Chelmsford the City Times December/January

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Issue Number 27: 11th December 2015 - 15th January 2016

Why Buy a Camera When You’ve Got a Phone?

After all, it’s there in your pocket ready to be whipped out whenever you need to record some event or pretty scene! Well, fine, if that all you want - BUT the art of photography is a whole different ball game and the latest cameras are WAY better than any phone.

Whether you want to capture the important events in your life in the best possible way or enjoy photography as a hobby spending your leisure time creating amazing images, you’ll be needing a proper camera with lenses and other bits and bobs... and advice on what to choose and how to use all the dials, knobs and buttons.

Well, lucky Chelmsford! Based in High Chelmer Shopping Centre, we are one of the few remaining real camera shops. CameraWorld is staffed by friendly folk who know about all things photographic and care about helping other people to enjoy this really interesting pastime.

In this Aladdin’s cave, you’ll find all the major brands at internet prices and below, so pop in and see us. Inside, you can look at and get a feel for the cameras - and we’ll also be asking you questions so that we can use our pearls of wisdom to advise you on what we think will be the right camera for you. Whether you’re a happy snapper, into wildlife, sports, portrait or family photography, we will be able to guide you towards finding the right product for you.

Better still, there’s an ever-changing selection of pre-owned equipment, saving you even more money - all fully guaranteed too. You may want to go retro and take photos with a film camera… Crazy maybe, but lots of fun and becoming really popular again - a bit like vinyl LPs. So, where do we get these old cameras, lenses and things from? You! Somewhere in your cupboards or loft you may well have some old camera equipment stored away from a time when you switched to just using your phone, or maybe you have bought all the latest gizmos but never cleared out your old stuff.

Now’s the time to earn some brownie points and pop that old camera along to CameraWorld and exchange it for good money to spend at Christmas! You can also find us online at www.cameraworld.co.uk, or call 01245 255510.

CT Welcome Hello readers

Again a busy month for us here, time just flies past!

We would like to thank all of our advertisers, writers and of course our readers, for all the contributions over the past year, and we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

January/February Issue Deadlines: Artwork - 7th Jan Articles - 2nd Jan

Our first edition of 2016 will be 15th January.

Until then, stay safe and enjoy the holidays.

Regards Paul & Nick

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk | www.moulshamtimes.com

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

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CT Fashion - Xmas Shopping Guide 2015 What with Black Friday, Cyber Monday and pre-Christmas sales, shopping is at the forefront of our minds. But how do you spend your money wisely and choose the best gift for someone you love? What do you buy for the little ones? And how do you choose a party dress that doesn’t cost the earth?

For the answer to these questions read on…

All of these clothes and accessories can be picked up from our high street and I have chosen what I think are some great gifts. Most of these items are reduced, but these deals won’t last forever, so keep your eyes peeled on the high street and check online regularly, as at this time of year there are always reductions.

Gifts for Her WAREHOUSE: Metallic jacquard blouse - £29.40 (great party wear).

Jacquard blouse - £29.40 (great everyday blouse).

M&S AUTOGRAPH: New animal print blouse (T504941) - £35.00.

M&S INDIGO COLLECTION: Open front Ikat print wrap (T015273I) £39.50.

M&S ROSIE FOR AUTOGRAPH: Hooded luxury dressing gown (T372920) - £27.65.

FATFACE: Hatfield western boots - £65.00.

OASIS: Leather Betti clutch - £25.00.

NEXT: Scene print button pyjamas - £40.00.

Gum mules £10.00.

Gifts for Him DEBENHAMS: Levi dark blue borg denim jacket - was £95.00, now £66.50.

Hammond & Co. BY PATRICK GRANT: Navy faux fur trim parka coat was £145, now £116.

H&M: Patterned cotton shirt (black and white spots) - £12.99.

Navy bow tie with red diamonds - £7.99.

Navy desert boots and brogues - £39.99.

TOPMAN: Navy trigger suedette lace-up chukka boots - was £40.00, now £35.00.

Navy pattern touchscreen gloves, were £12.00, now £9.60.

GAP: 1969 pompom beanie - £14.95.

Christmas Childrenswear & Accessories NEXT: Boy’s tan knitted cardigan (0 to 18 months) - £12.00.

Boys red Christmas snowman jumper (3 months to 6 years) - £15-16.

Boys navy Christmas crochet truck jumper (3 months to 6 years) £15-16.

Girls grey jewel dress (3 to 16 years) - £18 - 23.

M&S AUTOGRAPH: Girls 3-piece top, shorts & tights outfit (1 to 7 years) (T774128D) - £15.40 - £16.80.

M&S: Pure cotton Santa knitted all-in-one with hat (T787795X) (from newborn to 18 months) - £16.

3-pack Christmas bodysuits (T784199X) (newborn to 3 years) - £9 £10.

Pure cotton house print prom dress with belt (1 to 7 years) (T773220U) £18 - £20.

Eyelash metallic-effect fluffy jumper (5 to 14 years) (T749301Q) £16 - £20.

Faux suede shorts (5 to 14 years) (T743101Q) - £14 - £18.

Animal print dress (5 to 14 years) (T749700Q) - £18 - £22.

Girls jacquard geometric bunny sweater - £22.95.

Girls embellished denim fit and flare dress - £29.95.

Boys geometric Fair Isle sweater £22.95.

Happy intarsia pom-pom hat - £9.95.

Boys tickling arms knit scarf £14.95.

Boys multi-color pom-pom beanie £12.95.

MONSOON: Girls Winnie owl skirt (8133854027) - was £26.00, now £23.00 (there is also currently £5 and £10 off on selected girls party dresses).

Perfect Party Dresses TK MAXX: French Connection green sequin striped skater dress £79.00 (original price £280).

GAP: Confetti fit and flare dress £49.95 (currently if you enter the online code you can get 40% off, but if this deal has expired, keep checking Gap online, in store and voucher sites for latest deals).

WAREHOUSE: Stripe lace dress - £45.50.

Bonded fit and flare dress - £47.20.

M&S LIMITED EDITION: Metallic effect geometric jacquard fit and flare dress (T690315L) - £31.50 (was £45.00).

TOPSHOP: Guipure lace dress - was £55.00, now £40.00.

For Branded Gifts and Luxury Gifts Dr Martens, Ray-Bans and Clarks Originals for men, visit www. topman.com - there are some great reductions.

For 100% cashmere scarves under £30.00, go to www.uniqlo.com.

They also have cashmere jumpers and cardigans for both men and women reasonably priced.

For Levis and brogues for men head to Debenhams.

For UGGs, Barbour and Ash for ladies, visit www.soletraderoutlet. co.uk. For UGGs also check Office at www.office.co.uk and M and M Direct at www.mandmdirect.com.

For women’s Dr Martens and Converse, try www.schuh.co.uk.

Cambridge Satchels have just finished their Black Friday deal, but keep checking for more discounts at www.cambridgesatchel.com.

Check out www.selfridges.com for reductions too.

Happy shopping everyone and Happy Christmas!

Emma Smith is a personal shopper, she offers personal shopping sessions and wardrobe edits. you can contact her at: emma@ emmasmith.co.uk. Visit her website at: www.emmasmith.co.uk.

GAP (check online and in store for deals): Girls Fair Isle sweater - £22.95.

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MONDAYS

Millennium Community Centre Recreation Ground, Baddow Road, Great Baddow, CM2 9RL 9:30am, 11:30am and 1.15pm Lucy 01245 262457

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

Church of Our Saviour Aston Place New Day Chelmer Village New Venue CM2 6ST From 4th Jan 5.30pm and 7.30pm Sandon Village Hall Woodhill Road, Sandon CM2 7SQ 7:00pm Lucy 01245 262457

TUESDAYS

Broomfield Village Hall 158 Main Road (behind Angel Pub), Broomfield CM1 7AH 3.00pm, 5:00pm and 7:00pm Victoria 07823 441198

Millennium Community Centre Recreation Ground, Baddow Road, Great Baddow CM2 9RL 3.30pm, 5:30pm and 7:30pm Samantha 01245 266442 The Salvation Army Hall Maldon Road, Hatfield Peverel, Chelmsford, CM3 2HS 5.30pm and 7.30pm Lesley 07973 239899

Life Church Hall Street, off Moulsham Street, Chelmsford CM2 0HG 5:30pm New 7.30pm From 6th January Angie 07814 992628 Boreham Village Hall, Main Road, Boreham CM3 3JD 5:30pm and 7:30pm Emma 07887 692906

Writtle Community Association Longmeads House, 12-14 Redwood Drive, Writtle CM1 3LY 5.00pm and 7:00pm Jennifer 07792 516866

Springfield Park Baptist Church Springfield Park Road, Springfield CM2 6EB 7.30pm Emma 07887 692906 St Michael's Church of England Junior School, Barnard Road, Galleywood CM2 8RR 7:30pm Tracy 07981 609044

THURSDAYS THURSD

Newlands Spring Community Hall, Dickens Place, Chelmsford CM1 4UU 5.30pm and7:30pm Jennifer 07792 516866

North Springfield Baptist Church Havengore, off Pump Lane, Springfield CM1 6JP 5.30pm and 7:30pm Victoria 07823 441198

FRIDAYS

The Church Of Ascension, Maltese Road, Chelmsford CM1 2PB 9:30am WEDNESDAYS Samantha 01245 266442 Church Of St Augustine Of Canterbury

St Augustines Way, SATURDAYS Springfield CM1 6GQ Springfield Park Baptist Church, Church 9:30am and 11:30am Springfield Park Road, Emma 07887 692906 Springfield CM2 6EB

8.30am and 10.30am Emma 07887 692906

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk Page 5

You Must be Mad! by Simon Culleton

Here are 4 legitimate questions from an actual online test to diagnose whether or not you are a psychopath. If however, while reading this you are sharpening an axe and muttering murderous chants, I don’t think you need to take the test. 1: Are you highly intelligent? 2: Are you spontaneous and intense with other people? 3: Do you have the ability to hold an audience and weave outrageous lies? 4: Are you incapable of true love and never apologize? If the answer to all of these questions is ‘yes’ then you have very strong traits of being a psychopath (it’s also quite possible I may have once dated you a few years back.)

