community times sutton

Please download your cover from the

business system and copy/paste here -

www.ctmanage.co.uk

(creating an edition > Covers)

www.ctsutton.co.uk

Delivered to homes in the Sutton CommunityDelivered to homes in the Sutton CommunityDelivered to homes in the Sutton CommunityDelivered to homes in the Sutton Community

Sutton Community TimesCommunity TimesCommunity TimesCommunity Times

November 2008

Tiger On the trail of the

Style Start of

f in

Fishing for condiments

Free

Free

Free

Free

2 Please quote Community Times when contacting our advertisers

List of services

• Service 1

• Service 2

• Service 3

• Service 4

Insert Company Name

Call: 0800 1234567

Email [email protected]

123 The Street, The District, The Town, ABC 123

Insert Company Tagline

WHY ADVERTISE

SUTTON WITH COMMUNITY TIMES

SuttonSuttonSuttonSutton

May 2008

DISTRIBUTIONDISTRIBUTIONDISTRIBUTIONDISTRIBUTION • 20,000+ 20,000+ 20,000+ 20,000+ readers every month

• Digital Digital Digital Digital edition

• Extensive Extensive Extensive Extensive online audience

• Distributed directly directly directly directly to homes in Carshalton, Carshalton, Carshalton, Carshalton,

Charshalton Beeches, Cheam, Charshalton Beeches, Cheam, Charshalton Beeches, Cheam, Charshalton Beeches, Cheam,

• Walllington, Beddington, Banstead.Walllington, Beddington, Banstead.Walllington, Beddington, Banstead.Walllington, Beddington, Banstead.

• Distributed Distributed Distributed Distributed to community areas throughout

Sutton including: Doctors waiting rooms, Doctors waiting rooms, Doctors waiting rooms, Doctors waiting rooms,

coffeecoffeecoffeecoffee shops, hairdressers, gyms and shops, hairdressers, gyms and shops, hairdressers, gyms and shops, hairdressers, gyms and

librarieslibrarieslibrarieslibraries

Prices Start from just £15

To make a bookingbookingbookingbooking or for a

media pack media pack media pack media pack please contact us

on:

07932 564 033 07932 564 033 07932 564 033 07932 564 033

[email protected]@[email protected]@ctsutton.co.uk

www.ctsutton.co.ukwww.ctsutton.co.ukwww.ctsutton.co.ukwww.ctsutton.co.uk

Affordable Advertising Affordable Advertising Affordable Advertising Affordable Advertising

for for for for

Excellent ReturnExcellent ReturnExcellent ReturnExcellent Return

• Community Times is a national brand ensuring all of its community magazines are beautifully designed, high quality, full colour and glossy.

• Your business, product or service will be presented to prospective purchasers in a high quality publication.

• Community Times offers advertisers the most cost effective medium to reach their local market.

• Community Times is retained in homes for extended periods offering a long shelf life to advertisers.

• Our lifestyle platforms of property, travel, gadgets, fashion, motoring, health & beauty, food & drink offer advertisers extensive opportunities to address their key audience.


Lushey Lushey Lushey Lushey SoSoSoSo

BOOK NOW !!!!

If you book colour, cut and b/dry now and book

again for December or January, You will receive a

cut absolutely FREE !!!

sex

GIFT VOUCHERS

NOW

AVAILABLE

Coming Soon

FAKE BAKE SPRAY

@

www.lushleyso.co.uk

HAIR BEAUTY

152 Stanley Park Road

Carshalton Beeches

Surrey SM5 3 JG 0208 669 4222

4

Contents...

Warm welcome back in this wintry weather we are having at the moment. Grab yourself a nice hot cup of tea and sit back and relax with this month’s copy of the Community Times Sutton. Our November issue is packed full interesting articles from what to wear this winter, to a delicious mouth-watering recipe to finding your ancestry roots. We have a great competition, we are giving away £250 each to 4 lucky readers, in time for Christmas so don’t miss out and enter today. In this month’s edition, we have put the spotlight on local resident who after battling with her weight for years, have finally found a programme that has helped her slim down to a comfortable size. Read her amazing journey on page 7. Finally I would like to say a huge thank you to all our advertisers and please do tell them that you saw their advert in the Community Times Sutton. If you are looking to advertise, there is still time to get your ad in, in our Christmas edition. Well, that is it for now, get yourself comfortable and enjoy reading Community Times Sutton and we will see you next month.

Autumn/Winter Trend 5-6

Margaret’s story 7

Start off in Style 9-10

Local Heroes 14

Get back to your roots 16-19

Fishing 4 condiments 20-21

Community Pages 22-26

On the trail of the Tiger 27-28

Agony Aunt 30

Horoscopes 31

Introduction SuttonSuttonSuttonSutton Community Times

Editor:Editor:Editor:Editor: Elsa Laima Website:Website:Website:Website: www.ctsutton.co.uk

Editorial and Advertising:Editorial and Advertising:Editorial and Advertising:Editorial and Advertising: Tel: Tel: Tel: Tel: 020 3355 6797 Mobile: Mobile: Mobile: Mobile: 07932 564 033 Email:Email:Email:Email: [email protected] Whilst every care has been

taken to ensure that the data

in this publication is accurate,

neither the publisher nor its

editorial contributors can

accept, and hereby disclaim,

any liability to any party to

loss or damage caused by

errors or omissions resulting

from negligence,

accident or any other cause.

Community Times Ltd

does not officially en-

dorse any advertising

material included within

this publication.

All rights reserved. No part of

this publication may be repro-

duced, stored in any retrieval

system, or transmitted in any

form - electronic, mechanical,

photocopying,

recording or otherwise - without

prior permission of the publisher.

Editor’s welcome...


Ease yourself into next season's collections.

M ark up your fashion calendars - with Winter looming it's time to take stock of your summer

wardrobe and embrace the new season. High summer hasn't exactly delivered on the sunshine front, leaving some of our S/S 08 trend-led buys barely worn and redundant. But if there's one season we really get our wear out of, it's autumn/winter. Fret not about the changeable weather. Come rain or shine, the fashion forecast for next season is set in stone, taking its lead from the designer catwalks. Worried about what to keep, what to chuck in the charity bag, and what key pieces to invest in for the season ahead? Read on and make the stylish transition from summer to autumn. With these additions your wardrobe will be fully fashion recharged for the season ahead.

embrace

Make the

Autumn/ Winter trend transition

season the new

SuttonSuttonSuttonSutton Community Times Article


Hang on to those super-sheer tops and nautical shorts and hypothermia may beckon. Work these daytime transitional updaters into your wardrobe and you'll be streets ahead. BUY: Two-in-one dresses: Forget the dilemma of matching a top and skirt together, these double-dose dresses do all the deciding work for you. Fab for fashion-friendly officewear. Folk: Potentially the A/W season's easiest trend move from summer to winter. Think paisley, folksy prints and purple for autumnal hippy chic. Tartan: The Scot-inspired print is big on day dresses, blouses, jackets, trousers, tights... just about anything! Bump up the transition gradually and wear head-to-toe tartan brights if you dare. KEEP: Maxi dresses; floral prints; embroidered pieces. CHUCK: Tribal prints; crochet; shrunken blazers.

