Palmers Green & Southgate LIFE Feb 2015

&Palmers GreenSouthgate LIFE

February 2015 EditionIssue 24

Past Times• The Thatched Cottage

Southgate District Civic Trust• Past, Present & Future

Firs Farm needs your vote• An exciting community space project

Image supplied by Enfield Local Studies and Archive

2ndAnniversaryEdition

Ye Olde Thatched Cottage, 1903

We welcomed two new members of staff in January, Lee Sargent, as a seniorsales & lettings negotiator with over 10 years experience in North LondonEstate Agency and Maria Stafford as an administrator assistant. Our teamcontinue to have training on all aspects of property, including currentmortgage trends and the latest property portal technology.

Please take a look at my article on page 21 about why Anthony Webb arenot signing up to the new property portal On The Market that launched inJanuary. A condition of the new portal is that agents that sign up must dropone of either of the two largest property portals, Zoopla (which includesPrime Location) or Rightmove. If you are looking to sell it is worth consideringif your agent is not using one of the larger sites as it could currently impactthe marketing potential of your property and affect the time it takes to selland the price you achieve.

We are still offering a FREE iPad mini if you instruct us within the month ofFebruary and we successful sell your home. Why not consider also takingadvantage of our premium sales package that includes premium listing slotson Rightmove, Zoopla, our website and magazine. It also includesprofessionally printed property particulars all of which help market yourproperty. Ask a member of our team for more information on our premiumsales package.

Finally, Firs Farm are looking for public votes to help them gain funding foran exciting new project at the park that will benefit the whole community(page 14). Cllr Chris Bond, Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Environmentsaid “Enfield Council has worked extremely hard with the Friends of Firs FarmPark to get this much loved open space shortlisted in the ALGG competition.We are up against six other parks London wide, and only five of these canreceive funding, so I am calling on all residents and people interested in ourgreen spaces to get voting to ensure Firs Farm is successful. Our bid, ifsuccessful, we see vital work taking place to build a flood relief and cycle pathto ensure Firs Farm Park is even more accessible”. Please also show yoursupport and vote for their proposal online.

TonyTony OurrisDirectorAnthony Webb Estate Agents

Contents

Martin McKelveyOffice [email protected]

Tony OurrisDirector / Editor at [email protected]

Susan BabaieSenior Sales and Lettings [email protected]

Lee SargentSenior Sales and Lettings [email protected]

Panayiota KyriakidesAdministrator

Nick FitzsimonsSenior Sales and Lettings [email protected]

Maria StaffordAdministrator Assistant

John ConstantineProperty [email protected]

Kat GeorgiouProperty [email protected]

Anthony GeorgiouAdministrator Assistant

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

FOR SALE – Conway Road.................................3

December Competition winner ...........................4

Daniel CaltagironeTalks about his new film .....................................4

Past Times, Ye Olde Thatched Cottage.................5

Councillors Cornerby Cllr. Bambos Charalambous ...........................6

Parliamentary Comment by David Burrowes.......6

FOR SALE – Hazeltree Lodge .............................7

FOR SALE – New Park Avenue...........................7

Green Lanes Business Association ......................7

Love Your DoorStep by Emma Rigby ...................8

Southgate District Civic Trust by Jane Maggs......8

Alexander’s and Co by Alex Chrysostomou.........9

Visit Peaks Holiday Cottages by Wendy Boast ..10

Tax year-end: Taxing times by Jan Thompson ....11

Anthony Webb Properties for Sale and To Let ...12

Special Vet for Special Pets by Simon Hayes .....13

Firms Farm needs your vote by Toni Guiver.......14

Savour the Season by Jason Sutton ..................14

Jewel in the North by Suzanne Beard ...............15

Alexia Says “It’s the Year of the Hobby”...........16

Colour Trends, Fabulous Hair Company by Kiri..16

Your Local Family Law SpecialistChild Maintenance by Karen Chapman ............17

What’s on .........................................................18

Talkies Community Cinemaby David Williamson .........................................18

Palmers Green Tales by Jenny Bourke ...............19

Drape Master Interiors by Julia Sondack...........20

Property Matters by Tony Ourris .......................21

Action For Kids by Ruth Stivey ..........................22

Your Legal Questions Answeredby Fariz Uvais....................................................23

Creative Exchange News ..................................24

welcomeWe have had an extremely busy January at Anthony Webb, it's a popular month for people thinkingabout moving and we have had plenty of valuations and enquiries. If you are considering moving inthe future, feel free to contact us for a valuation to discuss your options in confidence, it may giveyou a better idea of what your property is worth and help you make decisions for the longer term.

Ellie SalesMagazine Editor

If you are interested in advertising alocal service or business please get intouch or if you have a local story orarticle that you would like featuredin our magazine please [email protected]

348 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, N13 5TJ

| 38882 7888

Awell-presented four bedroom period semi-detached house located in a

most desirable “Lakes Estate” residential turning. The property boasts a

living room with feature fireplace, a dining room with feature fireplace

and doors to garden, 23ft kitchen/diner, modern bathroom, 19ft master bedroom,

many original features including a tessellated tiled hallway, 100ft rear garden and

off street parking to front. Conway Road is conveniently located for both

Southgate’s and Palmers Green’s shops, restaurants and stations. Both Broomfield

Park and Grovelands Park are within easy walking distance.

Conway RoadLakes Estate, N14

FOR

SALE

4 bedrooms, 2 receptions, kitchen/dinermodern bathroom, garden

£849,995 Freehold

Find out how much your property is worth, call us for a free valuation

Congratulations to 9 year old Ella Man, who attends Osidge School in Southgate.Ella won a Nikon camera in our December Spot the Difference competition. Ellaand her sister Sherryn Man, who attends Ashmole School, were happy to bepresented their prize by local Palmers Green resident Doreen Oatham.

'Brown Owl' Dorren Oatham B.E.M presentsElla with her prize by Ellie Sales

4 | 92 Aldermans Hill, Palmers Green, N13 4PP

by Kat Georgiou

Actor Daniel Caltagirone talks to Anthony Webbabout his recent movie filmed in Palmers Green

Actor Daniel Caltagirone kindly came into the officeto draw the winner for the Christmas competition fromour December issue. While he was there the successfulactor sat down and had a chat with us about being alocal resident and the exciting new film, ‘A PuntersPrayer’, filmed in Palmers Green that he starred in. Thefilm is based in a bookmakers, showing the trials andtribulations of real people and their everyday issues. Thefilm’s other big names include Dexter Fletcher, MemFerda and Ewen Macintosh. The commitment from thesefine actors for a low budget independent feature film canonly highlight the quality of the script, the film and theteam behind it.

Daniel was cast for the role of ‘Holt’ in the film writtenand directed by first timer Savvas D. Michael. Daniel’senthusiasm for his role is contagious, asked how he feltabout filming a feature film on his home turf; “It wasmad for me! It’s highly unusual to do a film a stonesthrow away from where you grew up. It brought back alot of amazing memories for me, where I used to hangout with my mates and seeing how the area has changed

over the years. I loved the fact that the producers andSav (Savvas Michael) were local people too, we could allrelate to each other. This was great!”

Holt is quite an unnerving complex character, not easyto portray but Daniel is quick to explain why he took onthis role. “For me he was the most interesting characterin the script. I've met 'Holts' before, they’re totallydestabilizing when they walk into the room, no one reallyknows what to do. My interpretation was pretty muchon the same page as Sav’s and this worked great for us.Sav’s ambition for the film was very appealing.”

Keen to see the final cut, Daniel feels that if the film is thesuccess it deserves to be“…it could have a positiveknock on effect…” for the area. A supporter of localbusiness – his parents own La Rocca in Winchmore Hill- he goes to local barbers AJ and Chemist Lamis amongothers. Daniel is extremely down to earth, something hecredits his family for; born at UCL hospital, his familymoved from Russell Square near the British Museum upto this area when he was 4 years old, he went to St

Ignatius Catholic College for Boys and grew up with avery mixed circle of friends from all classes and cultures.“I've mixed with a whole spectrum of people throughoutgrowing up.” Having starred in blockbuster movies suchas The Beach and The Pianist, Daniel told us, “It was aconscious decision to stay grounded. Nothing is achievedwhen you go on a film set and make demands it justslows the process down.”

He would love to see the area regenerated and wants tosee a lot more funding from the government into thearts. “I don’t understand why there isn't moregovernment funding into local shopping areas, I’d love tosee Palmers Green regenerated. I also think it’s ridiculousthat there isn't more funding for the arts and film, thereis so much to be gained from this”. He understands thatan independent film like ‘A Punters Prayer’ could havebenefitted from some local funding and in turn wouldgenerate something positive for the area. We’ll keep youposted on the developments of ‘A Punters Prayer’ in thenear future.

Anthony Webb are proud to sponsor a local film festival brought to you by Talkies Cinema this April and May. The festival "HERE"aims to reflect and celebrate the diversity of interests, people and places in the suburbs of North London. See www.talkies.org.uk

for more information and our future magazines for more details on what films will be showing where, and how to book your tickets.

Daniel Caltagironedraws out our lucky

December competitionwinner Ella Man

Congratulations were also in order forDoreen, a grandmother of six, who hasbeen awarded the British Empire Medalin the New Year’s Honours list forservices to the Girl Guide movement

and the local community.

Doreen who divides her time betweenhelping run church events and leadinga troupe of Brownies will attend theTower of London for the medalpresentation followed, in May, by theQueens Garden Party at BuckinghamPalace.

As well as her involvement with theBrownies for over 36 years, Doreendrives elderly people to luncheon clubsand has organised big Christmas partiesfor the community at St Monica’schurch, in Stonard Road, Palmers Green.

As leader of the Southgate basedBrownie pack – Doreen said "I reallyenjoy it, a lot of girls are very shy but bythe end of the first term it's amazinghow they have grown in confidence.There are more activities available than

ever before including camping, andopportunities to travel abroad with theGuides."

Doreen has made many friends over theyears volunteering with Brownies. Lastyear, which was the Brownies’ 100thanniversary saw a huge get-together inAlexandra Palace, where girls fromacross the capital got together with aday of abseiling, climbing and zorbing.

The St Monica’s Brownies, Southgate,meet every Wednesday, from 6.30pmto 8.30pm, at their headquarters inCannon Road next to St Monica'sSchool. There are a total of 30 girlsaged between 7-10 years. St Monica'sBrownies are currently looking foradditional volunteers to help out. Ifyou are interested please pop alongon a Wednesday evening to find outmore.

