Palmers Green & Southgate LIFE Autumn 2015

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Palmers Green

LI FE

Southgate

Autumn 2015 Edition Issue 27

Barrowell Green •An open air swimming bath

Local Parks •What's been happening at our local parks

Do It Yourself •When to call in an expert

Image supplied by Enfield Council Local Studies and Archives

Barrowell Green swimming pool 1939

Centre today en Recycling Barrowell Gre

welcome It’s been a busy summer in Palmers Green culminated by the Palmers Green Festival held on the 6th September. The event, now in its fifth year, celebrates our diverse community and the different cultures that make up Palmers Green and its neighbouring towns.

Well done to all the volunteers that make the event possible and to all the stallholders, community groups, local musicians, and charities that get involved. Anthony Webb are pleased to sponsor the Cranley Gardens Street Party on the 13th September, another example of our great local community spirit.

Since the election the sales and rental property market in Palmers Green has gathered momentum, more houses and flats have come onto the market and demand remains high. Property prices in London have stabilised and property marketed at the correct price often sells within the first couple of weeks. If you are considering selling did you know that on average it takes three months for sellers to decide to put their property on the market. It's worth noting that Zoopla and Rightmove, the largest UK property websites, have the highest number of people visiting their websites just after Christmas. Therefore if you're considering moving now is a good time to call in the agents and get some advice, make any necessary repairs and consider giving your walls a fresh lick of paint. Please do not hesitate to contact a member of our team on 020 8882 7888 if you are thinking about selling or renting, we will be happy to offer you advice.

Turn to pages 8 and 9 for a local parks update including news on Broomfield House and don't forget that the 21st September sees the eagerly anticipated opening of the refurbished Palmers Green Library, with state of the art technology, dedicated children and teenage areas, be sure to visit.

Finally, if you recall we featured Lone Star, a local toy manufacturer, in our December 2014 magazine, an annual Collector's Exhibition is being held on Sunday, 27th September at Whitewebbs Museum of Transport, Whitewebbs Road, Enfield, EN2 9HW where you may catch a glimpse of some of your favourite childhood toys.

Tony Ourris Director / Editor at Large tonyourris@anthonywebb.co.uk

Martin McKelvey Office Manager martin@anthonywebb.co.uk

Lee Sargent Senior Sales and Lettings Negotiator lee@anthonywebb.co.uk

Theo Kyriacou Sales and Lettings Negotiator theo@anthonywebb.co.uk

Maria Stafford Property Management lettings@anthonywebb.co.uk

Panayiota Kyriakides Administrator

Anthony Georgiou Administrator Assistant

Ellie Sales Magazine Editor ellie@palmersgreenlife.co.uk

I hope you enjoy reading our autumn magazine.

Tony

Tony Ourris Director Anthony Webb Estate Agents

Contents Anthony Webb Properties FOR SALE .............3 Save Our Green Lanes by Paul Mandel ...............4 News from Hazelwood School’s by Ellie Sales ....4 Past Times Barrowell Green Open Air Swimming Baths ..................................5 Councillor’s Corner by Bambos Charalambous ...6 Parliamentary Comment

by David Burrowes MP ...................................... 6 Budapest the Paris of the East by Scott’s Travel ..7 Local Parks Update ..........................................8-9 Love Your DoorStep by Emma Rigby .................10 Palmers Green Scream......................................10 FUFU Restaurant review ...................................11 Palmers Green & Southgate STYLE

by Kim Undy ................................................12-13 Operation Fish Helping the house bound..........15 Anthony Webb Property Showcase .......16 -17 Alexander’s & Co Accountants

by Alex Chrysostomou ......................................18

Top Tips for your hair by Kiri at Fabulous ..........18 Home Care Preferred ........................................19 Are you ready for retirement

by Jan Thompson ..............................................20 Caple Manor College ........................................21 Creative Exchange News ..................................22 Celebrating 16 Years in Southgate

by Centre Stage ................................................23 Talkies by David Williamson..............................24 Palmers Green Tales by Jenny Bourke ...............24 In the Garden with Paul Night ..........................25 When is it time to call in a DIY expert?

by Tony Ourris ...................................................26 Property with potential by Ellie Sales ...............27 Charity - Riders for Health ................................28 Your Legal Questions Answered

by Fariz Uvais....................................................29 Your Local Family Law Specialists, Chapman Pieri.............................................30-32

If you are interested in advertising a local service or business please get in touch or if you have a local story or article that you would like featured in our magazine please contact ellie@palmersgreenlife.co.uk

Anthony Webb supporting local schools, charities and local action groups to enrich our community

348 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, N13 5TJ

F SA OR LE

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Caversham Avenue Palmers Green, N13 Stunning Edwardian terrace house 4 bedrooms, spacious living room and 100ft rear garden

ÂŁ825,000 Freehold

F SA OR LE

stunning four bedroom Edwardian period house located in a most desirable residential turning close to Palmers Green's shops, restaurants, bus routes and mainline station (Moorgate). The property, which retains many original features including a tessellated tiled hallway, benefits from a spacious living room with original feature fireplace, a dining room with fireplace and French doors to garden, 25ft fitted kitchen/diner, a utility room and w.c, a contemporary family bathroom, two spacious double bedrooms and two single bedrooms, front garden and 100ft rear garden. An internal inspection is essential to fully appreciate this lovely family home.

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n impressive detached property arranged over three floors offering 2426 sq ft of living accommodation is ideally located within easy reach of Oakwood Park, Southgate's shops, restaurants and transport facilities including the underground station (Piccadilly line). The property consists of two receptions, a modern kitchen, a utility room and a ground floor shower/w.c., four bedrooms on the first floor with an ensuite to the master bedroom, a family bathroom and a further fifth bedroom on the second floor and a study room. The property offers ample private off street parking to front, garage and immaculate landscaped rear garden with two large patios, covered BBQ area and a garden room with its own fitted kitchen and wet room. An internal viewing is essential to fully appreciate this outstanding family home.

Oakwood Park Road Southgate, N14 5 bedrooms, 2 receptions, modern kitchen off street parking and garden

ÂŁ1,250,000 Freehold

Find how much your property is worth, contact us today 8882 7888

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Save Our Green Lanes

by Paul Mandel Paul is part of a community action group called ‘Save our Green Lanes’, he is a Chartered Accountant working in the property sector, who has is lived in Palmers Green for the past 10 years. Paul outlines below why he is opposed to the proposed Cycle Enfield Scheme.

In the Spring of 2014 I was first asked my opinion, as a cyclist, of the Enfield Mini-Holland, as it was then called. The objective of increasing cycling from 1 in every 150 journeys made in the borough to seven times that level, seemed laudable.

Being aware that our borough has some of the highest levels of obesity in the country, I suggested that ANYTHING to help people burn off a few more calories must be a good thing.

But it was that word "anything" that I now realise was a mistake. We are now being presented with a scheme that to all intents and purposes is a cycle superhighway that runs roughshod over the interests of everyone other than the committed commuting cyclist.

As one of 5 major cycling schemes within the borough, the A105 Green Lanes will be narrowed by two car widths to accommodate semi segregated cycle lanes on both sides of the road running from Enfield Town almost as far as the North Circular Road.

This will mean: • Longer and more unpredictable journey times for

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drivers and their passengers, including those using buses.

In some areas, the total loss of on street parking. This will place more pressure on nearby residential roads.

Many businesses are concerned about losing trade because of reduced on street parking in the centres of Palmers Green and Winchmore Hill. The Council points to the availability of Lodge Drive car park and Fords Grove car parks, but these do not help people with mobility problems. Nor can the chronically underfunded Council give any undertaking that these will not be sold off for housing at a future date.

Bus passengers will, at most stops, have to step out straight into a cycle lane, a real issue of concern for the elderly, disabled and parents or carers with young children.

Increased congestion will result in worsened air quality and displacement of traffic on to adjacent and parallel roads.

More front gardens will be paved over to compensate for the loss of on street parking.

In Palmers Green: • Like a plot straight from an episode of "Yes Minister" there is a threat that the iconic Triangle may make way for a roundabout whilst, a little further up the road, an inoffensive mini roundabout that works well at the bottom of Fox Lane, will be replaced by a less than convenient set of traffic lights.

• You will no longer be able to turn out of Hazelwood Lane, whilst more congestion further down Green Lanes, will tempt drivers to use that road as a cut through to the North Circular Road.

• The Junction with Hedge Lane will be made even worse than it already is, by the closure of the left turn slip road. Long vehicles will have difficulty with a very tight left turn opposite Yasar Halim. At the same location a segregated cycle stage will mean even worse congestion at busy times.

All this is a great shame, because we have an almost perfect route for an improved cycle path between Palmers Green and Enfield, one that follows beside the New River.

Do you agree with Paul? Have your say about this project, and take part in the Council’s consultation which is focused on the first scheme of the Cycle Enfield programme, the A105 from Palmers Green to Enfield Town. Your responses will be collated into a consultation report which the Cycle Enfield Project Board will use to inform how Enfield Council move forward with this element of the scheme.

You can provide a simple overview of your opinion on this scheme which will take just a few minutes, or you can take longer, considering individual sections of the route in detail and providing your opinion on each. Find out more here www.cycleenfield.co.uk/consultation/a105-scheme-consultation

News from Hazelwood Schools

by Ellie Sales, Joint PTA chair Hazelwood School, Hazelwood Lane, Palmers Green Infant and Primary 660 children.

Hazelwood Parent and Staff Association (HPSA) is a registered charity made up of an active and friendly group of parents and staff from Hazelwood Schools that arrange fundraising activities. HPSA fundraising makes a large contribution to enrich life at Hazelwood providing extra equipment, materials and support that make school more exciting for the children.

As we start a fresh school year Hazelwood Parent and Staff Association (HPSA) look forward to welcoming the new families to our school.

2014/2015 was a very positive year at our schools, we managed to secure an ‘Outstanding’ judgement from the Local Authority for both the Infant and Junior School. This wouldn't have been possible without the fantastic partnership between home and school and the strong leadership team at our schools.

Our volunteer gardeners were also recognised, having won the silver award in Enfield in Bloom 2015, schools category. Their year round dedication to our gardens, wildlife garden and growing corner enable our teachers to incorporate the benefits of horticulture within the curriculum. We also now have a popular after school gardening club.

All the Junior pupils at Hazelwood were invited to enter The Leukaemia Cancer Society short story competition and on the 5th June the Council Chamber of Enfield Civic Centre was packed out to witness this year's winners receive their certificates, which were presented by author Steve King.

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The Leukaemia Cancer Society short story competition gives children a unique chance to experience being published authors themselves, and provides an exciting and creative way for schools and parents to engage with the charity and help raise funds. The charity does Oliver Sales in year 4 fantastic work offering receiving his certificate guidance and information from Steve King to blood cancer suffers and their families and raises important awareness for the need to recruit more bone marrow donors.

To find out more information about this local charity please visit their website at www.leukaemiacancersociety.org.

Our summer fete held back in June was a great success, everyone enjoyed our seaside themed event with donkey rides, water slides, Punch and Judy and plenty of games to keep the children entertained all

afternoon. We pay special thanks to Anthony Webb Estate Agents for their continued support and sponsorship of our events.

