Elmbridge july august 2013 p01 60 by Shelley van Lit

Vol. 5 ● Issue 4 ● July/August 2013

Delivered to selected homes in Esher, Claygate, Hinchley Wood, Molesey, Walton on Thames and Hersham

The whole range, from A

to TT.

At Audi, we believe all our cars should combine advanced technology, luxurious features and innovative design. Come to our Centre to experience everything our range has to oﬀer, whether you’re interested in the A1, A4, RS 5, TT or any of our other models.

Walton Audi Station Avenue Walton on Thames Surrey KT12 1NR 01932 220404 www.walton.audi.co.uk Official fuel consumption figures for the Audi range in mpg (l/100km) from Urban: 12.7 (22.2) – 64.2 (4.4), Extra Urban 26.4 (10.7) – 85.6 (3.3), Combined 19.0 (14.9) – 74.3 (3.8). CO2 emissions 349 – 99 g/km.

esher tyre & exhaust

- FREE valve & balance on all our tyres Free local - BUDGET & BRANDED tyres supplied and fitted collection - SERVICING from £49.99 + VAT (all makes) & delivery Save up to 50% on main dealer servicing (prior bookings only) - SPRING checks £29.99 + VAT - MOT - Diagnostic equipment - Air Conditioning - Welding and MOT repairs On production of this voucher - Clutches Offer expires end August 2013 - Exhaust Hampton Court Way, Thames Ditton - Batteries

15% OFF

020 8398 1727 3

Those hazy, crazy, lazy days of Summer... What are your plans for the the next couple of months? You don’t have any? Really??? The kids will soon be done with school, some will have left the schoolyard behind them for the last time and will now be embarking on gap years (I’m so jealous) or off on holiday with their mates. Most of us will get a precious week away from work, muttering the prayer “please don’t let it rain for the whole of my holiday”.

Inside this month........

There are loads of activities organised for children this summer, from Shout! to the Painshill Summer Camps. Some are even free.

What’s on in Elmbridge

And it’s not just the kids that will get away this Summer - we are a taking our caravan across the channel for the first time (for the caravan, not for us!) so fingers crossed we don’t suffer cros any major disasters. Make Ma checklist: check! Remember the towels Re check! And all the instruction manuals - check! Book the ferry - check! Organise the cat sitter - check, check, check! You absolutely can’t book too early - he’s even taking bookings for Christmas time now!

Family Gardens

Gardening: Hot favourites

The Better Life: Compost Mentis

What makes them beautiful...?

Choosing the perfect builder

Recipe of the month: Peach Melba Shortcakes

Eat yourself beautiful

Notes from Westminster

Police 5 (minutes)

Short Story

I wish you all a wonderful, healthy summer! Enjoy! See you in September!

Shelley September deadline: 16th August October deadline: 18th September Ads & editorial Tel: 0208 941 3569 Email: info@yourelmbridge.co.uk Web: www.yourelmbridge.co.uk Printed by: Evonprint Ltd. Tel: 01273 494 631 Delivered by: 3Colours Ltd. Tel: 020 8965 3339

An evening with Colin Jackson p32

© Fleetside Publishing Ltd 2013 All rights reserved. We do not take responsibility for the views expressed by contributors of articles or for the accuracy of claims made by advertisers within this magazine. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior permission from the publisher. The publisher cannot accept any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions or any other cause.

&/2 %6%294().' ). ,58529 "!4(2//-3 3(/7%23 &2%%

'. $%3) .).' 0,!. 6)#% 3%2

s &ULL l TTING SERVICE AVAILABLE s !LL HEATING PLUMBING REQUIREMENTS s &ULL CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS s "OILER SERVICE REPAIRS s "URST PIPES "ALL 6ALVES $RIPPING 4APS ,ANDLORD #ERTIl CATES /PEN -ON TO &RI AM PM 3AT AM PM !.9!2$3 2/!$ #/"(!- 3522%9 +4 ,* 4EL &AX TJBATHROOMS NTLBUSINESS COM Also at: 122 SUMMER ROAD THAMES DITTON, SURREY KT7 0QP 5

All good things come in threes! Staff and pupils at Milbourne Lodge School, in Esher, were delighted to learn that two of their boys who had been awarded scholarships had also achieved something else very special. Khusrau Islam and Sam Morris, pictured, have both won prestigious scholarships to their senior schools. Khusrau Islam has been awarded a King’s Scholarship to Eton and Sam Morris has been awarded the top scholarship and the Maurice Benn Classics scholarship to Charterhouse (he has also won a Music scholarship). In themselves these achievements are wonderful, but they are made all the more special as both boys are the third brother in their respective families to win scholarships to these schools. Khusrau’s two elder brothers, Shahryar and Daniyal, were awarded King’s Scholarships to Eton and Sam’s two elder

The Counselling Parnership moves into The Hub, Walton: Caring in the Community The Counselling Partnership of Hersham are now counselling from the new hub at Walton. The newly refurbished venue offers the charity good opportunities to co operate with other organisations in the area such as CAB who also operate out of the old Library in the centre of Walton. The Partnership offers low cost one to one confidential counselling throughout Elmbridge and beyond; for those who are experiencing difficulties for example, associated with stress, depression and low self esteem; loss and relationship issues. Clients are offered a first assessment to establish

brothers, Ben andd Edward, won scholarships to Charterhouse. Alll six boys went to Milbourne Lodge! e! Stephen Ilett, Headmaster, said: id: “We are thrilled for both boys whose hard work has really paid off. I am or their also delighted for st be very proud of their families, who must children. I have asked both Khusrau’s and Sam’s mothers what they are feeding their boys on to make them all so clever!” Milbourne Lodge is a Prep school in Esher, for boys and girls aged 4-13. Follow us on twitter @FriendsOWH

if their problem is one the partnership can help with, then they are allocated a counsellor who will work with them for upto a year. The Counselling Partnership can be contacted directly (self referral) or via GPs. It is also forming working alliances with carers support groups in the community, whose members may be looking after a loved one on a daily basis and need a counsellor to talk through the difficulties they are experiencing in their caring role - Counselling can help with this. Find The Counselling Partnership on www. thecounsellingpartnership.org Or Telephone: 01932 244070

Careful Mobility

Mobility support for you

Based in East Molesey Fantastic offers on:

s 2ISE RECLINE CHAIRS s -OBILITY SCOOTERS NEW USED s 2EPAIRS AND SERVICING s %QUIPMENT HIRE s &REE HOME demonstrations

www.carefulmobility.com Tel 0208 549 8855 email sales@carefulmobility.com 7

Walton Summer Fair The 2013 Walton Summer Fair will take place in Walton High Street on Sunday August 4th from 9 am till 2 pm celebrating the legacy of the 2012 Games. Organised by Walton Business Group, the High Street will be filled with stalls, rides and refreshments throughout the day for you to enjoy whilst watching the cyclist come through the town.

on The he Mall. As well as a physical challenge the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 aims to be the largest charity fundraising cycle event in the world.

Two racing events will take place, the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 consisting of 20,000 amateur cyclists and the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic with 150 of the world’s top cyclists participating.

Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic will also start at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park at 12.45pm and finish on The Mall in central London coming through Walton on its way. If you would like to participate in the Fair there are still a few pitches left so please contact the WBG office on 01932 221895 or email info@waltonbusinessgroup.co.uk

Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 will start in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park between 6 am and 8 am, then follow a 100-mile route on closed roads through the capital and into Surrey. Slower cyclists can enjoy a challenging ride while faster riders will relish the opportunity to pit themselves against the country’s top amateurs. Both events finish

Singers at the Barn Sunday 7th July 2013 at 7.30pm in the Club Room Queen’s Coronation Anniversary celebration. Doors open 7pm The monthly opportunity for all singers to perform in the Barn’s clubroom to an appreciative audience. Celebrate the Queen’s coronation with songs from the 1950s. Tickets Audience tickets are £7 on the door. If you would like to sing, please see more information on the website. The bar will be open from 7pm. 8

Summer is here! Brighten up your house!

What’s on this Summer... A small selection of events taking place in Elmbridge in July and August Claremont Landscape Garden Sunday, 14 July 2013 7pm Open Air Theatre - As You Like It

Painshill Park Surrey Sculpture Society Exhibition From: July 6, 2013 To: July 28, 2013

Performed by The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, this all male troupe breathes new life into Shakespeare’s comedy classic. As You Like It tells the tale of pastoral romance: crossdressing and love-notes; with poetry, gentle satire, slapstick and passion. Box Office: 0844 249 1895 More Information:01372 467806, claremont@nationaltrust.org.uk

Come and see an exhibition of creative and imaginative sculptures by members of the Surrey Sculpture Society. Cost: Included in normal admission price Time: 11am – 5.30pm West End Flower and Dog Show 24th August 2013

The Art Agency From A to Zed From 26th June to 8th August

Admission to the West End (Esher) Flower show is free, and it starts at 1.45pm on Saturday 24th August 2013. The Village green is accessed from the Portsmouth Road by Hawkshill Road and West End Lane.

Featured Artists: Annie Rouse Jane Askey Zed Zdravko Talijan Lucy Burley (ceramics)

The Heart Farmers Market Saturday 6th July 2013 9.30 am - 2 pm

We also stock a wide variety of limited edition prints and ceramics. 93, High Street, Esher KT10 9QA www.theartagency.co.uk For more information call : 01372 466740

Start the Summer with a visit to The Heart’s monthly Farmers Market complete with WBG Goody Bag Give Away at our stall outside Sainsbury’s from Carluccio’s along to Flours bakery & cafe.