Competitionwinner Ella and

Sherryn withDoreen and Tony

Tony Ourris at Anthony Webb congratulatesDoreen on her recent honour

Originally known as Fern Cottage, it was builtaround 1790, as a lodge to the big house ownedby Thomas Lewis, Governor of the Bank ofEngland. When the cottage was built, GreenLanes was in the depths of the country and nomore than a rutted track along which cattlewould be driven up to market. Originally thecottage was occupied by the estate’s gardenerand his family.

The oak cottage was charming, covered ingreenery and flowering ramblers. The mainbuilding had chimney stacks at each end and itsroof was densely thatched with eye browwindows upstairs, looking out onto Green Lanes.There were two small single storey additional ateach end, also thatched.

Following the great sale of the Taylor Estate in1902, shop development was gradually beginningto change the face of the highway and the futureof the cottage was in the balance.

In 1906, following the widening of Green Lanes,there was no room to accommodate the frontgarden and its quaint picket fence. The cottagecontinued to be used as a single dwelling placeuntil 1911 when the mansion house wasdemolished and the estate was broken up fordevelopment. The last of these tenants was a MrArgenti, a wealthy Greek banker and in his spare

time the ‘Fairy Godfather of Palmers Green’, whoin the summer threw massive hay parties for thelocal children and at Easter gave them paintedhard-boiled eggs.

By now the cottage was looking decidedly worsefor wear and it was then that Percy WhellockF.R.H.S stepped in, he brought the lease andconverted it into a florist. In 1916, restorationwork and the development of 2 acres of Nurseryat the rear of the cottage gave it a new lease oflife.

Percy Whellock & Son Limited became well-known to many Londoners and provided anattraction for overseas visitors, especially theAmericans. Often described as “The old fashionedhouse in a new-fashioned town”, photographs ofthe cottage can be found across America.

By the 1930’s the cottage was hem med in byextensive shop development all around. Its 150years ended in 1938 when it was demolished tomake way for, the building we see today, a newbranch of Burton’s, the Gents tailors.

It was a Burton’s traditionthat the foundation stone foreach new store should be laidby a member of the family,and Palmers Green’s stone,laid by Montague’s son

Arnold James Burton, can still be seen at theentrance today.

Around 1970 Westlakes Hardware store wasopened by a local family who had previouslyowned a green grocer located on Aldermans Hill.In 1994, Gee and Denise Mohamed, the currentowners, took over the lease a continued to runthe successful business for the next 20 years.

Denise said “In over 20 years you get to knowwhat your customers need, we have alwaysserviced locals as well as trades people” InFebruary 2015 Gee and Denise retire. Denise wenton to say “We will be sorry to leave PalmersGreen, all our friends and customers. Over theyears we have watched families grow up, ourson’s have all worked with us at one point oranother making Westlakes a truly family runbusiness. Whilst we will miss the people, wewon’t miss working 7 days a week and lookforward to putting our feet up!”

We are pleased to inform you that despiteWestlakes closure in mid February, after arefurbishment, it will reopen as Amy’sHousewares, another local family business with 4other stores located in North London.

The Hermitage on Cannon Hill, Southgate, LondonN14 is one of the few remaining thatched housesto be found in London today.

by Ellie Sales

Ye Olde Thatched Cottage remained one of the last links to the oldvillage until its demolition in 1938.

Past Times, Ye Olde Thatched Cottage

| 58882 7888

The Thatched Cottage with its eyebrow windows

Burtons Men's ware 1977 Farewell to Denise and Gee Mohamed Tony presenting Gee with a farewell gift, some wine anda photo montage from Anthony Webb

Percy Whellock & Sons 1920’s 1930 The old fashioned house in a new-fashioned town

Balancing the budget in Enfield [email protected]

Tel: 020 8379 2653

Councillorʼs Corner by Cllr. Bambos Charalambous

Never [email protected] www.davidburrowes.com

Constituency: 020 8360 0234 Westminster: 020 7219 5414

Parliamentary Comment by David Burrowes MP

Every February the Council has to set its’ annualbudget for the services it provides to you. Mostof the money the Council receives to deliver theseservices comes directly from the government inthe form of a local government grant which isbased on the needs of the local area (more on thislater). The remainder is made up via the revenuefrom the Council Tax.

Local councils have not been spared from theGovernment’s austerity measures and Enfield,along with all other local authorities, has had tobear its’ share of cuts since 2010. Since 2010Enfield Council has had a reduction of 27% in itsbudget. It is now being asked to find a further £80million over the next 3 years! This is a hugeamount and Enfield and many other councilsacross London and up and down the country willface some incredibly tough decisions in order tobalance the books. I am proud to say that Enfieldhas been very innovative in trying to reach thistarget. One such innovation is the ‘Enfield 2017’project. On 30 October 2014 Enfield approvedthe project which is intended to transform the

way it delivers services to the public. The principleis to try to have more interaction on line or viathe telephone and to try to do things once onlyand get things right first time. Living in an erawhereby we have more technology in our mobilephones than was used to land Apollo 11 on themoon this is can be seen as a nod to the future.The savings will be made in getting rid ofduplication and back office functions. Theexpectation is that we will improve the efficiencyof service and save money at the same time.Obviously we don’t want to throw the baby outwith the bath water and there will still be face toface contact with those who need it or cannotaccess services on line.

Another of the pressures on our budget is the costof temporary accommodation which is projectedto cost the council £3million next year. The reasonfor this is that all local authorities have to placepeople who present themselves as homeless andwho are owed a duty to be housed, in temporaryaccommodation which is usually in the privatesector. As has been well documented rents in

London are sky high at present and so this causespressures on the Council’s budget. In order toaddress this Enfield Council has set up a companywhich will seek to acquire local properties inorder to house people in need of temporaryaccommodation cheaply.

As I mentioned earlier Enfield Council receives agrant directly from the Government. TheGovernment works out what Enfield’s needs areand then gives it that amount…minus £12millionper year! This missing £12 million is thenallocated to other boroughs. This process is called‘damping’ and is grotesquely unfair. Represen -tations have been made to Government by seniorEnfield councillors and officers to change thisiniquitous and indefensible position. We wouldlove to have that money back and put towardsproviding services for you.

Whatever happens we will do our utmost toensure that we balance the budget and deliverservices and make savings as fairly and equitablypossible.

This year marks 70 years since the liberation ofAuschwitz concentration camp in southern Polandwhere at least 1.1 million prisoners died. It has alsobeen 800 years since the Magna Carta was signed byKing John at Runnymede, on the banks of the RiverThames, providing the foundation stone of individualliberties under the law. Finally, 750 years have passedsince Simon De Montfort’s Parliament was the firstinstance of a parliament in which representativesfrom towns and the shires were summoned togetherto discuss matters of national concern.

All three events have shaped our country, itsdemocratic system, our freedoms, the rule of law anda desire never to endure the horrors of genocide. Lastmonth the annual Holocaust Memorial Day wasparticularly poignant. Not only was it 70 years sincethe liberation of Auschwitz, which I have previouslyvisited with local schools as part of the HolocaustEducation Trust programme, but it was just a coupleof weeks after the barbaric attacks in Paris, Belguimand Nigeria. Whilst much media attention has beenupon the brutal killings of Charlie Hebdo journalists,in Nigeria the militant Islamist group Boko Haramcontinues its wave of bombings, assassinations andabductions.

A couple of months ago, I hosted a public meetingwith Lord David Alton about religious freedom wherepeople of many different faiths attended. I reportedback on my visit in October to Burma whereChristians and especially Rohingya Muslims arepersecuted. The local Muslim community present atthe event were clear in their condemnation of recentmilitant Islamic attacks. It was striking how membersof all the faiths were united in their support forreligious freedom; a universal freedom andfundamental to all our other freedoms.

We say "never again" at Holocaust Memorial events,but the sad reality is that there are increasingnumbers of people being persecuted and killed fortheir race and religion. In Paris and Belgium, Jewishpeople were targeted and attacked. These anti-Semitic attacks were not isolated but are theculmination of repeated discrimination which reacheda height over the summer during the Gaza conflict. InSouthgate, the local synagogue had a brick thrownthrough the window, the Jewish charity shopNorwood was plastered with anti Israel posters, andconstituents told me that they were fearful abouttheir children being in public with Jewish uniforms orinsignia.

I have met with the Mayor of London and HomeSecretary to raise constituents real concerns aboutthe rise of anti-Semitism. In a debate in Parliament inDecember I said that, "We know from history that thelitmus test for our valuing of our fellow human beingshas, sadly, been our attitude to anti-Semitism. We canshow ourselves to be tackling the issue of humandignity in the way we deal with anti-Semitism." Thismonth, the All Party Parliamentary Group on AntiSemitism, which I am a member, will be publishing areport seeking to respond to the growing acts of anti-Semitism across Europe. Do check out my website forthe findings. I will also be hosting a public meetingon this subject with a panel of locally and nationallyrenowned anti-Semitism campaigners andrepresentatives from the local synagogues. Comealong to a public meeting on Tuesday the 17th ofFebruary at Southgate Progressive Synagogue,75 Chase Road, London, N14 4QY at 8pm to hearwhat the experts have to say and ask yourquestions about tackling anti-Semitism inEnfield Southgate.

6 | 348 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, N13 5TJ

| 78882 7888

by Costas Georgiou, [email protected]

Cycle Enfield - Fair consultation for all

Green Lanes Business Association

Happy New Year Everyone, it’s been a while sincewe submitted any updates on local issues from theperspective of the Green Lanes Business Association(GLBA), our focus is still the Mini Holland CyclingScheme (Cycle Enfield). On 8th January 2015 EnfieldCouncil held an introduction to the consultation forthe Mini Holland cycling scheme. The GLBA, whichrepresents Palmers Green businesses, and theresidents of Palmers Green Ward were excludedfrom this meeting. They were not invited to attend.

The GLBA is in favour of promoting sustainable andhealthy travel, including cycling, but schemes mustbalance various interests, including those of the localeconomy and overall taxpayer’s value for money.