A parent at the school, and Santander employee, also managed to obtain a staggering £2,100 match funding from the bank bringing our total raised on the day to over £9,000.

Staff and Parents get dressed up for a live action Punch and Judy performance

Our fundraising throughout the year has enabled our PTA to donate £25,000 to the schools to purchase new sound and lighting equipment as well as a new stage.

Future community events include our annual Quiz Night, Winter Live Music event as well as our school disco and Christmas Bazaar for the whole family to enjoy. Keep up to date with what’s going on at the school via our facebook page www.facebook.com/HazelwoodN13

348 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, N13 5TJ

Barrowell Green Open Air Swimming Baths

by Ellie Sales London’s outdoor swimming venues have witnessed a resurgence in recent years, with old favourites receiving expensive refurbishments, a new venue opening in the shadow of King's Cross Station and even talk of constructing a bathing pond in the Thames at Victoria Embankment. But did you know that you used to be able to swim much closer to home? took the chill off the air.

Local school children could purchase a pink one penny ticket from school which gave then reduced admission to the baths. Mitchell Wells, a local resident at the time, recalls “I was a regular at Barrowell Green Baths from when I moved to Palmers Green in 1965 at the age of 5 until it closed in 1979. I particularly remember the hot summer of 1976, and the turnstiles that you left by. Also the small paddling pool at the back, and the big vending machine at the sun bathing area”

Barrowell Green pool

Our first local open air swimming pool was located in Broomfield Park. Upon the opening of the park in 1903 the lower lake was used for swimming and bathing and a very active Broomfield Park Swimming Club was formed.

They were a reputable club which upheld the highest standards; indeed the Club still thrives today, though using local indoor pools.

Unfortunately tests conducted during an inspection by the Borough’s Medical Officer for Health showed that the lake was polluted and that the waters feeding it were a risk to public health. Swimming was suspended by 1912, the dismay of the community reflected in the local Gazette full of readers’ letters denouncing the action as high handed and unnecessary.

The decision stood but the impact was softened by the Council’s decision to construct a new open air pool in Barrowell Green.

Barrowell Green Open Air Lido opens in 1913

Broomfield Swimming Club

Barrowell Green Dust Destructor

8882 7888

The pool was officially opened on the 14th August 1913. There was an attractive garden with a curved pathway, where the public would eagerly wait outside the turnstile entrance. The Baths were sheltered by trees, changing cubicles and paved areas surrounded the pool where visitors would lay out their towels and bask in the sunshine and at one end of the pool keen swimmers could even dare to use the diving boards!. There was a refreshment bar at the side of the pool that used to sell a much needed cup of hot Bovril after an icy plunge and enormous halfpenny biscuits. There was also an old dust destructor adjacent to the site where the council would incinerate rubbish, and some say the heat from the destructor

Christina Davis was born in Winchmore Hill and has fond memories of the baths “The pool would open on the 1st May each year and close at the end of September. We would sit on the stone bench and despite the abundance of pine needles from the trees all along one side and the occasional bits of ash and dust from the waste disposal plant, would spend most of our school holidays around the pool having great fun.”

In 1979 the baths closed and a new refuse and recycling centre was built on the old site. Next door, where the dust destructor had been, a new housing estate grew to completion.

Next time you take a trip to the local dump try to imagine how it would have looked 100 years ago.

Barrowell Green 1939

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Councillorʼs Corner by Cllr. Bambos Charalambous The future of Trent Park Mansion and the campus site Cllr.bambos.charalambous@enfield.gov.uk Tel: 020 8379 2653 There is a quote that when a butterfly flaps its wings in one part of the world it can cause a hurricane in another part of the world This is known as the butterfly effect.

operations to Hendon. In July 2013 the whole Trent Park campus was sold by Middlesex University to the AUCMS. The Trent Park campus site is now in the hands of the receivers Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL).

Following the liquidation of the Malaysian Allianze University College of Medical Science (AUCMS) towards the end of 2014, a very modest version of this proverbial hurricane has indirectly resulted in my chairing a panel looking to preserve the future of Trent Park Mansion and the campus site.

Following the news that AUCMS was in liquidation there was genuine public concern about the future of the site and following a motion to full Council in March 2015 a cross party panel was set up to try to influence the receivers to preserve the heritage of the Mansion, ensure public access was safeguarded, and ensure that any development on the site was done ancillary to the Mansion and sensitive to the green belt location.

Trent Park Mansion has an interesting history which I won’t go into detail here, except to say that it in 1908 it was bought by Sir Edward Sassoon. On his death in 1912 it passed on to his son Philip Sassoon (cousin of the poet Siegfried Sassoon) and during the Second World War it was used as a prison camp for German generals and officers whose conversations were being listened to via hidden microphones and listening devices by British military intelligence. After the war it became a teaching college and then in 1974 the teaching college became part of Middlesex Polytechnic, which then became Middlesex University. In 2012 Middlesex University left Enfield completely and moved all their

I am pleased to say that there has been significant cross party co-operation on the panel and that we have had site visits to the Mansion and the campus and also met with the receivers to argue the Council’s case. We also hope to have presentations from some of the interested parties. Considering that the Council do not own the site I think we can be very pleased with our progress thus far.

have to submit planning applications and consult with local groups and residents about their plans.

What should not be underestimated is the impact that the Council can have in influencing things that could have a significant effect locally in the future.

I'm not sure what will happen to Trent Park Mansion although I have a sneaking feeling that it will end well. There is still much hard work to do and this hurricane is yet to pass but it is moving in the right direction. Did I just see a butterfly a flap its wings…?

Please get in touch if you want more information about Trent Park Mansion or any other matters to do with the Council.

Trent Park Mansion

There is still a long way to go as the site will inevitably be sold and whoever buys the site will

Parliamentary Comment by David Burrowes MP Let the public decide! david@davidburrowes.com

www.davidburrowes.com

Constituency: 020 8360 0234

Westminster: 020 7219 5414

It seems an age since the General Election and the months that have passed since I last contributed to Palmers Green Life. It is though the first opportunity I have had to thank readers who voted for me to be MP again, and to assure everyone, regardless of who they voted for, that I am committed to serve you and be a strong voice for our community.

Since June there has been no shortage of elections with both Labour and Lib Dems deciding upon their new leaders, and away from politics there is a constant flow of TV shows giving the public a chance to vote for their favourite singer, celebrity or act. On a light hearted note, I should not miss the opportunity to mention that my dog Cholmeley will again be on the election trail to be the "Westminster Dog of the Year" and promote my responsible dog ownership campaign. During the General Election Cholmeley did seem at times more popular than his owner, so he is no doubt looking forward to taking a lead role in the campaign!

On a local level there is an opportunity for the public to have their say on the plans for cycle lanes along Green Lanes. The plans have been exhibited and are

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now open for feedback via cycleenfield.co.uk.

Whether you are a supporter or opponent of the plans there is no doubt that the £30 million scheme is the most significant transportation project for Palmers Green and the A105 corridor including Enfield Town.

Given the scale of the project and its impact it is a surprise that the Council is not more widely and directly consulting. The proposed changes in road layouts and junctions will affect constituents far beyond Green Lanes and the A105. The ambition is for all the borough to be changing their transport behaviour and making greater use of cycling. Council taxpayers will also be topping up the Mayor's award with several million pounds. When the Council plans to introduce changes to bus stops or a controlled parking zone, consultation takes place directly with affected residents and the results are carefully analysed before proceeding. However this far larger more significant project does not involve the Council directly asking each household whether they agree with the plans or not.

I am therefore planning to fill the gap in consultation by hosting 3 public meetings along the affected route

and inviting as many constituents as possible to attend. 17th September at 8pm at the United Reformed Church, 77 Compton Road, Winchmore Hill N21 3NU; 22nd September at 8pm at The Intimate Theatre, 521 Green Lanes Palmers Green, N13 4DH and 28th September at 8pm at the Revival Christian Church, 47 London Road, Enfield EN2 6DS. Over the next month I will be out and about on my bike seeking your views about the plans, so do stop me when you see me. Check out my website or facebook for details of where I will be. I am also writing to everyone in Palmers Green, along with neighbouring wards seeking your views on the plans.

I will then communicate the results to the Leader of Enfield Council and the Mayor of London. I am clear in my mind that there needs to be strong local community backing for the cycle lanes to proceed. I will do my best to impress upon the Council and Mayor to also be clear and let the public decide.

Please check out my website for further details about the cycle lanes consultation...and of course to vote for Cholmeley!

348 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, N13 5TJ

Budapest the Paris of the East

by Mike Prior Director at Scott’s Travel 3 Broadway, Southgate, N14 6PJ Tel: 020 8882 0141 www.scottstravel.co.uk

Tailor made holiday specialists

So just what it is about Budapest that makes it my favourite city without a second thought? It’s known as the Paris of the East, with the Danube splitting Buda from Pest. It has incredibly elegant architecture, and a sophisticated scene. Budapest is far less expensive than Paris and my family enjoy the variety of activities on offer. Having recently purchased a home in Budapest I have complied a ‘Must See’ checklist for those thinking about visiting this truly beautiful city.

Tick off these tourist attractions when planning your city break itinerary

✔ St Stephen’s Basilica Situated in Pest, with every internal square inch embellished in gold leaf or marble it’s an imposing domed building packed with religious artefacts and art. ✔ Hungarian Parliament Building

The enormous Hungarian Parliament Building sits on the bank of the River Danube.

Modelled on our own Parliament but larger, you can take a tour around the impressive rooms and halls

Hungarian Parliament Building by night

Soak in the thermal Baths One of the last remnants of the Turkish influence in Hungary, a visit to the thermal baths is a quintessential Budapest experience.

Budapest holds the title "City of Spas" as it has more thermal and medicinal water springs than any other capital city in the world.

Walk Across the Chain Bridge Built from a design by British engineer William Tierney Clark in the 1840s, it’s one of the world’s earliest suspension bridges and it was the first bridge to permanently connect the medieval hills of Buda with Pest. Its smaller sister bridge can be found crossing the Thames in Marlow.

Take a Danube River Cruise Budapest is beautiful by day, but absolutely stunning by night as the buildings lining the banks of the Danube twinkle and reflect on the dark waters.

Fisherman’s Bastion The neo-Gothic terrace of the Fisherman’s Bastion is located in Buda on Castle Hill and provides unrivalled panoramic views of the city of Pest.

Shop at the Central Market Hall Built in the 19th century, the Central Market Hall is the largest indoor market in Budapest and the focus is on typical Hungarian products.

The Danube River

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Try a Traditional Hungarian Dish Take the time to sample some local dishes such as meat-heavy goulash and fresh-water fish such as carp and perch. I recommend a visit to Cafe Pierrot located in the medieval Castle District of Buda for an exceptional dining experience.

✔ Dohány Street Synagogue Budapest's ornate Great Synagogue is the largest Jewish house of worship in the world outside New York City. ✔ Margaret Island Located on a 2.5 km-long central Island on the Danube, the historical Margaret Island is a leafy, shady relief from the city of Budapest.

Easy to access on foot and complete with an outdoor summer thermal spa, and swimming pools.

I have put together these great offers to tempt you to visit Budapest from late September onwards.

Prices are for 2 people sharing, not per person.

