Page 3 - HGS Suburb News 145 - March 2021

New opportunities in lockdown

Cooking up a storm Happiness is... an allotment Socially

distanced
hen Gill Roberts decided ’ve always loved being outside beds and thinner paths, including allotment was a sad and
Wto retire in 2019 from a 40 I in nature, but I only really got some artistic new path-laying by neglected place. Really getting croquet
year career of teaching cookery, BRIAN ROBERTS into gardening two years ago me. And I’ve put my crafting skills to grips with it, planting things,
it was her wish to be with her after a visit to Japan, where I fell to practical use with two macrame losing them to slugs, planting
soon-to-arrive first grandchild. in love with the gardens of Kyoto bean frames, the fancier of the two them again, eventually and
She also imagined there would and the national obsession with featuring some disco-sparkling hopefully watching actual
be more time to devote to the flower viewing seasons. So, when hula hoops. useful veg emerge, has been
children’s cookery lessons and I got back, I started small with In the process I’ve made good very rewarding and a good
parties she ran from home, and the front garden. Fast forward friends with the local robins, excuse to nip away from my
to catering for large functions to now and the front garden met several cats and a fox, and ironing board desk at regular
such as significant birthdays looks passable – and actually, it even had a show-down with a intervals to get some sunshine,
and canape parties. But whilst is a delight to be watching the free-ranging dog (Boris, fittingly sneak in some watering and
Covid derailed these culinary alliums and peonies bloom from a small blond poodle). I’ve enjoy the fresh air. It’s also been
plans it did not diminish her the sitting room, which has now learned all sorts of new knotting a lovely way to connect with
love of cookery. What was needed become my office (complete with skills, picked up the odd bit of neighbours – swapping seeds
was a re-think. ironing board standing desk) carpentry, got sunburnt in April, and seedlings and jam and cake
Her first initiative was to for the foreseeable future. So, and eaten my first batch of with appropriate social distancing ntil the summer of 2020 I,
start offering meals to locals thoroughly infected with the home-grown pak choi. measures in place. Ulike many, had an image of
who were shielding and could gardening bug and with the I’ve loved watching the Thanks to the allotment, I croquet as a gentle and somewhat
no longer enjoy regular visits to arrival of lockdown, taking on season progress over the months couldn’t be happier. Lockdown sedate pastime. When joining
their favourite restaurants or the new challenge of my stepdad’s of lockdown alongside progress has been a chance to stay home Fellowship’s Croquet Club I
were just fed up with cooking the highest tiered restrictions? allotment became the number on the plot. It’s amazing thinking and focus on things that couldn’t expected afternoons of fresh air
and wanted a break. So, a menu Well, if Joe Wicks can teach work- one priority in attempting to back to when lockdown started be more rewarding. I’m sure the and very good (socially distanced)
of individual dishes was created outs on YouTube maybe cookery make it through the pandemic – the leaves were just starting to slugs are delighted! company. This was true, of
for a simple supper or when put could work out too? So, after sane and happy. pop out on the trees and the MAVIS MCKENZIE course, but I had not anticipated
together could form a special some fiendish IT challenges and In previous years my allotment the confusing croquet jargon,
meal for a birthday or anniversary. immense anxiety, Gill started her jobs have mostly been the tidy the match tactics required or
The demand took a while to cookery classes on Zoom. And so things, like growing fancy the sheer competitiveness!
build up but soon Gill was far, it seems to be a great success. Italian tomato seeds. But this All standards of player can
carrying her wicker basket full The children are in their own year lockdown has been exactly join in and enjoy the game –
of tasty morsels around the kitchens and are supervised the impetus my mum and I mixing and matching the
Suburb streets like a latter-day during the call by their parents needed to really get our hands inexperienced with the experts
Red Riding Hood. Word got out or nannies. The menu is sent in dirty. We’ve seized control of gives every couple/team the
and soon a car was needed for advance with the ingredients the plot and spent all our chance of winning. As a beginner,
those further afield and a meals- and utensils required, together weekends toiling away clearing however, I soon decided even
on-wheels-type service was born. with the meeting invite. There some of the vast network of more fun was to be had if I
What a joy to get out of the was a thought that the children bindweed that underpinned played a little better and so
house! And delivering the dishes would be Zoomed out after their the entire plot. We’ve used our started to practice in the back
gave Gill the chance of getting schoolwork, but it seems that precious hour of daily outdoor garden; I even resorted to watching
to know the families, make new doing something practical is a time to prowl the skips of the croquet matches on You Tube!
friends and share news during welcome change from academic Suburb for useful bits and bobs, What started as a mild interest
the pandemic. studies. And, just maybe, a few and as a result now have four had become an engrossing sport.
But how could Gill possibly new budding MasterChefs will pallet composts and two raised To join Fellowship’s croquet
continue with her children’s be inspired during this very beds. We’ve redrawn the map of club, you can contact Chris Page
cookery lessons and parties which strange time of ours! the allotment to make it a bit on 8455 2785.
were not allowed as we entered BRIAN ROBERTS more navigable – with narrower JACKIE MURPHY

