March 2017 issuu 116

Month: March 2017 Issue No: 116 Independent monthly community news and business directory for KT5 & KT6

Delivered free each month to homes in Berrylands, plus Surbiton or Tolworth

Happy Mothers’ Day

Inside this issue: * All change at the libraries * Expanded cycle hire at Surbiton Station * Sponsorship for challengers * Recipes * Articles and quizzes

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Hello Readers, This is Spring!! I’ve noticed the daffodil bulbs coming through, and the signs are good for some fantastic blooms.

Following an article in last month’s magazine on bell ringing as a hobby, I have had an email from Kate Flavell. Kate is the Public Relations Officer for the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers and was responsible for organising the BBC survey referred to in the article.

Kate thought we might be interested to know that the only Church in the Royal Borough, that has bells hung for full circle change ringing, is All Saints Church in Kingston Market Place.

If anyone is interested in learning to ring, look at the website: www.kingstonbells. org.uk Or go along to the church for a taster of what is involved. Contact Kate on

kateflavell@f2s.com for more information.

We have two families making preparations for some challenges ahead. One is a local teacher, Peter Black who is taking part in a relay swm across the English Channel.

The others are Oli and Kylie HarrodEagles who are in training for the London Marathon. Both are looking for sponsors, so please check out their stories further on.

And just a reminder to turn the clocks forward this month.

Best wishes,

Karen

Useful Numbers Kingston Council www.kingston.gov.uk Action Fraud (Trading Standards) Refuse Collection Electoral Registration Council Tax Citizens Advice Customs & Excise (VAT) Inland Revenue Helpline Environmental Agency Surbiton Library Kingston Police Non Emergency Police Emergency Services Non Emergency NHS Transport: National Rail Enquiries Public Transport Traveline Gatwick Airport Heathrow Airport

020 8547 5757 020 8547 4654 020 8547 5560 020 8547 4630 020 8547 5196 0870 126 4019 0845 010 9000 08459 000 444 0870 850 6506 020 8547 6444 020 8541 1212 101 999 111

Emergencies/Utilities: Gas Emergency Electricity Emergency Water Emergency BT Fault Line Virgin Media Crimestoppers Kingston Hospital Childline Samaritans Age Concern Kingston Relate www.relatekh.org Domestic Violence Helpline www.victimsupport.org.uk Surbiton Safer Neighbourhood Team based at YMCA

0800 111 999 0800 783 8866 0845 920 0800 0800 800 151 0845 142 0000 0800 555 111 020 8546 7711 0800 1111 0845 790 9090 0800 00 99 66 020 8549 3318 020 8547 3202 020 8721 2518

08457 484 950 0870 608 2608 0844 335 1802 0844 335 1801 A Berrylands Companion 18 Kingsdowne Road, Surbiton, KT6 6JZ 020 8274 0096 karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk www.berrylands-companion.co.uk Please mention A Berrylands Companion when responding to adverts

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Once again, international tennis comes to Surbiton Racket and Fitness Club

O

ur Club was founded in 1881 as only the fourth dedicated tennis club in the world, and from our early years international tennis tournaments have been part of our history.

Traditionally, the Surbiton Tournament was the opener for the British grass court season, and every year the world’s star players came to sharpen up their grass reflexes ready for The Championships at Wimbledon.

for many Members. We have some of the most modern fitness equipment, from cardiovascular aids to resistance machines and free weights, and we have recently purchased the latest Indoor Cycling bikes. Why not come and give them a try?

Alongside our Fitness Suite is our Studio, another innovation. There we run regular classes in Zumba, Pilates, Yoga and Indoor Cycling.

So it will be in 2017, when Aegon are sponsoring Men’s and Ladies’ tournaments at the Club from 3rd June to the 11th, and this underlines the importance of our Club within British tennis.

Physiotherapy is another modern facility at the Club, with its own Studio and run in partnership with Kingston Physiotherapy. We also have our own Chiropracter, Neil Reilly, available by appointment on 0208 390 9030. Extensive coaching

Since the 2016 event the prize-money for Surbiton has been enhanced considerably. For men this means an increase from $50,000 to $150,000 and for ladies an increase from €50,000 to €100,000.

In total this is around £150,000 more than last year.

Another important feature of our modern Club is our extensive tennis coaching programme, which is flexible to suit all ages and abilities. We have no less than fourteen registered tennis coaches, who operate in local schools as well as at the Club.

Although we have occupied the same site since the 19th century, the Club has always kept upto-date. Today we offer our Members a range of modern facilities unmatched by any other club of our type and size.

At Surbiton we’re keen on social activities.

Our regular Quiz Nights, as one example, are normally a sell-out. And central to everything is our Clubhouse Bar, where you can make new friends and relax with coffee or a drink. Or there’s cooked food to be ordered from our Menu.

For instance, three of our nine fast-draining hard tennis courts have been laid in synthetic clay, and these have become favourites with our Members.

Eight hard courts are floodlit for evening tennis, and two are covered from September through to March with a Dome which guarantees tennis whatever the weather.

Similarly, our four Squash courts are state-of-theart, with air-conditioning and heating. They also provide a home for our flourishing Racketball sessions.

Why not come and look us over? You’ll be very welcome, with no obligation. And please add the Aegon Surbiton Trophy, June 3rd to 11th , to your diary!

Roy Roy Staniland is Director of Surbiton Racket and Fitness Club, Berrylands, KT5 8JT 0209 399 1594 www.surbiton.org

Yet what would really amaze our forbears would be our Fitness Suite, one of our great membership successes of recent years, and a star attraction

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email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Finance It May Not Be Too Late To Make A Claim For Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) By Ann Haldon • They told you the loan would be more expensive if you didn’t sign up for PPI.

According to ‘Which?’ the banks have written to 5.5 million customers, letting them know they might have been mis-sold PPI and offering three years in which to make a claim. Although some of these letters were sent in 2013, people are still successfully claiming PPI from banks and other lenders.

A potential final deadline of June 2019 has also been announced by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). If this is confirmed, it offers plenty of time to write to lenders and recover the money that should never have been taken from you.

Could you have been mis-sold PPI? PPI could have been mis-sold to you in a number of ways, including these scenarios: • You were pressured by the salesperson, or told it was compulsory.

• You were self-employed, unemployed, or retired when the policy was taken out.

• You had a pre-existing medical problem.

• A clear explanation was not given of how much PPI you were going to pay, or if it was included in the total loan quote.

• You already had cover in place within another policy – life insurance, for example.

• You were not informed of the ‘cooling-off’ period.

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Contacting the lender If you no longer have your loan agreement, write to or phone the company concerned. Many larger financial organisations will be able to tell you over the phone whether or not you’ve been sold Payment Protection Insurance. You can also request a copy of your original agreement.

Some companies can deal with your entire claim by phone, or online. The Financial Ombudsman Service also has an online questionnaire, and allows you to upload any supporting documents.

Otherwise, you should print it off and sent it by recorded delivery after taking a copy for yourself.

When the company replies You receive a positive response Regular premiums Credit cards and mortgages generally had a regular PPI premium attached, rather than one single premium. If this was the case, you should receive a refund for the premiums paid.

If interest had been added, this amount should also be refunded.

Single premiums Single PPI premiums were often paid in relation to personal loans and finance agreements. How much you receive depends on whether the loan is still in force: • If your loan is ongoing, the lender will calculate the monthly amount you should have been paying (minus the PPI), and this will be deducted from the total amount outstanding.

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

• If the loan has been repaid in full, you’ll receive a refund for the amounts you paid. The lender should also calculate a new redemption figure as though the PPI had never been paid, and repay the difference between this and the amount you actually repaid on redemption.

If the claim is rejected Should there be no response from the lender within eight weeks, they reject your claim, or you are unhappy with the refunded amount, you can contact the Financial Ombudsman Service for a decision. This must be done within six months of the lender’s final response to you.

It may take up to two years to reach a decision, and any interim offers made by the lender will be forwarded to you.

If you’re not happy with the final outcome, you can request that an official ombudsman reviews your case for a second opinion. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ business-36950803 http://www.moneysavingexpert. com/reclaim/ppi-loaninsurance#how http://www.thisismoney. co.uk/money/cardsloans/ article-1606455/Reclaim-PPIpremiums-payment-protectioninsurance.html https://www.fca.org.uk/ consumers/payment-protectioninsurance/claim-mis-sold-ppi http://www.which.co.uk/consumerrights/advice/i-think-ive-been-missold-ppi-what-should-i-do http://www.which.co.uk/consumerrights/advice/how-to-reclaim-missold-ppi

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Ballet in Surbiton Royal Academy of Dance Examinations St Andrew’s & St Mark’s Junior School Surbiton

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Mini Cryptic Crossword

Across 1. Object for examination (7) 7. Cast eager to be united (5) 8. Author of Wheels Turn (7) 9. Smart claim about 5 repeated (5) 11. Polish female sent inside (5) 12. Extremely short book’s empty words (5) 14. One hundred chat about snag (5) 16. Unusual recipe first duke went through (7) 18. Weeds behind border plant (5) 19. Sally to Piers: “all wrong!” (7) Down 1. Old people, note, in mines (5) 2. Alternatively, a gripped paddle (3) 3. Strange one by a tree (5) 4. Least organised accounts (5) 5. Undergarments – most daring! (7) 6. Long period of time soon ending (5) 10. Girl going on and off a terrace (7)

12. Initial verdict on man bearing east (5) Gaelic poetry (5) 15. Hothead leading 13. Marvellous purse in creep to stall (5) bad shape (5) 17. Firm head of 14. Penny-pinching supplied lettuce (3)

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7

Cake and Bake Lemon Drizzle Cupcakes Based on the classic lemon drizzle cake these tangy cupcakes are the perfect afternoon pick-me-up with a cup of tea!

Ingredients: • 175g unsalted butter, softened • 175g golden caster sugar

1. 1 Preheat the oven to 180C, Fan 160C , Gas Mark 4. Line a 12 hole muffin tray with paper muffin cases.

2. Place the butter, sugar, flour, baking powder and eggs in a large bowl and whisk with an electric whisk until thoroughly blended and pale and creamy. Fold in the lemon curd.

• 175g self-raising flour • 1tsp baking powder • 3 large eggs

3. Divide the mixture between the muffin cases and bake for 15-20 minutes until risen and golden brown. Whilst the cakes are baking mix the topping ingredients together in a small bowl.

• 2tbsp lemon curd TOPPING • 100g granulated sugar

4. Remove the cakes from the oven and leave for 1-2 minutes then spoon some of the sugar and juice mixture over each cupcake. Leave to cool in the tray - the sugar topping will go crisp on cooling.

