May 2016 issuu 108

Month: May 2016 Issue No: 108 Independent monthly community news and business directory for KT5 & KT6

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

Page 29

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Hello Readers, I hope you all had a great Easter time.

enjoyed recording them!

By now, all dogs should have been microcipped as it became law on April 6th. A quote from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home states that new research reveals that only 1 in 5 lost dogs have any chance to be reunited with their owners, after worrying figures from Local Authorities showed the majority of dogs either don’t have a microchip, or the chip is out of date, because it has an old address or telephone number, or it is registered to the wrong owner.

May will see the Annual Food Festival in Surbiton, see the listing in this edition of the events.

It can be devestating for both dog and owner when the pet goes astray. So please ensure that your pet is micro-chipped.,as remember there is a £500 fine if your pet is not chipped.

Talking of local events, I work to a month or even two ahead. So I am looking for all the Summer Fairs and Fêtes to be held in June onwards. Send in the details now!

Best wishes,

Karen Front cover: Thanks to David Jacobson and www.andmakeitsnappy.com for the image from Surbiton Farmers’ Market.

I hope the last few editions were interesting with the celebrity interviews. I

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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We’re looking forward to June - a fabulous action-packed month at Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club

says Roy Staniland

Here’s just a few of our don’t-miss dates!

4th-12th June: The Aegon Surbiton Trophy. The prestigious tournament with an international entry for men and women. Our staging of the Aegon Surbiton tournament underlines the high status that our Club enjoys in the world of tennis.

Entry to the grounds and unreserved seating is free from Saturday 4th June to Monday 6th incl. After that, tickets for ground entry and unreserved seating on Tuesday 7th, Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th cost from £5*. Tickets for Friday 10th and Saturday 11th are from £13* and for Sunday 12th from £15*. Our booking hotline for tickets is 0844 581 1530. For further information visit www. surbiton.org/aegonsurbitontrophy2016. *subject to Booking Fee. Some special offers for adults with children.

4th – 5th June: ‘Great British Tennis Weekend‘ for all the family, with all the Club’s special activities to try out for free.

Such as: fun tennis for children, junior matchplay, cardio tennis (heart pumping fitness sessions for adults) and Tennis Xpress (an easy and fun way for adult beginners to get into the game) 5th – 6th June: The Davis Cup. Now the legendary trophy visits the Club. Come and get a ‘selfie’ alongside this famous and much-travelled Cup! And celebrate Great Britain’s historic victory!

Also, I’ll be displaying The Davis Cup in Kingston’s historic Marketplace on Wednesday 1st June from 12-3pm,

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together with a mini-tennis court! I hope to meet you there!

Make sure you’ve got our dates in your diary, and we look forward to seeing you very soon!

About Surbiton Racket and Fitness Club and the Aegon Surbiton Trophy Here at Surbiton we’re justly proud of our heritage and the important position we occupy in the world of tennis. Our Club was founded way back in 1881, when lawn tennis as we know it had barely started. At that time we were only the third tennis club in Britain and only the fourth in the world. We still occupy the same spacious grounds, which today offer eleven grass and nine hard courts. Moving with the times, we recently changed our name to Surbiton Racket and Fitness Club in deference to our growing gym membership, our state of the art Fitness Suite and our Squash courts.

The Aegon Surbiton Trophy has its roots as far back as the early 1900s, when the Surbiton Tournament was one of the most important events before Wimbledon itself.

The names of those who competed here read like a roll-call of the most famous tennis stars of the last hundred years. This June, come to the Aegon and see if you can spot some of the stars of the future!

Best wishes Roy Roy Staniland is Director of Surbiton Racket and Fitness Club, Berrylands,KT5 8JT 0208 399 1594 www.Surbiton.org

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Advertorial

It is the Detail that Makes a Room Beautiful

by Zoe Rourke Interiors

S

urbiton, like many boroughs across London, is experiencing a property renovation boom. The desire to improve our homes goes beyond simply a need for more space. Our homes have become an expression of ourselves, whether depicting a cosy family life, sophistication or youthfulness. Yet whilst we make huge financial commitments to extend or renovate our houses it is frequently the finishing touches, the ones that create our unique setting, that get missed.

Thoughtful window dressings can be the missing piece of the puzzle when creating a beautiful room.

Handmade curtains, in particular, give a feeling of sophistication and elegance, often because it is hard to ignore the quality, detail and drape. They are a perfect fit, the choice of fabrics is endless and the design specifics can be unique. Most of the stitching should be concealed – a notable difference compared to machine made.

sage print on an ivory background is so fine that the introduction of vertical, contrasting sage borders, frame the curtains at the window. Rather than the curtains blending in to the surrounding wall colour, they create a design statement becoming a focus of the room.

Interlining curtains involves inserting a padded inner layer between the main and rear fabrics which improves the drape, adds volume and introduces thermal properties.

Where privacy isn’t paramount, sheer fabrics are a really clever way of softening a room by diffusing light and creating ambience. A seamless wall of delicate sheer fabric over wide patio doors can add warmth and sophistication to a modern extension, particularly in the evening. Modern, slim-profile curtain tracks, which can be recessed into the ceiling, offer an uncluttered view which help the curtain hang from floor to ceiling without distraction.

Given their handmade nature, any premium compared to the cost of machine made curtains is probably less than you think and can be priceless given the overall effect.

Achieving the Look It helps to be creative otherwise we can find ourselves reproducing countless other homes across the country. A good curtain maker will appreciate basic interior design and can offer advice on what will suit a room. Curtains and blinds should complement existing furniture and colour schemes but this shouldn’t stop them from being the focus of attention and elevating a room.

A detail that can really set handmade curtains apart from the readymade variety is the heading. The Pinch Pleat heading is an increasingly popular choice as it instantly adds sophistication and has a crisp, neat finish. The Goblet heading is more grand and ideal for a special room or grown-up space.

Both are perfect for traditional, period homes or contemporary settings. Eyelet headings are best for tight spaces, as less fabric is required and they stack well when opened, but normally only suit a modern environment.

Adding borders to some curtains can dramatically change the look. In the photo above, the delicate

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Photo: Gianluca Maver Zoe Rourke is professionally trained in making handmade curtains and Roman blinds and lives in Surbiton.

She has worked on a number of projects with private clients, architects and interior designers throughout London. A photo gallery and testimonials can be found on her website http://zoe_rourke.houzz.co.uk. Or telephone 07941 018 109 for an appointment.

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Zoe Rourke Interiors

See examples of my work and testimonials at: http://zoe_rourke.houzz.co.uk or call to book an appointment on 07941 018109

Based in Surbiton, offering a personal home service, making beautiful bespoke handmade curtains and Roman blinds. Full measurements and hanging service undertaken.

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Advertorial

Community Motors No Ordinary Garage

I

magine a garage which you can trust, which has decent prices, which only sells you what your car actually needs. And then imagine that alongside that, it also offers some real learning opportunities for young people in our community, who may not be doing so well in academic education. Community Motors in Surbiton is that garage.

Community Motors was set up as a registered not for profit social enterprise a year ago by three people – Justin Cooper, Mark Wedd and Kevin Martin, along with three technicians, Keaton, Matt and Mark. Justin’s background is in running IT companies, so it’s a bit of a change in a career direction for him, but Mark, Kevin and the rest all have long track records across the motor industry.

From day one, the idea behind Community Motors has been to give something back to the community – not just by offering excellent service

or dismantle and rebuild an engine, or refit and balance tyres, or any of the many practical learning tasks which make up the accredited motor vehicle qualifications which are on offer. Young people from schools, pupil referral units and the probation service, have already had an opportunity to learn useful life skills at Community Motors and they are keen to work with more schools in the area.

“We’re trying not to just give lip service to the word ‘Community’” says Kevin Martin, Training Manager. “We want everyone around us – our neighbours, our staff, our customers and our trainees – to benefit from what we are doing here”.

Mark Wedd, Garage Manager, adds: “We want to be our customers’ first choice for MOTs, servicing, repairs, clutches, exhausts - but with the extra knowledge that they are supporting something worthwhile too”.

and good value to their customers, but also by helping young people learn useful, practical skills.

Within the state of the art workshop, two classrooms, a full kitchen and separate training areas give a space where their experienced technicians can pass on their skills to young people. While the young people can observe a real, working garage and see the standards to which Community Motors aspires, they can get their hands on one of the donated training cars,

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As they say on their adverts: ‘Good For Your Car, Good For The Community’.

Community Motors is at Unit 22 Red Lion Business Park, Red Lion Road, Surbiton. KT6 7QD. 0203 177 0070. www.communitymotors.org

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email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

9

Courtesy Or Calamity?

On today’s crowded roads, driving care, courtesy and politeness go a long way to a calmer motoring experience for everyone. But some drivers let things swing the other way and end up being just as dangerous as the maniacs.

Many dual carriageways have a short slip road and it is quite common to have to wait for a safe gap to appear before joining the traffic. I was waiting in exactly that situation recently and an approaching driver slowed down to a crawl and flashed their lights as an indication that they were letting me in.

The car behind barrelling along at 60-70+, was suddenly presented with brake

lights and, with traffic to the right of them, nowhere to go. I could see the anchors go on, the rubber smoke from the tyres and the nose pitch down as the driver fought to bring the car to a halt. I was paralysed by the possible ensuing disaster so never did pull out.

In fact the Highway Code says the flashing of lights should only be used to warn other drivers of your presence, not as an “Ok, go ahead” message.

However, waiting to turn right out of a junction in heavy traffic, someone giving way is often the only way to get out. But if you are the ‘givewayee’ in this situation, don’t just slow down and flash, come to a safe halt so there can be no misunderstanding of your intention.

By all means be courteous, but don’t abandon the basics of safe driving e.g. checking your mirrors, just to help someone else.

by Iain Betson

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WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP SECURE MY HOME? Join Neighbourhood Watch * Lock all doors and windows when you go out, even if it is for a few minutes, such as school run, dog walk, etc. * Don’t leave keys in door locks. * Front doors (P V C Type) make sure you always double lock the door. * Never just close door and walk away. * Don’t leave valuables on show in front of windows like lap tops or i-pads, or keys etc, pull curtains or blinds * Install timers to turn on lights automatically * Leave outside light near front door on all night, if possible * Don’t leave wheelie bins next to side gate (it makes a great step ladder) * If you go away, remember to cancel milk and newspaper deliveries, ask your neighbour to park their car on your drive, make sure no post is sticking out of your letter box. If you have a porch, get post moved every day, as this will look very obvious no one is home. * Fit a Burglar Alarm System (Insurance Approved)

A house with an Alarm System fitted will have a Siren box on the front and rear of the house and this will give a good Visual Deterrent to burglars.

Q I already have an alarm system but don’t use it.

A Most importantly, make sure you have a code number for your alarm.

An alarm can go off at any time, even when not set, and the code number is the only thing which will stop the alarm sound from ringing. This can be very embarrassing and extremely stressful, for you and for your neighbours.

If you have no code, call a local alarm company so you don’t get caught out, or alternatively have the alarm system disconnected if you are not going to use it.

If you are lucky enough to have an alarm system, but have not been using it, maybe because you now have a pet or it has a fault, pet sensors are now available. One call to your local alarm company to correct the fault and your alarm system could be working next week.

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Home & Interiors Spruce Up Your Home Office

Dodgy desk, awkward chair or overflowing shelves? It’s time to give your home office a facelift, says Katherine Sorrell We all need some sort of working space at home, whether it’s a corner of the kitchen that’s used for occasional catching up with emails or a high-spec office with all the bells and whistles necessary for full-time self-employment.

