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BACK TO SCHOOL Advice For Attending Open Days
ADRENALINE ADVENTURES Thrilling Days Out In London
WILD THING Autumn Fashion Trend
LOCAL NEWS Keeping You Up To Date
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OAKLANDS SCHOOL Loughton
NORMANHURST SCHOOL North Chingford
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M 1 8 15 22 29
T 2 9 16 23 30
W 3 10 17 24 31
TH 4 11 18 25
F 5 12 19 26
S 6 13 20 27
DA AT TES FOR YOUR DIARY Coopersalee Hall (2½ to 11): B id Juniors J i (2½ to 11): Braeside Braeside Seniors (11 to 16): Oaklands (2½ to 11): Normanhurst (5 to 16): Normanhurst (2½ to 4):
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HELLO!
CONTACT
Welcome to our September issue. This month it’s back to school time and MySchoolOpenDays.co.uk share their tips for attending school open days in the run up to school applications for next year. We feature three fantastic attractions in London for the adrenaline junkies out there on page 16 including wakeboarding, go karting plus the world’s largest tunnel slide! Our fashion and beauty pages are packed with trends for the new season and Abbotts Travel whisk us off once again to a far flung destination.
editor@essexcentralmagazine.co.uk Tel: 01787 583152
ADVERTISING advertising@essexcentralmagazine.co.uk
DESIGN Lauren Brown Designs
CONTRIBUTORS Victoria Robertson,
Closer to home we also have our usual local news pages and what’s on guide with community events, clubs and days out.
Abbotts Travel, My School Open Days
PUBLISHERS
See you next month!
School Open Days Ltd
19 CONTENTS
2>>F -F@EBD?"D8
ON THE COVER 8 12 16 19 35
Local News Open Days Advice Adrenaline Adventures Wild Thing Competition
2>>F -F@EBD?"D8
COMMUNITY 33
What’s On
FASHION & BEAUTY
TRAVEL
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30
Lip Service
Mexico Travel Feature
HOME & GARDEN
FUN & GAMES
25 29
37
Puzzle Corner
38
Dad’s Diary
4
Home Trends September Gardening Guide
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Distributed monthly to at the following towns: South Woodford, Woodford, Chigwell, Wanstead, Chingford, Buckhurst Hill, Loughton, Theydon Bois, Epping, North Weald, Ongar. Although every care has been taken to ensure accuracy, School Open Days Ltd take no responsibility for any errors or the advertisements within this magazine.
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LOCAL NEWS
WAR MEMORIAL RE-DEDICATED
Roding Valley High School celebrates GCSE successes Roding Valley High School students and staff are celebrating this year's GCSE results. Head of School Sharon Jenner said: "We are delighted to have improved the percentage of students who achieved a good pass in both English and Maths. Progress remains strong in the core subjects and is testament to the hard work and dedication of both students and teachers. There has been a signiďŹ cant increase in the number of students attaining the EBacc which supports the improvement this year in the number of students achieving good passes in Humanities. We are also really pleased that the number of good passes in Science continues to improve with continued exceptional results in Triple Science.This is all even more pleasing given the context of these examinations being the new, more challenging GCSEs.The reformed GCSEs are graded from 9 to 1. A Grade 8 equivalent to an A* and Grade 9 is the highest grade, reserved for the top 3 per cent of the National cohort. The old-style C grade is now equivalent to a Grade 4." Among the many success stories at Roding Valley, there were a number of outstanding individual performances. Mashrur Khondokar achieved six Grade 9s, two Grade 8s, one Grade 7 and an A grade. His twin sister, Maisha Khondokar achieved two Grade 9s, two Grade 8s, four Grade 7s and a B grade. Yasu George achieved ďŹ ve Grade 9s, three Grade 8s and two Grade As. Eva Randall achieved four Grade 9s, three Grade 8s and two Grade 7s. The majority of the high performing students are joining Roding Valley's Sixth Form, which also celebrated greatly improved A-Level results last week. Ms Jenner said: "It is an exciting time for the school with improved facilities and a new Sixth Form Study Centre housed in our new state-of-the-art Brook Building which opens later in September. We are now proud partners in CLP, a multi-academy trust. We will work within the trust to further consolidate and improve the outcomes and experiences of all at Roding Valley High School."
