The City Times - August/September 2016

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Issue Number 35: 19th August - 15th September 2016

MONDAYS MONDAYS

Millennium Community Centre Recreation Ground, Baddow Road, Great Baddow, CM2 9RL 9:00am, 11:00am and 1.00pm Lucy 01245 262457

Springfield Community Centre Perryfields School, Lawn Lane CM1 7PP 5:00pm and 7:00pm Angie 07814 992628

Church of Our Saviour Aston Place Chelmer Village CM2 6ST 5.30pm and 7.30pm Emma 07887 692906 Hatfield Peverel Infant School Church Road, Hatfield Peverel, CM3 2RP 5.30pm and 7.30pm Lesley 07973 239899 Sandon Village Hall Woodhill Road, Sandon CM2 7SQ 7:00pm Lucy 01245 262457

TUESDAYS

Broomfield Village Hall 158 Main Road (behind Angel Pub), Broomfield CM1 7AH 3.00pm, 5:00pm and 7:00pm Victoria 07823 441198 Millennium Community Centre Recreation Ground, Baddow Road, 9R Great Baddow CM2 9RL 3.30pm, 5:30pm and 7:30pm Samantha 01245 266442

WEDNESDAYS

Church Of St Augustine Of Canterbury St Augustines Way, Springfield CM1 6GQ 9:30am and 11:30am Emma 07887 692906

WEDNESDAYS

Life Church Hall Street, off Moulsham Street, Chelmsford CM2 0HG 5:30pm and 7.30pm Angie 07814 992628 Boreham Village Hall, Main Road, Boreham CM3 3JD 5:30pm and 7:30pm Emma 07887 692906

Writtle Community Association Longmeads House, 12-14 Redwood Drive, Writtle CM1 3LY 5.00pm and 7:00pm Jennifer 07792 516866 Springfield Park Baptist Church Springfield Park Road, Springfield CM2 6EB 7.30pm Emma 07887 692906 St Michael's Church of England Junior School, Barnard Road, Galleywood CM2 8RR 7:30pm Tracy 07981 609044

THURSDAYS THURSD

Millennium Community Centre, Recreation Ground, Baddow Road, Great Baddow CM2 9RL 9.30am Samantha 01245 266442

THURSDAYS

SpringHealth Leisure Club Brian Close, Off Gloucester Avenue, Moulsham Lodge CM2 9DZ 7.30pm *New Consultant & New Group from 8th September* Claire 07852 638666 North Springfield Baptist Church Havengore, off Pump Lane, Springfield CM1 6JP 5.30pm and 7:30pm Victoria 07823 441198

FRIDAYS

The Church Of Ascension, Maltese Road, Chelmsford CM1 2PB 9:15am and 11.15am Samantha 01245 266442

SATURDAYS

Springfield Park Baptist Church, Springfield Park Road, Springfield CM2 6EB Newlands Spring Community Hall, 8.30am and 10.30am Emma 07887 692906 Dickens Place, Chelmsford CM1 4UU 5.30pm and 7:30pm Jennifer 07792 516866

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CT Welcome Hello readers

We are 3 years old this month and have had a slight name change - you may have noticed a slight difference to our logo this month, as we have decided to call the publication The City Times. This is because the distribution now covers a much wider area than when we originally started. We hope you like the changes.

You may have also noticed the new city signs that have gone up with Hylands House featured on them, we think these look really good. If you haven’t seen them, keep your eyes peeled!

We look forward to hearing from you with your thoughts on our magazine (or anything else), please email us at editorial@ itsyourmedia.co.uk.

Nick & Paul www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk | www.moulshamtimes.com

Advertising Editorial Nick Garner Paul Mclean 07970 206682 07595 949701 ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

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Disclaimer: It’s Your Media Ltd publish Chelmsford The City 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 Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the prior written permission of It’s Your Media Ltd. Registered offices: 15 Hayes Close, Chelmsford. Reg No 9154871. Printed by Printwize.

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Page 3

CT Fashion - Holiday Packing If you still haven’t taken your summer holiday and are dreading packing, or if you need to buy some essentials for your holiday but haven’t yet hit the shops, don’t panic! In this month’s article, I will cover holiday packing and summer sale items, (now is the perfect time to pick up a few bargains).

We all look forward to getting away, but summer holiday packing can be a headache with weight restrictions on budget airlines, but even if you are checking your luggage in, you still don’t need to pack everything but the kitchen sink. The ideal holiday suitcase should be small, containing a few clothes and accessories and light shoes.

It should all be interchangeable, to create some stylish day looks for sightseeing, beach looks and evening out looks. Also take into account where you are going, if you are staying somewhere that is hot by day and chilly by night, then you will need to take something warm.

If you are holidaying in Britain, don’t forget a light waterproof jacket with hood - if where you are going is plagued by biting insects, then light trousers are a good idea. Also, something I have experienced this year while abroad - jellyfish stings. A rash vest with long sleeves or some sun cream that repels jellyfish (you can buy online) could be a good idea for all the family.

• •

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about buying a beach towel when you are there.

I find rolling more effective than folding, for eliminating creases.

If you don’t want to pack a travel iron, check ahead - all apartments usually have one included.

Alternatively hang creased clothes up in the bathroom whilst you shower.

Ditto with hair dryers - think about letting your hair dry naturally, there are great products that are meant to be used when air drying hair, or you could plait your hair, or put it in a a high bun.

If you are going somewhere hot, think about lightweight fabrics for dresses, trousers and tops for the evenings. Man-made fabrics like polyester are perfect for two reasons - they don’t crease and they are very light, head to H&M for a good selection.

If you suffer from prickly heat, don’t forget to pack lightweight trousers and lightweight long sleeved tops, this will stop your skin rubbing against itself and causing more soreness Don’t forget the essentials - suncream, aftersun, lavender essential oil (add a drop or two to your aftersun if you have sunburn), after bite cream (or babies teething gel works the same way) and mosquito repellent and rehydration sachets.

Holiday Sale Essentials Office Shoes - Madrid 1 Bar Mule Onyx Grey (style number 6009122679) - £41, Solillas Sandals Turquoise Silver (style number 1551033600) - £32.00, Havaianas Slim Logo Flip Flop Orchid Rose Turquoise (style number 1556776324) - £16.00, Bonita Strappy Sandals Gold Leather (style number 2426690175) - £21.00.

Warehouse - Mixbraid Floppy Hat - £5.00, Plain Cami - £8.00, Square Cutwork Cami Top - £15.00, Butterfly Print Midi Dress - £30.00, Double Layer Cami Dress - £20.00, Stripe Canvas Shopper Bag £15.00, Metallic Gladiator Sandal - £10.00, Aviator Sunglasses - £8.00, Floral Tie Bikini Top - £15.00, Floral Tie Bikini Bottom £15.00.

H&M - Long Shirt In A Linen Blend - £14.99, Jersey trousers (loose fit) - £12.99, Jersey tunic - £12.99, Bandeau dress (dark red) - £14.99, Strapless playsuit (black) - £7.99, Straw clutch (gold) - £7.99.

Primark - Cold Shoulder Printed Midi Dress £13.00, Longline Black White Stripe Shirt Dress - £13.00.

Happy Holidays!

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She offers personal shopping and wardrobe planning.

You can contact her via her website www. emmasmith.co.uk, or email: emma@ emmasmith.co.uk or emmapersonalstylist@ hotmail.com.

What to Take • • •

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•

Don’t scrimp on swimwear - take a few different bikinis or swimsuits, it saves you worrying about rinsing out and drying overnight.

Take a hat that will fold but will stay in shape when you unpack. If you have a straw hat, then wear it whilst travelling.

Alternatively take some scarves, which are great for protecting hair from heat and chlorine.

Take a light kimono style cover up, they’re great for the beach, but can double up for the evening over trousers with a cami. A mens style shirt in light cotton is also perfect for the beach.

Don’t overdo the shoes, one flat pair of sandals or Birkenstock for day trips and flip flops for the beach or poolside. A metallic sandal is a great idea for evenings - or maybe a wedge, but think lightweight.

If you are flying budget and there is a restriction on weight, think

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Page 4

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Music by Nick Garner Hoorah! The summer is finally here and the festival season is well and truly underway and I am enjoying it all so far - and Chelmsford also hosts V Festival in Hylands Park this month too.

of Your Love and White Room) - will be joining Fresh Cream as a special treat and Pete sounds surprisingly like Jack when he sings. So this is just a taste of what we have lined up for you in the future.

We have had two good events since I last wrote this column and of course, there was Bay Days at the Fleece which, by the little I managed to see (and with all the good reports), was again a great success, as was the Prince of Orange event at Asylum. It is great to see all this going on in our city.

There is always so much more going on than I have room to write about, but one thing I must make you aware of is that it is possible that Jerry Donahue may not be able to join Blue Swamp at this year’s Blues in the City Festival, as he has sadly had a stroke, although he and us are still hopeful he will make it. If he is not able to, then Robbie McIntosh, a great friend of Jerry’s, is poised ready to join Blue Swamp on the night.

I hosted a great night at the Bassment last month with the welcome return of Robbie McIntosh and Steve Wilson. This time they were joined by the rest of Steve’s band, Wilson. The night started with Robbie playing an electric show for us which was stunning. He just amazes me with his playing as well as being one of the nicest people you could ever want to meet. His set was mainly originals with a couple of covers. He asked me to join them for a few numbers, which was an honour.

Next on was Wilson, a first gig in Essex for this band and what a delight it was with their truly wonderful four-part harmonies which reminds of acts like the Eagles, Beach Boys and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Robbie played some guitar leads like I have never heard him play before, making me think of the Alman Brothers, the audience loved them and when they played their encore (Neil Young’s Cinnamon Girl) it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. It was beautiful and both acts got standing ovations.

