Finchley Community Magazine November / December 2020

o mmunity C F I N C H L E Y

YO U R

F R E E

LO C A L

M AG A Z I N E

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2020

ISSUE 4

Support local Shop with our independents

LOCAL INSPIRATION Music to my ears EMMA KERSHAW Arts & Culture ARTSDEPOT Present buying GIFTED LOCAL

BRINGING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER

36 engaging strategies to help children aged 4 - 11 cope when tricky emotions feel too big Developed by child psychologist Dr Gail Sinitsky, the strategies are based on effective psychological frameworks and are divided into 3 categories: breathing techniques, creative activities, and movement exercises. Beautifully illustrated with clear instructions, Mighty Cards promote happiness and calm, and increase self-esteem.

I’m Dr Gail Sinitsky, child psychologist and founder of Young & Mighty, a social enterprise dedicated to

compassion, emotional literacy, and a sense of connectedness. We are committed to making this world a kinder and happier place, so we are also re-investing 50%

nurturing children’s mental health. I believe that as a society we need to provide plenty of opportunities to actively foster positive mental health from an early age. This isn’t just important for children who are struggling or in ‘crisis’ - but for every child, throughout their childhood. This is even more significant now, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to have a huge impact on all of us. It’s vital that we provide opportunities for children to process and express their feelings.

Through high quality workshops and tools, Young & Mighty is on a mission to help strengthen key psychological aspects of children’s lives that we know contribute to positive mental health:

of profits into creating and delivering innovative, accessible and meaningful “kindness projects”.

Above all, we want to help children thrive as they grow, even in the face of difficulties.

We want children to have a strong sense of self-worth, to feel connected to others, to experience the transformative power of kindness and compassion and to have the tools to draw on when they face life’s inevitable challenges.

Visit our website for free resources as well as more information about Mighty Cards, our set of engaging and effective strategies that promote calm, release tension, and encourage self-compassion.

www.youngandmighty.com

editors letter

H Community FI N C H L E Y

YOU R

FRE E

LO CA L

M AGA ZINE

CREATIVE EDITOR Nicola Harrison SUB-EDITOR Diane Langleben

F R O N T COV E R I M AG E : R E D C H O CO L AT T E / I S TO C K / I L LU S T R AT I O N / L AU R E N R E B B E C K

DESIGNER Richard Cooke PRINTER JG Bryson of East Finchley

Special thanks to: My Rich for being totally and unwaveringly awesome in his support and creativity My wonderfully kind volunteer sub-editor Diane My fabulous friend and business coach Zuzana My Dad for knowing I would love creating this My Mum for just always believing in me My Rosa for inspiring me

ello friends!

Welcome to the fourth issue of Finchley Community Magazine.

The very best thing about creating this magazine is finding out about all the lovely, kind people who live in our community and sharing their stories with you.

I believe in supporting local business. My first thought about buying anything is where can I get it locally? If you haven’t considered this before, this issue can help you. You will find out how to shop locally and support our high street independents. There are really useful tips on getting organised in good time for the festive season. For an extra special gift, why not commission a local artist?

As we all head towards the winter months and the end of a difficult year, I hope our magazine will give you a little light on a dark day. As always, we have a wonderful selection of articles by our fabulous contributors who kindly share their knowledge and wisdom.

Our magazine is free, and in order for us to flourish, we rely upon advertising. Please do tell your family, friends, work colleagues and local community about us. If you are a local business, why not advertise with us in the New Year?

Nicola

nicola.fcmag@gmail.com

www.finchleycommunity.wixsite.com/fcmag facebook.com/fcm.nicola twitter.com/@NicolaFCmag @instagram.com/finchleycommunitymagazine

Finchley Community 3

Zuzana

Taylor

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I’ve been where you are, and I understand what a lonely and isolating place it can be. Having children is the most wonderful and rewarding gift but can leave you feeling like you’ve given up on your own dreams, and lost your identity.

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contents

32 14 18

Contents Music to my ears

Flower Power

Community kindness

A lasting impression

Stephens House & Gardens

Home, sweet home!

Community arts centre

Chanukah

St-Mary-at-Finchley

Diwali

The Finchley Society

Community kindness

The Power of Sleep

Motivation

Gifted Local

Yoga Hook

6 Musical actress, Emma Kershaw 9 Memory Lane Singing Club 10 Events for the wintertime 14 Artsdepot: its story

18 Finchley’s oldest building 22 Chairman, Mick Crick

24 Nutritionist, Thalia Pellegrini 28 Co-founder, Helen Robinson

32 Artist, Rosha Nutt 36 Sculptor, Judy Wiseman 38 Interior stylist, Joanna Piotrowicz 40 Subeditor, Diane Langleben 41 Local family, Anita Anand 42 North London Hospice

44 Business Coach, Zuzana Taylor 46 Founder, Nina Bosamia Finchley Community 5

emma kershaw

Music to my ears An early love of music led to success for Emma Kershaw in the performing arts

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t was lovely to be asked by Finchley Community Magazine to write about my career. It is a chance to look back and reminisce in what some have called ‘the great pause’ of Coronavirus. This is a period in the lives of many of us that can be used as an opportunity to slow down, re-evaluate and look back at what we have been doing, and decide what we would like to do in the future.

Music has always been an integral part of my life; my parents played an enormous variety of it at home, and I was lucky enough to be awarded a scholarship to learn violin and piano at the junior department of the Royal College of Music at the age of 12. I went on to get a music degree, and because of my instrumental/vocal skills, I soon began working in musical theatre around the country, performing in shows such as Cabaret, Moll Flanders and Into the Woods. This was the best ‘on-the-job’ training I could have had, as it honed all my performance skills.

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I studied drama in the meantime, and my first West End job was Les Misérables. Other London lead roles followed in shows such as Fame, Hot Stuff and Prisoner Cell Block H. I have played lead roles in countless shows in the UK and Europe, and because of my ability to read music, I have sung on many film and TV soundtracks.

One of the things I’m most proud of is playing Florence in a production of Chess on a tour of Denmark. A double CD was made of our show with a full orchestra. Shows and concerts are not usually recorded for posterity, so that is something I can hold on to and say I achieved. I also recorded a solo album called Listen to my Heart which is available on my website.

Since having children, I have concentrated on being a concert soloist, and I’ve had many opportunities to sing with the best orchestras in Europe, including the Royal Philharmonic, BBC Concert, London Concert, London Pops, Halle, RTE, Bournemouth

emma kershaw

Finchley Community 7

emma kershaw Symphony, the BBC Big Band, the but the pandemic has brought us much Royal Liverpool, the Manchester closer. When we were in lockdown, Concert, the Gothenburg Opera, our neighbours were pretty much the Danish Radio and Aalborg Symphony. only people we saw (over the fence or I’ve always considered it an honour to clapping in the street for the NHS). It is work with such amazing musicians, so important for our mental health to and not working in the theatre has keep the sense of community and check afforded me opportunities as a singer in with other people. that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.