Stay in the 4* City Centre Astoria for 3 nights, including flights, arrival transfer and breakfast for ONLY £462* Or upgrade to the best hotel, as voted by Trip Advisor, Hotel Palazzo Zichy for £562* *Subject to availability at time of booking

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Hazelwood Recreation Ground successfully obtain funding for a new Multi-Use Games Area

by Amy Sheehan a member of the Friends of Hazelwood Rec Hazelwood Recreation Ground is a hidden park in between Hedge Lane and Hazelwood Lane.

On a sunny Sunday afternoon you will find many Palmers Green families watching the cricket, playing tennis, learning to ride a bike and enjoying the playground. Considering its small size, it’s a well-used park! The Friends of Hazelwood Rec were reformed last year by a group of local people who use the park regularly. We are an enthusiastic group with lots of ideas to improve the park, and always keen to welcome new members.

consultation highlighted some of the main areas for improvement in the park: the children’s play area is old and with only a few pieces of equipment; the water in the sand feature hasn't been working for a long time and the lack of gates allows dogs and foxes to foul the sand; the tennis courts are in need of resurfacing and fencing; dog mess and litter are a recurring issue; and lots of people would love to see toilet facilities and a café.

Anyone who has visited the Rec will know that it’s mainly an open space with a few recreational facilities for children and adults.

Earlier this year we conducted a survey amongst park users and were pleased to have 120 respondents, showing how well used and important this relatively small space is. The

As a result of that consultation, the Friends submitted an application for funding for new equipment in the play area, and we will find out whether that has been successful in September. Fingers crossed! The Council has also successfully obtained funding for a new Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) to be situated

on the existing basketball area – this should be great for young people who want to practise their sports skills as the current basketball area is almost unusable. It is anticipated that the MUGA will be in place by March next year.

Also, the Council is undertaking some work to mend the existing fencing on the tennis courts which is also very welcome.

Location for the new MUGA cage

We are hoping that the Rec will see improvements over the coming months, but we do need your help to continue to push for these. If you would like to find out more, receive email updates or join our group, please email:hazelwood@gmx.com

Arnos Grove's Canine Capers Dog Show returns Saturday 26th September

by Lesley Kitching a member of the Friends of Arnos Park Do you watch ‘For the Love of Dogs’, Secret Life of Dogs’ or the ‘Dog Rescuers’? Are you the owner of a dog or are you interested to see how our canine friends are trained to help us?

Jollyes (Food store), Groom Art Academy, PCA Pet Services (Pet taxi and ambulance), Rural art and Antiquity, face painting and a range of food stalls will be in place.

Saturday 26th September will see the second dog show ’Canine Capers’ take place in Arnos Park. Last year Cholmley and his best friend, David Burrowes MP opened the show. Luck was on our side as the sun shone and local residence watched the British Transport Police Dog section displayed how well trained canine colleagues perform their duties. Happy Dogs showed a different aspect of our four legged friends’ skills as they performed to music and demonstrated how obedient they can be in the right hands.

Let your dog experience an agility course, with Elmtree Dog Training and Education (Happy Dogs). If you have any questions about dog training and obedience, Park Guard will be happy to help.

Village vets judged the Prettiest Girls, Handsomest Boy, The Best rescue and of course the cutest puppy, while the Dog’s Trust were on hand to chip any dogs who hadn’t been lucky enough to have a unique identity chip. Canine entrants also competed for the prize of ‘Fastest dog in the North’ (of London), encouraged by their two legged owners.

This year we will be expanding the show to include Hearing Dogs and PDSA (Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals). We also hope that PAT (Pets as Therapy) and Pets for the Disabled will be joining us. In addition,

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If you want to enter your dog for the show, register by visiting Village Vets in Southgate, by the Green; call into Arnos Park in the morning between 8.00– 10.00 from the 23rd September, or arrive in the park from 12.00 on the Saturday 26th September and register before enjoying the stalls and stands . The show starts at 2.00 p.m. with a demonstration by drug and explosive search dogs.

Move on towards the old playground, which has lain derelict for the last 5 years, and you will discover a new fruit orchard has been planted and raised beds containing fruit bushes and vegetables have been set up. Soon, two new hives will be full of bees making honey from wild flowers in the area.

Come along on the last Saturday of each month and you will see the Friends working to make Arnos ‘bloom’ once again. You can join us for a cup of coffee or give us some of your time to help improve the facilities.

Find us on facebook https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofArnosPark London

Walking through Arnos Park, you may well be aware of changes which have gradually been taking place.

The Groundsman, together with the Friends of Arnos Park have ‘discovered’ flowerbeds alongside the path, which is lined by Acacia trees. Having removed brambles, weeds and wild garlic, and cut the overgrown shrubs to shape, the latter are now flowering and the beds are being stocked with new perennials.

348 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, N13 5TJ

Is the rebuilding of Broomfield House on the horizon?

by Colin Younger and David March Over the last six months a team of consultants employed by Enfield Council has been preparing a major study on Broomfield House, its stableyard and the wider Park. This has been done on the recommendation of Historic England (a new section of English Heritage). This process has proven useful in dealing with complex issues over the future of other London Parks.

The study will now feed in to an extensive public consultation programme to be held over the next few months. This will in turn lead to the selection of a limited number of options for the future, which could include making an application to the Heritage Lottery Enterprise Fund (HLF) to assist in rebuilding Broomfield House. Unlike bids under the earlier system, this relatively new fund starts with a business plan to demonstrate sources of capital for rebuilding and longer term income, with the HLF making up the “heritage deficit”. In the process all options for the future will be considered.

The management of all this is under the Broomfield House Partnership Board which is chaired by Councillor Bambos Charalambous. The Broomfield House Trust and Friends of Broomfield Park are the main local community groups represented on the Board. Critical for all involved will be the balance between the necessary

“commercial” element and community use.

Over the next few months we will be spreading awareness of the consultation programme. In the process we hope to be able to display this model, made in 1950 by a local resident, of Broomfield House as it was in 1903. This date is significant because this was when the Park was bought by the Southgate Urban District Council to preserve it from the building boom then beginning to eat up open space.

Find out more by keeping in touch with the Broomfield House Trust website at www.broomfieldhouse.org In other news: July saw the first season of the Friends of Broomfield Park’s (FoBP) new ‘Proms in the Park’ series. The music spanned opera, indie pop, folk, a brass band, flute, drumming and a choir. It proved popular with the audiences, who called for a repeat in 2016. These events continued in August with ‘Broomfield Blues’ concerts, the ‘Palmers Green Festival’ in September and in October the ‘Palmers Scream’.

adapted by a local craftsman (Dave Plummer of Triangle Metal Works) and installed with the benefit of grants from the Enfield Society and the Enfield Residents Priority Fund.

The Orchard received the 'Community Tree Award' at the London Tree and Woodland Awards 2015, organised by the Forestry Commission and supported by the Mayor of London "to celebrate the work of individuals, communities and professionals to protect, improve and expand the capital’s tree and woodland cover."

Future events in the Orchard and Community Growing Space include: Edible Open Garden Day on 19th September, participation in the North London Pumpkin Festival this Halloween and Apple Day on 18th October.

Proms in the park

Have you wondered what happened to the toilet railings at the Triangle? They are now an attractive frontage to the Conservatory. They were rescued from a Council yard by the FoBP and

Exciting developments for Firs Farm Park & Wetlands From January to July, the Friends of Firs Farm have made huge progress in transforming an overlooked and underused piece of land to a wonderful green space for everyone to enjoy.

Extraordinary achievements as a result of community partnership, as not only have the local residents ‘rolled up their sleeves’ but a number of local organisations have been supportive in making this initiative work. Without this effort from all parties, the Friends would not have achieved their goals in such a short time.

The first celebration for the Friends was in winning the Wetlands bid from the Mayor of London’s Big Green Poll. Hours of lobbying the public in Sainsburys’ and train stations paid off as the friends captured 20% of the overall 10,000 votes securing the £175,000. This funding will extend the new wetland habitat which is capable of storing flood water reducing the risk of flood to over 100 residential properties and the A10 trunk road. The brook will be restored to the park, creating an interesting and varied landscape, improving the ecology of the park.

On the 16th July, Enfield Council, supported by the Friends, held a consultation on the next phase which includes improved entrances, watercourse through the woodland, pond dipping platform and a visitor’s centre. This next phase is planned to start in the

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autumn but already visitors to the park can see cycle paths being developed and much of the river bank brimming with trees, marginal plants and shrubs.

Planting has been supported by Friends, volunteers and local businesses who have decided that Firs Farm is deserving of being a community day for their employees. Businesses have pledged time to support transformation of this green space and already have made a difference by removing redundant broken fencing, clearing and planting. This work will be ongoing and we expect the next planting phase to take place in September, so watch the website for news on this so as not to miss it.

Alongside the planting, the Friends have developed a community watering programme entitled ‘Adopt a Tree’. Of the original 26 trees planted, 23 have now been adopted and are being cared for over the next 2 years. Further planting of trees is planned for September so if you are interested and would like to plant/adopt a tree for the next 2 years, please contact the Friends.

The park is very fortunate to have a woodland area and the Friends, working in partnership with Enfield

conservation volunteers, have created a woodland path through the woods for all to enjoy. This work will continue into the autumn and if anyone is keen on learning new skills in how to lay a path, hedge laying, clearing and planting then please let the Friends know.

Lastly, keeping the park free from litter is an ongoing task. The Friends have held a number of “Capital clean up” days using the equipment provided through this campaign for our monthly litter picking sessions which are held on the first Saturday of every month. The noticeable difference has been seen, there is less litter resulting in an improved habitat and it appears that park visitors are being more considerate with what they do with their litter.

In summary, the friends and their respective partners have been extremely busy this year in developing a park that people will enjoy and look after. The wetlands is a by-product of the Enfield flood relief work but with new cycle paths, woodland walks and new plant life attracting varied insects and animals, we all hope this area continues to be developed into a beautiful Enfield green space for all to enjoy.

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Love Your DoorStep by Emma Rigby Introducing Ecovino - sustainable and organic wines www.loveyourdoorstep.co.uk I hope you have been all enjoying the summer and those of you with children have managed to survive the holidays, juggling the work life balance?! I think those of you who have been local this summer will agree that there has been lots of excellent family and children related activities, from a variety of football camps, to art, dance and even short film courses. To find out what’s going on in the area do remember to visit the ‘events’ page on to the Love Your DoorStep (LYDS) website: www.loveyourdoorstep.co.uk We have launched LYDS TV on YouTube with our roving reporter; and a camera could be coming to you! Do let us know of any special stories or events happening in the area that should be featured on LYDS TV. On the topic of events, there is an evening that I want to mention, which was a showing of Fill the Void, a wonderful film hosted by ‘Talkies’ a not-forprofit community film club that holds events all over the local area. This particular event was a sold out evening at the Dugdale Centre. The film was set within the Orthodox Hasidic community of Tel

Strange things have been happening around Palmers Green. When major building work started on the conversion of the Old Southgate Town Hall no one expected the uncovering of an old manuscript. Wording from the manuscript was revealed to the local community a few weeks later. In short, we are all at risk from an ancient terror - but our weapon to defeat it is our community happiness. You can see the scroll on display at Baskervilles Tea Shop.

