Inspired Magazine JULY Issue by Lee Doran

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What happens at a

UFO

convention!

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This month in Inspired

Editor

FASHION

34 LIVING KITCHENS

Welcome to the July issue of Inspired! If you’re looking for a refuge from all the sport on TV, look no further than this month’s Inspired. Although we do have a nod to the Olympics, with some news about inspiring people involved in local sport and in fact the Olympics, too, we also have plenty more to tempt you in too. If you want to know what happened when I went to a UFO conference, just turn to ‘Essex and the Single Girl’ and find out why I definitely have one in the bank for the next time I want my boyfriend to do something for me. It was an experience!

12 WIN FREE Training

We’ve got some fab fashion for you – an interview with the amazing Petra Kvarčáková and some pictures of some of her gorgeous hats and fascinators. We bring you cheery fashion for men and flowery girly dresses perfect for the emerging summer sunshine. Don’t miss the up and coming designers from It’s My Generation either.

22 FOR THE MEN

CHATTY

MOTORS

LADIES TIME OUT

PETS

10 LADIES FASHION

CINEMA

20 GENTLEMEN’S DEN

BUSINESS

JUNIOR

48 BE INSPIRED

30 HOME STYLE

50 BUSINESS DIRECTORY

So…we hope you enjoy the magazine, and please keep your lovely comments coming, we love to hear what you think of Inspired! Have a wonderful July. All the best

40 OUT TO EAT...? Sarah Clark - M 07799 777018 sarah.clark@inspiredessex.co.uk

Advertising & Creative Director

Lee Doran - M 077 66 73 49 27 lee.doran@inspiredessex.co.uk

Office Telephone: Publisher: Office Address:

01245 252575 Leed Limited TTC House, 86 Broomfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 2SS.

Sarah

Twitter: @inspiredessex Sarah.clark@inspiredessex.co.uk www.inspiredessex.co.uk

38 DINE IN STYLE

Editor

The kids will be off school very soon, so we’ve put together some ideas for things to do indoors – well I don’t trust the British summer to deliver playing out weather for six weeks! We’ve turned our attention to indoor living with some fabulous interior ideas and lighting tips too. Foodies will love our seafood recipes as well as the return of Simon Jury with a delicious, mouth-watering idea for steak. Watch this space for more veggie and vegan ideas next month too, we don’t want to miss out our non-carnivorous readers!

36 THE GARDEN

Hello!

Inspired magazine is distributed in Essex FREE to selected homes, businesses, dentists, doctors, train stations, Odeon Cinemas and Broomfield Hospital.

Inspired Magazine, a Leed Limited publication, is published on a monthly basis. The publisher, editors and contributors accept no responsibility in respect of any products, goods or services that may be advertised or referred to in this issue or for any errors, omissions, misstatements or mistakes in any such advertisements or references.

The views expressed in Inspired magazine are those of the respective contributors, not necessarily those of the publishers. Reproduction in part or full is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher

www.Inspiredessex.co.uk | JULY 2012 ISSUE 15

| PAGE 3

Chatty

Essex and the Not-so-Single Girl “Nine feet tall aliens and shrink-wrapped cheese sarnies” Let me start by saying I love my boyfriend to bits. That said, like every man I’ve ever known, he has an obsession. He’s geeky about lots of things, actually, in an endearing kind of way, but ever since I’ve known him he’s been a bit of an avid reader of UFO websites and blogs. He loves a good conspiracy theory. This isn’t a problem, it does make for some interesting conversations at times...but when he asked me a couple of months ago if I wanted to go with him to a Rendlesham UFO Conference in Suffolk, my immediate reaction was, “No”. I actually said I was quite happy for him to enjoy this geek-fest himself, although to be fair I don’t think I actually used the words ‘geek-fest’ at the time. But he looked a bit crestfallen and said he’d really like it if I went with him. I thought it might be OK, a couple of nights in a B&B, Suffolk coastal fresh air, pub lunches, you know, the girl version of ‘day at a UFO conference’. So I caved.

200 geeks and a community hall I should have guessed when he said it was at Woodbridge Community Hall that it wasn’t going to be a swanky venue. Benefit of the doubt duly awarded, we checked in at the B&B, enjoyed a pleasant (and expensive) meal and retired to our room. It hit me what I might have let myself in for when I said, “Is it going to be 13 hours of people talking while we just sit there?”

Interesting UFO tales?

It all gets very surreal

I decided to try and make the best of things I hoped maybe for some entertaining stories. The first speaker was cross. She was very cross because she’d been abducted by aliens when she was on holiday in Wales and nobody believed her.

The last speaker we saw was worth the wait. A very well spoken gentleman called Timothy Good started by talking about alien landings, lights in the sky...and then the evening turned incredibly surreal when he started telling us that there were colonies of nine feet tall400-year old aliens living underground. He showed us a picture of one. It just looked like a man in fifties clothes. Not sure where he’d get clothes to fit him if he’s over 9 feet tall, but apparently they are thousands of years more technologically advanced than us so I guess dressmaking’s not a problem. These ‘good’ aliens live among us, and some of them run big global organisations and are quite well known. Although they must be the short ones.

We were less than an hour in and I was already so bored that I was attempting to do distance Reiki on my friend’s daughter. Smut Boy asked me if I was OK at that point. I must have had my concentrating face on. I can’t remember much about the one before lunch.

It’s all closed Woodbridge is closed on a Sunday. We did wander into town and find a pub that served food; we couldn’t do it in the allotted hour we were given for lunch so we missed the first half of an especially riveting lecture on crop circles, plasma something-or-others, electromagnetic forces and lots of physics I didn’t understand. At this point I was sulking. Where were the entertaining ‘I met an alien’ tales? The next speakers were Rendlesham landing theorists. So they talked about nuclear bunkers, lighthouses, cover ups and stuff. I was mildly interested by the USAF serviceman who was there, he sounded plausible enough. I was looking forward to the ‘supper break’ though, until I realised there wouldn’t be enough time to get anything to eat because we had less than an hour, and missing the next speaker wasn’t an option as he was the one my beloved really wanted to see. My bottom lip was in evidence as we trudged back to the plastic seats to make do with a cling-filmed cheese sandwich and an instant coffee for dinner. Not only that, but Woodbridge was out to get me because I went to cross the railway line to investigate the (closed) Railway Cafe and jumped about a mile backwards when the ‘there’s a train coming’ alarms started beeping. Somebody thought this was hilarious. Clue: It wasn’t me!

The answer was “Ummm yes, I think so.” Crap. My fears were confirmed. Plastic chairs, a projector and PowerPoint. It was like an office staff meeting! A 13 hour staff meeting!

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That wasn’t all. There are bad aliens too - these aliens are the naughty ones that abduct us. They are trying to create a hybrid race that will take over the earth by 2040. The good aliens are fighting the bad aliens on our behalf, but they need our help, even though they are so advanced. They’ve been teaching our top fighter pilots how to pilot their space craft! That last hour or so was way more entertaining than any of the rest of the speakers put together. He was utterly convinced, and straight-faced, had impeccable credentials, but sorry, nine foot aliens? Not buying it, love! The Boy said to me as we waited for the taxi, “You won’t come to another UFO conference ever again, will you?” He was right.

Chatty

Get bikini beautiful this summer As the holiday season approaches, many people feel a little intimidated about shedding the layers and wearing a swimsuit or bikini. This is one of the busiest times of year for us personal trainers, and it’s worth doing some preparation work to your body before your holiday, for self-confidence if nothing else! Diet:- And no I’m not going to say “go on a diet”! Just try to reduce the amount of sugar ingested on a daily basis and replace simple carbohydrates with complex carbohydrates. To minimise water retention, decrease salt intake. Cut out highly processed foods and increase

the amount of fruit and vegetables consumed. Try to start this regime 4 weeks before your holiday if you can. Exercise:- Try to incorporate 3-5, 20-30 minute cardiovascular (raising the heart rate) activities during the week. This could be swimming, cycling, jogging....even dancing. It needs to be something enjoyable and what gets your heart racing! Also, undertake some resistance (load bearing) exercises to sculpt and tone the body. Ideally, do an “all over body” program to target multiple areas, especially the larger compound muscles. These could include;

• • • • • • • •

Squats (for the legs, bum & tum) Push ups (chest, arms, shoulders & tum) Glute bridge (bum, back & tum) Tricep dips (arms, upper back) The Plank (tum) Travelling lunges (legs, bum, tum) Toe reach (tum) Side bends (waist)

For full information on getting your beach body and to receive a FREE program sheet, visit www.inspiredbycarly.co.uk and register your details via the Contacts page. Happy, healthy holidays!! Carly Humphreys-Surry (Personal Trainer) Follow me on Twitter - @CarlyHS_yourPT

Olympics? Bah Humbug. Is the thought of wall-to-wall Olympic coverage filling you with dread rather than patriotic pride? Fear not, non-sporty friends, because Inspired’s favourite Essex spa retreat has the ideal offer just for you. During the London Olympic Weeks Lifehouse Spa in Thorpe-le-Soken is offering sport-phobic spa guests B&B rates of just £67.50 per person - based on two sharing. You can hide yourself away in the comfort of the spa and make use of all the delicious spa facilities, a fluffy bath robe and slippers – and you even get to keep your free rubber duck. A scrumptious Continental breakfast is thrown in too. To make your stay even more special you can treat yourself to a little something extra if you fancy spoiling yourself. You can opt for lightly chilled champagne on arrival - or choose something delicious from the in-room menu. Just don’t turn the TV on or you’ll be right back where you started… www.lifehouse.co.uk

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Ladies Time Out

Must Listen! Why God Made the Radio – The Beach Boys

If you’re like me, when you think of the Beach Boys, you think ‘Wouldn’t it be nice?’ or ‘Surfin’ USA’ – but in fact the boys’ – who are now middle-aged men – last album was only 16 years ago. The album is another part of the bands 50th anniversary reunion celebrations that also includes a world tour. Last year saw the release of The Smile Sessions, Brian Wilson’s unfinished late-Sixties masterpiece, and That’s Why God Made the Radio is a reminder that everything changes,

Read...

Fifty Shades of Grey

time passes and life moves on with Mike Love’s fun-in-the-sun style tunes competing with Wilson’s, darker themes. The first half is the ‘flashback’ to the Beach Boys as they were, all ‘Spring Vacation’ and cheery lyrics. ‘That’s Why God Made the Radio’ is choc-full of all the old Beach Boys trademark harmonies and wouldn’t have sounded at all out of place on ‘Pet Sounds’. Then there’s something of a change as the second half gets darker and songs like ‘Strange World’ which about life’s ability to confuse. The record ends with ‘Summer’s Gone’ – and with a group of

I jumped on the bandwagon before it got away, and I’ve just read ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ by the enigmatic-sounding E L James. It’s already spawned a whole host of parodies, been held responsible for a whole new literary genre - ‘Mummy Porn’- and every other day, someone on Twitter or Facebook is posting about it. In the name of journalistic research, if nothing else, I had to read it. The general gist of the tale is that young, inexperienced Anastasia Steele happens to accidentally meet the drop-dead gorgeous and filthy rich entrepreneur Christian Grey. By about chapter four (if you’re only reading it for the mucky bits) they are tearing each other’s clothes off. But Christian is no ordinary mega-rich love God. He just happens to have, in addition to a helicopter, private jet and several cars (of course) a playroom in his super swanky apartment. And it’s not the sort of playroom you would leave your kids in.

Watch

The Woman in Black

Based on the classic ghost story, The Woman In Black tells the tale of Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe), a lawyer who is forced to leave his young son and travel to a remote village to attend to the affairs of the recently deceased owner of Eel Marsh House. Working alone in the old mansion, Kipps begins to uncover the town’s tragic and tortured secrets and his fears escalate when he discovers that local children have been disappearing under mysterious circumstances. When those closest to him become threatened by the vengeful woman in black, Kipps must find a way to break the cycle of terror.

I have to confess I did enjoy the film, although it wasn’t particularly scary. I thought it was eerie rather than spooky although there were a few stand out spine tingling moments, and a lot of jumpy bits! Daniel Radcliffe is believable as the young Mr Kipps although I defy anyone who hasn’t seen any of the Harry Potter films not to imagine Hermione and Ron coming to save the day. Definitely worth watching, beautifully filmed and very atmospheric.

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septuagenarians you can imagine what the song alludes to. “We live, then die/And dream about our yesterdays.” In parts nostalgic, in parts sad and in part total genius.

Ana is introduced by Christian to a world of kinky BDSM sex, safe words, hard limits and a non-disclosure agreement. Of course she falls in love with him. But does he fall in love with her? And why won’t he let her touch him? If I’m honest, the writing sucks. If I ever come across Ana’s ‘Inner Goddess’ I’m going to have to slap her and tell her to stop biting her lip, and if you’ve read the book already, you’ll know exactly what I mean by that. It’s repetitive in places and relies on rather too many ‘Holy craps’ to make its point. The mucky bits are – apart from a select few – also very repetitive, and once you get onto the second book, you might find yourself losing interest. But it’s probably worth a read, anyway.

Ladies Time Out

Braxted Park Cookery School

Bad Budgie Smugglers Apparently, one of our most favourite holiday guilty pleasures is laughing at men in Speedos! Unsuitable and unflattering swimwear seems to give us hours of amusement when we’re away, sunning ourselves!

