The Connection Magazine - August/September 2013 by Sarah Banks

The

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August/September 2013 Issue 53

connection magazine What’s On.. Over 60 local events!

Let’s go ﬂy a kite! Summer recipes

Digging for Victory �e joy of the Village Show

Win £25

Barbecue Special

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Hello

I’m hoping that by the time you receive the magazine that we are still enjoying this glorious weather. No doubt you will be making the most of the sunshine and taking every opportunity to be outside, which is why we have lots of outdoor pursuits featured. If you haven’t booked a holiday yet - you might find our Camping on a Budget article interesting on page 34 or kite flying on page 4. There’s a great event on at Layer Marney Towers for kite lovers. Cooking outdoors on the barbecue can be fun - but then again it can also be fraught with problems and potentially hazardous, so we have some great tips of how keep safe on page 30, and some BBQ gadgets on page 39 to keep the blokes happy! We won’t be short of things to do as our What’s On pages have over 60 different local events. Also, there’s an abundance of Village Shows cropping up in August and September for the gardeners and veg growers amongst you and you can find out where they are on page 15.

Inside 6 - Book Reviews 8 - Gardening 10 - Notice Board 14 - Walk 15 - Digging for Victory 16 -20 What’s On 12 and 24 - Recipes 27 - Country Mutters 32 - Codeword 34 - Camping on a Budget 36 - Sudoku 39 - BBQ Tools Review 42 - Spot the Difference 44 - Useful Numbers 46 - Index of Advertisers

So until next time, keep safe in the sun and enjoy what’s left of the Summer.

Sarah

Editor and Publisher: Sarah Banks Editorial Assistant: Amanda Findley Contributors: Amanda Findley, Derek Keeble, Pippa Greenwood, Catherine Ryan, Julia Faulks and Annie Lawson. Advertising and Editorial: 01787 210701 / 07527 489847 Email: editor@theconnectionmagazine.co.uk Address: Applegarth, Whitestreet Green, Boxford, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 5JL

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval systems or transmitted in any form - electronic, mechanical , photocopying, recording or otherwise - without the prior permission of the publisher.

Competition winners

£25 cash sudoku winner - Mr CF Bonney from Kelvedon Colchester Zoo family ticket - Alison Ainsworth from Capel St Mary

Please get in touch if you want to advertise your business. Call me on:

01787 210701 or email:

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Advertise from Deadline datewww.theconnectionmagazine.co.uk : £25 plus VAT 3 Next issue: October/November

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Delivered to over 20 villages. See map on page 46.

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Let’s go fly a kite

If you’re looking for a fun, easy and inexpensive hobby this summer, why not consider kite flying? Not only will it mean that you’ll be spending more time outdoors in the sunshine, it’s a great way to meet new people as there are several kite festivals in the summer all over the country (www.kitecalendar.co.uk).

We have two Chinese philosophers to thank for the invention of the kite more than 2000 years ago, who used readily available silk and bamboo, although legend suggests that a Chinese farmer beat them to it by tying a string to his hat to keep it from blowing away. The first kites were generally rectangular and flat rather than bowed and were often decorated with symbols and pictures as well as whistles and strings.They had a number of uses including communication in military operations as well as testing wind speeds, measuring distances and even lifting men. Kite flying was then spread to Japan by Buddhist monks, onto India where they were used as ‘fighter kites’ in specific festivals and to Polynesia, by this time made from cloth and wood and used in religious ceremonies. It was the famous traveller of the 13th century, Marco Polo, who first brought stories of kites to Europe but it wasn’t for another 300 years that kites were regularly brought back by sailors, returning from Japan and Malaysia. Eventually,

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scientists and researchers began to realise their potential for experiments – Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Wilson and ThomasFrançois Dalibard used kites to learn more about wind and the weather whilst Alexander Graham Bell and the Wright Brothers used them to aid in the development of aeroplanes. In World I and II, kites were used for observation and signalling. Nowadays, their use is mainly recreational. Kites are stronger, lighter and more colourfully decorated than ever before. So, how do you become an expert kite flyer? 1) Learn the best wind conditions - most experienced fliers suggest between 5 – 25 miles per hour which means plants and leaves will be moving but not blowing about furiously. A flag or windsock is a useful guide. 2) Find a clear, open area such as a field or park – the bigger the space, the more line you can let out and the more fun you’ll have moving your kite across the sky. Make sure that you stay away from roads, power lines and airports and never fly in rain or lightning. 3) Lay out the kite and lines on the ground before you start - check all connectors and bridles and make sure there are no knots or tangles. Ensure you have around 20 to 35

metres of line and that they’re the same length on both sides. 4) Launch by stepping backwards and pulling both handles to your side and control the kite by pulling the lines – left will make the stunter turn left and vice versa, whilst holding them even will fly straight. 5) Be careful of other people – if you do tangle lines, walk slowly with the other flier to slide the tangle down the line of the kite where it can be more easily unwrapped. You can spend as little as a few pounds on a kite or if the budget allows, as much as a couple of hundred. Who knows? With a little practice, you might develop a new talent this summer. By Catherine Ryan

The Essex Kite Group (essexkitegroup.yolasite. com) meets regularly and is holding a Kite Festival at Layer Marney Towers on Sunday 1st September 12.00noon - 5.00pm. You can go along and fly your own kite or make one in a kite making workshop. There is also a professional kite display of various types of larger show and sport kites if you prefer to just sit back and watch.

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Seeing Double

The Girls Lori Lansens Rose and Ruby Darlen are conjoined twins who narrate their own story of what it’s like to quite literally grow up, together. Joined at their heads, Rose carries her smaller sister Ruby around on her hip. Set in a small town in Ontario, Canada, the Darlen twins give us a rare glimpse into their lives. Learning about how the two young women cope with the ordinary, while being very much an extraordinary pair makes for an amazing read. I know This Much is True Wally Lamb In an act of protest over war in the Middle East, paranoid schizophrenic Thomas Birdsey cuts off his hand in a public library. As Thomas decides not to reattach his hand, his twin brother, Dominick decides to help him escape the confines of his mental institution. The novel draws emotional parallels between the lives of the two twins and the internal struggles of the one ‘normal’ twin who certainly has more than his fair share of demons to contend with. Twelfth Night William Shakespeare It all begins with a shipwreck and Viola, having been washed up on the coastline of

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In August we celebrate twinning. I’m not talking Swanage with Rudesheim…more Arnie and Danny De Vito. It’s Twins Festival Day on the fourth and we’ve managed to find some fantastic books that feature not one, but two great protagonists.

Illyria, believes that her twin brother Sebastian is lost to the tempestuous sea. Viola is rescued by a sea captain, disguises herself as a young man (as you do) and starts working for the Duke, Orsino who thinks he’s in love with Olivia. Viola acts as a gobetween to convey the Duke’s love for Olivia, who herself promptly falls in love with the disguised Viola. Meanwhile, Viola falls in love with Orsino. Confused? You should be. It has everything we’ve come to know and love about the Bard: mistaken identity, unrequited love, buffoons and a girl pretending she’s a boy. Her Fearful Symmetry Audrey Niffenegger Identical twins Julie and Valentina live in America but have just inherited a flat near Highgate Cemetery from their mum’s estranged twin sister, Elspeth. In fact, that’s the one stipulation of the will: that their mother is never allowed to cross the threshold of the apartment. The rift has never been explained and the girls are keen to find out why. It’s a strange and intriguing tale centring round not one but two sets of slightly ethereal twins. Identical Elen Hopkins Standing out when you’re an

identical twin is never going to be easy. 16 year olds Kaeleigh and Raeanne are both desperate for their parents’ attention but their father is a District Court Judge and mother’s running for Congress. So they both play their separate roles: one’s a goody two-shoes and the other’s a real rebel, hell-bent on self-destruction. Daddy’s little girls are growing up a little twisted and these two very different halves are both trying to work out how to be whole again….but not in a saccharine Atomic Kitten-type way. The Memory Keeper’s Daughter Kim Edwards It’s the mid-sixties and, during a freak Kentucky snowstorm, Norah Henry goes into labour. Her doctor husband delivers the healthy baby boy with the aid of a nurse, Caroline Gill. But there’s another little life following quickly behind him, a girl with Down’s syndrome. Dr David Henry tells his wife that she was stillborn and then instructs Caroline to take the baby to a mental institution. Instead, Caroline escapes with the baby and raises her as her own. The two twins grow up, not knowing of the other’s existence, until one night in a blizzard, numerous lives are turned upside down.