But is yours really working hard for you? Just a few small improvements will go a long way in making your workspace more comfortable, functional and attractive.

It may sound obvious, but a good place to start is with a clear out and a tidy up.

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Chances are, you don’t really need all that stuff you’ve accumulated. Take the time to go through your old paperwork, stationery, books and other bits and pieces; give it away, recycle it, file it away somewhere well out of the way or put it in the bin, as appropriate, and you’re bound to create a great deal of extra space. Then, pay attention to any messy and inconvenient cabling, and sort it out with extension leads, cable clips or even by asking an electrician to add an extra double plug socket in a handy place. Doesn’t that feel better already?

Next: your desk. If you are still running out of room, you could consider adding a small worktop to one side of your existing desk (an L-shaped

By Katherine Sorrell

workspace can be very ergonomic). Alternatively, it’s likely that you could dramatically improve your organisation with a new desk that incorporates drawers, cubby holes, shelves or whatever other type of storage you most need. If you are able to use nearby walls, try to lift as much as possible off the surface of your desk by introducing wall-mounted storage such as shelves, pin boards, peg boards (very trendy), hanging racks and the like. Anything that stacks is bound to be useful, too.

Before you know it, you’ll be able to see your laptop once again.

Most of us never have quite enough storage, and that probably goes for home offices more than any other space in the house. If you’re looking to buy more storage, you may be happy with a conventional filing cabinet and/or bookcase, but don’t be afraid to look beyond the usual office suppliers: vintage and industrial pieces can really come into their own here, adding an element of unexpected style that will really brighten up your work time. Add boxes, baskets, trolleys, racks and desktop accessories in colours and textures that suit your space and emphasise your personal style.

Thinking along these lines, if space isn’t the problem, but

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boring looks are, then why not get out the paintbrush and give everything a facelift?

Stick to neutrals if you wish (they are undeniably good for concentration) but go for bold colours if they make you happy. Blackboard paint is a great option for sections of walls where you might want to chalk up some notes; it comes in a range of colours (not just black) and can even be used on the top of a desk or for cupboard fronts.

And there’s also nothing to stop you replacing a boring window treatment with pretty curtains or blinds, or adding an eye-catching rug, a display of collectibles or a dramatic painting or framed photograph.

A comfortable chair is a must for any working area, and if

you are likely to spend hours in it then an adjustable office chair on castors is the best choice. If yours is dull or ugly, it might be possible to either re-upholster it or make a loose cover; at worst, you could hang a length of fabric over the back and add an attractive cushion. Another essential is a good desk light – beyond being bright and adjustable, simply choose one that you love the look of. There’s an enormous choice out there, at prices to suit every budget. Finally, pay attention to the details and add accessories to brighten up your life, from a good-looking waste bin to a house plant, some colourful wall art or a scented candle.

Let’s face it, the more you enjoy being at work, the more productive you’ll be.

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Email: surbiton@timeforyou.co.uk 16

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17

Finance

By Ann Haldon

Worried About Losing Your Job? Your Rights As An Employee

If your employer is struggling financially, you might be worried about losing your job. Many companies go into administration rather than liquidation, however, which means that it’s not necessarily the end for the business.

Companies can be restructured and sold on as a ‘going concern,’ with staff being transferred over to a new employer under strict protective regulations. Unfortunately, other companies do enter a liquidation process which effectively closes them down, and results in the unavoidable loss of all jobs.

Your emploYer goes into administration The process of administration provides a breathing space for your employer to obtain professional advice, and consider all possible options to save the company. They may be experiencing temporary cash flow problems, in which case there’s a chance the business could be sold on.

If this happens, the first 14 days are crucial for employees.

• If you’re made redundant during this period, you become an ‘ordinary creditor’ and are placed at the bottom of the list for payment.

• If you’re retained as an employee after the initial 14-days, this makes you a

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‘preferential creditor’ and puts you in a better position financially if you’re made redundant later on.

What You can claim as a preferential creditor You’ll be able to claim for: • Any salary or commission outstanding for the four months leading up to closure, up to a maximum of £800 in total.

• Up to six weeks of accrued holiday pay.

• Some occupational pension payments.

It’s often the case, though, that insufficient funds are generated from the sale of business assets to pay most creditors. In these instances you can turn to the National Insurance Fund for help. the national insurance fund (nif) The National Insurance Fund holds cash reserves that cover payments including redundancy, salary and holiday pay. You may be entitled to make a claim in this way if: • You’ve not been able to obtain full payment as a preferential creditor.

• You were made redundant during the first 14 days of administration.

• The company was liquidated straight away.

At the time of writing, the limit on payments via the National Insurance Fund is £475 per week, with £14,250 being the maximum amount of statutory redundancy pay available in each case.

When the period of administration ends The worst-case scenario at the

end of administration is that the company closes down. All jobs will be lost, but you may be eligible to claim the redundancy pay mentioned above, depending on certain criteria.

You must have worked for your employer for a continuous period of two years in order to be eligible, with the amount due being based on your weekly pay, age, and the length of time that you’ve worked at the same place. the process of transferring to a neW companY If your employer’s business has been sold to another company, specific rules protect your rights as an employee.

The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment), or TUPE legislation, ensures that employment terms and conditions at the point of transfer are protected in the main. This is a reassuring aspect in what is often an unsettling experience for members of staff.

What happens if the business is liquidated?

During a liquidation process, all business assets have to be sold in order to generate as much cash as possible to repay creditors. Unfortunately this often means that employees get very little, if any money, which is where claiming via the NIF is extremely helpful. https://www.gov.uk/redundantyour-rights/redundancy-pay https://www.citizensadvice.org. uk/work/work-comes-to-anend/redundancy/redundancypay/#h-who-has-the-right-tostatutory-redundancy-pay

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Painting and Decorating Roofing and Guttering Plastering and Tiling Household Maintenance Loft conversions and extensions

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Hobbies The Alluring Art Of Decoupage

By Kate McLelland

These days decoupage is becoming increasingly popular as a means to upcycle old pieces of furniture or household items such as lamps, boxes, pots, trays and picture frames. It can be used to transform just about any item in the home and the artwork can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be. Just cut out pictures that you like, glue them to the item of your choice and cover the finished piece with thin layers of varnish to seal it.

Craft shops sell a wide range of supplies for decoupage but the good thing about this hobby is that you don’t necessarily need to spend large amounts of money to get started: in fact you probably have most of the things you need lying around at home.

You’ll need basic tools such as scissors (a sharp pair with clean edges), a craft knife, a soft sponge or cloth to wipe away excess adhesive, cotton wool buds for removing small spots of glue and fine sandpaper for sanding layers of varnish (if required).

You can use different types of adhesive but the most effective is specialist decoupage glue – available from hobby shops – which can be used both as a

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glue and as a varnish. PVA or spray glue are good alternatives, as both dry to a clear finish. Always use a gloss varnish to build up layers, as it doesn’t go cloudy, no matter how many coats you apply. If you want a matt finish, undercoat with gloss varnish and then apply a final coat of matt varnish.

There are virtually no limits when it comes to sourcing pictures for decoupage work.

You can pick up books in charity shops, raid old magazines for images, use wallpaper, greetings cards, paper napkins or even pieces of fabric. Wrapping paper is an ideal thickness and is available in traditional and modern designs. You can also use specialist decoupage papers or origami paper.

Here are some guidelines to help you get started on a project: 1. Prepare your surface: the varnish will magnify any imperfections so it’s important to keep your object as clean and dust-free as possible.

2. Select your pictures and arrange them: cut out roughly with scissors first then experiment with different arrangements. It helps to take photos as you go so you can remember the dif-

ferent layouts you’ve tried.

When you are completely happy with the images and arrangement, cut the pictures out carefully with a craft knife.

3. Glue the pictures into position: quickly smooth out any wrinkles and remove any excess glue with a barely damp sponge.

4. Varnish your artwork: make sure the glue is completely dry before starting work and leave the varnish to dry thoroughly between each coat. You may need to apply anything from 4 to up to 15 coats, depending on how thick the paper is and how smooth and durable you want the finish to be.

If you’re still a little nervous about starting your own project, you’ll find plenty of “How to” videos on YouTube that demonstrate the process from beginning to end.

It won’t be long until you have mastered the basic techniques.

The only downside is that decoupage is so simple and effective, you may be tempted to transform every object in your house!

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21

Gadgets To Make Your Garden Grow Great gadgets for the green fingered

With the worst of the weather hopefully behind us, it’s time to turn to the great outdoors - and for many of us that means getting our gardens and hedges in shape. Technology can’t quite do the weeding or clipping for us just yet, but it can help in lots of other ways - including solving garden mysteries. If you’ve ever suspected that pets or other creatures have been damaging your plants, the TLC200 Green Camera is a weatherproof time lapse camera that’s designed to monitor your most precious plants and show you any skulduggery. At £139 it’s not cheap, but then neither are exotic plants that you might want to protect.

As battery technology continues to improve, tool companies are coming up with ever more useful cordless devices for garden use. Bosch’s Isio Cordless Shrub/Grass Shear (£36) is a great example: it’s a rechargeable clipper for shrubs, hedges and grass, and there’s also an optional extension handle that means you can use it without bending down, and a sprayer tank that turns the device into a spray for pesticides or fertiliser. You can get all kinds of cordless garden tools now, ranging from hand-held clippers to enormous

22

and faintly frightening tree limb loppers, but look for Lithium Ion battery packs, not the vastly inferior and less efficient Nickel Cadmium (NiCD).

We’ve been hearing about robot lawn mowers for years now, but every time we’ve looked at them we’ve been put off by the enormous price tags of around £2,000. That’s changing, and it’s now possible to get a decent sized robot lawnmower for around £800.

At the time of writing the Worx WG790E is £774 (the RRP is £899) and the Flymo Robotic Lawnmower is £835 (£998 RRP). The Flymo has a working area of 400 square metres and cuts 30 square metres per hour, and because it’s virtually silent you can get it to do its stuff when everybody’s asleep - and its anti-theft system means you don’t need to worry that somebody will steal it while you’re in bed. It’s not completely autonomous - you need to fit a wire to show it the garden’s boundary, or it’ll get lost - but it’s starting to look like an attractive way to keep your lawn in great condition.

While we’re on the subject of robots, if you’re thinking of investing in a leaf blower it might be worth considering a drone instead: a number of

YouTube clips show drones’ propellers quickly clearing leaves from driveways, and while drones are more expensive than leaf blowers (from a few hundred pounds for a good one compared to around £30 for a blower), you can’t use a leaf blower as a mobile camera or fun toy when you’ve finished tidying your garden.

One way to avoid cleaning up leaves is to prevent them from landing in the first place.

Say hello to the Garden Groom Pro, which has clearly been inspired by those home haircut devices you see in catalogues: it’s a £99 hedge trimmer with its own collection bag, automatically storing and mulching the clippings instead of throwing them all over the path. You’re going to feel a bit silly using it but the reward is a relatively mess-free finish, although it’s worth pointing out that at 7Kg plus the weight of the cuttings bag it’s quite heavy for protracted use. There is a smaller version, the Garden Groom Midi, which is £59.99 and weighs 2.7Kg. Images L to R: TLC200 time lapse camera; Bosch Isio cordless shrub/shear; Flymo Robot Lawn Mower; Garden Groom Midi hedge trimmer

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23

Golden Years

Memories of 50 Years Ago by Ted Bruning

It sometimes seems that the world is being engulfed by an unstoppable tsunami of terrorism. The Islamic world in particular is in flames from Nigeria to the Hindu Kush; the seas and beaches of the Mediterranean are awash with a flotsam and jetsam of drowned refugees; and as nobody can agree either on the cause or the solution there seems no end in sight.