• Juice and grated zest of 1 lemon

Makes 12

TIP

Ready in 40 minutes, plus cooling

If you don’t have lemon curd use 1-2 tbsp of milk or soured cream and 2 tsp grated lemon zest instead.

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Wednesday

Ladies Night

0208 390 7564

Enjoy a night out with the girls

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CONTACT US E: info@langleysrestaurant.co.uk T: 0208 390 7564 F: 0208 390 4596 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk 9 | 158 Ewell Road | Surbiton Surrey KT6 6HE

Thai Green Curry Serves 4

Ready in 35 minutes

This classic curry is great for a mid-week family supper – it’s quick to make and tastes delicious!

Ingredients: • 200g Thai jasmine rice • 1 tbsp sunflower oil • 1 onion, peeled and thinly sliced • 2 tbsp Thai green curry paste • 1 large red pepper, deseeded and thinly sliced • 1 large courgette, sliced

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat and fry the onion for 5 minutes. Stir in the curry paste and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in the pepper and courgette and fry for a further minute.

Add the chicken and cook for 3-4 minutes until no longer pink, stirring all the time. Pour in the coconut milk and simmer gently for 10 minutes until the chicken is cooked. Stir in the soy and fish sauces and lime juice.

• 1 tbsp soy sauce

Drain the rice and use a small heatproof cup or bowl to make four mounds of rice on warmed serving plates. Sprinkle the nigella seeds on top and spoon the curry on the side.

• 1 tbsp fish sauce

TIP

• 450g chicken breast fillets, cut into chunks • 400ml can coconut milk

• Squeeze of lime juice • 2 tsp nigella seeds

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Cook the rice in a large pan of boiling, lightly salted water for about 15 minutes until tender, or follow the packet instructions.

Add a handful of freshly chopped coriander leaves to the curry at the end of cooking time, if liked. Or for a spicier flavour, garnish with shredded red chilli pepper.

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email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Home & Interiors Playtime

By Katherine Sorrell

If you have space for a dedicated playroom, or can allocate a section of another room, you can keep toys contained and your children happy – and it’s a great opportunity for some imaginative decorating, says Katherine Sorrell.

The key to designing a playroom is flexibility. Unless money and time are no object, frequent redecorating is simply impractical, so keep the basics plain and simple – neutral walls, floor and major items of furniture, with only the less expensive and easily changed items (such as blinds, cushions or storage boxes) themed to colours or characters.

Start by considering the major

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factors. Is the room just going to be a playroom, or will it double as a child’s bedroom, family dining room, adult living room or other? How much space do you have and what shape is it?

Who will use it and how often?

How old are your children?

What are their likes and dislikes? What is your budget?

Sketching a floor plan on graph paper will help, as you may need to include one or more beds (plus room for friends to sleep over), a desk, seating, a music system and clothes storage, as well as space for books, toys, games, art and craft activities – and, of course, free floor space in which to enjoy the above.

Place and space The more space you can allocate to a playroom the better, as children love to be able to run, jump, hop and generally scoot around.

Not to mention the storage requirements (see below). A light, bright room that doesn’t get too hot or too cold is ideal, preferably not too far from a toilet or from the kitchen or living room – it’s nice to be able to keep an eye or ear on what

they’re up to. Direct access to outside space would, again, be ideal. Rather than a bland, box-shaped room, a space with interesting nooks and crannies, perhaps even different floor levels (within reason), will feed the imagination.

Design basics Floors should be non-slip, easily cleanable, hard-wearing and not too hard underfoot.

Wooden or laminate boards plus a soft rug (with an anti-slip mat beneath), vinyl, linoleum, cork or rubber are all ideal.

If you must have wall-to-wall carpet, go for an inexpensive one, perhaps with a texture or pattern that won’t show the dirt, and ask for it to be given a stain-resistant treatment before installation.

When it comes to lighting, inset ceiling lights and high-up wall lights are better than floor or table lamps that could get in the way of games and be knocked over. That said, decorative lighting looks lovely, and if you choose one specifically designed for children, use the correct wattage of bulb and position it so that there are no trailing flexes, safety should not be a problem.

You may choose to keep walls plain and direct all the interest towards furniture, lighting and accessories, or make them the focal point of the room, in the form of a specially painted mural. The latter looks gorgeous and a quick internet search will produce plenty of

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companies that will create one for you, but be careful that it won’t date. The alternative is to use framed pictures (your child’s own, maybe), removable stickers, or perhaps something more inventive such as artists’ canvases painted in bright blocks of colour, a camouflage net, flags, maps, blackboard or magnetic paint, or an entire wall of good-looking storage.

Furniture and fun When furnishing a playroom you can let your imagination run riot, but bear in mind that floor cushions and bean bags are probably a better (and less expensive) idea than miniature children’s sofas and chairs, which are quickly outgrown.

Storage Always ensure that toys are easily accessible, not stuck on high shelves or stacked in

inaccessible towers.

Cheap and colourful plastic tubs are ideal for many toys, while Lego, plastic people, farmyard animals and other small things can go in appropriately sized storage boxes (you could recycle ice cream tubs or takeaway cartons). Depending on your child’s interests, you may also need storage/display space for elaborate railway or racing tracks, craft activities, pretend kitchens and shops, teddies, dolls and action figures and, for older kids, technology such as laptops and tablets.

Image Left: CAM CAM hot air balloon light, £52, The Modern Nursery: www. themodernnursery.com Image Above: Raffia storage baskets, from £29.50, Sisters Guild: www. sistersguild.co.uk

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Online Dating: Not Just For Twentysomethings

by Kate McLelland

My sympathies were aroused the first time I met Abby, a friend-of-a-friend who had recently moved to my neighbourhood after a divorce.

Aged 47, she had made the move in order to seek a different life for herself and her fifteen-year-old son.

However, two years later my sympathy began to wear a little thin, after she repeatedly turned up at my house bemoaning the lack of eligible men in her life. On every occasion I would remind her that online dating was her best option for meeting a new partner, but she remained stubbornly unmoved.

The process of online dating is very simple: just create a profile, check out potential matches, communicate with your chosen date and then arrange to meet. Given the scare stories we hear about fake profiles, romance frauds and stalking, Abby was right to be cautious, but probably not to the point of spoiling her best statistical chances of finding love.

Staying safe online It’s natural to feel a little nervous about meeting a stranger for the first time, but there are certain common sense precautions you can take to stay safe.

• Choose a username that

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doesn’t reveal who you are and don’t give away your surname, contact information, home address or place of work when first setting up your profile.

• Don’t give away too much information about yourself right away. Take things slowly, sharing more information when you feel comfortable to do so.

• Never release financial information or give in to pressure to lend money.

• Meet in public and stay in public on your first couple of dates and always let a friend know where you are, and who you’re meeting.

Setting up a successful online dating profile The UK dating site Match.com says that when registering with a site it’s important to answer questions accurately for the best possible chance of finding your ideal match. When writing about your personality they recommend reading other profiles for inspiration or asking a friend to describe your characteristics. For maximum impact, start the description with an eye-catching opening paragraph, using key words relating to your passions and interests.

The dating site Zoosk found that women get 60% more

attention if their profile photo is taken indoors, while men get 19% more attention if theirs is taken outside, particularly if the photo includes other friends or involves an active pursuit.

What do I have to pay?

Some sites are free to join, whereas an average paidfor site might cost between £13 and £50 per month.

Some online services charge considerably higher membership fees.

Are there sites specifically for mature people?

You don’t have to restrict yourself to age-specific sites unless you feel more comfortable in doing so. Two of the most popular sites for UK dating are ukmaturedating.com and maturefreeandsingle.com.

The popularity of online sites has boomed recently with the addition of mobile apps, with 37% of people surveyed by smartphone manufacturer HTC saying they had met a partner via a dating app.

The message has finally got through to Abby, who went on her first date through an online site last week. Unfortunately he wasn’t the man of her dreams, but she nevertheless enjoyed the date. Thanks to that experience, she’s confident that it’s now only a matter of time before she meets Mr Right.

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Slow PC? Don’t Buy A New One Yet A slow PC isn’t necessarily destined for the scrap heap. Quite often you’ll find that a few simple steps can get your old PC running like it’s just left the factory.

First of all, delete any files you don’t want and uninstall any apps you don’t need, paying particular attention to any apps that run when you start Windows: if you don’t need them, don’t let them sit using up memory all the time. Running antispyware software is a good idea too, as sometimes viruses and other online nasties can infect PCs and cause serious performance issues. Our picks include BitDefender Antivirus Free Edition, Panda Free Antivirus 2016 and AVG Anti-Virus Free.

Simple and inexpensive upgrades can make a big difference too. Adding more memory is cheap and pays dividends, and you can swap out the hard disk for a speedy solid-state drive (SSD) for around £50. It’s really easy to do, too.

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WORDWHEEL

Using only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have ten minutes to find as many words as possible, none of which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns. Each word must be of three letters or more, all must contain the central letter and letters can only be used once in every word. There is at least one word that uses all of the letters in the wheel.

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15

History Happy New March! By Catherine Rose

March sweeps in on the coat tails of winter and it is not unknown for it to snow.

Despite this, in the Northern Hemisphere, 1st March is meteorologically the first day of spring.

The old saying that ‘March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb’ is perhaps appropriate. Dubbed ‘Hlyd’ by the Anglo-Saxons for ‘loud’ or ‘rugged’ (thought to refer to March winds), it is the month of the vernal equinox when the hours of day and night are split equally. By the end of March, spring is truly in the air and it remains the herald of longer, warmer days with its oceans of daffodils and narcissi.

March is also a first for another reason. Its name comes from the Latin Martius, the Roman God of War, and it was the first month in the Roman calendar.

This was traditionally a time for a feast known as Tibilustrium

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to celebrate the end of winter, and it was also a time for warmongering and invasions.

lively March mating rituals of the hare. The Victorian author Lewis Carroll subsequently used the March Hare for a character in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

It is an ominous month in other ways too. The well-known Shakespearean quote “Beware the Ides of March” refers to 15th, when the first full moon of the Roman year appeared and Caesar was assassinated at the Senate. There is also an old superstition that if Easter falls on 25th or Lady Day, then disaster for England will follow:

Most people born in March will fall under the zodiac sign Pisces: the final sign that is said to capture the traits of all the eleven that precede it.

Pisceans are known for being creative, imaginative, sensitive and compassionate, so it is rather a revelation to learn that more British Prime Ministers were born in March than in any other month.

‘When my Lord falls in my Lady’s lap England beware of some mishap.’

Interestingly, this was the case last year and many consider 2016 to have been disastrous for the UK with Brexit, the US election results, and the untimely deaths of a larger than usual number of British icons.

25th March remained New Year’s Day in Great Britain until the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in 1752, but it is still the first month in other cultural calendars even today.