Daytime Updates

Accessories allowed

Updating your accessories box of tricks is the easiest and cheapest way to transform your look to A/W 08 and rival the catwalk's coolest looks. BUY: Patterned tights: As seen at Chanel and Rodarte catwalks, the newest way to cover your pins is with a funky pattern or eye-catching print. Over-knee boots: Play at the pantomime game in thigh high boots but wear with tights to avoid the Pretty Woman look. Bow neckties: One for the fashionistas. This showstopper of a trend will transform natty outfits in an instant. KEEP: Ethnic scarves; clutch bags; vintage-style jewels. CHUCK: Cowboy boots; wooden jewellery; acid bright bags.

Eveningwear essentials Summer frocks won't cut it when temperatures start to plummet. Glam up for an autumn/winter night out with these hot must-haves. BUY: Red: The eveningwear colour of choice for the catwalks. Move over LBD, you have some stiff competition with the look-at-me red dress. Lace: Fashion fabric of the moment, a dramatic lace piece will send your wardrobe into 'of-the-moment' status. Evening blouse: The perfect evening wardrobe revitaliser if you're not a dress fan. Keep them flouncy and elegant. KEEP: Fringe dresses; one-shoulder pieces; sequins. CHUCK: Dip-dye dresses; star prints; tiered frocks.

Fashion


LIGHTERLIFE SUCCESS STORY – MARGARET MOSS

During my adolescent years, I never had a weight problem and was very slim

when I got married at 18. It was the next few years, that I noticed my weight

going up and to control it I would diet, but then it would go back on. I finally

reached my target weight around 22 years ago, when I attended a slimming

club, where my goal was to lose weight for a friend’s wedding, which I did

achieve but after the wedding, I started putting on weight steadily and tried

pretty much every diet going. In most diets, I found that I could lose the first

two stones and then I would hit a plateau, where it would be painfully slow to

try and lose anymore weight and so more often than not, I would just give up.

I was my heaviest 6 years ago weighing 19st 7lbs. On the outside, I shown to be

an outgoing, bubbly person but deep down I felt really miserable and hated

being as big as I was. I went to see my GP on numerous occasions and I was

offered various prescribed drugs to help me lose weight, but because of the

side effects, I always

declined. In my mind I didn’t think I was as big as I was until I looked at photos of myself where I looked huge and

felt like a sumo wrestler. I become desperate and once again tried several diets and I manage to lose 3 stone on

my own.

I first become aware of Lighterlife in April 2006 through my sister-in-law. She knew how I struggled with my weight

and she had a friend who was losing weight quickly by following the Lighterlife programme. So I took the plunge

and looked up the website, found my nearest counsellor and then went to see her. I will never forget the day, the

counsellor firstly showed me a DVD all about the diet, then explained that I will be attending a two hour meeting

each week. I was so sceptical having tried so many different diets and didn’t really believe that it could be THAT

easy. I was so desperate that I was willing to try anything. I went to see my GP for his opinion and so told him

about this programme, he had heard of the diet and knew someone else

that was losing weight by following the programme.

The first meeting I thought to myself that I would just go and listen and not say

a word – and within five minutes of sitting in a room full of women I started

talking and couldn’t help but get involved with the group and have never

looked back. I found the whole group concept a brilliant experience. We

really got close as a group and having that support and knowing that there

are others that feel like you do was so inspiring! I lost every week on average

4lbs and reached my goal weight, having lost 5stone 8lbs on the 31st Decem-

ber 2006. I cannot tell you how happy I was. I was floating on air! Throughout

those 19 weeks I had the support of my family and friends who were brilliant

by showing such interest each week in my progress. My Counsellor Carolyn

was great too. She was always there for me and gave 110% in helping me

succeed. I dropped from a dress size 18/20 to size 10/12! People who saw

me shrink before their eyes were truly amazed at how quickly I lost the weight.

Many feel that my confidence is back and I got the sparkle back in my eyes.

Now when I wake up I actually look forward to getting dressed and choosing

something to wear in which I feel great!

I have completed the Management course and am enjoying eating food

again, you really appreciate the taste of everything and I intend to keep in

touch with my Counsellor. It really is fantastic knowing that the support is there for life to help me maintain this

healthy weight. I am a lot fitter now, I play tennis regularly, I walk to and from work, I go to the gym once a week

and attend an aerobics class. I have learned that I will always have to be careful about my food choices, but

that is a sacrifice that I am willing to make because I am worth it!

Carolyn Rennie

Lighterlife Counsellor

Sutton

020 8661 1684


ew parents always want to give their baby the red carpet

treatment when it arrives in the world and that means preparing a beautiful nursery. But design savvy parents are turning away from the tried-and-tested formula of pastel colours and garishly coloured murals or predictable bunnies and teddies. These days nursery is likely to be a stylish sanctuary that echoes the good looks of the rest of their home.

"Quite right too," says Andrea Maflin, an interior designer whose new book, Children's Rooms, is packed with inspiring ideas for creating imaginative, practical rooms for little ones. “Remember that just because this is a room for a child it doesn't necessarily have to be traditionally childish,” she says. "You don't have to sacrifice your own taste and design ideas if you don't want to - there's no reason

why this room shouldn't be decoratively as much part of your home as any other room. "That way you will enjoy spending time in it - especially as for the first couple of years it will be a room where long hours are spent day and night! So, it needs to be comfortable, relaxing." All you need is a little know-how, some imagination and not too much money to create a room that will grow with your child, and won't need expensive redecoration too often.

Start off in

N

SuttonSuttonSuttonSutton Community Times

FORGET A CARTOON MURAL AND A LICK OF PAINT IN PINK OR BLUE - TODAY'S KIDS ARE BECOMING AS DESIGN SAVVY AS THEIR PARENTS. CHECK OUT THE TRENDS AND STYLES FOR SMART KIDS ROOMS.


Property

Rob Chambers, commercial manager for furniture at Mamas & Papas, also recognises that parents want to harmonise the look of their child's room with the other living spaces, so good design flows through the entire home. "Many families are keen to create an individual, more eclectic feel in their children's bedroom or nursery these days and they also want furniture that will last beyond their children's nursery years," he says. “Oak is a popular wood finish and we are also seeing more interest in the crisp, clean look of white furniture, which reflects interior trends in other parts of the home.” Follow our guide to creating a perfect room for your child... Proper planning and preparation is the key to success for a perfect room. "You can't do too much of this," Andrea says. "Start early and by the time the baby arrives you will have a room ready to welcome your newborn into the world."

First, measure the room and do an accurate scale drawing of the space. Then

draw in, to scale, any pieces of furniture that you already have which will make choosing any new pieces easier as you'll know how much room you have for them, and are less likely to make mistakes.

A durable but inexpensive carpet is essential as it will inevitably get stained and

need replacing after a few years.

A cot/bed will have a longer life than just a cot. Position it so it's not in direct sunlight or

next to a heater.

Ample storage is another must - if there's little floor space consider wall hooks

and shelves.

Ensure windows can be blacked out for day-time naps. Blackout blinds plus

lined curtains are a practical and stylish solution.

Have two sorts of light - a bright overhead light and a low-level light to use at night.

Consider a table lamp fitted with a low-wattage bulb, or a dimmer switch on an overhead light.

Alternatively, fairy lights fixed securely along a picture rail are a pretty way of providing

a soft light.

"If the room is for an older child, talk to him or her about it," Andrea says.

"Children often have surprisingly strong opinions and it's a good plan to take them into account."

If choosing a motif opt for a classic one - maybe a spaceship and spaceman or

cowboy - rather than a cartoon character which may quickly fall out of favour.

A new book, Designed For Kids (Thames & Hudson, £18.95) is a guide to stylish products for babies and children and highlights eco-friendly choices.