A few years ago, I was asked to be I have performed as a soloist at the the musical director of the Memory Albert Hall, the Royal Festival Hall, the Lane Singing Club which meets locally Barbican, and all the most prestigious every Friday morning in term time. concert venues in the country, singing We are a charity and put together a huge variety of shows that we take into material including jazz, care homes all around pop, musical theatre Barnet. When we sing “ Music is a and rock. for the residents, it is language that I have been teaching obvious to see what accesses parts of power music has and on and off for years, and since lockdown it’s been the brain that can its effect on them. on Zoom, which I found that we have be re-awakened Knowing much more fulfilling brightened people’s and stimulated, day and reminded than I thought it would be. However, it is still regardless of age them of songs they had a big compromise not forgotten, is so heartor health.” teaching in person. I warming. We often really look forward to get people singing being in the room with people to teach along and dancing. Even when there them again one day. are no shows in our diary to perform, My local community is incredibly it’s still important for our group to important to me. I have lived in north sing together. It is therapeutic and we London for most of my life, moving to are like an extended family. Music Finchley about 16 years ago. I absolutely is a language that accesses parts of love the area, and especially the street the brain that can be re-awakened we live in. During lockdown we felt and stimulated, regardless of age or even luckier having so much green health. It brings everyone together; space in which to take family walks. something our community needs more We have had a street WhatsApp than ever! n Neighbourhood Watch group for years and used to have a street party Please visit www.emmakershaw.com every summer. There has always been if you would like to find out a little a great sense of community anyway, more about me and hear me sing.

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community kindness

Sing, sing a song, sing out loud, sing out strong Valerie Cowan gives an update on Memory Lane Singing Club, a local singing group

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n the words of the Carpenters, ‘Sing, sing a song, sing out loud, sing out strong’. The Memory Lane Singing Club has been singing out strong in the community for 27 years.

We sing under the expert direction of Emma Kershaw, a versatile actress and concert artist. Our resident pianist, Joseph Morley, has had a varied career in all forms of popular music. Our repertoire includes songs from the musicals, The Carpenters, Johnny Mercer, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and many, many more.

We perform in local care homes but sadly, we are unable to entertain at the moment. It leaves a tremendous gap for both our members and audiences.

Singing is recognised for its therapeutic effect and we are a most supportive group. For people living on their own, singing is sociable, beneficial and gives a sense of belonging in the community.

We have been keeping in touch with a weekly Zoom meeting. In July, 23 of us met for a reunion at Stephens House & Gardens. It was great to see everyone even though it was 30 degrees in the shade! It demonstrated the friendships that have been formed over the years. One member had just had a hip operation but was determined to be there, albeit on crutches.

I have been a member for 17 years and am also the treasurer. One of my roles is to obtain funding to enable us to have the best musical direction, to perform in the community and to keep fees affordable. We have been fortunate that several funders, over the years, believe our work is worthwhile.

Live entertainment for the vulnerable, isolated elderly is so uplifting for audiences and singers.

We can’t wait to get the show back on the road! n Memory Lane normally meets on Friday mornings at St Mary’s church hall, Hendon Lane, N3. We welcome new members and no auditions are necessary. For further information, visit www.memorylanesingingclub. co.uk or contact me at v.cowan@ hotmail.co.uk or 0208 458 4508.

Finchley Community 9

stephens house events

Stephens House & Gardens Each year, Stephens House & Gardens hold a diverse programme of events, offering a chance to spend time inside the House, which is not generally open to the public. Coming along for something like Sunday lunch in the House means that visitors can get to experience the atmospheric setting of the drawing room with its large windows overlooking the gardens, and to perhaps imagine what the house would have been like as a family home for the Stephens family.

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s well as providing a chance to connect with the local community, the events are a big part of fundraising for the day-to-day running costs. The staff at Stephens House & Gardens work hard to provide enjoyable occasions that will appeal to a variety of audiences and ages. The events should be successful and provide value for money as well as helping to bring in some much-needed income for the upkeep of the house and grounds.

Having to stop the events earlier in the year during lockdown took a big toll on finances. Once events could be resumed, they needed to be creative; this has meant more outdoor events. These were reliant on

good weather, which fortunately we had.

Open-air theatre is always popular in the gardens in summertime and this year, performances were still able to be held, just ensuring social distancing was maintained.

Children are encouraged to spend time outside in the extensive gardens, making the most of the natural features such as the pond and woodland areas. Stephens House & Gardens run activities such as pond dipping and forest school, as well as seasonal events including Easter egg hunts and the ever-popular Halloween event.

Meanwhile, for the adults there is a supper club with wine tastings, and other foodie events catered by the experienced on-site team. Sunday lunch takes place Finchley Community 11

stephens house events Sadly, the annual Women’s Institute Christmas Fayre will not go ahead this year; however, plans are afoot to stage it at some point in 2021. Please keep an eye on our website: www. stephenshouseandgardens.com and social media for any additions and changes to the programme closer to the time. n

monthly and there are also quiz nights and the occasional film screening.

The festive season is on the horizon, and there are some events for your diaries.

Each year in early December, the house is decorated for Christmas, with a big tree in the entrance making the house feel extra special.

A welcome awaits the following events: • Sunday lunch: 6 December in the house ver the weekend of 7 and 8 November O • An exhibition of Military and Wartime Railways: visiting times are 11am until 4pm on both days; admission is a minimum donation of £2 per person • Remembrance Sunday Lunch 8 November: lunch in Stephens House • Winter Lights: Saturday 12 December Do come along for a festive walk around the lit-up gardens between 5:30-7.30pm.

You can warm up afterwards in our café with a hot chocolate or mulled wine • Christmas Lunch in Stephens House: Sunday: 13 December and 20 December 12 Finchley Community

Stephens House & Gardens welcomes enquiries from local businesses who would like an opportunity to bring extra exposure to their products or services; this could be, perhaps, by providing something for one of the events. If you would like to collaborate, do get in touch with Malcom Godfrey by email: manager@ stephenshouseandgardens.com or phone 020 8346 7812

The importance of making a will Chris Yiannakas, partner at YVA Solicitors, North Finchley It’s a shocking statistic but many adults in the UK have failed to prepare a will. This can have serious consequences, especially if you are a parent. Dying without a will means the law will simply run its course and often against your wishes. It’s a huge risk that can leave you powerless regarding your assets.

WHY THE PREPARATION OF A WILL IS ESSENTIAL The technical term for passing away with no valid will is ‘dying intestate’. If this happens, your money, possessions and property will be divided up according to the law, and your loved ones could stand to inherit nothing. For example, if you are unmarried and die ‘intestate’, your partner would, by law, receive nothing. If you have children, this can complicate things further, because the law often places them above your partner in the pecking order. Moreover, if you have children from a previous marriage, they could be completely passed by too. Put simply, dying without a will means you have no control over who stands to inherit your hard-earned assets. Even worse, if you pass away with no close relatives, your estate could pass automatically to the government.

It is therefore vital that everyone prepares a will; YVA are here to assist in preparing your will to ensure that your estate passes to the people you want. Our fees are affordable and we offer flexible

home visits and advice on how to pay less inheritance tax. If you are a parent, or you have specific wishes about where you want your assets to go, preparing a will is a must.

For the minor cost involved, it can avoid enormous amounts of worry and hassle, and could also save thousands of pounds in the long run by securing your assets.

THE BENEFITS OF PLANNING AHEAD • Specify exactly who your benefactors are.

Rather than letting the law decide, you can divide up your inheritance in whatever way you want.

• Nominate your children’s guardians.