Enjoy what is left of the summer holidays and let’s look forward to the rest of the year filled with great live music all across our city and beyond. Remember, if you are putting on gigs or know of any events going on please send them into editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk to be included in our free What’s On guide.

As ever, without you coming out to watch and support all the live music we may eventually lose our (far too few) music venues.

Keep up to date at www.bluesinthecity.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/bluesinthecitychelmsford Twitter: @BluesintheCity1 www.itsyourmusic.co.uk www.facebook.com/itsyourmusic twitter @itsyourmusic.

As we go to print, Bex Marshall is playing with Ben Buddy Slack supporting and on Wednesday September 14th we have Sky Arts’ Guitar Star finalist Steve Morrison playing. Many who saw the show said Steve should have won, but he did make it to the last two. He will be supported on the night by our own local up-and-coming young star, Connor Selby.

We sold a lot of tickets for Noasis at Chelmsford FC, so we had high hopes and they did not disappoint us. This was our first night with just one act playing two sets - and they were two great sets. The band played the songs so well and ‘Liam’ had all the poses. You could see why they were mistaken by some for the real Oasis when they were on Eastenders! The whole room was singing the songs and many of them were dancing as well. All in all the night was a total success.

Next we look forward to Friday 23rd September, when we welcome the Trembling Wilburys to Chelmsford FC, who again are said to be the best. The band is full of some of the best session musicians and - a little known fact - George Harrison originally wanted to call the Travelling Wilburys the Trembling Wilburys.

We are also starting to book for 2017 and we have some great acts lined up so far. Two we have booked are 60s legend Zoot Money for February and in March we have Fresh Cream, who are Will Johns, the son of Andy Johns, who was a top engineer and producer and worked with Led Zeppelin and the Stones. Will’s uncles are George Harrison, Eric Clapton and Mick Fleetwood, who all helped him when he was younger. He is now an awesome player and singer in his own right. Malcolm Bruce is on bass, who is the son of the late Jack Bruce of Cream - and like his father, is a classically trained multiinstrumentalist with a voice which at times sound like his father. They will be joined by Chris ‘Padge’ Page on drums who has also played with Andy Fraser and Chris Spedding and many more. We are very lucky as none other than Pete Brown - the man who wrote all the lyrics to the great songs that he and Jack Bruce wrote (like Sunshine Page 6

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‘MOJO’ Club Night on Bank Holiday Sunday 28th August @ the Bassment

Intense Records, Chelmsford’s only independent record shop, are preparing for the latest instalment of their MOJO club night on Bank Holiday Sunday, 28th August, at the Bassment,

If you haven’t been to the Bassment it really is an intimate affair, located underground with low ceilings and a capacity of 300, it is perfect to get up close and personal with your favourite artists. With many famous names having previously performed - including Mike Skinner, Craig Charles, DJ Zinc and Maverick Sabre - it was time for Intense to pull out all the stops. We can reveal that the next headline act will be music pioneer, artist and drum & bass icon, as well as being a DJ and actor, the one and only Goldie, MBE. If you are not familiar with the name, he is the guy with gold teeth, you may have seen him on the the big screen starring as the villain in the James Bond classic The World is Not Enough, Guy Ritchie’s Snatch, on Eastenders as Angel or reality TV shows Come Dine With Me, Big Brother and Strictly Come Dancing.

In the early eighties, Goldie earned his name as a graffiti artist.

Moving to the US in 1986, he was immersed in the subway art and hip hop culture of New York. In the early 90s Goldie returned to the UK where he discovered the underground rave scene. He embraced the culture and began producing under the name Rufige Kru and released two of the most important tracks of the time Darkrider and Terminator.

In 1994, Goldie oversaw the birth and growth of his drum & bass label and club night, Metalheadz, which today still dominates the dance floor and racks of record shops worldwide. The following year he landed a contract with Pete Tong’s label and released the critically acclaimed debut album Timeless.

Over the next two decades Goldie continued to preach his gospel of music and art, bringing through new artists on his label, producing, DJing, acting and exhibiting his art. Goldie’s contribution to the British music industry was recognised in February this year as he was awarded an MBE by the Prince of Wales.

On the night, Goldie will be accompanied by old time friend and resident at Metalheadz, MC GQ. Consistency and adaptability have kept GQ at the top of the MC ranks and has made him partner to pretty much all of the top flight DJs. Supporting the headline acts are the local DJ Illuminati, DJs Hyjack & Cage from Subway DNB, DJ Knuck from Vinyl Rhythms, residents Cypher & Gibbo and Steve LP fresh from winning the D&B Arena & Hospital Records DJ competitions. Hosting proceedings are MOJO resident Indica and from Mayan Audio, Nuklear MC. Purchasing a ticket in advance at £12 is recommended as £15 tickets will be limited on the door, so take advantage of the earlybird deal while it’s available. You can grab a ticket at Intense Records under the arches along Viaduct Road, or online from deftickets.co.uk.

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CT Gardening by Tom Cole The summer is moving on steadily but surely and some plants are looking a little drab or have had a burst of growth, such as hedges.

Mid August is a great time to tackle hedges as the new growth begins to make them look untidy. If you’re using a hedge trimmer, start at the bottom of each side and work upwards in smooth, continuous swathes. Cut the top last. I made the mistake of not laying out a sheet of plastic to catch clippings the last time I trimmed my box hedges earlier in the year; never again, it saves a huge amount of time and keeps the likes of gravel pathways lovely and clean.

As you cut, brush or rake the clippings from the top of the hedge, as leaving them will make it look unsightly. For the best finish I do prefer using reciprocating trimmers and have recently purchased a battery charged one which gives excellent results. If you haven’t, use sharp shears and a series of canes and lines to use as a guide.

Lastly, always take the time to stand back and check edges... There’s nothing worse than finding you’ve cut too closely!

worried if you have more of something than you want to eat or store, as it’s just as useful to recycle it by adding it to the compost heap.

At the moment you can still sow veg, such as spring cabbages like Duncan AGM - this variety produces small, pointed mid-green heads.

Don’t forget beetroot, such as Boltardy AGM, this variety has a lovely flavour, smooth skinned and good for early cropping. It also has good resistance to ‘bolting’. It’s also the last time for sowings of broad beans in order you can harvesting prior to frosts in late autumn.

On another note don’t forget to keep harvesting vegetables. Catch veg while it’s at its peak and harvest it regularly rather than leaving it to go woody or bitter-tasting. For peas, just keep on picking and use them the same day to unlock all that flavour. For salad leaves, remember you can pick little but often to make use of really fresh looking and tasting leaves. Alternatively, allow plants to reach full maturity and harvest entire plant. Quick growers like Little Gem lettuce only take around 6 weeks to mature. Other quick growers like radish (4-6 weeks) and spring onions (8-10 weeks) can be constantly sown and harvested right up to the frosts. Don’t get

01245 422712 / 07711 606561 www.highwoodlandscapes.co.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

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Staying with edibles, if you’ve got restricted tree fruit grown in the form of an espalier, fan or step-over, it’s time to summer prune. This involves removing this years growth to just in front of forming fruit.

Look for a basal cluster (whorl of leaves) just after fruit and cut. This allows for light to assist ripening and also maintains form. If fruit are packed together, thin out deformed and or every other small fruits to allow remaining fruit to increase in size.

Lastly, keep an eye open for blight. This fungal disease attacks both potatoes and tomatoes. Look out for leaves turning brown and shrivelling. It tends to be a disease that occurs when the atmosphere becomes humid. On potatoes brown legions may also develop on stems and on tomatoes brown patches may appear. With either crop it is difficult to control once present as there is no chemical control. However, if seen on potatoes the plant can be cut down and the spuds harvested - they’ll be small but blight free. Also consider blight-free cultivars such as Ferline for tomatoes or the Sarpo range for spuds.

Happy gardening... and take the time to chill out this month and enjoy the fruits of your labours.

For any gardening tips contact Tom Cole, Senior Horticultural Lecturer, Writtle College, Chelmsford, CM1 3RR by post (including a SAE) or by email at tom.cole@writtle.ac.uk.

Page 8 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Round Tower Brewery Update by Simon Tippler of roundtowerbrewery.co.uk Exciting times here at Round Tower Brewery.

Carrying on our range of experimental beers has been great fun for us. In the past month or so we have had a single hop Summit IPA on in the Ale House which went down so well that we will be re-brewing it on a more commercial scale. However, due to popular comment we will probably scale it back a little bit from 6.9% to somewhere nearer 5.5% as that seems a more sensible strength!

Coming soon a Belgium brown in the Woolpack summer beer festival. This will be made with some great specialist malts and the same yeast as we used in the Monk of Terling that was so popular at the CAMRA beer festival in Admirals Park. Our next keg release will be going straight to John in The Hop Shop very soon, but you’ll have to pop in there to find out how good it is (or follow us on Facebook or Twitter!).

The most exciting news is that we were invited to showcase some of our beer at The Great British Beer Festival in London Oylmpia this year. This is a great honour as out of the 1,500 or so breweries in the country there are only a couple of hundred beers at the festival. To get the beer there we had to send it up to London in kilderkins, which are 18 gallon barrels.

This was a first for us, and I don’t mind telling you that they are rather heavy once filled with delicious beer!

We are currently working on a release of 330ml bottles which we plan on launching for Christmas (sorry for mentioning that word this early on in the year!). These bottles will contain our stronger beers, including Exp 2 for any of you who missed it at the Chelmsford CAMRA beer festival in the summer.

