Walton Matters December 2020 by Village Matters

Walton Walton

Matters

Putting Local Business First Putting Local Business First

Keeping a Community Together Keeping a Community Together

December 2020 December 2020 Issue 25 Issue 25

FREE and Businesses BusinessesininWalton WaltonononThames Thames FREE to to 9000 9000 Homes Homes and

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Welcome!

It’s been a weird and stressful year for us all. For many of us 2020 can’t be over quick enough, and at the time of writing we are in the middle of “Lockdown 2” and we can only hope that we will be able to have some sort of family end to the year. So all I can do is wish you all a very happy and safe Christmas. It will be different, but Christmas it will still be. Although we have had no Walton “Festival of Lights” this year, the council together with the RC Sherrff Trust and the Riverhouse Barn are running a virtual festival called “Light Up Elmbridge”. Go to page 12 for details. Do get involved if you can. We all need a bit of cheering up.

December 2020 So take care and look after each other. A fresh new year is just round the corner. A I said, have a happy and safe Christmas. See you in January.

Contents

Published by:

Village Matters Ltd Walton Director: Paul Chard Telephone : 07946 494288 Email : paul@villagematters.co.uk Website :www.villagematters.co.uk Cover Photo : Oleg Zaicev

8 Unique Christmas Traditions The First Christmas Film Fun in the Time of COVID Robin Redbreast Light Up Elmbridge Festival Why is it called Boxing Day? A Victorian Christmas People Need Hope A Christmas Truce World’s Oldest Christmas Carol Recipe of The Month Friendship Fade Garden View Dominic Raab Index of Advertisers

Send any photos (300dpi) for consideration to: paul@villagematters.co.uk

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8 Unique Christmas Traditions from Around the World Every family has its own holiday traditions. Whether you are celebrating Christmas on December 25 or on January 7, Epiphany, Posadas or any other seasonal holiday, there are special foods, gifts, and customs that accompany them. It doesn't matter if it's winter or summer in your hemisphere, there are traditions from around the world that can be added or modified to enhance your holiday enjoyment. If you have never used an Advent calendar, hit a piñata, or feasted on fish on Christmas Eve, then try out a new tradition and make it your own. 1. Posadas Piñatas The festivities begin in Mexico with the Posada, a series of nine parties from December 16-24. The posada's consist of a re-enactment of Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem and finding no room at the inn. At the party, Christmas carols are sung, and a seven-point starshaped Piñata – made of papier-mâché, decorated and filled with candy and small toys – is broken. All the children get to collect the fillings and they have tons of fun. 2. Gifts from Sinterklaas Children in Holland receive gifts from Sinterklaas on December 5. If the children leave carrots for Sinterklaas's horse in their shoes, they will receive candy and sweets. This is a sweet Christmas preview for the little ones. 3. Réveillon de Noël The Réveillon de Noël is a French tradition. This delicious meal on Christmas Eve can last five hours or more. The menus vary per region but oysters, Smoked Salmon, and Fois Gras are usually on it. The meal consists of several courses and ends with Bûche de Noël, a Christmas Yule log confection so make sure you save room for dessert. 4. Little Candles Day Little Candles’ Day (Día de las Velitas) celebrated on December 7 marks the start of the Christmas season across Colombia. People place candles and beautiful paper lanterns in their windows, balco-

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nies and front yards in honor of the Virgin Mary and the eve of the immaculate conception. If you are religious or not, candles are beautiful holiday decor. 5. Jolabokaflod Jolabokaflod or Christmas Book flood, is an Icelandic institution. More books are published per capita in Iceland than any other country and most of them are sold around the Christmas season. On Christmas eve people exchange books and then spend the evening reading and eating chocolates; can you think of a better combination? 6. Yule Goat The Yule goat dates back to the 11th century where there are legends of a man-sized goat led by St. Nicholas who had the power to control evil. Today, it is celebrated across Sweden where people hang Christmas ornaments depicting the Yule Goat. In some Swedish cities, giant Yule Goat decorations are made from straw and red ribbons and publicly displayed. Tie one on your tree today! 7. Feast of Seven Fishes This Italian-American Festa dei sette pesci tradition originated in Italy where it is customary to eat fish on the day before a feast day. Today, ItalianAmerican families have made their own tradition and eat a feast of seven fish or seafood dishes on Christmas Eve. Of course, it is not a proper Italian meal without pasta. Mangia! 8. Epiphany Epiphany the feast of the three kings is observed on January 6 for Catholics or January 19 for Orthodox adherents. Traditions vary by country and it is celebrated by special foods and gift gifting. It’s just like a second Christmas, and what can be better?