If you have children under 18 and the worst does happen, you need to plan ahead for their future.

• State who your executors are.

Pick the person you trust will make sure your will is properly adhered to.

• Set out your wishes for specific possessions. Many of us have treasured heirlooms or keepsakes. A well-written will allows you to pass them on to the loved one to whom it will mean the most.

• Take advantage of low prices. The cost of preparing a simple will, which is usually a one-off, is affordable and can save money in the long run by securing your assets. n For more information email cy@yvasolicitors.com or visit www.yvasolicitors.com

artsdepot

artsdepot Sophie Wright gives a brief history of the artsdepot and its future plans

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little bit tucked away at Tally Ho Corner in North Finchley is artsdepot, an arts centre for the local community of Barnet.

As with most of the entertainment industry, it has been rather quiet recently, because of the pandemic.

However, the centre is starting to put on activities, classes and even live theatre again.

Since it opened in 2004, artsdepot has been delivering arts and culture to the local area. Inside the building there are two performance venues, a multitude of rooms and studio spaces, a cafe, a theatre, dance and musical theatre conservatoire, and more. It has been continually producing events and activities for all ages. Last Christmas, artsdepot staged its first-ever pantomime. Only a few months later, the Covid-19 lockdown temporarily closed artsdepot for a period of six months. In a normal year, artsdepot welcomes over 162,000 people through its doors.

The site artsdepot is on has not always been an arts centre, but it does have a history of performance. Myth has it that in the 1820s and 1830s Tally Ho Corner was a site where the Tally Ho Coach Company kept its horses for their Birmingham mail coach. There is not a lot of evidence to support this theory, but the idea stuck around long enough for the nearby Tally Ho pub to be named after the coach company.

Between 1937 and 1980, the Gaumont Theatre became Finchley’s cinema and theatre, boasting a fully equipped stage and six dressing rooms with an audience capacity of over 2,000 people.

Perhaps it was this history of the arts that led to the suggestion of an arts centre. This was at a Barnet Council meeting in 1996 looking at ways for the area to commemorate the new millennium. A true community enterprise, it was opened on 23 October 2004. The artsdepot programme covers all artistic disciplines. There are art exhibitions, family shows, music concerts, dance performances, Finchley Community 15

artsdepot

contemporary theatre, free festival days, and much more. It is important for artsdepot to create a space for everyone to come and enjoy themselves, to participate in arts and culture in whatever way they choose.

On its 10th birthday in 2014, there was a heritage project called Tally Ho! A Place to Meet. The website for the project is still available online (www. tallyhoaplacetomeet.wordpress.com), so you can still explore the activities, listen to oral histories recorded about the Gaumont, and images from the exhibition, visual art and theatre projects that happened as part of

the celebration. It is a good way of understanding more about the history of the space.

Artsdepot wants to continue to be a community arts centre delivering the best arts and culture to the local area.

For example, display space has been provided for local craftspeople to share their work. Artsdepot is once again open to the public, and it is a sheer delight to see the building filling up every day! n Please visit www.artsdepot.co.uk to see events planned over the coming months.

Sophie Wright is the marketing and public relations officer for artsdepot, working on promoting events, activities, classes, and the organisation itself to the wider public.

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Our main goal is to introduce Computer Coding and Robotics to both children and grownups in a simple, fun and interesting way We run school clubs: “Game Design Club” for Infant and Junior Schools “Robo Club” for Junior Schools During school holidays we run “STAR Activites” for kids aged between 8 and 14 years old.

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finchley’s oldest building

St-Mary-at-Finchley Ancient architecture on our doorstep

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st-mary-at-finchley

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ost local schoolchildren are taught that the parish church of St. Mary-at-Finchley, on Hendon Lane, is the oldest building in the district. but just how old is it? A recent study by architectural archaeologist Dr Mark Samuel has explored the amazing evolution of the church building, by looking at the stonework and construction techniques.

The bell tower, nave and north wall are the oldest sections of the church, being built in the mediaeval period, mid-15th century. However, the builders reused stone from the earlier, Romanesque mid-12th century church building on the same site. There are beautifully carved Caen stone fragments, now set in the interior wall and a great deal of local pudding stone (a type of conglomerate rock), which was mostly used as wall infill.

The north wall, probably suffering from subsidence, needed rebuilding in the 16th century Tudor period, creating the curious effect of 15th century windows being supported by later built walls. The fortress-like, four-storey tower and adjoining newel turret, containing a narrow spiral staircase, was built in Kentish ragstone and remains as it was, though the stone is much worn. The clock at the tower’s third level, was a much later addition, in 1872. The clock face was shot-blasted, repainted and gilded in 2019.

For a few hundred years after the Reformation in the mid-16th century, the church was simply repaired when necessary. Luckily for local historians, the church was a popular subject for artists. The most famous were J.M.W. Turner, who drew St. Mary’s in 1793-4 and Daniel Lysons, who made an atmospheric engraving of the south front with the old sundial and leaning headstones. The drawings and paintings record the changes in the building exterior and show the incremental development of Hendon Lane from its rural origin.

During the Victorian era, in common with many outlying villages of London, Finchley’s population started to increase, so major plans were developed to extend and improve the church. In 1872 the church was widened to form a south aisle, with the original south wall being replaced with internal arches. Amazingly, the huge roof over the nave (main part) of the church was jacked on to newly built supporting walls and columns.

Photographs of the time show farmland to the northwest of the church, running down towards Dollis Brook.

In the 1801 census, the population of Finchley was 1,503. A hundred years later it had risen to 22,126, then nearly doubled to 39,419 by the 1911 census. With that steep rise, based on improved transport to central Finchley Community 19

finchley’s oldest building London, the church was extended again in 1932. Valuing the great age of the north wall, archaeologists argued against any changes to that side; instead, the church was widened along the south front again, forming the outer south aisle, necessitating the relocation of some 18th century headstones to the western side of the church. The two extensions have created an asymmetric building, with a complex interior and roof.

The baptismal font is positioned in the outer south aisle. An octagonal bowl, ornately carved from Purbeck stone in the 12th century, it was reputedly dug up in the old rectory garden in the 1890s, having possibly been buried there for safe keeping, during the mid-17th century Commonwealth period.

During World War II, the castellated tower roof was used as a fire lookout point.

Being situated on a ridge, there are excellent views from the tower in all directions, but it must have been very windy and cold at times!

On the night of 4 October 1940, a 1,000lb bomb fell against the east end of the church, destroying that wall and causing extensive interior damage. The adjacent Queen’s Head pub was also severely damaged in the blast.

The strength of the church tower thankfully kept the north and south walls upright.

Church services resumed just six weeks after the bomb but because materials and labour were in short supply, the church was only fully restored in 1953.

As is clear from the history of the church, ancient buildings need ongoing maintenance plus major repairs every 100 years or so. The current large-scale project for St Mary’s is to overhaul the roof and stop it leaking. Stage I, in 2017, saw the repair of the small but dilapidated tower roof. Fundraising is now under way for the next stage(s), to replace all the roof slates, reline gutters, add insulation and repair the high level, clerestory windows which light the central nave of the church. The goal is to make the church warmer and watertight for the next century.

The anticipated project cost is £400,000.

Although a fantastic £100,000 has already been raised to complete the project, much more funding is needed.