One last bit of news is that Sam has joined the Round Tower team as a brewer. He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and some cracking ideas… So watch this space!

Heritage Open Days See Page 28

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Page 9

CT Food With John Jacobs

Happy Summer Welcome to the sporty, unifying, zeitgeist capturing August/ September City Times food column. Entirely free of banned substances, I have gone Brazilian. I refer, or course, to the extravaganza of the modern day Olympics - not highly subjective personal topiary... According to pundits we, the United Kingdom of Britainshire, are set to achieve our biggest haul of medals ever. By the time this article goes to print we’ll have discovered whether that will have been the case - I’m sure our plucky athletes will succeed. Of course, had the Olympic Committee accepted my campaign to have complaining about immigration recognised as a sport, we’d have cleared up. Ignore that last sentence; for the purposes of the City Times I’m apolitical.

I considered trying to create a dish reflective of the spirit of the Olympic movement, its values of Friendship, Respect, Excellence and Fair Play. That’s Borscht and Stroganoff out. This Olympics we’re hoping for an athlete to break eight seconds for the hundred metres, when they start tearing into the fabric of time and finish the race several days before it started - maybe someone needs to be litmus testing the vodka.

There used to be a Brazilian restaurant in Chelmsford, it was largely meat based and involved swords with barbecued steak. It didn’t (alas) last long, I think it’s an Italian restaurant now. Come on guys, but enough already with the pizza and pasta. I gave Jamie’s a glowing first night review and no doubt it is thriving amid its plentiful competition. Our city centre is growing in stature and diversity but we’re risking our options becoming uniform and pedestrian, lacking in creativity, cultural diversity and an iota of interest. Don’t get me wrong, I think the arrival of the high street heavyweights such as Jamie’s, and Carluccio’s bring revenue, jobs and a little cafe culture, but our choices are becoming limited. I digress.

the addition of high cocoa chocolate works beautifully. Meat and chocolate? It’s okay, you don’t have to. Go get a pizza, its fine. Happy summer dear readers!

Ingredients: 400g dry black beans.

Heavy splash of olive oil.

1/ 2 pound spicy sausages such as chorizo, pastirma.

1 pound pork shoulder, cut into chunks.

2 large onions, sliced.

1 garlic bulb, chopped.

3-4 bay leaves.

1 tin of chopped tomatoes.

Seasoning to taste.

Method 1. Pour boiling water over the black beans and let soak.

2. Brown the pork shoulder in a large pan with olive oil. Remove the meat from the pan, set aside and add the onions. Brown them, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle a little salt over the onions and add the garlic. Stir well and sauté 2 more minutes.

3. Add back the pork shoulder, and the sausages and add enough water to cover. Add the bay leaves, cover and bring to a simmer.

Cook gently for 1 hour. Drain the black beans from their soaking liquid and add them to the stew. Simmer gently, covered, until the beans are tender, about an hour and a half.

4. Add the tomatoes, stir well and season and let cook slowly for 2-3 hours. Serve with white rice.

The Brazilian national dish is arguably Feijoada and like many a national dish its origins are based in the food of the poor - a mixture of protein and carbs, inexpensive to make and in plentiful supply. In this case, slow cooked meat and beans. Can’t go wrong. Black beans are traditional with slow cooked salt beef or even salted fish. Like many national dishes there are as many versions as there are towns and villages. As this is slow cooked over many hours, cheaper cuts work better and give a deeper flavour. It’s also one of those dishes where Page 10 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Live Dosa Celebrated its 2nd Anniversary Just as Live Dosa celebrated its 2nd anniversary in July, it reminded us why it is different to the other Indian restaurants in Chelmsford.

It is not only the food but also the culture that comes with it. For the past two years Live Dosa on Duke Street has been serving the flavours of Kerala, the southern coastal state of India, to Chelmsford. From a humble start in a kiosk in Chelmsford market to the restaurant on Duke Street, the flavours have remained constant through honest and traditional ways of cooking, using a distinctive mix of herbs and spices which are abundantly grown in the fertile lands of Kerala.

Being a coastal state not only makes Kerala a hot destination for seafood, but also makes the land fertile to grow rice, coconut, herbs, spices and many other vegetables. This is reflected in the restaurant’s menu which offers a huge selection of flavoursome seafood and vegetarian dishes forming a perfect balance with tempting meat dishes, making the menu tantalizingly unique.

The event that marked the 2nd anniversary of the restaurant brought to us a scrumptious Keralan feast and gave us a glimpse of the South Indian culture through performance of Bharatnatyam, an Indian classical dance.

cooked using age old methods (and more traditionally served to the table on a banana leaf). It doesn’t matter if you are a vegetarian or not, the food is delightful enough to convert you to vegetarianism even if just for a day.

You can book tables by calling 01245 697 440 or by emailing at bookings@livedosa.co.uk.

This September Live Dosa will bring us another cultural glimpse of Kerala in the form of Onam celebration through Onam Sadhya. Sadhya in Malayalam (the local language of Kerala) means a banquet and Onam Sadhya is an all vegetarian affair.

Onam, the state festival of Kerala, is celebrated with much joy and enthusiasm for ten days. These ten days brings friends and families together, bringing joy to people’s lives. No matter what religion - Hindu, Muslim or Christian - every community in Kerala unites to celebrate Onam. Perhaps this is the reason why the festival of Onam has a special place in people’s heart and why it is also the state festival.

The festival commemorates the start of the harvest season in Kerala and more importantly, celebrates the homecoming of the mythological demon, King Mahabali. Legend has it that in his reign nobody went hungry and nobody died of illness. Seeing people’s devotion to him, the demon king was shunned to the nether world by the gods but allowed to come back from the nether world once a year to see his people. The people of Kerala commemorate the home-coming of this king with great delight.

The festival brings out the cultural riches of Kerala in form of traditional dance, folk music and the Vallamkali, the famous snake boat race of Kerala.

Just like any celebration in India, Onam is incomplete without a food. Onam is usually celebrated with a huge vegetarian feast, Onam Sadhya, a feast fit for a king.

Live Dosa will be serving the Onam Sadhya, the festive feast from 13th of September till 18th of September. A banquet of 15 to 20 vegetarian dishes www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk Page 11

What’s On in the Chelmsford Area

August Friday 19th Asylum - Simple Poets + Antiques + Warm Winters Bassment - Electric Jam with Paolo Morena & friends Fleece - Adrenaline Galleywood Geritage Centre - Luna Lilly’s Fun Day Star & Garter - Anuva Cover Saturday 20th Asylum - AlternatiV Fest (Day 1) Bassment - Saturday’s Alright For Dancin’ CCFC Away - Maidenhead United v Chelmsford City Chelmsford Cathedral - The Quaker Tapestry Fleece - Summer Acoustic Sessions Fleece - The Hit List Hylands Park - V Festival Star & Garter - The Callahans Three Elms - Tapas Night (6pm - 9pm) Sunday 21st Asylum - AlternatiV Fest (Day 2) Fleece - UFC202 Hylands Park - V Festival Star & Garter - Open mic/jam (3 - 7pm) Wednesday 24th Bassment - Live bands (tbc) Thursday 25th Bassment - The Fellowship with Guthrie Govan Fleece - Quiz Night Star & Garter - Acoustic Jam Friday 26th Asylum - Beer Fest Bassment - Americana: Society + The Southern Generals Fleece - The Heaters Hyde Hall - Contemporary Craft & Design Fair Star & Garter - The Andy Robinson Band Saturday 27th Asylum - Beer Fest: FyreSky + Spoiler + The English Curse Bassment - Freres presents Aloha Hawaii CCFC Home - Chelmsford City v Oxford City Fleece - Summer Acoustic Sessions Fleece - Anthem Hyde Hall - Contemporary Craft & Design Fair Star & Garter - Indiscreet Three Elms - Hog Roast (1pm - 8pm) Sunday 28th Asylum - Beer Fest Bassment - Mojo present Goldie Hyde Hall - Contemporary Craft & Design Fair Hylands House - Beatrix Potter on the Back Lawn Star & Garter - Open mic/jam (3 - 7pm) Monday 29th CCFC Away - Welling United v Chelmsford City Hyde Hall - Contemporary Craft & Design Fair Three Elms - Food (1 - 7pm) Charity Quiz (8pm) Wednesday 31st Bassment - Midnight Barbers single launch: Misty Miller

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September Thursday 1st Asylum - Smokey Bandini + Greydolf + The Horse Heads Bassment - Bassment Blues Jam Fleece - Quiz Night Hylands House - Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare on the Back Lawn Friday 2nd Asylum - OGFest: Drop Dead Fred - Band Fisti Kuffs + The Tickturds + Yak Attack + Luke Fisher Bassment - Shakey’s Sessions - The Kubricks + The Newarkansans + Sportsday + Richard Moss Cramphorn - Elvis & Nixon (15) Fleece - Expose Star & Garter - Strongbox Saturday 3rd Asylum - OGFest: Breaking Illusion + Lo Chief + Ghosts Of Men + Royyy + Myopic Empire + Sickfist + A Bribe For The Ferryman + Joe Dutton Bassment - Saturday’s Alright For Dancin’ CCFC Home - Chelmsford City v Weston-Super-Mare Fleece - Mischief New Hall Vineyards - English Wine Festival Star & Garter - Lithium Three Elms - Homemade Pie Weekend Sunday 4th Asylum - OGFest: FyreSky + Colina Pearl (formerly Courtesan) + Gabriel + Osmium Guillotine + Kaine + Puppet Kings + Mercury Rising UK + Keith Hudson Cressing Barns - Helen Rollason Cancer Charity Vintage Fair New Hall Vineyards - English Wine Festival Star & Garter - Open mic/jam (3 - 7pm) The Lion Inn - Wedding Fair Three Elms - Homemade Pie Weekend Woolpack - GC’s Jazz Club: Solar (8.30pm) Monday 5th CCFC Home - Chelmsford City v Ebsfleet united Tuesday 6th Cramphorn - High Rise (15) Ideas Hub - Art Meet up @ 7.30pm: adult colouring Wednesday 7th Bassment - Jazz Funk: Neil Robinson Cramphorn - Lunchtime concert Thursday 8th Bassment - Acoustic Night Fleece - Quiz Night Heritage Open Days - St Mary’s/St Leonard Church Heritage Open Days - Marconi History Walk Heritage Open Days - The Chelmsford Club Tours Heritage Open Days - YMCA Tour Heritage Open Days - Writtle College Talk Heritage Open Days - see page 28 or www.heritageopendays.org Star & Garter - Mojo Moon Friday 9th Asylum - Shakey’s Sessions: Third Dart + Calico + Shakila Bassment - Mystery Jets DJ Set - Cut Glass Kings + Mandeville + velettes + Drive

