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15 August 2011

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ContentsShirley Life 5

NOGs Column 9

Peter Howards Column 10

Andrew Pellings Column 11Raising awarenessby Marzia 14

Considering Alternatives: Symptoms. Friends or foesby Helen C-MD 16

Planning from hell: remember Oak Gardens?by OG Resident 18

David Lean Cinema Campaign 20

Question Time in Shirley 21

Darbella 22

Express Timberby Tom Dunsmore 26Giovannas New Column 28

Shirley Community Centre 31

Blogsby Marzia 33

Andrew Dunsmore of Picture Partnership, Shirley 36

Shirley Library: September Activities 39

Front Cover: Silk flowers from Darbella, a new shop in Shirley

Editorial TeamTom Dunsmore, Mike Jackson, Jill Latter, Marzia Nicodemi-Ehikioya

(Editor), Andrew Pelling, Russell Elliott (Advertising Consultant), Peter

Hacker (Financial Consultant), and Robert Dil (Graphic Design Consultant).

ContactsT: 07940 415532 E: shirleylife@rocketmail.com W: www.shirleylife.com

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Make sure you use the hyperlinks

Shirley Life has introduced hyperlinks for

your convenience. For those unfamiliar with

hyperlinks, when you see a website in blue,

click on it and you will be taken directly to

the website. You can try it straight away byclicking on www.shirleywindmill.org.uk or www.shirleycca.com

More bins to come....

We have just received from LB of Croydon a colourful leaflet that states From

3 October 2011 a new, carefully planned, cost-

saving and environmentally-friendly recycling and

bin service will start. It states that the Council has

organised 14 roadshows in August and September in

Thornton Heath (2), Sanderstead, Selsdon,

Addiscombe, Ashburton Library, Upper Norwood,

Purley Way, Croydon Central Library, Crystal Palace,

New Addington, Norbury and Purley. Shirley, however,

did not appear in the list.

We were happy that the matter has now been rectified

and a roadshow will be held at Shirley Library on

Friday 26 August.Wheelies are now described as landfill bins. Various recycling percentages

are mentioned but no research is available to prove the point (increase of

Croydons recycling rate from 32% to 46% and 12,000 tonnes a year of food

waste that residents are said to place in their bins). Please read Question

Time in Shirley

on page 21 for

more details.

You might note

that the food

bins used in the

London Borough

of Bromley are

dark green (with

a bright top) and

taller than thefrumpy black

ones chosen for

us in Croydon.

http://www.shirleywindmill.org.uk/http://www.shirleycca.com/http://www.shirleywindmill.org.uk/http://www.shirleycca.com/

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You are warmly invited

to attend

Friday Peer Group Sessions

every Fridaybetween 2 and 5pm at

The Shirley Community Centre

SHRUBLANDS AVENUESHIRLEY, SURREY

CR0 8JA

We aim to create a welcoming place for Older Adults

to meet with their peer group, and make friends,

socialise, play games

(Bingo sessions and other games),

listen to music, sing along and reminisce.

We also plan to offer health advice and information,

exercise classes, andC

omT

ea(relaxed computer basic training) sessions.

Free tea, coffee and snacks

Call us on 8776 2562 or

07590 202547

for further details.

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You told us that you did not like the fact that you had not been consulted

regarding the fortnightly collection. Would you at least have liked to be given

the choice of the bins that will add to the clutter in your garden?

Shirley Life has asked Croydon Council to tell us about the merits of the new

refuse collection system as it applies specifically to Shirley. We look forward

to publishing their reply next month.

Question Time in Shirley

The Neighbourhood Partnership meetings were abolished because not

enough people attended and to save money. They were replaced by the

Question Time sessions to be able to justify the we're listening charade. It

is Council propaganda paid for by the Council Tax payers. Read more about

it on page 21.

Ghost houses

Our Editorial Team member

Andrew Pelling, in his extensive

Shirley walk abouts noticed that

there are now two boarded up

houses in our community. They

are part of the Council portfolio.

They stand empty and cost us alot of money in lost revenue,

maintenance and surveillance.

Shirley Life is pursuing for

these blights on our street

environment to be used for much needed housing. The house above has been

empty for over three years.

About Shirley Life

We love Shirley and we care about our environment but we also have a mind of

our own and scrutinise what is around us. We ask questions and want value for

money from our Council. Our magazine is eclectic and covers different aspects

of life. I may love dark chocolate but I enjoy other things too, like Darbella, a new

shop in Shirley. Read about it on page 22. A firm of solicitors is opening too. We

might even get a bank soon, who knows?

Destruction in Croydon and other parts of the UK

We want to express our sympathy to all the victims of meaningless violence.

Healing is needed and it can only be achieved through the strengthening of our

community. Morality is not an obsolete and trite concept: we all have duties and

responsibilities towards our neighbours, even if we dont like them. Editor

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NOGs ColumnHere is a question for you all; can you have too

much money? Well obviously some people in

Shirley do, judging by the amount of small

change that I find on the pavements. And I am

not just talking about one and two pence pieces

but tens and twenties. Some people are either

so rich that they dont need their small change

or they are too cool to bother with it.

The other week I found the remains of a 5 note

ripped up and discarded on the pavement. I

collected all the bits and took them up to the bank.

Unfortunately as the note was in a dozen bits the

bank wouldnt change it for me. They gave me a

form to send it to the Bank of England who in turn replaced it.

All the money that I find gets donated to one of the charities that I support. So it gets

used to help the community, but how rich or stupid do you need to be to rip up and

throw away a five pound note?

The newspaper that I buy is currently running a promotion. Each edition of the paper

has a number printed in it. You input this on their web page and every month they send

you a 5 voucher to be used in the supermarket. There is usually also a voucher for 5

off 40 spent on shopping.

The last time we were in the supermarket spending them, Kim noticed an inshore

promotion, Buy two jars of coffee and get 5p off a litre of petrol. So at the till we got

10 off our 40 shop and were given a voucher for the petrol. The lady in front of me

said that she didnt use vouchers so gave us hers.

As I had been driving round with my petrol light on for a week, I filled up. At the till the

lady saw I had two vouchers and said that she could take both so I got 7 off my tank

of unleaded. So, in one shopping trip, I had 17 of free money, plus all the buy-one-

get-one-free offers.

