September 2017 issuu 121

Month: September 2017 Issue No: 121 Independent monthly community news and business directory for KT5 & KT6

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

Inside this issue: * Edward Davey, M.P resumes his articles * Recipes * Puzzles & Quizzes * Articles and Community pages * New Advertisers And more......

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Hello Readers

A

s I write this editorial, it is the second week of August and it has been raining really hard, all day!

Where is our Summer weather?

During the summer break came the sad news that Douglas Reynolds, Ex-Mayor of Kingston, had passed away. I have known ‘Dougie’ for a very long time! I went to his funeral service, which was a celebration of his full life. Whilst I was there, I spoke to our re-elected MP, Edward Davey, who has said he would look at resuming his monthly reports for A Berrylands Companion. And although he was on holiday, true to his word, he has sent in an article supporting the local Scouts.

We have some new advertisers in the magazine. As ever, there will always be room for more advertisers and businesses

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 Services 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 85474630 020 8547 5196 0870 126 4019 0845 010 9000 08459 000 444 0870 850 6506 020 8547 6444 020 8541 1212 101 999 111

to feature in the magazine, so why not try local advertising? Just call me.

I know this may be early, but Christmas will soon be here, so if you are planning a Christmas Fair, Fête, or Sale, send in your details for the ‘What’s On page. Better still, send in the artwork for your advert in good time. Remember that there is a combined December/January edition, so New Year dates should be included.

Good luck to those going back to school and those off to academia further afield.

Best wishes, Karen

Emergencies/Utilities: Gas Emergency Electricity Emergency Water Emergency BT Fault Line Virgin Media Crimestoppers Kingston Hospital NHS Direct (24/7) Childline Samaritans Age Concern Kingston Relate www.relatekh.org Domestic Violence Helpline www.victimsupport.org.uk Surbiton Safer Neighbourhood Team based at Millbank House surbitonhill.snt@met.police.uk

0800 111 999 0800 783 8866 0845 920 0800 0800 800 151 0845 142 0000 0800 555 111 020 8546 7711 0845 4647 0800 1111 116 123 0800 00 99 66 020 8549 3318 020 8547 3202

020 8721 2518 08457 484 950 0870 608 2608 0844 335 1802 A Berrylands Companion 0844 335 1801 18 Kingsdowne Road, Surbiton, KT6 6JZ

020 8274 0096 karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk www.berrylands-companion.co.uk Please mention A Berrylands Companion when responding to adverts

3

Hobbies The Magic of Toy Making

By Kate McLelland

“There’s a tactile, magic quality to a handmade toy. It stimulates the imagination in a way nothing else can”, says Giles Brown of Dorset Model Soldiers, a company that has been producing traditional lead toy soldiers since 1976.

Karl Longbottom is equally enthusiastic about his reasons for crafting traditional and model kites, claiming that “Nothing beats the satisfaction” of watching a child’s face as he or she flies a kite for the first time.

What many professional toymakers have in common is the fact that their work originally grew out of a passionate hobby.

Karl Longbottom, for example, drew on his background in engineering to design and build kites, and his success at creating these high-flying toys allowed him to turn a part-time hobby into a full-time job.

Artisan-made toys are certainly creating more interest these days, in spite of the digital revolution. Recently there has been considerable online debate about “unplugged vs. electronic toys”, with many parents taking the view that simpler toys are more likely than their electronic counterparts to stimulate a child’s imagination, speech and

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motor skills.

The most important aspect of toy making is safety, so before you proceed to the making stage, do consider whether there is anything in the design or manufacture of your toy products that may prove dangerous to a child. Even if you intend to give your products away, you should be aware that you will be bound by certain rules and legal restrictions when making toys.

Under UK law, anything made to be played with by children under 14 must be tested in accordance with the Toy Safety Directive and must display a “CE” logo on its label or on any packaging. Unfortunately, this means that hobbyists and small business suppliers have to work to the same safety specifications as large-scale toy manufacturers: ignoring this legal requirement can lead to a fine of up to £5,000 and in some cases even a prison sentence.

A copy of the EN 71 Toy Safety Regulations – giving details of what is required to achieve a CE mark – can be obtained from your local library services or by applying to a trading standards office. Alternatively visit the website of product safety specialists Conformance

(conformance.co.uk), where you will find some very useful pointers on achieving the CE mark.

Once you have achieved a CE mark for your toys, you might wish to sell some items to cover the costs of your CE certification. Either approach a local, independent toy store to see if they are interested or test the market on websites such as Etsy.com or Ebay.co.uk (it costs nothing to set up shop on either site, but you will be liable to pay fees if you sell).

Making toys can be a hugely enjoyable pastime, with the potential to make money if your product proves popular.

Devonshire doll-maker Eric Horne never intended to turn his wood-turning hobby into a business, but after a local shopkeeper displayed his toys in her shop window, he quickly began to receive offers from other retailers, and soon found himself running a successful international business.

Toy making may require more administration and legal boxticking than your average hobby, but the reward can be priceless: it lies in the joy and pleasure your toys bring to the children who are lucky enough to own them.

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Short Story Aunty Josephine’s Kiosk The early morning sun glittered on the waves. Neville paced in front of Aunty Josephine’s Kiosk and checked the time.

Apart from a chap walking his spaniel on the beach and a solitary teenager playing on roller skates down the promenade in the far distance, there was not a soul about. No sign yet of Josephine.

Yesterday he’d overheard two locals talking in the pub about how Josephine now used wheels to get about. He saw his opportunity. He’d make her an offer for the kiosk; less than it was worth, but if she was getting frail she would be easy to negotiate with. Personally, he found the seaside dull, but there was money to be made from a beach full of holidaymakers.

He watched the spaniel run after its ball into the surf, then glanced again along the promenade. It was still deserted apart from the teenager, who he could now see was a girl in a lime green helmet weaving perilously in and out of the bollards. He wished he had that much energy.

To his relief, he heard the unmistakeable hum of a mobility scooter struggling up the ramp from the arcades.

He buttoned his jacket and, preparing the concerned smile that he’d been practising since yesterday, he turned graciously to greet Josephine. To his disappointment the rider of the mobility scooter was just a gentleman in a turquoise

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bomber jacket. He nodded to Neville as he rolled past.

“Excuse me!”

Neville called. “I don’t suppose you know when Aunty Josephine arrives to open up?”

The gentleman applied his brakes and turned to face Neville.

“Any time now.” He glanced at his watch. “Though to be fair, she’s been arriving a little late these days.”

Neville nodded sympathetically.

He was a canny enough businessman to appreciate that everyone who knew Josephine would be sad to see her in decline.

Technically speaking Josephine was nobody’s aunty, yet she was as much a part of the fabric of this seaside town as the smell of fish and chips.

She’d been the proprietor of the promenade kiosk for donkey’s years.

From Easter until October she would hang out rows of colourful buckets, spades and windmills. In his youth, Neville had seen her vault over the counter to rescue a lilo from being snatched by the wind.

She could blow up a beach ball in three puffs. Back then, Neville recalled, Josephine had been a force to be reckoned with.

Once the deal was done, he’d get rid of all the buckets and nonsense. He couldn’t imagine anyone built sandcastles

anymore. He’d sell expensive cappuccinos instead, that’s what people liked these days.

“Any idea when she’ll get here?” Neville asked. “I’ve got an appointment to discuss kiosk business with her.”

“You’re brave.” The gentleman chuckled knowingly. “The last chap who tried that had to dig his own grave.”

“Obviously, her situation’s now changed,” Neville said dismissively. “Do you actually know when she’ll get here?”

“I’ve not got the best eyesight.”

The man squinted along the promenade. “But isn’t this her coming towards us now?”

Neville followed the man’s gaze, but the promenade was still deserted apart from the girl.

“That’s just a teenager on roller skates,” Neville said.

“Is she wearing a green helmet?” the man asked.

“Yes,” Neville answered.

“Is she doing stunts with the bollards like Evel Knievel?” the man asked.

Neville nodded, his mouth agape.

“That’ll be her then. Good luck with your meeting!” He rode off on his scooter with a pip of his horn. “I’m sure she’ll be happy to sell you a spade.”

By Jackie Brewster

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Deadlines for submitting new artwork for forthcoming issues of A Berrylands Companion 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 8th May for June issue June 8th for July/Aug issue Aug 8th for September issue For more information call Karen on 020 8274 0096 or send an email to

karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Finance

By Ann Haldon

How to Build Up Your Credit Rating at University stage?

Being able to borrow money when you need it is a crucial part of everyday life for most people. It enables you to enter the property market when the time comes, helps you buy your first car, and provides the means to deal with emergencies when they happen.

Many undergraduate bank accounts offer a credit card and arranged overdraft facility when you start university, with the overdraft facility often being increased over the following years depending on the risk involved to the lender.

Do lenders think you will default?

This is partly how lenders decide whether or not to accept an application for borrowing – it’s based largely on the risk of default that you present to them. This risk is assessed using your credit file, which contains a credit rating and other information.

Building a good credit rating certainly takes time, but when your degree course is finished and you start work, you’ll be thankful for the steps you’ve already taken. So what can you do to help yourself at this

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• Apply for a credit-builder credit card These credit cards are for people with no credit history, or a poor credit rating that needs to be rebuilt. In your case, a card such as this will allow you to build up a good credit history, as long as you are sensible and use it in the right way.

You should use it each month to pay for regular but relatively low outgoings - your food shopping, for example, or rail tickets. The crucial part is to pay off the balance in full, and without fail, every month.

Missing a single payment will instantly damage your credit rating. You will also be charged a high interest rate on the outstanding balance, and late payment fees. Using a credit-builder credit card is one of the most effective ways to build a good credit history if it’s used properly.

• Make sure you’re on the electoral register Any lender will want to see that you have a fixed address, and be able to confirm your identity. This increases confidence that you’re trustworthy, but as a student living in halls the best option is to use your home address. You can apply to be included on the register by contacting your local council or using the gov.uk website.

• Don’t exceed your overdraft limit without authorisation Going over your arranged overdraft limit, even for a day, will trigger high interest charges and other fees, but crucially it will also damage your credit score. If you know that you’re going to need extra money for a limited time, talk to your bank and see if they’ll agree to increase your limit, even if it’s only on a temporary basis.

• Avoid multiple applications for credit If you’re refused credit by one or more lenders it will adversely affect your credit rating, so it’s a good idea to avoid making multiple applications at the same time.

• Include rent payments in your credit file The Rental Scheme was first introduced in 2016. It involves paying your rent to the landlord through an intermediary, who informs the credit reference agencies that you’ve paid on time.

The three main credit reference agencies in the UK – Experian, Equifax, and Callcredit – each hold their own information about your credit history. At some point whilst you’re at university, it would be worthwhile checking with each agency to ensure the information they hold is correct. http://www.savethestudent. org/money/student-banking/ student-credit-rating.html

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Get in on the act

H

ave you ever written a short play that deserves to be performed – or have you always wanted to?

If so, the cornerHOUSE one act plays festival needs you. The arts centre in Douglas Road, Surbiton, is asking people to create a play for the oneACTS 2018, its showcase of original writing which will take place in April 2018.

Numerous subjects have been covered over the 11 years that the festival has been running, including plays on Elvis, a mouse hunt, a sudoku addict, the antics of a group of clowns, internet dating, a fun run, and a time-travelling Ofsted inspector.

Don’t worry if you haven’t attempted anything like this before. You can find all the information you need on the cornerHOUSE website at www.thech.org or email cornerhouseoneacts@gmail.com

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

Jon Constant, chairman of the festival, which has become a well established and highly respected event in the local arts scene, said: "The plays need to be short - 15 to 30 minutes long - so if you have an original idea and would like to see it staged, why not have a go? A number of plays will be selected by a panel of judges out of all those received and yours may well be the lucky one. Even if it isn't you will still get feedback to help you with your future writing."

The deadline for submission of plays is Tuesday, October 31. After that, directors will be chosen, actors will be cast, and your work will come to life on stage.

So, get your thinking caps on, put fingers to keyboard, and start writing - those judges are looking forward to reading your play.

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Diagnosing Patent Ductus Arteriosis

A

da, a 10 week old Coton De Tuleur puppy, was brought into us by her owner for a Puppy health. She had already had a puppy check and first vaccination at 8 weeks by the breeder’s vet; however her owner wanted to get her health checked after picking her up, as most new owners do.

Our Vet identified that Ada had a heart murmur to the left side of the heart during the routine health check.

One of the main aspects of a clinical exam is for the vet to check the heart and chest using their stethoscope.

Peter felt that the heart murmur was possibly a congenital abnormality and recommended a heart scan. The scan showed that Ada had a quite rare, but treatable heart abnormality, Patent Ductus Arteriosus.

Patent Ductus Arteriosus is a serious but treatable heart condition that can occur in puppies. It is a feature of animals and humans in the womb that the aorta and the pulmonary artery are connected by a blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus.

