27 August 2013

Picture by Marzia Nicodemi-Ehikioya

This Shirley poppy grew on Rev. Wilks grave in St. Johns graveyard, Shirley
Marzia Nicodemi-Ehikioya
Editor, linguist, outspoken campaigner
on local and national issues. Loves opera,
books and libraries.
Russell Elliott
Passionate believer and advocate of
alternative - Just cos something has
always been done a particular way
doesnt make it the best!
Andrew Pelling
Former Shirley resident, Councillor,
London Assembly Member & MP.
Investment Banker & commentator
for insidecroydon.com
Robert Dil
Graphic Design Consultant and
Co-owner of TD Studio in Addiscombe.
Loves playing music & diving.
Giovanna Ricciardelli
Travel Consultant specialised in Events.
Loves entertaining, swimming, cooking
Italian food. Seriously interested in
architecture and interior design.
Andrew Dunsmore
Top London photographer, runs
Picture Partnership in his Shirley
Studio or on location. He helps
you take better pictures.
Nathalie Baron
Ayurvedic therapist, loves natural remedies,
nature, books & writing
Elizabeth Ash
Library campaigner, tweeter,
interested in education and social
media, enjoys cooking.
Nadia Nazir
IT Consultant and Interior
Decorator, loves to sew, knit
and bake.
Helen Campbell-MacDonald
Practitioner of alternative medicine
and regular contributor to
Alternatives page.
Jill Latter
Miniaturist, Shirley resident for
more than 50 years, makes
beautiful cakes.
Tom Dunsmore
Family man. Retired engineer. Has
worked abroad. Speaks Spanish.
Enjoys travel.
Interested in
being part of our
online magazine?
Please contact us
on
shirleylife@rocketmail.com
Charles Park
of Planning Partnership Ltd, Shirley.
The man to look for if you want
something special for your home.
3
Contents
Shirley Life 5
Lets Talk about Houses by Editor 11
A picture from the Shrublands Estate, Shirley 16
How to make Elderflower wine by Marzia 19
Slimming World by Orla and Marzia 22
Council Sketch by Andrew Pelling 24
Veg boxes and a recipe by Riverford 26
About rubbish in Shirley, Croydon by Marzia 28
Useful websites 30
Japanese Knotweed: passing the buck ... 32
A day out: Museum of Shops 38
Save the David Lean Cinema Campaign Update by Adrian Winchester 40
The Chestnut Clinic has moved ... 43
The 8 healthy properties of Eucalyptus and 15 things to with the oil 44
Coffee, again ... 46
The blackboard 49
News from Shirley Community Centre 50
No to the incinerator: the battle continues from Inside Croydon 56
Andrew Dunsmore, Picture Partnership, Shirley 60
From Save Croydon Libraries Campaign 64
Shirley Library: September Activities 65
Green Thumb: Chapter 4 67
Front Cover: Growing Japanese Knotweed in Farm Drive, Shirley
Editorial Team
Nathalie Baron, Tom Dunsmore, Jill Latter, Marzia Nicodemi-Ehikioya
(Editor), Andrew Pelling, Russell Elliott (Advertising Consultant), Robert Dil
(Graphic Design Consultant) and Nadia Nazir (Website Administrator).
Contacts
T: 07940 415532