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A service of re-dedication has taken place to mark the completion of work on the war memorial in Farm Hill Road, Waltham Abbey. The service was taken by the Rector of the Abbey Church, Waltham Abbey, the Rev'd Peter Smith. Among those attending were Waltham Abbey Town Mayor councillor Jeanne Lea, Cllr Eddie Johnson, Vice-Chairman of Essex County Council, town and district councillors and representatives from the local branch of the Royal British Legion. The work includes the laying of new paving stones and the jet washing and re-pointing of the war memorial. The war memorial also features a new plaque which indicates the site of the onetime war memorial hospital. Planting, which includes a oral bed currently depicting the number '100' to commemorate the end of the Great War, has been carried out by the town council's grounds staff. The Mayor, Cllr Mrs Lea said, "Waltham Abbey Town Council is delighted with the work which has been carried out on the war memorial, and it is ďŹ tting that this facelift coincides with the 100year centenary of the end of the First World War. The new plaque highlighting our former war memorial hospital is a lovely feature and helps ensure that the hospital, which was built thanks to public subscription, and its place in the history of our local community will be remembered for decades to come."
Stagecoach launches new school in Loughton to meet growing demand for performance arts. Stagecoach Performing Arts is opening a new school in Loughton, to be led by Zach Mobley. Zach, a local drama teacher, professional performer and director, is set to inspire the next generation of budding young performers in Loughton. His impressive ‘CV’ boasts performances at a number of iconic venues, such as the Southwark Playhouse, the Palace Theatre in the West End, and Wembley Arena. Zach says of his new position as Principal, “I’m buzzing with excitement at the opportunity to build a strong, creative syllabus that will challenge the talented children of Loughton, whilst being fun, educational and rewarding for them. At Stagecoach we believe inspiring our students with ‘Creative Courage for Life’ will give them the confidence to own whatever it is they choose to do in the future!”
Stagecoach Performing Arts Loughton is part of a network of more than 750 extra-curricular Performing Arts Schools worldwide. Stagecoach aims to make a difference in its students’ lives by teaching Creative Courage for Life. Early Stages classes are available for children aged four to six and Main Stages classes take place for six to eighteen-year-olds every weekend during term time. There is a free discovery day for anyone curious about the programme on 15th September at Debden Park High School and term starts for students on the morning of 29th September. For more information about Stagecoach Loughton, visit their website at www.stagecoach.co.uk/loughton or call 02033 756 913.
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S IP T 10 TO GET THE MOST FROM SCHOOL OPEN DAYS
So you’ve studied the Ofsted or ISI reports. You've looked at the league tables. You've tapped into the parental grapevine. You've shortlisted the catchment schools within a convenient distance from your home. Your next step is school open days. These will allow you to visit the schools you’ve put on your list as possible good fits for your son or daughter. Most of these take place in September or October. Choosing schools is not easy. That’s whether it’s a pre-school, primary or secondary school. As parents, understandably, we feel under enormous pressure to get it right. And, let’s face it; it's probably one of the most important decisions we’ll make for our children.
Make the right choice The right school will get the best out of your child and shape his or her future path in life. The schools you list on your local authority application form are crucial. In 2017 over 91% of children got a place at their primary school of choice in the UK. More than 84% were offered a place at their preferred secondary school.
What school open days reveal School open days are a not-to-be-missed opportunity to get a genuine sense of whether a school is right for your child. Attending them has become even more important for parents in the current education ‘marketplace’. More and more schools have become savvy marketers. Many promote themselves via glossy brochures, attractive websites, and advertisements in local papers. A lot are making the most of social media too, with regular posts about school life on Facebook and Twitter. These are well worth studying to get a good sense of a school.
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But really, it’s only when you get inside a school that you’ll be able to see beyond the polished sell. And know if the images in the school brochure or Facebook feed portray everyday reality…
Just how much store should you set by the Ofsted report? It’s a good idea to go to as many school open days as you can, and especially those that are in your local catchment area. This is still the most widely used admissions criteria. Whether you’ll get the school you want, though, even if it’s close to your home, will depend on many factors outside your control. So don’t dismiss schools out of hand and don’t set too much store by the Ofsted inspection report. Schools can change quickly, as can their staff. Be aware that the report may be out of date. Also don’t take too seriously what you read in Ofsted’s ‘Parent View’. It only takes one or two parents to say they don't agree with any of the statements (perhaps because they have a bone to pick with the school) for the results to be skewed. Just a few responses can lead to 80% saying they would recommend the school to a friend, but 20% would not. So the message is, judge each school for yourself. The more school open days you attend, the more informed you’ll be. Here’s how to get the best from them.
10-step checklist for getting the most out of a school open day 1. Take your child with you Listen to what she has to say. Is this a place she could thrive in? Watch her reactions. Encourage her to ask questions herself. Her opinion and buy-in is vital. Choosing a school will often be an intangible ‘gut’ choice, both for you – and your child.
2. Choose a daytime open day if you can Evening or Saturday open days tend to be more staged but they’re still a great opportunity to meet teachers and get a good sense of a school. Daytime, though, you’ll get more chance to see the school in action and get out into the corridors and see lessons taking place.
