Moulsham Times December 2014

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2nd Anniversary Edition

Issue Number 24 - December 2014

MT Welcome Dear readers

Welcome to the 24th edition of Moulsham Times. So the magazine is 2 years old! We would like to thank all our writers, advertisers and of course our readers for their continued support.

Our January edition will be delivered slightly later than usual due to our printers shutting down for the holiday period.

Lastly, season’s greetings to all of our readers, see you in the new year.

Regards Nick & Paul

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Editorial Advertising Paul Mclean Nick Garner 07595 949701 07970 206682 ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk Disclaimer: It’s Your Media publish the Moulsham Times. The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Its Your Media Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the prior written permission of Its Your Media Ltd. Reg Co No. 09154871. Printed by Imagery UK.

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The Vicar of the Moulshams “Happy” is a song that stays in my head. I’m talking about the one written, produced and performed by American singer and producer Pharrell Williams with the chorus that goes: Because I’m happy Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof Because I’m happy Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth Because I’m happy Clap along if you know what happiness is to you Because I’m happy Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do When I least expect it, this tune comes into my mind. Maybe you find the same? I suppose this has something to do with the millions of times it’s played on the radio and the fact that it’s reached the UK number one slot on a record three separate occasions. And maybe it’s become even more popular since Billericay’s talented Lauren Platt sang it on The X Factor? Whatever, I’m sure you’ll agree it’s a catchy, cheerful tune.

On a deeper level, this asks the listener ‘if you know what happiness is to you’. It’s a good question, especially as Christmas approaches. From the internet to the giant out-of-town shopping malls to the High Street stores, goods wave and scream at us: “buy me! Buy me!” Don’t get me wrong, I love shopping and shopping can make me very happy, especially if I think I’ve got a bargain. (“Money can’t buy you love but it sure can buy you great shoes.” I can’t remember who said this but I confess it speaks to me!) Yet I recognise that this sort of happiness is only fleeting.

“Happy Christmas” will be falling through our letterboxes and from our lips as we exchange this merry greeting. And there is nothing wrong with that. But this Christmas, let’s stop and think what we are really wishing for each other, at a deeper level.

Although it’s wonderful to exchange gifts with those we love at Christmas, this celebration doesn’t have to be about spending money to make the people we love happy. At the heart of Christmas is Jesus, God’s Son, born for us. This makes me very happy because as a Christian I believe that Jesus is God’s gift of love to all humankind.

And this happiness is not the fleeting kind but the kind that lasts forever. But what would make me even happier would be to see more people receiving Jesus: God’s gift of love, into their hearts and into their lives, not just at Christmas but at any time. God’s gift of love is given to us to share with other people: this is where true happiness lies.

So if you’re looking for a church and

would like to share the Christmas celebrations with us, either at St John’s on Moulsham Street or at St Luke’s on Moulsham Lodge, you will be very welcome:

For details of other services and activities, please visit our websites: www.stjohnsmoulsham.org.uk www.stlukemoulsham.co.uk You won’t find us singing “Happy” but you will find us singing-in Christmas very happily! In the meantime, I wish you a really Happy Christmas.

May God bless you and yours, Carol

The Bassment is also hosting another Blues Jam night on Thursday 4th December and is open for all to join in and is just £3 entry. It starts from 8pm so see you there.

Here we are in December already and the second anniversary edition of the Moulsham Times and it is still going strong. Last month’s Blues in the City event at the Bassment was great fun as I got to play with both acts Happnin Boy and the Fran Gillivray Band and my mate Shaun Luke also got to play with Happnin Boy. It was as ever a great night as the venue seems so perfect for Blues events. Next month on Wednesday 10th December we have the great Guy Tortora and Costa Tancredi and with Martin McNeill supporting this is going to be another great night at the Bassment. We are also planning an Essex Delta Blues day at the Bassment for Saturday 21st March 2015 with 18 Essex based Blues acts playing from noon to midnight and we would like to get event sponsored if possible. If you know of someone who may be able to help, then please contact me either on 07970 206682 or email info@bluesinthecity.co.uk.

We also had our last event at Jardins with two great acts playing for us. Unfortunately not enough people turned up to make it viable.We have moved the It’s Your Music night to Billericay Football Club for our next night on Friday 12th December with 24 Pesos and Rosco Levee & the Southern Slide. These are two of the giants of the blues rock scene and a must for all lovers of good live music. See the advert in this magazine for details of times and where to obtain tickets.

As a band/trio, Jamie Williams and the Roots Collective are quite busy in Chelmsford in December. December 19th sees the trio at the Star and Garter, Moulsham Street then on Christmas Eve the trio play the great Med Fusion bar and restaurant and 27th December sees the whole band rocking the Ale House.

There is lots more going on all over Chelmsford throughout December and into the new year. Also Shakey has celebrated putting on his 400th gig as we go to print (on his way to 500 now) and with Asylum, The Bassment, Med Fusion, The Fleece, Faces and Indigo and all the other venues pubs and clubs there is lots of great live stuff going on.

You just need to go out and support it.

To find out what is on and where, you are best to pick up a copy of Chelmsford The City Times which can be found all over Chelmsford and the surrounding areas.

Have a great festive season and a fantastical, magical and musical 2015.

Also stay safe, fit and healthy.

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We are proud to announce the reopening of the new studio where we will have two fully kitted out rehearsal rooms, a live room and a music production room. we open on December 10th and are offering half price rehearsals so make sure you take advantage of the great deal.