Easy as

11

www.ctsutton.co.uk

Competition SuttonSuttonSuttonSutton Community Times


SuttonSuttonSuttonSutton Community Times Local News

Sutton Students to Shine on Royal Albert Hall Stage Two students from Sutton will be performing as part of a prestigious dance show at the Royal Albert Hall on the 1st and 2nd November. Natalia Okeke from Wallington High School for Girls and Lucy Freeman from Overton Grange will be working with leading dance choreographer, Royston Maldoom OBE.

The ambitious show called ‘Overture 2012’ will feature 120 young Londoners, aged 8-17, across 31 boroughs, set to Shostakovich’s 10th Symphony and played live by the London Symphony Orchestra. Over an intensive five-week rehearsal period, Royston Maldoom will transform these young people into a cohesive, disciplined, profes-sional dance company. Overture 2012 will be one of the cultural highlights of 2008, making a major statement about the impact dance can have on the lives of young people. The show is being put on by dance company, Dance Umbrella which is celebrating its 30th birthday this year. Its success has put

contemporary dance 'on the map' in the capital and has changed the dance landscape beyond recognition. Dance Umbrella's festival is a major annual event in the arts calendar, London's only festival of contempo-rary dance and one of the most important dance festivals internationally.

Youth Parliament: Make Your Mark

Are you aged 11-18, interested in politics and want to make a difference? If so, you could be an ideal candidate for Sutton’s upcoming Youth Parliament elections. The Youth Parliament elections take place between 10th and 21st November and Sutton is looking for candidates to stand. Sutton has held UKYP (UK Youth Parliament) elections since 2000 and had a Member of Youth, Parliament (MYP) and Deputy MYP representing the borough. Last year, 7,000 young people in Sutton voted for their MYP and an even better turnout is expected this year. Sutton’s current Youth Parliament Member, Yetty Ishola and Deputy MYP, Dan Kent are accountable to Sutton Youth Parliament. Throughout their term of office, MYPs take part in projects, campaigns and events both locally and nationally, put the views of young people forward to decision makers and attend the UKYP Annual Sitting. MYPs generally spend between one and five hours per week on UKYP activities. They also meet regularly with our local MPs and local councillors. Locally, Youth Parliament Members, Yetty and Dan, have had a real impact with their campaign to reduce the voting age to 16 and getting the stage in the Millennium Gardens re-opened so youth bands could play there. They’ve also worked hard on anti-smoking initiatives with councillors to look at ways to and reduce teenage smoking in Sutton. Sutton’s Youth Parliament organiser, Candy Cox said: “The Youth Parliament is a fantastic way for Sutton’s young people to have their say in pressing local and national issues. It is a great experience for those that get involved to really develop their communication skills and gain confidence.” Cllr Tony Brett Young, Executive Member for Young People said: “The members of the Youth Parliament really do make a difference and their voice is being heard. I hope lots of young people get involved in this year’s elections because we want the Youth Parliament to be as representative as possible of young people in Sutton.”


See now our beautiful sparkling

CHRISTMAS PAPER and CHRISTMAS CARDS!

Handmade Paper GiftsHandmade Paper GiftsHandmade Paper GiftsHandmade Paper Gifts On our website you can find beautiful handmade paper items like wrapping/craft/wedding paper, greeting/Christmas cards, writing sets, journals, notebooks, photo albums, scrap books, sketch books, table mats, posters, wine bags, gift envelopes, folders and more.

Our honest and environmental friendly handmade paper is for those who are fond of out-of-the ordinary objects and are demanding in terms of finishing

touches, willing to spend extra to get something quite original. For everyone who loves something beautiful and unique, Indipaper is the place to visit!

www.indipaper.com www.indipaper.com www.indipaper.com www.indipaper.com


SuttonSuttonSuttonSutton Community Times Local Heroes

320 miles cycle in aid of Hospice320 miles cycle in aid of Hospice320 miles cycle in aid of Hospice320 miles cycle in aid of Hospice Wallington resident, Joe Ryan photo attached will be taking on a 320 mile cycle

challenge in November to raise money for St Raphael's, the local Hospice for Sutton &

Merton.

On 2 November, Joe will be cycling across the Rajasthan area of India, starting at sunrise

from the Taj Mahal and riding for six days through temperatures exceeding 95 degrees.

This will be the eleventh time Joe has completed a cycle challenge, raising over £50,000

for a variety of charities. Joe trains for his challenge by cycling to work in Central

London, covering more than 70 miles in a week.

Joe said "I am hoping to raise at least £12,000 for what in my opinion is a truly

wonderful charity, namely St Raphael's Hospice. I have heard countless stories of the

loving care and tenderness they give to people in their last days on earth as they enter the

final stages of terminal illnesses such as cancer. When I visited the Hospice I was struck

by the warmth and loving nature of the staff and voluntary workers, which supported the

stories I have heard over the years"

St Raphael's Hospice cares for over 900 patients a year in the Boroughs of Sutton &

Merton with terminal illnesses. All services are provided free of charge to patients and

their families and include home visits from specialist Palliative Care Nurses, day care,

respite and bereavement counselling. But these services cost over £3.6 million every

year, with just 28% of costs being paid for by the NHS which means that over £2.5

million has to be raised from the community each year through charitable fundraising and

donations.

Anyone who wants to support the Hospice can go to www.justgiving.com/joeryan2 or

contact Karen Bolton, Community Fundraiser at St Raphael's on 020 8644 3857.

Sutton salutes local sporting heroes

The borough’s sporting heroes were honoured at the annual Sutton Sports Awards last week. Over 300 people packed into the Secombe Theatre to pay tribute to the clubs,

athletes and volunteers who have shone in the past year, including victorious young-

sters at the London Youth Games. Rising judo star Kerry Ford picked up the award for

Sports Person of the Year after winning gold at the Judo UK School Games. Young

Sports Person of the Year went to Bryony Smith, the only female member of Walling-

ton Cricket Club’s U11 Team who also plays for Surrey Girls U11s.

Carshalton Athletic Junior Football Club was voted Sports Club of the Year in recog-

nition of community work at the club and in Sutton’s schools. Sports Volunteer of the

Year was picked up by Edna Harrison, who for more than 30 years has the run the huge

over 50s leisure group the ‘Evergreen’s at Westcroft Leisure Centre. Isaac Tidy, a

young swimmer who trains at Sutton & Cheam Swimming Club, was voted Disabled Sports Person of the Year.

Among the London Youth Games medallists were five gold medal winning teams in Tennis, Boys Special Needs Swimming, Girls

Floor and Vault Gymnastics, Boys Judo and Boys Swimming. All of these teams were top in the huge multi-sports competition held at

Crystal Palace and other London venues during the summer – Sutton finished in overall 4th place out of the 33 London Boroughs. All the

awards and medals were presented by the Mayor of Sutton, on behalf of Sutton Sports Council, in partnership with Sutton Sports Devel-

opment Team. Cllr Graham Tope, Executive Member for Leisure on Sutton Council, said: “Congratulations to the winners and all who

were nominated for this year’s awards. “It has been a fantastic year for sport in Sutton with borough athletes including David Weir and

Rebecca Romero storming to medals at the Olympic and Paralympics Games in Beijing. “But as well as outstanding individuals, it is the

hard work and dedication of our sports clubs, schools and volunteers who give Sutton such a rich sporting heritage. “I was delighted that we could honour so many of them at this year’s sports awards.” To find out more on how you can be involved in future awards contact

Sutton Sports Development Team on 020 8770 4667, visit the council website:- www.sutton.gov.uk or Sutton Sports Council’s Website

at www.suttonsportscouncil.co.uk


ENTERPRISING YOUNG COUPLE PROMOTE

BUSINESSES WITH NEW VENTURE

WITH the credit crunch starting to bite, a young couple from Shropshire have come up with the perfect

solution for people looking for a cost-effective and fun way to promote their businesses. Jamie Delo (22),

who has just completed a degree in Computer Science, set up Project WORD with his partner Sophia Luisada

(20). Their innovative web based business dictionary allows members to pay just £1 to ‘buy’ a keyword

related to their business and then have it linked to their website.