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Aviv, offering an intimate insider's view of a world, that remains little seen in mainstream cinema (so thank you ‘Talkies’). Fill the Void is about the possibilities of personal freedom within the strict confines of religion and tradition; a beautiful and touching portrait of a young woman's struggle to balance personal fulfilment with family duty. To find out more about ‘Talkies’ or become a subscriber visit their website: www.talkies.org.uk The film got me thinking about religion and I believe at the heart of all religions is the principle of love and compassion, though now extreme violence in the name of religion has become a feature of our global society. There is a risk that media hype to such violence can confuse extremism with conservative views that are legitimate in a liberal democracy like ours that supports freedom of religion and belief. This risk can damage social unity by associating these events with a generalised picture of a religion.

What we need is a positive educational approach; a better understanding of religions and engagement with people of other faiths. While not

After the finding of the scroll, several spooky stories about Palmers Scream were unearthed and published in a book ,which is now printed and will be given free to school children. The scary stories can be read now on the Palmers Scream website.

A spooky story competition was launched in July which had over 150 entries. The winners will be announced in September.

In October there will be other happenings, including flash mobs, music events and ghost walks around the sites of the Palmers Scream stories from Joe Studman of Jaywalks.

Keep checking the web site, Facebook page and twitter feed to keep up to date on news about the Palmers Scream.

The scroll describes an ancient terror and witches buried under the boating lake in Broomfield Park and signs to watch out for when they are returning.

A ‘Scream Team’ was formed to lead the merrymaking and lots of local businesses and organisations are getting involved. Some fun events have already taken place, including music concerts in the park over July and August and others planned in the lead–up to Halloween, including an outdoor screening in Broomfield Park of Ghostbusters from Talkies Community Cinema on September 4th , and another spooky film on Friday October 30th.

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Palmers Palmers Green Green resident resident Ralph RalphHutchings Hutchings revealed revealed spooky incident incident that that a a spooky happenedto tohim him when when he happened was working with was working with conservators after after the the conservators Broomfield House fire and Broomfield House fire and found some Witches found some Witches Bottles.

You will be Bottles.

You will be amazed by his video on amazed by his video on www.palmersscream.uk www.palmersscream.uk

a solution on its own, it is an important factor in countering extremism, building tolerance and respect among different groups. What we need is more films like Fill the Void and more community inspired groups like ‘Talkies’. Together this can only help to foster a more tolerant community.

Ending on a lighter note, I want to introduce you to a special place with a warm ambience - Ecovino Teatro; a wine bar located at the Dugdale Centre. After the ‘Talkies’ film, us movie goers spilled into Ecovino Teatro, which only stocks sustainable and organic wines. Everything is exquisite here including the cheese board and needs to be tried. You will find the tables decorated with fabulous salt candle lamps that gives a mellow atmosphere, as you are unwinding with a lovely glass of wine.

Do check out the Ecovino Teatro website (www.ecovinoteatro.co.uk) including their list of events, as I know they do a great wine tasting evening and one’s coming up on 4 September.

So on that note, Salut!

JOIN IN ON HALLOWEEN

5.30 – 7.00 PM BROOMFIELD PARK

The main Palmers Scream event will be on Halloween 5.30 – 7.00 pm in Broomfield Park. The family event will be a feast of entertainment and activities in the dark around the boating lake, park café and bowling green. Local drama and dance groups including Chicken Shed, Centre Stage and Playing Space will be there alongside storytellers and a magician entertaining children of all ages. The Greenery café will be open for refreshments and much more.

Come dressed in your spookiest outfit, bring torches and scare everyone with your ghoulish antics….and don’t forget to join in with the Palmers Scream at 7.00 then take your shadow home with you – we will then be safe for another year! www.palmersscream.uk

348 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, N13 5TJ

FUFU - Chinese dining at its best in Palmers Green

by Ellie Sales

Since opening its doors in 2014, FUFU (meaning lucky) has established itself as one of the best Chinese restaurants in the area to enjoy lunch or dinner, cooked the authentic way, whilst not breaking the bank.

You only have to take a look at their 4 ½ star rating on trip advisor to see why diners return again and again. Their menu offers a variety of traditional dishes including seafood specialities. Owners Jessica and her husband Chen moved to the UK in 2012 having previously run a restaurant in Beijing. Jessica said “Our menu is a reflection of our heritage and although we have adapted elements to suit the western palette, such as using less oil in our cooking, all our marinades and sauces are home-made. Our ingredients are sourced from Chinese suppliers to ensure authenticity and this enables us to produce simple food, with the best quality ingredients.”

FUFU, with its friendly atmosphere, does a great job of catering for a variety of dietary requirements, with plenty on offer for vegetarians. The team at Anthony Webb were happy for Jessica to choose our menu and we were treated to an incredible array of traditional dishes. The highlight of our starters included chicken satay and pork ribs. Delicious crispy aromatic duck followed, marinated in FUFU’s home-made sauce. Our main course included sizzling chicken in black bean, special fried rice, and amazing dry fried French beans with preserved vegetables. We also had the pleasure of their prawns presented in a fried noodle basket. There was very little food left and what was left was quickly packed up by Martin to take home.

There’s a lot to be said about the levels of customer service received at small independent establishments, Jessica and her team were attentive throughout.

Their menu often changes to reflect their customer’s likes and recommendations. Most recently they added Vietnamese food to the menu, light dishes served with plenty of herbs and mint to compliment the summer vibe. Challenge yourself to try something new when you’re next out for a meal you certainly won’t be disappointed at FUFU. Open for lunch and dinner Wednesday-Monday – Closed on Tuesday. A special lunch time menu includes a soup starter, followed by a main course accompanied with boiled rice for only £6. Takeaway and delivery is also available. For dinner expect to pay between £15-£20 per head.

FUFU can cater for private parties for up to 15 people at the rear of the restaurant that seats 45 in total.

394 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, London, N13 5PD 020 7998 8440 Visit their website at www.fufurestaurant.co.uk and find them on Facebook www.facebook.com/FUFURestaurant

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Palmers Green & Southgate

STYLE

By Kim Undy local stylist

Banish that ‘wardrobefull-of-clothes-butnothing-to-wear’ situation with expert help from a personal stylist - and do it without leaving the borough!

As a personal stylist I’ve spent many an hour in the big department stores in the West End, or racking up the miles on my pedometer around Westfield, but wanted to see if we could find everything my client Ellie Editor of PG & Southgate Life – needed, right here on our doorstep.

Ellie has a very busy life managing a property business and a household, running about after three small children, editing this magazine and (somehow) squeezing in a social life too.

On our shopping list: ‘off-duty’ outfits for weekends, the school run and working from home, comfortable, professional-butnot-too-formal looks for meetings and relaxed glamorous outfits for date nights & girls’ evenings. Clearly, Ellie needs a wardrobe that works as hard as she does!

I started by going through everything (and I mean absolutely everything) in Ellie’s wardrobe, weeding out anything unflattering, ill-fitting, and in the ‘wrong’ colours.

Honestly, not everyone looks good in black. It drains the light from our faces, and flags up under-eye shadows and even the tiniest hint of dark root regrowth. If you’re fair-skinned

Clearing closet space for clothes that fit and flatter

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with blue or green eyes, save black for the evening, when the light is softer and you’ll be wearing stronger make-up.

Better still, ditch it all together and find ‘your’ dark shade. I threw out everything Ellie had in black. She was shocked.

Temporarily, this made quite a ‘hole’ in her wardrobe, but made it easier to see how gorgeous she looks in navy, which is now Ellie’s ‘go-to’ dark colour. An easy way to work out your dark shade is to drape pieces of fabric in navy, dark grey and chocolate-brown across your shoulder & see which one flatters your complexion & makes you look ‘brighter’. To get a true picture, do this when you’re not wearing make-up.

Our challenge was to find everything Ellie needed at local boutiques. Apart from buying shoes (somebody, please, open a great shoe shop in the neighbourhood!), it was easy and we found an impressive variety of labels and price-levels.

It was a pleasure to avail ourselves of the friendly expertise and helpfulness of local boutique-owners, and because we weren’t spending hours on public transport or battling hordes of tourists, we weren’t even tired at the end of our busy day.

To book a personal styling session with Kim, email at fashion@kimundy.com 348 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, N13 5TJ

Minsky Well-established and much-loved Winchmore Hill boutique Minsky has been helping local women and children stay stylish and on-trend for the last 13 years.

The go-to place for fashionista’s favourite Dutch label Maison Scotch - you can also find a large selection of affordable jewellery, beautiful bags, clothes for all occasions, and even vintage clothes and furniture.

Minsky 45 Station Rd N21 3NB Tel 020 8360 4488 www.minskylondon.com Minsky outfits shot by Paul Mitchell www.paulmitchellphotography.com

Navy silk-mix printed top, £78.00, Part Two. Navy PU skirt, £38.00, Vero Moda.

Reversible yellow/metallic leather clutch, £75.00, Peach Pink. Grey earrings and shoes from a selection.

All at Minsky.

Grey wool blazer, £180.00, with ‘La Parisienne’ grey skinny jeans, £118.00, and paisley print semi-sheer blouse, £86.00, all Maison Scotch.

Navy leather bag, £165.00, Peach Pink. Butterfly necklace, from a selection.

All at Minsky.

Navy jersey jumpsuit, £75.00, Jami.

Large crystal bracelet, £19.50, smaller crystal bracelet, from a selection.

Pink leather bag, £60.00.

All at I-am.

Multi-coloured sweater, £80.00, Odemai.

Indigo skinny jeans, £95.00, Amazing Woman. Fingerless mittens, £17.50. Pewter leather bag, £60.00.

Jacquard pompon scarf, from a selection, all at I-am.

I-am I-am opened in June of this year, showcasing a range of affordable, laid-back separates with a luxurious edge. In particular the jersey pieces (designed & manufactured in-house) are fast establishing this newcomer as the perfect place to find the sort of ageless, flattering clothes you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere this close to home.

I-am 24 Cannon Hill N14 6LG Tel 020 8882 8002 www.iamleisurewear.com I-am outfits shot by Andrew Prod www.andrewprod.com

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348 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, N13 5TJ

Operation Fish – Helping the housebound

by Ellie Sales I first heard of Operation Fish from a friend, he was volunteering his time once a week to take an elderly gentleman, who would otherwise be housebound, out for a walk in Broomfield Park. I was eager to find out more about this little known local charity and visited Christopher and Cora Howell in their home based in Southgate. Both, now beyond retirement age, have dedicated over 40 years volunteering to help run the charity that has a small office based in the Bourne Methodist Church in Southgate.

How did this local charity start and what is its purpose?

Don Placid the Priest at Vita Pax Church in Cockfosters was instrumental in the formation of the charity some 45 years ago.

Initially it was set up as a Christopher Howell has neighbourhood scheme spent the last 40 years volunteering at Operation to help the older Fish generation. At the time local churches in Southgate, Oakwood and Cockfosters came together to ensure that the needs of the elderly were met.

How has it changed over the years?

