March 2018 issuu 126

Month: March 2018 Issue No: 126 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: * Easter dangers for pets * Berrylands Nature Reserve * Spring cleaning time again! * Recipes * Articles and quizzes

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r.J.tree Services, Berrylands, Surbiton 020 8399 0103 07980 903 881 and videos on all aspects of our work Visitmagazine our websitewhen for information Please mention the contacting Advertisers

Hello Readers,

A

lready we are into March, and I just have no idea where January and February went! I’ve noticed the bulbs coming through, and the signs are good for some fantastic blooms.

The garden has been alive most days with various birds coming to the feeders, if the squirrels leave anything! We put out some of the left over Christmas hard shell nuts, and one squirrel took each one, sometimes two at a time, and buried them in the lawn in various places. I hope he remembers where he left his stash!

Our adult male fox has visited several times a week, but his youngster comes nearly every evening when we call the cats in. It sits patiently off to the side of the back door, whilst the father comes right up to the door, with his nose on the glass looking in.

The cats are seldom bothered by their presence, in fact, they sit and wait with them, in the hope of some of the food will drop their way.

This month sees some past advertisers returning and also some very welcome newcomers. I hope that you will use their services.

And just a reminder to turn the clocks forward this month, as we Spring forward.

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 116 123 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

3

Moving House with Children

by Kate Duggan kateduggan.co.uk

The thought of leaving friends and going to a new school, coupled with the anxiety of the unknown, can make moving house very unsettling for children. Kate Duggan recently moved house with ten days’ notice.

(She wouldn’t recommend it.)

Here are some of her top tips for helping children to cope with a big move.

Involving your child If possible, take your child to see the new house before the move, and explore the area together. Involve them in small decisions: “Where do you think this should go?”

“What colour shall we paint your room?” You could also let your child choose some wall decals for their bedroom and a new duvet cover or rug. That being said, they will want familiar items around them. The day before you move, help them to pack a suitcase with everything they’ll need for the next couple of days, including a favourite teddy, a book, a game and so on.

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Don’t stress about decluttering While you may be desperate to declutter ahead of the move, your child may not cope with the extra pressure of giving up toys and clothes, even those that have been languishing in a cupboard for months. Don’t force them into getting rid of things if they don’t want to. You could suggest packing items that they’re not sure about into a box for the loft, with the agreement that you’ll both open it and sort through everything a few months after the move.

Making family time When your to-do list is three feet long, it’s really difficult to carve out any quality time to spend with your family, but do try. Leaving the boxes for 20 minutes so you can play a board game can help to avoid a potential meltdown later on. All of you will benefit from getting away from the house for a couple of hours now and then, ideally for some fresh air and time to focus on each other.

Talk to your child Explain why you’re moving house, whether it’s due to needing to pay less rent or because you’ve found a better area to live in. Talk about how your child is feeling about the move. What are they worried about, and what can you do to alleviate those worries? So, for example, if they’re worried about a new school, could you ask their teacher to help you arrange a playdate before your child starts at the school? If they’re upset about leaving friends, can you arrange meet-ups or Skype calls?

Make time for yourself Moving is stressful. And when you’re stressed, it’s very easy to lose your temper with the kids when they’re being particularly whingy or difficult. So try to take some time out to recharge your own batteries. You might find relaxation techniques useful, or just kicking back with a glass of wine and a film now and then may help.

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5

Finance

By Ann Haldon

Has Your Local Bank Closed Down?

Dealing with Branch Closures

An increase in the number of customers using online, telephone, and mobile banking, in conjunction with a drive to reduce costs, led to hundreds of local bank branches closing their doors in 2017.

According to market research company, Statista, “In 2016, 64 percent of all individuals used the internet for online banking ...”¹ So how do you sign up for this if you’re not ‘tech-savvy,’ and are there any alternatives if you live in a remote area, have limited access to the internet, or simply don’t want to use online banking?

Telephone, internet, and mobile banking Bank systems and requirements vary in terms of registration, but in essence you’ll provide your personal details, decide on a password, and choose some security questions or memorable information that can be used as an added layer of security.

When you register online, you’ll also be prompted to download the bank’s mobile app to your smartphone, where you can sign in using the same information as for internet banking. Banks may send part of your login information through the post for security purposes, and in some cases you may have to use a small device to log in or transfer larger sums of money.

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Some new banks are expanding their branch network It’s not all bad news with regard to in-person banking, however.

A few banks are expanding their networks in the UK, bucking the trend of high street branch closures.

Handelsbanken Established Swedish bank Handelsbanken has a network of more than 200 branches in Great Britain, with further expansion plans being reported in the press. Its business model means that branches are located away from the high street, in order to reduce their operational costs.

Metro Bank Metro Bank branches, or ‘stores,’ are open seven days a week, 362 days a year. You can carry out all the usual banking transactions at Metro, and they have your cheque book and bank card printed in the branch on the same day that you open an account.

Day-to-day banking at Post Office branches A further development that will help if you’re missing your local bank branch is the new partnership between the banking industry and the Post Office. You can now carry out day-to-day banking transactions at your local Post Office, such as depositing and withdrawing cash, paying in cheques, and checking your balance.

Although some of these services were previously available to a limited number of customers, the new arrangement allows 99% of personal high street banking customers, and 95% of small businesses, to use Post Office branches for their day-to-day banking needs.

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

Mobile branch banking One new initiative is helping customers to access vital banking services once or twice every week. Lloyds Banking Group has partnered with security firm G4S to provide ‘banks on wheels. ’ In other words, armoured vans that travel to locations where smaller branches have been closed.

Third party authorisation It’s also possible to authorise a trusted friend or member of your family to carry out certain bank transactions on your behalf.

They won’t be able to control your account, but could pay in, withdraw money, and obtain a balance for you if you provide the necessary written authority.

Branch closures are a significant issue, particularly for older people living in rural areas of the UK, but with alternative methods such as the mobile branch banking service, access will hopefully be improved for those who need it. ¹www.statista.com/ statistics/380884/online-bankingpenetration-in-the-uk/ www.telegraph.co.uk/ business/2017/10/08/swedishchallenger-bank-handelsbankencommits-uk-wants-brexit/ www.handelsbanken.co.uk/ shb/inet/IStartRb.nsf/Frame Set?OpenView&iddef= &navid=Handelsbanken RB_AbouttheGroup&sa=/ shb/inet/icentrb.nsf/Default/ qF5D7D0EC8FA6784F802576 23002D9974 www.metrobankonline.co.uk/waysto-bank/ personal.rbs.co.uk/personal/waysto-bank/mobile-branch.html

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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7

The Great British Spring Clean The Great British Spring Clean campaign, which is taking place on 2 - 4th March, has a simple aim: to bring people across the country together to clear up the litter that blights our towns, villages, countryside and beaches.

The campaign is organised

by Keep Britain Tidy, an independent charity working towards eliminating litter, ending waste by creating sustainable practices, and improving our beaches, parks and streets.

Places to be Proud of The goal of the Great British Spring Clean is to inspire 500,000 people to get outdoors, get active and help clear up the rubbish around them, so that they can ‘live and work in places that they can be proud of and prosper in.’

