please get in touch.” You can arrange collection of any unwanted items by calling the Hospice’s dedicated team of drivers on 01252 710679. Are you looking for beautiful Christmas cards which stand out from the crowd? Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice has 13 eye-catching designs available in its shops throughout West Surrey and North East Hampshire. The charity’s popular range is priced at £3.75 for a pack of 10, and there are cards to suit all tastes, with exclusive designs by Hospice patient, Linda Jackson and local Farnham artist, Charles Bone. A host of modern and traditional cards including ‘Santa Owl’ and ‘Robin in the Snow’ complement three funky diaries also available this year for £2.99 in indigo blue, lime green and silver. And if you’re feeling lucky, why not take a gamble with some Tuckwell Chase Lottery scratch cards - the perfect festive table decoration! Cards, diaries and scratch cards are available from the Hospice’s 18

42>

charity shops, online at www.pth. org.uk/our-shop or by calling 01252 729446. 100% of the profits from the sale of the Hospice’s cards go towards caring for people affected by a terminal illness across West Surrey and North East Hampshire. After the success of last year’s Project Wenceslas when £7,000 was raised, Guildford Lions Club will continue the project this year to help local people in fuel poverty and fuel debt. “Many older people in Guildford will be receiving their Winter Fuel Allowance shortly and, if they can afford it, we are asking them to donate it to those who have real problems paying their increasing fuel bills,” said Barry Jutsum, President of Guildford Lions Club. Despite Guildford being a prosperous town there are many people who suffer from fuel poverty or fuel debt. All monies raised will be deposited in the Guildford Lions Charity Trust Account and ring-fenced for Project Wenceslas. Donations can be made online via the Guildford Lions Club

Want to tone up & get Want FAT Wantfit? to tone up & get fit? LOSS guaranteed? Want FAT LOSS Want a friendly, funguaranteed? sociable club? Want a friendly, fun sociable club? Want full personal trainer support? Want full personal trainer support? Then try www.GetFitBootCamp.co.uk Then try www.GetFitBootCamp.co.uk Friendly Circuit Training sessions at

Friendly Circuit Training sessions Sutherland Memorial Park, Burpham Walking / Running Club at Burpham at Sutherland Memorial Park, Newlands Corner and a Walking/Running Club at Newlands Corner Also available: 4* All Inclusive

Also available: 4* All Inclusive Beach Camp on the Algarve! Beach Boot Camp on Boot the Algarve!

Contact Rob Dale BSc on 07793 036189 Contact Rob(Hons) Dale BSc (Hons) rob@getfitbootcamp.co.uk rob@getfitbootcamp.co.uk 07793 036189

December 2014

Ripley and the Wey Navigation This is an easy, ﬂat, ﬁgure of 8 walk, running past a lake and alongside the historic Wey Navigation. The walk description is provided by Guildford Rambling Club (guildfordramblingclub.org.uk).

The walk Facing the back of the shops, head right, passing behind the houses until emerging on Newark Lane (the B367). Turn right and cross. Walk past the houses and keep going until passing a stile out left into a field. Further along the road, just beyond this stile, go through a gap in the hedge on the left to emerge next to a large lake, Papercourt Lake (used for angling and sailing). Head anti-clockwise around the lake. When forced to choose take the left fork, into trees. Keep going until emerging in an open area (you are now beyond the end of the lake) and turn right. The path brings you out onto a road opposite some houses. Cross to take a footpath heading away from the road and passing some allotments. The path takes you along the left-hand edge of fields. At one point it jinks left then right, passing a footbridge and continuing forward. Keep going along the edge of the field until you reach a T junction. Here, turn right. Now, follow the path with a stream on your left until you see a footbridge on your left at a point where the path swings sharp right. Turn left to cross the footbridge and immediately turn right to walk with the stream now on your right. Pass a pond and eventually reach a point where you can see a lane, Tannery Lane, ahead of you. Do not go through onto the lane. Instead, follow the path as it swings left and runs parallel to the Lane but in trees, just off of its edge. Emerge in the Lane just short of some light industrial buildings, one of which is Tannery House. Go down the righthand side of the buildings to cross a footbridge over the Wey Navigation. On the far side turn right and walk along the towpath to Papercourt Lock. Here, cross the Navigation and continue along the towpath on the other side to reach a road bridge. Go up onto the bridge and cross it, left, then go down onto the towpath on the other side to continue forward. You will quickly pass (on your left) the remains of Newark Priory. (This, an Augustinian 40

