Braintree Life Aug 2014

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BL Welcome Hello and welcome to issue two of Braintree Life magazine.

We have had a great response from Braintree writers wishing to contribute to the magzine! We do have space for a few more, if you would like to write about fashion, gardening, local business, music, theatre or almost anything else we do not have covered then please email us at editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk.

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We hope you enjoy this second edition.

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Braintree Life - Fashion - This Old Thing

I love the British high street, I think we have one of the most exciting and fast moving around when it comes to fashion, but I also love vintage fashion. I have some fantastic vintage clothes that I have picked up over the years, a printed vintage cotton dress with yellow cherries on, a black and white paisley coat dress that my mum gave me, a black cocktail dress with lace sleeves and cowl collar, to name but a few. When I do edit my wardrobe, my vintage clothes are the ones that never find their way to a charity shop. They remain as treasured and loved pieces that I will never get bored of.

If you haven’t been tuning in to Dawn O’Porter’s new show, This Old Thing, on channel 4, then you should watch it on catch up. It’s a cross between The Great British Sewing Bee and Gok Wan’s Fashion Fix. Dawn shows the high street-weary that they can inject some pizzazz into their wardrobe by shopping for vintage. She also shows how a few simple alterations can transform vintage pieces into something truly unique. Like the people on the show, most people would not dream of shopping vintage, reasons can range from: it’s smelly, it’s fancy dress, it’s weird and it’s old, but out of that lot, old - is the only accurate observation and once it is washed and smells gorgeous, it’s no different from your high street clothes. There are a few important positives about shopping vintage: it’s greener - no mass production here! It’s a one off (you won’t be down the pub wearing the same dress as someone else) and the quality and workmanship is always better, as it had to stand the test of time.

Vintage is great for unusual accessories, like shoes, bags and jewellery. It is fantastic for occasion wear. And quite often when you find the right vintage fit, whether it be day dress or jacket, then nothing fits you better.

If you lived somewhere like Brighton you cannot move for vintage shops, they are everywhere and in London there is probably one or more in most postcodes, but we are also lucky enough to have one in Chelmsford.

Now and Then designer dress agency and vintage boutique is at 17 Baddow Road, and is a great shop with some fantastic pieces and should not be overlooked if you are clothes shopping in Chelmsford. The dress agency is downstairs and the vintage shop is upstairs. It’s without a doubt my favourite shop in Chelmsford, in fact just before starting this article, I popped in and bought two really great dresses.

The girls at Now and Then are very friendly and will help you find that something special, so don’t be afraid to ask. And please support

them, it’s important for places like Chelmsford and Braintree to have fantastic independent shops like this, to live up to our city status and so it can become a better shopping destination.

Still in doubt about how to shop vintage? then read on…

Your Guide to Vintage Shopping Rummage around: don’t be afraid to rummage, take things off the rail and really have a look at everything.

Try it on: try a few things on, don’t pick up one thing expecting it to fit, take a selection of things into the changing room and try it all on.

Ask a friend: sometimes vintage clothes can be hard to get in to or out of, ask a friend to help.

Mix it up: definitely mix vintage with other high street buys you already have (it’s the best way not to look like your wearing fancy dress).

Stay era-aware: if you are wearing a seventies Ossie Clark dress for example, you could carry a twenties beaded clutch bag, but don’t try and wear a seventies shirt, with fifties skirt and forties shoes (you will end up looking like you got dressed in a museum!)

Grab a Granny: ask your grandma or your mum if they have kept anything from a bygone era, you never know what you might find.

If it’s torn, it can be worn: don’t discount anything, if there is any damage, stains can be washed and most things can be repaired.

Don’t falter just alter: if you find the dress of your dreams, but find the length unflattering, then ask around, most people know someone who will do an inexpensive alteration for you.

Have fun: lastly have fun and prepare to wear. Unveil your vintage find somewhere, like a wedding or party or simply wear it to Tescos (other supermarkets are available!)

Emma Smith lives in Chelmsford and is a style consultant.

She offers personal shopping and wardrobe planning. You can contact her via her website www.emmasmith.co.uk or email her emma@emmasmith.co.uk.

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BL Lifestyle - Stay in Shape on Your Summer Holiday So you’ve spent the last few months busting your butt in the gym to get yourself ready for your summer holiday. Remember back in January when you made the New Year Resolution to get that beach body this year? Now all your hard work has paid off and you are ready to go flaunt it - finally, a holiday to enjoy rather than worrying about being self conscious or fretting over what to wear – wahoo!

So don’t let all that hard work go to waste, it’s not worth letting your fitness and physique slip just because you’re jet setting off on holiday for a couple of weeks. Keep you beach body in shape by following my top tips:Go for a Run Start your day with a crisp early morning run. It’s the best way to clear the mind and take in the local scenery. Head to the beach, a nearby iconic park or local attraction. It’s a great way to explore your local surroundings and spot any places you may wish to visit later in the day.

Exercise in Your Room It’s always possible to achieve a great workout in your room thanks to bodyweight exercises. Begin with a few sets of squats, lunges, situps, push-ups and planks. Get creative and use your bed to perform triceps dips, a wall for wall squats plus hold a water bottle in each hand to substitute dumbbells for bicep curls and shoulder presses.

Find a Local Gym

If your hotel accommodation doesn’t offer an in-house gym facility with basic equipment and you are keen to maintain your exercise program then your next bet is to locate a fitness centre nearby.

Sometimes you may even find that your gym pass back home has locations in the area you’ll be traveling to, so it’s worth doing some research before you pack your suitcase.

Sightsee on Foot If you’re keen on seeing the city or area you’re staying in, then why not explore it on foot? Walking everywhere is a lot healthier then hopping on trains or buses for a few stops plus driving hire cars and taking taxis can be expensive.

Hire a Bike Riding a pushbike is just as effective as opting to stay on foot, except you’re burning a lot more calories. It’s a cheap alternative to using public transport or driving to explore a city, especially if you are on a City Break. Let’s face it, there are many cities in the world that are made to be seen by bike, just think of Paris, Barcelona, Berlin – the list is endless!

Written by CJ of CJFigureworks.

For more easy tips on healthy living, or for a personal nutrition and training plan check out cjfigureworks.com or email cj@cjfigureworks.com.

You can also follow me on Facebook - CJFigureworks.

BL Crafts - Summer Holidays by Sam Conway Summer holidays are what every parent looks forward to – quality time with their children, endless summer picnics, laughing, smiling and funfilled family days. Until approximately 10:30am on the first day when the whinging and whining of ‘I’m bored’ have reached fever pitch, and you are hoovering up the millionth loom band from the floor that morning…

What you need is something to distract them – a simple (yet time consuming!) craft. Even better, a craft that can be put down and come back to later in the day to fit around your schedule.