E: shirleylife@rocketmail.com

W: www.shirleylife.com
Blog: http://shirleylifeblog.wordpress.com
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Is Life too short to do-it yourself?
Garden maintenance & grass cutting
Painting and decorating
Flat pack furniture assembly
Shelf, mirror, picture hanging
Jet washing of drives, patios, decking
Changing of light bulbs
Garages and sheds cleared
NOG Property Maintenance
Free estimates and no call out fee
Just call NOG for a no obligation quote on
07909 948118 or 8776 1909 or email nogpm@tiscali.co.uk
5
SL
So many things have changed since Shirley Life
was launched: we were thinking of going to print
and our libraries were under threat of being
closed. Well, SL is going strong as an online
magazine, read well beyond Croydon: it is a non
profit enterprise that offers food for thought.
The Library buildings are open (for the moment!)
but the Library services have just been privatised,
all in the name of financial constraints. Read more
on page 63 and spot the lies peddled by the Council.
A new world order?
Many believe that we are now living in what is
essentially a new world order. The old rules of
retirement, entrepreneurship, work, and success
no longer apply. They are pretty much irrelevant.
We are indeed witnessing huge disruptions in
some of the biggest and most powerful industries
in the country: television and newspapers, movies,
music, energy, manufacturing, and finance, just to name a few. And the
governments mantra is that, if you understand and recognize how to take
advantage of these dramatic shifts, it can improve your life in dramatic
ways. You can make a lot of money, no matter what your age. You can
reinvent your retirement or not retire at all. It sounds so easy but is it?
Look around yourself and take note that many are affected with Cancer,
Memory Loss, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's/Dementia. It is indeed
expected that one will eventually end ones life in a Care Home of sort. It
will happen sooner and sooner because greed is at
the core of any decision taken at local or national
level and duty of care in protecting health has
become a thing of the past. The ultimate act of
betrayal at local level was the acceptance of
Viridors incinerator from the part-time mayor of
London. His deputy, Sir Edward Lister, signed on
his behalf: I am content to allow Sutton Council to
determine the case itself, subject to any action that
the Secretary of State may take, and do not
therefore wish to direct refusal.
Now Online at www.shirleylife.com
and very soon
in print
SAVE OUR
LIBRARIES
and make your
voice heard!!!
27 January 2011
If you stay silent
C
L
O
S
E
D
see page 18
Now Online at www.shirleylife.com
and very soon
in print
SAVE OUR
LIBRARIES
and make your
voice heard!!!
27 January 2011
If you stay silent
C
L
O
S
E
D
see page 18
TD STUDIO
353 LOWER ADDISCOMBE ROAD
CROYDON - SURREY CR06RG
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Local news
I move around a lot and, on 22 August 2013, I spotted two removal
vans (see spread on pages 16 and 17) in front of Leaf House in
Shrublands Avenue. I thought the men were moving furniture out but
I was mistaken: they said that the premises had been bought from the
Council by an Academy taking over a local Primary School. They were
moving furniture in.
Not long ago, a local councillor had told a resident that Leaf House
was to be demolished and maisonettes built but plans change where
more money can be made.
More news on 23 August: the electricity was cut off because two
Council departments could not agree on who was supposed to pay for
utilities (Leaf House stood empty for a couple of years. The house in
Oak Avenue is still empty!). There was a serious water leak and nothing
could be done, especially with a looming Bank Holiday. I will keep an
eye on any progress.
European news
Positive news from the European Union: seven European nations have
already banned GMOs, and others have banned specific strains, such
as Bt corn, and testing of GMOs within their borders. The process for
a GMO seed to be approved in Europe is extensive, and can take
years, if it is ever approved at all. Monsanto has announced that due
to Europeans overall rejection of GMO seeds, they are cancelling all
of their pending license requests, and are essentially pulling the plug
on their efforts to market GMOs in Europe. Ilse Aigner, Germanys
minister of agriculture, told the Taz newspaper that genetic technology
has not been the salvation that it was promised to be for Europes
agricultural industry. Indeed, the world is already seeing GMOs
backfiring, in rise of superweeds and superbugs, for example.
Consider subscribing to The Alternative Daily: it is free and it keeps
you informed on a number of topics, from natural health, to diet and
fitness and alternative news. Sign up at www.thealternativedaily.com
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9
Big Coffee Morning
On 27 September, the
Shirley Community
Centre is hosting the
Big Coffee Morning to
raise funds for
Macmillan Nurses.
Please see the poster
on pages 52-53 and
do whatever you can
to spread the word, be
it on Twitter, Facebook,
phone and email.
Fracking near you
Please click on the following link http://www.dangersoffracking.com
and dive down. Is it worth the environmental risks?
Editor
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11
LETS
TALK
ABOUT
HOUSES
The demand for new houses is greater than ever and we are told that new
households are forming at nearly twice the rate as new homes are being
constructed. The lack of supply has been blamed for soaring house prices.
However, the Royal Institute of British Architects (Riba) fears that more
developments built in haste could increase the number of badly designed
new homes: The UK is blighted with unimaginative, poor quality houses that
people don't want to live in but have little other choice, warned president
Angela Brady. Later, she said: In their rush to build the Government must
avoid the temptation to reduce current standards and give the go-ahead for
builders to produce another generation of poor quality homes.
The high-rise concrete blocks, which were the typical answer to providing
new homes quickly during the 50s and 60s, illustrate what happens when the
needs of households arent adequately considered. As well as being
considered an eyesore, the developments quickly became synonymous with
social problems and defragmented communities.
I have lived in Italy, France, Tenerife and Florida. The houses were better
designed than in the UK and the rooms had more natural light because
windows were simply bigger. I embraced ideas from each country and tried
to build it in wherever I moved. A utility room, a second bathroom and a
garage, for example, are an absolute must to me. A walk-in wardrobe
remains a dream, however. I do not care about a big garden when there are
parks and green spaces around. To each her own!
Space is not just my priority: Riba is campaigning for minimum space
standards to be implemented for new homes in England. It points out that
British homes are already among the smallest in Western Europe.
Lack of space is quoted as one of the biggest issues. We hear that, as a
result of geographical constraints, developers are often under pressure to
guarantee a certain number of new homes in certain areas. The temptation
to maximise profits can lead to a reduction of size in order to sell as many
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www. shi r l eyel ect r i cal . com
A contemporary cafe with great food
served in a pleasant and friendly
atmosphere at 219 Wickham Road,
in the Library Parade
13
units as possible. There are, however, ways to
create new housing developments where people
arent packed in like sardines.
England is not London. If innovative financial
planning were put in place, other hubs could be
created with proper infrastructures. No need for a monster with a huge head
and clay feet.
I had to smile when I read that Environ Communities Design Homes, as part
of the solution to cramped homes, plan to sell property by the square foot or
square metre, rather than the number of bedrooms in order to maximise the
sense of space. They say that it would help to solve the problem of new-
builds cramming in as many bedrooms as possible to create the illusion of a
larger home. The best way to create a feeling of light and space within limited
means is to open up the house completely, according to Tony Dowse,
chairman of Environ Communities: It makes a difference to how big the
house feels... Hallways and landings are a waste of space... Space needs
to be functional. It is worth noting that Keeper's Court Oaks Hamlet | Kings
Hill is a luxury home scheme, out of bounds of the average buyers who are
also doing their bit to update the transport system.
I would agree that too many developers ignore the needs of people by failing
to factor in crucial aspects of living such as storage: 69% of people moving
into new-build homes said there wasnt enough space for their possessions,
according to Ribas research. Therefore, many people buy with a view of
selling up in 4-5 years, rather than investing time and money in a quality home
to live in the long term.
Breaking the mould
More developers are beginning to talk about interesting floor-plans. One
can look at Chips in Manchester, one example of Urban Splashs approach
to new development. The scheme is made up of three shipping containers
stacked on top of each other. And rather than boxing up the apartments into
segments, the bathroom and kitchen are centred in the middle, to create a
larger are of living space around the edge. Does this mean bathrooms and
kitchens with no natural light?
Phase 1 of the regeneration project Park Hill in Sheffield, which has breathed
life back into a 1960s block of almost 1,000 flats, has recently been
shortlisted for a Riba Stirling Prize and has also tackled a number of
dilapidated factories and mills. Other developers are following their lead and
creating thoughtful housing in place of decaying estates.
The Ferrier estate in south London has seen a transformation from anti-social
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large cement buildings of insular and inward design, at the hands of Berkeley.
The new Kidbrooke Village has been specifically designed to become an
extension of the wider community rather than a separate estate. Rather than
cramming in housing, only 35% of the land is to be developed with 136 acres
of open space, including parks and sports facilities. Housing has been
designed with courtyards and views of the parks.
Building on undeveloped land is unpopular and contentious but, as creating new
housing is one of the biggest issues for the country, its arguably an inevitable
consequence. The Ecogrove is a development of 89 homes that has recently
won planning permission within Londons Green Belt. Development on such
land is inappropriate under the National Planning Policy Framework. However,
the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham said this was outweighed by the
benefits the scheme would provide, including the development of zero carbon
homes and the likeliness that the scheme will secure the future of Wellgate
Community Farm. Its approach shows how sensitive design can create a
solution to housing demands while supporting green spaces.
The homes will all be five bedroom detached houses and will all be made
available for private sale. They will be constructed in accordance with the
Code for Sustainable Homes level 6, which is the maximum rating available
and which is assessed to be carbon neutral. The scheme also ensures that
each home will have private outdoor space and will be provided with a
Garden Growing Kit, which includes advice and tools to grow a garden and
food. How sweet! Certainly a white elephant and not for first time buyers.
Riba says that it expects new homes to now factor in sustainability as
standard. It also says that, ultimately, the Government must introduce
minimum space standards or else it will fail an entire generation of new-build
home-buyers.
Personal rant
There is one scheme that, in my opinion, takes the biscuit: the Renaissance
development, part of the 250million regeneration of Lewishams town
centre. It features the Glass Mill Leisure Centre and 788 new homes. Glass
Mill was designed by LA Architects who collaborated
with London-based artist Phil Coy to create the faade
artwork. The housing development has been designed
by Assael Architects and feature landscaped roof
terraces and garden areas for residents. Will lack of
proper maintenance make it tomorrows unsalable
slum? It already looks as if bits are falling apart.
Food for thought?
Editor
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How to Make Elderflower Wine
When I was a child, I remember wine
being made in the garden with grapes
that my father ordered from Vinci in
Tuscany. The grapes were pressed in a
big tino (tun) by a number of people who
wore special boots or none. I did it once
and it was painful. The must (pulp) was then
put in the cellar in other containers to ferment
with the grape skins, which give the wine its
colour. Nobody was allowed to go into the cellar for weeks, whilst the
yeast converted most of the sugars in the grape juice into ethanol
(alcohol) and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide was lost to the
atmosphere hence the strong, sweetish smell that attracted lots of
wasps and bees. After the primary fermentation of red grapes the free
run wine was pumped off into tanks and the skins were pressed to
extract the remaining juice and wine. The press wine was blended
with the free run wine by Aldo, my fathers friend and winemaker.
The next process in the making of red wine was secondary
fermentation that decreased the acid in the wine and softened the
taste of the wine. Red wine was transferred to wooden barrels to
mature for a period, usually the end of October. The wine was then
filtered and bottled for the year with proper corks. Children were
allowed to drink the wine with added water during meals. It was not
a forbidden fruit and indeed considered good for the health of the
child. Even now, I only drink wine during meals.
It was not until I came to England that I tasted wine not made with
grapes and discovered wine making kits. I did not like them and
even a sip of such wines wine gave me headaches because I was not
used to the chemical additives used. Once, however, I tried some
homemade elder flower wine in Sussex and I liked it. It was so
different: it was not really a wine and it reminded me of Italian
digestivi, liqueurs that are drunk at the end of a meal.
I would like to try the following recipes found in an alternative website
http://www.motherearthnews.com/ if I can get organically grown
flowers or fruits.
Elder flowers Wine Recipe
Ingredients:
Elder flowers (at least one quart)
1 gallon boiling water per quart of flowers
2 to 2 1/2 pounds of sugar per gallon of liquid
2 lemons or limes per gallon, juiced, per gallon
1 packet of dry wine yeast per 5 gallons of liquid
Instructions:
Snip a quart of flowers from the stems, pour a gallon of boiling water
over them and let the tea steep three or four days with the blossoms
pressed down under the liquid (they turn brown and spoil the color
of the drink if they're exposed to air). Sometimes we soak orange
peel at the same time, but it makes the infusion harder to clear.
Strain off the fluid and heat some of it to dissolve 2 to 2 1/2 pounds
of sugar per gallon. If you have a hydrometer, aim at an 11 percent
alcohol content no more for the finished product. When the
solution cools, add the juice of 2 lemons or limes per gallon along
with yeast. (You can use bread yeast one package to five gallons
but the same amount of dry wine yeast will give you an infinitely
better drink.) Then let the mixture work like any other such beverage