Mental illness is reputed to be one of the most misunderstood illnesses of the 21st century and I had the privilege of speaking to some of the people who live with it. There is surprisingly a large amount of us that do so in one form or another. An estimated 1 in 10 show strong psychopathic or sociopathic tendencies. The difference between the two is that a psychopath has a genetic predisposition (born that way) and a sociopath is a product of their environment. (turned that way). Psychopaths were made famous by the Alfred Hichcock 1960s thriller, Psycho (I’ve never taken a shower without locking the door since.) There have also been some infamous psychopaths like Hannibal Lector, Charles Manson and President Bush (I added the last one). Yet there are more obscure mental conditions that are prevalent in our society if only we’d notice: Narcissism (an excessive interest in ones’ appearance) is something I would see all the time - if only I wasn’t looking in the mirror combing my hair... and megalomania (an overwhelming desire for power) is everywhere - in people that will soon be under my control.

There is also of course, phobias - no less a mental illness - which affects an estimated 10 million in the UK and over 25 million in the US. We have all heard of the familiar phobias such as claustrophobia and aerophobia (the fear of small spaces and the fear of flying), Yet

there are the less well known phobias that some unlucky individuals (mostly Americans) have to deal with: Phagophobia; the fear of swallowing or oikophobia; the fear of household appliances (run, the washing machine is coming...)

There is also ombrophobia, which if you live in England must be a constant irritation - the fear of rain. My personal favourite is one that, if you are a sufferer, will mean that you have difficulty in reading this: Hippotomnstrosesquipe - the fear of long words. There is even a modern day phobia to get used to: Nomophobia - the fear of being without phone coverage. And of course there is the all encompassing, all debilitating Phobophibia: the fear of phobias. I’d like to add another which I seem to be surrounded by every time I go down the pub: Buy-a-round-a-phobia.

Yet the mental illness that holds the most fascination and of course pity for those who suffer from it is: DID - Dissociative Identity Disorder, the modern day version of Jekyll and Hyde where a person has two different identities each seemingly unaware of the other. (that’s the girl I went out with). This condition has more cases in America (never...) than anywhere else. In 1979 a 23 year old, Juante Maxwell, had her lawyers successfully argue that it was not Juante that had committed a brutal murder but her other personality, the flirtatious and violent ‘Wanda Weston’. Therefore Juante was set free until four years later to be re-arrested for robbing two banks, which of course it was proven that it wasn’t Juante but Wanda... and yes she was set free again. Another sufferer of DID was Truddi Chase, a woman diagnosed with no less than 92 different personalities. She was interviewed on the Oprah Winfrey Show (must have taken ages) before her sad demise in 2002. As far as I am aware she only had one funeral.

So mental illness, whether extraordinary (DID) or everyday (phobias), are all around us and are not so hidden from our everyday lives. The one message that came across when speaking to the mental health practitioners is that we would all have a lot more time for mental health if we could admit that most of us, in one form or another, suffer from it. By the way if there are any spelling mistakes in this column, it wasn’t me but my flirtatious, narcissist, grammatically insane megalomaniac other self. simon@limepad.com

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Chelmsford Football Academy The Chelmsford City Football Academy was formed in August 2011 with the aim to recruit enthusiastic football players with varying levels of ability, who want to improve their skills and overall game by attending a full-time training programme whilst studying a course of their choice.

After a series of football trials or training sessions, the selected players have a choice of studying a two year BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport and Exercise Sciences, a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Business or a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Public Services (all are subject to suitable GCSE grades). For those more practical learners, the Professional Coaching Skills Programme (one year) is available which incorporates many NGB qualifications. From this, some go on to complete an apprenticeship in Activity Leadership or Sports Development, find employment, or go on to university.

The players train and play in competitive leagues every Wednesday afternoon. Some will get the opportunity to play in the FA Youth Cup and may progress to 1st team football and play at a high level. The players’ college courses are tailored so that they can attend football training on Monday, Tuesday and Friday and play matches every Wednesday during the football season.

Some students may eventually apply for an apprenticeship and become employed. They would be employed to work within schools and the communities where they will plan and deliver coaching sessions to children. All apprentices are contracted to work for a total of 30 hours per week, which includes studying, training, playing and coaching.

For further information, email David Cornwell (academy director): cornwelld@chelmsford.ac.uk or call 01245 293119.

CHELMSFORD

Christmas Lunch at The County Hotel Join us for lunch on Friday 25th December Under 5years are free of charge £29.95 for Children age between 5-9 years £69.00 per adult

New Year Celebration

Let’s dance away the end of 2015 and welcome the start of 2016. Prices start from as little as £72.95 per person.

With our resident DJ playing all your favourite party anthems, it is sure to be a night not to be missed.

Diary of Events for 2016

Saturday 27th February – Murder on the Gallops Saturday 30th April – Skulduggery in Suburbia Saturday 1st October – Rocky Horror Saturday 19th November – The Midwynter Christmas Murders To book your event please give us a call now on 01245 455 700 or email sales@countyhotelgroup.co.uk The County Hotel | 29 Rainsford Road Chelmsford | Essex | CM1 2PZ | www.countyhotelchelmsford.co.uk www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

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(Harts Tongue) as this one CT Gardening by Tom Cole ‘Angustifolia’ has long, narrow crimped edged fronds.

Tubs of Fun! It’s time again to revamp any container that has escaped you over the last few months. Is it looking tied and sad? Some of mine are, so I’ve grabbed the bull by the horns and stepped into action. This gives me a great opportunity to change the container and opt for a complete change, which in turn has inspired me to put something new in.

The one pot I’ve got to look at is a lone container residing in a dustbin corner. Yep, where our bins live for most weeks! Well I thought I’d jazz up the planting and bring in a few scented smellies and keep to a theme of evergreen foliage with some flowers for a bonus.

The previous pot was an old fibreglass vision around 1.5m high which had a glorious old ivy and a few crocus - so slightly sad looking if I had to add anything else. Out with this and in with a lovely new terracotta urn of around the same height and spread. The area is light early in the day and a little shady during winter months and positioned at the end of an alley between two houses.

To break up the green I’ve added brightly coloured foliage in the form of Heucherella, a cross between two distinct plants, Heuchera and Tiarella, and shows similarities to both parents, although there are many forms - check out this link: www.heucheraholics.co.uk/ heucherella-shop.html.

I’ve used Heucherella ‘Sweet Tea’ with deeply-lobed leaves that change with the seasons. In the spring, leaves are amber-orange with a cinnamon-brown star pattern in the centre whilst in summer, russet, copper and cinnamon tones dominate.

Added to the melting pot, try out Helleborus niger (Christmas rose) with lovely leathery foliage and perfect white flowers from winter through to spring.

Lastly, don’t forget to use bulbs or corms to give a burst of colour early in the new year. Check out the overall height and try and keep within the scale of the container. Try crocus, snowdrops, winter aconites and or dwarf daffodils (especially Minnow for small bright yellow trumpeted blooms).

All the plants used will be perfectly fine in this sized pot for at least a couple of years... Don’t forget though that water does need to escape during winter; either pop the container on little feet or stand on gravel - this will save your pot if it’s terracotta and protect your plants from standing in water for too long which can lead to rotting.

Good luck and happy gardening!

As a key plant, I had to go with Sarcococca confusa (Sweet or Christmas Box). This is one of my favourite plants for producing a vanilla-like scent which can be quite heady during the winter months.

At Writtle College we have these doted around the campus and they are just lovely. The leaves are glossy and deeply green and it is a great compact, thicket-forming shrub that will get to around 2m high if you let it. A bonus is that towards the end of winter you’ll get spherical, black or blue-black berries.

For a change in texture I love to use ferns, so what better than to use Dryopteris erythrosora (Japanese shield fern). This is a semievergreen producing fronds up to 75cm. It is a clumped plant where the foliage often turns coppery-pink when young going to green. In the same tub I’ve added another called Asplenium scolopendrium

We wish all our customers a great Xmas & NY

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For any gardening tips, contact: Tom Cole, Head 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

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CT Cooking

Live Well and Live Dosa

Season’s greetings everyone. Party season is upon us once more and we count down to the big day with the big roasted bird followed by a small snooze on the big comfy sofa in front of the big TV. That about sums it up for me.

A couple of years ago, my wife and I decided to skip Christmas - Grisham style. The day began with a long walk through Central Park with our neurotic cockapoo followed by a breakfast of smoked salmon and fizz. The rest of the day we occupied by sitting in PJs, quaffing mulled wine and trying to find something on TV that didn’t involve Disney, Harry Potter or escaping a POW camp. For Christmas dinner, we ordered a magnificent Indian takeaway from Moulsham Street, ensuring tha there were enough leftovers for the next three days in case of freak avalanche and/or Armageddon.

I’m seriously considering doing this again, though not through any familial disharmony, but because I’ve eaten at Live Dosa and Christmas came early. For those of you not familiar with Live Dosa, it is a small family run restaurant on Duke Street in the west end of the city and (I am told) Chelmsford’s only authentic Kerala restaurant.

Kerala, known as the land of spices, is a state on the south west of India’s tropical Malabar coast. Along with the abundance of its own produce - coconut, rice, cinnamon and ginger - each Keralan region has its own distinct use of spices and flavours influenced throughout history by European seafaring traders. As it occupies six hundred miles of Arabian Sea coastline, it boasts some of the best seafood on the planet. Correct, I have access to Wikipedia. Its cuisine has been growing in popularity in the UK, giving life to a number of chains such as Rasa and The Kerala Group that now occupy some of the high end areas of London like Mayfair and Clerkenwell.

of their food, warmth, culture and hospitality, because for them, the experience and authenticity is all that counts. When Fazila does finally take over the world, one thing is guaranteed, we’ll all eat well. Welcome to the city, Live Dosa.