3. Go prepared Open days are a great chance to ask questions. So have a list of written down that you would like answered. For example, how do children of different abilities fare at the school? What sports and clubs are on offer? What options are there for GCSEs and Alevels? What’s the pastoral care like? How up to date is the ICT suite? What’s the policy towards bullying? The head of the school or departmental head may address the answer you need in the overview presentation. If not, choose your moment to speak to them afterwards and pin down the answers you need for your child.
4. Get a feel for the school ethos Yes, Ofsted reports, performance indicators and exam results are important. But a school’s ethos is vital. Look at the interaction of the pupils. How do they wear their uniform? How do they behave, towards one another and their teachers? Can you see genuine relationships? Are teachers respected but not feared? Is there a warm and happy atmosphere?
5. Interview the children Good schools encourage children of all ages to get involved in their open days. So are students helping to show you around? That’s a good sign. Obviously, schools tend to use their ‘best’ pupils for this task. But most children will be honest if you ask them
the right questions. What do they like about their school? What’s their head teacher like? Listen to what your student guides say. Do they seem enthusiastic? Are they well mannered?
6. Check out the classrooms Go into the classrooms and look at the displays on the walls. How much is pupils’ work valued? Does it show a broad range of abilities? Talk to teachers if you can. Do they seem motivated or tired? Try and scratch below the surface and gauge their stress levels. Ask them: ‘Why did you choose to work here?’ Their replies can tell you a lot.
7. Spy on break time If your open day coincides with school break time, take the chance to observe behavior in the corridors. If you can witness the lunch break, even better. Is it calm and orderly? Are there healthy meal options? Take a peek at the toilets. Are they clean and well looked-after? Is there graffiti?
8. Hover at the school gate If there’s a chance to tap into the school-gate opinion at the end of your open day, then grab it. Talk to parents about how they feel about the school. You’ll often get an accurate sense of how the school is performing and how happy its children are this way.
9. Reflect on what you've seen After your school open day, note down your impressions. Did you and your child come away with that all-important feel-good factor? Consider whether you found the open day well-organised. Did it include a well-planned programme? Was there plenty of opportunity to talk to staff and pupils? This can give you a good indicator of how well run the school is.
10. Plan to go back If you liked the school, then ask if you can come for a return visit. You’ll have a clearer perspective when you go back, having attended other school open days.
Find out more about school open days available near you at www.myschoolopendays.co.uk ESSEX CENTRAL
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WE KNOW LONDON IS FULL OF FANTASTIC ATTRACTIONS, SO WE DECIDED TO GO FOR 3 DAYS OUT THAT WERE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FROM THE NORM‌
ARCELORMITTAL ORBIT
instructor who laid us down on a plastic sack and gave us our instructions, then off we went!
First up, we headed to the Olympic Park at Stratford to try the world’s largest tunnel slide, the hugely impressive ArcelorMittal Orbit. This colossal structure is ofďŹ cially Britain’s largest piece of public art and offers guests a fantastic observation deck, as well as the slide itself. As we made our way to the summit with our guide Marian we walked out to be greeted with a mind bending reection, a vast mirror that ipped our image as soon as we stepped out of the lifts, which we were told was a little trick from the architect himself Anish Kapoor.
There’s 12 turns in total and the ride takes just over 40 seconds, some of the turns are quite fast and the ride is split between sections of darkened tunnel then open
Moving away from this you approach the huge panoramic views across London, from initially looking down to the Olympic stadium beneath you, to the mid distance of Canary Wharf, St Pauls and The City, to the outskirts of the Dartford crossing and beyond. It’s superb and a lot of fun picking out landmarks across the skyline with the help of the interactive touch screens installed to help visitors. Then its down to the oor below,
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Perspex windows, then straight back into another tunnel section. There are many moments you assume it’s coming to an end, only to pass another window and see you’re still above the London skyline‌ it’s simply fantastic.