– by Alice Langley

There is something about a well-presented meal that makes it taste all the better don’t you think? Well there is for me, I eat with my eyes as my mother always tells me. So learning to not only be able to cook great food but also have it look impressive once on the plate has always appealed to me. Braxted Park Cookery School has such an eclectic range of cookery courses on offer I was spoilt for choice really on what one to start with. I opted for Modern British cooking as the menu quite simply sounded like a sumptuous feast of traditional cooking with a quirky contemporary twist. Our Chef for the day was William Grinstead, owner of Essex based catering company The Black Jacket Chef. So much for chefs being all bad language and bad manners, I don’t think I’ve ever met a more charming man. After a brief Health and Safety briefing we were at our stations and ready to go. With class sizes kept small we were all able to work at the same pace and keep up with the cooking techniques being taught. The state of the art kitchen was amazing; within about half hour I could feel myself starting to believe that I was a Michelin starred chef. This dream would have been a lot more believable if I hadn’t had to throw away the first batch of chocolate I was melting for my cheesecake because I’d stirred it too much and it wouldn’t melt. That’s what I loved about my time here though, everybody was so friendly and helpful, there was no shame in making a mistake, we were all learning together. William’s teaching kept us all on our toes. With a mixture of watch and learn and cooking in pairs we were always busy, always learning and certainly always having fun. Our first dish, Mushroom, Leek and Gruyere Tart, was simple to make, tasty (very tasty) and looked so good on the plate. As we all sat down for our morning break to eat the dish that we have produced I could see a lot of camera phone action taking place, myself included, as we all wanted photographic evidence of the grandeur of what we had produced.

Once back in the kitchen it was straight back to work - no rest for the wicked in this environment. Before we knew it the time had arrived to plate up our food ready for service. This was, by far, where I impressed myself (and my twitter followers), the most with my creative skills. The two final dishes, Roasted Cod with crushed new potatoes, pea puree and saffron foam, and Pork Fillet wrapped in Parma ham with an Aspall’s cider cream and mustard sauce looked great and I couldn’t resist showing off my handiwork. The day ended with us all sitting down together as a class, sharing a glass of wine, and tucking into the wonders that we had produced.

Independent travel agency sunshine.co.uk compiled the list of guilty pleasures we all enjoy on holiday, and in celebration of the Speedo they’ve also put together the top 30 funniest incidences of ‘budgie smuggling’ from images around the web. The top five things that adult holidaymakers admit to guiltily enjoying on holiday are: 1. Laughing at other peoples’ Speedos 21% 2. Being more promiscuous than usual 19% 3. Drinking more than usual 13% 4. Wearing less than usual 9% 5. Eating more junk food than usual 7% If you fancy a giggle, brace yourselves for these crimes against swimwear… blog.sunshine.co.uk/30-pictures-of-bad-budgiesmugglers/

Talking to my classmates during the day I found that for many of them this was not their first course. I can see why, this cookery school is brilliant, and with the gift vouchers that Braxted Park sell, the classes also make great presents for loved ones. I know what will go on the top of my Christmas list this year. If you can’t wait till Christmas though they have some very interesting courses coming up throughout the summer, who could resist ‘Cooking with chocolate – sweet & savory’ on August 14th? It’s certainly a good way to escape the summer of sport for a few hours and indulge your sweet tooth.

INSPIRED OFFER

Jaws

Get £20 off any cookery course at Braxted Park Cookery simply by quoting ‘Inspired’ when you book!

If you love these daft shark fin ice cube trays as much as we do, you’ll love Ella James Living. It’s a website full of cute gifts and interior design ideas, for the home, the office, parties and even jewellery.

For a full list of courses visit www.braxtedparkcookery.co.uk or call the office on 01621 890300.

The shark fin tray is just £6.50: www. ellajamesliving.co.uk

(Offer valid until 28th September 2012)

www.Inspiredessex.co.uk | JULY 2012 ISSUE 15 | PAGE 7

Ladies Time Out

Fashionably Crafty In these cash-strapped times, we can’t always afford to keep updating our wardrobe with brand new clothes. That’s where the brilliant Elizabeth Mulholland comes to the rescue. Elizabeth Mulholland is a Suffolk-based designer of evening wear, corsets and jewellery, and they have some fabulous ideas about how to make an existing outfit more stylish, adding inexpensive trims and finishing touches that will make you stand out from the crowd… Every month we’ll be bringing you a new design idea, an easy and inexpensive way to update an outfit or show you how to make a simple accessory. This month we’re showcasing Vintage Style Cuffs - amazingly versatile accessories which can be worn individually or as a pair, under a long or short sleeved jumper or a top. They are absolutely perfect for transforming your outfit from office chic to evening glamour.

Here are some design ideas: You can make cuffs from printed, plain or pinstriped fabrics, trim them with cotton laces, ribbons, buttons and even charms. You can also cut up vintage lace table linen to make gorgeous one off cuffs. Take a look in your wardrobe for any old bits of clothing you don’t wear anymore that have an interesting trim or detailing and cut the clothes up for the base of your design.

The designs shown are designed by Elizabeth Mulholland and they are all available online at elizabeth-mulholland.com The ready-made cuffs are also available for £18.95, or you can get creative and buy them in kit form. Each kit includes a pattern and instructions along with a generous supply of assorted fabrics, lace, ribbons and trims for £10 www.elizabeth-mulholland.com Photographyby www.ericyoung.biz

Look fab in a field! Festival season is here, even if the weather hasn’t obliged us with sunshine yet. Unless you’re lucky enough to blag a spot in the VIP area, it can be almost impossible to keep yourself looking good when you’re camping in a muddy field, so Technic has come to the rescue of women everywhere and launched a mini festival kit containing all the cosmetics you need to ensure you look beautiful all weekend long.

All easy-to-apply, the products are perfect for on the go touch-ups ensuring you look your best while you run from stage to stage to catch up with your favourite bands.

The set contains four travel sized cosmetics in a handy clear case that will easily fit into the smallest of festival bags. You’ll get a gorgeous cream blush and lip gloss, both in vintage rose, a black mascara and an eye popping eye shadow in pearly white, which will instantly brighten up tired festival eyes.

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Priced at just £2.99, the kits are available from www.lovethymakeup.com and Bodycare stores nationwide.

Be a Holiday Beauty

Ladies Time Out

“Always pack wipes – Simple Kind To Skin Cleansing Facial Wipes (RRP £3.20) are great for wiping down at the beach before reapplying sunblock; storing in the fridge to freshen up after a day in the sun; and keeping by your bed to remove all traces of make-up after a night on the cocktails – they are oil and alcohol free and remove even waterproof mascara.”

Get in the mood So you’ve got a holiday booked, the passports are organised, the money is changed. Trouble is, you’ve been so busy working to get everything done before you go that you’re feeling frazzled rather than carefree! We asked the experts from Simple about how to get that holiday glow – inside and out – and be the envy of all your Facebook friends when you post the snaps online… Caroline Frazer, Simple Skincare Expert & Celebrity Make-Up Artist has some great tips for holiday make-up that will give you the holiday look before, during and after your trip. “Make the most of yourself and your tan by choosing beauty products and make-up that draw attention to your best assets, “is her first tip. “Try limiting yourself to the essentials – you won’t need a make-up bag stuffed full of products. “ “Keep it natural after a day in the sun by mixing a dab of foundation with a lightreflecting moisturiser such as Simple Radiance Brightening Moisturiser SPF 10 (Recommended Retail Price (RRP) £6.99). It really helps your tan do the talking without clogging your pores in the heat. Use all the way down to your décolletage as it will help even skin tone from face to chest and moisturise this whole area to help reduce the signs of ageing. “Use multi-tasking make-up products that can be used on lips, cheeks and eyes to highlight your features. Nars Multiples are a personal favourite as you can layer them, letting you keep colour subtle during the day and making them pop for a night out. “Carry a face mist in your beach bag such as Simple Kind To Skin Moisture Boost Hydro Mist (RRP £5.99) – it contains Lotus Flower goodness to super hydrate and instantly refresh parched summer skin to keep it fresh and fully hydrated throughout the day.

Dr Chris Bundy, Simple Psychologist has the last word: “We all need to take holidays, so make the most of your breaks. Holidays help you to put things in perspective, something we lose when we are over-stretched at work, so they are vital for our personal wellbeing.

“Leave the office on a high – this ensures you get the most out of your holiday. It’s important to leave the office feeling confident that you won’t have to think about work at all whilst you’re away. Plan ahead as far as you can and prioritise your to-do list in two piles – things that need to be done and things that would be nice to have done. Only when you‘ve finished the first pile move on to the second. “Don’t take work away with you, however tempting it is – it will stop you being productive when you come back. If you’re the type of person that finds it hard to relax, then by all means have a project but make it a fun thing such as reading a book or learning something new. This will take your mind off work and allow your brain to completely relax. “Finally and most importantly, enjoy the fresh air, sunlight (with SPF cream of course) and happy holidays!” www.simple.co.uk

SHELLAC NAILS

BY LEANN

£10 for Finger nails £10 for Toe nails Shellac NailsTM the NEW revolutionary product changing the way women get their nails done. Shellac NailsTM last up to 14 days without losing shine or shimmer. They are hard and do not scratch or smudge. When it comes time to take them off the nail, it is as easy as 1, 2, 3 and it does not damage the nail itself.

Contact Leann on: 07779 676570

www.Inspiredessex.co.uk | JULY 2012 ISSUE 15 | PAGE 9

Ladies Time Out

If you want to get ahead…

It’s definitely the season for hats – no wedding is complete without an array of sophisticated headgear, garden parties are the perfect place to show off a cute new fascinator, and ladies at summer events compete to wear the most photographed hat of the week. Petra Kvarčáková loves all things hat-related too. Petra is a London-based milliner with a love for turning women’s heads wherever they go. We spoke to her about her work, and marvelled at her stunning designs! Petra studied fashion design and textiles in the Czech Republic, and then moved to London where she found many courses that she wanted to study. She carried on her fashion and design training at Central Saint Martin’s in London, strating with a jewellery course and then millinery.

After spending five months as an intern to three London based milliners Petra decided to go it alone and set up her own label Magdalena Millinery. “I enjoy making head pieces and hats for weddings, Royal Ascot and other important events.” Petra told us. “I work mainly on private commissions and also collaborate with other designers in creating bespoke work.” “I have always created objects with my hands so after graduating in fashion; millinery was a new exciting path to follow. I love adding that little magic to an outfit, the hat makes it complete. It is a statement and it should be flattering and feminine. “I also like the element of exploring unusual materials like wood, paper or Perspex. It is a challenge and the result can be unexpected.”

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Petra firmly believes that millinery is coming back into fashion, and all the well-dressed ladies love a hat! “Yes, hats are popular again and it’s great to see stylish people showing their personalities by wearing unique headwear. There are many millinery courses now, teaching the craft and that made hats even more accessible.” Hats and fascinators are beautiful to look at, and look amazing on the women on the pages of Tatler or Hello Magazine – but what about us mere mortals? Petra thinks we can all rock a hat.

Ladies Time Out

5* A Five-Star Salon in Chelmsford RED

INSPI

OFFER

We are offering a deal of the month, with this advert or mention Inspired.

“I love hats that have an idea, are beautifully made and suit the wearer. Great examples are pieces from the 1920’s or 30’s when women looked so effortlessly chic and elegant. I often wear a hat or a head piece when I’m going shopping or to meet my friends for dinner. The important thing is that you feel comfortable with what you are wearing.” Petra clearly loves her work, and her designs are amazing. Bur who would she most like to create a piece for?

You can find Petra’s designs at: www.magdalenamillinery.com or on Facebook www.facebook.com/MagdalenaMillinery Photography: • Jess Flower by Alistair Veryard Photography • Twenties cap by Jakub Gottvald www.jakubg.cz • Snow White by Jakub Gottvald www.jakubg.cz • Petra by Tonbogirl

You will receive scattered foils, cut & finish AND a luxury treatment for £42 rrp £90, new clients only.

Opulent Styling To book an appointment call:

01245 256 872 www.hairitage.co.uk

Kings Head Walk | Chelmsford | CM2 6FH

“I would love to make a piece for Duchess of Cambridge. She is so clever in the way that she chooses little hats to underline her beautiful long hair. “I‘d also like to have a go at creating headwear for a theatre play or a period film.”

www.Inspiredessex.co.uk | JULY 2012 ISSUE 15 | PAGE 11

Ladies Fashion

Hello Petal

As the weather warms up at last, the summer dresses are out, taking their inspiration from summers gone by and the abundance of pretty, girly florals that we saw on the catwalks for SS12.

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Starting with the high end designers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; where better to start than the bold, the bright and the beautiful? Dolce and Gabbana led the way with their in-your-face floral prints â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and not just one at a time either! Matching stunning purple and green with poppy red and sunshine yellow,

itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a look thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not for the faint-hearted. Get this wrong and you might end up more looking like you went shopping in the dark*.

Mismatched flower prints showed up on the catwalk from designers like Mary Katrantzou, Sportmax, Clements Ribeiro and Erdem too, qualifying the fashion-forward look for trend status, we think*.

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*Pictures from vogue.com

Ladies Fashion

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Ladies Fashion

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Ladies Fashion

Hello Petal

Ted Baker really rocks the floral trend with this spot-on ‘Ferre’ Rose Bug Dress in Cream, with a striking print that’s just the right side of too much. Team it with some leggings or wear it on its own as a statement piece. Price: £149 / Available from: www.parisclothing.co.uk If you’re not ready to wow with a clashing floral palette, but you love a bit of brightness, go for a more subtle purple with the understated but frankly rather gorgeous purple floral pencil skirt from M&S. It’s perfectly on-trend but unless you decide to fashion victim it up and team it with clashing florals, you can get away with this look at summer weddings and cocktail parties.

It’s possible to stay fashionable in florals but follow it in an understated way, ensuring that you look pretty and fashionable rather than garish. The floral dress from ASOS Curve is a case in point – there’s a touch of 1950s glamour about it and it would look adorable with a shrug to keep out the evening chill as the sun sets on your garden party or prom.