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Home Grown Herbs There’s a really reliable, easy, low-cost and low-effort way to add some zing to your meals; home-grown herbs. Many herbs are simple to raise from seed and if you start sowing now you should be able to have a plentiful supply of fresh, tasty herbs to add to salads, sandwiches, stews and stir-fries for months to come. All you need to is a sunny window sill or balcony, or a well-drained, sunny spot in your garden. First, find some good quality multi-purpose compost, your chosen herb seeds and some pots. Good-quality compost is well worth the little bit extra you need to pay. The style of pot is up to you – you may want to choose a classic Mediterranean one, or perhaps a good-looking plastic planter for longevity and light-weight characteristics. Remember that plenty of drainage is essential, and that the smaller herbs do not need a deep root run, so there’s no need for a very tall planter or pot. It’s best to grow each type of herb in its own individual pot, so buy a selection of pots with a minimum diameter of 8cm. Once you have your pot to hand, put a broken flower pot

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or other drainage material in the base and then fill with good quality compost to within 1cm of the rim of the pot and firm it down, not too aggressively, but enough to ensure that there’s no subsidence later on. With large seeds such as coriander, position the seeds evenly on the compost surface. Sprinkle smaller seed thinly. The seeds need to be covered with compost so use your finger or a dibber to gently press the seed in to the very surface of the compost and then drizzle more compost on top to the depth stated on the packet of seed. Water the compost thoroughly either from above using a watering can with rose attached, or by standing the pot in a saucer of water for a few minutes until the compost surface is just moist. The seeds generally germinate quite quickly and often within just a week or two you’ll have lots of tiny herbs. Once the herbs are up and growing strongly you can start to harvest them. Use sharp scissors or a sharp knife to cut off what you need; this way you’ll minimise damage to the growing plants and so help to keep them

cropping for longer. As long as you keep the pots adequately watered, ideally by watering from the base, they should last for several weeks or months but make sure that the compost is not too wet or else your herb pots won’t last long. If you find that you’re not eating them fast enough, store some for later use. Ice cubes give you a really great fresh-herb taste offseason. Just half fill ice-cube tray sections with water. Add chopped fresh herbs to each section and top up with water. Label the tray as they can be difficult to identify. You can then simply pop them whole into stews and casseroles as and when you need them.

by Pippa Greenwood

Top herbs that grow well from seed: There are lots of herbs which do very well in pots when sown from seed. Some of my favourites include Italian or Genovese basil, lemon basil, chervil, Coriander ‘Cilantro’ for leaves, flat-leaved parsley, Ainse, Thai basil, chervil, chives, fennel, garlic chives.

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Notice Board John Rees Memorial Thanks to the many kind donations received last year, a granite monolith designed and created by Stonewriters of Halstead is now in place on Chappel Millennium Green in recognition of John’s contribution in translating a vision into the site now enjoyed by many people. A dedication service will be held on the Millennium Green on Sunday 15th September at 3.00pm by the Rev. John Richardson to which all are welcome.

Parkinson’s UK Sudbury Branch The Sudbury branch has been helping people living with Parkinson’s in the area for many years. We offer support, friendship and information at our monthly meetings and many social events. We are part of a network of over 375 Parkinson’s branches in the UK, and help in the search for a cure by contributing to the research projects the charity funds. The branch is run by a committee of brilliant volunteers - but they could do with some more help! Have you got a few hours a month to spare? Do you have access to a computer and the internet? Are you organized with a warm sense of humour? Could you be our new Honorary Treasurer? If the answer is yes, and you

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would like to have a chat, please contact Sue Vaughan-Williams 0844 225 3614 or svaughanwilliams@parkinsons.org.uk

St Helena Hospice Cycle Ride Early bird registration is now open for the new St Helena Hospice Cycle Ride event taking place on Saturday 22nd September. Participants can choose from one of three routes covering 7 miles, 25 miles and 54 miles through some of the beautiful Constable countryside and villages. Start times are between 9.30am and 11.30am depending on the distance selected. Early bird registration closes on Friday 13th September but you will still be able to register on the day at our standard rates. The fee covers administration, the event pack, refreshments and medals so all cyclists are encouraged to raise as much money through sponsorship as possible which will directly help St Helena Hospice.

Re-Cycle Re-Cycle, a Colchester based charity who collect unwanted bikes, parts and tools from the UK and send them to Africa need your help. As a small charity, Re-Cycle simply could not function without the hard work of volunteers. Due to increased success, Re-Cycle is busier than ever and need more help. Could you spare a few hours to help prepare bikes for shipping in the Colchester warehouse? If you would like to help then please call 01206 841268 or visit www.re-cycle.org.

Update on Aldham Village Hall Rebuilding Fund

We are all ‘riding on a high’ as the funds are looking more positive now with two grants awarded for a total of £11,500 with a possible further £20,000 awaiting final authorisation. With another two grants up for consideration in the middle of July for £75,000 together Those who want to with the funds we have raised participate can register by (£38,500 and a grant from the downloading a form from Aldham Parish) we should www.sthelenahospice.org. have enough money to start uk/cycleride, printing off the the rebuilding in October this form, filling it out and returning year. it, along with payment, to We also hope to bring our Cycle Ride, St Helena Hospice, toilets and kitchen up to date Fundraising Office, Angora and so we will have to look for Business Park, Peartree Road, further grants to the value of Colchester CO3 0AB. For any £34,000. In the meantime, are other enquiries contact the still fund raising to help boost Events and Community team on the funds even further. Please events@sthelenahospice.org.uk see the What’s On pages for or on 01206 791740. details of another Country Market day following the Please mention The Connection when responding to adverts success of the previous one.

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Earls Colne W.I. When two residents in Earls Colne asked back in April “Is anyone interested in joining a new WI group?”; they couldn’t have predicted that only three months later the group would be up and running with over 70 members. With help from Essex Federation, the group was set-up really quickly and a Committee of 13 were in place, with more than 40 members signed-up by the first official meeting in May! “Our biggest struggle at the moment is actually finding a venue large enough for the group” - which is a great problem to have? The new group has attracted people of all ages, from working mums to retired ladies keen to meet new friends and share interests. Meetings take place on the third Monday of the month and the “clubs” that have been set up have proved to be very popular - with a book club, a walking group, a photography club and a regular craft morning already underway. There is also a packed calendar of events with outings and speakers planned for the year ahead. For more information on the Earls Colne WI group, look out for them at the Four Colnes Show on 10th August or contact Emily at earlscolnewi@yahoo.co.uk / 07825 778356

Macmillan Cancer Support Event at Olivers Plants Come along to Olivers Plants, Coggeshall Rd, Earls Colne CO6 2JX on Saturday 28th September 10.00am - 2.00pm and help us raise money for Macmillan. We will donate £1 for every £10 spent in our Plant Centre on the day. Demonstrations, gardening experts, cakes, tea, coffee and tombola. For more details please call 01787 220281 or visit www. oliversplants.co.uk

Creative Writing Competition

KATS Netball Club Would like to invite you to come along and join our club? The new term starts September 2013 VENUE – Highwoods Sports Centre Girls school years 3 to 6 Saturday Morning 9.15 – 10.30 Girls School Year 7 onwards Wednesday Evening 6.15 – 7.30

Training sessions consist of: Ball and movement skills, defence, attack and team work. Above all - fitness, fun and enjoyment! IF YOU NEED MORE INFO PLEASE RING OR TEXT KIM ON: 07788 887923 or Email: colchesterkats@ntlworld.com Visit our website: www.Katsnetballclub.co.uk

The Tutor Doctor is running a creative writing competition for children this Summer. Take a www.theconnectionmagazine.co.uk look at page 41 for more details.

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Peach Melba Shortcakes Ready in 35 minutes, plus cooling

Serves 8

These shortcakes are perfect for a speedy summer dessert. They take just minutes to make and bake and can be filled with whatever seasonal fruit you have to hand. Here they are filled with a rich and sweet mascarpone cream with juicy peaches and fresh raspberries but a simple dollop of extra thick cream and some sliced strawberries will be just as impressive.