. . . in a container that can be stopped with an air lock to let carbon
dioxide out and keep air, bacteria and whatnot from getting in.
Large batches, incidentally, are less likely to go bad than small lots.
Elderberry Wine Recipe
Ingredients:
Elder berries (at least 2 gallons)
1 gallon of boiling water per 2 gallons of berries
3 1/2 to 4 pounds of sugar per gallon of boiled-down liquid
1 packet of dry wine yeast per 5 gallons of liquid )
Instructions:
For elderberry wine, pick nice plump berries about two days ahead
of the birds and strip them from the stems. You can use a fork and
save your fingers, but I find my hands are faster. Then crunch up the
fruit as if you were kneading dough. You'll need paint thinner later
on to remove the gummy sap from your skin!
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Pour boiling water over the purple mess (1 gallon for every 2 gallons
of fruit) and let the mixture steep for about a week, punching down
the berries occasionally. Keep the crock covered with a towel to
protect the working "must" from dust and the odd yeast floating
around in the air.
After the week of soaking, strain off and save the juice and mix 3 1/2
to 4 pounds of sugar into each gallon of the liquid. (There's a lot of
acid in elderberries and they can easily take care of that much
sweetening ... the alcohol content will go higher than 15 percent. It's
best to make additions of sugar in two or three lots a couple of days
apart, or the fermentation can be explosive.)
Add 1 packet of dry wine yeast per 5 gallons of liquid (I like the
madeira or port type yeast, but that's because we make our wine
a trifle sweet to drink with soda and lime in the summer). Let 'er rip!
You can improve the product by racking it ... which means
siphoning it off the dregs into clean, sterile containers every three
months or so. We never consider our homemade beverage fit to
drink until we bottle it when it's about two years old.
Wine Making Tips
Wine yeast can get a better jump on wild strains if you start it working about 48 hours
before you want it. Take 1/2 cup water, add 1/2 cup orange juice (fresh) or juice from the
berries and boil the liquid with 2 tablespoons of sugar. Let the syrup cool to lukewarm and
add one package of wine yeast. Finally, put the mixture into a quart soda bottle and stop
the mouth with cotton.
A good starter will be enough for about 10 gallons of wine ... or you can stretch it by using
half (for 5 gallons), then adding water/juice/sugar to the remainder in the original
proportions and letting the stuff go to work again. The yeast mixture can be kept in the
refrigerator from two to three weeks if you don't want to use it right away, but allow it time
to warm up and become active before you add it to your future wine. Starter, in other
words, can be made to work more or less like sourdough to cut your initial investment in
yeast. One package, however, shouldn't be stretched for more than about five batches of
wine.
Final note: Recycle used wine bottles, and shell out for a corker and new corks. It's dumb
to put so much time into making a good drink, only to serve it up in tacky old soda bottles
... and it'll most likely be vinegary, too, since I've yet to meet with a screw cap that can
deal - as a wine cork can - with the delicate problem of exposure to air.
Marzia
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I receive a few requests to publicise products or activities. I do not always
accept. I was apprehensive when I heard that Orla wanted to advertise
Slimming World because I cannot stand women (or men) who are obsessed
with losing weight. I looked through their website and found out they asked
people to cook, not buy ready meals. I decided to look into Slimming World
and report back. This is an introductory Chapter. More next month.
I met Orla at the Shirley Cafe and she
said: On 9 January 2013, I walked
into a room unaware that what was to
follow would be the start of a new me
and a new life!
I had always felt like the big girl
throughout my school life and into
adulthood, but I just made the excuse
that I was big-boned. I also lacked self-confidence but having that extra
weight allowed me to have something to hide behind and not draw attention
to myself. When I was pregnant it was an excuse to eat more and whatever
I wanted. After the birth of my daughter I yo-yod between a dress size 20-
16. After looking back on the recent photos taken that Christmas I decided
enough was enough. I had seen the success Slimming World had on an
old school friend of mine, and heard how easy it was for her to lose weight,
that I contacted her for more details and she recommended a local group to
me.
I was very nervous walking through the doors on that first day, but what I
received was a warm welcome. I was able to listen to the Slimming World
plan and decide if I still wanted to join the group. Since then, I have lost
almost 2 stone and could not have achieved such a loss without the support
of my consultant, fellow members and on-line support. I would not
personally describe the Slimming World plan as a diet but a healthy eating
plan!
I did not realise the extent my weight had restricted my life until I started to
lose weight. The first sign that the weight was coming off was the way by
body shape changed, my thighs werent rubbing together as much for one!
That made me really happy! Then I went on a spa day with my mum and ran
a continuous 3 miles on the treadmill at a steady pace, the most I had
personally ran, without stopping, for around 15 years!
I decided to become a consultant to support others who suffer with their
weight and to show that Slimming World really does work!
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Marzia
Council Sketch by Andrew Pelling
A council meeting the last one for 121 days
As we as Council Taxpayers all reward
our councillors with 1.6 million a year
we wouldnt want to miss covering such
a rare occurrence as a council meeting.
Not that the Borough of Croydon was
any better for having such a meeting with
the usual tiresome tide of personal
insults.
Keep taking the tablets was the
message from Shirley councillor and
Council leader Mike Fisher to his Labour
opponents and that was probably the highest quality contribution of
the evening.
Former Raving Looney candidate John Cartwright,
now a Conservative party member and incorrectly
addressed by the Mayor as Councillor Cartwright,
set the usual nasty tone of Croydon Council
meetings by asking a question from the public
gallery about the entirely gutless cowards on the
opposition benches. The Council Leader agreed
that they are entirely gutless cowards.
This is the dreadful quality of discussion that we are all paying for.
The council had a debate on a Conservative motion welcoming a
Conservative MPs private members bill on an
EU referendum even though this has nothing to
do with the role of the council so bankrupt is
the council of thinking of things practical and
relevant to do for Croydon residents. Labour
accused the Conservatives of being so
frightened by UKIP that they were Caught in
the UKIP headlights. Conservative councillors
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kept repeating that they were the only main party to offer a referendum
on Europe (possibly, maybe, after an election) pretending forlornly that
UKIP are not a main party in the opinion polls these days.
With the notable exception of Councillor Dudley Mead who corrected
a paper in his name in front of the council, councillors poor command
of spelling or proof reading was much to the fore. If you are paying out
over a million you would at least expect your employees to be able to
spell.
The Council Leader wrote an answer talking of in principal rather than
in principle, Councillor Tim Pollard wrote of wife services rather than
Wi-Fi services (Councillor Pollards wife is on the council and
represents Heathfield which includes western Shirley) and a council
motion spoke of Britains instead of Britons.
These are the illiterates who have built up the council debt to 1 billion
from 154.3 million since 2006.
May be Heathfields councillor Jason
Cummings was hinting at some cultured
input with the adoption of an entirely
Panglossian approach that all is for the
best in the best of all possible worlds
when you look at Croydon from the
Shirley Hills viewpoint, a viewpoint that
has sat neglected so long ago that the
long missed late Cllr Horden used to
complain about the need to repair the
stonework and cut back the trees there.
But for Cllr. Cummings the Shard looked
good from Shirley Hills (can the
Livingstone approved building be seen
from behind Crystal Palace when viewed
from the hills?), the new shopping
Westfield mall was in prospect and the
new bridge at East Croydon station had
been built he didnt mention the money
that came from council taxpayers for the
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bridge and that it is still the bridge to nowhere.
The Mayor treated the Labour opposition like a dog constantly
shouting sit down if Labour members wanted to speak.
The Labour leader tried to catch out the Mayor when she announced
proudly that council staff would be tweeting more in the name of the
Mayoralty. He asked for her #hashtag revealing his lack of knowledge
of twitter he should have asked for her twitter handle.
The Mayor revealed too her behind the times approach by talking of
not being on her blackberry in the mayoral chair blackberries are just
so pass.
The Mayor accidentally referred to Cllr.
Fisher as Cllr. Fishy. The Mayor
excused herself by saying that she was
having a touch of the Eddy Arrams
there a reference to the previous
Mayor constantly getting councillors
names wrong sometimes on purpose
this column suspects.
The writer of this column had a question
asked about him a waste of council
resources - and as a former banker was
blamed for the entire global financial crisis.
About rubbish in Shirley, Croydon
The 2 refuse, 2 food and 2 recycling bins above are not, as you might
think, for 2 (two) dwellings but for the block of flats 265-293 in
Wickham Road. They are, obviously, not sufficient for the residents.The
shops underneath the flats, one of
which is the Shirley SNT, have separate
bins but, allegedly, use them too!
Said Otmani, who has friends who live
there, sent SL the 3 pictures on the left,
taken on non collection day, for further
investigation. When I arrived on the
scene of the crime, everything was tidy.
I know people there too and I rang a bell
to enquire about the matter.
I was told that collection is sporadic and
bins are always overflowing. Collecting
crews leave the bins any which way.
There is also regular dumping carried
out by people who live elsewhere and
who do not even bother to remove their
addresses from the boxes or letters they
deposit at the rear of the flats. I wonder
why this happens and why perpetrators
28
29
of such Anti Social
Behaviour are not
reported to the SNT.
I had found the place
tidy because an elderly
gentleman had cleared
the area himself
because he could not
stand the sight of the
place.
There were numerous
cars badly parked at
the rear of the block.
Two seemed to
obstruct fire exits. I
questioned the access,
turning and exit of refuse trucks and received confirmation that there
had been problems. It reminded me of many planning objections I filed
for another part of Wickham Road. Whoever gave permission for the
bin area to be placed where it is should be severely reprimanded.
I suggested that the residents got together and complained to the
Council for any missed collections and to the freeholders for inferior
management.
Thank you, Said. You seem to care about Shirley. Will you join SL?
Marzia
30
USEFUL WEBSITES
NEWS AND BLOGS
If you want to know what is going on in Croydon
insidecroydon.com/
If you are interested in police matters
http://inspectorgadget.wordpress.com/
If you are interested in checking facts
http://fullfact.org
FOOD AND HEALTH
Bradleys for the best frozen fish around
(quality, price and great choice)
www.frozenfishdirect.co.uk
For books and health products that might change a few
things in your life for the better
www.credence.org
For organic food on your doorstep, check
www.riverford.co.uk and discover, once more, what real
food tastes like
For a fun and inspirational blog full of gluten free recipes
http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.co.uk/p/site-index.html
If you want to make a difference about better prices, decent
working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms of
trade for farmers and workers in the developing world
http://www.fairtrade.org.uk
LIFESTYLE AND BEAUTY
For Ayurvedic theraphy, enter the peaceful world of
www.gardenofpomegranates. com and enjoy beauty, the
natural way
When you need a freelance make-up artist, check
www.mimidmakeup.com
For a hairdresser with a difference
www.wickhamstudio.co.uk/
WEBSITES
If you are looking for a reliable person to build your own
website, check www.nadianazir.com
TRAVEL
Before travelling and planning an outing, DO check
www.tripadvisor.co.uk for real feedback
SERVICES
For superb and traditional shoe repairs
www.traditionalshoerepairs.co.uk
For electrical work
www.shirleyelectrical.com
LIBRARIES
Save Croydon Libraries Campaign
soslibrary.blogspot.co.uk
Alan Wylie's Stop the Privatisation of Public Libraries
http://dontprivatiselibraries.blogspot.co.uk/
The Library Campaign
http://www.librarycampaign.com/
Voices for the Library
http://www.voicesforthelibrary.org.uk/wordpress/
31
32
Japanese Knotweed: passing the buck ...
Dear Reader
It was a frustrating month that saw a first email to Croydon Police
Environmental Officer asking her to investigate the growing Japanese
Knotweed in Farm Drive. It was on 25 July 2013.
I received no answer or acknowledgement so, on 5 August, I wrote to
the Chief Superintendent. He was on holiday until 20 August and my
email was dealt with by a Chief Inspector who answered: Dear Marzia,
Unfortunately this is not a request any of our officers would be able to
assist you with. We are not experienced in identifying particular plant
types and have no powers of entry or control over such matters. My best
suggestion would be to contact the Environment Agency or seek
assistance from the Planning Department at the London Borough of
Croydon. I am sorry that we are unable to assist with this enquiry. Yours
sincerely,.
I replied: Dear Chief Inspector XXXX, Thank you for your email. I am
disappointed with your reply and I would refer you to
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/wildlife/130079.aspx
and the paragraph: The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 states that it
is an offence to plant or otherwise cause to grow in the wild any plant
listed in Schedule nine, Part II of the Act. This lists over 30 plants
including Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed and parrot's feather. The
police are responsible for investigating this offence and each police force
has a wildlife liaison officer who can be contacted.
The Environment Agency are responsible for ensuring that knotweed
waste is managed and disposed of in accordance with the knotweed
code of practice. Cornwall Council have produced a guide which
explains who is responsible for the legal enforcement of invasive plants.
This can be downloaded from their website. I did provide the information
above to the Wildlife Officer. I look forward to hearing from you. Regards
She answered: Dear Marzia, I will ask our local Safer Neighbourhood Team
to make contact, however from the information you have provided it is still
not clear to me that an offence has been committed. The offence is to plant
or otherwise cause to grow, which is not the concern you convey in your
communication. As you clearly state in your email, the Environment Agency
are responsible for ensuring the correct disposal and management of this
33