Floral Skirt £49.50 M&S www.marksandspencer.com

ASOS Curve Strapless Dress In Ditsy Print Price: £45 www.asos.com

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Quirky South London fashionistas Eucalyptus have come up with some oh-so-pretty florals in their latest collection. The Portia Dress comes in red and blue and can be dressed up for a big night out and dressed down for an afternoon ‘do’. You can find them, plus a beautifully understated Ophelia strappy summer dress that’s perfect for picnics and just hanging out in the sunshine at www.eucalyptusclothing.co.uk The Portia Dress is £75 Ophelia Strappy Dress £72. Nearest stockists for Eucalyptus designs are: Javelin in Bury St Edmunds: Tel - 01284 754559 www.javelinonline.co.uk Holly Blue in Woodbridge: Tel - 01394 382 300

Festival Fashionista

Ankle Boot Suede, Maple By MOTT - £67.50

Eagle Print Oil Wash Tee Pink Matalan Price £12 Avoca Dusty Parka Mac – Vetiver Price £110 Bohemia Satchel 14” Neon Yellow – Price £95

All from www.bohemiadesign.co.uk

Moroccan Backpack, Hafeza – Price £75 Festival fever is running high and the season has only just begun. After the floods of images from Coachella have been agonised over and you are done asking yourself “why wasn’t I there?” it’s time to turn your attention to our home grown festival talent. The Behemoth of mud and musical talent, Glastonbury, may not be on this year (something to do with the Olympics and Mich a portaloo shortage) but it is by no means going to be a dull season. With headline acts such as Rihanna and Drake at Wireless, Kasabian and The Foo Fighters at Reading and Bon Iver and Paul Weller at Latitude there is as much choice and diversity as ever. When it comes to festival fashion, this year we are keeping it bright and eclectic. Think Tropicana references with palm trees, sky blues

and citrus hues. Burmen’s Aloha Shorts and Dino’s footwork shoes keep the style fun and comfortable ensuring those impromptu cartwheels or shoulder lifts maintain your modesty. A festival staple is denim and nothing goes best with this than some Americana references. Matalan’s eagle printed tee and Bohemia Design’s boots create a laid back look that’s a style fail safe. Simply pair with cut off denim shorts for a Kate Bosworth inspired look. Running around without a care in the world is the ideal at a festival, but losing our credit cards, pac-a-mac or mobile is less than ideal. A back pack is the best way to keep your belongings secure without worrying about it swinging off your shoulders mid-dance. The

Moroccan back pack from Bohemia Design is perfect. But if you are looking for something that really packs a punch try summers new favourite the Neon Satchel. Wear it across your body for school-kid chic with some serious style credentials. Finally, the Parka, which is eternally loved at this time of year for its durability and practicality. It not only keeps the rain off, but it also serves as a perfectly good blanket, seat or flag. Many fashion conscious types have dismissed the necessity of a parka believing it a festival myth, but do you really trust the weather after the summer we’ve had so far? This one from Barley Sugar is the perfect length with a detachable hood and a classic design.

www.Inspiredessex.co.uk | JUNE 2012 ISSUE 14 | PAGE 17

Ladies Fashion

Hello Buoys Gossard has unveiled its first ever swimwear range, inspired by the fit, shape and look of its best-selling Egoboost bra, launched last year. The clever design team has taken the technologies behind the Egoboost and used them to come up with a smoothing swimwear collection with real wow factor, oozing 1940s pin-up glamour. The plunging styles will give you killer cleavage as you sunbathe by the pool, and even better, Gossard has developed unique Life Buoys, which can be slipped into snug pockets to form a jaw-dropping effect for cup sizes A-D. What’s more, you can keep this swimwear on all day as a compressed inner cradle means the designs are oh-so comfortable

Removable tie straps mean the Bandeau Plunge, Bandeau Plunge Tankini and Bandeau Plunge Suit can be worn as a halter neck or strapless, to banish tan lines. There are three ‘bottoms’ to choose from too - Retro High Waist Short featuring inner tummy control to flatter the figure, a Tanga Side Bikini Brief, and a Tie Side Bikini Brief to compliment curves. The Gossard swimwear collection is available from leading retailers, specialist independents and selected stockists online including www.asos.com, www.figleaves. com and www.gossard.com

Knickers!

up to XL. What the hell is XL? I just spent ages checking the website and making sure I wasn’t just making all this up, and got more and more frustrated as nearly every set I liked the look of was either not available with big pants or if it was, sold out in the larger sizes. Next doesn’t usually carry anything in store much over a 16/18 and the Directory will be sold out in bigger sizes before I get anywhere near it.

I am a woman on a mission! I’m a plus sized girl, blessed with curves just about everywhere. I have a cleavage that acts as a very good resting place for stray crumbs and the kind of bootylicious behind that could possibly qualify for its own postcode. I’m at peace with my vital statistics, but what I’d like, what I’d really really like, is to be able to find gorgeous, well-designed underwear sets that cater for girls who are big up top and chunky down below too. Buying pretty smalls cheers me up. A gorgeous bra and a matching pair of knickers under my everyday clothes make me feel like I have a pretty little secret. It just sort of tops off my outfit. I’m thwarted at every turn though, and doomed to wander the lingerie shops in mis-matched underwear for all eternity, attempting to match the bra of my dreams to a pair of knickers that won’t cut off the circulation to my lower limbs.

Nothing for you here, Madam Bravissimo – gorgeous and expensive bras with lovely matching knickers – but alas, if you’re over a size 18 there’s nothing for you here, dear. Stroll around Debenhams and Marks and Spencer and they all cater for DD-G cups with some really quite sexy ranges, but trust me, actually finding matching pants is like searching for the proverbial hen’s tooth. To be

Sized up and let down fair, a quick check on the M&S website shows there are actually some matching sets that go up to a 22 and even a 24 but if you can find them in-store, you’re a better woman than I am. I looked at four different bra and knickers sets online and three of them had sold out in the larger sized knickers. So anyone who tells you there’s no demand for larger sizes is clearly an imbecile. The Debenhams Gorgeous range is a DD+ range, and their cute matching knickers and thongs are available up to a size 20 in theory, but again, most of them are sold out above a 16. online. I can’t remember the last time I found a matching lingerie set that would fit me in a Debenhams store. More annoyingly, some of the bigger lingerie ranges are sized

18 PAGE | JUNE 2012 ISSUE 14 | www.Inspiredessex.co.uk

Even the sites that cater for big girls aren’t any better. Simply Yours/Simply Be are brilliant websites and there’s some gorgeous lingerie there. All the best stuff is gone within days though. Whenever I feel like a good old knicker spend up, I end up disappointed because if they have the bra in my size, the chances are the matching knicks are long gone. Evans don’t seem to cater for smaller back sizes, although they’ve started doing a 38 now, but when I looked today there wasn’t even ONE lingerie set in my bra size. Is it just me? Am I really destined to walk around in mis-matched smalls for the rest of my days? I think we need Mary Portas on the case! First published on Bea http://beamagazine.wordpress.com/

Inspired A4 (W&G)_Layout 1 26/06/2012 11:09 Page 1

Beautiful homes deserve beautiful furniture

new for 2012

The Ivory bedroom collection is crafted from solid birch and birch veneers combined with a unique, hand painted, lacquered finish.

...with low prices, all year round! THE IVORY COLLECTION 5’ (150cm) bedstead MRP £1219

AYRLP £899

Wide fitted wardrobe MRP £1679

Bedside chest MRP £315

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on all furniture & bed orders over £499 within our trading area.

AYRLP £1249 AYRLP £235

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36 months interest free credit available Subject to status. up to

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Chair Gallery A selection of stylish individual chairs, available from stock...

starting from as little as £75 see instore.

worth £1,000...

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AYRLP - All Year Round Low Price. Prices stated are ‘Prices from’. Offer ends 11th August 2012.

220 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford

Tel:

01245 490101

Find us

www.chelmsfordstar.coop www.Inspiredessex.co.uk | JULY 2012 ISSUE 15 | PAGE 19

Gentleman’s Den

My Amp - Retro MP3 Speaker

Arcadie Dr Who Tardis Smartsafe Dr Who Geeks – here’s a new piece of kit for you. Not only does this cool Dr Who Tardis look great, if a bit kooky, it’s also really, really useful. You can unlock it with your iPhone, iPod or Android device. All you have to do is choose a unique four digit code via the included app and change it as often as you like. This safe brings the fun, lights and sounds of the Tardis to your desktop and with ample room inside you can store several personal belongings. Compatible with iOS and Android systems. Price: £29.99 www.bunkerbound.com

Everyone loves wasting time playing games on their phone, and it can be pretty addictive (Angry Birds, anyone?) There’s no getting away from the fact that playing daft games on a touch screen just isn’t quite the same as using physical controls. That’s where the Arcadie for iPhone has a distinct advantage. It’s a desktop arcade unit designed for the iPhone and iPod Touch which lets you play a selection of games from the app store that re-create classic arcade feel using the 8 way joystick and dual action buttons. Styled to look just like a full size arcade unit, it presents a true arcade screen size. It doesn’t need batteries, bluetooth or wifi configuration just plug and play! Price: £14.99 www.bunkerbound.com

If you’re a total muso, or you know someone else who that description might fit, how could you possibly resist this retro style speaker? The My Amp portable speaker system is just the thing for taking your tunes with you wherever you go. It’s made to look just like a classic electric guitar amplifier, and has a sturdy, rugged construction, which means it will stand up to a bit of rough-and-tumble! The My Amp includes a powerful 5 Watt speaker and features dials for bass, treble and volume, so you’ll get great sound quality no matter where you are. My Amp only needs 2 x AA Batteries (not included), or will work from a USB cable. Price: £19.99 www.GettingPersonal.co.uk

Backwards Clock

Festival Feet

Confuse your friends and test your own powers of adaptability with this stylish funky wall clock with a difference. Although reading the time backwards is confusing at first, you’ll soon get used to reading the time backwards, and normal clocks start to seem a bit odd instead!

Get yourself prepared for this year’s festivals. With the Festival Feet you won’t have to trudge around in cumbersome wellies, and your shoes will stay mud-free when you’re enjoying festival antics like singing, dancing and rocking out to your favourite music. In a bright blue colour these fun Festival Feet look just like oversized sneakers. They go over the top of your footwear then just wrap the laces round the top of the covers to stay mud-free.

It’s an attention-grabbing piece of kit, with the numbers all in the wrong places and the hands moving in the wrong direction. The perfect gift for any nonconformist!. It comes in black, white, purple, blue, and red and takes one AA Battery (not included) Price: £14.99 www.bunkerbound.com

20 PAGE | JULY 2012 ISSUE 15 | www.Inspiredessex.co.uk

Features: • Bright blue Festival Feet - disposable shoe covers • Look just like oversized sneakers • Keep your shoes mud free at festivals Price £5.99 www.iwantoneofthose.com

Gentleman’s Den

Pretty Green Pretty Green, Liam Gallagher’s clothing range that mixes rock & roll heritage with a quintessential British flavour, is going global with its first international store in Japan! Liam’s fashion range has been busy this year with new store openings all over the UK, including Brighton and Leeds, and the exclusive launch of new limited edition sunglasses. Pretty Green was founded in 2008 by Liam Gallagher and is made up of three ranges; Black Label, Green Label and Denim. The signature style is classic British clothing with an edge, and the collections are all influenced by Liam’s passion for retro styling. He uses a lot of vintage paisley!

There are 10 Pretty Green stores in the UK, including one at Stratford City. The other shops are in Carnaby Street, Covent Garden,

Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff, Brighton, Nottingham, Newcastle, Liverpool and Leeds. Pretty Green is also available online. www.prettygreen.com

Dead Good Undies!

Brit-style never gets old…

The latest in men’s underwear and swimwear designs from Canadian brand Gregg Homme have arrived at online retailer DGU.

Being British hasn’t felt this cool since the heady days of the nineties, and while all things British are so on trend it seems like a great idea to make the most of it. Jumping right in there is a gorgeous new website designed for label lovers with an eye for up and coming designers

Greg’s collection has fans all over the world, with a racy range of boxer briefs, briefs, tangas, thongs, jockstraps and men’s swimwear to tempt you. Highlights in this season’s collection include the liquid touch Voyeur styles, bottom-enhancing PerfekBum and the innovative Booster range which uses a ‘pop out’ pouch to impressively accentuate a man’s package! There are even offerings for those who want to explore their darker side. The Master brief, armbands and chains, and the intricate Hot Shot Brazilian Brief will definitely be setting pulses racing…

ItsMyGeneration.co.uk is an online boutique packed with a must-have-it-right-now selection of fashion for men and women, funky accessories and jewellery, home wares and gifts. Individual, unusual and quirky, everything you find on the website has been lovingly created by brand new home grown creative talent. The concept behind the site is simple; to showcase the hottest home grown talent and provide new designers with an affordable route into the homes and wardrobes of the nation’s shoppers. With prices ranging from £8 to £350, Its My Generation is designed for everyone, and gives you easy access to one-of-a-kind style on a high street budget.

Katy Cox, Managing Director said, “There is so much untapped talent in the UK that every day is full of new discoveries. Feedback from shoppers and designers has been incredibly positive” If you’ve got a shoe fetish that needs feeding, you won’t be disappointed with Yull Shoes and Stasia Shoes. Men with a passion for fashion can invest in street-inspired offerings from Kear & Ku, Dasmarca and Seymour Greene.