and the trepidation starts to creep in as you see people donning their safety pads and crash helmets, how dangerous is this slide?! We were soon kitted up and ready to ďŹ nd out, and made our way to the
Once we got to the bottom we grabbed some lunch and looked around a few more venues such as the aqua dome because that’s the beauty of this attraction, it’s surrounded by so many iconic Olympic sites that you can make a full day here so easily, looking at the Olympic stadium, the velodrome, not to mention a visit WestďŹ eld itself if you fancy some shopping and more food. This is a great location and certainly one we shall visit again, perhaps next time we will see the skyline at night. www.arcelormittalorbit.com
WAKEUP DOCKLANDS A short drive from the Olympic Park and we found a beach, lido and wake boarding centre, yes you read that right. We were in the Docklands but had found an oasis of calm and tranquillity, with lovely music, sand in your toes and local beer pulled in a wooden beach hut. The owner of ‘WakeUpDocklands’ Jon Byrne explained more to us, “The city can be a very stressful place, and what we can offer is a break from all that, a place to unwind, chill out and relax, without having to drive a couple of hours to the coast.” Anyone can book up some sessions and give it a try. What Jon and his team have created is truly superb and the star of the show is off course the wakeboarding experience itself. I had no wakeboarding skills yet, but my colleague Simon had a few sessions in the bag so I was keen for him to go first. The set-up is that you get into the water and hold the rope, which is then pulled along by the overhead cables, you then start to rise up out of the water, turn your board, and master the art
of keeping enough pressure you your leading foot whilst not pulling in on the rope and getting your body stance correct. It was a lot to deal with at first and initially I face planted into the Royal Victoria Dock with alarming regularity, as Simon continued to glide majestically around corners and seemed only hours away from applying to the world championships. However, undeterred and with the calming instructions of Jon I eventually started to get to grips with the technique and by the end I was gliding back to shore holding the rope with 1 hand whilst posing. This really was a fantastic experience and Jon is not only a great instructor he is also clearly trying to create something bigger than just a wakeboarding retreat, it’s a little paradise nestled amongst the madness and well worth a visit. Especially as he is currently offering 10 hours for just £150. www.wakeupdocklands.com
TEAMSPORT GO KARTING Finally, our crazy day took us to TeamSport Go Karting, just across the river to see their recently expanded, split level race track. I’d been looking forward to this all day as I’m a huge fan of go karting and we got into our overalls and headed to the safety meeting.
Once the briefing was over we headed trackside and the scale of the track became the talking point, it was huge. Nearly a kilometre in length and with the recently added 2nd level it created a vast array of turns and straights for overtaking and trying to hold positions. We got in our go karts, adrenaline flowing, and the race began. We sped off like crazy (well, most of us did, there’s always some slow ones who seem like they want to view the sights) and started blitzing round the track. There’s marshals everywhere so if someone did get nudged into a wall, or took a turn too fast then they’d be on hand to get you back in the race and keep things moving. We had 2 15 minute sessions and it was exhausting. We zoomed across the track and flew up and down the ramps, eventually, covered in sweat we made it back to the pits and checked our scores, one of us had the best average lap, the other had the fastest, so we respectfully called it a draw. This venue (along with their sister site in Basildon) is perfect for a group of people who want to go out and have a great action packed day with a competitive edge, or just a couple of mates who want to test their skills. There was a real range of ages and the split was 50-50 between men and women. Team sports have centres across the country and it’s clear to see why they are doing so well when they’re able to provide you with such a fantastic experience. www.team-sport.co.uk
The staff deserve a mention here, all were very professional and helpful, creating a really good atmosphere amongst the attendees.
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OF OUR SUCCESS IS
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NOW SELLING DiSotto’s Italian ice cream
PRIDE
Nothing is mixed with our meat – scotch beef in all our pies. Our vegetarian pies are full of fresh vegetables and cream sauce. Our meat has farm to fork traceability back to Scottish farms... We do outside catering, weddings and events, the secret of our success is pride, it's a family run business all our staff are treated as family, in fact, most of them are! All our shops are hygienically clean as they can be! The Robins family: June, Thomas, Melanie and Julie •Weddings •Anniversaries •Birthdays •Christenings Fully catered: we provide everything you need, including Pie & Mash, Desserts, Staff and Cutlery & Crockery
extension at the t l i u b e Come and see our specially rating Tommy Allpress’ ’s Wanstead branch, commemors Pie & Mash / Robin ’ corner TA
Pie, Mash a & nd L iquor: o nly 3 £ .80
BRANCHES AT: WANSTEAD, BASILDON, ROMFORD, CHINGFORD AND SOUTHEND 14 HIGH STREET, WANSTEAD (Mon to Sat: 10am - 5.30pm & Sun: 10am - 5pm) 9-11 QUADRANT ARCADE, ROMFORD (TEL: 01708 752 552) 65-67 MARKET SQUARE, BASILDON (TEL: 01268 271713) 50 STATION ROAD, CHINGFORD (TEL: 020 8524 1824) 15 CLARENCE STREET, SOUTHEND (TEL: 01702 436 396)
TEL: 020 8989 1988 or 020 8508 1513 FOR ORDERS
EMAIL: NICOLE@ROBINSPIEANDMASH.COM
PESTS & DISEASE
The cabbage root fly targets cabbages, cauliflower and other brassicas. As the plants grow slowly they begin to wilt and die as their roots are eaten by larvae of a fly. Plants can be protected by growing them under the cover of horticultural fleece. Or you can place a brassica collar around the base of the stem. The collar prevents the female fly placing eggs on the soil surface close to a plant. Eggs deposited on the collar often dry up and fail to hatch.