Another popular phrase, ‘mad as a March hare’ was coined as early as 1500 after the

Celebrated across the globe, March also brings the Feast of St Patrick on 17th - a lively celebration of Irish culture.

A 5th century missionary and bishop, St Patrick is the Patron Saint of Ireland whose designated day is a national holiday for partying and “the wearing of the green”. The Irish shamrock emblem with its three leaves is said to have been adopted as an explanation of the Holy Trinity when missionaries were converting the pagan Irish to Christianity.

2017 will see a parade, festival and other events in London to mark the event.

In celebrating March, perhaps we should take a shamrock leaf out of the Irish book rather than following the Roman example. But whatever you do this month, try not to be a mad March hare!

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r.J.tree Services, Berrylands, Surbiton 020 8399 0103 07980 903 881 Visit our website information and videos on all aspects of 17 our work To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096 email:for karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

How To Hedge

by Pippa Greenwood

There is nothing better than a living boundary around or within your garden - bricks and fencing are all very well, but as far as lifting your spirits and keeping wildlife happy, it is difficult to beat a hedge. Hedges can take on many guises – they can look smart or informal, be neat and compact or thicker and sturdier, evergreen or deciduous and, if you want you can even include some hedging with pretty flowers. The options are many, the potential is huge - and now is an ideal time to plant a new hedge.

as this will help to improve the soil’s texture and its ability to hold moisture and nutrients to just the right extent. At the same time incorporate a complete fertilizer. A young hedge will not create a perfect barrier for the first few years, so if you anticipate problems with next door’s pets or children breaking through you may initially need to use a less attractive barrier such as galvanized stock fencing.

Don’t be tempted to plant right up against an existing fence, as the plants simply won’t grow well.

First, prepare the area in the same way you would for any other long-term planting: fork the soil over thoroughly, removing large stones, debris and pernicious weeds. This will eliminate anything that might make establishment tricky or subsequently reduce hedge growth. This preparation also helps to break up any compaction and to aerate the soil, making it a better place for plant roots. If the soil is either very sandy and light or very heavy with clay, then fork in well-rotted garden compost, manure or proprietary compost,

At this time of year, when hedging plants grow very little or not at all, you can create a hedge very effectively using ‘bare-root’ plants, but if you want to plant a hedge at any other time you will need containergrown plants. Small pot-grown conifers, for instance, will have well-established roots and should thrive. If using pot-grown plants, carefully remove each plant from its pot just before planting, having watered them thoroughly first if the compost is dry. The roots should not be too tightly packed in the pot, but if they are, tease them out firmly

18

before planting. If you’re using bare-root plants, make sure that you’re ready to plant them as soon as they are delivered and that the soil is also ready and waiting.

It is essential to space the plants correctly to achieve the desired effect, and to make sure that you plant them properly if they are to get off to a good start and establish well. Once out of the pot, position the plant in the prepared soil, making sure that it is at the same depth as it was in the pot. If you’re using bare-root plants then make sure that only the roots are beneath the soil.

If planted too deeply the plants will suffer and may even die; if planted too shallowly they will be more prone to drying out.

Firm the soil around each so that it is in good contact with the roots.

Hedging plants generally need a spacing of about 30-45cm.

For a much thicker or denser hedge it is often worth planting them 45cm apart, but using two parallel rows of plants, positioned so that the planting is staggered like bricks in a wall.

Once the whole hedge is planted, water the soil thoroughly to

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help settle the soil around the roots and so allow the plants to establish. On windy sites or with larger plants it may be worth using small, temporary stakes such as bamboo canes to stabilise the plants. For the hedge to grow well, it is essential that you keep it well watered, especially during dry or windy weather. The first 18 months is the most vital period.

Some great hedging plants: • Yew - perfect for a formal, super-smart evergreen hedge.

• Thuja - makes a stunning conifer hedge for year round colour, and is not too inclined to be rampant!

• Beech - a deciduous plant that gives a good effect for much of the year because the gingery brown autumn leaves often last well. Both purple and greenleafed forms.

• Hornbeam - similar to beech

but with few leaves held over winter and more prone to mildew. Great as a neatly clipped hedge.

• Cypress – the ‘Leyland Cypress’ is notorious, but kept well clipped and cut back regularly this does actually make a great hedge.

• Pyracantha - a very spiny evergreen plant excellent for keeping out unwelcome visitors, with pretty creamywhite flowers and red-orange or yellow berries.

• Privet - the classic town hedge, which looks great neatly clipped and has evergreen leaves that make a good foil for nearby flowers.

• Euonymus (pictured) - a useful evergreen with many forms, some variegated green and cream, others green and yellow.

• Hawthorn - deciduous and potentially thorny too, perfect as an ingredient of a ‘native’

hedge and good for wildlife.

• Blackthorn - deciduous and very thorny, great for ‘native’ hedging and wildlife, with pretty white flowers followed by sloes - ideal for sloe gin drinkers but can easily get too vigorous!

Visit Pippa’s website www. pippagreenwood.com to buy gorgeous UK grown vegetable plants accompanied by weekly advice emails from Pippa, or to peruse the really useful selection of Pippa’s favourite gardening items including pop-up crop covers, SpeedHoes, SpeedWeeders, raised bed kits, Nemaslug, pull-out EasyTunnels, signed books and lots more besides.

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Angkor Wat Cambodia

By Solange Hando

From the 9th to the 15th century, the Khmer dynasty ruled one of the largest kingdoms in south-east Asia.

Today Angkor, their ‘capital city’, is a unique history book highlighting the different styles and cultures which evolved over the 300 years it took to complete. It’s a World Heritage site, a ‘lost city’ claiming hundreds of temples and ruins scattered in a vast archaeological park. Most iconic is Angkor Wat, the best preserved temple and the largest religious structure in the world. It was built in the 12th century to honour the Hindu god Vishnu, was later used for Buddhist worship, and is featured on the national flag.

Rising like a dream above the plain, it’s the finest example of Khmer classical architecture, stylish and harmonious with towers and colonnades reflected in a lotus pond. It’s a breathtaking sight, especially in the soft light of dawn tinged in silver and gold. The sandstone glows, almost surreal, birds stir in the trees and monks in saffron robes meditate at the water’s edge. The causeway leading to the entrance is still deserted and for the early pilgrims, this is a sublime vision

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of heaven as lotus-shaped towers mirror the five peaks of Mount Meru, the home of the gods.

The first westerner to set eyes on Angkor Wat was a Portuguese monk in the 16th century, who spoke of ‘a building like no other in the world…with all the refinements the human genius could conceive.’ But the gods must have played a part for whatever the time of day, the temple is pure magic, shimmering in the cool of the morning, burning in the midday heat, silhouetted against the darkening sky in the last rays of the setting sun.

So from morning to dusk, the visitors pour in, spellbound as they shuffle around the lower gallery, marvelling at the basreliefs stretching for 800 metres around the central temple and regarded as the greatest artistic legacy in Angkor. There are epic legends and battle scenes but most highly praised is ‘The Churning of the Ocean Milk’, where devils and gods fight for immortality, the latter led to victory by some of the 3,000 heavenly nymphs, or apsara, found in Angkor Wat. They also line the walls on the second level, encouraging meditation before the near vertical climb to

the top, an act which requires unflinching concentration and a very slow descent. Visitors clamber down backwards and one can’t help wondering how the high priest ever managed to preserve his dignity.

But when you’re up there, the world is at your feet, the courtyards, the galleries, the entrance gates at each cardinal point, two of them large enough to accommodate elephants.

The oversized moats glisten like oceans, the outer walls mark the edge of the world and the forest spreads as far as you can see, hiding more vestiges from a glorious past. It’s a sacred replica of the universe, they say, and you can feel the vibes in the air.

Back on the ground where city and palace once stood, cicadas whir in the trees and lizards bask in the hot sun. ‘Close your eyes’, whisper the guides, ‘and feel the past clinging to the stones.’ Then for a moment or two, you step back in time, sitting in the Royal Court, bewitched by the wonderful apsara and dreaming of the legendary seven-headed snake who built a rainbow bridge to link heaven and earth by the lofty towers of Angkor Wat.

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21

Mad March Hair

Gadgets for grooming, cutting, styling or removing, whatever your gender

When it comes to looking after your hair or getting rid of unwanted hair, there’s no shortage of options - and no wonder, because the beauty market is worth huge sums of money. So it’s hardly surprising to see the likes of Dyson joining the party, albeit with a hairdryer that costs £299. The reviews are excellent, but if you’re anything like us you’re probably hoping to spend something more like £29 on a hairdryer. If that’s the case, keep an eye out for Tourmaline dryers from the usual suspects: it’s a kind of ceramic that enables hair dryers to deliver powerful airflow without leaving your hair looking like it’s been through the tumble dryer.

Another great idea comes from late-night TV advertiser JML. Its £39.99 Simply Straight brush is a heated ceramic brush that promises to combine two essential items: your brush and straighteners. According to the Mirror it works really well - it’s not quite as effective as separate brushes and straighteners, but it comes awfully close and is very, very quick.

One of the current trends in hair styling is steam. Stylers such as the Remington CB4N Flexibrush can be used without it, or you can pop some water in, wait 60 seconds and get fabulous,

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not frizzy, results. The Flexibrush was a cult classic in the 1990s, and Remington says it brought it back because it was getting 50 calls a week from people wanting to buy one.

There are lots of gadgets for hair removal too, from the usual epilators and shavers to more high-tech options such as IPL hair removal. IPL uses pulses of light to get rid of unwanted hair, and while it works brilliantly we’ve got bad news for anyone with ginger or light blonde hair, or very dark skin: IPL only works on darker hair colours on lighter skin tones. Prices aren’t as frightening as they used to be - for example, the £350 Philips Lumea SC2004/11 is currently on sale for a more reasonable £219 - and you can use them anywhere. Some models are even okay to use on your face. The downside is that they can take some time, so for example you should allow half an hour to do your legs.

IPL is available for men too, although they aren’t recommended for use on your face or on anything more sensitive than the bikini line.

Devices for men or sold as unisex devices tend to be more expensive - for example, the Remington i-Light Pro is £299 and the Philips Lumea for Men is

£350 - but they do work, provided you don’t have ginger or light blond hair. A big advantage for men is that unlike other hair removal methods, IPL doesn’t have stubbly regrowth, irritate your skin or lead to ingrowing hairs.

There are plenty of grooming gadgets for men too. Facebook is full of ads for innovative razors and gadgets such as the £19 RazorPit Blade Sharpener. For hair removal elsewhere there’s no shortage of electric groomers, shavers and combined head and body trimmers, but shop around: recommended retail prices can be hilariously high, but retailers often sell the kits at huge discounts.

That applies to women too: beauty gadgets vary wildly in price between retailers. It’s worth picking a favourite and using a comparison site such as pricespy. co.uk to make sure that looking good won’t be bad for your bank balance.

