Picture by Marzia Nicodemi-Ehikioya

24 October 2011

Contents
Shirley Life 5 Andrew Pellings Column 11 Charles Parks Column 12 A speech that never was by Cllr Wayne Lawlor 14 Considering Alternatives: A case of good Host by Helen Campbell-McDonald18 Historic church soon to re-open from Inside Croydon 20 How to grow prize winning hostas as told by J Keefe to Tom Dunsmore 22 Giovannas Column 28 Shirley Community Centre 34 About Andrew Dunsmore of Picture Partnership, Shirley 40 Shirley Library: November Activities 42 A room without a book is like a body without a soul by Marzia 43 Croydon - Confusion Central from That Woman 44 CCAT: Stiletto Walk 42 43 Pictures from Wickham Studio, Shirley Front Cover: Autumn at The Warren

Editorial Team
Tom 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).

Contacts
T: 07940 415532

E: shirleylife@rocketmail.com

W: www.shirleylife.com

NOG Property Maintenance

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First planning success for Shirley Life Planning permission was refused for the Erection of three bedroom detached house; formation of vehicular access onto Annelsey Drive and provision of associated parking at: Land rear of 42 - 44 Lime Tree Grove, Croydon, CR0 8AW. We are vey pleased to report that the reasons for refusal were:1 The development would have a cramped and overcrowded layout resulting in an overdevelopment of the site out of keeping with the character of the area and detrimental to the appearance of the street scene and would thereby conflict with Policies SP3, UD2, UD8, H2 and H5 of the Croydon Replacement Unitary Development Plan (The Croydon Plan) 2006 Saved Policies 2 The development would be detrimental to the amenities of the occupiers of adjoining property by reason of loss of privacy and visual intrusion and would thereby conflict with Policy UD8 of the Croydon Replacement Unitary Development Plan (The Croydon Plan) 2006 Saved Policies. Shirley Life will continue to monitor all developments that deface our area. We have not yet heard about the Green Triangle. Save the David Lean Cinema Campaign To keep up with the latest news, press coverage, etc. you can follow and like the Campaign on http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Save-the-DavidLean-Cinema-Campaign/235352359813053. The Save the David Lean Cinema Campaign are urging anyone who has not yet signed their petition to do so before it ends on 14 December 2011. Well over four hundred people have already signed it online via https://secure.croydon.gov.uk/petition/entity/DYZSpGDrAXlOAI4neRA7Hjw? searchreq=50 and over three hundred have signed the printed version, so a target of 1,000 should be achievable. The Campaign, in association with The Spreadeagle in Katharine Street, also plan to present a series of films directed by David Lean, in The Spreadeagle's upstairs 'cinema' on Tuesdays in January 2012. You are most welcome to attend.
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You are warmly invited to attend Friday Peer Group Sessions

every Friday
between 2 and 5pm at

The Shirley Community Centre

SHRUBLANDS AVENUE SHIRLEY, 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, and ComTea (relaxed computer basic training) sessions.
Free tea, coffee and snacks

Call us on 8776 2562 or 07590 202547 for further details.

Rolling out The Council is saying sorry for the incredible mess created around the new deliveries of buckets (food bins) and non collections of refuse. Please read page 8. Where is the much heralded flawless rolling out? I had written to the Council that I had no need for the bucket because we do not waste food, ever. That is the way I was brought up and see no reason to change my way of life. We recycle absolutely everything possible and never buy plastic bags, biodegradable or not. I am tired of being labelled negative because I ask questions. I ask questions politely but I got no answer at the Full Council Meeting on 17 October. Please read the above document and judge for yourselves. The food waste service is not compulsory and Croydon Council offered to collect my unwanted caddie and bin. I would never waste public money for such an exercise so I delivered it myself at the Full Council meeting and entrusted the items into the hands of the Council Solicitor who was more gracious than the very angry Councillor Phil Thomas (pictured on the right) who never answers any questions put to him. Consultation with residents and careful planning of the rolling out would have helped avoiding all the aggravation. Three thousand or more households are not a small number of people. It seems that individual letters of apologies will be sent.
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From Croydon Council ebullettin

From Croydon Council website

Hostas The illustrations on page 26 are a selection of miniatures that may not be so familiar to even experienced gardeners and would also be suitable for rockery areas. John Keefe told Tom that all disposable hostas are down in Suffolk now. If readers express an interest in acquisition, they would also have to know that the hostas would be available for collection only as postage would be prohibitive. Individually designed hosta beds are also available! Please write to shirleylife@rocketmail.com for the attention of Tom Dunsmore for further details.
It is the 4th Fair!

Shirley Supporting Charities hope you will join us at our 4th Annual Community Fair on Saturday 19 November 2011 at Shirley Parish Hall, Wickham Road between 11am and 4pm. Free entry. Shirley Supporting Charities has been helping small groups in our community for five years and as far away as Belarus. Our Community Fair helps over 20 local groups such as the Womens Institute, the Croydon Branch of the National Autistic Society, Demelza House and also the Chernobyl Childrens Project UK.