Source: Various

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‘Santa Claus’

The first Christmas film ever made (1898) Santa Claus was made in 1898 by British hypnotist, illusionist and early film pioneer George Albert Smith. The first time Santa Claus appeared in film, it was in a silent British short directed by George Albert Smith, who pioneered the practice of film editing and the usage of close-ups.

He also worked as a stage hypnotist and psychic, which influenced his use of special effects. This British silent film, a little over a minute long, was made in 1898 and was directed by George Albert Smith, a "stage hypnotist, psychic, magic lantern lecturer, Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, inventor" and noted film pioneer. It was considered a technical marvel in its time and definitely worth a watch.

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Go to : https://youtu.be/bmSJ5SAXHws In the film, two children eagerly wait for Santa Claus by the fireplace, but are ordered to go to bed. While they sleep, Santa comes down the chimney and leaves presents for them. In the end, the children wake up and discover their presents. Transitions between these scenes are done with jump cuts, superimposition, and double exposure, which were new at the time. Michael Brooke of BFI Screenonline describes Santa Claus (1898) as “a film of con-

siderable technical ambition and accomplishment for the period.” The film shows the children sleeping on one side of the screen while Santa lands on the roof on the other, which Brooke says is “believed to be the cinema's earliest known example of parallel action… [The] result is one of the most visually and conceptually sophisticated British films made up to then.” Source: Various Please mention Walton Matters when responding to adverts

Fresh Interiors for 2021 by Gina Broadhurst of Just Shutters Surrey Colour is a powerful and emotive thing. It can change your mood, lift your spirits, and evoke nostalgia and memories. When was the last time you updated your home and changed the colour scheme? The colour trends for 2021 are being widely discussed in interior design circles and there is one palette that I have fallen in love with. In encapsulates warm neutrals with accents of yellow and green. In a time when we spend most of our lives in a digitally saturated environment, these colours will encourage you to unplug and be present in the moment. A nurturing palette

that will revitalise your home and nourish your soul. Make a true connection to nature in your home by experimenting with mossy, sage greens, turmeric and citrus hues. A deep luxurious green such as olive encourages a connection to nature and quiet moments of gentle reflection. Gone are the overtones of 1970s bathrooms, olive really is the new black. Book a no-obligation design visit at JustShutters.co.uk

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Fun in the Time of COVID How on Earth can we celebrate in the midst of all this? It's been a weird old year. We'd all be forgiven for feeling more flat than festive. What we need are some simple ways to find fun in the time of COVID. The pandemic will mean Christmas won’t look like it usually does, but with a bit of thought and creativity it's still possible to celebrate even if we have to spend Christmas away from friends and family: Prioritize - Which traditions matter most to you? Which are easiest to maintain? You can still set up the Christmas decorations, make special foods and watch your favourite films. Pantomimes and trips to the ballet are not possible though so use the family time to set up a games evening with prizes and lots of shouting. You can play charades with friends and family either outside or via video link. My kids love Nintendo Just Dance, and find it hilarious when my husband and I join in. Kids mostly want you...in silly festive mode. So put your phone away, just like you would at the theatre, and get stuck in.

Decorate a tree outside - This is the year to deck out your decking, and pretty your patio. Adorn an outdoor tree with LED lights and shatterproof ornaments. Use twist ties or flo-

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rist’s wire to secure the ornaments so they stay put even in the wind. Then invite a few friends round for a socially It distanced switch on, complete with mulled wine.

Make memories - Create an advent calendar n with festive activities for each day. The activiti ties don’t have to be elaborate; it could just be drinking hot chocolates with marshmallows C together, wearing Santa hats,w or watching Elf, or taking silly festive photos

Start a new tradition - HowC about a Secret Santa gift exchange outside round a firepit with toasted marshmallows? Or outdoor P games on the decking with blankets and hot chocolate? There might be any outdoor cinema near you showing ChristmasY films. Go with friends, take blankets and flasks, and have a m socially distanced outdoor film night!

