31 January 2015

by Picture Partnership, Shirley

Marzia Nicodemi-Ehikioya

Russell Elliott

Editor, linguist, outspoken campaigner

on local and national issues. Loves opera,
books and libraries.

Passionate believer and advocate of

alternative - Just cos something has
always been done a particular way
doesnt make it the best!

Nadia Nazir
IT Consultant and Interior
Decorator, loves to sew, knit
and bake.

Robert Dil
Graphic Design Consultant and
Co-owner of TD Studio in Addiscombe.
Loves making music & diving.

Andrew Dunsmore
Top London photographer, runs Picture Partnership in his Shirley Studio
or on location. He helps you take better pictures.

Contents
Creative Crochet for Beginners
Shirley Life
Dedicated to Those Who Deny that Racism and Inequality Exist
BPA Exposure
Activities at the Shirley Communities Centre
The planning of the Shrublands Estate
Dangerous Chemicals
Noticeboard
Useful Websites
Croydon Stop and Search Community Monitoring Group (CMG)
More Misery in 2015
I-522: Your Right to Know
Andrew Dunsmore, Picture Partnership, Shirley
Shirley Library: January Activities
Cariad Dolls House Furnishings

4
5
10
13
14
16
19
27
28
30
32
34
36
42
44

Front Cover: PTA, Shirley by Picture Partnership

Editorial Team
Marzia Nicodemi-Ehikioya (Editor), Russell Elliott (Sub Editor),
Robert Dil (Graphic Design Consultant) and Nadia Nazir (Website
Administrator).
Contributors: Andrew Dunsmore, Tom Dunsmore, Jill Latter and
Said Otmani.

Contacts
T: 07940 415532

E: shirleylife@rocketmail.com

W: www.shirleylife.com
3

2015
I plucked the picture of the baby
elephant from twitter. It looks
healthy and happy, just what I
would like to be in 2015. I want
to give up complaining about
the small stuff and change my
thought process. No, I will not
join the Glee Club and start
looking for the silver lining in all of the situations but will try to bear
in mind that life will never be perfect and there will always be negative
situations. However, one can still learn from it, and learning is always
positive. I will try to focus on the present and on the things in my life
that I am able to control.
Shirley Life is 4
Time flies. We are alive and kicking and happy
to report that our readership is increasing.
Advertisements
Many of our advertisements were removed.
Shirley Life has never charged for them and is
retaining only those of people who go the
extra mile in what they offer to the public. We
hope we may introduce new people during the year. We wish to
highlight the professionalism of Paul Pickering and Andy Dawson
whose adverts appear on page 30. Their reassuring manners and
honest appraisal of any job you ask them to carry out for you is really
heart warming in a world where lust for money has replaced decency.
Sean and Trevor of PTA, Shirley, are on the cover. I may not always

s
r
e
t
in
r
P
ly
d
n
ie
r
F
l
Your Loca

TD STUDIO
353 LOWER ADDISCOMBE ROAD
CROYDON - SURREY CR06RG
T - 020 8656 0555 / 0888

E - TDPRINT@BTCONNECT.COM

enjoy or understand
their sense of humour
but we trust them with
our cars. They are
always helpful and do
not patronise female
customer. The picture
was, of course, taken by
Andrew Dunsmore of
Picture
Partnership,
Shirley.
Echo of West Wickham, Hairdresser and Beauty, appears for the first
time on page 24: more about their services next month.
Errata Corrige
Shirley Life apologises to Picture Partnership, Shirley as
a picture not taken by them was inserted into their spread
on page 42 in the December 2014 issue. We think that
whoever took it should be pleased.
Flu Jab
I spent the Christmas holidays in bed with the latest flu bug going
around. I took no medication but natural food supplements and rested
a lot. I have never received a flu jab because I do not trust flu jabs.
I was, therefore, not surprised when I read that the vaccine is only 26%
effective, which leaves us with natural immune boosting options as the
most viable way to prevent and overcome any bug. I never knew that
prices for a jab vary from 7.95 at Lloyds Pharmacy to 8 at Sainsburys
and Asda, 9.95 at Superdrug, 10 at Tesco, 11 at the Co-Op and
12.99 at Boots.
Boots say: Some people have cold-like symptoms, including a mild
fever, sniffles, headache, runny nose, sore throat, cough and muscle
aches for a day or two after getting the flu jab. It is important to note
that the benefits of getting a flu jab far outweigh the risk of flu vaccine
side effects. They sell flu jabs, do they not?
There are many stories of vaccine fraud and criminal activities so far
but they are just examples of what is going on in the vaccine industry
on a daily basis. It is business as usual in a multi-billion pound or dollar
7