Ingredients: • • • •

175g self-raising flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 75g butter, chilled and diced 55g caster sugar, plus extra for sprinkling • 1 large egg, beaten • 1 tbsp milk

Filling • • • • •

125g mascarpone cheese 2 tbsp icing sugar 6 tbsp single cream 175g fresh raspberries 2 ripe peaches, stoned and sliced

Tip The shortcakes can be made a day in advance and stored in an airtight container. Fill with the cream and fruit 1-2 hours before serving.

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Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4. Lightly grease a large baking sheet. Sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl. Add the diced butter and rub into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar then add the beaten egg and milk and mix to a soft dough. Knead the dough lightly on a floured surface and roll out to a 1cm thickness. Using an 8cm round cookie cutter stamp out 8 rounds, gently re-rolling the trimmings as necessary. Place on the prepared baking sheet, prick the top of each round lightly with a fork then sprinkle with a little caster sugar. Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until risen and pale golden. Carefully transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool completely. To make the filling, beat the mascarpone cheese with the icing sugar and cream until smooth. Push half the raspberries through a fine-holed sieve to make a puree. Slice each shortcake in half horizontally and top the bottom halves with the cream mixture, peach slices and remaining raspberries. Drizzle over the raspberry puree and top with remaining shortcake halves.

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This month’s walk from Derek Keeble takes advantage of the Dedham Vale Hopper Bus which operates a regular service from Manningtree Railway station, stopping at various attractions and local facilities in the Dedham Vale Area. The service is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund through the ‘Managing a Masterpiece’ programme, the National Trust and the Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley Project. Operated by Hadleigh Community Transport, the bus service runs four days per week from July to September. The walk is therefore adaptable along the bus route and takes you through the heart of Constable country. As a boy the artist walked daily from East Bergholt to Dedham Grammar School and the views on the way inspired many of his paintings. Further down the river you might choose to pause along the edges of the Cattawade Marshes, to try and spot reed warblers, shelducks, mallards and Canada geese. The ‘Two Teas’ refers to the opportunities for refreshment along the route at the pretty National Trust tea room in Flatford or the excellent cafe/restaurant at Stratford Hall Farm. Download the full walk and map from The Connection website http:// theconnectionmagazine.co.uk/category/ magazine-features/walks/

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Digging for Victory! �e joy of the Village Show

Anyone who has ever visited a flower show may be blissfully unaware of the hard work, rivalry and angst behind the scenes that culminates in that perfect bloom or plate of vegetables which we all admire. A locally filmed documentary called ‘Digging for Victory’ lifts the lid on this world. In the run up to the Annual Flower & Produce Show in Capel St Mary, some of the most passionate growers around prepare their crops to see just who can grow the biggest pumpkin. Digging for Victory is the charming story of a Suffolk village allotment and the dedicated growers, enthusiasts and contenders who tend to their fruit and vegetables. With a diverse cast of characters and a quirky yet affectionate style, this feature length documentary debut by Suffolk-born filmmakers Darius G Laws and Nick Woolgar is a warm and nostalgic look at this most British of past-times. Visit http://www.diggingforvictorymovie. com for news of local screenings of ‘Digging for Victory’ or to buy the DVD which comes complete with a free packet of seeds. By Amanda Findley

Capel St Mary Allotment Association Flower & Produce Show at Capel St Mary Village Hall is on Saturday 7th - Sunday 8th September. Other local shows coming up: Feering Flower and Vegetable Show at Feering Community Centre on Saturday 31st August Nayland Flower Show at Nayland Village Hall on Saturday 3rd August Ardleigh & District Horticultural Society Annual Show at Ardleigh Village Hall on Saturday 17th August

Bures & District Horticultural Society Annual Show at Bures Village Hall on Saturday 24th August Sudbury & District Horticultural Society Autumn Show at St Peters, Market Hill, Sudbury on Saturday 14th - Sunday 15th September

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What’s On (Cont)... General Interest Open Flower and Vegetable Show At Feering Community Centre, Coggeshall Road, Feering Saturday 31st August. Staging 8.00am - 10.00am, viewing from 2.00pm Open to both members and non members. New entrants welcome. Entry £1, accompanied children free. Refreshments, veg box raffle, tombola, informal exhibits of stunning vegetables and flowers plus jams, cakes and craft work. For more information please call 01376 572130

August Afayre At St Mary’s Church Raydon Saturday 3rd August 10.30am - 4.00pm

garden, by kind permission of Mr. and Mrs. Simon Hall. Cakes, stalls, games, swimming, books, plants, raffles. Parking is available. For more details telephone 01206 211056

Gestingthorpe Summer Fete Sunday 25th August 2.00pm Fun, games, BBQ, bar, stalls and displays for all the family.

Waterside Gallery Brightlingsea Exhibitions At The Waterside Gallery, near the harbour oppositeTheYachtsman’s Arms Brightlingsea Art Group Saturday 17th to Monday 26th August An exhibition of art from Brightlingsea’s Friday and Tuesday art groups.

parking near Institute hall. All proceeds to Macmillan Cancer Care. For more information contact Margaret on 01376 572758 or Mary on 01376570083.

Dedham Arts Group Summer Exhibition At Littlegarth Studio, High Street, Dedham Saturday 24th Monday 26th August 10am - 5.00pm Colourful and varied paintings by a local group of artists. Free admission. For more information please email angellahorner@ hotmail.com

St Peter’s Craft Fairs At St Peter’s Church, Market Hill, Sudbury Saturday 24th August and Saturday 28th September 9.00am - 4.00pm

Apple Day Fair At All Saints Primary School, Fordham Sunday 15th September 11.00am - 4.00pm Apple Display with Andrew Tann, stalls, live music, food, drinks, apple press and raffle.

Foxearth Church Arts and Crafts Weekend At Foxearth church Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th August 1.00pm - 5.00pm £2 admission. Items for sale, craft activities for young people, teas in village hall, parking.

Fordham Vehicle Show At Fordham playing field Sunday 11th August 10.00am - 5.00pm

Fordham’s first ever vehicle show to be held in aid of Plants, cakes, tombola, local charities. A day for raffle, bumper book sale, all the family. On show Win-a-Bottle, children’s will be an unusual range games, teas and coffees Macmillan Tea of modern & classic cars, all day. Fascinating Over 35 fabulous stalls motorcycles and trucks Party Fundraising Castaways Sale, working with unique gift ideas from pre war to present Event steam engine and Model including silversmithed day. (Estimated turnout Railway exhibition. BBQ At The Institute, High jewellery, hand crafted of at least 100 vehicles) 12.00 - 2.00pm. In aid of Street, Kelvedon greetings cards, pop plus miniature steam St Mary’s Fabric Fund Saturday 21st September music and film framed engine and stationary 2.00 - 4.00pm. memorabilia, vinyl Great & Little pump engines.“Three picture disc record clocks, Tey Church Horseshoes”beer tent, £1-50 entry includes tea/ cupcakes, ceramics, bouncy castle, food, tea Summer Fete coffee and home made glassware, childrens and coffee plus lots of cake. Various stalls include At Walcotts Hall, designer clothing, hand other side stalls. There tombola, good quality Coggeshall Road, Great knitting, shabby chic and is plenty of free parking, bric-a-brac, cakes, books, Tey Saturday 17th much more. Refreshments, with easy access to the toys/games and jewellery, August 2.00pm - 4.30pm free admission. Proceeds show ground. Tickets also a large raffle with Please mention Thedonated Connection whenmany responding support local and to adverts £3 adults, £1.50 OAPs, many prizes by Enjoy16 teas and children under 12 free. local companies. Easy refreshments in the national charities.

Aug Sept 2013.indd 16

For opening times please call 07957756164 or email sarah-watersidegallery@ live.co.uk

17/7/13 13:48:30

What’s On For more information please call 07532433390 or 07766957953 or visit www. fordhamvehicleshow.co.uk

Village Picnic At Earls Colne Millennium Green Sunday 1st September 1.30 - 4.00pm Free donkey rides, bouncy castle, splat the rat, hole in the wall, wellie wanging, face painting, henna tattoos, cakes, soft drinks, garden produce, ice cream and more. This is a picnic for everyone and a great opportunity to enjoy our wonderful Millennium Green. Parking at Colne Stoves opposite the Green.