If you would like to write for any of our magazines or have a one off article to send us please email editorial@ itsyourmedia.co.uk

From the House

by Simon Burns MP - Operation Christmas Child

It never fails to amaze me how generous people are in Chelmsford and this was reinforced during a recent visit to Operation Christmas Child, which once again was operating out of a warehouse on the Springfield Industrial Estate. This warehouse alone will have handled about 20,000 boxes filled with Christmas goodies from schools, churches and organisations from all over Mid-Essex.

The whole concept of Operation Christmas Child was the brainchild of Dave and Gill Cooke, who were watching a television broadcast about Romanian orphanages on the 10th of October 1990. There and then they decided that together they had to do something big or small. Amazingly they were able to fill a convoy of nine trucks with food, medical supplies, clothing and Christmas gifts for children. They continued to do this independently until 1993 where they were adopted into the Samaritan purse and since then over 61 million shoe boxes have been

delivered to children in more than 135 different countries.

This amazing generosity can only stem from the goodwill of children and their parents across the country and I am so pleased that so many people in Mid-Essex devote so much time and energy to provide joy and happiness to less well off children and youngsters around the world. They are to be admired for the fantastic work they do.

Concert in aid of Farleigh Hospice - 7pm, Saturday 13th December 2014, Chelmsford Cathedral Anglia Ruskin University is hosting a concert in the wonderful surroundings of Chelmsford Cathedral in which Professor Michael Thorne, Vice Chancellor, will conduct Haydn’s London Symphony and Trumpet Concerto, Schubert’s Symphony No 5 and Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony.

There will be a retiring collection for Farleigh Hospice, where our Chelmsford-based Health & Social Care students go on placements as part of their studies. The hospice provides vital support when people have been diagnosed with a lifechanging illness. They provide compassionate care and support for people with palliative, long-term and end of life needs, and we are proud that our students form part of this care.

We hope you are able to join us for an enjoyable evening’s music making. To book tickets please call the box office on 01223 352 932, or book online at www.anglia.ac.uk/ mumfordtheatre.

Our January edition will be delivered slightly later than usual due to the printers closing over Christmas. Out from 7th January.

To advertise in any of our publications Moulsham Times, Chelmsford The City Times or Braintree Life please email ads@itsyourmedia. co.uk

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I Survived India. I Survived Riding on Awful Roads with Awful Drivers, India Is No Place to Be Riding a Motorbike!

India fascinates me, it always has, a country with 1.2 billion people where most look like they are in poverty but there are a few who excel in the new world of IT. They all smile and get on with life be it collecting rubbish from the streets to recycle and sell or working in a modern high rise call centre. The women wear the most amazing coloured saris that brighten up the dirty, drab city streets and the rickshaw guys paint their bikes the most amazing colours. I will return to India.

the most modern buildings either side. The rural side of Myanmar was fascinating to see. We were just in time to capture what still is an ancient way of life before the road builders spread their tarmac to these remote areas.

After months of planning (thanks to Max from Russia) I met 10 people from all parts of the world to ride across Myanmar (Burma).

Myanmar was run by a military junta until 2011 when after elections in 2010 a partially civilian government was installed, the military still has 25% of seats. This means that after years of closure Myanmar is now open for tourism even though there are restrictions.

I arrived in Thailand a week ago and am waiting for my daughter to arrive when we will travel around the country for the next 6 weeks.

My tired bike is now with the best bike mechanic in Bangkok waiting for new parts to arrive from the UK, so when I return to continue my travels she’ll be ready for adventure again. I’m amazed that I arrived here in Bangkok without breaking down as the tyres have holes in them and saying many mechanical parts are long beyond their best is an understatement!

For 10 days with a guide who we didn’t have to continually ride with we discovered a new land, we saw and experienced the traditional Burma where the roads are mud and and the beautiful people work in the fields and the modern Myanmar with perfect tarmac roads with

Myanmar people are beautiful, continually smile and are a pleasure to be in the company of. Myanmar is clean and quiet. Don’t leave it too long before you visit if you want the mud roads.

It’s all about the people.

I was put in contact with Ceyhan in Istanbul, back in April who let me stay in his apartment whilst he was away and use his garage/workshop to service my bike. When he realised I needed a mechanic in Bangkok he put me in contact with Cem his friend here. Cem has helped find the perfect mechanic, fed and watered me and given me so much local knowledge. I mention this, as this is common throughout my travels, people just want to help - they are so genuinely happy when they can help, their smiles beam when they realise they’ve helped.

Having ridden through the harsh deserts of Iran and Pakistan and the dangerous roads of India, it feels good to be in South East Asia where the atmosphere is so much more relaxed.

The adventure won’t be so adventurous for the next few months, which both concerns me and pleases me.

You can follow me at danskeates.com

MT Gardening Let the Festivities Begin!

It’s December already? The season is progressing well with the odd frost but nothing too bad yet. Brace yourself, as typically we seem to be getting colder earlier starts followed by wetness in abundance.

Now, whilst you’re all enjoying the Christmas cheer, please give some thought to any plants growing in containers. Whether this is outside or pushed into a dank or dark corner of the living room, all plants will need your tender loving care. And do you know what… watering, or reducing it is the way forward.

If, like me, you have an array of Phalanopsis (moth orchids) littered around the house, whatever you do don’t keep on watering at the same rate as you were during the summer months. The key to success is to let the plant roughly show you the signs that watering is imminently required. Phalanopsis, Cymbidiums and Dendrobiums have semi-swollen bases; Phalanopsis and Dendrobiums less so than the pseudo-bulbs of Cymbidiums, but all have a myriad of succulent roots being supported by airy barky compost.