priory, was built at around 1189. It was partially demolished after Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries.) Continue on past Newark Lock to reach Walsham Gates (the last of the original turf sided locks, opened in 1653, that were common along the full length of the Navigation). Here, turn right to cross over the weir and then follow the path ahead to reach Ripley Green and the starting car park. You could lunch in a café or pub in Ripley or picnic on the Green. Afterwards, walk north, away from the houses and shops, along the lane through the common, passing the play-park. Follow this path to reach the lock at Walsham Gates again. Turn right to walk along the towpath to Pyrford Lock. (Along the way, on the other side, you will see the brick-built “summer house” in which the poet and playwright John Donne lived for a while. You will also pass a medieval bridge, Pigeonhouse Bridge.) At Pyrford Lock, just before the Anchor public house, turn right, through a gate and into Wisley Golf Course. Follow the yellow arrow signs along the wide track which swings out right across the course and then curves left and reaches a T junction where they take you left until, close to a small pond, the path swings left and over a fairway and a footbridge. It then passes through scrub and vantagepointmag.co.uk

WALK

trees and a scruﬀy work area and turns right to emerge close to the Club House. A few yards along here, before reaching the Club House, take a footpath left and emerge in the churchyard of Wisley Church. (Wisley Church is well worth a look. It was originally built in 1150.) Go out onto the road (Wisley Lane) in front of the church and proceed right, alongside it. Walk past the golf club entrance then take a footpath right, to re-enter the course. Quickly reach a junction and turn left. Follow the path around the edge of the course to reach a footpath left. This takes you through bushes, over a small footbridge and, for a few yards alongside the River Wey, to reach the road again, by a bridge. Turn right and walk along the road until you see a lollipop post box across on your left.

fenced corridor, through the middle of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Wisley Gardens and out behind the Glass Houses to reach a road. Cross this road and continue forward across a large ﬁeld. The path brings you out on the access lane to Ockham Mill, just to the left of its buildings. (Ockham Mill is now a private residence. Ockham is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086.) Go straight across and continue in the same direction, along a footpath that takes you to Ripley Common and the start point.

Now, cross the road and go up the wide track opposite, passing the post box. Go up this track for 20 yards then take a footpath off right. It takes you between fields to the start of a wooded area. About 50 yards inside the wood, at a cross paths, take the footpath right and follow it straight ahead (ignoring lefts and ignoring a fork left) until you reach the small Wren’s Nest car park and Wisley Lane again. Cross and head left. Quickly fork right, off the Lane and along a concrete vehicle track. After about 20 yards pick up a footpath off right which takes you, in a

DISTANCE: A ﬁgure of 8 of 5 plus 5 miles OS MAPS: Explorer 145 – Guildford & Farnham STARTING POINT: The car parking area by the play park on Ripley Green. GRID REFERENCE:5 053 1 571

REFRESHMENTS: There are a number of pubs and eating places in Ripley itself. Also The Anchor, Pyrford Lock, Wisley, Surrey GU23 6QW (01932 342 507) which is on the route. Image above: Walsham Gates and Lock Keeper’s Cottage by Colin Smith

Neither the publisher nor the author can accept any responsibility for any changes, errors or omissions in this route. Diversion orders can be made and permissions withdrawn at any time.