Please note, all events are subject to change. Please visit the relevant websites or Facebook pages for more details

Friday 9th Continued CCFC Away - Whitehawk v Chelmsford City Civic - Magic of Mowtown Cramphorn - Time Out of Mind Fleece - Electronic 80s Heritage Open Days - St Mary’s/St Leonards Church Heritage Open Days - Salvation Army Building Tour Heritage Open Days - Essex County Council Chamber Tour Heritage Open Days - Chelmsford Museum Tour Heritage Open Days - see page 28 or www.heritageopendays.org Star & Garter - The Mint Saturday 10th Asylum - Mercury Rising + Hellbound Hearts Bassment - Rat Boy DJ set (live bands tbc) Fleece - The Replik8ers Heritage Open Days - St Mary’s/St Leonards Church Heritage Open Days - Chelmsford Cathedral Talk and Choral Music Heritage Open Days - Marriages Mill Tour Heritage Open Days - Essex Police Museum Heritage Open Days - Essex Record Office Heritage Open Days - St Martins Flower Festival Heritage Open Days - Bell Ringing Essex Trophy (All Saints, Writtle) Heritage Open Days - Sandford Mill Tours Heritage Open Days - Non-Conformist Cemetary Tours Heritage Open Days - Chelmsford Evangelical Church Heritage Open Days - see page 28 or www.heritageopendays.org Hylands House - Give it a Go! Ideas Hub - First ‘Arts Award’ workshop for years 7, 8 and 9 Star & Garter - Thirsty Work Three Elms - Steak night (6pm - 9pm) Sunday 11th Cramphorn - Chelmsford Jazz Club Highwood Village Hall - Mama Do! Maternity Event (1pm, www. eventbrite.co.uk/e/mama-do-tickets-24910905188) Heritage Open Days - St Mary’s/St Leonards Church Heritage Open Days - Pleshey Castle Open Day Heritage Open Days - Marriages Mill Tour Heritage Open Days - St Michaels Church Heritage Open Days - Little Baddow History Centre Heritage Open Days - Hylands House Tours & Gooch Family Exhibition Heritage Open Days - St Martins Flower Festival Heritage Open Days - Non-Conformist Cemetary Tours Heritage Open Days - Chelmsford Evangelical Church Heritage Open Days - see page 28 or www.heritageopendays.org Hylands House - Give it a Go! Star & Garter - Open mic/jam (3 - 7pm) Monday 12th CCFC Home - Chelmsford City v East Thurrock United Cramphorn - Versus: The Life and Films of Ken Loach (12A) Heritage Open Days - Hylands House Tours & Gooch Family Exhibition Heritage Open Days - see page 28 or www.heritageopendays.org Ideas Hub - English as a foreign language classes Wednesday 14th Bassment - Blues In the City: Steve Morrison + Connor Selby Cramphorn - Lunchtime concert Thursday 15th Asylum - Brocker + Colina Pearl + C.O.F.F.I.N Bassment - Live bands Cramphorn - One Man, Two Guvnors Fleece - Quiz Night

Friday 16th Asylum - Oceans Aside + Spreading The Disease Bassment - Mothers Jam Civic - An Evening of Burlesque Cramphorn - One Man, Two Guvnors Fleece - Sax on Fire Star & Garter - VT11 Saturday 17th Asylum - Bearfist + Wychhound + Slave Steel + Inexitus Bassment - Small Worlds + The Boss Civic - Islands in the Stream Cramphorn - One Man, Two Guvnors Fleece - Grounds for Divorce Hyde Hall - Essex Plant Heritage Autumn Fair Star & Garter - The Melting Pot - All Day Event Sunday 18th Cramphorn - Turandot (pre-recorded from Sydney Harbour) ‘Cycle for Life’ Farleigh Hospice’s 20th Sponsorer Cycle Ride Hyde Hall - Essex Plant Heritage Autumn Fair Star & Garter - Open mic/jam (3 - 7pm) Venue Web Sites Asylum: www.asylumchelmsford.co.uk Bassment: www.bassmentbar.com Chelmsford Theatres: www.chelmsford.gov.uk/theatres Chelmsford City FC: www.chelmsfordcityfc.com The Fleece: www.thegoldenfleece-chelmsford.co.uk Star & Garter: www.facebook.com/star.garter.792 The Three Elms: www.the-three-elms.com

Star & Garter Live music every weekend (See listings for gigs)

Real Ale Hand Pull Ciders Free Wifi Free Pool on Monday’s www.facebook.com/star.garter.792

Happy Hour Monday - Friday 5-8pm 159 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford CM2 0LD 01245 600009

Please send us your events for the next edition (for events between 16th September - 16th October) to: editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

A Unique Theatre Show Comes to the Marconi Club

A unique theatre show comes to the Marconi Club Theatre at Beehive Lane, Chelmsford on Saturday 1st October as part of its nationwide tour: The Mind & Spirit Experience, featuring the world’s top international regressionist, Tony Rae, who invites members of the audience to come up on stage to discover who they were in a former life.

Taking people back to their previous lives - some as far as 3,000 BC - they may change sex, or talk in a foreign language unknown to them, enthralling the audience with details and facts revealed about their past lives and how our previous existence shaped our present lives today. Tony has appeared on many television and radio shows throughout the world and has regressed many famous celebrities including James Hewitt, John Stapleton and Richard and Judy to name just a few. You can have the chance to find out who you were on October 1st.

Also appearing in the first half of the show is the top medium Rod Beech, connecting with the spirit world with messages for the audience. Rod - who is famous in America for appearing at the prestigious Golden Gate Centre in San Francisco, Las Vegas and other cities - brings his uncanny gift to England on this nationwide tour. He has given thousands of messages to people in over 600 locations, with many returning visits from people amazed at his accuracy. Working with the world of spirits he provides proof and evidence beyond doubt to the recipients that our loved ones and friends are all around.

Doors open at 7.00pm, show starts at 7.30pm. Free parking.

Limited tickets available: £15.50 from Marconi Theatre 01245 269 422. www.wegottickets.com or Ticket Office 01279 815 464.

Do you want to unlock the full potential of you or your child’s voice?

Do you want to record a song for you or your loved one and loved one and need some help perfecting your vocal technique?

Do you know that singing helps to relieve stress and tension. With 20 years’ experience as a Singing Teacher I believe in providing a safe and supportive environment for students to develop their singing d voices to their fullest potential.

‘Sing Out Loud’ in September!

September 2016).

Why not call us to book yourself into a FREE taster session and bring a friend? If you know someone who’s sitting home alone and would love to make new friends, why not invite them, too? We’d love to see you and look forward to meeting you one Sing Out Loud Thursday!

We’re looking to open at more locations over the next year. So, if you or anyone you know has a group of a dozen or more people who wish to sing together, we’ll work with you to set up a regular class in that area.

As the days start drawing in, and the leaves are changing colour, we start thinking: ‘How can I brighten my autumn and winter evenings?

What shall I do? What would I love to do?’

For more details, such as: dates, time, venue, and costs, please call: 07853 132 633, Email info@sing-out-loud.co.uk.

Website: www.sing-out-loud.co.uk.

igh St H e h T No. 1 lmsford Che 1BE CM1

Do you enjoy singing? If so, why not try Sing Out Loud? You’d be joining a welcoming, friendly group of singers.

Many had only sung in the car or bath, before Singing Out Loud.

Is that you too? Whether you are experienced, or a complete beginner, we’ll be delighted to see you. You’ll probably be relieved to hear there are no auditions and no need to read music, as we learn by ear!

The Thursday Sing Out Loud group,which started in Chelmsford 8 years ago, is open to men and women of any age (from 20s to 80s), or any level of singing ability. A second Sing Out Loud group opened in Colchester (on Mondays), 2 years ago. Each group runs on the same relaxed, inclusive, encouraging basis for ten weeks of each school term.

At JUICE KITCHEN we will always offer a tasty range of healthy, freshly prepped food with a tonne of cold-pressed juices and super food smoothies - perfect for keeping you healthy, nourished and at the top of your game.

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Both groups use the same repertoire, which may include folk, jazz, 1920s/30s, 1960s/70s through to contemporary pop or even singersongwriter material.

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@juicekitchenchelmsford

The benefit of having more than one venue is that you can attend the other location to catch up if you miss any of your regular sessions. Or for an extra practice if you’d like.

We are invited to do several performances each year, usually at fund-raising or charity events. These are great opportunities to socialise with your fellow singers, get to know them better and enjoy the event and a group performance.