“Thousands of companies are failing every year due to lack of marketing.”

A recent survey of over 3,000 UK business owners was conducted by Project

WORD which shows that almost 40% of start-up companies have no

marketing plan and almost 50% of businesses launch without any form of

marketing or advertising. “These statistics establish the downfall of many

new companies that just assume consumers will have heard of their website.

When, in reality, thousands of companies are failing every year due to lack of

marketing.” explains Jamie.

“We have now linked over 5,000 keywords to businesses as our project

continues to grow, providing a cost-effective way of marketing businesses

throughout the UK,” “We have received great feedback from people who

have seen an increase in visitors to their website after signing up to Project

WORD.” Getting involved in Project WORD is easy. You simply visit the

website at www.projectword.co.uk, choose a keyword related to your

business, check if it’s available and then link that word to your website.

Jamie and Sophia have also ensured that businesses without their own

websites are catered for, enabling them to create an online business card

that can be linked to their chosen keywords, again for just £1.

“What we have launched so far has proved to a be a simple, cost-effective

and popular way of enabling businesses to promote themselves,” says Jamie,

“But this is only the beginning and we have some exciting ideas for the

coming months.”

“Simple, cost-effective way for businesses to promote themselves ”



You no longer need to have a coat of arms and a huge ancestral hall to be interested in your roots. Whether your ancestors worked on the land or were shipped off to Australia, thanks to the internet, it has never been an easier or better time to start unearthing your family's past. If you're the sort of person who's got a mind for detective puzzles

Where to begin...

Don't worry about record offices just yet, the best place to begin researching your family

tree is at home. By talking to as many relatives as possible, you'll soon build up an idea of who was related to who, and how many children Great Aunty Dot had. Ask your oldest relatives for family names, dates and places and look for birth certificates, letters, newspaper cuttings, diaries or anything that will fill in the background on your family. It's also a good idea to decide what you want to find out. Are you drawing up a simple family tree or do you want more of an idea of what life was like for your ancestors? Are you going to follow just one branch of the family (a one name search) or try and get an overview of everyone? "Have a hunt around and get a fact that you can start with - it doesn't matter how early or late that fact is," says Else. "Whether you're working with just your grandparents or whether you've got a lot of information and you're starting quite a way back, you need to have something to start with."

Getting started...

Get back to

roots your

Part one

Before you set out on a unique journey into your family's past, follow our advice to getting the most from your research.


When you've established a basic outline of your family's background, it's time to start finding solid records as evidence. While many records and indexes are now held online, visiting archives and record offices will prove an invaluable source of information, with help and friendly advice from the staff. "You'll find people haven't changed a lot," says Else. "There's a vast amount of bureaucracy that your ancestors ran up against and luckily, because we haven't been invaded since 1066, there's a huge amount of bureaucracy that can be found in record offices, the National Archives, local council record offices, local libraries, specialist institutions looking at certain occupations and places like the Society of

Genealogists, which is a remarkable library because we concentrate on family history. "We collect other people's family history and you might find the research has been done before. So there's plenty that people can do to get started."

If your ancestors were alive before 1901 and if you know where they lived, you'll be able to find them and details about their occupation in the census returns. But most people tend to start with more recent history, and by looking at records of births, deaths and marriages. Civil registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) began in 1837 in England and Wales (1855 for Scotland and 1864 for Ireland), when registration became a legal requirement. Before you can order certificates, you will need a certificate reference number, which you will find in alphabetically arranged indexes. The indexes are available at the Family Records Centre (www.familyrecords.gov.uk) in London and the certificates for England and Wales are kept at The General Register Office (www.gro.gov.uk) in Southport.

Separate registries for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland are located in Edinburgh, Belfast and Dublin (See www.gro-scotland.gov.uk; www.groni.gov.uk; www.groireland.ie). The certificates include more information than indexes alone - such as the name and residence of the mother and occupation of the father on birth certificates and the names of the fathers of the bride and groom on a marriage certificate.

Births, deaths & marriages...

Exploring archives...

Going further back "Censuses and BDM records will get most people back through the Victorian period and then you'll find the records that are most important will be those of the church," says Else. "Most probably the Church of England, which is the established church, but it might be a non-conformist church, Baptist, Roman Catholic, or Methodist." From 1538 in England and Wales, and 1555 in Scotland, each parish in the UK had to keep registers of baptisms, marriages and burials. Although they are certainly not exhaustive (some records have been lost over the years in church fires and floods), if you're lucky, you might find the names of your ancestors and dates of the events - and other information - on microfiche at the church or County Record Offices. "The church was also the administrator of the Poor Laws," adds Else. "So if your ancestors weren't so well off, they would have run up against the Poor Law. After the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act, you might find them in workhouses. "Or, under the record of the Old Poor Law, you might find records of them moving around or having illegitimate children."


Filling the gaps...

Don't expect to track down every member of your family right back to the middle ages in just one week. Family history research takes time, patience and a few simple skills to reap the rewards. "It isn't a race, it doesn't matter how far back you get, but most people will find they probably get back to the early 1800s, and may find a problem," says Else.

"If you've got somebody who's living in a large city and you really don't know much about their name, because they may have been trying to avoid bureaucracy, some ancestors are going to be difficult to find. "But then again, you might get some people with a reasonably uncommon name, or something that you do know about them that you can pinpoint when you're searching for them, that will mean you have some phenomenal success." Always write everything down! Note down all your sources so you can go back to them, as well as all your searches, even if they weren't

successful, so you know where you've been. Try not to rely on online sources only as lots of information will come from microfilm or microfiche in libraries, record offices and archives. "You can get frustrated because the internet might help you get to some records very quickly, but it hasn't got every record on it. "A lot of people will just put up infomation that they think is right and it's a bit like Chinese whispers. If it's repeated what was once speculation becomes a fact and when you try and prove that fact, you can find yourself going round in circles," says Else.

Once you've found out, and got the evidence to prove, the basic facts of your family tree, you can start fleshing it out into a fuller history by looking at local newspapers and local records from the time they were living. "Can I fill in the history of my ancestors and find out what was going on in their lives? Did they have a certain occupation or practise a certain religion?," says Else. "Were they mentioned in newspapers of the

local village or town? You can get such a feel for the community they were living in, for who they were and where they were living." The County Record Office will have records of local wills before 1858, and the Land Tax records which detail local land- or estate-owners. While the British Library houses the national archive collection of newspapers on microfilm.

One of the easiest ways to find out details of your family's history is undoubtedly the internet, which hosts thousands of sites and chat groups for those interested genealogy. "We've been doing social networking well before the kids got hold of it, so

things like RootsWeb.com has been around a long time and they developed into things like GenesReunited.co.uk, says Else. "You can say 'I'm interested in this individual, this is my ancestor, is anyone else related to him?'

So you find cousins that way and make those links." Many archives publish their indexes online, so you can search for your ancestors in census returns and BDM records on sites like www.ancestry.co.uk. You can search freely in some indexes, but you will have to pay to see a copy of the actual record.