The campaign works with individuals, businesses, organisations and public bodies, and has some big-name supporters including Coca-Cola Great Britain, Lidl, McDonalds, Wrigley, Costa, Iceland, KFC, Greggs, Stagecoach, the RSPCA, the RSPB and the Marine Conservation Society.

Get Involved ‘Join our growing army of #LitterHeroes who have had enough of other people’s litter

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and are willing to do something about it,’ urges the campaign’s statement. ‘Together we can make a difference and clean up the environment on our doorstep.’

taking place.

You can do some litter-picking by yourself or with friends and family, although make sure you stay safe, particularly if you’re litter-picking near roads. If you prefer to join an organised event or group, the campaign page has a handy map of what’s on – and you can also enter your postcode to discover events taking place near you.

Visit www.keepbritaintidy. org/get-involved/support-ourcampaigns/great-british-springclean.

Wayne Dixon, whose adventures can be tracked by following @WayneKoda on Twitter, is walking and litter-picking his way around the 7,500 miles of Britain’s coastline accompanied by his dog, Koda. He is raising money for Mind and North Inuit Dogs while also supporting Keep Britain Tidy and their Great British Spring Clean campaign.

It’s a cause dear to his heart and Koda’s, as Koda nearly lost a leg when he was injured by a discarded can. You may not have a few years to spare to follow in Wayne’s footsteps, but a shorter coastal excursion could be fun.

At Killingbeck in Leeds, for instance, the plan is to clean up the local nature reserve, making ‘the green space on their doorstep’ a nicer, safer place for both people and wildlife. There are also plans to do a litter pick-up in the areas covered by Leeds Health Walks. Meanwhile, Belper claims to be planning its biggest litter-pick ever on the 3rd March, with several sites targeted for clean ups.

There are lots of events on the map already – just click on a virtual map pin to see a snippet appear, then click the snippet heading to find out exactly where and when the event is

Feeling Adventurous?

The more adventurous of you may like to combine litter-picking with sightseeing, exercise or both.

If you like to be on the water rather than walking beside it, you could join the Plastic Patrol, as featured on The Russell Howard Hour. The group paddleboard the waterways of Britain removing discarded plastic. ‘We’ll supply the litter pickers, refuse sacks and we’ll even dispose of everything you find – just come along, do your bit and have fun.’ Visit www. plasticpatrol.co.uk and click on ‘clean-up events’ to find one near you.

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Home & Interiors Spring Clean with Style

By Katherine Sorrell

Sweep, brush, wash and scrub. When spring sunlight shows up the corners of your home that need attention, it’s time to pop on your pinny and get to work. And cleaning is so much more enjoyable when the tools you use are both efficient and good-looking.

Tips for efficient cleaning • For a proper fresh start, begin by tidying all the mess that has built up over the last year. Sort it out into piles of rubbish, things to give away, stuff that needs mending and everything else that needs to find a rightful home. Ta da! You have created much more space in your home and plenty of room to get cleaning.

• Be prepared. Work out what jobs you are going to tackle, wear appropriate clothing and gather together all the necessary tools and products. A spacious caddy will come in very handy.

• Divide tasks into five key areas: vacuuming, dusting, mopping/ scrubbing, washing and wiping, and polishing. Don’t forget specific jobs such as turning mattresses, spot-cleaning upholstery, cleaning the oven, defrosting the fridge, descaling the shower head and beating rugs. You may also get super-organised and add in those less frequent tasks such as steam-cleaning the carpets or having the chimney swept.

• Your basic principles of cleaning should be to work from top to bottom and tackle dry chores before wet ones. Decide whether to do one room at a time or one task at a time throughout the whole house. Put some music on and enjoy the process – your home will be gleaming before you know it.

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Get your cleaning kit in order: drawers, shelves and hooks will all help. Collection of laundry and utility items, all Garden Trading.

Store your household essentials in one convenient place – a functional and good looking box that’s perfect for carrying round the house. Living Nostalgia French grey housekeeping tin, £24.95, Kitchen Craft.

With a warm, inviting and natural scent, this polish is made by a beekeeper in the Cotswold Hills.

The cream formula helps to clean and nourish wooden furniture and floors, and is great for cleaning leather, too.

Cotswold beeswax polish, £12, Cottage in the Hills.

From the slender yet sturdy oil-treated beech handles to the traditional horsehair bristles and aesthetically pleasing pan, these sets have a minimalist yet functional beauty. Iris Hantverk long-handled dustpan set in black, £55, Caroline McGrath.

When designer Ole Jensen was doing the dishes, he hesitated to pile in his fragile china and glasses, wondering about a better, gentler solution.

These smart rubber washing up bowls are now a design classic. Normann Copenhagen washing up bowl, £49, Caroline McGrath.

Robust, good looking and comfortable in the hand, this brush could be used for virtually anything.

Scrubbing brush, £8, Finch & Crane.

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11

Is Your Friend A Short-Trip Show-Off?

by Kate McLelland

“Keeping up with the Joneses” used to mean upgrading your car to the same expensive model as your neighbour’s, or installing a fancy garden water feature to match their solarpowered crystal rock cascade with LED lights. But in these days of social media sharing the focus is less on what you have, and more about what you do.

Taking short breaks abroad has become the latest way to demonstrate to your social media connections that you have a richer, more varied and exciting lifestyle than they do.

“Off to Rome for the weekend!” chirped one Facebook friend of mine recently, seemingly oblivious to the fact that some of the others in our circle would be hard pushed to afford a weekend in Bridlington. The plane engine had barely cooled after her return flight when she posted a link to a Scandinavian mini-cruise that she and her husband had just booked.

Tackle short break envy with technology If you’re comfortably off like my friend, these short trips are a great way to enjoy your leisure time, but if you’re on a limited budget it may feel as though the only choice is to sit

12

at home, staring at your screen in envy.

So what’s the answer, if you’re longing for a short break experience but simply can’t afford an expensive trip abroad?

There are plenty of short break options available in the UK that won’t break the bank, and the internet-savvy can reap rewards by visiting price comparison sites and installing some useful apps. The hotel price comparison site Trivago (trivago.co.uk) lists excellent deals on hotels, with some rooms offered at less than £30 per person per night.

Before you start out on your trip, create a list of things to see and do while you’re away: entering an online search for “free things to do in…” will give you an idea of what’s available in your chosen location at no cost.

Thrifty travellers can avoid paying out for expensive guided walks and tours by downloading Trip Advisor’s city apps (tripadvisor.co.uk). Each free app contains self-guided city tours, together with masses of information about restaurants and tourist attractions, plus a function that lets you search

for places and activities within a particular budget range.

Vouchercloud (vouchercloud. com) is another handy app which helps you save money in restaurants, pubs and bars, as well as offering discounts on cinema visits, days out and activities in leisure and entertainment venues across the UK. Finally, you can save even more money by booking your rail tickets in advance (and don’t forget that if you are 60 or over, a Senior Railcard costing just £30 will allow you to claim 1/3 off rail fares for a whole year). As a Senior Railcard holder you’ll also be eligible for discounts on days out, theatre trips and holiday cottages.