Look for the swollen bases shrinking back on themselves or they’ll be slightly sunken – this is the ideal time to water. Irrigate with water from the water-butt or failing this tap water. In both cases allow it to acclimatise in order that there is less shock to the plant and immerse plants into buckets or a sink and leave for about ½ hour. After this let the water drain for about 10-15 mins and pop back into its decorative container.

For best results always use orchid drip feeders; purchased from any good garden centre. All will flower yearly, other than Phalanopsis; which can flower on and off for many years. Remove dying flowers from this type until none are left. Some where on this old flower spike a new growth point will arise - cut above it as this is where the next batch of flowers will appear. Also, this type requires light at the top of the pot - so don’t cover. Cymbidiums and Dendrobiums tend to flower once, and so, cut flower spike down when past its best. With all they can be popped outside after May, but brought back in before frosts – keeping them in semi shade for the best growth possible With your planters outside on the patio, balcony or somewhere in the garden, they also need some care and support throughout the dormant season. They need protecting from potential frost damage… cracking to pot that is! An easy solution is to lift pot directly off floor and place on ‘legs’ or bricks or whatever is handy to enable excess

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water to escape and minimise pots splitting and disintegration of earthenware pots. I would also do a general clean through the tops of containers by removing old foliage, dead/diseased and damaged growth. This is still an ideal time to pop the odd mini bulb or corm in for colour in the spring. I also tend to finish off the clean through by top dressing with fresh compost… it just looks so much neater.

Good luck and happy gardening!

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

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presents live

Friday 12th December 2014

A double headline show with two of the very best live bands

24 Pesos & Rosco Levee

& the Southern Slide

Live at

Billericay Town FC New Lodge, Blunts Wall Road, Billericay CM12 9SA 01277 652188 / 07970 206682 Doors open 7.45pm show starts 8.15pm

Tickets ÂŁ10 in advance from the Venue, New Crawdaddy or The Ale House Chelmsford & The Hop Beer Shop Chelmsford or from www.wegottickets.com/event/290655 or email music@itsyourmedia.co.uk or ÂŁ12 on the night

FROM COUNTY HALL

by Cllr Dick Madden

I write to you on an early, very misty, Sunday morning. I am up early preparing myself to travel to a conference for a few days for representatives of county councils throughout England. A key agenda item at the conference will be a debate regarding devolution of powers from Central Government to local authorities, this would include Essex County Council and Chelmsford City Council as well.

I personally look forward to the debate as I hope rather than rely on Government grants over the next several years councils become financially self sustainable and stand and fall on the services they provide. It must be to early in the morning as I am becoming very serious, however a subject that will be discussed a lot over the coming months.

An important announcement that has just been made by Essex County Council is the fact that the street lights will remain on over Christmas Eve into Christmas morning, and New Year’s Eve into New Year’s morning. I know from my mailbag and correspondence that residents have been concerned about the lights being off over this period due to us all attending churches and travelling between each other’s houses, visiting friends and relatives during this festive

period.

Dealing with the festive period, on behalf of Kathryn, my family and myself, I wish all of you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year. As I indicated in my last article, during this festive period please take the opportunity to ensure your neighbours, in particular if they live alone, are embraced in your festive spirit and do a good turn for your neighbour.

Please all have a wonderful Christmas, I know I intend to, being mobbed by our seven grandchildren who will bring their excitement into our house and enjoy the warmth and love of Kathryn and I. BE SAFE. Dick Madden

Festive Fun for All the Family - Saturday 6th December If you’re looking for a magical day out as Christmas approaches then the Wilderness Foundation’s Festive Fayre is packed full of fun for all the family.

From 10am-3pm on Saturday 6th December, visitors can enjoy: • Father Christmas (and special present) in his canvas cabin.

• A magical ‘spot-the-reindeer’ trail.

• Meeting Farmer Frasier with his animals, including Shetland ponies, donkeys, pigs, ducks and goats (weather dependent).

• Tree and acorn planting in the new community wood.

• Making natural Christmas decorations.

All this, plus bush craft demonstrations for the older children.

Delicious burgers, bacon rolls and hot drinks will be available throughout the day.

Tickets are just £7 per child, including a visit to Father Christmas and gift. For older children you can book a ticket without Father Christmas for £5 per child. Adult tickets are free of charge.

The Festive Fayre takes place at the charity’s beautiful Chatham Green site, just outside Chelmsford. There will be free parking available on the day.

Tickets must be booked in advance and are available from www.wildernessfoundation.org.uk or by calling 0300 1233073.

All proceeds raised go toward The Wilderness Foundation and the vital work they do in education, conservation and supporting vulnerable young people in Chelmsford and Essex.

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Seasons greetings to all our readers

www.moulshamtimes.com

MT Baking by Alison Motley

So here we are readers, only month two of my column and already I have succumbed to a chocolate recipe!

With Christmas around the corner and everybody rushed off their feet with the shopping, wrapping, cooking and general pre-Christmas mayhem, I got to thinking about Christmas traditions and how to capture that warm and fuzzy Christmas feeling in a single bake.

A Christmas tradition my hubby and I have is to take a break from it all in a coffee shop with a Christmassy hot drink and a festive snack.

To be honest I think it originally started as an incentive to get the other half to participate in the Christmas shopping but it’s become an enjoyable part of our Christmas routine.

Anyway, after a recent Christmas shopping pit stop, I decided that my ultimate warm and fuzzy moment is a mug of hot chocolate and a slab of Christmas cake.

However, I have to admit I don’t always make a Christmas cake (shocking I know!) To be honest, with all the rushing about, I don’t always have time to take on the not insignificant task of buying all the ingredients, baking the cake, nursing it for 2 months with brandy (I would rather nurse myself with brandy!) and then covering it once with marzipan and again with royal icing, and please don’t suggest fondant icing - so not right on a Christmas cake! Those readers who do the decent thing and do make their own Christmas cake will probably already have their own tried and tested family recipe and if not, there are plenty of recipes in books and online you can choose from.