When there is a buy-one-get-one free offer on a non perishable item that we normally

use, I always make the most of it and stock up the cupboard.

I cant understand people not bothering with money-off coupons if you normally shop

at the store and buy that item. It is FREE money. I could say Would you walk past

a 5 note left on the pavement? ... but I now know the answer to that one.

Shirley Supporting Charities Christmas Event #4.This year, the Shirley Supporting Charities Christmas Community Fair will be held at St.

Johns Parish Hall, Wickham Road, on Saturday 19th November 2011. Please make

sure you put this date in your busy diary.

9

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Peter Howards ColumnIts nice work if U can get it!!For almost 5 years I was the Chair of the now

defunct PPI forum for Mayday, a statutory bodywhich was taken over by another (weaker)

body called LINK over 2 years ago. This body

is administered by public monies given through

our Council to Croydon Voluntary Action to run

the LINK. Recently the CVA/LINK decided to

abolish many of its Committees, on the basis of

a public meeting vote as to what they would

do in the year 2011/12. Most of these peopleare not footsoldiers but people who come out

of the woodwork, infrequently!

The Mayday group has been abolished, but whereas my PPI forum did around

6 unannounced visits to Mayday in a year and public meetings on mens and

womens health, prostate cancer, hearing, waiting list etc., etc., the LINK in 2

years has, at the most, completed about 2 visits: 1 to Mayday and 1, I believe,

to a care home. Both, I believe,announced.

If this were not so bad and a waste of the Publics money, the accounts forCroydon Voluntary Action March 2010/April 2011 show the largesse that CVA,

in my opinion and others, take out of public monies. We were amazed that

out of a Project income over this period of 167,490.00p, some 96,342.46p

were taken for staff to run the LINK. CVA own their own property in London Rd,

West Croydon, and charge the LINK, a publically funded group, yet another

21,922.00p for premises expenditure, and yet another 23,189.43p for office

expenditure, although the LINK members, including myself, have no actual

office/computers/phone etc.Another thing that no one can fathom out what it is, is called Specific Projects

and costs 9,185.36p. A total of 150.639.25p (dont forget the odd pennies,

God forbid we miss them out!!) It is some 85% or thereabouts of the total

funding. No wonder CVA have, in my view, such a poor record of visits over the

past year. I doubt if M&S would spend as much percentage as this on staffing

etc? There has to be change!!!

I have taken this to Senior Councillors, and the Councils Head of Legal Services

as the monies from the government are channelled through Croydon Council.If they ignore it, I will go to the Ombudsman for Council Maladministration.

Yours, on behalf of the good people of Croydon whose money this is!

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Why Croydon?by Andrew PellingIn the current difficult times facing Croydon it

would not be appropriate to bring our usual

whimsical sketch from the Croydon Council

chamber. Instead Andrew Pelling asks Why

Croydon? regarding the devastating riots that

have hit our Borough. Why Croydon ?

It is a good question. It flummoxed me for a moment.

One of Murdochs two national newspapers was in

Croydon the morning after our worst ever night, trying

to get juicy comments among the wrecked

businesses, homes and lives of London Road. Eventhe Corriere della Sera managed to get down to

Croydon by the evening after the troubles to pose a similar question. Why had a

blameless suburb gone up in flames? The story led the TV news on networks in

America and Japan, while the Italian journalist said he was normally the war

correspondent in Libya. So how did it come to this ?

Theres no way that Croydon would have been subject to riot contagion in 1981

from the troubles in Brixton. Thirty years on, though, Croydon is a very different

place and Croydons great and the good need to make a pretty urgent analysisof the possible answers to Why Croydon?

Croydon has been the turf for highly mobile gangs for some time, so the culture

for conflict already existed before the conflagration on 8/8. For years, knife

attacks, including killings, were prevalent all along the A23 corridor. And the A23

was again the backbone for the terror on Monday.

But Croydons vulnerability comes also from the towns decline and dreadfully

parlous national funding for the Borough that stems from misconceived

perceptions of the place by national politicians and the vagaries of national andLondon politics that act directly against the towns interests and prosperity. Thus

Croydon these days has a rundown downtown that made it much more likely to

be a place for Monday nights conflict.

Outer London Tory-run Croydons interests were stymied not by Labour but by

their powerful Conservative friends in inner London, at Westminster, Kensington

& Chelsea and Wandsworth. Its a peculiarity that since Peter Bowness, the long-

serving former Conservative leader of Croydon Council left London politics, its

these three big Tory authorities, latterly joined by tax-cutting Tory Hammersmith& Fulham, that dominate the dialogue in London, especially with a Tory Mayor. It

was these powerful Conservative authorities that neutered the change of the

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formula that would have boosted Croydons policing numbers. It was bad

enough that Conservative Wandsworths aggressive housing policies had socially

engineered many problem families out of their area into other south London

boroughs, including Croydon, without this particular act against Croydons

interests.

Its this weakness of Croydon Conservatives to have real pulling power in London

that explains why their urgent pleas for extra policing were ignored as the crisis

loomed on the afternoon of 8/8. Extra help was granted only when the town was

already ablaze.

When he was Mayor, Ken Livingstone made it clear that he understood

Croydons decline as part of a general demographic gentrification of inner London

and a loss of dynamism in many outer London borough economies. Livingstone

hoped that a cheap fares policy would assist mobility to get to jobs and so boost

Croydon prosperity. But when asked what, if anything, his London Development

Agency was doing to invest money in south London, their very weak response

was that they were putting money into the Elephant and Castle, six miles north

of Croydon.

Labours need to defend inner London seats just did not leave enough money to

give real largesse to Croydon, and Labours seats in northern urban England

were also a priority in the local government financial settlement. Money for the

Olympics meant even more money going from south London to east London.

The decline of Croydon into a venue for strife goes further back, though. Threeof the problems were not of local Tories making.

The award of tax advantages to Docklands by a Conservative government (when

Michael Heseltine was the post-riots minister) knocked for six Croydons previous

role as Londons cheaper option for back-office location.

Prime Minister Thatchers removal of the business rate from local Council control,

which had been used by Conservatives to get jobs in to Croydon by keeping

rates very low, was another blow below the belt.