The present horrors are on such a vast scale because the political upheavals that caused them were themselves so vast.

But if you look back 50 years you might perhaps conclude that little has changed: in 1966 the Vietnam War was intensifying; the Biafran War was erupting; India and Pakistan were also at war; as many as 70,000 Egyptian troops, as well as Saudi and Jordanian forces, were bogged down in the eightyear Yemeni Civil War. Nowhere, it seemed, was immune – not even Britain, where on 7th May 1966 the petrol-bombing of a Belfast pub started a fire that burned for 28 years.

The conventional narrative of the Troubles is that the flashpoint came in August 1969 with the Battle of the Bogside, three days of nationalist riots in support of Northern Ireland’s hitherto-peaceful Civil Rights movement. The riots followed a bloodless bombing campaign against water, telephone, and

24

electricity installations which was blamed on the IRA and which forced the resignation of the province’s moderate prime minister, Terence O’Neill. But in reality, the violence had started three years earlier, and the IRA – which at the time was virtually defunct – had nothing to do with it.

The Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association had been formed in 1964 to campaign against discrimination against the province’s Roman Catholics in jobs, housing, education, public spending, and political representation, and O’Neill was well-disposed to negotiations.

Alarmed, the Protestant community reacted. Ian Paisley founded the Ulster Constitutional Defence Committee and its paramilitary wing, the Ulster Protestant Volunteers, and an ex-military policeman named Gusty Spence founded the Ulster Volunteer Force. It was Spence’s UVF that drew the first blood.

On 8th March 1966, the IRA summoned up the energy – and the dynamite – to blow up a statue of Nelson in Dublin (pictured above).

Spence’s UVF retaliated two months later, petrol-bombing a Catholic-owned bar in the largely Protestant Shankill Road. The only casualty was the bar’s neighbour, 77-yearold Protestant widow Matilda Gould, who died of her injuries in hospital six weeks later.

And with that horrible irony, the Troubles had begun. In the years that followed some 3,600 were murdered – nobody knows for certain how many. Maybe 800 of them were security personnel, and many of the civilian dead were terrorists

themselves – again, nobody knows for certain how many.

Most, though, were blameless pubgoers and passers-by, bombed or shot at random, or chosen for torture and death as suspected informants.

But how did it all come to an end? Who won and who lost?

Well, democracy won, as it always does. The nationalists secured some concessions, but as long as Northern Ireland remains firmly attached to the UK they can hardly claim victory. The Troubles fizzled out because the insurgents ran out of energy and the democratic politicians kept their nerve. They were tough, uncompromising, and determined. But they made it clear that while the terrorists weren’t going to win anything, there’d always be a place at the table for them – as in Israel, Kenya, and Cyprus – if they renounced violence. In the end, and after serving 18 years for murder, even Gusty Spence, the man who started it all, saw sense and became a democratic politician.

Could the same process bring peace to the Middle East?

Could Al-Baghdadi one day take his seat as a Syrian MP? Remember Menachem Begin; remember Jomo Kenyatta; remember Archbishop Makarios.

Perhaps we should send Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness to Razza to talk some sense into him!

Happy 50tH BirtHdays to

Janet Jackson (16th), Eric Cantona (21st), Helena Bonham-Carter (26th), and Heston Blumenthal (27th)

Cake and botox to you all!

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The Grass Can Be Greener

by Pippa Greenwood It’s the time of year when things are starting to look lush and green, and beds and borders are beginning to come into their own. But does your lawn spoil it all by looking like a rather moth-eaten patchwork quilt? Or maybe you don’t have a lawn but think it would be great to possess one of those beautiful green surfaces in the centre of your garden?

Whether you have decided your old lawn is well past its best or you want to create one from scratch, it is the perfect time to get started, and turf should still be available from specialist suppliers or garden centres.

once all the plant matter has died off, you can strip it away or dig it in. On sandy soils, incorporate some organic matter to improve moisture retention, while on very heavy soils it is often worth digging in grit and organic matter to improve drainage.

Preparing the site If you want a new lawn, it is essential to get the site properly prepared. It takes time and effort, but every moment you spend is well worthwhile. Start by removing all weeds, large stones, debris and any old grass or lawn, then dig or fork over thoroughly to remove all taproots of weeds.

Buying turf Always choose a reputable supplier and make sure that the turf you buy is suitable for the use you have in mind – some, especially those including lots of dwarf ryegrass, are much tougher than others, while some contain a seed mixture especially put together to make it suitable for use in shade. Others produce a ‘bowling green’ effect, which may look superb but will take an awful lot more maintenance

If the area is really weed infested or covered with old lawn, then most people opt to kill this off with a weedkiller based on glyphosate. Then,

26

Next, firm the whole area by treading it over evenly - walking over the site with fairly flat-soled boots is all you need to do. Once done, rake thoroughly with a garden rake and remove any stones or other debris which comes to the surface. Gently tread down the area again if raking makes it uneven.

and be a good deal less hardwearing. Spending that little bit extra usually pays cheaper turf often contains weeds and sometimes pests or diseases, or simply does not contain a good grass mixture in the first place.

Always buy the turf or arrange to have it delivered just when you need it, as storage never does it any good. If you do need to store it however, you can usually do this for a couple of days. The turves can remain rolled up for up to 24 hours, but for any longer than this unroll as soon as they are delivered and lay them out flat, grass side upwards, preferably on paving or plastic sheeting.

Make sure that you keep them regularly watered and lay them as soon as possible.

Laying the turf It is essential that you lay your turves closely together and do not allow the edges to overlap.

Make sure that the joins on each row are staggered (like bricks in a wall), as this will give an even finish.

Starting at one side, lay the first row of turf using the adjacent path or lawn edging

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to form a straight line which you can work to. Roll out each turf carefully so that the edge of one abuts onto its neighbour.

the turves so that they overlap the new lawn edge and then cut them to shape using a half moon edger or a sharp border spade.

Lay the next row of turves, again ensuring that the long edges of each abut onto the long edges of the previous row.

To avoid damaging the first row lay a plank over it which you can kneel on to lay the second row. Continue like this over the whole area until your new lawn is in position.

When finished, gently tamp the area over using the back of a rake and if any turves sink in then carefully lift them and place some extra soil underneath until they are level.

Finally, brush in a mixture of horticultural sand and finely sieved soil over the surface, taking care to ensure that any tiny gaps between the turves are filled in.

Of course no lawn is ever exactly the right size to fit the turf length, so if you need a small section of turf to complete a row, add this in the middle of a row rather than at the end, as this will make it less likely to be dislodged or to dry out. If you want a curved edge to your lawn, lay

Care and maintenance As soon as the turf is in position, gently water it using a sprinkler, ensuring that this first watering allows the water to penetrate right down to the root level.

then you will need to water your lawn on a regular basis, particularly for the first couple of months whilst the roots are getting established. In the meantime try to avoid walking on it too much and in no time at all you will have a gorgeous lawn to be proud of.

Visit Pippa’s website www. pippagreenwood.com for ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ - fantastic UK grown vegetable plants of your choice plus weekly advice and tips emails from Pippa, Nemaslug, biological controls, pop-up crop covers, signed books and lots more besides.

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27

Beer of the Month

Something like 1,000 new breweries have opened in Britain in the last 10 year, and even though pubs are closing and alcohol consumption is dropping, almost none of them have gone bust. Clearly they’re doing something right, and much bigger, older, uglier breweries are trying to figure out what. And – joining being a function of not beating – some pretty unlikely candidates are turning to that ol’ sincerest form of flattery.

The unlikeliest of them all being Guinness, perhaps the biggest one-product beer factory in the world.

Back in December we had a look at Guinness’s West Indies Porter and we liked it. Now it’s summer and we’re looking at Guinness Golden Ale (4.5% abv), and do we like that too? Well, no. For a start, it’s not golden – in fact it’s closer to copper than gold. And then there’s the nose: “like feet, or warm Stilton – lactic and sour,” was one comment. “Sugary – diabetic trucker’s pee,” was pithier still. The palate?

“Thin and sharp.” “Where’s the malt?” “Soda water.” And the finish? Short and sharp with a hint of sour apple. So, not a favourite, then.

From Black Sheep of Masham, North Yorkshire, which celebrated its silver anniversary last year, comes a more promising attempt at a “craft” beer. Black Sheep is best known for its eponymous bitter, which is a superbly executed albeit dead traditional malty brown beer formulated with the Yorkshire palate firmly in mind. A golden ale, whose floral hop aroma should burst out of the glass at you like a flower-filled hand grenade, is something of a departure. Have they nailed it with Golden Sheep (4.7%)? Yes they have – although admittedly its more of a fruiterer’s than a florist’s.

This is a Yorkshire thing. Yorkies are more about malt than hops and a golden ale is usually more about hops than malt – most even have a dose of wheat malt to keep that body light.

But this is a curvaceous mill-girl of a beer: malty nose with notes of lime and cherry; rounded Pimms-y palate ripe with strawberries; then green fruit or even apricot in a long, astringent, thirst-quenching finish. By the ‘eck! Wakes week must be early this year!

By Ted Bruning

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28

Leverett Electrical Ltd

Qualified electrician

Part P registered.

All work certified.

No job too small.

All work considered Quality at the heart of our work

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Installation & maintenance Rewires Security lighting Fire alarms Central heating wiring

Stuart Leverett Office: 020 8390 0617 Mobile: 07710 123 628 Email:contact@leverettelectrical.co.uk www.leverettelectrical.co.uk

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29

Keeping Pace With The World Of Words

by Kate McLelland It all started when I overheard a discussion between a group of young friends in their twenties as they googled for an app, then uploaded a blog. It struck me that someone who had been on a desert island since the 1980s would have absolutely no idea what they were talking about.

The islander would not only puzzle over the plethora of new words that have appeared since that time: he or she might also be confused to find that some words have entirely changed their meaning. For instance, “sad” was once exclusively used to describe someone who was unhappy, but now it also means pathetic.

OppOsITes aTTracT Other words that have enjoyed a similar meaning makeover include “wicked”.

Up to the late ‘80s it meant very bad, but after that time it became a slang term for very good. Nowadays young people use words like “sick” or “ape” to express approval.

“Nice” and “silly” have undergone a similar transformation. “Nice” was derived from the Latin word nescius (meaning ignorant) but by the 14th century it had begun to mean foolish or simple. In the 18th century its usage changed again, coming close to our modern

30

meaning. “silly” originally meant worthy, or blessed, but the word became associated with the poor and vulnerable and was eventually subverted to mean weak or foolish. acTIONs speak LOUder …? even words describing precise actions can be subject to change.

In the Tudor age, to “flirt” was to make a brisk or jerky movement. somehow that became connected with the idea of playing with a person’s emotions and the concept of “flirting” as we know it was born. “decimation” is a word that comes from the brutal ancient roman practice of killing one man in ten to inspire fear and loyalty amongst any legions that went AWOL or failed to fight effectively. It now means to kill or destroy a large proportion of a group or population. aN ever-expaNdINg dIcTIONary The digital age has seen a huge increase in the number of new words being generated and the process of their adoption has accelerated, too. previously Oxford University press (OUp) took two to three years before it considered adding a word to the Oxford english

dictionary, but nowadays their web collection of words is updated every three months.