Nadia Nazir

WEBSITE
DESIGN
A freelance website developer
available to assist you within your
budget.
Businesses, Individuals, Students,
Non-Profit

From small to big projects, tailor-made

as per your requirements.
Contact us now for free enquires
nadia@nadianazir.com
for any web related service
(domain, hosting, development, maintenance etc)

www.nadianazir.com
8

vaccine market, and nothing will change until the

public wakes up and takes action. However, more
and more people are waking up to these facts
about corruption and fraud in the vaccine
industry. People are slowly refusing to accept
vaccines. The vaccine industry does not like losing
its market share and they would like mandatory
vaccine policies in place at national levels, because
their products cannot survive in a free market.
After nearly 200 years of use, fear still sells
vaccination. Do read Saying NO to Vaccines by Dr.
Sherri Tennpenny. Her book can balance the debate.
Police Update
After asking in October 2014, I have finally
received my first Shirley Update from the Shirley
SNT. It seems that now all residents can email
Shirley.snt@met.police.uk for their details to be
added to the police database and receive
relevant updates via email.
If you wish to know what is happening in the
ward, here is a straightforward way to access
Crime Mapping: go to the Croydon Police
page http://content.met.police.uk/Borough/Croydon
and click on Crime Mapping.
I received, from a friend in Merton Borough,
information about Operation Endeavour, an
MPS operation into the keyless theft of
cars and vans. Your motor vehicle could be at
risk if it is controlled with an electronic key.
Organised criminals are able to steal some of
these vehicles in less than 30 seconds.
They do this by using specialist equipment to
programme a blank key that is compatible
with the vehicle.
They do not need the original key.
Be

aware

and

consider

using

additional

Editor
security
9

DEDICATED TO THOSE
WHO DENY THAT RACISM
AND INEQUALITY EXIST

11

BBS BUI LDI NG S UP PLI ES

211 Wickham Road, Shirley
020 8656 9596
Family run business
with over 30 years
experience in the
building trade

Lots of floor space for a great variety of decorating

materials, tools, keycutting and much more. Blister packs
available!!
FAST DELIVERY

A contemporary cafe with great food

served in a pleasant and friendly
atmosphere at 219 Wickham Road,
in the Library Parade
12

BPA Exposure
The Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) is a federal agency of the
United States Department of Health
and Human Services. The FDA is
responsible for protecting and
promoting public health through the
regulation and supervision of food
safety, tobacco products, dietary
supplements, prescription and over
the counter pharmaceutical drugs,
vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, blood transfusions, medical devices,
electromagnetic radiation emitting devices (ERED), cosmetics, animal
foods & feed and veterinary products.
In a reversal of its 2008 declaration that Bisphenol A (BPA) was
safe, the FDA has now expressed "some concern" about this
chemical found in plastic bottles and metal cans. Noting "the
potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate
gland in fetuses, infants, and young children," the FDA says it
will conduct more in-depth studies. For now, though, BPA
remains legal and unregulated.
What can we do? Here are some tips to reduce our exposure:
Avoid polycarbonate plastic bottles and containers. These are usually
hard, clear, and marked with number 7 or the letters PC. Use unlined
glass, stainless steel, or ceramic containers, instead. If using plastic,
look for soft, cloudy plastic and the numbers 1, 2, and 4, which do
not contain BPA.
Don't mix heat and plastic. BPA may be released at high
temperatures, so do not microwave or put hot foods or liquids in
BPA containers.
Discard scratched plastic bottles and containers. BPA can leak from
the scratches.
Avoid (or eat fewer) canned foods and drinks. BPA is used in the
linings of canned foods, and highly acidic foods like tomatoes may
leach more BPA. Choose foods that are fresh, frozen, or
packaged in glass or cardboard containers, instead.
13