There are vacancies for new singers in Chelmsford, where the start date, is Thursday 15th September 2016 (Colchester starts on Monday 12th

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Business Interview - Graysons by Tom Bosher This month I had the pleasure of meeting up with Helen at Graysons Venues. Here is what she had to say about Graysons and their exciting up coming events in Chelmsford.

talent. This will be fantastic exposure for anyone interested in the entering the fashion industry. So don’t be shy and apply!”

Casting Guidelines: Boys: Height: Min 6” Size: Small/Medium Age: 16 - 40 Girls: Height: Min 5’8 Dress Size: 8 - 12 Age: 16 - 30 If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, a featured designer, an exhibitor, a backstage volunteer or to register for the open model casting, please contact helen.skybak@graysonsvenues.com.

Tel: 07803 520 102.

So what do Graysons Venues do in Chelmsford?

“Graysons Venues manage the catering services, event and conferencing sales on behalf of Chelmsford City Racecourse, as well as across our portfolio of stunning London venues. The Graysons Venues head office is also based in Chelmsford city centre.”

What do you like about the Chelmsford area?

“Chelmsford as a city is growing from strength to strength and as a result, it is an exciting place to live and work and ultimately for us to put on great events.”

Helen what is your background in the events industry?

“I have worked in music events for years and have a strong fashion and theatre background as well. Working for Graysons Venues has given me the platform to combine my skills in differing areas of entertainment and channel them into producing a variety of engaging public events.”

So what do you have coming up at the Racecourse that you can tell us about?

“We have a fantastic fashion event coming up on Saturday 8th October. The concept of the show is to showcase on the catwalk, the very best of Essex original fashion design talent. We will also be celebrating local independent fashion, beauty and wellbeing businesses at the event. It is set to be a fantastic evening with great food, drinks, dynamic fashion and music.

“Tickets for Catwalk at the Course go on sale next week, so be sure to book ASAP, as they will sell out fast.

“VIP tickets at £75 each include a three course meal, the fashion show and entrance to the after show party. Standard seated tickets at £35 each include the fashion show and entrance to the after show party.”

How can people get involved in the event?

“We already have a fantastic line up of designers showcasing but there is still room to add to that list on the catwalk. So if you are an independent designer from the Essex area or have a strong association to Essex we would love to hear from you. The same goes for independent businesses in the beauty, fashion or wellbeing industry.”

Who will be modelling in the show?

“We want the entire show to showcase Essex talent and that includes the models. We will therefore be running an open model casting day in Chelmsford city centre on Saturday 10th September. Model bookers from Space Model Management (London) will be present at the casting, assisting with the selection process and scouting for new

Graysons Venues Devon House Anchor Street Chelmsford CM2 0GD

bestofchelmsford Why online reviews are so important.

It’s a fact that the old saying ‘the customer is always right’ has never been more true. It’s a consequence of the age we live in. The consumer is now more powerful than ever before and that’s not likely to change.

More than ever the consumer trusts other consumers - certainly more than what a business says about itself on it’s website. They know that a company is unlikely to put adverse testimonials on it’s website. The comments are of course carefully chosen and the customer knows this.

What people do understand and rely upon are online reviews from people like them. They trust these recommendations from people like themselves often in preference to those from experts. The trust in online reviews is constantly on the rise especially when reviews are from people we don’t know personally. A very high proportion of consumers trust word of mouth recommendations more than ever before.

The fact that people have taken the time to say something about a business is very important. These reviews are being used by other consumers to evaluate the business they may wish to use.

Of course SEO and search advertising can be very effective. The downside is that it can be very expensive. Online reviews can get a business noticed and getting online reviews is a very effective and less costly SEO strategy.

We encourage our businesses to get reviews from their customers and by using our widget these reviews will sit on both their site and ours. We will monitor these reviews and work with our businesses to solve any problems which arise because let’s face it, nobody’s perfect!

Let us help you get your business noticed and to help manage the reputation which you have worked so hard to achieve.

Call us on 01245 701 020 or email us at chelmsford@thebestof. co.uk

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Hypnotherapy by Jenny Hartill Carrying on my series on phobias (which incidentally seems to have caught some people’s attention!) today I’m discussing a fear that no doubt most people believe they suffer from on some level.

never switch off their mobile phones. The study and subsequent coverage of the phobia resulted in two editorial columns authored by individuals who minimised their mobile phone use or chose not to own one at all, treating the condition with light undertones of or outright disbelief and amusement.

Since technology has blossomed in our society, human kind seem to be drawn closer and closer to it. The need for immediacy and constant contact with one another also seems to have developed from a level of keeping in touch via letter or a phone call to texting, WhatsApp, SnapChat, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and God knows how many other apps we have on those touch screen devices we carry around with us (unless you’re like me and have a Blackberry. Yes they’re still in business…).

So, what are the symptoms of nomophobia? In very basic terms, someone who suffers from severe anxiety because of their fear of being without a mobile phone is said to be nomophobic. Some other symptoms are said to be:

Just as moths were once drawn to a flame and are now also drawn to your digitally set squillian voltage high impact visibility flood light thingy that lights the way on your driveway for ‘security purposes’, we are drawn to keep in touch with each other digitally. Or if we find ourselves in the same predicament as the moth, we can just use the flashlight app on our mobile phone. Today I’m discussing nomophobia - the fear of being without your mobile phone.

•

This phobia doesn’t appear officially in DSM-5, it does have all the hallmarks of the definition of a phobia in DSM-IV. It has been argued that the number of cases where this is a true phobia is limited and actually this is more of a form of anxiety disorder. In my personal experience yes, fear of losing or being without a mobile phone is one of the symptoms I’ve seen in anxiety disorders. However, when this fear becomes so intense it takes over your thoughts and begins to affect your life, that’s when we have a problem.

Nomophobia can lead to an increase in debt as the sufferer increases the amount of apps and devices they have access to and irrational and extreme reactions in settings where the use of mobile phones is restricted, like airports for example.

So, where does this fear come from on a basic level? According to Bianchi and Philips (2005) psychological factors are involved in the overuse of a mobile phone, possibly including low self-esteem, when individuals looking for reassurance use the mobile phone in inappropriate ways (like checking the thing constantly to see if anyone’s messaged them because they have to be in the loop or they need to see someone’s response to their message is ‘ok’).

Someone could have an extroverted personality, when naturally social individuals use the mobile phone to excess. However if this was the case, personally I would be looking at why this supposed extroverted person isn’t out there physically socialising with people as extroverts gain their energy from others rather than socialising with a big fat mobile phone shaped barrier in front of them! It is also highly possible that nomophobic symptoms may be caused by other underlying and pre-existing mental disorders, with likely candidates including social phobia or social anxiety disorder, social anxiety, and panic disorder.

So, where the heck does the term ‘nomophobia’ come from? Well, for once the word isn’t Latin! It was coined during a 2010 study by the UK Post Office who commissioned YouGov to look at anxieties suffered by mobile phone users. It literally stands for No-Mobile-Phone-Phobia.

The study found that nearly 53% of mobile phone users in Britain tend to be anxious when they ‘lose their mobile phone, run out of battery or credit, or have no network coverage’. The study found that about 58% of men and 47% of women suffer from the phobia, and an additional 9% feel stressed when their mobile phones are off.

The study sampled 2,163 people. Fifty-five percent of those surveyed cited keeping in touch with friends or family as the main reason that they got anxious when they could not use their mobile phones.

The study compared stress levels induced by the average case of nomophobia to be on-par with those of wedding day jitters and trips to the dentist. Another study found that out of 547 male undergraduate students in health services, 23% of the students were classified as nomophobic while an additional 64% were at risk of developing nomophobia. Of these students, 77% checked their mobile phones 35 or more times a day. More than one in two nomophobes

• • •

•

Someone who uses their phone as a barrier to social interaction.

They carry a charger with them at all times.

They carry spare technological devices with them that have internet connection, can connect to their favourite apps etc The dependence and use of their mobile phone interferes significantly with social and family connections.

Mobile phone is always within reach when they go to sleep and never turned off, or put on sleep mode - they have to be able to hear notifications. If they don’t wake up and read the notifications immediately and have a few when they wake up, they may become very agitated.

So how can we use hypnotherapy? Firstly, I would need to speak to the client about how they see their mobile devices. My concern would be whether they are building a relationship with the device as opposed to actual people. Secondly, how did it start and how did it develop. Thirdly and very importantly, although research suggests that this is a form of social anxiety disorder, I also believe that some people get hooked on these devices because of another reason. x.

Fear Of Missing Out. I would encourage the client to think logically, have they missed out? Under hypnosis we can explore many things, what would it be like to be without their mobile phone? What do they actually get from living their life through their mobile? What would it be like to live without their phone just for one day? Their responses under hypnosis would give me a great idea of their underlying beliefs about their device and about themselves. Also, guess what? Mobile’s are switched off during the session. Oh yes, I am that cruel. Not completely at first though, this is a form of systematic desensitisation.

Switch off for 5 mins. Back on. Nothing happened. Switch off 10 mins. Back on. nothing happened (etc etc). I would encourage the client to see the real world and experience that, and compare it to the digital world they experience now. The rest is up to them...

If anyone requires counselling or hypnotherapy, you can find out more information on my website www.cloud9-therapy.co.uk. Anxiety and panic is a specialism of mine.

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September/October Issue Deadlines: Artwork 8th September Articles 2nd September www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

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Fitness and Well-Being

Chelmsford Just Got Juicier! By Kellie Jones

It’s true! My Nutribullet may be getting a rest as Chelmsford has suddenly caught on to the fact that we are all in need of some nourishment. As if by magic, just as I have been contemplating moving away from a city that lacks culture and greatly under-supports local businesses, I am feeling hopeful that the future is looking juicier.