Events at Melford Hall Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd September 10.30pm - 4.30pm Autumn Fair Unique items for the home, garden or kitchen, as well as a wide range of giftware. Free event (garden admission applies). Saturday 14th September 10.30am - 1.00pm Railway Walk from Lavenham to Melford Hall. £14 includes refreshments and admission. Thursday 12 September 1.00pm A Walk through Time around the upper end of the estate. £5.00 (+ normal admission) Sunday 29 September 11.00am

Aug Sept 2013.indd 17

Heritage Day

2½ half or 5 mile sponsored walk. BBQ, Refreshments, Raffle, Merchandise and Canine Partners demonstration. Free doggy bag for every walker on the day! Come along with friends, family and your four-legged friend. Registration fee: £5 Adult, £2.50 Child, under 3’s free.

At St. Mary’s (Old) Church, Hall Lane. West Bergholt CO6 3DU Sunday 15th September 10.00am - 4.00p.m.

Please contact lindsayh@ caninepartners.org.uk or call 0845 2090750 to register or visit caninepartners.org.uk

Come to visit a church, part of which is 1,000 years, and has many interesting features including a Royal coat of Arms dating from James I. There is also an Art Exhibition and refreshments will be available.

Nayland Flower Show

Framing the Village. A walk through the park. £5.00 (+ normal admission) All the walks are limited in numbers and bookable in advance. Please call 01787 379228 or look on www.nationaltrust. org.uk/melfordhall for more information.

Dedham Arts Group Exhibition At Colne Gallery, Colchester General Hospital During September Featuring an exciting range of Artwork by Dedham Arts Group. For further details about the exhibition please contact Angella Horner at angellahorner@ hotmail.com

Canine Partners Wag ‘n’ Walk

At Nayland Village Hall, Church Lane (off High Street) CO6 4JH. Saturday 3rd August 2.00pm - 5.00pm Exhibits in 87 classes will be on display; vegetables, fruit, flowers, flower arranging, photography, art, craft, cookery, family and children’s sections. Produce stall, raffle & refreshments. Entry 50p

Coggeshall Art Group Annual Open Art Exhibition At Hollington Brothers, Church Street, Coggeshall Saturday 24th - Monday 26th August Over 200 pieces of art to browse and buy.

At Spynes Hall, Cherry Lane, Gt Yeldam, For more information www.theconnectionmagazine.co.uk CO9 4HH Sunday 8th please call Maureen September 11.00am Standen on 01376 563113.

Polstead Exhibition At Maria Martins Cottage, Martins Lane, Polstead CO6 5AG Saturday 24th - Monday 26th August 10.00 - 5.00pm See page 45 for more details.

Country Market Day At Aldham Village Hall Saturday 3rd August 10.00am - l.00pm Stalls selling cakes, garden produce, jam, marmalades, chutney, bread, all local products. Free entry.

Cinema Leavenheath Village Hall Digital Cinema At Leavenheath Village Hall, Wrights Way, (signposted from the High Road) Doors open 7.00pm for 7.30pm start. Refreshments (wine, beer, soft drinks, tea and coffee) will be available before the film starts and during the interval. Tickets £3.50 per adult and £2 per child. Please call Lesley 01206 262505 or Ken 01206 263266 for tickets. Saturday 3rd August ‘Life of Pi’. Saturday 7th September ‘Hitchcock’.

What’s On continued 17 over page 17/7/13 13:48:30

What’s On (Cont)... Music Music Events at The Electric Palace, Harwich At The Electric Palace, King’s Quay, Harwich CO12 3ER Doors open 7.30 pm for 8.00pm - 10.30pm Thursday 22nd August The Boheme Ragtime Jazz Band (from Hungary) Tickets £ 12.00 plus membership. For more information please contact 07786 744789 or visit www. electricpalace.com

The Suffolk Villages Festival Saturday 24th August 6.00pm At St Mary’s Church, Stoke by Nayland. Mozart in Salzburg. Soloists include Philippa Hyde soprano, Daniel Auchincloss tenor & Sally Holman bassoon Psalmody, Essex Baroque Orchestra, directed by Peter Holman Sunday 25th August 6.00pm At St Mary’s Church, Stoke by Nayland. The Grand Tourists – virtuoso Spanish, French, Italian & English baroque music. Pamela Thorby recorders, Susanne Heinrich viola da gamba, Elizabeth Kenny theorbo & guitar

Gamba Sonatas, Italian Concerto & French Overture. Mark Caudle viola da gamba, Steven Devine harpsichord Monday 26th August 2.30pm - 4.30pm At Polstead Village Hall Recorder Masterclass with Pamela Thorby Monday 26th August 6.00pm At St Peter’s, Sudbury Purcell: Dioclesian. Soloists include Claire Tomlin soprano, Daniel Auchincloss tenor & Andrew Pinnock script & reader Psalmody, Essex Baroque Orchestra, directed by Peter Holman For box office and further information please call 01206 366603, box@ suffolkvillagesfestival. com or visit www. suffolkvillagesfestival.com

Roman Rivers Festival Saturday 21st September 4.00pm At Colne Light Ship, Hythe, CO2 8JB Cello Series 1 Saturday 21st September 7.00pm At Colchester Baptist Church, Eld Lane, CO1 1LS Bach Masterpieces Sunday 22nd September 3.00pm

At The Mercury Theatre, Colchester The Carnival of the Animals

Colchester Military Musical Spectacular

Tuesday 24th September 8.00pm

Sunday 22nd September

At Wivenhoe Church, CO7 9BJ Schubert Death and the Maiden Quartet

At Colchester Castle Park

Wednesday 25th September 8.00pm At Liquid, 131 High Street, Colchester CO1 1SP Gwilym Simcock Thursday 26th September 7.00pm At Le Talbooth, Dedham, CO7 6HP Gwyneth Herbert Friday 27th September 8.00pm At Fordham Church, CO6 3NL Benjamin Grosvenor Saturday 28th September 8.00pm At Stoke by Nayland Church CO6 4QH Fauré’s Requiem by candlelight followed by Schönberg’s Verklärte Nacht Sunday 29th September 12.00 noon At Dedham Assembly Rooms Cello Series II Sunday 29th September 3.00pm At Stoke by Nayland Church Mark Padmore and Britten Sinfonia

See page 29 for full details.

Dance and Drama ‘The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny’ At Melford Hall, Long Melford Friday 9th August, gates open 5.00pm for a 6.00pm start. Quantum Theatre present these two classic tales in the garden of Melford Hall, which was a favourite haunt of their author, Beatrix Potter. Bring a picnic and settle on the lawn to watch the entertainment. Tickets £10 per adult, £7 per child or £30 per family available from Box office on 0845 4505157.

Events at The Headgate Theatre, Colchester Saturday 3rd August 7.30pm ‘Love Games’ from Purple Dreams Productions.

A simple bus journey For more information and turns Isaac’s life upside to book tickets please Monday 26th down in this comedy call 01206 729 356, email August 11.00am play. Some adult content info@romanrivermusic. - not recommended org.uk or visit At St18 Mary’s Church,Please mention MondayThe 23rdConnection when responding to adverts September 11.00am for children. romanrivermusic.org.uk Boxford JS Bach:

Aug Sept 2013.indd 18

At The Mercury Theatre, Colchester Festival Young Players

17/7/13 13:48:30

What’s On Sunday 4th August 7.30pm ‘Hits From The Blitz’ with Five Star Swing. The unique “feel-good” 1940s show, as featured at Dame Vera Lynn’s Charity Gala Nights. For Box Office and enquiries please call 01206 366000 or visit headgatetheatre.co.uk.

Things for Children Sunday Kids Club At Sudbury Library, Market Hill, Sudbury Sunday 21st July Sunday 8th September 10.30am - 12.00 noon Join us for The Reading Game. Children of all ages are welcome for craft & storytelling activities held every Sunday. For further information contact Sudbury library on 01787 296000.

years. Tickets: £85. For more information please call 01206 366000 or visit headgatetheatre.co.uk.

Tickets are £6 to nonmembers. For more information please visit www.felsted-dfas.org.uk

Events at Melford Hall

Wednesday 25th September 2.00pm for 2.30pm Threads of History: the World of the Bayeux Tapestry

Friday 16th August 11.00am Teddy Bear’s Picnic Bring your picnic and your favourite teddy bear. Enter the competitions and bring your poorly bears to the teddy bear clinic so our nurses can make them better. An excellent day out for all the family. Activity charge: £2.50 per child (+ garden admission). Saturday 24th Monday 26th August 1.00pm - 4.30pm Children’s Activity weekend

Shakespeare Workshop

A variety of garden trails and activities to keep the children interested and active. Free event (garden admission applies)

At The Headgate Theatre, Colchester Monday 26th Friday 30th August 9.00am - 4.30pm

For more information please call 01787 379228 or visit www. nationaltrust.org. uk/melfordhall

Rupert Willoughby presents a lively introduction to the tapestry and unravels some of its mysteries, places it in the context of its age and firmly establishes it as a landmark in the history of Western art. With its lively illustrations of languid, partyloving, moustachioed Englishmen, of the cavalcades of noble huntsmen and of the snorting Norman cavalry poised to charge into battle, the Tapestry is the next best thing to a moving picture from the time.