"The big kick this century was the National Archives putting the 1901 census online," adds Else. "Despite having a few wobbles in its first year, the big realisation was there are people out there all around the world with British ancestry who wanted to look at records. So that has been a big development, people putting information online that you can get reasonably cheaply."

The internet

Avoiding the pitfalls


www.rootsweb.ancestry.com Powered by US site ancestry.com, rootsweb is like the Facebook of genealogy sites, offering users the opportunity to share your research and get help from other family historians via message boards. You can also upload your details to huge databases so those with common ancestors can find you. www.1901censusonline.com If you know the first and last names of relatives who were alive in 1901, you can find them here on the census returns going back to 1841. The site is very easy to use, and you can search the indexes for free, but you have to buy credits to download and print a copy of the actual record. www.cyndislist.com This site is an online reference book for family historians, with links to hundreds of thousands of genealogical resources on the internet from Australia, to Wills & Probate. www.genuki.org.uk Genuki is a virtual reference library of genealogical information for the UK and Ireland. It includes links to sites offering information on diverse topics, such as how to read handwriting and where to find out about your ancestors' military history.

www.sog.org.uk The Society Of Genealogists is a charity offering help and resources for those interested in finding their family history. The site includes a link to the society's online library catalogue, free information leaflets to download as well as details of the society's events and lectures. www.britishorigins.com This site provides internet access to many of the Society Of Genealogists' databases and indexes, including apprentice and military records. You can search records for free, but it costs £6.50 for 72 hours to access the originals. www.ffhs.org.uk The Federation Of Family History Societies exists to help family history societies throughout the country. You can search for your nearest society or those near where your ancestors lived and there are some handy search tips. www.nationalarchives.gov.uk The National Archives, based in Kew, is the official archive for England and Wales, boasting 900 years of history from the Domesday Book to the present. The site has video guides on researching your family and you can search online for records.

www.familyrecords.gov.uk This site is a consortium of organisations including the National Archives and the Imperial War Museum. It allows you to search the quarterly indexes of births, deaths and marriage records, immigration, census, wills and military records for free, before you order them from the General Register Office (see below). www.gro.gov.uk (www.gro-scotland.gov.uk; www.groni.gov.uk; www.groireland.ie) The General Register Office keeps all the official certificates of births, deaths and marriages. Once you have found your ancestors you can order certificates about them online. www.freebmd.org.uk This site is a collaboration between family historians to transcribe births, deaths and marriages indexes from 1837 onto the internet and you can access records for free. www.familysearch.org This site allows you to search the International Genealogical Index - a collection of hundreds of millions of baptism and marriage records from parish registers between 1538 and 1875 that have been indexed by the Genealogical Society of Utah (Mormons).

WEBSITES BOOKMARK to

The internet is an excellent tool in the search for family history. Some sites offer free trials while others require a fee. There are thousands to choose from, but here are a few to get you started...

www.ancestry.co.uk This site boasts the largest collection of UK family records on the web as well as access to censuses between 1841 and 1901. It also offers tips on searching as well as a video tutorial by Tony Robinson. The site is currently offering a free 14-day trial, but beyond that you have to pay to view records.

www.genesreunited.co.uk The Friends Reunited spin-off allows you to search more than 500 million ancestors through births, deaths and marriages and census data, build your family tree online - and you can register for free.


Do you steer clear of the fish counter at the supermarket because you fear cooking a fish dish from scratch will be too difficult and messy? You're missing a trick. There's a versatile and easy ingredient hiding under all that batter at the takeaway - and one that's healthy too. Miss out on tasty fish suppers and you are depriving yourself of something wonderful, according to chef Atul Kochhar.

Kochhar, the first Indian chef to be awarded a Michelin star - who shot to fame in Britain as a finalist on the BBC's The Great British Menu - has taken a whole new approach to fish by marrying it with Indian spices, and says it's been a revelation. The chef is hoping his discovery will spark a revolution in the way we cook and eat fish because, as he points out, "in the UK currently, fish cookery is so under-exploited. "This country is surrounded by

ocean, yet we shy away from the wealth of seafood available to us despite the fact it's some of the best in the world, and sometimes even free. Similarly, he says his homeland of India, despite its long coastline, generally doesn't make the most of seafood. "Fish tends to be cooked in 'curries' which mask the qualities that make it special - its colours, textures and aromas. "But fish is a wonderfully versatile

ingredient and, as long as you take care not to overwhelm it, makes a perfect canvas for spices and herbs." Some of his favourite dishes include Kentish oysters, scallops from the Isle of Man, right through to Cromer crab and Scottish herrings. In his new book, Fish Indian Style, he's incorporated some

signature British ingredients - along with many others - and the elements of the cookery he grew up with in East India. Atul, who runs the renowned Benares restaurant in London, has also given a fresh spin to the classic treat, battered fish and mushy peas. His version is Deep Fried John Dory With Garlic and Cumin Peas. He says: "My interpretation of Britain's national dish is easy to make at home and has proved immensely popular with the customers at Benares."

TIRED OF THAT OLD STANDBY FISH TIRED OF THAT OLD STANDBY FISH TIRED OF THAT OLD STANDBY FISH TIRED OF THAT OLD STANDBY FISH AND CHIPS LOADED WITH BATTER? AND CHIPS LOADED WITH BATTER? AND CHIPS LOADED WITH BATTER? AND CHIPS LOADED WITH BATTER? WHY NOT BE MORE ADVENTUROUS AND MARRY FISH WITH THE SPICES AND FLAVOURS OF INDIA. ATUL KOCHHARATUL KOCHHARATUL KOCHHARATUL KOCHHAR, THE FIRST INDIAN CHEF TO BE AWARDED A MICHELIN STAR, REVEALS HIS STUNNING FISH RECIPES.

for condiments

Fish Indian Style, by Atul Kochhar, photography by David Loftus, Is published by Absolute Press, priced £20. Available now.

Most of the spices and ingredients Kochhar uses are available from Asian shops or large supermarkets or by post from companies such as Spices of India.

“I've discovered that the marriage of British fish and Indian flavours is one of the best there is,”

Article SuttonSuttonSuttonSutton Community Times

Fishing


To make the batter, put the gram flour, rice flour, salt, chilli powder and ajwain seeds in a bowl and gradually stir in enough sparkling water to give a thick, pouring consistency; it should be thick enough to coat the back of the spoon. Heat the vegetable oil to 180C in a deep-fat fryer or a large, deep

saucepan. Dip the fish in the batter, let any excess drain off, then fry for 4-5 minutes, until golden and crisp. Drain on kitchen paper. While the fish is frying, cook the peas. Heat the vegetable oil in a small pan, add the cumin seeds and cook for a few seconds, until they start to crackle.

Add the garlic and cook until golden. Blitz the peas very briefly in a food processor to break them down a little, then add to the pan and fry for just a minute or two, until tender but still brightly coloured. Season to taste. Serve the fish with the peas and Spicy ketchup and some chips if you like.

Ingredients: Vegetable oil for deep-frying 2 John Dory fillets, cut into three strips each Spicy Indian Ketchup to serve For the batter: 6 tbsp gram flour 4 tbsp rice flour (ground rice) A pinch of sea salt 1/2 tsp red chilli powder 1 tsp ajwain seeds Sparkling water

Blitzing the peas in a food processor and frying them briefly rather than boiling, means they retain their vivid colour.