The opening of the M25 drew businesses to locate on the other side of themotorway, away from Croydons notorious traffic congestion.

But worst of all, the Conservatives in Croydon allowed an ever-widening gap in

prosperity between the north and south of the borough to grow.

Six months after his departure in 1992 as the last ever Conservative MP in

Croydon North West, Humfrey Malins pointedly warned of the dangers for

Croydon of the Conservative councils neglect of the north of the borough and

the huge change in relative prosperity there. Once Labour was in control in the

Town Hall, it suited them to allow the divide to remain as it permitted them to holdthe council majority even though they did not win the most votes across the

whole of the borough.

Now with the Tories back in Katharine Street for five years, they seem a very

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different bunch from the pro-Central Croydon Bownessians. Like many of the

constituents they represent from the south of the borough, many Conservative

councillors dont identify with or come to Croydon except to drive straight into the

car park under the Town Hall for council meetings.

Conservative national politicians were not much better. They rather look down

their noses at Croydon, with David Camerons contribution upon his campaigning

in Croydon for votes for the party leadership limited to going on at length about

the Croydon facelift.Many ministers mistakenly perceive the mainly prosperous south of the borough

as being what Croydon is, and so they cannot convince themselves that Croydon

is in fact a place of need. In any case, like Labour, Conservatives have much

more important places to protect; in their case, out in the counties and in strong

Tory seats. No wonder that public spend this year in Croydon was taken down

by 5.04 per cent, while in neighbouring Bromley it is down by only 2.46 per centand in Surrey 0.31 per cent.

In Brixton, all seemed hopeless after the 1980s riots. In Brixton the government

knew there was a need to act. Money was thrown at businesses to allow them

to rebuild enterprise and jobs, and voluntary organisations also received cash to

help them to reach out to the disaffected.

It is most unfortunate that a long history of poor government grants for Croydon,

combined with an extravagant Town Hall building programme and high pay for

councillors, has led to cuts in charity outreach work at just the time whenCroydon most needs this value for money activity. Perhaps the conflagration will,

at last, allow national politicians to understand Croydons great needs.

Croydon Conservative politicians need also to ask searching questions of

themselves. Do they really have enough heavy weight pulling power with the real

power holders in our country to deliver for when Croydon is in a crisis like that

which it faced on 8/8? Would John Moore (Croydon Central), Jack Weatherill

(Croydon North-East) or Sir William Clark (Croydon South) have waited until the

town was burning to leave it to the Council to ask for extra police ?Would they left it to the Chief Executive of the Council and a GLC member

to call a Deputy Mayor of London for extra police on the evening when the

riot started when the police at 9 am that previous morning were already

warning businesses to shut? No, they would have been on the 'phone to

the Prime Minister or the Home Secretary 12 hours before the crisis started.

Nor would they have the appalling misjudgement to go away sailing off

Cowes after the conflagration of our and their town.

A fuller 4,000 word version of this opinion piece can be read onhttp://insidecroydon.com/2011/08/11/croydon-was-vulnerable-after-being-short-changed-for-

decades/ and a few pictures appear on page 45.

13

http://insidecroydon.com/2011/08/11/croydon-was-vulnerable-after-being-short-changed-for-decades/http://insidecroydon.com/2011/08/11/croydon-was-vulnerable-after-being-short-changed-for-decades/

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licences. The Kent-based firm had been taking pupils to and from St

Giles Special School, in South Croydon, in seven unlicensed vehicles

since the contract began on April 27.

Councillor Tim Pollard, cabinet member for children, young people and

learners, described the issue as a hiccup and said the special needs

transport service involved too many vehicles to possibly check.

But records held on the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA)

website, easily accessible to the public, show LHS did not have

sufficient licences to operate the routes it had been awarded. VOSA,

the Government's road traffic regulator, inspected the coaches on

Tuesday and found LHS had broken the law.

Call for investigation: The award of the councils most valuable

disabled transport contract to a firm with little experience and no

licences has raised serious questions about the procurement process.

My comment: Councillor Tim Pollard, I think it's a council cock up not

a hiccup. As cabinet member for children, young people and learners

why did you put their lives at risk? Research appears to show you did

it to save money. I hope your solicitor made you all aware of the

corporate manslaughter act! I think the investigation should first rule

out any connection between LHS owners and councillors.

I am grateful to Mr. Nunn who gave Shirley Life permission to

reproduce some content of his blog and wrote: Please feel free to use any material I publish. I understand your sentiments about raising

awareness, it would appear that most people prefer to live in the

blissfully unaware state I lived in before coming to my senses in the

early 90s. Pity I trusted the system for so long before I started trying

to expose the problems. Even now I know of many people who are

aware of the problems but prefer to look the other way until a scandal

forces them to take action. You only have to look at the Winterbourne,

Baby P, MP expenses, Phone hacking scandals to realise that unti l thetipping point of public revulsion is reached it is very difficult, if not

impossible, to get others interested in issues like ours. In essence

that's why I started the Public Authority Watchers blog.

Blogs about one council, in my case Cheshire West and Chester

Council, or one issue, in my case the Local Government Ombudsman

and the failure of the administrative justice system in England are always

going to find it difficult to attract enough readers to reach a tipping

point. Good luck with your endeavours, you will certainly need it.My comment: I appreciate how difficult it is to fight an incompetent and

perverse system but Im resilient and wont give up the fight! Thank you.

Marzia

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CONSIDERING ALTERNATIVESHomeopathy - Symptoms. Friends or foes?

Most of us who have grown up with conventional medicine are familiar with the

idea that illness is something that comes from outside and attacks us whenwe least expect it. Symptoms are seen as belonging to the disease: one gets

the symptoms when one has the disease.

Homeopathy however views the situation from a very different perspective;

symptoms are recognised as an individuals response to causative factors. In

effect symptomsbelong to people, not to diseases. Although people may share

similar response patterns they will never be identical. For example, influenza is

caused by many different strains of virus. Adults with robust immune systems

may come in contact with a virus but show no signs of illness. In the generalcommunity young children, the elderly, smokers, diabetics and those with

chronic lung disease are considered more at risk and likely to display a range

of common symptoms (sore throat, cough, chest pain, muscular aches and

pains, chills headache and fever). In treating homeopathically however it is not

the common symptoms that are of interest; they tell us very little about the

patient. Our focus is onhow this unique person reacts to an invading virus.