ACTIVITIES
at the Shirley Community Centre
TUESDAY

AY
D
N
O
M

9.15 to 12 noon

m
4 to 6p
uth Club
o
Y
e
c
a
l
PlayP
s
7+ year

English Language
Classes for Adults
FREE

WEDNESDAY
8 to 10pm

Shirley
Table
Tennis
Club

AY
D
S
R
U
H
T
noon
9.15 to 12
age

angu
English L Adults
or
Classes f
FREE

4 to 6pm

Neighbourhood
Wardens

THURSDA
Y
6

to 8pm
TS Endeav
or Sea Ca
dets
Unif
ormed you
th group
for 12-18 y
ear olds.

8 to 10pm

Road Cycli
ng Club
14

FRIDAY

FRIDAY

5.30 to 7pm

2 to 5pm

te
GKR Kara

Friday Club
All seniors welcome for
a cup of tea and a chat.

FRIDAY
7 to 9pm

SATURDAY

9am to 2pm
rformers
BrightSparks Pe
Academy
Theatre & Dance
2
for children aged
to young adult

PlayPlace Y
outh Club
1
1+ years

SATURDAY

2 to 4pm
tial Arts
Taekwondo Mar
ards
from age 6 upw

SUNDAY

10am to 1.30pm
Shrublands Ch
ristian
Fellowship Serv
ices

SUNDAY

5.30 to 7pm
tial Arts
Taekwondo Mar

2 to 5pm
Forward in Fait
h Ministr

VACANCIES AVAILABLE CALL 020 8777 4298

15

16

The planning of the Shrublands Estate

17

18

Common Products With Dangerous Chemicals

We are told that, the more advanced society becomes, the more
we need time-saving, elbow-grease-reducing, fun-promoting
things to make our life better. I totally disagree with the notion.
We do not need delicious French fries, ready in minutes or Ecigarettes that let us enjoy the thrill of smoking without the
tobacco. It is manufacturers who want us to buy such rubbish to
make more and more money.
Researchers have been warning us for some time that some Ecigarettes contain levels of the human carcinogen formaldehyde
far in excess of normal cigarettes. They have also warned that
we cannot know the true health concerns of 'vaping' for another
10 or 15 years of use.
McDonald's has finally listed, after
public pressure forced them to, 19
ingredients that go into making its
French fries. Not just potatoes, oil
and salt. Just the frying oil contains
a whole array of ingredients from
preservatives to flavourings. The
fries are not good for our health
and we should stop eating them. It
would be a good start if we
stopped eating anything
that contains chemical we
cannot pronounce.
However, these two items
are only a fraction of the
common products that we
use every day and that
contain ingredients that do
our health serious damage. I read extensively on health issues
and came across an article that listed unexpected products to
avoid: I did not find them so unexpected but repetita iuvant
(repetition is useful). Besides, I did not know about popcorn
flavourings: a double whammy, considering GMO corn.
https://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/common-products-with-dangerous-chemicals-in--from-e-cigs-and-mcdonald-s-fries-to-your-saucepans-122009816.html

19

20

The list
1 Popcorn flavourings
Why? Diacetyl. This is used to flavour some of the butter toppings
but is so dangerous to the respiratory system when inhaled it causes
a condition named popcorn lung.
2 Plastic containers
Why?Phthalates. Found in plastics from children's toys to food
containers to cling film, these can be hard to avoid but they are
feared to put the male reproductive system at risk, raise the risk of
testicular cancer and disrupt the thyroid.
3 Non-stick pans
Why? Perfluorinated Chemicals. Though the jury is out on this one,
some chemicals associated with the non-stick coating on cooking
pans have been linked to thyroid and kidney problems. In most cases
they are probably totally safe but if you have any concerns in those
areas it might be worth going for cast iron or stainless steel pans
instead.
4 Artificial Sweeteners
Why? Aspartame. Despite being a controversial ingredient, artificial
sweetener aspartame is found in everything from low calorie drinks
to chewing gum. It has been linked to a string of health problems
including depression, cancer, Parkinsons and asthma. Experts have
also claimed that other artificial sweeteners, used as low-calorie
alternatives to sugar trick the body into craving more calories and
can actually cause weight gain.
5 Antiperspirants
Why? Imidazolindinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin and aluminium.
The first two of these chemicals are involved in making
formaldehyde and are linked to joints pain, asthma and cancer, while
aluminium has been linked to brain conditions such as Alzheimer's.
6 Mothballs
Why? Either p-dichlorobenzene or naphthalene, depending on
the type. These are both toxic and can cause dizziness and skin
reactions. Prolonged exposure can cause liver damage. There are
green alternatives out there, though, so do your research to keep
your clothes hole-free.
21