What you need are pompoms! Gone are the days of winding the yarn around a piece of cardboard, furiously poking the yarn through the centre of the ring… Now there are all sorts of wonderful ways to make them, including using a fork, or even better, a pompom maker!

Pompom makers are hinged and open up to allow you to wrap the yarn easily. Then simply pop it closed again, tie it off and snip around the edges (just like you used to do).

Once you have made your pompom, the possibilities are endless, with so many creative ways to use them. Here are a few to get you started: • Attach lots of them to a headband or hair clip to make a crazy pompom hair accessory.

• Glue or sew some together, stick some googly eyes on it and you have any creature you can imagine!

• String lots together to make a great garland for your room.

• Sew hundreds together for a soft and squishy rug (a great ongoing project for the whole of the holidays!)

• String some tightly together to make a scarf.

• Make a giant one to stick on top of a hat!

And if your kids want to try out some more exciting crafts, why not find some local kids’ summer craft sessions? You can find classes all over Essex, including our own craft sessions, all run by experienced, CRB checked tutors.

These include ‘Decopatch Letters’, ‘Wet Felting’ and ‘Tote Bags and Cushions’ – all for only £14 for a 2 hour session. Suitable for 7-14 year olds, the classes are a great way for your kids to learn a new skill, and will give them inspiration for the rest of the holidays.

You can also get pompom makers from Sconch, Braintree’s biggest yarn shop – we stock Rico pompom maker sets, which contain 4 rings to make 4 different sized pompoms, for £6.

You can find us at Unit 37, 46 Springwood Drive, Braintree, CM7 2YN (opposite Xpect Gym on the Springwood Industrial Estate). See website: www.sconch.com for opening times, or give us a ring on 01376 743123.

BL History Local History: Food in Braintree During the First World War As I write this article it is exactly one week to go until the 4th August, the centenary of the day that Great Britain declared war on Germany at the start of the First World War. In the last issue I looked at the contributions of local industries to the war effort in 19141918. Continuing with the First World War theme I now turn to the impact of the war on local people, specifically that all important topic of food.

It is sometimes overlooked that rationing was introduced in Britain during the First World War as images of Second World War rationing tend to be more common. However, when war broke out in 1914 Britain was heavily dependent on food supplies from overseas.

British-grown produce could only feed the nation 1 day in every 3 and disruptions to the supply chain could therefore have a huge impact on British food. By 1916 our food supplies were becoming very strained and in 1917 Germany also began a campaign of ‘unrestricted submarine warfare’. This meant that instead of just targeting enemy military ships they would also attack neutral merchant ships bringing food and other supplies to Britain. In March 1917 a quarter of the ships heading to Britain were sunk. By early summer, Britain started providing large convoys for supply ships, helping to reduce the numbers being sunk and aircraft were also used in reconnaissance to help ships plan their routes and avoid attack. This did not, however, solve the problem of short supplies.

Back home the outbreak of war saw an initial rush of panic buying in Braintree and across the country, pushing prices up. When the food supply did not seem to be under immediate threat this panic buying died down, but the prices remained high and continued to rise throughout the war as supplies gradually decreased. By 1918 household food bills had increased by about 60% since summer 1914. Long queues at food stores became a common sight and there was constant concern that the rich were able to buy more food than the poor, because they had both more money and servants who could stand and queue while working people had to go to work. There was also concern that shopkeepers were making unfair profits out of the war shortages. In October 1915 a large and angry debate was held in Braintree and reported in the newspapers – local people believed that local stores, in particular the Co-Operative, had increased its prices ahead of an imminent budget so that they would be fixed at a higher price.

A number of measures were introduced to help with these problems.

Initially the government was unwilling to seriously consider rationing and called for people to voluntarily limit their food consumption. In April 1915 the king urged the nation to cut their bread consumption by a quarter. By 1917 the government realized more action was needed and a new Ministry of Food was set up which asked local authorities to establish food committees to regulate local prices and buying. In Braintree two food committees were established, the Braintree Urban Food Committee which covered Braintree and whose stamp you can see on Agnes Smith’s ration book, and the Braintree Rural Food Committee which was responsible for a number of the smaller parishes in the district. In November 1917 the government tried to introduce a voluntary rationing scheme but it quickly became clear that this was not going to work.

In February 1918 the government officially launched its rationing scheme, trialing it in London and then rolling it out to the rest of the country. However the Braintree Urban Food Committee decided to introduce its own card-based rationing system ahead of the official scheme. This was introduced in January 1918, with Halstead also introducing a similar scheme. Some of the main items rationed per week were: meat 1 1/2lbs per adult, butter or margarine 4oz, sugar 8oz and bread 4lb for a woman and 7lb for a man. This did not mean that all families could afford this much, but it helped to ensure that the rich could not stockpile the short supplies.

When the war ended it took a while for food supplies to be re-

established. British farming had also suffered a huge loss to its male labour force and to its horses, thousands of which had been taken by the military. It took a while for all the rations to be lifted, with the final ones ending in March 1920. Sadly, it would be just 20 years until rationing was introduced again on 8 January 1940 as a result of the Second World War. To find out more about Braintree during the First World War don’t forget to come and see our exhibition ‘Braintree District at War: 1914-1918’ which is open 5th August – 19th December, Tuesday – Saturday, 10am-4pm.

Front and reverse of ration book belonging to Agnes Smith, 185 South Street, Braintree, dated October 1918. The ration book will be on display in our exhibition. [BRNTM:2014.919]

Front and inside of ration book given to soldiers on leave back home in Britain, (lent to the museum by a private collector for our exhibition ‘Braintree District at War’).

The Braintree Co-operative store which was at the centre of a debate over food prices in October 1915 [BRNTM NEG: 408].

By Jennifer Brown, Collections and Interpretation Officer at Braintree District Museum.

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BL Gardening

Summer can be a difficult time for us gardeners, what with the hot weather, constant watering, lawn mowing… and don’t forget the pest, disease and weed issues. We need to take special care during these times and also think about the autumn. Yes, I know and summer isn’t even over yet! Even in this lazy month, there are some jobs that really must be done, and a few bits and pieces to cover a few projects to take you through to the autumn and beyond.

General Tasks

the autumn. Take pictures so that you can remind yourself of what you’d like to change for next year.

Preparation is key to success.

Good luck and happy gardening!

Water hanging baskets daily. Despite the recent torrential rain, hanging baskets and small containers still need daily watering. Water bounces off the leaf canopy so even in a downpour, little rain reaches the potting compost and the plants’ roots. In a really hot spell any full-grown basket may need watering twice daily. Continue to feed weekly with a high potash plant food such as Tomorite.