PerfekBum Proving shape wear isn’t just for girls – now men can cheat too! The cleverly designed pants use an outer elastic string to define the buttocks, and you can buy them in red, purple, black or white. Price: £39.95 www.deadgoodundies.com

For seriously cool lounges and sultry boudoirs, lux handmade cushions, cosy woollen throws and glassware get a style makeover courtesy of lifestyle designers including Kaigami, Alison Brent and Nadia Sparham. No more mass-produced fashion – get in there and buy British while it’s hot! www.itsmygeneration.co.uk www.Inspiredessex.co.uk | JULY 2012 ISSUE 15 | PAGE 21

Gentlemen’s Den

Fashion that makes men feel good One of the best things about fashion is how good it can make you feel. Now that the sun is finally out, Angela Poplett, Lakeside’s Personal Shopper, is here to help you pick the best new items for men from the rainbow of colour that’s filling the shops. It’s guaranteed to make you feel good. “The designers are no longer just hinting at colour, they’re embracing it whole heartedly and you should too. Have you ever noticed how people shower you with compliments when you break away from black and wear a show-stopping colour? This season, it’s going to be easier than ever to brighten up your wardrobe! “For men the trend is neon and bright, clashing colours. Men are getting much more adventurous with fashion and this trend is a brilliant opportunity to start having some fun. It’s not expensive to give it a go, either, as Lakeside’s Primark is stocking some brilliant neon brights at their usual low prices. “The mainstream spring/summer look for men seems set to be very casual; chinos and t-shirts. You can get the chinos from Zara or Brother2Brother in beige, navy, rust or ochre and I’d team with a bright and bold t-shirt from Jack & Jones. You could swap the chinos for coloured jeans, too - try Ted Baker in Lakeside’s House of Fraser for these. “If you’re not sure about wearing so many colours, you can introduce them with bright belts, sunglasses and shoes, but my advice would be to just go for it! The brighter you go, the better you’ll feel. For more fashion advice, book a free appointment with Lakeside’s Personal Shopper by visiting www.lakeside.uk.com or following Lakeside on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ lakeside). Lakeside is open from 10am - 10pm weekdays, 9am – 9pm Saturday and 11am – 5pm Sunday.

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Gentlemanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Den

www.Inspiredessex.co.uk | JULY 2012 ISSUE 15 | PAGE 23

Gentlemen’s Den

INSPIRED COMPETITION TH 1 MON INING A R T FREE Have you been inspired by Stuart’s wise words? Have you always wanted to see what it would be like to have your very own personal trainer who could help you reach your fitness goals, and maybe give you a supportive nudge with your nutrition, too?

Wonder no more, because one lucky Inspired reader will find out – Stuart is offering one month’s FREE personal training, based on two sessions per week. If you’d like an opportunity to sample personal training for yourself, simply email me at sarah.clark@inspiredessex.co.uk with your name, address and contact details, and tell me in less than 100 words why you need a personal trainer. GOOD LUCK!

Turn your body into a fat burning machine! It’s that time again........and this month we are carrying the theme from last time – food! We were on the subject of fad diets and putting together some basic rules so we can eat healthier and lose weight without all the ‘jargon’. Well this week we are going into a little more detail so you can understand how our body metabolises fat. This month’s main topic is blood sugar. Many of you will wonder what this has to do with weight loss - it is THE most important factor we need to look at to be successful in long term weight loss. The easiest way to explain this is to start off with our body’s emergency system. This is most noticeable when we put our body under stress. For example, if you were stuck in the desert without water your brain would recognise this and retain the water already in your body to ensure you survived as long as possible. The same thing happens with fat! When we don’t eat we feel hungry, and when we eat too much we feel sick. This is our body going into its emergency state. These feelings are there to tell us what’s wrong. The problem is that when these feelings occur it’s already too late, our body has gone into the zone and so it holds back fat stores to survive. This is the reason starving yourself to lose weight will never work. Do you know where the saying “three square meals a day” comes from? In 18th century Chinese prisons, ‘gruel’ was served on square platters to the prisoners three times a day. Even now, though, we still base our 21st century nutrition on the Idea of three square meals, which as you can imagine, is bonkers! 24 PAGE | JULY 2012 ISSUE 15 | www.Inspiredessex.co.uk

To rectify this we need to eat smaller portions every 3-4 hours and by doing this, our bodies don’t have to work as hard to break down food so we naturally lose weight. This process keeps our blood sugar steadier throughout the day and turns our bodies into fat burning machines. We make our abs in the kitchen, not in the gym! Try this for just one week and I can guarantee that you will lose weight, sleep better and have much more energy. My contact details are below for any questions. Next month I’ll be talking about stubborn fat, why women find it harder to lose weight and why you fellas just can’t get rid of that spare tyre. Stu.....signing off.

About Stuart Holroyd Sifu Stuart Holroyd is the owner of the Home Fitness Group, which is a network of Personal Trainers, Therapists and Martial Arts Instructors who are dedicated to keeping home training affordable for everyone. Stuart has been working in the fitness industry for over 17 years now and as well as being a Personal Trainer and Nutritionist he has trained extensively in Boxing and Martial Arts. As well as boxing for almost 25 years he also hold black belts in Muay Thai, Kickboxing and Jun Fan MMA. Stuart also teaches a specialised class at Winners Boxing Gym. www.thehomefitnessgroup.co.uk 0800 612 81 86 info@thehomefitnessgroup.co.uk www.winnersboxinggym.co.uk

Cinema

What to look out for at the ODEON this month...

The Amazing Spider-Man 3D

Magic Mike

Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World

Genre: Action, Science Fiction UK Release Date: 3/7/2012 Directed by: Marc Webb

Genre: Comedy UK Release Date: 11/7/2012 Directed by: Steven Soderbergh

Genre: Comedy UK Release Date: 13/7/2012 Directed by: Lorene Scafaria

Who’s in it? Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans

Who’s in it? Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Olivia Munn

Who’s in it? Steve Carell, Keira Knightley, Melinda Dillon

What’s the plot? A new chapter in the Spiderman story is opened in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ as Peter Parker’s past is revealed.

What’s the plot? From director Steven Soderbergh (Ocean’s Eleven), comedy ‘Magic Mike’ stars Channing Tatum (21 Jump Street) as a seasoned male stripper who finds himself mentoring a newcomer known as ‘The Kid’, portrayed by Alex Pettyfer (In Time).

What’s the plot? If the world was on the brink of destruction, how would you spend your final days?

Abandoned by his parents as a boy, young Peter (Andrew Garfield) discovers a mysterious briefcase that could explain his parents’ disappearance. His quest for the truth leads him to his father’s former partner, Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans) and The Lizard, his evil alter ego, unleashing his powers and forging Parker’s destiny to become the ultimate superhero.

Learning the tricks of the trade from his experienced tutor, his young apprentice soon gets to grips with the bare facts of life as a stripper.

‘Seeking a Friend for the End of the World’ poses the question as it studies the actions of a doomed population, focusing on insurance salesman Dodge (Steve Carell) and his neighbour Penny (Keira Knightley) as they both adopt different approaches to their last hours on earth that bring them together on a very personal final journey.

Chariots Of Fire

The Dark Knight Rises

Genre: Drama UK Release Date: 13/7/2012 Directed by: Hugh Hudson

Genre: Action, Thriller UK Release Date: 20/7/2012 Directed by: Christopher Nolan

Who’s in it? Ben Cross, Ian Charleson, Nigel Havers

Who’s in it? Christian Bale, Joseph GordonLevitt, Gary Oldman

What’s the plot? More than thirty years after its original release, ‘Chariots of Fire’ has been digitally re-mastered for a whole new generation of cinemagoers.

What’s the plot? Win a lead role in a ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ themed mini-movie Book online for ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ for your chance to win Terms and conditions apply

This Academy-award winning tale of guts and determination, set to a stunning soundtrack, tells the inspirational story of two British runners competing in the Olympics in Paris in 1924,

It’s eight years after the fateful events of The Dark Knight, the death of D.A. Dent and Batman’s subsequent fall from grace.

With the London 2012 Olympics about to begin, the timely re-release ‘Chariots of Fire’ looks set to be winner with audiences old and new.

‘The Dark Knight Rises’ finds Gotham City enjoying a peaceful era that is brought to an abrupt halt by the arrival of Bane; a sinister and powerful adversary who forces Batman out of retirement to confront this new threat to law and order.

www.Inspiredessex.co.uk | JULY 2012 ISSUE 15 | PAGE 25

Gentlemen’s Fashion

NEW

Lee in a MONTH Stag Do Fun and Games

As you know I don’t do this very often, but a few people have asked me why I don’t share my own goings-on with you all. So I thought I would!

Fitness I decided the other week that my plan to get back into shape wasn’t working. I know we all say it, but it’s really is hard to start that momentum of motivation. I go on holiday in a few weeks and I’ve also got a wedding abroad coming up, so if I’m going to be the white, burnt blotchy Brit in the photos, I can at least feel a bit happier with my body shape. To help me with this mammoth task I’ve asked local personal trainer Stuart Holroyd Page 24 who owns The Home Fitness Group www.thehomefitnessgroup.co.uk to whip me into shape. He straightaway started to test my limits – we had to know what we were dealing with and where to start! Already, my diet has completely changed, but the biggest thing that’s changed for me has been running…I thought I couldn’t even do a mile but Stuart has managed to coach me to do this and more. There is so much more we are doing but I’ll bring you up to speed with that next month. One other thing I have found really helpful is an app called My Fitness Pal. I thank my friend Jack for introducing me to this really easy to use app. My Fitness Pal is a FREE Calorie Counter, Diet and Exersise Jurnal it really does help you keep track of what you are doing.

If you need some ideas for a stag do, I’ve been on two this month. Did you know you could play dodge Ball near Canary Wharf? Well, you can – and here’s how. Check out www.dodgeballuk. com for more info. I have to admit that was the main thing that got me back into fitness. I thought I was going to die from the pain in muscles I didn’t know I had! After the dodge ball, the best man had organised a pool tournament, and we found it hard to find a restaurant that would take 20 guys on a stag night for dinner…so bear that in mind. But, our friend owns a really cool Swedish Bar and Grille on Brick Lane. ‘Fika’ www.fikalondon.com. So that helped! The second Stag do involved a weekend event at Butlins. I know, super cheesy but we went to the one in Bognor Regis… Well guys and girls, we had a great time! I have to say they are totally geared up for the adult only weekends for Stags and Hens. The thing that is good about a weekend like this is that everyone is in one place. You don’t have to worry about being turned away for being a large group…Yes, some of it is quite cheesy but it’s all about the people you are with. Tips: Take your own drink because we found it quite expensive and definitely upgrade your room to the hotel. Trust me on that one.

God Save the Queen I know some people will be sick of it by now but I felt it needed mentioning. I think it’s great to see just how many Brits have pulled together recently and are showing their patriotism. I think the Monarchy is in a great place at the moment and recent events have proved that we do love the Queen. As the Queen travels across the Commonwealth, William and Kate are also doing a sterling job representing Britain on their travels. It’s great to still see the flags up! I won’t mention the football. But, let’s hope our guys and girls in the Olympics can do us proud. I hope that has inspired you. Bye for now… Lee

26 PAGE | JULY 2012 ISSUE 15 | www.Inspiredessex.co.uk

The Rise in Men’s Grooming - Simon Shaw, European Artistic Director at Wahl

‘There has been a dramatic rise in men’s grooming in recent years. Men know that first impressions count, and now more than ever, during this recession, men know that they need to put in that extra effort to get or keep their job. Despite the fact that many men have felt the need to cut back in some areas of their expenditure, many are still willing to invest in their appearance and are enjoying more trips to their barber than ever before. Many barbers have been reacting to the increased demand by improving their staff training and broadening the range of services they provide. Men now expect much more than just a short, back and sides. In-depth consultations, cutting-edge styling, colour, hot shaves, facials and head massages are becoming increasingly popular, and shave bars have been popping up more and more, which makes male grooming even more accessible. Men’s products have also seen an increase in popularity, with more men getting creative with their style at home and purchasing wax, gum, paste and gel products to experiment with. One trend that seems to be really taking hold at the moment is the beard trend. A top tip is to condition your beard to keep it manageable. It’s also important to shape your beard, keeping it shorter on the sides and longer on the chin will help to define your jaw and cheekbones. Shaving the neck will also help to define your jawline. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to experiment with your look. Mixing it up and trying different styles with your hair and facial hair will keep your look fresh and exciting.’

Gentleman’s Fashion

Mad Men

Aromatherapy

for Men By Louise Green MIFPA of Vitality Aromatherapy Essential oils and botanical base oils can be combined to make a simple, effective, nourishing night oil for men that’s quick and easy to apply and smells great. Use a selection of the oils to make up a 30ml bottle of night oil to be used after cleansing. (A glass bottle with a pipette style dropper is best). Keep the oil in a cool, dry place and use within 6 months. You can vary the oils according to your skin type. Use a blend of 9 drops of essential oil total per 30ml of base oil. Custom blended face oils are available via Louise’s website www.vitalityaromatherapy.co.uk

Botanical Base Oils (use cold- pressed, unrefined oils) • Jojoba Oil Jojoba is suitable for all skin types. It’s actually a liquid wax and has a molecular structure very similar to human sebum. It balances the acid mantle of the skin so helps regulate both dry and greasy skin. Jojoba is excellent after shaving as it’s anti-inflammatory, and can help with acne as it helps dissolve any build up of sebum where it may occur at the base of hair follicles. It’s a fantastic emollient, very rich in vitamin E, leaving the skin soft and smooth. • Hazelnut Oil This mineral rich oil is good for greasy skin. It’s a very light oil with a slight nutty odour that blends well with the woody essential oils often recommended for male skin care. • Macadamia Oil Often described as “the vanishing oil” Macadamia is a light, easily absorbed oil that penetrates the skin quickly without any feeling of greasiness. It helps improve the appearance of fine lines. • Argan Oil Argan is famous in Morocco for its anti-aging properties. It’s rich in essential fatty acids which help regenerate and firm the skin. It’s an excellent aftershave oil used on its own and can help soothe and protect skin exposed to sun and wind.