Deep-fried John Dory with garlic and cumin peas

For the garlic and cumin peas: 1 tbsp vegetable oil 1 tsp cumin seeds 2 garlic cloves, chopped 100g frozen peas thawed sea salt

(Serves 2)

TIP...TIP...TIP...TIP...

Recipe

Community Pages SuttonSuttonSuttonSutton Community Times

22

EducationEducationEducationEducation Muschamp Primary Muschamp Road, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 2SE 020 8669 2514 Robin Hood Infants' Robin Hood Lane, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 2SF 020 8643 3688 Rushy Meadow Primary Rushy Meadow Lane, Fellowes Road, SM5 2SG 020 8669 7588 St. Cecilia's RC Primary London Road, SM3 9DL 020 8337 4566 St. Dunstan's C of E Primary Anne Boleyn's Walk, SM3 8DF 020 8642 5463 St. Elphege's RC Infants' Mollison Drive, , SM6 9HY 020 8669 6306 St. Mary's RC Infants' West Street, SM5 2PT 020 8647 5711 Stanley Park Infants' Stanley Park Road, SM5 3JL 020 8647 9322 Tweeddale Primary Tweeddale Road, SM5 1SW 020 8644 5665 Victor Seymour Infants' Denmark Road, SM5 2JE 020 8647 9800 Westbourne Primary Anton Crescent, Collingwood Road, SM1 2NT 020 8644 8453

Primary Schools Abbey Primary Glastonbury Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 6NY 020 8770 6770 All Saints' Benhilton C of E Primary All Saints' Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 3DA 020 8644 6492

All Saints C of E Primary Rotherfield Road, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 3DW 020 8401 0075

Amy Johnson Primary Mollison Drive, Roundshaw, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 9JN 020 8669 3978 Avenue Primary Avenue Road, Belmont, Surrey, SM2 6JE 020 8642 5138 Bandon Hill Primary Sandy Lane South, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 9QU 020 8647 5377 Barrow Hedges Primary Harbury Road, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 4LA 020 8643 4428 Beddington Infants Croydon Road, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 7LF 020 8647 7813 Beddington Park Primary School Derry road, Surrey, CR0 4UA 020 8688 1390 Brookfield Primary Ridge Road, North Cheam, Surrey, SM3 9LY 020 8644 8616

Camden Junior Camden Road, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 2NS 020 8647 7324 Cheam Fields Primary Stoughton Avenue, Cheam, Surrey, SM3 8PW 020 8644 9055 Cheam Park Farm Infants' Molesey Drive, North Cheam, Surrey, SM3 9UU 020 8644 7415 Devonshire Primary Devonshire Avenue, Sutton, Surrey, SM2 5JL 020 8643 1174 Foresters Primary Redford Avenue, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 9DP 020 8669 6910 Green Wrythe Primary Green Wrythe Lane, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 1JP 020 8648 4989 Hackbridge Primary Hackbridge Road, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 7AX 020 8647 7974 High View Primary The Chase, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 8JT 020 8688 3563 Holy Trinity C of E Junior Bute Road, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 8BZ 020 8647 7496 Manor Park Primary Greyhound Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 4AW 020 8642 0144


23

Secondary Schools Carshalton Boys Sports College Winchcombe Road, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 1RW 020 8644 7325 Carshalton High School for Girls West Street, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 2QX 020 8647 8294 Cheam High School Chatsworth Road, Cheam, Surrey, SM3 8PW 020 8644 5790 Glenthorne High School Sutton Common Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM3 9PS 020 8644 6307 Greenshaw High School Grennell Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 3DY 020 8715 1001 Nonsuch High School for Girls Ewell Road, Cheam, SM3 8AB 020 8394 1308 Overton Grange School Stanley Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM2 6TQ 020 8239 2383

St. Philomena's School Pound Street, Sutton, Surrey, SM5 3PS 020 8642 2025 Stanley Park High School Stanley Park Road, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 3HP 020 8647 5842 Sutton Grammar School for Boys Manor Lane, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 4AS 020 8642 3821 The John Fisher School Peaks Hill, Purley, Surrey, CR8 3YP 020 8660 4555 Wallington County Grammar School Croydon Road, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 7PH 020 8647 2235 Wallington High School for Girls Woodcote Road, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 0PH 020 8647 2380 Wilson's School Mollison Drive, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 9JW 020 8773 2931

EducationEducationEducationEducation


24

Bandon Hill Methodist Church. Sandy Lane SM6 8LA. 0208 647 1550 St Nicholas Church St Nicholas Way SM1 2RG 020 8642 3499 Trinity United Reformed & Methodist Church Cheam Road SM! 1SN 020 8643 0963 The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary St Barnabas Road SM1 4NL 020 8642 0275 Christ Church 14 Christchurch Park SM2 5TN 020 8642 2757 Sutton Christian Centre 25 Tate Road SM1 2SY 020 8642 8117 Holy Cross RC Church 46 North Street, SM5 2JD 020 8647 0022 First Church of Christ Scientist 42 Cheam Road, SM1 2SS 020 8642 2784 St Dunstants Church Church Road SM3 8QH 020 8641 1284

All Saints C of E Church Benhilton All Saints Road, SM1 3DA 020 8644 9070 Carshalton Beeches Baptst Free Church Banstead Road, SM5 3NL 020 8642 9311 St Pauls Church Centre 15 Northey Avenue SM2 7HS 020 8224 9838 Chiltern Church 83 Chiltern Road SM2 5QY 020 8661 7042 North Cheam Community Church 26 St. Dunstants Hill SM1 2UE 020 8288 0732 North Cheam Baptist Church Ridge Road SM3 9LY 020 8644 7360 Stanley Park Evangelical Free Church 130 Stanley Road, SM5 4LP 020 8773 1653 St Patricks Church Park Hill Road, SM6 0RZ 020 8773 0822

&&&& ChurchChurchChurchChurch CommunityCommunityCommunityCommunity


25

Roundshaw Allotment www.roundshaw.co.uk

020 8770 5070

Football Clubs

Rugby Clubs

Sports Clubs & Centres

&&&& SportsSportsSportsSports LeisureLeisureLeisureLeisure

Advertise your club here for free by emailing us your information to [email protected]


26

&&&& TaxisTaxisTaxisTaxis TakeawaysTakeawaysTakeawaysTakeaways

Taxis Takeaways

Advertise here for £10 per month. To make a booking call us on 07932 564 033 or email us at [email protected]



On the trail of the

IN NEPAL, YOU CAN HIKE THE PEAKS OF THE HIMALAYAS, PARAGLIDE OFF VERTICAL ROCK-FACES, RIDE MOUNTAIN BIKES DOWN THE BIGGEST MOUNTAINS IN THE WORLD AND SPEED DOWN CLIFF-LINED GORGES IN AN INFLATABLE RAFT, WITH ONLY A FOOT-LONG PLASTIC OAR BETWEEN YOU AND OBLIVION.

Tiger

B etween the string of colossal peaks etween the string of colossal peaks etween the string of colossal peaks etween the string of colossal peaks along its northern border, and the Indian along its northern border, and the Indian along its northern border, and the Indian along its northern border, and the Indian border to the south at sea level, Nepal border to the south at sea level, Nepal border to the south at sea level, Nepal border to the south at sea level, Nepal practically resembles a 9,000practically resembles a 9,000practically resembles a 9,000practically resembles a 9,000----metre metre metre metre

high skateboard ramp, built for intrepid visitors high skateboard ramp, built for intrepid visitors high skateboard ramp, built for intrepid visitors high skateboard ramp, built for intrepid visitors who can't resist a challenge.who can't resist a challenge.who can't resist a challenge.who can't resist a challenge.