The Fountain Gallery 9 - 21 July 2013 Colin Turner

Walton Summer Fair 2013 Sunday 4th August 2013 Walton businesses are embracing the legacy of the Olympic cycle races as Prudential RideLondon-Surrey come to us in August. Enjoy the races at the Walton Summer Fair.

Landscape painting and drawing in oil, watercolour and charcoal of the Thames and its surrounding areas. Exploring differing aspects of the river from its pastoral side to a more working industrial side.

This will be the day the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 (20,000 amateur cyclists ) and the Prudential RideLondonSurrey Classic (150 of the world’s top cyclists) will come through Walton.

26 Bridge Rd, Hampton Court, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9HA Tel: 020 8941 5865 Website: www.fountaingallery.co.uk Open Tuesday - Sunday 11.30am - 5.30pm Closed Mondays

Eat like a King! The doors are open at Mezzet. Authentic Lebanese cuisine in beautiful surroundings. Our extensive menu can be found on our website.

Try something from our cocktail menu, choose Ă la carte or from the set menu.

West End (Esher) Flower and Dog Show For nearly 50 years the village of West End, Esher has been holding a show on the village green. It was initially held to celebrate the 1953 Coronation and was such a success that the inaugural Flower Show occurred the following year, 1954. On Saturday 24th August (the bank holiday weekend) the village green in West End comes alive with dozens of stalls and attractions. This idyllic setting is the perfect place for a family day out with a huge marquee displaying prize winning flowers and vegetables as well as Photography, Arts and Crafts exhibitions and Children’s competitions.

display, and horse drawn waggon rides by Young’s Brewery Drays, and a bucking Bronco simulator. Meanwhile traditional fairground rides, a Punch and Judy show and Matto the Clown will keep the little ones amused. There is also a Dog show for your four legged friends. Numerous stalls will be selling local produce, cakes, pocket money toys and the local Women’s Institute provides a steady supply of tea, biscuits and jams, all to the music of the Epsom and Ewell Silver Band.

Add to this children’s sports events and a village tug of war, Dunk the damsel, and the famous Smash a Plate stand and there really is something for everyone to enjoy.. Flower Show Chairman, Donald Mungall says: “This is a wonderful way for the whole village to come together and enjoy a fun day out, whilst raising a considerable sum for local clubs and charities. But it’s not just West End, residents from Claygate, Cobham, Oxshot, Hersham and the surrounding areas all visit the show too.”

As the show falls on the Saturday afternoon of the August bank holiday weekend (24th August), the marquee will stay up over the weekend and thus provide a live music venue for the Cricket Club’s Annual dance –the Party by the Pondfollowed on Monday evening by an Opera Gala in aid of Save the Children’s fund. These events are open to all, just see the website for ticket details. (www.westendflowershow.co.uk) Admission to the West End (Esher) Flower show is free, and it starts at 1.45pm on Saturday 24th August 2013. The Village green is accessed from the Portsmouth Road by Hawkshill Road and West End Lane.

This year will see the return of the vintage car 12

special offers

fast delivery

huge selection

massive savings

VISIT OUR WALTON STORE Mon - Sat 9am - 5pm & Sun 10am - 4pm TEL: 01932 242707

www.bridgman.co.uk The UK’s largest selection of quality garden furniture Unit A, Auckland House, New Zealand Ave, Walton on Thames KT12 1PL Near The Heart and Carluccio s

Family Gardens Whether for dining, playing or simply relaxing, make your garden a fun and functional place for all the family. By Katherine Sorrell

Blooma Praslin table and six chairs, £759, B&Q (www.diy.com)

From the smallest to the largest outdoor area, it’s possible to create a beautiful, useable space that children and adults alike will enjoy. First, consider how you can really make the most of your garden. Perhaps you could paint an unattractive fence, trim back some overhanging branches or extend an area of paving? Can you create a tucked-away area for making dens, or would you like an adults-only seating area away from noisy games? Should that greenhouse really be next to the lawn where the kids play football? And can you install lighting to highlight interesting features and guide you in the dark? Next, consider furniture. For relaxation, try a hammock, sun lounger, outdoor mattress or steamer chair. For eating, outdoor dining tables and chairs vary hugely in price, but solid, more durable types are usually an investment worth making. Styles range from metal to funky coloured plastic to classic wood and remember that you scour boot sales and secondhand shops for cheap and cheerful pieces that can be painted. Remember that

garden furniture should be stored away when not in use, so consider the size of the furniture for your shed.

By now your garden planning should have paid off and, with everyone happily fed and the children entertained, it’s time to make a cup of tea, pop on Cover your table with anything a sunhat and head out for from a practical oilcloth to a that well-earned snooze in a pretty embroidered tablecloth. deckchair. An informal collection of crockery and glass, in varied but co-ordinating colours, looks fantastic and try plastic, metal or even paper plates, bowls and tumblers Choose tough plants that for younger children. The are easy to look after and finishing touches are colourful safe for children: avoid bunting, fairy lights or strings fragile blooms, thorns, of lanterns, tea lights or plants that can cause skin decorative candles. irritations or are poisonous.

Plants for family gardens

You should provide some shaded areas, especially for eating and playing. Permanent shading might take the form of a gazebo, arbour or similar, or simply a fabric awning fixed to hooks in walls or trees. Alternatively, a parasol or garden umbrella is an inexpensive option. Finally, it’s playtime. From paddling pools to trampolines, croquet sets to giant games of snakes and ladders, there are all sorts of enteraining toys. Simple things as a ball, a swing (hung from a strong branch) or a skipping rope will also provide hours of fun.

A good backbone of easycare shrubs will provide structure, then add a few perennials for both colour and fragrance. Lavender and chocolate cosmos are good choices for their lovely scent, as are Mexican orange blossom and the thornless rose ‘Zéphirine Drouhin’. You could also consider mallow, dogwood, buddleia and Kerria japonica. Why not set aside an area for children to grow their own plants such as sweet peas, sunflowers, beans, lettuces and nasturtiums.

Hot Favourites by Pippa Greenwood Lychnis chalcedonica Our summer weather isn’t usually unbearably warm; in fact it is often pretty cool and a little bit of extra heat would be very welcome. With a little bit of planning and some careful planting, you could turn your garden into the hottest site out, regardless of the real weather. You can plant to create a mass of hot colours. All you have to do is plant beds, borders or containers full of hot reds, screaming yellows and glowing oranges. True, most of the planting is best done in the autumn, but a visit to a garden centre at this time of year will reveal a fabulous display of plants which can be put to good use in your garden now. For real energy and vibrancy, choose plenty of yellows and golds, including some of the golden rods (Solidago), which should be flowering well into September. I am a great fan of coreopsis, including the various forms of Coreopsis verticillata, which flowers well into the autumn and is unlikely to need staking. If you like to see flat looking flower heads in your garden then take a closer peep at some of the achilleas, including ‘Coronation Gold’. No late summer border is complete without the cone

flowers or rudbekias with their deliciously bright, daisy-like flowers - these should last you through October.

compost from your garden centre, as this will help to retain moisture.

For some screaming scarlets and other shades of red, consider growing the dahlia ‘Bishop of Llandaff’, Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’, Lychnis chalcedonica.

• Once the plants are in position, water them in thoroughly - the water needs to go right down to where the plant needs it, at its roots.

In damper areas you could use Lobelia ‘Queen Victoria’ or many of the other moistureloving types of lobelia which produce huge spires of red flowers, so different from those tiny blue, pink and white bedding lobelias which are more widely grown.

• Once the soil is moist, apply a good, deep mulch of 2–3 inches (5–7.5 cm), all around the soil surface. This will help to keep moisture in, protect the plant roots from the heat of the sun and at the same time keep weeds at bay.

To make sure that your summer time plantings do well, take heed of the following tips:

Don’t forget to tend to your hot border again in the autumn, when you will find small versions of many of these plants readily available in garden centres, often at only a couple of pounds per pot and when you will also be able to plant some more warming oranges and reds using bulbs and corms.

• If it’s a hot day, try to plant in early evening or at least late afternoon when the main heat of the sun has died down. • Always make sure that plants are really well watered before you put them in the ground. • Soak the compost thoroughly and make sure that it’s wetted right to the base before you begin. • Incorporate plenty of bulky organic matter, such as garden compost, well-rotted manure or some proprietary

Visit Pippa’s website www. pippagreenwood.com for her ‘Winter thru’ Spring’ vegetable collection, great plants for September planting and regular advice emails from Pippa. Buy a great range of gardening products including Nemasys caterpillar, slug, ant and other biological controls, Enviromesh and Envirofleece.