So instead, I thought I would offer up something that’s like a hot chocolate and a fruitcake in one bite - sharp cranberries, crunchy walnuts and rich chocolate combined with a surprising hit of Christmas spices. They are easy to make but a little bit different from the norm and taste even better. Warning - as they are so moist, they don’t keep long but to be honest that’s never been a problem in my household!

As with most of my recipes feel free to adapt some of the ingredients, just remember to keep the ratios the same and you won’t go wrong.

If using walnuts, buy the pieces, as these are usually cheaper than walnut halves. I quite like large pieces of walnut as a contrast in texture with the chewy brownies but feel free to chop them smaller if you prefer. Alternatively replace them with pistachios, pecans, almonds, hazelnuts or a mixture.

You can also swap the cranberries for sultanas, raisins, mixed

fruit or even sour cherries, which work REALLY well (but are more expensive), or replace some of the dried fruit with chopped mixed peel. You could even add a little crystallised ginger or orange zest and a tablespoon of brandy, it is Christmas after all!

As for decoration, dust them with icing sugar I (I made a star stencil out of card), or sprinkle on edible glitter, drizzle over melted white chocolate or use some of the great edible decorations available.

Just have fun, experiment and enjoy - you never know you may create your own fantastic Christmas brownie recipe that ends up becoming a family tradition - Merry Christmas!

Christmas Spiced Chocolate Brownies: 185g good quality dark chocolate (preferably 70% cocoa solids) 185g unsalted butter, diced 3 large free range eggs 250g golden caster sugar 85g plain flour 40g cocoa powder 75g dried cranberries 100g roughly chopped walnuts 1 teaspoon mixed spice 1. Preheat oven to 180C/Fan 160C/Gas 4.

2. Grease and base line a 20cm square cake tin with baking paper.

3. Warm the chocolate with the butter over a very gentle heat in a large saucepan, stirring occasionally, until melted. Leave to cool.

4. In a bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar together until thick and creamy and double their volume.

5. Add the cooled chocolate mix and fold in gently with a metal spoon.

6. Sift in the flour, cocoa and spice and fold in gently with the metal spoon, ensuring all the flour has been fully incorporated but taking care not to knock the air out of the mixture.

7. Pour the mixture into the tin and gently level the top with the metal spoon.

9. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the top of the brownies are papery.

Leave to cool in the tin.

10. Remove when cold and cut into 16 squares. For smaller brownie bites, each of these squares can be cut in half diagonally to make 32 triangles.

I’d love to hear from readers with any suggestions and ideas, or what you would like to see here. Drop me an email at: motleybakes@aol.com.

Sing Out Loud For Someone’s Supper – Christmas Concert for Food Sing Out Loud (the popular Chelmsford singing group for men and women of all ages and abilities), has been meeting at Grove Road Evangelical Church (GREC), for around four of the six years since it started in November 2008.

Several members of Sing Out Loud, volunteer with the Chelmsford Foodbank, which is also a favourite charity of GREC, itself. So, it seems an excellent, way of giving something back, for Sing Out Loud to offer a different kind of open house this year, and invite Grove Road Evangelical Church to participate, alongside them.

This will take the form of a concert, on Thursday 4th December 2014 (7.00pm, for a prompt 7.30pm start – 9.30pm), in aid of the Chelmsford Foodbank. The concert will include both seasonal and other songs, from the wider repertoire of Sing Out Loud. As usual at a Sing Out Loud event, there will be chance for everyone to join in with some of the songs.

The way it works, is that each member of the audience will be asked to bring along a donation for the Foodbank, of maybe two or three items from the following list:

Chelmsford Churches, plus members of the general public who are interested in either hearing Sing Out Loud (and joining in some of the singing, with them), or in supporting the work of the Foodbank, by coming along for an entertaining evening, whilst at the same time helping the lives of those who are severely struggling to make ends meet.

1) For further information on Grove Road Evangelical Church, or the event, please phone: 01245 493641; website: www.grecuk.co.uk, email: mark@grecuk.co.uk. Grove Road Evangelical Church can be found at: Grove Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 0EY 2) For further information on Chelmsford Foodbank: www.chelmsford.foodbank.org.uk/ 3) For further information, on Sing Out Loud or to book your seat for this event, please phone: 07853 132 633.

Website: www.sing-out-loud.co.uk. email: info@sing-out-loud.co.uk.

• Non-perishable goods (though please NO baked beans or pasta which are usually over-subscribed).

• Toiletries (for adults, children, and babies).

• Some small seasonal items, such as individual Christmas puddings, a packet of shortbread, or chocolate biscuits, etc. These will be placed into the gift boxes prepared at this time of year.

Sing Out Loud, in conjunction with Pastor, Mark Parrott, will open its doors to the congregation of Grove Road Evangelical Church, other

SM Butchers

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The Woolpack Winter Beer Festival 2014 Saturday 27th - Monday 29th December

Over 20 Real Ales and Ciders Open 12pm-12am daily

Walls - Snowstorm / Southport - Santa's Brew / Rudgate Mistletoe Myth / Salopian - Firkin Freezin / Peerless - Winter Witch / Cairngorm - Santa's Sledgehammer / Acorn - Twelfth Noel / Leeds - Ale Mary / Hardy & Hanson's - Rocking Rudolph / Greene King - Fireside / Howells - Frosty Bells / Moorhouse's - White Witch / Kelham Island - Fairy Tale of New York / Holdens - Black Country Mild /Bear Town - Polar Eclipse / Exe Valley - Winter Glow / Okell's - Aile / Mr Whiteheads - Rum Cask Cider

23 Mildmay Rd, Chelmsford CM2 0DN 01245 259295

Some of the projects are very large such as the successful extension to the new Thriftwood School which is for children with learning difficulties. Here we are talking a six figure sum and whilst it was led by one club, many others joined in to raise the money to provide much needed equipment. On the other hand money is sometimes raised for an individual. I have just finished an article about a club donating £3000 for a hydro-therapy pool for a boy who suffers from cerebral palsy and the same club gave smaller amounts for a girl working as a volunteer nurse in Uganda and another who needed a contribution for a clarinet so she could continue with her music studies.