After a short river crossing, a 4X4 carried us into the Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge and with only a few hours before sunset, we met the creatures that would be both our means of transport and our expert tiger-finding devices. Towering above our group was Bob, also known as Shamsher Gaj, an elegant Indian

elephant: a 27-year-old, nine-and-a-half feet tall, five ton beast to keep us safe from the ferocious Bengal tiger. The best views of Bengal tigers are to be enjoyed from Bob's back, allegedly. Surely, I assumed, the ancient pachyderm will readily put its enormous tusks between me and the tiger's giant teeth and terrifying claws.

the tiger is a

stunning beast “

”


Travel

The vegetation is dense and lush. Thin, tall stalks of elephant grass brush my feet. Exotic birds fly overhead. As we cross the river, running low in the dry season, the sand bank reveals traces of the jungle's inhabitants. I can see wiggly snake lines, bird feet and crocodile tracks. Then there are paw prints from the sloth bears. Our guide's advice, if you should find yourself face to face with a sloth, is to whoop, shout and wave your arms to scare them off. The equivalent advice if a tiger comes along: climb a tree.

But no, three hours later, still without tiger but rather saddle sore from the pursuit, we pack it in for the night and return to our base camp. Tomorrow we will look again. Calling it base camp probably doesn't do our accommodation justice. At the Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge they do a spectacular job of keeping you comfortable, despite the remoteness and eco-friendly rules. Its spacious rooms are built from local materials and hot water comes to the en-suite bathrooms twice a day. Nights are cold in Nepal, so the

hot water bottle is a nice touch. They serve delicious Nepali food, similar to Indian but prepared with less oil and fewer spices, inside a giant Gol Ghar or round house, heated with a huge fire in the middle. At our second site, just outside the national park, the risk of danger was virtually zero. There was a swimming pool, a bar, table tennis, and charming rooms made from wicker and elephant dung. The hawkers hawk harder and the beggars beg more than in other similar cities I've visited, perhaps because Nepal is poorer than any of its neighbours. Motorcycles buzz furiously around, and the air is thick with polluted fog. There's still charm here, though, if you look hard enough. Few can resist the excitement of burrowing for a bargain at the myriad stalls and shops in Thamel, and the temples in the old town are real architectural gems. Our trip started in Kathmandu, before we flew on to Chitwan. Another option is to extend your stay and fly to Pokhara in the foothills of

the Himalayas instead. There the Tiger Tops resort has fantastic views of the mountains, and all the walking and hiking you could want. Everest is a magnificent, devastating sight. Almost as astounding are the neighbouring mountains and lower ridges. Without doubt the Himalayas are one of the world's great natural sights, a vertical explosion of rock and ice and snow and worth ten times the ticket price. It's quiet and still, apart from Bob's chewing. We come to an opening in the trees and there's a monkey, pointing and gibbering. Ha, ha, the silly monkey, we laugh, and then realise it's pointing at the massive tiger right in front of us! The tiger is insouciant. It looks up at us, has a think, stretches out a little bit and turns around. The whole encounter only lasted a minute or so but left such a clear impression. It's a stunning beast. Muscular and proud, fierce and yet completely cool. As we gaze, more than a little awestruck, the tiger prowls powerfully off, silent but deadly. That evening we toast our tiger-chasing exploits and prepare the lurid tales to tell on our return. But why bother to spin this one? I was close enough to a tiger to see the detail of its stripes, its piercing glare, and the swish of its mighty tail. And more importantly I was utterly safe.

Then some excitement:

tiger tracks! They're as clear as in a children's book. Surely we'll find a tiger now!

29

Council launches exercise campaign for the over 50s

A new health drive to encourage people over 50 to do more exercise has been launched by Sutton Coun-cil. Stay Active Everyday is a programme of sport, fitness and leisure activities for older residents. It aims to help the over 50s do at least 30 minutes of exercise at least three times a week, in line with government guidelines.

Activities range from sports including swimming and table tennis, to dance classes, pilates, tai chi and more, with courses suitable for all ages and ability levels. Regular exercise is proven to reduce the risks associated with poor health, particularly in later life. Activities are staged in council leisure centres and cost from £2.50 per session. Cllr Graham Tope, Executive Member for Leisure on Sutton Council, said:“For the over 50s staying fit and healthy is a great way to ensure you make the most of your senior years. “Just half an hour of moderate exercise five times a week is hugely beneficial to people’s health, reducing their chances of get-ting heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and many other diseases.

“Regular activity boosts your energy levels and makes your more alert – for some it could help you keep up with the grandchildren. “The council and its partners offer a huge range of sport and activities specifically for the over 50s. Whether you want gentle exercise or to get your heart pumping there really is something for everyone and it’s a great way to socialise.”

SuttonSuttonSuttonSutton Community Times Local News

Residents reminded to get their free garden waste bags

It’s less than two weeks to the reintroduction of the free garden waste collection service in Sutton and resi-dents are urged to get their free bags. From 3 November to 19 December the council will collect either three jute sacks or two 120-litre plastic bags of garden waste from homes in the borough once a fortnight. They will be picked up on the same day as your normal recycling collection (green wheelie bin).

Residents who signed up to the paid for collection service can continue to use their green sacks. Free sacks can be collected from the Civic Offices in Sutton, the council offices in Denmark Road, Carshalton, or any of the borough’s libraries. Initially people will be given the green jute sacks to use up existing stocks. Free com-post bins are still available for Sutton residents. Cllr Colin Hall, Executive Member for the Environment on Sutton Council, said:“I urge residents to make sure they have their bags in plenty of time and are ready for the start of the free collection service.

“And I hope people will continue to make use of the glass collections and other services introduced this sum-mer which have led to a massive reduction in the amount of waste we collect from the brown wheelie bins.” There will be no garden waste collection service from January 2009 to the end of March. The service

will resume on 6 April.

Those who are part of the assisted collection scheme and cannot collect the bags in person should call 020 8770 5070 to request a delivery.

To order a free compost bin phone 0845 077 0757 quoting HCA2 or visit www.recyclenow.com/compost

30

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

Page

SuttonSuttonSuttonSutton Community Times

My husband has high blood pressure and cholesterol My husband has had occasional chest pains and I eventually managed to persuade him to go and see the doctor. We're both shocked to find that he has

very high blood pressure and cholesterol levels and he's being referred for further investigation. The doctor has told him to give up smoking and lose weight and has put him on medication I want to put him on a diet right away but I don't know where to start to help him. He's only 38 and we've been married eight years. I know his Dad died of a heart attack when he was in his early 40s so now I am scared I am going to lose my husband too. H.J.

Fiona Caine

FIONA CAINE

COMMUNITY TIMES’

AGONY AUNT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS

FIONA SAYS:

Make the changes needed

Many people with high blood pressure and high cholesterol do manage to control their symptoms so getting his diet (and yours) sorted out is a very good idea. There is so much that can be done so stop

thinking of the worst that can happen and make the changes needed to ensure he's around for a good many years. Obviously he has to give up smoking but, if you smoke it would be a great idea if you stopped too as it will make it easier for him. Your doctor will decide If it is necessary from him to start on medication for his high blood pressure and high cholesterol. It's very important that he remembers to take it regularly so you can help him to do so. If he can get his weight down that would be a good thing as well but what he eats is as important as reducing the quantity of food. For example he probably needs to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and cut down foods high in saturated fat as well as salt and alcohol. Be wary of celebrity or trendy diets that over-restrict the types of food he can eat. These diets may help him lose weight but are not so good for helping him to change long term eating habits and may not reduce his cholesterol. Ask your GP for the help of a dietitian. When people are first diagnosed with high blood pressure they may fear that doing any kind of physical activity will cause problems but, exercise is important so he should be guided by his GP as to how much he should do. Just going for regular walks, for example, could be beneficial and could help him lose some weight. The charity H.E.A.R.T UK (the Cholesterol Charity as it is known) has an amazing website at heartuk.org.uk with all kinds of advice, support and information.