We call on Enfield Council to:✔ Broaden representation on the cycling

partnership boards to include organisations suchas local schools, the GLBA and the Ruth WinstonCentre for older people

✔ Provide information such as large scale maps ofproposed cycle routes in accessible locations andat convenient times, and publish all the

assumptions and methodologies underlyingbusiness cases, shopping surveys and designs

✔ Consider practical alternative cycle routes,including parallel roads close to Green Lanes

✔ Conduct a low cost simulation of schemedesigns, such as lane closures and parkingsuspension along the proposed route for at leasttwo consecutive weeks. This will demonstrate thepositive or negative impacts on businesses andresidents

✔ Extend opening times and improve the signagefor Lodge Drive car park. Trial free 20 minuteparking in Palmers Green (as with other towncentres)

✔ Keep the Triangle. It has been a local Landmarksince 1904 and shopkeepers and residents alikewant it saved.

Since 1992 the GLBA has had a good relationshipwith Enfield Council on all matters relating tobusiness and the community. Along withrepresentatives for the residents, we feel it is

imperative that these communications continue,particularly when the Mini Holland scheme mayhave negative impacts on our local businesses andresidents.

We would like to see The Ruth Winston Centre usersand staff included in these discussions. The Centreprovides vital services to over 100 people per day,many of them have disabilities, use the Dial-a-Rideservice or need help getting out of vehicles. We donot want a physical barrier to the social activities ofolder people in our community.

GLBA is the only business association in the boroughthat meets a minimum of once a month to discusslocal issues in an aim to stay abreast of currentissues that could affect local business and thecommunity of Palmers Green. These meetings arealso regularly attended by the police SaferNeighbourhoods team. We feel it is of the utmostimportance that the GLBA are included in all phasesof the consultation period for the new Cycle EnfieldScheme.

TO LE

T

Astunning, two double bedroom apartment located on theground floor of a modern purpose built block. Within fiveminutes’ walk to Palmers Green’s shops, restaurants and

mainline station (Moorgate). Benefits include a spaciousliving/dining room with wood floor, fitted kitchen with granitework surfaces, contemporary bathroom with Jacuzzi bath,modern en-suite, a private terrace, communal gardens, securegated parking space and video entry phone system.

Awell presented three/four bedroom 1930’s built terracedhouse located on the ever popular “New Park Estate”. Theproperty benefits from a spacious open plan through

lounge, modern kitchen, first floor family bathroom, two doublebedrooms, a single bedroom and a further loft bedroom, doubleglazing, gas central heating, off street parking and paved reargarden with rear access. The property is close to local shops andbus routes with Palmers Green High Road under a mile away.

New Park AvenuePalmers Green, N13

3/4 bedrooms, through loungekitchen, bathroom

FOR

SALE FO

R

SALE

£449,995 Freehold

Hazeltree LodgePalmers Green, N13

2 bedrooms, living/dining room, kitchen, bathroomshower room, allocated parking

£449,995 Leasehold

Paying it forward and communitywww.loveyourdoorstep.co.uk Visit us on facebook

Love Your DoorStep by Emma Rigby

Paying it forward is the selfless generosityof ordinary people who perform an act ofkindness for someone else. They are notpaying back, because nothing has beendone for them. It’s doing something goodjust for the sake of it with no expectations,just because you can. It is a beautifulconcept and it is what we do at Love YourDoorStep (LYDS).

Paying it forward is not something new, asthe term was first used in 1944. There isprobably no one particular thing that hasbeen encouraging us to pay it forwardmore often than in the past, althoughthere are now many more peoplesuffering and having a difficult timecoping financially, due to the recessionand some governmental changes.

As you know, the idea of LYDS unfoldedright after the riots in Enfield. Enfieldbusinesses came together to support oneanother and LYDS encouraged Enfield toget back its feeling of community and of

helping each other.

Right from the beginning LYDS membershave been using its Facebook platform toask other people in the area how to gethelp, where to find things and what’sgoing on in and around Enfield. Othermembers freely pass on any informationthey might have on the subject inquestion, because they want to.

When it comes to answering a requestfrom another member, some peoplemight step up because they are alreadyfriends, some because they have oftenseen that name on LYDS, but most oftenthey are helping complete strangers.

LYDS now has well over 10,000 members.As Enfield is the fourth most denselypopulated of all London Boroughs, thereare still lots of people that LYDS has notyet reached, but 10,000 is an impressivenumber after only three years.

There are lots of people in Enfield who arereally experiencing the community spirit

and are helping each other as much aspossible. There is always someone whowill help you to find a product or servicethat you need, and if by chance it is adifficult request, there is probablysomeone who will lend you what youneed or help you out in some way.Sometimes important things get lost, fromdogs to Oyster cards, and so far we havehad 100% success in getting those lost‘items’ back to their owners with the helpof our community.

There is nothing better than communityto make life easier and much more fun.Paying it forward is a big part of what thatreally is, and LYDS happily supports ourcommunity as much as possible. If you arelooking for more community in your lifeLYDS is there to help.

Find our community group on facebookunder N21/EN1/EN2/EN4/N13/N14/ Whatsthere to do and where to find stuff.

www.southgatedistrictcivictrust.org.uk

In 1962, a group of local residents banded together to fight a plan to demolishthe Georgian cottages on Southgate Green. Their campaign saved the cottagesand led to the formation of Southgate District Civic Trust.

Southgate District Civic Trust –Past, Present & Future by Jane Maggs

Over the next few years, the Trust widened its area ofinterest to cover the old Southgate Municipal Borough(abolished in 1965). The area includes Southgate,Southgate Green, Palmers Green, Winchmore Hill andout as far as Oakwood, Cockfosters and Hadley Wood.

So, after 50 years what is there in our past, presentand future!

The Past – to develop the future you have tounderstand the past. The Trust has an active LocalHistory Group, which meets regularly, usually with aspeaker on a local subject. We have an extensivecatalogue of local history publications written bymembers including our periodic bulletin Oakleaves.Excitingly, the latest edition, Oakleaves 5, received anaward for Best Journal 2014 from LAMAS (Londonand Middlesex Archaeological Society). The groupinitiated four local blue plaques for distinguishedformer residents.

The Present – we tackle the present trying toconserve and protect the best aspects of the area.Clearly everywhere has to develop and grow, but TheTrust wants to ensure that changes are appropriate,sympathetic and what people want. The PlanningGroup meets monthly to review planning applications,

particularly for conservation areas, but also for anylarge developments or where members are directlyconcerned.

As part of this, members are reviewing the councilLocal Heritage List, to be sure anything important tothe community is included. Listing may not give theseplaces full legal protection, but it has to be taken intoaccount when considering any development. It’sabout what is important to us as a community.

The Future – the Trust actively works with councilofficers, local politicians, residents groups andbusinesses to keep improving our area. However, weknow that national changes, like planning laws havea huge impact on our community rights. So the Trustis also a member of Civic Voice, the national charityfor the civic movement. In fact through Civic Voice, ourmember’s views were included in the first ever ‘CivicSociety Manifesto’. As we get closer to the GeneralElection, we have something tangible to discuss withthose politicians knocking on our doors.

The Trust has campaigned in the past for majordevelopments like the restoration of GrovelandsHouse, plus smaller things like the flower-bed at thetop of Chase Road in Southgate. Our members are

involved with major developments in the area like theNorth Circular Action Plan, Salmon’s BrookImprovements and Cycle Enfield.

This area has a fascinating past and we intend toensure a great future.

So how do you get involved? Come to one of our‘open meetings’, which include a speaker on anythingfrom environmental matters, bee keeping to councildevelopment plans. Or come to a history groupmeeting, or a social event.


Full details are in our regular members Newsletter, or on the website (www.southgatedistrictcivictrust.org.uk) and Facebook(www.facebook.com/southgatedistrictcivictrust), or contact Jane Maggs on 020 8882 4253. Better still, join us and make a difference.

Bourne Hill, Woodman

Alex loves business and gives regular presentationsto those wanting to learn about the accountancyand tax part of running their own business. He helpsbreak down the barriers that people face in runningtheir own business and how to maximise theirearnings. The biggest enjoyment that Alex gets fromhis role as an accountant is to work with peoplefrom all walks of life and most importantly helpingthem with their money. Alex’s specialism is indealing with tax issues relating to properties, wherehe regularly advises clients with a property portfolioas small as one buy-to-let property to largecommercial and residential property developers.

Question:I am reaching retirement age and have a fewproperties earning me rental income. I am consciousof my inheritance tax position and want to makesure that my children receive the properties and wepay as little tax as possible. Can you advise on ourposition?

Answer:The issue I would need to establish from the onsetis whether you rely on the rental income from theproperties to help you during your retirement. If so,then you won’t be able to pass the properties toyour children and retain the benefits (i.e. the rent)from the properties. If you plan to gift yourresidential property to your children and continue tolive in it, rent free, this won’t fall out of your estatefor inheritance tax purposes, as it will be seen as a‘gift with reservation of benefit’ – although it won’tattract any capital gains tax, regardless of themethod of transfer.

If you decide to gift any of your properties to yourchildren you will have to wait seven years until thegift falls out of your estate (although the value ofthe gift does fall over time, reducing your potentialinheritance tax bill).

There is also the issue of capital gains tax toconsider in gifting the investment properties.Regardless of the money which exchanges with the

transfer, the deemed transfer is taken as the marketvalue of the property at the date of exchange.Capital gains tax is calculated as the market value ofthe property, less the purchase price (and any otherallowable capital expenses) with the balancechargeable for capital gains tax at 28%.

There are instances in which your capital gains taxbill can be reduced. The main one being is if youhave ever lived in the property you are disposing. Ifso, then the last 18 months will be free of capitalgains tax. In addition, you are entitled to a reliefknown as lettings relief, which could result in up toan additional £40,000 relief from capital gains tax.This could be doubled if the property is owned byhusband and wife.

There are various other tax planning opportunitiesavailable and the potential options are alwaystailored to each individual situation. The aim isalways to look at the long term goal of theindividual and to build a plan to help manage theiraffairs in a tax efficient manner.

Alexander’s & Co Chartered Accountants24A Aldermans Hill, Palmers Green, London N13 4PNTel: 020 8882 6611 Fax: 020 8882 6621Email: [email protected]: www.alexandersandco.com

Your Local Accountant – How to pass property toyour children and pay less tax by Alex Chrysostomou

| 98882 7888

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

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

Choosing the right holidaycottage break by Wendy Boast

A self catering holiday cottage is a populargetaway choice for many people. Although youmay still be doing some cooking and washing,going self catering usually means moreflexibility. You can choose when and what toeat and you will have separate living andbedroom areas.

Also self catering can often work out cheaperthan staying in hotels especially for largergroups or families.

Here’s what to look for when choosing yourbreak.