Coming up soon are all the Rotary Youth Competitions we run. The standard is so high and I am sure I didn’t have the talent or confidence at their age that these young people possess. It is a joy to see and again gives so much satisfaction to the organisers. The public is encouraged to attend these particular competitions and I thoroughly recommend that you do make the effort. There are various heats in and around Chelmsford and the surrounding areas. The district final of Young Musician is held in Chelmsford Cathedral with its wonderful acoustics and this will be on Friday 14th February. Other categories include Youth Speak, Young Chef, Young Photographer, Young Writer, and Technology so there is something to cover every skill. If you know anyone would like to enter for any of these please let me know or speak to your school or if you would like dates of where and when you can see the young people in action then give me a call.

Rotary District Governor ­ - What a Privilege

I am now approaching half way through my official year at the helm and enjoying every moment. If you feel that you would like to put your own energy and experience into helping people in the community then there is a Rotary club near you. I know you will never regret becoming involved – I certainly haven’t.

For more details, visit www.rotary1240.org or phone me on 01245 260349. Stan Keller, District Governor

When you are elected into any office you enter with your eyes open.

You know in advance there is a commitment of time and - to some extent - a financial one too when you are talking about voluntary service. What you may not realise is how much satisfaction you will get out of doing the job.

In my case I am responsible for 60 Rotary clubs covering the whole of Essex and little bits of Hertfordshire and Havering with a membership approaching 1800 people, so it is pretty hands on nearly all of the time. But I can honestly say that the best part of the role of District Governor is meeting the club Rotarians to see and hear first-hand the tremendous range of projects they are involved with. If one idea is going well in Harwich don’t be surprised if someone in Southend doesn’t give it a try. It’s about sharing ideas. Equally ideas can be shared from all round the world because Rotary has clubs in over 200 countries. If bungie jumping is a successful fundraiser in Auckland why not give it a try in Chelmsford or Braintree?

Talking about the range of activities that are held it is truly amazing.

Stan Keller (centre) with club presidents lays a wreath at the Remembrance Day Service

Latest Chapter on Chelmsford’s History Launched On Wednesday 19th November Stephen Norris held the launch of his book, From a Borough to a City, in front of guests, including Chelmsford’s mayor and Mayoress at Chelmsford Museum.

“I could say that this book has been ‘a journey’ but I can’t stand that apparently fashionable phrase. Nearly three decades ago when I was a teacher governor in Newham, my then head said to me ‘the trouble with you Norris is that when you get your teeth into something you won’t let go’. I took it as a complement although he obviously didn’t mean it as one. That cussed stickability has probably led to this book.

“Nine years ago I joined the local history writers group, who then met in the museum, with the absurd plan of writing a detailed recent history of Chelmsford, basically because it hadn’t been done before. They probably thought I was mad to attempt it but I couldn’t have done it without their support and help.

They were responsible for example for the crucial early decision to use a topic approach which affected the way the research was done. This means that when you go to the book, you might want to go straight to the chapter on Chelmsford in the First World War, next year you could get it from the shelf and go straight to the big chapter on the second war because of the anniversary of the end of that war.”

“The research took me four and a half years. After I had been looking at the newspapers on the microfiche at the County Library for about two years, a couple of the librarians occasionally started sending people up to me with questions about Chelmsford, if they didn’t know the answer”.

Stephen’s book will be available from various outlets including the museum.

Pictured: Stephen signing my copy.

The book

Boudica’s Revolt by John Power Boudica’s revolt is really an East Anglian story rather than an Essex one. But it’s first great victory happened to the Roman capital, Camulodinum, or Colchester as we now know it. When Julius Caesar did his first exploration of England in 55 and 54 BCE. the Iron Age hill fort which became that town was populated by Belgic tribes from Gaul (France). Romans added some defences and a road to the north-east, and by the time that Emperor Claudius arrived, the tribal chieftain was Cunobelinus of the Trinovantes who ruled the area from 10 to 40 CE, while the Cotawellanni were centred around St. Albans and the Iceni of Norfolk were ruled by Prasutagus, Boudica’s husband. Prasutagus and ten other associated kings submitted to Rome but with a fair degree of independence, trading ‘aid’ for use as Roman auxiliaries. The Romans called the Iceni capital Venta Icenorum, the market of the Iceni at Caistor-by-Norwich. As the Romans expanded westwards they encountered resistance in the form of Celtic chieftain Caractacus and allied Celtic clans, so as a precaution sought to disarm the Iceni, Cortini and Catawellauni in 50 CE. This caused a minor revolt and a Roman auxiliary unit was wiped out in present Cambridgeshire.

Colchester expanded as a colonia for old soldiers who had completed 16 years service. This caused loss of tribal lands. A town was itself an alien concept to the Celts, and Colchester came to stand as a great symbol of Roman Imperialism with a stone forum where the Town Hall now stands and an even greater stone-faced temple (105 x 80 feet) dedicated to the Emperor Claudius on the site which later became the Norman castle after the 1066 invasion. Most other buildings were timber, wattle and daub. The temple housed a college of priests which was un-popularly funded by local taxation. The High Street was, as is now, housing the work of craftsmen and goods of merchants.