So if you’re tired of the kind of short-break one-upmanship described above, you can try some of the pennywise tips described here. As for my globe-trotting acquaintance, I suspect she’s out there somewhere right now, painting landscapes in Provence or jumping on a reindeer sleigh in Finland. I don’t know exactly where she is because – tired of her constant boasting – I finally decided to unfriend her on Facebook.

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13

Short Story Magnus By Jackie Brewster “I’m not being funny but I’ve got washing out.” Rhiannon rubbed condensation off the kitchen window. “My sheets are going to smell of sausages.”

“What’s that, dear?” Alan looked up from glossing the skirting.

“They’re lighting a barbeque next door,” she said, “though it’s hardly the weather.”

“Maybe their oven’s not working,” Alan said. “You know what it’s like when you move house.”

“Shall I pop round and say something?” Rhiannon asked.

Judging by the fact that Rhiannon had been spying through the window all weekend, Alan might have guessed that she would concoct an excuse to inspect the new neighbours.

“Why don’t I just bring the washing in?” Alan suggested.

He felt that complaining about sausages wasn’t a great way to welcome anyone, especially not a celebrity, to the street.

“That’s no use,” Rhiannon muttered, “you can see even less from the garden.”

“That’s not what I meant,” said Alan. “If you really want to know who it is, why don’t you just go and say hello?”

“I don’t want to come across as pushy,” Rhiannon said dismissively.

“But you’re happy to come across as moany?” Alan laughed.

The new couple had moved in on Friday, and Alan had yet to catch a glimpse of them. Their old neighbours, the Bingleys,

14

while being useless at the pub quiz, were always happy to feed his tortoise, Magnus, while he was away. He wasn’t certain how he was going to adapt to having celebrity neighbours.

“How do you know he’s famous?” he asked, joining Rhiannon by the window.

“From the Bingley’s estate agent,” Rhiannon said. “Look, here he comes now.” They stood on their tiptoes to see the top of a bald head behind the overgrown clematis.

“With a head that shape,” Rhiannon said, “I can’t help thinking of that Captain Picard.”

“You mean Patrick Stewart?”

Alan said.

“Yes, him off Star Trek,” Rhiannon nodded. “I hope he’s going to prune the Bingley’s clematis.”

They were startled by the sound of the doorbell.

A dishevelled lady stood on their doorstep.

“Sorry to bother you,” she smiled. “I’m Brenda. We’ve just moved in next door.”

“Welcome to the street,” Alan said. “How are you settling in?”

“You know how these things are.” She ran a hand through her unruly hair. “I’m afraid I have to start with an apology.

Our oven’s broken and Patrick came up with the idea of having a barbeque.”

Rhiannon nudged Alan in the ribs.

“I’ve noticed your washing’s out,” Brenda continued. “Sorry if it smells of burgers.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Rhiannon smiled conspiratorially. “I hear your husband’s a bit of a celebrity.”

“That got around fast,” Brenda said in surprise. “I’d prefer it if you didn’t mention it though.”

“We totally respect his privacy,” Alan nodded, then added. “After all, he’s boldly gone where no man has gone before.”

Brenda raised her eyebrows.

“Will Patrick be around much or off filming?” Rhiannon chipped in. “Maybe rehearsing a play?”

“He’s not really into amateur dramatics.” Brenda frowned.

“Besides, his job at Argos keeps him busy.”

There was a confused silence between them.

“So, he isn’t Captain Picard?”

Rhiannon asked eventually.

Brenda stared at them. Alan cleared his throat. “How exactly is your husband famous?”

“I’ll tell you,” Brenda sighed.

“But like I said, don’t mention it, or he’ll never stop going on about it.”

The couple leaned in closer.

“Years ago,” Brenda began, “he was a contestant on Mastermind.”

“Really?” said Rhiannon cheerfully. “What was his chosen specialist subject?”

“Tortoises,” Brenda smiled wanly.

Alan rocked on his heels with pleasure. He liked his new neighbours already.

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17

Get Your Soil into Shape

by Pippa Greenwood

A fundamental garden need is good quality soil; it is key to bigger flowers and heavier crops.

And there is still time to shape up your soil before the gardening season really begins in earnest.

Frosty weather can be useful, as it can save work with heavy clay soil. If you roughly dig or fork it over, the frost will act on the large lumps of clay and break them down somewhat, making them more manageable.

Most soils can become badly compacted if you walk or stand on them when they are very wet, especially if the soil is clay or slightly heavy loam. If you can’t avoid walking on wet soil, use a few boards or planks as walkways to spread the load and reduce damage.

Forking a heavy soil rather than digging with a spade will reduce compaction, but either way the soil surface usually ends up pretty lumpy. Re-forking, breaking up the large lumps, followed by a final raking will help you get closer to that ‘fine tilth’ often described in gardening books.

Adding bulky organic matter such as leaf mould, well-rotted manure or garden compost helps feed the soil naturally and improves its texture, so that it holds the right amount

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of moisture for as long as possible – and there is still time to fork this in now. Create free organic matter by making a compost heap or bin, and turn autumn leaves into lead mould, a wonderful soil conditioner.

Incorporating some horticultural grade grit or gravel will also help to improve the texture and performance of a heavy clay soil.

Avoid builders’ gravel or grit – it can damage or kill garden plants.

If you have lots of small stones or larger lumps of flint in your soil, remove them before planting your flowers and vegetables.

Some stones are good, but even a lightly stony soil can result in forked or deformed root vegetables. Alternatively, invest in raised beds and fill them with stone-free soil.

Manure adds both texture and food for your plants. It should be good quality, with few additives, and free from weeds, especially troublesome ones like nettles, docks and couch grass. In recent years, manure contaminated by the weedkiller used to control weeds in pastureland has devastated plants. Try to buy from someone local who you can trust to tell you what chemicals have been used. Manure must be well-rotted – ideally it should have sat in a heap for about two

years.

Green manures are a great way to feed and condition your soil, and help suppress weeds and protect the soil from wind erosion. They work especially well on parts of the garden where plants are not grown year round – as when you use a green manure, you sow seed, allow the plants to grow and then incorporate them into the soil to rot down. Sow seeds later this year – there are lots to choose from, including red clover, mustard, field beans, phaecelia and field lupins.

Yes, there’s potentially a fair bit of work involved, but you don’t have to do everything suggested and anything you do will make a huge difference!

Visit Pippa’s website www. pippagreenwood.com and you’ll find some great gardening things: ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ (where you receive your chosen gardenready vegetable plants in the spring accompanied by weekly advice and tips from Pippa) plus Nemaslug, bio-controls, gardening tools, raised bed kits, Grower Frames, signed books and more!

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What Should You Feed Your New Puppy?

Puppies require a special diet with extra calories and nutrients to help them develop strong muscles and bones.

It’s easy to overfeed them when they’re young, as their stomachs are very small, so regular feeding throughout the day is better than giving them one or two larger meals.

But what types of food should you offer your puppy, and how do you know how much to feed them?

PETS

Complete dry foods Dry food can provide complete nourishment for your puppy, but you should buy the best you can afford. Although ‘premium’ brands are more expensive, you don’t need to use as much per meal as with the cheaper brands, due to their enhanced nutritional content. If your puppy doesn’t like dry food because it’s too hard, you can soak the biscuits in warm water for a few minutes to make them easier to chew.