One flu victim might feel hot and irritable, have a tremendous thirst and want

to be left alone; another (incubating the same viral strain) could feel very chilly,not thirsty and want lots of fuss and attention. One person might wish to sip

water constantly, another have large amounts at infrequent intervals. One could

be very restless, another totally knocked out and gone to pieces. In

consequence we find there is a wide range of possible symptom patterns; the

homeopaths job is to recognise this picture and prescribe a remedy that

matches it.

So what is the logic behind this matching business? You may have heard thatHomeopathy is to do with treating like with like (The Law of Similars). This will

make sense if we recognise that, as a natural biological response to negative

influences, symptoms are inherentlypositive or health promoting attempts by

the body and mind to cure itself. For instance, a high temperature generally

indicates that defence mechanisms are activated to fight infection. During a

fever, healing forces are accelerated; an increased heartbeat allows blood to be

transported more rapidly to the organs; faster breathing increases oxygen

intake, while perspiration provides a cooling system. Failure to respect thisprocess (e.g. suppressing or controlling a fever artificially with paracetamol)

ultimately may not be in the patients best interest. The homeopathic approach

entails giving a remedy that could cause such symptoms in a healthy person;

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in effect the medicine reinforces the effort of our biological intelligence and thus

provides a powerful stimulus to cure.

Instead of treating symptoms as totally negative phenomena, to be suppressed

at all costs, we can use them as a guide towards regaining health. As

Hippocrates said; Give me a fever and I can cure the child.

Talking of fevers, the one remedy we should all have in our homeopathic first

aid kit is Belladonna; indispensible if you are about to go off on a family holiday.

If you want a pill to take for sunstroke or heat exhaustion, that would also help

with a certain type of diarrhoea, or cure a violent headache, or soothe a skin

rash, or deal with a throbbing toothache as well as treat the effects of being

bitten by a rabid dog then dont forget to pack some Belladonna! The trick

to remember with homeopathic remedies is that you are treating the state of

an individual rather than a particular ailment. In acute situations this is usually

easy to spot. For example, Belladonna would be appropriate in sudden, violent

conditions, where there is inflammation, radiating heat, bright redness,

throbbing or shooting pains, irrespective of location, and, curiously, if symptoms

are worse at three oclock in the afternoon. We might identify a Belladonna

headache if the patient felt worse for motion and better for warm head wraps;

if he prefers to have his head cold and keeps moving it about, another remedy

such asArsenicum might be indicated.

Your homeopath can advise on the range of remedies to include in your self-help

arsenal. Or why not go for a treatment session to boost your immune systembefore travelling? Remember the old adage Prevention is better than cure!

Wishing you happy and healthy holidays.

Helen Campbell-MacDonald, Homeopath

Helen practices at The Chestnut Clinic, West Wickham; fully insured and registered with the

Homeopathic Medical Association, she adheres to its strict Code of Ethics and Practice.

The Chestnut ClinicSpecialising in the Identification &

Treatment of Allergic Disorders

Home Visit Service

Tel: 020 8462 5800 Email: Chestnutclinic@btinternet.com

Website: www.chestnuthomeopathy.co.uk

20 Chestnut Avenue West Wickham BR4 9ES

http://www.chestnuthomeopathy.co.uk/http://www.chestnuthomeopathy.co.uk/

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Planning from hell: remember Oak Gardens?The sad saga of the Oak Gardens development has rumbled on since April 19

2010. Noise, air pollution and disruption have detrimentally affected the lives of

residents. Gone are birdsong, trees, plant and wildlife. Outlook over green

space is now replaced by thirteen out of character properties in close proximity

The magic garden of No 7, opened to the

public for Shirley Open Gardens in 2006

The 3 original houses, with long gardens, before demolition.Asprey Homes vanished and Greenacre Homes Ltd appeared.

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Wasteland

AnOakGardensresident

Present day. Greenacre Homes Ltd is now in liquidation. What next?

Pictures by Marzia 19

to each other. The street scene is an eyesore, seriously damaged by excavation

and heavy vehicle activity negotiating access and turning in this narrow cul de

sac road.A complete road and walkway refurbishment will be essential.

Logical reasoning against the development has proved completely justified. In

approving the development, complete disregard and insensitivity was shown

towards the effect it would have on the environment and lives of residents in

the long term.

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Question Time in ShirleyA great number of councillors (5 on stage and 6 in the crowd), Croydon

Council CEO Jon Rouse, a number of Croydon Council staff and fifty-eight

residents turned up at the Question Time event on 19 July 2011 at Shirley

Methodist Church. I stumbled on the minutes of the various meetings in theborough and asked friends to have a look because what I read about the

Shirley one did not ring true. Here are a few examples:

Waste and recycling:With the new bi-weekly collection of rubbish, will you be collecting

garden waste?

Cllr Fisher - We are continuing with garden waste collection

On 3 October there is going to be a new bin collection. Between 19 -

30 September we will be given one kitchen caddy and one food bin.

We will also be given liners for the caddy. How many liners are we

going to be given? How often? Can I have the measurements of the

food bin because I have to cater for a large family? What about

nappies, sanitary products etc? Do we have to pay for the liners? How

has the council reached certain figures about the amount of food

being wasted?

Cllr Fisher - In terms of the measurements for your caddy - we will sendthem to you. I believe there are 100 liners in a starter pack but we will

confirm that to you. If there are problems around the issues you raise, then

we will address them. It will stop 12,000 tonnes of food waste going to

landfill every year and save 600,000 per year for the taxpayer. In answer

to your question about liners, yes - you can buy them from garden centres,

etc, or you can use newspaper to wrap your food waste in. There is a

potential sponsorship deal in the future although this is not something that

will happen any time soon.I understand that the garden waste collection is going to cease earlier

this year. It will encourage dumping.

Cllr Fisher - We have cut six weeks from the schedule. We had to make

savings. Most councils do not provide a free waste collection. So in

Croydon, we are providing a service free of charge. I feel its better that you

get a free service but for a shorter period of time.