Facilities vary greatly so check what's available.Some places will have washing machines andseparate dryers, TV's with satellite channels,well equipped kitchens, microwaves etc whilemore basic accommodation might not. Thebetter holiday cottages should offer free wi fi,bed linen and towels, DVDs, board games, aBBQ, outdoor furniture, supplies of generalhousehold items, as well as maps and guides of

the local area too.

Find out where the nearest food shop will be. Isa local or farm shop nearby or is there a largesupermarket? You can often arrange for anonline supermarket shop to be delivered toyour accommodation on the day you arrive.

If you are travelling with a young family askabout any baby equipment you may need suchas a cot and high chair. Do you need a stairgate or black out blinds? Are these included inthe price or do you have to pay extra?

It's always good to have a garden or outsidespace if you're staying in self cateringaccommodation. If so, check that it is safe andenclosed. If you are visiting in the spring andsummer ask about outdoor seating and BBQs.You want to be able to enjoy the sunny days!

If you're going away with family or friends,think about what type of holiday you want. Willyou be doing everything together or having

some time apart? Do you want to go foraccommodation that is big enough for all ofyou or would you prefer separate butneighbouring accommodation?

Ask what there is to do locally. The holidaycottage owner should know about localattractions and even attractions further afield.They should also be able to tell you which pubsand restaurants are good in the local area. Ifyou are booking a rural holiday cottage, askabout local walks, cycle ways and local towns.

If you are thinking of taking your pets away onholiday make sure that the holiday cottage ispet friendly. Some self catering cottages willaccept dogs, but many stipulate only one well-behaved pet; if you are holidaying with morethan one family or a group of you with severalpets that could be a problem. Also check whatthe rules are for pets; where are the petsallowed, check the finer details and ask if thereare additional pet fees.


Wendy Boast is the owner of Visit Peaks holiday cottages and has been goingon self catering holidays with her husband, three children and friends for over25 years. If you are interested in a 2015 self catering holiday get in touch byemail [email protected] or phone 07980 390 520.

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But there are some crucial questions for voters overthe coming months. Will there be cuts to higher ratetax relief on pension contributions? Will there be areduction of the burden of Inheritance Tax? WillIncome Tax rates change? Certainly, Britain’s saversand investors can only plan on the basis of whatthey know – and can only speculate on whichelection promises become policy.

Yet savers and investors still have to make a seriesof decisions prior to the tax year-end; a full monthbefore the general election. The best approach tohelp reduce tax bills and achieve financial goals is tomake full use of the allowances, exemptions andplanning measures already in place. And that meanstaking action before 5 April to ensure theopportunities that are available now are not lost.

So, as the tax year-end fast approaches, savers andinvestors should consider the following.

Take full advantage of your annualISA allowanceJuly’s increase in the annual ISA allowance to£15,000 was a welcome, if overdue, development,and reaffirmed the value of ISAs for long-termplanning and tax savings. Yet latest HMRC figuresfrom September last year reveal that the averagevalue of a Stocks & Shares ISA portfolio is just£29,520 and that the average contribution in thelast tax year was £6,200. Clearly, there is room tomaximise the opportunity to generate tax-efficient

income and capital gains free of any further taxliability.

However, what hasn’t changed is that yourallowance for this tax year will be lost unless youinvest by 5 April.

Save tax with pension contributionsThe recently announced changes to pensionsintroduce much greater flexibility and remove manyof the reservations some people had about investingthrough pensions. The annual allowance that can beinvested in a pension in this tax year is £40,000.Advantage can also be taken of any unused annualallowances from the 2011/12 tax year onwards.

The continuation of higher rate tax relief onpensions is one of the post-election uncertainties, sothose paying tax at higher or additional rates shouldconsider accelerating contributions while the highertax reliefs remain in place.

Make gifts to reduce your Inheritance TaxliabilityGift exemptions may appear minor in isolation, buttheir consistent use over the years can producesignificant savings and benefits. Each individual hasan annual gift exemption of £3,000 and has until 5April to take advantage of last year’s exemption if itwasn’t used. Between spouses there could be£12,000 available for immediate gifting, which canbe divided into any number of individual gifts.

Advantage can also be taken of the normalexpenditure from income exemption, which offers alot of flexibility and is potentially the most generousexemption as it has no defined monetary limit. Anumber of broad conditions do apply, including thata regular pattern of gifts needs to be established,gifts must come from surplus income and gifts mustnot affect the donor’s standard of living.

It is also possible to make small gifts of up to £250to as many people as you wish in any one tax year.The only caveat is that the same individual cannotreceive both a small gift and any of the annual

£3,000 exemption in the same tax year.

A good way to maximise these allowances might bethrough Junior ISAs, for which this year’s allowanceis £4,000, giving children or grandchildren a headstart. Alternatively, investing into a pension forsomeone else could boost your gift by 20% throughthe tax relief available on contributions.

Fully utilise your Capital Gains TaxallowanceIndividuals can realise up to £11,000 of gains thistax year without having to pay Capital Gains Tax(CGT), which is worth £3,080 to a higher ratetaxpayer. And a decision to crystallise gains up tothis limit before the end of the tax year could reducethe amount of tax paid in the future. Marriedcouples or civil partners should also not forget tomake use of their spouse’s or partner’s CGTallowance.

Transfer assetsbetween spousesDon’t forget thattransfers of assetsbetween spouses arefree from tax, whichprovides the oppor -tunity to ensure thatboth optimise theiravailable allowancesand reliefs. It may beadvantageous totransfer assets into jointownership or to yourspouse if they pay a lower rate of tax than you,which could save tax on future income and capitalgains.

The level and bases of taxation, and reliefs fromtaxation, can change at any time and are generallydependent on individual circum stances. Aninvestment with St. James’s Place will be directlylinked to the funds you select and the value cantherefore go down as well as up. You may get backless than you invested.

Tax year-end: Taxing timesby Jan Thompson

Contact Jan on 07568 321207 oremail [email protected]

Jan Thompson Partner of St James’s Place Wealth Management, is based locally and is inviting local residents to discover the simple yet highlyeffective steps you can take to preserve and protect your wealth. Preserving and protecting your wealth surgeries are being held locally byappointment on 25th & 26th February 2015 from 10-5pm. All surgeries last approx 40mins and are held in the strictest confidence andwithout obligation.

To receive a complimentary guide covering wealth management, retirement planning or Inheritance Tax planning,produced by St. James’s Place Wealth Management, contact Jan Thompson of St. James’s Place Wealth Management

on 07568 321207 or email [email protected]

It pays to get your finances in order before the end of the tax year.When the run-up to the end of the tax year coincides with the countdown to a general election, taxation andpersonal wealth are going to feature high up on the political agenda. Of course, no one knows the outcomeof the May election until the ballot has closed and the votes are counted. And any changes to taxation ruleswill remain in the balance until a new government is formed.


TO LE

T

Munster Gardens, N133 bedrooms, 2 receptions, kitchen, bathroom

ground floor wet room, chain free

FOR

SALE FO

R

SALE

£449,995 Freehold

The Grove, N134 bedrooms, 2 receptions, kitchen, bathroom

£724,950 Freehold

TO LE

T

Truro Road, N223 bedrooms, through lounge, morning room, kitchen/diner

Victorian built, chain free

FOR

SALE FO

R

SALE

REDUCED

£624,995 Freehold

Mitchell Road, N133/4 bedrooms, through lounge kitchen/diner

bath/shower room

£419,995 Freehold

TO LE

T

Godolphin Close, N13studio apartment, living/sleeping area, kitchen, shower room

parking facilities, unfurnished

TO LE

T

TO LE

T

£750 per month

Arnold Gardens, N131 double bedroom first floor flat, spacious living room

kitchen, bathroom

£850 per month

| 138882 7888

www.villagevet.co.uk

SIMON HAYESHead Vet

Veterinary staff on site 24 hours

a day...

Winchmore Hill 020 8360 2020

8am – 8pm Monday to Friday 9am – 4pm on Saturday 10am – 2pm on Sunday

Southgate

020 8882 62229am – 7pm Monday to Friday

9am – 1pm on Saturday

Open at times to suit you

Veterinary on site 24 h

a day...

Winchmore 020 8360 20

staffhours.

Hill20

020 8360 208am – 8pm Monday to

9am – 4pm on Satu10am – 2pm on Sun

Southgate020 8882 62

9am – 7pm Monday to

20o Fridayurdaynday

e 22o Friday

www.villagevet

9am – 1pm on Satu

Open at times to s

t.co.uk

urday

suit you

Special Vets for your special petsby Simon Hayes, Head Vet & Partner - Village Vet Winchmore Hill

Southgate, 32-34 Cannon Hill, Southgate, N14 6LG - Tel: 020 8882 6222 &Winchmore Hill, 2 Station Road, Winchmore Hill, N21 3RB - Tel: 020 8360 2020 www.villagevet.co.uk

At Village Vet, we pride ourselves on always striving to match the needs of both youand your pet, providing special vets for your special pets.Village Vet is here for you in your communityputting you and your pet first. We pride ourselves onoffering high standards of care and excellent clientservice. Our practices all retain their own personality,but we have the back up of being in a group to shareour expertise. The Southgate practice run by ZaraPosener is a fantastic 1 vet practice offering aboutique style of care, whereas in Winchmore Hill,Simon Hayes runs a large 4 vet practice with a morehospital style and staff onsite 24 hours to care forany patients that need to stay in overnight. There isalso a large car park.

We have incredibly well equipped veterinarypractices, with digital xrays, ultrasound, in houselaboratories, full operating theatres, dental xrays andendoscopy. In fact everything your pet could need,but most importantly we have vets, nurses andreceptionists with knowledge, empathy andcompassion to help you and your pets.

For both practices one thing we love is helping our

old and new clients when they get new puppies andkittens. We offer a great value puppy or kitten planto help you through those first difficult months ofowning a new pet. In fact, why not come in and seeus before you even get your pet? Our teams have awealth of knowledge and experience and are alwayshappy to help. Choosing a puppy or kitten can be avery daunting task so let us take some of the stressout of it for you.

Most people have an idea of the type of pet thatthey want. Some choices are simple, like a dog or acat, but others are more difficult, like do I buy akitten from the internet?

Here are some questions to ask yourself:• Is the pet or breed you have chosen

appropriate for your circumstances?• What are your plans for the future – short term

and long term. A puppy will be with you for onaverage 12 years and a kitten 15 years.