Shirley Supporting Charities

4th Annual Community Fair

Saturday 19th November 2011 11am to 4pm Shirley Parish Hall, Wickham Road
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Local Community & Charity Group Stalls Alternative Therapy Hall

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Supporting local Charities including:

For Bookings Call Michael Warne 0208 777 8508

Shirley Parish Hall

Forum and other matters Shirley Life has a Forum but residents do not seem keen to engage in debates and prefer to write emails to the Editor. I am happy to receive any information regarding our community but a bit sad that the Forum is not used. Regarding the complaint of Shirley Life not going to print as planned I will say that I do understand that many have no internet access at home but I decided not to charge for advertising and to remain a totally free magazine, in more ways than one! Please use the free computers at our Shirley Library and join our almost five thousand readers online. We seem to grow each month and are very proud of it. Come and talk to us at the SSC Fair on 19 November.
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Editor

Council Meeting and GLA Sketches

by Andrew Pelling The Friends of Millers Pond have a duck as their symbol. Perhaps then it was good that Croydons 70 Councillors benefitted from an extended description of the attractions of feeding Millers Ponds ducks with frozen peas at the last Council meeting. The Councillor in touch with best feeding habits may well be a budding replacement for David Attenborough but in reality it was a different kind of ducking that Cllr. Bashford was involved in. Cllr. Bashford was talking at length about how to feed our local feathered friends so as to duck out of having a debate about the proposed running of our local libraries remotely in the US or from Putney (Wandsworth Council). By the time wed learnt of the relatively beneficial effect of frozen peas on the fish in our local pond there was not enough time left to discuss our local libraries. The debate had been talked out. You cant really see why our ruling Conservatives would have any problem defending a proposal to privatise our local libraries. The shilly-shallying just gave an impression that there was something to hide. May be they just did not want to admit that Wandsworth Council might be better at running our libraries than they are or that so much money has been spent on the new Town Hall or wasted in 35 million of uncollected Council Tax that they just cant afford to run the service themselves these days. So many Councillors from the ruling group spoke at length about nothing in particular that the highlight of the evening was the Advertisers long standing local government journalist Ian Austin dropping his note book from 30 feet above the chamber in the press gallery, almost hitting the Mayor on the head. Once the debate had been talked out the ruling Conservatives then used their majority to ban further questions from the Opposition. Things only really livened up when the ruling group tried to bully the Mayor with incessant interruptions to stop another separate debate on policing. Going red in the face Cllr. Fisher, the Council Leader, blurted out to the Labour Opposition We run this Council; you dont. 11

With such childish outbursts and pranks its no wonder people say they just think politicians are a waste of time. Time keeping is certainly something that Cllr. Fisher believes that is not the role of Councillors in doing their work for their salaries up to 56,000 a year when in a written answer he stated there is no requirement for Councillors to log or keep a record of the number of hours spent on Council business. Speaking to the answer Fisher added that the fact that he had left home at 8 am that day and spent the whole day on Council business should be appreciated. It was unclear as to whether working the whole day for a whole days salary was an exceptional activity. Seems like nice work if you can get it. And being polite to members of the public was not on show when Cllr. Thomas accused any member of the public asking questions about the new recycling scheme as being merely out to undermine the work of the Council. If we were in Soviet Russia, Cllr. Thomas is the kind of local politburo member whod send you to the gulag pronto if you dared to question his good works for the Party. So was there much concrete news from the Council meeting? Cllr. Fisher said that money from the Mayor of London to help with the riots had not yet arrived. (The next day a member of the Reeves family reported to the national inquiry into the riots that a government minister had told him that Croydon Council had not applied for the funds and that was the hold up in securing monies.) Cllr. Jason Perry, who speaks on planning, conceded that the governments new planning rules risk there being a lot of green belt and backland development. Perry also reported that there were five bids to buy Cane Hill. Councillor Dudley Mead, in response to a question from Labour Councillor Paul Smith, reported that the newly appointed roads contractor for Croydon, who was to do all road repair and snow clearance, replacing 16 other contractors, would be looked at again by the Council after many senior resignations and financial woes at one of the two parent companies of the contractor Enterprise Mouchel. What had exercised the Conservatives in the police debate was a reference to the local MP being supportive of the police cuts which Conservative Councillors felt unfair as the MP is not a member of the council and therefore not able to defend himself in person.
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What did seem especially peculiar was the London Assembly Member, Metropolitan Police Authority Member, Croydon Council Cabinet Member, Councillor for Kenley and until very recently the chair of the Finance Committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority Cllr Steve OConnell GLAM stating that he was just about to launch a campaign and petition for extra police officers. This petition was ridiculed by Councillor Louisa Woodley, OConnells Labour opponent in next years London Elections, as it was Cllr. OConnell GLAM himself who had introduced the cuts to police numbers as the chair of the Metropolitan Police Authoritys Finance Committee. Credibility seems to be of little value these days to politicians desperately seeking votes. To give Cllr OConnell GLAM his due he only gently chastised his opponents for referring to his 129,000 of annual salaries. OConnell was dubbed the highest paid Councillor in the country by the Daily Mail. Since standing down from the chair of the Metropolitan Police Authoritys Finance Committee in the Summer his pay plus pension contribution from City Hall for 2011-12 has fallen to just 115,527, though thats still very good pay for local government work and much more than backbench MPs get paid. OConnell does hope though to add a Parliamentary salary and pension to this sum having become the Conservative Parliamentary spokesman for Sutton where he hopes to unseat the Liberal Democrat MPs there. As an MP his total salaries and pensions would then come to 150,000 from the public purse. Across in the London Assembly this month Cllr. OConnell GLAM was showing the same purposeful amnesia about his role in putting forward a budget to cut police numbers when pushing the Mayor for extra police on the tram to New Addington. Mayor Boris really condescends to OConnell when answering his questions; Johnson must treat the nanny better than he does OConnell. This months Assembly Mayoral Question Time was no exception. Johnson nonchalantly said he did not know whether crime really was going up on the branch lines to New Addington. Hed look at the figures but he thought crime was falling on the system as a whole. This somehow got transposed in the local press to be reported as the Mayor being likely to give extra police to the tram. Thats the problem you have when local newspapers have to rely on the politicians themselves to report back on what happens up at the London Assembly. Its unfortunate for OConnell that Shirley residents have their own Shirley Life correspondent at the London Assembly meetings.
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A Speech that never was by Cllr Wayne Lawlor