For quite a few years now the only place that we can honestly say has an ounce of urban cool and healthy living is Acanteen. Their success continues regardless of the huge risks they have taken by changing the original recipe that had locals performing table-ninja every saturday lunchtime in their old premises! Some people just don’t like change, but I believe that Chelmsford needed a place to go in the evening where you can make healthier choices and enjoy some chilled out vibes. Myself and Tom Bosher, Best of Chelmsford, run Radio City Network there every other friday from 4pm - 6pm.

We chose this venue particularly because we figured it was inspiring for business owners to be in a successful environment and to support local.

Now with the arrival of Primrose Natural Foods and Juice Bar in Moulsham Street and today at the open day of Juice Kitchen (and what I believe is my new office) bang next door to Jamie’s Trattoria, we have plenty of healthy options in the city!

Whether you are vegan, vegetarian, gluten intolerant or a clean eating raw foodie, it’s not only available to take away, eat in and delivery, but you can even buy healthy organic ingredients for your kitchen at home. When I’m particularly busy I pick up my juices from Beth Brown of Juicy Glo, as she makes me a week’s worth of yummy juices to pop straight in my freezer, which allows me more time and the energy to get stuff done.

As the owner of Hummingbird Yoga and Pilates Studios, I obviously have an abundance of potential customers to point in their direction and I will be endeavouring to create great relationships with all these places, not only to promote a healthier lifestyle and support local business, but to encourage a sense of community in this fast growing city. I have always been passionate about community but now more than ever I have come to realise that our health is not just about detoxing our insides but also our environment - and that includes being around positive people.

On that note I have lots of uplifting news and events to tell you about this month. Firstly a massive well done again to our own Vikki Stevenson at Hummingbird for co-creating the beautiful Yoga Garden Party in aid of The Hope Foundation which raised £16,500 - and over £70,000 in the past 6 years! We absolutely love this event so much that we shut the studio and have a proper team day off to feel zen and spread good karma. We had our first cuddle with the newest Hummingbird, baby Ivy - you are such a great mummy Joanna, (one of Stretch Physio’s massage therapists).

We also have our first Healthy Beginnings to Nourishment for Life seminar with Claire Johnson of Fitbumps to teach you ways to curb your toddlers’ sugar cravings and how to make the right food choices for your little ones. We are also trialing a cutting edge class called Neuroflow, exercise for your brain function using your body!

I have just started to organise an exciting event called Nailed It Yoga, watch this space for more details. Finally I have started my love-based project called #selfloveplanunderway. I am giving talks, running workshops (at Buscall & Flynns Tearooms), half day intensives, writing a blog and a book and maybe even some videos when I get the time. Pass me a juice please!

To find out more about all this wonderful stuff check out our Facebook page or Twitter feed via our website: www.hummingbirdpilates.co.uk and find my workshops on meetup.com.

Burlesque Jems The Burlesque Jems are about to start preparation for their 5th Annual Cabaret event in October. A magnificent event that has been empowering women to perform for their friends and family whilst raising money for charity since 2012 - ohh and there’s lots of glitter!

What more could you want?

The Burlesque Jems is the brain child of Jem Ayres who after being made redundant in 2012 decided to do something a little bit different.

Today, the Jems run 6 weekly dance classes across Essex and has reached over 1000 women in its 5 year history. I attended one of her first classes in Chelmsford in the early days at Triangle Club in Duke Street. 4 cabarets, 5 freelance tutors and emergency brain surgery in Thailand later - the Burlesque Jems is now stronger than ever and is the biggest burlesque company in the county.

So what set’s the Burlesque Jems apart from other dance classes?

Quite simply, it prides itself as being a dance class for ladies that enjoy a ‘wiggle and a giggle’ and caters for all ages, abilities, shapes and sizes. I can vouch for that testimonial - I currently teach the Colchester class on a Wednesday night and my ladies and I spend most of the class with a big grins on our faces. It’s an hour to yourself, to forget about the outside world, boost your confidence and enjoy being a woman!

The Burlesque Jems annual Cabaret is being held on Saturday 22nd October at the Great Pardon Community Centre in Harlow and it is not too late to get involved! We are running a free taster session in conjunction with Women Time in Chelmsford on Thursday 25th August ladies bring your mums, sisters, friends and your best smiles to a fabulous hour of you time! Please email us for more information.

Lizzie Cheeld - Burlesque Jems info@burlesquejems.co.uk | www.burlesquejems.co.uk

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30 Ne M D w em a C l be ys ien r Un t O (T s & h lim ff C 's i ap p pl f ite er y) o r d £3 5

Pilates, Yoga, Meditation Book your space online or call: Small Classes & 1-2-1’s www.hummingbirdpilates.co.uk Inspirational Teachers 01245 422556 Friendly, Community Vibe Reeds Farm Estate, Writtle, CM1 2ST

Let Them Eat Steak!

It seems that you can’t stroll past a health food store nowadays without your eyes being drawn to the immense and often bewildering array of protein products on offer. Heck, protein is so popular that it seems that no selfrespecting gym goer would ever be caught post-workout without their protein packed milkshake.

But is its popularity warranted?

On balance, the simple answer is yes, especially if you are on a diet and as Uncle Bryn of Gavin and Stacey fame would say: “I’ll tell you for why...”

First and most importantly protein helps preserve your muscle mass.

Unfortunately, when you reduce your calories in a bid to lose fat your body can lose muscle faster than Jeremy Clarkson loses his temper and believe me, losing muscle is something you don’t want to do as purely from an aesthetic point of view the more muscle you have, generally the better you look - up to a point of course. Secondly muscle is metabolically active, meaning it constantly burns calories and because it constantly burns calories, the more of it you have, the more calories you burn and the more calories you burn the less likely you are to put on fat. Research shows that eating more protein when dieting can reduce this muscle loss from happening quite so drastically.

There are, mind you, many other reasons to eat more protein.

Another huge benefit is that it makes you feel full. Compared to carbohydrates and fats, protein leaves you feeling much fuller, which for most people is really important when on a diet. As I’m sure you’re aware, that feeling of never being quite satisfied is the reason why many diets fail. Increasing your protein can help combat this. Some studies have even shown that eating a high protein meal leads to less

calories being consumed in subsequent meals.

Yet another reason to eat more protein is that your body has to work hard just to break it down, some might say almost as hard as Amanda Holden’s plastic surgeon! Roughly 25% of the calories you consume from protein are used up by the body in just processing it, for fat it’s just 2-3% and for carbohydrate it’s 6-8%. So potentially if you replace some carbohydrates in your diet with protein, it could perhaps help you lose weight.

But isn’t too much protein bad for you?

Some people have suggested that a high protein diet is bad for your kidneys, however on balance it seems that as long as you don’t have any pre-existing problems, your kidneys can deal with it just fine. In fact, one study has shown no adverse effects on the kidneys with protein intakes of 2.8g per kg of bodyweight per day - which if you have the time or indeed inclination to work out that based on your own individual weight, that is a hell of a lot of protein.

Thanks for reading.

To book your free trial personal training session, or to book a place at one of my bootcamp classes, or of course for more detailed information on exactly how much protein you should be eating, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Matt matt@mlrpt.co.uk www.mlrpt.co.uk 07939 316 401 www.twitter.com/mlrpt www.facebook.com/mlrpt www.twitter.com/mlrpt

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk Page 23

Charity Page Charity Classic Vehicle Club Raises Over £170,000 for Essex Charities

Since its formation on the 1st January 2001, The Charity Classic Vehicle Club (CCVC) has raised and distributed over £170,000 to many Essex charities. The club aims to continue to provide both owners and enthusiasts with the opportunity to enjoy the use of their classic vehicles and at the same time raise funds to improve the lives of people in need of help in the local community.

Alan Osborn, Chairman of the club, says: “The Charity Classic Vehicle Club was born following a very successful fund raising event in July 2000 which was the combined effort between an established classic car club and The Rotary Club of Billericay. The event included the raffle of a 1925 Ford Model T and raised over £26,500 for local charities.”

The success of this event led the main organisers to consider the potential benefits of establishing a classic car club with the prime objective of fund-raising for charities. Thus on January 1st 2001, the Charity Classic Vehicle Club was born. The CCVC raise money for charity by organising off road rallies, static classic car shows and celebrity after dinner speaker functions.

One local charity, Headway Essex, that supports adults with acquired brain injury and their families, has been a beneficiary of several of the club’s events since its formation. After the club’s successful Drive it Rally in April of 2015 from Writtle College to Lower Castle Park, Colchester, the CCVC were given the opportunity to hold a classic car show there this year and decided to work with local charity Headway Essex to put on the event.

The Essex Classic Vehicle Show, jointly organised by the CCVC and Headway Essex, will be held on Sunday 18th September 2016 in the Lower Castle Park, Colchester.

There will classic vehicles of all types, car clubs, family entertainment, arena events and craft stalls.

For further information and to download a vehicle booking form visit www. headwayessex. org.uk, or call Headway Essex Fundraising Team on 01206 547 616.

For more information contact Rosie Wren at Headway Essex on 01206 547 616, or for details for the Charity Classic Vehicle Club visit www.ccvcuk.co.uk.

Chelmsford’s Summer Beer Festival Raises £10,500 for Local Charities

Thousands of generous punters dug deep in support of local charities Kids Inspire and Essex Respite and Care Association.

Both charities are incredibly grateful to the festival for the opportunity to not only raise money but speak with members of the community about their vital work. Both charities raised a staggering £5,250 each to enable them to transform more lives across Essex.

Kids Inspire will spend their share of the funds on providing one-toone psychotherapy for complex cases involving trauma and mental health issues. They are the service of choice for such cases in Essex however they do not receive any financial support. Kids Inspire therefore rely on fundraising to help these young people achieve a brighter future.