Of course, not everyone is happy with the way the english language is evolving and many blame the Usa for exporting expressions such as “to google” (created to describe an internet search).

But anyone who makes a complaint about language nowadays should be aware that they are part of a long tradition. sir John cheke (1514-1557) was a classical scholar who objected to greek words such as “chaos” and “specimen” being added to our english vocabulary. He wrote: “I am of this opinion that our own tung should be written cleane and pure, unmixt and unmangeled with borowing of other tunges”. professor anne curzan, an american historian of the english Language, relishes all new linguistic developments, especially portmanteau words (such as “shopaholic”) that combine two existing words to create a new word with a single meaning. If he were alive today, I have no doubt that John cheke would disapprove. But perhaps he - and everyone else who seeks to stop language from evolving - should just … chillax.

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ves? n.

t any

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SABLE HOME WANTED! Sable is a lovely, pretty, longhaired, black and white (with a very attractive brown tinge across her back), female cat needing love and reassurance.

Sable is a lovely, pretty, longhaired, black & white (with a very attractive brown tinge isagaining in confidence, longhaired, black and white (with enjoying company and playing across her back),Sable female cat very attractive brown tinge across her toys like a young cat Sadly Sable was a stray who haswith again.

Sable would suit a mature her female catand needing love needing love & reassurance. lost faith inback), human nature patient household, without other reassurance. pets or young children. needs and patience and understanding Sadly, Sable was a stray who as she is timid in new situations.

With your patience and love she After several weeks of afostering Sadly was stray willhas continue to blossom and she has Sable lost faith in who human nature will make a lovely companion.

Sable lost is gaining confidence, faith in in human nature and enjoying company and playing and needs patience & understanding as she is timid needs patience and understanding Can you give Sable the loving home she so richly deserves? with her like a young astoys she is timid in newcat situations.

Please ring Sue on 020 8390 3165 for further information. in new situations. again. After Sable would suit a of mature several weeks fostering patient household, without other Sable is gaining in confidence, several weeks of fostering, Sable is gaining in pets orAfter young children. enjoying company and playing confidence, enjoys with her toys like a young cat company & playing with her toys With your and love she As we have around 7,000 cats and kittens in our care at any again.

Sable would suit a mature likepatience a blossom young again. would suit a mature one time, we willSable find you the perfect feline friend. will continue andcat she patient to household, without other will make a lovely companion. www.cats.org.uk pets or young household, children. patient without other pets or young children.

Can you give Sable the and loving home With your patience love she she so richly deserves?

Pleasewill ring Sueyour on 8390 3165 information. continue to020 blossom and shefor further With patience & love she will continue to Sable is a lovely, pretty, longhaired, black and white (withSadly a Sable was a stray who has lost faith in human nature and very attractive brown tinge across needs patience and understanding her back), female cat needing love as she is timid in new situations.

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Thinking Of A Guinea Pig As Your Family Pet? Guinea pigs can be an ideal choice for young families looking for a ‘low profile’ pet.

Although certainly low profile in terms of size, they live for five to six years on average so this is not a short-term commitment.

As inherently social animals they are happiest when living as part of a group, or with one other guinea pig. It’s not a good idea to buy two male guinea pigs together, however, unless they are from the same

litter.

Human contact is also very important, and they will thrive on gentle interaction with you and your family.

Are there any specific health issues to consider?

Eye and respiratory problems are often experienced, and are usually caused by a reaction to dusty bedding or by being in a draught. It’s important to provide them with a constant supply of dust-free hay, and toys they can chew on to prevent their front teeth from growing excessively.

A diet rich in vitamin C will help to keep them healthy.

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PETS Dark green leafy vegetables are ideal, as are oranges and melons, which help to redress their natural vitamin C deficiency. Make sure they also have a constant supply of fresh water, either in a heavy bowl or a gravity-fed bottle attached to their cage.

Guinea pigs need to feel secure, both inside their hutch and when they’re being handled. Always pick them up with both hands, and either sit down or hold them close to your body to keep them safe. http://www.petsathome.com/ shop/en/pets/guinea-pig-careadvice

By Ann Haldon

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Surbiton Food Festival Orchard Open Day Saturday, April 30th, 2016 12:00 pm - 18:00 pm - Kingston Permaculture Reserve, KT5 9QP Come along for a FREE orchard open day for all the family. Bring a picnic and musical instruments and see the vibrant orchard. The reserve is an oasis for people and wildlife, and aims to demonstrate practical, low maintenance ways of growing food Banquet with Food and Wine Saturday, April 30th, 2016 19:00 pm At The Pickled Pantry, St Mark’s Hill, Surbiton.

The Seething Freshwater Sardine Festival Sunday, May 1st, 2016 13:00 pm - Claremont Gardens, Surbiton Celebrate the ancient tradition of sardine fishing in the River Thames in Surbiton. Since sardines were once again introduced to the river in 2005, local people have celebrated the capture of this magical food with a festival. Bands and entertainment Butchery and Blues Monday, May 2nd, 2016 17:00 pm - At The Lamb, Brighton Road, Surbiton Come to meet Joe Corbin, The Blues Butcher. Guitar player, singer, and butcher, Joe will start the evening with a butchery demonstration, then round the evening off with some blues and soul. With meat supplied by local butchers CD Jennings & Sons Food and Drink Quiz Tuesday, May 3rd, 2016 20:30 pm - At The Black Lion, Brighton Road, Surbiton Hosted by landlord, Mark, come along for the Surbiton Food Festival quiz. Free entry with cash prizes! 6 rounds of 10 on anything and everything to do with food and drink. Bookings taken if you are having a meal, call 020 8399 8856 Pop up Restaurant with Margo and Rita Thursday, May 5th, 2016 19:00 pm The Museum of Futures, Brighton Road, Surbiton Sugar paste roses with Surbiton Sugar Craft Guild Friday, May 6th, 2016 19:30 pm - 21:30 pm, Museum Of Futures Make your own rose spray from sugarpaste under the expert guidance of our local Sugarcraft Guild!

Children’s pizza making workshop Saturday, May 7th, 2016 10:30 am - 11:30 am - Da Lucio 101 Maple Road Surbiton Learn about the history of pizzas and how to make them – and take your creations home. £5 per child. Prize awarded for best pizza. Call 02083995113 to book your place The Surbiton Village Fete Saturday, May 7th, 2016 12:00 pm - 17:00 pm - St Andrew’s Square, Surbiton The fourth Surbiton Village Fete brings foodie demonstrations and competitions arranged by Maple Village WI, delicious delights from local businesses to be bought and devoured at the many stalls on site, live music, and the annual dry hopped beer festival Maple Village WI Competition & Demonstration Tent at the Surbiton Village Fete - St Andrew’s Square, Surbiton Saturday, May 7th, 2016 12:00 pm - 18:00 pm Maple Village WI is delighted to be hosting the Competition and Demonstartion Tent at this year’s Village Fete, part of The Surbiton Food Festival. More information is available at http://surbitonfoodfestival.org/ Biscuit decoration with Surbiton Sugar Craft Guild Saturday, May 7th, 2016 13:00 pm - 17:00 pm Decorate your own Mad Hatters Tea Party or Minion biscuits under the expert guidance of our local Sugarcraft Guild!

Come along with the whole family. At The Museum of Futures, Brighton Road, Surbiton.

Steak and wine evening Monday, May 9th, 2016 19:30 pm - 21:30 pm - Museum of Futures, Brighton Road, Surbiton A cutting demonstration of where all the main beef steaks come from and advice on the best wine to compliment them.

Will include tasting sopportunities for both! A BBQ steak meal will also be provided. £15 per person.

Cocktails and Canapes Tuesday, May 10th, 2016 17:00 pm - 22:00 pm - Casa Viva, Ewell Road, Surbiton Casa Viva experience with classic Italian cocktails and authentic tapas. For £12 you get 2 cocktails and a large tapas selection.

Drink and Draw with wine tasting Tuesday, May 10th, 2016 19:30 pm - 22:00 pm - The Lamb, Brighton Road, Join us for a fun evening of drinking and drawing. The session is run by art psychotherapist Deborah Cottrell and award winning artist Carl P.S. Hoare. All abilities welcome and all materials provided.

Jazz Jam Wednesday, May 11th, 2016 18:00 pm - 22:00 pm - Casa Viva, Ewell Road, Surbiton Introducing our resident Jazz Band performing live at Casa Viva, complimented by tasters from the A La Carte menu. £7 per person.

Cheese and wine pairing Wednesday, May 11th, 2016 19:00 pm - The French Table, Maple Road, Surbiton Learn the stories of the cheese makers and wine creators in the company of host & owner of The French Table, Sarah Guignard. Limited number of spaces available: £35 per person. Takes place on 1st floor of the restaurant.

Seething Community Sports Day, picnic & fun dog show Saturday, May 14th, 2016 12:00 pm - 16:00 pm 5th Annual Seething Community Sports Day, sees your school sports day memories return with egg & spoon , also 3-legged and sack races all set to feature. Victoria Recreation Ground, Balaclava Road, Surbiton.

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Plans are underway for the fourth Surbiton Food Festival

W

e are pleased to announce that plans for the fourth Surbiton Food Festival are now being finalised.

Three weeks of foodie celebrations will begin on Saturday 30 April this year, with sixteen days of activities. The highlight of the first weekend, the ever popular Seething Fresh Water Sardine Festival, will bring young and old together to witness the landing of the annual fresh water sardine catch, as well as to soak up the brilliant community atmosphere of the day – with live bands, storytelling and much more!

The incredibly popular Village Fete will again take place on the middle weekend of the festival.

Filling St Andrews Square on Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 May with foodie demonstrations and competitions arranged by the Maple Village WI, delicious delights from local businesses to be bought and devoured at the many stalls on site, live music, and the annual dry hopped beer festival.

The truly community festival will reach its finale on Sunday 15 May following the Seething Community Sports Day and Fun Dog Show on Saturday 14 May. The Fun Dog Show, débuting at the festival in 2015, is organised and supported by Surbiton Veterinary Hospital and last year brought the finest dogs from across South West London for a spectacular celebration of all things canine.

right now, planning their events and offers for the festival all of which will be featured in the festival brochure, online and on the Food Festival App, which will this year be available on both iOS and Android.

This year sees the exciting addition of The Community Kitchen at the Museum of Futures on Brighton Road, a space that will be used for demonstrations, talks, pop-ups, workshops, exhibitions. To date we have scheduled demonstrations and workshops include, a Mad Hatters tea party, a blues and butchery event, food tastings, comedy night, the periodic table of cheese, marching bands and arts events — with many more to come.

“The Surbiton Food Festival would not take place without the fantastic efforts of all the community.

We would like to thank all those who volunteer their time to make the festival happen each year and to the local businesses who are ever supportive year on year,” said Robin Hutchinson of The Community Brain. “The Festival has grown year on year and is a fantastic way to celebrate the range, quality and creativity of local food and drink businesses big and small, new and established.”

Businesses in and around Surbiton are To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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G

Safe and Effective exercise for Mums of all stages

etting fit again after having a baby should be a process of careful rehabilitation. The temptation to get your trainers on and go for a run, play a game of squash or join a Zumba class can be hard to resist, especially when you get that previous hour off!