Mr Mayor This is about the future of our library service in Croydon. Our motion is simple: it is about Putting Croydon First. I know there are many Tory Councillors here who passionately disagree with Cllr Fishers decision to sell our libraries and lay off many talented and outstanding library staff. My colleagues have made the case this evening in favour of our motion. We are opposed to the privatisation of our treasured library service. I have listened to Conservative Councillors rather predictably blaming the Labour Government and the previous Labour Administration. People are getting sick of hearing the same, tired excuses. You have been in administration in Croydon for 5 long years and in government for over a year. Get a grip and take responsibility for your actions! The people of Croydon deserve better! We, on this side of the Chamber stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Croydon in our opposition to these politically motivated ideological plans by this Conservative Council based on dogma. The fact that this council is unable to manage important statutory services is a sad indictment. Councillor Fishers treatment of the Upper Norwood Joint Library is a testament to his contempt for local democracy. The UNJL is the model of efficiency that should be used at other libraries. Instead, this administration is holding it to ransom. The key to our library service lies in the accounting books of UNJL. I challenge you again to take up Tim Coates offer of an Independent public inquiry into our library service. The Conservative paper on libraries could be described, to use an expression I think they will be familiar with, as being the longest suicide note in Croydons political history. Dont forget, it was a Labour Council that built 4 libraries across Croydon, in Ashburton, Selsdon, Broad Green and New Addington. We stand proudly by our record, compared to the appalling mess being left by the Party opposite. Our libraries may now be run from Putney, the United States or even that well known provider of library services, John Laing. Is this really localism? I am pleased to announce that Cllr Mansell and I will, in a true localist approach, be consulting with users of every library in Croydon over the coming months. In conclusion, I ask fellow Councillors this evening: do you want to be remembered for the destruction or renewal of the library service? Support for the destruction or renewal of the library service? Support this motion; support our libraries and Put Croydon First.
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Extract from Part 4.A - Council Procedure rules 3.51 Any Councillor may submit in writing (including in electronic form) one Motion for Debate to the Council Solicitor, Director of Democratic and Legal Services.The wording of the motion and the name of the Councillor seconding it shall be contained on the notice submitted to the Council Solicitor, Director of Democratic and Legal Services. Such notices shall be received by the Council Solicitor, Director of Democratic and Legal Services no later than noon of the third clear working day prior to the day of the Council meeting. The subject of such a motion shall not be a current planning or licensing application. 3.54 A maximum of 2 Motions shall be debated at a Council Meeting. 3.58 If two Motions for Debate are presented to the Council for debate the time available for debate shall be divided equally between them subject to each motion and any amendment proposed to it having no more than 18 minutes for debate. If the amount of time available prior to 10.00 p.m. to debate two Motions for Debate is less than 36 minutes, the Chair shall confirm that the Motions have fallen. In the event that only one Motion for Debate is presented to the Council for debate, if the time available prior to 10.00 p.m. to debate the Motion is less than 18 minutes, the Chair shall confirm that the Motion has fallen 2 motions for debate were received on 17 October. The Majority Conservative Group voted down a Labour proposal to move on to debate the motions after filibusting by the Conservatives in an open attempt to avoid the debate on the two motions. The vote was lost 35 Tories to 33 Labour. It is still unclear what will happen with the outsourcing of one of our most precious assets. We are grateful to Councillor Lawlor for letting us have the speech that never was. You can read Cllr Maggie Mansells other speech that never was in Inside Croydon at http://insidecroydon.com
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What is Distilled Water? Distilled water is water which has been turned into vapour, so that all its impurities are left behind. Rising vapour cannot carry a particle of mineral water - it will not carry disease germs, dead or alive, nor any waste product of any kind. The secret is that the vapour rises between all the suspended particles and chemicals in the air. Then, by condensing, it is turned back to pure water. It is the only water which is pure - the only water free from all impurities. Why should I drink Distilled Water? Because you can know the water you drink is pure. You can make it fresh each day. The Fresh and Pure Distiller removes up to 99% of most tap water contaminants, including lead, nitrated, bacteria, sodium, chlorine, turbidity, cysts (Protozoan), arsenic, barium, mercury and many more. It's one of the purest forms of water you can give your family! Is Distilled Water Expensive? Distilled Water from the Fresh and Pure Distiller is convenient and costs much less than bottled water an investment with long-term savings and health benefits. How much does it cost? The Fresh and Pure Turbo Watewr Distiller costs 209.00, the Waterwise 9000 Distiller 279.00 and the Waterwise 4000 Distiller with Free Glass Bottle 199. For more details, visit www.energiseyourlife.com