Thank you to all who have followed my column over the year and taken time to send me your emails. It is an enduring joy to bring you the best in what our city offers in my own rambling manner. It remains to wish you all a very merry Christmas and peaceful New Year and as ever, may your dingdongs be merrily higher than everyone else’s. Amis Joyeux Noël. Nos pensées sont avec toi.

John Jacobs

We booked for a Wednesday evening, arriving promptly at 7.30pm expecting to be one of a small handful of diners - mid-week is not the best time for restaurants. This was a first in a series of poorly made assumptions. Outside, there is an Island Bar look which is a little out of place on a cold city evening. Inside, the decor is simple and unobtrusive and there’s a gentle aroma of spiced incense when you enter. Within moments of arriving, the restaurant was filled with diners with just three tables left free. A good sign.

As for the menu, don’t expect sag aloo and chips. This is the real deal, thoroughly authentic and regional. Each menu item comes with a brief description and any other information came from the amazing Fazila, one half of the husband and wife team behind Live Dosa. An extraordinary human being so driven with passion and enthusiasm about the dream and where that dream will take them, that she makes you feel both excited and inadequate at the same time. Fazila offered her recommendations and we were happy to be guided by her knowledge and infectious spirit.

For starters we shared a Chicken Dosa, a fermented crepe made from rice batter and black lentils served with chutneys and vegetable curry. Beautifully spiced with a gentle slow heat that brought new flavours to my palette. We also sampled the Keralan Fish Curry which in this instance was made with large cuts of tuna in a tamarind tanged sauce that certainly jolts the taste buds to attention. For mains we shared a King Prawn Roast and Lamb Ularthiyathe, a slow cooked, melt in the mouth dry cooked curry. We accompanied this with a Malabar Porotta, a light, feather soft puff-style naan bread and Vendakka Theeyal, okra in roasted coconut sauce.

Every dish we tasted was a new experience and nothing disappointed. Live Dosa is not just a curry fanatic’s paradise, it’s a food lovers one. Originally occupying a small corner of the High Chelmer indoor market, owners Fazila and Ajikumar moved their dream of bringing authentic Keralan food into a permanent setting on Duke Street. The west end of Chelmsford is stealthily becoming the cosmopolitan side of town and home to some hidden gems like Zorba the Greek, the African food of Flavorz and now Live Dosa. In many ways Live Dosa reminds me of Zorba’s in that it’s a family affair where a tight budget doesn’t stop them from bringing the very best Page 10 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

The Railway Tavern

by Simon Tippler of roundtowerbrewery.co.uk Situated (obviously) by the railway station, this pub is owned by Gray & Sons. Gray & Sons, as you may know, were the last brewery in Chelmsford until they stopped brewing in 1974. However, they still own around 50 pubs in Essex, mainly centred around Chelmsford.

The Railway Tavern was recently taken over by Jo (from her dad who had run it for years). In the firm hands of Jo, the pub is going from strength to strength and this year won a Highly Commended award from the local CAMRA group.

With 8 hand pumps, there is always a good selection of well kept beers to be enjoyed - often including something from Round Tower.

Alongside the real ale and the European lagers, the Railway Tavern also have two great keg beers from Adnams; their Dry Hopped Lager and also the Mosaic which are really worth trying.

One thing of note is the extensive range of 52 different gins that they stock from artisan and small producers.

Although it’s winter, it is worth checking out the courtyard garden at the back of the pub to see the great mural that Jo had commissioned.

It is also worth looking out for the Meet The Brewer nights that are run every other month. On these nights a different brewery is represented and there are plenty of free samples given out!

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What’s On In Chelmsford

December Friday 11th Asylum - Chasin’ Vegas + My Pet Shark + Indigo Bassment - Electric Jam: Sunscream + Paolo Morena + Black Chapel (ft. Bird) + The Boy Jones (DJ Set) Black Horse - Rant ‘n’ Rave Civic - Aladdin Cramphorn - Santa In Love Fleece - Expose Star & Garter - Thirsty Work Trinity Methodist Church Hall - Rememberance Evening Saturday 12th Asylum - Acoustic Afternoon (1pm), Frowser + Crum (8.30pm) Bassment - ICYMI Xmas Party: Grizzly Bears + Creme De Chevre + The Lemoncurd Kids + Drama Llamas Black Horse - Monkies Wedding Chelmsford Cathedral - Harlow Chorus: Handel’s Messiah Civic - Aladdin Cramphorn - Santa In Love Fleece - The Heaters Springfield Parish Centre - Jack and the Beanstalk Star & Garter - Solar 9 The Angel - Christmas Crafts at The Angel (11am) Sunday 13th CCFC - Bingo at Clarets CCFC - Chelmsford Antiques & Collectables Fair Civic - Aladdin Cramphorn - Santa In Love Eagle Galleywood - Open Mic Star & Garter - Open Mic Monday 14th Civic - Aladdin Cramphorn - Christmas Gothic The Lion Inn - Chelmsford Comedy Club Tuesday 15th Bassment - Club Static - Sportsday + Trowler (solo set) Cathedral - Carol concert with Waltham Singers & City of Chelmsford Mencap members Civic - Aladdin Wednesday 16th Bassment - Wallop! 6: Host + Make Love + Muertos Civic - Aladdin Cramphorn - Lunchtime concert Cramphorn - Nutcracker Three Elms - Live JAZZ quartet (8pm) Thursday 17th Bassment - Mother’s Jam: Moon Balloon + Greydolf + The Takes + Otoko Civic - Aladdin Fleece - DJ party night Friday 18th Asylum - The Psychedelic Warlords + Midnight Barbers Bassment - Shakey’s Sessions: Kloq + Origami Noise + Shavargo + Sauce Audio Black Horse - The Tributes Band Civic - Aladdin Cramphorn - Larry Berkovitz and Zak Barrett Xmas Jazz Page 12

(Christmas events in red)

Friday 18th continued Fleece - Electonic 80s Nags Head - Sarah Beth singing live Star & Garter - The Stents Saturday 19th Asylum - Alice in Wonderland’s Mad Hatter’s Tea Party Bassment - DJ Yoda + Bassment Xmas Party Black Horse - 7786 CCFC Home: Chelmsford City FC v Wealdstone Civic - Aladdin Cramphorn - Larry Berkovitz and Zak Barrett Xmas Jazz Eagle Galleywood - Nativity at the Inn Fleece - Break for Cover Star & Garter - Rewind The Angel - Christmas Crafts at The Angel (11am) Three Elms - Christmas Carol sing-a-long by candlelight (8pm) Sunday 20th Civic - Aladdin Cramphorn - Nutcracker Three Elms - Charity Christmas Auction. All proceeds to Farleigh Hospice (7pm) Star & Garter - Open Mic Monday 21st Civic - Aladdin Fleece - Christmas Party Night Tuesday 22nd Bassment - Marc Halls & Jacob Deist + Bongo Steve Civic - Aladdin Fleece - Christmas Party Night Wednesday 23rd Asylum - Kid Mojo & the Filters Bassment - Laika + Dies in Orbit + Powerband + Lost in London + Beemo Civic - Aladdin Cramphorn - Lunchtime concert Fleece - Frog on a Rocket Thursday 24th Asylum - Xmas Eve Party Bassment - Rock‘n’Roll Bingo Xmas Eve Special Black Horse - Coyotes Civic - Aladdin Fleece - Christmas Eve @ The Fleece Star & Garter - The Crusaders Three Elms - Christmas Eve Disco (8pm) Saturday 26th Bassment - Boxing Day Alright for Dancin’ CCFC Home: Chelmsford City FC v Dartford Fleece - Head Star & Garter - The Lucettas Sunday 27th Bassment - SDM Presents Staplemas 2015 Civic - Aladdin Star & Garter - Open Mic Monday 28th CCFC Away: St Albans City v Chelmsford City Civic - Aladdin

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

Tuesday 29th Civic - Aladdin Wednesday 30th Civic - Aladdin Thursday 31st Asylum - Asylum’s New Year’s Eve Alternative Prom! Party At Your House + The Riddled With Booze Orchestra Bassment - Freres Presents: NYE Break the Dancefloor Black Horse - Karaoke (ticket only) Chelmsford City FC - CCFC New Years Eve Party Civic - Aladdin Fleece -New Years Eve 2015 Star & Garter - Fishing for Robots and Rewind January Friday 1st Civic - Aladdin Saturday 2nd Bassment - Saturday’s Aright for Dancin’ CCFC Away: Dartford v Chelmsford City Civic - Aladdin Sunday 3rd Civic - Aladdin Star & Garter - Open Mic Wednesday 6th Bassment - Jazz/Funk: The Hearn Brothers Cramphorn - Lunchtime concert Thursday 7th Asylum - Pool Competition Bassment - Bassment Blues Jam Cramphorn - Amy (15) Friday 8th Asylum - Breaking Illusion + Purgatory Bassment - Shakey’s Sessions - line up tbc Saturday 9th Asylum - First Order + Changing Seasons + Tirade Bassment - Saturday’s Alright for Dancin’ CCFC Home: Chelmsford City v Weston-Super-Mare Civic - Let’s Hang On Sunday 10th Civic - Forever in Blue Jeans Cramphorn - Chelmsford Jazz Club Star & Garter - Open Mic Monday 11th Cramphorn - Diary of a Teenage Girl (18) Wednesday 13th Bassment - Blues in the City: Martin McNeill + Ramon Goose Cramphorn - Lunchtime concert Thursday 14th Bassment - Live indie rock Cramphorn - Eden (15) Friday 15th Asylum - Sportsday + New Subjects Bassment - Rowntree Records: Winter Warmers + Greydolf + Rob Wakeman Civic - Jimi Hendrix Experience Saturday 16th Asylum - Steve Hooker + Acidultra Bassment - Saturday’s Alright for Dancin’ CCFC Away: Margate v Chelmsford City Cramphorn - Comedy Club 4 Kids!