Please do visit St Mary-at-Finchley to appreciate for yourself the wonderful atmosphere and ancient quality of the building. Even with Covid-19 restrictions, the church is open every afternoon and for regular services throughout the week. Details of Christmas celebrations, including carol, crib and Christingle services can be found on the website (stmaryatfinchley.org.uk). n

Helen Bevan is a landscape architect and horticulturist, with a passion for historic landscapes. She is deputy church warden of St Mary-at-Finchley, with responsibility for managing the church building. Helen is currently the garden supervisor for Stephens House & Gardens (featured in FCM’s September/October issue), having written its management plan. Helen also does private garden design and helps clients to maintain and adapt their gardens. As a Finchley resident for over 20 years she feels part of the local community. In her spare time, she enjoys fashion design, DIY and working with her husband and son on their allotment.

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The Finchley Society Looking after the interests of our local community

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he Finchley Society has always been at the forefront of defending local issues since its formation almost 50 years ago. Its first success was to oppose the demolition of a row of workers’ cottages in North Finchley. They are still there and their existence in Lodge Lane is a testament to the power of community action.

The Finchley Society engages with the community through its newsletter and monthly meetings.

Even during the pandemic, monthly meetings have continued, albeit via Zoom. An unexpected bonus is that former Finchley residents have joined on-screen, as far away as the US. Moreover, members who are housebound or have childcare issues can join meetings online.

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The Society is proud of the area and commemorates famous people and special places of the past. It has erected plaques to such local luminaries as Harry Beck, who designed the first Underground train map, the clown, Joseph Grimaldi, and comedian, Spike Milligan. The Society’s information plaques include one at La Délivrance at Henly’s Corner and at St Mary’s Church in Hendon Lane.

2020 marks the Society’s Golden Anniversary so why not track it down at finchleysociety.org.uk? n Mick Crick is the chairman of The Finchley Society and a member of Barnet War Memorials Association. He lives in Friern Barnet with his wife and worked for the Metropolitan Police before retiring in 2012.

the finchley society

John Parr: the first British soldier to be killed in action in the Great War

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rivate John Parr was born in Lichfield Grove, Church End, Finchley, in 1897 and the family later settled in Lodge Lane, North Finchley around 1908. After leaving Christ Church School, John Parr worked as a butcher’s boy and a golf caddy at North Middlesex Golf Club.

On 5 May 1912, standing just 5’ 3” tall and weighing 8 stone, young John joined the 5th Battalion Middlesex Regiment as a reservist, giving his age as nearly 18. War was declared on 4 August 1914 and just ten days later, his regiment departed for France and began to move towards Belgium to engage with the German Army.

On 21 August, they were several miles from the Belgium border and had yet to sight the enemy.

However, according to German records, Parr was killed that day although the British Army were unaware for nearly six months. However, the first engagement of the British Army with the Germans was not until 23 August, at Mons. It seems likely that Parr was despatched on foot carrying messages to battalion headquarters a mile or so away. He could have been ambushed by an advanced German unit.

John’s mother, having not heard from her son for several months, went to the War Office in October and later wrote to her son’s commanding officer in France. But the Army believed that he was still with his regiment because they had no record of him being captured, injured or killed. However, by March 1915 Private Parr was recorded as ‘missing 23/24th August’ and it was later confirmed he was ‘dead for certain’.

He is buried at St Symphorien Military Cemetery.

By 1915, 111 men from the three North Finchley roads of Albert Street, William Street (both now demolished) and Lodge Lane had enlisted, eight of whom had already fallen. n Finchley Community 23

thalia pellegrini

The Power of Sleep Thalia Pellegrini explains why sleep is so important for our wellbeing

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leep — we all need it. In fact, as adults we need between seven and nine hours of sleep per night.

Most of us, however, are not getting as much as that. And our health is suffering.

I’m not just talking beleaguered parents with pre-schoolers — young children and teens are not getting enough shuteye either.

Research shows that we are getting less sleep than a generation ago. Box sets, social media, gaming: they all keep us wakeful for longer into the night. Recent surveys by the Sleep Council and YouGov reveal that sleep is poor for one in three Britons.

How often do you delay bedtime to watch an extra episode of your latest box set or lose an hour, mindlessly scrolling through Instagram? Hands up who goes to bed an hour later than when they first think, ‘I should really go to bed,’ because it’s easier to stay on the sofa? Me, for one!

The science of sleep has become a huge topic in recent years. Check out Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep and Arianna Huffington’s The Sleep Revolution. The upshot of both books is, if you value your health, get more sleep. This winter, our minds are focused perhaps more than in recent memory on the health challenges we face. Prioritising sleep is a sound recommendation. As a nutritional therapist,

I advise on both diet and lifestyle. You can have a balanced diet full of the good stuff, but if you are exhausted, it stands to reason that you will not feel your best.

Sleep has an impact in so many ways.

Lack of sleep affects: • Mood: who isn’t crankier when they are tired?

• Appetite: we are more likely to reach for quick energy options when tired, namely junk food and caffeine • Coping mechanisms: you are more likely to feel overwhelmed when tired • The immune system: sleep strengthens your body’s immune response. Often, when we are ill, all we want to do is sleep.

That’s the body’s way of letting us know we need rest for recovery If you are a parent reading this, you are probably rolling your eyes. You’ could be thinking that you would LOVE eight hours sleep each night; someone needs to pass that message on to the tiny humans in your house who didn’t get the memo. Nothing can prepare you for the brutality of chronic sleep deprivation as a parent but whether you’re raising kids or not, there are some things everyone can strive for each day to improve the quality of their sleep.

Finchley Community 25

the power of sleep

HERE ARE MY TOP 10 TIPS for getting better slumber time

1

Step away from the light.

At least an hour before bed, put your phone down. The blue light that screens emit suppress the production of melatonin, which helps the brain to regulate our circadian rhythm. This should be avoided so keep tech out of the bedroom. No phones, no laptops or tablets. If social media is your kryptonite, try setting a limit on your phone so you can’t fall down the rabbit hole of watching endless reels.

2

Avoid a late-night glass of wine.

You might feel it helps you to relax in the evening, but alcohol disrupts our circadian rhythm too. If you tend to pour yourself a snifter each night, try and go booze-free for at least three nights a week and see if you sleep better.

3

Keep your bedroom as dark as possible: start with low lights in the evening to prepare the body for sleep.

If your curtains or blinds let in light, you could attach black-out linings or try sleeping with an eye mask.

4

Try and leave a few hours after eating before bed.

The better you have digested your meal, the better you’ll sleep. Avoid late night snacking for the same reason.

5

Try not to have caffeine after midday. Caffeine has a half-life of five to six hours, so that post-lunch latte may be affecting how well you sleep, even if 26 Finchley Community

you don’t realise it. If caffeine makes you a little wired up or jittery, try forgoing it for a week or two and see how you feel.

Or perhaps just replace one cup of caffeine with a different hot drink.

6

Blood sugar balance is important.

Too high and you’ll find it hard to wind down when you climb into bed. Too low and you may find yourself waking in the night. Eat an evening meal that contains some protein (meat, fish or pulses), some complex carbohydrate (opt for brown rice, not white; whole wheat pasta, not white) and some healthy fats (some olive oil dressing on your vegetables perhaps).

7

Are you doing too much exercise?