Wet foods Tinned or pouched puppy foods are available in a wide range of flavours, but it’s advisable to choose one that your pet can easily digest,

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such as chicken and rice.

As with the dry food, you can also buy ‘complete’ wet foods for your puppy, which are nutritionally balanced and highly beneficial for their development.

Whether you feed your puppy wet food, dry biscuits, or a combination of the two, portion size is extremely important whilst they’re developing.

Always check the instructions on the packet or tin, or ask your vet for guidance – they’ll also be able to keep a regular check on your puppy’s growth. www.thekennelclub.org.uk/getting-a-dogor-puppy/general-advice-about-caringfor-your-new-puppy-or-dog/feeding-yourpuppy-or-dog/

By Ann Haldon

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

19

Most common poisons to pets at Easter

A

s we approach Easter we tend to see an increased number of pet poisoning at the surgery. We are taking a look into the most commonly found toxins round the house and garden at Easter time.

1. Chocolate This is by far the most commonly ingested pet poison found in the home. Chocolate spells disaster for your dog if he eats even a small amount. The darker the chocolate the more poisonous it is. When determining if your pet will suffer any ill effects of any chocolate eaten we always look at the percentage of cocoa on the packet and the size of your dog. High cocoa content at a toxic dose can cause increased heart rate, hyper excitability, an increase in body temperature and damage to organs, especially liver and kidneys. If your pet does manage to eat any chocolate then we would recommend bringing them to the vet

for an injection to make them vomit. The quicker we get the toxin out of the body, the less ill effects we will have from the toxins.

2. Daffodils Daffodil bulbs have high concentrations of oxalate crystals that can be an irritant and, if eaten, cause symptoms such as

20

salivation, vomiting and diarrhoea. Other parts of the daffodil also contain oxalate (in smaller concentrations) which, if your dog eats enough of them, can also cause these symptoms. Generally speaking daffodils do not cause damage to organs, however your dog may be very unwell and need supportive treatment for vomiting and diarrhoea.

3. Chemicals for the lawn As spring approaches and we prepare the garden for family gatherings or egg hunt parties, chemicals are often used to improve the health and colour of our lawns. These chemicals can be very toxic to pets and the usual advice is that you do not allow pets to be exposed to the treated lawn for a period of time. We would advise you to keep pets off a treated lawn for at least 24 hours after the lawn has been watered and dried. A lot of the chemicals have a “sweet� taste to them which dogs and cats find appealing.

4. Lilies Lilies are extremely toxic to cats. All parts of the flower are toxic including the pollen, which can come off onto the cat’s coat and be ingested while grooming. We would advise you not to have lilies in the home at all if you have cats. If you think your cat has been exposed to lilies, seek veterinary advice as the toxins in lilies can cause sudden onset of kidney failure which can be fatal.

If you have any concerns regarding anything your pet has eaten over the Easter period, please do not hesitate to contact us at Aspen veterinary clinic for advice, on 0208 3996437 or mail@aspenvets.co.uk

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Aspen Veterinary Surgery

Your pet matters to us

Join Aspen Pet Care Plan Save Money, Spread Costs, Pay Monthly, Open Mon-Fri: 8am-7.30pm Sat: 8.30-11am 24 hour Emergency Service

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HOME WANTED! Rory & Rita

Big & fluffy Rory and his sleek black & white sister Rita were rescued by 2 of our volunteers after their previous owners threatened to shoot them if we did not take them. Rory & Rita had been living on a golf course for over 4 years before the owner of the golf course decided she no longer wanted them there. They were both very distressed when they came into care however have learned how to trust people again and both are very affectionate with people they know.

Rita is very playful and loves adventuring whilst Rory prefers to snuggle up on a nice warm bed - something they had never experienced before coming into our care! Rory & Rita adore other cats and are looking for an understanding and patient home with no children.

If you feel you can give these cats the loving forever home they so desperately deserve, please call Rosemary on 01737 350307 Epsom Ewell & District Branch http://www.epsom.cats.org.uk If you cannot adopt a cat but would still like to help us please go to https://www.justgiving.com/Epsom-Cats-Protection

As we have around 7,000 cats and kittens in our care at any one time, we will find you the perfect feline friend. www.cats.org.uk Reg Charity 203644 (England and Wales) and SC037711 (Scotland)

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

21

And Another Thing...

Tom Receives a Proposal III

by Tom Hughes @groomsdaybook

So, Dear Reader, if you have been following the story of star-crossed lovers Nige and Val, you will have read about the joy of the proposal and the fun of the stag do. And now, inevitably, we must turn to the day of reckoning - the dreaded nuptials.

“Tom? Tom!? Get up!”

Bleary-eyed, I reached for the clock. Six am. “Another ten minutes darling then I’ll… mmm” But my promises of cooperation disappeared into the folds of Egyptian cotton as I curled up and toasted my toes in the warmth of My Dearly Beloved’s recently departed half of the matrimonial bed.

“Tom, get up! There’s so much to do.”

“In case you haven’t noticed, it’s not us getting married, it’s Nige and Val - not that I wouldn’t do it all over again…”

But my lame dribbling cut

22

no ice with Sarah, as she prepared to reverse herself into her outfit. “Go and get a shower and leave me in peace.”

Like any husband with an ounce of gumption, I took my cue to evacuate the scene.

Showered, changed into my trackies and with my own outfit hanging on the back of the dining room door, I padded downstairs.

Standing in the hall, I shouted up to Sarah.

“Darling, I think some of the flowers have been delivered by mistake. There’s a weird plastic bunch here on the side.”

gorgeous…”

A sigh from above as a white tissue with a perfect red-lipped imprint landed at my feet. Now it was my turn to look the part.

The crisp linen shirt was negotiated with ease. My cravat, however, presented more of a challenge. “Sarah, what do you do with this?

And where’s the rest of my waistcoat?”

Sarah leaned over the banister, a clean tissue clamped firmly between her red lips. With her brow furrowed she said. “Tom! That’s my hat!”

Sarah reappeared, now a vision in turquoise. “Look, I told you to go for a second fitting. They tell you how it all goes together.”

Thankfully, in a flash of feminine husbandry, I was ready (almost). Patting my lapel, Sarah stood back to admire her handiwork.

“Right, off you go to Nige’s.

Hang on - you’ve got shaving foam on your earlobe.”

I stared at the thing with fresh eyes. “Oh I see! Err, how does it stay on your barnet though? Not that it isn’t

I eased my Mondeo Ghia X down Nige’s cul-de-sac and presented myself at his door, only to be greeted by

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pandemonium. Kelly, Nige’s sister practically dragged me inside. “Thank goodness you’re here. Can you go upstairs? Nigel’s locked himself in the bathroom.”

I paused for a moment to wonder at her orange face.

“Fine, but I’ve left my tool bag at home.”

Kelly shook her head. “What?

Blood and sand - why are men so thick? Tom, he’s refusing to come out!”

Then it finally dawned. Two seconds later I was sat on the landing carpet, gently tapping on the bathroom door.“Nige? Are you there?”

Eventually, Nigel replied.

“What do you want?”

