The City Times - December 2018/January 2019

Book now for Christmas Call 01245 353366 10A Baddow Road, Chelmsford, CM2 0DG

The City Times

ChangesTwoBowie at CCFC (see page 27)

Including: Boreham, Broomfield, Danbury, Great Baddow, Maldon, South Woodham Ferrers, The Walthams and Writtle

10000 copies distributed monthly

MONDAYS Millennium Community Centre, Recreation Ground, Baddow Road, Great Baddow CM2 9RL 9:00am, 11:00am,1:00pm, 5:00pm & 7:00pm Lucy 07801 433626 Springfield Community Centre, Perryfields School, Lawn Lane, CM1 7PP 5:00pm and 7:00pm Angie 07814 992628 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, Great Baddow CM2 9RL 3:30pm, 5:30pm and 7:30pm Samantha 01245 266442

Issue Number 63: December 13th - January 17th 2019

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

THURSDAY Millennium Community Centre, Recreation Ground, Baddow Road, Great Baddow CM2 9RL 9:30am Samantha 01245 266442

Writtle Community Association, Longmeads House, 12-14 Redwood Drive, Writtle CM1 3LY 3:00pm, 5:00pm and 7:00pm Jennifer 07792 516866

North Springfield Baptist Church, Havengore, off Pump Lane, Springfield CM1 6JP 5:30pm and 7:30pm Victoria 07823 441198

Life Church, Hall Street, off Moulsham Street, Chelmsford CM2 0HG 5:30pm and 7:30pm Angie 07814 992628

Newlands Spring Community Hall, Dickens Place, Chelmsford CM1 4UU 5:30pm and 7:30pm Jennifer 07792 516866

Boreham Village Hall, Main Road, Boreham CM3 3JD 5:30pm and 7:30pm Marie 07988 426728 NEW CONSULTANT FROM 2nd JAN

Moulsham High School, Brian Close, Chelmsford CM2 9ES 5:30pm and 7:30pm 0344 897 8000

Springfield Park Baptist Church, Springfield Park Road, Springfield CM2 6EB 5.30pm and 7:30pm Elise 07979 816486 NEW CONSULTANT FROM 2nd JAN St Michael's Church of England, Junior School, Barnard Road, Galleywood CM2 8RR 7:30pm Tracy 07584 676670　

FRIDAY The Church Of Ascension, Maltese Road, Chelmsford CM1 2PB 9:15am and 11:15am Samantha 01245 266442 SATURDAY Springfield Park Baptist Church, Springfield Park Road, Springfield CM2 6EB 8:30am and 10:30am Emma 07887 692906

GROUPS MAY VARY IN TIMES AND DAYS OVER THE FESTIVE SEASON, PLEASE CONTACT CONSULTANT FOR DETAILS

Christmas OFFERS PERFECT GIFT IDEAS FROM YOUR LOCAL PHOTO EXPERTS E & O E. Subject to availability.

SAVE £13 Fujifilm

INSTAX MINI 9

Instant FUN in lots of colours.

Great gift! Includes film pack!

RRP £78. Was £74. Now only

FESTIVE PRICE

65

SAVE £20

Lowepro

Polaroid

FLIPSIDE TREK

ONE STEP 2VF

BP 250AW

NEW! Everything box comes with everything! OneStep 2 Viewfinder Instant camera, I-Type Colour Film & Photo Box RRP £119

Photo Backpack. RRP £145

FESTIVE PRICE

FESTIVE PRICE

£

SAVE £60

Panasonic

LUMIX TZ90 Kit

99

£

SAVE £50

FESTIVE PRICE

FESTIVE PRICE

309

cashback from Panasonic. You pay £339 today!

CASH for

449

£

SAV £148E

EOS 4000D kit

RX100III Kit

With Sony grip and Sony Leather Case worth £140. RRP £529

£

119

£

Canon

Sony

Black or silver camera plus 16GB SDHC memory card & case. RRP £399

* including £30

SAVE £26

with 18-55mm III & 10-18mm EF-S lenses. FREE Dick Smith large SLR case.

Normally £617

* including £30 cashback from Panasonic. You pay £339 today!

FESTIVE PRICE

469

£

Turn your unwanted camera gear into CASH

We buy more, pay more & smile more!

Christmas

High Quality Photo Printing

• Digital DSLRs, Mirrorless & top compact cameras • 35mm SLRs & compacts & Medium Format • Most AF & MF lenses • Top bags, tripods & accessories

IN-STORE & ONLINE Plus 50 FREE PRINTS 4x6” with your first order. Use code: CWSIGN50 Ends 31/12/18.

High Chelmer Shopping Centre

CHELMSFORD Essex CM1 1XB

01245 255510 | chelmer@cameraworld.co.uk 14 Wells St (off Oxford St) LONDON W1T 3PB 020 7636 5005 | sales@cameraworld.co.uk 13 High St STEVENAGE SG1 3BG 01438 367619 | sales@cameraworld.co.uk

cameraworld.co.uk E. & O. E. Goods and delivery services subject to stock and availability. Prices subject to change. Pictures are for illustration purposes only. All prices include VAT@ 20%. E. & O.E.

CT Welcome Hello readers,

Welcome to the December/January edition.

This edition spans the Christmas holidays, so if you are reading before Christmas, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! If you are reading this afterwards, we hope you had a good Christmas break!

Please also remember to tell our advertisers that you saw them in this magazine.

Enjoy your month!

Regards Nick & Paul www.thecitytimes.co.uk | www.moulshamtimes.com

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

it’s your media Ltd

Disclaimer: It’s Your Media Ltd publish 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.

NEW RESTAURANT NOW OPEN

Chelmsfords most luxurious and friendly dine-in, kebab, grill and fast food experience

LAMB DONER

CHICKEN SHISH

PITTA OR FRIES

PITTA OR FRIES

QUARTER POUNDER MEAL WITH FRIES & DRINK

ADD 50p > LARGE FRIES

ADD £1 > GO LARGE

REGULAR

REGULAR

£5.95

£6.45

LARGE

£7.45

SINGLE

£3.45

MEAL

£4.95

TS EN F D U OF ST % D 20WITmH-6pIm) p (12

Place your order by phone or online:

Tel:

01245 611818

web:

www.skewerschelmsford.co.uk

6B Baddow Road, Chelmsford CM2 0DG (Opposite Pinchos) Opeing Times: Sun, Mon, Tue & Thur: 12pm – 1am | Wed: 12pm – 4am | Fri & Sat: 12pm – 5am

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Page 3

CT Fashion - New Year, New Wardrobe Welcome to January. Some say it is the bleakest time of the year post Christmas blues reign supreme and we still have to endure the cooler weather without the festive sparkle. But that’s no reason to not be merry: New year + new beginnings = new wardrobe to strut through 2019 in. Wading through the January sales is the best way to spend the Christmas hangover, trust me.

skirts with a swing and a shimmy to them. If you’re not up for wearing a fringe, you might fancy accessorising with some - go for a fringed bag such as the ones in H&M, Topshop and River Island.

But of course, you want to invest in pieces that will last you through spring/summer 2019 without breaking the bank, right? Savvy shoppers unite - I’ll take you through some trends that are set to stay fresh throughout the year...

Tie Dye: Tie dye for the 60s rang and they want their tie dye back.

You might wish that was the case when you see some of the new tie dye trends cropping up on the high

Puffy the Shoulder Slayer: There’s nothing like a puffed sleeve when it comes to setting the precedent for a successful year. Move over cold shoulder, it’s now time for the more retro puffed sleeve. Think puffed shoulders with boxy shapes complimenting pretty dresses, or oversized jumpers with statement edges. Only the fashion savvy will know what to do when it rains though; ever tried getting a puffed shoulder into a rain mac? Probably best to save these for the crisp and cold, not soggy and wet, January days.

Go Shorty, It’s January: It might still be chilly, but it doesn’t mean the old pins can’t come out now does it?

The short is staying in for 2019 and expect frills or lace edges to be the style of the season.

Team with opaque tights and ankle boots for a chic day to night outfit, or if your cockles are already warm, bare legs and heels for a night out. High waist styles teamed with simple camis or T-shirts are great for daytime wear, with a cute blazer or chunky cardigan for comfy casual. You’ll find some cut price shorts in Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins and Next.

Cheers to the Fringin’ Weekend: Well we all knew the cowboy boot would have some kind of comeback, didn’t we? With glimpses of them on celebs towards the end of 2018, so we’d be daft not to expect the western inspired fashion to saddle up in spring/ summer 2018.

The wild wild west look is back with a vengeance in the form of fringes on statement pieces.

Think jackets and

street this spring/ summer. There are some rather daring styles out there for us to enjoy.

We saw matching co-ord sets in garish colours on the catwalk last October, but I’d be more inclined to choose a tie dye dress or oversized jumper since these are less outlandish and more 2019 chic. There’s some great offerings of these online at ASOS and shein. co.uk.

Pleat Your Back into It: After a good run in 2018, pleats are set to stay for 2019. They’re going to become more intricate and detailed though, so if you’re fancying an update to your standard jumper and pleated skirt combo, you might consider a pleated dress with a micropleat or, if you’ve really had your fashion Weetabix this morning, you might consider combining the pleat and the puffed shoulder in the form of a dress. I’ve been eyeing one up in River Island and have seen some lovely ones online at ASOS for around £30.

Strut like Someone’s Watching: 2019’s shoe trends are set to be quite interesting: expect to see fancy flats on shoe shelves across the high street. I’m talking the kind that you wouldn’t mind actually walking to and around town/work/the pub in. Yes, ladies, I mean shoes that mean you can feel feminine and not have to do that hideous commuter trend of trainer/heel combo throughout your working day. The fancy flat. Comfy and stylish. Look for styles with statement fringes (see above), patterns and sling backs - all in heights you can strut from day to night in.