Images L to R: Dyson hair dryer; Remington flexibrush styler; Philips Lumea IPL system; RazorPit blade sharpener

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HIDATO Starting at 1 and finishing at 49, track your way from one square to another, either horizontally, vertically or diagonally, placing consecutive numbers into the empty squares as you go.

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Support Peter Black, a local teacher, on his latest challenge to raise money for people affected by spinal injury.

I

have always been a keen swimmer, and approximately 8 years ago decided that I wanted to convert my love of this sport into taking on the challenge of completing distance swims for charity. The tagline... '22 miles. 12 weeks. Your Pool. Challenge yourself & help to raise money for people affected by spinal cord injury.' first caught my attention in 2009 and I have have completed this event twice in 2009 & 2014 raising over £500 for ASPIRE in the process.

In 2015 I completed the 2.5km individual Sport Relief Swimathon in 68 mins & decided to double the distance to 5km in 2016, after completing out 200 lengths of The Malden Centre in KingstonUpon-Thames 25m pool in 2hrs 23mins.......totally exhausted!!

Having thought that this latest distance would be plenty, I next became drawn into a whole new world of open water swimming after splashing around carelessly off the coast of La Gomera in The Canaries during a family holiday in 2016. I totally loved this new sense of freedom, & since then have been a regular visitor to the open water lake at Shepperton & latterly Hampton Pool during the winter.

were kicked off with a cake sale provided by the families of my pupils in 4B inside the main school playground on Friday 27th January. I sold Krispy Kreme donuts to the staff at break (£50) & raised another £200 from the cake sale itself.

Other scheduled events: • Saturday April 8th - I am completing a 5Km Sport Relief Swimathon at The Malden Centre indoor pool. I did the same distance in 2016 in 2hrs 23mins & a 2.5km version of the Swimathon in 2015 in 68 mins. I will be asking members of staff to purchase a tickets for a £2 to try & guess my 2017 swim time to the nearest minute. The closest time(s) will win one or more from a selection of prizes.

• To involve pupils, any boy or girl in the Junior School can enter a parallel competition for £1-00.

Closest guess will win a Sport Relief Goody Bag. • Pupils to dress up in ‘Swim Mufti’ for the day - £100.

• A second cake sale / raffle in the summer termFriday 5th May. Three training weekends at Dover in May, June & July 2017 lie ahead and many months of close season training in the pool & outdoors.

What next??? Well I've decided to well & truly up my game and attempt a six person cross-channel relay swim for ASPIRE in August 2017. I fully recognise that this will challenge me physically like no other way I've ever undertaken before.

If you are able to offer up any sum of money for this excellent charity I would be incredibly grateful. I have a goal of £1,750 to reach, so any donations large or small will be highly prized to help me achieve my target figure.

I have previously completed many indoor fundraising distance swim challenges for charities such as Marie Curie Cancer, Sport Relief & Aspire.

I have been accepted onto a six person relay team, attempting to swim across the English Channel this summer on 29th August (dependent on the tides) to raise funds for Aspire UK (adults with spinal cord injuries).

Please do check my progress via twitter & my JustGiving webpage. @peterrollob www.justgiving.com/PPR-BlackTeamOsprey

I am a teacher at Thames Ditton Junior School.

As part of my acceptance, I have pledged to raise a minimum of £1,750-00 for this very worthy cause.

TDJS is firmly behind me, with staff, parents & pupils fully on board to help me reach my target figure.

Fundraising events are expanding all the time and

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Hobbies A Hobby That Spans 150 Million Years

By Kate McLelland When plumber Steve Etches began collecting fossils as a young man, he could hardly have imagined that one day he would open the doors to his own fossil museum.

Since the 1980s, when he started hunting for fossils in his spare time, Steve – now aged 66 - has dug up more than 2,000 specimens. The £5m Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Marine Life – to give it its full title – is the pinnacle of this Dorset plumber’s remarkable achievements.

A fossil is formed when an animal or plant dies and is rapidly buried by sand, soil or mud. Fossilization occurs when the circumstances for preserving the body are just right, and that’s why an ancient seabed – where bodies are quickly covered up – is one of the best places to look.

There are different types of fossil: ‘body fossils’ include the petrified remains of animals, fish and plants and even microscopic organisms such as bacteria. Another type of fossil is the ‘trace fossil’, which shows an imprint of something that has once lived, such as a human footprint.

Steve Etches was fortunate

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to live near Dorset’s Jurassic coast, but you don’t need to live near a rich excavation site to make fossil collecting your hobby. Fossil collectors are a diverse group and vary from the casual collector to the dedicated hobbyist, who might even travel the world looking for rare specimens.

Some individuals even combine a fossil hobby with collecting crystals and minerals.

A sharp pair of eyes is the best tool for finding new specimens, as most fossils are lying in plain sight amongst the stones on the beach (although you may need help to identify likely fossils at first). Special geological hammers can be used to gently crack open the rock encasing them if necessary.

One of the best sources of information about fossil collecting can be found at www. ukfossils.co.uk. Here you’ll find a list of activities taking place throughout the country, including organised fossil hunts and fossil shows where you can chat to experts and buy specimens. Alternatively, discuss your finds with other fossil hunters at www. discussfossils.com.

If you are buying items to add to your collection, it’s

best to stick to recommended sites, as forgers can create spectacular fakes out of resin that are almost impossible to differentiate from the real thing.

You can pay anything from under a pound for a fossilized shark’s tooth to hundreds of pounds for a really good specimen, but the sky’s the limit when it comes to the rarest examples. The highest price ever recorded for a fossil was $7.6 million, paid for a T-Rex skeleton nicknamed “Sue” in 1997.

As a fossil collector you can scale your hobby exactly as you wish: either keep a few items in a display box at home or make a trailblazing contribution to science like Steve Etches, who is now considered a worldwide authority on fossils and has even been awarded an MBE for his work.

As this article began by describing Steve’s extraordinary achievements, it’s only right that he should have the last word: “You don’t need to go to university to do this. You can’t learn what I’ve learned from a three or four year degree. You can do it as a hobby and take it from there.”

Happy hunting.

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LEWIS DICK

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Need a DIVORCE, SEPARATION OR HELP WITH CONTACT speak to Carol Stevens-Stratten Need to MOVE HOUSE OR GET HELP WITH YOUR BUSINESS speak to Jonathan Owens Need to MAKE A WILL OR POWER OF ATTORNEY OR ADMINISTER AN ESTATE speak to James Winfield

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Bird Blue tit Carrion crow Dunnock Fieldfare Great tit Greenfinch Jackdaw Jay Lapwing Magpie Pheasant Redstart Redwing Swallow Robin Swift Rook Tawny owl Siskin Waxwing Starling Wren Find the names of birds in the grid and the remaining letters will spell out a related phrase

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29

Brompton unveils more bikes to Go Cycle in Surbiton

A

folding bike hire scheme launched in Surbiton last year has proven so popular that Kingston Council has granted an extension to the dock, doubling capacity.

The Brompton Bike Hire dock was launched in July as part of the council’s ongoing work to encourage cycling in the borough.

You can then book a bike online or via text.

To register you will need: • • • • •

A credit or debit card in your name Your residential address Your card billing address if different Your mobile phone Your email address

The dock at Surbiton station provides local residents and visitors access to 24/7 automated folding bike hire.

A day's hire is 24 hours from the moment you take the bike out. Take it out at 8am and return it by 8am the following day and you will only be charged for one day.

The Surbiton docking station has now been extended to double capacity to include 16 bays with Brompton giving people access to cycling options across the borough. The bikes, which are available for hire from as little as £2.50 for 24 hours, complement the 10 new cycling routes being developed by Kingston Council as part of the Go Cycle programme.

There are two tariffs to choose from: frequent and leisure.

Councillor Terry Paton, Deputy Leader and portfolio holder for the Go Cycle programme, said:

• Frequent - £20 annual fee and daily hire £2.50 • Leisure - £1 annual fee and daily hire £5

“The Brompton Bike Hire scheme has proven to be a terrific success at Surbiton and has provided locals and visitors with even more travel options for getting around the borough. Fold up bikes offer fantastic flexibility for combined journeys as they are portable on buses, trains, taxis and cars. There has been such a great demand for bikes that we’re pleased to be extending the dock to meet this demand, as well as looking at options for future docking stations elsewhere in the borough.”

You can reserve a locker to return your bike to either online or by text. You can return your Brompton bike to any public dock in the UK network. For example you can take a bike out in Surbiton and return it to Peterborough.

Brompton Bike Hire’s Sales Manager, Michael Foster, said: “The usage of Brompton Bike Hire at Surbiton station has been impressive since the dock was launched in July last year. While all of our London based docks are generally popular, our first docking station in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames has been a very strong performer.

We're delighted to be doubling capacity at Surbiton to help permit even more people to hire Bromptons.

“We look forward to continue to work with Kingston Council to find more locations in the borough to expand our network for Brompton Bike Hire."

Each has an annual membership fee and a daily hire charge. When joining, you'll pay your annual fee and be required to add £10 credit to your account to cover your first hire days.

You can keep a bike out for as long as you want as charges will just roll over. You only need to make a reservation to return the bike once you decide to give it back. If you have a bike out when your membership is due for renewal your membership will automatically be renewed.

You can only reserve a bike to take out on the day you wish to hire it or the day before.

Brompton bikes come with both front and rear dynamo lights. The lights will come on as you pedal, the rear light will stay on for a few minutes when you come to a stop.

Locks and helmets are not provided with the bikes.

Bikes can be folded and kept with you at all times so there is no need to lock them up. Instructions for folding the bikes are on the dock.

To access a bike you need to sign up as a member by registering online, (bromptonbikehire.com/register).

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Parenting What To Do If You Think Your Child Is Being Bullied

by Kate Duggan While we all like to think that our child will tell us if something is wrong, there are lots of reasons they might keep quiet about being bullied. They may feel ashamed, or worried that you’ll be disappointed in them.

They may have been threated to keep quiet. Or they could be concerned about what you’ll do. You can’t rely on your child to tell you in words what’s happening, but you can look for any signs, such as: • A reluctance to attend school.

• Acting more withdrawn, anxious or moody.

• Clothing becoming torn or dirty more frequently.

• Items going missing.

• An increase in bruises or scratches.

The above signs may not indicate bullying. But if you are concerned, talk to your child. Try to choose a time when neither of you need to do anything else, when you’re both well-rested, well-fed and in a good mood. Your child may find it easier if just one parent talks to them to start with, so they don’t feel outnumbered.

What should I do?