If your rain-water barrels are overflowing in a downpour, rush out and use the water to make room for more! Shrubs, roses and in particular, wall-hugging plants, will all benefit from the extra drink. In dry spells, water camellias and azaleas thoroughly. They are sensitive if soil dries out at this time of year. Dry conditions now will result in dropped blooms in spring. Container-grown plants are particularly at risk.

Dead-head annual flowers frequently. Showy plants, such as petunias, will flower all summer long if dying blooms are removed and seed heads are not permitted to develop. If they are allowed to set seed, they will stop producing new flowers.

Don’t take off just the flower head, trim back to a leaf joint. This keeps the plant tidy and is less likely to result in dieback. Remove any dead or damaged leaves to prevent attracting fungal pathogens.

Check ties on plants, such as roses or fuchsias grown as standards, and loosen if necessary. The recent wet weather will probably have generated a growth spurt, resulting in thicker stems.

For any gardening tips why not contact Tom Cole, Head of Faculty for Land & Environment, Writtle College, Chelmsford, CM1 3RR by post (including a SAE) or by email at tom.cole@writtle.ac.uk.

Pick sweet peas every other day to prevent them from setting seed, even if your vases are already full. The more you pick, the more flowers will be produced.

Prune wisteria. Cut back to two or three leaves on the new whippy wood and you could be blessed with another flush of flowers. Repeat next February by cutting back any whippy growth to 2 buds - or tie in long stems to extend the framework. Remember with this old favourite, that flowering occurs on old growth NOT new. On new plants, tie in this season’s whippy growth securely to robust support wires. Never allow this vigorous plant to grow up to the guttering on your house or onto the roof – the weight could bring down gutters and pop off tiles or create areas for water to get into your nice dry house!

Prune ornamental trees, such as flowering cherries or mountain ash, if necessary. This will allow wounds to heal before winter.

• Trees • Pruning • Hedge Trimming • Roots Removed • Topping • Rotovating • Turfing • Fencing • Garden Design • Decking • Patios • Block Paving • Drives • Tar & Shingle Property Maintenance • Roofing • Chimney Repairs • Building Work • Flat roofs • Guttering • Fascias & Soffits

Tie in new growth on climbers, such as honeysuckle or jasmine. Tie short stems to canes in the direction you want them to grow. Once they reach the main support, the canes can be removed.

Hoe weeds as they germinate. Wet conditions always result in weedseed germination.

Free written quotes and advice 10 year guarantee on all work 25 years experieince

Trim leaves on pyracantha to expose the berries and encourage ripening. Cut back new growth to just in front of the old - or where there are fruitlets appearing. This summer prune will also maintain the shape of the plant. The same can be done for wall grown Cotoneasters.

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Take stock of your garden now. Are there not enough flowers?

Are there gaps? Are there plants you’d like to change? Put sticks alongside plants you decide need attention, ready for action in

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JARDINS

The Pub Tuesday - Mid week Roast

Available to hire for all your special occasions Feel Free to pop in and look around!

Thursday - Pie, Mash & Liquor

Regular music nights.

Friday - Fish Friday

15th August - Elvis Night & Chrissy Cadalack 16th August - Caberet Night

Sunday - Carvery Great choice of drinks including real ales.

It’s only August but never too early to book your work Christmas Party!

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BL Pet Corner - Millennium Veterinary Practice This month Louise Shaw gives an introduction to feline asthma. As a vet Louise has a keen interest in feline medicine and as an owner, shares her home with Little Puss who was abandoned, tied to a fence and left to die. In Louise’s own words, “she was rescued just in time. Little Puss is an adorable little cat and she quickly made my home her home”.

Asthma in Cats Like humans some cats suffer from asthma.

Overweight cats, female cats and Siamese cats have shown to be at greater risk in developing feline asthma.

What Causes Asthma?

There are many causes of asthma in cats. Physiologically, the small airway (bronchi and bronchioles) may react to a number of stimuli, such as: Inhaled irritants • Dust from cat litter • Cigarette smoke • Perfume or hairspray • Carpet fresheners • Pollens • Mould • House dust mites • Dander (from other pets or even people)

the condition long term requires any exasperating causes to be identified and removed. If these triggers cannot be identified then symptomatic treatment which can include anti-inflammatory drugs and bronchial dilators (to increase the surface area of the airway) will be needed.

Make sure your cat is at an optimum weight (as this can worsen breathing difficulties) Try to identify and remove any potential irritants or allergens in the house, eg pollens, use of perfumes or sprays, dusty cat litter, smoking in the house.

You may notice that your cat’s episodes are seasonal or may occur only when in certain rooms. In these situations it may be possible to track down an irritant or allergen that triggers the disease with careful investigations.

The most common signs of asthma are coughing and respiratory distress. Cats may show difficulty breathing, shortness of breath and open-mouth breathing. Coughing is significant since there are relatively few causes of coughing in the cat. Many cats may stand or sit with their backs arched, elbows out and neck extending. Wheezing is easily heard with the stethoscope and is sometimes so loud that it can be heard by the owners. Occasionally, sneezing and vomiting are noted.

Infectious agents • Viruses • Bacteria • Parasites - lungworm

How is Asthma Diagnosed?

If you recognise any of these signs in your cat you should contact your vet. If your cat has any episodes of open-mouth breathing, this should be treated as an emergency and you need to take you cat to the vet straight away.

How is Asthma Treated?

This depends on the severity of your cat’s condition. But life-long therapy may be required and acute severe attacks can prove fatal if treatment is not initiated promptly.

In most cases treatment will improve the clinical signs significantly and your cat’s quality of life.

Generally, any secondary infections associated with feline asthma are treated, usually with antibiotics but managing

If you have any concerns about your cat, we are only a phone call away. Tel: 01376 325511.

A number of tests may be required, including blood tests. One particular type of white blood cell, the eosinophil, is commonly associated with allergic events. Chest x-rays may also be recommended.

Rotary Golf Final Goes to the Wire Chelmsford Phoenix Rotary club won the district golf competition in June and now go on to the national finals. This is the fun part of Rotary, well, a small part of the fun part. There are many other sports competitions, outings, theatre visits, speaker evenings and general get-togethers. It’s about fellowship within the local club but not forgetting that Rotary is a worldwide organisation of over 1.2 million members all raising money for charity and very importantly, also providing hands-on help for literally millions of people. Sometimes the smallest act of kindness or consideration can totally change someone’s life.