• Do you want a Pedigree breed or a cross breed?

• Do you want a rescue animal or one from abreeder?

• Be careful about online media. Always try tovisit a breeder before parting with any money.There are lots of scams out there.

• Is the puppy or kitten being brought up in ahome or in a kennel situation?

• Is it a good idea to buy the smallest or weakestlooking puppy or kitten?

There are many more things to consider, buthopefully, that is a start. Once you get your newbundle of fluffy joy home, make sure you book anappointment with us in the first 24-48 hours so thatwe can check him or her over and give you adviceabout feeding, training, vaccinations, deworming,defleaing and anything else you are concernedabout. Have a look at our websitewww.villagevet.co.uk to find out more about thepuppy and kitten plans and the other services thatVillage Vet offers.


Beef fillet cooked by reverse sear

Savour the Season by Jason Sutton

This isn’t a recipe as such, more of a change of mindset.I and most other people who eat at the supper club liketheir beef roasted to a medium rare: pink but not 'bloody'(it's not blood but that's for another article). I used tofollow the ages old method: sear the meat in a pan andthen transfer to a hot oven to roast. No longer. And I urgeyou to change. Your family and friends will love you forit. You will love the fact that you never again overcookthe Sunday joint. It's called the reverse sear method.

With reverse sear, you cook the meat in a very cool oven.And I mean COOL; so low you can happily handle thebaking tray with naked hands. The oven should be at thesame temperature as you want your meat to be. Thentake it out and rest it. Finally, replace in a ferociously hotoven for ten minutes to brown and crisp the outside. Youwill need a meat/temperature probe but these areinexpensive and readily available.

If you think about how we cook meat, it hasn't reallychanged since we discovered fire. We place flesh closeto heat. Nothing wrong with this but you will always

have a band of tough, grey overcooked meat fading topink. The major issue with fire was temperature. Therewas just one: burny hot.

What's happened in the intervening years betweenPrometheus and me is the development of temperaturecontrol. The internal of medium roast beef should onlybe about 55 - 60°C so why put it in a 180°C oven? Whynot use the lower temperature technologies? The answeris: tradition and time. Let's take these in order.

Tradition. It's how we've always done it! Cooking isprone to the this-is-how-granny-did-it syndrome. Thereare many, many kitchen myths still knocking about. Ofcourse few want to take the time and expense toexperiment - people cook to eat - so bad and/orunnecessary practices are perpetuated.

Time. Yes, hands up, this way takes longer, perhaps twoor three times as much. But oven time doesn't reallymatter does it? When do you ever do a rush roast? Andthe major problem with the sear/hot roast method is thattiming becomes critical. Five minutes too many and you

have overdone meat. Most joints aren't perfectlycylindrical or symmetrical so in a hot oven the thinnerend will cook faster. A high temp also means the meatcontracts fast and forces out moisture. Who wants drymeat?

The major advantage with this is it's pretty muchimpossible to overcook your expensive joint. If the ovenis 60°C, the meat can get no hotter. You can leave it in foran extra hour without an issue. No rushing back to savethe dinner - even the Christmas turkey! This methodapplies to all meats.

So what are the internal temperatures you should belooking for? Here’s my taste:

BeefRare: 50°CMedium Rare: 55°CMedium: 60° Well Done: 70°C As my mother liked it: 95°C

Firs Farm - An exciting community spaceproject that needs your VOTE

by Toni Guiver

Friends of Firs Farm, Firs Farm, Firs Lane, Winchmore Hill, London N21 [email protected] www.firsfarmn21.orgwww.facebook.com/FirsFarmParkN21

Public votes are urgently needed tosupport the transformation of Firs Farm,Palmers Green (opposite WinchmoreSchool) into a beautiful wetlands area.Enfield, Winchmore Hill, Palmers Green andEdmonton are popular residential areas and manyvalue and appreciate the green spaces that exist towalk their dogs, play football, take their children fora walk or just enjoy some space and fresh air.As many of you know, green spaces need protectingand nourishing in this day and age. The recentlyformed “Friends of Firs Farm” group has workedwith the council and other third parties to ensurethat the development of Firs Farm will benefit all thecommunity e.g. Families, schools, groups and sportsclubs.In Jan 2015, an application, supported by the FriendsGroup, to fund an ambitious project, was made tothe GLA’s: Big Green Fund by the London borough ofEnfield. Firs Farm is now in competition with 6 othershortlisted projects across London. Our vision is alandscaped area which attracts new wildlife andplants, new cycle pathway, access for wheelchairand double buggy users, a safer route for schoolchildren. It is important to note that this will notaffect the sports playing fields.

In essence, this project needs as many votes aspossible to ensure its success. Please help us tochange this underused space in Firs Farm tosomewhere that everyone in the community canaccess and enjoy.

Voting opens on 21st January 2015, to vote pleasego to www.london.gov.uk/biggreenpoll orvisit our website for more details.

Chair and founder member of the group, Toni Guiverexplains, “This is a golden opportunity to helptransform a dull green space into an exciting areafor everyone. The aim of the Friends of Firs Farm is

that more people will be able to access and enjoyFirs Farm; to cycle, run, jog, or just sit and watch thewildlife. To stroll along the paths, taking in all thatthe new wetlands and surrounding area will haveto offer. This project has much to offer thecommunity in terms of health, recreation, andeducation. It is a very exciting project and theFriends hope that you will help the quest to improvethis green space for everyone.”

Jim Owen Head Teacher at Winchmore School said“Winchmore School students would benefitimmeasurably from a safer footpath through thepark to school each day, and a local wetland pondwould certainly be of interest to our young eco-scientists!”

Sainsburys in Winchmore Hill are also keen to backthe project having recently donated £100 towardslitter picking up sessions at Firs Farm.

If you are keen to getinvolved with the Friendsgroup, or just to knowmore about this excitingproject, please get intouch and don’t forget tovote for us!

Sainsburys Manager Mark and Toni

Beef fillet cooked by reverse sear.Notice how uniform the meat is.

There’s no grey, overcooked boundary.

Jason runs the New River Restaurant, a supper club for splendid people in Palmers Green.www.newriverrestaurant.com

| 158882 7888

Suzanne Beard of Palmers Green Jewel in the North drools over theclosest thing to a local delicacy

In praise of the sweet delight of a squareof ‘Tottenham’

Melton Mowbray has its pork pies, Eccles has its cake, Devizes has its ciders, But what does PG make?

What indeed? At first glance, we doseem to be a little lacking in our culinaryspecialities, though I know that somewill right now be thinking of thedolmade, the kleftiko, and the gently,deliciously oozing, nutty, honey filledbaklavas of Aroma.

But perhaps the truly authentic PalmersGreen originating speciality doesn’treally exist - or exist yet. Palmers GreenPudding?

But there is one overlooked localishspeciality that perhaps we should betucking into. It doesn’t belong toPalmers Green, but it does come from aplace not much more than two milesfrom here, though in a sense, like all ourdelicacies, it simply belongs to us all. Iam talking, of course, of the pink,square, delight, Tottenham.

As I get older, as in the adage, my tastein music gets sweeter, and my taste infood gets more savoury (have you triedto eat a Kola Kube recently?). You’dhardly think I would give this littlesweetmeat the time of day. But perhapsmy liking for Tottenham is hereditary.My Mother tells of how as a child justafter the war, she’d get up in thedarkness for a trip with my granddad,Charlie Freeston, to Spitalfields Marketto buy fruit and veg for his shop inOngar high street. First would be a visitto the market itself (and with luck, asixpence from Mrs Kent, who kept akeen eye on the money sitting on highon her perch), then a trip to thewholesalers in Leytonstone, and then,best part of all, a warm-up with tea andTottenham at a stall outside Bearman’sdepartment store on Leytonstone HighStreet. A bite through the soft icing andinto the springy madeira-like spongewith a gulp or two of hot sugary tea

must have made a fine restorative. Asequally it might today.

Note by the way, that in my family atleast, it is ‘Tottenham’, not TottenhamCake. The ‘cake’ is superfluous. Wealways know what you mean.

The origins of Tottenham like many ofthese things are not entirely clear, butTottenham is certainly well over onehundred years old. It was baked by theNorth London’s Quakers, with the pinkicing traditionally made from themulberries from the Tottenham Friends’burial ground (the Quakers built theirfirst Meeting House in Tottenham in1714).

Many websites will tell you that thecake was popularised by ThomasChalkley, who sold it for a penny (or halfa penny for misshapen offcuts), and thatit was given away to the children whenSpurs won the FA Cup in 1901. Localhistorian Peter Brown and his wifeDoreen describe it as a children’s cake,a crowd pleaser, reflecting the Quakervalues of simplicity, sharing andequality, a view echoed by a cook bookfrom 1931, quoted on HaringeyCouncil’s website:

It sometimes happens that a largenumber of pieces of cheap cake arerequired at very short notice for suchfunctions as children’s treats or teameetings, and in such circumstancesit may be almost impossible toprepare some thousands of buns orsmall cakes. Resort is then had tocheap sheet cake, which is easilymade and looks large at the price atwhich it is sold. The cheapest cake ofthis sort that may still give entiresatisfaction is Tottenham cake.

Give entire satisfaction it does. You canbuy it from Greggs or Percy Ingle, assadly we no longer seem to have aproper baker in Palmers Green (otherthan the aforementioned, excellent butTottenham-free Aroma patisserie), but

why not make your own? The Brownshave continued the tradition of bakingthe cake for the Friends, using their oldrecipe, tried and trusted for over 50years – in 2013 Doreen appeared on theGreat British Bake off. This is the waythey make it:

Quantities as for a 7" round tin(38 square inches)

• Cooking margarine - 6 oz

• Caster sugar - 6 oz

• Eggs - 3

• Self-raising Flour - 8 oz

• Vanilla essence - a teaspoonful

• Grated nutmeg (if desired) - a little

• Milk

Mix margarine and sugar (as forMadeira cake). Beat eggs and mix in.Fold the mix into the flour. Add vanilla,nutmeg and mix well. Add milk asrequired to form a 'dropping'consistency. Pre-heat oven and bake at150°C for 50 minutes. o achieve a flat-top cake, cover with foil.

Icing: This is either lurid pink orshocking pink: Icing sugar. Mulberryjuice - from the Friend's Mulberry Tree,(or Blackcurrant, or Cherry). Add Lemonjuice if desired. Coat the cake with aweak mix of icing sugar and warmwater, and allow to soak in. Coat thecake with the lurid (or shocking) icing.