7 McDonald's Fries
Why? Sodium acid pyrophosphate. Just one of the ingredients
listed in hazardous for ingestion by the chemical industry. Not great
for lunch, then.
8 Antibacterial Handsoap
Why? Triclosan. This is feared to disrupt our hormones and has
been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.
9 Unsustainable fish
Why? Mercury. There are plenty of reasons not to eat unsustainable
fish but one of them is your health. Some fish store mercury in their
bodies from polluted waters and it is very toxic to humans. The
Natural Resources Defense Council has an excellent list of fish by
their mercury levels.
At the end of the article, you can read on and are referred to pictures
of Nine Foods You Had NO Idea Were Dangerous For Your
Health. They are great and professional pictures but are covered by
copyright. Click below to see them.
https://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/photos/nine-foods-you-had-no-idea-were-dangerous-for-your-health-slideshow/butterflavoured-popcorn-dangerous-foods-you-should-never-eat-photo-1407495153792.html

1 Popcorns
There is a chemical in butter flavoured microwave popcorn that
could put your health in CONSIDERABLE danger. Oh no. There goes
our Friday night in Jerry Maguire habit. Diacetyl, which is present in
some butter flavourings, has been so harmful to factory workers, it
has even warranted its own disease classification - popcorn lung.
In short, try just the salted kind.
2 Canned food
There is a type of resin that can be present in tin cans, that contains
bisphenol-A / BPA. BPA is a synthetic oestrogen that can cause
reproductive problems and heart disease! Put DOWN the tin opener
and go pick some fresh ones instead. Or just head to Sainsbury's
and get some actual tomatoes with your next shop.
3 Sweeteners
Rather annoyingly, studies have actually shown that artificial
sweeteners can be JUST as bad for your muffin top as regular refined
sugar. UGH. Aspartame can increase your blood sugar level, leading
23

24

to overeating. And there have even been rumours that it causes

stomach ulcers in high concentrations.
Chocolate
We all know about dark chocolate right? Full of AMAZING goodies,
like anti-oxidants. Well, do not be fooled into thinking that white
chocolate has any of these lovely qualities. It does not. It is literally a
weird mix of random things that taste sweet.
Pea shoots and sprouts
Uh oh. These little things look uber healthy, but pea shoots and
sprouts have been the source of an incredible number of food recalls
because they are REALLY good at carrying foodborne illnesses. WAH!
Wheat
Genetic manipulations have meant that the wheat that we now use
to make bread is no longer anything like the wheat that our greatgrandparents would have known. The newest types of wheat can
cause all sorts of inflammatory diseases and allergies. Boo-hoo, bye
bye burger bap.
Swordfish
Swordfish, who'da thunk? You're probably not eating an abundance
of swordfish as it is, but it is worth knowing that you should
definitely avoid it when pregnant. Swordfish is high in heavy metals
that can be harmful to children as they develop in the womb.
Corn kernels
Corn kernel are basically little sponges for pesticides. In fact, some
of them even produce their own pesticides within the actual plant.
They are also of dubious nutritional value.
Food dyes
Food dyes have been linked to cancer in animals, so goodness only
knows what they're doing to our insides. The craze for rainbow
cakes is more dangerous than we thought!