The golf final was held at Braintree Golf Course in Stisted and proved a very close encounter. All square after 18 holes, it was decided on the sudden death nineteenth hole (not the 19th holes in the clubhouse where you all retire for a drink). Due to an injury to one of Phoenix’s star players, substitute Sheila Keller was brought in to make up numbers and proved an inspired choice. Together with partner Malcolm Shead, who apparently played out of his skin; they just hung on to claim victory and so go down in the annals of this relatively new Rotary club.

In Chelmsford there are 5 Rotary clubs to join, depending whether you want a breakfast club, lunchtime, twilight or evening, so there is a club convenient for you. If you think you would like to help and get so much friendship and satisfaction by putting something back into the community, there are many opportunities within Chelmsford.

As the Rotary year begins in July, now is the perfect time to look at getting involved.

Visit www.chelmsfordrotary1240.org or phone me on 01245 260349 (office hours). You will be made most welcome.

Stan Keller 12

What is the Long Term Prognosis?

Singing competition audition dates have now been announced for Open Mic UK 2014 the Nationwide singing competition searching for the UK’s best singers, singer/songwriters, rappers and vocalists!

Open Mic UK is brought to you by Future Music, the company behind the discovery of artists such as Luke Friend, Jacob Banks, Warner Music’s Birdy, Columbia Record’s Lucy Spraggan, Union J’s Jaymi Hensley and Jahmene Douglas, both of which are now signed to Sony Music. Open Mic UK is an exciting competition to get involved with, and the singing competition audition dates for 2014 have just been announced!

There will be thousands of pounds worth of competition prizes up for grabs along the way including recording studio time and music development classes. The overall winner will receive a comprehensive winner’s package as well as a main prize of £5,000 in cash to spend as they wish on the development of their act!

Open Mic UK will be holding singing competition auditions up and down the country for 2014! Book your singing competition audition now to secure your place!

If you wish to find out about Open Mic UK please visit openmicuk.co.uk.

We have been given one slot to bypass the first round. The competition is for solo and duo’s no full bands and all you need to do is send us a video of you singing an original song ideally along with your contact details to comp@itsyourmedia.co.uk. We have three expert judges to judge the entires and will then send the winner straight in to the next round. If you do not win you can still enter via the web site above.

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Which Would You Rather Be, Indecisive or Independant?

“Be a man, my son” is a very well known line from IF by Rudyard Kipling.

So why don’t we? After all I have it on good authority that mobile phones can be surgically removed.

What does that mean to you?

What are we afraid of our imagination?

Get up in the morning and get a job - go for it?

That has certainly been destroyed by television. So much of it today is voyeuristic rubbish - watching real people in ‘virtual’ situations wearing each other down with puerile bitchiness.

Do it yourself -- be creative - be an individual and do things your way?

But is this the world in which we now live running our own lives? Apparently not.

Astonishingly there is a whole new industry in personal organisation.

It seems modern life is too hectic, not to say stressful, for many people. Keeping fit, evening classes 8 nights a week, supermarket shopping at 3am oh no sorry, that’s on line so you cannot check for quality and I forgot - doing the day job.

We have personal financial advisors, personal counsellors, fitness instructors, personal diet advisors, personal shopping advisors and now it seems we need lifestyle managers.

Who are they? I hear you ask. It appears to be someone who reminds you to take your dog for a walk, collect your dry cleaning on Tuesday, and tells you when to buy your mother a birthday card. They go round the fashion store with you and explain the difference between a shirt and a blouse.

You can even go to a seminar to learn how to wrap up a present .

You can just hear it can’t you“ and now fold the paper so the edges meet”.

And for these events and privileges you could pay several thousand pounds a year.

Are we so incapable of organising our lives in a balanced fashion that we will all soon have to have a lifestyle manager as Americans have a psychotherapist to teach them how to think straight?

Whatever happened to common sense and individual control?

Clearly common sense is not as common as it used to be and individual control seems to have decreased. We have health and safety laws, working time directives, human rights legislation and gurus for every aspect of our lives and yet we seem less able to cope than ever.

Our working lives are so often bound up by the committee, the board and other systems that we seem to have lost the ability to think independently.

I suppose there are two ways to look at it. First we could say - okay I’ll get myself a lifestyle manager but as well as reminding me when to get the car serviced, he or she could do my day job as well - now there’s a thought.

Alternatively we could nip this modern confidence trick in the bud where we pay others £100 to remind us of something we could write in a £5 diary.

We could then look in the diary in the lunch hour that we promise ourselves we are going to take and plan our time sensibly. And I mean take a lunch hour - get out of the office and take a walk. Not only will it combat stress but you will be more productive in the afternoon as a result.

But surely that is the point. With mobile phones, email and shopping on the net, we should have more time “to stand and stare,” to follow the words of the poet William Henry Davies.

It appears many people are in awe of Z list so called celebs who are often brainless and without talent.

So why are so many people slaves to the celeb ideals?

How about a new programme, lets call it “They’re Celebrities Leave Them There” Remember radio - where the pictures are better?

So as we move towards 2015 turn your back on so called ‘lifestyle managers’, take control of your own life and take time to “stand and stare”. Re invent you ; become yourself! Do not sell your soul to the devil - Dante did that and look what happened to him.

By Andrew Ings

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BL Baking by Lucy Norwood The school holidays are upon us and you’re probably wondering how you’re going to keep your little ones amused everyday for six whole weeks. Even if you or your kids have never baked, I strongly recommend that you try. ‘Pft, yeah right the kitchen will be in a mess and the kids will be bored’ – I will prove you wrong. Are you new to baking? Do you think you can’t bake? Well, believe me when I say Yes you CAN! give it a go, what have you got to lose?

7. Muffin Tray Never let anyone tell you that you can make cupcakes without a muffin tray. If you don’t use one you will end up with your cakes being really wide and thin. Trust me on this one! I picked up a 6 hole muffin tray in Poundland for £1 – bargain.

Here are my top ten pieces of equipment you need to get going with baking. If you have all of these, you will be able to bake, make and create a love for baking. Get yourself into Braintree town and pick up these goodies.

8. Hand Held Electric Whisk Well, this isn’t a real essential. If you don’t want your arm to fall off, then grab one of these. If you have kids who want to stir the bowl, stick to a wooden spoon, it’s much more fun for them that way. Grab one from Argos for just £5.99.

1. Mixing Bowl Yes, I know it’s a bit obvious that you’re going to need something to put all those ingredients in! Make sure you buy a bowl with high sides, around 4” tall will do, to make sure your mixtures don’t fly over the edges when your stirring or whisking your ingredients. Don’t buy an expensive porcelain one or a metal one, run to Tesco and grab a glass one for £2.20.

2. Wooden Spoon or Spatula Another obvious one, but it’s an essential. You can pick up wooden spoons and spatulas anywhere in Braintree town centre. There’s a wooden spoon in Sainsbury’s for 45p, and a set of two spatulas for £1.75.