The needs of the elderly have remained the same but with today’s technology many jobs are now more manageable from home. In the past our

volunteers would often shop once a week for those unable to visit the supermarkets. Now, with the aid of the internet and the introduction of the free bus pass and dial a ride, there is not as much demand for practical jobs. Befriending has become a pivotal part of the work we do for individuals whom, without local friends or family can become lonely.

How does your charity help the housebound today?

In the past the charity used to undertake around 900 jobs each year for local people, this has now reduced to around 300. We are trying to build awareness of our charity as our willing volunteers are able to help with basic needs such as collecting shopping, pensions or prescriptions, driving people to doctors appointments or hospital appointments, letter writing, and most importantly befriending someone in need. Our visits can also offer respite for couples where one may be a carer for their partner. We are able to help anyone over the age of 18 that requires

assistance. Being on your own can be scary at times and knowing you can give someone a call can make things a little easier and help build confidence.

How many volunteers do you have?

We currently have 30 active volunteers.

How is your charity funded?

We are entirely funded by donations from individuals and the churches; we are very grateful for this without it Operation Fish would have to close. In 2013 profits from our local street party on Oakfield Road were kindly donated to the charity.

How do people in need get in touch with the charity?

We operate a small office in The Bourne Methodist Church. If you are in need of assistance or know someone that would benefit from our services please contact the office and leave a message at any time, you will be called back as soon as possible.

Our number is 020 8882 1831

Operation Fish rely entirely on donations, if you know a local company that would be interested in helping the charity through sponsorship or you would like to make a donation please call 020 8882 1831.

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TSO FO AL R LEE T

Conway Road, N14 Location! Location! A beautifully presented ground floor apartment with two double bedrooms, two bath/shower rooms, video entryphone system and allocated parking. The flat is located in a popular residential turning within easy walking distance of Palmers Green's shops, restaurants, Broomfield Park and mainline station.

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£499,995 Freehold

Fox Lane, Palmers Green, N13

Norfolk Avenue, Palmers Green, N13

NEED OF MODERNISATION. A CHAIN FREE four bedroom Edwardian house located in a popular turning conveniently situated for both Southgate's and Palmers Greens' shops, restaurants, parks and stations.

This spacious property offers 1582 sq.ft of living accommodation over two floors.

An extended, CHAIN FREE, three bedroom semi-detached house with off street parking, double garage and garden to rear. The property, which requires modernisation, benefits from a living room, a sitting room, kitchen/diner, ground floor cloakroom, spacious bath/shower room, 60ft rear garden.

£850,000 Freehold

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£550,000 Freehold

Burford Gardens, Palmers Green, N13

Fox Lane, Southgate, N14

Asking price £749,995 Freehold

Asking price £800,000 Freehold

348 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, N13 5TJ

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Derwent Road, N13 CHAIN FREE. A four bedroom Edwardian property boasting many original features, spacious through lounge, morning room, kitchen, two bath/shower rooms and 100ft rear garden. This impressive terrace house is located on the Lakes Estate conservation area within easy reach of Palmers Green's mainline station and Broomfield Park.

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£885,000 Freehold

Seafield Road, N11

Pembroke Road, Palmers Green, N13

A well presented two double bedroom second floor flat situated within minutes' walk of Arnos Grove's shops and underground station. This CHAIN FREE flat benefits from a generous living room with balcony, modern kitchen and bathroom, laminate floors, and parking facilities.

An extended five bedroom end of terrace house with through lounge, kitchen/diner, internal garage, off street parking and well maintained garden to rear.

£375,000 Leasehold

£525,000 Freehold

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Broomfield Lane, Palmers Green, N13

Broomfield Avenue, Palmers Green, N13

Asking price £790,000 Freehold

Asking price £1,000,000 Freehold

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The impact of budget changes on the tax you pay on your rental income by Alex Chrysostomou Alexander’s & Co Chartered Accountants 24A Aldermans Hill, Palmers Green, London N13 4PN Tel: 020 8882 6611 Fax: 020 8882 6621 Email: Alex@alexandersandco.com Website: www.alexandersandco.com Alex loves business and gives regular presentations to those wanting to learn about the accountancy and tax part of running their own business. He helps break down the barriers that people face in running their own business and how to maximise their earnings.

The biggest enjoyment that Alex gets from his role as an accountant is to work with people from all walks of life and most importantly helping them with their money.

Question: I understand that the rules regarding the tax on buy-to-let properties has changed recently, but how do the changes impact someone with just one rental property?

Answer: Buy-to-let (BTL) properties are becoming an

even more popular investment with the ever lower borrowing costs making it a cash cow for many people. The tax consequences of the profit made on property rental income is something which has always been on the back of investors’ mind, however, as a result of recent developments this has become an even more important issue.

In George Osbourne’s most recent budget, there were fundamental changes to the tax you pay on your rental income from BTL properties.

Currently you can offset the interest payments on your mortgage against the rental income earned. However, this will change, with the deduction being capped at the basic rate of tax. For any higher/additional rate tax payers, they will only be able to deduct the basic rate of tax against their borrowing costs. Currently

interest payment of £100 only cost £60 or £55 after tax relief, but will cost £80 from 2020. A landlord who borrows at even a modest level might end up paying more in tax than he makes in profit!

The budget has also revealed the current system that allows those to claim 10% of their rent for wear and tear will be scrapped. From April 2016, landlords will only be able to deduct costs they actually incur.

The above changes will be introduced from the 2016/17 tax year and will be phased in over a 4 year period, meaning that we are in the last tax year with the existing rules, after which point, a lot more planning and analysis will need to be carried out before deciding on your next property investment.

If you have an accounting question for Alex please e-mail him directly he will be happy to assist you, alternatively Alexander’s & Co offer an initial free consultation please contact them to find out more.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article should not be construed as legal advice and the information is offered for information purposes only. You should always seek advice from an appropriately qualified accountant on any specific accountancy enquiry.

Top Tips to help you look after your hair

by Kiri from Fabulous Hair Company Fabulous Hair Company 382 Green Lanes, N13 5PD Tel:020 8886 7070 Hello and welcome back. I hope everyone is rested after the summer break and is looking forward to autumn and the build up to Christmas. I wanted to deal with a couple of things that are important around this time of year. Firstly the damage the sun causes on your hair and how you can help repair that damage and what preventions you can take to protect young children from head lice. Firstly let’s start with holiday hair, hopefully you took my advice from one of my previous articles and protected your hair in the sun. All my articles are available on request or can be found on our website www.fabuloushaircompany.com Let’s remind ourselves of the signs of sun damage: • Faded hair colour; • Dry, brittle hair; • Broken or split ends; • Frizzy hair; and • Weakened and thinning hair.

Moisturising / Repair Shampoo & Conditioner: Damaged hair is thirsty hair. Ask your hair stylist to recommend products suited to your hair.

Remember your holiday shampoo should be a deep cleansing shampoo to remove salt & chlorine build up. The shampoo you use after your holiday must be one for moisturising and repair preferably a sulphate free shampoo. I personally always recommend Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger Moisture lather shampoo & the Crème Rinse conditioner it gives the hair intense moisture and has KeraTriplex a keratin protein perfect for repairing damaged hair.

Deep Conditioning Mask & Moisturising Products: Like your shampoo & conditioner ask your hair stylist to recommend a deep conditioning mask suited to your hair. A good salon would have available a large selection of treatments, some

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treatments are a prescription type & for use only in a salon. I would always recommend having monthly hair treatments in the salon and then follow this with a weekly treatment at home for the best result. Look for styling products with a light moisturiser a great way to keep looking after your hair.

See Your Hair Stylist: Over exposure to the sun’s UV rays can make hair brittle and cause splits ends. The best and if you ask me the only way to get rid of split ends is to cut them away. This is an obvious one and yet many people neglect getting a haircut after their holiday. A good tip is to reserve an appointment before you go away.

Other Great Tips: ✔ Let your hair dry naturally at home ✔ Have a balanced & healthy diet ✔ Wash your hair less often; try a dry shampoo between washes Dealing with head lice: • Encourage your kids to avoid sharing things that have been on or near another child's head, including hair brushes, combs, hats, scarves,

towels, helmets, pillows, sleeping bags, etc.

• Teach your kids to hang up their coat and hat on an individual hook, or some other separate area, when they get to school, instead of just throwing them in a pile with other classmates' clothing.

• Regularly clean things that your child's head has direct contact with, such as car seats, pillows, headphones, etc., if you are sharing these items with other children.

• Review some head lice pictures to help you understand what you are looking for in your child's hair, including live lice and nits (lice eggs).

• Check your child for nits and live head lice at least once a week, keeping in mind that although you may find head lice anywhere, they are often found at the back of your child's head, near his neck and behind his ears.

• Recognize the symptoms of head lice, which includes an itchy scalp and small red bumps or sores on the back of your child's neck and scalp.

Don't panic, though, if your child has to be treated for head lice.

Tips: 1. Be extra vigilant for head lice if there have been frequent reports of head lice at your child's school or in your child's classroom.

2. Review the head lice preventing steps before and after sleepovers, school field trips or when your child goes to camp.

3. Wash your child's hair with a regular shampoo and hair conditioner and then check your child's hair after you rinse and dry it, but while it is still damp. The hair conditioner can make it easier to comb through your child's hair.

4. Remove all of the nits on your child's head when your child has lice use a nit comb with conditioner, since missing some nits (lice eggs) is a common way for kids to have a persistent infection, as lice keep hatching and keep the infestation going.

If you have any questions that need answering quickly please email me at kc@fabuloushaircompany.com and I will get back to you soon as I can. If you enjoyed my article let us know, Like us on Facebook and we will enter you in our monthly competition for a chance of winning 1 in 10 Paul Mitchell in-salon Awapuhi Wild Ginger Keratin treatments worth £25. Just go to our website and www.fabuloushaircompany.com, or click the Facebook icon to Like.

348 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, N13 5TJ

What are the alternatives to moving into a care home?

Home Care Preferred, 49 Station Road, Winchmore Hill, N21 3NB Many people who have difficulty with everyday life due to disability, illness or general problems associated with getting older, often believe they have no option other than to go into a care home.

However, with the changes in support available in the community, the majority of people are now able to stay in their own homes and maintain as much independence as their situation allows.

There are now care companies offering a range of care and support to people in their own homes both long-term and short-term. Whether you need a fulltime live in carer, or someone to help for a few hours a week most people can remain at home.

One person who has seen many changes in care is Ken Waterhouse, managing director of a local care agency called Home Care Preferred. “When I started my career in the care sector, older people, who became frail and in need of care, would nearly always end up being admitted to a care home. No matter how good a care home is, people typically want to remain in the comfort of their own homes.

We are now supporting people to do just that. Many of our clients have hourly support but where we are seeing big growth is with live-in care. A lot of people

are understandably reluctant for someone to live in their home however we are seeing time and time again how successful this can be”.

• What kind of supervision and training is provided? Will you be able to contact someone 24/7 if problems arise?

And it’s not just older people who may need some support at home. Many care providers, like Home Care Preferred, can provide support to adults of all ages with physical disabilities, learning disabilities and end of life care. They can also provide short term help to people coming out of hospital or recovering from an operation.

• Are all the team members carefully vetted? Make sure the company has carried out DBS checks (Disclosure and barring service) on all caregivers and taken up references.