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CONSIDERING ALTERNATIVES
Case of a good Host In my work as a homeopath I usually have to play the detective in order to get to the root of a presenting complaint. This involves taking into consideration all aspects of a persons life, and often hidden factors come to light that offer clues as to how a chronic condition has developed. Mr. S. aged 52 came to see me for a range of symptoms which as a whole were ruining his quality of life. In recent years he had often suffered from strep throat and earache. Most days he had a muzzy feeling in his head, with congestion in his sinuses, which tended to be worse after breakfast; sometimes he had dizzy spells and slight nausea. He had stiffness and reduced motion at his elbows and general body stiffness. He had pain in his left heel when getting up in the morning, which eased during the day. Acid indigestion had been a problem for many years; he was taking prescribed medication (Omeprazole) to inhibit the release of gastric acid into the stomach. He had a hunger that was not satisfied by eating; his abdomen often felt bloated, and was aggravated by fatty food. His bowel habits were very irregular. He loved sweet food but had to be careful as chocolate could trigger a migraine for him. His sleep was poor and his overall energy low. Despite this he had a demanding job and pushed himself to achieve performance targets in his work place. From his symptoms it was clear that he would benefit from a kidney cleanse and treatment to support his liver. While investigating possible environmental sensitivities, a test for parasites revealed a problem with intestinal flukes. Unbeknown to Mr. S, he had been home to generations of flatworms or flukes. Being as flat as a leaf, this parasite can sandwich itself in between body tissues, and live for many years in the intestine, causing either no pain or perhaps just symptoms of irritable bowel or colitis. However the situation is more serious when a body becomes polluted with solvents such as hexane, pentane, xylene, carbon tetrachloride, isopropyl alcohol/propanol, benzene etc. (if these names are unfamiliar to you, start examining ingredient lists on toiletries, cosmetics etc.) A solvent is a substance that can dissolve grease. Given that our bodies consist partly of grease i.e. the fats and oils that provide the protective covering for every living cell, including all our nerves, the brain and spinal cord, it is rather crucial that we avoid introducing substances that can dissolve them! Most people are aware that breathing petrol fumes is not conducive to good health, but dont think there is any harm in using petroleum based skin cream; but whether it is called petrolatum, liquid paraffin or baby oil, it is still a solvent, and once absorbed through the skin it will travel to the thymus gland where white blood cells eat
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it. The trouble is that once the white cells have done so, they are unable to deal with other toxins; mercury from tooth fillings, dyes from food and many other toxic chemicals begin to pile up. When yet more solvent arrives, the immune system eventually cannot cope. In Mr. Ss case it was as if the front and back doors of his house had been opened, letting in all and sundry. Solvents in his system had possibly allowed fluke eggs to hatch prematurely and enter the blood stream; due to inadequate immune defences they could then proliferate in different organs of the body. Fortunately there are both ancient herbal medicines and modern homeopathic remedies that in combination will destroy parasites and restore immune function. I was able to give this hospitable gentleman a course of treatment that would bring his whole system back into balance. The hardest part for Mr. S. was learning to avoid foods, drinks and body-care products containing harmful solvents; but as his health improved he gained the motivation to keep to his new habits. As acid indigestion was no longer a problem, he was able to stop using Omeprazole. His stomach acid was then released in normal amounts i.e. sufficient to kill bacteria and parasites in the stomach, so ending a cycle of unhealthy re-infestation. With the ongoing prescription of homeopathic remedies, Mr.Ss liver health improved dramatically and with it came a mental alertness that gave him a renewed zest for life. Of course, he was no longer such a good host! If you have a health problem that has not been resolved by conventional medicine, trying an alternative therapy could help to put your house in order.

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 Clinic

Specialising 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

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Shirley Life is looking forward to St Andrews re-opening. We visited the church the day it closed for restoration and could not take a picture of the baptismal roll. We thank Inside Croydon for keeping a close scrutiny on everything that happens in Croydon. A free email subscription is all that is needed to keep in touch: http://insidecroydon.com
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HOW TO GROW PRIZE WINNING HOSTAS

as told by John Keefe to Tom Dunsmore Revelations about friends and acquaintances never cease to amaze me in the nicest possible sense, of course. Unfortunately, I am often only made aware of these at funerals, when the eulogy touches on the deceaseds many and varied interests, skills and expertise of which I had not the slightest prior knowledge and I then regret not having known of these earlier and had the opportunity to discuss, debate, share and learn together. Happily on this occasion, a mutual friend made reference to the absorbing interest that John Keefe has in hostas. An absorbing interest indeed; I discovered that John had been exhibiting hostas at Chelsea Flower Show and Hampton Court since 1986, had won Gold Medals for both displays and plant quality and had had them photographed and recorded for international publications. A truly remarkable achievement. But sadly, with the inexorable passage of time Johns small nursery is no more, and his larger exhibition specimens are being disposed of a priceless lifetimes experience with every plant for fortunate purchasers. Whilst trying to absorb Johns outstanding achievements with hostas I discovered that he has other fascinating interests too, which I am gradually finding out about, but more of that, perhaps, another time. I asked John if he would pass on some of his expertise on hostas to Shirley Life readers; he was delighted to do so and this is what he told me: WHY GROW HOSTAS? Because Hostas can enhance many garden beds and borders, provide focal points and lift an otherwise weak garden feature. They also furnish depth in shady areas and demonstrate strength throughout the growing season until the first frost arrives. They range in size from about 3m by 2m high, which in good conditions will take 5-7 years to reach maturity, to miniatures where a mature plant with 6-10 crowns, would comfortably lie in the palm of your hand. Hostas are related to the lilies and are often placed as part of the Hostacaea family related to the Funkias. They are highly decorative plants, having really striking foliage and, if happy, produce many spikes
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Miniature Hosta Collection June 2011 by John Keefe