Though necessary while in the womb, this connection should naturally rectify and detach when the puppy is born.

Sometimes this does not happen and the two vessels stay connected. As

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long as these vessels are connected and the oxygenated and non oxygenated blood is mixed, putting a strain on the heart.

This condition requires specialist heart surgery and the procedure is risky. Peter referred Ada quickly and she was able to receive this specialist surgery before the condition started to cause a problem to Ada’s health.

We are happy to report that the surgery was a success and Ada has made a full recovery and she no longer has a heart condition. We were recently able to carry out her spay procedure safely and Ada continues to be a happy and healthy puppy.

Aspen Veterinary Surgery 351 Ewell Road, Surbiton KT6 7BZ 020 8399 6437 www.aspenvets.co.uk

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Peggy hid her babies so well that the people whose garden they were in didn't realise there were kittens under there for a couple of months!

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Peggy and Pepsi need a home without young children, and with understanding owners who can accept that it may take Pepsi some time to get used to them. Peggy & Pepsi could be homed with other cats.

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

How To Keep An Eye On Your Rabbit’s Health

PETS

eye, or possibly in-growing eyelashes.

Nose and mouth The nose should be dry and clean. Check that your rabbit’s front teeth aren’t chipped or broken by holding their head with one hand, and gently lifting their lip with the other.

Ears There should be no redness, dirt, wax or discharge in your rabbit’s ears. You may need to sit in a good light or shine a torch when checking their ears, as it can be difficult to see potential problems in this area.

Feet You’re checking for any abrasions, inflammation, or build-up of dirt in their paws,

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

If you can give Peggy & Pepsi the peaceful forever home they so desperately deserve please call Rosemary on 01737 350307

If you cannot adopt a cat but would still like to help us please go to https://www.justgiving.com/Epsom-Cats-Protection

351 Ewell Road, Tolworth, KT6 7BZ

It’s important to regularly check your rabbit for signs of illness, as it’s not always obvious when they’re unwell.

One of the best ways to do this is to wrap them in a towel to stop them moving around while you check the following: Eyes Eyes should be bright, clear and dry. If they’re runny it could be a sign of dental problems, a scratch on the

Hello!! My name is Lola ..

Epsom Ewell & District Branch http://www.epsom.cats.org.uk

www.aspenvets.co.uk 020 8399 6437

Because of this it took a while to socialise Pepsi but now she is very friendly towards the people she knows, although still a little timid around strangers.

and also that the heels of their back feet are not sore. The best way to check the feet is to hold your rabbit with their back against you.

Bottom It’s crucial to check their bottom is clean as flystrike is a serious threat to rabbits during the warmer months of summer and early autumn. You may need to bathe their bottom regularly for this reason.

Skin Rub your hand against the direction of their fur - skin should be free of lumps, abrasions, and inflammation. http://best4bunny.com/simpleways-health-check-rabbit/

By Ann Haldon

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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T

September! A great month at Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club!

his is one of the months when the Club’s many facilities really come into their own. Weather permitting , our beautiful grass courts will be with us for some time yet, and although the nights are drawing in, the excellent floodlights on six of our nine hard courts will ensure a full evening’s play.

Altogether the Club offers eleven grass courts and nine fast-draining hard courts, of which three are laid in synthetic clay and greatly in demand with our Members. And at the end of the month we will have our Tennis Dome to guarantee tennis for the following six months whatever the weather!

Our many hard courts are ideal for our extensive programmes of tennis coaching, which are devised to suit all ages from three to eighty and continue throughout the year.

Indoors at the Club everything’s buzzing as usual. Our spacious Fitness Suite seems to become more popular every week. We have some of the latest equipment, from cardiovascular aids to resistance machines and free weights and we have recently purchased the latest Indoor Cycling bikes.

Why not come and try them? You’ll be very welcome!

Our Studio is always well patronised. We have regular classes in Zumba, Pilates, Yoga and Indoor Cycling. And you can enjoy Cardiotennis and Racketball as well.

Squash has always been very popular at the Club. Our four state-of-the-art courts are all air-conditioned and heated as necessary.

Saturday nights are special, when our Squash Club Nights offer the opportunity to

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meet new opponents. From 5.30pm onwards, every Saturday, so don’t miss the fun!

There’s also a Beginners’ Squash Evening on Sundays from 5pm to 6pm.

We also offer Professional Sports Massage in its own dedicated Studio. This has become extremely popular along with our Physiotherapy facility, which is run in conjunction with Kingston Physiotherapy.

Our Chiropracter, Neil Reilly, can be reached on 0208 390 9030 for appointments.

We’re a friendly Club, as you would soon find if you came to see us. Our Clubhouse Bar is an excellent social meeting-place, where you can relax with coffee or any one of a range of drinks. And cooked meals can be ordered from the menu. Why not pop in and look us over? You’ll be very welcome!

Perhaps I should mention that we have recently introduced a number of new membership options at the Club. One that is especially popular is Off Peak Gym membership, which applies to weekdays only and up to 5pm. This offers remarkable value at only £360 for a full year or £30 a month. Terms and Conditions apply. Our growing Junior Membership also benefits from very generous terms.

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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As well as providing a wide range of pet sitting services (from doggy day crèche, rabbit and guinea-pig boarding, and home visits for cats), we have now teamed up with Lily’s Kitchen to distribute their award-winning brand of dog and cat food in the local area.

To take advantage of our great offers, simply download our app and click on ‘Lily’s Kitchen’ for the full range of pet food.

Our fantastic new reward programme means that, with every order you place, we will automatically send you a surprise gift for your fur baby! Every order, Every time, Simple!

We are also offering a 20% discount off the retail price on your order of any Lily's Kitchen product (Terms and conditions apply).

To enquire about any of our services give us a call on 02082417525.

Food, Health And Hygiene For Your New Hamster Hamsters are very sensitive creatures, so when you bring home your new pet, it’s a good idea to leave them to settle in for a few days. They need to feel safe and secure, and not disturbing them too much will also help them become familiar with their new surroundings.

Along with maintaining hygienic living conditions, diet plays an important part in your hamster’s day-to-day health, so what should you feed them?

PETS

Best foods for your hamster Quality ready-mixed hamster food or pellets are available in good pet stores and supermarkets, and are a simple way to ensure your hamster receives the nutrients it needs.

If you know the type of food they were given previously, it’s a good idea to carry on with the same regime to prevent upsetting their digestive system.

Hamsters also enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables, but fruit should be given in tiny quantities as too much sugar can cause diabetes.

A small piece of carrot, apple, or cucumber once or

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

twice a week will suffice.

Health and hygiene Your hamster’s cage should be cleaned thoroughly once a week with a safe disinfectant - more often in the area used as a toilet if they don’t have a litter tray. Hamster litter trays are very useful, particularly for smaller cages, and help your pet to stay clean. If you put a little of the old, dry bedding back in the cage, they’ll also be surrounded by their own scent, feeling safer as a result. www.petsathome.com/shop/en/ pets/advice/small-animal-careadvice/hamster-care-advice/ www.thehamsterhouse.com/ hamster-food/what-do-hamsterseat/

By Ann Haldon

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Technology

A WORLD WITHOUT WIRES The best way to get wireless Wi-Fi at home or on the go If you go out and about this year, you’re in for a happy surprise: You don’t need to be travelling far from home to get free Wi-Fi. Many UK and Irish towns and cities have free Wi-Fi schemes - and most casual eating and coffee chains usually offer some form of free internet access.

Just watch what you’re signing up for: such public-spirited provision is often there in order to capture valuable marketing data, so keep a close eye on any tick-boxes you’re expected to complete. It’s also a good idea to use a virtual private networking (VPN) service such as Tunnelbear (www. tunnelbear.com) or Windscribe (www.windscribe.com) to keep your connection private if you intend to use public Wi-Fi services.

You never know who’s looking in.

1

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If you’re staying at home and just want to get better reception around the house or in the garden, there are several ways to make your Wi-Fi work harder.

The first, cheapest

and simplest thing to do to improve your Wi-Fi connection is to move the router: ideally it should be higher than your furniture and obstacles such as radiators, which are hard for the radio waves to pass through.

If your wireless router is getting on a bit it’s probably stuck with older, slow Wi-Fi technology, so if you can 3 stretch to an 802.11ac wireless router you’ll notice a huge difference in speed and range - provided of course your laptop, tablet or smartphone has the same 2 Wi-Fi support.

If the speed is fine but the signal just doesn’t go far enough, a Wi-Fi extender may be just the trick: it connects to the network and throws the signal further, so for example you might extend your home Wi-Fi network to the garden or patio. It isn’t expensive or difficult, either: good Wi-Fi extenders are available for less than £40 and take seconds to set up.

1. Netgear Nighthawk 802.11ac router. 2. Wi-Fi dongle to upgrade PC’s wireless. 3. D-Link Wi-Fi extender.

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Intriguing Reads Secrets, lies and mysteries are at the heart of this month’s picks.

The Marriage Pact – Michelle Richmond Newlyweds Alice and Jake are invited to join The Pact.

The group seems to have just one goal – making marriages work. All members need to do is agree to follow the rules for a happy marriage, and accept support if they struggle. However, as Alice and Jake soon find out, there are consequences for breaking the rules, and The Pact is, like marriage, for life. A tense psychological thriller you’ll want to devour in one sitting.

The Life She Was Given – Ellen Marie Wiseman Lily knows she’s different.

After all, her parents have kept her locked away for all of her nine years, in case she scares people. But then one day, in 1931, her mother drags her away from Blackwood Manor, and sells her to the circus.

Fast forward to 1956 and Julia returns back to the home she ran away from. Two women, one house, 25 years apart; will the secret of Lily finally come to light? Well researched, with believable characters and a story that really draws you

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in, this is a must for fans of historical fiction.

Pieces of Happiness – Anne Ostby Recently widowed, Kat invites her four old school friends to join her on a cocoa plantation in Fiji. Now in their sixties, the women each have their own reasons for wanting to leave their old lives behind. Together they set up as chocolatiers, and let the island heal old wounds and allow them to make peace with their lives.

As the subtitle says, this is a ‘Novel of Friendship, Hope and Chocolate’. Perfect for fans of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Don’t Close Your Eyes – Holly Seddon Sarah is the good girl, the one her parents can always rely on to behave. Robin is the impetuous one, who can always be relied on to cause havoc.

The twins are devastated when their parents’ divorce separates them. Now in her 30s, Robin lives alone, trapped in her home by crippling agoraphobia. Sarah has built what seems to be the perfect life, but after being forced to leave it all behind, she goes in search of the only

person she feels she can turn to – Robin. There’s just one person missing, their stepbrother Callum.

Flesh and Bone and Water – Luiza Sauma André Cabral is divorced and living in London when he receives a letter sent by a woman from his past - a letter that may just call him back to Brazil. Rewind a few years and we meet the teenage André – grieving for his mother, frustrated by his father’s demands, and infatuated with his 16 year old maid, Luana.

An enjoyable read that paints a vivid picture of Brazil, from its beautiful beaches to its rigid social structure.

The Good Daughter – Karin Slaughter Charlotte and Samantha Quinn’s lives are changed forever when a violent crime destroys their family. 28 years later, Charlotte is working as a defence lawyer. She finds herself embroiled in a tragic event that leaves the town reeling, and the memories she’s tried so hard to bury come rushing back. Gripping.

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Houseplants Go Home

by Pippa Greenwood

This year I didn’t get a summer holiday but I’m proud to say that my houseplants did – no need for costly air fares or over-priced hotels and dodgy meals out however, because they spent the summer in the garden. Most houseplants grown widely up and down the country need to be just that, plants in houses, but come the summer it usually gives them a real boost to get the higher natural light levels, refreshing (relatively warm) rainfall and seriously fresh air. But now that September is here it is time to bring them indoors.

The daytime temperatures are generally warm enough in almost all areas of the country but there will soon be some noticeably nippy nights and these can do untold damage, especially to some of the more tender varieties.

Before bringing them in though, it is essential to put your plants through their paces; think of it as being a bit like going through Customs on your way back from your seasonal break!

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First I go over them checking for dead, damaged or dying leaves, and then use a sharp pair of scissors to remove these, cutting back neatly into clean, healthy growth. Next it is time to inspect the stems, foliage and any flowers for pests and diseases. There is often a wide range of these problems that can infest or infect your houseplants, and it always pays to bring them in totally clean.

Look out for white powdery mildew deposits, often accompanied by a bit of leaf yellowing, and check for greyish fuzzy fungal patches caused by the notorious Botrytis or grey mould - this will often start out on an already dead part of the plant such as a faded leaf or flower, but is often associated with yellowing, petal browning and dieback too.