We’ve all heard the frightening stories of poor care and abuse but it is possible to receive high quality care that can make a positive difference.

• Importantly ask for testimonials from existing clients. Recommendations on the quality of service are a good indication of the standards you are likely to expect.

Ken Waterhouse advises people to ask a number of key questions when they approach a care company.

• Is the company registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC)? This is the government body that license and regulate all care providers.

• Is the person on the phone friendly and informative? Are they happy to answer questions and offer a free, no-obligation assessment?

• Ask about the experience of the management team and the owners of the company. A face to face meeting will determine whether you are comfortable with the people that run the company.

• Do they provide an “introductory visit” so you can meet the caregiver before they start work. Having someone new in your home can be an unnerving experience and you need to feel comfortable with the person before they start.

Ken went on to say “It’s worth bearing in mind that whilst your care must be affordable, your decision should not be based on cost alone. Paying just a little extra could make a big difference to the support you receive and ultimately your quality of life”.

For further information please contact a member of our friendly team on 020 8364 3670, email info@homecarepreferred.com or visit our website www.homecarepreferred.com

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Are you ready for retirement?

by Jan Thompson Contact Jan on 07568 321207 or email jan.thompson@sjpp.co.uk www.jananthompsonwealthmanagment.co.uk Jan Thompson Partner of St James’s Place Wealth Management, is based locally in Winchmore Hill and is inviting local residents to discover the simple yet highly effective steps you can take to preserve and protect your wealth. Preserving and protecting your wealth surgeries are being held locally by appointment on 23th and 24th September 2015 from 10-5pm. All surgeries last approx 40mins and are held in the strictest confidence and without obligation.

A new UK pensions study reveals a worrying lack of preparation for retirement.

This year‘s new ‘pension freedoms’ have attracted a great deal of interest, but as a nation we remain seriously underprepared for retirement. it’s more than the government will allow,” Price points out.

A recent survey by insurers Aegon UK found that only 7% of the population is on track for retirement – meaning that they have realistic expectations about their pension and are saving enough to achieve them.

The last 12 months have been momentous for pensions, which have enjoyed the most radical overhaul in nearly a century. Anyone over the age of 55 can now take their workplace or personal pensions as cash if they choose, and they are no longer obliged to buy an annuity. For many, these savings represent their second-biggest asset after their home, and there will be significant tax implications for lump-sum withdrawals above a certain level. This is likely to cause more people to seek advice, as they consider their options.

Pension freedoms, however, will have no effect on exactly what is inside people‘s pension pots and whether this is sufficient for a comfortable retirement. If people have not saved enough then, quite simply, the freedom to take benefits is of little material value.

Automatic enrolment means that more now have a pension through their employer – an additional five million since the programme began two years ago. However, the Aegon study suggests that, whether they have a workplace or a private pension, many are not fully engaged with it. It shows, for example, that more than half of people in the UK (55%) have never checked the value of

Risk factors Aegon rated the UK population in terms of its readiness for retirement, taking account of age, monthly savings, expected retirement age, broader pensions understanding and other variables. By this measure it reckoned that 93% of people still need to adjust their savings or expectations to achieve the retirement they would like. their pension savings. Two in five don’t know how much they are paying into their pension pot, and three out of five don‘t know how much their employer is contributing.

Wishful thinking While 31% of over-55s say they plan to access their pension pot as a result of the new flexibilities, one third of this age group (35%) don’t know which tax bracket they fall into. A similar proportion don’t know the tax implications of accessing their pension pot. When people do think about their pensions, they are not always realistic, and their expectations of how much money they will have in retirement are not matched by the actual amounts they are saving.

The average expectation of the amount they expect to retire on has risen to £42,000 a year.

Summing up the results, Price notes that, while pension freedom brings choice, it also brings risk.

“The lack of understanding around the tax implications of withdrawing lump sums, in particular, is a potential issue,” Price observes.

“There is a great deal that needs to be done to help those approaching retirement understand not only their choices, but the personal implications of those choices throughout their retirement years. They need to avoid the risk of a shock tax bill or a poorer life after retirement.”

The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested.

The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time. The value of any tax relief depends on individual circumstances.

“This doesn’t recognise the scale of savings required to deliver that level of income,” says Ian Price, divisional director at St. James‘s Place. He points out that, with the pension lifetime allowance falling to £1 million, someone retiring at age 60 wanting to buy an inflation-protected annuity continuing to a spouse would be lucky to get a private pension of £24,000. Even including the State Pension, this would only produce a total of around £31,000. “So unless individuals also have substantial non-pension savings or defined benefit pensions, £42,000 isn’t just unrealistic – To receive a complimentary guide covering wealth management, retirement planning or Inheritance Tax planning, produced by St. James’s Place Wealth Management, contact Jan Thompson of St. James’s Place Wealth Management on 07568 321207 or email jan.thompson@sjpp.co.uk

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348 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, N13 5TJ

There is an exciting alternative to staying on at school Č? 96%* of our students recommend Capel Č? 95% of our students completing their FRXUVH DFKLHYHG WKHLU TXDOLČ´ FDWLRQ Č? 8 out of 10 students progressed to university or into a career Capel Manor College is London’s largest land-based college, at Capel you will be supported and inspired, we will help you achieve your goals.

Come to our Advice Evening on Thursday, 10 September (5.00pm to 7.30pm) or our Open Day on Saturday, 17 October DP WR SP DW RXU (QČ´ HOG FHQWUH LQ Bullsmoor Lane. You will have an opportunity WR GLVFRYHU ZKDW &DSHO KDV WR RÎ? HU DQG UHFHLYH support and course advice for your future.

Visit www.capel.ac.uk for further information.

I knew school wasn’t for me, I came to Capel to do the Animal Management Advanced Diploma. I found the practical elements to the course intriguing, from working with the animals to completing lab experiments with bacteria. I loved my course and am working towards becoming a veterinary surgeon and studying at the Royal Veterinary College.

I couldn’t have achieved this without Capel.

Simone

For further information on our courses and centres call:

08456 122 122 or visit www.capel.ac.uk (QČ´ HOG &HQWUH %XOOVPRRU /DQH (QČ´ HOG (1 54 *Data taken from the Ofsted Learner View Survey.

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Creative Exchange News The Key to Successful Exhibiting – The Art of Hanging!

CALLING FINE ARTISTS! Want to take your work to the next level and get the professional edge?

If you want to be taken more seriously and achieve more sales, presenting your work effectively is key.

Learn how to get into galleries and frame and hang your work professionally.

Creative Exchange is delighted to offer a talk by Paul Regan, who will be sharing his expertise and insights about approaching galleries, framing and staging an exhibition. A successful painter, Paul has many years' experience exhibiting both his own work and curating and staging group exhibitions. Learn the finer points that need to be considered when framing your work and how to select, group and hang work to show it at its best.

Packed with valuable tips, this event will also be an opportunity for artists to meet and share ideas and experience.

Friday 18 September: 7.00 to 9.30pm Venue: Insight School of Art, 122-128 Lancaster Road, New Barnet EN4 8AL Tickets: £10 (non members) £5 (Creative Exchange Members) plus booking fee. Tea & Coffee included Limited places, book now: https://creative-exchange-successful-exhibiting.eventbrite.com Paul was recently selected as art critic Estelle Lovatt’s ‘Critic Secret’ and has been selected for the Discerning Eye (London Winner), Threadneedle Prize and BBC2’s Show Me The Monet, all of which were held at the Mall Galleries in London. Paul has also shown at the Royal Academy Summer Show.

Paul is an art educator and in 2001 founded Insight School of Art on Lancaster Road in Barnet to provide educational leisure painting classes for everyone. More recently Paul founded the not-for-profit company North London Artist Network providing courses for artists to help them turn their art into a business. Many of his students now run successful art practices of their own.

Creative Exchange welcomes new members from all disciplines in the art, craft and design field. Meeting like-minded people on a similar journey keeps you in touch with opportunities, suppliers and places to exhibit. Many of our members have formed fruitful collaborations. Here’s what some of them say about us…

For info on joining: membership@creativeexchange.uk.com

Zoe White

Belgin Bozsahin

Gillian Beagley

Helen Ryan

‘Friendly and welcoming atmosphere’

‘You gain so much’

‘Great connections’

I’m a porcelain artist who creates highly-textural threedimensional wall pieces. Since joining Creative Exchange I’ve exhibited my work at Anthony Webb’s alongside some very talented artists. There are regular networking and educational events where you gain so much for little cost.

More is achieved with support!

I love trees and have been painting them over the course of a year, month by month, making a collection of 12 images that cover the unfolding seasons. Through Creative Exchange I met the Manager of Forty Hall who asked if I would paint their trees, which resulted in a solo exhibition there.

‘A positive and rewarding experience’

See Belgin at: Brighton Art Fair 24-27 Sept Landmark Art Fair 17-18 October

Don’t miss our Creative Exchange Members Group Show at Anthony Webb’s office (Monday-Friday 9am – 7pm, Sat 9.30am – 5pm)

I'm a designer-maker specialising in quirky, fun jewellery that is precious and wearable, combining materials such as faux turf and hand-made felt with sterling silver. I haven't been a member for long but already the friendly and welcoming atmosphere has made me feel part of a group – and it has helped my business! zinfinity.co.uk

belginbozsahin.com

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gkbart.com

My paintings reflect the physical movement of my life from my native Ireland to Australia and now the UK. The paintings form a journey where I add layers of paint and mixed media so the works evoke both representational and abstract vision.

See Helen’s work in group show at Espacio Gallery E2 15 - 20 September helenryan.co.uk

348 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, N13 5TJ

Centre Stage celebrates 16 years in Southgate

by Principal Carole O'Shea Centre Stage School of Performing Arts, established in 1999, is celebrating its 16th Anniversary this year.

Founded by Principal Carole O’Shea, the Part-Time school for 4 to 19 year olds, which runs on Saturdays at St Monica’s School in Southgate, has become a fixture in the lives, and development, of hundreds of young people in and around North London.

The past 16 years have seen a number of incredibly successful productions, which have been produced alongside the School’s classes in Dance, Drama and Singing.

Each academic year starts begins with the lower school pantomime, performed by students between 7 and 11 years. The Centre Stage Spring Term sees it’s very own Festival of Plays, featuring 6 plays, 10 casts and over 100 students between 12 and 19 years.

Past Festivals also included entries into the National Theatre Connections Programme, receiving outstanding reviews.

Centre Stage’s termly Cabaret Evenings give young performers the platform to perform before packed and supportive houses, and each year features over 80 solo singers. This invaluable opportunity has seen individuals blossom, talents nurtured and new skills discovered.

Centre Stage also boasts a thriving Dance Troupe for students from 7 years.

The younger age group is also well catered for in Young Centre Stagers. This group is for children between 4 and 7 years. Their 2015 production of

‘Oliver’ was a enjoyed by all this June. This follows their wonderful production of ‘Aladdin’ last December.

The lower school showcase is performed in the Summer Term. Every child is encouraged to perform a monologue or poem on stage with an audience of family and friends.

Each year culminates in the Centre Stage Oscars night, an evening dedicated to rewarding pupils with the recognition they deserve. Our patrons and renowned vocal coaches Carrie and David Grant select and award the Voice of The Future trophy and also offer the Outstanding Achievement Scholarship award each year.