December 2014

<39

Jottings - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD - NOW IN DATE ORDER!

website at www.guildfordlions.com where there is also more information about Project Wenceslas. Alternatively cheques, payable to Guildford Lions Club, should be sent to the Club Treasurer, 1 Green Lane, Guildford, GU1 2LZ. On Sunday 28th December at 11am, Peaslake Royal British Legion Branch Commemorates the 100th Anniversary of the 1914 Unofficial Christmas Truces. Under the title Friends or Enemies a re-enactment of one of the truces that occurred on the Western front will take place on a playing field next to Peaslake Village School. The cast of 30 players and other helpers from Peaslake and surrounding villages will recreate those battle scenes, including an exchange of mementos and gifts, and of course a football match. The morning will conclude with poems and a service of thanksgiving and prayers. There will be marquees available for the spectators and hot drinks will be on sale. There will be a bucket collection for the Poppy Appeal. The narrator for the event will be Brough Scott MBE, who is grandson of General Jack Sealy, who led the cavalry to France in 1914. More information about this unique event can be obtained from Sally Price on 01306 730047 or sally. price@btinternet.com. The Economy Group of the Cranleigh Neighbourhood Plan has prepared a Business Questionnaire and it’s in all our interests for as many businesses in and around Cranleigh to contribute their views to www.surveymonkey. com/s/7JS3DZ2. The purpose of the Economy Group of the Cranleigh Neighbourhood Plan is “to support a thriving Cranleigh economy that creates prosperity and employment opportunities for its growing community.” They need to identify the issues, and to do so have prepared a Business Questionnaire to ascertain basic information. They ask that as many businesses as possible spend five minutes completing the survey and they will keep people informed about the results. 42

Merrow Ladies Badminton Club meets every Thursday morning at Merrow Village Hall from 10.15am to 12.15pm. They are a very sociable group of ladies who enjoy a lighthearted game of badminton as well as coffee and a chat. The group has been in existence for 40 plus years but now find members are fewer and are therefore recruiting new people. All ages and abilities are welcome and free taster sessions are available. For more details contact Gill on 01483 576176 or just turn up! On Thursday 1st January, start the New Year by joining local members of the RSPB on their annual gentle ‘head clearing’ walk to find and identify birds at Riverside Nature Reserve in Guildford. Suitable for both beginners and experts. The walk starts at 10am, will last about 2.5 hours and will try to spot birds on the lake, in the fields and woods and along the riverside. They hope to see about 40 different species of birds, even just possibly a kingfisher or an owl buried deep in a tree. Meet at just before 10am at the car park off Bowers Lane, Burpham GU4 7ND. Grid Ref: TQ011527. Take binoculars if you have them. Do wear warm clothes and outdoor shoes/boots. No dogs please, and the walk is not suitable for buggies or very young children. Further information on all their activities is at rspb.org.uk/ localgroups/Guildford. Any queries to: gadcom2010@gmail.com, or call 01372 467074. Regular walking has huge health benefits: Getting involved with your local Walking for Health scheme couldn’t be easier. Find the health walk scheme closest to you. Visit the national Walking for Health website www.walkingforhealth.org.uk and enter your postcode or place name in the search box. You’ll then find all the information you need to join a group for regular walks. There are currently three walk groups in Guildford: The Boxgrove Walk Group offers free 1-hour walks from the car-park at Boxgrove Park shops at 10am every Monday morning. Meet at 9.45am. The Fairlands Walk Group offers free