9. Two Sandwich Tins You don’t have to spend loads on baking tins. Lots of shops will try to say they’re non-stick, but your cake will stick to the sides. I’ve been there. Pick up some cheapies in Tesco for £2.00.

10. Cooling Rack Another essential to help your cakes and bakes cool faster. There’s one in Tesco for £2.00.

So, put all your new equipment to the test and let’s bake! Here’s something really easy and simple to make with the kids. It’s really cheap to make, fun and yummy too.

3. Measuring Scales You need a good set of reliable, accurate scales! If you think your scales are getting a bit iffy, weigh a block of butter (250g) to check it is coming up with the right weight. I got some new, old fashioned ‘add and weigh scales’ this week from Tesco for £6.50 and they even came with a bowl.

Chocolate Chip Shortbread 115g/4oz plain flour 55g/2oz cornflour 55g/2oz caster sugar 115g/4oz butter plus extra for greasing 40g/1 ½ oz plain or milk chocolate chips

4. Measuring Jug For measuring liquids and cracking your eggs into! If you want plastic, you can get two for £1 in Poundland, or if, like me, you prefer to be able to whack them in the dishwasher, spend a bit more on a Pyrex one in Tesco for £3.75.

1. Preheat your oven to 160C/Gas Mark 3. Grease an 8 inch sandwich tin.

2. Sift the flour and cornflour into a large bowl. Stir in the sugar.

3. Dice up the butter, then add to the mixing bowl. Rub the butter into the flours with your fingertips, as you would if you were making pastry, until the mix starts to bind together. You may need to add a little water until it is a loose, crumbly dough.

4. Put the mix into the cake tin and press down evenly. Using a fork, prick the top of the shortbread. Sprinkle over the chocolate and bake for about 30 - 40 minutes until cooked. It shouldn’t be brown, still pale.

5. Leave to cool on a cooling wire, then cut up into portions.

5. Sieve Got to make sure you get the lumps out of that flour, icing sugar and cocoa! Pick one up in Sainsbury’s for £1.

6. Tupperware You need somewhere to store all of those lovely things you’re going to bake! A Tupperware container will make sure that your cakes and bakes will stay fresh. Pop into Poundland and pick up some clip and lock Tupperware in a multipack for just £1.

Little Lucy’s Bakery - lucys.cupcakes@hotmail.co.uk

Nursery News - Busy Bees Great Notley: Melissa Harrison - Moving on to new Horizon’s During the coming months we bid farewell to our pre-schoolers who will be taking that all important journey into school. Some of the children have been at the nursery since they were tiny babies and others not so long, but strong bonds have been created and it will be a sad time for all our parents, children and staff. We have watched each and every child grow into confident, clever children who never fail to surprise us on a daily basis with their new found knowledge and the special friendships they create.

To mark the end of their time in nursery, we held a graduation ceremony for all to attend. The children dressed up in gowns, and in front of parents, carers and grandparents collected their certificate of attendance here at Busy Bees Great Notley. The children learnt a special poem and performed this to everybody who was there.. They looked extremely grown up, and more than ready for the journey ahead.

Pictures were taken of all of the children in their gowns by Catchlight Photography, to remind parents and families of their special time here at Nursery.

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BL What’s On

August 8th Still Life Pastels - Braintree & Bocking Community Association 01376 323280 The Pub - Karaoke night Marsh Farm - Kids Fest - www.marshfarm.co.uk 9th Make your own delicious chocolate truffles to take home - Slamseys Art - bookings@slamseysart.co.uk - 01245 363813 - pre-booking only - £45 per person.

Country and Western music - Braintree and Bocking Community Association - £6.50 - 01376 323280 George Yard - Gemma Turner - Vocalist 1pm 11th Tunisian Crochet - Braintree and Bocking Community Association 01376 323280 - Adults £18 Children £9 12th Hand Sewn Cushions - Braintree and Bocking Community Association - 01376 323280 - Adults £18 Children £9 Mini-Totem Poles - Make totem poles in mod-roc as summer display in George Yard - www.georgeyard.co.uk - 01376 550373 14th Prick ‘n’ Stitch - Braintree and Bocking Community Association 01376 323280 - Adults £18 Children £9 Martin Dobson’s Midnight Oil - George Yard - 1pm The Pub - Sons of the South 15th Scrapbooking - Braintree and Bocking Community Association 01376 323280 - Adults £18 Children £9 Jardins - Elvis night and tribute singer Chrissy Cadillac Beeleigh Abbey Gardens open day - 07779223321 16th Jardins - Cabaret night - Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble tributes & The Candy Cane Girls Summer Holiday Bushcraft Adventure £66 for 1 adult with 1 child, £5 additional child, must book place online bookings@slamseysart.co.uk - 01245 363813 Braintree During WW1 - A guided walk - Advanced booking essential. Call the museum on 01376 328869 - free Sean Dillon A Tribute to Madness - 1pm George Yard Summer of Swing - Braintree Museum - call 01376 557883 to book Needle Felting for an iPad - Braintree and Bocking Community Association - 01376 323280 - Adults £18 Children £9 George Yard - Big Totem Pole - Help make a HUGE totem pole sculpture for under the bandstand - 10am 17th The Pub - Blues duo - Jon Amor & Joe Fisk 18th First Aid - Braintree and Bocking Community Association - 01376 323280 - Adults £18 Children £9 20th Lunchtime Concert at Christ Church - Betty Beal 01376 517678 21st Mountmellick Embrodiery - Braintree and Bocking Community Association - 01376 323280 - Adults £18 Children £9 22nd Gold Work Embroidery - Braintree and Bocking Community Association - 01376 323280 - Adults £18 Children £9 Hyde Hall - Contemporary Art & Design 23rd George Yard - Seaside Day and Chalk Walk with George Yard, Braintree Museum and Braintree Library The Pub - Concourse Blake End Music Festival & Picnic - 01376 344123 Coggeshall Art Group Exhibition, Hollingtons, Church Street, Coggeshall - Maureen Standen 01376 563113 Coggeshall’s 27th Annual Flower Festival Hyde Hall - Contemporary Art & Design 24th Coggeshall Art Group Exhibition, Hollingtons, Church Street, Coggeshall’s 27th Annual Flower Festival