Carrie and David are far more than just a name on our website. Their children have been attending Centre Stage for 10 years, with their eldest daughter now continuing her studies at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Centre Stage is also proud to have graduates and current students attending RADA, Bristol Old Vic, Mountview, ALRA, The Brit School and many more.

Centre Stage is also just as proud of the hundreds of ex-students who have left to continue their studies at universities and colleges or enter the workplace. The skills, confidence and self-esteem gained over their years at class is constantly referred to when they come back to visit.

2015 also included a high energy production of ’The

The Wiz, performed at Millfield Theatre 2015

Wiz’, which was performed during the Easter break at The Millfield Theatre and our UpStaged Theatre Company production performed at The Dugdale Centre in March. The UpStaged play ‘The Roses of Eyam’ will be performed at the Camden Fringe Festival in August, following 4 very successful years as part of this festival.

Centre Stage has also performed for many years at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Centre Stage were delighted to be part of the Palmers Green Festival again this year, with performances in Broomfield Park in September and made our debut appearance at the Enfield Festival of Light last November. Centre Stage, in partnership with Anthony Webb Estate Agents, raised much needed funds in March for Comic Relief.

Performers from Centre Stage are always happy to give their time and talents to help raise funds for local and national charities.

Centre Stage is moving from strength to strength, with a body of skilled and dedicated industry professionals as its core staff, and the determination to inspire and be inspired.

Praise for Centre Stage: 'An exceptional theatre school.' Snipelondon.com 0208 886 4264 www.centrestageuk.com

Established Since 1999

FREE TRIAL CLASS school of performing arts

CLASSES C LASSSESS HELD HELLD IN SOUTHGATE SO OUT TH

DRAM DRAMA D RAM MA – D MA DA DANCE ANCE AN NCE – SI SINGING ING GING G VVOICE VOIC O CE CE – PE PERFO PERFORMANCE RFO ORM NCE ORMAN AGES A GES S 4 - 19 Y Years ea ears e ars Patrons: P atronss: C Carrie arrie & David D vid Grant Da Gra

020 8886 4264

www.centrestageuk.com w ww ww.cc 8882 7888

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David Williamson

A FULL MENU THIS AUTUMN… Talkies has a full a la carte offer coming up.

In Palmers Green, we have some delicious events, including Ghostbusters, two tasty music nights and a full fare at Christ Church and St John’s.

We have also set up two new sub-groups , one in Bowes Park/ Bounds Green and the other spanning Southgate to Bush Hill Park to offer tasters at local venues in these areas.

If you want to help out at Talkies, get in touch through the website – we have plenty to keep you busy!

FOR MORE DETAILS AND TICKET BOOKING, VISIT www.talkies.org.uk FRI SEPT 4 OUTDOOR CINEMA BROOMFIELD PARK,N13

GHOSTBUSTERS

THURS OCT 1 DUGDALE CENTRE ENFIELD

THURS NOV 5 DUGDALE CENTRE ENFIELD

WILD TALES

THE GOLDEN DREAM

FRI OCT 9 BOUNDS GREEN CLUB

SAT NOV 7 BUSH HILL PARK CLUB ENFIELD

IRIS

HONEYDRIPPER

SAT OCT 1O, CHRIST CHURCH SOUTHGATE GREEN

FRI NOV 13 BOUNDS GREEN CLUB

METROPOLIS WITH LIVE ORGAN

THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY

WED OCT 14 THE FOX, N13

WED NOV 25 THE FOX, N13

WHO NIGHT LAMBERT & STAMP

SCOTTISH NIGHT THE ANGEL’S SHARE

FRI OCT 30 ST JOHN’S N13

THURS DEC 3 DUGDALE CENTRE ENFIELD

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN

WAKOLDA

FRI SEPT 11 BOUNDS GREEN CLUB, N22

SAT OCT 31 BROOMFIELD PARK

SAT DEC 12 ST JOHN’S N13

FAMILY EVENT

FAMILY EVENT

CUBAN FURY

PALMERS SCREAM

THE GRINCH

Palmers Green Tales by Jenny Bourke www.palmersgreentales.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/331208790354294/ or just go to Facebook and look for Palmers Green Tales and ask to join the group Ruth Winston Centre and the Palmers Greenery Community Café in Broomfield Park

John Sollis and myself have been joined by someone who worked locally at Gateway Films for

most of her working life, Chris Collins. Chris is a welcome addition to our group.

Palmers Green Tales has produced two films recently, the first was about our visit to Ruth Winston House which offers over 60 classes a week for the over 50’s. We are very lucky in North London to have such an accessible centre, which offers everything from French conversation to hairdressing. Our second film is about the Palmers Greenery Community Café in Broomfield Park. It was set up by a group of volunteers who converted a disused toilet block in the park into what is now a thriving café. However they would like to open more often so would be glad to hear from anyone who is able to volunteer. They recently celebrated their first anniversary and were able to donate £5,000 to other community groups within the park. We are very lucky to have such a committed band of volunteers in Palmers Green.

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348 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, N13 5TJ

In the Garden with Paul Knight Interesting places Contact Paul on 07957 942728 info@outside-designs.co.uk or visit his website www.outside-designs.co.uk

Based in Crouch End, North London, Outside Designs is a family run business with over 25 years of experience. Paul who trained locally at Capel Manor College, Enfield, takes great care to deliver the highest possible standard of work, creating beautiful gardens that clients are delighted with. If you are in need of some advice or are considering re-designing your garden please contact Paul for a free estimate.

As well as being a place to sit, dine or play, your garden should be interesting to look at.

This can be achieved in different ways. I like to walk through a garden and notice things as I go. Rather seeing the whole garden from the house you can create areas that you can’t see from one viewpoint.

This could be a path that winds through a wellplanted area that when you walk along you see plants or objects that you couldn't see before. You can screen off part of the A secret haven garden with trellis or an arch or both. You will then walk into a part of the garden that feels different to the rest. Maybe a secret garden, reached by a pergola walk. It will add a sense of mystery. It could lead to another part of the

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garden where you can sit on a bench and listen to the sound of a small water feature. A unique old statue or pot hidden in a corner or among plants can really add pleasure when you walk around and come across them.

Pergola walkway Careful thought given to planting makes a garden something really special and one of my favourite perennial plants is Verbena bonariensis. This is a tall purple flowering plant that stays in flower throughout the summer. It is great as a backdrop to other plants. Its wispy form works well mixed in with tall grasses at the back of a border, adding movement to the garden when a breeze blows.

We can design, build and maintain your garden for

you so please give us a call to discuss your requirements and a free estimate.

You can also visit our new on-line shop where we a have range of hand crafted rustic garden furniture and some one off items that will enhance any garden.

Verbena bonariensis

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DIY – When is it time to call in an expert?

by Tony Ourris Anthony Webb Estate Agents have managed rental properties for local Palmers Green landlords for over 15 years and know how difficult it can be to find a good reliable tradesman.

Did you know bad DIY can seriously affect the value of your property?

Visible wiring, poor DIY and poor plumbing could put potential buyers off purchasing your home.

Dodgy DIY by British homeowners may decrease the sale price of the average UK home by over £30,800 research suggests. What's more Lloyd’s Bank even estimate that some 3.3 million botched DIY tasks need to be put right by a paid professional, at an average cost of over £3,000 each time.

suffer an injury at some point. Others can invest long hours only to realise they’re in way over their head.

be tempting to try your hand at DIY if you are unsure of the quality your work it’s best to call in a tradesman for some advice.”

Our resident Anthony Webb handy man Mick Lawton can undertake a large variety of work in the home and explains the importance of getting the job right first time.

Mick is based in Palmers Green, he specialises in decorating, plumbing, kitchen and bathroom fitting, tiling, plastering and carpentry services.

Safety First DIY doesn't just have a large impact on the value of your home, it is also potentially dangerous.

Using the correct tradesman for any work carried out on your home ensures it will be safe, installed correctly and meets the legally required standards particularly important for landlords.

“DIY these days seems to be on the decline as men and women are more reluctant to attempt jobs in the home. While DIY projects can be immensely rewarding, homeowners should be wary of attempting anything beyond their skill-set. As research shows, inadequate work can seriously reduce the value of your home. I have visited many homes where jobs have been started, botched and then left incomplete for months on end. Whilst it can

It gets worse: Experts say an estimated one in five DIYers will

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For a no obligation quote or advice please contact Mick on 07985 412 599 60% of couples fall out over odd jobs - with arguments about unfinished work, noise and mess

348 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, N13 5TJ

Property with potential by Ellie Sales From Paris to Palmers Green, Pamela Strain's recent renovation project in Palmers Green is a great example of how first time buyers can make a profit from property.

Born in Northern Ireland and having worked in Paris for many years Pamela, an executive assistant at a private bank, relocated to London in 2014. Initially renting in Palmers Green Pam purchased her first home through Anthony Webb estate agents in December 2014. A spacious two double bedroom flat in a 1960's block ideally located for transport routes and local shops. Within four months of completion Pam had completely renovated her apartment, bringing the old parquet flooring back to its original glory and blending contemporary design with the generous space offered by the purpose built development.

Pamela said of the renovation project "Buying my first home was daunting, I fell in love with the flat instantly and the space it offered. With the guidance of the team at Anthony Webb, and my dream team of builders I could not be happier in my new home.

There's a great feeling about being on the property ladder, sitting on my balcony at sunset with a glass of wine, a clear view of the Shard, toasting my new future in London” .

Property Description: A two double bedroom Freehold flat in a purpose built block located in Palmers Green with a garage and two balconies.

Property Purchase Price: £295,000 (December 2014) Development costs: £45,000 Including new PVC windows, restoration of the original flooring, a complete re-wire and re-plumb. The installation of a new kitchen, bathroom, fitted wardrobes and complete redecoration throughout.

Current Property Valuation: £400,000 (September 2015)

Take a look at the before and after pictures BEFORE

AFTER Pamela's team of qualified builders included Gas safe engineer/plumber: Edi Begaj Alba Heating Ltd Tel: 07872 002355.

Electrician: Michael Chalker MJL Electrical Tel: 07734 601037.

Contractor: Peter Spain Buckhurst Building & Decorating Services Tel: 07711 720527.

Wooden floor restoration: Alex Shengaris Shengaris Ltd www.shengaris.com

If you are looking for an investment property in Palmers Green please contact a member of our team on 020 8882 7888 for free advice and assistance.

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Local Fire Fighter bikes through The Gambia for better health care Local Fire Fighter, Stavros Marangos is swapping his fire engine for a motorcycle and embarking on an epic adventure across The Gambia in aid of Northamptonshire charity, Riders for Health.

Stavros, who lives in Palmers Green, will be joining a team of keen motorcyclists on an eight-day ride through the West African country as part of Riders for Health’s Experience Africa expedition.

The trip will take them from the bustling coast to the beautiful East of the country along the banks of the river Gambia and will give Stavros and the team the chance to see the work of Riders for Health first hand.

Riders for Health manage and maintain motorcycles and four-wheeled vehicles for health workers in seven countries across Africa. They train health workers how to ride and look after their bikes so that they can reach even the most remote communities reliably and on time. In The Gambia, Riders for Health manage the country’s entire fleet of health care vehicles, making it the first country in Africa to have universal health coverage. This means every single person in The Gambia has access to health care, perhaps for the first time.