Out on a Limb tree services

=]ddaf_ÛÝÛGjmfaf_ÛÝÛGdYflaf_Û JlmehÛI]egnYdÛÝÛ?]\_]k 8dkgÛ=]f[af_ ÛCYofÛCYqaf_ÛYf\Û>Yj\]fÛDYafl]fYf[]

=j]]ÛHmglYlagfkÛÝÛ=mddqÛ@fkmj]\ Paul Emberton BSC (HONS)

41 Chaucer Way Rowtown Addlestone KT15 1LQ

07958 407608 paul@paultree.com

Easicut Mowers Garden Machinery Specialists

4BMFT t 4FSWJDF t 3FQBJST

SE L U

FENCI

COMPANY

Most makes of garden machinery

Shear Sharpening Service Free local collection & Delivery

01932 770459

Fencing Landscaping Property & Garden Maintenance Brickwork & Repointing Serving Esher, Cobham, Weybridge, Walton, Claygate, Oxshott

www.easicutmowers.co.uk

Telephone Brian on Thompsons Garden Centre Nutty Lane, Shepperton, TW17 0RQ

07935 225165 or 07935 225170 17

The Better Life Compost Mentis

by Derek Thompson

Very few of our neighbours know about my writing this column and it’s safe to bet that none of them have ever read it. And it may surprise you to know that I’m perfectly happy with that state of affairs. After all, I have never claimed to be a green sage (see what I did there...). We simply do our bit wherever and however we can, and report back our little misadventures. However, occasionally, someone (usually by email) does ask my opinion about how to live a more environmentally aware existence, growing your own, or doing more with the garden. And when that happens, I say one magical word: compost. Because, to me, nothing epitomises Green Living like the joy of composting. It relies on waste, natural decomposition and, once you’ve sorted out the basics, a minimal amount of attention. And yet, at the end of it, you have nutrient rich plant fodder for free. What could be greener than that? Remember those science lessons at school? Well, this should be a breeze in comparison. Successful composting of waste relies on the addition of warmth, oxygen and water. You could call it the wow factor. You could, but trust me - Anne wouldn’t like it. You also need to be aware of the Carbon to Nitrogen ration.

Now, before you run screaming to the hills (green ones, naturally), let’s simplify that. The carbon contribution comes from cardboard and paper (not the glossy kind), straw, dried grass and leaves, and sawdust (we sometimes get extra when we pick up some for the chickens). The nitrogen contributors include fruit and vegetable kitchen waste (because even chickens have their limit), grass cuttings and even plants that have seen better days. I’m reliably informed that a good ration of carbon material to nitrogen material is upwards of 20 to 1. But I have to be honest and say that we simply adjust the mix as and when required (partly determined by whatever’s going on in our gardening and recycling). Our composting tub, which looks like an out-of-condition Dalek, sits on a flat concrete surface and receives some direct sunlight. I mix the compost regularly to aerate the pile, although my grunting

noises are completely optional. Very occasionally I will also sprinkle some water, if it looks like it’s becoming dry. Nature likes to give composters a hint or two. The presence of worms is a good indication that all’s well. Fruit flies, however, as well as being a minor irritation, are a sure sign that you need more carbon in the mix. The same goes for runny mulch. The presence of an ant nest in there calls for more moisture - and some say increasing the heat will help move them on. Rodents are very bad news. You need to make your compost heap impregnable. You could try a cat, unlike ours, who works for a living. My final tips are to give the compost time to develop and to avoid accidentally colliding with the tub when it’s top heavy, because you’ve evacuated the lower half where the good stuff lives. Otherwise, like me, you’ll end up wielding a shovel. And you won’t come up smelling of roses.

Everything you need for the

outdoors!

P&Q Homestores is where the heart is 1-5 Terrace Road, Walton, KT12 2SS

01932 246647 5-6 Friends Road, Staines, TW18 4PG

01784 458051

Paddling Pools Solar Lights Garden Ornaments Fans Garden Furniture BBQâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Plants 19 Garden Tools

You could win a meal for two! Enter our prize draw and you could enjoy a delicious Lebanese meal for two at Mezzet restaurant in East Molesey including a bottle of house wine. All you need to do is send an email to prize@mezzet.co.uk with your name and who you would like to take. Closing date for entries is 31st August. Please see www.mezzet.co.uk for more details as well as terms & conditions.

What Makes Them Beautiful...? by Chris Russell

One Direction - why have one Justin Bieber when you could have five?

I am ever so slightly obsessed with One Direction. Not in a creepy way, you understand (in as un-creepy a way as it’s possible for a 32 year-old man to be unduly interested in a boyband). I don’t actually listen to their music, or buy their merchandise, and I won’t be going out of my way to visit their waxworks at Madame Tussauds - but as a musical phenomenon, I find them completely fascinating. I should probably put this in a wee bit of context. A few months ago I secured a new writing contract providing gossip updates for a One Direction fan club. When I applied for the job, I didn’t know it was 1D (if you’re hip you call them 1D), but when I eventually found out the identity of the act in question I didn’t see it as any reason to turn down the contract. One Direction are a band and I am a musician and music writer. The fact that they happen to be aimed at teenage girls didn’t seem to me a valid reason to pass on a perfectly decent freelancing job. And so now, every day, I tap away on my computer about the world’s hottest boystars. Which older woman does Harry Styles currently

have his eye on? I know the answer. Who do the bookies say is most likely to turn out to be ‘the gay one’? I know the answer. Which member of One Direction has the worst flatulence? I know the answer (it’s Niall, by the way). I know all their surnames. I know which football teams they played for at school. I know that Harry Styles worked in the W Mandeville bakery in Holmes Chapel before going on X Factor. Indeed, I am fast approaching the point at which the Mastermind chair - special subject Harry, Niall, Liam, Louis and Zayn - is easily within my grasp. And this has led me somewhere unexpected. I find myself experiencing just a teaser of what it must be like to be an adolescent caught in the grip of 1D fever. They play on my mind all the time. ‘Should I have joined a boyband when I was 19?’ I find myself wondering, for the first time ever. How would I have fared at the X Factor boot camp? You must understand this is quite unusual for me, as I’ve been a professional musician for ten years now and have always maintained that it’s about the music, not the fame (just as well in my case). I still think that… it’s

just now there is also the teeniest part of me that would like to be in One Direction for a day. So there you have it. I shunned boy-bands when I was a teenager because I wanted to be cool. I shunned boy-bands when I was in my twenties because, well, obviously I did. But now I am embracing them - or at least, this particular one - and I felt it was time for me to come out of the closet. So, I love One Direction. Not in a creepy way (that warrants a second mention), but… well… just because they’re, like, SO SUPER AWESOME, and OHMYGODHARRYSTYLESHASTHEBESTHAIR etc. Please don’t tell anyone. Chris is a freelance writer and musician with internationallyrenowned rock band The Lightyears. The Lightyears, voted the UK’s BEST POP/ROCK ACT at the Indy Awards, have played Wembley Stadium, toured across four continents and released a record with Sting’s producer. Chris has recently completed his first book, “Mockstars”, based on The Lightyears’ tour diaries. www. MockstarsTheNovel.com.

L H

3ULYDWH URDG ZLWKLQ UHDFK RI (VKHU +LJK 6WUHHW _ (QWUDQFH +DOO &ORDNURRP _ 'UDZLQJ URRP _ 'LQLQJ URRP _ .LWFKHQ %UHDNIDVW URRP _ 8WLOLW\ URRP DQG VHSDUDWH VWRUHURRP _ 6XQ URRP _ 0DVWHU EHGURRP VXLWH _ IXUWKHU EHGURRPV _ %HGURRP 6WXG\ _ )DPLO\ EDWKURRP _ 6RXWKHUO\ IDFLQJ ODZQHG UHDU JDUGHQ RI RYHU _ *DUDJH DQG 2II VWUHHW SDUNLQJ _ (3& 5DWLQJ '

(QWUDQFH KDOO DQG FORDNURRP _ 'LQLQJ URRP ZLWK GHHS ED\ ZLQGRZ _ 6LWWLQJ URRP ZLWK GRXEOH GRRUV WR JDUGHQ _ %UHDNIDVW URRP ZLWK GRXEOH GRRUV WR JDUGHQ _ .LWFKHQ _ 0DVWHU EHGURRP VXLWH ZLWK EDOFRQ\ _ 7KUHH IXUWKHU EHGURRPV _ %HGURRP 6WXG\ 1XUVHU\ _ )DPLO\ EDWKURRP _ *DUDJH DQG GULYHZD\ _ /DZQHG UHDU JDUGHQ _ (3& 5DWLQJ (

(

)

0$,1 +286( (QWUDQFH KDOO _ 6LWWLQJ URRP _ )DPLO\ URRP _ 6WXG\ %HGURRP _ .LWFKHQ 'LQLQJ URRP _ 6HSDUDWH XWLOLW\ DQG FORDNURRP _ )DPLO\ EDWKURRP _ 7ZR EHGURRPV $11(; 6LWWLQJ URRP _ .LWFKHQ _ %DWKURRP _ %HGURRP _ (3& 5DWLQJ '

;

3HQWKRXVH DSDUWPHQW _ 3ULYDWH HQWUDQFH KDOO _ 'UDZLQJ URRP ZLWK URRI WHUUDFH_ .LWFKHQ EUHDNIDVW URRP _ 0DVWHU EHGURRP VXLWH _ *XHVW EHGURRP VXLWH _ &RPPXQDO JDUGHQV _ 6HFXUH XQGHUJURXQG SDUNLQJ _ (3& 5DWLQJ %

1% 7KHUH LV SODQQLQJ SHUPLVVLRQ LQ SODFH IRU D WZR VWRUH\ VLGH DQG SDUW VLQJOH SDUW WZR VWRUH\ UHDU H[WHQVLRQ

^^^ QHTLZMHUJ` JVT ^^^ QHTLZMHUJ` JVT 24

[

]

[

7KUHH UHFHSWLRQ URRPV _ .LWFKHQ _ 6HSDUDWH XWLOLW\ _ &RQVHUYDWRU\ _ 0DVWHU EHGURRP VXLWH _ *XHVW EHGURRP ZLWK GUHVVLQJ URRP _ 7KUHH IXUWKHU EHGURRPV _ )DPLO\ EDWKURRP DQG VHSDUDWH VKRZHU URRP _ 'HWDFKHG JDUDJH _ /DZQHG UHDU JDUGHQ _ (3& UDWLQJ '

[

]