Sunday 17th Civic - Beyond the Barricade Star & Garter - Open Mic

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Please send us your events for the next edition (for events between 15th January and 14th February) to: editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

CT Business bestofchelmsford

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This Christmas, when you’re thinking of what to buy, perhaps think about where to buy it from as well. The best answer is to buy locally.

By doing this you’ll have a positive impact in a number of different ways. When you buy from a local business you get to know them and their other customers. You’ve got your own network, part of the local community. You’ll also help to grow our local economy because more of every £ you spend with a local independent business remains in the local economy. Far more than if you spend with a large chain store and even more again if you buy online from a huge retailer.

Successful independent businesses can also boost local house prices. Independent businesses add character to our streets and provide shoppers with greater choice. It’s great to have something different, but without our local independents this is a much more difficult task.

Independent businesses are also generally smaller, they take up less space, sell more local products and create less traffic and pollution.

The creation of local jobs is another important contribution, not just in the jobs they create for themselves, but for the knock on effect on other local businesses. For example, a local independent business is more likely to use a local printer, lawyer and accountant.

Knowledge of the products they sell is another advantage local independents have over their larger cousins. They tend to know more about the stuff they sell and are often more able to advise their customers as to the right purchase for them.

So from us at thebestofChelmsford, have a great Christmas and please remember to make it a great Christmas for our local independent businesses that help to make our city the best. Our message is BUY LOCAL from your local super heroes!

Why not join us at the home of great local businesses, offers, events and much more? visit us at www.thebestof.co.uk/chelmsford, or call 01245 701020.

Paul J King Funeral Directors by Tom Bosher This month I had the pleasure of interviewing Paul King the owner of Paul J King Funeral Directors.

Paul J King Funeral Directors started back in 1990 and the first office was set up in 1995 in South Woodham Ferrers. Since then they have expanded and have sites in Burnham-on-Crouch, Chelmsford, Braintree, Hullbridge and Maldon.

So Paul how did you get into this line of work?

“Well I am the fifth generation in my family to do what I do. My family all go back as builders and undertakers; most builders were undertakers in those days. On leaving school I went into the building industry for a company that were builders and funeral directors and did my apprenticeship in bricklaying. I then realised I would rather be on the other side of the business. They had no openings for me so I searched high and low for a job in the funeral profession and got a job in one of the larger corporates. Once I had the knowledge, and had paid for myself to undertake the Diploma in Funeral Directing, I decided to look around at new towns that didn’t have funeral directors like South Woodham Ferrers. This was a chance for me to grow and get established within the community.”

It seems funerals are getting more expensive. What are the reasons for this?

“Yes, funerals are getting more expensive and there have been a number of reports looking into this. The rising costs can be attributed to many factors including the increasing scarcity of burial plots and the fast-rising local authority fees for burials and cremations.

However, being a family firm we are able to offer choice and families can arrange an inexpensive, yet dignified funeral to suit their budget.

The rising cost of funerals has led many people to take out a pre-paid funeral plan for themselves, securing our fees at today’s prices, and saving their families the expensive burden of paying for a funeral in the years to come.”

Are you doing more bespoke funerals these days?

“Yes very much so. All funerals are bespoke in their own way, certainly no two are the same. There are many different themes, for example, some people have horse-drawn hearses, others have the usual motor hearses as you would expect. We can now offer a vintage tractor and trailer, motorbike and sidecar hearse, VW campervans, Land Rover 4x4 hearse, so it’s down to us to let people know the options they have.”

What would you say is the most important part of what you do?

“The most important part is really caring for the deceased and their families. Obviously caring for the deceased is our primary role, but the care of the family is also important. They are often in a state of shock and disbelief and are unsure of what has to be done and in what order, they rely upon us to guide them through. The funeral itself is the shortest part of the process. It’s actually the work that goes on behind the scenes before the day which is the biggest part. Looking after the family, meeting with them, going through the arrangements, showing them the choices and receiving them into the office for chapel visits, if they wish to visit a loved one, are all important parts of the service we provide. Our care doesn’t cease once the funeral is over, we offer bereavement support to anyone who has been bereaved, not just our clients.”

As it is a vital service you provide and so sensitive, how do you cope with it all?

“It’s always handy to have a partner who is a good listener.

Some organisations, like the fire service for example, would have an in-house counselling service. Funeral directors don’t have that facility. Normally it’s someone you go home to in the evening that you can talk to and offload the day’s events, stresses and strains.

This is coupled with having a bit of a sense of humour as well. Obviously you are meeting people at their worst, it’s the worst thing that has ever happened to them, so naturally as human beings ourselves we are absorbing some of that grief as well. Having some lighter moments in your life are important.”

And finally what does the future hold for your business?

“The future? Well I would like to keep expanding the business. It’s a passion and it’s something I love. I like helping people and would like to offer our services over a wider area.”

Paul King is a great example of a local business that is going from strength to strength due to hard work, professionalism and the dedication shown by Paul and his staff.

Paul J King Funeral Directors: www.pauljking.com.

Page 14 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Forte Physical Health - an Exciting New Venture by Linda McNeill This month something a little different happened... I interviewed A MAN! Yes, this crazy thing did indeed occur and I hope to feature lots more men and their businesses in the future! My first male feature came in the delightful form of Chris Branch, a local osteopath who is about to open up shop in the heart of Chelmsford. He had a great tale to tell...

There has been no change in direction for Chris, as so often there has been with many of the people I have interviewed. He knew from the age of 13 that he wanted to be an osteopath. Somewhat surprising as I suspect many of us are not completely sure what an osteopath is even as an adult! I have to admit that at the mature age of 34 I had to ask him to fully explain... “An osteopath is in the same area of medicine as chiropractors and physiotherapists. Osteopaths use a combination of massage, stretching, manipulation and exercises to help our patients recover from pain. We are commonly known for treating back pain, however we actually treat all the body - from your toes to your nose! We commonly treat joint pain, muscle strains, some types of headaches, nerve problems and all sorts of other interesting things!

I personally treat anyone from the age of 4 or 5 upwards, although other osteos treat people younger, and I work a lot with the elderly to improve their movement. Sports injuries also make up a fair chunk of my work. We can also ‘prehab’ people before an operation and ‘rehab’ them after.” This intrigued me and I wanted to know more: “A recent example was a client who was due to have a total knee replacement. There were two main things to do in advance of the operation - get the soft tissues as loose as possible and increase strength to help neurological awareness for post op recovery. It is all very gentle and exercised based. The client made an astonishingly quick recovery from her operation so this preparatory treatment can be extremely effective.”

So how did Chris, at the age of 13, know that this was what he wanted to do? “I have always been interested in health and have always been fascinated by the human body - I loved reading body atlases when I was young. I always felt I wanted to work with my hands and was fascinated by how we move. I didn’t want to use medicines but I wanted to work with the human body.” He did not know exactly how he could do this until at the age of 13 he met an osteopath and became his receptionist! So when the rest of us were probably cracking on with our first paper round, Chris was already starting to learn his trade. This was the beginning of his journey and he has never looked back. Chris attended the British School of Osteopathy in London, completing the intense 4 year course and then he has done 3 years part-time post-grad’ study. “I spent one year going backwards and forwards to America learning advanced biomechanics - the study of human movement - and this has completely changed the way I practice osteopathy, it is amazing.

Often now the treatment is done while the patient is standing and moving.”

I wanted to hear more about Chris’s new business which is soon to be opening in Old Moulsham. When Chris started to explain, his first words were: “I have never believed in fate but what happened in the lead up to me finding my new premises has made me question this.”

Intriguing! Chris currently has a practice in Ford End but has been wanting for some time to move it to the heart of Chelmsford. “I live in Old Moulsham and very much feel part of the community. One of my main goals when I became an osteopath was to integrate my business locally and help people in my local area. My practice in Ford End is too isolated for this. However, I had not actually verbalised this, I had just been mulling it over in my head for a number of months.”

the past 40 years and the same week that he made the decision that he definitely would like to move, this came up for sale. “I spoke to my wife Mel at 11am that morning and it was her that said ‘what about Rochford Road Clinic?’ - and this me got me thinking that it could actually be a possibility. However, to me it still seemed an unlikely prospect as property moves fast in this area and I had literally just verbalised my idea.” However, Chris’s wife was not to be deterred! She went straight over to the clinic with their baby Annie in her arms so she could speak to the current owners and they very kindly showed her round. However, it turned out that the deadline for placing offers was 12.30pm that very day. Mel marched straight on to the Estate Agent! Chris was working until 1.30pm that day and was completely oblivious to all that was happening until he turned his phone back on to find he had twenty missed calls from his wife and mum and dad. Panic!

“In my absence, Mel managed to get a 24 hour extension on the deadline. We were the only osteopaths interested and the current owners were eager for there to be a continuation of the same business in the property. We needed to look into finances and see if this could actually be a possibility.” However, with financial input from Chris’s parents, it turned out that it was. “All thoughts had been internal; I had been thinking about it but had not verbalised it until the Monday and by the Tuesday I had bought a property!” A whirlwind 24 hours!

Chris is really excited about his new practice. The previous owner of the clinic is highly respected and has given Chris her blessing which means a great deal.

“I have lived in Old Moulsham for 6 years and have really integrated in to the community and I will enjoy being a business owner in the area.” So when is this new business going to be unveiled and when will Chris start working his magic on the local community? “I am going to be opening in January. We have been busy modernising the building and renovating it so it will be wonderfully fresh and modern.”