Return of the Mac: Yep, it’s January. It’s still winter. It will rain. When it rains, it pours. Luckily for you, the fash pack have got a mac for that. Think bright, boxy and oversized. New Look and Gap have some fantastic styles from just £12. Some are so thin that they can be wrapped up and placed in your tote, so you’ve no excuse not to be prepared for those January/February/March/April showers… sigh.

Anyone else booked their summer holiday yet?

Rebecca Forde is a writer with a penchant for fashion, great literature and drinking a lot of coffee. She’s also a professional English teacher offering tutoring services around Essex. You can contact her by emailing rebeccaforde@hotmail.co.uk.

All Images: ©River Island

Page 4

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

All Things Music - by Nick Garner Music and Ramblings Another year is about to finish; where does the time go when you’re having fun I wonder? Blues & Roots in the City monthly are moving our nights from the Bassment to the UB (United Brethren) pub in New Writtle Street, Chelmsford, where we will now be based each month.

There is a change to the format, as entry will be free. We will put the hat round though and maybe still do the raffle so that we can pay the acts as usual. We ourselves will make nothing as all the money will go to those who play.

Mostly, we will only have one act play on the night. We are staring on Thursday 24th January 2019 at 8.30pm with a new band for us, Clean Sneak. They are a trio who play a jazz influenced style of blues (think T-Bone Walker, Duke Ellington, Mose Alison with a little influence of Albert King to toughen it up a bit - with no Mustang Sally thankfully).

We do hope all you music lovers will come and support the nights at this wonderful music venue in Old Moulsham. The UB is one of the leading music venues in Chelmsford and will, in the New Year, be increasing the live music nights to every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and most Mondays, with monthly blues on a Thursday. As well as the music, the UB also hosts wonderful storytelling nights, which at present are bi-monthly, but they would like to see that increased to monthly. They also plan to have a few more DJ events too, along with the very best in covers and original acts and also more acoustic and folk - plus some jazz as well.

Joe Anderton will also be hosting a monthly open mic session and will have some special guests to play a short set as well. Go to the FB page (www.facebook.com/theunitedbrethren) where you can find who is on and when - also see in the listings in this magazine.

We have also had our last show of the year at the football club with Limehouse Lizzy and Joe Anderton and Connor Selby - you can find the review for that in the Moulsham Times. So it is now time to get your tickets to start the new year off with a great show on Friday 18th January with ChangesTwoBowie and the Delta Ladies. This will be a fun night for sure and tickets are just £12 in advance.

Looking a little ahead, we also have confirmed for you Robbie McIntosh and his band for Friday 15th February. Robbie has played with the likes of Paul McCartney, The Pretenders, Tom Jones, Talk Talk, John Illsley, Mark Knopfler and John Mayer. He is often the preferred choice of guitarist to the stars and his band is stunning as well and full of great players. Jamie Williams & the Roots Collective will open the night as musically sit well together.

Looking into spring, on Friday 15th March we will have The Christians - yes Garry Christian is back with his fantastic band - and his voice is as good as ever. They will play the hits like Harvest for the World and Ideal World plus all the other hits they had back in the 80s and 90s.

They are still recording and touring now in their 31st year. Rich Young will be opening on the night - Rich himself has also played with many greats and is an amazing singer-songwriter and keyboard/guitar player.

For Friday 5th April we have yet another first - and if you love Status Quo you must love John Coghlan, the original drummer from the band - and many say his version of Quo is now the best around; you will have to come along and see for yourselves! Opening the night will be Stony Road and Trevor Gentry. We are also in negotiations with some other great acts to fill the year up and will let you know when as soon as we have confirmation.

Blues & Roots in the City - Last Night at the Bassment Review What a last night at the Bassment that was, wow, the night blew me and the audience away. Firstly, Danny Piper Taylor played us the old blues. His style of playing and his rich velvet voice and wonderful sense of humour could not help but enthral us all; every time I hear and see him I just can’t get enough. Next up was Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion - again, totally blown away. What a voice and such great songs and wow, the band - such a pedigree. it was wonderful entertainment. The band consists of Zoe, Rob Koral (guitar) Paul Robinson (drums) and Pete Whittaker (keyboards) and they have played with the likes of Nina Simone, Van Morrison, Paul McCartney, The Wonder Stuff and Keith Tippets to name just a few. After the show I knew I have to have them back and I am looking into putting on a special show, hopefully next year, with three of the best female vocalists I know. So keep your eyes and ears open for news. I must thank the Bassment and their staff for all the help and support I have had over the years. Now it’s time for the new beginning at the UB in 2019.

Chelmsford Arts and Cultural Festival 2019 We are currently working hard in the background on next year’s festival. We are still looking for people who would like to get involved in any way too, or anyone who might have any suggestions for us. The way to contact us is via our email which is hello@chelmsfordfestival. org. We are now preparing to send the new sponsorship package out, so if you know of anyone or a business that could be interested - then also please let us know!

We have lots of great live events - and comedy, which is growing with many more regular events popping up. I am also starting to see some poetry as well as storytelling events, which is great. There are also more arts and creative groups appearing - one such group is Ignite.

Most of these you can find out about in our magazine or on Facebook as well as on the other social media networks.

Please ‘like’ our pages on social media and help us out by inviting your friends to ‘like’ our pages as well. As ever, please do try to come out and support the great live scene that we have in Essex, because if you do not - we may lose it. For more information on all of the above and more, see the links below and go to our What’s On pages to see what else in happening in your area. You can also check the Internet to see what’s on too - Facebook is always good as is Twitter plus your local papers and community boards.

The Chelmsford Arts and Cultural Festival: hello@chelmsfordfestival. org www.chelmsfordfestival.org www.facebook.com/chelmsfordfestival Twitter: @chelmsfordaacf.

Online program www.issuu.com/chelmsfordfestival www.bluesinthecity.co.uk www.facebook.com/bluesinthecitychelmsford Twitter: @BluesintheCity1 www.itsyourmusic.co.uk www.facebook.com/itsyourmusic Twitter: @itsyourmusic

Page 6

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Looking to Make a Change in 2019? Volunteer!

As we draw to the end of 2018, now is the perfect time for a bit of reflection and looking ahead to the new year. You may have already started to think about positive changes to make in 2019.

But if not, as the CEO of a family support charity that is reliant on the hard work and dedication of our volunteers, I would encourage you to consider volunteering.

Recent studies have highlighted the enormous benefits for the individual. Volunteering allows you to support your community, make friends for life, gain new skills and experience and can even help us to live longer.

We know for a fact that we at Home-Start Essex wouldn’t be able to support families in the ways that we do without our volunteers.

During 2017/2018, 210 volunteers have supported 449 families struggling with isolation, mental health difficulties, learning difficulties, illness and child behavioural issues.

There are still many families within Essex that would benefit from our support and our New Year’s Resolution is to do even more to make a difference to the lives of vulnerable families in Essex. If you would like to help us on that journey, we would love to hear from you.

To find out more about our range of volunteering opportunities, from home support or family group work, all the way to fundraising and administration, call us on 01245 847 410 or visit homestartessex.org.uk/volunteer.

Nic O’Brien, CEO Home-Start Essex

CT Gardening - by Tom Cole

The leaves are nearly all down and so it’s an ideal time to plant trees and shrubs. This year, I’m looking at adding a few trees and shrubs to supply edible fruit. But before you rush into planting your choice cultivar, why not check out a few tips of mine to avoid any problems?

Aspect The majority of fruit requires a sunny position. Light shade will be tolerated by some such as the bush and cane fruit, but it may reduce yield. Stone fruit such as peaches and apricots must have a sunny site in order for the fruit to ripen. A site that faces south or southwest is generally best.

Shelter Shelter is very important to encourage pollinating insects, which are essential for successful fruit development. Fruit can be damaged on the bush or blown off the tree prematurely if the site is exposed and windy. Frost pockets should be avoided, as many fruits blossom early in the season and if the blossom is damaged the fruit will fail to develop. A semipermeable barrier to filter wind is preferable if required, as a solid barrier may cause turbulence and trap frost.

Soil Fruit require at least 50cm depth of topsoil. The soil should be a fertile, well drained loam rich in organic matter. A slightly acid soil with a pH of around 6.5 is ideal.

01245 422804/07711 606561

Protection Fruit cages are useful for protecting fruit from birds and other animals.

Horticultural fleece is invaluable for protecting fruit blossom from frosts.

Hessian or sacking may also be draped over wall-trained specimens when frosts are forecast.

Weed Control Weeds compete for moisture, space and nutrients and should be controlled. Total herbicides may be used, but care must be taken to avoid drift. Hand weeding, hoeing and mulching is often a better choice.

Pests and Diseases Thorough garden hygiene is important to help reduce the occurrence of pests and diseases.

Disease resistant cultivars are also available - eg, gooseberry Invicta, has some resistance to mildew.

Rootstocks To control height and spread, all tree fruit are grafted. Check label carefully in order that you select the best plant for you and your size of garden. There are many different rootstocks available, all of which possess different qualities. Some are very dwarfing, others dwarfing and others semi-dwarfing. Vigorous rootstocks are available but are not commonly used.

Pollinating Groups Most of your bush, cane and strawberries will have no problems as long as insects can access flowers; although check some of the blueberry cultivars, as not all are self fertile. However, a number of tree fruit such as apples and pears will need another pollinating tree to improve fruit yields. For example, apple cultivars require another cultivar to pollinate them. Some are sold as ‘self pollinators’ (for example, James Grieve) but they will all produce a better crop if crosspollinated. Apples are divided into pollinating groups of cultivars that flower at the same time and which can therefore pollinate each other.

Triploid varieties, (those having three sets of chromosomes in every cell) eg. Bramley’s Seedling, are not suitable as pollinators as they produce little viable pollen.

Pruning Regular pruning will promote the health of the plant and the development of fruit. Pruning regimes differ with the type of fruit and method of growing.

20% Discount when you mention The City Times

Check all tree stakes and loosen tree ties if necessary. Dwarf and semi dwarf trees will require staking all their life, as dwarfing rootstocks do not tend to put down anchorage roots.