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of tall white, mauve or violet flowers, some of which are scented. They are often placed close to (but not in!) a water feature where their deeper roots can reach a reliable source of moisture in dry periods an advantage when one is away on holiday. This, however, only really works for established plants and a good level of care will be required in the first two growing years, or even longer, if we continue to have exceptionally dry summers, or the moisture is removed from the soil by adjacent established shrubs and trees. Hostas are grown for the great variety of leaf forms which include spreading or upright shapes, heart-shaped, lancelot, smooth, rumpled or contrasting variegated or margined leaves. In many varieties the leafform will change with maturity; and a contrasting grouping of plants from youth to maturity can be created. Careful preparation of the ground is essential for best results and an area that is otherwise neglected can be prepared by digging in household vegetable waste over 2/3 years prior to planting. Once so prepared, especially on limey soils and hard-water areas, ericaceous compost is dug in with the addition of leaf mould (last Autumn's leaf sweepings are good especially if from oak, beech, apple, etc., but not maples, and kept bagged up and on the moist side for the frost to break down the leaf structure.) Additions of sharp grit and some Growmore type fertilizer should be dug in. In late spring a mixture consisting of 40% ericaceous compost, 30% well-rotted leaf mould, 20% of some good garden soil or budget bought-in compost, providing this is neutral or of low lime content, together with about 10% bag volume of sharp grit should be added. I feed 2/3 times a week from May-August with liquid fertilizer such as Tomorite, providing it contains not only nitrogen and phosphorus but also some iron (Fe); if not then I add iron sulphate in liquid form about once a month during the same period. Some areas suffer badly from vine weevil infection and this is apparent if notches or sharp bitten areas appear on the leaf edges. In such cases anti-vine weevil precautions are required, either by applying a liquid dressing, as recommended, or ideally by adding to the planting compost at the first signs and subsequently as the individual product labelling recommends, and always when re-potting takes place.
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When possible, and in dry and hot weather, I water the plants twice a day but not in sunshine especially when they are kept in pots. Some varieties are happy to be grown in pots, providing that they are moved on up to larger volume pots every 2/3 years, and the soil renewed. This is best carried out in the spring when the plant is in leaf-spike (i.e. the leaf form is not unfurled but the plant has emerged above ground-level). Especially applicable to those plants kept in pots is the need to divide the plant again when in spike, by cutting a portion, say 1/3 max., from the lifted plant rather like slicing off a portion of a cake, but making sure that the whole plant is not divided up as this very often results in the loss of the mature leaf form, thus setting the plant back to a juvenile format. Miniatures are best divided in August. Once plants have died back, they should remain happy throughout the winter, providing the winter drainage in the garden is adequate to avoid any possibility of waterlogging, although a top-dressing with sharp grit is useful. Ideally, a settled and largely dry winter with several nights of frost are the best dormant conditions for hostas, ensuring that the plant is completely at rest, a condition that they do not achieve in mild wet winters and which makes the following years growth less vigorous. With varieties kept in pots, I store mine facing north against a low wall and only protect them when weather conditions indicate a sharp frost. The bank vole, and sometimes mice, can nest in the pots base and in bad winters, they use the hosta roots as a larder. You may not be aware of such pests in your garden but these will certainly be present especially if any neighbours have dogs. In one April-September period I set traps and destroyed 29 mice, 3 rats and 5 bank voles, not having realised I had a problem in the first place. A fairly new branch of hosta growing is to keep miniature varieties (1"4" or so) in shallow bowls or old stoneware sinks with good drainage, i.e. plenty of grit, where 3 to 5 different varieties may be grown in each container. These I keep in the cold greenhouse throughout the winter, watering sparingly unless freezing conditions exist. One major problem that many gardeners suffer from is slugs and snails. This is not a problem for American gardeners as they have eradicated such pests long ago! In such cases you have to mean business and pellet or otherwise treat the surfaces early, starting in February; regularly
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MOB :

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distributing a few pellets daily at the end of the watering process is ideal. Leaving handfuls of pellets about once the pests have taken hold is useless, as by then the pests eggs are already laid in the soil and the next generation is on its way! At the beginning of the winter period and in any dry spells it is an advantage to place broken paving fragments or tiles against a north or east-facing wall where mature snails will settle for the winter. Their removal will then be a Christmas present for your hostas during the midwinter holiday! It is difficult to recommend varieties of hostas for the beginner to grow, but my advice is to start with 6 to 12 of the cheaper and more vigorous growing varieties making sure that they are acquired from a specialist nursery and not a garden centre. Such specialists are listed in the yearly publication, the RHS Plantfinder which is available in any reference library. My recommendations are as follows: Abby (P) August Morning Bella (P) Big Boy Blue Wedgewood* Great Expectations (P) Cherry Berry Christmas Tree* Crusader* Frances Williams (P)* Formal Attire Francee (P) Fragrant Bouquet* Gold Standard (P)* (P) Suitable for potting Goldbrook Grebe Wide Brim (P)* June* Jade Cascade (P) Krossa Regal (P)* Leola Fraim (P) Sagae* Fire and Ice* Pauls Glory (P)* Sea Dream Slick Willie Stiletto Sum and Substance (P) * Superb and special