Their helpline on 0845 450 5988 is open from 10.00 - 4.00pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

FIONA SAYS:

Do some investigative work but be careful Do you know the town he lives in?

You could try Directory Enquiries or perhaps go to the library and see if he's listed in the electoral register. Try looking up his name on Facebook or other social networking sites. Write to the hotel he was staying in and ask them to forward a letter - they probably have his address. Write to the tour company he was travelling with, if you know it, and ask them to forward a letter. Think back over conversations you had with him and see if he mentioned schools, colleges etc - you could try them. You could even try taking out an advert in his local paper. I would, however, council caution. However much you think he is the love of your life do remember holiday romances are often deceiving. It's possible this love affair was never meant to be anything more than a wonderful memory. Not many holiday romances stand the test of day-to-day living.

I’ve met the man of my dreams but I can’t find him This is such a cliché but I have met

the man of my dreams whilst on a late holiday in Greece. It's not a Shirley Valentine situation, he's English and lives somewhere near me. The problem is I don't know where. We'd already agreed to swap details but he was flying out the day before me and unfortunately I was taken ill with food poisoning. By the time I was able to leave the hotel his flight had left. He must have thought I'd stood him up which wasn't the case at all. How on earth am I going to find him? G.L.

Q

A

Q

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


November

The 8th to the 15th can be significant for work, with a promotion possible. However, this may involve travel, a residential training course or taking on a completely new role. Spliced? If you and your partner can enjoy an autumn holiday or a seasonal shopping expedition, this time together can be special. As the month winds down, new goals emerge.

The Taurus Full Moon on the 15th forges a tricky angle to deceptive Neptune so if anyone advises you about your love life, bear in mind they may not be that objective. Instead scratch beneath the surface. If need be, become your own detective. If you see the true value in situations something wonderful is possible, either financially or romantically.

Partnerships can bear significant fruit. Of course you'll need to sort out who will do and contribute what, but one tie can reach a new level of understanding. If you feel weary, mid-month is an ideal time to review everything linked to energy, be it diet, exercise, smoking, drinking or your psychological outlook. Even small changes can lift you.

A relationship that's been strained can improve, but it will take honesty on both sides. Try to be understanding if lifestyle changes have had an impact. However, if one person has been too powerful or has been used to getting their own way, insecurity may be at the root of this, more than is obvious. Do be clearheaded about long-term finances.

November sees you with a particular appreciation of the good things, especially creature comforts. Love too takes on a mystical intensity from the 9th to the 15th, but mid-month can see you wanting to spend money as a way of escaping life's harsh realities. In the last third of November things speed up and become more sociable and hectic.

A romantic involvement can reach a critical juncture. This could be a tie that's been on the back burner or a fascination with someone unavailable. This and other deeply personal issues can give you much food for thought. If you feel that life is passing you by, don't fret. November may represent a pause but soon you'll be on the front foot.

Around mid-month a professional tie can become strained. This can stem from a misunderstanding but it may be less about details than about you and the other person having a completely different outlook and way of doing things. Socially, November can shine brightly. With the party season ratcheting up, you can be the one leading the frivolities.

You can be in a go-getting mode, Scorpio, so November is perfect for showing greater initiative. Why? Because you'll have the drive and enthusiasm to confidently push ahead. Financial fortune is possible. Week two can see a project come to fruition that's been a long time in the works. Love? Things can initially smoulder but then become spicier.

You pride yourself on being genuine. Even if this is so, others may view you in a different light. You should do all you can to guard your reputation in November. That means being thorough and responsible and accepting responsibilities. If you need to fill in documents or application forms or attend important interviews, be factually honest.

If you're hoping to beautify your home in time for guests staying next month, the results can transform your abode and in the process delight you. A new baby can also enter your world. With svelte Venus moving mid-month, you can emanate the most glamorous and attractive vibe. Single? Expect some love interest to head your way.

November is closely linked to the events of the last 12 years. How? You've been evolving so much during that time, and this can be a high point for a lot of the things that have been occupying you. By the month's end a brand new cycle will start to shape up. You can reap your rewards for much hard work, but your values can also start to evolve.

You may have to make a conscious effort to keep your imagination in check, or you could become overly anxious. The fact is, in terms of worldly interaction things look bright and week two can see you enjoy some genuine fortune. You can also feel particularly protective of a younger friend or relative. People can see you as someone they can rely on.

Aries Gemini Taurus

Cancer Virgo Leo

Libra Scorpio

Capricorn Pisces Aquarius

(Mar 21st - Apr 20th) (Apr 21st - May 21st) (May 22nd - Jun 21st)

(Jun 22nd - Jul 23rd) (Jul 24th - Aug 23rd) (Aug 24th - Sep 23rd)

(Sep 24th - Oct 23rd) (Oct 24th - Nov 22nd) (Nov 23rd - Dec 21st)

(Dec 22nd - Jan 20th) (Jan 21st - Feb 19th) (Feb 20th - Mar 20th)

By Patrick Arundell Horoscope

Sagittarius

Code: CT1

Please support our annual

Light Up a Life Appeal 2008

Every year, St Raphael’s Hospice

serves over 900 patients.This is

done through a team of specialist

nurses who visit patients at home,

via a day centre, and by providing

residential accommodation.There

is also family support for relatives.

But it costs over £3.6 million a

year to provide all these much

needed local services. The NHS

contributes, but 72%, or over £2.6

million a year — relies on charita-

ble donations, fundraising and

legacies.

This pays for specialist doctors and

nurses plus trained care support

staff, who provide the help to pa-

tients and their families

Code: CT1

Every year, St Raphael’s Hospice serves over 900 patients. This is done through a team of specialist nurses who visit patients at home, via a day centre, and by providing residential accommodation. There is also family support for relatives. But it costs over £3.6 million a year to provide all these much needed local services. This pays for specialist doctors and nurses plus trained care support staff, who provide the help to patients and their families—help that is there when it is most needed. The Hospice relies on Charitable donations. The Hospice relies on Charitable donations. The Hospice relies on Charitable donations. The Hospice relies on Charitable donations. Whatever donation you can give will be much Whatever donation you can give will be much Whatever donation you can give will be much Whatever donation you can give will be much appreciated, and you will know that it is helping to appreciated, and you will know that it is helping to appreciated, and you will know that it is helping to appreciated, and you will know that it is helping to continue a much needed local service for local continue a much needed local service for local continue a much needed local service for local continue a much needed local service for local people.people.people.people. Yours sincerely, To access our donation facility via your mobile,

text STRSTRSTRSTR to 67766677666776667766 (standard text message charge) or

Visit www.straphaels.org.uk or ring 020 8335 4576 020 8335 4576 020 8335 4576 020 8335 4576 with your credit card details

community times sutton

Documents

community areas

community magazines

sutton communitydelivered

charshalton beeches

coffeecoffeecoffeecoffee

insert company

high quality publication

health beauty