“Oh I was wondering if you had any tips for Haydock Park next week? What do you think I want? What the heck are you playing at?”

“Tom, I’m scared.”

“You’re scared? Imagine what Sarah will be like if I tell her I couldn’t talk you out of the bathroom?

Listen, mate - marriage is scary, it’s a commitment, it’s a responsibility, it’s being sensible and its being mature - it’s everything we boys hate, so of course you’re scared.

I’m permanently terrified.

But Valery is sat drinking champagne with curlers in her hair giggling with her Auntie Joan. Are you going to let her down? Because

if you don’t open that flipping door, I’ll kick it in and flipping drag you there myself!”

A pause, then from behind a bedroom door I heard a ripple of applause. Five women of a certain age appeared, all intent on giving me a hug. Eventually, the bathroom door unlocked and there stood Nigel in his morning coat and underpants. “Right sonny Jim - put your pants on and let’s go and get married!”

And get married, Dear Reader, is precisely what Nigel did.

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Health

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

World Bipolar Day

World Bipolar Day on 30th March aims to educate the world about bipolar disorder, which affects 1-2% of the world’s population.

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder, once known as manic depression, is a condition that causes your mood and behaviour to veer from low and lethargic to euphoric and overly-energetic (‘manic’). These swings can be frequent or only occur every few months, with or without stable periods in between. For some sufferers, either depressive episodes or manic phases predominate.

In ‘mixed state’ bipolar, depressive and manic symptoms are experienced together, while ‘rapid cycling’ involves repeated, rapid swings between high and low phases without stable periods in between.

What Causes Bipolar Disorder?

Chemical imbalances in the brain, genetic factors, extreme stress and trauma can all contribute. Long-term cannabis use seems to trigger bipolar in vulnerable individuals.

Bipolar disorder affects people of all ages and backgrounds.

However, it more commonly develops at 15-19 years of age and rarely develops after 40.

24

What are the Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder?

The nature of bipolar disorder means sufferers can find it hard to acknowledge symptoms and accept the concerns or help of others.

Depressive phase symptoms include: • irritability • lacking energy and appetite • memory and concentration difficulties • lethargy • feelings of worthlessness, guilt or despair • pervasive pessimism • hallucinations (visual, auditory and olfactory) and illogical/ delusional thinking • difficulty sleeping • suicidal thoughts Manic phase symptoms include: • feeling elated and energetic • talking very quickly • feeling self-important • having impulsive new plans • being easily distracted, irritated or agitated • hallucinations, delusions and illogical thinking • not feeling like sleeping or eating • making uncharacteristic decisions or statements that concern others or have disastrous consequences (e.g. excessive spending sprees) Bipolar symptoms may affect your driving. You must inform the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) of your diagnosis.

How Is Bipolar Disorder Diagnosed and Treated?

If you or those around you are worried about your symptoms, your GP can refer you to a psychiatrist. They may also do tests to rule out physical conditions that can cause similar symptoms, such as thyroid problems.

Treatments for bipolar disorder aim to reduce its effects and alleviate symptoms.

• Lifestyle changes. The right nutrients, exercise and sleep can help, as can avoiding stress and focusing on activities that give you a sense of achievement or calm. A medical professional can advise you on how to recognise triggers of your depressive or manic episodes, and prepare for and prevent them.

• Medication. Depending on your symptoms, this can include mood stabilisers, antipsychotics, antidepressants, anxiolytics (to treat anxiety) or sleeping tablets.

• Talking therapies/counselling.

This can help you manage depression and get perspective on troubling thoughts and relationships.

If you have severe bipolar that doesn’t respond to medication, ECT (electro-convulsive therapy) may be suggested. ECT performed in today’s hospitals is tightly regulated and can be a highly effective treatment.

When symptoms are severe, you may not be able to look after yourself or make judgements about your treatment. You can write an ‘advanced directive/ decision’, which explains your treatment wishes, in case you can’t communicate this later. Your GP or psychiatrist can help.

Useful Information The Samaritans www.samaritans. org; Tel: 116 123 from any phone to talk confidentially 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, free of charge.

Bipolar UK: supporting bipolar sufferers, and their families and carers. www.bipolaruk.org; Tel: 0333 323 3880.

Mind: advice and support for anyone experiencing mental health

problems. www.mind.org.uk; Tel: 0300 123 3393.

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

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 

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

            

HAIRDRESSING FOR LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

                !

  

  





Disclaimer

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

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

YOUR HAIR, YOUR WAY

98 Alexandra Drive, Surbiton, Surrey, KT5 9AG

T 020 8972 1585 Opening Hours:

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

9 9 9 9 9

-5 - 7.30 - 7.30 -7 -5

info@emmashair-surbiton.co.uk www.emmashair-surbiton.co.uk

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

25

Slimmer is on the run again!

S

urbiton Slimming World Consultant, Justine Rodway, is on the run again! She’s already run four marathons and now she’s heading for her fifth at this years’ London Marathon.

Exercise also helps increase our energy levels, reduce stress, boosts confidence and self-esteem and it can even reverse depression. That’s how Justine got into running.

Now running isn’t for everyone!

You will hear Justine say this to her members in group. “It’s important you do what you feel comfortable doing! Any moderate intensity activity that makes you feel warmer and speeds up your breathing and heart rate will be beneficial. If you can walk you can exercise!”.

Exercise also improves mobility which has become extremely important to Justine’s father, John Mair, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease last year. Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition that causes problems in the brain and gets worse over time. There’s currently no cure for Parkinson’s and we don’t know yet why people get the condition. But there are lots of different treatments, therapies and support available to help manage the condition.

Justine spent most of her adult life battling with her weight, but then back in 2010 she joined Slimming World and it turned her life around!

Slimming World’s famous Food Optimising eating plan lets you eat unlimited amounts of free foods so you never feel hungry and the weekly meetings provide support to help change eating habits and encourages regular exercise to maintain a healthy weight that is sustainable over the long term.

Every day John has to live with the symptoms of Parkinson’s. Tremor, or shaking, is one of the main symptoms alongside slowness of movement, rigidity (stiffness) and problems with speech and communication. With the love and support of his family, friends and medical professionals

26

So in light of all this, this is where the marathon comes in. Justine, together with her daughter, Amy Garnett, and family friend Terry Wills (AKA The Three Amigos) will be running the London Marathon on Sunday 22nd April.

To complete this 26.2 mile journey The Three Amigos thought that if they were going to put themselves through six months of hard core training, putting up with aches, pains, blisters, sore nipples, lots of sweat and tears too then in the process they were going to raise a heap load of money for a charity close to their hearts.

They’ve pledged to raise a massive £6,000 between them for Parkinson’s UK so they can help change attitudes towards this disease, raise awareness and raise vital funds to help find a cure.

In order to achieve their fundraising target they need your help to raise this enormous amount of money. They’d be so grateful if you could dig deep and donate, every penny counts, and your support will certainly put a spring in their step!

Justine was so blown away by the positive effect Slimming World had on her own wellbeing she became a Slimming World Consultant so she can support and motivate others to achieve and sustain a healthy weight loss too.

In addition to getting the food right Justine is a firm believer that exercise, or Body Magic as it’s called at Slimming World, is key to maintaining a healthy weight.

he can because he knows if he didn’t his symptoms would be much worse.