A happy hosta is a happy home! Tom Dunsmore is indebted to John Keefe for providing this distillation of his experience and freely sharing it with Shirley Life readers.
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GIOVANNAS COLUMN
Dubai
A vibrant city always on the move I have just come back from Dubai, because I have added Al Ola Tours LLC to my portfolio. I was invited on a site inspection for few days so that they could show me the services that they can provide to their clients either for leisure or business trips. It has been a unique chance for me to see with my own eyes what the city has to offer in terms of accommodation, restaurants, meeting rooms and conference centres. Dubais tourist sector is growing by almost 14 per cent annually and luxury hotel companies are continuing to develop in the region. This year Dubai has seen record numbers of travellers passing through its airport, in fact Dubai International has had the busiest six months on is 50 year history during the first half of 2011 handling 24.6 million passengers, an increase of 8.9 per cent on 2010: this is also due to the fact that 19 new routes have been added and frequencies have been increased. A new Green Line of the Metro opened in September, this will link Old Dubai up to port Rashid, right up to Abu Dhabi border. There are incredible and supersized shopping malls each one more grandiose that the other, one of which duplicates the Taj Mahal and another Beijings Forbidden city. The worlds tallest skyscraper is in Dubai: Burj Kalifa is 2,717 feet tall, twice the height of the Empire State Building. Burj Kalifa is home to Giorgio Amanis first Hotel, occupying the underground level through floor 8 and floors 38 and 39. Dubai is an astonishing city boasting modern architecture and amazing buildings like nowhere else in the entire world. Not only it has the tallest building in the world but also the worlds largest theme park, called Dubailand. The Palm, a man-made island visible from the moon, hosts the largest mall in the world. Everything is so unique and gigantic. A major island building project called The World is being built off the coast of Dubai. It's a collection of 300 small private islands of different sizes for
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Picture by Picture Partnership, Shirley

individual development. The islands together form a large map of the world so one could buy the island called Spain, Mongolia, or Somalia and have the island in the appropriate location with respect to the other islands. The Dubai Ruler Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum said in an interview: Money is like water if you lock it up , it becomes stagnant and smelly , if you let it flow it stays fresh! This seems to be the philosophy of this vibrant city. There is always something going on and do not be surprised if the second time you go there you find a complete different city which does not look like the one you remembered. Despite the fact that I have been 20 years in the travel industry and have been lucky enough to travel the world and visit many 5 star hotels, nothing can be compared to the variety and luxury that Dubai offers to its visitors. Here are some of the most amazing hotels I have had the chance to visit accompanied by Al Ola Tours LLC: Deira 4* hotels Dubai is a destination that could meet the demands of many clients. On the first day we visited some of the 4 star hotels located in Deira, which was a pleasure for me as I realised how much in terms of hospitality the city has to offer. In this economic climate, the four star hotels will be the most requested by our clients either for business or leisure trips, that is why with such a wide offer it is crucial. Our clientele will be able to pick up the right one for them. Here are my observations about the hotels visited: Al Jawhara I had the pleasure to stay in this hotel during my visit to Dubai: it is a very traditional hotel full of charm and very characteristic, so representative of its own city. The rooms are spacious and bright, the restaurant offers a wide range of local and international dishes. The staff is very professional and efficient. Ramada This is a hotel that looks tired and in need of a total refurbishment. From the moment you step into the lobby area you realise that this hotel is not on line with its competitors in the same area. The smell throughout is terrible and the roof area is very dusty and looks abandoned. I feel that there would be many complaint if rooms were booked in this hotel. Coral Deira This is a very good 4 star hotel that provides good facilities to its clients. The
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hotel has comfortable rooms as well as spacious and welcoming meeting and banquet rooms. Coral Deira is set in a superb location in the commercial hub of Dubai. I am sure clients would appreciate the roof-top with its pool area for kids and adults and, of course, a Jacuzzi. Copthorne Hotel This is my favourite among the four star hotels: it is cosy and very well look after. The hotel offers amazing views over the city; the style is contemporary with very bright colours. It is a busy hotel with an amazing roof-top and it is the kind of hotel anyone would enjoy either if on a leisure or business trip. Dusit Princess I love the simplicity and the style of this unique four star hotel. As soon as you walk trough the lobby you realize that the hotel belongs to a Thai chain; its style is minimal and inviting. This hotel has everything you would expect from a four star hotel; set in an excellent location, it offers a variety of restaurants, a fully equipped gym, a fantastic roof-top with pool and, of course, meeting facilities. It was a pleasure to taste the delicious food served at The Chill Restaurant, which was quite an experience. This hotel would appeal to the UK and Italian market. Dubai 5 * star hotels Hyatt Regency Dubai: As the Director of Sales explained over our visit to the hotel, this was one of the first built in the area. The lobby has been recently refurbished, has its own Galleria with designer shops and offers a wide choice of restaurants. I loved the international atmosphere: this is a great example of five star hotel and I am sure the service is equally top level. The hotel has all the amenities and more than a five star hotel would require. Al Dawaar Restaurant, Dubais unique revolving restaurant, offers incredible views of the Arabian Gulf and the rest of the city. The Monarch This hotel represents the finest experience of Arabian hospitality. The Monarch represents our vision of Dubai; its style is unique and luxurious. This hotel is a reflexion of our image of Dubai. Set in a strategic location, close to Dubais International Financial Centre and Dubais World Trade Centre, this hotel offers panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf and Dubai. The conference facilities are as excellent as the rest of the hotel and very well thought of. It is also home to some of the finest restaurants offering a very
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refined cuisine. This hotel is a pleasure to visit and it will be my pleasure to propose it to our clients. Mandara Spa is one of the best Health Centre I have visited in my life. Shangri-la Hotel One of my favourite, this impressive five star hotel is located in the heart of the financial district of the city. The elegant lobby area is unique in its style; very light and grand, it gives you a sense of space. The rooms are furbished in an Arabian contemporary style; the hotel also benefits of a Horizon Club that give each guest the possibility to have a private and fast check in and a personal concierge. As per all the other 5 star hotels, there is a pool area, a very well equipped gym as well as a very elegant Spa. The hotel has nine restaurants offering a very refined cuisine. We were hosted for lunch at Dunes Caf and I sampled the service and the delicious food (a huge variety of fresh fish and sea food) and I must say it was second to none. Al Barsha 4* hotels Emirates Grand Hotel This is the only hotel belonging to Emirates Company. It is set in a very convenient location close to the main attractions of the city. I was quite impressed with the common areas of the hotel: the lobby, the restaurants, the rooftop but much less with its rooms. All the rooms of this hotel come with a fully furbished kitchen: I do not think this would be considered as a plus by European clients. Holiday Inn Dubai Al Barsha: This hotel is with no doubts a real winner when compared to its next-door competitor Emirates Grand Hotel. Set in the vibrant location of Al Barsha, it is at walking distance from the opulent Mall of the Emirates. This Holiday Inn is unique and looks like a 5 star hotel and nothing like a four star. The lobby is impressive, something to remember, very spacious and bright with modern glass lifts offering an amazing view over the lobby area. The hotel has a huge variety of international restaurants quite famous among locals and, most of the time, fully booked. We had the real pleasure to taste the lovely food served in one of the many restaurants. The style of the rooms is contemporary and minimal; each one offers amazing panoramic views over the city. The poolside area offer great views of golden Jumeirah Beach and the iconic sail of the Buri Al Arab Hotel.