The key thing is to listen to your child, take their concerns seriously and make sure they

know the bullying is not their fault. Comments such as ‘You need to learn to stand up for yourself,’ will not help your child, but may mean they don’t trust you to help them in the future. Your child also shouldn’t be expected to change their appearance, hobbies or interests to placate a bully.

It’s certainly tempting to go into the school ‘all guns blazing’.

You will need to speak to the school, but try to do it calmly and in private. Speak to your child’s teacher or form tutor first, but if you’re not happy with the response make an appointment with the head of year or headmaster. You’ll want to be able to give details of the bullying, ideally including times, dates and names, if your child will provide them. All schools should have an anti-bullying policy, so ask to see it. You may want to ask for a written response, detailing how the school plans to address the bullying.

Most schools should work with you to improve the situation, but if you don’t feel that your concerns are being taken seriously, you may need to take the matter further, to the Chair of Governors, or the police.

What if my child is being

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bullied through their phone?

Home should be a safe haven, but with the advent of mobile phones and social media, bullying can go on around the clock. Cyber-bullying includes texts and phone calls, the sharing of photos, social media comments and more.

It’s best not to respond to any messages, but do save them, or take screenshots as proof. Your child could block the number of the bully, and unfollow or unfriend them. You can also speak to the phone service provider’s malicious calls team, or the social network itself. If the bullying is being done by someone at your child’s school, make an appointment to speak to a teacher. The school should be able to offer support, even when the bullying is taking place off school grounds.

Threats of violence may need reporting to the police.

Where can I go for advice?

There are several websites and helplines that can offer both you and your child support and advice. These include: www.bullying.co.uk 0808 800 2222 www.childline.org.uk 0800 1111 www.bullybusters.org.uk 0800 169 6928

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Short Story The Friends of Yarrow Avenue “What time do you call this?”

Gladys was straightening papers at her mahogany desk when Jean came shuffling into the study. “We can’t have dawdling - the Press are coming.”

“Sorry,” said Jean, “I just bumped into Mr Pike at number three.”

“How’s he?” Gladys asked.

“He’s got these temporary dentures,” Jean said. “They’re absolutely huge. He reminds me of that old cartoon dog, what’s his name?”

“False teeth, whatever the size, are hardly an excuse for leaving his bin out,” Gladys muttered tartly. “Did he have anything to say for himself?”

“Nothing much.” Jean began unwinding her scarf. “Just some remarks about the tulips.”

“Remarks?” Gladys sat upright.

“What sort of remarks?”

One thing she’d discovered since appointing herself Chair of the Friends of Yarrow Avenue was that there were always remarks.

She’d thought her neighbours would be glad of a cheerful reminder that it was time to take down their outdoor Christmas lights, or attend to the guttering.

Who wouldn’t be glad of a note suggesting that they tackle their privet? All she got was remarks.

Things would change after today. A man from the Gazette was coming to photograph the tulips they’d planted on the avenue’s grass verge. She’d had her hair done specially.

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With the right publicity, Gladys imagined, she’d finally get the recognition she deserved.

“He said that given where they’d been planted,” Jean settled herself at the card table which doubled as her desk, “he thought they were offensive.”

“Offensive!” Gladys scoffed.

“Who could possibly be offended by tulips?”

“I know!” Jean picked up her stapler as though she’d never seen one before. “Have you walked down to admire them yet?”

Gladys had not; she preferred to drive along the avenue. Her role was purely organisational.

It was Jean, as secretary, who’d gone out in the freezing fog with a dibber to plant them last Autumn.

“What’s wrong with them?”

Gladys asked. “I imagine he’s got a wonderful view from his bay window.”

“He has,” Jean said. “They look ever so colourful.”

“So why are they offensive?”

Gladys asked.

“They’re not. At least, I don’t think they are.”

“What aren’t you telling me?”

Gladys narrowed her eyes.

“Don’t bother taking your coat off, we’re going to have a look.”

Gladys strode through the hall with Jean hurrying behind her.

“At first, I decided to plant them so they spelled GOOD DAY!” Jean said.

Gladys froze. “Please tell me you didn’t?” She imagined

some dreadful municipal park planting scheme.

“I didn’t,” Jean said. Gladys breathed a sigh of relief, and set off down the garden path.

“I just planted GOO.” Jean stammered.

“I see.” Gladys marched purposefully towards the corner of the avenue. “So the tulips just say GOO?” “Well no,” Jean continued. “I remembered you’d said we should promote our residents’ association. So after GOO, I began to spell out FY – you know for the…”

“Friends of Yarrow Avenue,” Gladys interrupted. A little tacky, she thought, but at least people would know who was responsible for the tulips.

“Yes,” Jean said, catching her breath. “Only I ran out of bulbs before I could do the A.” “Please tell me my flowers don’t spell the word GOOFY?” Gladys cried. They turned the corner to see poor Mr Pike and his temporary false teeth with the photographer from the Gazette.

“Goofy!” Jean laughed cheerfully, “Yes, that was the cartoon dog’s name.”

The front page of the Gazette the next day was indeed all about the Friends of Yarrow Avenue and their tulips, finally giving Gladys exactly the type of recognition she deserved.

By Jackie Brewster

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Should Your Rabbit Live Indoors Or Outside?

When deciding where to house your rabbit, it’s important to balance their sociable nature and preference for company with the need for space to exercise. Wherever you place them, one of the main aspects to consider is their safety.

Living inside With so many potentially dangerous objects in your home, including cables that can be nibbled through and houseplants that are poisonous, you’ll need to give careful thought to where your rabbit will live indoors.

They’re very sensitive creatures, but also naturally inquisitive, which can lead them into danger if left unsupervised for too long. A rabbit can live for up to 10 years, so it’s a long-term commitment and not the easy option.

An outdoor home An outdoor hutch should allow enough

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PETS space for them to stand on their hind legs, stretch out whilst lying down, and have a substantial run attached. They will also need a quiet area to rest and sleep, away from view.

Rabbits kept in a confined space sometimes develop skeletal problems, so it’s crucial to attach a good-sized exercise area to the hutch. This also allows you to see more of your pet, and makes cleaning easier.

Their outdoor home should be sheltered from direct sunlight and strong winds, and offer protection from other pets or animals that roam around at night.

Regardless of whether they live indoors or outside, your rabbit will need plenty of space to hop around and play with toys that stimulate their naturally curious and intelligent nature. https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/caringyour-rabbit https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/ rabbits/environment

By Ann Haldon

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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And Another Thing...

Tom Goes On a Date

by Tom Hughes @groomsdaybook

Last Wednesday morning chez Hughes witnessed that most unusual of events - both Sarah (My Dearly Beloved) and I had the day off. Anticipating fierce negotiations regarding the use of our precious spare time, I decided to revert to my default position - that of immediately giving in. That way, the dreaded schlep to the retail park and the subsequent feigning of interest in soft furnishings would be over much more quickly. But Sarah had a surprise up her sleeve.

“Tom, you don’t really want to go to the Outlet Village today, do you?”

Spotting an escape route, I decided to bide my time and not break for cover too early.

“I don’t mind darling…what did you have in mind?”

“Well, I’ve been reading a book all about relationships - don’t look at me like that -

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and I’ve decided that today we should do something that we haven’t done in ages and please wipe that smirk off your face. So…why don’t we.... go the cinema? You know, like a proper date?”

I began to cheer up at the thought of an afternoon immersed inside a suspenseful twisty plot, but then it hit me - what awful saccharine-soaked weepy would I be forced to endure?

“Yes but which one darling?

We’re spoilt for choice.”

“Me Before You?” “Right, that’s enough about our marriage, what film do you fancy seeing?”

I queued in the vast foyer of the multiplex for some cola and popcorn. Eventually the spotty youth behind the counter advised me (for an extra thirty pence) to go large. After I acquiesced he presented me with a vast

carton of pop which looked like it had been donated from the set of The Borrowers. I popped my head to one side of the enormous plastic cup and said to the acne ravaged young man, “You sure this is the biggest one?”

As the confused assistant gave me a stare as blank as a starting pistol Sarah, suitably armed with comestibles, dragged me towards screen 8. Blissfully the auditorium was almost empty, meaning we could enjoy the film without the dreaded witterings of garrulous cinema goers.

After an infomercial from some American about turning off one’s phone, the lights dimmed and the BBFC notice appeared. Then - my worst nightmare - a shaft of light as the screen doors opened to reveal two scruffy-looking couples, laden with nachos, hot dogs and all other matter of junk. I groaned as they

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fell up the stairs and plonked themselves noisily behind our seats.

film.”

“Well I can’t make head nor tail with that lot jabbering on.”

“The greasy smell I can just about cope with, I just pray they will keep quiet,” I said.

There was only one thing for it - time to deploy the icy stare. Useless. The inane blather continued unabated.

I couldn’t cope any longer.

Our date was turning into a disaster. Suddenly I stood up and announced in a loud voice, “Sorry Sarah, but I can’t do this anymore.”

“Those hot dogs don’t smell too bad.”

“I wasn’t talking about the food.”

The film began, as did the sniggers, the loud whispering and the crunching. The cacophony now unbearable, I decide to meet this egregious flouting of the rules head on.

I did what any other polite Englishman would do: I tutted very loudly.

With a glare at our noisy neighbours, who immediately began nudging each other, I flounced down the aisle and flopped into a seat at the front. As the credits rolled at the end of the silly sugary movie, I wiped something

“Tom, shush I can’t enjoy the

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from my eye and rejoined my wife who, resisting my attempts to link arms, strode off towards the exit. It was only when sat back in the car that the full extent of spousal wrath was unleashed.

“Well that wasn’t embarrassing at all, was it?”

“Listen dear, you shouldn’t care what people think.

Anyway, it’s not like we knew anyone.”

“Oh really? Well look at this on my Facebook: ‘Hi Sarah, hope you enjoyed the film!

By the way, how are things at home?’”

From the look on my Dearly Beloved’s Face the answer was clear - icy!

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Beauty Mother’s Little Helpers

by Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk

Time, space and sanity savers to see you through spring If it’s been ‘one of those’ mornings, and you just haven’t had a minute to wash your hair, a dry shampoo can come in very handy. Philip Kingsley’s One More Day Dry Shampoo is a light spray that keeps excess oil at bay. Unlike some dry shampoos, this one doesn’t feel sticky or leave a powdery residue. It also helps to keep your scalp happy, so minimises flaking and irritation. And, as an added bonus, it gives your hair some extra oomph and helps it to hold a style better.

Priced at £14.50, the dry shampoo is available from www. philipkingsley. co.uk.

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I do love a good multitasker, especially one that smells as good as Darphin’s Revitalising Oil. I keep a bottle by my desk for a quick daily mini-facial. I also use it as a body oil, straight after a bath. It feels lovely and leaves skin much smoother. Finally, I work a few drops of the oil through my hair when it’s damp, to add a bit of extra shine. A little goes a long way, so the Revitalising Oil is actually not bad value for money at £25.