Leaders Office
Town Hall
Katharine Street
Croydon CRO 1NX

Tel/Typetalk: 020 8760 5770
Fax: 020 8760 5704
Minicom: 020 8760 5797
Email: mike.fisher @croydon.gov.uk

Peter Howard

Email: peterhoward1@sky.com
Please ask for/reply: Mike Fisher

Your Ref
Our Ref: MF/maf/CW10850
Date: 14 August 2013



Dear Peter

Japanese Knotweed

Thank you for your recent correspondence concerning Japanese Knotweed.

I note the advice you have already received from the Environment Agency that it is
not an offence to have Japanese knotweed on your land and that it is not a
notifiable weed. In dealing with Japanese Knotweed on our own land we also refer
to the advice of The Environment Agency. Land owners have a responsibility to
control any Japanese Knotweed on their land, although they are not legally obliged
to remove it since the natural growth and spread of these plants is not an illegal
activity.

With regard to your correspondence enquiring about the powers of the Council to
deal with the issues of Knotweed as a nuisance and the potential to issue an
Abatement Notice to landowners, the Council would not issue a notice unless it
was considered to be a statutory nuisance prejudicial to health. Allowing Japanese
Knotweed to spread onto neighbouring land could be considered to be a private
nuisance but not a statutory nuisance and therefore the Council is not under any
obligation to take enforcement action.

