Braintree Life July 2014

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BL Welcome

Hello and welcome to the new monthly free magazine for Braintree. Produced for the people of Braintree and lots of content written by people from Braintree.

Over the coming months the magazine will grow to 32 pages which in turn means we will need more writers, both for regular articles and one off articles. We also aim to have a bigger events page. If you would like to write for us or if you have any events or suggestions please email editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk We hope you enjoy the magazine and if you would like to find out more about who we are then please turn to page 16.

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Advertising Editorial Nick Garner Paul Mclean 07970 206682 07595 949701 ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk editorial@itsyourmeida.co.uk Disclaimer: It’s Your Media publish the Moulsham Times. The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of It’s Your Media. No part may be reproduced without the prior written permission of It’s Your Media.

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BL Fashion - Dress For Success How much do first impressions count? Whether we like it or not, we all make snap judgments on how people dress and how they look, but in our day-to-day life, what people think, doesn’t really affect us and that’s how it should be. However, where image does really count, is in the interview room. As the job market has become unstable, more and more of us will be applying for a new job and looking smart and polished, like you mean business is extremely important. 93% of us make a judgment in the first minute on someone’s dress sense, then how they behave and sound, not by what they say. If you are currently trying to find a job, and have been on countless interviews, you may be suffering from job interview fatigue and believe it unimportant to make an effort, but just remember that the interviewer will be forming an opinion, before you even sit down.

I recently helped a client with an outfit for job interview, she had two stages of interviews with a couple of the same people interviewing her, so needed slightly different outfits, read on to find out how I styled her. But first, here are some tips for interview dressing.

Five Tips to Dress for Success Tip 1: Dress Smart Whatever job you are going for, whether it’s a teacher, an accountant, or a sales assistant, tip one is to dress smartly.

Things to avoid for women: embellishment on tops, embroidery, sequins, frills and large patterns (anything that could distract your interviewer).

A suit is not necessary; a tailored jacket with trousers is fine, but soften the look with a coloured or patterned t-shirt. Other options are, a shift dress and jacket or pencil skirt, tailored shirt and jacket.

For men: clashing shirts and ties combinations are out, t-shirts with or without logos and fleeces are out. If you are wearing a suit, make sure it fits you well. Cover up tattoos.

Tip 2: Button Up A jacket or a smart coat gives the right impression as you enter the room, even if you take it off as soon as you take a seat. Nothing beats tailoring and crisp lines when you are attending an interview. For men a sharp tailored suit is always a winner, but a blazer, shirt, waistcoat and trouser combination also works. You can buy stylish affordable suits from Topman, Marks and Spencer, Next, Debenhams and Moss Bro. Tip 3: A Nice Sensible Shoe Opt for a sensible shoe. It is essential that your shoes are not scuffed and are polished. Towering heels or platforms for ladies are out, as are patterns, bold colours, strappy sandals or open toes, plus avoid sparkle. Nude, tan, black and navy are safe options. Style wise, court shoes and Mary Janes are good, as are pumps.

For guys, brogues, or loafers in tan or black. Avoid desert boots, trainers, and moccasins. Even if it is 100 degrees outside, socks are a must! But no crazy cartoon characters or bright colours (John Snow can get away with it, but it doesn’t work in an interview) dark socks are best.

Tip 4: Don’t Jingle Jangle Ladies, keep jewellery to a minimum, something simple and small is fine.

And no dangly earrings. If you can hear your accessories, then ditch them! And guys take off any jewellery, apart from a simple wedding ring.

Tip 5: Make-Under Ladies, if you never leave home without a full face of make-up, then think about toning it down for your interview. Some things to avoid are: flicked feline eyes, sparkly eye shadow, coloured mascara, black nail polish or brightly coloured nail polish, like blue or green.

My client and I went to Marks and Spencer, we bought Autograph Ultimate luxury trousers in black (£49.50), we teamed this with Autograph floral shell top (£35.00) and Autograph shawl collar blazer with linen in light turquoise (£69.00). She wore this with Autograph suede mid heel court shoes (£45.00) and M&S Collection patent bar trim Tote bag (£39.50). For the second interview, we teamed the same black trousers with Autograph t-shirt in dusted aqua (£22.50) and Autograph cotton rich tweed textured jacket (£75.00) with the same shoes and Tote bag.

For other great interview pieces, go to Gap for slim cropped trousers and fitted blazers, they also do a great classic trench and sheath dresses. Flats shoes at Marks and Spencer and Gap. Clarks do stylish brogues; check out Hotel Image (£65.00) in mushroom, cream and navy. And at Topshop, you will find the gorgeous stripe cropped jacket (£58.00) and the Boucle zipped blazer (£58.00). For men, head to Quadrant and Debenhams for shoes and suits at Next and Moss Bros like the Ventuno 21 slim fit electric blue suit (£129).

Emma Smith is a style consultant. She offers personal shopping and wardrobe planning sessions.

You can contact her via her website: www.emmasmith.co.uk.

Or email emma@emmasmith.co.uk.

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BL Lifestyle - Get Set for Summer Success It’s the time of year to shed the baggy, comfortable winter clothes and pull out the sexy summer outfits that have no doubt been hibernating at the back of the wardrobe.

With the longer days and summer months upon us, we start to think about that certain item of clothing that leaves you nothing to hide behind – the bikini!

Normally this can make any woman feel nervous and self-conscious, so if you want to start stripping away the layers confidently this summer and hit the beach with a knock out body simply follow my seven steps to success:Step 1 - Goal Set yourself a goal with a specific date to get you motivated and focused. Is there a holiday, wedding or special birthday coming up? Make a plan detailing how you want to look and the date of the event and then write it down. Commit to you and your goal in writing and then keep it somewhere highly visible – on your fridge, your bathroom mirror or even in your car.

Step 2 - Fun Work out what you enjoy doing and what activity you can do to ensure that exercise

never becomes a chore. Join a dance class, learn to surf, dust off your old mountain bike or even try hiking in the bush.

Step 3 - Accountability Next work out what is going to help you stay on track. It is easy to stray off the path without support so why not grab a mate or get the family involved?

Step 4 - Prioritise Make it a priority and where possible, kick start your day with a workout as it is all too easy to procrastinate later in the day. It is also very tempting to put off heading to the gym with the sun shining outside so if you exercise early you are then free to enjoy the rest of the day.

Step 5 – Healthy Eating Maximise your results by following a healthy eating plan. Reduce your intake of processed foods that are high in sugar and fat and increase your intake of lean protein and vegetables. It is also possible to increase your metabolism by eating regularly and aim to eat 5 smaller meals a day rather than 3 large ones. Don’t forget the most important meal of the day – breakfast!!

Step 6 - Reward Treat yourself to a new haircut, a pedicure, a new outfit or that sexy little bikini. Once you start feeling fabulous, why not flaunt it?

Knowing what that treat will be at the start of your journey helps keep you motivated.

Step 7 – Next Step Once your slim summer silhouette starts to appear ensure that all your effort does not go to waste. You have worked hard to get here and whilst it is easy to fall back into old habits it is important to remember how good your sexy summer shape feels. Keep it this way by focusing on something new, try something you have never done before, try something different and set yourself a new goal so you step into the next level of your fitness.