Spread some joy - If 2020 has taught us anyn thing, it’s how much the people in our lives actually mean to us, so spread happiness se where you can. Write downsh how much the people you love mean to you and a send it out to them. Make Christmas cookies and M leave some with your friends and neighbours. Drop h off some treats atm a local nursing home, hospital, or fire department y to brighten the lives of the people there. th Different can be special - You probably don't remember exactly what happens at Christmas from year to year, but when something out of the ordinary occurs, it sticks in your memory...Christmas disasters often make the best dinner party stories in the years that follow. 2020 has the capacity to give us all enough stories for decades! By Kate McCarthy

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Robin Redbreast

How the robin came to symbolise Christmas Think of winter in the garden and you'll most likely think of a robin. Think of Christmas cards and you'll probably think of the same. Why do robins have such a strong association with winter? There is actually an increase in robin numbers during the winter months. They migrate from Scan-

association with the traditional Christmas story and Christianity. In one tale, it is said that when Mary was giving birth to baby Jesus in the stable, she noticed the fire Joseph had lit was in danger of going out. Suddenly, a small brown bird appeared and started flapping its wings in front of the fire, fanning the embers, and causing it to roar back to life. As the bird flew around tending to the fire, a stray ember made its way towards the tiny creature, scorching its breast bright red. Mary declared that the red breast was a sign of the bird’s kind heart, which would be passed on to its descendants to wear proudly ever after.

T th y There are also Celtic-based tales which link the robin with wintertime. One tells of the feud between the wren, known as the Holly King of Winter, and the robin who was known as the Oak King of Summer. The Holly King was driven away by the Oak King on the Winter Solstice, and the robin took his rightful place. However, on the Summer Solstice, the Holly King gets to take his revenge, and the wren replaces the robin. This story repeats every year and represents the changing of the seasons. It was probably told by way of explaining why we see more robins during the winter months.

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dinavia, Russia and Europe swelling the ranks of our resident robins when the days become too cold and food becomes scarce in their own countries. There are several legends relating robins to winter and Christmas in particular. The first legend hails from Victorian times, when the tradition of sending Christmas cards started. Royal Mail postmen of the time wore bright red uniforms, which earned them the nickname of ‘robin’ or ‘redbreast’. Victorian artists usually illustrated Christmas cards with pictures relating to the delivery of letters, such as post-boxes and postmen. Eventually artists began to play on this word association and postman 'robin' was exchanged for the familiar little brown and red bird, who began to appear in illustrations, sometimes delivering the letters. Middle class Victorians loved all things sentimental and charming, so the trend caught on and continues to this day, with the robin adorning everything from wrapping paper to Christmas jumpers.

Whatever the truth, the robin is a beautiful cheery symbol of this time of year, and if you can spare a little food, particularly meal worms, and some water, he will reward you by visiting your garden daily. Happy Christmas. By Tracey Anderson

Even before the Victorian era, robins had a strong

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Get Involved in the Light Up Elmbridge Festival Elmbridge Borough Council, R C Sherriff Trust and Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre are running a virtual festival called Light Up Elmbridge to keep us all entertained and creative in the run up to the festive season.

Full information on how to register and to find ideas and templates for decorating your window can be found at: https://riverhousebarn.co.uk/elmbridgewindow-wanderland/ For further information, please visit:

E T For the Light Up Elmbridge Festival programme, please follow their facebookr page at E https://bit.ly/2JRMwqP t https://riverhousebarn.co.uk/elmbridgewindow-wanderland/

As part of the Light Up Elmbridge Festival (LUEF), they are inviting you to take part in a window decorating project called Window Wanderland until 12 December. They are asking all Elmbridge residents, schools and community groups to decorate their street side windows to be viewed by the community. They hope this will bring some cheer to everybody while we are going through lockdown 2 and preparing for the festive season. The theme for the decorations is â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Starry Starry Nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. There will be a best window/street/ block competition to be announced and broadcast live at the end of the event so make sure you register and upload photos of your creations so the panel can choose the winner. To advertise email paul@villagematters.co.uk

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Why is it Called Boxing Day? When Christmas day passes, the celebration continues—at least in some countries. In the United Kingdom, as well as a number of other countries that used to be part of the British Empire—such as Scotland, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada—Boxing Day is a bank holiday or public holiday that became official in 1871. Boxing Day is traditionally recognized on December 26, but if that day falls on a Saturday, the celebration moves to the following Monday. If December 26 is a Sunday, Boxing Day is observed on the following Tuesday. Why Is It Called Boxing Day? The term "Boxing Day" was first recorded in 1833, but the official origin of the name has never been determined. There are, however, plenty of theories, which include: The name is a reference to holiday gifts. A "Christmas Box" in Britain is a name for a Christmas present. Boxing Day was traditionally a day off for servants and the day when they received a gift from their employer. The servants would also go home on Boxing Day to give gifts to their families. The name is a reference to charity drives. A box to collect money for the poor traditionally and placed in Churches on Christmas day and opened the next day, or Boxing Day. The name refers to a nautical tradition. When setting sail, ships would carry a sealed box containing money for good luck. If the voyage was a success, the box was given to a priest, opened at Christmas, and the contents then given to the poor. There are competing theories for the origins of the term, none of which is definitive. The European tradition of giving money and other gifts to those in need, or in service positions, has been dated to the Middle Ages, but the exact origin is unknown. It is sometimes believed to be in reference to the Alms Box placed in the narthex of Christian churches to collect donations to the poor. The tradition may come from a custom in the late Roman/early Christian era wherein alms boxes To advertise email paul@villagematters.co.uk