[

(QWUDQFH OREE\ _ 6LWWLQJ URRP _ .LWFKHQ 'LQLQJ URRP _ :HW URRP _ 7ZR EHGURRPV _ )DPLO\ EDWKURRP _ /RIW VSDFH ERQXV URRP _ /DZQHG JDUGHQ _ (3& 5DWLQJ '

[

]

[

*URXQG IORRU DSDUWPHQW _ (QWUDQFH KDOO DQG FORDNURRP _ 6LWWLQJ URRP _ .LWFKHQ %UHDNIDVW URRP _ 0DVWHU EHGURRP VXLWH _ *XHVW EHGURRP VXLWH _ )DPLO\ EDWKURRP _ /DZQHG FRPPXQDO JDUGHQ _ &RQYHQLHQW IRU (VKHU VWDWLRQ _ (3& 5DWLQJ &

{

}

7RS IORRU DSDUWPHQW FRQYHQLHQW IRU 6DLQVEXU\V _ (QWUDQFH KDOO _ 6LWWLQJ URRP _ .LWFKHQ _ 7ZR EHGURRPV _ %DWKURRP _ 7ZR DOORFDWHG SDUNLQJ VSDFHV_ (3& 5DWLQJ &

^^^ QHTLZMHUJ` JVT 25 ^^^ QHTLZMHUJ` JVT

Around Britain 5 Mysterious Disappearances 1. Eilean Mòr, Outer Hebrides - All three of the lighthouse-keepers on Eilean Mòr in the Hebrides disappeared on 15 December 1900, leaving behind their oilskins, a table full of food, and the light prepared to be lit. Why or how the men vanished will never be known. 2. Newhaven, East Sussex - Lord Lucan’s car was found at Newhaven three days after he disappeared from his London home, where the family’s nanny had earlier been found murdered. Despite several unconfirmed sightings across the globe, Lord Lucan was never seen again. 3. Seaton Carew, Cleveland - John Darwin infamously ‘disappeared’ while canoeing off Seaton Carew in 2002. Having been declared dead, in 2007 he walked into a London police station claiming no memory of the last five years – but when a photograph surfaced of him and his wife shopping for properties in Panama in 2006 their hoax was discovered. 4. Sunningdale, Berkshire - Agatha Christie disappeared from her home in Sunningdale in December 1926. She eventually reappeared at a hotel in Harrogate eleven days later, unable to give any explanation for her disappearance. She was later diagnosed with amnesia. 5. The Tower of London - The fate of the ‘Princes in the Tower’ remains one of the most alluring mysteries in English history. Imprisoned in The Tower of London in 1483 by their uncle, Richard III, securing his claim to the throne, there is no record of the princes after this date. © Taken from The British Isles: A Trivia Gazetteer by Paul Anthony Jones, out now.

UPHOLSTERY

C U R TA I N S

S O FA S & C H A I R S

BLINDS

ANTIQUES

TRACKS & POLES

WA L L PA P E R S

HAMPTON COURT INTERIORS

CARPETS

10% OFF DESIGNER WALLPAPERS INCLUDING COLE & SON,OSBOURNE & LITTLE, ROMO, BRIAN YATES AND MANY MORE

BESPOKE INTERIOR FURNISHERS 2 FLOORS OF DESIGNER SHOWROOMS

366 Walton Road, West Molesey, Surrey KT8 2JE T: 020 8941 4521

E: hcinteriors@live.co.uk

HAMPTONCOURTINTERIORS.CO.UK

Life Begins Choosing the Perfect Builder locally to see which tradesmen your neighbours would recommend (or not). Looking here in your magazine is a great place to search of course, because the tradespeople are local and the editor is likely to have been forewarned of any true rogues. Look for accreditation on their adverts e.g. TrustMark (www.trustmark.org.uk) is a not for profit organisation, licensed by the Government and supported by consumer protection groups, that aims to connect members of the public with trustworthy building professionals. As I write, I am currently four and a half weeks into a “three week” kitchen renovation project. The workmen are grumbling about the job, their working hours and their boss, the kitchen unit supplier and the builder are at loggerheads and the constant roar of power tools has begun to drive me crazy (not to mention an unending diet of microwavable meals). If you have ever had building work carried out you might well shrug and say: “Nothing new there”, but in my case I thought – no, I really believed - I had found the Perfect Builder. So, does the perfect builder exist and if so, how can you find this almost mythical creature? Your search will be easier if you follow some basic guidelines. There’s no substitute for personal recommendation, so the first rule is to ask around

Watch out for those toogood-to-be-true reviews and compare quotes carefully when recruiting or checking your builder online. Although the feedback is useful to read, membership of many of these organisations involves the barest minimum of checks and it can be fairly easy for a company to fake their credentials. The next step is to arrange for some builders to call at your house. Start by giving each one a list of the things you want done: that list will probably change as you discuss the work, but it’s still a good place to start. Make sure the builder quotes separately for each item on your list, as that will avoid any disputes at a later date. When I invited estimates for my kitchen, one man refused point blank to give me a price because “You never know what’s lurking behind them old

By Kate McLelland kitchen units and tiles”. I didn’t give him the job, but he had a fair point – an estimate can only be based on what is visible to the naked eye. You should allow a contingency for hidden expenses, but no building firm should expect to start work without having provided at least some idea of their charges. Ask the same questions of each person who comes to quote: “How long will it take?” “Do you have your own team of tradesmen, or do you subcontract?” “Will you provide a contract for the work?” “Have you done any similar jobs locally and can I contact the householder for a reference?” A reputable company should be happy to provide evidence of their work, so don’t let your builder make you feel such questions are inappropriate. The tips described above may make choosing a builder seem straightforward, but in practice it’s not that easy. I chose someone who arrived on time, made careful notes, gave positive answers to all my questions and provided an itemised estimate, but I’m still tearing my hair out. Although I’ve failed to find the perfect builder this time, at least my project is slowly taking shape. I suspect that the moment I step across the threshold I’ll fall in love with my new kitchen and instantly forget all those weeks of inconvenience.

(

)

· · ·

· ·

t T01 #"5)300. #3"/%4 t %*41-":4 t 53"%& 3&5"*- 8&-$0.& t 1-6.#*/( )&"5*/( t #&45 7"-6& 4&37*$& t 6/%&3'-003 )&"5*/( %&4*(/ 4&37*$& "7"*-"#-&

t &"4: 1"3,*/( t '3&& %&-*7&3:

Tel: 01932 240057 Fax: 01932 240067

Unit 5, The Ember Centre, Lyon Road, Hersham KT12 3PU .PO 'SJ BN UP QN 4BU BN UP OPPO IFSTIBN!exDFMQMVNCJOHTVQQMJFT DPN XXX FYDFMQMVNCJOHTVQQMJFT DP VL 29

CROGHAN BR PARTNERSHIP PROPERTY DEVELOPERS

Tel: 01932 224 122 // Email: info@crogh

NEW OFFICE â&#x20AC;&#x201C; NOW OPEN 5 MOLESEY

Come in and discuss your requirements and view our full portfo Croghan Brown Partnership a wellestablished and30 highly respected

ROWN

hanbrownpartnership.co.uk

Y ROAD, HERSHAM, SURREY KT12 4RJ

olio with our clients, based on trust and 29 reliability. Croghan Brown Partnership

Stargazer Events invite you to

AN EVENING WITH COLIN JACKSON Wednesday 10 July 2013: 7.30pm - 9.30pm Rydens Enterprise School (RES) and Sixth Form College Hersham Road, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, KT12 5PY

Whether you’re looking for world-class inspiration at work, at home, or in your chosen sport, don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear and meet one of our best-known and most respected Olympians and sports broadcasters. Millions of people were inspired by Colin’s lively, entertaining and well-informed coverage of London 2012. He’ll talk about his career as a world-class hurdles champion, his sports broadcasting and some “behind the scenes” details from Strictly Come Dancing. He’ll tell us what motivates him and how he shares that success with other people. Colin is one of the greatest athletes that Great Britain has ever produced. The Welsh 110m hurdling legend was ranked in the top 10 for 16 years, was World No 1 from 1992-94 and is the current world record holder over 60m indoors. Since setting a Junior European record of 13.44 in 1986, Colin held 7 European, 8 Commonwealth and 9 UK records at 110mh. He won Silver in the 1988 Olympics and Gold at the 1993 and 1999 World Championships. His retirement in 2003, in front of an adoring home crowd, was a fitting finale to his glittering career. Colin was an obvious choice as a TV presenter and covers all major athletics events, including the London 2012 Olympic Games. Be inspired and entertained by one of the nicest and most enthusiastic men in British sport today. This one-off event with a world-class champion is here, right on your doorstep. Tickets are £15 per person (£10 for students aged 14 -18) to include refreshments on arrival. All profit from this event will be given to Colin’s chosen charity, Prostate UK. The event is by pre-booked ticket only and places are limited. For tickets: Either send your cheque to Sharon Bates, Stargazer Events, 58 Station Avenue, Walton on Thames, Surrey KT12 1NQ with your booking form. Or email us your booking form and pay online by BACS. HSBC Bank, Walton on Thames. Sort Code 40-45-22 Account No: 6129999. Remember to give us your name and address so that tickets can be sent to you. Queries or questions? Call 01932 228544 or email diana@dbaspeakers.com. This event is financially supported by DBA Speakers and Hamlyns LLP

The

New Press Gang Curtains & Duvets • Rugs & Carpets Dry Cleaning • Ironing Laundry Repairs and Alterations • Service washes

£6

for ironing 6 items

£12 for ironing 14 items

Want a second income you can bank on? Join the Club! No stock to carry Products that everyone uses,

Up-front bonuses Full or part time On-going commission Full training and support – free of charge British PLC, listed on the London every day

Stock Exchange

Make money by helping people save money!