To donate please visit their JustGiving page at…

John continues to live as full a life as possible. He regularly attends a gym and walks as often and as far as

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/terryjustineamy

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ot! h be with

Slimming World TUESDAY Surbiton Surbiton New Life Baptist Church 1 Balaclava Road, KT6 5PW 5.30pm and 7.30pm Tel: Justine 020 8224 3336

WEDNESDAY Surbiton Surbiton New Life Baptist Church 1 Balaclava Road, KT6 5PW 9.30am and 11.30am Tel: Justine 020 8224 3336 slimmingworld.co.uk 0344 897 8000 To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

27

Beauty Gorgeous Gifts and Tempting Treats

by Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk

Whether you’re looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift, or just fancy treating yourself, we have plenty of goodies to tempt you this month.

Jo Malone has released a collection of five limited-edition fragrances, called English Fields.

Unusually, several of the scents are based around cereals and grains, such as wheat, barley and oats, giving them a warm, fresh aroma. Choose from Poppy & Barley, Primrose & Rye, Oat & Cornflower, Honey & Crocus or Green Wheat & Meadowsweet. Each 30ml cologne is priced at £47 and is available from www.jomalone.co.uk.

The NHS’s My Trusty skincare range is now available to buy from supermarkets and pharmacists. The range is based around skinloving sunflower oil. Clinical scientist Dr Mark Brewin says, “Although originally developed to treat patients with burns and scars, My Trusty is gentle enough for the whole family to use every day. Our users have reported significant benefits on problematic skin conditions.” There are body lotions, hand creams, body butters and a face oil. Each one is lightly scented with essential oils, such as bergamot and neroli, and fragrance-free versions are also available. The best part is that prices start at just £4, and every product that’s bought helps to fund the NHS, see www. mytrustyskincare.co.uk.

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Natural skincare brand Odylique has ventured into makeup for the first time.

Every product is packed with organic and fairlytraded natural ingredients and is palm oil-free.

If you’re just venturing into natural cosmetics, lipstick is a great place to start. Odylique’s Organic Mineral Lipsticks (£18) are made with nourishing ingredients, such as jojoba oil and shea butter.

Created without synthetic silicones they have a matte finish and may feel different to your usual brand, but the colours are great, and they really do soften and protect lips. Available from www. odylique.co.uk.

Time Bomb’s Peace & Quiet Coconut Cleansing Oil is a real multi-tasker. It works hard to remove makeup and excess oil, but is really gentle and very nourishing. Coconut oil has antioxidant, antibacterial and antiinflammatory properties. The cleanser also includes other skin-loving, natural ingredients, such as grape seed, sunflower and safflower oils. The result is smoother, softer, clean skin. On its own, the cleansing oil costs £25 from www.timebombco. com, but do check for giftset offers on QVC. At the time of writing, the oil was being offered with the Flashback Nightly Treatment and H2Omega Complexion Cocktail for £54, which is a saving of more than £20 in comparison to buying the products separately.

Looking for the perfect gift for Mother’s Day? Green People’s Divine Treat gift box is sure to earn you some brownie points. Featuring the Orange Blossom Cleanser, Exfoliator and Moisturiser, it’s perfect for combination and oily skin. The trio works together to balance skin, unblock pores, hydrate, remove impurities and soften skin. It’s also a real treat for the senses, as each product is scented with orange blossom, spicy black pepper and warming cypress. As with all Green People products, they’re organic and free from SLS, parabens, alcohol, lanolin and artificial fragrances. £50, from www.greenpeople.co.uk.

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ADVERTISING IS AS EASY AS CRACKING EGGS! Your advertising can be a package for as little as £54 a month when you advertise for a year in A Berrylands Companion

Tel Karen on: 020 8274 0096

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

Mobile bicycle Service & repair your HoMe | your Work | your ride rebelwaltz-cyclesolutions.co.uk

Ê

I can pick up your bike from your home or place of work then return to you at your convenience.

From a safety check, new build to a full service, all work and repairs will be quoted prior to commencing.

Will contact you immediately if any other defects are spotted so there will be no unpleasant surprises.

Free pick up and drop off within a five mile radius of Surbiton.

T M O R E E

Repair and service prices start from £10.00.

Please see website for further prices and details.

You have two minutes to find all the words of three or more letters that can be made from the letters above. Plurals are allowed, proper nouns are not. The 6 letter word will always be just a normal everyday word.

Contact Jon Martin jon@rebelwaltz-cyclesolutions.co.uk 07514 435855

3 letters: 9 4 letters: 11 5 letters: 4 6 letters: 2 To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

29

Technology

1

3

Don’t Have Mad March Hair The gadgets for trimming, taming, styling and straightening In the old days, we had combs, brushes and curling tongs – and that was about it. Now there’s more tech than you can shake a GHD straightener at, all of it promising to deliver luscious locks or silky-smooth skin. So which technology is actually worth having for your hair?

There are two kinds of gadgets: gadgets for getting rid of hair you don’t want, and gadgets for mak-ing the hair you do want look better.

In the first camp we’ve long had electric razors, epilators and little personal trimmers, but lately they’ve been joined by lasers — well, light treatment anyway. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is one of the gentlest hair removal methods around, but you can’t do it if you’re about to go somewhere sunny, and it doesn’t work on lighter hair or very dark skin.

Beware of any firm claiming to offer laser treatment from home devices: laser is a more powerful IPL and it’s the preserve of salon machines costing five figures.

The best known IPL system is probably Philips’ Lumea, whose products are around the £250 - £350 mark. That’s a lot of money for a gadget, but if you have the right skin tone and hair colour it means no ingrowing hairs, waxing or other unpleasantness. It’s safe everywhere, too.

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More modest technologies can make a big difference too.

Straighteners with adjustable tempera-tures can help prevent too much frizz, especially with hair you’ve coloured, and straightening brushes such as BaByliss’s £50 2440BDU put the heat inside the hairbrush to great effect. The same firm has embraced the other big trend in haircare: straighteners that also style. The Smooth & Wave Secret isn’t cheap – at £129.99 it’s up there with the luxury brands such as GHD – and it looks like a weapon, but it’s enormously clever: hair is drawn into its ceramic chamber, held and preheated, and then it either uses Smooth Mode to straighten or Wave Mode for waves and curls. It goes up to 230 degrees for even the most untamed hair and takes just 15 seconds to warm up. That’s important: some rivals don’t like to point out that by the time their straighteners reach peak temperature, you could probably have grown a beard.

It’s very important to shop around for products like the ones we’ve mentioned, as — with the exception of Dyson, which keeps a firm hold on its prices — they’re subject to constant aggressive discounting by supermarkets, beauty shops and online sellers. And it pays to be flexible when it comes to specific brands: the difference in price between Brand A with nice packaging and the slightly less cute Brand B can be staggering.

What about the hair you do want?

The same pseudo-science that infests beauty products is in hair care too, with lots of big and clever-sounding nonsense trying to convince us that a hairdryer is more than just a hairdryer.

Sometimes a hairdryer is all you need.