With summer just around the corner, now is the time to get out there, get active and give it a go! What are you waiting for?

Written by CJ of CJFigureworks.

For more easy tips on healthy living, or for a personal nutrition and training plan check out www.cjfigureworks.com or email cj@cjfigureworks.com. You can also follow me on Facebook - CJFigureworks.

Rotary – The Circle KEEPS TURNING The Rotary year ends on 30th June so we are rapidly bringing one year to a close and looking forward to the next one because there are always people in need of help. The outgoing President of Rotary International, Ron Burton, is from Oklahoma and they have a saying there that you need to leave the woodpile just a little higher than you found it. To do that, all Rotarians needed to get involved. Involvement is what our theme this year – Engage Rotary, Change Lives – was all about. And, as each club member has done that – as each one has made the effort and truly engaged Rotary, many lives locally and globally have been changed.

This year we have endeavoured to bring in new members and this initiative has been built around making sure that we give people a reason to be in Rotary. If we can get prospective members to help us with a project – it could be reading to kids, or working in a soup kitchen, or picking up litter along the road – the rest will take care of itself. They will realise that they made a difference in someone’s life. And they’ll also realise that when you give through Rotary service, you get so much more in return. It’s certainly not all about raising money.

There is a big social element to being a Rotarian and sometimes we get comfortable in simply going to our club and not having any responsibility. Maybe it’s because we don’t encourage everyone enough to be more engaged. Of course, it’s great to go to a meeting and see your friends. But if we

want people to get fired up, we need to be doing projects. Hands-on projects are great equalizers. When you’re unloading boxes off a lorry, you’re just like the next person, and that person is just like you. When everyone’s serving together, there’s a camaraderie, and that’s how you keep people engaged.

along the way there are many opportunities within Chelmsford.

Rotarians sometimes don’t realise all that Rotary is doing and is capable of doing and if the members don’t realise it, then how can we expect non Rotarians to grasp the full potential of this worldwide organisation, the largest service organisation in the world with 1.2 million members. If only everyone could witness the impact of the projects undertaken this year, it would change their lives. They would understand that they belong to an organisation whose members have a common desire to do something good and who, working together, accomplish incredible things. No politics, no religion, no racial problems, just ordinary people from every walk of life working together to make a positive difference to the lives of so many people, usually whom they will never meet.

Visit www.chelmsfordrotary1240.org, or call me on 01245 260349. You will be made most welcome.

As a Rotarian, I continue to be in awe of the good I see Rotarians doing. I am firmly convinced that the Oklahoma woodpile is just a little higher because of their efforts and I am looking forward to 1st July when the cycle begins again with the new theme “Light Up Rotary”.

If you think that you would like to help and get so much satisfaction and friendship

Stan Keller

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BL History Local History: Crittalls Munitions Work in Braintree During the First World War

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

I am writing from Braintree District Museum where, as the First World War Centenary approaches in August, we have been looking back at the impact of the war on Braintree.

This war is principally remembered for the sheer scale of the loss of life, the horror of the trenches, and the physical destruction wrought in the war zones. The Braintree and Bocking War Memorial in the public gardens serves as a touching reminder of the sacrifices of the 201 local men who gave their lives for their country.

The First World War is also remembered as the first ‘total’ war – the first time civilians were threatened from the air by a war being fought overseas and the first time the British government imposed rationing, conscription and press censorship on the population. Braintree has its own poignant history of this ‘total war’, being the first town to be hit by incendiary bombs during an aircraft raid, and suffering four fatalities during a large Zeppelin raid in 1916. Braintree townspeople also faced rationing ahead of much of the country as The Braintree Urban Food Control Committee introduced a ticketed rationing system in January 1918, a month before the government formally started introducing rationing.

All wars accelerate technological development and social change, and the First World War is particularly interesting in this respect as it embedded mass production techniques as the norm and opened up new roles for women. Braintree’s munitions work came under the umbrella of the East Anglian Munitions Committee, founded by Francis Henry Crittall of Braintree and Mr Stokes of Ipswich in May 1915. This Committee incorporated 42 engineering companies across Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk, including Crittall Windows and Lake and Elliot of Braintree. It was to become the third largest producer of munitions in the country after Manchester and London.

The aim of this committee was to prove to the government that engineering companies were capable of making munitions, ending the monopoly of the specialists of the Armaments Ring and helping to save many lives. The ring’s high prices and limited output had led to severe shortages at the front causing many deaths. From its first contract in June 1915 onwards the committee gradually drove down shell prices to under half that originally charged by the Armaments Ring.

This achievement rested on the determination of the committee to reduce costs, a strong and able workforce and a high level of skill and expertise. When they received the first contract none of the factories were equipped for making munitions and they had no official specifications to work from. Francis Crittall wrote in his autobiography published in 1934 and now in the museum collection: “Neither Stokes nor I had ever seen one (an 18lb shell) until one day at the War Office we managed to sneak one away, cut it in half and each took a portion to study its composition”. Within two months the factories had been refitted and the first shells produced. By the end of the war East Anglia had produced over 5 million shells, of which Crittalls in Braintree had made over 2 million. Crittalls also pioneered a new process for converting battlefield and domestic scrap brass.

They founded the largest brass forge and foundry in the country, producing over 300 tons of brass a week, essential for making ammunition fuses.

Local women were a vital source of labour for this munitions work.

At its busiest Crittalls employed over 1000 women, and Francis Crittall was full of praise for their work. In East Anglia, women of all types and every shade of social status were found in the factories, and not the least discovery of the war was that for certain factory processes, women are far superior to men. In my own firm we had

servant girls and society women, labourers’ wives and the daughters of service generals working side by side with the greatest skill and happiest spirit. One girl lost four fingers in a machine, and insisted on returning to that same machine within a week of her recovery. During the frequent air raids over Essex, two girls remained at the Crittall telephones through the night. We have on permanent display in the museum one of the 18lb shells made at the Crittall factory, along with a personalised certificate given to a female munitions worker.

18lb shell and Crittall munitions certificate for Ivy Redknapp on display in Braintree District Museum.

More items relating to the war will be going on display from 5th August 2014 when the museum launches its First World War exhibition program with ‘Braintree District at War: 1914-1918’. Open until the 19th December 2014 this exhibition will explore the impact of the war on the district, from the Home Front through to the experiences of local men at the front. We are also very pleased to have on loan for the exhibition uniforms, weapons and equipment that were used by British, French and German troops. The exhibition will be open during normal museum opening hours, Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 4pm and normal museum admission charges will apply.

To find out more about the local impact of the war we are also offering a free guided walk of Braintree on 16th August at 2.30pm, led by local historian Mike Bardell. Starting from the museum this two mile walk will take in some of the key sites in the local First World War story. For more information or to book a free place please call us on 01376 3288688 or email us at info@braintreemuseum.co.uk.

Check out our website (www.braintreemuseum.co.uk) for more information on our continuing program of centenary events.