I have two kids - food is not an issue but I'm still filling a bin once aweek - I'm also filling the recycling bins. When it's collected the men

throw it over the garden - will this still happen when they collect the

food waste?

continued on page 41

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A

be has been working in interior design and furniture for over twenty

years.He started at Harrods in Knightsbridge and then ran GalleryPanache in New Bond Street for some time. After that he dealt in bespoke

furniture in Chelsea and Tottenham Court Road.

He moved from Chelsea to Shirley with his family in 1999.

Abe has now opened Darbella at 215 Wickham Road in the Shirley Library

Parade. The company name has a Mediterranean feeling. It is a fusion of the

Moroccan and Italian languages: dar means house and bella means

beautiful. It is an easy to remember name with a soft sound.The company mission is the celebration of the home. In Darbella one finds

quality furniture which is unique and eclectic in style. Items are affordable

and there is a wealth of gifts to choose from.

Abe wants to generate growth through smart pricing and involvement in the

community. He will be happy to show customers how to create a difference

in their home and express themselves whilst creating a personalised and

enjoyable home environment.

22

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23

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The Goat1-3 BROOM ROAD

SHIRLEY CROYDON

Recently refurbishedfamily-run pub offering

a wide range of beers,ciders, real ales

& wines

C&CP L A N N I N G P A R T N E R S H I P L T D

8 Ash Road, Shirley, Croydon,Surrey, CR0 8HU

MO B: 07796 777700TEL: 020 8777 9999 (OFFICE)TEL: 020 8777 7000 (OFFICE)

EMAIL: charles@candcplanning.co.uk

PL ANS F ORLOFTS, EXTENSIONS, HOUSES,& STRUCTURAL CALCULATIONS

FOR COUNCIL APPROVALS

35 YEARS EXPERIENCEFREE CONSULTATIONS

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Express Timber by Tom DunsmoreExpress Timber on the

Wickham Road, although a

fairly recent addition to the

Shirley business community, isalready a well recognised

landmark site. Its name

doesnt do justice to the

varied product lines carried,

which is only hinted at by the

outside display, and its

frontage gives no indication of

the vast and varied range

within the shop and timber yard behind. Although timber in all its shapes,

sizes and qualities is a speciality of the business, you would be unlucky

indeed not to be able to find your requirements in the associated building

trades of plumbing, decorating, electrical, tools and even safety boots.

The owner is Mr. J. Lee (known throughout the trade and to everyone

else as Johnny). I had a very interesting and enlightening conversationwith him recently as he shared with me his progress in his chosen career

and in meeting the slings and arrows not only of outrageous fortune

but also of recessions and fire. But he came up smiling.

On leaving school, Johnny worked in the timber trade for several

employers and by application and learning gained sufficient experience

to enable him to start up on his own in 1980, basically supplying

mouldings to the majority of local timber merchants, retail outlets andDIY within a wide area. After some 15 years of expansion and total

dedication to the business, he had reached a turnover in excess of

1million a year and was probably the biggest supplier of his kind in

London. Then came the recession of the 90s the first of the major

slings and arrows fired at him when, like many other small businesses

who struggled after giving too much credit to the building trade, Johnny

had to go into liquidation, losing heavily in the process.

Down but not out, he then, with a partner, formed another similar

business but with smaller overheads before moving into premises in

Penge, made available by a creditor in lieu of the debt owed to him.

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Together they decided to expand into the retail side but as the economy

improved the big boys expanded too and more of the little men were

forced to close; although by comparison they were also one of the little

uns at this stage, the premises and yard were a fair size and by working

very hard seven days a week was able to bring his son into the business,

with the result that the business was relatively successful. Retail provedto be a whole different ball game from wholesale, and was another

learning curve for him; Homebase was within walking distance and other

suppliers not much further away. But, as always, a much more

comprehensive service was offered, as had been from the start advice

and assistance, cutting timber to size and free delivery. By these means

they earned a reputation second to none and gained loyal customers

which enabled them to add to the premises and to take on more staff.Then disaster struck. One morning in February 2008, the 14th as he

clearly recalls, Johnny heard on the radio that there had been a massive

fire in a timber yard in Penge and knew it could be one of only three in

the area. Yes! Another of the slings and arrows which life fired at them;

it was their premises. Some youths had broken into the yard to steal

tools and copper fittings, etc. and then deliberately started the fire at

about 4.00am. (Some things never seem to change!) The stock ignited,the fire spread very rapidly and the resulting conflagration required the

attendance of 10 Fire Appliances. People resident in the upper part of the

building were led out just in time, the Fire Officer noting that had his men

arrived 30 minutes later they would have been taking out bodies. Johnny

had, of course, insured against fire at the outset but foolishly, as he

himself admits, had not reviewed the sum insured as the business grew

(Other businesses take note!) and estimates his total losses at over

100K. By now he was in his early 50s, and had enough money to pay

26

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GIOVANNAS NEW COLUMNNice and a bit of Provence

Unfortunately summer is almost over and the

weather has not been too wonderful in the UK

so why do I not take you on a trip to the

capital of the French riviera to enjoy a bit of

virtual sun?

Nice has always been one of my favourite

destinations; it is very easy to reach by air (its

airport is second only to Paris) or by Eurostar

(6h15m journey to Marseille). It is an ancient

city, marked by tradition and a heritage as

rich as the cultural mix of its history. The city has always preserved a

tradition of hospitality as a part of its

mediterranean lifestyle.

Ideally nestled between the Alps and

the Mediterranean, Nice is famous for

its climate and its splendid land-

scapes and sights. The famous

Promenade des anglais and thehistorical town centre with its

interesting museums and old

palaces, fabulous restaurants and a

good night life make it a unique place.

With 11 film sets in the heart of the city, just 5 minutes away from Nice Cote

dazur international airport, you may want to visit the

Studios Riviera: it will make you feel like a screen star.

Lets just mention the famous Hitchcock movie To

catch a thief with Grace Kelly and Cary Grant.

And when you have had enough of Nice you

may take a ride on the TAM bus, line 400, which will

take you to the amazing Saint Paul de Vence. This

hilltop fortified village of Provence is unique for its art

galleries, boutiques and sidewalk cafes. From this

tiny village you have breathtaking views of mountainsand sea; just 300 people live in the village and each

year it attracts 2.5 million tourists from all over the

P

icture

by

Picture

Partnership,

Shirley

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world. Saint Paul de Vence was the favourite

spot for Picasso, Matisse and other

contemporary artists.