24th Hyde Hall - Contemporary Art & Design Cressing Temple - Essex Guide Flagship Craft Fair www,essexcraftguild.org.uk 25th Coggeshall Art Group Exhibition, Hollingtons, Church Street, Coggeshall’s 27th Annual Flower Festival 26th Coggeshall’s 27th Annual Flower Festival Basic Flower Arranging - Braintree and Bocking Community Association - 01376 323280 - Adults £18 Children £9 George Yard - Mini-Beasts Day - Make your own creepy-crawly beasts to take home - wire and mod-roc - free 28th Silk Painting - - Braintree and Bocking Community Association 01376 323280 - Adults £18 Children £9 29th Hand Embroidery - Braintree and Bocking Community Association 01376 323280 - Adults £18 Children £9 Marks Hall - Alice the Musical - 01376 563796 30th The Pub - Kettle of Fish 31st Hedignham Castle - Vintage Car Show - 01787 460261 1st Jardins - Salsa 5th Jardins - Love Town 70s & 80s soul The Pub - Karaoke 6th The Pub - One Night Soun Jardins - Salsa 5th Jardins - Love Town 70s & 80s soul The Pub - Karaoke Braintree Museum ‘HAMERSMA: CAPTURING THE WORLD THROUGH ART’ 4TH APRIL – 27TH SEPTEMBER 2014 This temporary exhibition showcases a few inspirational pieces from a collection of over 700 works by local artist Cyril Hamersma. From local scenes to the development of the ‘Squircle’, this display highlights the development of Hamersma’s different styles and offers the chance to compare them side-by-side.

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Chelmsford

Blues in the City Festival 2014

Blues, Booze, Rock & Roots 26th to 28 Sept 2014

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www.moulshamtimes.com

BL Business

The quirky bird is in business! Sarah Warner, Pelican Business Psychology.

‘Business psychology??’ “It’s about improving working life - by understanding how people behave at work, you can help them perform better, reach their full potential and contribute to their organisation’s success.“ Sarah is particularly passionate about psychological wellbeing, helping employees become mentally stronger so they survive and thrive in today’s challenging work environments, where people are expected to do more work with less time and fewer resources. “The brain is your mental muscle, and everyone can learn psychological skills to ‘keep their brain fit and strong’. For example, resilience is about ‘bounceability’, being able to overcome and be strengthened by adverse events and experiences - at work, events like organisation re-structuring can be stressful, but by becoming more resilient you can help prevent undue stress that affects performance and leads to long-term sickness absence.” Sarah believes both individuals and organisations are responsible for workplace well-being - and great news - you can have both!

For 18 years, Sarah worked in the International Defence, Aerospace & Security industry, starting at E2V, or EEV as it then was. As the industry consolidated, she moved to different roles in Marconi, BAE SYSTEMS and Selex. “I was fascinated by people’s behaviours at work; it provoked so many questions - what qualities made for a great leader, how come some teams worked well together and others didn’t, how come people’s working styles were different…. “ While working full-time, she studied for a BSc Psychology with the Open University and then an MSc in Organisational Psychology at City University London. Although a tough long-term commitment, working and studying at the same time gave Sarah the opportunity to learn theories, apply techniques and conduct research in the

View our other publications online at www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia

Each month Sarah Brockwell will give us her top ten tips on a variety of subjects. www.sarahbeemarketing.com (T) 01371 859104 (M) 07955 132149

workplace. In April 2013 Sarah flew the corporate nest and hatched her own business, putting her passion for psychology at the forefront.

“From my own experiences and from watching others, I have a real appreciation of the pleasures and pressures of corporate life, a unique context from which to set up my own business helping people to perform, develop AND stay well at work”.

Working with clients, on a one-to-one basis or with teams, Sarah combines her business background with psychological tools and techniques to help people identify and resolve work-related issues and make positive sustained changes in their working lives.

Sceptical about psychology? We are naturally suspicious of things we know little about and often undervalue their ability to help us.

“We’re all psychological beings every moment of every day, and I like to explain things about our thought processes and behaviours so that people can understand themselves better and help themselves to perform better, develop to their full potential and become mentally stronger.”

If you would like to know more about Sarah and Pelican Business Psychology please visit the website at www.pelicanbp.co.uk or get in touch at sarah.warner@pelicanbp.co.uk .

And finally, what’s the pelican connection? “Walking through St James’s Park, London, a while ago I was umming and ahhing about leaving work to go self-employed….. I saw the pelicans on the lake these quirky birds are more often on exotic beaches yet they seemed quite at home in the city... well, that struck a chord, perhaps there was something of the quirky bird in me, and I too could ‘fit’ in my new role as a psychologist…..!”

BL Charity - PARC Essex

PARC Essex Play And Resource Centre

“Every child has a right to play” Words can’t really do justice to just how special this place really is….

PARC Essex 01376 528999 info@parc-essex.co.uk PARC Essex is a children’s charity based in Great Notley Country Park, Braintree, right next to the Discovery Centre our purpose built centre provides families of children with additional needs and disabilities respite and short break services, giving the children a safe and secure place to come and play free from any prejudice and stereotypical views that these children so often face.

https://www.facebook.com/Charityparcessex https://twitter.com/ParcEssex http://www.parc-essex.co.uk

Please email us at editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk if you would like to be featured as the charity of the month.

PARC was originally set up by a group of parents back in 1995 who all had children with additional needs but had no where they could take them to play. From a back garden that catered for just a handful of kids, PARC now has over 400 families in Essex on its books who are using the centre on a regular basis.

We run sessions for children of all ages starting with under 5s at pre-school right up to 21 at our youth club. With our adventure playground, garden, soft play room, sensory rooms and main play area, every day kids and the playworkers run through a number of different activities from bike riding, to painting, to Xbox and to cake making. Whatever gets them smiling and having fun. We are also open 7 days a week throughout the school holidays and half terms, the only days we actually close are bank holidays.

Our services work out to around £24 an hour. However this is heavily subsidised down to £4 - £5 per hour for families to make this vital service more affordable. This means we have a huge deficit to make up and we have a team working busily on raising funds through grants, events, skydives, bicycle rides, cake sales and anything else we can do to keep our charity going.

There are plenty of ways you can get involved from coming to our events, shopping in our charity shop or even running a marathon.

Every penny helps in putting a smile on these children’s faces. If you are interested and want to find out more about PARC, please get in touch or connect with us on social media through the links for more information.

An Interview with Ray Hurd a 3-D Printing Engineer

By Pat Roebins

The subject of 3-D printing, a supposedly life changing technology, and the hype surrounding it, has fascinated me for some time now so I was intrigued and delighted to have the opportunity to talk to Ray Hurd, a 3-D printing engineer based in Chelmsford. Ray has been an engineering designer for many years but in the last couple of years he has been investigating the world of 3-D printing including building his own 3-D printer.