Anyone for Tennis….. Elbow By Simon Culleton Due to popular demand (two people asked me) I am venturing into the subject of tennis. This is a sport that I know a little about as I am a regular player in Chelmsford at both club and league level, though to be fair not a very high level. As I regularly tell my opponents after they have given me yet another thrashing: “it takes a lot of skill to play as badly as I do.”

Tennis has been with us here in England since the 14th century though it can be traced back to the 12th century monasteries in France.

The French influence has remained in the scoring vocabulary: ‘let’ is from the French word ‘net’ (filet), and ‘love’ from the word (‘l’oeuf), meaning egg to symbolize zero. (I can never resist singing the ‘U2’ song entitled ‘One love’ during the first score of a tiebreak). Tennis is not risk free, surprisingly it is 4th in the top 10 most common sports to get injuries from; tennis elbow and back sprains helping it up the list. Incidentally, the tennis scoring system was based according to the quarters of a clock: 15. 30, 45. King Henry VIII was a lover of the game (real tennis) though he found it difficult to play in his later years, mainly because he had gained so much weight that his skin (quite literally) began to grow through his string vest: not a common problem on the circuit now-a-days.

On June the 8th this year at 10am, the seedings will have be drawn for the world famous ‘Wimbledon tennis Championships. ’(The word ‘seed’ deriving from a horticultural reference of planting two seeds of inferior strength together, the stronger surviving). Then for two weeks from June 23rd to July 6th an estimated total of 378.8 million worldwide will be watching the Wimbledon Championships.

Things have changed since the first Wimbledon in 1877 when 22 competitors battled in front of 200 spectators to win the grand prize of 12 guineas - slightly less than the 1.7 million Andy Murray scooped last year. Nowadays the competition can boast an estimated 200,000 glasses of Pimms being drunk and 28,000kg of strawberries being eaten during the fortnight. (I just stock up on crisps from Tesco’s before I go there). Even a hawk called Rufus is employed to patrol in the skies above the championships to keep the pigeons at bay; in the good old days before we developed a conscience towards animal welfare, the umpire just had them shot.

Here in Braintree, tennis is thriving and there is a fantastic tennis club for you to join; I had the honour of playeing against them some years ago. (I lost). Yet, if you don’t want to join a club here in Braintree are very lucky to have 38 municipal courts for use by the general public. On a summer evening, after a stressful day at work I can think of nothing better to do. We may not be competing for 1.7 million and the balls are not kept at 68 degrees as they are at Wimbledon and the pigeons are free to harass us all they want, but we play the game for the love of it. I could write about this all day though I’d better stop because my elbow is playing up. simon@limepad.com

If like Simon, you would like to write for us, please email us at editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

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BL Gardening

If you want to increase your plant stock, this is a great time to take stem cuttings of a number of woody perennials. One technique that works well for me is to take semi-ripe cuttings. These are taken from the current season’s growth that has started to become woody, but still has leaves. Propagating plants by semi-ripe cuttings is a fast and simple way to produce large numbers of genetically identical plants in a relatively short period of time.

Semi-ripe cuttings are used to propagate a wide range of plants but it is a particularly good method for propagating flowering shrubs such as Philadelphus, Weigela, Viburnum, Cistus, and Rosmarinus spp. Many of these plants can be rooted in a cold frame but others such as Camellia spp, may require a mist bench in a protected environment to root, otherwise success will be low.

Steps to Success The parent plant selected for propagation should be healthy, vigorous, pest and disease free and true to type. Sappy, damaged, spindly and flowering growth should be avoided. If the only material available has flower buds ensure they are removed when the cutting is prepared.

Collect cutting material early in the morning when the plant is turgid.

Further water loss can be minimised by placing the material in a damp plastic bag, and using as soon as possible.

The timing and method used varies between species but the majority of semi-ripe cuttings are taken in late summer (July to September).

Conifers are propagated in February/March.

Use a suitable growing medium for rooting most cuttings. I use a 50/50 horticultural sand and peat or peat substitute mix. For slow to root cuttings, such as conifers, a more sandy 3:1 mix is preferable Small numbers of cuttings can successfully be grown in 13cm half pots with the cuttings inserted around the outside. Single cuttings can be placed in individual 9cm pots. Better still, use modular trays as these are ideal for most types of cuttings and are easy to handle and ensure minimal root disturbance when the rooted plants are potted up. Care must be taken with watering as modular trays dry out more quickly than seed trays.

Most importantly, use a good quality, clean, sharp pair of secateurs (to remove material from the parent plant) and a propagation knife (for preparing the cutting).

All plants should be clearly labelled to avoid confusion and waste.

Ensure the pen is waterproof. Record the name of the plant and the date the cuttings were taken.

Semi-ripe cuttings should be treated with a medium strength routing hormone. These sometimes contain fungicides to reduce the possibility of fungal infections – check out your local garden centre for best buy products.

Semi-ripe cuttings are less prone to desiccation (water loss) than softwood cuttings but are slower to root. As they are less prone to desiccation they require less environmental protection than softwood cuttings.

Place the cuttings in a cold frame, or more difficult to root specimens on a mist bench with soil warming cables, or in a propagator. This will increase success rates and speed of rooting, but most will root quite satisfactorily in a cold frame.

The Technique: 1. Cut off a shoot to include all current season’s growth.

2. Remove the tip, if it is soft, just above a node.

3. Shorten the cutting to 5 - 7.5cm, cutting just beneath a node (with

10

Clematis cut the stem just above a node and 4cm below - known as an inter-nodal cutting).

4. Remove the leaves from the lower half of the cutting.

5. Dip the bottom end of the cutting in rooting hormone.

6. Insert the cutting to half its length in the growing medium, firm the compost around the cutting 7. Label and water.

Or, hold the bottom of a side shoot between the thumb and forefinger.

Pull down sharply.

Neaten the long tail of the heel and remove leaves near the base of the cutting. This gives you a semi-ripe heel cutting. If in any doubt use this technique for any woody shrub or climber.

Have a go and let me know how you get on. If you’d like a fact sheet on propagation send me an email and I’ll reply.

Good luck and happy gardening!

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.

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

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Computers...... by Martin Houston Do you have an old PC that is not working too well any more?

the Large Hadron Collider at Cern in Switzerland!

Do you want to know more about the Internet than just using it as a giant shopping catalogue?

This silent take-over has happened because Linux is fast and reliable. These features come from the way it is developed. The “source code”, the computer equivalent of blueprints, is available for anyone to study and to adapt without having to follow any irksome rules (apart from NOT being able to apply any of those rules on anybody else).

The Internet holds the answer to these for you in the form of the computer software that has been developed there, cooperatively over the last twenty plus years!

If you have not heard of Linux or the terms “free software” and “open source” that is because this is a movement that has grown across the Internet without the huge advertising budgets of corporations behind it. Linux is now in lots of places though. It is the heart of every Android phone and tablet, what makes most set top boxes and smart TVs function, powers the Kindle eBook and going up in scale somewhat, power many banks and other big business including three quarters of the worlds stock exchanges and the vast majority of the worlds super-computers pushing back the frontiers of human knowledge including

If that sounds like chaos to you then you are to some extent right. However the speed of computers and the quality of software tools that has evolved to make sense of what at first looks like chaos has lead to a very rich and productive ecosystem with the Internet at its heart.