WITH VICTORIA ROBERTSON A SEASONAL GUIDE TO HELP YOU GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR GARDEN.
$;BA@8GE<A>G:C@E<GE<FBFGA> ;>;D??7G:CBFGBDA@+D??GD@=GE<FG>CA? A>G>EA??G)DB:G:D A@8GAEGDG9FB+F4E EA:FGECG=A(A=FG;9G>C:FGC+G7C;B 9FBF@@AD?>'G,7G=A(A=A@8GE<F:G;9 D@=GBF9?D@EA@8GE<F:G@C)GE<F7 )A??G<D(FGE<FG)<C?FGC+GE<F D;E;:@G+CBGE<FABGBCCEG>7>EF:>GEC 3F8A@G=F(F?C9A@8'G1CC GDBC;@= A@G7C;BG8DB=F@G+CBGE<FG9FBF@@AD?> E<DEG<D(FG3F4C:FGECCG3A8GD@= C(FB4BC)=F=6GE<F>FGDBFGE<F 9?D@E>GECG=A(A=F'G/<A>G)A??G<F?9 BFA@(A8CBDEFGE<F:GD@=GF@4C;BD8F 3FEEFBG+?C)FBA@8G@F EG7FDB' • Start by digging up clumps and using a spade cut the roots in half or in quarters if the plant is quite big. • Improve the soil before replanting by adding some well-rotted manure or compost which will help to feed the plant until next year.
• Water them in well and continue to do so for the next few weeks. • Don’t forget to leave some of your perennials with their seed heads still on to provide food for birds, and this will also help to add some interest in the garden over winter especially on frosty days when they will stand out with some sparkle and shine. There are still plenty of colourful flowers to be enjoyed like Dahlias, Chrysanthemums and Asters. Keep deadheading them to encourage them to flower for as long as possible. Plant up some hyacinth and amaryllis bulbs indoors in pots ready for forcing. They will grow into lovely colourful blooms just in time for Christmas and will make perfect home-grown presents for family and friends.
WILDLIFE WATCH Badgers are stocky, with short legs and silvery-grey fur. They have very distinctive black and white markings on their faces. They can sometimes be seen at night wandering through the garden, foraging for food and also in woods and on grassland. They live in family groups in a series of underground chambers, called setts, which are often used by successive generations.
,7G A4ECBADG.C3FBE>C@6GD:F@AE7 <CBEA4;?E;BA>EGD@=G4C::AEEFF :F:3FBGC+G-C99F=G0D??G 299A@8G0CBEA4;?E;BD?G5C4AFE7G G-<DAB:D@GC+G299A@8GA@G,?CC:'G
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INTRODUCING
5FEGECG3FG"F A4C >G@F)F>E 8C;B:FEG=F>EA@DEAC@6G-C>ED "; FBF>G)A??G>CC@G3FG<C:FGEC E<FG % BCC:G BD@=G D??D=A;: -C>EDG"; FBF>G.F>CBEG G59D D@=G/.5G-CBD?G0CEF?6GDG % BCC:GD=;?E> C@?7G9BC9FBE7'G Opening in autumn 2018, the stretch of coastline in the northeast of the Yucatan Peninsula is the perfect spot to unwind and relax. Located in the almost untouched region of the most northern point of Cancun, Costa Mujeres distinguishes itself as an idyllic location for travellers to experience â&#x20AC;&#x153;virgin beachesâ&#x20AC;?, crystal clear waters and an abundance of coral reefs and marine species. The new Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa is a stylish family-friendly 5-star beachfront hotel, about 30 minutes away from the town of CancĂşn and its international airport. It has a modern design and offers top-quality services, elevating the â&#x20AC;&#x153;all inclusiveâ&#x20AC;? concept to a whole new level of luxury. The resort is peaceful and tranquil with paradisiac white sandy beaches.