At Buggyfit, whilst we encourage you to do these things, we want to make sure you can do them safely and forever. If you start too soon you can irreparably damage to your pelvic floor and other vulnerable areas such as your tummy muscles. This in turn could prevent you doing the exercise or sport you love forever. By joining Buggyfit, you will be assessed by a Specialist Women’s Health Trainer who will recommend safe and effective exercises to enable you to build your core strength and enhance your fitness levels.

We have five classes taking place across the borough from Monday to Saturday including New Malden, Richmond Park, Surbiton and central Kingston as well

as two baby free classes on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings. We also run specialist women’s health programmes such as Holistic Core Restore – the pelvic floor and core programme.

Take a look at our timetable below to see what suits you.

You can book online at www. mumsinshape.co.uk or e-mail: anna@mumsinshape. co.uk for more information.

Reminder, don’t rush back, do it right and make sure you can exercise comfortably and safely forever.

Classes run throughout the year and suitable for all levels.

Places are limited, book your trial class today by emailing: anna@mumsinshape.co.uk Stronger, fitter mums!

Weekly Class Timetable DAY

CLASS TYPE

TIME

LOCATION

MONDAY

Buggyfit

10.00 - 11.00

Richmond Park, Kingston Gate

TUESDAY

Buggyfit

10.00 - 11.00

Fairfield Recreation Ground, Central Kingston

TUESDAY EVENING

Baby Free

7.30 - 8.30pm

Surbiton Fishponds/ Alexandra Recreation Ground

WEDNESDAY

Buggyfit

10.00 - 11.00

Surbiton Fishponds/ Alexandra Recreation Ground

THURSDAY

Buggyfit

10.00 - 11.00

Richmond Park, Pembroke Lodge

THURSDAY

Buggyfit

11.45 - 12.45

New Malden, Beverley Park

THURSDAY

Holistic Core Restore (Tummy & Pelvic Floor Class)

10.00 - 11.00

Indoor class - various locations

SATURDAY

Baby Free

09.15 - 10.15

Surbiton Fishponds/ Alexandra Recreation Ground

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Mrs Paula Maple

“The Ultimate Class for Mums and Babies” The Times

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

Tel: 020 8390 7777 by appointment

Ace Complementary Health Centre 304 Ewell Road, Surbiton Surrey, KT6 7AQ www.ace-osteopaths.com

This power walking class, with a mix of cardio, strengthening & toning exercises is proving to be the answer to shifting postnatal weight & re-toning your body after giving birth!

• Burns fat, improves posture & strengthens , ITON core muscles • A one hour social class with SURB LDEN, A M time to chat to other Mums • For all levels NEW STON KING of fitness • Suitable for all buggies/pushchairs • It’s fun & your baby or toddler comes too!

10% Discount with this advert until end of May 2016

Visit www.buggyfit.com www.mumsinshape.co.uk or email: anna@mumsinshape.co.uk thinking for themselves and talk to you. Rest assured, the magic is real - it happens. Stick with it and, even if it takes until your third book, it’s inevitable. You might not always like what your literary children tell you though, which is the burden of all parents!

Here are a few more tips for the journey: - No one else is going to write your story for you, or write it your way. That’s your job.

- The final draft is simply the one you’re prepared to settle for.

Pay It Foreword

I am penning this missive surrounded by notes and chapter outlines for my fourth Thomas Bladen thriller. I tell you this not to boast, but to convince you that all of the previous columns are stepping-stones that work.

You may still have a few slips along the way because uncertainty is the price of adventure.

However, anyone with a little imagination can start with a blank page, seek inspiration, create characters and formulate a plot to get the ball rolling.

The alchemy occurs when your characters start

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

- Incorporate whatever you learn into the way you write your next book.

- If you don’t feel anything for your characters, neither will your readers.

- Write without constraint, but edit with a clear idea of what your book is really about.

- Don’t write in isolation. Engage with the world.

And always remember, in the words of Mark Twain: “The only difference between reality and fiction is that fiction needs to be credible.”

Thanks for reading. Now get writing!

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

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

35

36

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KING GEORGE FIELD INDOOR BOWLS CLUB Learn to Bowl, Free Coaching, All Ages & Abilities Welcome

M o b i l e b i c yc l e S e r v i c e & r e pa i r

Yo u r H o m e | Yo u r W o r k | Yo u r r i d e

Bar . Restaurant Social Events Large Car Park

rebelwaltz-cyclesolutions.co.uk • 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.

FUNCTION ROOM FOR ALL OCCASIONS

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

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

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

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

Monkey Music Kingston, Surbiton and Thames Ditton E: kingston.surbiton@monkeymusic.co.uk T: 0208 224 3971

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

37

Health

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

Alzheimer’s: How Can We Fight Back?

Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia in the UK, affecting over 500,000 people - and public awareness is higher than ever, thanks partly to Terry Pratchett’s well-publicised diagnosis and death. But as we welcome Dementia Awareness Week (May 15th-21st), are we any closer to understanding Alzheimer’s causes - and preventing or curing it?

What Causes Alzheimer’s?

In Alzheimer’s patients, betaamyloid protein builds up to form ‘plaques’ or ‘tangles’ in the brain, preventing nerve cell connections and eventually causing loss of brain tissue.

There is also a neurotransmitter shortage.

These problems produce dementia symptoms such as memory loss, behaviour changes and a decreased ability to process information and stimuli, which increase in number and severity over time.

Can We Prevent Alzheimer’s?

Some risk factors for Alzheimer’s are unavoidable.

Alzheimer’s is more common if: • You’re over 65 (occurrence rapidly increases over 85).

• There is a family history of Alzheimer’s or you carry the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene or MTHFD1L gene.

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Other genes are specifically responsible for rare, earlyonset Alzheimer’s (although this is not solely hereditary).

• You have Down’s syndrome, which can cause amyloid plaque build-up in the brain.

• You’re a woman – even accounting for your longer lifespan, although it’s not clear why.

Avoidable risk factors: • Excessive alcohol intake.

• Heart disease risk factors such as smoking (including passive smoking), lack of exercise, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and being overweight.

• A lack of mental activity - so keep your mind active by reading, playing strategic games (e.g. chess) or completing word puzzles.

Diabetes, depression and head injury also increase the risk of Alzheimer’s. While not necessarily ‘avoidable’, you can lower your chance of developing depression and diabetes through lifestyle choices, seek treatment for depression, and wear a helmet when biking or engaging in hazardous pursuits to reduce risk of head injury.

Although more research is required, recent studies suggest risk can also be reduced by: • Sleeping on your side rather than your back or stomach, allowing the brain to remove waste products more efficiently.

• Getting enough sleep.

• Reducing your stress.

• Staying sociable and avoiding loneliness.

• Following the MIND diet: plenty of vegetables (in particular, green leafy ones), along with nuts, berries,

beans, whole grains, fish, poultry, olive oil and wine (in moderation), and limiting intake of red meats, butter, hard margarine, cheese, pastries, sweets, and fried or fast foods.

Can We Cure Alzheimer’s?

Not yet. However, there are treatments to alleviate symptoms.

Cognitive Stimulation: enjoyable activities that stimulate thinking and encourage engagement.

CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy): to help sufferers discuss concerns and adopt more positive ways of thinking.

Alternative Therapies such as aromatherapy, massage or music therapy.

Drug treatments: cholinesterase inhibitors such as Donepezil (Aricept), Galantamine (Reminyl) and Rivastigmine (Exelon) increase levels of the neurotransmitter acetycholine, They can sometimes improve brain function in sufferers with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s. For severe Alzheimer’s (or moderate Alzheimer’s, unresponsive to cholinesterase inhibitors), Memantine (Ebixa or Axura) may slow the decline in brain function.

Medicines to reduce depression, agitation, anxiety and aggression may also be given.

Hope for the Future Researchers are working on Alzheimer’s prevention, identification of further genetic markers and potential treatments such as ultrasound waves and drugs already used for diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.

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Anna Dennis Acupuncture Qualified acupuncturist and member of the British Acupuncture Council

CATHERINE BAYLISS D.H.D.P; M.B.C.H.

Hypnotherapist/Psychologist Principal of British College of Hypnotherapy _____________________________________________

STOP SMOKING without gaining weight LOSE WEIGHT without losing your temper

Special interest in fertility and pregnancy:  Treatment to aid natural conception  Support through IUI/ IVF/ ICSI  Pregnancy, pre-birth and postlabour acupuncture.

Other common conditions seen in clinic include: anxiety, arthritis, back pain, chronic fatigue, circulatory problems, digestive disorders, menopausal symptoms, menstrual problems, migraines, neurological disorders, sciatica.

6 Ditton Reach, Thames Ditton, KT7 0XB

Tel: 07967 673 465 Email: annaden@hotmail.com

www.annadennisacupuncture.co.uk

Conquer fears, habits, phobias, stress, anxiety, exam nerves, insomnis, confidence and much more.

Learn self hypnosis the easy way to relieve stress, pain and improve motivation to achieve whatever you want. _____________________________________________

CHESSINGTON HYPNOTHERAPY CLINIC

Est. 1981. Days/Eves/Weekends

020 8397 3146



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

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             

      

            

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

39

Short Story The Dithering Dotties Martha was thankful that the sun had finally decided to shine. Since moving into her new house she had been so busy decorating that she had not given any thought to the increasingly overgrown garden that accompanied it. She had never been a particularly enthusiastic gardener, but even she could see that the weeds were now outnumbering the plants.

Naturally, four your old Rosie didn’t mind. She was happy scrambling between old runner bean canes, chattering away to herself, looking for snails.

Martha wondered whether her granddaughter’s boisterous presence would give the Dithering Dotties something else to whinge about. The two elderly sisters next door were her only neighbours, but since she moved in they had done nothing but tut about the squeaking of her front gate, refused to accept parcels on her behalf and twitched their curtains every time she left the house.

“Are you ready for a drink Rosie?” she called, “All this playing is thirsty work isn’t it?”

The cheerful four year old bounced to her feet and came running over.

“Grandma, you know the fairies that live at the bottom of your garden?” Rosie asked breathlessly.

Martha smiled. “Yes dear.”

“I heard them talking just now.”

“Oh really? What did they say?”

“They said you should clear out the leaves from your guttering.”

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“That’s nice.” Martha handed the child a beaker of juice.

“Grandma.”

“Yes, dear.”

“What’s guttering?”

“It’s the pipe the rain runs down.” Martha was amused.

“Did the fairies say anything else?”

“Yes. They said just because you can never completely get rid of bindweed,” Rosie struggled with the unfamiliar words, “doesn’t mean you have to make a feature of it.”

“Oh really?” Martha raised her eyebrows.

“And they thought you could lose an elephant in the lawn.”

Martha snorted with laughter.

“Those fairies don’t think much of my gardening do they?”

“No,” Rosie shook her head.

“They said Mr Primton did a better job than you.”

Martha looked at the child curiously.

“What do you know about Mr Primton?” she asked.

“Nothing,” Rosie guzzled her drink noisily, “Who’s he?”

“He’s the man who used to live in this house,” Martha said.

“The fairies liked him better than you,” Rosie said decisively.

“Yes, they did.” Martha glanced suspiciously at the house next door, and frowned.

“Did the fairies sound like boys or girls?” she prompted.

“All fairies are girls,” Rosie said with authority.

“How many of them were

there?” Martha continued, “Two?” The child pondered.

“Maybe,” she said finally.

“I knew it!” Martha muttered with annoyance. Didn’t those two ditherers have something better to gossip about?