So, let’s get down to basics, if you’re new to 3-D printing as I am, you’ll need to know what 3-D printing actually is. Ray tells me that in layman’s terms, it simply translates as a machine which is able to create 3-D objects by printing them. This is achieved through a process whereby layers of material are laid down and further layers are added until the object, or model, is complete. He says that the amateur or hobbyist can have a small 3-D printer at home but there is, of course, a limit to what they can print. Commercial organisations however, are printing large items in a large number of different types of materials. The sort of thing the home user can produce includes some items which would be impossible to manufacture in other ways – which sounds very useful! For example there may be broken plastic items around the house that have become obsolete. but you could print a replacement for these. Other home production items could include, for example, such things as coat hooks, boxes, clothes pegs and door handles (the list is non-exhaustible) and what’s more you can print them to your own unique design. Ray explained that the cost of printing these items can vary between a few pence to several pounds. He also explained that it’s something you need to be patient with as 3-D printing isn’t fast, you have to be prepared to wait whilst the item is printed layer-by-layer. The size of object you can print depends on the size of the ‘printer envelope’ - this is the size on a particular 3-D printing machine that can be printed in terms of length, width and height. For a typical home 3-D printer that would be about 20 x 20 x 20cm.

Materials for use in 3-D printers are known as ‘filament’ and are supplied on spools. The most common materials used on the home printer are PLA and ABS. These are both thermoplastics. The 3-D printer extrudes the material through a heated nozzle and as the melted plastic is laid down onto the print surface it solidifies.

I’ve heard that there are some very diverse materials now being used in 3-D printing and Ray confirmed that there is a huge amount being printed around the world. So much so that he was only able to touch on a few of the main things, which are quite extraordinary and include: body parts - including bones, limbs and even human organs.

Titanium metal components for the aircraft industry (some are already in use), the automotive industry and bicycle manufacturers.

Food stuffs are being 3-D printed but are currently limited to a few such as sugar and chocolate which easily lend themselves to melting and solidifying, perfect for 3-D printing!

Amazingly, in several places around the world, work is being done on developing 3-D printed houses. Jewellery can now be 3-D printed in gold and silver and there are sites online who offer to print your design in an array of materials.

The subject which really fascinates me is the printing of human organs and I asked Ray to explain about this in a bit more detail.

He said that according to reports, there are universities in America who are deeply involved in developing human organs. Human cells are obtained from humans and grown to increase their number and then used in a 3-D printer called a ‘bio printer’. There has been some limited success but to print a complete human organ ready for transplant is quite a few years away yet. Apparently someone is

offering $1 million for the first company to produce a human kidney that works. There are mixed feelings towards the controversial subject of printing of human organs, which is understandable.

Getting back to the subject of homebased 3-D printing, I wondered where someone like me could buy a 3-D printer from. Ray said that there are several companies producing different types of ‘FDM’ 3-D printers.

FDM stands for ‘filament deposition modelling’. Some of the big high street companies are now making it possible to order a 3-D printer through their stores. And the cost?

They vary from £500 upwards.

If you want to delve a bit deeper into this fascinating subject then Ray Hurd’s new book ‘3-D Printing – What is it?’ can be ordered from his website: www.3d-printing-essex.co.uk.

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Braintree, First Impressions by Simon Inglis Braintree recently became home after a year in Buckinghamshire, perhaps too much time in the London area for this native Australian’s own good but the move to Braintree was a rather considered one (it’s location close to Stansted and the M11) and not being too far from either London nor Cambridge – two areas I’d lived in during the 1990s.

However during that time I can’t remember if I visited the series of picture-postcard villages in the area or perhaps back then rather rushed through them without much thought. In my first weeks in the district I can barely round a corner without stopping on some B-road and taking a few photos – especially now during the summer months, but I imagine the cooler months will be a different story. For in reality the ‘green and pleasant’ land in these parts can be somewhat reminiscent of parts of Australia’s southern regions where I grew up.

One thing is for certain – as I’m told by people who have grown up in the area, or even in the town itself – it is clear to see the evolution of Braintree from village to town. It has every amenity of the larger

locations yet still somehow has managed to maintain that ‘villagey’ feel – at least to me. From what I have discovered the whole town – and indeed area, however growing – remains almost untouched by the, how can I say it honestly other than ‘ugliness’ of industry.

It’s a far cry from the crowds of London – fine in my youth but not so much with a family – yet close enough to enjoy the capital when one wishes to or one of my new pleasures; a B-road jaunt through unimaginably pretty villages to Cambridge. Moving to the town has been met with the initial stages of the Tour de France and like other counties it has been wonderful how communities got involved, while in Braintree itself a weekend stroll about the markets or afternoons in the parks are a far cry from the hustle and bustle of bigger cities.

In all honesty there is much to discover yet the town itself has so far been a revelation. There is little wonder to this newcomer why it is growing being conveniently located close to London and Stansted as well as other towns and cities (did I mention the sea?) I can understand a desire (perhaps by some?) to flee London and its greater environs for a more serene existence yet not sacrificing life’s modern needs.

I will enjoy my time here and look forward to discovering so many treasures that are so different from the helter-skelter of capital city life!

BL Fitness by Today’s problem: People are less active nowadays, partly because technology has made our lives easier. We drive cars or take public transport. Machines wash our clothes. We entertain ourselves in front of a television or the computer. Fewer people are doing manual jobs, and most of us have jobs that require little physical effort. Work, house, chores, shopping are far less demanding that for previous generations.

We move around less and burn off less energy than people used to.

Research suggests that many adults spend more than 7 hours a day sitting down, at work, on transport or in their leisure time. People aged over 65 spend 10 hours or more each day sitting or lying down making them the most sedentary age group.

People Leading a Sedentary Lifestyle

different services from classes to health centres, swimming pools and the big corporate gyms.

So what if you are not a gym enthusiast? Do you feel intimidated in a gym? Do you lack the motivation? Lack the knowledge? Do you find exercise boring?

Well that is where Elms Personal Fitness may be able to help. We offer a service that is completely different to any gym around. We are a small personal gym that works closely with all of our members to help them to achieve their health and fitness goals.

Our concept is very unique, every time you come down for a workout, a trainer will be with you to take you through the whole session, to help motivate you, make the sessions more enjoyable and most of all, help you achieve the best results possible at an affordable price.

Inactivity is described by the department of health as a silent killer.

Evidence is emerging that sedentary behaviour, such as sitting or lying down for long periods, is bad for your health. Spending hours watching TV or playing computer games is thought to increase you risk of many chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes, as well as weight gain and obesity.

Not only should you try to raise your activity levels, but you should also reduce the amount of time you and your family spend sitting down.

Common examples of sedentary behaviour include watching TV, using the car for short journeys and sitting down to read, talk or listen to music.