Happy Gardening For any gardening tips contact Tom Cole, 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

CT Food: Christmas - by John Jacobs I’m skipping it, Christmas. Not entirely, just the family part. The cream liquors and brandy butter. This year, myself, my wife and our neurotic cockapoo are heading for the hills and hiding out. Just the three of us, Netflix and access to the M&S online shopping account. I considered Waitrose, but I’ve never forgiven them for making tahini paste hipster friendly. I’m not down on Christmas, I’m a complete yuleophile (don’t look that up if you have predictive text). My mother was a great one for Christmas; she’d start stockpiling food around September so that by December we could wait out a zombie apocalypse.

We did one thing properly though - the tree. Decorating it to be exact.

We wrapped it in as many lights as fire regulations would tolerate and then practically threw everything else on. Tinsel, baubles, sparkly stuff, snow made out of fluffy asbestos like material and whatever else the poor plastic Woolworths reject could handle and topped with an angel my sister made at school that looked like an elderly winged drag queen. Happy days. Now the tree comes from the Laura Ashley ‘I saw you coming’ collection and is subtly bedecked with individual baubles hand-crafted from Amazonian tree vines and vegan friendly glue. As a kid we made paperchains; they had the same lick-and-stick paste as stamps that if ingested in enough quantities would lead to hallucinatory psychosis. Two years running we had to wait for my gran to finish playing air tennis with Elvis.

We all know there are only two things important about Christmas: presents and food. There was something about a baby and Frankenstein but that’s by the by. The presents are down to you - just remember to pick up your Oscar for feigning surprise and gratitude.

The food I can help with; especially if you’re on a budget. I bring to you the yuletide checklist for Christmas dinner. Thank you all for reading over the past year and for your lovely comments, recipes and reviews.

Have a wonderful Christmas and a great new year and remember, as ever... take off those lanyards, avoid fragile photocopier glass and may your ding-dongs be merrily higher than everyone else’s.

John 1. Prep, prep, prep. Everything from the spuds, gravy and veg can be cooked the night before and refreshed on the day. It’s a simply trick we chefs have used for decades.

2. Don’t worry about starters. There’s be plenty to ensure no one goes hungry and it is but another thing to think about.

3. Wherever possible, cheat. For example, shop bought granular gravy with a glass of port added and a stick of cinnamon equates to a seasonal jus.

4. Don’t overstuff the turkey or indeed whatever bird you choose. If you can, cook the stuffing separately. hot air needs to circulate and if not, your main course could take until boxing day to cook.

5. Don’t get adventurous. Cook what you know and are comfortable with - leave the experimentation to Heston.

6. Everyone is on your side and will love whatever you cook. There’s no such thing as a bad Christmas dinner, just relatives you shouldn’t waste much time with anyway.

7. It’s tough, but try and hang fire until you’ve cooked to get too bladdered.

8. Lastly, for goodness sake sit down, relax and enjoy what you’ve made. You earned it. If they want more potatoes, they can get them themselves.

See you on the other side folks.

ge 10 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Light up a Life for Your Loved Ones This Christmas Family and loved ones of those who have died are being invited to remember them this Christmas at a special service at Chelmsford Cathedral held by The J’s Hospice.

The charity holds an annual Light up a Life appeal, giving everyone the chance to dedicate a light in memory of someone close to them who has died. The service - with prayers, carols and the lighting of candles - will be taking place on Wednesday 19th December, 7.30pm at Chelmsford Cathedral.

Sharon Davies from The J’s Hospice said: “Christmas can be an incredibly difficult time for anyone who has had someone close to them die, whether it is a friend or family member. Light up a Life is a really nice way to remember that special person to you at Christmas time. You don’t need to have experienced our hospice care to dedicate a light or attend our service. Everyone is welcome and you’ll be coming together with others in the community remembering loved ones while ‘making every day count’ for everyone we care for this Christmas; so thank you.”

In return for a donation, the charity will send a certificate and tags for people to write a message to their loved one and hang on their tree. Those wishing to make a dedication can donate any amount and remember any number of people.

For more information on Light up a Life or to dedicate a light, contact Sharon Davies on 01702 220 310, email sdavies@ havenshospices.org.uk, or visit www.havenshospices.org.uk/lual.

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk Page 11

What’s on in the Area

December Friday 14th Bassment - Winston & The Lads Xmas Special!

Civic - Cinderella Cramphorn - Santa in Love Danbury Village Hall - Dick Whittington The Golden Fleece - Expose Old Court Theatre - A Christmas Carol United Brethren - The Boomers Saturday 15th Bassment - Saturday’s Alright For Dancin’! Indie Disco!

Civic - Cinderella Cramphorn - Santa in Love Danbury Village Hall - Dick Whittington The Golden Fleece - 6 String Makeover Galleywood Heritage Centre - Essex Society for Family History monthly meeting Old Court Theatre - A Christmas Carol United Brethren - Jamie Williams and the Roots Collective Sunday 16th Civic - Cinderella Cramphorn - Christmas Gothic Danbury Village Hall - Dick Whittington United Brethren - Morrigans Path Trio Monday 17th Civic - Cinderella Cramphorn - Christmas Gothic United Brethren - The One Tree Hillbillies Tuesday 18th Boreham Village Hall - Ballroom and Latin American Dance (classes for beginners & improvers - www.danceasy.co.uk) Civic - Cinderella Wednesday 19th The Chichester Hotel (Rawreth) - Belvedere Jazz & Music Club: Susana Sheiman + Vasilis Xenopoulos Qrt Civic - Cinderella The Golden Fleece - Caroloke: Christmas Karaoke Party Thursday 20th Bassment - JAR: The Mighty Fallen + Lo Chief + Third Dart Cramphorn - Xmas Jazz Special Civic - Cinderella The Golden Fleece - The Office Christmas Party with Wishbone Friday 21st Bassment - Saint Nick & The Naughty List (Xmas acoustic fun) Cathedral - Lunchtime concert Civic - Cinderella Cramphorn - Xmas Jazz Special The Golden Fleece - Sons of Southpaw United Brethren - Paolo Morena Saturday 22nd Bassment - Keepin’ It Rubber Soulful - Rubber Soul + Keepin’ It Soulful + Darryl Butcher + Dick Coombes Cramphorn - Mat Ricardo vs The World CCFC Away - Bath City v Chelmsford City FC Civic - Cinderella Cramphorn - Xmas Jazz Special Page 12

Saturday 22nd (continued...)

The Golden Fleece - The 80s Xmas Jumper Party with Ultimate 80s United Brethren - Andy Twyman Sunday 23rd Cramphorn - The Nutcracker (live from The Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow) The Golden Fleece - Christmas Eve Eve Party: Frog on a Rocket United Brethren - Serious Xmas Shake-Up Monday 24th The Golden Fleece - Christmas Eve @The Fleece Wednesday 26th CCFC Home - Chelmsford City FC v Billericay Town Thursday 27th Bassment - The Fellowship with Guthrie Govan The Golden Fleece - Quiz Friday 28th Bassment - Skamite Civic - Cinderella United Brethren - Dave Sharp Saturday 29th Bassment - Junior Jump & The Bottom Line CCFC Home - Chelmsford City FC v Hemel Hempstead Civic - Cinderella United Brethren - A Light Left On Sunday 30th Civic - Cinderella Monday 31st Bassment - Bassment NYE! Alternative Party Jams & Indie Bangers All Night!

Civic - Cinderella The Golden Fleece - New Years Eve 2018 (Chelmsford’s biggest free party!)

The Two Brewers - Louise Parker + The Family Dickens United Brethren - Trevor Gentry

January Tuesday 1st CCFC Away - Billericay Town v Chelmsford City FC Civic - Cinderella Galleywood Heritage Centre - New Year’s Day Walk Wednesday 2nd Pasadena Roof Orchestra Civic - Cinderella Thursday 3rd Bassment - Bassment Blues Jam Civic - Cinderella The Golden Fleece - Quiz Friday 4th Bassment - Indie Alternative Disco! (Free entry & ½ price drinks before 11pm!)

Cathedral - Lunchtime concert Civic - Cinderella

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

Saturday 5th Bassment - Shakey’s Sessions (Undiscovered band heats) Children of the Fuzz + Raz + New Fears + special guest, Katy Forkings CCFC Home - Chelmsford City FC v Hampton & Richmond Borough Civic - Cinderella Sunday 6th Civic - Cinderella Woolpack - GC’s Jazz Club: Goff Dubber (clarinet/saxophone) & Graeme Culham Trio (8pm - free admission) Monday 7th Cramphorn - Jibber Jabber Tuesday 8th Boreham Village Hall - Ballroom and Latin American Dance (classes for beginners & improvers - www.danceasy.co.uk) Wednesday 9th The Chichester Hotel (Rawreth) - Belvedere Jazz & Music Club: Derek Nash’s Picante Latin Band Thursday 10th The Golden Fleece - Quiz night Friday 11th Bassment - Indie Alternative Disco! (Free entry & ½ price drinks before 11pm!)

Civic - Michael Portillo - Life: A Game of Two Halves The Two Brewers - Shakey’s Sessions (Undiscovered solo heats) - Hollie Heard + George Berry (more acts TBC) United Brethren - Beat Patrol Saturday 12th Bassment - Shakey’s Sessions (Undiscovered solo heats) Asking for a Friend + Ellie & the Novellas + Ellie Rees + Rachel Brooks + special guests, Shooty and the Bang Bang CCFC Away - Slough Town v Chelmsford City FC Sunday 13th Cramphorn - Chelmsford Jazz Club: Geoff Simkins with John Pearce Dave Green and Steve Brown Monday 14th Cramphorn - Jibber Jabber Tuesday 15th Galleywood Heritage Centre - Scrabble Group meeting Wednesday 16th The Chichester Hotel (Rawreth) - Belvedere Jazz & Music Club: Matthew Ford + John Horler Quartet (£15) Thursday 17th The Golden Fleece - Quiz Writtle Community Cinema (Writtle Library) - To Catch A Thief

#TryAlpha Alpha.org

Alpha - a chance to explore the big questions of life and faith Starts Monday 28th January at 7pm Friendly, informal and with food

Victoria Road South, Chelmsford. CM1 1LN alpha@centralbaptistchelmsford.org Tel 01245 264 163

For more information, or to book a place , phone, e-mail or just drop in Friday 18th Bassment - Indie Alternative Disco! (Free entry & ½ price drinks before 11pm!)