The style of osteopathy Chris does is very movement based so he is incorporating wooden gymnasium wall bars, pull-up equipment from the ceiling and gymnastic rings. Sounds amazing!

Chris’s practice is to be called Forte Physical Health. There is plenty of room for growth as there are a number of treatment rooms so it will eventually encompass all areas of physical health and he will have a physiotherapist, sports massage therapist and more osteopaths on site. “I want to create a hub of health”.

I thoroughly enjoyed chatting to Chris about his new venture and I am sure he will be a very popular choice for those wanting to improve their physical wellbeing. He is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about what he does and is first and foremost, a very nice bloke! If you want to get in touch with Chris and beat the queues for his first appointments you can contact him at chris@forte360.uk or 01245 522360.

If you would like to be featured in my column please get in touch at linda@bunintheovenbirthing.co.uk and I would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas!

On a Monday morning back in June, Chris was speaking to his wife on the phone and said out loud what he had been thinking. A property had come up for sale in the previous week in Old Moulsham and it was an osteopathic practice. This practice had been sited there for

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Page 15

Flying the Flag Retailing….

Old Baddow Road has been referred to as the Bond Street of Chelmsford and it’s not hard to see why. The cobbled street is peppered with enchanting independent boutiques and small businesses each injecting their own flavour into the road’s rich retail menu. The Old Baddow Road area is a good example of an early nineteenth century terrace of shops too with features such as projected gabling, sash windows and exposed brickwork.

While the area may have changed a lot over the years, what remains is a strong independent ethos supported by several successful small businesses and enjoyed by a loyal customer base. Visitors can easily spend the best part of a day on Old Baddow Road utilising the mix of businesses and services on offer. Fischer Jones Greenwood satisfies the legal quota, while Itek will attend to your mobile phone repairs.

Aside from that, the tone of Old Baddow Road is largely leisure, beauty and fashion where shoppers are spoiled for choice. Zagger is a household name offering premium fashion for men and women and they are currently celebrating their 40th anniversary. Pam Orros, owner of Pamela Boutique, a mid-premium womenswear boutique carrying an impressive line-up of exclusive labels, remarks on the “camaraderie between the retailers on Old Baddow Road. I am only too happy to refer a customer down the road if I don’t have what they are looking for.” That customer might find themselves in Now and Then’s vintage clothing shop or Number Six, a contemporary fashion shop for men and women, Claire Honeywood of Number Six said: “ the stores around Can Bridge Way sell exclusive brands, sold in independent boutiques, offering a completely different shopping experience to the rest of Chelmsford.”

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for Independent Baddow Road Pamela Boutique has been trading for 32 years - a tremendous feat for any retailer, which can largely be explained by the unique shopping experience: “I think it’s partly down to the level of customer service which you find here which can largely be explained by the unique shopping experience. We also offer a personal shopping service as standard - if you want it of course.”

In Can Bridge Way, Westwood Hairdressing Salon comprises of a highly skilled team of first class hair styling and Aveda Hair Colour experts. Jade, Artistic Director at Westwood Hairdressing said: “Experience a relaxed and intimate atmosphere where only the best hairdressing is available in the comfort of a very welcoming environment.” Shoppers have a choice of conveniently located eateries including Pinchos wine bar and restaurant and Bake n’ Grape bar and grill (See their advert on page 9). Pam Orros loves having Pinchos next door, where she regularly enjoys tapas and a glass of wine: “they’re just lovely people too...” Yes, Old Baddow Road serves as the perfect tribute to independent retailers and illustrates why these retail communities are the lifeblood of our towns and cities.

By Melissa Wheeler www.melissawheeler.co.uk melissavwheeler@gmail.com

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CT History by Stephen Norris - Hoffmans WWII Years Part 1 The company was keen after the Second World War to show that Marconi was not the only Chelmsford based company to have made a considerable contribution to the war effort. They produced a small book somewhat ironically titled, We Also Helped. The book detailed the four serious attacks on the firm’s Chelmsford works in July 1942, October 1942, April 1943 and December 1944 (see later in this article). It emphasised the debt the firm owed to the ARP. In total there were no less than 1,343 alerts at the factory.

When the war broke out the firm was building its Stonehouse factory at Gloucester for high precision bearings. During the war, both factories made vast quantities of bullet cores of different types. A new factory in Northern Ireland was used to make aircraft propeller bearings. Towards the end of the war, bullet core production was concentrated at a London factory so that the Chelmsford works could concentrate on bearings. Modifications were made to the factory in an attempt to minimise the disruptive effect of an enemy attack on production and to enable easier increased production. High precision bearings for gyros and other instruments were made at another new factory 8 miles outside Chelmsford at Witham.

It also helped emphasise the use of Hoffmann bearings in a number of different types of aircraft: “The Cheetah engine uses 74 bearings in 15 different sizes. The Merlin engine took over 60 bearings. The Griffin uses 40 bearings.” Many bearings were used on the controls.

The Lancaster bomber used as many as 950 bearings in total and the Mosquito 190: “Behind the actual aircraft there are the bomb loading trolleys, bomb winches, arresting gear, aerodrome floodlights, fog dispellers.” All of those needed a multitude of bearings. In the actual aircraft there were mechanisms for bearings of the highest precision. These included gyroscopes, air position indicators, revolution indicators, automatic pilots and cameras. Hoffmann made contributions towards other equipment. The STEN gun could not operate without Hoffmann bearings - steel balls helped retain

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the fire control mechanism. The most popular field gun in the war used five journal bearings. Primers for shells used 1/8th inch copper balls. The company supplied 72 million during the war. Motor generators usually had 8 bearings and hand driven generators for portable radios, which were used extensively on aircraft, used two bearings. In tanks, two journal bearings were used for carrying the tracks. The compressors used on fighters and bombers that supplied compressed air to various instruments used two ball journal bearings. The landing wheels of aircraft - both the main wheels and the tail wheels - used two ball bearings. In the turret ring in tanks there were 72 steel balls in each tank. During the war, predictors were extensively used in AA guns to predict the course of enemy aircraft. Each predictor used 23 ball journal bearings and 34 ball thrust bearings. In bomb release gear, the trigger had to rub against the diameter of a ball bearing. The movement between these parts had to be absolutely free to cut out any time lag between when the button was pressed and the release of the bomb. In the control panel for the automatic bomb distributor there were two ball journal bearings and one single thrust bearing. This was used when a bomb armer wanted to drop a line of bombs across a target. The distant reading compass used 11 ball journal bearings and this controlled all the various compass dials used by the crew.

All of this extraordinary range of ball and roller bearings contributed to Hoffmann’s expansion. During 1939-45, the company manufactured two and a half thousand million balls and rollers and many hundreds of thousands of complete ball and roller bearings.

Besides the millions of bearings, the works also produced 1,500 million bullet cores.

Part Two next month

Photography at the Museum If you are either a wildlife photographer or photograph afficianado (or both), then Chelmsford Museum is proud to announce that it is hosting the fabulous Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2015 exhibition from the Natural History Museum - Chelmsford Museum is the first museum to show it outside of London. The exhibition at the museum in Oaklands Park (off Moulsham Street) runs from 12th December to 14th February. It is a brilliant opportunity to take in this prestigious and awe-inspiring exhibition here in Chelmsford without the hassle and extra costs of travelling into London! The museum is only closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day over the holidays (as well as term-time Fridays).

Tickets will be available on the door (£4 adult, £2.50 children aged 16 and under, or £12 for a family ticket of 2 adults and 2 children).

There are 100 photographs to see, including some time-lapse videos and a chance to vote for the People’s Favourite image.

The exhibition is being brought to Chelmsford by the city council with the generous support of the Chelmsford Star Co-Op, which has been holding its own photographic competition. The twelve winning entries feature in the 2016 Co-Op calendar (which is available for £5) and they also feature in the exhibition.

Normal admission to the museum and car parking in Oaklands Park is free. So whilst you are admiring the photos, you can take in everything else that there is to see and do at the museum, including an opportunity to see the traditional straw Christmas Goats from Sweden which are on loan from the Horniman Museum in London until 10 January.

There are also Christmas craft activities on 19th, 22nd and 23rd December (see chelmsford.gov.uk/museums for details).

Open Mon - Sat 9am-6pm

Currently the Essex Regiment’s oil painting, The Last Stand at Gundermak, is on loan to Tate Britain in their exhibition Artist and Empire - the Afghanistan theme continues in the Essex Regiment Museum with the display of a motorbike captured from the Taliban.

So, there’s no excuse, come along, support your local museum and see what you can discover!

Page 18

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Friends Celebrate Success

The Friends of Chelmsford Museum are currently celebrating several successful events. This year marks 25 years since a group of like-minded people came together as the Friends with the objective of supporting the activities and development of Chelmsford Museums. Over the years, funds have been raised through the organisation of varied lecture programmes, visits to historic sites and buildings, events at the museum and enjoyable social occasions. The money raised has been used to assist with the purchase of historic artefacts and art works of local significance which now form part of the gallery collections along with items of equipment to assist the museum service.

This years’ Friends Winter Newsletter is also coincidentally the 100th and - with the generous support of High Chelmer - it is a bumper issue packed with information about recent visits, forthcoming events and interesting articles on a wide range of topics provided by members. If you would like to receive a copy, why not join the Friends? New members are always welcome. Annual membership costs £10 for individual or £15 for the family, see friendschelmsmuseums.btck.co.uk for full details.

Friends are celebrating the success achieved by Chelmsford Museum staff in obtaining a Heritage Lottery Fund Stage 1 grant. This indicates HLF support for the museums’ plans to revamp the displays in the Victorian building. The grant will enable the museum to employ specialist consultants to refine its proposals for new displays which will include much more interactivity, discovery and digital content. It will also include proposals to provide a new café which can serve the needs of visitors both to the museum and to Oaklands Park. A successful full HLF grant will ensure that the museum becomes an even greater asset for Chelmsford.