Call us for collection and delivery

020 89419629 64 Walton Road KT8 0DL www.thepressgang-london.co.uk 34 Whitehart Lane SW13 0PY

JOI N FEE ING JUS NOW T £1 00!

Mike McLean

For full details, contact: Mike McLean

07943855027

mmclean@uwclub.net

Peach Melba Shortcakes Serves 8

Ready in 35 minutes, plus cooling These shortcakes are perfect for a speedy summer dessert. They take just minutes to make and bake and can be filled with whatever seasonal fruit you have to hand. Here they are filled with a rich and sweet mascarpone cream with juicy peaches and fresh raspberries but a simple dollop of extra thick cream and some sliced strawberries will be just as impressive.

Ingredients: 175g self-raising flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 75g butter, chilled and diced 55g caster sugar, plus extra for sprinkling • 1 large egg, beaten • 1 tbsp milk • • • •

Filling • • • • •

125g mascarpone cheese 2 tbsp icing sugar 6 tbsp single cream 175g fresh raspberries 2 ripe peaches, stoned and sliced

Tip The shortcakes can be made a day in advance and stored in an airtight container. Fill with the cream and fruit 1-2 hours before serving.

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4. Lightly grease a large baking sheet. Sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl. Add the diced butter and rub into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar then add the beaten egg and milk and mix to a soft dough. Knead the dough lightly on a floured surface and roll out to a 1cm thickness. Using an 8cm round cookie cutter stamp out 8 rounds, gently re-rolling the trimmings as necessary. Place on the prepared baking sheet, prick the top of each round lightly with a fork then sprinkle with a little caster sugar. Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until risen and pale golden. Carefully transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool completely. To make the filling, beat the mascarpone cheese with the icing sugar and cream until smooth. Push half the raspberries through a fine-holed sieve to make a puree. Slice each shortcake in half horizontally and top the bottom halves with the cream mixture, peach slices and remaining raspberries. Drizzle over the raspberry puree and top with remaining shortcake halves.

ST R N NO YLE AN EW W S & GE AV C OF AI OL LA OU BL RS E

For a beautiful new kitchen...

just change the doors

Have you always wanted the kitchen of your dreams, but can’t quite justify paying the expensive price tag that comes with it? Now you can by just swapping the doors and worktops.

Less cost, less time, less mess...

• Huge choice of Doors, Worktops, Appliances, Sinks & Taps • Free Estimating and planning • 50% deposit with balance on completion www.dreamdoors.co.uk

For a FREE NO OBLIGATION home visit telephone 020 8399 1226 Or visit our showroom: 406 Ewell Road, Tolworth, Surrey KT6 7HF Email kt@dreamdoorsltd.co.uk35

View our credentials at

How much food do you throw away? An alarming 75,000 tonnes of uneaten food is being thrown away in Surrey every year. And even though a third is collected and recycled, the cost of dealing with it all adds up to a staggering £6 million a year. That’s the same amount of money it takes for Surrey County Council to fund 630 primary school places, buy a million library books or fix 108,000 potholes.

at first,” said Penny. “But once I started making a diary of what we threw away, I realised that we could easily save over £10 a week. For example, by writing a list before going to the shops and using leftovers for another meal, I now throw away a lot less.”

So to help you waste less, the council’s Love Food Surrey campaign provides helpful tips on how to waste less food and save up to £50 a month.

Like Penny, it’s never too late to start reducing your food waste. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Following advice from the campaign, Penny Bramsden, a mum-of-three from Guildford decided to find out how much she could save in a month. “I thought saving £50 a month sounded ambitious

It pays to plan Before you do your next big shop, check what you have left, be creative and make a meal planner and shopping list for the week, so you only buy what you need.

www.surreycc.gov.uk 36

Making Surrey a better place

Perfect portions Weighing and measuring food is the best way to cook perfect portions. Use mugs, spoons, spaghetti measures or weighing scales to work out just the right amount of food to cook for your family. Lovely leftovers If you’ve cooked too much, cool your leftovers as soon as possible, store in the fridge and eat within two days, or freeze them for another time. Store food properly Correct storage means your food could live for extra days, weeks or even months. Keep the fridge below 5°C and chilled food will stay fresh for longer.

Use by These dates are The id for safety and must be ea freeze l followed correctly; r temp eratu don’t use any food after re is -18 °C. the ‘use by’ date, even if it looks and smells fine. Using it after this date could put your health at risk. To extend the life of food, freeze it before the ‘use by’ date, defrost when needed and use within 24 hours. Best before These dates refer to quality not to food safety; foods with a ‘best before’ date should be safe to eat after this date (except for eggs), but they may no longer be at their best.

So waste less... and caddy the rest

Freezing guidelines Food can be kept safely in the freezer for years as long as you keep it frozen the whole time. However the texture and taste may change over time, so try eating food within three months. Remember to label items as you freeze them.

For more advice visit www.lovefoodsurrey.com

Did you know? Every day in Surrey we throw away two shed loads of bananas. Every week in Surrey we throw away enough strawberries to cover a tennis court. This summer in Surrey we’ll throw away enough cake to cover a five mile bike ride. 37

[

]

[

]

[

]

[

]

[

;

We would lik e to offer a 20% discount to all new clients on presentation of th * is advert off their 1st treatment over £10

DISCOUNT

;

20%

7R À QLVK \RXU VXPPHU SUHSHUDWLRQV ZK\ QRW WU\ D -HVVLFD RU 6KHOODF

]

[

ZZZ HVFDSHKDLUDQGEHDXW\ FR XN r

{

}

{

À QG XV RQ

Paull’s

Fruit & Veg fresh produce daily Our Fruit & Veg Boxes Take advantage of our fresh fruit & veg boxes delivered FREE straight to your door. Available in three sizes: Small: 4 Fruit 4 Veg = £10.50 Medium: 6 Fruit 6 Veg = £13.50 Large: 8 Fruit 8 Veg = £16.00 We supply pubs, offices, play schools, schools, restaurants and care homes.

We are a family run shop

36 High Street, Thames Ditton, Surrey, KT7 0SA

020 8398 9759 paullsfruitandveg@hotmail.co.uk

Like Us on

Feeling the itch By Julia Faulks With the British summer finally here it’s not just us embracing the warmer weather - as we peel our winter layers off and take our arms and legs out of hibernation, summer bugs will also make their untimely appearance. Over the past couple of years wet and warm summers have resulted in an explosion in mosquito and flea populations, which can only mean one thing – bites and more bites. You’d like to think you would take it as a compliment that insects think you’re tasty enough to feast on, but it’s not much fun when you’re left with burning, red, swollen and itchy marks - not to mention the pain from stinging nettles after balmy walks in the countryside and picnics in the park. On-the-spot treatments There are some simple ways you can help relieve any discomfort if you’ve been bitten or stung: wash the area with soap and water, use a cold compress or an ice pack (a bag of frozen peas will do the trick) and try not to scratch to prevent infection. You can also use a spray or cream that contains local anaesthetic, antihistamine or mild hydrocortisone to prevent itching and swelling,

or take an antihistamine tablet (check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or worried about drowsiness or allergies to medication). Alternative remedies • For stinging nettle rashes rub the affected area with dock leaves for some instant relief – they are normally found growing near nettles. • Homeopathy is often used to treat bites and stings. For example, Apis and Ledum can help reducing swelling and relieve aching pains. • Essential oils such as Tea Tree Oil and Lavender Oil (dabbed on neat) can be a useful addition to your first aid kit and provide on-the-spot relief as well as helping reduce the risk of infection. You can also add any of the following oils to a bite and sting lotion or cream: Burdock, Plaintain, Echinacea, Feverfew, Nettle, Yellow Doc and St John’s Wort. Some oils can be used as a preventative by putting them in a lotion or water spray and applying to the skin. For example, Lavender, Rosemary, Tea Tree or Citronella. Always seek medical advice if you have wheezing, difficulty breathing or swallowing,

excess swelling around the bite or sting, or flu-like symptoms that appear to become worse rather than better. If you’ve previously had a severe reaction you will normally be offered an adrenaline pen or be referred to an allergy clinic for further investigations. Preventing stings and bites How can you prevent yourself from being stung in the first place? 1. Use an insect repellent at times when you’re more likely to be stung and try and keep your skin covered. 2. Keep an eye on your drinks to make sure that wasps or bees haven’t sneaked inside for a cheeky sip– they particularly like sweet drinks. 3. Try not to panic when you see an insect that may sting – if you wave your arms around you are far more likely to be stung. Stand up slowly, walk away and it will usually buzz off. 4. Use mosquito nets if you’re camping outdoors or put thin netting or door beads over doors to prevent insects from coming inside.

The Glenlyn Medical Centre Treating the patient by knowing the person

We We are are now now open open Monday Monday to toFriday Friday8am 8amto to8pm 8pm&&Saturday Saturdaymornings mornings

Monday to Friday: 8am-8pm (Dr pre-bookable appointments) Saturday: 7.30am-11.20am (Dr & Nurse pre-booked appointments) Online Appointments

Antenatal Clinics

Saturday morning Surgery

Baby Checks

In House Pharmacy

Repeat Prescription Service

Warfarin near Patient Testing

Family Planning

Minor Operations

Joint Injections & ECG

24 hour blood pressure monitoring

Welcoming new patients in the Esher, Molesey, Dittons, Hersham and Walton area

Tel: 0208 979 3253

115 Molesey Park Road, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 0JX

The Royal Cambridge Home CARING SINCE 1851

The Royal Cambridge Home is a residential care home registered with the Care Quality Commission providing care for ladies. Treating residents with dignity and respect according to their individual needs and wishes, the Royal Cambridge Home offers a high standard of care, comfort, security and support in beautiful surroundings. Respite Care is also available.

