CARSHALTON PARK

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

Carshalton High Street has 2 parks closed by to choose from and just a few minutes walk away.

I want to hear the placid flow of the river while watching the birds float and enjoy the inquisitive behaviour of squirrels who are keen to follow people, who have food for them. This mixed atmosphere is shown at The Grove Park. The other... LOL!!!

One of the ways to achieve a fit and sexy body is to exercise in the morning and a balanced diet . Am I right, ladies?

It has 7 entryways...

Carshalton Park is the ideal green open space to take a morning exercise like jogging or running. It has a wide hole in front of the main gate that was excavated some years ago and it is now just left, a relic from the past. I am curios about the hole that resembles a crater and why there it has never been beautified. Aside from the hole that isn't use for good at all, there's also a canal filled with stagnant, dirty water. It is located on the left part of the park and probably, it was a useful water way for the village before.

 

 (Summer/Spring pictures of Wide Hole and Canal)  

 

 (Autumn/Winter pictures of Wide Hole and Canal)

Carshalton Park is a good place to jog or to play command games with your dog. It has a number of old majestic chestnut trees planted way back when it was a Royal Park. Generally, the surroundings make an inviting place for contemplation and relaxation as its rarely crowded. The quiet is only occasionally interrupted by cries of, ' chase the ball, Fido '.

 (Summer/Spring pictures of Chesnut Trees)  

 (Autumn/Winter pictures of Chesnut Trees)

It has a tennis court for people who want to follow the popularity of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray in the sport's world. As it is a family friendly park, a toddler's playground is built to make it more appealing for parents and kids to visit the place. A few improvements were constructed to make sure of kids safety while playing around with their families, this includes rubberised mattings around the swing area.

 (Summer/Spring pictures of Tennis Court and Toddler's Playground)
 

  (Autumn/Winter pictures of of Tennis Court and Toddler's Playground)

A few months ago, an urban outdoor gym was installed by Sutton Council using the council’s Carshalton & Clockhouse Committee’s public realm budget at this park. The free and easy-to-use gym equipment was provided by The Great Outdoor Gym Company which includes the following:

Benches or oblique machine for protecting your back and improving your posture;
Cross-trainer, treadmill or bike for your joints, muscles and heart/blood vessels; 

Lat pull-down machines or pull-up bars for strengthening your lats and will also give you a good bicep workout and

Leg press machine which is excellent for toning the lower body muscles

In general, Carshalton park offers peace and a fresh 'green' air to breath!

TOTTING WITH MY SISTERS

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

I don’t usually go out with people unless they have gained my trust or when I feel safe being with them. So, when I say 'sister' like I do with Tina and Jence, it's a sign that I am welcoming you into my life and valuing you more rather than just an ordinary acquaintance.

Last Sunday (January 08, 2012) when Tina and I were both free from our responsibilities, we went to an ethnically mixed district in South London, Tooting. Prior to Tooting, we strolled round Sutton High Street and warmed ourselves with a cup of luscious cappuccino in a local Italian cafe.

We visited the High Street not just for the foaming coffee; we were there mainly to meet Maria Fe. A jolly and light spirited woman whom I encountered and chatted with last year at Tina's birthday party. Our meeting was filled with silly jokes which we really all enjoyed up to the max. I have to say that it was very pleasant being with her again.

(Tina, Vicky and Jence)

I really thought that we would just meet Maria Fe and leave here somewhere in Sutton. But I'm happy to say, she traveled with us to Totting as our sister Jence was working there, even on Sunday. We walked further down the high street until we reached Sutton Green (A) bus station where we got the Bus 280 that took us to Tooting. And after about 40 minutes on a double decker bus, we arrived at Fountain Road. Our destination was Kusinang Munti which was only 3 blocks away. Before we filled our hungry stomachs at Kusinang Munti, we visited our sister Jence at her workplace which is close by. She supervises a Filipino Sari Sari Store. So, the sisters were reunited again after our last escapade on December 08, 2011. Jence was a bit surprise when she saw us but she still welcomed us with her bright smile. That is what I like about Jence, her smile was genuine! As she hasn't encountered Maria Fe before, naturally we introduced them to one another. And while they were all chatting, I checked the commodities in the shop and was very surprised to see that their goods as well as the prices were similar to those at Wing Yip, a Chinese supermarket in Croydon.

(Maria Fe, Vicky and Tina)

*Click photos to enlarge

BEDDINGTON PARK: A HIDDEN GEM IN SOUTH LONDON

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

(Beddington Park Flowing River)

The sun was out and the surroundings were bathed in its warm rays. Naturally, locals were out and about taking advantage of the feisty warm weather that happened all of a sudden. Even I was amongst the ones who stepped out of our den and decided to stroll around the nearby park. That day was a blessing for all of us who yearn so much for tropical weather in this cold country.

Last Sunday afternoon, I visited Beddington park and savoured the fresh air as well as the warm sunshine for hours. I then explored the entire park on foot and came across lines of baronial trees; an old historical church with its graveyard full of ancient stones with their faded inscriptions from loved ones; cafés and sport fields. It wasn’t my first visit but to be charmed from time to time, I can now say that it is one of the hidden gems in South London.

 (Summer/Spring and Autumn pictures)

Beddington park is very vast in area and very green too especially in Summer. It is nearly 100 acres or almost 41 hectares in total, which spreads out between Croydon and Sutton and is maintained by Sutton Borough. I read on the web, that this was originally part of a deer park attached to Carew Manor. Which in Tudor times occupied a large swathe of land between the present Mitcham Common, Beddington Lane, Croydon Road and London Road. That was the past!

In 1935, this beautiful park was acquired by the Borough of Beddington & Wallington and turned into a public park for people to bask around its health friendly green acres.

 
Today, Beddington park has well- preserved gardens including the small kidney-shaped pond in the north and the main lake in the south west of the park. Moreover, it has attractive ornamental bridges, facilities and is also the home to most wildlife in the U.K. What I adored about this place is its large area of open grassland, the lake as well as the pond. If I could, I would love to live there and treat it as my humble abode (LOL!).

This upcoming Spring and Summer, don’t hesitate nor think twice about a visit to this park in South London. It is just 5 minutes walk from Hackbridge Station and 30 minutes walk from Wallington Station. And if you are driving, a car park which opens from 8:00 A.M. to nightfall is also waiting for you and, is absolutely free of charge!

See you there!