CCFC - ChangesTwoBowie + The Delta Ladies Civic - Real Diamond - The Jazz Singer Tour Saturday 19th Bassment - Indie Alternative Disco from 11pm!

CCFC Home - Chelmsford City FC v Dartford Civic - Dance From Now On Galleywood Heritage Centre - Essex Society for Family History monthly meeting United Brethren - Robin Bibi & Tony Marten Sunday 20th Civic - Dance From Now On Cramphorn - La Bayadere (live from The Bolshoi Ballet)

MENORCA HOLIDAY VILLA WITH PRIVATE SWIMMING POOL FOR RENTAL

• Close to Es Castell, restaurants, bars and amenities • A short 15 min drive to gorgeous beaches.

• Air conditioned bedrooms • Sleeps 2-7 Tel: 01621 741810 / 07860 232854 menorcaholiday@aol.com

www.menorcaholidayvilla.co.uk

Please send us your events for the next edition (for events between 18th January and 17th February) to editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

CT Business: All in the Family - by Lindsay Whitehouse Have you ever wanted to upgrade some of your gadgets? Were you afraid your knowledge was so out of date that you had no idea where to start? Yes, same for me as well. Recently I was in CameraWorld at their High Chelmer Centre and I overheard a customer chatting to one of the very helpful, friendly and knowledgeable assistants. I had no idea what they were talking about.

I put that point to Abby Swain who has business responsibility for all three CameraWorld outlets. She smiled then explained that her staff look after some very knowledgeable customers who expect to be able to discuss finer points of photography in detail. However, her team are also very keen to talk to customers with no knowledge of photography at all and help guide them through the options - I can attest to their very high level of customer service and friendliness. CameraWorld cater for all types of customers covering the whole gambit of technical knowledge, from zero to expert.

Those two areas alone are significant lessons for aspiring high street businesses who need to attract customers and compete with online traders. Abby is desperately keen to protect the high street, her team help do this by providing pre and after sales customer support and technical advice that no online provider can compete with. Indeed, the team fully embrace digital trading. They find that more and more local customers are ordering online then coming in to the store to collect their purchase. Any aspiring purchaser - and that is all of us - wants to know where to go if there is a problem. The combinations of a local, well established business that utilises up-to-date technology, but provides a reassuring place to go, is a real strength of CameraWorld and their business model.

The business was founded by Jason 19 years ago with their first unit in London. Jason has spent his working life around photography and learned his trade from the bottom up. Abby’s grandfather started a photography business in Norfolk many years ago and had 5 shops throughout the county. Her father then grew this to one of the largest UK photographic distributors.

Abby grew up working in that business and like Jason, learned all about it from the bottom up. When they got together, Abby joined CameraWorld to work with Jason.

They each have a daughter, and guess what - they both work in the business as well. There is something intrinsically reassuring about buying from a family business with a long track record in that line of work.

There is a third CameraWorld unit in Stevenage to which they have recently added a studio, which is available for photographers of all abilities to hire. This reflects the huge changes that technology has brought. Now, we all snap away taking photographs indiscriminately.

Lots of you will remember the old days when you had film in your camera, you carefully rationed what pictures you took and hoped with all your heart that they came out alright when you went to collect them from the developers. I remember the excitement and anticipation of the wait.

Of course, that has all gone now, but just where do we keep all our important photographs nowadays? Do we just leave them on the phone for no one else to see? Photographs are the very core of our memories and family history. I often look at the Chelmsford

Remembered Facebook group, the comments that accompany the large number of old photographs shown make it clear the pride felt by the modern generation at the images from our past. Abby is well aware of this, and she wants to work with people to help them maximise their photographs and to create new family history. She told me that on holiday recently in Edinburgh she saw an American family who were also holidaying. They were having a wonderful time and were happy to have spent thousands of dollars on their dream holiday. She noted that they were taking lots of photographs on a cheap, bottom of the range camera that would not do justice to their memories in years to come.

Of course she is right. We should take the time to ensure that the memories we capture will feed the imagination of our grandchildren and great grandchildren. I recently discovered a photograph of my grandmother at work in a factory back in the 1920s, she was standing next to one of her brothers and the physical likeness of her brother to me sent a shiver down my spine. It was almost like looking at a picture of me 30-plus years before I was born. I am so grateful for the time and care taken by that unknown photographer to capture an image that will stay in the family for ever. Abby wants to give you the chance to capture those memories right now.

CameraWorld will help you improve the final image before printing it on specialist paper, and they will also help you create your own photograph album. They also advertise (for free) camera clubs and professionals who deliver photography training. This is called ‘relationship marketing’ and is a business practice that should be more widely utilised. Abby and her team know that the whole photographic world must be nurtured and protected, so they need to work in harmony with others. I am sure that few online retailers deliver that type of altruism.

So what about that old camera you never use much? Don’t despair, Abby told me that more and more young photographers like to work with film. Cameras that use film are mostly not being made anymore, so that means your old camera could be worth some money.

CameraWorld operate a part-exchange scheme and will also pay cash for some cameras. So there is no excuse now, get down to High Chelmer!

For other small local businesses, there is some valuable learning from the CameraWorld model. They have had to manage change over the years as technology completely changed their market place and they have had to respond to the threat posed by online retailers.

They have had to raise the knowledge base of their customers to give them confidence to buy their products. However, they have also developed a market for previously used equipment that many thought was obsolete. www.cameraworld.co.uk (or see their advert on page 2)

January/February Issue Deadlines: Artwork - 10th January Articles - 4th January

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Page 15

Hairy Monster - Random Thoughts Chelmsford City Council’s Shame In February this year, Rob O’Connor died on a freezing cold night on the streets of our city. There was an immediate outpouring of anger and outrage from all quarters. Pledges were made by the council that they would address the plight of our homeless community.

So what is the legacy of Rob’s shocking and pointless death? At the last count there were still 48 rough sleepers in town. What has the council done? Well, the same as the majority of us. Nothing. The homeless are still reliant on charities like Sanctus and Cool to be Kind. It baffles me how we as a community can turn our backs on our fellow humans. It angers me that the most vulnerable people are left to their own devices to survive on the streets of our affluent city. It shames us all that we are so preoccupied with our own petty problems that we can walk past someone living in a doorway without acknowledging that we are all responsible for their misfortune.

Perhaps a member of Chelmsford City Council would like to respond to this by telling us their plans to prevent another pointless and tragic death this winter - and perhaps now that you know how sterile your councillors have been, challenge them to account for their inaction.

If the meantime, dig deep to help the Rucksack Project, Sanctus and Cool to be Kind.

Eureka I was so glad to hear that European scientists are at last changing the way the kilogram is defined - and about time too. Instead of being based on a platinum-based ingot, named Le Grand K, locked in a safe in Paris, it will now be defined in terms of an electric current.

So next time I buy my bananas in Chelmsford Market, they won’t put them on the scales, they’ll simply plug them into the mains.

In solidarity with our colleagues in Europe, I feel we should reciprocate and redefine the good old British pound as the weight of chocolate I can eat in an hour. This may vary according to the number of chips I have eaten earlier in the day, but over the year of research

which will inevitably be involved, I can take an average reading and present the result to the General Conference on Weights and Measures in Paris who will no doubt be as thrilled to hear it as I was to hear the result of their research.

Alcohol By the time you read this, Essex Police’s Christmas Drink Drive Campaign will hopefully be in full swing. We have one of the highest blood alcohol limits in England at 0.08%, in Scotland it’s 0.05% as it is in many European countries, with others going down to 0.02% and a few going for zero tolerance. Yet every year there are morons who are quite happy to get in their cars and risk injuring or killing themselves. If that’s the gamble they want to take, fine - just leave the rest of us out of the equation please. Let’s hope the campaign deters all drink driving so we all survive to see the New Year in.

Bizarrely, Japan has one of the lowest blood alcohol limits for motorists with heavy penalties for offenders, yet there is no law that covers aircrew which no doubt accounts for the fact that 19 drunk Japanese pilots were removed from flights last year - but only because their colleagues noticed they were inebriated...

Krizmuz I’m not a believer, but I would defend anyone’s right to believe in whatever or whomever they choose (If I’m wrong and they are right, I’m going to get a right hard time at those pearly gates). Whatever individual beliefs you have, I wish you the season’s greetings and a peaceful and happy New Year. There - I did it, I said something positive about Krizmuz. Happy now, Rose?

Becksit As the Royal family are actually Saxe Coburgs of German descent, if Brexit goes ahead and only Europeans with specific skills are allowed to stay in the UK, can we expect a referendum to decide the next monarchs? I’m happy to nominate David and Victoria Beckham.

From Fairground to Public Library

Before purpose-built cinemas arrived, travelling showmen provided visual entertainment with magic lantern shows for the local community. Fast forward to the 21st century and we discover that travelling showmen have been supplanted by the public library, in which visual entertainment (films), are shown for the local community.

Today’s community cinema has its roots in the travelling showmen of the late 1800s and early 1900s. It is a cinema run on behalf of the community, by the community. Writtle’s Screen on the Green operates out of Writtle Library and aims to show interesting cinema, comprising classic, foreign language and cult films.

In 2017 Writle Library hosted an event asking the community to put forward innovative uses of space in Writtle. 37-year old Ben Sutherland attended the event and suggested to Lewis Walsh (also 37) that they run a community cinema.

Says Ben: “We were aware that Billericay Cine ran a very successful community cinema out of Billericay Library and that served as our inspiration. We aim to serve the village of Writtle, so our screenings are affordable, varied, and importantly, enhanced by freshly made cake courtesy of Writtle Library’s Caroline Cox, herself an avid film buff.”