You too can be part of this, to make computers tools that expand your ability to do things rather than just being an amusement.

Linux can work well on the latest super fast computers but because it is efficient works

well on computers that are unable to cope with the latest glitz and bloat commercial Operating Systems.

Microsoft finally ends support for Windows XP this coming April. Why not give your XP machine a new lease of life by installing Linux on it?

Martin Houston is a Freelance Linux Consultant living in Essex. You can find his website at: http://www.deluxe-tech.co.uk for info on making the move!

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BL Pet Corner - Millennium Veterinary Practice This is the first of many articles to come! Pet health is a vast subject and we hope to break it down into interesting easy read articles, which we hope you will enjoy reading! But to kick it off we thought you may want to know a bit more about us!

We are the largest independent veterinary practice serving Braintree and the surrounding area. We have been treating pets since 1966 and over the last 10 years alone over 20,000 clients have trusted us with the care of more than 35,000 pets! Three of our vets, David Garrett, Robin Creighton and Stefaan van Pouke own and work here along with over 60 members of staff. We are not part of any corporate company and focus completely on our clients and the health of their pets throughout their lives.

We have a friendly, highly-trained and caring medical team with a wealth of knowledge and experience. We have excellent staff retention, so you can be

certain to see the same faces, something which is really important to us for your pet’s continuity of care. Our practice is well equipped with a wide range of medical facilities and equipment. We can treat almost any condition, including life-threatening ones, within the practice. This means quicker diagnosis, treatment and recovery times for your pet, as well as greater convenience for you. Vets thought Essex and Suffolk refer their cases to us for the specialised care and treatment we can give. Our greatest asset, though, is our staff. We believe it is the individual skill, care and attention we give to each patient that’s at the heart of successful treatment, and this is what makes us different.

We are all animal owners here at Millennium and while our own pets are a focus in our spare (and not so spare) time, there is plenty more that goes on after work! From a national winning poultry shower, playing for the Essex County Women’s Premier Football team, line dance instructing, one of only 5 UK wound angels (yes, you read correct!) yoga teaching, farming, scuba diving, Crufts exhibiting and volunteering for the many charities including the Orangutan Foundation; there is a lot going on! We probably shouldn’t forget our in-house bake off team (not actually an official club) which regularly treats us and on the healthier side, our Millennium running team!

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• Robin Creighton Vet: One of the three owners of our practice, nationally acclaimed poultry exhibitor and part time farmer!

• Carol Hudson Practice Manager: Everyone needs ‘a Carol’! She’s our very valuable practice manager and has been with us since 1986.

• Gary Rutland RVN: Head Nurse and senior member of the unofficial bake-off team.

• Lindsey Raven-Emerick RVN: A zoo keeper before training as a vet nurse, Lindsey has worked with orang-utans in Borneo.

• Ellis Turner student vet nurse: Member of the Women’s Essex County Premier Football Team.

• Jenny Poulton Veterinary Receptionist: Just to give you a flavour of staff retention, Jenny is one of our longest serving members of staff (she’s been with us longer than Carol!) with years of experience in veterinary practice and a love for Dachshunds.

For more information, a tour of our practice, advice or to make an appointment, please call us on 01376 325511 or visit our website www.millenniumvets.co.uk.

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Local Business Woman

Denise Randal is a local business women living in Chelmsford.

Today, she is at home with husband Bob, and beautiful golden retriever, Bruce. She has been enjoying a chilled out Sunday in the sun, and looks forward the week ahead.

“My mum’s coming up but I haven’t got to go into the office, I’ve got 3 events this week and the rest of the time I can spend with her.”

And this free time isn’t a one-off treat for Denise. Even earning a full time wage with a flourishing business, she’s got time to walk the dog, catch up with friends and relax in the evening; all in a week’s work. But it’s not always been this easy to find that golden work-life balance. Having always been a talker, she decided that a career in sales was her calling. She found a job in the city, but soon decided that she wanted to do it all herself. In 2004 she set up her own business.

“It was very stressful, but it was enjoyable because it was building my own business. Until the recession came, and then it started becoming quite painful. I was exhausted, and it really showed me that the business model was flawed.”

As a company director, going back to getting a regular job was out of the question for Denise. “I went business networking, and I met someone who did what I do now, and I became intrigued about how she could work part time but earn a full time income. That was music to my ears at the time! So I started with Forever. Now I work when I want to work, it’s how I initially thought it would be running my own business.”

Forever is a market leader in health and nutrition, in order to ensure the highest quality, Forever cultivates aloe vera on its privately-owned plantations - avoiding the use of herbicides or pesticides - which is the staple ingredient in all of their products.

“To begin with it was the business I was really excited about, I hadn’t tried any of the Forever products. But when you start, you receive a box of them to get a feel of how beneficial they can be, and I didn’t think they would make that much of a difference.”

Denise put them to the test, and after a while problems that she thought were unfixable- were fixed. “The only thing I could put it all down to was the Aloe Vera, so I was sold on the product.”

Now 4 years on, Denise distributes the products to her customers, and looks after them as part of her business. The rest of her time is spent coaching and developing other people to do the same thing, and build their own business to the stage that she has got hers to.

“It is very much something that you can do with literally just 3 hours a week and it will actually build you quite a noticeable income. Start spending 7 hours a week, and you can gain an income that’s even more substantial.”

To find out more about how you could do the same.

Email denise@therisegroup.co.uk Or ring her for a chat on 07782273634. fb:/healthierandwealthieryou.

Interview by Bronya Smolen

Do you have a story you wish to tell? Have you made a success of a business? Let us know at editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

d Woul to ke you li rom f work with home lete comp lity? i flexib

Full or part time

W when ork you l ik with whom e you l ike... .

Account Managers

Looking after 20/30 clients £200-£400 pm

Team leaders

Supporting a team of retailers and looking after a small client base £800-£1500 pm

Business Developers

Working with and mentoring team leaders £3000 pm Qualify for global travel and much, much more!

If you have the drive to be successful this is the role for you.

Lots of people start part-time and grow the skills and abilities to grow their income and success....

35 year old company.

Investor in people accreditation at the highest level.

We work as a team and help each other to be successful!

Call me if you would like further information.

Denise Randall - 07782 273634 denise@therisegroup.co.uk Independent Distributor of Forever Living Products Longbridge Manor, Warwick CV34 6RB

www.therisegroup.co.uk

healthierandwealthieryou

Forever is a member of the Direct Selling Association

Aloe drinking gels, supplements, personal and skincare products

BL Baking by Lucy Norwood Cooking and baking have always been a big part of my life. I’ve been baking since I could stand up on a chair, taking it in turns with my sister to stir the bowl with my mum. In my opinion, these were the best times. My grandma is a great cook, and she used to love making sugar flowers and cakes and I was always intrigued to try it myself.

These early influences are what created my passion. Little did I know it would turn into my career.