24

A challenge
If you have not lost the will to live healthily,
I would urge you to consider an alternative
way of washing your face every day.
The beauty industry has convinced us that
we need special, chemical-filled cleansers to
rid our faces of the oil, sweat, dirt, and
bacteria that accumulate on our skin
throughout the day. These cleansers take
our skins beneficial, natural oils along with the bad stuff, leaving our
largest organ feeling and appearing dry. We then apply moisturizers,
also full of synthetic chemicals and toxins, to try to add that moisture
back in. Most of us are stuck in this endless cycle of using expensive
products to strip our skin of oils, only to try to add moisture back in
with another expensive product.
People who practice the oil cleansing method claim that it is
possible to break this expensive and harmful cycle by washing
our skin with oil.
The basic premise of oil cleansing is that by massaging your skin with a
nutritious oil, you can dissolve the unwanted oil and other impurities
lodged in your pores. However, unlike with store-bought cleansers, you
will be replacing the dirty oils in your pores with clean, beneficial ones.
The oils: To practice the oil cleansing method, youll need to mix castor
oil with another, more gentle, oil.
Castor oil is a natural astringent, and it is the most powerful oil in terms
of cleansing and dissolving the oil and impurities on your skin. It is also
antibacterial. (Never use Castor oil in its pure form on your skin.)
Another natural, organic oil needs to be mixed with the castor oil. This
is the oil that will be replenishing the moisture of your skin. You can use
extra-virgin coconut oil and olive oil, as well as jojoba oil, grapeseed oil,
avocado oil and apricot oil. Make sure the oil you choose is organic,
high-quality, and therapeutic grade.
If you have normal skin, start with equal parts castor oil and mixing oil.
For your first time, try one teaspoon of castor oil and one teaspoon of
mixing oil. If you have dry skin, reduce the amount of castor oil, and if
you have oily skin, you might want to increase it.
To be continued
25

Dawson Electrical Contractors

of Orpington
A quality service at the right price
Portable Appliance Testing
Testing and Inspecting
New Fuse Boards
Fault Finding
Rewires

Andy and Chris Dawson

Telephone: 01689 832832

Mobile: 07534 899255
Email: family.dawson@btinternet.com

Qualified - Part P registered - Fully insured

Tel: 020 8688 0844 Mobile: 07860 795836 Email: paul@ccrltd.co.uk

6 Commerce Way Croydon Surrey CR0 4XA
26

Courage is an inner

resolution to go forward
despite obstacles;

Cowardice is submissive

surrender to circumstances.
Courage breeds creativity;
Cowardice represses fear
and is mastered by it.

Cowardice asks the question,

is it safe?

Expediency ask the question,

is it politic?

Vanity asks the question, is

it popular?

But conscience ask the

question, is it right? And

there comes a time when we

must take a position that is

neither safe, nor politic, nor

popular, but one must take it

because it is right.

Martin Luther King jr.

27

USEFUL WEBSITES
NEWS AND BLOGS

If you want to know what is really 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
Subscribe to www.thealternativedaily.com to receive your
daily source for alternative health news and tips. You can really
learn a lot from this website.
28

 Get the latest natural health news and information from

www.drmercola.com and discover long-term health solutions
to improve your wellbeing
Be kind to the environment and your skin. Find out how to do
your laundry differently: www.soapnuts.co.uk/index.html

LIFESTYLE AND BEAUTY

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 vacuum cleaners repairs, servicing and parts

www.repairdoctor.co.uk
For electrical work
www.shirleyelectrical.com
For superb and traditional shoe repairs
www.traditionalshoerepairs.co.uk

PEST CONTROL

For reliability and peace of mind

www.stopbuggingme.co.uk
29

CROYDON
BOROUGH
STOP AND
SEARCH
C0MMUNITY
MONITORING
GROUP

CMGs are local scrutiny bodies that will instigate changes.