Writtle Parish Council funded the acquisition of projector, blinds and screen, and Beresfords Estate Agency in Writtle offered to fund the licence costs for the first film screened, The Great Gatsby. The running costs of screening films are primarily: licensing, venue hire

and insurance costs. Licensing costs are paid to the license holder, Filmbank Media which has a huge range of films. It costs around £120 to £130 to screen a film.

Says Lewis: “The village has been very welcoming and we have had many visitors from the surrounding area. Not all our films are to everyone’s taste, but we try to cater for a wide audience. This year, some of our fllms have been selected directly by our audience members and we will aim to include their views on a film we screen in the future.”

Ben and Lewis have no plans to change from their current format and hope to be in the village for many years to come.

Screen on the Green shows one film each month. Forthcoming screenings for 2019 include: 17th January: To Catch A Thief (1955) 7th February: The Philadelphia Story (1940) 7th March: The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957) 4th April: Shane (1953) 2nd May: All About Eve (1950) 6th June: Witness for the Prosecution (1957) Doors open at 7pm and showtime is at 7.30pm for all showings.

Tickets are £5 each available in advance at www.goldengiving.com/ wall/screen-on-the-green, or directly from Writtle Library.

Page 17

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Jazz at the Swan Hotel

More than thirty people gathered in the Cygnet Room of the Swan Hotel in Maldon High Street on the 25th November for a Sunday afternoon music workshop organised by Maldon Jazz Workshops.

Although it was a drab November day outside, the Cygnet Room was warm and cheerful and an ideal venue for the event.

The workshop attracted players with an array of instruments from a banjo, some saxophones and a clarinet, to guitars, a flute, a keyboard, a violin and some ukuleles.

Professional jazz musician and bandleader John Seeley led the workshop. He explained some fundamentals of jazz, its pulse, rhythms and the structure of the music and also how he thought bands and ensembles should work together.

John had brought a band who provided strong rhythmic backing for the players when taken through jazz standards by James Rae, George Gershwin and Duke Ellington. Everyone played these numbers and some players came in with improvised solos.

For a few hours, Brexit blues were blown away!

Call now to make an appointment with Louise

Contact: jazzworkshopsmaldon@gmail.com

hire · sales · install · events sales@eventsoundandlight.com www.eventsoundandlight.com

• Professional local eye care • Bespoke service • Over 20 years experience as a qualified Optometrist • Proud to provide that individual attention to detail • Friendliest caring team in Chelmsford Mr Anish Chauhan, Optometrist

01245 863 863

T. 01245 352803

www.broomfieldopticians.co.uk

31st December 2018*

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Page 17

Spot 10 differences answers on page 26

Page 18

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Taking the Myth out of Private GPs I get often asked ‘What’s a private GP?’ ‘How can I make an appointment?’ ‘Do I have to register?’ ‘Can I register?’ ‘Can you liaise with my NHS GP?’ ‘Can I get a referral on the NHS or privately?’ and so on.

Well, let me shed some light on these mysteries. We are actually not a weird or wonderful species. A consultant in a speciality sees patients with his NHS-hat on (for example in Broomfield) and the same consultant can see his/her patients privately at The Chelmsford or other private hospitals.

Most patients choose the route from NHS GP and from there a referral to an NHS consultant if necessary. Patients who have private insurance, mostly via their work, can choose to see the same consultant privately which usually means a quicker out-patient appointment in the first place.

Patients without private insurance also regularly choose to see a consultant privately and pay for this appointment themselves if they wish to see someone earlier than it would be possible via the NHS. This generally includes cases which are deemed non-acute or routine.

I would like to stress that every NHS GP has access to a 2-week wait referral option for patients with suspected cancers and of course the option to refer to the hospital instantly for anything acute (eg, heart attack, appendix) - which is as fast, and possibly often the better, option for super-acute problems.

So, what about Consultants in General Practice, the GPs official work title? Well, the same idea applies. I have worked as an NHS hospital doctor for 8 years and then as NHS GP for more than 20 years. I still work in the NHS but I also work at The Chelmsford where I do see patients privately.

I see patients at The Chelmsford who mostly like and trust their NHS GP, but who either don’t want to, or feel they cannot wait for a GP appointment. Sometimes I see patients regularly, sometimes it’s as a one-off. Patients also might just want a second opinion or want advice regarding a private specialist referral.

They might request work medicals, Taxi, HGV, holiday or work related vaccinations, we also offer small corrective surgery, so called ’lumps and bumps’ moles or blemishes which have no provision under the NHS. We offer joint injections for knees, elbows and more - and of course, we offer full health checks for males and females.

In short, we are not an acute hospital, but we are offering quick GP appointments, mostly within the week, sometimes the same or next day. You will stay registered with your NHS GP and you can come here as much or as little as you deem necessary, spontaneously or planned, you will only be charged for the current visit. I can liaise with your NHS GP and advice of what treatment has been agreed, or I cannot - as you wish.

I can refer to specialists, but only privately. I can’t refer from private in to the NHS. Patient feed-back has told us that what patients really want is for the doctor to have time and empathy, and for appointments to be easily available and to be able to relate to one doctor.

All this is available at The Chelmsford where you will find a very comfortable and contemporary clinic with modern facilities and equipment including MRI, ultrasound, X-ray, and operating theatres etc. For appointments tailored to your needs and wishes, all you have to do is ring The Chelmsford and book an appointment.

Dr R Melamed MD, PhD Dr Melamed holds clinics at The Chelmsford throughout the week.

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Page 19

Therapy - by Chelmsford Therapy Rooms Hi there folks, Jenny here! As this is the December article, I wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I hope all of you manage to get a break over the festive period! This issue I wanted to discuss worry and anticipatory anxiety. I’m sure lots of you are hosting Christmas this year and for some this can be a daunting task! For those that suffer with anticipatory anxiety, the festive season isn’t always something to be enjoyed but to be worried about, in a constant state of anxiety over what might happen.

This is what anticipatory anxiety is; the anticipation of negativity around a specific event. This often times manifests itself in the fear of failure. For example, let’s say person A buys the turkey every year via pre-ordering it from the supermarket. The entirety of two days previous to the collection of said turkey is spent mentioning the fact the turkey must be collected in a specific time slot, going over what might happen if the time slot is missed, and what to do if the queue is long that person A ends up queuing within the time slot - but then misses the time slot because the queue is too long. In other words, what if person A fails to get the turkey? For the record, I know person A (they don’t live in the same county so they won’t recognise this recollection) and in the last 15 years that person A has ordered the turkey in this way they have never, ever, failed in collecting said turkey.

With this seemingly overwhelming evidence in mind, why does person A still worry about failure to collect the turkey? Answer: because person A is a self proclaimed worrier.

There are many self proclaimed worriers out there, but why is it that so many people carry on worrying even when nothing bad happens?

There are loads and loads of psychological explanations out there, but this issue I’m going a little more scientific than usual. Let me introduce you to a very, very simplified version of The Hebbian Law. Also known as Hebbian Theory, Hebb’s rule, Hebb’s postulate, and cell assembly theory (I’ll refer to it as Hebbian’s Law - because Donald Hebb came up with it in 1949), it states: “Let us assume that the persistence or repetition of a reverberatory activity (or ‘trace’) tends to induce lasting cellular changes that add to its stability... When an axon of cell A is near enough to excite a cell B and repeatedly or persistently takes part in firing it, some growth process or metabolic change takes place in one or both cells such that A’s efficiency, as one of the cells firing B, is increased.”

The theory is often summarised as ‘cells that fire together wire together.’ This then links to associative or Hebbian learning, in which simultaneous activation of cells leads to pronounced increases in synaptic strength between those cells. In other words, with all of these cells firing together, we then create neural pathways that we use over and over again - this is how we learn and how habits are formed. The more ingrained the neural pathway, the more ingrained the habit. So if someone is a self proclaimed worrier, their neural pathways have been formed around this habit and will continue to use these neural pathways over and over. Worriers worry because they’re used to worrying! Self proclaimed worriers often worry if there’s nothing to worry about - they’re just so used to using those neural networks that they keep doing it!

But fear not! We can re-wire the human brain by creating new, better, happier, more positive neural pathways instead. How? Hypnotherapy is incredibly useful for creating new, positive pathways that the hypnotherapist then helps the client to reinforce so that they no longer use the old, negative habits of thinking that they previously (unhappily) did. The idea is to prove to the brain that the new habit, or way of thinking, is more beneficial than the old way of thinking so it therefore automatically chooses this new positive habit. This is where suggestion therapy is incredibly helpful, but we can also use another technique called imaginary desensitisation. Below is an exercise you can use if you wish to re-wire your brain to think differently: 1. Think of a situation you would like to think differently about. As I’ve used the example of worrying about collection of the turkey,

I’ll continue with that example.

2. Take a few deep breaths and close your eyes. Relax yourself.

Remember you are safe, you are ok, you are in control of your own mind.

3. Focus on how relaxed you are. You are now going to take this feeling of relaxation with you as you imagine yourself in your chosen situation. So person A will imagine being relaxed at the same time as thinking about going to get the turkey.

4. Still focussing on being relaxed, run through the situation in your head as many times as you need to. So person A might focus on being relaxed whilst successfully collecting the turkey, or they might focus on being relaxed when they park at the car park at the supermarket, or being in the queue, or even missing the time slot. Whatever it is, just focus on being relaxed whilst you imagine the situation.

5. Do this over and over and over and over until you can think of the situation without fear/dread/worry etc. You’re creating new neural networks in connection with the situation, giving yourself another option other than your automatic dread! This does work; I’ve used it on myself and with many, many clients. You’d be surprised at how much power your brain really has!

You might at this point be thinking: Why would I imagine failure?

Because you’re focussing on being relaxed. Worriers tend to catastrophise. Worrying and catastrophising leads to being stressed.

This means the survival part of your brain kicks in and you’re less likely to be logical. If you focus on being relaxed in a negative situation, you’re more likely to be able to use your logical brain (the prefrontal cortex if you’re interested) in order to find a solution to the problem. You can use this method imagining both positive and negative outcomes, knowing you can handle both.