During the holiday period, the Friends of the Museum will again be running an object handling table at which a range of interesting artefacts can be accessed and discussed by visitors. Look out for the display of five julbockar, Christmas goats, which are made of straw tied with string or red ribbon. They are a feature of the traditional Swedish Christmas and have their origin back in the Viking period.

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Page 19

Hypnotherapy by Jenny Hartill Last month I discussed social anxiety. This month, I will look at something that affects many people and is probably one of the most common things that I treat, and is absolutely a horrendous experience for people. Today folks, I’ll discuss panic attacks.

The problem with panic is that it scares the life out of you. I should know, considering that before I re-trained as a counsellor, I suffered with generalised anxiety disorder and was having many a panic attack on a daily basis. The last straw for me was one morning when I managed to have around 5 panic attacks before I even got into work. I’d already found a counsellor, I’d emailed them but not booked an appointment, God knows why I hadn’t booked anything, maybe I was scared, but I was literally at breaking point and called the counsellor right then and there and booked an emergency appointment for that evening. It was the best decision of my life.

Hypnotherapy can be incredibly effective when treating panic disorders. However - and this is a biggy - if you suffer with anxiety all of the time as well, this may make it more difficult to use hypnotherapy. The reason for this is that if you suffer with constant anxiety you may find it very difficult to concentrate on the hypnotherapy recording and let yourself drift into hypnosis. Anxiety sufferers tend to be looking out constantly for danger, for the next thing that will attack them, for the next thing that will scare them, and unfortunately this includes looking out for the next panic attack.

This is due to what I described above, the fact that panic scares the bejesus out of us, and unfortunately panic attacks can lead to anxiety disorders.

This doesn’t mean that hypnotherapy cannot be used with panic though. The first thing we have to do is find out what you’re panicking about. For example some people will panic when driving over a bridge - the cause for this is usually either that they’ve had a crash of some sort or they’re scared of heights. We can then work this into the screed. If the client is panicking in various situations but not feeling overwhelming anxiety all of the time, the panic just seems to come out of nowhere, we need to look at a cross reference of the situations in which the client has panicked. This way we can see if there is a link. For example, a client might be suffering with panic when going on the school run, when going to the supermarket, when going to visit their parents, when going to the cinema or when going to visit a friend - all these events may seem unrelated as they are all different. However, the common denominator here is the fact the client is going somewhere. So then I would ask, where are you going from? If the client reports that they only have panic attacks when going from home and going to somewhere I would ask the client whether anything has happened when they were going from home on their way to somewhere else - this may seem like a vague question but the mind is a fascinating thing. If something had happened, say for example in this case the client had been travelling from home when they received a phone call with some devastating/fearful/very bad news, the subconscious mind may have linked this emotion with travelling from home. In other words, because home is usually our safe place, the subconscious mind in this case may well have linked the negative emotion ‘I never want to feel ever again so help me with leaving my safe place of home’ at the time said negative emotion was felt.

Freud said we have in our minds the id, the ego and the superego: Id: Uncoordinated instinctual trends. We’re born with our id, it’s the part of us that seeks pleasure.

Super Ego: Critical and moralising. The part of you that always tells you off. Ever had an argument with yourself? The super ego is the bit whooping your ass. It also keeps the id in check, so we don’t do anything... ahem... socially embarrassing...

Ego: Realistic. The lucky part of you that gets to mediate between the id’s wants and the super ego trying to stop the id from doing anything stupid.

The theory is that super-ego’s can have a personality of their own.

Some are completely brutal, some are more nurturing. However, according to Freud panic is all about guilt - truckloads of guilt delivered to us by our super-ego. So a bad phone call happened - say somebody died. Our client still needs to leave the house occasionally, right? The id needs to go out and maybe see friends, go shopping, survive etc. But the super-ego may well be stepping in here and stopping our client: “how dare you contemplate going out! Somebody died you heartless individual.” You get the picture. So now I would ask the client whether they still feel any emotion around the phone call. I would probably throw out a few different emotions, just to see if the client stops me at guilt...

What I’m saying here is that panic isn’t just a simple “hello, can you hypnotise me to not panic please?” - it’s a lot more complex than that. Our brain would only generate such an extreme reaction if there was a darn good reason. The only way to truly get rid of panic is to find out why you’re panicking in the first place and then work that into the hypnotherapy screed with lots of lovely positive language to help you feel stronger and better on a long term basis :-) For more information on hypnosis or counselling, you can visit my website: www.cloud9-therapy.co.uk.

Therefore, in a roundabout way, the subconscious mind (in it’s desperate attempt to protect us) has said leaving home and going somewhere = negative emotion I never want to feel again so help me.

In conclusion, in order to protect us from the bad emotion, we have a panic attack every time we leave home to go somewhere so we avoid the bad emotion. Now, just to shake things up a bit I’m going to go all Freud on you guys and give a different perspective from a psychodynamic theory (used in counselling) angle.

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Page 21

Fitness and Wellbeing Embrace the Christmas Stuffing by Keith Porter anything you want.

As a personal trainer, it is my duty in a December article to write something about surviving the Christmas festivities. I think it’s written into our contracts somewhere that we have to give helpful strategies to enable you to avoid overeating, to say no to the Quality Street and to not put on half a stone.

So this year, I’m going to do the exact opposite. My advice?

Eat what you want. Absolutely

It’s been over four years since I dramatically changed my diet and I’ve learned a lot about nutrition and effective training along the way. When I first changed to a Paleo diet, I was super strict. I didn’t go off piste at all, and I saw massive changes in my body. From the obvious benefits, like losing weight, to the mind-blowing benefits, like eliminating my lifelong asthma.

But as I work with more and more people on changing their physiques, one thing strongly comes across, and that is when people eat something bad, there is a whole lot of guilt to go along with it - and for me, that guilt is doing just as much damage to

your overall state as the food itself.

Put the guilt to one side and just stop and savour the moments.

Let’s put our cards on the table. Nothing about Christmas pudding is good for you. Endless chocolates will not sit kindly on your waistline. Mince pies aren’t a superfood. But, you are an adult and you have the power to choose every single thing that goes in your mouth.

Likewise, if you choose to stick to your diet for whatever reason, then don’t worry about people judging you - it’s your choice to pass on the cake if that’s what you think is best for you.

If you choose to indulge this Christmas, then do it consciously. Know that you’re eating something that might not make you feel good in the long term, but that might taste amazing, or bring back fond memories, or enable you to share an experience with your family or friends on the day itself.

Despite what anyone says, there is no perfect eating strategy over Christmas and what works for one person won’t work for everyone else. Finally, a very happy Christmas from me and Angela at Live Simple. See you in the new year!

If you’re interested in personal training in the new year, drop me a line at: keith@liveasimplelife. co.uk.

Ahimsa Over the Holidays

by Kellie Jones A­him­sa: refraining from harming any living being, by thought, word or deed.

Although I love to be upside­down in my yoga­pants striking a pose, I am highly aware that the physical postures are just one of eight limbs of this ancient practise. These eight steps when researched can appear to be complex and possibly misconstrued over time, but I believe they are basically guidelines to living a more peaceful and meaningful life.

The first limb, Yama, focuses on our behaviour, morals and how we ethically conduct ourselves in life. The first of which is Ahimsa, meaning non­violence, and during these current times when we find ourselves (even those of us who choose to refrain from watching the news) quite simply forced to see the opposite of this, it seemed a good time to write about this subject.

to let us know what feels good. This month we are holding a workshop on clean eating over the holidays, because we want you to arrive back in January feeling good about yourselves avoiding the need to detox and diet. Self­-love is not selfish, as ultimately when you feel happy with yourself, you feel more kindness and compassion towards others and that is something I am happy to promote.

On a final note for the year, we are stocking up our new little Hummingbird shop with Positiviteas and Conscious Chocolates - and for that last minute gift, we also sell gift cards in our online store to help you or a loved one get started. www.hummingbirdpilates.co.uk Peace & Love everyone, see you next year x

A quote I heard this week made me stop and think: ‘Why do self­ hatred when there are so many others to do it for you?’ In any exercise environment, including yoga and pilates, the ego mind can easily kick in and create self­loathing, inadequacy or jealousy, which in turn can cause self­harm. Forcing our bodies to go further than we are ready for, causing pain and sometimes injury, seeking maybe validation or acceptance from others or possibly just plain beating yourself up. I know, I’ve been there and have got the scar tissue to prove it!

During the festive season things can get out of hand as the stress of being the perfect host, parent or party­goer heightens and the pressure to eat and drink more (or you’re a party­pooper) attacks and then suddenly it’s January 1st and you’ve got to get clean and slim again, not to mention the empty bank account, aaargh!!

So here we can see where the practise of non­-harming ourselves is vital - what good are we to others when we are injured, depressed or ill?

Yoga, pilates and meditation teach us awareness, allowing our bodies Page 22

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Super Slimmer’s Make It to District Woman of the Year Final!

Chelmsford slimmers, Emma Rush and Sue Haylett, feel like new women since losing nearly 16 stone between them and being named the Slimming World Women of the Year for the Springfield Saturday and Great Baddow Monday groups respectively because of their inspiring weight losses.

Recently, the inspirational ladies were 2 of just 15 members in the whole of Essex who made it through to the district finals of the nationwide Slimming World Woman of the Year 2015 competition, which aims to find the UK and Ireland’s top female slimmer.

Emma, joined Slimming World in March 2014 after becoming increasingly unhappy with her size. She says: “I’ve always struggled with my weight and I tried lots of different diets but they usually left me feeling hungry or miserable - or both in fact. With Slimming World it’s completely different, I never have to miss out and I don’t have to get hung up on weighing and measuring everything I eat. I don’t feel deprived and after losing over 7 stone I’m the slimmest - and the happiest - I’ve been for such a long time!”