The decrease in numbers of stop and searches is not sufficient to
change the perceptions of the public who believe that police employs
incorrect tactics that have a negative impact on people.
Croydon CMG asked for better training and awareness of police
officers: we were assured that MPS guidelines would be circulated.
The quality of the encounter with the person being stopped is essential
to maintaining public support: a person should be dealt with
professionally, politely and positively. Change will then ensue.
Quality of Encounter Model: Explain, Ensure, Record, Reassure
Explain:
An appropriate introduction and explanation of what is
going to happen during the encounter.
Ensure:
Agreement and understanding and, therefore,
cooperation.
Record:
Acknowledgement of the encounter (hand over copy of
the search form).
Reassure:
Positive departure. Police act to protect Londoners.
If you wish to share your experience, positive or negative,
around Stop and Search or talk about a grievance,
please email Marzia Nicodemi, Chair of Croydon CMG, at

croydonsands@gmail.com
or phone/text on 07940 415532.
30
30

Stop and Search Scrutiny structure

Home
Affairs
Select
Committee

Service
Scrutiny

Bodies that hold the

MPS corporately to
account, of which
S&S forms part of
that scrutiny.

MOPAC Challenge
Internal MOPAC
performance board

Corporate
Scrutiny

Localised
Scrutiny

A body that holds

the Police Service
nationally, to
account.

SN
Boards

Catalysts
for
change

PCC
of
GLA

Stakeholder
Network

CMN

HMIC

CMGs

IPCC

Stakeholders
(Community,
IAGs, schools,
partners etc)

S&S
crime
fighters

ACPO

Home
Office

Programme
Board

PPEB

EHRC

Bodies that are

localised, by virtue
of being specific to
Stop & Search or by
geography.

Scrutiny bodies
that will instigate
change

Meeting owner Key

MOPAC

MPS

Parliament

Police Search Power under Sec 1 of Police & Criminal Evidence Act 1984
Police can stop and search us if they believe we carry:
Stolen goods
Offensive weapons
Articles for going equipped to: burgle, steal, cheat or cause
Criminal Damage
Pointed and bladed items
Drugs Sec 23 Misuse of Drugs Act
Police also have the power to search for other items such as fire arms.
31

MORE MISERY IN 2015

At the end of January, the coldest spell to date with even a dusting of
snow, Essex Utilities are still creating havoc around Shirley. It cannot be
pleasant for them to work in such rigour as it is not pleasant for
residents to remain at home all day on call without heating. Roads are
made one way but nobody takes any notice. Their own lorries (and
Police cars) do not seem to care.
I had to phone at the end of my penance day because all contractors
had vanished after 5pm and I was afraid that we would have had to
spend the night without any heating or hot water or cooking facilities.
I also wanted to have confirmation in writing of the work carried out
at our property as nobody had come into the property apart from early
in the morning to disconnect the gas supply. I could not help noticing
that they visited our neighbours several times.
I received a polite email from the Site Supervisor for Essex Utilities
saying: The work that is currently being carried out in Palace View
Shirley is to replace the old cast iron gas main along with the service
pipes to the property. Over the years service pipes to certain propertys
may have already been replaced due to leakage or requested by the
owners or previous owners. The service pipe that runs to you property
has already been replace at some point and meets all current
32

regulations. The reason we had to turn off you supply yesterday was
the section of main that you were connected to was being
decommissioned. We then had to take your supply off the old 6 cast
iron gas main that is located in the opposite footpath to you property
and transfer it on to the new main. ... I can confirm that all work was
carried out within the Southern Gas Networks codes of practice as well
as the Gas safe regulation. (sic)
It seems that gritting ones teeth does not agree with me. I question
anything that comes through my letterbox and does not make sense.
The gas supply was turned off some 2 hours before they started work
on the section of the main that was being decommissioned. The

contractors then moved on but nobody came to restore our gas supply.
Essex Utilities make a profit from the exercise and rightly so. They
should have a plumber on call at all times. Why should a resident be a
prisoner at home all day because the contractors do not bother to
organise the work putting the customer at the centre of it all? And the
awkwardly positioned and difficult to read gas
meter? EU were only there to replace or upgrade
the service pipe going to the property. They could
only move it if the service pipe to the property is
too small to for them to use. Really?
We need to speak to either a gas safe registered
engineer or Southern Gas Networks direct
depending on where we would like your meter.
Tomorrow is another day.

34

Vote with Your Pocket,

EVERY DAY
Remember, the food companies on the left of the graphic
spent tens of millions of dollars in the last two labelling
campaignsin California and Washington Stateto prevent
you from knowing what is in your food.
You can even the score by switching to the brands on the
right; all of whom stood behind the I-522 Right to Know
campaign.