The current hair styling trends for gents seem to feature a tailored style at the sides with more emphasis on the top and fringe, keeping the overall length fuller and looser while using high shine products for a less matte look. Think Mad Men and Professor Green and the catwalk shows for Burberry Porsum, Phillip Lim and Jonathon Saunders - All models had styles that were tight to the sides and long on top. Traditional men’s grooming products like waxes and pomades are key to creating these looks. Mark Woolley, Electric Hairdressing London The iconic Pashana hair tonics incorporate macadamia oil for condition and shine can help add a touch of Mad Men style to a well-groomed do. The delicious-smelling but oh-so-masculine Eau de Portugal features oil of sweet orange, which helps to invigorate the scalp and is the perfect hair finishing product. Eau de Quinine contains a blend of essential oils to stimulate the scalp and help maintain healthy well groomed hair. Both retail for £7.20 for 250ml and are available from www.denmanbrush.com

Essential Oils Sandalwood (Santalum austrocaledocium) Sandalwood is soothing, cooling, and very nourishing. It’s recommended particularly for dry skins but can be used in any blend for its popular aroma and the way it balances sebum production. Cypress (Cupressus sempiverens) Cypress is astringent and cleansing. It’s especially good for oily skins and excessive perspiration. Bergamot (Citrus aurantium ssp bergamia) Bergamot is used in many commercial colognes and aftershaves. It’s balancing, antiseptic, recommended for acne and blends well with most essential oils.

Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) Manuka honey is famous for its therapeutic properties and the essential oil can be used to help reduce skin irritation and promote the healing of cuts, blemishes and scratches. Frankincense (Boswellia carterii) Frankincense is often used in skincare products for women due to its ability to increase the production of new skin cells helping promote wound healing, reduce scarring and maintain a youthful appearance. Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica) Antiseptic, astringent and antisebborheic, Cedarwood is recommended for treating oily skins and acne. It has a wonderful woody aroma that works well in blends for men.

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Junior

Love your Lollipop Start-rite Furniture has launched a fabulous and super cute Lollipop table and stool set - a table that grows with your little one from two years old through to adulthood.

Happy Hopping Just how adorable are these? The Happy Hopperz are a fun, bouncy companion for kids everywhere. The original hopper is aimed at little ones between 12 months and four years, and Happy Hopperz has recently launched their XL versions so that toddlers between the ages of 3-6 aren’t fired up with sibling envy watching their baby sisters and brothers having all the fun. Parents can also ‘hop’ on board the excitement and have a go, although probably best not to decide this is a REALLY great idea after you’ve had a few drinks….

Happy Hopperz have big, grippable ears or horns and four wide, steady feet or hooves to balance on …and best of all they will help strengthen core muscles, increase balance, and help tots to develop co-ordination skills... making them the perfect addition to any playroom or garden. RRP: Original: £21.99 XL Version: £44.99 www.happyhopperz.co.uk

We all adore Pora Ora

Pora Ora is the virtual world transforming the way that 5-12 year old children learn. This fantastic free educational resource is currently being used in over 30 schools in north London in the classroom, during golden time and as a homework resource. Pora Ora offers children the chance to explore an extensive virtual universe where they can play games, go on quests, and interact with a global community of Pora Ora children. With the motivational benefits of rewards and earning roobles, the Pora Ora currency, children can spend and manage their money as they learn. All content is geared towards the national curriculum allowing children to truly support their schooling.

The game also engages with teachers by providing them with regular reports identifying ways in which children can improve learning and allows them to share their tips and advice. With a whole community of like-minded teachers, Pora Ora can be used as an inter-school resource allowing schools to interact, co-operate and compete. The entire experience is completely safe for children and teachers are given control of their pupil’s security settings and provided with notifications of all of their activity. Parents can go to the site and set their children’s’ computer up to play the game, and what’s more, it’s FREE! Find out more at: www.poraora.com

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As every parent knows, children love to scribble. Walls, toys and table tops are all fair game for a child with a felt tip pen, but now thanks to Start-rite Furniture little ones can enjoy creative play without the worry of ruining mum’s favourite tablecloth. The Lollipop table has a laminate top, so kids can doodle freely with the white board pens and when they’re all done they can wipe it off and start again. Start-rite Furniture has also come up with a really clever range of magnetic accessories that stick to the Lollipop table, including a handy pen and crayon holder, a book stand, a ruler and some marker spots, it’s easy for little (and big) ones to start creating those precious first pictures and organising the homework list. The best thing about the Lollipop table is that it grows up with its owner. Just adjust the height of the table and stool and they can carry on using their first play table all the way through their school years, while they are revising for exams, and even beyond the teenage years…

• Lollipop play table and stool set: £275 • Lollipop stool: £99 • Lollipop table: £179 • Lollipop table accessory pack: £35 Stockists: Available to pre-order now www.startritefurniture.com

Junior

School’s Out! …and the kids are stuck indoors! So the schools are about to break up for the summer but it’s still raining? Enquiring minds really need to have somewhere nice to hang out indoors, and lots of things to do, or else the next six weeks are going to be a living hell for all concerned.

thing is that it washes out so you have a blank canvas on laundry day. It just needs a standard 40 degree wash to remove all traces of doodle and scribble ready for another session at bedtime… Price: £39.95 www.doodlebystitch.com

Why not encourage your child’s creative genius by asking them to come up with ideas for decoration – maybe you could set up a Pinterest account (have you got one yet? I’m hooked and can spend hours on perusing must-have items and adding them to my collections) and set them free on the Internet, under close supervision, finding furniture, decorations and cool accessories to make their rooms look exciting again? Get them started with a few ideas we’ve found, and let their imaginations go crazy!

The Junior Bean Bag “I am irresistible to any child and child-resistant at the same time. How’d I pull that one off, you ask? Well, unlike most toys, I don’t break. I don’t need superglue to get fixed up. I will even endure tantrums thrown by the most ruthless kids. And, last but not least, I have the power to make anyone with baby teeth fall asleep.” Price £ 115 - www.fcilondon.co.uk

Wall paper based upon the story of Noahs Ark by ChaCha - www.wallpapered.com/ chacha £138 per roll

Interior design Genius Apps Just for fun, why not get your kids to try their hand at designing a Victorian, Tudor or Modern room. The easy-peasy app on the The Geffrye Museum website is simple to use and lets kids click on walls, furniture and lighting to play around with some really simple interior designs. Try it out at: www.geffrye-museum.org. uk/kidszone (if they get bored they can also design a garden.)

R2D2 Smart Safe Moneybank This R2D2 Smart Safe Moneybank will keep big kids happy as well as small ones, and is perfect for storing bits and pieces in. Works with smartphones, just set the four-digit code up and R2D2 will keep your secrets safe… Price: £34.99 www.bunkerbound.com Give the room a bit of a spruce up with a bit of arty wallpaper. There are lots of seriously cool designs to choose from, but most kids aren’t really excited by cool and trendy, or even arty, they want robots. And pigs. And fairies. Indulge them with something special from Wallpapered.com, something with Noah’s Ark on it, perhaps? Or maybe you could go for the stark but really rather fun Robot Range from Ferm Living, which gives you a really quick way to change the look of a bedroom without forking out for decorators and having the hassle of moving the furniture out. Robot wall Sticker - £24.99 www.nubie.co.uk

If you’ve got older children who want to try their hand at a bit of design, introduce them to www.homestyler.com where there’s an altogether much more sophisticated interior design option. It’s also free and once they’ve worked out how to use it they can have hours of fun making houses up online. You can play with premium branded furniture and try and fit it into odd-shaped rooms, and then you get to see your finished result in 3D. It’s actually very addictive for grown ups too. Another 3D room design option is mydeco. com/3d-planner/ where you can design from scratch, upload an actual floor plan and the easy option, use one of the ‘wizards’ to help you out. Have fun!

Doodle Duvet What child wouldn’t love one of these? The doodle duvet is a top quality 200 thread count white cotton duvet cover printed to resemble a giant piece of file paper, complete with printed holes, lines and red margins on both sides. The duvet comes with its own pack of 8 wash-out doodle colour pens, perfect for writing down your ‘to do list’, draw a masterpiece, write a story or leave a message – but the great

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Home style

Picking the perfect Bathroom Floor Bathroom flooring needs to be practical - non slip, hygienic and easy to clean. We also want it to look good too. So what are the options when you’re looking at flooring for a bathroom?

Stone flooring –

limestone, slate, marble and granite floors can be perfect for a bathroom – they are waterproof, long lasting and easy to clean as long as they are properly bonded. Stone can feel a bit cold underfoot and sometimes it tends to get a bit slippery so you need to think about under floor heating and grip. Stone flooring can be expensive but you can cut costs by using reclaimed stone.

Wooden flooring – probably seems a bit of a strange choice for a bathroom but if you go for engineered wood it can work well and give you a warm, stylish and durable finish. Experts usually advise against using solid wood in bathrooms though, because it will warp.

Porcelain flooring – looks great and is cheaper than stone flooring. It’s also easier to maintain as it doesn’t need sealing. Porcelain is a popular bathroom material because it’s so easy to clean and hard wearing.

Linoleum flooring – the most popular brand of lino is Marmoleum, which comes in over 100 colours and designs and is perfect for the bathroom. Lino is easy to clean and install. It can also have some health benefits as it is anti-bacterial and doesn’t hold onto dust or allergens. For more advice on the perfect flooring for your home, ask the experts at Chelmsford based Country Flooring.

01245 250 074 www.countryflooring.co.uk

Radical radiators Radiators are dull, aren’t they? There’s no getting away from the fact that, useful as they undoubtedly are, a radiator is not usually a thing of beauty. Until now! The Glass Radiator Company can spruce up the look of your central heating with stunning clear, coloured, mirrored or printed image glass radiators. They have a showroom as well as a website that’s crammed full of unique and individual ranges – there’s so much more to radiators than just drying your washing… The radiators are all tested to stringent and the company works with interior designers and architects to make sure that they’ll go with just about anything! This one is the Radart (plumbed in version, standard colour) size: 840 x 485. Price: 1194 The Glass Radiator Company Tel 01380 738 840 www.glassradiators.co.uk

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Country Flooring

Smoke and Mirrors As someone who works in a room that doesn’t seem to get the sunshine until late afternoon, I’m always looking for ways to make the living room look brighter and bigger. Just a few clever tricks with mirrors and the right lighting can make a whole heap of difference to a dark room. We spoke to the experts at Better Bathrooms about ways to lighten up and make the most of the space you’re given – including, of course, a pokey bathroom… “Larger spaces are quite often the places most affected by a lack of natural light, so an eye-catching backdrop combining different sources of lighting is a must. ‘Ambient’ lighting, the sort of general lighting which replaces daylight is the main thing here, but rather than making it too bright on its own, try combining it with layers. ‘Ambient’ lighting coupled with ‘Task’ lighting is a perfect duo, where you would use a specific light for daily tasks like shaving, reading at night and putting on your make up.

The ‘Avila Wall Light’ is a traditional bathroom The ‘Toledo Single Wall Light’ is a luxurious wall light which also boasts an elegant glass chrome finished light with a glass shade to shade and stylish chrome finish. Price: £162.95. offer true ambience in your bathroom. Price: £125.95.

“The third type of lighting is ‘Accent’ lighting which adds shape and texture to focal points and features within the room helping to grab attention as soon as you walk into a room, but you don’t always need this so don’t be tempted to put spotlights on anything and everything, pick your features wisely.” “Illuminated mirrors are another not so well kept secret when it comes to effective lighting tools, helping create a warm and relaxing atmosphere. Specific lights within the mirror provide much needed lighting when you’re shaving or doing your make-up. A common problem with natural light is the way it flows downwards from the ceiling, so when you’re looking in the mirror and trying to apply eyeliner properly you actually get an inaccurate version of your face in the mirror due to shadows; and we all know what happens when we’re forced to put our make-up on in the dark!

The ‘Segovia Lamp and Glass Shade’ is a traditionally styled chrome finished wall light with an elegantly styled glass up-lighting shade. Price: £125.95.

At £162.95 the ‘Brockton Wall Light’ is a stylish and traditionally chrome finished light with a black leather shade - a luxurious alternative to plain bathroom lighting

“Illuminated mirrors incorporate a variety of LED’s which light your face up properly so that you can put your make up on with confidence. For the ultimate in relaxation and ambience, simply use the lighting from an illuminated mirror to create a calming ambience in the bathroom.” Better Bathrooms offer a range of lighting products, from simple spot lights to innovative LED’s.

The Gemini Illuminated Mirror boasts a cutting The Hemera Illuminated Mirror comes in a edge square design, pull cord control and contemporary design with an innovative LED comes complete with bevelled edges. Price £69. parallel track. Price: £102.95.

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Home style

Kitchen Classics Dualit’s ranges of breakfast, food preparation and coffee gadgets are stylish and practical – they look good in any kitchen and are well known for lasting a long, long time. From the first flip-sided toaster in 1946 to its explosion onto the consumer market in the late 70s, Dualit has remained true to Max Gort-Barten’s original vision…Check out the bright, contemporary new designs in the ranges and see for yourself! Stockists: For further details please call 01293 652500 or log on to www.dualit.com

Hand Mixer - £58.50

XL900 Compact Food Processor - £199.00

2 slot NewGen toasters colours- £142.00 Blender - £149.00

4 slot NewGen toaster - £199.15

Coffee System - £179.50

Juice Extractor - £125.00 1.5L Jug Kettle - £74.50 32 PAGE | JULY 2012 ISSUE 15 | www.Inspiredessex.co.uk

By Design

SPAZIO DESIGN, the inspirational kitchen, bedroom and living studio in Chelmsford has turned its hand to interior design. The new service, launched last month, covers all aspects of contemporary interiors from wallpapers to curtains, lighting and furniture.