My mum has taught me all the basic recipes I now use every day, and for many years we have baked together and it’s always been a lot of fun. Cakes, cupcakes, cookies and puddings filled our house with yummy food and my head with new ideas. Following the recipe was never enough, I wanted to add extra things, see if different flavours went together and create recipes myself.

I decided to take my love for cooking further and a few years ago, I started training to be a chef at Colchester Institute. At the end of my first year, I decided to start my own business. Being a chef had never been my true calling in life. I was 17 at the time, but to me age is just a number. I had a dream, and I wanted to go for it – so I did.

Lucy’s Cupcakes started in May 2012. My first order was for my boyfriends mum, and the most nerve-racking experience. Who knew 12 cupcakes would make me so nervous? Throughout the first 6 months or so, I was making cakes for family and friends of family, but then one day I got a call from a complete stranger. How scary. As this became more of a regular occurrence, my confidence grew and grew, then before I knew it Lucy’s Cupcakes was becoming a big part of my life.

Two years on, and now called Little Lucy’s Bakery, I can safely say starting my business was the best decision I have made in my life so far. I make cakes all week and love every minute. What could be better than baking every day? I now think nothing of discussing a cake with someone I don’t know, and it’s actually the cakes for my family and close friends that I now get nervous about!

Here is a recipe that reminds me of my childhood. We have the original copy, which is now dark brown, crinkled, old and well loved, in our family favourite recipe file – the best recipes to follow! It’s not a cake, but a delicious dessert that my mum always used to make. It

takes a while with all the chilling, but trust me when I say it’s worth it!

Cheeky Chocolate Mallow Pie (serves 6-8) Ingredients: For the base: 100g (4oz) unsalted butter 225g (8oz) digestive biscuits For the filling: 600ml (1 pint) semi-skimmed milk 50g (2oz) cocoa powder, plus extra for dusting 40g (1 ½ oz) plain chocolate 75g (3oz) caster sugar 40g (1 ½ oz ) cornflour 2 egg whites 75g (3oz) marshmallows 1. Firstly, place the digestive biscuits in a freezer bag and bash with a rolling pin until they are finely crushed.

2. Melt the butter and then stir in the crushed biscuits. Place the mix into a 9” round pie dish or loose bottom flan tin and press the mixture over the base.

3. For the filling, add the milk, coca, sugar, chocolate and cornflour into a pan and cook over a medium heat. Make sure you stir continuously until the mixture is smooth and thick.

4. Lightly whisk the eggs into a bowl until they are fluffy and have increased in volume slightly.

5. Whisk half of the hot chocolate mixture into the egg whites, and then place the egg white mix into the pan with the rest of the chocolate mix. Cook over a very low heat for a few minutes whisking continuously.

6. Spoon into the pie dish and cool before placing in the fridge for two hours or even overnight.

7. Once the mix has set, preheat your grill to a medium heat. Once it is warm, place the marshmallows onto the top of the pie and grill for a few minutes until they have softened.

8. Remove from the oven. Lightly grease a knife with a bit of vegetable oil and use it to spread the marshmallows over the top of the pie. Return to the grill until the marshmallows are golden brown.

9. Chill for an hour and then dust with cocoa powder and serve.

Crafts by Gemma Peacock - Upholstery I’m no upholstery expert, I wouldn’t really have known where to begin before taking part in one of Make Do & Mend’s Upholster a Footstool workshops run by Fiona. Make Do & Mend can be found in Byron Road, Chelmsford and run a number of craft workshops. What I liked about the workshop was the fact that not only did you learn a new skill, but you also came away from the shop with a finished product made by your very own fair hands. You had the option of taking your own fabric with you or you could choose from a selection of fabrics in the shop. Fabric aside, all of the tools and equipment that were needed were all laid out and ready to go on the table upon our arrival. We were all soon at work.

The workshop was easy to follow and was run at a good pace; you didn’t feel rushed at any point nor were you sitting around twiddling thumbs waiting for other people to finish. We all worked together which was great.

Check out their website (www.makedomend.com) for a list of

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workshops they have currently running and available.

Since this particular workshop, I have been able to transfer the skills I’ve learnt to re-upholstering dining room chairs and also covering notice boards.

It is all very simple but knowing the correct techniques has allowed a much better finish. It’s definitely worth giving it a go, especially if you’re a fan of upcycling furniture.

If you have any burning questions or are looking for any creative advice then please get in touch by emailing me at gemscrafts@ hotmail.co.uk. I look forward to hearing from you.

If you would like to write for us please email editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk. Gemma did and she is now a regular writer in Chelmsford The City Times.

www.braintreelife.co.uk

BL What’s On

We would love to hear about your events. Are you planning an event, do you run a pub hosting live events are you a member of a local theatre company, are you in areading group. Please email them to editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk and we will start a What’s On page. We would love to hear about: • Charity events • Live music • Jumble sales • Boot sales • Coffee mornings • Theatre • Book clubs • Open gardens • School fetes

Next Edition Deadlines Copy - 25th July Print ready artwork - 29th July

BRAINTREE DISTRICT OPEN ART 31ST MAY – 26TH JULY 2014 This popular exhibition returns to the museum showcasing inspirational pieces by artists from across Braintree District. Visitors can vote for a ‘Community Choice’ winner from the artworks on display.

‘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.

The Orange Tree www.theorangetree-braintree.co.uk Saturday 26th July “Gone Rocking” Lou B is back with a night of pure rock and roll, kicking of at 9pm, lets see all the dancers back for a classic night Saturday 2nd Auguest “A night Of Drag” Join us for a night of eye watering fun with a classic drag show, be ready to be shocked and entertainted.

Jardins 5th July - An Evening Of Jazz Funk, Soul, Boogie & Club Classics, 18th July - Ann Summers party

The Benefits of Learning Music in Childhood by John Seeley MA BA Music Plenty has already been written about the benefits of children learning music and how it plays an important part in their development of academic and social skills. For me, as a professional private music teacher to children and adults, it’s about seeing someone gain in confidence in their ability and achieve things that they did not think possible and being part of their journey.

Understanding and playing music, is more than just learning to play series of notes, it’s about losing yourself in the music before realising you have enhanced other transferable skills along the way. Music can assist children with improving their literacy skills, memory, concentration, coordination, teaches them to focus, relieves stress and by learning different genres of music increases their awareness of the diverse cultures in our society. Music is fun, a form of self-expression, it can boost confidence and self-esteem and it is not an elite club - it is open to everyone to enjoy from any social or academic background. Music gives you the opportunity to express what you cannot say in words as there are no limitations.

Like life itself, learning to read and play music can be very difficult and challenging at times, but you need to practise, have patience and perseverance to be able to reach your goals and reap the rewards from all your hard work.

John Seeley is a professional musician and provides private and group teaching both classical and jazz on the saxophone and clarinet, from beginners to grade eight. For more information please visit www.johnseeleyjazz.co.uk.

Or email teaching@johnseeleyjazz.co.uk.

Braintree 01376 323341 15

BL Business

How do you get around selling, if you don’t like selling?

Each month I hold strategy sessions with small and home based business owners and the most common reasons for their business not growing that I hear is “but I’m not a sales person” and “I don’t like selling” or “I’m not a natural sales person”.