Movement is integral to good health and moderate exercise can help you sleep, but over-exercising can have the opposite effect. Over time it may even lead to hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction. A bit of a mouthful, but

thalia pellegrini it’s important: a feedback loop from the brain to the body, the HPA-axis acts like a messenger to let us know when we’re burning out. If we ignore the message, fatigue can hit hard. In simple terms, it’s like running your engine with your foot on the pedal too hard for too long.

8

Eat for sleep. Foods that contain the amino acid, tryptophan, may promote sleep as the body uses it to turn into a B vitamin called niacin. Niacin helps the body create serotonin, a neurotransmitter that can help us sleep. So, opt for protein foods that contain tryptophan like chicken, turkey, cheese, pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds.

9

Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day. This helps programme the brain and our internal body clock to sleep well.

10

And breathe! The connection between stress and sleep is well documented. We all know if we go to bed on a high, sleep may be a struggle. If meditation or yoga is not for you, aim to do five minutes of relaxation before bed; this can take the form of deep breathing

and can be as simple as a series of deep, slow breaths. Try the 4-7-8 breath — breathe in for the count of 4, hold for the count of 7, and slowly let your breath out for the count of 8. It takes a little practice but give it a go. Build up to ten rounds.

Even this modest exercise can have a physiological benefit by helping to trigger your parasympathetic nervous system which acts like a brake on stress.

There are of course those of us for whom sleep does not come. Insomnia is one of the UK’s biggest health problems.

According to the NHS website, 1 in 3 Brits will experience sleep problems at some point in their lives and cases of insomnia were reported to have increased during lockdown in March. If your insomnia is ongoing, consider seeking support from your GP. We could all benefit from more, better quality sleep. Just one small change can have a big impact so, if only for this week, why not aim to be in bed half an hour earlier each night and see how you feel. More energised? Better skin? Less hungry? Happier?

Sleep is not for wimps. It is for the healthsavvy. Grab yours. Netflix can wait. n

Thalia Pellegrini is a registered nutritional therapist (FdSc DipION BANT CNHC). She lives in East Finchley with husband and two sons. Known as the Knackered Mums Nutritionist, she works with women to resolve health issues ranging from premenstrual syndrome to perimenopause. She creates bespoke nutrition plans that work for a mum’s busy lifestyle, whether she wants to improve her energy, lose weight, or just have a better relationship with food. Contact her at www.thaliapellegrini.com where you can subscribe to emails and download your copy of her FREE e-book Fantastic Five-Minute Breakfasts. She also offers FREE 20-minute discovery calls if you are interested in pursuing nutritional therapy, which can also be booked through her website.

Finchley Community 27

gifted local

GIFTED

A lightbulb moment inspired Helen Robinson

L

ike many young mothers with young children, Helen Robinson found it difficult to get to the shops to do her Christmas shopping. She could just about buy bread and milk with them but browsing and making decisions about the ‘right’ gift took longer; she worried about what they were going to knock off the shelf next. She ended up doing all her Christmas shopping online with the big internet giants. She found it so easy, but the guilt was immense because she knows it is so important to support her local community and spend her money where it matters.

When her youngest child was just three months old, Helen had a lightbulb moment: why not offer the best of both worlds? She

28 Finchley Community

said that it was now or never. And so Gifted Local was born ― an online marketplace that gives you the feel-good factor of buying locally online. The business connects local creative makers with customers keen to support their local economy. People can buy beautiful and unique pieces made in their neighbourhood while simultaneously using their purchasing power to sustain local businesses. It also encourages people to shop locally by offering a more sustainable shopping experience. All products bought from the sellers come with minimal packaging and are hand-delivered where possible, cutting down the delivery mileage.

And now, more than ever during the Covid-19 pandemic, when people are

support local

LOCAL

to set up an online business that benefits the locality

staying closer to home, shopping locally has taken on a whole new meaning. During lockdown, when slots for food deliveries from the big supermarkets were booked up for weeks, people relied on their local bakeries and grocers for essential items.

Helen lives in Crouch End where at least seven shops are now boarded up.

With Christmas fast approaching, there are many small businesses in the area who are trying to keep their businesses afloat.

For many of the sellers on Gifted Local, this is either a side-line to supplement their main income or a full-time job. They have all bought into the Gifted Local ethos and know how important it is to support local businesses. So, money spent with Gifted Local will mean that that money

is then used to buy a coffee in a local shop, to take their kids to a local ballet class or swimming lesson.

Helen urges readers: ‘Before you click on the app of the big-name companies ensuring your gift will arrive within 24 hours, please consider if you could get the gift from a local business, what it would mean to them if you took that extra bit of effort and time to do it, and where that money might then be spent. It’s a win-win for us all.’ With that in mind, she has put together some tips, together with local sustainable blogger, Ellie Beasley-Gould, who runs The Greenish (thegreenish.co.uk or instagram.com/thegreenish), about how to buy gifts in a more sustainable way and avoid those big American corporations.

GIFTED LOCAL is hosting a virtual Christmas market on Sunday 15 November from 2:00-9:30pm.

There will be music, kids’ decorations to download and a massive Christmas hamper to win.

Finchley Community 29

gifted local

TIPS FOR BUYING GIFTS IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY Ellie Advises: •P lan ahead One of the ways I’ve managed to ensure gifts are purchased more thoughtfully is to look ahead at the beginning of each month at what we have coming up such as birthdays, new babies and house moves.

Then I can pre-purchase even if it takes a little longer than with my Prime account!

•G et to know your local shops I’ve been shopping on our local high street where possible, and there are a couple of shops I can reliably count on for lovely gifts. By getting to know the shop owners I’ve discovered that they can send gifts for me if I purchase in store, which takes away the added burden of wrapping and posting

Helen Advises: • Swish

For It (swishforit.com) This is a great app that allows you to create lists and save items you may want to buy at a later date. This is perfect to save ideas for birthdays or Christmas that you’ve spotted locally and don’t want to forget about •D are to be different!

This is a big one. Personally, I love to buy unique and bespoke items that tell a story, whether they be gifts for others or for my home. So often on the high streets you see the same thing over and over again. Buying something with a story behind it has so much more meaning and will be treasured more

•F ind some go-to places online By having my set of usual places to shop I

•R eally think about the people who receive your money when you buy something locally compared with who gets your money when you hit ‘buy now’ on Amazon

get to know how long they take to deliver, what the gift options are and the range of products they have (plus, all my card details are saved already which speeds things up at the checkout)

Gifted Local can be accessed via the following links: www.giftedlocal.com, facebook.com/giftedlocal, instagram.com/ gifted_local and twitter.com/giftedlocal

Helen Robinson lives in Crouch End, with her husband and three children. She launched Gifted Local with 30 sellers but now has over 70. She has brought on board, Florence Eavis, a lifelong friend who was looking for a new, exciting opportunity. Their drive and plans for Gifted local are similar and there are now plans to expand across London early next year.

30 Finchley Community

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rosha nutt

Flower Power

I

Local artist, Rosha Nutt, tells FCM why her work centres on floral composition

t is no surprise that flowers have inspired painters through the ages. They are beautiful, easily attainable and certainly cheaper than a life-model. There is also an accessibility to flower paintings; they elevate the everyday and everybody can relate to this.