Fondation Maeght

The Fondation Maeght, the exact name is

Fondation Marguerite et Aim Maeght, is aprivate foundation dedicated to modern art.

Established in 1964, it was the first of its kind

in France. Its founder, Aim Maeght (1906-

1981) was a legendary Parisian art dealer and

friend of many modern artists, like Joan Mir,

Alexander Calder, Fernand Lger, Alberto

Giacometti and Marc Chagall. The museum's

collection includes works of these artists and

others like Georges Braque, Vassily

Kandinsky, Pierre Tal Coat and Pol Bury. There

are paintings, sculptures, mosaic murals, stained glass windows and

pottery. Some of the art is displayed outdoors in the garden and patios

surrounding the modern building

42 kilometres away from Nice is Grasse, the

worlds perfume capital which has been apopular tourist town for centuries for its

smell of flowers and clear air. Princess

Pauline Bonaparte, the Emperor's sister,

spent the winter of 1807-08 in Grasse,

recuperating her mental and physical

strength. Queen Victoria vacationed

through several winters in Grasse, staying

at the Rothschild's or at the Grand Hotel.

Napolon himself passed through Grasse in

1815. Molinard, a Grasse tanner himself,

created the first Grasse fragrance.

Fragrances and perfumes now

synonymous with Grasse are lavender,

myrtle, pink, orange blossom, wild mimosa

and jasmine. 27 tonnes of jasmine areharvested in Grasse every year. Grasse has four perfume factories and

perfumeries as well as a perfume school and a perfume museum.

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Shirley Community Centre (SCC)

31

What and When at the Centre in summer

Shrublands Christian Fellowship Sundays 10.30 to 12noon

Youth Group Mon and Wednesdays 7 to 9pmWardens Wed and Thurdays 4 to 5pm

Zumba with Angelina Tuesdays 1.30-2.30 & 6-7pm

Tenshin tsunami Ryu Tuesdays 7 to 9pm

Croydons Next Top Role Model Wed-Thu & Fridays 11am to 3.30pm

Croydons Next Top Role Model August Bank Holiday Time to be confirmed

GKR Karate Fridays 6 to 7.30pm

Tenshin tsunami Ryu Fridays 7.30 to 9.30pm

The main hall is complemented by a well equipped kitchen, there are two

other rooms, and a separate room suited to smaller committee meetings.

The Centre is available most mornings and the early part of each

afternoon. It is also very popular for private parties at weekends.

These premises are ideally placed in a residential area and are well served

by two bus routes. There is some on-site parking,

The Centre is currently used by a cycling club, a church, martial arts

groups and dance and exercise groups.

Care Direct UK and Living Hope Project are now running activities for

Older Adults in the south end part of the Centre each Friday afternoon.

To hire the Centre, please contact 020 8777 4298 on Thursdays between

9.30 and 11.30am or email lettings4scca@hotmail.co.uk. There is also a

new website, www.shirleycca.com, to keep you abreast of events .

Midweek charges are 10 per hour (40 for a whole morning or afternoon,

50 for a whole evening) or 250 for private parties on a Saturday or 350

on a Sunday. The small Meeting Room cost is 5 per hour at any time.

http://www.shirleycca.com/http://www.shirleycca.com/http://www.shirleycca.com/

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www.shi r leye lec t r ica l .com

Nadia NazirA freelance website developer

available to assist youwithin your budget.

Businesses, Individuals,Students , Non-Profit

From small to big projects,tailor-made as per your

requirements.

Contact for free enquires on

nadia@nadianazir.com

www.nadianazir.com

www.

http://www.shirleyelectrical.com/http://www.nadianazir.com/http://www.shirleyelectrical.com/http://www.nadianazir.com/

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BlogsWhat is a blog? Some readers may laugh

at the question and think everybody

knows. Wrong: lots of people do not

know at all or know very little aboutblogs. Read on, please. I have tried to

research and cut and paste some

information that might start the ball rolling. The word blog is short for web

log, and is strictly a record of the changing content of your website. People

who were interested in the content of your site would register to receive

your blog, and be informed whenever a page on your site was updated.

However, although that is still a prime use for blogs, they are now also used for

passing on information and advertising. Many use blogs as a type of article site,wherein there are no restrictions on their content or on the degree of advertising

they include in the article body.

Blogs can also allow comments to be posted by readers, although this is an

option that not all bloggers allow. It is a good way to allow interaction on your

website, and is something like a low key forum. However, blogs that allow this

interaction tend to be more popular than those that do not, unless they are

specifically known for their useful content.Types of blogs

Personal blogs.The personal blog, an ongoing diary or commentary by an

individual, is the traditional, most common blog. Personal bloggers usually take

pride in their blog posts, even if their blog is never read. Blogs often become

more than a way to just communicate; they become a way to reflect on life, or

works of art. Blogging can have a sentimental quality. Few personal blogs rise

to fame and to the mainstream but some personal blogs quickly harvest an

extensive following. One type of personal blog, referred to as a microblog, isextremely detailed and seeks to capture a moment in time. Some sites, such

as Twitter, allow bloggers to share thoughts and feelings instantaneously with

friends and family, and are much faster than emailing or writing.

Corporate and organisational blogs.A blog can be private, as in most

cases, or it can be for business purposes. Blogs used internally to enhance the

communication and culture in a corporation or externally for marketing,

branding or public relations purposes are called corporate blogs. Similar blogs

for clubs and societies are called club blogs, group blogs, or by similar names;typical use is to inform members and other interested parties of club and

member activities.

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By genre. Some blogs focus on a particular subject, such as political blogs,

travel blogs (also known as travelogs), house blogs, fashion blogs, project

blogs, education blogs, niche blogs, classical music blogs, quizzing blogs and

legal blogs (often referred to as a blawgs) or dreamlogs. Two common types

of genre blogs are art blogs and music blogs. A blog featuring discussions

especially about home and family is not uncommonly called a mom blog. While

not a legitimate type of blog, one used for the sole purpose of spamming is

known as a Splog.

Rise in popularity

After a slow start, blogging rapidly gained in popularity. Blog usage spread during

1999 and the years following, being further popularised by the near-simultaneous

arrival of the first hosted blog tools.