Also look for pests like scale insects - tiny brownish elliptical insects which feed beneath leaves or on soft stems, often producing copious quantities of sticky, sugary honeydew - or aphids, which may be found

clustered on the more tender, newer growth. If you find any infestation, it is essential it is dealt with before the plants go inside, as once the pots are back indoors the pests will flourish in the now warmer and more protected conditions, and will soon multiply and may even spread to other healthy plants, causing potential chaos! Most problems like these, if caught early, can be dealt with by using a sharp pair of scissors or secateurs to snip off infected areas, or by some careful picking off by hand. If you find scale insects, aphids or fluffy patches of mealy bug, you can purchase a brilliant biocontrol to sort them out in a totally environmentally friendly way that is also completely safe for you and your pets.

For more information, visit www.pippagreenwood.com/ products/protect-your-crops.

Once the plants themselves have had a check over, I always inspect the pots, including the surface of the compost and beneath the base and rim of

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the pot itself. If you can, and as long as the plant won’t be damaged in the process, gently ease it out of its pot and check the root ball. This may sound a little extreme but all of these more ‘hidden’ and out of the way places provide perfect places for stowaways: the pests which live in the garden but would appreciate spending the cooler weather in your house things like vine weevils, slugs and snails. Not the sort of house guests you or your plants would appreciate, I’m sure.

When the check over is complete, gently scrape away the uppermost surface of the compost and replace with the same quantity of fresh, similar compost, wipe down the sides of the pot and take your plants

inside, taking care not to put them anywhere which is too hot, too dry or too draughty for their liking.

reminder of a lovely show and I know that even with my sometimes erratic care they should keep on performing for years to come!

Once your old favourites are safely re-installed in their old positions and are free from unwanted guests, you may like to treat yourself to a new houseplant or two.

There are some wonderful (and amazingly good value) houseplants readily available in garden centres now and you’ll often find some gems in the supermarket too - how about a marvellously elegant moth orchid (Phalaenopsis) or two? I treated myself to a couple when I was working at The Woburn Abbey Garden Show this summer, and they’ve proved to be a beautiful

Visit Pippa’s website www. pippagreenwood.com for her ‘Winter thru’ Spring Collection’ of gorgeous UK-grown gardenready vegetable plants ready for delivery in September.

You’ll also find many gardening items including growing frames, SpeedHoes, SpeedWeeders, raised bed kits, Nemaslug and other nematode controls, copper tape, pull-out EasyTunnels, signed books and lots more besides.

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Health

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

Jet Lag and Joy Lag: How to Recover from Your Holiday

Holidays should be a chance to relax and revitalise ourselves.

So why do we sometimes feel miserable and exhausted afterwards, and how can we prevent it?

Jet Lag Jet lag refers to symptoms caused by disruption to your ‘body clock’ when you travel to a different time-zone. They can include changed bowel habits, tiredness, headache, anxiety, confusion and nausea.

Their severity depends on age and how many time zones you cross. One or two? No problem. Three to six? You’ll feel it.

Seven to twelve? You’ll need a few days to adapt, particularly when travelling east, as it’s often easier to delay sleep than make yourself sleep after a shorter day.

Reducing Jet Lag Jet lag when you arrive on holiday is inconvenient, but when you return, it can be a problem – especially if you have to adapt quickly to everyday life.

While you can’t prevent jet lag, there are ways to help reduce its effects.

• If possible, gradually move

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your routine closer to that of your new time zone several days before departure.

• Ensure you’re wellrested and hydrated before and during your flight.

• Nap on the plane if night time will be a long time away when you arrive. If you want to stay awake, keep active (essential for reducing the risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis on long flights).

• Avoid alcohol, which may increase symptoms. Remember that caffeinated drinks (e.g. tea, coffee and cola) may keep you awake.

• Adjust to the new time zone immediately. Resist napping on arrival unless it’s night time.

• Use the calculator created by Dr Idzikowski of Edinburgh Sleep Centre, to tell you how to use daylight to reduce jet lag at www.ba.com/jetlag.

Joy Lag (Post-Holiday Blues and Exhaustion) It’s not uncommon to feel glum and exhausted when you get back from your holiday. Perhaps you overdid it, packing in too many activities and trips, overindulging and not getting enough sleep. Returning to your work, responsibilities, holiday laundry, gloomy weather and an untidy house can be daunting, too – and there’s

no holiday to look forward to anymore.

Preventing Joy Lag Before your holiday, try to pack gradually. Less frantic packing will help to prevent you coming back to a mess. If you can afford it, book a treat to look forward to a few weeks post-holiday. Stock up on easy meals for your return and if you can, book a day or two off after your holiday to adjust.

During your holiday, don’t cram every moment with trips or organised activities. Shortlist trips, check the weather forecast and any special events and then plan the best days to venture out. Reserve other days for relaxation or a short trip to a local attraction or restaurant. Try to make the journey home as fun and relaxing as possible. Perhaps you could break your journey at a restaurant, or even a hotel – doing the final run home on a full holiday breakfast.

After your holiday, be kind to yourself. Cook easy meals or treat yourself by eating out or having a takeaway. Conversely, though, start on the washing as soon as you’re back. It will only take a minute or two and you’ll know you’ve made a start. Put suitcases out of sight until they’re empty.

Here’s wishing you reduced jet lag, reduced joy lag and Happy Holidays!

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

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Home & Interiors Inspired by Colour

By Katherine Sorrell basics; at a price, however, it was possible for strong, bright pigments or dyes to be extracted from other sources.

Ultramarine blue, for example, came from ground lapis lazuli gemstones, and was once more expensive than gold (hence in art it was often reserved for painting the robes of Mary and the infant Christ), while Tyrian purple required 10,000 boiled snails to produce one gram of dye, and was employed for fabrics worn only by kings, queens and emperors.

The story of colour is the story of society, of fashion, of the way we live, of science, of art – in fact, of mankind itself. We look at all aspects of colour, from its history to this year’s most fashionable shades.

Did you know that there was a time when green wallpaper could kill you? Or that a very expensive dye was once made from boiled snails? But first, the early history. It was back in the

Palaeolithic era - about 35,000 years ago - that Stone Age man began to create cave paintings in which earth pigments were mixed with resin, water or glue made from animal bones and hides. For many centuries, the most widely used natural pigments were extracted from soil and rocks, plants, insects (cochineal, for example) and animals (the distinctive Suffolk pink was made by diluting whitewash with bull’s blood).

Ash and chalk were also

Historically, the use of colour was governed by its ease of availability – and therefore its cost. The richest colours were always reserved for the most important parts of religious and royal interiors. In the Georgian period, the ‘common’ colours that were affordable and widely available included stone and timber colours, greys and whites – in the form of distemper and white lead. Middle class households would often use the slightly more expensive

What are this year’s most fashionable colours?

GREENERY: Colour authority Pantone’s colour of 2017, Greenery is described as ‘a fresh and zesty yellow-green shade that evokes the first days of spring when nature’s greens revive, restore and renew’. Greenery is ideal for adding pops of colour in the form of cushions, cupboard fronts or vases. It also lends itself beautifully to the botanicals trend that’s so hot right now.

MILLENNIAL PINK: Also known as Tumblr Pink and Scandi Pink, Millennial Pink is a soft, dusky pink that was inspired by Wes Anderson’s film The Grand Budapest Hotel and the rose gold iPhone. It’s been called gender-neutral and post-pretty, and it’s literally everywhere.

DENIM DRIFT: Dulux’s colour of the year for 2017, Denim Drift is versatile and easy to use in every room of the house, from kitchen cupboards and soft furnishings to floor coverings and entire walls. It’s easy to co-ordinate with, too.

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oil colours such as ‘drab’ (dull brownish grey), olive, pea green and sky blue. More expensive paints included pink, lemon, orange and straw colour, while the most costly were verdigris, ultramarine and smalt, a glittering blue. It was household income, on the whole, rather than personal taste, which determined how colourful a home could be.

Everything changed from the early 19th century, however, when chemists, spurred on by the industrialisation of textile production, began to develop synthetic colours, and the price of ‘colour’ began to fall. Many new colours were developed and old ones were improved – though there were exceptions.

Emerald Green, for example, commercially available from 1814 to the early 1900s, was based on arsenic, and fumes

from wallpaper – including designs by William Morris – printed with the ink could be deadly. The new Victorian palette included bottle greens, gold, burgundy, crimson, rose, violet and mahogany, as well as intense chemical yellows, blues and greens, the results of the invention of aniline dye colours used first for wallpapers and textiles, and then for paints. Stronger colours were mostly used for rooms deemed ‘important’ (not to mention the fact that deeper colours helped to hide the soot produced by oil lamps), while white and lighter colours were considered more appropriate for bedrooms.

In a reaction to these bold Victorian colours, perhaps unsurprisingly, Edwardian hues became softer and paler and, ever since, colour has followed the roller-coaster of fashion

as well as inevitable scientific advances: from the ‘greeneryyallery’ of the Aesthetic movement to the brilliant white produced by the introduction of titanium dioxide in 1916, and from the sorbet colours of the Fifties right through to the ontrend pinks, blues and greens of 2017. These days, readymade paint colours are inspired by historical periods, fashion themes, travel, architecture, the natural world – or you can have them specially mixed to any hue you desire. It’s fair to say that the modern world of colour has no limits.

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History Man’s Best Friend By Catherine Rose hunter-gatherer forefathers took grey wolf puppies from the wild, taming and interbreeding them to have traits according to the needs of their owners – from being hunting companions to helping herd livestock.

The domestic dog (canis familiaris) has been around for almost 20 thousand years.

Despite much speculation, modern research has concluded that all dogs are descended from the grey wolf (canis lupus), although it is difficult to see what some of today’s diverse breeds have in common with them.

Today’s domestic dog is the most varied mammal on earth in terms of shape, size and behaviour. The oldest dog remains date back 19 thousand years and were uncovered at a Palaeolithic site close to the Ukraine. Another Palaeolithic tomb excavated in Israel contained the skeletons of a man and his dog who had been buried together, demonstrating the bond in life between the two.

Like man, wolves are sociable pack animals who accept the authority of a group leader.

This made them readily adaptable to human leadership, being naturally loyal and able to obey the rules of their pack.

Scientists believe that our

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This selective breeding meant that some dogs developed an acute sense of smell, hearing or vision, while others developed speed and stamina, or guarding, hunting and retrieving skills. These traits evolved over thousands of years to produce diverse canine types that were then bred within those types to evolve into the domestic dog breeds we have today.

We know from murals that dogs were kept by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. Chinese emperors lavished so much care on their canine companions that they were even said to have their own servants.

In Europe, owning a dog gained popularity from the 13th century onwards, and during the Middle Ages it became a status symbol. Dogs were still largely kept for purpose rather than pleasure until the mid-19th century, when the Victorians made family pet-owning a sought-after social practice.

With it came organised dog shows and the birth of the Kennel Club in 1873 to differentiate between and regulate ‘pure’ or pedigree breeds. Dogs outside of the specialisations came to

be known as mixed breed or mongrels. The first Crufts was held in 1891.

Different dog breeds differ widely in their life spans. Larger dogs tend to be shorter lived: Great Danes, for example, typically only survive eight years. The breed with the shortest lifespan - around five years - is said to be the Dogue de Bordeaux, while the longest-lived breeds are Toy Poodles and Border terriers, both of which can survive for up to 15 years. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the oldest dog was a mongrel named Pusuke, who was almost 27 years old when he ‘crossed over the rainbow bridge’.

Our long relationship with dogs runs deep into the backwaters of human history and will no doubt continue to do so. With the right training, dogs have consistently proved themselves to be intelligent, loyal, affectionate and often invaluable companions, rightfully earning themselves a place within our homes as a much-loved member of the family.

Image: Grey Wolf (canis lupus) at the UK Wolf Conservation Trust

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Technology

TECH FOR THE NEW TERM The best solutions for students and schoolwork It’s that time of year again: schools, colleges and universities are readying for a new term and parents are running around trying to get everything their children need. Increasingly that includes technology, whether that’s a basic laptop for younger children’s homework or an all-rounder for studying, social media and streaming video at home or in student accommodation.

1

It’s worth thinking about streaming video if your children are staying away from home, because you can get almost all the TV you want for free, entirely legally, via the internet and most catch-up TV apps (BBC Iplayer does need a licence). There’s no need for a pricey Sky or Virgin contract, just a decent broadband service. If video is going to be a key thing, make sure whatever you buy has a good-sized screen or buy a Chromecast, which enables you to stream video from your computer to a TV. The best allrounder is a Windows 10 laptop, and you’ll find lots of really good bargains from the likes of Dell, Lenovo, HP, Acer and Asus around the £400 2 mark.

There’s another option: tablets such as the iPad. Previously we’ve said they aren’t really ideal for serious work but that’s changed with the arrival of the iPad Pro, which is a genuine alternative to a powerful laptop. It’s pricey though (from £619) with another £159 for a keyboard cover or £99 for the Apple Pencil (£99).