However, I never considered any of this when I started painting flowers, nor did I choose a flower obsession; it chose me. From those early school days of seeing Georgia O’Keefe’s work and appreciating her use of colour and form, I’ve been dreaming of being an artist. When I was around 14, I discovered Kew Gardens and its magnificent greenhouses. I spent hours observing and drawing the plants. Back then, Kew Gardens was a bit wild and overgrown, like a real secret garden. It’s quite lovely to look back now on our journeys and see how far both Kew and I have come. ➻ Finchley Community 33

local artist

“A new work always starts with some digital floristry, making arrangements on the screen much like a florist would in real life.”

After my degree in fine art, I moved quickly to a career in advertising, lucky to find an industry that would pay me for my skills. The exposure to such high-level professionals has really fed into my work. Commercialism, popular culture and the bold colours of pop art and branding, feature prominently in my work, and I can now be found spattered with paint in my home studio in N2 rather than spattered with red wine in the lofty heights of Shoreditch House.

I am heavily influenced by the 16th and 17th century Dutch still-life artists.

The bouquets in their paintings were composed over time; they never had all the flowers at once because they were only available seasonally. These artists played with scale and arrangement; 34 Finchley Community

they often included objects with hidden meanings: butterflies signalled the fleeting of life, meat the flesh of man, and skulls to remind us of our own mortality. I have played with this idea of memento mori too, using butterflies and everyday objects such as fortune cookies with messages to remind us of the transience of life and inevitability of death.

My paintings are process heavy; there is a lot of preparation before paint goes anywhere near the canvas. I’m always on the lookout for beautiful and unusual flowers to photograph for my image library. A new work always starts with some digital floristry, making arrangements on the screen much like a florist would in real life. This informs

rosha nutt the painting and the silk screens for printing, where another layer of the process and final painting develops.

I’m currently working on a collection of splatter prints, combining the precision of screen-printed flowers with the energy of throwing paint at the image to form organic shapes.

Earlier this year, I co-curated a group exhibition at local N2 gallery, Offshoot, with arts PR manager, Holly Collier, and artists from contemporary arts organisation ArtCan. The exhibition entitled #FakeNews questioned contemporary consumer culture. It was a huge success and to complement the show and engage with the local community, we ran a programme of talks and workshops by local sustainable

groups such as CropDrop, The Harmless Store and Gifted Local.

I’ve just completed a group show at BSMT Gallery in Dalston known for its street art and I’m working on a new local initiative called the Artists Walk. This is an exciting project where we invite artists to use their home windows as a gallery window, putting on a show that local residents can enjoy safely from the outside. We are hoping to plug the gap lost by the closure of so many galleries and shows this year. n The event will take place over four weeks from 14 November to 14 December.

To find artists taking part and plan your walk, or to take part yourself, visit www.artistswalk.org.

Finchley Community

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local sculptor

A lasting impression Mother and daughter, Judy and Nadia Wiseman

F

irst Impressions started over 30 years ago when sculptor Judy was looking for a unique way to celebrate the birth of her godson, Gideon. She cast his tiny feet in plaster. The feet spawned a business, making body casts in plaster, cement, resins, bronze, glass and silver.

Now working with her daughter, Nadia, they have a studio at Judy’s home in West Finchley, where the garden has turned into a blooming gallery of sculptures.

The flower beds are surrounded by cast toes popping up out of the soil and an aluminium resin woman peering nosily over the fence. The garden surprises some guests expecting a more sedate suburban lawn behind a Finchley semi.

Judy finds inspiration from local sights, from the unexpected and the hidden.

She enjoys walking along Dollis Brook, relishing the view under the viaduct with its amazing Victorian brickwork, and picking dahlias at Finchley Nurseries.

First Impressions became famous for its casts of babies’ hands and feet, but over time has been commissioned to make hundreds of pieces, from a baby’s face to a lover’s kiss.

At the moment, they love making bowls, blown in coloured glass from the mould of a pregnant tummy. ‘They look wonderful — luminous and wobbly’, explains Judy.

36 Finchley Community

Last week, they cast a three-week-old baby’s tiny ears while it slept. ‘It’s exciting working together with the clients, working out their special piece. One highlight was casting the hands of a family of three generations on a branch — their own family tree! And a bowl made of generations’ hands together’, says Judy.

Judy and Nadia have several ways of working with their clients. They enjoy them visiting the studio and see the variety of work; in ‘normal’ times they make house visits. They also send kits all over the world for people to make the moulds themselves, with their Facetime support. This part takes only a couple of minutes and then the pair cast the moulds into wax in the studio and email photos of the progress.

Judy finds it most rewarding when they have cast a baby, then years later that baby returns with their own child.

First Impressions can also count actors, politicians and even royalty among its clients. But whoever the client, Judy and Nadia just love that the pieces they make will be treasured forever. n www.firstimpressions.org.uk Instagram: @firstimpressionscasting Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/ FirstImpressionsSculpture Telephone: 0208 3468 666

first impressions

Finchley Community 37

interior stylist

Home, sweet home!

Joanna Piotrowicz shares her tips to make this Christmas a special one

C

hristmas is such a beautiful time of the year and tantalises all the senses. There is no better time to enjoy our holiday-decorated homes by adding a real blaze of colour, scent and flavour to our surroundings.

I can already smell the amazing aromas of orange, cinnamon, cloves and home-made cookies! And lucky us: it’s only November so there’s plenty of time to prepare. If there’s one thing I don’t like about Christmas, it’s the pressure, so don’t let anyone spoil it this time.

Not even yourself!

Wrapping presents

You could buy presents well in advance and then have fun wrapping them. Gift wrapping can be real art and showcase both your attention to detail and how important the person is to you. Sometimes there’s no need for another rushed trip to the shop to buy Christmas paper. Use your imagination: simple brown paper with some string can give a dramatic effect; or you could play around with a wide, colourful ribbon or a piece of fabric, finished with a handmade tag. A fresh, green twig such as rosemary can then work as the last touch. Or maybe 38 Finchley Community

you’re a reader of the Financial Times? If so, have you noticed how beautifully pink the colour of the paper is? So go green and reuse it! Add navy velvet ribbon, a small green or pink bauble and you will be surprised with the effect.

Home decorating

With a little planning and keeping it simple you will be ready in time. And while we are thinking simple, that’s exactly my suggestion for your festive home decorating this year.

One trick is to buy a couple of oranges and cut them in slices. Let them dry on a sheet of paper for a while, then move the slices to a tray and place in the oven at 80°C for a minimum of three hours. It will fill your home with a magically festive scent while making your own Christmas decorations.

Once they dry off, simply add some velvet or satin ribbon as a final touch. They work great on garlands, wreaths and the Christmas tree, or on top of wrapped gifts for your loved ones.

Festive table setting

Start by choosing one lead colour or style.

Before buying anything new, have a look

nestsetter at your existing tableware and fabrics.

Maybe you can use an old porcelain vase as a focus point for your festive table.

You could fill it with white hyacinths, a couple of tiny baubles or fresh roses and eucalyptus, depending on your style and scent preferences. Name tags next to the plate will make your guests feel anticipated and welcome! Involve the family too. Not only by dressing the tree, but by arranging a cosy spot with festive-themed cushions and throws to relax on after Christmas dinner.