The town centre layout has remained the same for 2000 years.

The serious trouble began in 60 CE, during the infamous reign of Emperor Nero. When Prasutagus died, the Iceni were still a client state of Rome. Prasutagus left half of his estate to Nero and half to his wife Boudica for their two daughters as co-heirs, but Nero’s representatives decided that all should pass to Rome, plundered the Royal Household and deprived tribal chiefs of hereditary lands.

As a final act of humiliation, they had the Queen flogged and her daughters publicly raped. This lead understandably to the revolt by the Iceni, backed by the Trinovantes, with Boudica as the leader.

After dealing with outlying Roman settlers it was into the lands of the Trinovantes that they advanced to Colchester and the symbols of oppression.

Records of the revolt come only from Roman sources, notably Cornelius Tacitus’ ‘Annals’, although he does admit to the genuine grievances of the indigenous inhabitants against the alien culture that had imposed itself upon them.

News of the Celtic army’s approach soon spread to Colchester, which at the time had no stone wall of defences, and the ageing population rightly feared the worst. Governor Suetonius was away in Wales campaigning against the Druids of Anglesey, so word was sent to London (Londinium) for help, but Catus Decianus was only able to send 200 poorly armed men. The stone buildings, especially the Temple of Claudius, were chosen as the most defendable, but as Boudica’s forces surrounded the town the wattle and daub timber dwellings soon became the source of a fire storm. Those who sheltered in the temple survived two days before it was stormed and all those inside slaughtered. Even graveyard monuments were

excavation always reveals a layer of ash and charcoal.

Encouraged by this initial success other tribes joined the revolt and moved south to attack Chelmsford (Caesaromagus), again protected by minimal defences, but the slaughter does not seem to have included a firestorm. The Roman 9th legion of 2000 men met them too late to respond to the request for help from Colchester and the Britons crushed them also. So on to St. Albans (Verulanium) which was also quickly razed to the ground.

London had grown to around 10,000 inhabitants since about 50 CE as an important trading port at the tidal limit of the Thames. When Suetonius heard of the events in East Anglia he quickly completed his conflict with the Angelsey Druids and turned two legions around to march back towards London, while he rode on head. Again without town walls at that time he ordered the London inhabitants to evacuate. Most headed to Kent or beyond, and some managed to secure boats back to Gaul. A similar layer of charcoal and ash to Colchester’s still reveals itself in the Roman areas of London during rebuilding and betrays a similar firestorm fate to that of Colchester. Of those that had remained, not all were exterminated. Some prisoners were taken. But decapitation was the favourite form of Celtic trophy hunting.

At this point in her success, Boudica decided the only course of action was to take her army north up Watling Street to meet Suetonius’ forces head on before reinforcements could be sent from Gaul or muster in Britain. This decision was to prove a fatal, if inevitable one. For near Nuneaton the Romans were within their own military territory and they chose the site of battle in open fields in front of woodland after picking up military supplies en route.

The set battle of row on row of defensive shields marching on like a mammoth tank was what the Roman’s excelled at. Despite much greater numbers, which actually led to crowding and lack of movement in front of javelin volleys and cavalry charges the Celts with no body armour were no match for the military machine they faced. 80,000 Britons fell as against 400 Romans. Boudica is said to have addressed her troops with the words “win or die, as I shall, rather than live in slavery.” And so it was that she took hemlock near the River Lea Valley, it is believed and her body was removed to be secreted in a grave that has not been found to this day.

The following winter, bolstered by troops from Germany, Suetonius went into Iceni lands and any other area of Celtic resistance and ‘finished the war off’. All major towns became more heavily fortified as the walls of Colchester testify to this day, and no tenant chiefdoms remained. Almost a generation of Celts was lost to famine (as farming had lapsed during the revolt), slavery, or the sword, after the conflict.

Tribal leaders were purged while the rest were reduced to a peasant existence. A highly Romanised market town, Venta Icenoram, served as a remnant of the Iceni centre, near Norwich, and although the cultural remnants may have disappeared or been driven underground the bloodline has proved very resilient: recent estimates of the British gene pool show that Celtic bloodstock is predominant despite intermarriage with Romans, Angles, Saxons, Vikings, Normans, other continental and more recent incomers.

Do you have a local history subject you would like to read about? Let us know and we will try to feature. Email editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk.

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MT Therapy by This month I’m exploring a side of addiction not related to substance abuse. In my opinion gambling addiction (or “Ludomania” to use the proper term) is one of the worst addictions one can suffer from. The reason for this is due to the fact the individual isn’t staggering around drunk, stinking of smoke or has needle marks up their arm, there are no obvious physical symptoms that would cause friends or family to intervene. Ludomania, by its nature, is a very concealed addiction.

People can be addicted for years, getting into tens of thousands of pounds worth of debt (or worse), and nobody is the wiser until it’s too late. This is the type of addiction that can be a silent stalker, haunting the victim persistently until the fragile house of cards the addict has built around him or her collapses.

A gambling addiction is an urge to continuously gamble despite harmful negative consequences or a desire to stop. Gambling addiction like other self defeating behaviours is defined by whether harm is experienced by the gambler or others, rather than by the gambler’s behaviour. This is because if the individual’s behaviour is harmful but this is not enough to stop the gambling, that in itself is indicative of a problem as it demonstrates that the individual finds it difficult to accept and take responsibility for their actions.