Sound familiar? Well the good news is that you don’t have to like selling to turn your business into a massive success. I’m going to share with you two things you can do when you’re on the phone or face to face with a potential client.

But first you have to ask yourself two questions and be totally honest with yourself. Question number one is “do you know your product or service?” and question two is “is your product or service good quality?”

It doesn’t matter if you are a business coach, sell skin products, or a personal trainer. i.e. if you are a business coach then it’s a service you provide, so to answer the first question “are you good at what do?”. If you sell skin care products “do you know the results that the products deliver?”

I’m going to assume you have answered yes to both questions and that’s great news, because now there’s no selling involved! Here’s the two things I said I was going to share with you: Number one: Only talk about the BENEFITS of the product or Each month we aim to feature a local business profile covering subjects from why they started to how they are growing and a little bit about the people.

As we are a new magazine to the area we thought we would tell you a little bit about our company.

Nick and I have been running It’s Your Media for over a year now. We took the Moulsham Times magazine over after Nick had been selling advertising space and I had been attempting to write local history articles for it. The magazine had a great foundation and was being well received so we felt it was a good opportunity. We soon made the magazine a bit bigger and gained some new writers to fill the extra space and the advertising soon followed. The Moulsham Times gets delivered through 6500 doors in Old Moulsham and Moulsham Lodge in Chelmsford and we get great feedback from the readers.

service. When I’m buying a new laptop I don’t need or want to know about how it works! I just want to know things like it’s fast which means I save time using it and it’s light which makes it easier to carry in your bag, etc – ALL BENEFITS to me the customer. If it’s a service you provide like business or life coaching then the benefits are about the RESULTS the customer gets, which is the BENEFIT of your service.

Number two: Add VALUE, VALUE, VALUE and I don’t mean cheap, cheap, cheap. If we go back to the laptop I want to buy I actually already know the price and the chances are on the price ticket it’s already got a saving of a £200 which is what’s grabbed my attention, so if you try to add value just by discounting more you are actually devaluing the product which results in me having second thoughts which results in you not getting a new customer. If however you add VALUE by telling me it also includes the latest Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint etc you are adding VALUE, VALUE, VALUE. Now if we go back to the two questions you had to ask yourself “do you know your product or service?” then talk about the BENEFITS and then add VALUE. The way I often add VALUE is by including one of my workshops or products within the price. So instead of just driving the price down you get more great content, which further builds the trust you’ll have in me as an expert. This also results in you being more than happy to recommend me and also buy from me in the future.

Scott C. Campbell Business Mentor & Marketing Strategist Expert “I help businesses generate leads and turn them into clients” 7 years.

And me, I am a keen music photographer, photographing local bands in a variety of venues and also run a web design and recruitment business.

By Paul Mclean

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

In October last year we started Chelmsford The City Times. We already had some great writers who were happy to write an extra article a month for the new magazine. We also soon gained some new writers and have a great team who we are very lucky to have, we even have an 11 year old writer for the Moulsham Times who writes a great article each month and always submits it on time!! We always feature a charity of the month in each publication which is free. We now have this magazine, Braintree Life, with the help of two friends: Kellie is assisting in sales and Sean is assiting with layout and proof reading, and we hope to gain a small team of local writers and lots of local readers!

We also promote live music and have recently hosted a stage at Chelmsford’s Fling Festival and have a stage at the Chelmsford leg of the Tour de France (both in collaboration with Chelmsford Community Radio). We are also planning to start a new live music night in Braintree in September, (look out for adverts in the coming editions).

So who are we? Nick is a harmonica player in a band as well as an avid collector of pottery, he also runs a charity music festival each year called Blues In The City (see the advert opposite). He also runs a monthly music night which he has done for the last two years and has been involved in music for over 40 years. Nick has a charity background having worked in the sector as a fundraising manager for

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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

www.moulshamtimes.com

Chelmsford

Blues in the City Festival 2014

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

BL Charity - Braintree Mencap Welcome to the world of Braintree Mencap!

Established in 1955, our charity began its life as a parent support group, made up of parents of children with a learning disability, enabling one another to have some respite and a well deserved break from caring for disabled children.

Nearly six decades later, Braintree Mencap has grown to offer a wide variety of services for people with a learning disability, and their families, from the age of 5 throughout adulthood, which makes them unique across the District.

What is a learning disability?

A learning disability is a reduced intellectual ability and difficulty with everyday activities – for example household tasks, socialising or managing money – which affects someone for their whole life.

Some people with a learning disability also have other physical and emotional conditions, and may receive more than one diagnosis.

Some of the members of Braintree Mencap are capable of living independent lives in and around our community. They may have their own homes or drive a car, whilst others may have profound or multiple learning disabilities which means that they need round the clock care and support.

You cannot always tell if someone has a learning disability by looking at them.

Sometimes, members of the public confuse our service with that of a mental health charity. The important difference between a mental health problem and a learning disability, is that however difficult it is to cope with mental health issues, people can, given the right support in time, recover. You cannot recover from a learning disability.

A Week in the Life of Braintree Mencap Braintree Mencap believe in the right of people with a learning disability to have independent choice about what they want to do and achieve. We endeavour to make that possible for them, either utilising facilities in the local community, or where that isn’t possible, we provide classes and clubs ourselves.

Mondays Every Monday we take our members to Witham Pool to enjoy either an hour’s swimming lesson with teacher. Nicky Irving, or our more able swimmers enjoy a general swim and water games. We have seen two of our members learn to swim through this activity. One mature lady with a learning disability would not get into the pool when we started these sessions, but swam for the first time without aids three weeks ago.

We have also seen vast improvements in strength and stamina for our more able swimmers, many of whom have said that they would not take part in such exercise once a week if it was not for this initiative. This activity is free of charge for people with a learning disability, thanks to the support of the Swimathon Foundation. So if you know someone who would be interested, please contact us.

During the afternoon, our members enjoy a sensory pottery class run by local potter, Shaun Hall and a number of amazing volunteers. This class is open to people of all ages and abilities. Some of the class members are sight impaired and enjoy the feel of the clay, whilst others are proficient potters who have made mugs and jugs for us to

sell at the Annual Bazaar!

Tuesdays Braintree Mencap’s drama group runs on a Tuesday afternoon, with the help of our tutor Gennie Powell. The group consists of 25 people with a learning disability, who have written their own panto script and anticipate performing at Bocking Village Hall at the end of the year.

Gennie Powell said “drama is a brilliant way to empower people with a learning disability to learn how to deal with issues that they face in their lives or out in the community, through role play and interaction with each other”.

Wednesdays Our Wednesday Walkers meet up at 11am to enjoy a healthy stroll either around Braintree, or they venture out to the Discovery Centre or Marks Hall. It is a great way for our members to socialise with each other as well as enjoy some gentle exercise free of charge.

Back at Charles Leeks House, we run a Life Skills Class, enabling 10 people with a learning disability to shop for and prepare and cook a healthy lunch to all enjoy together, as well as learning skills to help them to live an independent life. We have learned about budgeting of finances, laundry skills, computer skills, relationships, keeping safe in the home and community, food hygiene and safe food storage.