Choose a theme or style

For example, if you are into vintage, follow this style by buying any new accessories to fit the style of Christmas decorations

gathered over the years. Let the theme tie together a welcoming door wreath, an indoor garland, the Christmas tree and table accents. If you have a wreath from last year, maybe all it needs are some fresh twigs and colourful ribbon to turn it into something new. And to light up the darker days of winter and illuminate your home, use an entire bunch of fairy lights. It always works and makes any space feel special.

Whatever your Christmas decoration will look like, have a feast! A feast of time and a celebration of love. Create a lovely scene but let the focal point be your loved ones! n www.nestsetters.com

1. You will need: an orange (ideally ripe with no marks and nicely shaped), a minimum 1 metre of ribbon,

Joanna Piotrowicz is a professional home stager, interior stylist and super-proud mum of three. She also runs the floristic and interior workshops, where participants share skills and discover hidden

a sachet of cloves, 2 long pins, a needle and a bit of time and patience 2. W rap the ribbon around the orange and cross on top and bottom to achieve four parts separated with the ribbon, like wrapping a gift box.

3. Use the pins on top and bottom to strengthen the knot. To hide the pins, place them under the ribbon or choose a pin with a small top.

4. Working along the line of the ribbon, prick the orange with the needle at equal intervals and insert a clove inside each prick, making an even pattern. You should end up with about eight rows of cloves.

5. Tie a bow with the ribbon on one edge of the orange.

6. Use as a hanging decoration or place on a table.

Its looks and smell also make it a great present!

talents. Her surroundings have always been important to Joanna and she firmly believes that space transforms mood and sets the tone for everyday life. In her work she is inspired by the idea that our homes are not showrooms and they simply must suit our personalities and needs. Sha has lived in Finchley for 12 years and loves the atmosphere of the area, the brilliant people that she has met and all the green spaces that give her the feeling of living in a village.

HOW TO MAKE A FRESH

ORANGE POMANDER

Finchley Community 39

chanukah

Chanukah – the Jewish festival of lights

I

Diane Langleben explains its significance

t is no surprise that most religions have a festival to brighten up the darkest part of the year and give people hope that spring will not be too long in arriving. For Jews, this is Chanukah, a festival lasting eight days.

Each night, a candle is lit on the holder ― a chanukiah ― one on the first night, two on the second night, and so on, until on the last night, when eight candles plus the extra candle used to light the others are shining brightly. After the candles are lit, special prayers are recited and songs sung.

Chanukah means dedication and the festival commemorates a miracle, when according to legend, a small band of Jews led by Judah Maccabeus won a victory over the Syrians in the second century BCE. To celebrate, the Maccabees wanted to rededicate the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, which had been desecrated. However, they could only find a tiny amount of olive oil, enough to keep the lamps burning for one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days ― a cause for celebration.

No Jewish festival is complete without special foods to celebrate it. For Chanukah, unsurprisingly, foods fried in oil take centre stage. Depending on which part of the world they originate, the foods eaten vary from community to community. For example, 40 Finchley Community

Jews from eastern Europe deep fry potato latkes (not dissimilar to Swiss rosti); those of Spanish origin cook fritters in syrup, the Italians fry chicken pieces dipped in batter before frying and the Moroccans eat couscous with chicken that has been deep fried rather than boiled. However, whatever our origins, we all enjoy eating another festive treat ― doughnuts!

It is not a major festival in the Jewish calendar but one that children, especially, look forward to, because they can expect to be given presents. In my family, it was the tradition to give each child a small gift after lighting the candles, such as chocolate coins or a spinning top, called a dreidel. There would be one larger gift, but they had to wait until the eighth day for that one!

This year, the first night falls on Thursday 10 December. In years past, local branches of Chabad-Lubavich, one section of the Jewish community, have erected giant chanukiahs around the area. You may have noticed them at Henly’s Corner or Victoria Park. It is uncertain, at the time of writing, whether or not this public lighting will go ahead but hopefully it will, pandemic permitting. n Diane Langleben is now enjoying retirement after a long professional life in pharmacy. She is subeditor of Finchley Community Magazine.

diwali

D I WA L I The Hindu festival of lights

G

By Anita Anand

rowing up I remember the excitement Diwali would bring.

Great food, fireworks, quality family time and gifts! Our extended family would come over or we would go to them to celebrate this auspicious festival. Diwali is the festival of lights which is why you will see so many homes lit up with lights and hear and see so many fireworks in the evening. My boys have also grown up with the tradition of Diwali and look forward to it every year.

Before Diwali we are busy cleaning our homes and giving unwanted belongings and clothing to charity. It’s also a good excuse to make space in our wardrobe for some new festive outfits! The belief behind cleaning our home is that the goddess of wealth, Laxmi, loves cleanliness; the cleaner the house, the more blessings she will shower upon us.

Cleanliness is a sign of purity.

We dress up in festive clothes with vibrant colours and light diyas (oil lamps) and small candles to place around the house. We also keep all the lights on in all the rooms. Diyas symbolise goodness and purity; lighting them denotes dispelling darkness and going into light. The triumph of light over darkness, good over evil!

We have prayers at my husband’s

office and also at home which we call Puja. We then give blessings to the children in the form of colourful envelopes with money inside followed by mithai (Indian sweets) which are incredibly sweet and yummy. We have a lovely meal with extended family followed by fireworks in the garden. If we have time to visit family or friends, we would usually take a gift of a box of mithai and/or flowers.

Traditionally, families make rangoli designs on the ground outside their front door or inside on the floor using coloured rice, sand or flower petals to welcome Hindu gods to the household.

I am usually involved in organising a children’s Diwali party at the Sindhi Mandir (temple) where we sing, dance, go through the story of Diwali and have creative activities such as making diyas and Diwali cards. We often attend Diwali parties in hotels or homes but unfortunately this year there won’t be any parties and big celebrations.

However, we will still have a very special time at home with family. n Anita Anand is the lovely lady who runs Caterpillar Music North West London. www.caterpillarmusic.com Finchley Community 41

community kindness

A tribute to North London Hospice Local resident, Mike Fialko, describes the wonderful care that is offered by this local charity

M

y late wife, Pam, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in October 2012. With the help of her highly skilled medical team she remained well but in late 2018 treatment options ran out. She became terminally ill; in January 2019 she needed specialist palliative care, mercifully only for a short period. Thankfully, North London Hospice’s dedicated team was on hand and able to provide her with the highest quality of care.

The hospice was brilliant. It organised a bed at our home, enabled me to obtain all the drugs necessary for symptom control to keep my wife as comfortable as possible, provided nursing support as and when required, and was on hand to provide further support such as counselling if needed. My wife died peacefully and with dignity surrounded by all her close family thanks to the hospice’s help.

My story is far from unique. Since 1984, the hospice has provided support within the north London community to 42 Finchley Community

everyone requiring specialist palliative and end- of-life care, and supported patients and families affected by a potentially life-limiting illness. The hospice employs doctors, nurses, social workers, counsellors and physiotherapists supported by a team of loyal volunteers. Facilities include an 18-bed in-patient unit and day-care centres providing a range of outpatient, therapeutic and community-based services. However, most care is provided to patients in the comfort of their own homes. In addition, the hospice provides bereavement services and honours the memory of those who have died in its care with ceremonies of remembrance.