Essex Respite will use their share to support and empower adults who suffer from a mental health diagnosis and also their carers.

They provide activities to enable their service users to have fun and become more engaged with the community.

This was the 38th year of the event, which has become an institution.

If your charity would like to get involved in 2017 get in touch with CAMRA via www.cbcf.info.

To volunteer with Kids Inspire contact Kate: volunteering@kidsinspire. org.uk.

To view our magazines online please visit www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia If you would like to be our charity of the month please email editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

Page 24

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Chelmsford & Essex Hospital Pt. 2 by Stephen Norris The Chelmsford and Essex Hospital (Part 2) During the war the Chelmsford and Essex dealt with 15,903 service cases and 595 air raid casualties and blood was taken from 9,092 individuals. The new buildings at the Chelmsford and Essex were opened in 1943. Its General Committee hoped forlornly that the hospital might be able to continue with voluntary donations after 1948, with the commencement of the State run National Health Service. In 1946 there was a meeting held at the Shire Hall to explain Nye Bevan’s new scheme. The hospital’s endowment of £125,000 was to be passed to a new board and immediately a £35,000 individual donation was withdrawn. The Essex Chronicle commented: “The dead hand of the State will be between the doctor and the patient.” Millington, the Chelmsford MP, said however “do not be fooled by the sectional interests in the papers.” The immediate pre-NHS years were a time of acute shortages of nurses in the Chelmsford hospitals. Waiting lists at the Chelmsford and Essex rose sharply, particularly for surgery. In 1947 St John’s had 60 nurses when it needed 140 and it was feared the hospital might have to close. Three hundred beds had to be kept empty. An appeal was put out for untrained nurses, while long hours and little pay were cited as reasons for the shortage. Problems at the Chelmsford and Essex were exacerbated by severe flooding in 1947.

The voluntary Chelmsford and Essex Hospital closed after, ironically, the hospital’s highest ever donations. A Chelmsford hospital group was to be formed under the northeast metropolitan group. As elsewhere, the government’s austerity drive meant that the local NHS faced immediate cutbacks. These were made worse by the dwindling voluntary contributions and no new equipment such as x-ray machines could be bought. As early as 1959 the Chelmsford group of hospitals were being regarded as out of date. At the Chelmsford and Essex the two operating theatres were regarded as unsatisfactory; the x-ray department was in inadequate accommodation, the outpatients centre was cramped and the casualty block also lacked space.

The first mention of centralising health provision for mid Essex came as early as 1961. Already the Chelmsford Group Hospital Managing Committee was recommending the closure of the Chelmsford and Essex, St John’s and Baddow Road hospitals. Staff at the hospitals objected immediately. The Chronicle thought that the idea of replacing four inadequate and scattered hospitals by providing a single centre offering a single service was a good one, but doubted whether Broomfield was the right location. In 1962 Broomfield was selected as one of five sites for new hospitals in Essex. The local papers frequently asked the question; why was it that Chelmsford always seemed to be last in getting money for its health services? In 1974 conditions at the Chelmsford and Essex were deemed atrocious by the town’s Community Health Council. In 1979 there was an announcement that there would be no extra hospital beds at the Chelmsford and Essex and the other two hospitals in the area in the next ten years despite the projected increase of population in the area to 170,000 by 1991.

In contrast with the money available to private hospitals, the NHS in Mid Essex continued to be starved of cash, at the time the population of an area was growing by two and a half percent per year.

A newspaper article in 1980 claimed that Chelmsford’s hospitals were the worst in Europe, citing overcrowded wards and inadequate heating. The report condemned the use of Victorian buildings at the Chelmsford and Essex.

Plans for the Chelmsford and Essex to close were announced in 1985. Acute services were to transfer to Broomfield and St John’s.

A consultant came up with a plan whereby various clinics could be concentrated at the London Road site, to supplement the services at Broomfield. This plan, rather than the one that would have seen the hospital converted into a nursing home, was largely followed. Large amounts of surplus land were sold off for commercial development.

Chelmsford Museums Open Art Exhibition Pictures are being sought from local artists for inclusion in an Open Art Exhibition which is to be held at the museum from 3rd December 2016 to 5th March 2017. It is a new venture for the museum and the Friends of the Museum are working with the curatorial staff to organise the event.

The museum has had an element of fine art in its collections from its earliest days. These include favourites such as Reingale’s Shire Hall of 1794 and Alfred Bennett Bamford’s watercolour and pen and ink sketches which show Chelmsford around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. It has also held many displays of local artists such as the recent successful exhibition of works by Alan and Elizabeth Sorrell. There have also been displays of work by local groups of artists such as Writtle Art Group and

Chelmsford Art Society.

This exhibition is intended to provide an attractive location for local artists to display their work in a venue which attracts over 60,000 visitors a year. Any artist may make two entries if they live within the Chelmsford city area. Each picture must be the original work of the person submitting it and must be two-dimensional, no bigger than 90cm x 90cm (36 inches x 36 inches), securely framed and fitted by the participant with mirror plates. No photographs can be accepted.

Exhibited work can be for sale, but any works sold must remain on display until the end of the exhibition (and subject to a 30% commission).

If entering this exhibition is of interest to you then full details about the conditions, dates for submission and other arrangements can be obtained from Chelmsford Museums. Contact Mark Curtis, curator of Social History and Art on 01245 605 702, or email mark.curtis@ chelmsford.gov.uk.

Why not pay a visit to the museum over the summer to see what it has to offer? The temporary exhibition, All Fired Up, is open until September 4th and there are various activities organised for children including finds handling days organised by the Friends of the Museum (for details of events see www.chelmsford.gov.uk/ museums).

Love your museum, be a friend.

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Chelmsford Heritage Open Days - (8th to 11th September) Run by Chelmsford Civic Society on behalf of Chelmsford City Council.

competition at All Saints church in Writtle.

This September sees again the return to Chelmsford of the Heritage Open Days events when a host of properties will be open to the public, with free access. The event this year is hoping to be as successful as last year with a wide variety of activities taking place.

There will again be access to the grounds of Pleshey Castle, tours of the Salvation Army building, a special talk on the history of the Cathedral and a walking Marconi history tour of the city centre.

Marriages Mill will be open with tours around the mill allowing access to the operation that normally takes place behind closed doors. The Essex Record Office will also be open and holding a special event called Creativity and Archive. Again this year, Hylands House will be available with tours and a special exhibition on the Gooch family. The Essex Police Museum will be welcoming visitors and there will also be an exclusive guided tour around Chelmsford Museum.

All Heritage Open Days events are free, however some of the tours are popular and it is worth booking in advance to avoid disappointment. Details can be found at www.heritageopendays.org. uk and search events for ‘Chelmsford’.

Look out for the posters and flyers or the Heritage Open Days advert on page 28 for detail of all the events.

The YMCA will again open its doors with a guided tour of the building, and we are very excited to have two new properties open this year; The Writtle Agricultural College and the Little Baddow History Centre.

Local history has to include our beautiful churches and this year we have a great selection from the modern to the traditional. All have special events going on at various times over the long weekend and these range from a flower festival at Little Waltham to a bell ringing www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

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8th, 9th 10th & 11th September 2016

Essex Records Office Saturday 10th September 10am until 4pm

Hylands House Sunday 11th and Monday 12th September from 10am until 5pm Gooch family exhibition Tours 11am & 2pm

YMCA Building Chelmsford Museum Tour on Thursday 8th 3pm to 4pm Friday 9 September 10am – 5pm Max 20 people - no booking needed Free guided tour at 2pm Tours limited to 30 per tour Book by telephone 01245 605700

The Chelmsford Club Staplegrove Tours Thursday 8th September 11am, 12pm & 1pm Booking via eventbrite.co.uk

Pleshey Castle Sunday 11th September Tours at 2pm, 3pm & 4pm Tours limited to 30 per tour Book by telephone 01245 605700

Sandford Mill Saturday 10th 10am - 4pm Marconi Hut Tours 11.30am & 3.30pm Filter House Tours 10.30am, 12.30pm & 2.30pm Book by telephone 01245 605700.

St Michael’s Church St Martin's Church Chelmsford County Hall Council Chamber Galleywood Little Waltham - Flower Festival Thursday 8th September10am & 2pm Sunday 11th September 9am – 9pm Saturday 10th September 11am - 5pm Friday 9th September10am & 2pm Open to walk around and view Sunday 11th September 2pm- 5pm Booking via Eventbrite.co.uk

Little Baddow History Centre Sunday 11th September 2pm to 4.30pm

Writtle Agricultural College Thursday 8th 6.30pm for 7pm One hour talk on the history and archaeology of the land and occupation during the last 1000 years.

Book by telephone Jo Hasnip 01245 424204

Co-ordinated by

On behalf of

Bell ringing – Essex Trophy All Saints Church, Writtle Saturday 10th 12pm - 5pm

Essex Police Museum Saturday 10th September 11am to 12pm & 2pm to 3pm

Chelmsford Cathedral Saturday 10th September 10am Talk on the history of the Cathedral followed by choral music.