Since writing this article, I am pleased tosay Palmers Green now has a newpatisserie and boulangerie! Hurrah

For more about Palmers Green history and people, visit www.palmersgreenn13.com or‘like’ us on Facebook. And if you have any Palmers Green stories, please get in touch.


Alexia says… ‘It’s the Year of the Hobby’

You may have a burning desire to write that novel,learn how to dance like a Strictly professional orplan to be the next Andy Murray, well, make 2015the year to seek out this goal.

Read on to see my picks of local classes to investyour time and energy in to achieve your goal.

Take up tennisHazelwood Sports Club (www.hazelwoodsportsclub.co.uk/tennis) in Winchmore Hill hasoutdoor and indoor tennis courts. You don’t have tobe a member to join either as they have a Pay andPlay where you pay £24.00 for access to a court.Alternatively, book in to have some one-to-onecoaching with one of the qualified tennis coaches,prices start at £24 per hour. The club has 3 acryliccourts and four artificial clay courts. Ridge Avenue,Winchmore Hill, N21 2AJ.

Twinkle those toes with Ballroomand Latin Dancing For those Strictly Come Dancing fans, Dance Matrixoffers classes in Ballroom and Latin in Oakwood onWednesday nights. The class begins at 8.00pm forimprovers and 8.45 for beginners. Singles and

couples can attend – you don’t have to have apartner as the men rotate so you always have apartner. At 9:30pm, there is social dancing for halfan hour where you practise what you have learnt.St. Thomas’ Church Hall, Prince George Avenue, N144SN.

Learn a languageWhether you like listening music from othercountries, travelling abroad, working for aninternational company, or chatting with foreignfriends learning a langue can be fun, at any age. Whynot try Italian with Laura Scaramella, she teaches inPalmers Green. For more information please visitwww.parlaitaliano.co.uk.

Take to the StageEver fancied treading the boards? It is awardsseason and the Oscars are only a month away. Thereare a number of local theatre groups to join in thelocal area including St Monica’s Players(www.smptheatre.co.uk), Acorn Theatre Company(www.acorntheatre.com) and St John’s Players(www.stjohnsplayers-pg.org.uk).

Latest in fitnessYou don’t need to travel to central London for thelatest fitness craze but if you have always wantedto try hot yoga then start off at the Enfield’s TrainingTemple (www.trainingtemple.co.uk). Now ifInsanity is your thing (pure heart-pumping exercise,not for the faint hearted!) you can find classes,alongside yoga and Tai Chi, at The Place Studio(www.theplacestudio.com) in Bush Hill Park.

This is just a small selection of things to do,read next month’s magazine for more of whatto do for a year worth living.

by Alexia Charalambous

There is nothing like getting a new year underway than taking up a new hobby ordeveloping an interest and it’s still early in the year to get that under your belt.

by Kiri from Fabulous Hair Company

Fabulous Hair Company382 Green Lanes, N13 5PD Tel:020 8886 7070

Colour trends for 2015

I would always recommend you colour your hair in aprofessional environment, like a hair salon, and in March’sarticle I’ll tell you why supermarket box colours are second-best to salon professional colours.Balayage: There's a new trend in town. Well actually nothingnew here - it’s actually an older technique that’s beingrevisited. Balayage is a French term meaning “sweeping” or“highlighting”. This technique was created in the 70’s by free-handing colour placement onto each strand of hair toemphasise movement and shape. Your colourist will pick upand choose where to place colour. I love seeing bolderhighlights and strong ribbons running through the hair.

O’mbre: Is another French word, meaning“shaded” and is here to stay! Like Marmiteyou either love it or hate it. Nevertheless, it’snot going anywhere any time soon. It’s a funand fashionable way to lighten up your hairwithout the commitment of colour orhighlights. See the picture of DrewBarrymore for a traditional dark-to-lightO’mbre.

S’ombre: A softer version of an O’mbre. The colours are softerand the transition from dark to light is more gradual.

Flamboyage: Balayage vs O’mbre. Does it necessarily have tobe one or the other? No - a good colourist should be able tocombine both techniques. A Balayage melting into an O’mbrewill be popular for spring 2015.Babylights: Move over, O’mbre – the hottest new hair colourtrend is taking the au naturel route! Babylights, or natural-looking highlights that mimic the sun-kissed tones your hairtook on as a child, have been gaining popularity amongbeauty buffs and Hollywood starlets alike for their ability toenhance your own natural hue without veering too far off thespectrum. Case in point: Miranda Kerr’s subtle golden streaks.An industry source says, "Babylights are a great way tointroduce highlights and dimension into the hair. They're easyto maintain with little upkeep and a natural grow-out." Justbe sure to ask for very subtle, natural-looking highlights.Softer reds: This past autumn, guests were asking for superrich colour and more dimension. Deeper reds, stronger goldsand rich coppers were all the trend. Rich colours still havetheir place and guests are now opting for softer, more natural-looking shades. Hair colours like Paul Mitchell’s ammonia-free‘Shines XG’ are a great way to add a more natural tone toyour hair.Deep browns: I enjoy working with cooler tones. Here’s a

good tip if you are not sure which tone is best suited to you.If you have a lot of pink in your skin or have a darkercomplexion, cool tones are good for you. If you tan easily orhave a lot of warm tones in your skin, stick with a goldenshade. Deep chocolate browns stand out in a sea of blonde.

Cool blondes: Another trend I am seeing right now is silver.Whether it is a full on bleach and tone, or simply glossing andsome creamy highlights with a slight violet or blue hint. It'swhite, but you can see the blue in it, like skimmed milk.

You can spend a lot of money colouring your hair and I wouldalways recommend you take advice from a hair stylist onwhich product routine is best to help you to look after yourhair and protect your financial investment.

If you have any questions that need answering quickly pleaseemail me at [email protected] and I’ll getback to you soon as I can. If you enjoyed my article let usknow, Like us on Facebook and we’ll enter you in our monthlycompetition for a chance of winning 1 in 10 PaulMitchell in-salon Awapuhi Wild Ginger Keratintreatments worth £25. Just go to our websitewww.fabuloushaircompany.com, or click the Facebookicon to Like.

Colour trends and techniques come and go. In this month’s article I’m going touch on a small portion of what is trendingand which techniques are popular.

Alexia says is a lifestyle blog for women. Please visit www.alexiasays.co.uk for more information.@alexiasaysso email:[email protected]

| 178882 7888

Child Maintenanceby Karen Chapman

Your LocalFamily Law Specialists

Hi there, I am Karen Chapman, the other half ofChapman Pieri Solicitors and this is my first articlefor Palmers Green Life. I hope you are all well andkeeping wrapped up in this icy February weather.

I thought I would write about Child Maintenance asthis is a subject that often comes up when dealing withfamily matters regardless if the parties are married ornot. There have been a number of changes to thecollection and assessment of child maintenance in theprevious year and so this article is intended to providea brief overview of the steps involved in an assessmentby the Child Maintenance Service “CMS”.

Most parents can approach the CMS for anassessment. There are 4 rates of Child Maintenance:-

Nil rateAs the title suggests the parent the child doesn’tlive with doesn’t have to pay child maintenancebecause e.g. they are a student, aged 16 or under(or 20 or under if they’re in full time education), getan allowance for work-based training or live in acare home or independent hospital.

Flat rateThis is £5 per week no matter how many childrenare involved. It is used of the paying parent’s grossincome is between £5 and £100 and they don’tqualify for the nil rate

Reduced rateThis is used if the paying parent’s gross income isbetween £100 and £200 it is calculated as £5 perweek plus a percentage of the paying parent’sincome

Basic rateThis is a percentage of the paying parent’s grossweekly income. Pension contributions may bededucted. The rates are as follows:

Gross weekly income up to £800 per week:-One child 12%Two children 16%Three or more children 19%

Gross weekly income between £800 to£3,000 per week:-

One child 9%Two Children 12%Three or more children 15%

Working out incomeThe CMS will be able to establish the paying parent’syearly gross income from information supplied toHMRC and check if they are getting benefits. Unearnedincome such as dividends drawn through a company,investment and property income is in the first instanceexcluded.

Gross income includes any bonus, commission orovertime payments. It also includes receipts from anypension scheme, tax credits, employment credits anddisabled persons tax credits. Gross income excludesinvestment income, State benefits, student grants andloans.

DeductionsThe amount of child maintenance will also be affectedby the number of other children the paying parent ortheir partner receives child benefit for “relevant otherchildren” and the number of overnight stays with thepaying parent.

Percentage reduction for relevantother childrenFor relevant other children in the paying parent’shousehold, a percentage reduction will be applied tothe assessment being either 11%, 14% or 16% for one,two or three or more children respectively.

Shared careWhere the paying parent has overnight contact, areduction to their child maintenance liability will applyto child maintenance which is broadly as follows:Fewer than 52 nights – no reductionBetween 52 and 103 nights – 14.29%Between 104 and 155 nights – 28.57%Between 156 and 174 nights – 42.86%More than 175 nights – 50% plus £7 each week foreach child

VariationEither the receiving parent or paying parent can askthe CMS to take account additional information or

circumstances by initiating a variation application. Thisis appropriate where the standard formula does not dojustice to the case. The categories of variationapplication that may lead to an assessment beingreduced are if the paying parent has significant costs inmaintaining contact with a child, or must meet costsrelating to long term illness or disability of a child livingwith him or her. Other criteria include seekingreductions due to paying debts for the joint benefit ofboth parents, paying for the child’s boarding schoolfees or paying the mortgage on the property where thechild lives.

The categories of variation that might increase amaintenance liability are if the receiving parent appliesfor the paying parent’s unearned income into account,such as income from property rental, dividends andinterest. It is also possible to apply on the basis thatthe paying parent is diverting his income e.g. makingexcessive pension contributions, funnelling his earningsthrough a partner or failing to pay a proper salary.

There is also an appeal system if either parent believesthe maintenance calculation is wrong or that avariation application has not been dealt with properly.

FeesThe application fee will be a £20 charge payable by theapplicant for a maintenance calculation. The personwith care will be charged a 4% collection fee on anychild support collected through the CMS. The non-resident parent will be charged a 20% collection feeon top of the weekly amount of child maintenance heor she is liable to pay, if the CMS collection service isused. The aim is to encourage more parents toendeavour to agree the level of child support between.