placed in churches were used to collect special offerings tied to the Feast of Saint Stephen, which in the Western Christian Churches falls on the same day as Boxing Day, the second day of Christmastide. On this day, it is customary in some localities for the alms boxes to be opened and distributed to the poor. The Oxford English Dictionary gives the earliest attestations from Britain in the 1830s, defining it as "the first weekday after Christmas day, observed as a holiday on which postmen, errand boys, and servants of various kinds expect to receive a Christmas box". The term "Christmas box" dates back to the 17th century, and among other things meant: A present or gratuity given at Christmas: in Great Britain, usually confined to gratuities given to those who are supposed to have a vague claim upon the donor for services rendered to him as one of the general public by whom they are employed and paid, or as a customer of their legal employer; the undefined theory being that as they have done offices for this person, for which he has not directly paid them, some direct acknowledgement is becoming at Christmas. In Britain, it was a custom for tradesmen to collect "Christmas boxes" of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year. This is mentioned in Samuel Pepys' diary entry for 19 December 1663.This custom is linked to an older British tradition where the servants of the wealthy were allowed the next day to visit their families since they would have to serve their masters on Christmas Day. The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts, bonuses, and sometimes leftover food. Until the late 20th century there continued to be a tradition among many in the UK to give a Christmas gift, usually cash, to vendors although not on Boxing Day as many would not work on that day.

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A Victorian Christmas For thousands of years people around the world have enjoyed midwinter festivals. With the arrival of Christianity, pagan festivals became mixed with Christmas celebrations. One of the leftovers from these pagan days is the custom of bedecking houses and churches with evergreen plants like mistletoe, holly and ivy. Apparently, as well as their magical connection in protecting us from evil spirits, they also encourage the return of spring. No era in history however, has influenced the way in which we celebrate Christmas, quite as much as the Victorians. Before Victoria‘s reign started in 1837 nobody in Britain had heard of Santa Claus or Christmas Crackers. No Christmas cards were sent and most people did not have holidays from work. The wealth and technologies generated by the industrial revolution of the Victorian era changed the face of Christmas forever. Sentimental dogooders like Charles Dickens wrote books like “Christmas Carol”, published in 1843, which actually encouraged rich Victorians to redistribute their wealth by giving money and gifts to the poor – Humbug! These radical middle class ideals eventually spread to the not-quite-so-poor as well. The holidays – The wealth generated by the new factories and industries of the Victorian age allowed middle class families in England and Wales to take time off work and celebrate over two days, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Boxing Day, December 26th, earned its name as the day servants and working people opened the boxes in which they had collected gifts of money from the “rich folk”. Those new fangled inventions, the railways allowed the country folk who had moved into the towns and cities in search of work to return home for a family Christmas. The Scots have always preferred to postpone the celebrations for a few days to welcome in the New Year, in the style that is Hogmanay. Christmas

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Day itself did not become a holiday in Scotland until many years after Victoria’s reign and it has only been within the last 20-30 years that this has been extended to include Boxing Day. The Gifts –At the start of Victoria’s reign, children’s toys tended to be handmade and hence expensive, generally restricting availability to those “rich folk” again. With factories however came mass production, which brought with it games, dolls, books and clockwork toys all at a more affordable price. Affordable that is to “middle class” children. In a “poor child’s” Christmas stocking, which first became popular from around 1870, only an apple, orange and a few nuts could be found. Father Christmas / Santa Claus – Normally associated with the bringer of the above gifts, is Father Christmas or Santa Claus. The two are in fact two entirely separate stories. Father Christmas was originally part of an old English midwinter festival, normally dressed in green, a sign of the returning spring. The stories of St. Nicholas (Sinter Klaas in Holland) came via Dutch settlers to America in the 17th Century. From the 1870’s Sinter Klass became known in Britain as Santa Claus and with him came his unique gift and toy distribution system – reindeer and sleigh. Christmas Cards – The “Penny Post” was first introduced in Britain in 1840 by Rowland Hill. The idea was simple, a penny stamp paid for the postage of a letter or card to anywhere in Britain. This simple idea paved the way for the sending of the first Christmas cards. Sir Henry Cole tested the water in 1843 by printing a thousand cards for sale in his art shop in London at one shilling each. The popularity of sending cards was helped along when in 1870 a halfpenny postage rate was introduced as a result of the efficiencies brought about by those new fangled railways. The Tree – Queen Victoria’s German husband Prince Albert helped to make the Christmas tree as popular in Britain as they where in his native Germany, when he brought one to Windsor Castle in the 1840’s.