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A unique system of canals will allow guests to access all points of the resort by boat. Each room will boast a balcony or terrace overlooking the impressive views of the resort and out to sea. Some rooms will include premium features like direct access â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;swim-upâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; pools or hydro massage hot tubs on their private balconies. The propertyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s facilities feature nine restaurants to suit every taste, four swimming pools, one of them exclusive for children, as well as an impressive 16,000 ft2 convention centre with capacity for 1380 people. The resort will also offer a varied range of experiences, with activities
such as snorkelling, diving, yoga and pilates, live music shows at the open-air terraces, special VIP service for families including a Family Selection Area as well as treatment at their world-class 51,020 ft2 Zentropia Palladium Spa & Wellness centre. Ideal for families, couples and groups, as well as state-of-the-art facilities for business trips or incentives, events, conferences and weddings, this hotel could suit the needs of any guest. The 473-room TRS Coral Hotel will represent the rebrand of Palladium Hotel Groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s adults-only products,
14 restaurants. Taking diners on a gastro journey, from Spain to Thailand and Italy to India, not forgetting local and regional Mexican cuisine, Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort and Spa and TRS Coral Hotel will feature a carefully curated selection of restaurants set around ‘The Village’ that links the two hotels along with shops, bars and recreation areas. and the introduction of its new ideology and service aiming to provide ‘Infinite Indulgence’, with no limits, to all guests. The property’s well-lit modern style and architectural design is heightened by a discreet service tunnel network, out of sight of hotel guests, ensuring impeccable aesthetics and serenity. The exuberant nightlife and rich cultural and gastronomic offerings of the nearby city give the region an extra layer of excitement. The resorts will offer flavours and styles from around the world at the
Guests at the adults-only TRS Coral Hotel will have access to a further five à la carte restaurants from which to choose, so they can take advantage of the exclusive ‘Dine Around’ concept during their stay. In homage to Palladium Hotel Group’s roots in Ibiza, both hotels feature a beach club - the Poseidon Beach Club at Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort and Spa will offer refreshing cocktails and Mediterranean style fare for lunch or dinner by the sea with views of Playa Mujeres. TRS Coral Hotel guests will have exclusive access to
Helios Beach Club, which follows the trail of the famous beach clubs of Ibiza with live music and DJ sets providing a rhythmic soundtrack as guests indulge in fish, seafood and seasonal cuisine. Set to be unmissable is the unique gastro and sensory experience at Chic Cabaret & Restaurant, which is already ranked number one on TripAdvisor out of more than 1,000 restaurants in Mexico’s Playa del Carmen, so it will no doubt go down a storm among Costa Mujeres’ guests. So much more than dinner and a show, Chic Cabaret & Restaurant is an exquisite multiplecourse dinner, enjoyed while absorbing breath-taking acrobatics, stunning choreography and music from all genres. Reservations for Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa and TRS Coral Hotel are now being taken for stays from 1 November 2018. For more information and to book, taking advantage of special opening promotions, get in touch with Abbotts Travel.
*33CEE>G/BD(F? &% G FCB8FG1D@F 5C;E<G CC=+CB=G2& G&,* /F? G G! !G! )))'D33CEE>EBD(F?'4C: ESSEX CENTRAL
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LingoZingo Classes & Private Tuition Come for a FREE TRIAL to join in the fun at our LingoZingo French & Spanish classes! For 2.5 years +, Saturdays in Buckhurst Hill. Book now for the September term!
Private tuition also available for all ages in languages, Maths, English and Science. All teachers very experienced, fully qualified, DBS-checked and local. Please call Jo Schwartz
T: 07726 949215
email: joschwartz1@gmail.com www.LingoZingo.co.uk
Exceptional Indian Dining Temple Indian Fusion offers diners a unique culinary experience.
PAN ASIA
COMING SOON 151 QUEENS ROAD, BUCKHURST HILL, ESSEX IG95 AZ
Tel: 020 8505 6687 or 020 8504 4380 www.templefusion.com Take Away home delivery outside catering for large or small parties such as weddings & birthdays
FREE delivery in a 3 mile radius Old Parcel OfďŹ ce, Jubilee Parade, Snakes Lane East, Woodford, Essex IG8 7QF
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YOUR LOCAL EVENTS GUIDE
AUTUMN FLOWER SHOW
QUIZ NIGHT Cash prize to be won. Tel: 01992 572618. 2(FB7G/;F>=D7GDEG/<FG/<F7=C@ #D G$A@A@8G G ;36G-CC9FB>D?F 5EBFFE6G299A@8G-"& G
THEYDON & ABRIDGE JAZZ CLUB Listen to and/or dance to live traditional jazz bands (different each session). Non-members welcome. Membership available. Members' children under 12 free. Bar, tea and coffee. Good seating, friendly atmosphere, free parking, disabled facilities. 5F4C@=GD@=G+C;BE<G F=@F>=D7GC+ F(FB7G:C@E<GDEG*3BA=8FG A??D8F 0D??6G#@8DBG.CD=6G*3BA=8F
Flower arranging, cookery section, vegetables, and junior entries, plants for sale and garden sundries, teas and homemade cakes. Admission free for Buckhurst Hill Horticultural Society members (ÂŁ1 for non-members). For more information ring show secretary Jill Jones on 0208 257 8996 or email jill998@btinternet.com 5DE;B=D7G E<G5F9EF:3FB6G 9: '% 9:GDEG/<FG-F@EF@DB7 0D??6G5E'G C<@ >G-<;B4<6G0A8< .CD=6G,;4 <;B>EG0A??