I hope this article has been of some help to you, I hope you have a lovely festive season!

Jenny Hartill is a counsellor, hypnotherapist and owner of Chelmsford Therapy Rooms. She can help with and has experience in a multitude of issues but specialises in anxiety and self esteem. Please see the therapist list on the website at www.chelmsfordtherapyrooms.co.uk, or email info@chelmsfordtherapyrooms.co.uk, or call 0330 100 5162 to enquire about an initial consultation. Alternatively, Jenny’s own private therapy company website is www.cloud9-therapy.co.uk, her email is info@cloud9-therapy.co.uk and her telephone number is 07507 307 170.

Send Your Stamps for Charity

The Bone Cancer Research Trust is the leading charity dedicated to fighting primary bone cancer - and they need your help!

Please save your new and used stamps for their stamp appeal.

You may be getting lots of lovely Christmas cards, or maybe there’s a birthday coming up, or maybe even your workplace receives lots of post. Instead of throwing stamps away, send them to the Bone Cancer Research Trust Stamp Appeal and they can turn your stamps into funds, so that they can continue with their life saving research, providing reliable information, raising crucial awareness as well as offering support to those who need it. Find out more at www.bcrt.org. uk/stamps.

Please send your stamps to: BCRT Stamp Appeal 20 Bowers Road Benfleet SS7 5PZ Email: terri.volunteer@bcrt.org.uk

Page 20

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Chelmsford Library News

Essex County Council is consulting on its proposed strategy for future library services across Essex.

There will be an information drop-in at Great Baddow Library on 13th December 11.30am-1.30pm where you can find out more about the proposals, ask questions, and get help to complete the survey.

Friday 21st December All family members are welcome to our mixed generation Christmas event, with festive songs and stories for all. Put your Christmas jumper on (recommended!) and join us on Friday 21st December 10.30am-11.30am as we’re getting ready for the big day!

Just a reminder to make a note of our Christmas opening times to avoid disappointment: Monday 24th December: 9am-1pm.

Tuesday 25th December: Closed.

Wednesday 26th December: Closed.

Thursday 27th December - Sunday 30th December: normal opening times.

Monday 31st December: 9am-5pm.

Tuesday 1st January: Closed.

Wednesday 2nd January: Normal opening times resume.

Mobile libraries will not be running from Monday 24th December until Sunday 30th December.

ot p s s i h nt i e s i t r Adve e City Times in Th 130 + VAT for £ Promote your business to thousands of local people every month!

To advertise in our January/February issue please email ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk

The City Times Reach 10,000 readers in Chelmsford, Maldon and many vilages inbetween.

Discounts for advertising in more than 3 issues!

We also publish

MoulshamTimes

For more information please call us on 07970 206682 or email ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Page 21

Friends Support Chelmsford Museums Open Art Exhibition Once the present buying and general festivities for the Christmas holiday period are over, there is a good chance that you may be looking for something else of interest to do. If that is the case, then do remember to take a look in at your city museum in Oaklands Park.

Although the new café and gallery displays in the Victorian House will not be accessible for some months yet, there is still much to see in the new building which remains open.

In addition to the displays about the Essex Regiment, Chelmsford industrial past, new accessions and the recently reinstated beehive, the current attraction in the temporary exhibition room is the Chelmsford Open Art Exhibition. Organised by museum curatorial staff and the Friends of the Museum, this provides a window on the work of local artists. It is open to visitors following a formal opening by the Lady Mayor of Chelmsford and John Doubleday, renowned Essex based sculptor, at a private view on Friday 23rd November.

Invited guests included members of the Friends committee and many of the 60-odd local artists whose work is on display.

The quality of entries for the exhibition was considered to be high and local artist John Power, who helped to judge and hang the pictures, provided the following thoughts on selection: “Art is so varied in its manifestations that competition is not an issue and judging is hardly necessary. ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ and the only judgement possible with figurative, non-abstract works can be about formal elements like proportion on relative elements in composition and of its parts, if colours are harmonious or discordant, if either is intended, and how depiction of light and shade in tonal value have been achieved. So when it comes to hanging, its really more a question of sorting into categories of landscape, figures and portraits, still life and abstracts.”

Congratulations to all the artists who have provided the over 100

entries for the exhibition. It is on until 13th January, so why not pay a visit and decide which works look good to you? For full details about all activities and opening times, especially for the Christmas period, see www.chelmsford.gov.uk/museumevents.

The last of the Friends of the Museum autumn talks is on 13th December when Bernard Mullins will present Remembering Pc George W Gutteridge, a Life of Dedication, Zeal and Heroism, providing an insight into his life, murder and the subsequent hardship faced by his family.

The first spring talk will be about The Chelmsford Poor Law Union 1834-1871 on 24th January and given by Stephen Norris. The Union was formed, along with hundreds of others around the country, after the Poor Law Amendment Act, resulting within a few years in a new Workhouse of Wood Street, where families would be separated on entry into men’s, women’s and children’s wards. The talks take place at the museum, refreshments being served from 2pm and talks commencing at 2.30pm. Cost is £5.50 per talk for members and £7 for non-members. For further information see www. friendschelmsmuseums.btck.co.uk.

Love your museum, be a friend

n i e s i t r s e e v d m i A T y t i C e h T n i t o T p A s V s i + th 0 2 2 £ r fo

Discounts available for long term commitments

Promote your business to ten thousand local people every month!

The City Times

We

o als

Reach 10,000 readers in Chelmsford, Maldon and many vilages inbetween.

Discounts for advertising in more than 3 issues! h s bli

pu

MoulshamTimes

For more information please call us on 07970 206682 or email ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk Page 22

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Kick Start 2019 with Hummingbird’s New Year Half-Day Retreat - by Mandy Haynes On Sunday 6th January we are thrilled to be hosting our New Year HalfDay Retreat at Hummingbird Pilates & Yoga.

January can be a time for making resolutions and embarking on a new start, but it can also be a time that negatively affects our mood as the excitement of Christmas passes and the long, dark winter days continue.

This is the perfect time to energise and nourish your body and mind with an afternoon of vinyasa flow and restorative yoga and relaxation and crafts. In addition, you can further your relaxation journey with a wonderful treatment with our lovely therapist Jo. Choose from an invigorating Thai yoga massage, soothing hot stone back massage or tension relieving Indian head massage to completely unwind.

There will be the opportunity to rest between classes with a break to enjoy nutritious juices, fruits and snacks. You might like to use this time to snuggle up with a good book, relax in our soothing meditation room or take part in a mindful craft session.

If you would like to treat yourself further, our studio shop has recently had a revamp. We are now selling ethically sourced, organic where possible, beautiful yoga and pilates products including clothing, mats, bolsters, eye bags, natural skin and body care and much more.

The afternoon will also include the setting of intentions (sankalpa), positive affirmations and a New Year guided meditation.

What Is Sankalpa?

Sankalpa is a Sanskrit word meaning an intention formed by the heart and mind - a vow, determination or will. In the western world we often make a resolution at the start of the year, so that we will try to do certain things to improve ourselves in the coming year. These New Year resolutions often fail, as they come from a place within us that

states that we are not good enough in some way. The yoga tradition offers a refreshing alternative to these; the practice of sankalpa.

Looking forward into the year ahead and asking yourself what specific things need to happen to move you forward on your path can help you set specific intentions or mini goals. Discovering your sankalpa is a process of listening - it’s not something you need to make up, and the mind doesn’t have to go wildly searching for it.

On this retreat we will be focusing on heart opening and twists with an energising vinyasa flow practice followed by a replenishing restorative yoga session.

Why Heart Opening & Twisting Poses?

When we’re feeling low or negative, we slump and round our shoulders, or if we sit hunching over a computer all day it tightens the muscles in the front of the body, so heart opening poses can release stress and tension that may be kept bound up in the chest. Heart openers expand your chest and rib cage, making them more receptive and free and when you roll your shoulders back and down and lift your chest, you automatically look more confident.

Twisting poses help restore the body’s natural range of motion, stimulate circulation and release tension in the muscles of the spine, abdomen and rib cage which has the knock-on effect of helping the other systems of the body work effectively. Twists are wonderful postures for releasing stored tension in the body, which can have a positive affect on your mental state. They can also give us an instant energy lift. The combination of the heart opening and twisting poses used during the retreat can transform us physiologically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually.

Start your year positively - book your space by emailing us at info@ hummingbirdpilatesyoga.co.uk or call us on 01245 422 556. We look forward to seeing you in 2019!

r fe d f t O ite 5 n im £4 ie Cl Unl for w s ) Ne Day shipapply r s 30 mbe(ts &c Me

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 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk Page 23

Music in Chelmsford. Part Three - by Stephen Norris One of the most controversial events at the end of the 1960s which was to have a great effect on live music in the town, was the demolition of the Corn Exchange and its replacement after several years, the Chancellor Hall - named after Frederic Chancellor. There was considerable opposition to the removal of what was by now a much loved music venue. What made matters worse was that the new hall was scheduled to house only 300 people, although when it opened its capacity was actually 500. The local papers expressed concern that the new building might become a ‘white elephant’ even before it had opened. The Chancellor Hall opened in 1974 to capacity audiences, but four years later it was already in trouble after stewards walked out and a cashier resigned over working conditions.

The Hall also had trouble attracting well known acts. It did however book some of the biggest punk acts, including The Clash and Siouxsie and the Banshees. The former event caused problems when there was a violent skirmish between punk rockers and teddy boys.