Emma and Sue follow Slimming World’s Food Optimising eating plan, which encourages slimmers to fill up on satisfying, yet healthy, everyday foods like fruit and veg, lean meat and fish, pasta, potatoes, rice and pulses without having to weigh or measure. Sue says: “My family and friends are all amazed how much I can eat and still lose weight. I still eat many of the same meals that I did before I started losing weight, like spaghetti bolognese, curries and roast dinners.

Now I just prepare and cook them differently - and they taste so much better. I’ve picked up lots of new healthy recipes from the other members at my Slimming World group too.

Emma and Sue agreed that a lot of people worry about joining a slimming club because they don’t know what to expect. They needn’t be afraid though. Emma remembers: “Right from the first moment I

walked into my Slimming World group I felt at home, the support and motivation I’ve received from my consultant, Emma and the rest of the group has been brilliant and I really have made friends for life.”

Sue added: “They made me feel so welcome and now I don’t know what I was so nervous about - Lucy, my consultant and the group are like a second family and I look forward to going to Slimming World each week. I’ve lost over 8 stone and definitely don’t think I could have lost all this weight without them.”

Emma Lodge who runs the Springfield Saturday group, and is Team Developer for Chelmsford says: “I’m so proud of Emma. Not only does she look fabulous, she’s improved her health and is bursting with energy. She’s a huge inspiration to everyone in our group and I hope she and Sue inspire other women in Chelmsford to change their lives in the same way. It can be hard to admit that you need to do something about your weight and to ask for help, but I think Emma and Sue show just what’s possible when you do. They both feel that if they can do it, anyone can and that’s certainly true!”

Slimming World have 17 groups in Chelmsford from Monday to Saturday. For further information call Emma on 07887 692906 or Lucy on 07801 433626 or go to www. slimmingworld.com.

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Winter Driving

Winter can bring a vast variety of weather conditions and severe weather can strike at any time. Check the weather forecasts and road conditions for your destination before travelling and allow extra time to get from A to B safely.

Where possible, the best way to stay safe in severe weather conditions is to avoid driving altogether.

Driving in Snow Make sure all of your car lights are working and ensure that dirt, salt and snow is cleared away from light fixtures.

Always ensure all windows are fully cleared of snow, frost and condensation before setting off on a journey - it is illegal to drive with obscured vision. Also clear snow from the top of the car as this can fall down and obscure your windscreen while you are driving.

Make sure you have sufficient fuel for your journey. Keep the fuel tank topped up.

Carry warm waterproof clothing, food, water and a torch in your vehicle in case weather conditions mean you have to stop. Take a mobile telephone with you and make sure it is fully charged. Carry a mobile charger in the car.

Be mindful that even if it has stopped snowing, low temperatures could cause snow to turn to ice resulting in hazardous road conditions.

Driving in Heavy Rain When wet weather arrives, stopping distances can be at least double those required for stopping on dry roads.

Maintain a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front.

This will allow you to react if you need to brake suddenly. It will take longer to react to hazards, therefore it is important to reduce your speed if the road is wet.

Driving in Fog When driving in fog use dipped headlights so other drivers can see you. Fog lights can be used when visibility is seriously reduced to less than 100 metres but they must be switched off if visibility improves.

Maintain a safe distance behind the vehicle in front, and be aware of other drivers who don’t use headlights, as they will be harder to see.

Deep Water and Floods Many cars will start to float in as little as 12 inches of water. This can be extremely dangerous; as the wheels lose grip you will lose control with the obvious risks and consequences.

The engine air intake on many cars is low down at the front of the car; just an egg cupful of water ingested into the combustion chamber is sufficient to destroy an engine. Driving too fast, even in relatively shallow water, can cause water to be ingested.

Do not attempt to drive through fast-moving water, such as at a flooded bridge approach - your car could easily be swept away, even at modest depths.

If you have to drive through water, select a low gear so the engine revs are higher, slipping the clutch if necessary or, for an automatic vehicle, select the lowest ratio and balance the throttle and brakes.

For more winter driving advice visit: www.essex.police.uk/be_safe/ winter_driving.aspx.

Strictly Come Dancing - Is It Really as Difficult as It Looks?

With an average audience of well in excess of 12.5 million viewers every Saturday night, the whole world - as it has been for the past nine years or so - is talking about ballroom and Latin American dancing. Every week we watch celebrities going through the motions of learning a new dance or rhythm and then presenting it on a live show for this massive audience.

They have to continually remember the routine, study the technique, develop their musicality and create the impression of a dancer who has been study their craft for many years rather than just a few weeks.

Is it really as difficult as it looks? Phil Meacham, Principal of the Chelmsford Dance Centre explains: “We have been teaching people to dance now for almost 25 years and often people ask, is it really that difficult for the celebrities? It does rather depend on your perspective. Yes, they do have a massive amount to learn in a short period of time, but they are only learning one rhythm per week, and learning how to perform a choreographed piece from start to end for about 1 to 1.5 minutes. They are being taught by high profile professional dancers who spend up to 50 hours

in a week teaching them how to perform their routine in advance of the Saturday show.

“There is a school of thought which suggests that given the amount of training they have, the result should potentially be even better.

Most people can easily learn how to dance most of the dances to a basic, but good, technical standard within an 8 week period, with just an hour’s class a week. We have been doing this for years with 1000s of very satisfied dancers.

“The truth is, the Strictly Come Dancing contestants are not really learning the dance, it is really just a performance, I suspect that if you were to bump into any of the successful candidates in the show at maybe a dinner dance, a wedding or similar event and ask them to dance a waltz or a cha cha cha with you, they would struggle to dance the basic steps in a social environment. They are, in many respects, just programmed to follow the choreographed piece that they have learnt.

“So is it difficult? yes it is difficult, should some of the weaker people be better than they are? Yes, I genuinely believe they should be. It doesn’t change the core fact that anyone can learn to dance to a respectable standard in a limited amount of time. If you don’t believe me, just come along to our classes and I’ll prove it!”

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Page 25

Kids Page

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Local Fitness Fans, Valerie Chiswell and Jean Goodridge, Celebrate Their 75th Birthdays in style at Virgin Active Chelmsford Active ladies Valerie Chiswell from Great Baddow and Jean Goodridge from Chelmsford, were able to celebrate their 75th birthdays in style after their local Virgin Active hosted a tea party for their family and friends.

The ladies, who have both been members of the health club for nearly a decade, were treated to a fine selection of cakes, teas and gifts to make sure they rang in their birthdays with style.

As longstanding and valued members, both ladies who are regular attendees of the club, use the facilities to meet with friends for an aqua classes three times a week followed by a good coffee catch up in the club lounge. Val and Jean feel that Virgin Active Chelmsford is the hub to their active lifestyle and promotes not only their wellbeing but a positive social life too.

Valerie Chiswell said: “Going to Virgin Active in Chelmsford is the secret to keeping us fit in our mid 70s. It’s also a great location to catch up with friends over a coffee and spend valuable family time

watching the grandchildren swim. We also love attending the aqua classes a few times a week. We are really grateful to the staff at Virgin Active for hosting the birthday party for us.”

Jackie Winning, Group Exercise Manager at Virgin Active, said: “It was great to be able to celebrate the 75th birthdays of our committed members Val and Jean. At Virgin Active we aim to cater for all ages.

To exercise as much as Val and Jean do is an inspiration to those who believe exercise is only for the young. They make full use of the facilities and love the classes on offer and we love seeing them most days of the week.”

Ellie Henderson Awarded Best LOtC Advocate at the National Awards for Outstanding Contribution to Learning Outside the Classroom 2015

learning outside the classroom (LOtC).

Ellie Henderson, Education Centre Manager at Anglian Water’s Chelmsford Water Recycling Centre, has been awarded the prize for Best LOtC Advocate at a ceremony held at Gilwell Park Scout Activity Centre on 26th November. The award recognises her exciting and innovative work in

The awards for outstanding contribution to LOtC recognise individuals and teams of people who have made a significant impact on the lives of children and young people through their commitment and dedication to providing inspiring learning outside the classroom opportunities. Learning outside the classroom plays an important role in helping young people to achieve their goals by providing hands-on practical experiences that bring learning to life. Whether it is through fieldwork, school ground activities, educational visits to venues such as museums, galleries or farm activity centres, or cultural expeditions abroad, LOtC can build lasting, positive learning experiences.

Ellie was awarded for her work as the chair of Essex Learning Outside the Classroom, in addition to her role as Education Centre Manager at Anglian Water’s Chelmsford Water Recycling Centre where she routinely provides exciting and challenging learning experiences for visiting schools. As chair of Essex LOtC, Ellie organizes regular conferences, which provide teachers with an opportunity to access practical and inspirational training. The conferences are open to all, not just schools in Essex - delegates from Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Kent and Hertfordshire also attend. Through the conferences and

other activities, Ellie helps to raise the profile of LOtC in Essex, and support teachers and schools to deliver LOtC, ensuring that more pupils benefit from meaningful learing experiences.

When asked for her top tip, Ellie said: “Being passionate about what you are trying to educate about makes all the difference to me. Becoming involved with Essex Learning for Sustainability group mean I got meet lots of other environmental educators and share knowledge and best practice. There are lots of individuals and organisations who can really help with specialist skills and knowledge and most importantly inspiration.”

Elaine Skates, Chief Executive of LOtC said: “Ellie’s passion and dedication to her work at Anglian Water’s Chelmsford Water Recycling Centre has ensured that countless children have benefited from a genuinely engaging LOtC experience. In addition, she is always willing to go the extra mile in raising awareness of the benefits of LOtC and facilitating the sharing of best practice in her local community. I am very pleased that this aspect of her work has been recognised with this award. I would like to congratulate Ellie on this well-deserved accolade.”