Starbucks
Naked Juice
Gerber
Kashi
Ocean Spray
Green & Blacks Organic
Del Monte
Du Pont
Bayer
BASF
Burts Bees

SELL
IN
THE
UK

STOP
BUYING THEIR PRODUCTS.
Voting with your pocket, at every meal, matters.
It makes a huge difference.
35

Andrew Dunsmore,
Picture Partnership,
Shirley
Why is professional photography
important in the corporate world?

so

A New Year and possibly a new start to business. Having packed

away after Christmas and seeing in the New Year, are you wanting
a 'New Look' to your business, your brochure and or your
company ?
Professional Photography is an extremely important tool in
promoting business. From publicity pictures to be issued with press
releases to staff portraits. Getting the right pictures is vitally
important in getting your message across. Visual communication,
if done correctly, can help boost the profile of a business, and
increase revenue.
With over 25 years experience in the PR industry, Picture
Partnership has a strong PR/Marketing background, helping to
promote organisations like Westminster Abbey, Mott MacDonald,
Comfort Pure, Mitsubishi Electric and right down to smaller online
fashion companies, local businesses and newly started businesses.
Pictures are used everywhere in print and online and are usually
the first thing that people take in when observing an article or
promotion. If your picture does not capture the viewers' attention
straight away, the words that go with them will be lost.
Here are a few tips to help you when you are thinking about when
having your business pictures taken.
1 Make the pictures as professional as possible. If your photos
look unprofessional, with no thought to lighting, composition,
quality, etc., then this is how your product, your company will
be portrayed to the public and potential clients. If your photos

and imagery look high spec, then this is how your company will
be perceived and therefore people will generally want to work
with you and buy from you. After all, we all want to work with
the best?
2 Think about your background colour. If you are having new
business portraits taken for a new website, social media, leaflet,
brochure, think about what will be in the background. If you
are having a coloured background, does your logo match your
corporate colours, therefore pushing your companies logo to
the forefront of your potential customers minds.
3 Think about clothing and props. If taking pictures of people, or
your products, what kind of clothes should be worn to help
promote your business. For example when taking business
portraits you do not want pictures taken whilst wearing jeans
and tee-shirts with inappropriate slogans. Also what props are
going to be in your photographs, ie coffee mugs, hats etc.. Do
they have your company logo on? As a business owner you
should be constantly getting your company branding in
wherever possible, the more people see your logo, the more
they will remember it.
To find out more about how photography can help boost your
business please call the studio on the number below and speak to
Picture Partnership.

020 8656 4024

Picture Partnerships well equipped studio is at 213 Wickham
Road, Shirley Croydon, CR0 8TG. We are six doors away from the
beautifully refurbished Co-op.

www.picturepartnership.co.uk
@PPPictures

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Your local library: SHIRLEY LIBRARY

February 2015
Whats in it for you? Theres something for everyone!
Did you know that its free to join the library?
NB: The library no longer closes at lunchtime.
We would like to take this opportunity to wish a Happy New Year to all our customers,
old and new. Why not come into the library in January to see what's on offer? We'll
have a New Year, New You display with inspirational books on hobbies you could try,
weight loss you could achieve and skills you could learn. Plus, there's so much more...
Did you know that its free to join the library?
In addition, we'll have new stock which will be prominently on display for you to
borrow.
We have a wide range of fiction and information books, including new titles, audio
books and DVDs for adults and children, and nearly everything is free to borrow.
Adults and teens can borrow up to 25 items, children up to 12.
We have free wifi in the library as well as free use of PCs and access to the internet
for up to two hours per day.
Online at http://www.croydonlibraries.com/online-library/, library services are
available 24/7, with a digital library of audio and e-books to download, as well as
resources such as encyclopaedias, business information and help with the Theory
Driving Test, and Life in Great Britain questions.
You can buy food waste bags in bags of 100, for 5.70, at the library. We also sell
garden waste bags for 1 each.
Display boards at the library are available for use free of charge for your club or society.
Please contact Fiona or Irene on 020 3700 1019 or email
croydon.shirleylibrary@carillionservices.co.uk
Free, Regular Childrens activities and events
Rhymetime, rhymes and singing, on Fridays from 10 to 10.30am, for babies, toddlers
and their adults.
Storytime, stories and craft on Thursdays from 2.15 to 2.45pm, for 2-7 year olds and their
adults.
Children's Saturday Crafts, on alternate Saturdays from 2.30 to 4pm. Please contact
the Library for dates. There will be a special Saturday crafts session on Saturday 7
February to celebrate National Libraries Day. The theme will be Storybook Crafts.
Once Upon a Rhyme, This event no longer runs.
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Events for children in February Half Term 2015