Whether it is a form of exercise outside, attending a gym 2-3 times a week or just walking more as a part of your daily routine, people of all ages need to reduce their sedentary behaviour.

Gym There are so many fitness centres around which offer a wide range of 20

www.braintreelife.co.uk

Braintree Community Art Group Every Friday from September 5th 2014 There is a unique art group which has flourished in Braintree for the past 28 years!

in the Herb Garden cafĂŠ, sadly now gone.

All these activities are fun and foster friendships within the group, as well as pooling wild ideas and then making them materialise. Some of the members have gone on to pursue art at a higher level and returned to teach the group, thus giving back to the community as their founders did.

It was founded by 5 like-minded art teachers who wanted to give something back to the community.

Although the teachers have since moved on to other projects, their disciples continue to run the art group along the same lines, providing high quality art tuition for anyone interested on a pay-as-you go basis (albeit with a small annual subscription these days).

The group is unique in that each Friday during school terms, 2 classes are held at Charles Leek House in Coggeshall Road Braintree, each with a teacher and a subject. After 6 weeks or so the teachers and subjects change so that during the course of a year, there may be 8 different teachers and as many different subjects on offer.

This means that a whole view of art is provided, rather than simply concentrating on a single aspect such as watercolour painting.

Watercolour work is of course, a part of the programme, but so too are subjects such as collage, print making, fabric painting, sculpture and mixed media work with occasional all day workshops on the crafts.

Each different avenue allows the development of the imagination which is what is most required in any creative activity, and that has an effect on which ever medium is practised.

This is not a profit led group, (being pay as you go, the income is unpredictable but premises and teachers still have to be paid), so the outgoings are always crucially close to the wire. New faces are welcomed therefore with delight and encouraged to return.

Braintree Community Art Group meet each Friday of school terms (beginning again on Sept 5th 2014) at Charles Leeks House, 7 Coggeshall Road, Braintree in the hall at the back of the building.

Morning classes are from 10am - 12.30pm and from 1pm until 3pm in the afternoon. Parking is at Manor Street car park, George Yard or Howard Hall at Bocking End, near Causeway House.

Do give them a look in and liberate your creative side, with no obligation!

Call 01376 349895 or 01376 563518 for more info.

Holmes & Co. Tax and accountancy The group decides what teachers to invite and what it would like to explore according to the strengths of the teachers, with a range of topics from traditional classic egg tempera painting to examining the effects of different unlikely paint mediums such as lipstick and kohl pencil. There is nothing typical about this group and all the class members are willing to have a go.

They have in the past worked on class projects such as participating in the Scarecrow Weekends in Gosfield each year, initiated by fellow artist Georgie Roy, they have taken part in the George Yard Art Sale each year, the group has helped run the Big Draw in George Yard and in Cressing, they have had pictures hung in hospitals and the Hospice as well as producing some years ago, a calendar which featured famous paintings reworked to include the class members themselves. An exhibition to coincide with the launch of the calendar was held in the Town Hall.

Exhibitions have been held in the library and the old Town Hall in Braintree and for several years, the group’s pictures were displayed

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BL Wine Well here we are again, the start of another month. I have just got back from my holiday in Germany, with several stops over three and half weeks, often with wine in mind.

The first stop was near Koblenz, at a place called Lahnstein. We stayed up on top of a hill (locally called a mountain) overlooking the Rhine. The Rhine is about 800 miles long and this stretch is a Unesco world heritage site. It was fantastic, it was like looking down on a model village and the frequent trains looked like Hornby toys!

The south facing banks of the river are covered in vineyards and there seemed to be castles on every river bend. The famous Riesling whites are produced here, and possibly, like me, when you think of German whites, you are thinking of some of the sweeter, low alcohol wines like Liebfraumilch. However, these Riesling wines are delicious, very nice to drink with food or without. The reds from the area are excellent, Dornfelder and Spatburgunder (Pinot Noir) especially tasty.

I mentioned the cost of wines last month, and we managed to find a locally produced Dornfelder in a supermarket at less than £1.50 per bottle. Very good it was too.

We then went south to Bad Durkheim, which is a village right in the heart of the vineyards and famous for its wine festivals - said to be the biggest in the world - which are mainly held in September.

It is right in the centre of the German wine road. The village itself is quite small. It’s a nice place, with the usual market square and restaurants. The local wine is Riesling, but the reds were good too.

Wine tastings were frequent, again with the local produce.

wines in Germany. The local vineyards sweep down to the town on the steep banks of the river. Some these slopes are nearly 45 degrees and therefore the vines have be tended by hand. 75% of the grapes are Riesling, with just 20% red and a little Pinot Gris. I joined a wine walk and spent a very nice 90 minutes exploring the vines and learning about the methods and history of the area. The guide struggled a bit with English and seemed to be saying lots to the German people, with just a few words to me. He did a great job, but I sometimes wondered if some stuff had been lost in the translation. It is part of the fun though, and I realise that we should not go to other countries and expect them to speak our language, so I really appreciated his efforts. The Germans are friendly people and always seemed ready to put themselves out to help. (Don’t mention the football though, I had to keep a very low profile whilst there!)

Driving in Germany is interesting. Firstly, going through villages; vehicles joining the road from the right sometimes have priority. That gets some getting used to! On some motorways there is no speed limit. It’s quite scary to look in your mirror and see a little dot in the distance, then as you pull out to overtake, you get passed by two cars about six inches apart doing about 150 mph.

Just a couple of thoughts. If black boxes in aeroplanes are indestructible, why don’t they make the whole plane out of the same material? Am I the only person who wonders about these things?

Another thing, supermarkets spend millions designing shopping trolleys that are meant to be pushed along using the special ergonomically designed handle. Why is it then that people like to pull them behind them from the front, taking out anyone within a two metre circle, pull them from the side, lean right over them so that they go along really slowly, sit children in them and then carry some of the shopping.......?

Sloping vineyards on the Rhine I have come away from the country with lovely memories of the views and wines. The whites were better than I had expected and the Spatburgunder is a lovely Pinot Noir, often higher in alcohol than the French ones from Burgundy. I definitely recommend that you try some if you get the chance.

Bin end chuckles: A man walks in the doctor’s, the doctor said “I haven’t seen you for a while” The man replied “I know, I’ve been ill”.

Police arrested two youths yesterday, one was drinking battery acid and the other was eating fireworks. They charged one and let the other one off.

Keep calm and carry on drinking, in moderation.

View across the Rhine at Rudesheim

If like Jonny Merlot you would like to write for us, send us an email at editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

We followed the Rhine north again and reached Rudesheim. This is an absolutely fabulous town on the banks of the river. The wine area is called Rheingau and it produces some of the best quality 22

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