Jumeriah 5* hotels continued on page 39

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Shirley Community Centre (SCC)

Activities at the Centre

PM Monday Youth Activities to start next month Tuesday Zumba with Angelina 1.30 - 2.30pm Zumba with Emma 6 - 7pm Tenshin Tsunami Ryu 7 - 9pm Wednesday Available Racquet Club 4 - 5pm Shirley Table Tennis Club 7.45 - 9.45pm Thursday Available Fit n Funky 2 - 3pm Racquet Club 4 - 5pm Zumba with Angelina 6 - 7pm Legs, Bums & Tums 7 - 8pm Road Cycling Club 8 -10pm Friday Available GKR Karate 6 - 7.30pm Youth Activities to start next month Saturday Shirley Saturday School Available Sunday Shrublands Christian Fellowship AM Available Available

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. Please contact them on 8776 2562 or 07590 202547 for further details. Shirley Saturday School for GCSE and AS/AL tuition has now opened. Places are still available: please contact Dr Lawrence on 07417 436130 or email shirleysaturdayschool@hotmail.co.uk for further details.
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What the Centre offers The main hall is complemented by a well equipped kitchen, there are two other rooms, and a separate room suited to smaller committee meetings. 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 available most mornings and the early part of each afternoon. It is also very popular for private parties at weekends. 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 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.

Shirley Saturday School - Give your child a head start

AS/A2 Chemistry, Biology - Science KS3 - Science GCSE (Core, Additional and Triple), Maths, GCSE, KS3 English GCSE, KS3 We specialise in providing personalised tuition for our students. We provide for students with varying abilities. We advise and help A level students in their application to Universities. An early start with us is a big step to your childs success. Do not wait until your child starts struggling in school before deciding to get extra help! For further information, please contact Dr Lawrence on 07417 436130 or email shirleysaturdayschool@hotmail.co.uk 10am to 1.30pm at The Shirley Community Centre, Shrublands Avenue, CR0 8JA

There are now 3 Zumba classes at the Shirley Community Centre

Angelina on Tuesday 1.30 to 2.30pm and Thursday 6.00 to 7.00pm Emma on Tuesdays from 6.00 to 7.00pm Come and have fun with us!
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w w w. s h i r l e y e l e c t r i c a l . c o m

Nadia Nazir
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.

www.

Contact for free enquires on nadia@nadianazir.com

www.nadianazir.com
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Join us for a Halloween themed Event

at the Shirley Community Centre on 29th October 2011 at 7.30pm.
Free entrance and light refreshments. Bring your own drink.

Dress up if you like!

The 10 winners of the Prize Draw Survey Which of the following would YOU like to see at the Centre? will receive their prizes. There will also be a presentation of the results of the survey and displays from the users of the Centre.

