Winter 2007 issue

Christmas Present

Ernst Bachmann tempts you...

Yearning for those simple ideals of Christmas past, you may begrudge the pressures, consumerism and waste of Christmas present - and Christmas presents. There's not much chance of escaping them without social censure but you do not have to spend many a frustrating day pounding the streets of London or Kingston buying something expensive and unsuitable for family and friends while the ideal answer lies in Thames Ditton and Weston Green! We're fortunate still to have a modest range of interesting shops and other businesses with good and imaginative things to offer - the fruit of their successful struggling and thriving in a tough retail climate. You can feel good about supporting the local economy and reducing your carbon footprint, while making things easier for yourself. You won't compromise on quality. You'll find that prices are good value as you're paying less than for the glitzy overheads of Oxford Street. And you can still park conveniently close to our shops where such a treasure-hunt is more enjoyable than stressful.

Neither will you be faced with the unimaginative monotony of the chain and fashion stores to be found in shopping malls from Glasgow to Gravesend. Here, Wise Men and Women will find plenty of gifts to bear. Some pointers from an unashamedly personal list:

For Her, of course, you might choose some masterly-crafted piece of silver or gold from Bernard in Assimi (TDT Winter 2006) - don't bank on it, my Dear, if you're reading this! Barbara Wolff also makes jewellery, and unusual, interesting and tasteful pieces can be bought at Bradley and Brown, and Stitchery. All are good value. Good quality beauty products can be had at La Clinique, and you can get vouchers for a choice of pamperings at Colets: you don't have to be a member. Several local style and fashion consultants with backgrounds of impeccable quality offer makeovers - if she won't take the thought amiss.

For Him, how about a sports massage (serve me right!) at Colets? A tea towel from Stitchery bearing Lisa Tolley's design of Thames Ditton houses? No? Well you can at least use it to wrap a bottle of good single malt. Threshers has Aberlour 10 year old, which deservedly scores a high 83 out of 100 in Michael Jackson's reference 'Malt Whisky Companion,' at less than £18 which is remarkably good value. I'm drinking one now.

While in Stitchery, you can look over the terrific collection of exotic Christmas decorations, and buy cards bearing Thames Ditton designs. Want stocking fillers? Plenty of scents - some of my favourites are the Esteban compound aromatic oils that are hard to find elsewhere, very reasonably priced, and get favourable reactions from dance partners. Perhaps a small book from the same shop - I couldn't help noticing one for coffee addicts, another on aphrodisiacs and a bizarre one on Dog Fashion….

After all you spent on them during the year, and failing to do the washing up and tidy their rooms, the kids probably deserve no more than a really enticing old-fashioned jar of sweets from Bradley and Brown. There are many tasteful lifestyle items to be had there for yourself, and proprietor Tracy will record your wish-list so that friends or family can pop in and select a 'surprise' for you that a priori will be entirely welcome! For children still in the very young and largely innocent stage, Lottie and Thomas in Station Road have very high quality, lovely eclectic clothes and other gifts.

	To satisfy animal needs, you can call on Beech House vets in Weston Green for either the practical - a dog toothbrush, perhaps an electrocardiogram for your ageing bulldog or a 5 kg bag of dried tuna snack if you know your kitty won't go off it immediately; or the whimsical - catnip cigars, cat teasers or 'greet me and eat me' cards. If you have a parrot, and who doesn't, then a single Belgian chocolate from Stitchery is enough to send her wild with delight for at least two minutes. Several local artists will do paintings of local scenes, for very reasonable prices. Edmund Woolley is one, who also specialises in pet portraits; Lisa Tolley and Roger Cowdray (who specialises in buildings) are others. A fine photograph, perhaps - try our own Scott Hortop, or Micaela Cianci whose bright new front window is an asset to the High Street. In Weston Green that little shop by the Esher station railway bridge offers glass and ceramic art in engagingly informal surroundings; and D & N Designs on Weston Green produce engraved glass or silvered 'incentive items' (Hmnn…. perhaps a trophy for housework?). Sport? The fishing tackle shop on Weston Green, and in the High Street the Pro Shop for hockey and cricket, attract custom from miles around.
Playful Alex of Beech House Vets with a cat teaser...		The Lighted Window. Artist Edmund Woolley (TD Today Autumn 2007) paints to commission. This is part of a winter view of his back garden. His private title for the painting : "Ready in five minutes, Dear!" click on image for larger

Presents sorted, you can address earthly delights. Taj of the Five Rivers Deli has some outstanding treats of a quality hard to beat outside Fortnums. My favourites include their Finnochiona salami; English Tunworth and Stinking Bishop cheeses along with genuine, well-ripened Brie that puts supermarket cheese to shame; the best lime pickle in the world made by Anila of Walton on Thames, and the fabulous Woody's apple and ginger relish that will help the cold platters down on Day Two. Their Rother Valley organic meat's terrific. At the Secret Garden greengrocery Nick's team will put together and deliver locally a box of fine fruit and vegetables for the Christmas period, fresher, riper, cheaper, better and much Greener than the supermarket. Next door you can buy lovely flowers, table and other Christmas floral decorations from silver medallists Secret Garden Floral Designs. A short walk to Winter's Bridge brings you to Bachmann's, five times proven to be the best Patisserie in Britain. Lord, my mouth waters just to think of their cakes and desserts. So do yourself a favour and feel good about it. Shop local. We do! Merry Christmas.

Fresh Veg from the Secret Garden

Keith Evetts