The biggest name in high-tech hairdryer technology is Dyson, whose

4

unlovely (is it just us? It looks like, well, a Dyson) but very effective Supersonic costs £299. It’s very powerful, very quiet and stays cool to the touch, although we can’t help thinking we’re basically holding a hand dryer next to our heads.

2

1. Philips Lumea IPL system 2. Dyson Supersonic 3. BaByliss diamond heated brush 4. BaByliss Smooth & Wave

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SOFT DRINKS AVAILABLE

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Book now for Mothers’ Day and Easter

Avoid disappointment, please call to BOOK Early

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25th

020 8274 0096 or email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

KING GEORGE FIELD INDOOR BOWLS CLUB Learn to Bowl, Free Coaching, All Ages & Abilities Welcome Bar . Restaurant Social Events Large Car Park

I can help!

I am a fully accredited CBT therapist based in Surbiton, Surrey with over 20 years NHS experience

FUNCTION ROOM FOR ALL OCCASIONS

Jubilee Way,.Chessington, KT9 1TR Tel: 020 8397 7025 www.kgfindoorbowlsclub.co.uk

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Are you struggling with anxiety, a phobia, OCD, panic, low mood or lack of confidence?

Contact : Robert Fogg Tel:07914155737 robertfogg.cbt@gmail.com

Fully Insured BABCP and MAREBT accredited, MSc REBT

www.effectivetherapy.co.uk

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

31

Cajun Meatballs

with Herb & Tomato Couscous

Serves 4

Ready in 45 minutes

Mince always makes a great speedy supper – here lean pork mince is spiced up with Cajun seasoning and rolled into meatballs.

FOR THE MEATBALLS • 450g lean minced pork • ½ red onion, peeled and finely chopped • 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed • 25g fresh white breadcrumbs • 2 tsp Cajun seasoning (see TIP) • Salt and freshly ground black pepper • 1 tbsp freshly chopped coriander • 1 tbsp sunflower oil FOR THE COUSCOUS

• 225g couscous • ½ red onion, finely chopped • 8 sun-blush tomatoes, drained and chopped

• 3 tbsp freshly chopped coriander • 2 tbsp olive oil

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To make the meatballs, place the pork, onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, Cajun seasoning and coriander in a food processor. Season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper and process for a few seconds until thoroughly mixed. Alternatively, mix well with clean hands.

Shape the mixture into 24 meatballs.

Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan and fry the meatballs for 10-15 minutes until browned and cooked through. Shake the pan frequently to turn the meatballs.

Meanwhile, place the couscous in a large bowl and pour over enough boiling water to just cover the grains. Leave to soak for about 10 minutes until all the liquid has been absorbed. Separate the grains by stirring with a fork. Add the onion, tomatoes, coriander and olive oil and season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Divide the hot couscous between four serving bowls. Thread the cooked meatballs onto metal skewers and serve on top of the couscous.

TIP Cajun seasoning is a spicy blend of

spices, chilli powder and herbs such as thyme and oregano. You’ll find it on the spice racks in the supermarket.

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C.D C.D Jennings & Sons Surbiton’s Class Surbiton’s Surbiton’ s High High Class Class Traditional Butchers Traditional Family Family Traditional Family Butchers Butchers Meat Quality Meatof of the the Highest Highest Meat of Highest Quality Quality from the Finest Sources from the Finest Sources from the Finest Sources

Serving Serving Surbiton Surbiton Since Since 1962 1962 ..

Mothering Sunday & Easter Proud Suppliers of: Specials Call: 020 8399 4870

Scotch Beef Scotch Highland Romney Salt Marsh Lamb Scotch&Highland Lamb Free Range & Gloucester Old Spot Pork Legs, Shoulders, Loins, Best Ends Free Range Chickens & Ducks Balmoral & Royal Deeside Scotch Beef Venison Kelly Bronze Free Range Turkeys Fore Ribs, Fillets, Sirloin, Topside, Silverside Own Make Sausages, Burgers & KebabsGeese Free Range Chickens, Ducks, Turkeys, Opening Hours

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Sunday Closed Sunday & & Monday Monday --Closed

Visit our shop at 146 Ewell Road, Visit our shop 146(Opposite Ewell Road, Surbiton, KT6at6HE Surbiton, KT6 6HE (Opposite Sainsbury’s Local) or call us to place Sainsbury’ s Local) or8399 call us to place an order on 020 4870 an order on 020 8399 4870

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

For more information For more view ourinformation website view our website www.cdjenningsandsons.com www.cdjenningsandsons.com

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

33

Cake and Bake Banana and Walnut Loaf If you have overripe bananas in the fruit bowl then don’t bin them – just whizz up this delicious moist loaf cake instead. It will keep for up to 5 days wrapped in greaseproof paper or foil and stored in an airtight tin.

Ingredients: • 175g unsalted butter, softened • 175g light soft brown sugar • 225g self-raising flour • 2 tsp ground mixed spice • ½ tsp baking powder • 3 medium eggs • 75g walnut halves, roughly chopped • 2 large ripe bananas, peeled and mashed with 2 tsp lemon juice • Icing sugar, to dust

Makes 10 Slices Ready in 1 hour 45 minutes, plus cooling time

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1.

Preheat the oven to 170C, Fan 150C, Gas 3.

Grease and line the base and the two long sides of a 900g loaf tin with baking paper.

2. Place the butter, sugar, flour, spice, baking

powder and eggs in a large bowl and beat with an electric whisk until thoroughly combined - this will take about 4-5 minutes. Fold in the walnuts and mashed bananas.

3. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and

level the surface. Bake for 1hour - 1 hour 15 minutes until risen and golden and a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.

4. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes then turn out onto a cooling rack and cool completely.

Dust thickly with icing sugar.

TIP Add a creamy soft frosting instead of the dusting of icing sugar, if liked. Simply beat 100g full-fat soft cheese with 100g very soft unsalted butter until smooth, then beat in 100g sifted icing sugar.

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WVM can manage all your vehicle needs. Our workshop is located in Berrylands and we carry out mobile smart repairs in the surrounding areas. › SERVICING & REPAIRS

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14/01/2017 22:24

(MOTOR VEHICLE TECHNICIAN)

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Your local MOT TESTER AND SERVICE REPAIRER

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

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Labour Rate £37.50 per hour Telephone:

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

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

35

Do You Look Up Before You Go Under?

This piece was inspired by an article about a van driver who was killed when a house brick that was dropped from a bridge went through his windscreen.

covered the car in paint. The police reckoned it was a 2.5 litre tin, but the resulting damage made the car a write-off. Had it hit at the front of the car then the consequences were unthinkable.

I can offer two more personal reasons to do so:

The second was as I was driving on a dual carriageway, when two police cars raced past me and then blocked the road. Up ahead was a bridge, with a man clearly ready to jump.

The tragedy of this person taking the steps to contemplate suicide and, potentially, take innocent road users with him is so sad. But whatever drives an individual to take such desperate action is not something I wish to be a part of.

In the first, a colleague had a tin of paint dropped on his car from a motorway bridge. ‘Luckily’ it hit the rear of the roof, bending it in (if there had been rear-seat passengers they would have been injured), blew out the rear windscreen and

I assure you that simply checking a bridge as you drive towards it will not turn you into a nodding dog: it’s quick and easy to do and could be a life saver.