MUSIC FOR LUNCH Admission free. Retiring collection. Refreshments served noon12.30pm. For more information ring the Parish OfďŹ ce on 01992 767897. 5DE;B=D7G E<G5F9EF:3FBGDEG*33F7 -<;B4<6G0A8<3BA=8FG5EBFFE6 D?E<D:G*33F7
Explore the process of taking photos of people with both natural and studio lighting. Enthusiasm and a camera are the only requirements. Fee ÂŁ31 (plus ÂŁ1 if not a BHCA member). For more details ring 020 8504 6668 or email ofďŹ ce@bedfordhouse.org.uk 5DE;B=D7G& E<G5F9EF:3FB6G& D: %9:GDEG,;4 <;B>EG0A??G-C::;@AE7 *>>C4ADEAC@6G,F=+CB=G0C;>F6 F>E3;B7G.CD=6G,;4 <;B>EG0A??
VOLUNTEER DAY
LADIES RUNNING CLUB Come and join our social running group for ladies only. Set yourself targets and push yourself or just be comfortable running at your own pace plus Fairlop Waters is a perfect place to enjoy a run. ÂŁ3 per session, no booking required. 2(FB7G/<;B>=D76G 9:GDEG DAB?C9 DEFB>6G CBF>EG.CD=6G,DB A@8>A=F G%0
TAKING PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHS WORKSHOP
FARMERS MARKET Produce stalls and local organisations. Loughton Residents' Association councillors on hand to respond to residentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; questions and problems. 5;@=D7G!E<G5F9EF:3FB6G!D: %9: DEG-F@EBA4G DBD=F6G0A8<G.CD=6 1C;8<EC@
ONGAR ART SOCIETY A demonstration of Village Scene in Line and Wash by Anthony Nield. For more details, ring Lynne Harris on 01277 372123 or Beverly Hughes on 01708 688554 /<;B>=D7G&%E<G5F9EF:3FB6G 9:GDE 0A8<G#@8DBG A??D8FG0D??6G"A??G1D@F6 0A8<G#@8DB
Do you enjoy working outdoors? Do you fancy getting some exercise while helping to improve wildlife habitats and maintain the local landscape? Volunteer Days run on the last Tuesday of the month with all training and tools provided. Wear weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy boots. Take your own food and drink. Ring Julia Rolf on 01992 523863 for further details or email julia.rolf@greenacresgroup.co.uk /;F>=D7G E<G5F9EF:3FB6G & D: %9:GDEG BFF@*4BF>G299A@86
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SHOW CROADS performing Outside Edge by Richard Harris - a comedy play set amongst the misdemeanors at a typical village cricket club on one particular Saturday afternoon. Tickets ÂŁ12, ring 07922 617930 or email croadschigwell@gmail.com. www.croads.co.uk.https://www.tick etsource.co.uk/croads F=@F>=D7G%B=G G5DE;B=D7G E< #4EC3FB6G ' 9:GDEG A4ECB7G0D??6 0DA@D;?EG.CD=6G-<A8)F??
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WIN TICKETS TO ROCK FOR HEROES! Are you ready to ROCK! Immerse yourself in the incredible new live music experience with Rock For Heroes. Bringing the perfect combination of your favourite Rock & Pop artist across the eras, in celebration of and raising money for an incredible cause Help for Heroes. Performed by a full live rock band and superb singers, It’s the must see show of the year. With music from artists such as Dire Straits, Status Quo, Queen, David Bowie, Madonna, Spandau Ballet, Bryan Adams, Elton John, Simple Minds and so many more. You won’t see a bad wig here, this isn’t a tribute act this is simply paying tribute, the best way we can to the legends in music. We have 2 pairs of tickets to give away, one pair for the show at Harlow Playhouse on 13th October and one pair for the show at Kenneth More Theatre on 19th October. www.harlowplayhouse.co.uk, www.kmtheatre.co.uk
TO ENTER: Email your details to competitions@essexcentralmagazine.co.uk stating which show you would prefer to see. Closing Date: Two winners will be chosen at random on Friday 28th September.