For the rest of the day and into the evening Martha mowed, pruned and weeded. Even after a weary Rosie had been taken home she continued to fill her compost heap with grass clippings, leaf mulch and weeds. Her arms were scratched and her joints ached but by the time the sun had set anyone would agree how beautiful the garden now looked, if only there was enough light to see it.

She sat on her back step and contemplated the day’s work. It amazed her how much energy her indignation had given her, but it was still not completely spent.

Martha went into the kitchen and picked up a notepad.

Decisively she scribbled the words ‘ARE YOU BOTH SATISFIED NOW?’, tore it off and posted it through the Dithering Dotties’ letterbox.

A note they would find when they returned from a fortnight’s holiday in Dorset the following day, which would be a source of great mystery and remain a conversation point between them for years to come.

By Jackie Brewster

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

SOFT DRINKS AVAILABLE

This size advert for £40 a month £11.95 *Please note King Prawn & Fish Dishes are £2 extra

020 8399 0030/3904

285 Ewell Road, Surbiton

www.prithicuisine.co.uk

Call Karen now on 020 8274 0096

Advertise in A Berrylands Companion

Fruiterer & Greengrocer

155 Surbiton Hill Park, Berrylands, Surbiton Tel: 020 8399 5550 Mob: 07753 690 518 Fax: 020 8390 9231

Fruits in Season

Vegetables in Season

Melons, Gala, Orange Flesh & Watermelon All Berries, English Strawberries & Raspberries Fresh Figs, Fresh Dates, Avocado, New crop Williams Pears, First of outdoor Rhubarb, UK New crop NZ Cox & Royal Gala Apples

Broccoli, Cauliflower, Carrots, Romanesca, Rainbow Chard, Spring Cabbage, Leeks, New crop New Potatoes First English Mixed Tomatoes, Baby Plum & Cherry, Vine Tomatoes

We have the following available: Dairy products, milk, cream, yogurt, cheese and fresh bread daily

We can supply any items for your special occasion - 24 hours notice required.

Please contact us to discuss your requirements: Tel: 020 8399 5550

Daily delivery & 24 hr answering service. All types of restaurants, bars, cafes, schools, pubs, nursing homes and deli bars supplied.

Free Local Home Delivery Available

EP Feb 15 Proof 1 .indd 1

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

26/02/2015 12:43:08

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

41

Beauty Spring Is In The Air

by Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk

This month we’re talking oils, hair dyes and (ouch) waxing.

Summer is just around the corner, so we can no longer hide away under layers of winter woollies…

We beauty writers tend to focus on new launches. We’re a bit like magpies – easily distracted by new shiny things. But this month I thought I’d celebrate an underrated classic – Fenjal. Just a whiff of the bath oil conjures up images of my grandma, who’s used it since I was tiny. I’m reminded of her every time I open my Fenjal Classic Shower Oil, £5.49, but that’s not the only reason I love it. Packed with natural oils, including grapeseed and soy, it leaves my skin feeling really soft and lightly scented.

I’m a big fan of botanical oils and use at least one every day. On my ‘to-buy’ list is andiroba oil. And it’s not just me; according to Lorraine Dallmeier of Formula Botanica, this golden Central American oil has ‘attracted great interest from the cosmetic industry in recent years for its potential anti-inflammatory properties.’ She explains,

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‘This oil will nourish your dry and sensitive skin and as an added bonus, it will also repel insects, which makes it an ideal choice for packing when you go on your summer holiday!’ Fancy learning more about natural oils?

Formula Botanica has a wide range of online courses, teaching students how to select and blend natural skincare ingredients.

Light coloured hair can easily look dull and lifeless, so my go-to hair shampoo this month is the PRO:VOKE Touch Of Silver Brightening Shampoo. I start by prepping with the PreToning Primer, which adds shine and smooths cuticles. The shampoo’s violet pigment then helps to neutralise brassiness and protect my colour. Finally, the intensive conditioner undoes some of the damage caused by my highlighting habit. Plus, as the range starts at just £3.19 in Boots, it doesn’t break the bank.

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As mentioned, my hair is feeling a little hard-done-by at the moment, so I’m giving it a rest from bleaching. Instead, I’m using Naturtint, £10.99, to refresh the colour and cover the grey. Probably the gentlest home-colour on the market, Naturtint doesn’t contain any ammonia, parabens, SLS, mineral oils, paraffin, or silicones, so it doesn’t damage my hair. It’s also enriched with plant and seed oils, so leaves my locks

really shiny.

I’ve hauled my summer clothes out of the loft, and my thick tights have been banished to the back of the drawer for another few months.

Unfortunately, that means there’s no escaping the need to regularly de-fuzz. If you’re brave enough to wax, Parissa Warm Wax, £12.99, is one of the simplest ways to ensure hair-free legs for longer. The wax is easy to melt in the microwave, and the fabric strips are strong enough to reuse a few times. (Tip: dust a fine layer of baby powder over your skin before waxing, as it helps to make the wax easier to remove.)

LEWIS DICK

solicitors

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

WE ARE YOUR LOCAL LAW FIRM, AND PROVIDE A HIGH QUALITY SERVICE For more information or a no obligation quote

Call: 020 8393 0055

Email: ewell@lewis-dick.com or visit our Website: www.lewis-dick.com Lewis & Dick, 443 Kingston Road, Ewell, Surrey, KT19 0DG

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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It’s A Mystery Few things beat curling up with a good mystery. Whether you prefer a classic whodunit, a gritty crime novel, or a supernatural thriller, there’s sure to be something to tempt you in our pick of the latest releases.

In the Dark, In the Woods – Eliza Wass While aimed at the young adult audience, In the Dark, In the Woods definitely crosses the age barrier. Castley Cresswell lives with her siblings, broken mother and domineering father, in a rundown house in the woods. Her father tells her that they are the chosen ones, and that he is God’s conduit.

As with all teenagers, Castley struggles with being ‘different’ from her school peers, and starts to question her parents’ ideology. Will she find the strength to break free from her father? Will he let her?

Quiet Neighbors – Catriona McPherson Needing a place to run, Jude flees to a Scottish town, and the quiet solace of the tumbledown bookstore. Staying in a gravedigger’s cottage, she begins to unravel some of the town’s closely-guarded secrets. This is a novel of quiet mysteries to puzzle over, rather than a gruesome whodunit.

Nevertheless, the characters will keep you turning the pages until night has fallen and your tea has long gone cold.

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Switcheroo – Aaron Elkins Switched identities, unsolved murders and a gorgeous setting to boot, Switcheroo has them all. This is Elkins’ 18th book featuring the forensic anthropologist Gideon Oliver, and fans say it’s one of the best to date. Investigating a cold case in Jersey dating from the 1960s, Gideon discovers a web of deceit, dating to before the war, when two boys were swapped by their fathers. Not quite as gripping as some in the genre, Switcheroo is nevertheless a very enjoyable read.

What She Never Told Me – Kate McQuaile Back in Ireland due to her mother’s death, Louise is hoping to finally find out who her father is. Does a stranger hold the answers? Who is the little girl in her memories and why do they leave her feeling so unsettled? A psychological thriller with twists and turns aplenty, this could well end up on this year’s bestseller list.

Prepare to put everything aside for a few hours, as you won’t want to put it down. A must for fans of Before I go to Sleep, Girl on a Train and Little Face.

The Deadlock Trilogy Box Set – P.T. Hylton If you like your mysteries to have a supernatural edge to them, and more than a touch of horror, The Deadlock Trilogy needs to be on your wish list.

Convict Frank returns to his childhood home - a backwater town in Tennessee - to find that things have taken a turn for the bizarre. Brilliantly original, well-plotted and skilfully narrated, this trilogy is a real find. Perfect for fans of early Stephen King.

The Hollow Men - Rob McCarthy Police surgeon Dr Harry Kent is known as a man with a weakness for lost causes. So when a teenager takes a group of people hostage, then later seems to be in clear danger himself, Harry can’t help but get involved. As he works to find out what drove the boy to such desperate measures, Harry starts to uncover a trail of deception and cruelty. Gritty, tense and fast paced, this is the first in a new series starring Dr Harry Kent, and fans are already clamouring for more.

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W E D N E S D A Y

L A D I E S

N I G H T

3 Course Meal - £25.00 – Free Wine served with Meal Tables of Ladies Only 6 p.m. – 11 p.m.

*Except for the month of December. Please note: The ‘Free Wine’ offer will only be served once your food order has been taken for the entire table, and will last the duration of your meal.

LANGLEYS RESTAURANT & WINE BAR | 158 EWELL ROAD | SURBITON | KT6 6HE

To advertiseTEL: call Karen: 020 7564 8274 0096 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk 0208 390 | WWW.LANGLEYSRESTAURANT.CO.UK

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Thai Beef Salad Serves 4

Ready in 50 minutes, plus marinating time This colourful and fragrant main-meal salad is great for easy entertaining. Choose thick pieces of steak and take care not to overcook them or they will become tough and chewy.

Ingredients: • • • • • • • • • • •

2 x 175g sirloin steaks 1 tbsp lime juice 2 tbsp light soy sauce 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed 1 tsp dried chilli flakes 6 spring onions, trimmed and thinly sliced 8 radishes, trimmed and thinly sliced 100g fresh bean sprouts 1/4 cucumber, thinly sliced 4 firm plum tomatoes, quartered 200g mixed salad leaves

FOR THE DRESSING • • • • •

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juice of 2 limes 2 tbsp Thai fish sauce 2 tsp brown sugar 1 tbsp fresh chopped coriander 1 tsp finely chopped lemon grass

Place the steak in a shallow dish. Mix together the lime juice, soy sauce, garlic and chilli flakes. Season with freshly ground black pepper and cover and leave to marinate for 1 hour.

Heat a cast iron skillet or griddle until very hot. Add the steak and cook for 4-6 minutes on each side. Remove from the pan, cover with foil and leave to rest for 15 minutes.

Toss together the spring onions, radishes, bean sprouts, cucumber, tomatoes and salad leaves. Mix together all the dressing ingredients, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Slice the warm steak thinly across the grain.

Toss gently into the salad with the dressing.

Pile into a large shallow serving dish and serve immediately, or leave to cool and serve chilled.

TIP Lemon grass stalks are sold in small packs

by the fresh herbs in the supermarket.

You only need a small amount to give an extra zesty fragrance to the dressing but the stalks will keep for 1-2 weeks in the fridge. Try adding chopped to curries, fruit salads or infuse in hot water for a refreshing alternative to tea.

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

Serving Surbiton for over 50 Years Proud supporters of the Surbiton Food Festival Come and see us at the village fete in St Andrews Sq on Sunday 8th May. We will once again be cooking up our famous sausages!

And on Monday 9th May at the Museum of Futures we are teaming up with top BBQ chef Neil Rankin for a ‘Beef Butchery & Cooking Masterclass’.

Please see the festival website for full details: www.surbitonfoodfestival.org Neil will also be signing copies of his new book ‘Low & Slow, How to Cook Meat’.

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

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

For more information view our website www.cdjenningsandsons.com

Facebook.com/CDJenningsandSons Twitter @SurbitonButcher

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Will this be a real BBQ Summer?

asks Alan Jennings

A

fter several indifferent summers, surely the weather owes us a favour or two? You never know, this could be the summer we’ll all remember.

Here’s wishing!

In a good year, May usually means a busy start to the BBQ season. Suddenly everyone’s dusting down last year’s BBQ or buying themselves the latest apparatus for outdoor cuisine. And we all look forward to those long sultry evenings when eating outside isn’t just a pleasure - it’s a must.