For further details contact:The Manager ROYAL CAMBRIDGE HOME 82-84 Hurst Road EAST MOLESEY KT8 9AH

Tel: 0208 979 3788 Email: rch@royalcambridgehome.org www.royalcambridgehome.org

NOW IN WEYBRIDGE & KINGSTON

My Smudge is 17 and requires daily pills. Ben is not only very gentle administering these, but his short notice availability means we can book last minute trips to the theatre and up to town. I cannot recommend him highly enough! ANNABEL MYER My Ollie is a nervous boy and usually clings to me when I get back...not this time! He and Ben got on so well together, I was completely ignored upon my return! GEORGE FOSWICK

Holiday Spending Making your money go further Affording a family holiday isn’t easy in these cash-strapped times. According to recent research by the Office for National Statistics, nearly a third of Britons don’t have the money to afford a week-long break. So, if you’ve managed to stretch your finances and save up for a holiday this summer, you want to make sure your hard-earned cash goes as far as possible. After all, you want your money to be spent on creating memorable moments rather than paying out for avoidable charges:

Think ahead Don’t buy your currency at the airport or you’ll be stung with poor rates and big commission fees. A Which? investigation looking at rates on changing £500 in 10 places across the country found a difference of 13 euros. That could easily buy you a lunchtime menu du jour or a couple of Tequila Sunrises. The best idea is to order your money online in advance. You usually have to exchange a minimum of £100 to avoid delivery fees, but that’s a lot less than you’d need on your family holiday anyway. ICE, Travelex, the Post Office and The Currency Club consistently have good rates and you can order and pick up at the airport.

If you’re changing a small amount, the high street can still be a good option. Try the Post Office or M&S for 0% deals.

Card or cash? If you’re just nipping out of the country for a long weekend, you might like to rely on hard cash alone but most people don’t want to carry wads of money around with them. That’s where plastic comes in. But it’s important to make sure you have the right card otherwise you could be hit with hefty withdrawal and transaction fees. Pre-paid cards can help you to budget more effectively as you load them with money before you go. There are various types available, so make sure you choose one that doesn’t charge you fees to load, spend or withdraw cash. ICE and My Travel Cash often have extra incentives like free Hi-Life diner cards or cashback on purchases too. If you’d rather take a debit or credit card, then check the charges with your bank before you travel. It might pay you to switch. Spend on most credit cards and you face an exchange or commission fee on transactions you make abroad, usually around three per cent of your purchase. The Halifax Clarity Credit Card

is widely recommended as it doesn’t charge for overseas use and you can withdraw up to £500 a day without incurring ATM charges. Remember that for debit cards, most banks charge a foreign exchange fee of around three per cent, just like credit cards. Then, add on withdrawal fees of around two per cent and extra charges every time you use your card and you could soon end up spending a small fortune.

When in Rome… Do what the locals do and eat out at lunch time rather than going to a restaurant for dinner. You can usually enjoy a three-course meal, including local wine for a snip. Shop in the local markets, rather than supermarkets designed for tourists, and you’ll pick up fresh produce at bargain prices. And, if you’re planning any excursions during your trip, whether that’s a day out at a waterpark or a visit to the zoo, then search for web vouchers before you go. Once you arrive, pick up free leaflets and newspapers to find money-off coupons. With a bit of forward planning, you can make sure your euros, dollars or lira go the extra mile. By Liz Hands

MOLESEY Member of the British Pest Control Association Full Public Liability Insurance Cover Wasps • Bees • Rats • Mice • Ants Fleas • Squirrels • Moths • Moles

Tel: 020 8979 1670 Mobile: 0773 389 5213

School holidays are looming.... W ild Su mmer

sh ill Park Ca mp at Pa in

Event Dates 2013 From: July 29, 2013 , 16 st To: Augu

ing, with den build ures. Wild Sure this summer extreme advent d an s nt hu Have a wild tim re easu t, campfires, tr ore fun stuff woodland craf ills and loads m sk s ild ch ur n yo vival to sharpe s ed 8 to 13 year ) For children ag (9am – 4.30pm 868113. ys da 5 r fo 50 £1 e or call 01932 or lin y da on r ok bo £35 pe se ea Pl d. ing require Advanced book

Play Day 2013 Hurst Park Wednesday 7 August 11am to 4pm

Prudential RideLondonRideLondon - Surrey 100 4 August 2013 06:00 Ends at: 18:00

FREE

Spend a free family fun play day by the river celebrating Play Day 2013! Why not bring your whole family down to Hurst Park for a day of play with our Play Team. Bring a picnic, some friends and enjoy a huge range of play based activities.

At Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 20,000 amateur cyclists will take on a 100-mile challenge through the closed roads of London and Surrey before finishing on The Mall. Further information can be found on the Prudential RideLondon website and the route is available to view.

Join in arts and crafts Energetic and active sports Cooling waters games Bouncy Castle and Spider Mountain Make refreshing smoothies Junk modelling Build cardboard cities and much more....

FREE

Teddy Bears Story Time at Painshill Park August 14, 2013 Bring along your favourite teddy for a picnic and a story in the landscape. Cost: Included in normal admission price. Free entry for all children. Stories at 2pm and 3.30pm For more ideas check out Shout! Holiday Activities on www.elmbridge.gov.uk

5RVDOLWD (GZDUGV 0RQW 'LS %$ +RQV (<3

0RQWHVVRUL 1XUVHU\ 'D\&DUH IRU FKLOGUHQ DJHG WR \HDUV DW ,0%(5 &2857

(QUROOLQJ IRU 6HSWHPEHU 2SHQ IURP DP WR SP Ã&#x20AC;YH GD\V SHU ZHHN Q )OH[LEOH KRXUV DP SP DQG DOO GD\ Q &KLOGUHQ OHDUQ VSRQWDQHRXVO\ LQ D ZHOO SODQQHG HQYLURQPHQW ERWK LQGRRUV DQG RXWGRRUV Q &KLOGUHQ EHQHÃ&#x20AC;W IURP ERWK 0RQWHVVRUL PHWKRG RI WHDFKLQJ DQG IRXQGDWLRQ VWDJH FXUULFXOXP Q ([WUD FXUULFXODU DFWLYLWLHV 'DQFLQJ 'UDPD VLQJLQJ FRPSXWHUV IRRWLH WRWV DUH DYDLODEOH Q )XQGHG SODFHV IRU DQG \HDU ROGV ZLWK DOO YRXFKHUV DFFHSWHG Q Q

)XOO GD\ PRUQLQJ DQG DIWHUQRRQ VHVVLRQV 7HO ([W RU H PDLO URVDOLWD HGZDUGV#EWLQWHUQHW FRP ZZZ URVDOLWDHGZDUGVPRQWHVVRUL FR XN

Seeing Double

The Girls Lori Lansens Rose and Ruby Darlen are conjoined twins who narrate their own story of what it’s like to quite literally grow up, together. Joined at their heads, Rose carries her smaller sister Ruby around on her hip. Set in a small town in Ontario, Canada, the Darlen twins give us a rare glimpse into their lives. Learning about how the two young women cope with the ordinary, while being very much an extraordinary pair makes for an amazing read. I know This Much is True Wally Lamb In an act of protest over war in the Middle East, paranoid schizophrenic Thomas Birdsey cuts off his hand in a public library. As Thomas decides not to reattach his hand, his twin brother, Dominick decides to help him escape the confines of his mental institution. The novel draws emotional parallels between the lives of the two twins and the internal struggles of the one ‘normal’ twin who certainly has more than his fair share of demons to contend with. Twelfth Night William Shakespeare It all begins with a shipwreck and Viola, having been washed up on the coastline of

In August we celebrate twinning. I’m not talking Swanage with Rudesheim…more Arnie and Danny De Vito. It’s Twins Festival Day on the fourth and we’ve managed to find some fantastic books that feature not one, but two great protagonists.

Illyria, believes that her twin brother Sebastian is lost to the tempestuous sea. Viola is rescued by a sea captain, disguises herself as a young man (as you do) and starts working for the Duke, Orsino who thinks he’s in love with Olivia. Viola acts as a gobetween to convey the Duke’s love for Olivia, who herself promptly falls in love with the disguised Viola. Meanwhile, Viola falls in love with Orsino. Confused? You should be. It has everything we’ve come to know and love about the Bard: mistaken identity, unrequited love, buffoons and a girl pretending she’s a boy. Her Fearful Symmetry Audrey Niffenegger Identical twins Julie and Valentina live in America but have just inherited a flat near Highgate Cemetery from their mum’s estranged twin sister, Elspeth. In fact, that’s the one stipulation of the will: that their mother is never allowed to cross the threshold of the apartment. The rift has never been explained and the girls are keen to find out why. It’s a strange and intriguing tale centring round not one but two sets of slightly ethereal twins. Identical Elen Hopkins Standing out when you’re an

identical twin is never going to be easy. 16 year olds Kaeleigh and Raeanne are both desperate for their parents’ attention but their father is a District Court Judge and mother’s running for Congress. So they both play their separate roles: one’s a goody two-shoes and the other’s a real rebel, hell-bent on self-destruction. Daddy’s little girls are growing up a little twisted and these two very different halves are both trying to work out how to be whole again….but not in a saccharine Atomic Kitten-type way. The Memory Keeper’s Daughter Kim Edwards It’s the mid-sixties and, during a freak Kentucky snowstorm, Norah Henry goes into labour. Her doctor husband delivers the healthy baby boy with the aid of a nurse, Caroline Gill. But there’s another little life following quickly behind him, a girl with Down’s syndrome. Dr David Henry tells his wife that she was stillborn and then instructs Caroline to take the baby to a mental institution. Instead, Caroline escapes with the baby and raises her as her own. The two twins grow up, not knowing of the other’s existence, until one night in a blizzard, numerous lives are turned upside down.