Over five thousand votes were received for this year’s awards in the categories of Best LOtC Advocate, Best LOtC Innovator, Best LOtC Inspiring Educator, and Lifetime Achievement in LOtC. The other award winners were: Simon Poote, LOtC Innovator, Nick Hastings, LOtC Educator and Martin Birse, Lifetime Achievement in LOtC. The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom is a national charity which works with educational establishments and providers of LOtC to ensure more young people access high quality educational experiences. Find out more about the charity’s work and access free online guidance at www.lotc.org.uk.

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk If you know a CLEAN joke email editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

Page 27

Music by Nick Garner This has been a busy month for us and live music. Our band, Jamie Williams & the Roots Collective, have taken delivery of a new CD, Live ‘n’ Kickin at the Brasenose Arms, which we are thrilled with. The official launch is on 30th January 2016 when we play the Brasenose Arms, but we do have a few available for pre-release sales - either see one of us or contact us at: info@jwroots.co.uk.

Now onto all the live music that has been going on. First of all we had our second gig at Chelmsford City Football Club on the 21st November with Katie Bradley and the Dave Ferra Band plus Jamie Williams and me supporting, along with a very special guest who has played with both acts - the world renowned composer, arranger and saxophonist, John Altman.

It was a great night and Jamie and I were thrilled to have John playing with us too. We had a blast and they seemed to love us. Then Katie and Dave and his band hit the stage; they are fantastic - Katie is an award winning songwriter and was runner up to the Best Female Blues Singer in the UK this year. When John joined them on stage it was total magic, the audience loved them. What with Dave Ferra’s great guitar playing, singing and his fabulous humour and the superb rhythm section, it was a fantastic night and we are looking forward to next one on Friday 29th January when we have who are said to be about the best tribute act to The Rolling Stones - the Rollin’ Clones: “without a doubt the most exciting tribute to the Rolling Stones...

Outstanding.” (The Daily Mail).

Wednesday 25th November was the monthly event at the Bassment and this was always going to be special as we had two of the best Ben Tyzack and Guy Tortora - who are rated as two of the top roots/ blues/Americana artists in the UK and Europe with their own bands, the Spikedrivers (Ben Tyzack) and the Guy Tortora Band respectively.

The evening started with Howlin’ Smurf who was joined by bass player, Trev Turley. This was a first and they were great together and we hope to see and hear a lot more of them in the future. Then it was onto the main act of the night and wow, they were just magic playing some of their own material plus some songs that they love.

They ended up playing for almost two hours and we had many people saying that this was the gig of the year for them and I agree with that.

Next was a first for me, a 9 hour marathon Bassment Blues Day with 8 acts on two stages non-stop. We started at 2pm with Back Porch, who have a new member as 12 String Tony has had to move away due to work. They now have Toni Vines on 6 string and we were not disappointed. This band delivered the goods as they always do. Next we had Rum Honey - if you Like the Black Crows and Aerosmith, then you’ll love these guys. They are a five piece band with two guitar players and a singer with a wonderful gravelly voice and a great harmonica player. With their rock solid rhythm section too, everyone loved them (we will have them back for sure).

It was back to the acoustic stage and Big Joe Bone - he is the real delta deal playing his resonator guitars and his banjo. His stomp pedal is a mic built into his boot. He played a mix of original and classic delta tunes and went down a storm. We then had our only local band of the day, Stony Road, who played a mix of originals and covers. The audience loved them and I am sure Trevor and his band are destined for big things which I want to help them with.

Back to a good mate Danny Kyle, who was supposed to be joined by Nicky Moore who had to pull out due to having an operation (we wish him well). Danny did not disappoint as he is an amazing acoustic guitarist and has a voice that reminds of Woody Guthrie - he

went down a storm.

Back to the electric stage and the Fran McGillivray band with Fran’s beautiful voice (reminiscent of Bonnie Rait) along with husband Mike Burke playing awesome guitar and Roger Nunn on drums - you have to love this band.

The last act on the acoustic stage was Del Bromham. Del has been out there for just over 50 years and is as fresh as the day he started.

His repertoire is large and diverse with the band Stray who are a rock band to his Blues Devils and his solo work while also being one of the funniest and kindest people I know. Del had the audience in the palm of his hand, laughing and clapping along and singing with him. He also got me up to do a couple of numbers which was fun as well.

It was a hard act to follow for the last of the day, but John Verity did it, rocking the audience and amazing them with his guitar skills and his voice. Again, John has been in the business for many years having been a part of Argent and when they played Hold Your Head Up they did it justice and with Bob Henrit, who was also the Argent drummer, what else would you expect? They rocked the Bassment with lots of people dancing and singing along - you could see by the smiles on both the band and audience faces that everyone had a good day.

We start again in January on Wednesday 13th with the wonderful Martin McNeill and Ramon Goose sharing the night. Here’s to a great 2016 full of more wonderful live music.

Thanks from us and all the venues who put on live music and to you for coming out and supporting us, as without you there would be no live music. www.bluesinthecity.co.uk www.facebook.com/bluesinthecitychelmsford www.facebook.com/itsyourmusic

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Wildlife Corner by Nick Green November continued in the anticyclonic mode and we enjoyed bright sunny and calm weather after a rather indifferent summer.

RSPB: www.rspb.org.uk/groups/chelmsford Essex Field Club: www.essexfieldclub.org.uk Essex Wildlife Trust: www.essexwt.org.uk/get-involved/local-groups/ chelmsford

Remarkably, there was little rain or strong winds or frosts until the middle of the month. In the milder weather, robins, song thrushes and wrens have been singing.

Recent Essex Wildlife News Little auks were noted on several occasions on the northeast coast.

Great grey shrikes were recorded all down the east coast, including birds at Bowers Gifford and the long-stayer at Heybridge GP. A roughlegged buzzard still proved popular at Holland Haven CP all month. A glossy ibis was still at Wat Tyler CP at the end of the month.

The lake in Central Park once more holds numbers of blackheaded gulls - all are in winter plumage now, lacking the black heads with just a dark spot behind the eye.

Great grey shrike copyright Jeff Delve

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Stargazing with Mark Willis - December/January December 20 at 20:30: A good opportunity to observe Uranus. You will need either binoculars or a telescope, as it is barely visible to the naked eye. Uranus will be about 4 o’clock from the Moon. Through a 150mm (6 inch) telescope, you will see Uranus as a very small disk, with a blue/green colour. Uranus takes 84 years to complete one orbit of the Sun compared to Earth’s one.

December 23 at 21:50: The Moon and Aldebaran are very close together. Aldebaran is a very bright star which will be on the righthand side of the Moon - the 3 O’clock position. This is purely a line of sight illusion, as Aldebaran is 65 light years from Earth.

January 2 at 22:49 (UT): Earth reaches perihelion, in other words, it’s at its closest to the Sun. It is actually further away during our summer time, by nearly 3 million km.

January 3 & 4 (midnight to early hours): Quadrantids Meteor Shower.

This should produce 40 meteors an hour. Get a deck chair, and look up. Don’t bother with a telescope or binoculars. Quadrantids are believed to be the remnants of Comet 2003/EHI.

Letters

Chelmsford City Times is helping Chelmsford citizens to find their voice.

Chelmsford Community Gospel Choir had a great turn-out to their free Have a Go at Gospel workshops in November after our mention in The City Times.

“We are a friendly, welcoming bunch who just love singing. And gospel music is a lot of fun. So it’s great to have new voices join in with us we make so much more noise.”

If you want to beat the January blues, check out www. chelmsfordgospelchoir.com.

January 10 & Feb 8 - New Moon: This is the best time to seek out those distant planets, galaxies and clusters, as there’s no moonlight to interfere. Orion dominates the southern sky around now, so this is an excellent chance to get acquainted with this important constellation.

January 23 at 22:00: Jupiter and the Moon are very close together with Jupiter on the left-hand side of the Moon.

Next time in City Times Stargazing with Mark Willis - Orion’s Belt and Jupiter almost touches the Moon.

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

Web: Tweet me: Email:

www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com @WillisWireless mark.willis@chelmsfordcommunityradio.com

If you would like to write for either of our magazines or if you would like to write us a letter please email us editorial@itsyourmedia. co.uk

Thank you again.

Sam

Dear City Times Please could you give our Catch-Up Cafe a mention. It is sited at Highwood Village Hall, Loves Green CM1 3QG. Come along to our monthly cafe to enjoy what we have on offer - there’s plenty for everyone. Not only do we have delicious home-made cakes, frothy coffees and a guaranteed warm welcome, we also have lots of stalls to browse around.

We have our popular plant stall, jam and chutney stall, cards and gifts, as well as a large double stall selling sausages, meats and bacon. Not forgetting our chocolate stall and bathbomb stall - We would love to see you at our cafe, please bring your neighbours and friends.

2016 DATES: (Always the first Friday of the month, except January.)

8th January, 5th February, 4th March, 1st April, 6th May, 3rd June, 1st July, 5th August, 2nd September, 7th October, 4th November, 2nd December.

Thank You. Suzie - Contact: 07821 698316 Page 30 If you would like to advertise with us please email ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk

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Family Friendly Funnies What did the grape say when the elephant sat on him?

Nothing, it just let out a little wine!

Why do seagulls fly over the sea?

Because if they flew over the bay they would be called baygulls!

Why do cows wear bells?

Because their horns don’t work!

Why cant a tyrannosaurus clap?

It’s extinct!

Where does a sheep go for a haircut?

To the baaaaa baaaaa shop!

How did the barber win the race?

He knew a short cut!

What does the man in the moon do when his hair gets too long?

Eclipse it!

What is brown and sticky?

A stick!

How does Darth Vader like his toast?

On the dark side!

What do you call an old snowman?

Water!

The past, present and future walk into a bar... ..it was tense...

Why couldn’t the pirate play cards?

Because he was sitting on the deck!

Why did the storm trooper buy an iPhone?

He couldn’t find the droid he was looking for!

What did one eye say to the other eye?

Don’t look now, but something between us smells!

If you would like to email us a family friendly joke please email editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk.

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