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People Need Hope in Challenging Times Surrey Adult Learning Offers Support

It’s such a challenging time for everyone right now, with so much uncertainty caused by COVID-19. The latest government figures show the UK’s unemployment rate rising to 4.8% in the three months to September and redundancies rising to a record high of 314,000 in the same period (Office for National Statistics). Surrey County Council’s latest CIA (County Impact Assessment) indicates that 75% of residents say that lockdown has impacted their mental health and wellbeing in some way with 16-25 -year olds and those on lower incomes saying loneliness is a contributing factor. News of a breakthrough in developing a vaccine is hugely exciting and will bring relief to all of us that there is an end in sight. And the extension of the furlough scheme via the Job Support Scheme for six months will be welcome to many, but not all jobs can be protected, and we are likely to see unemployment continue to rise in the short term. During the first lockdown, many people turned to online training or exercise to provide an outlet or activity. Surrey Adult Learning was one such provider that changed its working practices to be able to continue supporting its learners throughout lockdown and social distancing. Across the summer when centres were closed, they trialled delivery of online courses for the first time. “The feedback we had was amazing”, said Service Principal, Anu Chanda. “80% reported that a Surrey Adult Learning course had provided them with a sense of purpose and achievement. About 50% said it

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helped boost their mood or to feel more connected during social distancing. We’re delighted we have been able to adapt our service delivery so we can continue to offer courses either through our traditional seven Adult Learning Centres or online.” They have just launched their Spring term 2021 with a programme delivering hundreds of courses online and in classrooms from 8 January. They have rigorous measures in place at their centres to ensure social distancing and they are COVID-19 secure. Surrey Adult Learning offers a lifeline for many adults and their Passport to Wellbeing programme offers a series of creative courses to develop skills and knowledge and improve mental wellbeing for adults. Participation can help those managing mental health conditions that have a mild-moderate impact on their day to day lives, such as depression, anxiety or sleeping disorders. These free courses are separate from the main course programme and are tailored to support recovery. Surrey Adult Learning also provides a solid response to the jobs crisis. Their courses support workers to learn or upskill and be ready to face a competitive jobs market. Anu Chanda says “Having the right skills and qualifications is more important than ever and we have introduced a new programme to support job seekers. Whether you’re newly unemployed or looking at career prospects, these Skills for Work courses aim to help you explore new horizons, including identifying your personal skills, CV writing, job applications and interview techniques.” They also have a range of courses covering business and accounting skills and computing and IT from beginners to advanced users. You can find out more about all the courses on offer and enrol online on www.surreycc.gov.uk/adultlearning or call 0300 200 1044.

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A Christmas Truce One of the most remarkable events of the First World War concerns the 'Christmas Truce' of 1914, in which the soldiers of the Western Front laid down their arms on Christmas Day and met in No Man's Land, exchanging food and cigarettes, as well as playing football. The cessation of violence was entirely unofficial. There had been no prior discussion and troops acted spontaneously from goodwill, not orders. The most famous account of events involves British and German forces; however, French and Belgium troops also took part. No-one really knows what initiated it. There were some reports that British troops heard their German counterparts singing Christmas carols and joined but there were also reports of German and British soldiers erecting signs

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By Louise Addison

wishing each other a 'Merry Christmas'. Driven by feelings of goodwill, homesickness and combat-weariness some men crossed the lines with their hands up, and troops from the opposing side went to meet them. Commanders either turned a blind-eye or joined in. Food and supplies were exchanged and tools and equipment were borrowed. Games of football were played and bodies trapped within No Man's Land were buried. In many areas the truce lasted for the whole of Christmas day but in some places the peace lasted much longer and it was several weeks before the bloody conflict resumed.