For a statutory nuisance to exist, or is likely to occur, defined as any premises in
such a state as to be prejudicial to health or a nuisance, under Part III of the
Environmental Protection Act 1990, the nuisance has to be a disease or health
related matter, not physical risk of injury or damage. Therefore Japanese Knotweed
is not deemed a statutory nuisance. The common law of private nuisance defines
nuisance as the unlawful interference with a persons use or enjoyment of land, or
some right over, or in connection with it.

This principle allows landowners or tenants of leasehold properties who have a right
to the land affected to bring an action against the person responsible. A private
individual may be able to bring action against the land owner if they could
demonstrate the above applied or that the Japanese Knotweed is materially
impacting on them.



2


I hope that the response has addressed your queries and while it may not have
been the answer that you were hoping for it has made the Councils position clear
on the matter.

Kind regards







Mike Fisher
Leader of the Council


2


I hope that the response has addressed your queries and while it may not have
been the answer that you were hoping for it has made the Councils position clear
on the matter.

Kind regards







Mike Fisher
Leader of the Council


2


I hope that the response has addressed your queries and while it may not have
been the answer that you were hoping for it has made the Councils position clear
on the matter.

Kind regards







Mike Fisher
Leader of the Council


34
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weed, so I would still urge you to contact them and to notify the local
Planning Department, to ask that they take action to ensure the owners of
the land manage the removal and disposal in accordance with regulations.
The local SN Team supervisor is PS Keith Lyons. I will request that an officer
from this teams contacts you as soon as possible. Caroline.
Nobody contacted me from the local SN Team, but I received an email from
the Office manager and BWCO coordinator, Wildlife Crime Unit, 1 South
Lambeth Road, London SW8 1SU: Dear Marzia, I have been asked by PC
Lambie for assistance in dealing with your enquiry. Please be advised that
you need to address this enquiry to the planning department of Croydon
Council. May I also refer you to the Gov.UK web - www.GOV.UK - for
information on Japanese Knotweed and other invasive plants. To allow
Japanese Knotweed to grow naturally is not an offence; the offence lies in
causing it to grow in the wild and in incorrect disposal. As a first action,
please ask the council planning department to provide you with information
on whether they are aware of the existence of the plant and what plans are
in place to dispose of the cuttings. Kind regards.
I answered: Dear Noreen, I have just spoken to Croydon Council Planning
Department and I was told that it is not their responsibility because the
Japanese Knotweed is growing in private land. The plot in question is a wild
site and a planning application to build on it has just been refused. I am
attaching the refusal papers for your information.They refer to Japanese
Knotweed on page 3. I quoted the following to PC Lambie and Chief
Inspector Caroline Trevithick: http://www.environment-
agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/wildlife/130079.aspx
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 states that it is an offence to plant
or otherwise cause to grow in the wild any plant listed in Schedule nine,
Part II of the Act. This lists over 30 plants including Japanese knotweed,
giant hogweed and parrot's feather. The police are responsible for
investigating this offence and each police force has a wildlife liaison officer
who can be contacted.
The Environment Agency are responsible for ensuring that knotweed waste
is managed and disposed of in accordance with the knotweed code of
practice. Cornwall Council have produced a guide which explains who is
responsible for the legal enforcement of invasive plants. This can be
downloaded from their website. Whilst the owner of the plot of land may not
have planted the Japanese Knotweed, he/she is causing it to grow in the
36
wild. It is quite frustrating to be unable to get any help from anybody.
I hope you will assist me. Kind regards
I received the following email, copied exactly how it appears on screen: Dear
Marzia, Can I reiterate that this enquiry needs to be addressed to the
planning department at Croydon Council. The offence under to Wildlife and
Countryside Act of 1981 is to "
to plant or otherwise cause the species to grow in the wild. - See more at:
http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/environmentplanning/natural_environment/bi
odiversity/japanese_knotweed/whats_the_problem/jk_and_the_law.htm#sth
ash.Faj1m5GK.dpuf
to plant or otherwise cause the species to grow in the wild. - See more at:
http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/environmentplanning/natural_environment/bi
odiversity/japanese_knotweed/whats_the_problem/jk_and_the_law.htm#sth
ash.Faj1m5GK.dpuf
to plant or otherwise cause the species to grow in the wild. - See more at:
http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/environmentplanning/natural_environment/bi
odiversity/japanese_knotweed/whats_the_problem/jk_and_the_law.htm#sth
ash.Faj1m5GK.dpuf
to plant or otherwise cause the species to grow in the wild. - See more at:
http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/environmentplanning/natural_environment/bi
odiversity/japanese_knotweed/whats_the_problem/jk_and_the_law.htm#sth
ash.Faj1m5GK.dpuf
plant or otherwise cause the species to grow in the wild. Kind regards
I had already spoken to Croydon Council Planning Department and I had
already been told that it had nothing to do with them. I decided it was best
to have something in writing from them. I wrote to an old friend in the
Planning Department on 8 August : Dear Rory, I hope you are well. I need
your help with this Japanese Knotweed from hell growing in Farm Drive in
Shirley. Police is firmly saying that "the inquiry needs to be addressed to the
planning department at Croydon Council". Please see correspondence
below. Kind regards, Marzia.
Rory too was on holiday : I am out of the office until 20 August 2013 and
shall attend to your email on my return. If the matter is urgent please contact
Simon Albrecht.
I wrote to Simon Albrecht: Dear Mr. Albrecht, I got a message saying I
should contact you in Rory's absence. Could you please help me? Kind
regards, Marzia.
He answered: Dear Marzia, Im afraid there appears to be little the council
can do about this unless the land is being actively redeveloped. Which I
understand it is not. The direct recourse of action would be via the police if
there is an offence. Obviously, they have to decide whether an offence exists
and then prosecute. Alternatively, you may wish to take civil proceedings
under common law against the owners of the land for the problems they are
causing you. But you should first consult a solicitor for detailed advice. Simon
Albrecht
I wrote to all the actors in this farce:Dear All, I have now come to a full circle
and nobody seem to accept responsibility of enforcement regarding the
Japanese Knotweed.It cannot be right. Not in law and not from an ethical
point of view. I do not live near the infested plot of land. I am writing articles
on an online magazine and am prepared to go to local and national papers
if the matter cannot be resolved locally.
I refer to http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/69 and, in particular,
clauses 18B and 19. It is my opinion that Police should investigate the matter
and seek to contact the owner of the land because the person is indeed
committing an offence i.e. "cause the species to grow in the wild" by ignoring
the guidelines contained in
http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/environmentplanning/natural_environment/biodiversity/japanese_knotweed/advice_land_and_gardener.htm.
I visited the site today and took pictures. The Japanese Knotweed is growing
fast. The link I was sent (5 times and did not
work)(http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/environmentplanning/natural_environment/biodiversity/japanese_knotweed/whats_the_problem/jk
_and_the_law.htm) was contained within the link I had initially quoted to the Police
Wildlife Officer http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/wildlife/130079.aspx
I was flabbergasted when I read that residents could consider taking "civil
proceedings under common law against the owners of the land for the
problems they are causing". It is a costly and lengthy route that the plebs
cannot afford. I look forward to receiving a positive response. Regards,
Marzia Nicodemi-Ehikioya. Mr. Albrecht replied he could do nothing.
In the meantime, Peter Howard was pursuing the matter via a political link
and forwarded a letter he received from Cllr. Fisher, which you can read
on page 33. He also said that he saw some workers inspecting the plot.
I will be starting again tomorrow, 27 August, with a visit to the site.
Kind regards
37
Marzia
A Day Out
Russell recommended The
Museum of Shops in
Eastbourne.
http://www.how-we-lived-then.co.uk/
38
39
40
SEPTEMBER 2013 FILM SEASON
AT THE SPREAD EAGLE
Monday 2 September at 2.30 and 8.00pm
SIDE EFFECTS (15) 2013 USA 106 mins
Director: Steven Soderbergh | Stars: Rooney
Mara, Jude Law, Channing Tatum, Catherine
Zeta-Jones
Psychiatrist Jonathan Banks (Law) accepts
pharmaceutical company funding for offering
new drugs to his patients, then faces
professional ruin due to the alarming behaviour
of one (Mara). Jonathan's paranoid urge to
understand what has happened brings the
motives of all involved into question in this
outstanding, unpredictable thriller. Please note:
the 2.30pm screening will be subtitled.
Monday 9 September at 2.30 and 8.00pm
SOUND CITY (15) 2013 USA 108 mins
Director: Dave Grohl | Stars: Stars: Trent Reznor,
Tom Petty, Mick Fleetwood
An acclaimed documentary on California's Sound
City studio, the many famous artists who have
recorded there and how Foo Fighters frontman
Grohl tries to revive it after the revolutionary change
brought about by digital recording.
Monday 16 September at 2.30 and 8.00pm
ALL IN GOOD TIME (12A) 2012 UK 94
mins
Director: Nigel Cole | Stars: Reece
Ritchie, Amara Karan, Harish Patel,
Meera Syal
From the writer of East Is East, another
tender-hearted portrayal of Asian family
Save the David Lean Cinema Campaign Update
life in northern England. Adapted from a Bill Naughton play which was
previously filmed in 1966 as 'The Family Way', this follows the
humorous troubles of Atul (Ritchie) and Vina (Karan) as they try to
commence married life under the noses of his interfering parents.
Director Cole is also known for 'Calendar Girls' and 'Made In
Dagenham'. Please note: the 2.30pm screening will be subtitled.
Monday 23 September at 2.30 and 8.00pm
BLANCANIEVES (12A) 2012
Spain/France/Belgium 104 mins
Director: Pablo Berger | Stars: Maribel Verd,
Daniel Gimnez Cacho, ngela Molina
A twist on the Snow White fairy tale, set in 1920s
Seville and centered on a female bullfighter. This
acclaimed silent film - which has won 30 awards
- tells its story with verve and dazzling B&W