Available from Space NK, House of Fraser, John Lewis and www.darphin.co.uk.

Bee Good’s NectaPerfecta Beautifying Mask is another multi-tasker, and top of my wish list at the moment. It’s packed with 15 natural ingredients, including beeswax, honey, bilberry fruit extract, jojoba and wheatgerm oil, and can be used from head to toe. Use it as a face mask, weekly scalp treatment, or as an intensive treatment for dry patches on elbows, heels and hands. It can help to lock in moisture, improve elasticity, minimise fine lines and stimulate cell renewal. £39.95 from Waitrose or www.beegood.co.uk.

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Love trying new products? You might want to think about signing up for a mystery beauty box. Priced from around £9 per box, they’re filled with a selection of luxury beauty goodies, from makeup to moisturiser, and usually worth at least twice what you’ve paid. Normally, you won’t find out what you’re getting until the box arrives, but contents can often be personalised to suit your skin’s needs and your personal tastes.

Beauty boxes are delivered to your house monthly, and you can choose whether to sign up for one, three, six or 12 months. Try www.glossybox. co.uk, www. lovelula.com, www. birchbox.co.uk, www. lookfantastic.com and www.notanotherbill.com.

Mrs Paula Maple (M.Ch.S. D.Pod.M) HPC Registered Chiropodist & Podiatrist

Tel: 020 8390 7777 by appointment

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10% Discount with this advert until end of March 2017 To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

If you don’t have time for body lotion, the new Dr Do Good In-Shower Moisturiser could be for you. Just spray it on in the shower and rinse.

Simple. There’s no need to massage it in, and you don’t need to wait for it to soak in before you get dressed.

It leaves skin feeling soft and hydrated, and is ideal for popping in your gym bag.

Ingredients include extracts of five superfoods, including Vitamin A-rich carrot. £15, www. drdogood.co.uk.

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Cool Runnings?

Y

ou’ll have seen plenty of people out pounding the pavements of Berrylands, day and night and even in the coldest and wettest weather. Steely faced determination whilst putting one foot in front of the other to reach their ultimate goal.

For some, running is a way to clear the mind after a long day at work, for others it is about a weight loss target or just pure escapism.

Everyone has their reasons, but for us, we decided after a year long exercise hiatus to run the London Marathon for charity – Plan International UK. We aren’t novices at exercise, and have done a fair few triathlons over the years. However we have never run more than a half marathon and the thought of ever running a full marathon was instantly dismissed. For those that aren’t aware that’s 26.2 miles (or 42km)!

So since September, Kylie and I have joined the regular runners around the streets and been plugging away increasing the miles and working towards the start line in April. More often than not you’ll see us with our cockapoo Humphrey faithfully trotting alongside, wondering when he’ll actually have to put some effort in.

Training for a marathon is hard, especially fitting in the runs around work. It is a fine line between putting on the trainers or feeling too tired and pouring a G&T. But what keeps us going is the sponsorship that people have paid and the encouragment that friends and family have shown. It helps when your whole body aches after a 2 hour run. It helps when its cold and windy and the fire seems more inviting. It helps when your body is tired and trying to reject you. After all, while there are

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some people that could run a marathon with little or no training, most couldn’t and every bit of encouragement that they receive will help them reach their goal.

Furthermore, when running for a charity you have to think of the life changing possibilities of the sponsorship you raise. Several hours of pain for us in April will go a long way to radically improving the lives of many children around the world.

So if you see any runner out there with a pained look on their face, show them a friendly smile. It will hopefully pick up their mood and help remind them of the reason they are running. We are looking forward to the world class support at the London Marathon doing the same.

Oli and Kylie (and Humphrey) You can contribute to our fundraising efforts at: www.justgiving.com/kylie-and-oli Plan International UK is an independent development and humanitarian charity that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

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Teaching to Tie Shoelaces Teaching someone how to drive can’t be that difficult can it?

I’m proud to say I have just qualified as an observer with my RoSPA Advanced Drivers group, which you can train to do after passing the Advanced Driving test and allows you to tutor others wishing to take their test. I found the observer test nerve-wracking, as not only are you passing on your skills to a third party as they drive but you are being observed in what you say, and do, by the examiner in the process. After the drive both parties provide an assessment of my experience and the ability of passing it on.

Now I love driving and I want to be the best I can at it. I want to position the car correctly on the road, at the right speed for the conditions, make progress and observe hazards and deal with them. But for me, actually passing that experience on to another driver was like teaching my children to tie their shoelaces.

Once mastered, you just tie them automatically.

But the act of explaining how you do it - that’s different.

It’s much the same with driving a car: if you’ve ever explained to someone the procedure for finding the clutch bite point, you will realise just how much of what you do is “in the grey matter”.

So I salute driving instructors around the country, teaching others the skills of controlling a car; it is an art and skill that needs patience to deliver, and not all are capable of doing it.

By Iain Betson

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14/01/2017 22:24

Gifts for Mum Looking for the perfect present for Mother’s Day? Maybe we can help…

Paris for One and Other Stories – Jojo Moyes These 11 short stories are filled with romance, humour and charm. As we’ve come to expect from Moyes, great plots and believable characters make this a really enjoyable read. The title story follows Nell as she finds herself alone in Paris and has to break out of her comfort zone. Perfect for mums who sometimes only have 10 minutes to relax with a book and a cuppa.

Planet Earth II – Stephen Moss Millions tuned in to watch David Attenborough reveal some of the most spectacular natural wonders the Earth has to offer. If your mum was one of them, she’ll love this book. With 250 stunning photographs and commentary on the habitats and animals featured in the TV series, Planet Earth II may well find a prized position on the bookcase for years to come.

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Hide and Seek – M. J. Arlidge If Mum’s into crime fiction, Hide and Seek could be a good choice. DI Helen Grace is serving time in Holloway for a series of murders she didn’t commit.

When one of her cell mates is brutally murdered, suspicion turns to Helen.

Can she find the real killer before she gets the blame, and before she becomes the next victim? Gripping.

From the Heart – Susan Hill A poignant coming of age novel, From the Heart is set at a time when many of the freedoms we now take for granted could cost you dearly. Olive wants to be free to follow her heart. But an unplanned pregnancy gives her an almost impossible choice – marry a man she doesn’t love, or give up her baby. Beautifully written, and painfully emotive, this is a book to devour in one evening.

Gino’s Hidden Italy: How to cook like a true Italian – Gino D’Acampo If a new cookbook is on her wishlist, this TV programme tie-in should prove a winner.

80 authentic Italian recipes are included, many of which are local specialities or traditional dishes with a Gino twist. Recipes are straightforward to follow, with dishes such as Baked Salmon with a Pistachio, Honey and Herb Crust, and Stuffed Lake Como Pie. Elizabeth: The Forgotten Years – John Guy John Guy is one of the most respected Tudor historians of our times. Here he reveals aspects of Elizabeth I’s later life previously lost in time. Painstakingly researched, the biography includes extracts from numerous letters from Elizabeth herself and details of both her private and public life. A must for fans of historical biographies.

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email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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ALAN SURSHAM (MOTOR VEHICLE TECHNICIAN)

Registered Office: 1, Orchard Close, West Ewell, Epsom, Surrey, KT19 9NS

Your local MOT TESTER AND SERVICE REPAIRER

ALL CARS COLLECTED AND DELIVERED (LOCAL AREAS)

Interim Service - £85 Full Service - £145 (Parts and Labour included) CARS UP TO 2000 CC Quotes for cars over 2000 cc - please phone

Diagnostics - Brakes - Clutches - Bodywork - Welding etc.

Labour Rate £37.50 per hour Telephone:

Office - 020 8397 8654 Garage - 07784 716 567 (For instant attention)

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Berrylands Autocare * MOT Testing (while you wait) * Diagnostic Testing * Servicing & Mechanical Repairs * Open until 5.30pm weekdays * Saturdays: 9.00am to 1.00pm

250 yards from main line Berrylands Station Providing a service for our local community

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ADVERTISING IS AS EASY AS CRACKING EGGS! Your advertising can be a package for as little as ÂŁ51 a month when you advertise for a year in A Berrylands Companion

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CONTACT: email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Health

By Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month BRCA2, which also increase breast cancer risk.

Previous breast cancer doubles the risk, and pushes it even higher if you were diagnosed before age 40.

Around 7,300 UK women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer annually and less than half are alive 5 years later. Yet early diagnosis can increase 5-year survival to 90%. That’s why March’s Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month is vital.

Reducing Risk: Taking the contraceptive pill, having children and breastfeeding are all proven to reduce ovarian cancer risk.

Types of Ovarian Cancer About 90% of ovarian tumours are epithelial ovarian cancer, starting in the layer covering the ovary. Around 1 to 2% of ovarian cancers are germ cell cancers, formed in the ovary’s egg making cells. Rare stromal tumours and sarcomas can also affect the ovary and a few ovarian cancers are primary peritoneal carcinomas, which develop in the membrane around abdominal organs. Slowgrowing borderline ovarian tumours do not grow into the stroma (supportive tissue of the ovary).

Risk Factors Increasing age: Most ovarian cancer sufferers are postmenopause.

Faulty genes: 5 to 15% of ovarian cancers are thought to be caused by an inherited faulty gene, including BRCA1 and

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Infertility may increase risk, but fertility treatments are no longer believed to do so. There may be an increased risk of borderline ovarian tumours in infertile women treated with IVF. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is linked to less than 1% of ovarian cancers.

Being overweight or tall: A BMI of 28 or over increases risk in premenopausal women but has no effect on risk in postmenopausal women. Taller women also have a higher risk.

Endometriosis Using talcum powder between your legs is thought to increase ovarian cancer risk due to its irritant effect.

Smoking: The longer you’ve smoked, the greater the risk increase for certain ovarian cancers.

Symptoms Ovarian cancer symptoms aren’t always easy to identify and may be mistaken for IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) or PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome) symptoms in the early stages.

However, if symptoms are new, severe, frequent or persistent (occurring most days for three weeks or more), you should see your GP immediately, although often, a less serious condition is to blame. Look out for: • Abdominal swelling and persistent bloating.

• Persistent pelvic and abdominal pain.

• Difficulty eating, nausea and feeling full unusually quickly.

• Back pain.

• Needing to urinate more frequently.

• Pain during sex.

Remember that ovarian cancer is rare in women under 40, but that you should be particularly cautious if you are over 50 or have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer.

Diagnosis Your GP may do some tests themselves or refer you straight to a specialist. You will be examined externally and internally to check for any lumps or swelling and will then have an abdominal or transvaginal ultrasound scan. They’ll also do a blood test for CA125, a protein that’s elevated in half of women with early stage ovarian cancer and 90% of women with advanced ovarian cancer (although other pelvic conditions and pregnancy can cause elevated levels too). They may also order a CT or MRI scan. However, sometimes it’s impossible to diagnose ovarian cancer definitively without surgery.