If you require advice on Child MaintenanceAgreements or any other related family matters,please don’t hesitate to call us on 020 8882 9850 toarrange a fixed fee initial consultation for just £75 plusVAT.

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

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


Enfield Poets Present an Eveningwith Ruth Pade Saturday February 7th 2015 at 7.30The Dugdale Centre - Thomas HardyHouse, London Rd, Enfield, MiddlesexEN2 6DS Phone: 020 8807 6680www.facebook.com/events/

Floating Lanterns: CelebratingBroomfield Park 2015Sunday 8 February 2.00pmBoating Pond, Broomfield Park

Play Streets meetingSunday 8 February 4.00pmBaskerville's Tea Shop,66 Aldermans Hill, N13 4PPWorkshop for people interested in settingup Play Streets in their road.Rich Driffield from the charity LondonPlay will be there to offer informationand support. Interested? Please [email protected] so we cangive Baskerville’s firm numbers.

Feb Shed: Half-term performanceworkshops for 5-12 year oldsMonday 16 February until Friday 20February 10.00am - 4.00pmChickenshed, Chase Side,Southgate, N14 4PE. £130.

50% discount for siblings. For children inYear 1 up to Year 8 (ages 5-12 years).Children will explore and develop a widerange of performance skills throughworkshops that involve drama, dance,singing and story-making. Box Office: 020 8292 [email protected]

Chickenshed Community Chorusfor Adults 21+ @ ChickenshedTheatreWednesday 21 January -Wednesday 25 February 2015(5 weeks not including Wednesday 4February) 6.30-8.30pm£8 each session.£40 for 5 weeks of workshops.An ongoing series of vocal sessions atwhich you can develop your singing skillsas part of an ensemble.

Palmers Green & Southgate U3A -Monthly MeetingWednesday 25 February 2.30pmIntimate Theatre, Green Lanes, N13 4DHSpeaker: Barbara Lewis, NationalChairman of our umbrella organisation,The Third Age Trust.Comedy Night @ ChickenshedTheatre Bar

Thursday 26 February, 8pm,£10 adv | £12, 16+Comedy Nights at Chickenshed are fastbecoming the place to be for a relaxedand very funny night out, attracting well-known headline acts as well asshowcasing rising stars.

Friends of Arnos Park CommunityOrchard planting day.Saturday February 28th 10-3pm. Arnos Park, N11 1APVolunteers needed please join us in theold playground. Check our facebook pagefriendsofarnosparklondon for updates.

North London Organic Gardeners:Birds in our Gardens TalkThursday 5 March 8.00pmSmall Hall, Baptist Church, ComptonRoad, N21 3PASpeaker: Bruce Bennett of the RSPBContacts: [email protected]

ST HARMONICA’S BLUES CLUBFEBRUARY 2015 LINE UPSt Monica’s Parish Centre, 6 Cannon Hill,Southgate N14 7HG From 8pmFriday 6th February Doc K's Blues Band. Still rocking after

47 years. Friday 13th FebruaryThe Vintage Half-Term Blues Jam. Wedo six of these each year. Players andsingers turn up before 9.00pm and putyour name down on the list! Friday 20th FebruaryThe Sam Kelly Band. Sam has drummedat the club a few times now. He is, quitesimply, one of the finest drummers on theblues circuit in Britain & Europe. Friday 27th FebruaryAcoustic Blues Night. These eveningsare always popular. The Blues as it wasoriginally played, unplugged! Topping thebill, Dan Nash, one of the best localsingers/guitarists around with hiscollaborator Ben Henry Edwards onharmonica. Friday 6th MarchRoXi and the Blue Cats. A local 5 pieceeclectic band, RoXi and the Blue Catsmake a welcome to St Harmonicas; greatblues music, emotive vocals and toetapping tunes ... cool vibes and sizzlinghot blues covers and original songs fromthis eclectic 5 piece who have beenregular headliners at Broomfield ParkSunday Sessions over the years and thehouse band at The Electric Blues Club inEnfield.

Whatʼs going on locally in Palmers Green & Southgate

If you have an activity to list here please get in touch at

[email protected]

Local Events

DavidWilliamson

ENFIELD AND ANTHONYWEBB SUPPORT A LOCALFILM FESTIVAL.We were delighted to hear that localcouncilors supported our proposal tothe Enfield Residents Priority Fund topilot a local film festival. Tony Ourris,owner of Anthony Webb, is addingfurther funds and so in April and Maywe will be celebrating the film talentsof local writers, directors and actorsin a wide range of venues in theborough.

We have commissioned a number ofnew film makers to create short filmsabout life in the suburbs. These willbe premiered during the festival.

Watch this space for a special filmfestival edition!

ALL TICKETS £5www.talkies.org.uk

Tickets available at Anthony Webb's offices. Buy your tickets early before they run out!

SAT FEB 21WALKER HALL,

N14

ANIMATED SHORTS

THURS MARCH 5DUGDALE,ENFIELD

IDA

Animation provides a limitless canvas for creativity.Hosted by local animator and director Phil Davies, theevening will screen amazing films, some gothic, othersfunny and all enthralling.

THU FEB 5DUGDALE,ENFIELD

THELUNCHBOX

A mistaken delivery in Mumbai's famously efficientlunchbox delivery system connects a young housewifeto an older man as they build a fantasy world togetherthrough notes in the lunchbox.

Polish cinema at its best, Ida is an empatheticallywritten, splendidly acted, and beautifullyphotographed masterwork which was a big hit at the2013 London Film Festival.

Do you enjoy having a local cinema? Do you think it is agreat benefit to our communities? Then please becomea "Friend of Talkies" which will help us to keep bringingyou great events at low prices. Check out the ‘Friends’webage at www.talkies.org.uk

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Palmers Green Talesby Jenny Bourke

www.palmersgreentales.comwww.facebook.com/groups/331208790354294/ or just goto Facebook and look for Palmers Green Tales and ask tojoin the group twitter : @PGTalesEmail us at [email protected]

I have some sad news to share this month, one of our early interviewees, BettyMartin passed away suddenly in December but her family were really pleasedto let me know that she had been delighted to share her stories with PalmersGreen Tales and was really pleased to see the finished interview.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWy22C9n1XU, this is the first ofthe films. We did get a little behind this month due to that dreadful flu thateveryone has had, so Tony Ouris’ interview has only just been released. It wasgreat to catch up with Tony and find out more about Anthony Webb'scontinued commitment to our community. In January we interviewed our first young person! He has grown up in PalmersGreen and it is interesting to see our area from a young person’s perspective.I am particularly interested in what our area has to offer young people in theway of schools, clubs and support networks. One of our early interviews withJoan Sollis demonstrated how welcoming our area is,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOB9w1jpBLgWe hope to find that young people can also feel a valued part of ourcommunity.Unplugged Sundays continue at St Monica’s Parish Centre on Cannon Hill.Sundays have a chilled vibe and start at 8pm.On Feb 1st Dave and Steve are performing, 8th Feb The haunting and 15th FebDave Barnes.


by Julia Sondack,Drapemasters Interior Furnishers

[email protected] www.drapemasters.co.uk

Creating Conservatory Comfort

020 8360 3082 • [email protected] • www.drapemasters.co.uk

DESIGNERS, MANUFACTURERS AND INSTALLERS OF INTERIOR FURNISHINGS

48 Vicars Moor Lane, Winchmore Hill, London N21 2QH

BESPOKE CURTAINS, BLINDS, UPHOLSTERY, SHUTTERS & AWNINGS

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Completing your conservatory or garden roomis an exciting and important part of theproject. To help create the style andatmosphere you hope to achieve you will needto consider how you want to use your newroom space. Functionality and form are of theutmost importance. There are two routes youcan take. The first is to treat the room as anextension of your home and to continue thegenre of the rest of your property, simplyallowing the same style to flow through. Thesecond option is to treat it as a separate room,one which is possibly a little morecontemporary than others, affording you theopportunity to create a more casual or cuttingedge look.

One thing you do want to ensure is that thisroom is used to its full extent, and that it iscomfortable all the year round. Beingconstructed mainly of glass conservatories andgarden rooms have, in the past been areas ofgreat heat loss and radiation. Now the effectsof this are somewhat diminished byimprovements in the glass used. These can stillbe diminished further by clever use of windowfurnishings. Gone are the days where wecannot enter a room which is uncomfortablycold or hot for there are several options to

resolve this situation and all can achieve astylish look within your home:-Curtains & Roman Blinds: Good qualitycurtains or blinds can help retain up to 30% ofyour room’s heat, not only are they effectivethermal insulators they will prevent glare andcan diffuse the light achieving the atmosphereyou wish to create whilst adding someadditional protection to your furniture. Specialist Blind Products: Manufacturershave worked hard on reducing heat loss andradiation and have some great productsavailable. Roller, vertical and pleated blindswith insulation properties and control of solarheat by reflection keep your conservatory coolin the summer whilst maintaining warmth andcomfort in the winter. Blinds have theadditional advantage of giving us excellentcommand of the amount of light entering aroom.A great benefit of pleated blinds is they can bemanufactured to fit any shape of window soare ideal as roof blinds as well. Great advancesin technology mean that we no longer have tostand on a chair with a pole trying to open orclose our roof blinds as motorisation of mostblinds is available. A relatively new innovation called Perfect Fit

blinds benefit from being fixed in a frame onthe window, decreasing the amount of lightand radiation seepage. They offer a seamlesslook which is clean cut and neat.Shutters: One of the earliest forms ofwindow dressing, this is a superb product tohelp assist with light control and enhance anyinterior setting. The options for woods andcolour painted finishes are extensive. They canhelp you achieve any look you wish fromcontemporary right through to traditional.What to do next? Once you have an idea asto how you would like to use this space its bestto enlist the help of an expert. At Drapemasterswe offer free advice on all these products aswell as a full interior design service. We willcome out and measure your windows, showyou samples and recommend the best solutionfor your situation following through withflawless fitting, safeguarding allmanufacturers’ warranties. We will ensure yourwindow dressings realise their full beauty andpotential allowing you to sit back and enjoythe atmosphere created by them.

For further info. [email protected]

020 8360 3082www.drapemasters.co.uk

| 218882 7888

January 2015 saw the launch of a new property listing website called On The Market,backed by a consortium of high street agents. It aims to challenge the dominance ofRightmove www.rightmove.co.uk and Zoopla www.zoopla.co.uk currently thetwo big “portal” powers in the online residential property world.