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One of the many psychological theories of addiction claims that the addict is forever searching for the initial high they experienced when they first came into contact with their vice. For gamblers, this would be the search for the high they experienced the first time they won, or placed a bet. Perhaps this was the first time they won anything in their life, perhaps the anticipation of “will they won’t they win” was a high for them in itself, maybe they won a life changing amount of money, or perhaps it was a very small win on a very bad day. Either way, gambling not only provided an escape, a distraction, but it also provided the solution. For a brief moment, even if the person lost everything in the next breath, they felt better. That brief moment is what the gambler is searching for once again, sometimes with dire consequences.

The problem with any addiction is admitting responsibility, this is especially the case with a gambling addict: “it’s not like I’m drinking a bottle of whiskey a day!! I’ll win next time!!” As a therapist I have to use my training in behaviourism and in cognitive psychology to detect a gambling addict. I’m looking for specific behaviours and cognitive processes that will allow me to asses the addiction. Below I’ll demonstrate how I do this: Did anyone hear about the Australian man who lost 1 Billion in 14 months? It wasn’t his fault, don’t ya know. Here’s a brief re-cap: Last year Harry Kakavas, a real-estate salesman who made a fortune selling houses on Australia’s Gold Coast, claimed Melbourne’s Crown Casino were aware he had a gambling problem but took advantage of his ‘special disability’. He was described in Australia’s High Court as the ‘highest of high rollers’ and would fritter away eye-watering sums of money in ‘frenetic’ stints at the baccarat table. In a single session in May 2006 he lost an incredible $164 million in just five and a half hours betting up to $300,000 per hand. The court heard how he served a brief jail sentence for stealing $286,000 and had borrowed millions from banks, friends and family to feed his habit. His legal team were asking the High Court to consider whether the Crown Casino took ‘unconscionable advantage’ of their lucrative client by letting him gamble on despite his obvious addiction.

Here is my analysis: 1: This guy is a salesman. Not that every sales person is an addict, but sales people are more likely to take risks and they enjoy the “high” they get when they make a sale (having been in sales for 12 years I should know!), this tells me that there is likely a part of his personality that is attracted to risk taking and is familiar with the “high of the sale” and therefore he may have a pre-disposed attraction to an activity like gambling. His search for a high may have begun

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with his job, this would explain why he was so successful. However this wasn’t enough and he needed another outlet… cue the casino…

2: His addiction is described as a ‘special disability’ - therefore disregarding any personal responsibility.

3: He claims he’s been taken advantage of, not only is this situation not his fault it’s someone else’s therefore he’s professing it’s the casino’s responsibility to look after his gambling habit.

4: The description ‘frenetic stints’ gives me the image of a man desperately searching for something he cannot find in ordinary life, I see him frantically hunting for the feeling of his first high, desperate to feel ‘good’ again.

5: He’s spent 5 and half hours betting at a time, indicating he doesn’t have the ability to stop, to rationalise how long he’s been gambling and how much he’s lost. In fact I would go as far as to say he may not have the ability to make rational decisions at the gambling table at all.

6: He’s been in jail for stealing, indicating the desperation this man feels. Also, it’s not like betting a quid on the dogs is enough. It has to be a large amount of money. Is he overcompensating for something?

7: Other than stealing, he’s also begged and borrowed. To anyone else borrowing millions is going too far, to this guy he’s lost all sense of the value of money. To him, it’s a means to an end, and he needs lots of means….

As much as this example may come across as a rich guy with too much money to spend, with some brief analysis I can see that this man has severe problems. Clearly he is a pathological gambler that needs help - fast. Addiction doesn’t discriminate, anybody can be addicted to anything. I suspect that this guy has been very good at hiding his issues, being in sales he likely used his bubbly outgoing personality to overcompensate and make everyone think he’s the usual smarmy smart guy still doing well, still cocky, still making it big. When, under the surface, he’s got a hell of a lot more going on.

I know the saying is ‘still waters run deep’ - in my opinion turbulent ones run deeper. If he was my client, I’d definitely be looking at psychodynamic theory - I’d want to know what’s happened in his past to put him on this desperate path, what’s he searching for? What will he achieve once he finds it? I would also use psychoanalytical theory, I would likely perform a personality test to ascertain the parts of his personality that are having a positive and negative impact on his thoughts and behaviour. I would use CBT to help control his gambling urges, and he would definitely need a person centred approach as I suspect he needs someone to talk to, to tell his deepest worries and fears. Frankly, I feel for this guy and I really hope he gets the help that he needs before he pushes everyone away and ends up penniless, alone, bitter and miserable.

If I can be of any help or if anyone has any questions, please feel free to contact me via my website www.counsellinginchelmsford.co.uk.

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Wine Corner Hello again. I hope all is well with you and that you are looking forward to the festive season. We are already in Christmas mode as the grandchildren are already putting in their requests!

If you remember, Shirley Shiraz was about half way through her blog last month so here is the second bit.

“There were no more tastings today, as we were transferring to a stunning hotel in the citadel in Blaye overlooking the estuary. It really was the most magnificent setting and we saw the most amazing sunset whilst enjoying, yet again, a lovely dinner.”

“Monday: after breakfast we set off to Chateau Tayac. This was a really beautiful chateau and the Madame de chateau gave us a history of the chateau and surrounding area. We tasted a rose, two reds and a white, all Cotes de Bourg. The wines again are all made in the traditional way and were all very good. They could all be kept and again the reds were a mixture of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The white was 40% Semillion, 40% Sauvignon and 20% Muscadet. These wines were all excellent value and our hostess was most entertaining – and she gave us some bottles to have with our lunch – very generous of her, and we certainly managed to drink them, it would have been rude not to!”