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

In the unlikely event that your child doesn’t already have a phone, give Apple a miss unless you’re really 3 fond of their products or don’t care about the cost: Lenovo’s P2 and the Moto G5 are both brilliant Android smartphones and cost less than £150 SIM-free. And if they need an e-reader, Amazon’s all-conquering Kindle remains the one to get - but you don’t need to buy the top-end Kindle Voyage (£169): the basic Kindle is just £59.99 and does the job perfectly well.

It’s worth checking your insurance policies too, especially if your children will be moving out for college or university. Your home insurance might already cover your children’s gadgets when they’re away from home, but don’t assume that’s the case - and if they do, check the excesses, which might be higher than the cost of repairing or replacing a gadget. The same applies to any contents insurance you may take out for your children’s accommodation.

Lots of companies have insurance policies specifically designed for students’ computers and smartphones, and sites such as money.co.uk enable you to compare the cover, cost and excesses quickly. We’d particularly recommend insurance that covers you for accidental damage: if something can be dropped, smashed or accidentally covered in liquid, it probably will be.

Main Image- iPad Pro 10.5” £619.

1. Google Chromecast £30-£69. 2. Dell Dimension laptop £369. 3. Lenovo P2, around £300.

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Motorways: Four Lanes, or Three with a Hard Shoulder?

If you’ve driven on Britain’s motorways recently, you can’t fail to have noticed that the hard shoulder is sometimes being turned into another lane.

On some motorways this new lane is at times a lane and at others a hard shoulder. Indications on gantries above the lanes tell you when this is the case.

These roads are termed “smart motorways” and there are three types: those with “Dynamic Hard Shoulder Running”, ones with “All Lane Running” and a third called “Controlled Motorways”.

So, what exactly are these?

When driving on a Dynamic Hard Shoulder motorway, expect the hard shoulder to be a lane at busy periods and a hard shoulder at other times; when it’s a lane you can use

refuges, placed every 500m or so, to stop in an emergency.

All Lane Running is just that: the hard shoulder has gone, replaced by an emergency refuge every 2.5km.

Controlled Motorways are like old style motorways: three or four lanes with a permanent hard shoulder. Except now the carriageways are subject to variable speed limits.

If you breakdown on the first two types of motorway, and can nurse your car to a refuge, don’t just set off after fixing the fault: gone is the Highway Code directive of “gather speed on the hard shoulder and rejoin the carriageway”. Now you must contact the Highways Agency, who will then escort you back onto the carriageway.

Statistically motorways are the safest roads in the UK, but with three lanes or sometimes four, variable limits and no continuous hard shoulder, it’s still best to know what kind of road you are travelling on.

By Iain Betson

ALAN SURSHAM (MOTOR VEHICLE TECHNICIAN)

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Why My Charity “Gifts” Are Staying Put

by Kate McLelland

There’s a little basket in a corner of my hall that has, over time, gradually filled up with pens, greetings cards, notepads, coasters and calendars. These items have all arrived in letters I’ve received from charities, hopeful that they will receive a donation in return.

Once I have received these unsolicited “gifts”, I’m at a loss to know what to do with them.

Sending them back would be time-consuming and expensive and throwing them away seems unnecessarily wasteful, but using them without offering anything in return feels equally wrong. Hence the basket and its slowly growing pile of contents.

There have been a number of cases recently involving people (typically older, more vulnerable individuals) who have become distressed – and in some cases, suicidal – because of the aggressive fundraising techniques used by certain charities. Under Charity Commission guidelines, charities in England and Wales are free to use their funds to send out speculative items, although the Commission makes it clear that in the event of a complaint from the public, the charity should be prepared to justify spending funds in this way.

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Another method charities use to secure donations in is employing lively and personable “chuggers” (an abbreviation of the darkly humorous term “charity muggers”) to approach members of the public in the street. Visit any busy high street or shopping mall and you’ll spot them: a small group of young people wearing branded tabards and carrying clipboards, confidently introducing themselves to passers-by.

These teams of “chuggers” are usually provided by professional fundraising companies and may not therefore be directly employed by the charity they represent. Their patter is slick and highly effective, but they’re not looking to receive a few pence in a half-empty collecting tin: what these fundraisers want is for you to sign up to a direct debit. That’s because receiving regular monthly payments – rather than one-off donations – is hugely beneficial to charities, allowing them to predict their future income more accurately and plan long-term campaigns.

If you are elderly and living alone, it may be tempting to stop and chat when approached in this way. However, when the conversation comes round to signing on the dotted line, you may find it difficult to say ‘no’, ending up with a financial

commitment you can ill afford to make.

In this challenging economic climate it’s hard for charities to thrive, and the last thing anyone would want is to see them starved of cash. However, it’s important that their methods don’t put pressure on individuals who can least afford to donate. That’s why a new initiative known as the Fundraising Preference Service (FPS) is scheduled to launch this summer. It is intended that this system will help people manage the way charities approach them, giving them more control over the communications they receive.

It will operate as a web-based system, but a telephone helpline will also be available for those who are unable to access the internet (for more information contact The Fundraising Regulator on 0300 999 3407).

I certainly intend to sign up to the FPS when the service launches. I won’t stop giving to good causes, but the use of aggressive tactics and hard-sell techniques is more likely to alienate me than win me over: that’s the reason why my basket of unwanted gifts is staying where it is, for now.

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Hyundai Gets Wacky A concept car is a good way for manufacturers to gauge public reaction to a design, prior to possible mass manufacture. One example is Ford’s Probe 3, which ultimately morphed into the Sierra.

It may seem strange today but, in 1981, the public were initially reluctant to accept the jelly mould curves of the Probe, being more used to the square lines of the then current cars.

How times and our expectations change.

So they may seem wacky now but these concept offerings from Hyundai may eventually be accepted as the norm in our cars.

• I.Guardian is a speed ramp that extends out of the side of school buses or taxis to slow traffic

as it passes. An interesting idea and anything that makes motorists adhere to those “20 is Plenty” signs outside schools is welcome in my book.

• Moving Forest is a filter unit that sits on the top of Hyundai’s electric cars and cleans the air of dust and dirt. It looks like one of those ski shaped roof boxes and Hyundai suggest it could find a home in coaches and lorries.

• Parents will relate to this idea - taking inspiration from kid’s finger painting on misted up windows, with Sketch Book, they now breathe on an interactive screen, do their doodling, which is then saved to the Cloud and can be accessed on other smart devices.

Perhaps Sketch Book will keep the little ones so occupied that you in the front won’t hear from the back.

“Are we there yet?”

Time will tell.

By Iain Betson

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

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

020 8399 4362

info@berrylandsautocare.co.uk www.berrylandsautocare.co.uk To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

167 Surbiton Hill Park, Surbiton, Surrey, KT5 8EJ email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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CODEWORD Each letter in this puzzle is represented by a different number between 1 and 26.

The codes for three letters are shown. Once you have filled these throughout the grid you can start guessing words and reveal other letters. As you find the letters enter them in the box below.

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email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Beauty Shiny New Things

by Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk

New brands, new products, new looks...

Lighter, summery shades of lipsticks tend to give way to warmer, deeper hues as the weather gets colder.

This autumn, we’ll be seeing two extremes when it comes to lip colours – ‘barely there’ and deep berry shades.

Clarins have brought out three new shades of their bestselling Joli Rouge lipstick – Deep Red, Litchi and Guava. Brighter shades can be difficult to carry off, but these three are surprisingly wearable. They’re also formulated with mango oil and other moisturisers, to leave your lips feeling softer and more hydrated. £20, www. clarins.co.uk.

Autumn might be just around the corner, but that’s no reason to ditch

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the sunscreen. As well as helping to reduce the risk of skin cancer, protecting your skin also helps to prevent visible damage, including pigmentation and wrinkles.

If time is an issue, you’ll love Origins’ Ginzing SPF40 Energy Boosting Tinted Moisturiser.

Suitable for all skin types, it protects, moisturises and conceals in one go. Personally, I love it – the colour is very natural, it’s easy to apply, and it doesn’t feel too heavy. £30, www.origins.co.uk.

Crabtree & Evelyn have brought out a new range of body care products to complement their flower water perfumes.

Choose from Florentine Freesia, Venetian Violet and Old World Jasmine. Each fragrance is available in a hand cream, body lotion, body cream, bath & shower

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gel and flower water. Old World Jasmine is a personal favourite, with its subtle fragrance of white jasmine, orange, lemon and spring flowers. Try the Old World Jasmine bath & shower gel, which features skin-loving ingredients such as moringa, evening primrose and rosehip oils. £18, www.crabtree-evelyn.co.uk.

New to our shores, Angel En Provence is an organic hair care brand that focuses on natural ingredients. The fine hair range, for example, includes extracts of lavender, grapefruit and ginger, as well as rosemary leaf oil and sage oil.

Together, they help to give extra body to limp locks and reduce hair loss. There are ranges to suit most hair types, so whether you want some extra bounce to your curls, or need to control excess oil, you’ll find products to help. See www. mrventuresstore.co.uk.

If you love natural skincare, you’ll want to check out Beauty Kitchen.

This British beauty brand is 100% natural, cruelty free, and great value for money. Is your skin feeling a bit dry after the summer? Try the Inspire Me Brightening & Toning Body Polish (£14.99). It gently exfoliates away dead skin cells, and leaves skin feeling more nourished. It also smells good enough to eat. Or if you want a treat that costs less than a sandwich, the Inspire Me Triple Action Body Mist is just £2.99 for a handbagfriendly bottle. It’s fragranced with essential oils, and helps to hydrate skin and refresh your senses. See www.hollandandbarrett.com.

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

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

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

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     

            

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

3 letters: 18 4 letters: 12 5 letters: 2 6 letters: 1 To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

  

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P R YAI T

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

  





email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Health

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

Organ Donation Week

Becoming an Organ Donor Joining the Register expresses your wish and legal authorisation to donate organs.

Organ Donation Week (previously National Transplant Week) runs from 4th-10th September this year. This awareness week is vital because organ donation is still mired in myths. But it saves lives, and that life could be yours or that of a loved one.

96% of us would take an organ if needed. Yet only 29% of us are on the Organ Donor Register.

“People waiting for transplants depend on people being willing to donate their organs and sadly, on average, three people die every day across the UK due to a shortage of donated organs,” says Sally Johnson, Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant.

The Need for Donations In the UK, fewer than 6,000 people a year die in circumstances where they can become a donor and many are unregistered.

There are currently 6,342 people on the UK transplant waiting list. During the last financial year, over 400 people on the waiting list died.

The most commonly transplanted organs are the heart, kidney, lungs and liver. But the pancreas and small bowel can be transplanted too, along with tissues such as corneas, heart valves, skin, bone and tendons.

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Everyone who is legally competent can register, irrespective of age and health. However, you cannot become an organ donor if you have Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), cancer that has spread in the last 12 months or HIV (although you may be able to donate to another person who has HIV).

Although children can register, their parents or guardians are still asked for consent before donation occurs – except for Scotland, where parents or guardians of children aged 12 and above can’t legally overrule their wish to donate.

Donation of organs usually occurs after brain stem death (permanent loss of brain activity) or circulatory death (irreversible loss of heart and lung function).

However, currently living donors outnumber deceased donors from either group. So, what’s ‘living donation’?

Living Donation In 2016/17, 950 people became living donors. Living donors can donate a kidney, a small part of their liver or discarded bone (after a replacement operation).

If you have a planned caesarean, you can donate blood from the umbilical cord after birth.

This contains stem cells that can treat life-threatening diseases like leukaemia.

Living donation is particularly vital for the 5,000 people in the UK who need a kidney transplant. Last year, more than

250 patients died waiting for a kidney. Donating your kidney straight to a recipient you know is called directed kidney donation.

“We hope people across the UK will get behind the week and the opportunity it presents to focus people’s attention on organ donation,” says Sally Johnson.

How to Register as an Organ Donor You can register online at www.organdonation.nhs.uk/ register-to-donate/ or at your GP surgery. You can also register when applying for a driving licence, European Health Insurance card (EHIC) or Boots Advantage card.

Wales adopted a soft opt-out policy in 2015. If you don’t opt out of organ donor registration, you’re presumed not to object to being a donor.

How to Donate Organs or Tissues as a Living Donor: To donate organs, contact the transplant centres listed at www. odt.nhs.uk/transplantation/ transplant-units-in-uk/ To donate tissues, contact the National Referral Centre on 0800 432 0559 or email: national.referral.centre@nhsbt.nhs.uk.