Treatment Most women with ovarian cancer will require surgery.

If your cancer is diagnosed early, you may only need the affected ovary and fallopian tube removed. More advanced cancers may need more extensive surgery, plus chemotherapy before and after, to treat cancerous cells and reduce reoccurrence risk.

Please mention the magazine when contacting Advertisers

Imagine advertising for less than the price of a daily cup of coffee!



     

This size advert for £43 a month



Contact Karen now on 020 8274 0096

  

karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

                    

  

  







The Life List

Advertise in A Berrylands Companion We were told that the radio only worked at teatime.

We shared a toilet with the municipal baths.

It’s All Right For Some!

We had a single pair of socks between three of us - a brown one and a blue one.

When faced with delayed pensions, jobs stolen by robots, and endless reality television (we were lucky with The Family in 1974!), you can see why the younger generation thinks that we’ve had the best of it.

Even their technology has helped us to catch up on decades of our favourite radio and TV programmes.

We made all our own decorations out of last year’s decorations.

It wasn’t always that way though, as they sometimes need to be reminded. Here’s a list of conversation starters, with just a hint of exaggeration.

Our Father Christmas letter simply read: all donations gratefully received.

We glued pencil shavings together to make a new pencil.

It was a treat to be sat outside the pub with a lemonade.

As dad was a keen gardener, we had to follow the rag and bone horse until we’d collected a bagful.

We were only allowed to stay up late to watch programmes we couldn’t understand.

Our childhood was so deprived...

All the kids in class knew you’d redecorated by the cover on your exercise book.

The school dinners were leftovers - from the dinners at other schools.

Every child had to learn fractions to cope with mum’s Green Shield Stamps.

At Christmas we each got an orange painted stone.

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

By Derek Thompson www.alongthewritelines.blogspot.co.uk

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

47

QUIZ SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD SOLUTION

HIDATO SOLUTION

CODEWORD SOLUTION 3 Letters OUT

DUET

OUTED

DIE

TOE

TOED

VOTED

DOT

VET

VETO

6 Letters

DUE

4 Letters VOTE

DEVOUT

DUO

DOTE

5 Letters

ODE

DOVE

DUVET

WORDWHEEL ANSWER HINDER WORDSEARCH ANSWER The early bird catches the worm.

Anon

CHILDREN’S PAGE

The grid can be filled in as follows: Tiger, Rhinoceros, Snake, Elephant, Toad, Donkey, Yak, Koala, Alligator, Reindeer, Rabbit.

The mole collects 6 worms when taking the most direct route down the tunnel.

48

WORD LADDER ANSWER (This is one solution, there may be others)

FISH fist list lost loot foot fool FOWL

Please mention the magazine when contacting Advertisers

Work begins to transform libraries in Kingston

K

ingston Council has begun work to transform all seven libraries, installing new state of the art self service technology and creating flexible community spaces.

Kingston Library will be the first of the seven libraries to reopen on 27 February following a makeover, with improvements including the incorporation of the children’s library into the building.

A smaller selection of adults and children’s stock is temporarily based in the existing Children’s Library on Wheatfield Way during the works.

Councillor Andrea Craig, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Heritage, Arts and Leisure at Kingston Council, said: “This is a hugely exciting project for the borough and the benefits of this investment will be felt for years to come.

The transformation work has started with Kingston Library, which is reopening this month, and is already looking fantastic.

“We know that our residents are keen library users, so enhancing these key community spaces is essential. I hope that even more residents and visitors take the opportunity to discover all that is on offer in our newly-transformed libraries.”

Whilst the refurbishment works are taking place, library users will still be able to enjoy and access other libraries across the borough and the schedule of work has been planned so that libraries nearby are open.

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

The programme timeline for the remaining libraries is: • Tolworth Library - Contractors move in on Monday 13 February and the library will reopen on Tuesday 28 February (alternative libraries: Surbiton and Hook).

• Old Malden Library - The works start on Monday 27 February and the library will reopen on Monday 13 March (alternative library: New Malden).

• Hook Library - The contractors move in on Monday 6 March and the library will reopen on Tuesday 28 March (alternative libraries: Tolworth and Surbiton).

• New Malden Library - Works begin on Monday 20 March and the library will reopen on Monday 3 April (alternative libraries: Old Malden and Kingston).

• Surbiton Library - The contractors move in on Monday 27 March and will reopen on Monday 10 April (alternative libraries: Kingston and Tolworth).

• Tudor Drive Library - The contractors move in to Tudor Drive Library on Monday 3 April and will reopen on Tuesday 2 May (alternative library: Kingston Library).

For more information, visit the library transformation webpage.

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

49

What’s on in March:Events in March:

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month; Prostate Cancer Awareness Month Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal Month; National Bed Month; Red Cross Month; Vegetable Month.

1st: St David’s Day; Ash Wednesday.

2nd: World Book Day 3-9th: National Multiple Sclerosis Week 3-15 April: Display of Hungarian ‘Tattooed’ Easter eggs on loan from Horniman Museum at

Kingston Museum.

6-12th: British Pie Week 8th: International Womens’ Day

No Smoking Day 9th: Lecture: Sutherland Mcdonald: Victorian tattooist of Surbiton. By Dr. Matt Lodder,

University of Essex, Lecturer in Contemporary Art and Visual Culture & expert in the

history of tattooing. 7pm at Kingston Museum 9-12th: Crufts at NEC Birmingham; World Kidney Day 10-12th: Disabled Access Days 10-17th: British Science Week 12th: Commonwealth Day; World Glaucome Week 13-19th: Nutrition & Hydration Week; National Butchers’ Week.

17th: St Patrick’s Day 19th: St Patrick’s Day Parade 20th: Spring Equinox

World Oral Health Day; The Big Pedal Day 21st: World Downs Syndrome Day 22nd: World Water Day 23rd: World Meteorological Day 24th: World Tuberculosis Day; Red Nose Day 25th: Head of the River Race, Mortlake to Putney 26th: Mothers’ Day

British Summer Time Begins: Put Clocks Forward.

International Purple Day (promote awareness of epilepsy) 27-2nd April: World Autism Awareness Week 27-31st: World Autism Awareness at Schools 30th: World Bipolar Day

Life Drawing with a Difference: Tattooed Bodies. Join Art Macabre for a life drawing workshop dedicated to tattooed bodies. You will also get to try drawing directly onto

our human canvas. Suitable to 18+, all levels of drawing experience and beginners

welcome. Call Kingston Museum to book. 7-9pm. Fee.

Events in April:

Bowel Cancer and IBS Awareness Month; Stress Awareness Month;

Mathmatics Awareness Month 1st April Fools’ Day 1st April-May 2nd: National Pets’ Month 1-17th: Easter Eggstravaganza. Come along and celebrate spring with our seasonal fun! There

will be free craft activities, Thumbs up it’s Thursday activities, and our annual Easter Egg

Hunt, too. Ages 5+, younger siblings are welcome. Kingston Museum.

2nd: Oxford versus Cambridge Boat Race 7th: Walk to Work Day 10-16th: Parkinson’s Awareness Week 13th: Maundy Thursday 14th: Good Friday Bank Holiday 16th: Easter Sunday 17th: Easter Monday Bank Holiday

World Haemophilia Day 17-21st: Orchid Male Cancer Week 21st: Queen Elizabeth ll actual birthday. There will be gun salutes

National Skipping Day

23rd: St George’s Day, celebrations in Trafalgar Square

Shakespeare Day

Virgin Money, London Marathon 23-29th: World Immunization Week 24-30th: National Stop Snoring Week

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Please mention the magazine when contacting Advertisers

What’s On/Local Events

1st Tuesday: NHS Retirement Club, 10-12pm at Christ Church Hall, Christ Church Road, Surbiton, KT5 8JJ. For information call Lorna: 020 8337 4121 Last Sunday of the month: Women on Wheels, meet outside Clas Ohlson Market Place 10.00. 020 8547 5865. E-mail: ccst@rbk.kingston.gov.uk Art Classes: Every Monday 10-12noon & 2-4pm, with Berrylands Artists at Berrylands Christian Centre, 41 King Charles Road, Surbiton, KT5 8PF. Info: 020 8644 0941 Berrylands Women’s Club: Meets every Mon evening, 8pm at Elgar Hall, United Reform Church, Raeburn Avenue, . Talks, slides and outings. Contact: Joyce Johnson Tel: 020 8390 5817 Broadway Sequence Dance Club: Meets every Monday from 8pm at Elgar Hall United Reform Church, Elgar Road. New sequences are taught, some knowledge of ballroom dancing required. Contact Brenda Deane for more info: 020 8390 0233. www.broadway sequencedance.co.uk Chinese Brush Painting: Held once a month at Sunray Community Centre, Knollmead, Tolworth. 1013.00pm Contact Gwen: 020 8398 7313. Beginners & intermediates welcome.

Encore Singing Group: Mondays, 10am - 12.15pm in Berrylands. For info: gillyvor@hotmail.com Kingston Camera Club: Camera enthusiasts welcome. Meet Mon eves, at St John’s Ambulance HQ, Athelstan Rd off Villiers Avenue. 7.30pm - 10pm with coffee break. New members welcome. For more information visit: www.kingstoncameraclub.com Kingston Pensioners’ Forum: Meets 2nd Monday each month at Reform Church, Eden Street, at 2pm.

New members welcome. Talks, outings and tea and coffee. For more info: Pam Wilson Secretary, 020 8241 9913, www.kingstonpensionersforum@hotmail.co.uk Kingston Philatelic Society: Meets 8-10pm on 1st Thurs & 3rd Fri, at Surbiton Library Hall, Ewell Road.

Info: Brian Sole Tel: 01932 220 677 or email: brian.sole@btinternet.com Ladies Exercise Club: Friendly & fun exercise/movement class for ladies 65+ at Berrylands Christian Centre, King Charles Road. Friday 10.15 - 11.15am plus coffee. Come & try first, free first class. Call Mary, 01483 284 716 or maryedwards@uwclub.net Mrs Bennet’s Ballroom:Wednesdays. Learn Regency dancing at St Mark’s Church Hall, Surbiton, 8pm - 10.30pm. Cost £5 per eve. See advert. Contact Libby Curzon, 020 8391 1215. Email: curzone@hotmail. com Oasis daytime group for over 60s: at Emmanuel Church, Grand Avenue, Tolworth. Plenty of opportunity to chat, play games, do puzzles. Meetings, Wednesday 16th March, includes a 5 minute Bible-based talk.

Meetings on Wednesdays fortnightly, at 2.30pm. Tel: 020 8390 6631.