cinematography.
The Guardian: The gladiatorial scenes in the
bullring are superbly good, and Berger takes
inspiration from Hitchcock, with hints of
Rebecca and Psycho, Buuel, Browning and
Almodvar, and conjures a fascinatingly
ambiguous ending: melancholy, eerie and erotic.
A film to treasure.
The Spread Eagle is in Katharine Street, Croydon, next to Croydon
Clocktower. Screenings are free just order your drinks/food
before going upstairs. Seats are first-come, first-served, so arriving
early is advisable.
To be added to the Campaign mailing list, please email:
savedavidlean@gmail.com
Adrian Winchester, Campaign Chairman
Our Facebook page is a useful resource for anyone interested in the
Campaign, with photo albums, scans of press coverage and screening
reminders: http://www.facebook.com/LeanCampaign
For additional updates, film presentation reminders, etc, please follow
the Campaign on Twitter: @SaveDavidLean
41
42
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Home Visit Service
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Email: Chestnuthomeopathy@virginmedia.com
Website: www.chestnuthomeopathy.co.uk
Tel: 020 8688 0844 Mobile: 07860 795836 Email: paul@ccrltd.co.uk
6 Commerce Way Croydon Surrey CR0 4XA
43
The Chestnut Clinic has moved
to
63 Steeple Heights Drive
biggin Hill TN16 3UN
44
The 8 health properties of Eucalyptus and 15
things to do with the oil
Eucalyptus is native to Australia and the main food source for Koala
bears. Aboriginal people have been using it for centuries to treat a
number of medical conditions, and it has also been a part of other
traditional medicine systems in Europe, Greece, India and China.
There are many species of Eucalyptus, ranging from the size of a large
shrub to giant trees. The blue gum, or Australian fever tree, is most
commonly used in medicine and can reach up to 230 feet in height
with 4-12 inch dark, shiny leaves.
Eucalyptus oil is made from the leaves and tops of the branches.
Leaves contain tannins which are thought to reduce inflammation,
plant-based antioxidants, and volatile oils.
Health Properties of Eucalyptus
Analgesic Relieves pain
Antibacterial Kills bacteria
Anti-catarrhal Removes excess catarrh
Anti-infectious Fights infection
Anti-inflammatory Reduces pain and inflammation
Antiviral Fights viral infections
Insecticidal Kills insects
Expectorant Relieves respiratory problems
What to do With Eucalyptus Oil
Rub on your chest and under your nose to ease congestion. The
smell of the oil will loosen mucus and clear breathing passageways.
Dilute some in a spray bottle with peppermint oil and mist onto
your body to cool off. This is perfect for hot outdoor days and
strenuous exercise. The oil will also help ease fevers and hot flashes.
Massage oil directly onto chest, back and throat to ease coughs.
Also, diffusing the oil or misting it into a room can help ease
coughing.
Use for household cleaner. Because of its anti-fungal and bacteria
fighting abilities, eucalyptus makes a powerful household cleaner.
45
Combine with vinegar for a cleansing scrub.
Use this oil for aromatherapy, to wake you up after a long night or
when recovering from jet lag.
Rub some oil into your hair to kill lice.
Help fight muscle pain by rubbing oil onto sore areas. Great for
before and after workouts.
Rub the oil into clothing prior to washing to remove stains and give
a boost to your load of laundry.
Get rid of sticky things great for removing wax, oil, stickers, etc.
Rub under your arms as a natural deodorant.
Mix with distilled water and spray as an air freshener.
Ease the pain of bug bites by rubbing oil directly onto them.
Mix oil with vinegar for bug spray, or flea and tick control for pets.
Drop some on your carpets before vacuuming for a great smell all
over the house.
Note: Never take eucalyptus oil orally.
Eucalyptus deglupta is a tall tree, commonly known as the rainbow eucalyptus, Mindanao
gum, or rainbow gum. It is the only Eucalyptus species found naturally in the Northern
Hemisphere. Its natural distribution spans New Britain, New Guinea, Ceram, Sulawesi
and Mindanao.The unique multi-hued bark is the most distinctive feature of the tree.
Patches of outer bark are shed annually at different times, showing a bright green inner
bark. This then darkens and matures to give blue, purple, orange and then maroon tones.
Editor
46
Coffee, again...
Look at the picture in the
background: it is a coffee tree and
you can see coffee beans. You might
only have seen roasted coffee beans
or not even those if you drink instant
coffee.
I am always interested to hear what
Dr. Mercola has to say about nutrition
so I read his article on coffee as he
had reviewed his recommendations
on the drink. He is an alternative
medicine guru and operates the Dr. Mercola Natural Health
Center in Schaumburg, Illinois. His views may be controversial
but it is my opinion that he can give sound advice and is prepared
to accept changes.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/04/16/ori-hofmekler-on-coffee.aspx
For years, coffee was suspected of causing high blood pressure and
contributing to heart disease, ulcers, and diabetes (probably because
of the sugar or, even worse, aspartame, people spoil it with!).
Finally, mounting research is casting doubt on the common wisdom
that coffee is nothing but bad for you.
Certainly, coffee should not be used in excess. However, study after
study has failed to prove that moderate coffee consumption increases
your risk for cardiovascular disease or any other serious illness. In fact,
it's beginning to look like coffee may have a number of unrecognized
health-promoting properties.
Part of the confusion is that while caffeine in and of itself is a potent and
addictive drug, coffee made from whole roasted coffee beans is also
a whole food, containing a wide range of micronutrients in addition to
caffeine.
I was glad to read that Dr. Mercola changed his recommendations on
coffee consumption, placing the emphasis on making sure it is fresh,
organic, and consumed black (and not drowned in milk and sugar).
It seemes that three large studies on coffee consumption, published in
the World Journal of Biological Psychiatry, found that drinking two to
four cups of caffeinated coffee daily was associated with a 50 percent
47
reduced suicide risk among adults, compared to drinking one cup or
less of caffeinated coffee, or decaf.
Another study found that women who drink coffee cut their risk of
depression by 15 percent compared to those who dont.
Dr. Mercola interviewed Ori Hofmekler, author of The Warrior Diet and
Unlocking the Muscle Gene, who has researched coffee extensively.
Ori explained how coffee, when consumed in the right way, can be
effectively used as part of your overall health and fitness plan. For
example, coffee increases your metabolism by up to 20 percent, and
can be quite beneficial if consumed before exercise. According to a
study published in the March 2007 issue of The Journal of Pain,
consuming the equivalent of two cups of coffee an hour before training
can also help reduce post-workout muscle soreness by up to 48%.
Ori still believes many of the warnings about caffeine are well-
warranted however, as caffeine in and of itself it can be quite toxic,
especially for pregnant women.The natural blend of polyphenol
antioxidants (including chlorogenic acids), bioflavonoids, vitamins and
minerals in coffee beans all work together to help neutralize the harsher
effects of the caffeine. There are literally thousands of different natural
chemical compounds in coffee, and science now suggests the synergy
between them can pack a nice nutritional punch. According to Ori:
Every time you get naturally occurring caffeine, such as in cocoa
beans, coffee or tea, you get it from a nutritionally dense healthy whole
food. And note that when you use the same food in a decaffeinated
form such as decaffeinated coffee, or decaffeinated tea, you ingest
'nutritionally deficient inferior' foods. A tea without caffeine is useless.
It loses all the antioxidant bioflavonoids in the processing. Same with
decaffeinated coffee it has zero nutritional value.
Splurging on Organic Coffee Is Worth the Extra Cost
One area of particular concern is that most coffee produced today is
heavily contaminated with pesticides. It is actually one of the most
heavily sprayed crops grown. So, its important to remember that when
were talking about getting therapeutic health benefits from drinking
coffee, were talking about organic, pesticide-free coffee.
I did try several organic coffees but I did not like them. I only drink black
espresso, Lavazza Carmencita, a dark roast, and import it myself as I
cannot buy it in the UK. Coffee is a ritual to me, not just a drink.
Dark or Light Roast?
Other issues that can come to bear on the end health effects of the
coffee include the way it's dried and roasted, as this will not only affect
the beneficial antioxidant content of the coffee, but also the formation of
toxic acrylamides. In general, it has been shown that when it comes to
the health benefits of organic whole-bean black coffee, the darker the
roast, the better. It is often the case that foods with the darkest pigments
offer the most robust benefits to health, and dark roast coffee or roasts
used to make espresso or Turkish coffee, appear to be no exception.
Roasted coffees are higher in neuroprotective agents than green
(unroasted) coffees. For example, a study in Molecular Nutrition & Food
Research found that dark roast coffee restored blood levels of the
antioxidants vitamin E and glutathione more effectively than light roast
coffee. The dark roast also led to a significant body weight reduction in
pre-obese volunteers, whereas the lighter roast did not. Other studies
have shown that dark roast coffee produces more of a chemical called
N-methylpyridinium, which helps prevent your stomach from producing
excess acid, so darker roast coffee may be easier on your stomach than
lighter roast coffee.
More
A large study of nearly 50,000 men also found that men who drank six
cups of coffee a day had a 60 percent lower risk of lethal prostate
cancer, while those who drank three cups a day had a 30 percent lower
risk. The benefits were thought to come from the non-caffeine
components of coffee, which include multiple nutrients and flavonoid
antioxidants.
Other studies have shown a lower cancer risk among coffee drinkers.
For instance, a Japanese study found that those who drank coffee daily,
or close to it, had about half the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC),
a type of liver cancer, than people who never drank coffee. Other
research has also linked coffee with lower rates of Type 2 diabetes,
Parkinson's disease, dementia, heart rhythm problems, and stroke.
There is also reason to believe that coffee could help curb your sugar
cravings. One of the reasons why you get addicted to a food is because
your brain has opioid receptors. They're part of a primordial reward
system that helps you detect, select and enjoy eating fresh foods over
rancid ones.
48
Editor
49
Liberty is the
possibility of doubting,
the possibility of
making a mistake,
the possibility of
searching and
experimenting,
the possibility of
saying No to any
authority - literary,
artistic, philosophic,
religious, social and
even political.
Ignazio Silone