Montessori Foundation Stage Course September 2013 (6 month course) 6.00 - 9.00pm Mondays, Coggeshall

This fun course from Talks and Scenario Performing Arts will lead children Workshops through the world of Felsted Decorative William Shakespeare. Have the chance to bring and Fine Arts Shakespeare to life. Lose lectures A hands on course yourself in a world that At Saling Millennium that empowers you to will make Shakespeare Hall, Piccotts Lane, embrace the Montessori easy and fun most of www.theconnectionmagazine.co.uk Great Saling, CM7 5DW ethos and philosophy, all fun. For ages 7 to 16

Aug Sept 2013.indd 19

whilst gaining an insight into all the equipment and how to use it with the children. At the end, you will be able to use all the materials in a Montessori Nursery from birth to 6yrs, and have a really firm grasp of the theory. After the course you will have a recognized qualification in the Early Years (equivalent to an NVQ level 2) and would enable you to be a key worker in any local Montessori nursery. Contact Hannah: 01376 564392

Parenting courses Empowered Parenting Course

Giving you and your child a headstart. Five-week evening course starting 2nd October 2013 and continuing through 9th, 16th and 23rd October plus 6th November, 7.00pm - 9.30pm (£150). Absolute Angels Nursery in Coggeshall. Contact Hannah: 01376 564392

What’s On continued 19 over page 17/7/13 13:48:31

What’s On (Cont)... Digital Photography with Photoshop At Wormingford Community Education Centre, Church Lane, Wormingford CO6 3AZ 17th September 7.00pm - 9.00pm Learn how to edit and improve your photos using the industry standard software, Adobe Photoshop. A laptop computer with Adobe Photoshop CS2 will be provided for each student. The course will be very hands-on and plenty of projects and opportunities to develop and practise in a relaxed and light-hearted way. Sessions will cost £10 each or £80 for all 12 paid in advance. No previous experience is assumed or necessary, just very basic computer skills (like being able to use a mouse). Places will be limited to 6, so if you are interested, please register with Amanda on 01206 337338 as soon as possible. :

Yoga, Pilates and Chi Kung See pages 5, 26 and 35 for details.

Farmers markets Lavenham Farmers Market At The Village Hall, Lavenham Sunday 28th July and Sunday 25th August at 10.00am - 1.30pm Contact Justine Paul 07704 627973

Colchester Farmers Market The Arts Centre, Colchester Friday 2nd August and Friday 6th September at 9.30am - 1.00pm Contact Rowley Castiglione 01206 367776

Wivenhoe Farmers Market Congregational Hall, Wivenhoe Saturday 17th August and Saturday

Feature your not for profit, village, community or charity events FREE OF CHARGE in our What’s On pages by emailing your listing to info@theconnectionmagazine.co.uk.

21st September at 9.00am - 12.00 Contact Rowly Castiglione 01206 367776

Saturday 3rd August June and Saturday 7th September 10.00am - 2.00pm Contact 0844 4938088

Brightlingsea Farmers Market At the Community Centre, Brightlingsea

Rowhedge Farmers and Crafters Market At Rowhedge Village Hall

Thursday 29th August and Thursday 26th September at 9.00am - 12.00

Saturday 3rd August and Saturday 7th September 9.30am - 1.00pm

Contact Bob Shotton 01206 302669

Sudbury Farmers Market At St Peters Church, Sudbury Friday 30th August and Friday 27th September 9.30am - 2.00pm Contact Justine Paul 07704 627973

Farmers Market At Jimmy’s Farm, Wherstead, Ipswich

Contact Yvonne 07780 923688

Hedingham Farmers’ Market At The Baptist Church Swan Street, Sible Hedingham (next to the Sugar Loaves pub) Saturday 17th August and Saturday 21st September 10.00 am - 1.30 pm Contact Roy Reece 07513 464567

The Connection has listed all the events in What’s On in good faith. We cannot accept responsibility for inaccuracies, changes to events or cancellations. It might be advisable to check with venues before attendance.

Next issue: October/November 2013 - published 19th September

Deadline date for entries in the next issue 5th September 2013

We also slimming groups, keep 20 welcome details Pleaseof mention The Connection when responding to adverts fit classes, language courses, farmers markets, boot sales and regular clubs, groups and societies. www.facebook.com/TheConnectionMagazineColchester Aug Sept 2013.indd 20

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17/7/13 13:48:36

Mediterranean Fish Bake Ready in 50 minutes

Serves 4

This is a great one-pan dish full of fresh flavour. Monkfish is quite pricey but the meaty flesh is delicious and bakes really well, however you can replace it with cod loin, salmon steaks or thick pieces of haddock fillet if you prefer. Serve with a green salad and warmed ciabatta bread to mop up all the lovely herb and lemon flavoured pan juices.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp olive oil (choose a good quality fruity one) • 350g small new potatoes, halved • 1 red pepper, deseeded and cut into chunks • 1 yellow pepper, deseeded and cut into chunks • 1 green pepper, deseeded and cut into chunks • 225g small plum tomatoes, halved • 4 monkfish fillets (each weighing about 150g) • 50g butter, softened • Pared rind and juice from 1 small lemon, plus extra wedges to serve • 1 tbsp fresh chopped oregano • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Tip Replace the peppers with sliced courgettes, chunks of celery and baby button mushrooms, if liked.

Aug Sept 2013.indd 24

Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas Mark 6. Place the oil in a large non-stick roasting tin and heat in the oven for 5 minutes. Add the potatoes to the tin and toss to coat in the hot oil. Roast for 20 minutes, turning once. Add the peppers and tomatoes to the roasting tin and toss to coat in the hot oil. Make a space in the tin and add the monkfish fillets. Return the roasting tin to the oven for 10 minutes. Dot the butter over the fish fillets and sprinkle over the lemon rind, juice and oregano. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and roast for a further 5-10 minutes until the fish is just cooked through and the potatoes and peppers are tender. Slice each monkfish fillet and arrange with the potatoes, peppers and tomatoes on four warmed serving plates. Spoon over the pan juices and serve immediately with lemon wedges.

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17/7/13 13:48:42

Country Mutters

Wot a scorcher!...........by Lady Muck

We know that no sooner is there a rare glimpse of that glowing yellow orb we used to call the sun, it triggers an atavistic response in the male bosom to go out and fire up the barbecue. They will proudly drag out a rusty spider festooned 3 legged thing from the furthest reaches of the shed and wave a casual arm around saying,‘Bit of a wash and it’ll be fine,’ and before you know it he’ll be opening a can of beer, having an over the fence conversation with him next door and expansively inviting half the neighbourhood round for a couple of burgers that evening. After you’ve expressed your feelings of delight and surprise and perhaps pointed out your lack of readiness for this impromptu event and Husband has been firmly dispatched to the supermarket with a list (after a lecture on why the word ‘salad’ has been included), then you can settle down for an hour or two to do battle with rubber gloves and many unpleasant chemicals to resurrect the barbecue to a vaguely hygienic state. But now there is now a female version of events and it is the fault of glossy magazines showing happy families sitting on a beach with a funky coloured enamel compact barbecue. There is much gingham, tasty dips in ditzy mismatched crockery, bowls of flower garnished salads and perfect chargrilled fish and marinated mediterranean style kebabs. The children lark about on the water’s edge, swooping in every now and

then to show off intricate sea shells and to drink home-made lemonade from dinky bottles with old fashioned stoppers. I own a bright blue ‘iconic’ barbecue. It has been used once. It seemed like such a lovely idea for a picnic outing. First you add charcoal and a fire lighter and thereafter, lacking hand washing facilities, everything you touch becomes black or tastes of lighter fuel. Lighting a barbecue in a strong south easterly is a good opportunity for your children to witness how well their parents work together to deal with a challenge and to learn some interesting new words. The dog has to be lashed sulkily to a rock 12 feet away to prevent opportunistic tasting. Every time anyone approaches your shouts of,‘Mind out it’s very very hot’ provokes much head-turning from sun-bathers and still doesn’t stop anyone from reaching out a finger to find out exactly how hot. The lovely dips quickly disappear under a layer of sand and we eventually produce some blackened lumps which cautious nibbling reveal to be completely raw on the inside. The children hate your lemonade;‘Where’s the fizz?’ Then the sun goes in, everyone turns blue with cold and demands to go home right now so that you have to carry a red hot metal bucket down the beach to douse it with enough water to be able to take it back home without setting fire to your car. On the way back home, the pungent smell of charcoal sea-soup, scorched fish and cremated kebab induces travel sickness in the youngest member of the family. The gingham tablecloth never recovers.