The hospice is a registered charity that provides all its services free of charge. It receives a comparatively small amount of government funding and so it relies in large measure on donations and legacies from supporters within the community to meet its expenditure currently about ÂŁ13m per annum. I know that the hospice

faces a significant loss of income mainly because it has had to postpone or cancel events due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The hospice is of incalculable value to residents in the boroughs of Barnet, Enfield and Haringey. Many use or have used its services. Demand is increasing and the hospice must tackle this challenge. It is a much-loved institution in north London; it would be wonderful if you could support it by making a donation or leaving a legacy in your will. The hospice also has a tribute tree and donations can be made in exchange for leaves on the tree that gives supporters the opportunity to have a permanent reminder of a loved one. For any UK taxpayer who wishes to donate, please be sure to make your donation under gift aid as this will not only add 25% to your donation for the hospice at no additional cost to yourself, but will also give higher rate taxpayers additional tax relief.

Some of you will know that North London Hospice holds an annual Light

Up A Life ceremony in the grounds of the Hospice in Woodside Avenue on the last Sunday of November; people of all ages and faiths join together in a multi-faith service.

The magnificent horse chestnut tree is bedecked with festive lights, each one in remembrance and celebration of loved ones.

It is a wonderful sight and brightens up the long winter nights. However, because of social distancing in these difficult times, the ceremony cannot be visited in person but will be streamed on the Hospice website on Sunday 29 November at 4.30pm. Do come and join us! n To make donations go to www.northlondonhospice.org/donate or if you would consider leaving a gift in your will, the Hospice is holding a free will month in November. To find out more, please call the fundraising office 020 8446 2288 or visit northlondonhospice.org Mike Fialko is a (semi-) retired accountant Finchley Community 43

business coach

Motivation Zuzana Taylor, business coach, gives her advice for working mums to stay motivated e have all been there, experiencing the lack of motivation, losing focus and direction.

As working mums and business owners

W

We all become motivated differently.

Finding out what motivates us and how we are motivated can lead to ongoing success.

Recognising who we are, our

we are juggling daily tasks, running businesses as well as looking after our families; this can leave us uninspired with very little or no motivation at all.

The reality is that it is not always going to be easy; we are not going to be passionate and inspired all the time.

We might have days when we don’t want to do anything and that’s fine.

strengths, our weaknesses, listening to our bodies when we are tired or overloaded as well as when we are at our best helps us recognise moments of inspiration and motivation. All our motivation comes from within. There is no magic wand that suddenly changes everything. However, there are ways to help stay motivated.

Zuzana Taylor has lived in Finchley for 20 years, with her husband and two children. They love living in a tree-lined street, with open spaces and parks. Their neighbours are friendly and there is a good community spirit. Zuzana is a selfemployed, holistic transformational business coach. Her passion is to empower mothers to build successful businesses with clarity and confidence while living fulfilled lives. Transformational Business Coach: zuzanataylor.com

44 Finchley Community

motivation

ZUZANA’S 10 EFFECTIVE WAYS TO STAY MOTIVATED Self-Reflection: take a step back and think, honestly, about: • What is working well?

• What is not working that well?

• What do you want to achieve?

• Where you want your business/life to go?

1

Exercise for energy: morning exercise is a great way to start your day; ideas and solutions start flowing and you will be able to achieve your daily goals with a positive can-do attitude.

Create a clear vision of your goals as if you have already achieved them, something that resonates with you and speaks to your heart. If you are not connected emotionally it won’t be motivating enough to keep you on track. A vision board could help you to visualise and feel what you want to happen.

2

Read motivational books to help you take action, feel happy and think more positively.

One book that helped me was The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins. If you have no time for a physical book you could listen to an audio book, podcast or video.

3

Be clear about why you have taken this path in life. It has to be big enough to make

Have a plan because without one, a goal is just a dream. Once you have your vision and goals set, break them down into small steps so that you take action consistently.

7

Think positive, keep positive: we all have freedom of choice about how we approach situations. Positive attitude reflects in positive actions and positive reactions from the world around us. Train your mind to see things from the positive side rather than seeing problems first.

8

4

you get up in the morning and be inspired to carry on, day in and day out. Enough to keep you consistently showing up for your business every week and every month.

Knowing exactly what you are working for helps you stay on course.

Set your goals. A good idea is to set weekly goals, perhaps focusing on three main goals. It could create other opportunities. Take a step back to see what has been achieved. Sharing your goals with somebody and making yourself accountable means that you are more likely to succeed in achieving them.

5

Visualise what you want to create. If you want to succeed you must see it first.

6

9

Get rid of procrastination: don’t waste

time making excuses and feeling guilty about not doing things. Identify the real reason behind it and work on it.

Set a ‘do not disturb’ mode: distractions are all around us — social media, notifications, people, tasks etc. Set yourself a block of time when you can work without any distractions or interruptions. You might be surprised how much you can get done in a short space of uninterrupted time.

10

You might have days when you don’t want to do anything and that’s fine. Think about activities you can do that align with how you feel. Maybe slow down for a while and only do necessary tasks. Do not give up!

Keep going! n Finchley Community 45

Hooked on yoga Nina Bosamia, co-founder of Yoga Hook, reveals the benefits of this ancient practice

I

found yoga again, or rather, yoga found me, after injuring my back through running. There was a combination of issues but mainly technique and not stretching enough, as is usually the case. I still remember the day I attended my chiropractor’s clinic; I was in tears when he told me I should stop running for months and I asked him if I could at least do some yoga? I thought that yoga is a light form of exercise and good for flexibility; little did I know that yoga can be strengthening as well as a way of stretching.

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Yoga started my recovery and healing.

This was over 12 years ago, and I am now told my back is as strong as it can be. My chiropractor is astonished by how well my tissues have healed.

Personally, I think yoga complements all physical form of exercise and it is as good for mind and soul as it is for body.

In other words, it is a complete package!

I went on to complete my own teacher training in 2015 and fell in love with yoga even more. From the beginning, the path I have taken is from a desire to help and serve as many people as possible with yoga.

yoga hook

In 2017, Yoga Hook was set up by my husband Raj and me. We now have two stunning studios (North Finchley and Gerrards Cross) and we are hoping to incorporate more wellness with a flotation pod and other natural and holistic therapies. Raj and I work hard to create an environment placing

humanity at the centre and we also find ways to preserve Mother Earth by staying environmentally alert. Yoga is transformative and our approach is to include the whole person through wellness activities. n www.yogahook.com

WOMEN! DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ICING ON YOUR CAKE? Why not join the Women’s Institute?

It is the UK’s largest women’s membership organisation.

The WI offers all women over the age of 18 the chance to connect with their local community in a friendly and inclusive space.

Meet new people, make new friends, and enjoy a variety of activities. We have inspirational speakers, crafting, books, walking, garden, theatre and cinema visits to name a few!

Do you want to campaign on issues, locally or nationally or learn new skills and revise old ones?

Finchley WI is here to inspire you!

We meet on the second Wednesday of every month except August, in Stephens House & Gardens (17 East End Road, N3 3QE) at 8pm. Come along and take a look; in the meantime, you can find more information on

www.wifinchley.wixsite.com/finchley www.facebook.com/pages/WI-Finchley/125463154187973 www.twitter.com/wifinchley