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Solution on Page 29

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What's the World’s Oldest Christmas Carol By Joe Lynch When we think of traditional Christmas carols such as "Away In a Manger" or "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," we generally assume these religious standards have been handed down through the ages. As with so many assumptions about history, we're wrong. Most of what the English-speaking world regards as traditional Christmas music is actually less than 200 years old. A few of the Christian standards, like 1962's "Do You Hear What I Hear?", were even written after the rock era had begun.

So what was the first Christmas song? Although that question isn't quite as difficult to answer as "what was the first song ever?", the only real answer is that there's no way of definitively proving what the first Christmas song was. We can, however, state with certainty that Christmas-themed music has been produced since the fourth century -- although it wasn't part of most religious services until much later. Until St. Francis of Assisi in the 12th century, Christmas music wasn't typically used in religious services. And even after that, the presence of Christmas music in church wasn't continuous. Throughout the centuries, some felt Christmas music was inappropriate for what was supposed to be a solemn holiday, and so carols were sung on streets more than in churches (Oliver Cromwell even banned Christmas carols in the U.K. during his 17th century reign). Regardless, the oldest Christmas songs we know about are religious. St. Hilary of Poitiers composed

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the Latin carol "Jesus refulsit omnium" ("Jesus illuminates all") in the fourth century, presumably after the first recorded Christmas celebration (336 A.D.). Also in the 4th century, the Roman Christian poet Prudentius composed "Corde natus ex Parentis." These, however, are more hymns than carols. The French version of "The Friendly Beasts" (written about the animals surrounding Christ at the nativity) traces back to the 12th century, making it a strong contender for the oldest Christmas carol that people still sing regularly today. Another French oldie, "Entre le bœuf et l'âne gris" (English: "Between the Ox and the Grey Ass"), is placed by scholars as far back as the 13th century. The German/Latin carol "In Dulci Jubilo" (later used by Johann Sebastian Bach) also dates back to the Middle Ages. In terms of carols originally composed in English, the history is more recent, but it's similarly uncertain. While "Adam lay ybounden" has been traced back to the 15th century by scholars, the song -- which is mostly about Adam from Genesis -- hardly resembles a Christmas carol in terms of lyrical content (and the original music has been lost). Other 15th century English carols "This Endris Night" and "Sir Christmas" are more in the holiday spirit, but mostly forgotten. Fast forward to the 16th century, though, and we've got a song with household name recognition: "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen." While the standard lyrics come from the 19th century, variations on the song go back to at least the 1650s. A century later, in 1739, we have the first published version of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing." By the 1800s, a number of the Christmas carols we know and sing today start cropping up. In short, the title "World's Oldest Christmas Carol" doesn't really have one easy answer ready for holiday party trivia. Like much music history prior to the Guttenberg press, the vast majority has been lost. So for all we know, traveling minstrels were singing songs along the lines of "All I Want For Christmas Is You" back in the Middle Ages. Please mention Walton Matters when responding to adverts

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Recipe of The Month Parmesan Biscuits

Preparation time: 20 minutes plus resting time. Cooking time: 10-20 mins Makes about 24+

food processor with the salt, cayenne, mustard powder, and cheeses. Rub the fat into the flour mixture then gradually bring the mixture together to form a dough. Don't add egg or water. Wrap the dough in cling film and leave to chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

Ingredients 100g cold unsalted butter, cut into chunks 100g plain flour, plus extra for flouring pinch salt pinch cayenne pepper 1 heaped tsp mustard powder 50g finely grated mature cheddar 50g finely grated parmesan, or similar vegetarian hard cheese, plus a little extra 1 egg, beaten Method Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Place the butter and flour into a bowl of a

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Lightly flour a work surface and gently roll out the pastry to about 1cm thick. Cut out the biscuits using festive cutters. Lay them out on a greased baking tray about 2cm apart. You might need two trays.

Brush the surface of each biscuit Pr with the beaten egg and sprinkle over a little re finely grated parmesan. Bake for 10 Co minutes, or until they are golden-brown. They smell heavenly!

Remove from the oven and carefully lift the biscuits off the tray using a palette knife, then place on a rack to cool. They In make lovely gifts and will keep well in a sealed container for a few days.

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Friendship Fade

Maintaining friendships when you can’t meet up is tough we’re drifting apart. However, with a bit of effort we can reconnect.