Early Years: boys & girls aged 2 - 4 Preparatory: girls aged 4 - 11 Senior: girls 11-16; Sixth Form: girls 16-18

A World Class Education for Girls on Your Doorstep from Nursery to University

Open Day Sat 5th Oct 9.00am - 12Noon

Inspiring Young Thinkers... Creating Life Long Learners To Find out about our Innovative Curriculum and a personal tour please call

01932 869990 Burwood House, Cobham, Surrey, KT11 1HA registrar@notredame.co.uk www.notredame.co.uk Twitter: @NotreDameCobham 49

NOW IN WEYBRIDGE & KINGSTON

A SAFE AND FUN KARATE PROGRAMME SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN CHILDREN TAUGHT FROM 4 - 14 AN ESTABLISHED GROUP WITH OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN TEACHING CHILDREN

TEL: 07538497798 / 07788196575 EMAIL: LSKA18@hotmail.com www.londonkarate.co.uk

Pre-School for sale in Molesey, Surrey

Rare opportunity to acquire an established Pre-School, registered for 12+ children but with potential for expansion on numbers and opening hours. Situated in a spacious community hall with access to large safe, fenced-in outdoor learning areas. It provides quality care in a stimulating environment & is very well recognised as a feeder to many local schools. The pre-School has been running successfully for 14 years & caters for children aged 2 and 5 years. It is open 38 weeks of the year, Monday to Friday with 5 morning & 2 afternoon sessions thus Parents are eligible to receive the ‘Free – Entitlement’ & ‘FEET Funding.’ Even for these short hours the Pre-School has good profits. All equipment/resources included to facilitate a smooth take-over and with a healthy waiting list of children registered to start throughout 2013 & 2014. For further details please contact Mrs Jo Robini on 07976 041790.

High Tech Holidays Have a very happy holiday with some high-tech help

Some of the most useful travel gadgets are the simplest. The TanSafe is a great example: it looks like a standard bottle of sun cream, but it’s a secret safe that’s big enough for your cash, cards, keys and even your mobile phone (but not a phone case). It’s even watertight, so it can protect your phone from the odd splash. At £7.99 it’s cheap too. Some of our favourite technology solves problems we thought were with us forever - such as creased shirts. For £34.99, the Shirt Shuttle MK2 is a hanger that you wrap your freshly ironed shirt or blouse around, folding it and clipping it shut to protect your shirt from creasing. How attractive it is depends on how much you hate ironing: a travel iron will set you back around £10, while a portable garment steamer such as Rowenta’s DR5050 promises to unwrinkle anything for £30. If you’re travelling with children, there’s no shortage of technology that can keep them amused on even the longest trip. Apple’s iPad Mini is ideal, providing all the fun of an iPad without the

weight or price, but it’s still quite expensive at £269; an iPod touch does much the same thing in a smaller case for half the price, or a quarter of the price if you’re buying used. If you prefer Android tablets Google’s Nexus is a good buy at £159. All of these devices can run apps, and you can copy video from your computer or buy or rent videos from wherever you can find an internet connection. We’d advise against 3G devices that connect to the mobile phone network: there are often very high charges for data roaming. The problem with many travel-related gadgets is that they can be very large and very heavy - and that’s terrible if you’re trying to keep everything in a single suitcase that doesn’t exceed the airline’s weight limit. For example, a wireless speaker such as the Supertooth Disco weighs a massive 1.1kg, and it’s a hefty size too. When it comes to travel speakers, small can be beautiful: the £18 X-Mini II Capsule speaker weighs just 82g but it punches way above its weight. It doesn’t sound as good as a top-end

speaker system but it’s a vast improvement on any smartphone’s speakers. If size really does matter, you can even cut the size of your plugs - but beware, because it can be pricey. The Mu Folding Plug is a 3-pin plug with a USB socket on the other side, and it folds down to a titchy 1.4cm - but at around £25 for one, it’s considerably more expensive than standard plugs. Now that we’re travelling with lots of gadgets, powering and/ or recharging them can be a problem: it’s not unusual to have a camera, an e-reader, a smartphone and a music player competing for the same plug socket as the TV or hairdryer. Rather than packing multiple chargers or 4-way extension leads, it might be a better idea to invest in a 4port worldwide travel charger, which comes with 4 USB ports in the top and a collection of interchangeable plugs that work almost anywhere in the world, all for around £10. Such chargers aren’t powerful enough for iPads, which draw massive amounts of power, but they’re fine for smartphones, cameras and other popular bits of kit.

TipTop TechTips: Subscribe to Support Desk July 2013 Our Support Desk package is ideal for people who want fast and efficient break-fix IT support. Summary of Cover 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Unlimited remote maintenance support during office hours Guaranteed response times (SLAs) Access to a team of highly skilled Computer Engineers Preferential on-site rates Proactive server management System monitoring Software support

Pricing Our pricing is based on a simple and attractive single cost per device: â&#x20AC;˘ ÂŁ20 per workstation (PC/laptop) per month â&#x20AC;˘ ÂŁ80 per server per month â&#x20AC;˘ ÂŁ4.50 per mobile device per month (iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry) For more information go to www.tiptop.co.uk/business, or for an information pack, please call 01372 46 4321.

EgdWaZbh

l^i] ndjg XdbejiZg4

LZ XdbZ higV^\]i id ndjg Yddg# LZ XdbZ id ndj dg VaiZgcVi^kZan ndj XVc Ygde ndjg XdbejiZg id jh# =dbZ Wjh^cZhh hjeedgi [dg E8h! 6eeaZ BVXh! hbVgie]dcZh! iVWaZih bdgZ#

AdXVa >I egd[Zhh^dcVah egdk^Y^c\ hjeedgi ^c AZVi]Zg]ZVY! :ehdb! Dmh]dii! 8dW]Vb! :h]Zg! HjgW^idc! @^c\hidc VcY hjggdjcY^c\ VgZVh#

%&(,' )+ )('& ]Zae5i^eide#Xd#j` lll#i^eide#Xd#j` 53

=dbZ & 7jh^cZhh >I Hjeedgi

Notes from Westminster By

Dominic Raab MP for Esher and Walton Dom visits EPI Group, a growing seismic testing firm in Cobham

The Treasury is still searching for savings to help pay down UK government debt. This month, I proposed – in a new report, Weight Watchers for Whitehall finding £10billion per year by halving the number of government departments and strictly enforcing Whitehall’s 1% public sector pay cap. That would enable us to pay down the deficit faster, and cut business taxes to boost growth.

Likewise, do we really need two departments for the environment? In practice, it dislocates energy and decarbonisation policy from vital task of strengthening UK environmental resilience, such as flood and coastal defences. This bureaucratic cull should be backed up by a rigorous enforcement of the 1% public sector pay cap. That includes ending automatic pay rises or promotion, based on length of service rather than quality of performance. As we learnt, during the previous pay freeze, Sir Humphrey found it all too easy to side-step the limits: public sector pay rose last year by 1.4%, costing the taxpayer an extra £2.4billion.

The UK has twenty separate government departments. That is high by international standards: the US has fifteen, Japan twelve, Germany fourteen, while even high-spending Sweden only has twelve. As well as inflating public spending, the proliferation of departments encourages mandarins to amass self-serving fiefdoms, fuels excessive regulation, and hampers a joined-up approach to policy-making in overlapping areas.

In total, these measures would deliver £10 billion in bureaucratic savings each year, help improve public sector productivity, and join-up policy-making across Whitehall. The savings can be used to pay down the deficit faster, and cut business taxes to fuel the nascent economic recovery. Equally, by cutting bureaucracy – and the number of Ministerial jobs – the government can send an important message that the Whitehall elite are not immune from austerity. Dominic Raab is the Conservative MP for Esher & Walton

Britain doesn’t need such a bloated bureaucracy. By slashing the number of government departments – from 20 to 11 - we could cut a huge amount of waste without sacrificing front line services. Some departments like the Department for Culture, Media Sports (DCMS) and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), don’t merit separate bureaucracies with all their associated costs, churning out red-tape. In other areas, the proliferation of Whitehall silos hampers coordinated policy making. Too often, for example, the Department for International Development has operated a shadow foreign policy – it should be put back under the wing of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

To read my blog or sign up for my monthly bulletin, please visit: http://domraab.blogspot.com/

Alan Greenwood & Sons Family Funeral Directors t .POVNFOUBM .BTPOSZ t 1SF 1BJE 'VOFSBM 1MBOT t )PNF 7JTJUT "SSBOHFE We provide the very best service priding ourselves on our attention to detail. Compare our charges.

www.alangreenwoodfunerals.com

Claygate Branch 1, The High Street, Claygate, Surrey, KT10 OJG Tel: 01372 377377

The funeral service that caters for everyones needs

Long Ditton Branch 57 Fleece Road, Long Ditton, Surbiton, Surrey, KT6 5JR Tel: 020 8398 0012

The

New Press Gang Curtains & Duvets • Rugs & Carpets Dry Cleaning • Ironing Laundry Repairs and Alterations • Service washes

£6

for ironing 6 items

£12 for ironing 14 items

Call us for collection and delivery

020 89419629 64 Walton Road KT8 0DL www.thepressgang-london.co.uk 34 Whitehart Lane SW13 0PY www.thepressgang-london.co.uk 55

Hersham Branch 13, Molesey Road, Hersham, Surrey, KT12 4RN Tel: 01932 260046

Police 5 (Minutes) Preventing Vehicle Crime By David Hollingsworth Elmbridge Neighbourhood Inspector

Whilst vehicle crime in Elmbridge is low, theft of and theft from vehicles make up almost a third of all reported crime.