For more information, visit: www.organdonation.nhs.uk www.nhsbt.nhs.uk www.organdonationscotland.org (Scotland) organdonationwales.org (Wales)

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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

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Wireless Black Spots Wireless networks do have coverage ‘black spots’ in the home. Some bits of your house get a great signal, while others don’t. The culprit is often metal - radiators, filing cabinets, cookers and other big metal things can block Wi-Fi’s radio waves - and there are all kinds of obstacles between your router and your devices. But before you consider buying a gadget such as a Wi-Fi extender, try moving your router: it might be in a particularly Wi-Fi unfriendly place, and just moving it a few feet up could make all the difference. If it’s an old router consider getting a newer one: the latest Wi-Fi standard, 802.11ac, is much, much faster and stronger than older standards. Does this all sound like gobbledygook and you just want the problem fixed?! Be assured it can be fixed and call an expert.

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Creative Writing Helping Your Child To Create Stories

by Kate Duggan kateduggan.co.uk Whether they’re slaying dragons or discovering new worlds, children’s imagination knows no bounds. When it comes to creating stories with characters and plots though, it can be difficult to get started when faced with a blank page.

A few props and story prompts can really help to get those creative juices flowing.

Creating characters Fill a cloth bag with accessories, such as perfume and aftershave samples, a silk tie, an old pair of glasses, a toy, a brooch, a hat, a watch and other personal items.

Try to avoid things that your child already associates with someone they know. Scour your local charity shops and ask friends for donations. You could also add a few fantastical items to the bag, like a pirate hat, fairy wand, bottle of witch’s potion, toy spaceship and so on.

Ask your child to choose two or three items from the bag, without looking. Then ask them to create a character based around the items. Ask questions to help. What does the character look like? Are they male or female? How old are they? What do they like doing? Where do they live? And so on. Your child can then write about their character, or draw a

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picture of them, or both.

Creating stories If your child is struggling to think of a story, creative prompts can help them to get started. You could come up with a scenario and ask them to think about what might happen next. For example, ‘Your character finds a door hidden behind a bookcase. It’s only two feet high, so they have to crawl through it. What do they find when they do?’

Alternatively, you can write short story prompts on pieces of paper. Here’s a few to get you started: • Goes to space • Gets lost • Makes a new friend • Invents something • Has their wish come true • Goes on holiday • Discovers they have a superpower • Finds a hurt animal • Discovers a secret door Fold each story prompt up so it can’t be read, and ask your child to choose one or two.

They can then use the prompts as the basis for their story.

Don’t be too rigid. If they don’t like the prompt, let them pick another. If they have a different idea for a story, even better!

Telling their story Storytelling isn’t just about

writing. Your child could: • Tell you the story • Act it out • Make puppets and put on a show • Create a comic strip Extra resources There are lots of free online resources to help you. A good place to start is www. youngwriters.co.uk, which offers downloadable workshops and activities.

Creativity for Kids makes fun craft kits, including Create Your Own Pop Up Books. The kit includes two books, several colouring pens, stickers and pop-up elements (see main picture). It kept our young testers entertained for a good couple of hours, and the results have become treasured keepsakes. The kit costs £16.50 and can be bought from Amazon, Hobbycraft and independent arts and craft shops.

If your child needs a bit of motivation, they could enter a competition. Libraries and literacy organisations often organise or advertise children’s creative writing competitions, as do Writing Times (www. writingtimes.co.uk), Young Writers (www.youngwriters. co.uk) and Families magazine (www.familiesonline.co.uk).

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October Crossword Across:

6. Colourless liquid formerly used as an anaesthetic (5) 7. Near or close to (8) 10. Very poisonous metallic element (7) 11. Continually repeated over a period of time (7) 12. Silvery-white radioactive metallic element (7) 13. To go into again (2-5) 14. Slow witted or stupid, particularly following alcohol (11) 19. Student who studies intensively in a short period of time (7) 21. Convert ordinary language into code (7) 25. Advance beyond the usual limit (7) 25. Of little substance or significance (7) 26. At the right time of year (2,6) 27. Plant - sucking insects (5)

Down:

1. Terminate gradually (5,3) 2. A Sultanate in northwestern Borneo (6) 3. Horologist (10) 4. Slightly open (4) 5. Engage somebody to enter the army (6) 6. Represents or performs as if in a play (6) 8. Come to terms with (7) 9. Shortened term for provocation (5) 13. Returning to political office (10) 15. Unusually great in size (7) 16. After sunrise and before sunset (8) 17. Strong and sharp (5) 18. Having little emotion or sensibility (6) 20. Add to the very end (6) 22. The highest point; culminate (6) 24. Compass point (4)

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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, Superstore Ewell Road, C.F Stears Greengrocer, Emmanuel Church Read it whilst you wait at: Aspen Vets, Berrylands Autocare Garage, T. H Collison Optician, Confidental Clinic If you would like copies at your business please call me on:

020 8274 0096

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Lamb Koftas with Minted Couscous Serves 4

Ready in 50 minutes

This flavour-packed dish is great for a late summer lunch or dinner. Serve with warmed flatbreads and tzatziki, if liked.

Ingredients: FOR THE KOFTAS • 350g lean minced lamb ½ red onion, finely chopped • 1 garlic clove, crushed • 2tsp ground coriander • 2tsp ground cumin • 1tsp smoked paprika • 2tbsp fresh chopped coriander • Squeeze of lemon juice FOR THE COUSCOUS • 225g couscous • 3tbsp olive oil • 1tbsp lemon juice • ¼ cucumber, finely diced • 4 spring onions, trimmed and finely chopped • 3tbsp fresh chopped mint • 4 tomatoes, cut into chunks • Lemon wedges and mint sprigs to garnish

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To make the koftas, place the mince, onion, garlic, spices, fresh coriander and lemon juice in a food processor. Season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper, then process until very finely minced.

Divide the mixture into 12 and using clean damp hands, shape each into an oval. Push each oval onto the end of a long wooden skewer (see tip) and place on a foil-lined grill pan. Cook under a preheated medium grill for 8-10 minutes, turning frequently, until browned and cooked through.

Meanwhile, make the couscous. Place the couscous in a heatproof bowl and pour over 250ml boiling water. Cover and leave to soak for about 10 minutes, until all the water has been absorbed. Fluff the couscous with a fork and stir in the olive oil, lemon juice, cucumber, spring onions and mint. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Serve the koftas with the couscous and tomatoes, garnished with lemon wedges and mint sprigs.

TIP Soak the wooden skewers in cold water for about 20 minutes to prevent the ends burning under the grill.

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

Serving Surbiton Since 1962 .

Proud Suppliers Suppliers of: of: Proud Scotch Beef Beef Scotch Scotch Highland Highland & & Romney Romney Salt Salt Marsh Marsh Lamb Lamb Scotch Free Range & Gloucester Old Spot Pork Free Range & Gloucester Old Spot Pork Free Range Range Chickens Chickens & & Ducks Ducks Free Balmoral & Royal Deeside Venison Balmoral & Royal Deeside Venison Kelly Bronze Free Range Turkeys Kelly Bronze Free Range Turkeys Own Make Make Sausages, Sausages, Burgers Burgers & & Kebabs Kebabs Own

Opening Hours Opening Hours Tuesday to Thursday Tuesday to Thursday 8.00 am – 5.30 pm 8.00 am – 5.30 pm Friday Friday 8.00 am – 6.00 pm 8.00 am – 6.00 pm Saturday 7.00 Saturday am – 4.00 pm 7.00 am – 4.00 pm Sunday & Monday - Closed Sunday & Monday - Closed Visit our shop at 146 Ewell Road, Visit our shop at6HE 146 Ewell Road, Surbiton, KT6 (Opposite Surbiton,Local) KT6 6HE (Opposite Sainsbury’s or call us to place Sainsbury’ s Local) or 8399 call us to place an order on 020 4870 an order on 020 8399 4870

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

For more information Forview more information our website view our website www.cdjenningsandsons.com www.cdjenningsandsons.com email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Cake and Bake Coconut Rice Pudding with Caramelised Apples A classic with a twist, this creamy rice pudding has added coconut milk for extra flavour and is served with spiced apples in a caramel sauce.

Ingredients: • 50g unsalted butter, softened • 100g pudding rice • 400ml full-fat milk • 200ml coconut milk • 40g caster sugar • 1 tbsp runny honey • 2 red apples, skinned, cored and cut into wedges • 75g demerara sugar • 1-2 tsp ground cinnamon • 2 tbsp apple juice

Serves 4 Ready in 2 hours 30 mins

TIP You can use other fruit slices instead of the apples – try peaches or pears or halved apricots.

42

1. Preheat the oven to 150°C, fan 130°C, gas 2.

Use a little of the softened butter to thoroughly grease a 1.2-litre shallow ovenproof dish.

2.Tip the pudding rice into the buttered dish and stir in the milk and coconut milk. Add the caster sugar and stir again. Bake in the oven for 45 minutes. Carefully remove the dish and give the pudding a good stir, then stir in the honey and dot with a little more of the butter. Return to the oven for a further 1 hour 30 minutes or until a golden skin has formed and most of the milk has been absorbed by the rice.

3. About 10 minutes before the rice pudding is ready, melt the rest of the butter in a heavy– based frying pan over a medium heat. Add the apple slices and fry for 1-2 minutes, turning once.

Sprinkle over the demerara sugar and cook gently, without stirring, until the sugar dissolves.

Stir in the cinnamon and apple juice and simmer for a further few minutes until syrupy.

4. Stir the rice pudding (remove the skin first, if preferred) and spoon into bowls. Top with the apples and syrup and serve.

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0208 390 7564 Book Now for your Christmas Party

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CONTACT US E: info@langleysrestaurant.co.uk T: 0208 390 7564 F: 0208 390 4596 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk 158 Ewell Road | Surbiton | 43 Surrey KT6 6HE

And Another Thing...

Tom meets Parker Knoll

by Tom Hughes @groomsdaybook

Whilst slumped in front of the TV one Sunday afternoon, I watched through the patio doors as the angry wind of late summer forced Sarah’s line of washing into a headless dance routine.

Tired, bored, overcome with ennui, I sneered at a smug couple deciding not to cash in and buy a ramshackle pile of bricks on a Place in the Country. What to do? I decide to enlist the help of My Dearly Beloved. “Sarah? Do you want to have another stab at Line of Duty IV?”

a house to run and anyway I’m not ploughing through the whole thing if you’re going to shout, ‘As if that would happen!’ every five minutes. And can you sit up properly? Look at that cushion; it’s practically on the floor.

Actually, come to think of it…”

As Sarah inspected the condition of our oldest item of soft furnishing, my blood slowly turned to ice. “In fact, that’s made up my mind - I’ve put up with this tatty old thing for long enough.”

“Are you leaving me?”

Enter my betrothed, purposefully wiping her hands on a tea towel. Clearly unimpressed with my virtually supine position, she said, “Thomas (immediate use of my Sunday name – bad start), do you think I’ve time to gawp at the box all day?”

“Not you, this sofa; it’s a disgrace.”

“But darling, it’s Sunday - a day of rest after the travails of the week.”

I glanced over at my slumbering Best Friend, who - mirroring his master - raised an eyebrow of concern.

“Well that’s fine, but I’ve got

44

“Olly likes sleeping on it.”

“Well, when the new one arrives he will be relegated to his bed under the stairs. You’ve got to stop treating him like a baby.”

So, strapped into the Mondeo Ghia, off we set towards that vast expanse of corporate real estate - the retail park.

“Let’s try this one first.” Sarah pointed at a bland unit sat in between an industrial sized chemist and a massive pet shop. We parked up and alighted onto the fading tarmac. Involuntarily, my shoulders began to sag.

“What’s up with you?”

Half-heartedly I raised a solitary finger and pointed to a garish sign in the window.

“Look Sarah, they’re actually having a sale. What amazing good fortune.”

Through the double doors we went. A tired-looking chap in early middle age padded over.

Wearing a badly fitting tie and a short-sleeved shirt, he did his best to raise a smile. “Welcome to Furniture World. And today sir, you’re in luck. We’ve an offer on our Guardprotect™ - guaranteed to resist every stain, which by the way also

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includes vomit and blood.”

Back outside on the pavement, Sarah and I had words. “Do you have to be so rude?”

“I’m here to buy a couch, not re-enact an episode of CSI Miami.”

We trudged into the next emporium where a wild-eyed woman with her hair in a tight bun clopped over at such a pace she was forced to use an armchair as a makeshift break.

“Hi guys! I can see you’ve already been acquainted with Parker Knoll.”

I looked around. “Is he the store manager?”

A quizzical look from our new friend. “No sir, now sit down here next to me, come on, get comfy.”

Gingerly, I eased myself down onto the sofa which, I had to admit, was indeed very comfortable. As the woman prattled on, my hand reached out absent-mindedly for the tag hanging off the arm. I turned it over and glanced at the price.

Ninety seconds later, we were standing back outside the shop, where Sarah sighed, “Tom, I’m meeting Hannah now for lunch. Listen, come to think of it, it’s you who always sits on the blasted thing so I’ll let you decide.” And with that, off she went to meet our daughter.