By Iain Betson

Hence, looking up at bridges as you drive towards them may save your life.

“Oh come on Iain! What are the chances? Surely I would be looking up and down like a nodding dog all the time.”

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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

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Mini Cryptic Crossword Across 1. A piece misread in error (7) 7. Man who’s carrying letters (5) 8. All in on unusual fat (7) 9. Wine that’s initially tolerable (5) 11. Food brought back ready to be eaten (5) 12. Female doctor perhaps to provide a bandage (5) 14. Disreputable witness duly disheartened (5) 16. Trouble for flipped Spice Girl (7) 18. ‘Material girl’ elbowed sides (5) 19. Foreigner assuring short cast (7) Down 1. Leave lips off this face (5) 2. ‘Dime over nickel’ row (3) 3. Calm actor beginning line on set (5) 4. Cash cut by East End artist (5) 5. Secure group of singers, we hear (7) 6. Cut back dried plum (5) 10. Keen dad oddly massaged (7)

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12. American singer?

Rubbish! (5) 13. Terrific customised purse (5) 14. Duchess closing

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email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

37

Berrylands, a wilder place than you might think.

B

errylands a place many of us call home, and personally I love living in this quiet and leafy suburb as I am sure many of you do to.

One thing that I believe makes Berrylands an extra special place to live is its none human inhabitants, and I don’t just mean the foxes that play in our gardens and patrol our moonlit streets.

As a child I spent much of my time exploring what I thought were our wilder spaces hidden away in Berryland’s, wondering along the Hogsmill that meanders through Elmbridge Meadows and exploring the woodlands in the Raeburn Open Space hoping, that I would encounter some of the other creatures that crawl through the undergrowth or hop through our hedgerows. These experiences, I am sure were pivotal in developing my passion of the natural world, which I then went on to study. I am now in the privileged position to have a job that I love, running the nature conservation programmes for a locally based charity called the Environment Trust.

now entering an exciting stage with permission from Environment Agency to carry out some large-scale river restoration works on the Tolworth Brook which flow through the site. This means it will improve the quality of the river habitat for fish by removing concrete banks and weirs, while also reprofiling the river banks, this will also help to reduce flood risk in the local area. We also plan to create a looped nature trail with a new foot bridge.

We will be running regular conservation volunteer opportunities that can be found on our website, and lots of other opportunities for people to get involved.

So, if you would like to find out more please do get in touch!

Though the natural world has a great tendency to surprise and unveil new secrets, I now have a better understanding of its complexities and threats which it faces. And even in the relatively short time since I explored these areas as a child I have seen them decline, in terms of species decline, vandalism, chronic litter issues, introduction of invasive species and a lack of management. However, I see these greenspaces as areas of fantastic potential, which can not only support thriving populations of wildlife, but also be true community assets which can connect local people to the wonders of the natural world while bringing people closer together with a shared value and appreciation for the place in which they live.

Early last year we were successful in securing a £168,00 grant from Thames Waters community investment fund, to restore the 5-hectare Raeburn Open Space local nature reserve. This grant has enabled us to work with the local community, including schools, scout’s groups and churches to run volunteer sessions which can enhance the local biodiversity. We spent last summer carrying out indepth ecological surveys to ensure we had a clear understanding of the current condition of the area and the species which could be found there. We are

38

Elliot Newton 07906402431 elliot.newton@environmenttrust.co.uk www.environmenttrust.co.uk/berrylands Nature Conservation Manager - Environment Trust

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To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

E pages 33-40.indd 39

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

39

02/02/2018 09:17:48

40

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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 Veggie Month

1st: St David’s Day

World Book Day 5-11th: British Pie Week 8th: Deadline for April edition of A Berrylands Companion

World Kidney Day

International Women’s Day 8-11th: Crufts 9-11th: British Science week 11th: Mothers’ Day.

Head of the River Race, Mortlake to Putney.

12-18th: National Butchers’ Week 14th: National Non Smoking Day 17th: St Patrick’s Day 18th: St Patrick’s Parade from Green Park to Trafalgar Square 17-23rd: Red Nose Sports Relief Week 20th: Vernal Equinox, Spring begins 25th: British Summer Time begins, clocks go forward.

29th: Maundy Thursday 30th: Good Friday, Bank Holiday. The Passion of Jesus in Trafalgar Square, Free.

National Pet Month Stress Awareness Month Bowel Cancer Awareness Month Oxford v Cambridge boat race

Events in April

1st April - 7th May: National Pet Month 1st April: Easter Sunday. April Fool’s Day 2nd: Easter Monday, Bank Holiday 8th: Deadline for May edition of A Berrylands Companion 13-18th: Thai New Year 21st: Queen Elizabeth II birthday. Gun Salutes across London 23rd: St George’s Day.

Shakespeare Day. William Shakespeare’s Anniversary of his birth & death

London Marathon 25-30th: National MS Week Suggestions for treating your Mother on Mothers’ Day:

Buy some gorgeous cupcakes and dainty sandwiches, then serve up your own Afternoon Tea.

Take Mum out for a lovely Sunday Roast at a local restaurant Book a traditional Afternoon Tea, locally or perhaps something a little different at one of these suggestions:

Afternoon Tea with Live Opera at the Verdi Restaurant, Royal Albert Hall

Diptyque Afternoon Tea at Hotel Café Royal, with ingrediaents found in luxury perfumes

B’N T, Brunch Afternoon Tea at Le Méridian Piccadilly.

Midsummer Night’s Dream Afternoon Tea at the Swan, Shakespeare’s Globe

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea at Sanderson, Berners Street.

Nordic Afternoon Tea at Aquavit Piccadily, a Scandinavian taste.

Vintage Open Top Bus Afternoon Tea Tour

Afternoon Champagne Tea Cruise Tour on River Thames. Check website: www.premiumtours.co.uk

Green & Black’s Chocolate Tea at the Montague, Portman Square.

The Ultimate Afternoon Tea at the Cookery School, Little Portland Street.

Make it & eat it!

Scoff & Banter Tearooms Afternoon Tea, Oxford Street.

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

49

Please mention the magazine when contacting advertisers Index Home & Garden Car Maintenance

19 23 17 5 11 13 15 17 16 16 11 16 9 9 51 2 9 17 19 13 18 10

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

Care & Health Effective Therapy Emma’s Hair Salon 29 Liu Yang 26/7 Slimming World 24 Health

31 25

7 31 25 29 52

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

7 7 4 40

Children & Education Ballet in Surbiton Hook Aqua Club Parenting Kids Page

13

Solicitors Lewis-Dick

50

35 37 39 36 35 36

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

33 31 34 32

Food & Drink C.D.Jennings Prithi Bake Recipe

20/21 21 21 19

Veterinary Aspen Veterinary Surgery Cats Protection League Keen on Animals Pet Care

Articles & Editorials 46/47 Community Pages 44/45 What’s On & Local Events Pages 37 Crossword 38 Berrylands Reserve 3 Useful Telephone Numbers 42/43 Sir Edward Davey M.P

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 £54 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 published by Warwick Printers, Warwickshire

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To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

51

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52

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Please mention the magazine when contacting Advertisers