During the ride Stavros and the team will join health workers on their often difficult off-road journey to remote communities, and see the real impact a

simple motorbike can have on the delivery of health care.

This isn’t the first time Stavros has gone the extra mile for charity, having previously run marathons, jumped out of planes and even crewed a square rigger, as well as taking part in an Experience Africa expedition to Zambia in 2012. He says: “This latest escapade involves one of my biggest passions – motorbikes. I have five of them!

From the age of six, I’ve wanted a motorbike, I got my first bike 29 years ago, I was in HEAVEN and have not been without a bike since.

In 1994 I rode to my ancestral home land, Greece, covering 2831 miles in 5 weeks, on a 1000cc sports bike, which was totally unsuitable for touring, but it was an exhilarating trip.

I’ve rented a Harley in the USA on three different occasions, and even ridden an Indian made Royal Enfield, in the foot hills of the Himalaya’s, probably the scariest experience of my life!

The Riders for Health trips are particularly appealing, as a lot of the riding is off-road, a new experience for me, prior to my Zambia trip in 2012, I had to have

off-road riding tuition, which put a huge grin on my face. The Zambia trip was 1000 kilometres, approx 50% of which was off-road, from the capital Lusaka, to Livingstone. Learning to ride on loose surfaces definitely improves ones road riding skills.Another big plus of the Riders trips, is that it combines my passion of riding, my thirst for adventure and improving the lives of people who are so deserving of the services Riders provides.”

Riders for Health have been running their Experience Africa expeditions since 2012 and in the past have been joined by some of the biggest stars of motorsport, including Spanish MotoGP rider Alvaro Bautista, and former MotoGP legend Randy Mamola who helped to found the charity. The trip is run entirely by the charity, and offers a unique insight into their work.

The money raised from this expedition will help Riders for Health ensure that they can continue to transform health care for 14 million people across Africa.

You can donate via: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/StaMar For more information about Riders for Health visit www.riders.org or to find out more about Experience Africa visit http://www.riders-experience.org/ For more information about Riders for Health contact Emily Meikle – emeikle@riders.org

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348 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, N13 5TJ

Your Legal Questions Answered by Fariz Uvais Fariz Uvais is a consultant in the law firm Harper & Odell. Write in and ask your legal questions. Fariz will try and answer your questions in Palmers Green LIFE each month. Send your questions to Harper & Odell, 61-63 St John Street, London EC1M 4AN or by email to farizu@yahoo.com.

I have two questions: 1) The flat I own is situated in Block 1 (consisting of 3 flats) but the property is comprised of 2 blocks of flats (with the 2nd block consisting of 9 flats). The management company carried out repairs to the roof of Block 1 and charged me one third of the cost of those repairs. Now the management company has informed me that repairs are to be carried out to block 2, and that I should make a contribution towards the cost of those repairs. I feel that this is unfair and if I am required to make a contribution towards the repairs of block 2, the owners of flats in block 2 should have contributed towards the cost of the roof repairs done to block 1. Is there anything I can do about this?

2) The management company has failed to properly maintain the buildings, which has resulted in my flat suffering from damp problems. As a direct consequence, I have lost two sets of tenants and therefore suffered financial detriment. In the meantime, the management company has increased the service charges imposed on the leaseholders, which I feel is disproportionate to the level of services they are providing. Is there anything I can do about this?

In relation to the charge made in respect of the roof repairs, you are only obliged to make a contribution towards those expenses in accordance with the terms of your lease. Usually, the lease contains provisions setting out the proportion that each flat must contribute towards the cost of repairing and maintaining the buildings. To the extent you may have been overcharged, you will have the right to recoup the overpayment plus interest thereon, as long as the expense was incurred in the preceding 12 year period.

If the landlord was in breach of its repairing obligations as set out in your lease, you may have a claim in damages for the losses you have suffered from your tenants vacating the property. As to your question in connection with the increase in service charges, if you are able to obtain evidence that these charges are excessive by, for example, obtaining comparative quotes from other management companies, the appropriate remedy would be to make an application to the First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) seeking a determination as to the reasonableness of the service charges.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article should not be construed as legal advice and the information is offered for information purposes only.

You should always seek advice from an appropriately qualified solicitor on any specific legal enquiry.

BASED IN N13 SERVING NORTH LONDON

Harper & Odell Solicitors Property and Litigation Solicitors Established 1948

Specialist affordable property advice is only a phone call away.

We act for clients across London on all types of property matters.

Our focus at all times is to keep the client updated by communicating regularly via email and by telephone and we aim to achieve the best possible results at a reasonable cost.

Tel: 020 7490 0500 Fax: 020 7490 8040 61-63 St John Street, London EC1M 4AN law@harperandodell.co.uk

www.harperandodell.co.uk

• ALL NEW ROOFS GUARANTEED • ALL ROOF REPAIRS • FLAT ROOF RENEWALS & REPAIRS • CHIMNEY POTS, COWLS, REBUILDS • INSURED REGISTERED COMPANY • TRADING UNDER SAME NAME & NUMBER FOR OVER 15 YEARS

07976 873724

CALL DIRECT TEL - 020 8372 2629 email - paul-apex@blueyonder.co.uk www.rooferslondon.co.uk

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| 29

Your Local Family Law Specialists Is it ever too late to bring financial claims after divorce?

by Karen Chapman A decision in the Supreme Court earlier this year has paved the way for a former spouse to bring a financial claim against her ex-husband, over 18 years after they divorced and 27 years since they separated.

It is a decision which illustrates just how important it is for divorcing, and divorced couples to always obtain final settlement orders with respect to the financial claims which arise from a marriage at the time of the divorce.

The ending of a marriage doesn’t bring an end to the right of either party to make a financial claim against the other.

That can only be achieved by the parties to the marriage obtaining a separate court order dealing with the finances on divorce, to end financial claims both during life and on death. This can be achieved by making an application to court. If the arrangements are agreed an order can be obtained by consent on paper without the need for either party to actually attend court.

I often see clients in practice who have started a DIY divorce online, who are surprised to learn that they remain at risk of because they haven’t taken the steps necessary to close the door on financial claims Nowadays, with effectively no legal aid available to assist with the legal costs of dealing with divorce it is all too easy for a financial settlement to be dealt with informally, or not at all. The former spouses in the widely reported case of Wyatt v Vince [2015] UKSC14 failed to do this and their case underlines the very considerable risks which can flow from this.

The Facts of Wyatt v Vince Kathleen Wyatt (the Wife) and Dale Vince (the Husband) met and married in 1981. At the time, neither had any assets and they lived largely on state benefits. The Wife had a daughter before the marriage, who became a child of the family, and the couple later had a child together in 1983. The Husband stated that he and the Wife separated in 1984, after only just over 2 years together. The Wife divorced the husband in 1992. For many years after the end of their relationship both parties continued to live a frugal life with minimal income and very few assets. However, in the mid 1990’s the Husband began a wind turbine company, which swiftly became and has remained extremely profitable with a value of many millions.

In 2011, the Wife brought a claim against the Husband for a financial settlement, which she quantified at £1.9 million. The Wife brought this claim even though all of the Husband’s wealth was accrued long after the separation and divorce.

When the case came before the Court of Appeal, the wife’s claim was struck out on the basis that there were no reasonable grounds for bringing it.

Wife would face difficulties in her claim due to: the short marriage; the period of time since it broke down; the very low standard of living of the parties during the marriage; the fact that the husband did not accrue his wealth until long after the marriage breakdown; the fact that the Wife had made no contribution to the creation of the wealth; and her long delay in bringing her claim before the court. Despite these factors the court made clear its opinion that the Wife’s claim did have a real prospect of comparatively modest success.

The court also confirmed that the Wife should be entitled to an allowance, paid by the Husband, to pay her legal costs incurred in making the application as she could not reasonably secure legal advice and representation by any other means.

Conclusion It is extremely risky not to obtain orders in divorce proceedings which finalise the financial settlement. Where couples do not do so they face the prospect of claims arising in the future, perhaps many years after the divorce, which will not be stopped by the court and which may well succeed.

The Wife then appealed to the Supreme Court who reversed the decision made in the Court of Appeal. It decided that it was not correct to say that there were no reasonable grounds for bringing the case without hearing evidence. The Wife will therefore now be able to pursue her claim against the Husband.

The Supreme Court made clear that the

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Speaking to Children about Separation and Divorce by Elin Hopley In the UK it’s estimated that 240,000 children experience their parents separating each year which means that before they reach their 16th birthday an estimated 1 in 3 children won’t be living with both parents.

The emotional fall out from separation and divorce can’t be underestimated: divorce is recognised as being the second most stressful life event after bereavement. Just as their parents will be finding it difficult coming to terms with the end of a relationship, so too will the children.

Children react to divorce and separation in different ways at different ages. A very common feeling children can have, almost regardless of age, is that they mistakenly believe they are responsible

also exposed to parental conflict.

So how can you best help your children come to terms with this difficult situation when you’re every bit as likely to be finding things tough too? The relationship may have ended but you will both continue to be parents.

for their parents’ separation. This level of guilt can cause significant emotional damage especially if the children are

1

In an ideal world, you should both sit down together and explain to the children that you are

separating.

2

Before you tell them, try to discuss and agree what you are going to say.

3

Be truthful but explain the reason for the separation in an age-appropriate way. Try to be

respectful to the other parent. Children see themselves as half Mum, half Dad so respecting the

The following are some suggestions as to how to talk to children about separation and divorce. Research has found that where there is a cooperative parental relationship, children deal with separation best.

6

Consider how you will manage your own feelings when you’re talking to the children.

Maybe talk things through with a good friend first to make sure you can be the strong parent.

7

Explain to the children how life will change; not to alarm them but to reassure them. Understand that they will be worried about things that affect them: will they be able to go the same school? Will they have to move house? Will they be able to take their favourite cuddly toy when they stay with Mum?

other parent is important.

4

Remind the children that they are not responsible for you separating.

5

Be calm and gentle when you speak to them.

Even if they have picked up on the fact that

things at home haven’t been as happy recently, it may still come as a big shock.

8 9 10

Don’t overwhelm them with information initially – keep it straightforward and age appropriate.

Reassure them that they can ask you questions and talk to you about how they feel.

Remember to be the parent – even if you are telling adult children, they do not need to be overburdened with your problems.

At Chapman Pieri Solicitors, we offer a no obligation, Fixed Fee Initial Consultation for £75 plus VAT and ask you to allow at least one hour for the meeting. We will ensure that the advice you receive is both practical and realistic. There is no beating around the bush when you come to see us. Even if you decide to do things yourself, taking some initial advice before embarking on the process is best.

Should you require any further information, please give us a call here at Chapman Pieri Solicitors on 020 8882 9850 to set up an Initial Consultation or alternatively you can email us at: info@cpfamilylaw.co.uk. Please have a look at our website where you will find a lot of helpful information: www.cpfamilylaw.co.uk.

Address: Southgate Office Village, Block C, Ground & First Floors, 284B Chase Road, Southgate, London, N14 6HF.

8882 7888

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