44>

walks from the Farmhouse Café at Rokers every Wednesday morning. Meet at 9.45am for an hour walk or at 10.15am for a shorter, easier walk. The St Luke’s Fountain Centre offers free walks to visitors to the hospital on Mondays and Fridays at 11am. Meet at the entrance to the Fountain Centre garden for a short walk. All abilities welcome and all walks are led by trained volunteer walk leaders. Just go along. It’s free! Wear waterproof footwear and take a raincoat on rainy days. This spring, Petworth House hosts an exhibition inspired by Mike Leigh’s award-winning film Mr. Turner. Petworth House played a starring role in the film having been the home of one of Turner’s greatest patrons, the third Earl of Egremont. The exhibition features over 30 works of art, mostly by Turner, and on loan from major collections including Tate and V&A. Alongside is personal ephemera once belonging to the artist, such as his fishing rod and painting materials, some on show for the first time. Also on view are props and items of costume from the film, together with artworks by the actor Timothy Spall, created whilst he trained for his role as Turner in the film. A short documentary by Mike Leigh about the making of Mr. Turner at Petworth House features rare behind-the-scenes footage. Visitors can also tour the Artists’ Studio, not usually open to the public, but once used by Turner and other artists as a studio in the nineteenth century. Mr. Turner: an exhibition – 10th January to 11th March. Tickets are £12, booking essential, at www.nationaltrust. org.uk/petworthturner or 0844 249 1895. Vivace Chorus is holding another Come and Sing event on 24th January. It usually sells out and 2015 will be no exception because they are singing Mozart: the C minor Mass and the Solemn Vespers (1780 version). It’s at Normandy Village Hall from 10am to 4.30pm, with music supplied and their now famous lunch: homemade soup and vantagepointmag.co.uk

PROFILE

The League of Friends of Milford Hospital Whenever the League of Friends is collecting outside stores or running a stall at the village fairs, there are still some people who say that they didn’t know the hospital had survived the threat of closure and thought the whole site was now going to be houses. How wrong! Milford Hospital is the local centre of excellence for elderly assessment, day care and rehabilitation. Normally patients are admitted following a stay in an acute hospital. The broad spectrum of expertise amongst the staﬀ enables a comprehensive assessment and care programme for elderly patients with complex needs. The day hospital gives advice and support to elderly patients who are to being cared for at home. An added bonus is that the out-patient X-Ray service is now digitalised (i.e. online) allowing doctors at Milford and The Royal Surrey County hospitals immediate access to results. The service is available for community use as well as for patients attending Milford Hospital. The League of Friends raises public awareness and thus support for the hospital. It raises money to provide additional amenities that are not covered by the NHS. We have recently provided CD and cassette players for talking books, arranged for talking newspapers to be available weekly and bought I-pad software for the speech and language therapists to enable improved speech recovery in stroke victims.

We fund-raise through bucket collections outside stores such as Secrett ’s Farm Shop and Sainsbury’s, being nominated as a community charity by Waitrose, and by having stalls at both Milford and Witley Fairs. The award winning Rushmoor Choir is holding a concert for us on 25 April 2015 (contact Jacqui Robini on 01428653905 for £10 tickets) and we will be organising a quiz in the autumn of 2015. New volunteers to help us fundraise are always welcome. We would especially welcome new committee members with accounting or banking experience who could assist our long standing Treasurer. Contact us through our website at www.milfordhospitalleagueoﬀriends.com if you would like to help us in any way. It is not an onerous commitment but the work we do is really appreciated by patients, their relatives and the staﬀ of the hospital. Please note that our AGM will be on March 20th 2015 at 3pm in the Seminar Room at the Hospital. All are welcome to attend and hear about what the hospital is doing and about the activities of the League of Friends.

Our main focus in 2014 has been revitalising the courtyard garden (pictured right), with muscle power provided by the Probation Service Community Payback Scheme who we hope will come back and repair the area outside the cafe so that it too can be a useful outside seating area. Colourful plants were donated for the garden and the money raised at the village fairs enabled us to buy an aluminium globe trickling water feature, a bird sculpture that moves in the wind, new umbrellas and stands and cushions for the furniture. The garden is now even more popular and used into the evenings, providing a relaxed and secure environment for patients and their visitors. Next we will provide additional wheelchairs so all who want to can get outside. We organise several regular features for patients and staﬀ including a weekly library round and a confectionary/ toiletries trolley round, a summer garden party with musical entertainment, a lunch for staﬀ and volunteers at Christmas and a Carol service in the wards. Every in-patient receives a small present from the League on Christmas Day.