50
NEWS
from the Shirley Community Centre
SCCA wishes to thank:
Russell Elliott, a SCCA Trustee,
who, with a friend, took down the
rotting wooden structure in front of
the Centre. He showed that where
there is a will there is a way. They did
it in six and a half hours!
The epic day was caught on camera:
please see the collage on page 52 to
appreciate their deed.
Russell said: So the picture on the right
says it all really! After 6+ hours, the
final post is removed and a well
earned cup of celebratory tea
was in order. Seriously folks, it
was hard work but a thorougly
enjoyable experience and one of
true satisfaction once complete. I
think also that as so many people
will now benefit from its removal the
satisfaction is even greater. Always a
pleasure working with Graham: Many
thanks for his time and invaluable
assistance!

The unsightly and rotting structure in

front of the Centre was finally removed
after receiving written permission fron
Croydon Council. SCCA will now look at
refurbishing the dilapidated cladding and
will need to raise funds for its
replacement. SCCA needs a little help:
labour, materials or cash. The Shirley
Community Centre is the only public Centre in our locality:
the work has begun, lets finish it so that it sits pride of
place in Shirley!
The Friday Club who meet every Friday between 2 and
5pm would be happy to welcome new senior residents.
There is no charge and you can enjoy a chat over tea (or
coffee) and biscuits plus games and bingo. Just drop in!