Local health professionals have said that there is no other service like this available locally, and as well as the obvious skills that are being learned, our members are learning such social skills as taking turns, sharing and eating together.

One of our members has told Rachael on numerous occaisions that her mother used to throw away any food that she made. With an unhappy face she said to Rachael “I can’t cook”. Thanks to these classes she is now able to chop and prepare a number of vegetables, as well as prepare a healthy meal. The change in her face is incredible, she has the most amazing smile during these sessions, and is so proud of her achievements that she always takes some home to show her support workers.

Wednesay evenings (7-9pm) are home to our new Young Persons Social Group which is aimed at people with learning disabilities from the ages of 18-30. Run by Jess Leonard, Tim Readhead and Elliot Brown, this group provides a much needed opportunity for young people to meet other youngsters with learning disabilities and enjoy a wide range of fun activities and games in a safe environment.

There is a recognised need, both locally and nationally, for social activities for transition aged people with a learning disability. It is hard enough being a teenager, without having to deal with any extra issues as well. Parents worry that the only social activities available for adults with a learning disability, tend to involve youngsters socialising with people that are over twice their age. Young people want to engage with other young people and our Young Persons Social Group gives them the opportunity to have fun with their peers.

Thursdays Thursdays are our “self expression” day, beginning with a music group, run by volunteers from the local choir, Vocal Reflections, Lin, Margaret and Jeremy. Our members are currently working on the next lunch time performance of their own version of Desert Island Discs.

They have each chosen a song that means something to them and they will explain why this song is important at our next musical lunch.

After lunch, Shaun and Nancy run our Art Café which enables people with a learning disability to enjoy a wide range of art and craft activities, whilst socialising with their peers and making new friends.

This class has shown to increase self esteem and confidence of our

members. One lady was so shy when she first joined our group that she would not talk or interact with anyone. Now, her confidence has grown, she has made new friends, and was instrumental in designing our autumnal display board last year.

Thursday evening (7-9pm) is home to our Gateway Club, a social club for adults. Every week we see up to 130 people attend and there are always different activities to do. Some weeks we have live bands visit, or we enjoy Zumba or line dancing, sometimes we decorate cakes or make cards, or hold quiz evenings or team game nights.

There is something different on every week.

look like you!

Did you Know??

• As many as 9 out of 10 people with a learning disability have suffered from bullying or hate crime.

• 1 in 4 people with a learning disability spend less than one hour a day outside their own homes.

• 65% of people with a learning disability want to work, but only 10% are in paid employment.

• 8 out of 10 carers have reached breaking point.

(All statistics provided by Royal Mencap campaigns – I can supply the details if you wish).

For more information about any of our services or the work that we do, please contact Rachael Luckin, General Manager of Braintree District Mencap Society on 01376 326302.

One of our members came to Gateway following an unhappy period in their life, battling with alcohol addiction as well as a learning disability. This has given her a social opportunity away from alcohol and a chance to meet new people. With the amazing work of support staff and the regular attendance at our classes, her life has turned around. She told Rachael that she was going to enjoy a day out at the zoo with a friend from Gateway. Her support walker confided in Rachael that she had never had a day out with a friend before!

Saturdays Every Saturday children from the age of 5 – 19 years can enjoy our Play and Activity Respite Scheme. Enabling exhausted parents to enjoy a much needed break, or quality time with able siblings, our Play and Activity Respite Scheme allows the children to spend one to one time with qualified staff in order to learn new skills, enjoy some play activities or time in and around the local community.

This is a vital service and offers the children with a learning disability the chance to learn new skills.

Testimony from one family who use the service, explained that they were unable to go out for a meal as a family, as their youngster was unable to sit at a table for the period of time it took to be served and eat, and the situation would be unbearable for the family as well as fellow diners. However, thanks to the playscheme utilising cafes and food establishments locally, he was able to learn the skills required over a period of time, and his family were utterly amazed when they were able to go out for a meal altogether.

During, the Easter and summer school holidays, we hold activity camps. For some of our children who are unable to access mainstream leisure activities, this is their only social activity during the week or the holiday periods.

Facts and Figures Braintree Mencap has over 300 members.

Braintree Mencap is affiliated to Royal Mencap but receives NO financial support from them. We have to raise all our own funds in order to provide the services that we offer.

Gateway Club regularly has an attendance of over 120 people every week.

Our Gateway club has been chosen as a Beacon by Royal Mencap, which means that we are an example of good practice. There are only 9 Beacon Clubs in the whole of the UK! We are the only service provider in the district that supports children from the age of 5 years throughout adulthood. Many of our members have been with our society for decades!

Braintree Mencap has over 50 committed volunteers without whom our services could not run. Take a look in the mirror – our volunteers

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

BL Fitness by Laura O’Conner

Lack motivation? Lack results? Finding your workouts boring and unproductive?

Welcome to Elms Personal Fitness, the ultimate group personal training and weight loss concept.

The Elms Fitness Concept is a workout like no other, each session is taken by fully qualified Elms personal trainers and is designed to provide you with motivation, enjoyment, results and accountability that in time will get you the body you want. This is done by using a variety of training methods in a fun, non-intimidating atmosphere.

The Elms Personal Fitness Workout • Personal Trainer working with you every workout (no boring card to follow Motivational Sessions) to work you to your ability and goals • Regular Health Appraisals to check progress and set new targets • Simple to follow eating formula – no fad diets • Pre-booked sessions for more accountability • Fun and enjoyable but still get results An Elms Personal Fitness workout uses a variety of interval, resistance and functional training during the 60 minute session to get you the results you want.

Benefits of Elms Personal Fitness The Elms Fitness Concept is designed not only to burn calories while you are with us but also for a day or two after your workout. As an Elms Personal Fitness member you will firstly notice an increase in energy levels followed by weight loss, toning and an increase in stamina. You will also see many other health benefits that may include a reduction in blood pressure and cholesterol, an improved immune system, reduced stress levels and increased mobility to name but a few.

From your Elms Personal Fitness workout we also aim to deliver to you a concept where you feel motivated during every session, a system that is designed to keep your attendance regular and a workout that gives you more structure than a normal gym workout but at the same time still making it affordable.

We currently have an amazing special offer of 3 Trial Sessions for £15.

To take advantage of this great offer please call us on Braintree 01376 323341. Or email braintree@elmspersonalfitness.co.uk.

To advertise with us please email ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk

Le Tour de France Comes to Essex Make no mistake about it; Essex is about to see the biggest sporting event that the town is likely to ever see. Le Tour, the third biggest sporting event in the world, is coming to Essex and more importantly for us - Chelmsford, Braintree and many villages in between.

If that hasn’t quite sunk in yet, as the day gets nearer, believe me it will do. 13 miles of the 2014 Tour de France will pass through Essex on Monday 7 July 2014 and if you miss it, I guarantee you will regret it. For the Tour de France is not just about the cycling, it’s a coming together of nations, it’s a travelling mini-festival for whichever towns are lucky enough to be blessed by its visit each year.