December 2014

<42

Jottings - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD - NOW IN DATE ORDER!

a ploughman’s. (Do some people go mainly for the homemade soup?) To apply, download a form from www.vivacechorus.org and send a cheque for £24 to 30 Shepherds Way, Liphook, Hants GU30 7HF or, alternatively, book and pay online. The Surrey Half Marathon will take place on Sunday 8th March. Starting and finishing at Woking Leisure Centre the closed-road running event is the biggest in the county, and will take 6,500 runners through the country lanes to the South West of Woking before returning to the town for their big finish! The scenic course is flat and fast, so it’s a great place to secure your best 13.1 mile finish time! A kids race will take in a 2km closed road circuit in Woking hopefully inspiring the half marathon runners of the future. The running route will be lined with local live bands, and local club cyclists will lead the runners out onto the course. The Surrey Half Marathon will be working closely with local charities. Their official Charity Partners for 2015 are Shooting Star CHASE, WWF, Woking and Sam Beare Hospices and Harrison’s Fund. They hope that runners will use the Surrey Half as an opportunity to fundraise for charity. Entries are selling fast, and prices will go up on 1st January, so ensure you enter before Christmas to secure your place on the start line. To enter, go to www.surreyhalfmarathon. co.uk . You can follow them on Facebook – www.facebook.com/ surreyhalfmarathon Twitter - @ surreyhalf. Download the app – Search “Surrey Half” in your app store. The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association is looking for people to be part of a Guide Dogs Support Group. Lots of voluntary roles are available from organising events, helping with collections and raising awareness of the work they do. Roles are very flexible and can be suited to how many hours you are able to donate. There is something to suit everyone! Katie Smith, local Guide Dogs representative, says “Whatever 44

you’re interested in doing, whether you have a little or a lot of time to spare, you will be guaranteed to meet new people and have some fun! At the same time you will be raising funds to enable Guide Dogs to create the special partnerships which can change the lives of people who are blind and partially sighted.” To find out more information, please contact Katie Smith on 07795 611459 or email katie.smith@guidedogs. org.uk. For more information on Guide Dogs, visit www.guidedogs. org.uk. Affinité, the Surrey singles social club for the over 50s, has finalised its winter programme. Included are visits to the Comedy Store, a gallery and a museum, a carol concert, a Christmas quiz and a New Year Dinner at Clandon Regis Golf Club. Contact the club through www.clubaffinite.co.uk. I bet you didn’t know that Surrey can now boast its first distillery, ‘The Major’ roared into life recently fuelled by wood from Albury Estate to begin its new life powering Silent Pool Distillery. The first spirit to course its way through was apple brandy made from cider from the orchards at Birtley House in Bramley. Until now, Ian McCulloch and his team have been testing the equipment with water but all the licences have come through and the distillery has gone live for the first time. The verdict? “The first lot we tested was 80% proof and it tasted lovely,” said Ian. “We took the glass bowl off so we could smell and taste it as it came through. You could really smell the apples.” The boiler is a 1970s Barford Invicta Major allegedly rescued from Liverpool Docks but the still is a one-off masterpiece of shining metal hand-made by Arnold Holstein. Ian McCulloch and James Shelbourne began working on the distillery project in 2013, converting redundant farm buildings at Sherbourne Farm on the Albury Estate next to the Silent Pool. If you read this Ian, we at Vantage