Political impact

Since 2002, blogs have gained increasing notice and coverage for their role in

breaking, shaping, and spinning news stories. The Iraq war saw bloggers taking

measured and passionate points of view that go beyond the traditional left-right

divide of the political spectrum.

On 6 December 2002, Josh Marshall's talkingpointsmemo.com blog called

attention to U.S. Senator Lott's comments regarding Senator Thurmond. Senator

Lott, at a party honouring US Senator Strom Thurmond, praised Senator

Thurmond by suggesting that the United States would have been better off had

Thurmond been elected president. Lott's critics saw these comments as a tacit

approval of racial segregation, a policy advocated by Thurmond's 1948

presidential campaign. This view was reinforced by documents and recorded

interviews dug up by bloggers. Though Lott's comments were made at a public

event attended by the media, no major media organizations reported on his

controversial comments until after blogs broke the story. Blogging helped to

create a political crisis that forced Lott to step down as majority leader. Senator

Lott was eventually to resign his Senate leadership position over the matter.

Similarly, blogs were among the driving forces behind the Rathergate scandal.

Dan Rather, a TV journalist, presented documents that conflicted with accepted

accounts of President Bush's military service record. Bloggers declared the

documents to be forgeries and presented evidence and arguments in support of

that view. Consequently, CBS apologised for what it said were inadequate

reporting techniques. Many bloggers view this scandal as the advent of blogs'

acceptance by the mass media, both as a news source and opinion and as

means of applying political pressure.The impact of these stories gave greater credibility to blogs as a medium of news

dissemination. Though often seen as partisan gossips, bloggers sometimes lead

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the way in bringing key information to public light, with mainstream media having

to follow their lead. More often, however, news blogs tend to react to material

already published by the mainstream media. Meanwhile, an increasing number

of experts blogged, making blogs a source of in-depth analysis.

Mainstream popularity

By 2004, the role of blogs became increasingly mainstream, as politicalconsultants, news services, and candidates began using them as tools for

outreach and opinion forming. Blogging was established by politicians and

political candidates to express opinions on war and other issues and cemented

blogs' role as a news source. Even politicians not actively campaigning, such as

the Labour Party's MP Tom Watson, began to blog to bond with constituents.

In January 2005, Fortune magazine listed eight bloggers that business people

could not ignore: Peter Rojas, Xeni Jardin, Ben Trott, Mena Trott, Jonathan

Schwartz, Jason Goldman, Robert Scoble, and Jason Calacanis.Israel's was among the first national governments to set up an official blog. The

impact of blogging upon the mainstream media has also been acknowledged by

governments. Blogging can sometimes have unforeseen consequences in

politically sensitive areas. Blogs are much harder to control than broadcast or

even print media. As a result, totalitarian and authoritarian regimes often seek to

suppress blogs and/or to punish those who maintain them.

Blogs v. the mass media

Many bloggers, particularly those engaged in participatory journalism,

differentiate themselves from the mainstream media, while others are members

of that media working through a different channel. Some institutions see blogging

as a means of getting around the filter and pushing messages directly to the

public. Some critics worry that bloggers respect neither copyright nor the role of

the mass media in presenting society with credible news. Blogs have also had

an influence on minority languages, bringing together scattered speakers and

learners. Minority language publishing (which is far too expensive) can find its

audience through inexpensive blogging.

Conclusion

There is a risk that the influence of blogging upon society may be negative.

President Obama said that if the direction of the news is all blogosphere, all

opinions, with no serious fact-checking, no serious attempts to put stories in

context, that what you will end up getting is people shouting at each other across

the void but not a lot of mutual understanding. However, after the Murdochs

scandal, there is also the risk that freedom of speech and investigative journalismmay stop or be stopped altogether. You will then hear the alternative voice only

from bloggers as you already do in many countries in the world.Marzia

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Andrew Dunsmore of Picture Partnership, ShirleyPicture Partnership are willing to help local charities, schools and churches

when they can. Here is an example of how we helped Demelza House

recently with a Photo Shoot Experience Voucher. The voucher was raffled

and the winner decided to have their photoshoot with their son. The real

winners were mum with pictures with her son, her son having pictures with

mum, and Demelza House getting some more money to spend on thecare of those who need that extra care. This was a great win, win all

round. A photo-experience is about fun, laughter and capturing the moment as you, your child,

your family and your pets are today. These moments are for you to cherish for years to come.

We love capturing 'today' for 'tomorrow' for you. When you come to Picture Partnership, you don't

just get a shoot. You get fun. Fun for the kids, fun for the babies, even fun for the pets! You name it,

we'll shoot it. And at the end of it, you'll have natural, stunning images that can be treasured forever.

36

www.picturepartnership.co.uk.

http://www.picturepartnership.co.uk/eventshttp://www.picturepartnership.co.uk/events

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www.cariaddollshousefurnishings.com

Jill LatterJill LatterJill LatterCariAdDollsHouseFurnishingsDOLLS HOUSE FURNISHINGS

http://www.cariaddollshousefurnishings.com/http://www.cariaddollshousefurnishings.com/http://www.cariaddollshousefurnishings.com/http://www.cariaddollshousefurnishings.com/

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Now Online at www.shirleylife.comand very soonin print

SAVE OURLIBRARIESand make yourvoice heard!!!

7 January 2011

Ifyoustaysilent

CLOSED

September 2011

nit and Natter on Friday 9 and 23 from 2.30 to

.30pm.

rafty Coffee Morning on Tuesday 27. All proceeds will

o to McMillan Cancer Care. Tea, coffee and homemade

akes from 10.30am to 1pm. Sale of craft work from

.30am onwards.

ard Making Workshop on Tuesday 13 from 2.30 to.30pm.

ames Club on Tuesdays from 2.30 to 4.30pm.

oure invited to a FREE talk on Monday 12 from 4 to

pm, given by Chris Syrus, an ex-offender, who has turned

s life around and is now an author and motivational

peaker. His talk will deglamorise crime and prison in a

owerful, honest and thought- provoking way. The target

ge group is 10-21 but all are welcome. Spaces aremited so call in at the Shirley Library or phone us on

726 6900 ext.14300 to book your place.

ix Book Challenge for Adults: Read 6 books and get

free DVD hire voucher

ook Trail FREE Summer reading scheme for children

nd teenagers. Enjoy reading lots of great stories and get

rizes for taking part.

hymetime for babies and their parents and carers on

riday 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 from 10 to 10.30am.