Whatever the weather, it’s the food that makes the BBQ memorable, and you can make absolutely sure of the very best food for you and your guests. A proper BBQ today is no scrappy snack in the garden - it has to be a really succulent meal with a careful selection of choice meats.

So what could be on your list for a successful BBQ, an event which will impress your family and your guests? We can offer you a fabulous range of different cuts from beef, lamb, pork and chicken. Our famed BBQ steaks are always top of the market for BBQ style. These are all cut from Scotch beef which has been hung for three weeks to give you maximum flavour and tenderness. Whether you go for Fillets, T-bones, Sirloins, Rib-Eyes or Rumps, you’ll find the same mouth-watering quality right across the board.

Nowadays many BBQ enthusiasts are going for a BBQ joint, such as a Butterflied Leg of Lamb. This is boned and opened out flat ready for the grill, and would be ideal, say, for a Sunday BBQ lunch with a group of friends.

Or we could open out a boned Shoulder of Lamb for you, or a Topside of Pork or a Rack of Pork Ribs. Another very popular choice

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for a single joint is a chicken or poussin spatchcocked ready for the BBQ. The single-joint BBQ is the ‘in’ thing, because you can cook it to perfection without having to worry about the different cooking times of other meats which you’re grilling at the same time, a big advantage.

Nowadays there is an exceptionally tasty alternative to the traditional cuts. Our readymarinaded range is becoming very popular, as all the cuts have been prepared specially for the BBQ. Why not give it a try?

And we mustn’t forget all the traditional standbys for the BBQ. Our high-quality sausages feature many popular varieties from Traditional Pork to Spicy Spanish and French Merguez. Then we have Kebabs, super-tasty Beef Burgers, Steak Burgers, Ribs and many other delights for your guests.

Above all, we know from our customers that the most important factor in a successful BBQ is the quality of the meat. The better the meat, the better it will BBQ and the better it will taste. Plan well ahead for what you’re going to need. And, if the weather suddenly plays tricks, our meats can always be slipped away into the freezer, ready for the sun to shine another day. But let’s hope for a real BBQ summer this year!

Happy BBQing!

Alan C D Jennings and Sons Traditional Quality Butchers since 1962 146 Ewell Road Surbiton KT6 6HE

020 8399 4870

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Why not advertise in A Berrylands Companion?

This half page advert is ÂŁ90 for one month To find out about the longer packages available call: 020 8274 0096 or email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

This quarter page advert is just ÂŁ51 for one month This full page advert is ÂŁ144 for one month.

To find out about the longer packages available call: 020 8274 0096 or email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

To find out about the longer packages available call: 020 8274 0096 or email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

Are you looking for local advertising?

Look no further!

Contact Karen at A Berrylands Companion on: 020 8274 0096 or email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

49

Cake and Bake Chocolate Chip and Nut Biscotti These crisp Italian biscuits are baked twice to give them that extra crunch. Serve them with strong coffee or a sweet dessert wine for dipping.

Ingredients:

1. Preheat the oven to 180C, 350F, Gas 4. Line a

• 50g butter, softened

2. Put the butter and sugar in a bowl and beat

• 100g caster sugar • 1 medium egg, beaten • 2 tsp orange zest • 175g plain flour, plus extra for shaping • 1/2 tsp baking powder

large baking sheet with baking parchment.

3.

4.

• 40g blanched hazelnuts, roughly chopped • 40g dark chocolate chips

5.

Makes approx 20 biscuits Ready in 50 minutes

6.

TIP

For a flavour variation, replace the nuts and chocolate chips with sweetened dried cranberries and mixed peel.

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7.

together with a wooden spoon until very pale and fluffy. Gradually beat in the egg and orange zest.

Sift over the flour and baking powder and add the hazelnuts and chocolate chips. Knead on a lightly floured surface to a soft dough, adding a little more flour if the dough seems sticky.

Divide the dough into two pieces and using lightly floured hands shape each to a 18cm x 8cm log.

Place on the baking sheet, well spaced apart, and flatten each one slightly with the palm of your hands.

Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until firm and light golden. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and leave to cool for about 10 minutes.

Carefully transfer the two logs to a chopping board. Use a serrated knife to cut each log on the diagonal into 9-10 slices. Return all the slices, cut-side down, to the baking sheet and bake for a further 10-15 minutes until crisp and golden brown.

Transfer the biscotti to a cooling rack and leave to cool completely. They will keep in an airtight container for 2-3 weeks.

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Meet the Berrylands Belles

T

he Berrylands Belles is a 40-strong ladies choir who meet every Monday evening to sing.

The group formed in September last year by professional soprano and choral director, Rebecca Gresson. "I started the choir originally for a few local mums who enjoy singing and wanted to join a choir.

Our members come from all over Surbiton and beyond".

Rebecca directs five Surrey-based choirs, including the Unicorn Singers (a children's choir who compete at national level in choral competitions, appearing

recently on BBC Songs of Praise Choir of the Year) and Surbiton-based Arnould Girls Choir (open to girls aged 10-18).

Rehearsals for the Berrylands Belles take place at Grand Avenue Primary School each week and the choir covers a range of choral repertoire from the more traditional John Rutter anthems to arrangements of To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

well-known, foot-tapping pop and rock songs.

The choir works towards at least one performance each term. Last month they competed at the Richmond Festival in Hampton coming first place in the Senior Choir Competition.

"I love being a member of the Berrylands Belles" says soprano Kerry Lilienfeld.

"There is such a great mix of friendly people of all ages and backgrounds and no-one takes themselves too seriously.

Rebecca is a brilliant Musical Director I'm always amazed at how good she makes us sound! I never thought Monday nights could be so enjoyable!"

The Belles' next performance will be on 9th July in Emmanuel C h u r c h , Tolworth. This is a charity concert to raise money for Momentum - a charity that supports children with cancer and lifelimiting conditions, and their families, in Surrey and South West London.

For more information on the Berrylands Belles, please email becgresson@hotmail.com

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

51

And Another Thing...

Where Tom Does ‘Snapchat’

by Tom Hughes Follow Tom on Twitter @groomsdaybook

“Tom? Tom! Put down that silly magazine and listen.”

“It’s not a silly magazine.

Look at that split-screen camper - isn’t she lovely?”

“Amazing. Listen, it’s about Hannah.”

My ears pricked up at the mention of our teenage protégé. “What about Hannah?”

“Well, you know that boy she likes at school? The good-looking one that’s taller than you?”

“No. But do continue.”

“Well - and don’t breathe a word - they’re talking.”

“What about?”

“Does it matter? The main thing is that they’re talking.

Isn’t it exciting!”

“Thrilling. Are they talking now? Do you want me to go and listen?”

“No! Don’t be nosey. Just be happy that she’s talking to a nice boy. Here she comes. And no smart remarks thank you.” And with that Hannah, mobile

52

device positioned firmly in front of her face, plopped down on the sofa opposite.

A pause, then. “So, your mother informs me that you’re talking to a boy.”

“Mmnn.”

“Are you talking now?

Well it’s not much of a conversation.”

Hannah rolled her eyes as she held up her phone.

“Er, Snapchat, hello?”

“And how do you do Snapchat?”

“You just ‘do’ Snapchat, OK?” Sarah tried to explain.

“Tom, it’s a messaging app.

It’s like texting but more... teenagey.”

“Well I was texting Nigel last night asking could I borrow his nail gun and I don’t remember anyone getting giddy about that.”

“Tom, talking, in this context means that they are, well you know, talking.”

“I think I’ve just about grasped that concept, thank

you. And so what comes next?”

Sarah leant over and eyes widening said, “Well after talking, if it goes well, then it’s... speaking!”

My mouth dropped open in astonishment - who’d have thought? I was about to throw in my twopenn’orth when up piped Hannah.

“Er, I am actually here in the room you know?

For goodness sake!” (Or words to that effect). With parental embarrassment now at its absolute zenith, Hannah, her eyes rolling like a zombie, flounced out in disgust.

My Dearly Beloved and I returned to watching Wanted Down Under. “That wife is bullying him into going, why doesn’t he just tell her? I say dear, she’s.. what’s the matter?”

“Tom, after the way you spoke to Hannah about that boy, well I wouldn’t be surprised if they ended up not speaking at all. Anyway I’m not staying here, I’m off

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out.”

“Where to?”

“None of your business.

And do you know why?

Because…we’re not speaking!”

Fortunately, in short order Hannah and her new squeeze did in fact begin “speaking” and very soon after (proving the ancient maxim that ‘faint heart ne’er won fair lady’) Hannah was asked out on a date to the cinema. And who was the chauffeur for this romantic interlude? You know it brother. So, after just three hours of hysteria about which outfit to wear (during which time I went about my chores with Benny Goodman playing blissfully on my fruit-based MP3 player) we were

ready. Then, just as I pulled up outside an annoyingly large detached house, Hannah self combusted with embarrassment.

Why? Because I (not unreasonably in my view) dared to beep my horn.

“Dad!! For goodness sake!”

(Or words to that effect).

Eventually, Adam appeared. Gangly, spotty and smelling of a mixture of nerves and Hugo Boss, he flopped into the back seat.

“ThnkufrtkngustocinewrldmrHughes.”

“Don’t mention it...I think.”

The whole journey was conducted in complete, stony silence. Eventually we reached the Multiplex.

Wordlessly, the happy couple exited via a rear

door. I shouted after them, “Oi, I thought you two were speaking?”

Cue eye rolls all round!

And so Adam and Hannah became a couple and all was well. That is, until three weeks ago when Sarah rushed in carrying an emergency tub of Ben and Jerry’s. I dropped everything and plumped up the cushions.

“Tom? Can Hannah sit next to you for a bit, she needs her Dad.” And so, as a tear-stained daughter snuggled up to next me and began scooping ice cream determinedly into her mouth, we settled down to watch Annie Hall. In complete silence.

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Japan Iconic Cherry Blossom

By Solange Hando When winter draws to a close, the whole of Japan looks forward to the arrival of the cherry blossom. Every night on the news, the weather is followed by the ‘cherry blossom forecast’, carefully mapping out its progress. It all begins in January in the subtropical island of Okinawa down south, reaching Tokyo around the end of March and finally Hokkaido, the northern island, in May. Should you miss the blossom on the plain in Honshu, just head for the delightful mountain resorts of Hakone or Takayama when it comes out a little later.

Legend has it that Hanami, or ‘flower viewing’, began around the 8th-9th centuries when Emperor Saga and his Court in Kyoto made offerings to the spirits dwelling in the trees while celebrating the occasion with sake, the traditional rice wine. Later the custom extended to the warrior class of the Samurai and eventually the common people followed suit.

So to this day, at Hanami time, everyone heads for gardens and parks, castle grounds, temples and shrines to gaze in wonder and party under

54

the cherry trees. Children joyfully celebrate the first day of school after the holidays and some companies pay an employee to sit in the park all day and reserve the best viewing spot for the after work party. Hanami can be enjoyed throughout the day or at night when paper lanterns hanging in the trees add a magical glow to the blossom. There is music and laughter and feasting on all sorts of blossom-flavoured snacks, sweets, dumplings, Kit Kats, crisps or beer, and you can even try a suitably flavoured Starbucks latte. Only the older folks might prefer a quiet time under a tree in their own courtyard, while for a few, wisteria and plum blossom are just as attractive.

But beauty aside, what is so special about blossom?