Point will be very happy to give our considered opinion! Situated on Ward Street, The Guildford Institute is a charity committed to providing educational and cultural activities to the local community. The Institute’s new spring programme is now available with a diverse range of talks, courses, trips and activities on offer. Highlights this term include an exclusive tour of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and a special talk to mark the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta given by the highly-esteemed Professor Nigel Saul. Full details of the Institute’s spring programme can be viewed on their website: www.guildford-institute.org.uk. Alternatively, for more information please call 01483 562142 or email info@guildford-institute.org.uk. Looking for new free activities in the New Year? Over 50 and want to get out more? Age UK Surrey offers Walking Football in Guildford, Men in Sheds (Ash) Walking and Cycling (all Surrey), home visits for those not able to get out (Waverley and Guildford) and even free benefit checks to ensure everyone has their full entitlement. You can of course volunteer for them - and as they are an independent charity – make a donation knowing that it stays in Surrey. See the website at ageuksurrey.org.uk or ring 01483 503414. Finally, some sad news. Two groups of Great War (1914-1918) medals in frames where stolen on 21st January 2014 from the HQ of The Royal Flying Corps Association. The two medals were as follows: LT.E.BREWER and SGT.A.POLLARD (M.M 15110). Please ring 01306 711114 if you have any information. There is a reward.

FIND OUT MORE

More Jottings are available online at vantagepointmag.co.uk. To send in an entry, go online or email us at jottings@vantagepublishing.co.uk.

vantagepointmag.co.uk

BUSINESS CARDS Direct Roofing_Layout 1 07/04/2014 13:33 Page 1

WE LOVE TO DANCE

Dance, Yoga & Fitness in Shalford

From beginner to advanced level Visit www.welovetodance.net for details or call Rachel on 07946 363 556

ROCK,POP,BLUES Bass guitar tuition

Call Alan Wise on 01483 560737 or email alanwise@rocketmail.com. www.alanwise.co.uk

S OF ROOFING U

PECT

S ALL A

NDER

TAKEN

Direct Roofing Services

• Family Business • All work guaranteed • Free quote • References on request

No job too small or too big • Honest and trustworthy Please call

01483 789548

direct-roofing@hotmail.com DIRECT INDUSTRIAL AND MAINTENANCE LTD Office No. 266 • Guildford • Surrey • GU1 2AG • Company Reg. 8847883

I Want to Rent or Buy Your House Now Any condition. Anywhere No fees or commission

Richard: 01483 320 207

www.bakewithjack.co.uk Simply Blinds Feb 14_Layout 1 08/04/2014 16:29 Page 1 Godalming based, we supply and fit all types of good quality made to measure Blinds, Curtains, Awnings and Canopies at affordable prices. Free Survey, conducted at a time convenient to you Free Quotation with no obligation All products are fully guaranteed and comply with new Child Safety Requirements

Penny ad_LayoutCall 1 14/08/2012 16:23 Page415131 1 Richard on 01483

HOLIDAY HOME SOUTH OF FRANCE Comfortable village gite to let, sleeps 8, in picturesque Languedoc ‘Cathar Country’. Near castles, dramatic gorges, Carcassonne and Canal du Midi. Visit the website www.bugarachgite.co.uk Tel 01252 712233 or email penny.kitchen@btopenworld.com December 2014

BUSINESS CARDS

CHIMNEY SWEEP JULIAN RAFFE 01483 200581- 07837 239516 Free CCTV inspection included with each sweep

julianraffe@googlemail.com Window Wizard_Layout 1 12/11/2012 18:46 Page 1

John Martin_Layout 15/11/2013 11:17 Page 1 Guild of Master1 Chimney Sweeps

John Martin

FOR ALL YOUR DOUBLE GLAZING REPAIRS W W W W W W W

Hedgelaying

Broken down sealed units... New hinges, fire & child safety... New mechanisms, windows & doors... Patio door repairs... Broken handles.... Front & back doors dropped... Drafts & leaks on your windows...

Fully Insured References Available 01483 527923/07854 366979 www.traditionalboundaries.com

No call out charge.

Member of the National Hedgelaying Society & Surrey & Sussex Coppice Group

“Where great sheds are Bourne” An independent family run business, established in 1995, Bourne Buildings is a familiar sight to the residents of Farnham. We are well known for our advertising banners, which overlook the Shepherd & Flock roundabout: favourites include, “Forget red roses, buy her a shed”, “Now is the Winter of our discount-sheds” and our current offering of “Shed early for Christmas”.

ADVERTORIAL

the pond is about 10ft above the level of the very busy roundabout only 50ft away!