Later that evening, as I was sat in front of the TV working out who Balaclava Man could be, in walked Sarah, who after

looking around said, “So, where’s this amazing piece of furniture you’ve bought then?”

I pointed to the corner of the lounge. “Luxurious, soft and incredibly comfortable, I think you’ll agree.”

Sarah’s gaze alighted upon Olly, curled up asleep in the middle of a huge round furry dog bed, comfy as anything.

“You see, darling, you’re right once again - we did need something to keep him off the sofa.”

I glanced over at my best friend, who mirroring me once more, gave me a conspiratorial wink.

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

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Bar . Restaurant Social Events Large Car Park

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

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

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

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

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

45

Short Story Hair of the Dog “The Euclidian Geometry course is cancelled,” the registrar informed Eugene brusquely. “Too few people signed up.”

“How many?” Eugene asked in astonishment. ”Just you.” The lady avoided eye contact. “I suggest you choose something else.”

Eugene was perplexed, yet relieved, because he didn’t want to study Euclidian Geometry either. His sister had spent the entire summer bullying him into attending a night class.

“You’ve got to get out there and meet new people,” she’d insist during their evening dog walks.

“Choose anything. Just be creative with it.”

Eugene believed his knitting brought out his creative side, but, according to his sister, knitting wasn’t going to help him meet new people.

He sat in the college cafeteria and took the dog-eared brochure from his satchel.

The college offered everything from Origami to Beginners Taxidermy. There was too much choice.

“Penny for your thoughts?” A lady in a fluffy black beret put her coffee down on his table.

“I’ve been ordered to choose a course that is both creative and sociable, or my sister will never speak to me again,” Eugene said. “Any advice?”

“What sort of thing are you into?” The lady smiled sympathetically and held out her hand. “I’m Megan by the way.”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Eugene.”

He shook the proffered hand.

46

“That’s a lovely beret.”

“Thank you,” she grinned. “I made it myself.”

“Beautiful wool,” Eugene said. He had an eye for these things.

The corner of Megan’s mouth twitched as she regarded Eugene thoughtfully.

“I believe you’ll fit in just fine on my course,” she said finally.

“We’re a friendly bunch.”

“Which course is that?” Eugene asked.

“Perhaps we shouldn’t discuss details here.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Some people are a bit squeamish about it.”

Well, that rules out origami Eugene thought.

“Do I need any special equipment?” he asked tentatively.

“Nothing expensive.” Megan smiled and blew at the froth on her coffee. “Though it does help if you have access to a dog.”

She’s one of the taxidermy crowd, Eugene thought. He had wondered what people who stuffed animals for a hobby were like. It turns out, he thought, they were rather nice.

“So you’re working on dogs this term?” he asked as casually as he could. He’d assumed they’d start on something small like a vole.

“Dogs are ideal,” she said, “particularly the long-haired kind.”

“My sister has a Collie,” he said slowly, fearful of what he was agreeing to. “But she’s not dead.”

Megan snorted, spraying her

coffee across the table.

“That’s fine,” she laughed grabbing a napkin, “we only want the bits that drop off her.”

Goodness me, thought Eugene, is she talking about a leg or a tail? He would have to have a serious discussion with his sister about how much she really wanted him to take an evening class.

“Perhaps you could bring some next week?“ Megan said, as though it was decided. “If not, I’ve got plenty of my Cocker Spaniel, Wilson, to share.”

Eugene wondered what part of Wilson he would be entrusted with.

“That’s very generous.” Eugene realised there was no backing out.

“You’d better go and sign up, class starts in five minutes.”

Megan finished her coffee. ”Just tell them you want to join ‘Chiengora - wear your best friend’.”

“Wear your best friend?”

Eugene asked. He’d remembered seeing that mysterious course title.

“Knitting with dog wool.” Megan gathered up her bags. “I’ll see you in class.”

Eugene beamed with relief.

“I can lend you some knitting needles,” she called across the cafeteria.

“No need,” he said, because he always carried some in his satchel.

By Jackie Brewster

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Word Ladder Leverett

Leverett Electrical Ltd

Electrical Ltd

Qualified electrician

Part P registered.

All work certified.

No job too small.

All work considered Quality at the heart of our work

• • • • •

Change one letter at a time (but not the position of any letter) to make a new word - and move from the word at the top of the ladder to the word at the bottom, using the exact number of rungs provided.

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

Qualified electrician Part P registered.

All work ed.

C O certifi L D

No job too small.

All work considered Quality at the heart of our work

• • • • •

Installation & maintenance Rewires Security lighting Fire alarms Central heating wiring

©Puzzlepress.co.uk

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

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B E E R

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QP advert 1

SOFT DRINKS AVAILABLE

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QP advert 2

Qualified Electrician

Part P registered. £11.95 All work certified.

No job too small.

All work considered.

020 8399 0030/3904 Quality at the heart of our work 285 Ewell Road, Surbiton www.prithicuisine.co.uk • Installation &maintenance • Rewires CHESSINGTON • Security lighting HYPNOTHERAPY CLINIC • Fire alarms Hypnotherapist, Psychologist • Central heating wiring *Please note King Prawn & Fish Dishes are £2 extra

Stress, Weight, Smoking, Phobias, Insomnia, Stuart Leverett Depression, Lack of Confidence, Panic Attacks, Office: 8390 0617 Exam nerves,020 Migraine and many other problems.

Also regression and self Mobile: 07710 123hypnosis.

628 Catherine Bayliss D.H.D.P., M.B.C.H. Email: Principal of contact@leverettelectrical.co.uk the British College of Hypnotherapy

www.leverettelectrical.co.uk Established 1981 020 8397 3146

QP advert 3 020 8274 0096 To advertise call Karen:

NEW ADVERTISERS! If you have a business to advertise contact Karen on 020 8274 0096 or email: as on page 3. your advert could be here in A Berrylands Companion

in october!

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

47

Patagonia Lake District

By Solange Hando In the southernmost reaches of the American continent, Patagonia is divided between two countries. To the west Chile owns a mere 25%, while Argentina to the east claims the remainder. Between them rise the Andes, but in the ancient land of the ‘big feet’, so called by early explorers, the beautiful Patagonian lakes have no borders.

A thousand kilometres south of Santiago de Chile, Puerto Varas sits on the bank of Llanquihue, meaning ‘blue water’ in the local Mapuche language.

Protected from the Pacific by a mere strip of land, it is the most popular and second largest lake in Chile. It opens out like a fan, looking across to mighty volcanoes where snowy tops barely disguise the danger.

At over 2,600 metres, Osorno has been dormant for almost 150 years but its neighbour Cabulco erupted in 2015 with hardly any warning at all. Yet on the southern shore, the pretty resort of Puerto Varas is as relaxed as ever, sprinkled with alpine chalets, manicured lawns and flower gardens, hence the name ‘City of Roses’. From the cuisine to the architecture, there is much German influence around, reflecting the ‘selective immigration’ of the 19th century

48

designed to boost development.

Below the lush meadows where the red-topped church spires rise, dark sands glisten along the lakeside promenade and after dark, garlands of lights twinkle around the bay. Here you can kayak, trek, ski in winter or explore the Perez Rosales National Park, home to the Petrohué waterfalls, exotic birds and over 100 species of trees.

Puerto Varas is the departure point for the scenic boat-bus crossing of the Andes to San Carlos de Bariloche in Argentina, taking in a string of lakes. Most visitors overnight in Peulla, a magical sort of place by a tiny remote lake, before facing every type of weather the Andes can conjure up in 48 hours.

At 893 metres, on the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi, San Carlos de Bariloche owes its name to ‘the people behind the mountains’, hidden for centuries from missionaries and conquistadors. Today visitors come from afar to ski on Cerro Catedral’s slopes, trek in the forests of the National Park or sunbathe on the beach.

Swimming in the glacial waters is not recommended. The lake is up to 157 metres deep, measures 357km around, has

seven branches connecting it to other lakes and its own monster, Nahuelito, discovered in the early 1900s but long known to aborigines. It is rich in trout and salmon, attracts kelp gulls and blue-eyed cormorants and is the source of the Limay river. Wooden chalets and stylish villas doze on the shore while downtown, myriad chocolate shops beckon along the high street where brightly-clad women shelter under the arcades, knitting ponchos and woolly hats. The church boasts over 45 stained glass windows and on the quaint clock tower, traditional Patagonian figures come out twice a day to strike the hours.

But when the sun is shining, the unmissable attraction is the 360° panorama from Cerro Otto, at 1,405 metres. A cable car glides silently to the summit’s breathtaking view, stretching from the toy-like town below to the vast expanse of Nahuel Huapi, the islands, the neighbouring lakes and the rugged hills and mountains all around. It’s cold and windy on the top but the revolving restaurant welcomes you with hot food and drinks at reasonable prices and the most stunning views of Patagonia’s Lake District.

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FRIDAY YOGA CLASSES STARTING FRIDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER 2017

NEWLY RENOVATED RETAIL SHOP AVAILABLE TO LET ON SURBITON HILL PARK BERRYLANDS

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The Life List

YELLOWS - I think that might be infected. The cheese from an in-flight salad. Badly made homemade custard.

Come on, referee!

Colourful Language Advertising spellbinds some people, while others find it about as interesting as watching paint dry. But when it comes to advertising paint, the labels don’t always make sense. Isn’t it time for a colour palette we can all relate to?

WHITES - Sterilised milk you meant to put in the fridge yesterday. The bath needs a clean but it’ll do for now. Celebrity teeth. Unwritten essay page.

REDS - Bloodshot eyes. A tomato juice smoothie. Chilli pepper you shouldn’t try to eat in one bite. Of course I’ll be careful with the needle.

ORANGES - I spent too long in the tanning booth. Rather like the fruit. Road works’ warning lights. Goldfish.

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

BROWNS - Rusty bicycle abandoned in a hedge. Ditch water. Chocolate brownie. I can’t drink this tea.

GREENS - I wouldn’t eat that cheese if I were you. There can’t be any goodness left in these boiled vegetables. Grass stain on a new pair of white jeans. Kermit.

PURPLES - Heavy bruising. That Teletubby with a TV aerial on its head. Red cabbage.

Somewhere between blueberries and bluebells.

GREYS - Actual British summer sky. It looked more like silver on the tin. Senior citizen in need of a hairstylist. Somewhere between an elephant and a rhinoceros.

BLUES - Paraffin. Like the Bayou. We need to put the central heating on. How we remember British summer skies from childhood.

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

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

49

Parenting Have Kids, Will Travel

by Kate Duggan kateduggan.co.uk Travelling with children can be a stressful experience. It’s less about browsing duty free, and more about staying one step ahead of a possible meltdown.

We can’t promise you there won’t be any tears (yours or theirs), but our travel tips will at least give you a better chance of avoiding a full-on screaming fit.

Keeping them entertained Smart phones, travel DVD players, tablets… Digital technology can be great for keeping kids occupied while you’re travelling. They can also make children a bit ‘wired’ and cranky though, so you might want to consider limiting screen time and making sure your kids take regular breaks. Pack a small bag with age-appropriate activities. Younger children usually love sticker books.

Older kids might enjoy puzzle books or card games. Most ages will join in with games of I Spy, though you may struggle to guess your toddler’s ‘green elephant in my head’ or ‘biscuit in my tummy’.

Do feed the animals There is an unwritten rule of childhood – a child must declare themselves to be

50

‘reeeally hungry’ within half an hour of embarking on a long journey. Bonus points are awarded for announcing this after being ‘too full’ to finish breakfast. So, be prepared.

Pack plenty of travel friendly snacks, such as fruit, oat bars and mini sandwiches, and keep them somewhere easy to access. A lunchbox is ideal.

Keep a plastic bag handy for rubbish. When it comes to drinks, stick to water, or they’ll need the loo even more frequently.

All about the comfort If something is bothering a child, they find it harder to block it out than an adult. So an itch, ache or cold feet can easily end up ruining a journey. Layers are key. Think hoodies with zips, slipper socks that can be pulled on easily, and a snuggly blanket. Go for cotton clothing, as it’s less likely to cause irritation. Fleecy onesies might be comfy, but they can make children overheat, so are best kept for home. If you’re flying, try breast or bottle feeding your baby on take-off and landing to stop them getting earache.

Older children can avoid ear pain by sucking a sweet.

Stay one step ahead Spilled ketchup? No problem, you have a wet wipe. Too cold? Lucky you packed a jumper. Headache? Bring out the magical pink Calpol. Try to imagine everything that could go wrong, and work out how you can prepare for it.

Because, in all likelihood, it will. Children have a habit of wandering off, so Which advise attaching a luggage tag to their clothing with your mobile phone number on it. You can also buy wrist tags that serve the same purpose. If you don’t have space for a pushchair, consider packing a sling. As well as stopping a toddler from running off, it gives them somewhere to sleep or rest while keeping your hands free.