You can hold your parties at the Centre on

Saturdays and Sundays. Contact the Site
Manager, NOG, on 020 8777 4298 from
Monday to Friday from 9 to 11am or
Friday afternoon. He will be happy to show
you around.
The Centre is available for hire during the morning and
early afternoon. We are gradually populating the day slots:
please consider meeting at the Centre for your group or
association.
SCCA (Shirley Community Centre Association) would like
to welcome new Trustees. If you are interested in helping
the Centre become an even more lively place, please email
scca-shirley1@hotmail.co.uk for further details.
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Remaining fragment from one of the
steel post uprights kept for posterity as
a reminder of the structure!!!
Pictures by Marzia
Laughing.
Yummy CUPCAKES.
Getting together...
And helpiNg familiEs
afFectEd by cancer.
And help us raise money for
Macmillan Cancer Support
Date:
Time:
Place:
Please make time to come to our
Worlds Biggest Coffee Morning
Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017),
Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). Printed on sustainable materials. Please recycle.
MAC13725 ITSS
Shirley Community Centre
Shrublands Avenue,
Shirley CR0 8JA
27 September 2013
from 10 am
BIG RAFFLE
with prizes from amongst others
Picture
Partnership,
Shirley
LIVE MUSIC
WITH
GERRY
THE SHIRLEY ELVIS
TD Studio
PRINT & DESIGN
there will be beautiful cakes
and coffee (real espresso too!)
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NO INCINERATOR NEAR PEOPLE
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NO INCINERATOR NEAR PEOPLE
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http://youtu.be/q0FKDisuo_Q via @youtube http://www.stoptheincinerator.co.uk/
59
NO INCINERATOR NEAR PEOPLE
From http://insidecroydon.com/2013/08/23/incinerator-campaigners-to-take-battle-to-judicial-review/
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Andrew Dunsmore,
Picture Partnership,
Shirley
Competition
How creative can you be with your
Summer pictures?
A FREE STUDIO PORTRAIT from us
at Picture Partnership - or A FREE
TWO HOUR STUDIO HIRE if you
are serious photographers who wish to
expand their photography skills and
experience.
Please submit your entries to Shirley
Life: a winner will be chosen by 20
th
September 2013.
Terms and Conditions apply and your
picture(s) may be used in the publication
showing the entries and/or winners. SO
please ensure you have permission to enter
the picture and it MUST be your own
picture and you must own the Copyright.
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Stall at the Shirley Community Centre
The photographers among Shirley
Life readers will have needed no
invitation to take advantage of the
exceptionally sunny weather and
glorious sunsets we have experienced
this year, in spite of the unusually high
temperatures sapping our energy at times. Outdoor opportunities to
record nature in all her glory, from flowers to forests, children at play,
holiday pictures (not just snaps from our readers) were too good to miss;
time will tell whether autumn will be equally co-operative!
On Friday, September 27, we at Picture Partnership will be manning a
stall in the Shirley Community Centre to support the World's Biggest
Coffee Morning in aid of Macmillan Nurses. You will all be aware of this
very worthwhile cause and how much Macmillan Nurses do to relieve
the sufferings and anxieties of cancer patients and their families. Come
along and give your support to them and at the same time, why not
take advantage of the opportunities offered for creative photography
among crowds and stalls and displays? If any readers would like to bring
along to our stall one or two favourite pictures taken this summer for a
friendly critique by one of our staff, then please do so.
Looking further ahead, it is not too early to book a session in our friendly,
modern studio in Shirley for personal or family photos for Christmas;
from conventional framed pictures to more contemporary acrylics and
family albums. You may consider personalised photo Christmas cards.
Come and see our selection and choose which of the many options
available would make your ideal start to Christmas with a true personal
touch, it is only just over 100 days away. When you quote Shirley Life
you can have a portrait session, including one 8" x 6" print, for 25 (Our
usual price is 45) .
Please contact Lucy or Petty at Picture Partnership :- 020 8656 4024
www.picturepartnership.co.uk. @PPPictures
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Please read more on http://soslibrary.blogspot.co.uk/, then go back
to the press release on the future of the boroughs libraries, now safe
for the foreseeable future ..., and frame it for posterity.
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SHIRLEY LIBRARY
September 2013
Summer Reading Challenge
This is our free reading scheme for children and teenagers which runs for six weeks
from Monday 29th July to Saturday 7th September. The theme is Creepy House and
children will receive rewards along the way for the books they read. Therell also be
lots of other activities and events linked to the Creepy House theme for children,
teenagers and families to enjoy. A
Free Regular Activities and Events Children and Teens
Storytime: 2.15 to 2.45pm on the following Thursdays: 5, 12,19 and 26.
Rhymetime: 10 to 10.30am on the following Fridays: 6, 13, 20 and 27.
Once upon a Rhyme: 10 to 10.30am on the following Saturdays: 14 and 28.
Saturday Crafts: 2.30 to 4pm on the following Saturdays: 7 and 21.
Chatterbooks is a reading group for children aged 8-11 years old. Just like the Teen
Reading Group it meets once a month and its a chance to discuss all things book
related whilst playing some fun games and quizzes. Friday 20 from 4 to 5pm.
Teen Reading Group: This group meets once a month to read and discuss books,
recommend books to each other, choose new books for the library and do lots of
other book related activities such as quizzes and games or any other activities that
the members suggest. Thursday 19 from 4.30 to 5.30pm
Free Regular Activities and Events for Adults
Board games: Do you like playing Scrabble, Monopoly, cards, chess and Battleship?
We have a selection of games which can be used in the library any time.
Monthly Craft Workshop: Card Making on Tuesday 10 from 2.30 to 4.30pm.
Stitch, Knit and Natter from 2.30 to 4.30pm Friday 6 and 20
Work Club on Tuesday mornings from 10am to 12 noon. The Work Club is here to offer
support with job search, help with typing CVs, help filling in application forms and
there is access to the internet and email. No appointment is needed, just drop in.
Computer sessions for beginners: Learn to set up an email account, use Facebook,
do online shopping, use Word, Excel and Powerpoint or improve your typing skills.
These sessions are offered on Mondays and Tuesdays in the morning and afternoon
and on Saturday mornings. Please contact the library for further details.
Display boards
Our display boards are available for use free of charge to advertise your club or
society. Please contact Fiona or Irene at Shirley Library on 020 8726 6900 or email
shirley@croydon.gov.uk
Free monthly talks fom authors or speakers
There will be a talk on Monday 16 September from 2.15-3.30pm. A speaker
from the RSPB will give a talk entitled Garden Birds and Birdsong.
Tea and coffee will be served afterwards. Please contact the library to reserve
your place.
READING
GROUP
FOR ADULTS
The group will discuss Villette by Charlotte Bront on Thursday 19 September
at 6pm.
Kate Millet, author of Sexual Politics, wrote of Villette that it was too subversive
to be popular. Mrs. Gaskell, Charlotte Bront's friend and her first biographer,
said that the story of Villette was not as interesting as that of Jane Eyre. The
book is not as often read as Jane Eyre, and many readers, even those who
admire Bront, have no idea she wrote more than one novel. Villette often
languishes unread on library shelves, attended to only by graduate students or
literary scholars.
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67
Green Thumb: Chapter 4
When one expressed some doubts
about the efficacy of the various
treatments, one was reassured that the
lawn would look much better after the
Autumn/Winter Treatment .
One had a Water Conserver treatment
and a Late Summer Treatment on 14
August. For the latter they applied a
fertiliser suitable for the conditions
which helps growth and colour. We
have also sprayed any weeds with an
appropriate herbicide; do not cut the
lawns for 3 days.
Well, the pretty yellow flowers growing
in one part of the lawn have gone; the
grass is greener but uneven. It was
absolutely awful when one called Green
Thumb for help. There were big patches
of coarse grass or unspecified weeds.
One pays 18.77 per month. The
treatments last between ten and twenty
minutes.
One will keep the readers informed
about the progress of the treatment.
On the left, one took a picture
of a quick make-over at
Altitude 25 in Croydon. One
was not impressed.
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GB GARDENING SERVICES
All aspects of garden maintenance undertaken
LAWN CARE AND CUTTING
WEEDING, PLANTING AND PRUNING
HEDGE TRIMMING
LEAF CLEARING
FENCE AND SHED TREATMENT
JET WASHING OF PATHS AND PATIOS
NO JOB CONSIDERED TOO SMALL
All your gardening needs catered for using our own
tools. Removing all debris from site and leaving
your garden clean and tidy
ALL AT COMPETITIVE PRICES
FREE NO OBLIGATION
QUOTATIONS
Contact Greg:
Mobile: 07968 404 448
Email: greggiebrown@yahoo.co.uk
www.cariaddollshousefurnishings.com
Jill Latter Jill Latter Jill Latter
DOLLS HOUSE FURNISHINGS
CariAd
D
olls H
ouse
F
urnishings
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http://www.wickhamstudio.co.uk/
Wickham Studio Teen
Are you between 13 and 19 and would love to save
40% on all hairdressing and nail services for a year?
Simply join our Teen Club by purchasing a Teen
Club Card for only 20.00. Simply email
wickhamstudio@yahoo.co.uk and leave your name
and contact details telling us that you are interested
in joining Teen Club.