Wiggle and Jiggle for toddlers and their parents and

arers on Friday 9, 16, 23 and 30 from 11 to 11.30am.

torytime for children aged 3-7 and their parents and

arers on Friday 2 from 11 to 11.30am, then on Thursday

, 15, 22 and 29 from 2.15 to 2.45pm.

ock and Rhyme for babies and toddlers and their

arents and carers on Saturday 10, 17 and 24 from 10

o 10.30am

tories and Craft session for children aged 4 to 9

nd their parents and carers on Saturday 24 from 2.45 to

.45pm.

Willtherebe

adecisionin

September?

ShirleysSaferNeigh

bourhood

Teamsdropins

urgeryon

Saturday10Septemberfrom

2.30to3.30pmandF

riday

16Septemberfrom

12noonto1pm.

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Wickham Studio offers professional Hairdressing and Nail services in a relaxing and

friendly atmosphere. We have a member of the team to suit any individual and

welcome all clients from one to one hundred.

As well as being passionate about hair and offering honest and professional advice

to help you make the best of your locks, we offer BioSculpture

gel manicures and mini, classic and luxury manicures.

Also on offer is Fake Bake spray tanning only 18.00 the best

value for miles around. We are the only local salon to have the

wonderful Flabelos exercise machine, the ultimate 10 minute workout.

In 2009 Wickham Studio were awarded 4 Stars in the prestigious Good Salon Guide.

Please call 020 8777 2714 to book an appointment.

We look forward to welcoming you to our salon.

Lynn MacAskill, GCF182 Wickham Road

Shirley, CroydonSurrey CR0 8BG

t: 020 8654 0073

f: 020 8656 3360

e: fish@fishframes.co.uk

www.fishframes.co.uk

Picture Framers & Art Gallery

Open Tuesdays to Saturdaysfrom 10 am to 5 pm

http://www.fishframes.co.uk/http://www.fishframes.co.uk/http://www.fishframes.co.uk/

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Cllr Fisher - Let's see if we can provide you with another bin. In response to

your second point we will go back to Veolia and raise a question about what's

happening in your area.

I am concerned about empty bins - they are being emptied and dumped

on the pavement.

Cllr Fisher - I followed a Veolia crew around. They are required to put the bins

back on the property unless there is an access issue. We want to take it up

personally with Veolia.

The above text in italics is a doctored and self congratulating account of the

questions that does not truthfully reflect the questions asked about the

fortnightly collections. I expressed vigorous dissent, asked many questions that

were not answered. I challenged in particular the figure of 25% given for our

food waste. After a vague reference to surveys carried out by other councils,

Councillor Fisher said that we had to beg to differ. When asked about the sizesof the food bins and caddies, he obviously did not know what to say and

answered that he would send me the measurements. I have not received

anything from him. I had to go to one of the so called roadshows at the Co-

op in Addiscombe because, when I stumbled upon a tent inthe main Croydon

shopping centre with staff eager to explain what the bins were for, alas I had

left my tape measure at home.

The caddy is huge (w23 x h25 x d23cms) for a small or even average kitchen.

I was told to put it under the sink! Does it make sense to get the caddy outevery time you have scraps? More to the point: do you have the space?

In comparison (w28 x h37 x d39cms), the food bin looks

somewhat insufficient for the alleged over 25% food

waste of a family. Far too big, however, if one lives alone.

Moreover, lets think health hazards. Imagine food rotting

at a temperature of, say, 21 degrees, right next to your

chopping board. Just imagine lifting that lid.

Have we been consulted on this? We have not. Thepeople who made decisions about refuse collection have

not got a clue about the pragmatic aspect of food

preparation, neither do they appreciate other practical

aspects of life cycles. They think in monetary terms but

are not saving any money in the long term because their decisions are flawed

and it will cost a packet to remedy mistakes.

David Lean CinemaIn light of the closure of the David Lean cinema, would the council

consider any proposal to open the David Lean cinema if it was of no cost

to the tax payer?

41

continued from page 21

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Cllr Fisher - It's not easy to achieve otherwise we would have kept it open. The

cinema didn't make a profit - it required a subsidy. If someone can come to us

a proposal that won't cost the council anything then we will look at it.

Well, why did the Council not consult the users and ask them to put proposals

forward but closed the cinema down? The cinema

was moved to Fairfield Halls. An expensive leaflet

was produced to tell Croydonians that films like

Pirates of the Caribbean, Kung Fu Panda 2 and Star

Trek would be shown. However, all will be welcome

at a Special Free Screening on September 16 at

7pm, preceded by a Feedback Reception at

6.30pm. How much will all this cost?

Also Councillor Fisher, aka the Leader of the

Council, does not seem to sing from the same

hymn sheet as Councillor Bashford, aka Booktoken

and Croydon Councils Cabinet member for culture

and sports.

And, dulcis in fundo (the cherry on the cake), under OtherYou are having to put in 25% of cuts. Where are those cuts being applied?

What's happening with libraries?

Cllr Fisher - We have to reduce expenditure by about 27%. We have a good

track record in finding efficiencies. That's not cuts, but delivering services in a

different way.

We either make reductions, or we raise council tax. Last year we ran the budget

simulator and residents told us that if we had to make cuts, they would prefer

to see us make cuts to cultural services such as the David Lean Cinema and

libraries rather than cut frontline services for vulnerable residents.

Libraries - an options paper has gone to cabinet setting out the next stages in

the library consultation and this means we are now looking at whether there

might be another organisation who would be interested in taking on the

management of the council's libraries as a means of saving money and keeping

all the branches open.

This is a direct result of the recent consultation where many people expressed

an interest in whether or not a new model for library management might be the

solution to the council's need to save money on this service.

Although we would consider offers and ideas from private companies we will

also be talking to other local authorities, trusts and social enterprises to see

what their thoughts are on what they could offer us.

I hope that our readers will find these last utterances as extraordinary

as I did. The Council is not listening. Should we shout louder?

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Why

Croydon? PicturesbyAndrewP

elling,

onthespot