Allow extra time Everything seems to take longer when there are kids in tow. Teddies get lost, drinks get spilled and bladders get filled.

Waiting around for a plane or train is never fun, but it beats running full pelt across an airport dragging a screaming child behind you. So it’s a good idea to allow plenty of extra time to get where you’re going.

And relax…

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WORDWHEEL

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

TARGET Excellent: 26 or more words Good: 23 words Fair: 18 words

S C U

L

T

R E

Tolworth WORLD of DANCE Dance for Fun, Fitness & Friends Wed 8.00-9.30pm (term time) From Sept 20th 2017 >> 1st Time Free << £5 per week (pay as you go)

St. George’s Church Centre, Tolworth, Hamilton Avenue, KT6 7QA To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

: Phil or Brenda 020-8397-9649 Facebook/Tolworth.

World.of.Dance e: philip.steventon@ btinternet.com email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

51

Finance

By Ann Haldon

Using credit and debit cards abroad this year?

What you should know before you go

Spending money abroad can be costlier than you think if you’re not prepared for the fees and ‘hidden’ charges. Whether you choose to take a debit or credit card, it pays to check the small print in your terms and conditions before you go - you could save a considerable amount in added interest and charges.

Specialist credit and debit cards for overseas use only Rather than taking your ‘regular’ credit or debit card on holiday, look for specialist cards designed to be used abroad, as these are intended to reduce the cost of holiday spending. If you find one that’s suitable and your application is successful, however, just make sure you pay off the balance in full every month.

The interest rates on these cards are extremely high if you don’t, which could wipe out any savings you’ve made. The best overseas credit cards generally offer much better exchange rates than local retailers. So if you use a credit card and you’re asked which currency you want pay in, choose the local currency as it’s likely to save you money – more on Dynamic Currency Conversion below.

Credit cards for holiday spending are generally easier

52

to obtain than debit cards If your current bank doesn’t offer a specialist debit card for use abroad, you may have to switch your bank account to obtain one.

Alternatively, you could just open a new account with the provider, but this might seem a little unnecessary when there is an easier alternative in credit cards.

Be careful when you apply for a new card though - your credit file is adversely affected when applications are refused. The Money Saving Expert website offers an ‘eligibility calculator’ to give you an idea of your chances of acceptance, and help you narrow down the choices.

Debit cards can be better if you’re going to withdraw mainly cash Although taking a dedicated credit card for use abroad has many benefits, if you intend to withdraw mainly cash, a specialist debit card will probably be cheaper overall as there are usually no added charges or fees for this.

Be careful about card ‘cloning’ When you use a card abroad, or anywhere in fact, be aware of the danger of cloning. This can happen when the card is taken out of your sight, or even when it’s right in front of you if you aren’t taking notice.

Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) Some retailers abroad will offer to convert your purchase into sterling when you pay by

card, so you can see exactly how much you’ve spent. This process is called dynamic currency conversion, or cardholder preferred currency.

The problem is that you’ll probably lose out on the exchange rate by paying this way.

Local retailers choose whether or not to offer this service, and in some cases may automatically convert your purchase to sterling without asking you. It’s a good idea, therefore, to check whether DCC has been used prior to signing a payment slip or entering your PIN. Avoiding the non-sterling transaction fee Although your bank uses the MasterCard, Visa and Amex optimum exchange rates, the charge for conversion adds a non-sterling transaction fee of up to 3% to your bill when you use a non-specialist card abroad.

Finding the best card may take a little research, but your time and effort will be repaid via the extra holiday treats you’ll be able to enjoy. www.moneysavingexpert.com/ travel/travel-credit-cards www.moneysavingexpert. com/shopping/section75-protectyour-purchases www.moneysupermarket.com/ travel-money/using-credit-cardsabroad/ creditcards.moneysavingexpert. com/?travel&_ga=2.1383768 16.1530821389.1495096415200857501.1494082078 www.creditnet.com/Library/ Credit_Card_FAQ/How_do_ credit_cards_get_cloned. ccfaq_019.php

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an independently run evening class, of the Surbiton, Kingston & Malden branch of the Workers’ Education Association

covering Steam, Diesel, British, Overseas, Modern, Heritage etc.

weekly meetings on Wednesday evenings lecturer on a wide range of Railway topics Dick Crane and a variety of guest speakers held at the Surbiton Library Annexe, Ewell Road, SURBITON

Free Parking and only a few minutes walk from Surbiton Railway Station All meetings 7—9pm

WEDNESDAY 20th SEPTEMBER Admission to first meeting—FREE For details of programmes and charges see website www.talkingoftrains.co.uk

Education Class Coach College Course Degree Diploma Doctorate Exam Form Games Gown Hall Head Honours Master Music Nursery Pupil Scholarship

School Student Study Term Test Textbook Tuition Tutor

Find the words associated with education in the grid and the remaining letters will spell out a related phrase

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

53

Can Sleeping Apart Bring You Closer Together?

by Kate McLelland

The duvet twitches, followed by footsteps on the bedroom floor and the creaking of a door: it’s four o’clock in the morning and your partner is on the move for the second time that night.

Thanks to this interruption, you’re now wide awake, and as you lie there in the darkness, you wonder how to broach the subject of sleeping in separate beds...

sleeping apart, there’s no need to feel alone. According to a 2015 survey by the National Sleep Foundation, almost one in four of us now sleep in separate beds or bedrooms, and in a recent poll by silversurfers.com, 84% of respondents aged 50+ said they believed sharing a bed wasn’t essential for a happy relationship.

Most individuals need around eight hours’ sleep a night to function well, but this can vary from person to person. As a general rule, if you wake up feeling tired and have to catch up with a nap during the day, you’re probably not getting enough sleep. In the short term the symptoms of sleep deprivation can include memory loss, difficulty in concentrating and mood changes, but in the longer term lack of sleep can result in serious conditions such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

So what are the options if you do decide to sleep separately?

When the time came to replace an old double bed, Max and Celia Stoddart from Hampshire took the decision to replace it with twin beds. Celia says: “The idea came to us when we booked a week in a hotel. We’d reserved a room with a double bed, but they only had a twin.

When we got home at the end of the week, we both agreed that we’d slept better than we had done in years.”

While the health argument alone is enough to justify a conversation about separate beds, it’s a difficult topic to discuss face-to-face. But if you’ve reached the end of your tether and are seriously considering the option of

54

Vihann Khan’s sleep apnoea meant his snoring kept wife Nazneen awake at night. While he was receiving treatment, Nazneen regularly escaped to a spare bed set up in their guest room. Although Vihann’s condition has now improved, Nazneen still uses the spare bed from time to time. She

says: “At times when I can’t sleep, it helps to know I have somewhere to escape. We always start out the night together, but he knows there’s a chance he’ll wake up alone in the morning.”

Jill and Maurice McGiver from Renfrewshire were unhappy about the idea of sleeping apart, but both agreed that they would sleep better if they had more space. For them, investing in a kingsize bed was the solution. “We have an average-size bedroom and the bed now takes up most of the available space,” says Maurice, “but it has been worth the sacrifice to get a good night’s sleep. If you live in a small flat or a cottage, a kingsize bed may not work for you, but for us it’s been a lifesaver.”

Although these couples have found different solutions to their sleeping problems, all three agree that the changes they have made have not only improved their health and wellbeing, but have also enhanced their relationships.

So perhaps the idea that sleeping apart can bring you together isn’t so far-fetched after all!

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How to value Scouts

by Edward Davey, M.P

I

t’s good to be back in the Berrylands Companion: thanks to everyone who has been so supportive.

It’s tempting to write about the mess of the Brexit negotiations, as I’m penning this from my holiday in France. Or general Government incompetence – whether over damaging police cuts, schools funding or so much else.

Kingston Council’s response? Such clubs and groups may be commercial activities, so the Scouts must prove they won’t be doing their activities for profit! Even before the building works have begun!

How is Kingston Council’s hard-nosed negotiation style helping our community?

Kingston Council has lost the plot.

But I want to talk about a Berrylands issue. Partly because it affects local families. And partly as it shows the mistake of politicians failing to value real community work.

Scout Groups are not businesses. Berrylands Scouts have over 50 children on the waiting list to join. They want to focus on finding more adult volunteers so these kids don’t miss out.

Berrylands Scout Hut

Yet Kingston Council has forced this fabulous community-focused group into eye-watering rent rises, into consulting property lawyers and water-engineers and now into collecting petition signatures.

And the issue is - Kingston Council’s failure to renew the lease to Berrylands Scouts on their Hut in Sterling Walk. Scouts have been on that site for over 60 years providing children with adventure, friendship and community spirit - running entirely by volunteers, with no taxpayer support.

Currently John Sweeney – Chair of Berrylands Scout Group - is running a fantastic campaign to ask Kingston Council to issue a long-promised new lease. Over 750 residents have already signed his petition.

Our Scouts have ambitious plans to repair and renovate their Hut - to make it safe and secure for local children - including a new roof, heating and electrics. And they have the budget – having raised and borrowed the £60,000 to £80,000 they need, themselves, without asking the Council for a penny. But the Scout Hut stands on land leased from Kingston Council. And without the new lease, their plans are on hold.

There are complications. Like the state of the drains in the Berrylands Park area. And the legal question mark about who is responsible for putting them right.

Yet Kingston Council’s attempt to surcharge Berrylands Scout Group and Surbiton Pet Club a huge £10,000 (or more!) for sewage and drainage repairs – when they as landlords should be paying – is outrageous.

And to make it worse, the Council is refusing to renew the Scout’s lease until this highly questionable surcharge is paid. Even though the Scouts have already agreed to a staggering 82% increase in their land rent, as part of a new lease.

And this isn’t just about Scouts. For the plan is to renovate the Hut so that other community groups can use it too - like local dance clubs and mother and toddler groups.

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

Why does this Council roll out the carpet for private developers, yet bully local voluntary groups serving our community?

Valuing Scouting Like many of you I attended the wonderful “Berrylands Festival” in July. Over 2,000 “Berrylanders” joining in the games and fun provided by the Scouts was a wonderful spectacle. Over £5,000 was raised towards the building costs. And the Festival brought together local organisations and people. That’s what Scouting is all about.

As a former cub and scout, perhaps I’m biased. But Kingston Council has got this badly wrong.

So if you value Scouting more than Kingston Council appears to, please help Berrylands Scouts.

First, The Scouts’ petition will be debated at the “Full Council Meeting” on October 17th. I’ll be writing to back it - why don’t you? Why not go to this evening meeting at The Guildhall? Why not ask your councillors – will they speak and vote for our Scouts?

Second, back the Scouts. For further details about the “Lease Campaign” or to donate to the Berrylands Scouts building fund, contact John Sweeney sweeneyjn@ outlook.com Third, why not help any of our great Scouting groups across the Borough? To find out more about local Scouting visit www.royalkingstonscouts.ukscouts. org.uk And Be Prepared for fun!

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

55

QUIZ SOLUTIONS

CODEWORD SOLUTION

WORDSEARCH ANSWER

Pise school and remain a fool.

German proverb

HIDATO SOLUTION

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

3 Letters AIR APT ART PAR PAT PAY PIT PRY RAP RAT RAY RIP

TAP TAR TIP TRY YAP YIP 4 Letters AIRY ARTY PAIR PART PETA PITY

PRAY RAPT TARP TRAP TRAY TRIP 5 Letters PARTY TAPIR 6 Letters PARITY

WORD LADDER ANSWER Word Ladder Change one letter at a time (but not the position of

(This any isletter) one solution, to make a new word - andthere move from may the word at the top of the ladder to the word at the bottom, using the exact number of rungs provided. be others)

S COLD L O W bold bolt belt

1. St Paul’s Cathedral; 2. Millennium Dome; 3. Tower Bridge; 4. Nelson’s Column; 5.Buckingham Palace; 6. BT Tower; 7. Houses of Parliament; 8. Wembley Stadium; 9. London Eye; 10. Royal Albert Hall; There are 14 people on Henry’s bus.

The oldest building is no 1, built in 1697

beet

56

©Puzzlepress.co.uk

CHILDREN’S PAGE

Here is one possible solutio (others may ex SLOW slot soot soon sown DOWN

BEER D O W N

WORDWHEEL ANSWER CLUSTER

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What’s on in September:-

Urology Awareness Month;Childhood Cancer Month;Vascular Disease Month; Sickle Cell Awareness Month; Blue September Month (Prostate Cancer Awareness);World Alzheimers Month; Childhood Cancer Awareness Month; Blood Cancer Awareness Month; Organic September May- December: Royal School of Needlework Whitework Exhibition at Hampton Court Palace on set

days each month & pre-booking is essential. Tours 1.5 hrs, Tkts £16pp, groups welcome. tel:

020 3166 6941, visit: www.royal-needlework.org.uk

State Rooms at Buckingham Palace open until 2nd October

Events in August

28-29th Nottinghill Carnival 29th Late Summer Bank Holiday

Events in September:

Until 9th: BBC Proma at Royal Albert Hall 1-30th Totally Thames Festival, with various events along the Thames 3rd: Kingston Carnival, town centre 3-10th: Cycling, Tour of Britain 4th: Opening of British Postal Museum & Archive. Tickets include access to newly opened &

revamped Mail Rail. www.postalmuseum.org to book.