As well as continuing to bring you a fantastic range of design solutions

Interior designer Samantha Morphew has joined SPAZIO to offer customers the opportunity to have all of their rooms expertly designed and all works co-ordinated from one place. Samantha, who has an established reputation for creating exquisite and innovative interiors for a wide range of projects, has brought a host of top quality design names to SPAZIO, including Andrew Martin, Missoni and Thibaut. In addition to the new fabrics, rugs and other highly desirable items, the exclusive Casa Collezione collection of individually-made home accessories will also be displayed amongst the nine kitchens in the stylish showroom. There are three levels of service: • Home interior Inspirational Visit • Room Service • Whole House Service Managing Director, Kevin Miles said: “We are very pleased to welcome Sam to the SPAZIO team and delighted at her wealth of experience with a fantastic range of products that will enhance the kitchens, bedrooms and living furniture we already offer.” SPAZIO DESIGN, 40 New Street, Chelmsford CM1 1PH. Tel: 01245 299 331 www.spaziodesign.co.uk

SPA ZIO DESIGN

We now also offer a complete, personalised interior design consultation Contact us for more information 01245 299 331 info@spaziodesign.co.uk www.spaziodesign.co.uk www.Inspiredessex.co.uk | JULY 2012 ISSUE 15 | PAGE 33

Home style

Creature Comforts

Once you’ve organised the seating, you can arrange the rest of your living room around it. That’s how it works, right? Furniture designers have really been pushing the boat out in recent years to keep up with and inspire new trends, keeping furniture fresh and innovative. Companies like M Furniture add a stylish twist to living room furniture, putting the ‘funk’ back into functional with a custom-made, contemporary floor to ceiling media centre which discreetly hides a widescreen TV, games consoles and piles of DVDs and CDs. In this example, they created clever oak niches just for displaying favourite ornaments and to add interest to the wall too. For more information call M Furniture on 0207 930 5383 or visit www.mfurniture.co.uk

The M Furniture sleek, stylish almost-not-there idea appeals to the de-clutterers among us, but what if you really want to show off your sense of style? Hide your clutter away in eye-catching modular storage to add some pizazz to a quiet room. There’s plenty to choose from in brights, like this Italian modular metal cube storage system from www.theholdingcompany.co.uk or you could go with a pastel shaded piece like the Industrial Modular Pink Stack System – an industrial vintage pink drawer cabinet with lock that will make a trendy addition to a room. From Alexander and Pearl, the stack system is a bit of a genius modular industrial furniture which lets you get really creative. You can buy pre-designed furniture - or design and build your own to fit your personal space. www.alexanderandpearl.co.uk

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Beautiful Modern Thing have come up trumps with stylish living room seating and furniture, including this bolt to bolt trunk with a metallic exterior. Price: £645 www.beautifulmodernthing.com The Olympia bookcase from Glassdomain is not only versatile, but it evokes a sense of luxury to any décor in the home. It’s a case with many uses, from display unit to bookcase to cd rack. Display your prized possessions in a light airy shelf unit that lets the items speak for themselves. This model is available in three glass options: Clear, Extra-Clear or Smokey finish. The Fiam ‘Ghost Chair’ is a bold statement that will command attention. An exceptional monolithic chair, it creates a striking focal point. This iconic piece of timeless design will spark your imagination and complement any contemporary setting. Prices start from £3,793.00 www.glassdomain.co.uk

Keeping it to yourself Whether your living room can be seen from the street by or is up a secluded driveway, plantation shutters provide peace of mind by preventing anyone from seeing inside. When you are away from home, the shutters can be angled downwards to make it impossible for anyone passing (or snooping) to gain a glimpse of the interior. Shutters are also a stylish way of stopping the summer sun from bleaching furnishings, and adding privacy while creating a bright and airy look your room. Prices start at ÂŁ295 per square metre, fully fitted. For information or a quotation visit www.justshutters.co.uk or call 01245 200917

For helpful advice and inspiration

Call 01245 200917 w w w.justshutters.co.uk

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17/05/2012 10:05

Home style

Indoors is the new outside…

2. 1.

3. With much hope and anticipation we’ve brought you barbecues and ideas for the garden in the last two issues, but to mark the complete and utter non-arrival of the British summer, in July we’ve gone for an indoor theme. If you’re going to be staying in, with or without company, you need to be comfy cosy and feel at home in your living space we’ve delved into some of the best new season arrivals to find you inspiration for making your home more homely… Sofa Design Partner and Designer, Mike Hackworthy thinks that interiors are very fashion-led at the moment, so it’s just as well Sofa design make bespoke designs to keep up with changing fashions.

“One of the big trends at the moment is fashion inspired sofas and chairs, incorporating fashion within the home with stylish statement pieces that offer a “wow” whilst delivering the practicality that a well-used piece of furniture needs. A piece such as the Vogue sofa with its dramatic high ends has a stunning visual appeal that makes a fantastic fashion statement. Vintage is currently “on trend” and works well in the home too. Our Vintage Patchwork Collection offers timeless style that will add character and a little eccentricity to the room! Each piece has a myriad of colours with different textures that complement each other beautifully. Luxurious materials are very popular; soft velvets and sleek silks in any colour will give the room a cosy and sumptuous feel to create a lavish vibe. It seems everyone is aiming to create a luxury home and a huge part of that is fabric. Rich materials help to create an opulent look and feel.

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4. We see customers even going as far as to create a coordinating area of luxury within the home for their pets; we’ve reupholstered stylish dog beds in high quality, lavish materials so that they fit with the style of the house. A slightly unusual request but the dog is a part of the family after all!” All Sofa Design’s sofas are handmade and come with a 10 year guarantee. All designs are bespoke too, and made to measure to any size to fit your own special living space.

1. This colourful patchwork armchair is full of character. The painted cabriole feet and contemporary twist on classic patchwork create an eye-catching focal point in the living room. Price: From £1650

2. Vogue is a cool and contemporary design that will give any home a stylish ambience. Upholstered in Modena Velvet Price: from £2800 www.sofadesign.co.uk Stockist: 0208 5185443

Home style

6. The patchwork trend hasn’t been ignored by other furniture designers either – for a slightly less pricey, off-the-shelf version, you could always opt for the budget-friendly Tesco Direct

3. Leitmotiv Pastel Patchwork Chair. It’s part of the new autumn collection from Tesco Direct and priced at just £297 it will brighten up any dull, boring living room, and you can match it with the gorgeous, ornate 4. multi-coloured chandelier for £69.97 too. www.tesco.com Another company that should know a thing or two about a comfy sofa is DFS. Look beyond the cheesy adverts and the company is pioneering the kind of designs that if we’re honest. We’d probably all love to find room for. This brilliant sofa is a case in point.

5. Trophy Cuddler Audio Sofa isn’t much more expensive than some other premium sofas, costing £699.99, but it manages to subtly blend comfort and technology with a built in speaker system and subwoofer, as well as a handy iPod and iPhone dock in the arm of the sofa, and blue tooth connectivity. There’s also a USB port and an SD card slot. Unfortunately, they don’t actually throw in a free ipod, but watch out for the sales, just in case their marketing team decide an MP3 player would be the perfect added extra… www.dfs.co.uk

The new DFS

If you want living room furniture that’s straight to the point and easy to accessorise according to your mood, check out this stylish collection.

6. The Modern Jack collection features pure shapes and parallel layers of refined, polished and reflective materials combined with a choice of croc effect leather. You can just imagine stretching out in comfort on one of these super sleek sofas, and it looks fantastic in a plain, uncluttered living room – or covered in bright fluffy cushions in a more homely room. Price: £3865 www.beautifulmodernthing.com Lastly, we absolutely love and adore this statement seating, also from Beautiful Modern Thing which takes its inspiration from the famous 7. Arne Jacobsen Egg chair and it will add a fashion-forward modern touch with. Its voluptuously curved lines. It comes with a matching ottoman. Price: £745

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The Garden

“Climbers” - by Grant Whitaker There are hundreds of different types of climbers ranging from big, showy hybrid clematis to rampant vines. There’s a climber for every position in your garden, so firstly decide where you would like your plant to grow.

Covering a garden shed or unsightly wall

Scented climbers

The Montana group of clematis are fantastically fast growers and can spread to cover 10 feet in just one year, rewarding you with a mass of flowers each spring. Another option could be Solanum, also known as Chilean Potato Vine. This climber grows like mad and genuinely flowers all summer. Try Solanum “Album” for white flowers or Solanum “Glasnevin” for purple flowers.

Attractive plant to climb garden trellis You are spoilt for choice here. Hybrid clematis benefit from some of the biggest, showiest flowers around. Many varieties will flower twice a year with the correct pruning. For those with a more flamboyant taste, there are few better than the Passion Flower – such a pretty specimen which wouldn’t look out of place on a tropical island!

When it comes to scented climbers, your fail-safe options can only be one of two classics; Honeysuckle or Jasmine. If you are filling a sunny position, there are several great types of Jasmine to choose from. Two favourites of mine are Jasminum Officinale and Jasminum Revolutum. However, if your chosen spot is shady, the Honeysuckle is an excellent choice. Try “Graham Thomas” for beautiful yellow flowers with a fantastic fragrance. They can be quite a vigorous climber so will need to be kept in check, but as you’re sitting outside in the evening with a glass of wine, you’ll be glad you put in the effort!

Climbers for pots There are many new types of patio clematis now available which are fairly free-flowering but will not grow too large. This is a perfect way to enjoy the bloom of clematis without them being in the garden, particularly ideal should you live in a flat and only have patio or balcony space available. However, don’t be afraid to try other varieties of climbers in pots, just be aware that they will need plenty of water and regular feeds. Climbers can enhance any garden and there’s certainly a type to suit all tastes. There are many other varieties which I’ve not mentioned here, so get down to your local garden centre and take a look!

Open 7 days a week

Buy direct from the grower!

Shrubs Climbers Perennials Fruit Trees David Austin Roses Ornamentals Seasonal Bedding and much more! We sell and accept National Garden Gift Vouchers Stock Village Nursery, Well Lane, Stock CM4 9LZ

Tel: 01277 841956

BRING IN THIS ADVERT TO RECEIVE A 38 PAGE | JULY 2012 ISSUE 15 | www.Inspiredessex.co.uk

10% DISCOUNT!

Dine in Style

Seared beef fillet with Fennel Pollen – by Simon Jury

Some of the best dishes I make are those where I have no original plan, I just walk into the kitchen, see what’s around and see what flavours and aromas inspire me. A look in the fridge to see I had some rocket and cherry tomatoes instantly made me want beef. It is a classic combination so I went out and bought a nice piece of beef fillet, a little treat for myself as I don’t buy it very often. I actually wanted a Carpaccio but the shape of the beef fillet wasn’t really right for rolling up so instead I thought I would sear it. Eyes wandering to a sample of Fennel Pollen led me to the spice rack. Adding some mustard seeds, black onion seeds and black peppercorns, I ground these up and mixed with a teaspoon of fennel pollen. Adding this mix to olive oil and cherry vinegar and I had a great marinade for the beef. I coated the beef, wrapped in cling film and left it in the fridge overnight. I pan fried the beef fillet on a medium heat so the coating didn’t burn; it needs to be seared only for a minute or two either side and then left to rest. The beef should be very rare in the middle. The kitchen by this point smells fantastic and just makes you smile; this is food that gets me excited. I get the salad ready, coating the rocket in cherry vinegar and olive oil dressing, leaving the cherry tomatoes on the vine and serve. I think this is a lovely dinner that makes you want to rush home from work to enjoy.

For a small fillet of beef I used the following: (serves two) Ingredients: • • • • •

2 tablespoons of olive oil 2 Tablespoons of Cherry Vinegar 1 teaspoon of fennel pollen. 1 teaspoon each of ground black peppercorns, mustard seeds & black onion seeds. Pinch of salt.

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If you want a loyalty card, just cut out the one printed below and take it to the Bay Horse, where they will replace it with a nice shiny one to keep. We’ll see you down there!

If you want something more substantial, try adding boiled new potatoes with a herb butter. I make a butter with fresh thyme from the garden and mix it into the butter before letting it melt over the potatoes.

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Dine in Style well with salt. Roast for 17-18 minutes. After 10 minutes add the fish topped with the garlic butter. Roast for the remaining 7-8 minutes.

Very Lazy Garlic ‘Fish’ with Blue ‘Chips’ and Homemade Very Lazy Chilli ‘Ketchup’

3. Serve the fish and chips with the tomato ketchup. Mushy pea optional!

Serves 2

Serving suggestion: Make a union jack plate, by placing a mound of chips on a plate. Cut the fish into strips and finish with the ketchup.

For the fish • 2 x 150g pieces white fish (cod, plaice, haddock etc) • 2 tbsp Very Lazy Garlic mixed into 2 tbsp room temperature butter For the chips • 500g Adirondack Blue potatoes, cut into small wedges • 3 tbsp sunflower oil For the homemade ketchup • 1 tbsp Very Lazy Chilli • 1 tin chopped tomatoes • 2 tbsp sugar

Method: Preheat the oven to 220C. 1. Start by making the ketchup. Fry the chilli on a high heat for 1 minute before adding the tinned tomatoes. Stir in the sugar and season well with salt and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes, or until thick. 2. Meanwhile, place the potato wedges on a roasting tray and drizzle with the oil. Season

Simply stylish seafood This delicious recipe comes courtesy of Mark Poynton, Chef Patron of multi award-winning Alimentum in Cambridge Haddock Soup • 1 x fillet of un-dyed smoked haddock • 500ml semi skimmed milk • 200ml fish stock • 1/2 an onion (finely diced) • 1 clove of garlic (crushed) • 150g potato (peeled and cut into 2cm dice) • Grain mustard • Cress • 4 small eggs

Method:

Take the fish out of the milk and pour the milk into the boiling soup, boiling for 1 more minute, then blend until smooth and season with a little salt, black pepper and lemon juice to taste.