For the Japanese, it reflects the two main religions on their islands, the traditional Shinto based on the worship of spirits in the natural world and Buddhism, which alongside respect for nature reminds followers that nothing in this world can last for ever. Life is short, we’re only passing through just like the beautiful cherry blossom which lasts no

more than a couple of weeks.

For many Japanese, the blossom is at its most inspiring when it starts to fall like ‘pink snow’ and carpet the land. The parties die down and it’s a time to reflect on life, past, present and future.

As for the cherry trees, they are as iconic as Mount Fuji, with over 200 varieties producing all sorts of blooms, from the most delicate flowers to frothy clouds of colour in every shade of red and pink though for many, white, the rarest of all, is the favourite.

Every public building and garden has its cherry trees but for those who can manage it, there are top viewing spots listed on the news, such as Shinjuku Gyoen, one of Tokyo’s many parks, claiming over 1,000 cherry trees, the Five Lake District, the Botanical Gardens in Kanazawa and in Miharu, the 1,000 year old aptly named ‘Waterfall Cherry Tree’ with its glorious show spanning some 20 metres around.

Add a geisha in a traditional kimono and you have the essence of Japan, at its most endearing when the cherry trees are in full bloom.

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Windows • Doors • Conservatories Orangeries • Garage Doors • Roofline

Add a New Dimension to Your Home

Our Conservatories, Orangeries and Bi-Folding Doors will completely change the way you enjoy your home.

7 Grand Parade, Ewell Road, Tolworth, Surrey KT6 7BE www.warmlite.co.uk Tel: 020 8399 3377 To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

55

QUIZ SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD SOLUTION

HIDATO SOLUTION

CODEWORD SOLUTION

WORDWHEEL ANSWER SIMPLE WORDSEARCH ANSWER Better weak beer than an empty cask.

Danish proverb

CHILDREN’S PAGE

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

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Jellyfish Shrimp Whale Shark Stingray Dolphin Octopus Henry Hedgehog!

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

TREE free flee floe sloe slot soot ROOT

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Kingston Art 2016: Anagrams

T

his exhibition showcases the winning entries to a competition where artists from local artists’ groups ASC Kingston (Artists Studio Company Kingston), Hawks Road, Fusion Art and KAOS (Kingston Artists Open Studios) have entered new work under the theme Anagrams.

This is an exhibition of transformational art, where the art work and the artist’s explanations of how they have approached the theme give the viewer a fascinating insight into each artist’s way of seeing and working.

Two prizes, the Judge’s Choice and the Public Choice, will be awarded to the artwork which gains the most votes from the judges and public.

"I am intrigued to see the works that have been submitted and the ways in which each artist has chosen to respond to the theme of "Anagrams" in order to convey their intentions to the viewer. Given Kingston's rich artistic heritage, I am hoping there will be some great surprises in store from local artists".

David Falkner, Director Stanley Picker Gallery & Dorich House Museum, Kingston University Organised in conjunction with artist’s group KAOS. Anagram definition: An anagram is a type of word play, the result of rearranging the letters of a word or phrase to produce a new word or phrase, using all the original letters exactly once; for example, the word To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

anagram can be rearranged into nag-a-ram.

Someone who creates anagrams may be called an "anagrammatist".

The original word or phrase is known as the subject of the anagram. Anagrams are often used as a form of mnemonic device as well.

Any word or phrase that exactly reproduces the letters in another order is an anagram.

However, the goal of serious or skilled anagrammatists is to produce anagrams that in some way reflect or comment on the subject.

Opening hours: Tuesday, Friday, Saturday 10am-5pm, Thursday 10am-7pm Admission free Kingston Museum Wheatfield Way Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2PS 020 8547 5006 www.kingston ,gov.uk/museum

Picture above is entitled: Tainted Diem, by Sue Tritton Brown

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

57

COMMUNITY PAGE

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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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 BorneoSociety (6) Surbiton & District Historical 3. Horologist (10) 4. Slightly open (4) Tues 5.

3rd May: Mr Ian Porter returns to Engage somebody to enter the army (6) Represents performsDickens” as if in a play (6) speak 6.about “TheorYoung Evening 8. Come to terms with (7) meeting as below.

9. Shortened term for provocation (5) 13. Returning to political office (10) 15. Unusually great in size (7) Tues 7th June: Mr Roland Wales’ talk is 16. After sunrise and before sunset (8) “vampires, Nazis & Spies -the Hollywood 17. Strong and sharp (5) little emotionEvening or sensibility (6) Career18.ofHaving RC Sherriff”, meeting as 20. Add to the very end (6) below.22. The highest point; culminate (6) 24. Compass point (4)

Tues 5th July: Mr Tony Drake’s talk is on “Bushy House from 1663 to the Present Day” October Evening meeting as belowSudoku

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

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

Remember, you can pick up a copy of A Berrylands Companion magazine at the following: C.D.Jennings, B&M Budget Store, Surbiton & Tolworth Libraries, Shan’s Pharmacy, Tolworth Recreation Centre, The Lamb, MBE Surbiton, Surbiton Superstore, Ewell Road, Collinson Optician, Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club.

Read it whilst you wait at: Aspen Vets, Berrylands Autocare Garage, Cornerhouse Dentist 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 May for June issue 22/01/2010 00:22:03 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 8th March for April issue 8th April for May 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

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What’s on in May:-

National Pet Month; Bowel Cancer & IBS Awareness Month;

25th: World Malaria Day 25-1st: Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week 30th: Cirque Du Chennai, 7pm, in The Arthur Cotterell Theatre, Kingston College, KT2

1AQ Tickets £15 adults, £10 concessions, can be reserved by emailing: cirqueduch

enai@hotmail.co.uk or online: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cirque-du-chennai-

2016-tickets-22426051925 30th-15th May: Surbiton Food Festival Launch www.surbitonfoodfestival.org 30-8th: Grand Design Live at ExCel, London. Adults £12, Child free.

www.granddesignlive.com

Events in May:

National Share a Story Month; Action on Stroke Month; National Walking Month Surbiton Sardine Festival in St Andrew’s Square Bank Holiday Deaf Awareness Week World Asthma Day International Donkey Week London Mayoral Election Friends’ Lecture at Kingston Museum: Secret Kingston by local historian, Julian McCarthy. Call Museum to book: 020 8547 5006. Tea & coffee served 6.30pm, for 7pm start.

May Memory Cafe ‘Home Instead’ will visit Kingston Museum for an afternoon of relaxing activities. This event is open to anyone affected by memory loss and their

carers. Tea, coffee and cake will be served. 2-4pm 7th: Coffee Morning & Sale at 10 - 12, Tolworth United Reform Church, Raeburn Avenue.

7-8th: Surbiton Village Fete and Dry Hop Beer event.

7-14th: National Doughnut Week 8th: Deadline for submissions for June issue of A Berrylands Companion.

The Dittons Fair, Giggs Hill Green, Thames Ditton. From 1pm, Entry Free.

8-14th: British Sandwich Week; Red Cross Week.

9-5th June: Artful Dodgers, amateur art group, have their 2nd exhibition ‘Out in the Open’

at All Saint’s Church, Market Place, Kingston. During church opening hours. For

information: www.artfuldodgers.wix.com/artful or email: ArtfulDodgersArt@gmail.

com 12th: Teachers Twilight event: Kingston in WW2 Learn lots of facts regarding life in

Kingston upon Thames during World War II. £10. Refreshments provided. Call the

Museum to book. 5.30-7.00pm 13th: Museums at Night, Bank of England open 5.30-9pm. www.bankofengland.co.uk 14th: Surbiton Food Festival Community Sports Day and Dog Show 17th: Gala Night of the Italian British Association, at 7-9pm, with 2 Italian artists,

Pasquale Ferraro and Gianni Bonincontro, at the Cornerhouse, 116 Douglas Road,

Surbiton, KT6 7SB.

Looking After Your Silverware Join Seoyoung Kim, Curator and accredited

Conservator, to learn more about silver and find out how to look after your silver

items. Bring your own items to clean. £10. Refreshments provided. Call the Museum

to book. 10am-12.30pm 19th: Young People Thursday Late Join our Young People Creative Board members in

an evening of art, creativity and fun. Run by young people for young people! 5.30-

7.00pm 28 - 4th June: Surbiton Arts Group Spring Exhibition in Surbiton Library Annexe, Ewell

Road, Surbiton. Open on 28th: 2-5pm; Tue, Thu, Fri: 11am-5pm; Sat 4th June: 11am-

4pm. Public entry free, and you are welcome to view & buy the paintings & cards on

display. Closed Mon & Weds.

30th: Spring Bank Holiday Until June 30th 2017: Star Wars Exhibition at Madam Tussauds. Tkts: Child £25, Adult £31,

Family, 2A + 2 C= £108.

4, 11, 18 and 25 June: Landscapes of the Borough. Work with a professional artist to learn

about landscape painting. Four week course. Suitable 6+. Fees apply.

Call Kingston Museum to book and for further info. 020 8547 5006. 10.30am-

12.30pm

1st: 2nd: 2-8th: 3rd: 3-1oth: 5th:

6th:

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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 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.

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 Kingston Pensioners’ Forum: Meets 2nd Monday each month at Reform Church, Eden Street 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 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 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 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 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 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.

Oasis daytime group for over 60s: at Emmanuel Church, Grand Avenue, Tolworth. Plenty of opportunity to chat, play games, do puzzles.Next Meeting, Wednesday 18th May, 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, 14th April. 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 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 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 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 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 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 Hook Singers: Fridays 10:30 to 12 at Chessington Methodist Church. New members welcome, no auditions required. Variety of popular songs. Contact Chris Kemp 0208 241 9777 website www. hooksingers.btck.co.uk Tolworth United Reform Church, Raeburn Avenue, Tolworth. Services every Sunday at 10.30am. All welcome.

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

Why not send in your events for Summer for the What’s On page ?

Clubs, Schools, Churches, & Charity events should be submitted to karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Index Please mention the magazine when contacting advertisers 27 13 53 19 5 23 27 63 23 29 21 21 15 28 19 17 25 21 16 55 19 15 6/7

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

39 2 39 35

Care & Health Anna Dennis Acupuncture Corner House Dental Practice Chessington Hypnotherapy Clinic Paula Maple Chiropodist

Rest & Relaxation 34/35 Anna Coe 51 Berrylands Belles 37 King George Field Bowls Club 57 Kingston Museum 7 Kingston Performing Arts 39 Mrs Bennet’s Ballroom Classes 37 Rebel Waltz Cycle Solutions 64 Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club 37

Children & Education Monkey Music

31 31

Veterinary Aspen Veterinary Surgery Cats Protection League

62

11 10 8/9 7 12

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

47 41 45 41

Food & Drink C.D.Jennings CF & MC Stears Greengrocer Langley’s Restaurant Prithi

43

Solicitors Lewis-Dick

58/59 36 60/61 11 44 3 26 46 50 32/33

Articles & Editorials Community Pages Kids Page What’s On & Local Events Pages Crossword Book Review Useful Telephone Numbers Gardening by Pippa Greenwood Recipe Baking Surbiton Food Festival

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 £42.50 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

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

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Summer is coming!

Join us at Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club for an action packed Summer of Sport, including: the Ae surbitGON N trOphO y

edON Wimbl

testh mAtce t crick

OpeN GOlf

The Davis Cup is coming to Town!

At the Kingston Ancient Marketplace, Wednesday 1st June.

And to Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club, Sunday 5th - Monday 6th June.

Join in the fun!

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

64