4-10th: Organ Donation Week 5th: International Day of Charity 6th: National Read a Book Day 7th: Heritage Open Days 9th: Finale BBC Proms with link to Proms in the Park , Hyde Park and Royal Albert Hall 10th: Surbiton Trycylcingathon 14th: New £10 polymer bank notes issued. Old notes go out of circulation in Spring 2018.

16-17th: Open House Weekend 22nd: Jeans for Genes Day 23 -30th: Surbiton Festival starts at 11am with an Open Day at the Thames Sailing Club on

Portsmouth Road. Come & join in the fun. Try out sailing or paddling boarding. There is a

bar, BBQ and light refreshments.

British Food Fortnight starts 24th: NFL Jacksonville Jaguars Vs Baltimore Ravens at Wembley Stadium 25th: Surbiton Festival: Comedy Night hosted by Trevor Lock at Vets4Life, Brighton Road,

Surbiton at 7pm for 7.30pm 28th: Surbiton Festival: Magic Show by Danny Buckler, plus Comedy Trial led by Dave Allison at

the CornerHouse, Douglas Road, Surbiton. 7pm for 7,30pm 29th: Macmillan’s Biggest Coffee Morning www.coffee.macmillan.org.uk

World Heart Day 30th: Surbofest 2017, 26th Annual Event. 10 - 5pm. Victoria Road will be closed to traffic, over

150 stalls, charities, food, entertainment and activities.

Teddy Bears’ Picnic in Glenmore Gardens, sponsored by Glenmore House

Three stages offering contemporary music & jazz at Surbiton Station Forecourt, rock

music in St Andrew’s Square

Main Dance Stage in Claremont Gardens, 1 - 5pm

Art and Photography Display in St Andrew’s Road, plus Exhibition in St Andrew’s Church

Bouncy Castle, Punch & Judy Show, Children’s Carousel & rides, Tea Lady, Stilt Walkers,

Surbiton Fire Engine, Classic Cars.

Parade and Carnival Procession

1-31 October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month; International Walk to School Month; Lupus

1st: 2-8th: 9-14th: 15th:

14-16th

21st 29th 31st

Awareness Month; National Cholesterol Month London Restaurant Festival. Fabulous foodie events and special menus. www.londonrestaurantfestival.com NFL Miami Dolphins Vs New Orleans Saints at Wembley Stadium London Cocktail Week National Libraries Week Old £1 coins withdrawn from circulation. Any other old coins can be deposited into customers’ accounts at most High Street banks in UK. New £20 notes due in 2020.

The Chocolate Show at Olympia. http://www.salonduchocolat.co.uk/tickets.aspx

Trafalgar Day British Summer Time Ends. Clocks ‘fall’ back one hour.

Halloween

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

57

What’s On/Local Events

1st Tuesday: NHS Retirement Club, 10-12pm at Christ Church Hall, Christ Church Road, Surbiton, KT5 8JJ. For information call Lorna: 020 8337 4121 Last Sunday of the month: Women on Wheels, meet outside Clas Ohlson Market Place 10.00. 020 8547 5865. E-mail: ccst@rbk. kingston.gov.uk Art Classes: Every Monday 10-12noon & 2-4pm, with Berrylands Artists at Berrylands Christian Centre, 41 King Charles Road, Surbiton, KT5 8PF. Info: 020 8644 0941 Berrylands Women’s Club: Meets every Mon evening, 8pm at Elgar Hall, United Reform Church, Raeburn Avenue, . Talks, slides and outings.

Contact: Joyce Johnson Tel: 020 8390 5817 Broadway Sequence Dance Club: Meets every Monday from 8pm at The Raeburn Hall, Tolworth United Reform Church, Raeburn/Elgar Avenues.

New sequences are taught, some knowledge of ballroom dancing required.

Contact Brenda Deane for more info: 020 8390 0233. www.broadway sequencedance.co.uk Chinese Brush Painting: Held once a month at Sunray Community Centre, Knollmead, Tolworth. 10-13.00pm Contact Gwen: 020 8398 7313. Beginners & intermediates welcome.

Encore Singing Group: Mondays, 10am - 12.15pm in Berrylands. For info: gillyvor@hotmail.com Kingston Camera Club: Camera enthusiasts welcome. Meet Mon eves, at St John’s Ambulance HQ, Athelstan Rd off Villiers Avenue. 7.30pm - 10pm with coffee break. New members welcome. For more information visit: www. kingstoncameraclub.com Kingston Pensioners’ Forum: Meets 2nd Monday each month at Reform Church, Eden Street, at 2pm. New members welcome. Talks, outings and tea and coffee. For more info: Pam Wilson Secretary, 020 8241 9913, www. kingstonpensionersforum@hotmail.co.uk Kingston Philatelic Society: Meets 8-10pm on 1st Thurs & 3rd Fri, at Surbiton Library Hall, Ewell Road. Info: Brian Sole Tel: 01932 220 677 or email: brian.sole@btinternet.com Ladies Exercise Club: Friendly & fun exercise/movement class for ladies 65+ at Berrylands Christian Centre, King Charles Road. Friday 10.15 - 11.15am plus coffee. Come & try first, free first class. Call Mary, 01483 284 716 or maryedwards@uwclub.net Mrs Bennet’s Ballroom:Wednesdays. Learn Regency dancing at St Mark’s Church Hall, Surbiton, 8pm - 10.30pm. Cost £5 per eve. See advert. Contact Libby Curzon, 020 8391 1215. Email: curzone@hotmail.com Oasis daytime group for over 60s: at Emmanuel Church, Grand Avenue, Tolworth. We have social a meeting at 2.30pm on Wednesday, 6th September, with plenty of opportunity to chat, play games do jigsaw puzzles and includes a 5 minute Bible-based talk followed by refreshments. Tel: 020 8390 6631.

Please mention the magazine when contacting Advertisers 58

What’s On/Local Events

Open Door: Alternate Thursdays, 2.30 - 4.15pm, from February. Meetings on 14th & 28th September. A friendship group aimed at seniors. Afternoon tea, chat and short talks from local organisations. Christ Church Lounge, King Charles Road, Surbiton. 020 8390 7215 St Marks Church:Weds mornings 10.00-11.30 Stay and Play for Toddlers and Carers at St Mark’s Church Hall, St Mark’s Hill. Friday Mornings Coffee and Cake corner 10-11.30am, drop in for coffee at St Andrew’s Church, Maple Road, no booking required for any of them.

Scottish Country Dancing: On Thursdays 7.30pm - 10.30pm at St Mark’s Church Hall. Tuition for half an hour from 7.30. Membership £5 a year, Members £3/evening, non-members £4. Join our friendly, informal club for good fun and an easy way to excercise. Check website: www. surbitoncaledonian.co.uk or call: 01932 784 866 ‘Sing on Purpose’ at the CornerHouse, Douglas Road, KT6 7SB. All welcome, £5 per session. Adults: Mondays 9.30 - 10.30am; Youth: Fridays 4.45 5.45pm. Contact: Steve or Pam 07763 081320 Surbiton Arts Group: Meets monthly on Mondays 8-10pm for lectures and demonstrations in Surbiton Library Hall. Exhibitions twice a year. For info: Call Alan 020 8397 1050 Surbiton Club for the Blind and Visually Impaired: Meets alternate Tues 2-4pm at Surbiton Hill Methodist Church, Ewell Road. Social club with entertainment and tea. Transport available if necessary. For information: 0744 364 3716 . Volunteer drivers very welcome.

Surbiton Floral Club: 1st Weds of the month at Raeburn Hall United Reform Church, Elgar Avenue. 7.30 for 7.45pm start. Floral demos, talks, workshops & outings. Tel: 020 8399 8193 Talking of Trains in Surbiton: Programme of talks at Surbiton Library Hall, each Wednesday evening from 20th Sept, throughout winter months. First meeting free, fee for complete year is £50. Details on www.talkingoftrains. co.uk For further information contact: David Blackmore, 020 8391 1116.Em: dandp@blueyonder.co.uk Tiny Tunes: Mon 10am & 10.50am at Surbiton Library Hall. Tues 10am & 10.50am at St Nicholas Parish Church, Summer Rd, Thames Ditton.

All sessions 40 mins long, features music, dance, parachutes, bubbles & pom-poms. Age 3 months -5 years, pay as you go £5, siblings £2.50 www. tinytuneslive.com Tolworth World of Dance: Weds 8 - 9.30pm (term time). Dance for Fun, Fitness & Friends, beginners always welcome, see advert. Contact: Brenda 020 8397 9649 or philip.steventon@btinternet.com

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 59

COMMUNITY PAGE

Kingston upon Thames Archaeological Society

Thurs 14th Sept: David Calow, Hon Sec of Surrey Archaeological Society will give a talk on ‘Excavations on the Romano-British site at Flexford’ Thurs 12th Oct: Justine Bayley, Sec of Friends of Great Barn at Harmondsworth, will give a tlk on The Great Barn at Harmondsworth in its Village setting.

Thurs 9th Nov: David Williams, Finds Liaison Officer for Surrey & East Berkshire, will give a talk on Portable Antiquities Scheme: Recent finds from Surrey.

Meetings, unless otherwise stated, are held on the 2nd Thursday of the month, at 7.30pm for 8pm start, in the Surbiton Library Hall, Ewell Road, KT6 6AG. Visitors will be asked for £3 donation towards expenses. http://www.kingstonarchaeology.com/ sfmflyer2016.indd 1

05/11/2016 16:37

HOOK ALLOTMENTS AND GARDENS ASSOCIATION

Are you interested in gardening?

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

60

Did you know there is an association in Hook?

Our Association was founded over 50 years ago and is run by volunteers, can provide a 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

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COMMUNITY PAGE

Surbiton & District Bird Watching Society

Disclaimer

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

Sun 3rd Sept: Outing to Dungeness RSPB Reserve in Kent. Leader: Chris Turner Tel: 020 8390 9572

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

Tues 19th Sept: Indoor meeting with a talk by Ashley Grove on ‘Trinidad & Tobago’. Meeting at 19.30 for 20.00 start in the Main Hall next to Surbiton Library, Ewell Road.

Sun 17th Sept: Outing to Cliffe Pools RSPB, Kent. Leader Steve Waters Tel: 01372 457 442 Please note that it is imperative to phone the leader to confirm participation, meeting place and time and/or prearrange lifts.

SDBWS Publicity Annemarie Stiegler

Surbiton & District Historical Society

Tues 5th Sept: Ms Mel Harrison will give an illustrated talk on “William ShakespeareShakespeare Debunked: the Bard & What We Don’t Know” Tues 3rd Oct: Dr James M S Taylor will lecture on ‘Brilliant British Humour in the Art of the Picture Postcard 1909 - 1939’ Tues 7th Nov: Professor Anne Curry of Southampton University will give an illustrated talk on ‘The Battle of Agincourt’ 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

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

61

Index Please mention the magazine when contacting advertisers 19 21 23 5 25 15 39 23 25 25 47 7 63 17 51 49 19 21 22 18

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

2 47 35 49 20/36

Care & Health Confidental Clinic Chessington Hypnotherapy Clinic Liu Yang Shira Meah Yoga Classes Health

9 51 45 35 45 64 53

Rest & Relaxation CornerHouse One Act Dance the World King George Field Bowls Club Mrs Bennet’s Ballroom Dance Rebel Waltz Cycle Solutions Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club Talking of Trains

7 7 37 39

Children & Education Hook Aqua Centre Jenny Ward Tutor Stéphanie Son Translations Surbiton Karate

10/11 11 13 11/13

Veterinary Aspen Veterinary Surgery Cats Protection League Paradise Pets Pet Care

62

28 31 26 33 29 28/31

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

9 8/52

Accountant M&B Accountancy Services Ltd Finance

41 43 47 40 42

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

37

Solicitors Lewis-Dick

60/61 57 32 58/59 29 16 3 14/27 55

Articles & Editorials Community Pages Diary Kids Page What’s On & Local Events Pages Crossword Book Review Useful Telephone Numbers Technology Edward Davey, M.P

Want To Advertise Your Business?

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

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

A Berrylands Companion From as little as £33 a month your advert can feature here for a year!

An email with your artwork will ensure it is featured.

So What is Stopping You? Call Now!

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

Magazine printed by Warwick Printing, Warwickshire

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play | workout | enjoy surbiton.org 020 8399 1594 64