QUIZ NIGHT
on Saturday 12 November at the Shirley Community Centre

Check www.shirleycca.com for further details All proceeds to

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Picture by Picture Partnership, Shirley

Jumeriah 5* hotels Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa Visiting this resort was quite a unique experience: after having seen so much concrete here, it is amazing to see green space with its 14 restaurants, disco clubs.The green areas are very well proportioned with the rest of the resort. The pool area and the beach are unique. The style of the rooms is very net and simple. I see this resort as the perfect spot for the European market. Amway Rotana This elegant hotel is an example of unique style and offers anything a top client would look for. There are numerous restaurants offering a wide variety of international cuisine from sushi to pizzas. The only doubt I have is that there arent enough green areas compared to the height of the building: the whole area gives me a claustrophobic feeling. Habtoor Grand Resort & Spa I did not really appreciate the style of this hotel, which I find too opulent and rich. The rooms are very dark and I did not like the style, I do think that at this kind of budget Jumeirah offers a huge number of hotels far superior to the Habtoor Grand. and now a bit about Al Ola Tours LLC They are one of the pioneers in tour operating businesses based in Dubai, UAE. They started their business 15 years ago and, since then, they have grown from a small travel agency into one of the most well-known tour operators in the UAE. Meeting their customers satisfaction is a source of great pride to them. They design their products and services so that their customers may fully enjoy a great experience of everything the UAE offer. They use their own buses and their hand-picked suppliers (Hotels and cruises). They organise conferences, seminars and events with creative, new ideas whilst making sure that you may enjoy a flawless and detailed organisation of your projects. Al Ola Tours LLC also provides services in Thailand with an office in Bangkok and Egypt with an office in Cairo. If you are interested in Dubai as a destination for your future holiday or business trip, please do contact me, Giovanna, on grmice@grmice.com or call me on 020 8777 0416 or 07515 483699
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About Andrew Dunsmore of Picture Partnership, Shirley

Of the many joys of Christmas one is to enjoy the company of family and friends and another is to remember, and be remembered by, those whose company we are unable to share at this time. Memories of previous Christmases and growing families come to mind and are shared and come alive again with photos. In our studio we can make now your memories for the future and do it in time for you to send copies to your family and friends. These can be mounted in an album for your own records or to www.picturepartnership.co.uk. delight family and friends for years to come.

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27 January 2011

November 2011 Marcia Coke author of A Healthier You will give a talk on Monday 31 Online to 3.15pm. She will talk Now October from 2 at www.shirleylife.com about how eating certain foods can circumvent certain and very diseases and disorders. soon Monthly Adult Reading Group on Monday 14 in print November from 7pm. The group will discuss A Week in December by Sebastian Faulks Rhymetime at 10am. Singing for babies and their parents and carers on the following Fridays: 4, 11, 18 and 25 November Wiggle and Jiggle at 11am. Singing for toddlers and their parents and carers on the following Fridays: 4, 11, 18 and 25 November Storytime from 2.15 to 2.45pm. Stories and crafts for 3-7 year olds on the following Thursdays: 3, 10, 17 and 24 November Rock and Rhyme at 10am. Singing for babies & toddlers and their parents and carers on the following Saturdays: 5, 12, 19, and 26 November Stories and Craft Sessions from 2.45 to 3.45pm. For 4-9 year olds and their parents and carers on Saturday 5 November Chatterbooks, a fun and exciting reading group for 8-11 year olds, restarted as a monthly group. Come in on Thursday 3 November and sign up! Games Club from 2.30 to 4.30pm. Do you like playing cards, dominoes, chess and other board games? Come and join us. Every Tuesday on 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 Y SURGER November POLICE od ourho Craft Workshops & Card Making from 2.30 to afer Neighb y on e Shirley S Th p-in Surger 4.30pm. There will be a charge of 3 to cover the cost Teams Dro November of materials. Tuesday 8 November aturday 22 S from 10.00 Stitch, Knit and Natter from 2.30 to 4.30pm. Get and make to 11.00am. your together with other knitters for a cup of tea and a chat. Beginners welcome. Friday 4 November voice heard !!!

rth hat on ea W to ll happen wi ? Libraries our

E LOS C
If you stay s il

ent

SAVE OUR LIBRARIES

A room without books is like a body without a soul

could give up many things but I would never give up books. I have lots of books, written in many languages. They have been part of my life and have followed me everywhere. I have miniature books too but the one I received as a gift from Jill was unique and linked to Cecily Mary Barker, a Croydonian: A Flower Fairy Treasury, fully readable with pictures. I have two miniature bookcases of Italian and other classics, from Gaius Valerius Catullus Carmina to Carlo Collodis Pinocchio but, as you can see from the pictures, the books are much larger.

Marcus T. Cicero

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You can read more on Croydon - Confusion Central by clicking on the following link
http://thatwomansblog.blogspot.com/

Shirley Library and all Libraries in Croydon are in it together.

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CariAd

Dolls House Furnishings

Jill Latter
DOLLS HOUSE FURNISHINGS

www.cariaddollshousefurnishings.com

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Picture Framers & Art Gallery

t: 020 8654 0073 f: 020 8656 3360 e: fish@fishframes.co.uk www.fishframes.co.uk

Open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm

Lynn MacAskill, GCF 182 Wickham Road Shirley, Croydon Surrey CR0 8BG

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.

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Trendy Toes Now Here Only 17.50

As unique as you are. Call 8777 2714 to book your appointment.
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