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Get your business noticed by thousands of local people every month! Across our publication we distribute over half a million magazines each year, cover over 200 square km and reach hundreds of thousands of people via our hard copy magazine, digital magazine, plus facebook and twitter promotion â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all of this is all inclusive for EVERY advertiser, big or small. Our publication covers:
Wanstead, chingford, Snaresbrook, South Woodford, Woodford, Buckhurst Hill, Chigwell, Loughton, Theydon Bois and Epping For more information call 01787 581894 or email advertising@essexcentralmagazine.co.uk
We look forward to working with you!
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Rates start from just ÂŁ50
CORNER
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE Can you spot 6 differences between these two pictures?
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DIFFICULTY: MEDIUM
WORD SEARCH Find these school subjects: "DE<F:DEA4> 2@8?A><G -<F:A>EB7 *BEG
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CRISS-CROSS Fit these school words into the grid: 5 Letters .;?FB ;9A? 6 Letters F@4A? .;33FB 54<CC? For puzzle solutions please visit www.essexcentralmagazine.co.uk
7 Letters @A+CB: /FD4<FB 1F>>C@>
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WITHOUT A MAP... Today, Jake turns 3, happy birthday to the little cave boy. I think he was born about 65 million years too late because he would have fitted in very well with the dinosaurs. His favourites being Spinosaurus and of course, T-Rex. I’m not sure how he initially got into 70’s music but its all he goes on about these days. I expect he will soon be strutting to school in fluorescent bell bottoms and funky glasses whilst balancing a huge afro. But, back to the here and now, he is deliriously happy about his toys (mainly dinosaurs,) his clothes (covered in dinosaurs) and his TV programmes (95% dinosaurs, and 5% ‘Top Of The Pops 2’). In the last few weeks of the summer holidays his speech has come on leaps and bounds, and he is throwing out random phrases which he is clearly copying from us, “Oopsy daisy”, “Can I have some toast please” and the adorable “I need more Vodka! These kids will be the death of me!!” …bless him. The summer holidays themselves have been a real test of endurance as most parents will understand. Sure, it’s fine at the start, everyone is laughing and joking, really enjoying the family time together, but after a few hours this starts to wear a bit thin. By the 5th week our house looks like an episode of Big Brother, set in a war zone. The northern voice over begins… “Day 32 and Dad is foolishly trying to undertake simple chores, and we watch him now as he prepares to make his toast. Unbeknownst to him, Jake is coming round the corner with a water balloon and throws it at his father and across
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the toaster. The dad’s hair is on end and there’s smoke rising from his ears and both eyes have been crossed for over a minute now. George has also arrived and both boys are giggling uncontrollably whilst their mum frantically calls for an ambulance” …. And so on.
“Our house looks like an episode of Big Brother, set in a war zone.” So we have been trying to pad out the days with cheap and easy activities, such as playing football, climbing trees, days at the beach etc…. and yesterday George and myself did some late night stargazing. It was fantastic, and whereas Jake has a huge interest in dinosaurs, George is fixated with astronomy. We managed to see Mars, Jupiter and Saturn (plus hundreds of stars) and every now and then George would also find a rapid comet, hurtling across the sky with red and blue blinking lights on the front… then correct himself and begrudgingly admit he’d seen another plane. At some stage we are bound to see a comet though, I’ve seen many shooting stars from the garden and I’m sure when George sees his first one the wish will involve something excruciating like ‘longer summer holidays’. The holidays have allowed us to train them up for a couple of useful things though, namely potty training and swimming (only twice have these two activities combined and thankfully we was able to leave the pool in a hurry). George is now able to swim freely, without armbands, across the length of the pool, but both boys would much rather stand on the side and bomb into the
water, laughing like maniacs as they splatter towards me. The swim back to the side tends to make up most of their swimming practise, before they leap in again. The potty training situation has been a bit more ‘hit and miss’ (excuse the rhyming slang) as Jake initially liked to be certain he was definitely going before casually strolling across to the potty. This technique would result in him standing in the middle of the front room, like a garden water feature, watching the greatest hits of T-rex. He would then meander his way across the carpet, flinging urine in every direction as his mum and I tried to get near him, covering our eyes with one hand and armed with baby wipes in the other, all the while trying to scream through a closed mouth. He would eventually sit on the potty where the final drip would slowly land and form the loneliest puddle you’ve ever seen. At this stage he would leap up and expect a treat, painfully oblivious to the yellow stained ceiling and walls that surrounded him. After a few days though the process started to become a little easier (and yes, we did have a number 2 moment, on the carpet, no joke) and he started going to the potty in good time. The only problem now is that he is trying to copy us when we empty the potty, and he finds it quite a struggle to have his head focussed on watching TV whilst walking along with his potty as its contents splash gleefully over the sides with each step towards the bathroom. Thankfully, the holidays are nearly over!!
/CG3FG4C@EA@;F=
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