Place the haddock in the cold milk - bring to the boil and take off the heat.

Fry the 4 eggs in a little butter until the white is cooked but the yolk is still runny!

Soften the onion and garlic over a medium heat in a little vegetable oil for about 5 minutes, then add the potato and cook for a further minute. Add the fish stock and bring to a rolling boil, then reduce to a simmer for 4 minutes.

Place the cooked eggs in 4 serving bowls, then flake the haddock around the egg and sprinkle with the cress and grain mustard. Bring the soup back to the boil and pour around the egg yolk then serve. http://restaurantalimentum.co.uk/

40 PAGE | JULY 2012 ISSUE 15 | www.Inspiredessex.co.uk

Everest Gurkha Bar & Restaurant

Loch Fyne

The Bay Horse

The Alma

We would like to invite you into the

Situated on Bond Street, our restaurant

Situated in the heart of Chelmsford this

Come and soak up the atmosphere at

restaurant for a fine-dining and cultural

has a large bar area, restaurant seating

beautiful 15th Century Tudor Style

this beautiful & cosy pub, enjoy a light

experience with our truly authentic

for 120 guests. Come and join us for the

building, maintains all its original

bite or classic pub meal or see what the

Nepalese cuisine that is sure to give

freshest, most delicious seafood - we’re

features, with the decor and quirkiness

stylish air conditioned restaurant has to

you an exotic taster of the vibrant yet

open all day from breakfast through to

of a more modern, contemporary

offer, with a great menu offering a good

equally peaceful country. There will be

dinner for drinks, light snacks and

cutting edge establishment. The

selection of fresh fish along with regular

frequent dates of Live Jazz Night, with a

seafood feasts! We are delighted to

beautiful Bay Horse in Moulsham

daily specials all of which are freshly

cleared dance floor for our customers to

offer a first rate à la carte menu at our

Street has been transformed into an

cooked to order, using ingredients

catch the rhythm including special

Loch Fyne Chelmsford restaurant and

amazing upmarket eatery, combining a

sourced locally where possible. We pride

traditional performances of Nepalese

you will be treated to a great array

traditional wine bar and bistro concept,

ourselves on our quality cask ales and

folklore dancing. We hope you can come

of fresh and seasonal dishes that are

with exquisite yet contemporary tastes.

premium beers as well as our extensive

to enjoy the Nepalese atmosphere and

perfect for every palate - come down

The ultimate destination for mouth

range of wines and champagnes. Come

we look forward to welcoming you.

and see us soon.

watering food, refreshing drinks and

and enjoy everything your home from

exceptional service.

home has to offer.

European

British, Modern

Classic Pub

Finest Nepalese Cuisine

01245 493929 8-10 Broomfield Road www.everestgurkhabarandrestaurant.co.uk

01245 293620 Bond St, Chelmsford www.lochfyne-restaurants.com

01245 251 371 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford www.bayhorsechelmsford.com

01245 256783 Arbour Lane, Chelmsford www.thealma.info

The Lion Inn

Chiquito

Strada

Sapori Ristorante

The Lion Inn offers diners a unique

‘South of the border’ passion is always

Strada describes itself as ‘a group of

Located in the Atlantic Hotel. Translated

eating and drinking experience as well

served up at Chiquito. A menu of

stylish, contemporary Italian restaurants,

“Sapori” is italian for flavours. This es-

as hotel facilities and a new style to rival

bold Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine is

serving good quality, simple and freshly

sence has been incorporated in every

many. Our menu is based on good pub

prepared however the diner likes it.

prepared dishes’. Each outlet retains

detail of this elegant restaurant and

grub that’s been given a continental

Burritos, sizzling fajitas and tacos can

the feel of being a local neighbourhood

bar. The menu focuses on the region of

feel. We know you’d expect to find

all be customised for vegetarians or

Italian restaurant. The menu includes

Abruzzo on the Adriatic coast. Sapori

steak, fish & chips and a delicious

those wanting more spice. A kids menu,

pastas, risottos, salads, and fish dishes,

offers an a la carte menu, as well as a

shortcrust pastry pie but we also hope

games and entertainment add to the

but they are best known for their quality

bar menu for those who prefer a lighter

to tempt you with Thai style mussels

family-friendly vibe, and there is a great

pizzas. They present authentic Italian

meal. Specialising in fresh seafood,

and rotisserie garlic & herb chicken to

range of exciting cocktails, mocktails,

dishes in contemporary surroundings

home-made pasta with a variety of

name but a few of the freshly prepared

wines and tequilas.

and aim to use only the freshest and

mouth watering sauces, rustic breads

and cooked to order dishes on our

finest ingredients, imported from Italy

and flamboyant desserts.

menu.

to provide exactly the kind of rustic,

British, Modern

Mexican

Italian

traditional dishes.

01245 394900 Boreham, Chelmsford www.lioninnhotel.co.uk

01245 240800 Army & Navy, Chelmsford www.chiquito.co.uk

01245 491 991 Baddow Road, Chelmsford www.strada.co.uk

01245 268 179 New Street, Chelmsford www.saporiitalian.co.uk

www.Inspiredessex.co.uk | JULY 2012 ISSUE 15 | PAGE 41

ThinkING of changing your car? NOW SELLING QUALITY USED CARS TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS THE TRADE OUR REPUTATION IS YOUR RECOMMENDATION ALL CARS ARE KEPT AND VIEWED UNDERCOVER LIKE FOR LIKE, WE ARE ONE OF THE CHEAPEST ON THE INTERNET.

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42 PAGE | JULY 2012 ISSUE 15 | www.Inspiredessex.co.uk

Motors

Win a Trip to a Paradise Island! Fancy the opportunity to drive around paradise? Well TomTom are offering up a once-in-alifetime opportunity for five families or groups of friends to spend two weeks on a tropical island and earn £10,000 for mapping it. The Map Paradise Project will help create five new maps for Fiji, St. Lucia, Mauritius, Cape Verde and the Seychelles. If you’re a lucky winner, you and four family members or friends can come with you to help you map a paradise island. You’ll get an all-expenses-paid trip and all you have to do is carry out the mapping assignments TomTom ask you. Oh, and for your trouble, TomTom will also give you £10,000. No mapping experience is needed, but TomTom is looking for people who enjoy exploring beautiful places, don’t mind great weather and who have a decent sense of direction. Winners of the competition will have to drive around the island in a specially equipped mapping car. The actual work will take anything from a day to two weeks depending on how much time you spend sunbathing, swimming or exploring! You can see a short film about the Map Paradise Project at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGEEjzUrmjI

How to apply for the Map Paradise Project Just fill out the form at www.tomtom.com/summer and tell TomTom why your merry band of explorers is the perfect group to map paradise.

Fascinating Lagonda V12 Team Car One of Britain’s most interesting pre-war Le Mans entries is coming up for sale with Bonhams.

Neither had raced before and the trip down to Le Mans was their sole test and running-in for the Lagonda.

The 1939 Lagonda V12 Team Car may have come only fourth, but it was a remarkable achievement with a brilliant back-story.

After its Le Mans debut, Selsdon – who with Luigi Chinetti and driving a Ferrari 166MM, would go on to win the next Le Mans held, in 1949 – raced the Lagonda to second at Brooklands’ 1939 August Bank Holiday meeting, the last held at the track.

Unbelievably it was raced to just one spot shy of the podium by a pair of inexperienced young aristocrats, one of whom used his £65,000 inheritance to fund their boy’s own adventure. Lord Selsdon, then just 26, was persuaded to finance the car’s build and entry by 34-year-old Eton and Trinity College Oxford graduate Lord Waleran, who was a keen Lagonda enthusiast.

At least one person in the group must be able to drive. Five people are able to take part in each project.

The Lagonda will go under the hammer at the Bonhams Goodwood Revival sale on 15 September. Despite being estimated to make more than £1 million, we reckon that makes it a bargain compared to Bentleys with Le Mans history.

James Knight, Group Motoring Director at Bonhams, said: “In this day of ultra-professional race outfits, it is hard to look back and imagine a time in history when two friends with some money to spare could get in a sports car and go racing – and at Le Mans of all places. But they and others did.” www.Inspiredessex.co.uk | JULY 2012 ISSUE 15 | PAGE 43

Your Local Business Website Is Live! You have driven boldly onto the information super highway and your local business website is proudly proclaiming your presence to your city, county, country and the world at large. So, what is missing?

Can your readers contact you? It seems a daft question, but oddly it is one that is overlooked quite often. I have seen so many local websites that have a contact page with an email form and that is it. Have your business address and phone number available from EVERY page on your website. Don’t forget people may not land on your “home page” first. In the eyes of the search engines, every page is a home page. It should be where people would expect to find it – in your footer or a link to your contact page. Have a contact page and include all forms of contact – your address, phone, fax, email, carrier pigeon – any form of contact you use, make sure it’s on the page. Make it easy for people to contact you. On the same lines of making it easy, publicise any social media sites you are present on too Make sure that your contact details are accessible to search spiders – in text not images. Check that the information is consistent on all of your web pages and any online directories and local business listings you’ve submitted. Include a map and directions to your business. This can be linking to your Google Places page. Using an email form on your website is fine, it helps to stop those spam bots harvesting your address and spamming your email with the latest must have service. If you want to display your actual business email address (and it’s a good idea to display it), use an image rather than a link. As a side note, if you are a UK limited company you should have your registered business address and registration number displayed somewhere on your website too. People searching online for information are impatient, they want information now and will click away to another site that provides what they want. Help your website to do its job and put all your contact details where searchers expect to find them.

What the ‘Tweet’ is that all about?– by Sarah Brockwell Have you ever tweeted? If you have, you would know what Twitter is… so we are assuming that the answer is “Er, no!”. But wait, 175 million people world-wide use Twitter so why don’t you? Resident Business Brains, Sarah Brockwell of sarahBee marketing, gives you a quick guide to Twitter and shows how Essex businesses can benefit from the little blue bird. Twitter (in its own words) is a real-time information network that connects you to the latest stories, ideas, opinions and news about what you find interesting. Simply find the accounts you find most compelling and follow the conversations. Twitter connects businesses to customers in real time—and businesses use Twitter to quickly share information with people interested in their products and services. They can also gather real-time market intelligence and feedback, and build relationships with customers, partners and influencers. Twitter offers businesses an easy way to reach an engaged audience. In order to Tweet you will need one of the following: a smart phone, a lap top, tablet computer like iPad or desk top as well as an internet connection. Go to www.twitter.com and follow the instructions to set up an account. Make your Twitter name short and catchy and you’re off. I am always asked the question ‘What should I tweet about?’ The main rule here is that your tweet has to be 140 characters or less. Guidelines are: • • •

Don’t share information that you might later regret Don’t get personal Don’t feel the need to publish every detail of your daily routine

Many small businesses in Essex already use Twitter successfully to communicate news about special promotions and deals, or to announce product launches.

Lee Doran - Director Leed Limited 44 PAGE | JULY 2012 ISSUE 15 | www.Inspiredessex.co.uk

How to get followed In order for your tweets to help build your business you need followers. People will follow you on Twitter if you have something beneficial to say. Make sure that you put your Twitter details on all of your marketing staff too. A good way to get followers is to follow other people that you have something in common with. For example you could follow the Federation of Small Businesses or a Chamber of Commerce. You can also follow the people who follow these too. If you follow someone you will usually find that they follow you back (its like Twitter etiquette). You could even follow your competitor or follow whom your competitor follows or just follow the people that follow your competitor – get it? Talking of etiquette there are also some short hand codes for Twitter. If you want to contact someone directly you can use a Direct Message function by simply prefacing your message with D or DM and their username e.g. DMtweetsarahBee ‘this is a direct message to sarah’ If you want to reply directly to a tweet you can use the @ symbol e.g. @tweetsarahBee ‘thanks for the advice’ Twitter can be a great marketing tool, but as with most technology you have to dedicate time to it so you might want to consider a couple of tricks: Get someone to tweet for you (Many digital marketing firms offer this service) Use an interface like TweetDeck or HootSuite (Google them). These are great if you also use Facebook and LinkedIn for business. For more tips on marketing simply follow me on Twitter tweetsarahBee or visit www.sarahbeemarketing.com

The 7 Packaging Design Mistakes to Avoid for Global Success – Levent Yildizgoren

Business

Packaging plays an important role in the consumer’s decision to make a purchase or not. For this reason, companies spend a lot of time and money on their packaging. Getting the packaging right for any product is absolutely essential in order to get the customer’s attention. However, unintentionally getting it wrong can result in painful consequences. Time and money can be saved by simply putting a planning stage in place.

#1 – Colours on the packaging clash with the local culture Using the wrong colour for the target country can be disastrous for an otherwise good product. For example, some colours are associated with death in some cultures or certain colours may have a religious significance. Packaging colours need to be chosen carefully and should be neutral when possible in order to keep costs down.

#2 – Choosing photographs unwisely Photographs can help tremendously to increase a product’s appeal. However, if the photos or graphics used are not in line with the target country’s traditions or consumer expectations, photos that were meant to help can be a problem for your marketing campaign. Therefore, photos and graphics need to be taken into account at the design stage when it is cheaper to resolve any issues that are identified.

#3 – Making the typesetting process unnecessarily complicated It makes sense to get as many different languages as possible onto the same packaging. This will save time and money. But, different languages, particularly right to left languages, require different skills and resources in order to get the information right. Using a translation company equipped with a typesetting studio can be a simple and effective solution. They can make sure that all of the languages appear correctly on your packaging.