A quarter of people in Great Britain have noone they can call a 'best friend' and nearly one -in-eight admit to having no friends at all. As the pandemic continues and interactions with friends become more virtual, even those who have never had to worry about friendships are noticing friendship fade. We like to think that our friendships are based on shared interests and personality traits, but mostly they are based on proximity, consistency, and communication. We’re all feeling jaded and lacking in energy right now. It’s no surprise we’re struggling to summon the motivation to interact with others. Friendships falter during sustained periods of radio silence and at the moment we lack the new and shared experiences, the grievances and personal victories that previously we would have dissected at length over a bottle of wine. In addition, we all have vastly different pandemic experiences. Some of us are working from quiet well-ordered homes; others are jobless, struggling financially, or trying to arrange near impossible childcare for who kids may be quarantining due to school outbreaks. Some may even have lost family members. These differences put a strain on the closest friendships, and it can feel as though

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Many friendships are based around a hobby. Craft sessions and book clubs moved easily online, but sport and music groups are more difficult to transfer…choirs don’t really work online, and you certainly can’t play badminton remotely. It’s good to try to get together socially though. Try an online quiz or watch a film together. You already have one interest in common so there will probably be other connections, and repeated interactions prime us to be friends with one another. It can feel risky to reach out, but scientists have proven that people who initiate interactions are less likely to be lonely over time, and they’re more likely to be satisfied in their relationships. Many people assume that if their friend doesn’t initiate then they’re not interested, but everybody’s afraid of rejection. We tend to underestimate how much someone we have interacted with likes us, especially if we’re self-critical. It’s called ‘The liking gap’. Also, we tend to think that we have to be cool, fascinating, or smart, but if you treat others well and make them feel valued, they are more likely to want to be friends. If someone doesn’t respond, don’t be despondent; they might suffer with social anxiety, or be overwhelmed with work, or struggling with other problems in their lives. Think of reaching out like exercising a muscle; the more you do it the more likely you’ll make and maintain friendships. Put video chats in your diary, in the same way you would schedule a dinner date. Face time is the closest thing we have to real life face-toface connections right now. It’s not perfect but it will help keep friendships strong. By Louise Addison Please mention Walton Matters when responding to adverts

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The Science of Snowflakes Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? Have you ever given any thought to the science behind the snow? The ice crystals that make up snowflakes are patterned symmetrically because frozen water molecules arrange themselves in predetermined spaces known as crystallization, to form a six -sided snowflake. The basic shape of the ice crystal is partly due the temperature at which it forms, and to a lesser extent, partly due to the humidity of the air. Thus, we see long needle-like crystals at -5C and flat plate-like crystals at -15C. The intricate shape of a single arm of the

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snowflake is determined by the atmospheric conditions experienced by entire ice crystal as it falls. A crystal might begin to grow arms in one manner, and then seconds later, a slight change in the surrounding temperature or humidity causes the crystal to grow in a different way. Although a snowflake is always six-sided and the arms may branch off in new directions, because each arm experiences the same atmospheric conditions, the arms look identical. Individual snowflakes are all unique because they all follow slightly different paths from the sky to the ground and thus encounter slightly different atmospheric conditions along the way. So, they all tend to look different, resembling everything from prisms and needles to tiny lace doilies. By Louise Addison Please mention Walton Matters when responding to adverts

Sudoku G A M B I T L A N U O B J E C T S B O H U B A A C R E L E L P L U T O S A H S C O N T E M P T R O E T N I E C E R A S E S I N G L E

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Solution on Page 33

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Garden View

This month - Hardworking Ivy The Holly and the Ivy, When they are both full grown, Of all the trees that are in the wood, The Holly bears the crown. Holly is much coveted festive greenery but what about ivy, or Hedera to give it the botanical name? It makes up the trio of festive plants, the other being mistletoe, and frankly it's usually seen as a bit of a poor relation, misunderstood and mostly unloved. Yet ivy is a great workhorse in the garden. It’s evergreen, it attracts wildlife and is excellent on those north-facing walls and fences where nothing else seems to grow. It's not just a dark green cloak either; there are many cultivars with different leaf shapes and variegated foliage. The variegated varieties are great in those areas that catch just a little sunlight during part of the day as they suddenly seem to illuminate a usually dull spot.