We’re not by tradition a cycling nation like the Dutch, French and the Belgians, but we’re catching up fast and I predict that even the bane of every cyclist’s life, the impatient car driver, will catch on eventually too and accord due diligence to cyclists on the road, we saw a glimmer of this after the Olympics in 2012, but it seems to have drifted back to impatience and an unfathomable need to get from A to B before even leaving A once more.

This will be the fourth time that the Tour de France has visited these shores and those cyclists among you won’t be surprised to hear that the first visit in 1974 was a bit of a disaster, with the race director forgetting to bring his passport and ending up in custody and a hugely disappointing turn out.

Unsurprisingly, it took a full twenty years before the Tour de France alighted here again in 1994 where Sean Yates was given the respect of the peloton and allowed to ride ahead as he passed through his home in Surrey where his family and friends were waiting to see him.

Crowds had improved dramatically by 1994 and by the time the Tour de France returned for the third time in 2007, the UK was beginning to get the buzz and the crowds were nothing short of huge.

It is estimated that around a million saw Fabian Cancellara win a

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prologue time trial in Hyde Park.

This year the crowds are going to be immense. The UK has begun to take cycling on board and enjoy it like at no other time in the past, in part due to the fact that unlike every other big sport that we participate in, Great Britain can safely say we are currently the best at this one.

So much so that the anticipation of there actually being a first ever stage win by a Brit on UK soil in Le Tour is not just fantasy anymore.

The opening Grand Depart in Harrogate could well see Mark Cavendish grab that elusive honour.

If you’ve never experienced watching a professional cycling race before, be prepared as it’s a slightly different beast to the regular type of sporting event that stays where it’s put. You get to experience the hours of build up and anticipation - and then, suddenly, those bare roads spring into life; you feel the excitement as you hear an ever increasing roar somewhere in the distance, a cavalcade of police motorcycles and pristine tour support vehicles festooned with bikes will glide past heralding the arrival of the hardest working athletes that you will ever have the pleasure of seeing in full flight this close up. And then it’s gone, in a whir of shining alloy and a rainbow of colours - but worth every precious second.

In 2007 crowds were several bodies deep lining the route throughout the UK, so if you are going to watch live on route, prepare in advance and choose your spot carefully. But once these precious shooting stars have gone by, you can always go to Admirals Park to watch on the big screen and drink beer of course. See you there!

Sean Neylon This is a great link to a detailed responsive map of the route: http://letour.yorkshire.com/stage-3/map

www.braintreelife.co.uk

BL Wine

Hello again. Here we are in June and it’s supposed to be the start of summer, well at least it means that the rain will get warmer!

This month I thought that I would look at sweet wine, sometimes called dessert wine. Not to my taste really, but when drunk with a nice pudding it can be very good.

Sweet wine is made from grapes (Muscat for example) that have higher levels of sugar occurring naturally, although sugar or honey is added during the production process. The wine can also be fortified by adding alcohol using brandy, for example. In France you will find one of the most well known sweet wines, Sauternes. This is produced in the Bordeaux region using Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle grapes that have been infected by noble rot, which causes the grapes to be more like raisins. These wines are often expensive, probably because the production is not too reliable, resulting in variable output levels.

Some ordinary grapes are left on the vine until very late in the season. This results in grapes being air dried before they are picked and therefore are more like a raisin. Not surprisingly, these wines are known as raisin wines, very sweet generally.

Another type of sweet wine is called ice wine, where the grapes are left on the vine until late in the season in areas where there are frosts. The water in the grapes freezes, but the sugars and other solids do not. They are then pressed before they thaw out, and a special yeast is added for the fermentation. These, too, are wines for a special occasion.

Why are some things we say a bit odd? Thunder and lightning for example, it’s the wrong way round, the lightening comes first doesn’t it? The other day I took my prescription to the doctors and they said it would be ready in two working days. That’s no good to me, I’m retired.

I am off on a holiday to Germany, (note for would be burglars, by the time you read this I will back home). We are entering the country from the north and intend to follow the Rhine south to the Black Forest. This, you may have guessed, is where the majority of wine is produced, from Ahr to Baden. So,as we are staying in several places for a number of days and the public transport systems are reported to be good, I must just visit a few vineyards to see what I can learn about the local wines. I guess I will also have to see some the sights around the Rhine as well though.

Bin end chuckles.

If you get an email telling you that you can catch swine flu from tins of ham, delete it, it’s spam.

We have a celebration coming up so I’ve booked a table for my wife and I. Bound to end in tears though, she’s rubbish at snooker.

Your information is pretty accurate on the cost of the wine. The breakdown of the cost of a bottle of wine in the UK is interesting. When you pay £7.50 for a bottle of wine (now the average price paid according to a large wine merchant), £2 goes to the government in tax. Then there are the materials, the processing cost of the bottling, shipping costs and profit, then the government take another slice with VAT. The average cost of the wine in the bottle is about £1.50!

If this is compared to Europe, the tax on wine is zero in some countries including Germany, Italy and Spain, and is just 3 pence in France. Therefore a bottle of so called cheap “plonk” in France could be said to be of equal (if not better) quality to the average cost of wine in the UK. Regarding the price of a good bottle of red, there are loads available.

One of my favourites is Malbec, which retails from about £6.70 or less when on offer. Unless you are a connoisseur I would pay around £7 - £8 and for that it will be a reasonable wine. Perhaps once in a while, splash out on a more expensive bottle and see if you can taste the difference.

Remember, ‘good’ wines are generally those that you like, depending on your preferences, an expensive bottle of red may not be a ‘good’ wine for you.

So, thanks to Mr or Ms AS Drinker, who prompted my research, I am moving to Burgundy in France next Friday.

Jonny

Holmes & Co. Tax and accountancy We are a new family practice established to run alongside our charitable work. (See website for more details) Let us help you with Advice on simple and complex tax issues.

HMRC investigations.

Business reports.

Keep calm and carry on drinking (in moderation).

Self assessment tax returns.

This month I have been sent my first letter.

Bookkeeping services.

Dear Jonny Merlot, I have been enjoying your column for a number of months now and I have a question for you; I have recently taken to drinking red (moderately) and had heard that the first £5 of any wine was the expense it cost to bottle, label and cork it, therefore a £7 bottle of wine is only £2 of content. Is this true and if so what is a good and reasonable price to be paying for a red?

Yours truly A Sensible Drinker.

Thank you for your question and I’m glad that you enjoy my little column.

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T: 01245 206220 or 07785 722350 E: chrisholmes08@sky.com www.holmesaccountants.co.uk

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presents live

The Legends of Blues & Rock with

Eddie & the Hot Rods + The Practice featuring original members of Doctor Feelgood, Eddie & the Hotrods, Johnny Thunders, Desmond Dekkar, Geno Washington

Friday 12th September 2014

Live at

JARDINS East Street, Braintree, CM7 3JJ Doors open 7.45pm show starts 8.30pm Tickets ÂŁ10 in advance or ÂŁ12 on the door Tickets available at www.wegottickets.com/event/280674 or from the venue or by emailing music@itsyourmedia.co.uk