•

With the warmer weather finally arriving (!), we are beginning to see vehicles left with windows open or soft tops down and this is proving to be a temptation to some of our criminal elements. Commercial vehicle owners can be even harder hit than other car owners as theft of tools or work equipment can mean a business grinds to a halt. And no business means no income.

Commercial vehicles • •

• Thankfully, most vehicle crime is opportunistic and therefore easy to prevent, but it does mean some effort from you the public. Following some straightforward advice will help to lessen your chances of becoming a victim of vehicle crime.

• • •

Personal Vehicles • Always lock your vehicle and close the windows and sunroof • Remove all personal possessions - not just Sat Navs, laptops and mobile phones - but also loose change and clothing • Look after your car keys and keep them out of sight and secure, even when you are at home • Secure number plates with tamper proof or clutch head screws. • If possible, park your car in a garage and lock both the car and the garage • When away from home, try to park in a well-lit, open location, or a police approved ‘ParkMark’ car park • If you have an older car, or one without an alarm, get one fitted, or use a steering lock • Fit a tracking device to your vehicle (and ensure you know how to activate it)

• •

•

Have the vehicles registration number or vehicle identification number (VIN) etched on each window.

Lock the back doors while driving. If your vehicle doesn’t have an alarm, get one fitted. Insurance companies will often give a discount for properly installed and approved alarms. Never leave personal documents in the vehicle’s cab. Never leave tools or equipment in your vehicle overnight. Keep your van keys safe while you are working. Never leave them in your vehicle. ‘High clearance’ vehicles are common targets for catalytic converter theft. Mark yours to deter thieves. Security mark all your tools and equipment to make items uniquely identifiable Don’t buy cheap, second hand tools from a building site – they may be stolen. If you are suspicious, tell the police. Keep stops for fuel, food and other goods to a minimum. The fewer stops you need to make (leaving your vehicle unattended) the more secure it will be. Make sure you have fully comprehensive insurance for your vehicle. Thieves will often ‘smash and grab’ causing damage that is expensive to repair and may take you off the road for several days.

Working together we can reduce car crime even further. Call us on 101 if you need any further advice

Telephone Surrey Police on 101 and ask to speak to a member of the Safer neighbourhood Team for your area. www.surrey.police.uk 56

How Safe is a Locked Door? We tend to feel safe once we have shut the front door behind us, but just how safe are we? Standard euro cylinder door locks which secure the vast majority of homes in the UK have a major weakness that can allow quick & quiet access within a very short period of time. What’s more worrying is that this can be done with simple everyday DIY tools. ‘Lock Snapping’ has become a preferred method of attack against many UK homes. Recent BBC reports have highlighted a significant increase in the number of burglaries using this technique and police crime statistics Indicate that 30% of Burglaries in some areas involved snapping of Euro cylinder locks. You can see the BBC report for yourself on this webpage: www.thameslocks.co.uk/ lock-snapping So what is the issue? Lock snapping is quick and easy. Thieves can be in and out of your property very quickly. They are often looking for quick access to car keys and are willing to access alarmed properties due to the speed of access. This method of burglary has been known for many years but not widely reported. Now with a growth in its prevalence many police forces, standards agencies, manufacturers and locksmiths are

making the public aware. Advice and help is at hand. Local company Thames Locks will survey your property free of charge and advise you of the steps you can take to prevent this kind of attack from happening to you including the fitting of High Security Cylinders to TS 007 and Sold Secure Diamond. Also upgrading existing handles to PAS 24-2007 TS 007 2 STAR ‘ Secured by Design ‘ Security Handles. The Crime Reduction Advisor at Surrey Police gives the following advice to avoid becoming victims of crime. The majority of burglaries and thefts occur when access is easily gained to the rear of the house, where offenders can work undisturbed. t %P OPU MFBWF XIFFMJF CJOT XIFSF they can be used to climb over fences or gates.. t .BLF TVSF UIBU TJEF HBUFT BSF locked and secure. t 'JU HPPE MPDLT PO EPPST BOE windows.

t %P OPU MFBWF DBS LFZT XIFSF UIFZ can easily be found or near front doors where they can be ‘fished’ out through the letterbox. t *O TPNF DBTFT CVSHMBST BSF VTJOH the gardening tools they find in sheds in the back gardens. Please try and secure tools away as safely as you can. t 1SPQFSUZ NBSL BMM JUFNT t 6TF B HPPE RVBMJUZ DMPTFE shackle padlock. t 6TF TFDVSJUZ TDSFXT PS DPBDI bolts. Install an anchor point. t $POTJEFS B TJNQMF CBUUFSZ operated alarm or alarmed padlock. t 'JOBMMZ JG ZPV BSF SFQMBDJOH MPDLT you should ensure they are to the new TS 007 standard which offers attack protection against ‘snapping’ and ‘bumping’.

Surrey Crime Reduction Officer Vic Smith can be contacted on 01784 862009 or 07967 987707 Email:smith14410@surrey. pnn.police.uk Thames Locks; Freephone 08000 232762 Reproduced courtesy of Sunbury Matters

Thames Locks - 24h Hour Emergency Locksmiths Emergency Door Opening Service All Makes Of Locks Opened & Replaced New Locks Supplied & Fitted Keys Cut On Site UPVC Multi Point Lock Specialist Safes Supplied & Fitted

Contact Neil Bowe Freephone: 08000 232762 Mobile: 07967 969210 neil@thameslocks.co.uk www.thameslocks.co.uk

Short Story Game, Set and Match Danny had spent all morning playing tennis on his own against the garage door. He had won nearly every game, and now felt confident enough to take on a real opponent. His plimsolls stuck to the hot tarmac as he walked along the deserted avenue to his friend Alex’s house. The heat had sent everyone indoors. Even the birds had stopped singing. He found Alex sitting on the edge of his pond, with feet dangling in the water. “Want a game of tennis? Danny asked. “You’ll need your own bat”. Alex grinned and nipped in the shed. He returned with a cobweb covered table tennis bat. It didn’t look at all like Danny’s racket, and he suspected that it might give his friend quite a large handicap, but decided not to say. If Alex was happy, then he was happy.

out and they lose a point”. Danny knew that when you start the game it’s called ‘Love All’, but didn’t mention this in case Alex thought it was a girl’s game and refused to play. “It’s a draw if you get juice,” Danny said instead. Alex seemed both confused and impressed. “Okay,” he bounced up and down. “Let’s play!” In spite of the ping pong bat, Alex proved a more challenging opponent than the garage door; for one thing he argued over goals. For example, when Alex’s shot bounced off the shed roof, rolled along the guttering and disappeared down the drainpipe, Danny agreed that the shot was a work of genius, but didn’t think it was worth five goals. They compromised on two and a half.

They had a few practise shots while Danny explained the rules.

Alex also hit the ball so that it seemed to magically fly straight through Danny’s racket. The ball would then disappear over the garden gate. Danny found that he was searching for the ball in the next door garden much more than he was hitting it. And he was getting hot.

“If I hit the patio doors it’s a goal to me, and if you hit the shed it’s a goal to you. If the ball goes in the pond then whoever hit it in has to get it

Also, unlike the garage door, Alex constantly questioned the rules. While Alex agreed that it didn’t matter how many times the ball bounced, he

Both boys agreed that Alex’s garden was perfect for tennis. It had the pond in the middle to act as a net, a shed on one side and patio doors on the other to act as goals.

refused to believe that kicking it was okay. Unfortunately this made quite a few of the goals that Danny scored disallowed. Danny was starting to suspect that this game wasn’t going his way. He noticed that, in spite of all his morning’s practise, he was scooping more balls out of the pond than Alex, and hoped that his friend was not keeping too close an eye on the score. Eventually, both boys, the shed and the patio doors were covered in dark splodges of pond water. Danny was tired, thirsty and several goals behind. He couldn’t go on much longer, but desperately didn’t want to lose this game. The patio doors slid open and Alex’s mum appeared, accompanied by the welcome sound of ice cubes tinkling in glass tumblers. “I’ve made you boys a drink,” she called. “Brilliant!” Alex threw down his bat. “Game over!” “What’s the score?” she asked, as Alex slurped his drink. “We’ve got juice,” Danny said, thinking fast. “So that mean’s it’s a draw”. By Jackie Brewster

Crellins Carter VALERIE COOPER IS A SUPER LAWYER Valerie Cooper, Head of Family Law, at Crellins Carter, has been awarded Super Lawyer status by an independent survey run by Thomson Reuters. If you want the best representation give us a call

Divorce, Finance & Children Cohabitees & Civil Partnerships.

01932 858833 www.crellinscarter.co.uk 59 111, Queens Road, Weybridge, KT13 9UW

:,1'2:6 '2256 &216(59$725,(6 5(3$,5 6(59,&(

Call us to discus day to s all yo ur window & door require ments

Freephone: 0500 50 36 50 www.novaglass.co.uk