www.theconnectionmagazine.co.uk

Aug Sept 2013.indd 27

17/7/13 13:48:44

Notice Board We’re your PALS North Essex Partnership provides mental health and substance misuse services across north Essex.The mental health Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is confidential and is here to help patients, carers and members of the public who need advice, have concerns or are not sure where to turn for help. The service will advise and support patients, their families and carers, listen to your issues, concerns and suggestions and also help resolve problems quickly on your behalf. To contact your mental health PALS team ring us on 01245 546433, email pals@nepft.nhs.uk or write to PALS, Trust HQ, Stapleford House, 103 Stapleford Close, Chelmsford, CM2 0QX

Samaritans give support to the military The past month has seen the start of an initiative between Samaritans and the Military Corrective Training Centre (MCTC) in Colchester, offering support by making weekly visits to Service detainees at the Centre. Colchester Samaritans’ Director, Virginia Druitt also added: “There has been a rise in suicides amongst men in recent years. Economic pressures, family problems and bereavement, coupled with the potentially dangerous and harrowing experiences that the military have to face, can cause emotional distress leading to suicide. We are here to offer a listening ear to anyone in need. We are not part of the military; we are not a religious organisation and nor are we counsellors. We are just ordinary people who have volunteered their time to help people in crisis.” Samaritans can be reached 24 hours a day, every day of the week by calling 08457 90 90 90.

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17/7/13 13:48:45

22 SEPTEMBER 2013 Castle Park, Colchester

Gates and bar open 2pm, performance begins 4pm FEATURING MASSED BANDS, CORPS OF DRUMS, PIPES AND DRUMS AND THE MILITARY WIVES CHOIR

TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM: Charter Hall Box Ofﬁce 1 Queen Street, Colchester

Tel: 01206 282020

OR Colchester Information Centre Cowdray Avenue, Colchester

IN AID OF ABF THE SOLDIERS’ CHARITY

Tel: 01206 282920

Admission: Adults £15 OAPs & Under-16s £12, Families £35 (2 adults & 2 children - additional children £5 ea.) Free car parking available in Kings Meadow

BOOK ON-LINE AT: www.charter-hall.co.uk

Colchester Military Musical Spectacular

Enjoy a few hours of traditional military music at The Colchester Military Musical Spectacular on Sunday 22 September, in Castle Park, and help to raise money for ABF - The Soldiers’ Charity. With entertainment from over 500 performers from across the eastern region including Massed Military Bands, Massed Corps of Drums, Massed Pipes and Drums and the beautiful voices of Colchester’s very own Military Wives Choir and RAF Honington’s Military Wives Choir. The event promises to be a great afternoon out for all the family so why not come along to relax, enjoy a picnic and listen to musical favourites. All proceeds from the event will be donated to ABF - The Soldiers’ Charity - who provide a lifetime of support to serving and retired soldiers and their families.

Art �hibition by artist Neil Davey 7th - 21st September

Gates open at 2pm, with performances starting from 4pm. FREE parking will be available in Kings Meadow. Admission: Adults £15.00 OAPS & Under 16s £12.00 Family ticket £35.00 (2 adults & 2 children additional children £5.00 each)

Tickets are available to buy from: Colchester Information Centre, 1 Queen Street, Colchester, CO1 2PG Tel 01206 282920 Charter Hall Box Office, Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, CO1 1YH Tel 01206 282020 For more information, visit www. colchestermilitarymusicalspectacular.co.uk, or book online at www.charter-hall.co.uk

works of art in the studios, set in the idyllic Suffolk countryside. Artworks are available to buy.

The pictures have been inspired by the Brook Farm Studios, 1 High Street Bildeston landscape of the Bildeston area and the Colne IP7 7EX estuary and comprisewww.theconnectionmagazine.co.uk of works on paper. (There is parking outside the studios) 29 Neil looks forward to welcoming you to view his www.brookfarmstudio.co.uk

Aug Sept 2013.indd 29

17/7/13 13:48:48

Beat the BBQ Bugs nothing wrong with bringing your own meat to cook indoors first, to avoid it altogether, or stick to the safer food options instead.

Summer has finally arrived and it’s time to dust off our barbecues. Here’s how to make sure you don’t fall victim to food poisoning while dining al fresco… Once the person manning the BBQ has a bottle of beer in one hand and a fly swat in the other it can be all too easy to become complacent while trying to please hungry guests. When it comes to cooking outdoors and maintaining good food hygiene, it’s important to remember a few basic rules to keep those bugs away - and we’re not just talking about flies and midges. Warm weather is the perfect breeding ground for bugs such as E. coli, Salmonella and Campylobacter to grow, which can lead to nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever and headaches. It’s even more important to be careful of food contamination if you’re pregnant, young, elderly, or have a chronic illness. If you’re worried about how well the food is cooking, then there’s

Aug Sept 2013.indd 30

Cooking raw meat safely When we cook raw meat on a BBQ it can be hard to tell if it’s actually cooked properly charred may be tasty, but that doesn’t mean it’s well done. There’s also a risk to your health if you spread germs from raw meat onto food that is ready to eat. It’s also worth remembering that just because chicken is hot on the outside, it doesn’t mean it’s safe, so make sure it’s not pink, the juices run clear and it’s steaming hot all the way through. BBQ fans also need to be careful when it comes to food bugs in side dishes. Coleslaw, mayonnaise and rice dishes are perfect breeding grounds for bacteria and are just as much of a risk when it comes to causing food poisoning. Follow these top 10 BBQ safety rules: 1. Wash your hands before you start cooking or preparing food and thoroughly after handling raw meat. 2. Cook meat first in the oven then put it on the BBQ to add to the flavour.

4. Keep plates or raw meat separate to cooked food.

5. Make sure the coals are glowing red with a powdery grey surface before you start cooking – this means that they are hot enough to cook on. If they are still flickering then it’s not quite ready. 6. Don’t cook meat from frozen – make sure it’s properly thawed beforehand. 7. Turn the meat regularly and move it around the BBQ to make sure it cooks evenly. 8. Don’t add sauces or marinades to cooked food if it’s already been mixed with raw meat. 9. You can eat steaks and joints of beef or lamb (not cooked in the middle) as long as the outside has been properly cooked, but this does not include food made from minced meat, such as sausages and burgers. 10. Make sure that salads, dips, desserts, deli meats, sandwiches and cooked rice are not kept out of the fridge for any more than a couple of hours. Instead, keep them cool, covered, and out of the sun. By Julia Faulks

3. Use separate utensils for raw and cooked meat.

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Aug Sept 2013.indd 31

17/7/13 13:48:50

Codeword Each letter in this puzzle is represented by a different number between 1 and 26. The codes for three letters are shown. Once you have filled these throughout the grid you can start guessing words and reveal other letters. As you find the letters enter them in the box below.