Salvation Army Friday 9th September Tours at 10.30am & 12pm Booking via eventbrite.co.uk

Non Conformist Cemetery Marconi History Walk Thursday 8th September at 10am Saturday 10th September Tours at 10am, 12pm, 2pm Booking via Eventbrite.co.uk & 3pm Sunday 11am, 2pm & 3pm Booking via Eventbrite.co.uk

W & H Marriage & Sons Ltd Saturday 10th September Tour 10am & 2pm Sunday 11th September Tour 10am Booking via Eventbrite

Chelmsford Evangelical Church Saturday 10th September 2pm -5pm Sunday 11th September 2pm - 5pm

St. Mary with St. Leonard The Parish church of Broomfield Thursday 8th September 10am - 12pm & 2pm - 4pm Friday 9th September 10am - 12pm & 2pm - 4pm Saturday 10th September 10am - 12pm Sunday 11th September 8am Holy Communion, 10.30am Parish Eucharist, 3pm, Pet Service on Church Green, 6.30pm Evening Praye Prayer.

Wildlife Corner by Nick Green July enjoyed some warmer weather at last plus some rain - for a while temperatures reached a giddy 30C which constituted our ‘summer’!!

But typically, temperatures returned to the low 20 degrees Centigrade (C).

Dragonflies at last appeared in numbers and the star find was southern migrant hawker with records from Wat Tyler Country Park, Bowers Gifford Marsh and Hockley Woods.

Mammals are rarely mentioned, but a muntjac deer in southwest Chelmsford on the fringes of suburbia was unexpected.

In Essex, the whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) is a fairly common passage migrant with peak times at the end of April in spring and mid August in summer. Nationally, the species is a summer visitor with a westerly and northern breeding range, wintering in central and southern Africa like our wheatear, and may be suffering a decline - the species last bred in Essex in 1999.

Whinchat (copyright Jeff Delve)

The whinchat shows typical chat-like behaviour perching upright on vantage points like bushes, fence posts and fence wires to pick off insect prey on the ground. A prominent, white, flared eye-stripe aids identification and adults have an orangey flush on the breast. There is also a white tail base to observe whenever the tail is flared.

Essex Wildlife clubs include: Essex Birdwatching Society: www.ebws.org.uk RSPB: www.rspb.org.uk/groups/chelmsford Essex Field Club: www.essexfieldclub.org.uk/ Essex Wildlife Trust: www.essexwt.org.uk/get-involved/local-groups/ chelmsford Recent Essex Wildlife News The most noteworthy July 2016 bird news showed: Scarce birds glossy ibis at Old Hall Marshes RSPB on 7-8th, woodchat shrike at St Osyth on 16th, pectoral sandpiper at Holland Haven Country Park on 27-28th.

Abberton Reservoir recorded red-necked and black-necked grebes plus hobby and peregrine. The Essex Wildlife Trust Centre café (just north of the Layer-de-la-Haye causeway on the B1025) and butties and cake can be still recommended!

Nationally, in Cornwall the dalmatian pelican and Hudsonian whimbrel still remain and there’s an American white-winged scoter in Aberdeenshire. STOP PRESS: a western purple swamphen at Minsmere RSPB from 30th - if accepted by BOURC, a first for Britain.

Rotary - Not Just Raising Funds

on fundraising.

I write a column for this magazine’s sister publication, Moulsham Times and in the last issue the title of the piece was Rotary Sums Add Up. This was all about the tremendous range of projects supported financially by Rotarians all over the world but focussing on what we do locally. The follow-up to that article is about what Rotary does besides - that is, not based

Once again, as the editor of the quarterly magazine Rotary District 1240 News, (the one with the catchy title), I receive stories from all over the county recounting the numerous ways local good causes, charities and individuals are given assistance. The important part is giving your time. The British are a generous people and there is always a collection tin into which you can pop your loose change but someone needs to be holding the can - the person devoting time.

But let’s get away from money completely. There are so many ways a bit of your time can make a difference. Experience counts for so much. Many Rotarians running their own business or in management positions go into schools and conduct mock job interviews to give the young people a much better chance when they take their first steps on the way to a career or apply for a university place. At the other end of the age spectrum Rotarians may take an elderly person to the doctor or to a tea party arranged for the more lonely and vulnerable in our community.

On the subject of the vulnerable, Rotary clubs support the physically and mentally disabled in local schools and the homeless shelter here in Chelmsford. A helping hand with running a stall or digging a vegetable patch can make life a lot easier for the staff in these organisations. You often see Rotarians marshalling at events for the hospices when they are short of manpower.

There are so many youth competitions organised by Rotary which develop the skills and confidence of our young people. Recently there was a project to write a poem in celebration of the Queen’s 90th birthday. So successful was the local response, with over 300

entries, that it will be repeated again this year with the theme of polio eradication. Not much cost involved, though it does take a while to sift through and judge the poems, but it is so worthwhile when the entrants receive recognition by way of a prize or certificate.

I have written in the past about youth competitions, but to remind you of the wealth of activities available we have competitions for Speaking, Photographer, Chef, Technology, Musician, Writer, and Leadership.

Consider there are various age groups and you may have some grasp of the work involved in ensuring these all go smoothly.

I heard a lovely story this morning about a boy who had tragically lost his dad and how a Rotary club had arranged for him to be a ball boy at a semi-professional football match and meet the players. Not a substitute for his father but it did bring a smile to his face at a very sad time and showed people were thinking of him and his mum.

After the V Festival the great clear up begins and Rotary collects all the tents left behind to pass them on to other charities. I could go on with other examples of giving your time to make a difference but one thing to stress is the satisfaction you will get by becoming involved.

If I have whetted your appetite as I set out to do and you would like to find out more about joining a Rotary club near you, then visit www. chelmsfordrotary1240.org or give me a call on 01245 260349.

Stan Keller

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Stargazing with Mark Willis - August/September Last month we looked at the amazing red giant star, Antares, which is 700 times larger than our Sun and 9,000 times more luminous. This is why we can see it so easily from its distance of 600 light years.

Try looking at Antares with binoculars. Near it, you’ll see a round fuzzy ball - this is a globular cluster called M4. This cluster is located some 7.2 thousand light-years away and contains hundreds of thousands of stars. Space telescopes resolve globular clusters magnificently.

8 - 9th September, 20:00 BST: Looking south south west there is an impressive grouping where the Moon passes Antares, Saturn and Mars and they form a convenient triangle beneath the Moon which will make them easier to spot and identify. Saturn is right underneath the Moon.

Train a telescope upon it and you’ll see Saturn together with Titan, it’s brightest moon.

Speaking of Mars, 3rd September 2016 will be the 40th anniversary of the Viking 2 probe touching down upon Mars in Utopia Planitia (48 degrees N, 226 degrees W).

Neptune is at opposition, (closest approach) by the time you read this.

September will be a good time to observe the planet, although you will need a telescope. If you don’t have a telescope of your own, then pick one of the stargazing nights at your nearest astronomy societies in Essex.

The nearest one is North Essex Astronomical Society and their public stargazing night is on Saturday 10th September (7–10pm). It’s free!

There is a charge for parking at the park. More details on their website: www.neas.me.uk.

Charlie, the Kitten Who Saved a Life Galleywood author Sheila Norton, whose new venture with publisher Ebury, Oliver, the Cat Who Saved Christmas that we featured last year, is happy to tell her readers that her new novel, a sequel to Oliver, is available from 11th August. Charlie, the Kitten Who Saved a Life is another feel-good story for animal lovers and anyone who enjoys gentle, heart-warming fiction. It’s available in paperback and ebook editions from all the usual bookselling outlets including online (Amazon etc).

Sheila hopes readers who enjoyed Oliver’s story will find Charlie, the Kitten Who Saved a Life equally satisfying. Oliver has been very successful both here in the UK and in overseas markets and will be republished here in paperback in time for this year’s Christmas market.

For more information please see www.sheilanorton.com.

As usual, email me with any questions.

Mark Willis presents Willis Wireless every Monday at 7pm on Chelmsford Community Radio.

Web: www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com Twitter: @WillisWireless Email: mark.willis@chelmsfordcommunityradio.com

365 +1 days of Dancing When one of your best friends finds out a week before Christmas that she is diagnosed with breast cancer, what do you do? Fundraising for charity seemed a good idea, but how? Sitting in a bath of cold beans? Sponsored walk? Cake bake?

Well I thought I would dance. Easy, fun, but... I decided, maybe after a Christmas eggnog or two, that I would do it for a whole year - 365 days (clever ones out there will have spotted it’s a leap year so 365 +1 days) and I would support four Chelmsford charities: Helen Rollason Support Centre, Chelmsford Homeless (CHESS), Chelmsford MIND for mental health and Chelmsford 4 Good.

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(donnawicks73). I have to be ‘down wiv da kidz’ so have to be on it all!!

If you would like to and are able to support me in this challenge please get in touch to either dance with me, request a song, or donate some money for these amazing local charities. Please contact me on my charity Facebook page or donate to bit.ly/donnadance.

I’m now half way through this massive challenge and have been supported by BBC Essex dancing with Sadie Nine, who will be following me until the end, Chelmsford City Football Club and my favourite so far the former Mayor of Chelmsford, Paul Hutchinson.

And how do I get to dance with all my victims - sorry supporters?

Usually by walking up to them and asking, will they dance with me?

I have my thumb nail painted bright green (my charity colour) a good way of starting a conversation and my dog Fred as my charity mascot.

I am always looking for new places to visit - so if you work for a local business or organisation and are happy to be filmed having a boogie please get in touch with me.

If you would like to see what I do, please check out my YouTube Channel (Donna Danceathon 365 Challenge), Facebook (Donna Danceathon Wicks), Twitter (@dondonwicks) and lastly Instagram Page 30 If you would like to advertise with us please email ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk

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Family Friendly Funnies

Why don’t elephants need suitcases?

Because they already have trunks!

What’s a pretzel’s favorite dance?

The twist!

What’s a ghost’s favorite fruit?

Boo-berries!

What did the egg say to the frying pan?

You crack me up!

Why did the chicken cross the playground?

To get to the other slide!

Page 31

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