Chelmsford was quite a centre for punk activity. Seven months after the trouble outside the Chancellor Hall there was a serious clash between punks and skinheads in Anchor Street, where the latter were squatting in two houses. Local artist Grayson Perry said: “Chelmsford was quite a hot bed of punk... I ripped the sleeves of a grey school shirt then stencilled ‘HATE’ all over it with a home-made stencil... I bought plastic sandals, wore the school blazer and put Vaseline in my hair... My pièce de résistance was from a bag of horse tacks. It was a huge dog collar with whopping great horse studs, very brutal looking that I wore round my neck very proudly.” The great metal chain links used to smack him in the teeth when he danced and Bob Geldof hauled him onto the stage when The Boomtown Rats played the Chancellor Hall. Chelmsford’s thriving punk scene resulted in several well known local bands such as Anorexia and Nasty Habits.

Besides the Chancellor Hall, gigs were played at Deejay’s, the only nightclub at the time, the Odeon, the Y Club and the Prince of Orange (now O’Connors).

A punk festival at the Chelmsford City football ground was a disaster when only 1,500 fans turned up after The Clash didn’t materialise, The Jam pulled out a week before the event and The Damned refused to play after it became obvious they weren’t going to get paid.

Bands that did turn up included Eddie and the Hot Rods, Chelsea, Slaughter and the Dogs and the reggae band Aswad. John Peel was the compere and he had bottles and cans thrown at him for his trouble. ‘Fans pelt the stage as punk show flops’ reported the Weekly News. The promoter, Bob Mardon, lost £14,000. It was a sorry end to what was the first and probably the only punk festival.

In the 1990s, the Y Club at the YMCA put on a number of top indie acts before they became well known including The Cranberries, Radiohead and Teenage Fanclub. Liam Howlett, later in The Prodigy, worked at the club. At the same time the Army and Navy pub became the ‘bastion of grunge, metal and indie pop bands’. In 1994 Oasis played the venue just around the time they were starting to get attention from the national press. Trevor Holds, a local record shop owner, recalls it being “a brilliant gig.” In 2002 a letter in the Weekly News said: “Where are young music lovers to go now the Army and Navy has closed for refurbishment?” After being used for mainstream entertainment, the Army and Navy was finally demolished in 2007.

Hylands Park had also held live music events before the V Festival.

Back in 1970 a proposed pop concert on the estate caused much local alarm, but the council decided however, that it was not a suitable venue. In 1989 the Chelmsford Spectacular began after the success of the centenary celebrations in Hylands Park. They had been organised by the council, the Friends of the Samaritans and BBC Essex. The 1989 event lost money because of rain, but put on a wide variety of music events including the D’Oyly Carte Opera and the Joe Loss Orchestra. Chelmsford’s Spectacular in 1990 was however a great success with 40,000 people in the park. Fifteen thousand people saw a collection of 60s groups. In 1993, the Spectacular saw 65,000 people watch a line-up that included Take That. In 1994 it was voted the best organised outdoor event in Britain. During 1995 however the event was called off because of the risk of a £70,000

loss. The Spectacular was revived in 1996, but it gained the lowest audience in four years and had to be bailed out with money received from the V Festival. It carried on until 2001 when the council felt it could no longer subsidise it. The Spectacular was revived again in 2003, but a big loss of £65,000 due to poor weather meant the end of the event. August 2008 saw the holding of the world Scouting Jamboree in the park. Interestingly the event saw 11 children disappear, presumably to become asylum seekers.

In August 1996 the first V Festival took place at Hylands with 70,000 attending the two days. Richard Branson’s Virgin group took control of what became a largely Britpop festival. The original idea had come from the lead singer of Pulp, Jarvis Cocker. In 1997 100,000 attended and Branson said: “We will keep coming back as long as the people of Chelmsford want us.” In the early years there were frequent complaints, chiefly about litter and traffic problems, but these diminished in later years. An early letter said ‘what is considered by everybody except Chelmsford Borough Council to be a public park looks like a refuse tip and in places smells like a sewage farm’. A tongue-in-cheek reply to this and other letters included, ‘young people should not be allowed to enjoy themselves.

They should stay out of public places until they have learnt to dress in respectable clothing (‘hush puppies’ and beige slacks) and are proficient in the art of intolerance and bigotry, while remaining anonymous at all times.’

The V Festival continued to be commercially successful and it brought in much needed revenue for both the council and the city until 2017.

Many critics maintained that it played safe musically, sticking to tried and trusted stadium fillers, and bookers lacked the imagination of those at Glastonbury. Headliners in 2012 included The Stone Roses, Noel Gallagher, The Killers, Snow Patrol and Tom Jones. In 2013 major acts included Beyonce, The Script, Jessie J, The Kings of Leon, the Stereophonics and Emeli Sandé. The festival shared its line-up with a site at Stafford. After 2006, a much smaller festival called Brownstock was established near South Woodham Ferrers.

The audience for the first festival consisted of 100 friends of the organisers and featured ten straw bales, 2 BBQs and a trailer for a stage. Although it had grown by 2013 so that it featured well known headliners such as The Fratellis and Tom Odell, it still featured a great many unsigned bands.

For several decades it has been obvious that the county town, now a city, lacks the major entertainment venue it deserves. By 1978 the Chancellor Hall was only being used at a rate of 50% on Saturday nights. Even the Essex Musical Association found it too small for their festival. After being used as a dance centre in the 1990s, it was empty for a long period until it reopened in 2012 as a nightclub, Evoke, with occasional live performances.

Several plans for a concert venue have come to nothing.

Photo from Doug Bacon

Page 24 Please let our advertisers know you saw their advert in The City Times

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Chelmsford Foodbank Thanks Public for Its Support in Raising over £20,000 in Crowdfunding Campaign Chelmsford Foodbank has raised almost £24,000 in a crowdfunding campaign to purchase a new van with which to transport food between its warehouse and distribution centres.

overwhelmed by the kindness of the people of Chelmsford and want to express their sincere thanks to the public for their incredible generosity.

Chelmsford Foodbank launched its crowdfunding campaign in July of this year to coincide with its 6th anniversary. The aim was to raise £15,000 to replace an aging and unreliable van. Thanks to the support of the public, the Foodbank has been able to purchase a van and put funds towards the ongoing running costs.

Ruth Leverett, Project Manager said: “We are often impacted by the generosity of the public in Chelmsford as donations come in throughout the year but we have really been overwhelmed at the response to our recent crowdfunding campaign enabling us to purchase a decent van. Our heartfelt thanks and gratitude go to those who have given and who have supported us throughout.

This will enable us to continue to provide emergency food to those struggling in our city with food poverty.”

Chelmsford Foodbank opened at the Waterfront Place on July 16th 2012 and now comprises of five distribution centres across Chelmsford and a warehouse. The Foodbank is dependent on the generosity of the public and since Chelmsford Foodbank started, the public has given over 170 tonnes of food and given out over 18,000 3-day supplies of emergency food. They currently have over 100 volunteers working in the distribution centres, warehouse and doing office tasks and were finalists in Essex County Council’s, Who Will Care? Awards 2017 for the category of Volunteer Team Award. In addition, the Foodbank has pioneered ‘More Than Food’ programmes, 4families, a holiday club, which provides meals and activities for families who would normally receive free school meals during term time and Eat Well Spend Less, a cookery and budgeting course to support struggling families. www.chelmsford.foodbank.org.uk

The van is a vital part of the Foodbank operation, enabling the transportation of food between the warehouse and the centres and also facilitating the collection of larger donations. When it became clear that it would need to be replaced, Chelmsford Foodbank team decided to enlist the support of the public through a crowdfunding campaign. This was launched in July and was promoted weekly for eight weeks through Facebook, gaining the support of Essex Live who visited and produced a film promoting the campaign. When the give.net webpage was taken down at the beginning of October, almost £24,000 had been raised. Chelmsford Foodbank have been

Photos from Doug Bacon

To view both our magazines online visit www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Page 25

Headscratcher Quiz - by John Theedom 1. Which French city is associated with 25.

Joan of Arc? 2. In football, what does the ‘R’ stand for 26. in ‘QPR? 27.

3. What is the job of an ostler?

4. A scarlet tiger is what kind of creature? 28.

5. To which country does the term Gallic 29. relate?

6. Which year was Bobby Kennedy 30. assassinated?

7. How many children does Wayne Rooney 31. have?

32.

8. What is the name given to the whale who tuned up in the Thames?

33.

9. Where would you expect to find a newel post?

34.

10. Which cloud formation holds water?

11. What is the first name of the former MP 35.

Mrs Currie?

12. If bovine is to cows, which animal is 36. passerine?

13. What can you do with laver?

37.

14. What condition are you in if you are crapulous?

38.

15. What exactly is a loofah?

16. What is perfidity?

39.

17. Which tree is known as the churchyard tree?

40.

18. Which vegetable gave Popeye his power?

19. We call them trams, but what do Americans call them?

20. Approximately how many millimetres are there in 1.5”?

21. Lucifer can be found working where?

22. What is the meat of a deer called?

23. In pre-decimal terms, how many halfpennies were there in 11/-?

24. What colour are the seats in The House of Lords?

Papyrus is an ancient form of which modern material?

In which town did St Francis live?

Which is the world’s tallest growing tree?

In which sport can you score an eagle?

Ronnie ****** is a famous jazz club in London.

Which car maker named one of their models, Ka? Where in your body is the incus?

The height of a horse is measured in hands, how much is 1 hand?

To which country do we associate the cake, stollen?

Which animal lives at number 10 Downing Street?

Which sport is played at St Andrews in Scotland?

Who is the host of the TV panel game The Chase?

A harp is the logo of which famous company?

In which UK county is the town of Haverhill?

Who was responsible for setting up our modern police force?

Who or what is a tiggywinkle?

Answers on page 31

Spot the Difference Answers

Page 26 Please let our advertisers know you saw their advert in The City Times

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Please let our advertisers know you saw their advert in The City Times

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk Page 27

Early Christmas Festivities Crowds flocked to Hylands House on Friday 30th November and over the first weekend in December for the Frost Fair. There was lots going on and this was another original for the city, but the main attraction I think, was Santa’s Grotto.