With staff sharing over 80 years of experience and special offers running month to month you will always receive the best service, and can be sure you are getting not only the best prices locally, As well as keeping the locals amused, Bourne Buildings is but in the whole of the UK (including the now the largest garden buildings showsite in the UK and internet). has over 200 garden buildings on show all year round, as well as thousands of stone items ranging from statues & In short, if you’re thinking of buying a birdbaths, to benches & urns. garden building, for any reason, it’s well worth paying us a visit. Our picturesque showsite is set around an old mill pond which creates a stunning and unique environment; well worth a look even if not looking to make a purchase. Many customers, on an almost daily basis exclaim “how they have been driving past for years and never realised that the 100ft mill pond existed – let alone the extent of the selection on display”. What surprises them further is that 46

vantagepointmag.co.uk

WIN WIN AN ORDNANCE SURVEY RUCKSACK AND PERSONALISED MAP Ordnance Survey produce over 650 recreational and leisure maps and you can win one of five Ordnance Survey rucksacks with a custom-made map. The winners can create their own personalised map by selecting the area and adding their own cover image and title using the map builder at www. oscustommade.co.uk, and also receive an exclusive OS branded rucksack. To enter, please answer the following question: Q: How many maps do Ordnance Survey produce? Please enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk by 31st December 2014.

WIN A FAMILY TICKET TO THE YVONNE ARNAUD PANTOMIME Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and VantagePoint Magazine are very pleased to offer you the chance to win a family ticket to this year’s magical pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs! The show stars Whose Line Is It Anyway? legend Josie Lawrence as the fabulously witty Wicked Queen. Joining Josie is top cabaret performer Kit Hesketh-Harvery and Eagle Radio’s Peter Gordon. To find out more please visit www.yvonne-arnaud. co.uk. A family ticket (4 seats) is available for the performance on Friday 2nd January at 7pm. To enter, please answer the following question: Q: Who plays the Wicked Queen? Please enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk by 31st December 2014.

WIN A FREE LOCAL PRINT Do you love your local town? Look forward to your next walk up Box Hill? Are you proud of the local countryside? At Connell & Todd we design and hand select gifts that evoke special memories of your favourite places: from vintage travel posters and antique guides to maps and original works of art. All our gifts can be purchased via our website www.connellandtodd.com. We will also be selling our gifts at the local Christmas markets around Surrey and West Sussex this month. We have just designed a new selection of prints of your favourite places which make the perfect Christmas gifts for friends and family and locals who have moved away from the area. To celebrate the launch of this new collection we are running a competition with VantagePoint Magazine and are offering one framed print each of Godalming, West Sussex, Box Hill, Haslemere and Hampshire. To enter, answer the question: Q: Name one of the prints you can win. Enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk by 31st December 2014. Project5:Layout 1

BOX HILL

12/10/14

17:41

Page 1

Project2:Layout 1

24/10/14

17:03

Page 1

WEST SUSSEX

NORTH DOWNS

Please enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk. Postal entries can be sent to us at the address given on page three. TERMS & CONDITIONS OF ENTRY: By entering these competitions you agree to receive periodic emails from VantagePoint Magazine,Vantage Publishing Ltd and the originator of the competition you are entering.You can opt out of receiving these at any time and your data will never be passed on for use by third parties.The prizes are non-transferable and have no cash alternative. Only one entry per person per competition and prizes will only be sent to homes with a GU, KT and RH postcode.

SALE SALE SALE

£229 £183

£389 £311

£289 £231

£299 £239

£398 £318

£1038 £830

£679 £543

£479 £383

£199 £159

WAXED PINE - PAINTED PINE - LACQUERED PINE

WAXED OAK - LIGHT OAK - RUSITC OAK

20% off Oak & Pine Furniture

Open Boxing Day & New Years Day

The

Furniture Emporium The trading name of Cranleigh Furniture Ltd

264 High Street, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8RT www.cranleighfurniture.co.uk

01483 271236