10 25

2 3

9 6

6 3

2 22

12 20

14 26

3 15

2 2

26 4

9 2

23 14

4 14

18 5

16 23

2 23

2 18

16 6

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17/7/13 13:48:52

Neil woodley designs BSc Landscape & Garden Design

Designer Specialising in Garden Design & Planting Plans Initial Consultation Through to Completion Portfolio Available

Maintenance - One off or regular Grass/Hedge cutting Turfing/Planting Garden Clearance Paths & Patios

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Aug Sept 2013.indd 33

17/7/13 13:48:56

Camping on a Budget If the luxury of an overseas holiday is just not going to be affordable for you this year, you probably don’t want to spend a fortune in this country either. However it doesn’t mean you have to go without a break completely because camping can be great fun and very affordable. You can’t just put the TV on, there are no computer games for the children and your time is spent exploring forests and cooking outdoors. It makes for a wonderful family bonding experience completely unlike renting a holiday home, and is lots of fun if you can find a group of you to go. There’s a huge retail market around camping, and an hour on one of the many equipment websites could have you thinking that the whole event is going to be far too expensive, especially if you aren’t sure if you’ll do it more than once. It doesn’t have to cost the earth though. Firstly the tent.Take advantage of somebody else’s impulse buy by visiting secondhand sites to see what you can snap up - Ebay of course, but also Gumtree have plenty for sale. Sleeping bags might be necessary if you are hiking

Aug Sept 2013.indd 34

across the mountains, but chances are you’ll be driving to your camping site so take your own duvets and pillows with some old covers and that will be perfectly adequate. A night’s sleep on the hard ground isn’t comfortable though so you’ll need to find something to lie on. Cushions from outdoor chairs or a beach lilo will be good enough for children, but you might want to invest in an inflatable mattress for the adults. Other equipment such as a gas stove, water containers and plastic plates might be offered to you if you put a wanted advert on Gumtree or on Freecycle. And a polite plea to your friends could produce a surprising haul for you to borrow. You might not be able to look your glamorous best while camping and really, why would you? It’s time to get back to nature. However, it doesn’t mean you won’t want to clean up every day and proper toilet facilities are a must. Fortunately, these days all but the most rural sites will have a shower and toilet block. The internet will help you decide which site to go to. For example www.pitchup.

com has 5000 UK and Ireland sites listed and it allows you to filter the features that are a ‘must’ for you and those that are a ‘nice to have’. For example you might want to visit a site that allows children and dogs (or doesn’t), has wifi access, or where there are cycling facilities nearby. Still not convinced? If you think this sounds like more hassle than it’s worth, you might want to consider ‘glamping’. It’s still sleeping in an open area surrounded by trees, but the living accommodation is provided for you. Many sites offer tipis, yurts, wooden huts or even a gypsy caravan. This is going to cost more of course but is still can be affordable. For example five nights in late August in a tipi in Mid Wales would cost around £375 for two adults and two children.The bed and bedding for the adults is supplied as well as futons for the children. You are also given your own cooking and toilet facilities. Remember, you won’t be the only one looking for a cheap summer break, so go online and book your pitch now By Annie Lawson

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17/7/13 13:48:57

Yoga & Pilates at Evergreen Clinics Natasha Al-Riyami

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Thursday 9.30 – 10.30am Thursday 5.00 – 6.00pm beginners Friday 2.00 – 3.00pm

Call us on 01787 220141 to book your one to one or group info@evergreenclinics.com www.theconnectionmagazine.co.uk

Aug Sept 2013.indd 35

17/7/13 13:48:57

Sudoku Competition

How to play

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3 x 3 box contains the digits 1 to 9, with no repetition! That’s all there is to it. You solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic - there’s no maths involved and no adding up.

WIN £25 Fill in and cut out and send to: Sarah Banks, The Connection, Applegarth, Whitestreet Green Boxford, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 5JL The ﬁrst correct entry out of the hat will win the prize.

Closing date 5th September 2013

Going on Holiday? - Work long hours? Or Just need some help? Look no further Waggle & Walk Offer a professional dog walking and pet sitting service for all types of animals. Waggle & Walk is fully insured with NARP and police checked.

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17/7/13 13:48:59

Property and Garden Maintenance Colchester Workhorse Paul Richardson

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All chimneys need to be swept at least once a year to prevent you having a chimney fire. Something as small as a spider web or some rubble could block a chimney and reduce the flow of air, possibly causing carbon monoxide to enter your home.

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17/7/13 13:49:02

Burn, baby, burn The best tools for a great British barbecue

What better way to celebrate the good weather than to go outside and burn things? Barbecue season is back, and as ever there are all kinds of gadgets promising to make cooking in the great outdoors even greater. If you don’t already have a barbecue you’re spoilt for choice: you can spend as little as £20 on a charcoal kettle barbecue, or as much as £5,999 on a “Grill Centre” that’s bigger than most people’s kitchens. If space is at a premium, it’s worth considering a portable one, such as Weber’s clever little Smokey Joe barbecue (£59.99) or one of its many imitators. Wherever men are showing off you’ll find firms offering gadgets to help them, and in outdoor cooking there are clever ideas such as the Grill Daddy Pro brush (about £14.99), which combines a typical grill brush with a steam cleaner to help shift tough burnt-on food and sterilise the grill racks. Alternatively, a quick scan of eBay uncovers plenty of motorised grill brushes for around £15 that promise to take the effort out of cleaning. If that isn’t manly enough, the terriblynamed Looftlighter (£69.95)

is a guaranteed hit, blasting hot air out of the nozzle at a terrifyingly hot 680 degrees to light barbecues, fires and anything else that happens to be nearby. If you’d rather not spend nearly £70 on a glorified lighter - or if you already own a blowtorch - there are still plenty of tempting accessories from chimney starters to help you get things burning (£14.99) to griddle pans, woks, basting brushes, add-on tables, digital thermometers, hot dog rollers (£12) and hamburger presses (£12). You can even get a beer can chicken roaster, which holds a can of beer inside a chicken while you cook it (about £8). It sounds like a daft idea but it really does work - as does the digital thermometer fork (from £16), which can help you avoid poisoning all your friends by telling you whether the meat is cooked through or if it needs a bit longer. Alternatively, an oven-proof thermometer will do the job just fine for around £6, but make sure it’s rated for high temperatures: barbecues can be considerably hotter than the domestic ovens many thermometers are designed for.

go for an all-singing, alldancing portable barbecue, a disposable aluminium one or a free-standing kettle model, remember that barbecues produce carbon monoxide, which can be fatal - and they continue to produce it long after you’ve finished cooking. Never use a barbecue indoors or bring it inside when it’s still warm. We’re not sure whether a Himalayan Salt Plate counts as a gadget - it’s a block of salt - but it’s an interesting add-on: instead of cooking directly on the rack you put the plates on the grill and the food on the plates, cooking and seasoning simultaneously. Expect to pay around £9 for a single one, which should last for lots of barbecues and which doubles as a nifty serving plate. Last but not least, there are plenty of LED-powered barbecue lights, such as the three-headed Best of BBQ LED Grill Light. As much as we love our barbecues, we can’t help thinking that if you’re buying £40 accessories to barbecue in your own garden in the dark, you might be taking outdoor cooking a little bit too seriously.

Poisoning isn’t the only thing to watch out for: whether you

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17/7/13 13:49:05

Holiday Reads for Children and Grown-ups

Local author Wendy Shepherd has just published her first book for children. It is called ‘Re-united’ and is the first of a series of nine mystery stories for primary school children called ‘The Crimson Cove Mysteries’. The stories are set in a coastal Devon village during the 1960’s and revolve around an extraordinary friendship between a farmer’s son and the ghost of a girl who lived in the village 100 years previously. Together Alfie Chapman and Amelia Cramer uncover and solve mysteries that concern the residents of Crimson Cove. With smugglers, ghosts and shipwrecks among the ingredients, this could be a fantastic holiday read for children. And for anyone travelling to South Devon you could even visit the villages and landscapes which inspired the stories. For more information about ‘Re-united’ by Wendy Shepherd please visit her website http://www. benjibooks.co.uk where you can also order the book.

Another local author found inspiration closer to home and set her novel ‘Art and the Revolutionary Human Fruit Machine’ in a small East Anglian estuary town not a million miles away from Manningtree and Mistley. The main character, Ben Banding is an artist and when the town holds a modern art festival the secretively brilliant painter encounters art world supremo Oliver Rabson, and life unravels for them both. Memorable characters, art, sailing, mischievous humour and a spoonful of romance combine to create a real page turner. ‘Art and the Revolutionary Human Fruit Machine’ amusingly reveals how the art market works, trumping common sense, all wrapped in an intriguing story. Ben is convinced his time would come. And it does. Just in a deliciously unimagined way. ‘Art and the Revolutionary Human Fruit Machine’ by Alex Pankhurst is available from bookshops and Amazon.