Open Door: Alternate Thursdays, 2.30 - 4.15pm, from 4th February. A friendship group aimed at seniors.

Afternoon tea, chat and short talks from local organisations. Christ Church Lounge, King Charles Road, Surbiton. 020 8390 7215 St Marks Church:Weds mornings 10.00-11.30 Stay and Play for Toddlers and Carers at St Mark’s Church Hall, St Mark’s Hill. Friday Mornings Coffee and Cake corner 10-11.30am, drop in for coffee at St Andrew’s Church, Maple Road, no booking required for any of them.

Scottish Country Dancing: On Thursdays 7.30pm - 10.30pm at St Mark’s Church Hall. Tuition for half an hour from 7.30. Membership £5 a year, Members £3/evening, non-members £4. Join our friendly, informal club for good fun and an easy way to excercise. Check website: www.surbitoncaledonian.co.uk or call: 01932 784 866 Surbiton Arts Group: Meets monthly on Mondays 8-10pm for lectures and demonstrations in Surbiton Library Hall. Exhibitions twice a year. For info: Call Alan 020 8397 1050 Surbiton Club for the Blind and Visually Impaired: Meets alternate Tues 2-4pm at Surbiton Hill Methodist Church, Ewell Road. Social club with entertainment and tea. Transport available if necessary.

For information: 0744 364 3716 . Volunteer drivers very welcome.

Surbiton Floral Club: 1st Weds of the month at Raeburn Hall United Reform Church, Elgar Avenue. 7.30 for 7.45pm start. Floral demos, talks, workshops & outings. Tel: 020 8399 8193 Talking of Trains in Surbiton: Programme of talks at Surbiton Library Hall, each Wednesday evening from 23rd Sept, throughout winter months. First meeting free, fee for complete year is £50. Details on www.talkingoftrains.co.uk For further information contact: David Blackmore, 020 8391 1116.Em: dandp@ blueyonder.co.uk Tiny Tunes: Mon 10am & 10.50am at Surbiton Library Hall. Tues 10am & 10.50am at St Nicholas Parish Church, Summer Rd, Thames Ditton. All sessions 40 mins long, features music, dance, parachutes, bubbles & pom-poms. Age 3 months -5 years, pay as you go £5, siblings £2.50 www.tinytuneslive.com

If your club or society is not listed on the Local Events, send in the details!!

Why not send in your events for Mothers’ Day and Easter for the What’s On Page?

School, Churches & Charity events, Open Days and Fairs should be submitted to: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

51

COMMUNITY PAGE Surbiton & District Historical Society Tues 7th March: This is the most important date in our programme, as this is our AGM. The meeting starts at 7.45pm. No charge is made for visitors this evening. Come and find out more about our Society and perhaps become a member. Refreshments will be served at the end of the meeting, for which there is no charge.

Tues 4th April: Mr David C Taylor will give a talk on “The Lushington Family of Esher”, a 19C family whose members mixed with Dickens, the Rothschilds, Government & the Royal Family.

British Summer Time starts, so remember to TURN clocks FORWARD one hour before you go to bed, on Saturday 25th March

Meetings start time: 7.45pm at Surbiton Library Hall, Ewell Road, Surbiton. Visitors welcome, Contribution of £2 appreciated For more details about meetings and the Society, call

The Secretary: 020 8399 4473 Email: lenandmarilyn@virginmedia.com

Disclaimer

For all gardeners and allotment holders!

We are a small friendly local society providing gardening supplies at very reasonable prices to our members: 9 Seeds, summer and spring bulbs, onion sets, seed potatoes.

9 Summer bedding plants and other young plants according to season.

9 Traditional and organic fertilizers and soil improvers/conditioners.

9 Lawn and rose treatments, weedkillers, pest controls.

9 Growbags and bagged compost, pots, gloves, trays, canes, netting etc.

Annual membership just £2, senior citizens £1.

Website:www.horticultural.moonfruit.co.uk Email: chesshort@live.co.uk

Our trading hut is conveniently sited at Moor Lane Allotments (just off Moor Lane near The Bonesgate pub) Open every Sunday 10am to 12noon, except December.

In accordance with our "members only" policy, new members are always welcome to join!

Annual Membership just £2.50, senior citizens £1.50

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26th

Whilst all reasonable care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information included in A Berrylands Companion , the publisher takes no responsibility for the accuracy of statements made by contributors or advertisers, or for the loss arising from non-publication of any advertisement.

Any errors, omissions or offers are the resposibilty of the advertiser. All artwork is accepted on the condition that the advertiser has obtained permission from any copyright holder for its use by A Berrylands Companion. Whilst every care is taken when printing artwork, we cannot guarantee an exact colour match due to variations in print processes. Bookings are accepted only on this basis.

It is the advertiser’s responsibility to submit any amendments to adverts by the deadline date of the 8th.

To advertise any event, or community activity in the magazine, please call: Karen on 020 8274 0096 or email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

Please mention the magazine when contacting Advertisers

27. Plant - sucking insects (5)

Down:

COMMUNITY PAGE

1. Terminate gradually (5,3) 2. A Sultanate in northwestern Borneo (6) 3. Horologist (10) 4. Slightly open (4) 5. Engage somebody to enter the army (6) 6. Represents or performs as if in a play (6) 8. Come to terms with (7) SURBITON BOWLING CLUB 9. Shortened term for provocation (5) 13. Returning to politicalGround, office (10) Alexandra Recreation Surbiton 15. Unusually great in size (7) 16. After sunrise and before sunset (8) We looking 17. are Strong and sharpfor (5) new members 18. Havingto little emotion or sensibility (6) our 25, 26join April & 4club.

July 20. Add to the very end (6) 22. The highest point; culminate (6) 2:30 to 6pm Everyone is welcome!

24. Compass point (4)

Remember, you can pick up a copy of A Berrylands Companion magazine at the following:

FRIENDS & FAMILY DAYS

C.D.Jennings, B&M Budget Store, Surbiton & Tolworth Libraries, Shan’s Pharmacy, Tolworth Recreation Centre, The Lamb, MBE Surbiton, Superstore Ewell Road.

and on Tuesday evenings at 5.30 from mid Bowls equipment coaching April through to midand September

provided IT’S FREE OF CHARGE, NO October Sudoku OBLIGATIONS AND EVERYONE IS Under 16’s must be accompanied by MOST WELCOME!! an adult.

BOWLS EQUIPMENT & COACHING PROVIDED Under 16’s wear must beflaccompanied by an adult to Please at soled trainers

Please wear flat soled to protect the playing protect thetrainers playing surface. surface ForFor information ‘phone Keith on 020 call 8390 0638 or information please Keith email: surbitonbowlingclub@yahoo.co.uk

020 8241 1192

email: surbitonbowlingclub@yahoo.co.uk

HOOK ALLOTMENTS AND GARDENS ASSOCIATION Are you interested in gardening?

Did you know there is an association in Hook?

Our Association was founded over 50 years ago and is run36 by volunteers, can provide a E Page 33-40.indd wide range of composts, fertilisers, seeds and other gardening products at not-for-profit prices to our members. We support gardeners and allotment holders.

We currently have full and half plots available to rent. Contact: John on 07807 300 749 Membership is £2.50 a year and new allotment holders have free membership for the first year Our trading facility is situated next to the entrance to the allotment plots, beyond the rugby club pavillion, rear of King Edward’s Recreation Ground, Hook Road, Chessington Open: Sundays 10am - 12 noon Feb - Nov 10am - 11am Nov - Jan

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

Read it whilst you wait at: Aspen Vets, Berrylands Autocare Garage, Confidental Dentist Surgery, Collinsons Opticians, If you would like copies at your business please call me on: 020 8274 0096

Deadlines for submitting new artwork for forthcoming issues of A Berrylands Companion 8th March for April issue 22/01/2010 00:22:03 8th April for May issue 8th May for June issue June 8th for July/Aug issue Aug 8th for September issue Sept 8th for October issue 8th Oct for November issue 8th Nov for Dec/January issue 8th Jan for February issue 8th Feb for March issue For more information call Karen on 020 8274 0096 or send an email to

karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

53

Index Please mention the magazine when contacting advertisers 19 23 15 5 21 25 21 27 27 13 13 15 55 17 31 23 28 19 27

Home & Garden All Your Garden Needs Berrylands Building Company Berrylands Property Maintenance Carpets4U Chris Mould Plumber Dream Doors (Kingston Kitchens) George Curren Electrical James Anthony KB Design Kevin Robinson Decorators Leverett Electricals Oven Cleaners Pro-Fit Windows Systems R.J.Tree Services Richie Brickwork Shaun Overy Heating & Plumbing Time4U Will Lord William Stallion Electricals

2 37 39

Care & Health Confidental Dental Clinic Chessington Hypnotherapy Clinic Paula Maple Chiropodist

31 47 31 56

Rest & Relaxation King George Field Bowls Club Mrs Bennet’s Ballroom Classes Rebel Waltz Cycle Solutions Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club

7 39

Children & Education Margaret Barnes Ballet School Stephanie Son Translation

35 35 7

Veterinary Aspen Veterinary Surgery Cats Protection League Good Life Dog Care

54

44 45 43 44 41

Car Maintenance Alan Sursham Berrylands Autocare Community Motors K&P Tyres Walsh Vehicle Management

11 9 37

Food & Drink C.D.Jennings Langley’s Restaurant Prithi

29

Solicitors Lewis-Dick

52/53 32 50/51 7 42 3 18 24 40 49 30

Articles & Editorials Community Pages Kids Page What’s On & Local Events Pages Crossword Book Review Useful Telephone Numbers Gardening by Pippa Greenwood Swimathon Challenge London Marathon Preparation Libraries Refurbishment Expansion of Cycle Bank

Want To Advertise Your Business?

Just because there is already an advert for a similar one, please do not think we will not take your advert!

There are so many businesses, trades and services that are not represented in

A Berrylands Companion From as little as £42 a month your advert can feature here for a year!

An email with your artwork will ensure it is featured.

So What is Stopping You? Call Now!

Contact Karen: tel: 020 8274 0096 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

Magazine printed by Warwick Printing, Warwickshire

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To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

55

New Year New You!

For a FREE one day gues t pass, text ‘Surbiton’ followed by yo name and em ur ail address to 85500 (Norma l text rates and terms and conditions apply)

Whatever the weather there’s always something going on at Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club. Come and try!

Indoor and Cardio Tennis, Squash, Racketball, Zumba, Pilates, Indoor Cycling, our Life Fitness Gym and much, much more. Drop in and look for yourself.

NEw healthy menu for February!

Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club, Berrylands, Surbiton, Surrey, KT5 8JT T: 020 8399 1594 | E: info@surbiton.org | www.surbiton.org

56

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