Temple Fortune Health Centre’s vaccination hub

expect many of our readers be safely vaccinated at speed, of need), as well as security staff vaccine and deal with copious
I will either already have attended the TFHC team decided that a and volunteer marshals to help paperwork. They included several PHOTOS: LUISA PETTIGREW
Temple Fortune Health Centre special purpose vaccination people find their way. retired clinicians and practice
(TFHC) for their Covid vaccination centre in the staff car park The vaccination centre opened managers who have volunteered
or will know someone who has. located under the building was in the first week of January and their time to help the vaccination
TFHC was one of the first GP-led called for. Marquees were hired is serving many Suburb residents campaign. This has been a
healthcare centres to receive the to provide suitable temporary as well as other locals, since the Herculean effort by all TFHC
brand-new Pfizer BioNTech and accommodation comprising a Health Centre is acting as a hub staff and some of you may have
then the AstraZeneca vaccine reception area plus several for seven GP practices in the seen the feature on BBC1’s
for administration. vaccination cubicles and a area. Local healthcare and care Panorama programme about it.
They started giving injections marquee to deal with people in home workers have also been Local volunteers have provided
in the surgery, however, due to the wheelchairs or with mobility able to be vaccinated here. invaluable support, helping out
need to carry on providing the issues. All this is supported by Local doctors, dentists, nurses, in various ways including with
normal range of medical services post-vaccine observation (needed pharmacists, paramedics and the logistics and even bringing we just need a continual supply to wait to be contacted - just
and the need to increase the for the Pfizer vaccine) with other GP practice staff have been in hot homemade soup and of vaccines to meet demand!” make sure the surgery has your
GAD_Enfranchisement_SuburbNews_137mm x 120mm_Layout 1 08/02/2021 09:46 Page 1
number of patients that could volunteer paramedics (in case working hard to administer the meals for the staff who have The vaccine hub will contact up to date contact details, ideally
been working outdoors in the
bitter months of winter. patients when they are eligible, with a mobile contact number.
For more information about
as soon as vaccines are available.
Dr Luisa Pettigrew, Clinical To prevent the practice phonelines the COVID vaccination please
Director for Primary Care
Introducing Graham Jaffe TFHC who was instrumental in becoming overwhelmed, the go to: shorturl.at/xEJMY.
Network 6 in Barnet and a GP at
health centre kindly asks patients
EMMA HOWARD
Leasehold planning this military style
operation said: “It’s been a
major undertaking to set up the
Enfranchisement vaccination hub in such a short G Cohen
space of time, but with an
incredible team and wonderful
Expert volunteers we’ve done it. Now ANTIQUE SILVER

We wish to purchase items of silver in any
Buying your freehold or extending your
lease contact Graham for experienced condition. As a long standing resident of the
specialist advice. Suburb, Gideon Cohen is happy to view
your silverware at home and will make an
Call on 0208 209 2653 offer to purchase, free of any obligation.
Email gjaffe@gadlegal.co.uk
17 The London Silver Vaults
53-64 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1QT
www.gadlegal.co.uk 020 7404 1425
746 Finchley Road NW11 7TH enquiries@gcohen.co.uk

Gregory Abrams Davidson Solicitors is a trading www.gcohen.co.uk
name of National Law Partners Limited.

SUBURB NEWS IS PRODUCED AND DELIVERED TO YOU BY RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEERS 3