Ivy is great for disguising an ugly wall, a bare fence, or an old tree stump. It’s a reliable and self-clinging climber if you choose the right variety and remember to prune it correctly. The young climbing stems are slender and flexible with small aerial roots that fix the shoot to a surface. Adult stems are thicker,

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By Rachael Leverton

self-supporting and do not have roots. Unlike mistletoe ivy isn't parasitic so won't harm trees but be careful about letting it grow on the walls of your house as it will damage weak mortar and pebbledash. If growing on a property it needs to be clipped back in spring and summer, so it doesn't do any damage to structure underneath. Don't let it get into gutters because it will clog them then infiltrate under tiles or slates. Ivy is excellent ground cover. It will scramble over areas of poor soil and brighten the ground between shrubs during the dark winter months. Persian ivy, Hedera colchica ‘Dentata Variegata’, is lovely because of its large, yellow-edged leaves. Hedera canariensis ‘Gloire de Marengo’ is also good. Its red stems and large leaves with splashes of yellow looks rather splendid. If you need an area covered quickly try Hedera Hibernica, which is a vigorous native ivy. Hedera helix is the other native ivy and this one has numerous cultivars including Goldheart, which has yellow-centred leaves, Green Ripple, with frilly edged leaves and ‘Buttercup’ which is bright yellow. If you love to support the wildlife in your garden, then ivy is a terrific plant. During autumn and early winter adult ivies produce small greenish-yellow flowers. These are especially rich in nectar so attract bees, butterflies, hoverflies, and other insects, providing them with a place to overwinter. Birds like thrushes, blackbirds and robins enjoy the purple black berries which ripen from late winter to mid-spring, providing a much-needed winter food source. I hope I've made a good case for growing ivy in your garden. Holly might bear the crown, but I reckon ivy deserves a tiara at the very least! Happy gardening and Merry Christmas, Please mention Walton Matters when responding to adverts

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Dominic Raab Our Local MP

Residents and businesses in Walton have been showing great resolve in keeping to the Coronavirus restrictions – both under the “high” local alert level, and (at the time of writing) under national restrictions. I don’t underestimate the difficulties that the restrictions have caused locally. They are, however, essential to drive down the level of Coronavirus, and the case rate in Elmbridge continues to fall steadily. Throughout this challenging time, I’ve been working to ensure that residents and businesses have the financial support they need. Under the “high” local alert level for example, it was clear that the restrictions would impact local businesses that weren’t forced to close. This is why certain businesses can still receive grants of up to £2,100 per month, backdated for the time that Elmbridge was under the “high” local alert level. As the restrictions have changed, so too has the support available. First, now that many businesses have had to close under the national restrictions, they are eligible for grants of up to £3,000 per month. This is on top of other support such as Bounce Back Loans, through which local businesses have been offered over £80m so far. Dom checking in with local businesses in Walton (before national restrictions were in place)

Next, the furlough scheme has been extended until April next year. I’ve visited a lot of high street businesses, including in Walton, who have told me how valuable the scheme has been, in some cases saving scores of jobs, so this is good news for the local economy. Finally, to help the large number of local residents who are self-employed, the SelfEmployment Income Support Scheme has been made more generous. The third grant under the scheme will now cover 80% of average profits between November and January, up to £7,500. While the restrictions are frustrating, this support will help Walton to get through them. As ever, I can be contacted for assistance at dominic.raab.mp@parliament.uk.

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Index of Advertisers Bathrooms Bathrooms Sanctuary Bathrooms Sanctuary Bathrooms Building Building Aldridge and Sons Aldridge and Sons Care Care Alina Homecare Alina AmilyHomecare Homecare Amily Homecare Promedica Cleaning Promedica Nick Lewis Cleaning EstateLewis Agents Nick HarmesAgents Turner Brown Estate Feet Harmes Turner Brown FootHelp Feet Finance FootHelp Access Equity Release Finance Harvest Financial Mgmt Access Release FuneralEquity Services Harvest Financial Mgmt Alan Greenwood Funeral Services Furnishings Alan Greenwood John Miller Furnishings Garage Doors John Miller Garolla Garage Doors Gardening Garolla All Seasons Gardening Health/Fitness Gardening OneSeasons 2 One Gardening All Heating Health/Fitness Surrey Heating Specialists One 2 One Kitchens Heating AshfordHeating Kitchens Surrey Specialists

Kitchens Ashford Kitchens

Mobility Shepperton Mobility 15 Mobility 15 Shepperton Pharmacy Mobility Trio 23 Pharmacy 23 Trio Plumbing Response Plumbing 29 Plumbing 29 PropertiesPlumbing 20 Response 20 Tennay Properties 25 Properties Schools/Education Properties 25 Tennay Halliford School 33 Schools/Education Surrey Adult Learning School 33 Halliford Sell forAdult CashLearning 36 Surrey J C Stamps for Cash 36 Sell 10 JShutters C Stamps Just Shutters 10 Shutters Will Writing 21 Just Shutters 23 Harvest Wills Writing 21 Will Windows/Doors 23 House ofWills Surrey 13 Harvest Windows/Doors Village Windows 13 27 House of Surrey

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Village Windows

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