There’s not much that excites children more than the chance to meet the real Father Christmas in person and what could be better than having him make a special trip to Chelmsford before he gets involved with his main work delivering presents to children all over the world?

point of view and also bringing great festive joy. Santa’s Grotto was so well organised, with little queuing, tables to sit at whilst completing Santa’s letters, a modest cost to see Father Christmas, and lots of other things to see at the fair. In conversation with visitors to the fair, several mentioned how Rotary had helped them in the past. It proved to be a great day out for everyone and it is to be hoped that this will be an annual event in Chelmsford’s calendar. The Rotarians are certainly up for it as they enjoyed themselves at least as much as the children!

Now, obviously Santa needs help - not just from his elves, but from the Rotary Club of Chelmsford. There they were, in the vestibule ensuring every child had a ticket and that each of them wrote a letter to Father Christmas saying what they would like for Christmas before posting it in Santa’s postbox - a lot of reading for Santa once his duties in the Grotto were over. Some of the Rotarians were also elves, and Mrs Santa was there as well, but other Rotarians had to be made honorary elves to work in the Grotto for the three days. They thoroughly deserved this opportunity, because they had been busy in Santa’s Workshop wrapping presents and decorating the Grotto to make it a wonderful sight for the youngsters.

None of us knows how Father Christmas manages to visit every child in the world on Christmas Eve and it is as much a mystery how he took the time to speak to every single child who entered his Grotto.

In all, there were 353 enchanted children who whispered in his ear what they most loved about Christmas and each one received a gift to take home. The youngest one told Santa he was just eight weeks old!

This is just one event in the life of Rotary. Soon they will be seen collecting outside supermarkets and the railway station, taking the elderly to the pantomime and a host of other things, but Rotary is not just for Christmas. If you would like to get involved or find out more about what Rotarians do, then please visit www.rotary1240.org or give me a call on 01245 260 349. Why not come along to a meeting as our guest to hear first-hand? You will be made very welcome.

Stan Keller

What was just as important was that some less fortunate children will also receive support from Rotary, because all the profits will be donated to Kids Inspire, a Chelmsford charity that helps disadvantaged children turn their lives around. Some of them will have experienced sexual abuse, some from families with exceptional financial problems. The charity also helps the parents and siblings cope with the trauma of dealing with mental issues. Kids Inspire often steps in when other agencies have given up so Rotary is delighted to offer support to such a worthwhile organisation, particularly one based in Chelmsford.

Because of the high reputation Rotary enjoys, the organisers of the Frost Fair, Battenburg Products, contacted Chelmsford Rotary Club and asked them if they would be willing to run Santa’s Grotto because they know it is a big crowd puller for the event as a whole.

Chelmsford Rotary Club was absolutely delighted to take up the gauntlet and it proved an all round success from both a financial

Photo from Doug Bacon

Page 28 Please let our advertisers know you saw their advert in The City Times

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Does your web site need a refresh? Starting a new business? Do you need a mobile specific web site? Give us a call!

Established in Chelmsford for over 9 years!

We also offer: • Business Cards • Flyers • Roller Banners • Hosting

• Logo design • Duplicate books • Brochures • Domain names

Please let our advertisers know you saw their advert in The City Times www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk Page 29

Page 29 Please let our advertisers know you saw their advert in The City Times www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Stargazing with Mark Willis - November/December 21st December: Winter Solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. You will also notice that the Sun is at its lowest altitude in the sky on this day.

December is the month to keep an eye out for Comet Wirtanen. This comet will be visible to the naked eye. The ancients believed comets to be fireballs, but nothing could be further from the truth. Comets are, in fact, ‘dirty snowballs’ and they have no light of their own. The light that a comet has is due to the warmth of the Sun vapourising the comet’s stock of snow and ice.

23rd December: Comet Wirtanen passes very close to the bright star Capella which can be seen high in the December southern sky, so close in fact, that the comet would appear to have grown another tail!

1st January: It’s exciting to know that the New Horizons probe which revealed the mystery of Pluto in June 2015 will encounter a new world called Ultima Thule. Watch this space!

2nd January: Crescent Moon together with Venus and Jupiter. This is too good to miss! Studying the crescent Moon is very rewarding as you will clearly see those wonderful lunar relief features so clearly.

With a good telescope or binoculars (I strongly recommend a tripod!) you will see amazing detail. Venus and Jupiter will appear very close by the Moon.

The Jellyfish Nebula: Amateur astronomers have captured objects on

cameras 5,000 light years distant! Space doesn’t permit me here, so to see this amazing picture and more go to: www.skyatnightmagazine. com - go to ‘Astrophotography’ and then ‘Hotshots’ gallery. I have had a few queries about selecting telescopes for Christmas presents - this site also has a section that can help with deciding on the best telescope.

North Essex Astronomical Society’s Public Stargazing Events: The next ones are Saturday 15th December, Saturday 19th January, Saturday 16th February - 6pm - 9pm. For more details go to: www. northessexastro.co.uk. Hope to see you there.

What Was the Christmas Star? Interesting question! Sadly, the date information in the Bible is very vague indeed and not precise enough.

It is a favourite at planetarium shows. It’s not Halley’s Comet. It could be another comet, asteroid or a conjunction of the planets.

Have a lovely Christmas/Winterfest.

As usual, email me with any questions...

Mark Willis presents Willis Wireless at the new time of 12pm every Tuesday afternoon on Chelmsford Community Radio on 104.4 FM and online at chelmsfordcommunityradio.com.

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

Chelmsford Creative Collective Chelmsford Creative Collective (CCC) is a group of friendly, local creatives. We have an active Facebook group where we share events, discuss collaborations and support each others creative endeavour.

We meet on the last Tuesday of the month at a local pub. Please check Facebook or email chelmsfordcreativecollective@gmail.com for details. Everybody is welcome for a drink and a chat!

Introducing One of Our Artists: Who are you and what do you create?

“My name is Joe Howse, I’m a 20 year old artist based in Blackmore and I create abstract-expressionism/surrealism pen and ink work. I create intricate drawings completely freestyle to express things about myself and my perceptions of the world around me that would be otherwise left unexpressed.”

How would you describe your working process?

“Methodical; I tend to get lost in the lines and in the process, so much so that often my works end up completely different to how I first envisioned them. My works are usually completed almost on autopilot, expressing raw emotions straight from my mind onto the paper, putting as much thought into the process as the outcome.”

Who or what inspires you to be creative?

“I’m particularly inspired by nature and our relationship with it as humans; how the entire world is intertwined and constantly moving and growing. I’m also thoroughly interested in expression; trying to turn raw feelings into a tangible visual work and finding out the most effective and raw way of doing so.”

Tell us about your most recent project...

“My most recent project was projection piece I exhibited at Chelmsford College. The piece was created in response to a song entitled Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground which was subsequently the artwork’s title. The song has always seemed so hauntingly beautiful to me and I wanted to create a visual rendition of it. The projection is simply a tormented form, not necessarily a human as much as it is a window into the hidden emotions inside all of us.”

Have you got any workshops, exhibitions or other events coming up?

“I recently took part in an exhibition entitled Broke at the Minories in Colchester, it was an exhibition set up by Art4u, a group dedicated to giving emerging artists a platform to showcase their work. I am currently building up my portfolio of work, taking part in local exhibitions and am always on the lookout for more ways to showcase my work and to view other people’s.”

What does Chelmsford Creative Collective mean to you?

“The Chelmsford Creative Collective is a brilliant group of a huge variety of artists from the local area, it has given me a fresh sense of community that I had never before felt locally. It’s the perfect place to get inspiration and to talk to/be around like-minded people, I am constantly feeling inspired by other members and hope I’m inspiring other people too!”

You’re stranded on a desert island with three items of your choice what would they be and why?

“A pen, a sketchbook and a Swiss army knife. The pen and sketchbook to give me the option to create art (which would be a key part in staying sane), catalogue my environment and keep track of the days. And the knife to prepare food, to protect myself and to craft more tools/shelter with!”

Page 30 If you would like to advertise with us please email ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Classified Adverts

01245 261104

Lens Lawnmowers Sales & Service Large showroom, over 100 machines on display. Try before you buy on selected machines

Reeds Farm, off Roxwell Road 01245 422571

www.lens-lawnmowers.co.uk

Headscratcher Quiz Answers 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Orleans Rangers Grooms horses Moth France 1968 4, Cass, Kit, Klay and Kai 8. Baluga Benny 9. Staircase 10. Nimbus

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

Edwina Birds Eat, it is seaweed Hung over Skeleton of a sea creature Treason Yew Spinach Streetcars 38.1

Hell, or Hades Venison 264 Red Paper Assisi Giant redwood Golf Scott’s Ford Inner ear 4 inches (101.6mm) Germany Cat Golf Bradley Walsh Guiness Suffolk Sir Robert Peel (hence the words ‘bobbies’ & ‘peelers’) 40. Hedgehog 21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

31.

32.

33.

34.

35.

36.

37.

38.

39.

Page 31

Advertise on this page for £25 + VAT per issue fordthecitytimes.co.uk

www.chelms-

YOUR LOCAL INDEPENDENT ESTATE AGENT SERVING CHELMSFORD FOR OVER 25 YEARS FOR A FREE PROFESSIONAL VALUATION CALL 01245 266980 Mews Court £325,000 Molrams Lane £285,000 Waterhouse Street £350,000

Attractive family house Three bedrooms Approx 120ft rear garden Off street parking

Modern terrace house Two bedrooms Approx 40ft rear garden No onward chain

Modern terrace house Three bedrooms Pleasant cul-de-sac No onward chains

Happy Christmas to all our loyal customers and friends and best wishes for a prosperous New Year from the award winning team at McCartney To celebrate our magnificent Gold achievement in the prestigious British Property Awards 2018, we are offering a 25% discount off our standard sales/management fee for new instructions to sell/let before the 31st January 2019 when mentioning this advert.

Violet Close £290,000

• Terrace house • Three bedrooms • Off street parking • Garage

Moulsham Drive Guide Price £450,000

1930s Semi detached house Three bedrooms Off road parking • Landscaped garden

Mildmay Road £550,000

Victorian semi-detached Three double bedrooms Many original features 50ft rear garden