Kite making on Monday 16 February. 2.30-4pm. For 3+.
Make felt animal pencil tops from 2.30 to 4pm. For 5+.
Storytime on Thursday 19 February from 2.15 to 2.45pm. For 3+.
Storybook crafts on Thursday 19 February from 3 to 4pm. For 3+.
Cat or owl brooch making on Friday 20 February from 2.30 to 4pm. For 4+.
Free, Regular Events for adults
Monthly Craft session: Card making. Tuesday 10 February from 2.30 to 4.30pm.
Knit and Natter: Do you enjoy knitting, crochet or other needlework? Enjoy swapping
skills with a chat at our group, on the following Fridays from 2.30 to 4.30pm:
Friday 13 February and Friday 27 February

Free monthly talks om authors or speakers

Author Gulshan Ul Amin will give a talk about her book Paths of Separation on
Monday 16 February from 2.15 to 3.30pm. Please contact the library to reserve a
place for this talk.
Reading Group for Adults will meet on Thursday 12 February from 6 to 7pm.
Free Internet Taster Sessions
It includes: learning basic IT skills, setting up an email account, using the internet,
online shopping! And much, much more! Monday mornings, Thursday and Friday
afternoons as well as on Saturday mornings. Please contact Shirley Library to book.

So why delay? Call into your library today

You can find Shirley Library on the corner
of Wickham Road and Hartland Way,
Shirley, CR0 8BH.
Telephone 020 3700 1019
Email croydon.shirleylibrary@carillionservices.co.uk

Opening times
Monday 9am to 6pm
Tuesday 9am to 6pm
Wednesday CLOSED
Thursday 9.30am to
7pm
Friday 9am to 6pm
Saturday 9am to 5pm
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Cariad Dolls House Furnishings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc8gW_E37xg

ill Latter spotted the

contraption on the left
whilst
watching
a
shopping channel. She was
looking at new ways of
packaging her furnishings.
The Silhouette Cameo is the
ultimate DIY hobby machine
and the possibilities are
endless. The Silhouette website says: Dream it up. Cut it out. Well,
Jill decided to make beautiful boxes for her miniatures. Indeed many
boxes have a 1/12 scale toy Dolls House kit on the back of the
packaging for her customers to enjoy making, with her compliments.

Specialist items
In their website, Cariad Dolls House Furnishings say: We pride
ourselves in making high quality soft furnishings for the dollshouse
collector. Browse through the pages of CariAd. We welcome enquires;
if you are unable to find what you are looking for, contact us. We are
here to make your requests materialise.
Whilst we have listed our most popular items, we are also able to
produce the more unusual item for your dolls house. If you require
something that is unique to you and your dollshouse, please do not
hesitate to contact us to discuss your needs.
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Take the time to browse

through the pages and
escape into the world of
miniatures.
We have now introduced
1:24
scale
soft
furnishings as this is
becoming a very popular
scale.
If you are looking for
another item to add to
your
room,
please
contact
Cariad
Furnishings. We are here
to make your dreams
come true.
Whilst we have stated
colour choices on some
of our items, there are
many different colours
available; so, please, do
not hesitate to contact us
if you have a specific
colour in mind.
Should you require a
further order on a piece
of furniture to match a
piece that you have
already
purchased,
please be aware that we
will do our best to match
the colour tones on the
fabric, but cannot always
guarantee a perfect
match.
Trade enquires welcome
and we ship worldwide.
45

Jill Latter

CariAd

Dolls House
Furnishings

CARIAD DOLLS HOUSE FURNISHINGS

Soft Furnishings
www.cariaddollshousefurnishings.com
jilllatter@aol.com

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