Creative Writing Competition

If you are between 7 and 14 and live within 20 miles of Colchester, enter to win an Asus laptop

TutorDoctorColchesterNorth.Co.Uk/competition

Closing date: 19th September 2013

In conjunction with:

The summer months can be a time for our children to forge wonderful memories that will last them a lifetime. As Sir Ken Robinson, a recognised leader in this field says “creativity is about putting your imagination to work”, a belief we fully ascribe to at Tutor Doctor.This summer capture and use your summer experiences to inspire your writing, then enter the Tutor Doctor creative writing competition and take a chance. Tutor Doctor, in conjunction with The Laptop Repair Company of Crouch Street has two high specification laptops to give away as prizes. Full details of the competition can be found on our website www.TutorDoctorColchesterNorth.co.uk/ competition but if your children are aged between 7 and 14 years, live within a 20 mile radius of Colchester and wish to write a creative story entitled “Summer Memories” of no more than 750 words then this is a golden opportunity for them.

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Aug Sept 2013.indd 41

17/7/13 13:49:06

Spot the Diﬀerence

There are ten differences - can you ﬁnd them?

Puzzle Solutions Codeword solution

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Gardens Arboretum

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17/7/13 13:50:06

Useful Numbers Local Schools St. Peter’s C of E Primary School Tel: 01376 561328 Honywood Community Science School Tel: 01376 561231 Kelvedon St. Mary C of E Primary School Tel: 01376 570411 Feering C of E Controlled Primary School Tel: 01376 570296 Earls Colne Primary School and Nursery Tel: 01787 222205 Colne Engaine C of E (Aided) Primary School Tel: 01787 222717 Bures C.E V.C Primary School Tel: 01787 227446 Chappel C of E School Tel: 01787 222296 St. John the Baptist C.E.V.A Primary School Tel: 01787 269300 Great Tey C.E Controlled Primary School Tel: 01206 210415 Fordham All Saints C of E Primary School Tel: 01206 240251 Copford C of E Primary School Tel: 01206 210439 Stanway Primary School Tel: 01206 574819 St. Mary’s Lower School Tel: 01206 211242 Stanway Fiveways Primary School Tel: 01206 574849 Holy Trinity C.E. Primary School Eight Ash Green & Aldham Tel: 01206 240880 Soaring High Montessori Coggeshall Tel: 01376 564392 Stoke by Nayland C.E. V.C.P School Tel: 01206 262418 Stoke By Nayland Middle School Tel: 01206 262362 Nayland Community Primary School Tel: 01206 262348

Doctors Kelvedon and Feering Health Centre Tel: 01376 572906 Kelvedon Surgery Tel: 01376 574560 Coggeshall Surgery Tel: 01376 561242

Aug Sept 2013.indd 44

West Bergholt Surgery Tel: 01206 241137 Marks Tey Surgery Tel: 01206 213513 Tollgate Health Centre Tel: 01206 710030 Stanway Surgery Tel: 01206 572372 The Pump House Surgery/Earls Colne Tel: 01787 222022 Drs Hayhow & Barker/Bures Tel: 01787 227529 Branch Surgery, Tel: 01787 227529 Hardwick House Group Practice Tel: 01787 310000 Dr Baldwin & Partners, Nayland Surgery Tel: 01206 262202

Support Crimestoppers Tel: 0800 555 111 ChildLine Tel: 0800 1111 Samaritans Tel: 08457 90 90 90 Cruse Tel: 0844 477 9400 NSPCC Tel: 0808 800 5000 Missing Persons Helpline Tel: 0500 700 700 National Debtline Tel: 0808 808 4000 National Domestic Violence Helpline Tel: 0808 2000 247 Victim Support Tel: 0845 30 30 900 Inland Revenue Tel: 0845 010 9000 RSPCA Tel: 0870 55 55 999 AA Breakdown Tel: 0800 887 766 Floodline Tel: 0845 9881188 Transco emergency service Tel: 0800 111 999 Rail Enquiries Tel: 08457 484950 AA roadwatch Tel: 09003 401100 BT Faultline Tel: 0800 800 151 Rivers/Floodline Tel: 0845 988 1188 Citizens Advice Bureau Tel: 0870 126 4065

Samaritans/Colchester Tel: 01206 561234 Volunteering Opportunities Tel: 01206 505250 Al Anon Family Groups Helpline Tel: 0207 403 0888

Police Contacts Essex Police (non-emergency calls to all stations and departments) Tel: 0300 333 4444 Ministry Of Defence Police Tel: 01206 782917

Councils Colchester Borough Council Tel: 01206 282222 Braintree District Council Tel: 01376 552525 Kelvedon Parish Council Tel: 01376 570285 Feering Parish Council Tel: 01376 572882 Coggeshall Parish Council Tel: 01376 562346 Stanway Parish Council Tel: 01206 542221

Post Offices Fiveways Post Office Tel: 01206 330451 Marks Tey Tel: 01206 210314 West Bergholt Tel: 01206 240355 Fordham Village Store and Post Office Tel: 01206 240391 Earls Colne Post Office Tel: 01787 222258 Wakes Colne Post Office Tel: 01787 222449 Bures Post Office Tel: 01787 227252 Stoke by Nayland Park Street Stores and Post Office Tel: 01206 262335 Nayland Post Office Tel: 01206 262210 Stratford St Mary Post Office Tel: 01206 322150 Dedham Post Office Tel: 01206 323543

Village Halls Mount Bures Tel: 01787 228055 Bures Community Centre Tel: 01787 227278 Nayland Tel: 0774 895 3175 Dedham Assembly Rooms Tel: 01206 323921 Stoke by Nayland Tel: 01206 262943 Wormingford Tel: 01787 227631 Little Horkesley Tel: 01206 271841 Leavenheath Tel: 01206 263301 Assington Tel: 01787 211162 Stanway Village Hall Tel: 01206 545062 Feering Community Centre Tel: 01376 572467 Marks Tey Village Hall Tel: 01206 213250 White Colne Village Hall Tel: 01787 221811 Colne Engaine Village Hall Tel: 01787 223668 Earls Colne Village Hall Tel: 01787 224370 Bures Community Centre Tel: 01787 227278 Eight Ash Green Village Hall Tel: 01206 562860 Copford Village Hall Tel: 01206 211235 Chappel and Wakes Colne Tel: 07771 622525

Airports Stansted General Enquiries Tel: 0870 000 0303 Stansted Express Tel: 0845 850 0150 Gatwick General Enquiries Tel: 0870 000 2468 Gatwick Express Tel: 0845 850 1530 Heathrow General Enquiries Tel: 0870 000 0123 Heathrow Express Tel: 0845 600 1515

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Index of Advertisers Dog Walking

Accountancy

33, 40, 43

Deli

Kitchen Fitters

Bathroom Fitter

33, 43

26 21

Netball Club

Bookkeeping

Dress Hire Estate Agent

Oven Cleaning

Beauty Treatment

14, 26

Farm Shop

Pest Control

Building Services

47, 22

Fencing

Physiotherapy

Bunting

5, 35

Podiatrist

Car Tuning

31 22, 32

Pilates

Carpet Cleaners

Florist Flooring

22, 37

Property Maintenance

Car Dent Repair

Funeral Directors

Restaurant

Cambridge Diet Plan

Financial Services

Plumber

Chiropractor

Garden Design

Public speaking coach

Chimney Sweep

Garden Centre

Swimming Pool

Childrens Nursery

Garden Tutor

Craft Centre

Counselling

Decorators

Dental Clinic

Dog Walking

Garden Services

36, 32, 37

Therapies

Hairdressers

Tree Surgeon

Interior Design

Tutor

Ironing Service

Window Repairs

Joinery

Yoga

5, 26, 35

www.facebook.com/TheConnectionMagazineColchester Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that data in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher nor its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. The Connection does not ofďŹ cially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval systems or transmitted in any form - electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise - without the prior permission of the publisher

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2 for 1 Offer Book a new patient consultation for £54 and get another free for a friend or family member †

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Offers end 30th September 2013. Pre-payment required. † Both appointments on the 2 for 1 offer to be booked within a four week period. Terms and conditions apply.

Dont just take our word for it... “It was a very unrushed and very caring treatment from the dentist, they are very sympathetic to your fears, I would recommend to all who are worried about dental treatment.” P. Barnard May 17th, 2013 “Very friendly staff place was immaculate. The treatment was totally pain free and everything was explained as we went along. I would deﬁnitely recommend dentist direct. I will not worry about going to the dentist again. Great.” B.Evans May 8th, 2013

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Find out how we’re making fear of the dentist a thing of the past at 48 Please mention The Connection likethedentist.co.uk 01206 593 when 122responding to adverts The Centre, Colchester Business Park, Essex, CO4 9QQ (next to mimosa)

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