Why I am not currently signing up toOnTheMarket.com by Tony Ourris

So what is all the fuss about?Agencies, like mine, are being asked to signup to the new website which will havereasonably priced subscription feescompared to the annual subscriptions forRightmove and Zoopla. However acondition will be that the agents will haveto drop one of these 2 well known portals.It is still not clear if other restrictions willapply such as, holding back propertylistings from other portals for 48 hoursgiving On The Market exclusivity duringthat period.

Whilst I am grateful that the emergence ofthis site has already had beneficial effectson the ever increasing fees charged byRightmove and Zoopla I do not believe thatnow is the time for my agency to sign up.

As an independent Estate Agency it can bemore difficult to attract vendors then say,well known large high street chains backedby national advertising campaigns. We

have to think outside the box creatingmarketing strategies to suit the local areaand build strong community links toengender trust and familiarity. Ultimately Iwant to offer my clients the best andfastest choice available to them to sell theirproperty. Currently Rightmove attracts 90mvisitors a month, whilst Zoopla, attracts45m visitors, however evidence suggestsZoopla delivers more enquiries in Londonthan any other portal. What is clear is thatboth portals enable property to be viewedonline quickly by mass. I feel to drop oneof these key portals would not currently bea sensible move as the vendor may lose out,their property may be on the market forlonger than necessary and it may even putprospective vendors off choosing myagency to sell their property if they feeltheir properties marketing potential isbeing restricted.

Whilst On The Market have amassed a

large marketing fund I am keen to see thesite and its marketing campaign in actionbefore I consider signing up. I thinkcompetition is good and I welcome thenew property portal but at this early stageI feel it is a far too risky strategy to dropeither Rightmove or Zoopla.

I am not alone as larger firms such asCountrywide (which includes brands JohnD Wood, Hamptons and Gascoigne-Pees)with shares in Zoopla, has rejectedOnTheMarket and will stick withRightmove and Zoopla, as have Connellsand LSL.

I will keep a constant eye on the sitesdevelopment and wish them well.

In the mean time if you are looking to sellor rent your home in Palmers Green,Southgate or Winchmore Hill please do nothesitate to contact us, we are here to help.


Action For Kids is a charity based inHornsey which has been serving thelocal community since 1991. Our founder, Sally Bishop, started thecharity from her front room by raisingfunds for a child who needed a wheelchair.This March she was awarded an OBE forher work. In January 2013, GrahamDuncan, was appointed as our new CEOto help us make an even bigger differencein the lives of disabled young people.As well as providing mobility equipment,we help disabled youngsters and theirfamilies in the surrounding boroughs in avariety of ways. We encourageindependence and focus on creatingopportunities so our students can live theirlives more like others their age.Our short breaks activities for 14 – 25 yearolds means parents can have respite fromcaring duties during school holidays andtheir child can partake in lots of newexperiences. We run daily activities locallyincluding: rafting, abseiling, horse riding,martial arts, yoga, zumba, podcasting, filmand music making, animation, art, craft orhair and beauty. Above all, we listen toeach individual student and tailor ourservices to suit them. For teenagers over 14, we link with schoolsand colleges, including Barnet and

Southgate College, with the aim toempower and build student’s confidenceby facilitating active participation indecisions about their futures.Action For Kids uses different media toolsand ways of working to help understandan individual’s aspirations, looking for theirability – not what they can’t do. A majority of the young people we workwith who have learning disabilities tell usthey would like work yet according tostatistics www.learningdisabilities.org.uk/help-information/learning-disability-a-z/e/employment-careersonly 7% of adults with learning disabilitiesare in paid employment. Our unique Life and Work programmeprovides them with accredited learning,bespoke work experience and everyday lifeskills to ultimately gain paid employment.It’s not an easy or speedy process for acandidate with a learning disability to gainwork but things like independent traveltraining or having someone there toinitially help in a new environment canchange outcomes dramatically. Countlesswork placements have been given inshops, garages, restaurants, theatres andlibraries throughout the area. In the lastyear, 13 students have gained paidemployment in independent businesses,

schools, community enterprises and largercompanies.Our students also attendBikes4GoodCauses, a community cafeand bike repair shop on the High Road onthe border of Palmers Green. As well asbeing the perfect place for young peopleto engage with locals, they train in avariety of areas.

Shruti has beenvolunteering atthe bike shopweekly for sixmonths and haslearnt to makecoffee, servecustomers anduse the till.She said: “I likemaking coffees - Ican make lattesand hot choco -lates by myself

now. Most of all, I like going on the tillsand dealing with money as I love maths.”Her job coach, Shalini, said: “Work is soimportant for our students to gainconfidence, skills and a sense ofachievement. Placements within localbusinesses are especially great as it canreally strengthen a young person’s place in

the community.”Action For Kids wants to thank everyone inour vibrant, diverse neighbourhood,brilliant businesses and public serviceswho help us make a tangible difference toyoung lives. Can you or your workplace help us domore? Could you spare a few hours a week? Weare always looking for regular, committedvolunteers to help with a range of activitieswith our young people. We have lots ofevents and fundraising opportunities – youcould hold your own cake sale, or for themore adventurous there are skydives,abseiling and more! Please contact us tofind out more.

Action For Kids supports disabled children and youngpeople to live the life they want - just like everyone else

by Ruth Stivey

www.actionforkids.org Phone: 020 8347 8111

Facebook or Twitter: ActionForKids

Shruti & job coach Shalini

Shruti atBikes4GoodCauses

| 238882 7888

Your Legal Questions Answered by Fariz Uvais

I am the leasehold owner of a flat in a block of flats consisting offour flats in total. The freehold owner has appointed managingagents to manage the common areas of the building, which are theparking lot and the inside corridors leading to the four flats. Theservice charges that are being demanded are out of proportion tothe services that are in fact provided to us and although I havewritten several times to the managing agents to query the high levelof service charges, they have ignored my letters and simply keepsending me letters of demand. Is there anything that I can do toensure that the managing agents take my concerns seriously?

As a leaseholder you have a statutory right to seek a summary of the servicecharge account from the landlord under section 21 of the Landlord and TenantAct 1985. Your request must be in writing and can be sent direct to thelandlord or to the managing agent. It can require a summary of the 'relevantcosts in relation to the service charges payable' in respect of the last accountingyear, or where accounts are not kept by accounting years, the past 12 monthspreceding the request.

Where a landlord has received such a demand he must provide the summarywithin one month (or within six months of the end of the 12-month accountingperiod, whichever is the later).

The summary should show:

✔ how the costs relate to the service charge demand, or if they will beincluded in a later demand;

✔ any items for which the landlord did not receive a demand forpayment during the accounting period;

✔ any items for which a demand was received and for which nopayment was made during the accounting period;

✔ any items for which a demand was received and for which paymentwas made during the accounting period; and

✔ Whether any of the costs relate to works for which an improvementgrant has been or is to be paid.

Once you receive the above information from the landlord, if you are still ofthe view that the charges are excessive, you have the right to make anapplication to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) for a determinationon the reasonableness of the sums being claimed and also as to whether or noteach item of the service charges claimed were reasonably incurred. Anydetermination made by the Tribunal following such an application is bindingon all parties.

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

Fariz Uvais is a consultant in the law firm Harper & Odell. Write in and ask your legalquestions. Fariz will try and answer your questions in Palmers Green LIFE each month. Sendyour questions to Harper & Odell, 61-63 St John Street, London EC1M 4AN or by email [email protected].

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Creative Exchange News

I am a freelancephotographer and travelwriter, and in the past tenyears my work hasevolved out of theenvironments I’ve foundmyself in. I lived in SouthAmerica for several years,where I studied digitalphotography, so the wild

environments of Antarctica, Patagonia and theChilean Andes were favourite subjects. Morerecently I've visited Iceland and the Arctic, butI'm equally happy capturing land andseascapes anywhere from Australia and Turkeyto Cornwall – even Broomfield Park!Portraiture, architecture and wildlife alsofeature regularly in my work, and a recent tripto China has resulted in some images of giantpandas to sit alongside the penguins, huskiesand polar bears.

I have won several awards, includingWanderlust Magazine's Travel Photographer

of the Year (for photographs of Istanbul,Bhutan and Argentina), and these have led tocommissions in Australia and my photographsbeing published in Condé Nast TravellerMagazine and other journals.

The photographs I’m exhibiting at AnthonyWebb’s offices in Aldermans Hill are a smallpart of a much larger collection and areavailable as a series of limited edition prints.

To see many more of my photography see mywebsite norijemil.com. If you would like to buya print, or are interested in a commission,please contact me on email [email protected].

If you are contacting Nori please mention yousaw this piece in Palmers Green Life.

You can see Nori’s exhibition from11 February to 13 April at AnthonyWebb’s office at 92 Aldermans HillN13 4PP

Nori Jemil – the inside storyNori will also be giving a talk about her workon Wednesday 25 February from 7.00 to9.00pm at the Anthony Webb offices inAldermans Hill. Tickets are £10 (non members)£5 Creative Exchange members) plus bookingfee and are available via https://creative-exchange-nori-jemil.eventbrite.com

Patagonia

Ron HewitBy night, I edit the back page of Anthony Webb’s monthly magazine.By day, I’m chief sub on Radio Times, the world’s leading entertainmentmagazine, which isn’t nearly as much fun but pays better.

I first became aware of Creative Exchange in 2012 through the Art Trail.I was so pleased to see a local arts-based organisation putting on sucha brilliant display and getting such an enthusiastic response. I knew thatI wanted to get involved too and I haven't been disappointed. I'm a self-taught photographer and although I take my hobby seriously I wasn't

really developing very fast or in any particular direction. Since I joined CE I've had a reallysuccessful exhibition at Anthony Webb's in Green Lanes – the feedback I received was veryencouraging and I even sold some prints! – and I'm much more (eh) focused. Better still isbeing part of a local, arts-based organisation that's buzzing with energy. And best of allI've met some great, very talented people.

Creative Exchange – meet the team

From 11 February there will be a new,permanent exhibition of work by membersof the Creative Exchange at AnthonyWebb’s office at 348 Green Lanes.Come along to see a brilliant selectionof fine art, photography, prints, glassand porcelain.

If you are interested in joining thenetwork, [email protected]

More art on thehigh street!

The world comes to Palmers GreenNori Jemil has photographed the globe – from the mountains of Patagonia to the wilds of Broomfield Park

Broomfield Park

Documents

Palmers Green & Southgate LIFE Feb 2015