#4 – Assuming that existing packaging will work in any country

#7 – Using product names with adverse meanings in other languages

Different countries may have different packaging requirements and restrictions. Therefore, packaging designed for your domestic market that complies with the local regulations may require modification for other countries. The relative costs and time required to do this needs to be taken into account at the planning stage.

A global brand name check should be the first step before deciding on the product name and packaging slogan. Make sure that the brand name and product taglines do not have any adverse meanings in different languages.

Failing to conform to the target country’s regulations may result in delays and, in some cases, in product recalls.

#5 – Not briefing the designer about your international marketing angle If your designer is not aware of your overseas requirements, they will not design the original artwork with an international mind-set. Using text integrated into graphics will mean extra cost and time as the graphic needs to be localised for each language. Trying to avoid text going over double page spreads or complex graphic shapes with text running around them, as this will make right to left language formatting, such as Arabic and Hebrew, very easy since the direction of pages needs to be mirrored for these languages.

This may sound difficult, but actually any reputable translation company can carry out a multilingual brand name check and provide a cost effective and painless solution to meet your needs. None of the above mistakes need to occur. Forward planning and working with the right translation company can help you overcome all of the above pitfalls before they become major issues for your product. We are here to help our customers and provide them with support and information so that they can carry out their activities without costly delays and product recalls. If you have any questions regarding to any of the above or would like to discuss your project, please contact me by email levent@wetranslate.co.uk or call +44 (0)1245 216930.

#6 – Not allocating enough space for text Text for some languages will take up more space than English text. For example, a German translation will contain approximately 20% more characters than English. If there is not enough space, then a small size type may have to be used, or the design may need to be modified.

www.Inspiredessex.co.uk | JULY 2012 ISSUE 15 | PAGE 45

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THICKNESS LENGTH 12.00 mm 2430 mm 12.00 mm 806 mm 23.00 mm 1300 mm 44.00 mm 2982 mm 44.00 mm 1650 mm 44.00 mm 1400 mm

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46 PAGE | JULY 2012 ISSUE 15 | www.Inspiredessex.co.uk

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Be Inspired

Local Hero

Runnymede swimming club celebrates bronze award

Phillip Calthorpe from Colchester has been chosen by Ottobock Healthcare to be one of the 16 technicians from the UK to take care of the equipment at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. He’ll be part of the official Prosthetic, Orthotic and Wheelchair Technical Service Team.

Runnymede Swimming Club, based in Benfleet, Essex, is celebrating after receiving a £250 donation from the MARS Refuel Drink Fund.

Like the services provided by mechanics in motor-racing, Ottobock is responsible for the repair and maintenance of equipment used by Paralympians at the Games, along with 80 other technicians from around the world, working in a 6,500 square foot workshop in the Paralympic Village, and the other smaller venues around the UK.

After the success of its SwimAbility swim squad for disabled swimmers, Runnymede decided to start a disabled water polo team in January 2012. The water polo sessions were set up to give members a less competitive activity and help them to feel part of a team. There are currently twenty participants who come from all over the county to play weekly.

Phillip could find himself repairing flat wheelchair tyres, carrying out complex prosthetic leg repairs and fittings and using his expert skills and creative thinking in order to fix equipment, often in very little time. Ottobock has been a partner to the Paralympic Games providing technical service since the Seoul 1988 Paralympic Games, and this year will be supporting athletes with a team of 80 wheelchair technicians, prosthetists and orthotists.

Maria Neary, Disability Liaison Officer, says: “As one of the only disabled water polo teams in the country, it is fantastic to see this taking off so quickly. Without funding we would be unable to provide the players with an environment where they can exercise and socialise. It would be great to see other teams being set up so we could form a mini league. With this award from the MARS Refuel Drink Fund we are one step closer to achieving this. “With this donation from the MARS Refuel Drink Fund we can buy a scoreboard for the club. This will be a great boost to the players’ morale as it means we can hold matches and play longer.” A recent survey conducted by MARS Refuel, revealed that the main barriers preventing people from taking part in sport are a lack of motivation and cost, but with the summer of sport that lies ahead, there should be plenty to motivate people to get active. The MARS Refuel Drink Fund was set up to help individuals and clubs play their chosen sport for longer. Applicants for support such as equipment, coaching, pitch time and travel expenses can be made online at www.marsrefuel.com The MARS Refuel Drink Fund, which runs until September 30 2012, has one Gold (£1000), four Silver (£500) and eight Bronze (£250) awards to donate each month.

Ottobock Healthcare has announced the Official Prosthetic, Orthotic and Wheelchair Technical Service Team for the London 2012 Paralympic Games. The team includes Phillip Calthorpe from Colchester

www.Inspiredessex.co.uk | JULY 2012 ISSUE 15 | PAGE 47

Pets PET HEAD Magical Deodorizing Spray Approximate Price: £8.50 for 450ml Scent: Asian Pear

Grooming Products for Your Dog This deodorizing spray is a great product which all dog owners should be running out to buy. It is easy to apply as you just spray your dogs dry coat with this lovely Asian Pear scented spray, and it hides all those nasty smells which your dog may have picked up on their recent walk in the woods or fields. Millie always heads for cow pats and fox poo when we are on our walks and the smell of cows can linger in our family home, but this spray has the cow odour has disappearing, and bath times can be less regular too. Please remember to avoid your dogs head and eye area when applying this spray, but it can be sprayed liberally all over your dogs back, legs, undercarriage, chest and tail. You can get this at some local pet’s stores but it is readily available online.

Local ospital Services Support

What a great way to start your dog’s bath time with this beautiful smelling dog shampoo. This fruity scent is very sweet and will get rid of any doggy odours and leave your dog smelling fruity fresh. It contains baking soda and ordenone which deodorises the coat, plus vegetable protein extract and hydrolyzed soy protein which apparently helps build up elasticity and leaves the coat looking fuller. This product leaves your dog’s coat smelling sweet and looking good too. The whole range is a way of treating your dog plus there is nothing nicer than having a lovely clean dog to cuddle up next to. PET HEAD Dirty Talk Deodorising Shampoo Approximate Price: £8.50 for 475ml Scent: Delicious Fruit Fantasy

A Big Hello form Millie Dog Beds & Blankets When your best four legged friend has bitten off more than they can chew then what could be better than a beautiful designer dog bed to help your little one off to sleep. Trust us they will be the envy of their poochie friends when they climb aboard. Glamorous beige and black polka dot bed with glossy vinyl exterior and super-soft velour internal cushion and wall. Features a heart-shaped plush pillow and a cute bow with a rhinestone in the middle. www. puppykit.co.uk

NHS

NHS Trust

Denise uses pedal power to benefit the neonatal unit Local mum, Denise Dell, is completing the London to Brighton cycle ride in July in support of the Neonatal Unit at Broomfield Hospital Denise, from Braintree, chose to support the Neonatal Unit after her son, Louis was born premature at 29 weeks and was treated by staff on the unit. She wanted to show her appreciation for the treatment her son received as well as help the staff treat other unwell and premature babies so decided taking a undraising cycle would be a good way to raise funds to buy more equipment.

Denise explains her motivation on her ustgiving page, saying: “The work they do is AMAZING and so very very special and I would like to support their charity, as words can not express how thankful myself and family are for everything they did for Louis. Nobody knows what situation they may find themselves in and if I can help to raise money and awareness for the unit to help other babies get the much needed incubators and equipment the hospital always need then it would be wonderful and I will feel that I have helped to show the nurses and doctors my appreciation for my little miracle, Louis”

48 PAGE | JULY 2012 ISSUE 15 | www.Inspiredessex.co.uk

To help Denise reach her fundraising target, please visit her justgiving page at: www.justgiving.com/denise-dell • During the course of a year around 4,300 babies are born in this area. Sadly many of these babies will be critically ill, pre-term and low birth-weight and will need intensive care. Our staff provide continuous monitoring of premature and poorly babies during those important first days of their young lives and medical equipment and technology play a vital role. With your help, we can fund additional medical equipment to compliment the expert care the neonatal team can give special care babies.

Broomfield Hospital receives tremendous support from the community throughout the year. Below are just a few examples of how the generosity of local supporters has made a positive difference to life at the hospital.

Local Mid Essex Hospital Services Support NHS Trust

If you would like to support the hospital

Mid Essex Hospital Services

through a community group or campaign, simply contact Yvonne Carter in the Charities Office on 01245 514559 for more information about how you can get involved.

As excitement for the London 2012 Olympics builds, it has inspired many of our fundraisers to take on all sorts of sporting challenges to raise money for Broomfield Hospital. Here are just a few of our energetic supporters who are getting active to support our charitable funds…

NHS NHS

NHS Trust

years, off road triathlons are apparently far harder but I hadn’t appreciated that until the day when I was pushing my heavy mountain bike up a steep grassed hill - several times!! I’d like to say a sincere thanks to everyone for sponsoring me, I’ve been overwhelmed with staff’s generosity and support. I’m looking forward to seeing what we use the money for in making efforts to improve our patient’s privacy and dignity at Broomfield Hospital. Thanks again”

• A Dignity Champion is someone who believes passionately that being treated with dignity is a basic human right NOT an optional extra. They believe that compassion must be at the heart of a truly person centred service and are committed to doing their bit to achieve this. • Nearly 250 members of staff at Mid Essex Hospitals have signed up as Dignity Champions to raise awareness and promote dignity around the hospital. • You can find out more about our Dignity Champions at www.dignityincare.org.uk

Jo tackles first triathlon! One of our members of staff has bravely taken on her first off-road triathlon and has raised £400 to improve patient dignity around the hospital.

Pictured: Jo tackling the cycling element of the course

Jo Mitchell, who is Head of Performance at Mid Essex Hospitals, took part in the event which included a 400m swim, 10K off road bike and 5K run. Despite the difficult conditions, Jo managed to complete the course in an impressive 2 hour and 5 mins. Jo said: “I’m thrilled to have completed it, albeit I was last! It was one of the toughest physical challenges I’ve undertaken for some

Cross country cycling fundraiser Cycling enthusiast, Clifford Hobbs will be taking on the challenge of a lifetime when he joins over 700 other cyclists on a 9 day cycle from Lands End to John O Groats in September. Clifford is a keen cycler, but this is his first time taking on such a huge challenge, which will raise funds for the Day Therapies Unit. He chose to support the unit in memory of his dad, and in appreciation of the care he received. The funds he raises will help staff provide extra amenities for the unit, as well as provide additional recreational facilities for the patients’ entertainment.

You can support Clifford via his justgiving page: www.justgiving.com/clifford-hobbs More information about the ride via the following address: www.rideacrossbritain.com/ • The Day Therapies Unit specialises in treating patients that require medication to be given by a trained nurse in a hospital setting. The unit treats long term patients, often suffering from chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and Multiple Sclerosis or requiring blood transfusions on a regular basis. Patients benefit a great deal from the day therapies service as they can receive their treatment within a matter of hours and avoid an overnight stay.

Pictured: Clifford taking part in the London Revolution in May www.Inspiredessex.co.uk | JULY 2012 ISSUE 15 | PAGE 49

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www.eternalbloom-chelmsford.co.uk

3 days a week

Monday 7:00pm Thursday 7:00pm Saturday 9:30am AT: Regiment Way Golf Centre

www.mibootcamp.co.uk

50 PAGE | JULY 2012 ISSUE 15 | www.Inspiredessex.co.uk

FROM

£35

Call today 01245 252575 ‘The best possible start to an educational journey’ Chelmsford, Wickford, Basildon, Colchester

www.seymourhouse.co.uk

Phone: 01245

213 213

Country Flooring

01245 250 074 www.countryflooring.co.uk

FLOORING AT PRICES YOU

CAN AFFORD FOR EVERYDAY LIVING

FRE NEXT DA E DELIVER Y Y!

TESCO

p p

find us at the crossing near victoria road

OPEN

SUNDAY Meadowside

TOWN CENTER

Victoria Rd

COME AND SEE US...

p p p

Springfield Rd To Army & Navy

EASY PARKING at rear via Meadowside

WE ARE HERE

167 SPRINGFIELD ROAD, CHELMSFORD, ESSEX, CM2 6JP

E E R F UNDERLAY ALL

CARPETS ON ORING O L F D O O W D N A ERT WITH THIS ADV Inspired

APRIL ISSUE 12

2012

Terms and Conditions apply ask in store. Not in conjunction with any other offers.

another great British brand!

MADE IN UK

ALBANY

3 seater fixed sofa in ‘A’ grade fabric. MRP £1350

AYRLP £1079

2 seater (A grade) - MRP £1079

AYRLP £865

25 YEAR

frame and fram assembly guara e ntee!

...with low prices, all year round! NEW GENOA

25 YEAR

frame and frame assembly guara ntee!

2 seater sofa in ‘A’ grade fabric. MRP £1058

AYRLP £845

This modern classic offers superb comfort.

NEVADA

25 YEAR

frame and frame assembly guara ntee!

2 seater sofa in ‘A’ grade fabric. MRP £1075

AYRLP £859

This new model is available in a new collection of stylish fabrics. Also available as a leather option.

HUDSON

25 YEAR

frame and frame assembly guara ntee!

2 seater sofa in ‘R’ grade leather. MRP £1779

AYRLP £1399

Compact and versatile with a contemporary feel. Also available as a fabric option. AYRLP - All Year Round Low Price. Prices stated are ‘Prices from’. Offer ends 11th August 2012.

220 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford

Free delivery...

on all furniture & bed orders over £499 within our trading area.

Low cost

disposal...

of your old furniture and beds until 11/08/12.

36 months interest free credit available Subject to status. up to

Tel:

01245 490101

Tel:

01376 321303

George Yard, 9-15 Rayne Road, Braintree

Find us