Jonny here. Do you ever reflect how much times have changed? I was walking under a horse chestnut tree recently and nearly slipped on the dozens of conkers that were on the ground. Well, this would never happen in my day. Conkers were eagerly knocked from trees using sticks thrown from the ground (no ‘elf ‘n’ safety then you see) then taken home to have holes drilled and string threaded through, then outside to smash other peoples conkers to bits. Great fun but not for now. I almost found myself bending down to pick a few up, but managed to stop (people were looking). The same day I was taking my granddaughter to school when she met a friend to walk with. Was the conversation about conkers, well no, they were discussing what apps they wanted for their computers. Ah! Perhaps I have found a gap in the market, I should design a computer game for playing conkers. Now where should I start...

“We visited the Lynch-Bages Chateau. This is very big operation and all their wine is sold whilst still being produced. There is a whole village – Village de Bages – on this site, with a bakery, deli, butchers, wine shop and bistro. Compared to the smaller vineyards we’d visited, this was a very slick operation. They maintain a museum and showed how wine was made a century ago, comparing to how it is done today. We tasted one wine here but it wasn’t actually for sale. I think as group, we all preferred the smaller, more friendly places we’d visited – but that may have been because generally we had been given more than one wine to sample!”In the afternoon we visited

“We had another superb lunch overlooking the river, followed by a short walk. My friend and I set off on our own, as some of the group weren’t quite ready to go. Mark told us to wait when we reached the port. We reached what we can only describe as a large sandbank with about half a dozen boats on it, we thought that couldn’t be described as a port, so carried on walking. We knew we were walking the right way back to our hotel, but had no idea where the rest of the party were. When they finally caught up with us (in the minibus), one of our group (a former US marine) assured us he’d been tracking us the whole time and was proud that he had ‘rescued‘ us! I can’t say we agreed with that but at least it made a funny story for later and we can say we’ve been rescued by a US marine!”

“The next morning we crossed on the ferry to the Medoc. Wine classification here was decided in 1855 and was created to present famous Bordeaux wines at the Paris Universal Exhibition. The responsibility for drawing it up was given by the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce to the ‘Bordeaux Trade Brokers’. The idea was to establish a classification based on many years of trade experience, which was the recognition for each estate of its Terrior and reputation.

Information, of course, came from the most reliable sources.

Published on April 18 1855, the classification was the confirmation of an existing market and the evolution over more than a century.

The land was originally marshland, but the Dutch came over in the 19th Century and used their expertise to drain the land.”

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Chateau Pontet-Canet, an organic biodynamic vineyard. This means the plant and soil working together. They only use natural pesticides, which they cultivate themselves and they are gradually introducing horses back into their harvest process, as they do less damage to the soil. They use a mix of old and new technology and although their wines do go to the authorities to be tested (as does every other wine produced), they tend to ignore the results and leave it to nature to sort out any problems. They don’t trim the vines as they do in most vineyards, they wrap the vines around themselves. Although this is time and labour intensive, they consider they get a far better crop.

The wine was very good but very expensive!”

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“On our last morning, we called in at Chateau Lilian-Ladouy. This was our earliest wine-tasting – 10.15am! The chateau was named after the owner’s wife – it was considered to be a very romantic gesture!

This vineyard is now owned by the Chinese, as are several in the area.

They are investing, but they really want to turn out cheap wine and that isn’t what the region is about – the quality of all the wines we tasted was very good. It will be interesting to see how this all develops going forward.”

“We had a long walk to the banks of the river and the last of Laurent’s fabulous lunches. Again, we had wine from some of the vineyards we’d visited – there always seemed an endless supply! After lunch, we had a short walk to our last visit of the trip, Chateau Loudenne, famous for its white wines, unusual in this region. This Chateau is also a hotel and a venue for weddings etc and again was a stunning location. We were taken through the wine making process at this vineyard, which was a bit different as they mostly produce white and therefore don’t have the storage needs.”

“In the evening, we were taken to a Chateau for our final dinner – it was the most beautiful setting and the food and wine was once again, excellent.”

“Just a small history note. We visited a small vineyard which had been in the family since the 15th century and contained a small wine making museum. The owner had been very ill, so generally this isn’t open, but Laurent has known him for some time, so he opened up for us. There were many interesting artifacts and was well worth a visit.

What I wanted to mention was the large dovecote next to the museum.

The French bred pigeons for food and the larger the dovecote, the more wealthy you were. This dovecote was extremely rare, as most were destroyed during the revolution and also, it had never been used.

From our point of view, it was perhaps just as well it hadn’t been used as I could imagine it would have been most unpleasant being inside!”

“During the trip, we learned so much about wine making, both old and new methods, the region, the people, the history and saw more vineyards than I care to remember. We sampled some excellent wines, ate some amazing food and all in good company. A great way to spend time!!”

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Thanks Shirley, I would like to try this holiday.

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MT Charity events

2014 National Tapathon in Aid of Children in Need

venues across the UK. The routine, choreographed by the Performers Project, was set to ‘Happy’ by Pharrell Williams.

Tap dancers of all ages, from complete beginners to experts, all put on their dancing shoes and gathered at Spring Health on Sunday 16th November to take part in the 2014 National Tapathon in Aid of Children in Need.

The dancers from Footwork dance school run by Jean Hunter and Bam Bam Boogies dance school run by Vicky Stavrinos, both based in Old Moulsham, were joined by a group from the Kelvedon School of Dance and their teacher Hannah Lustig. Altogether more than £300 was raised for Children in Need. The Tapathon, organised by the Performers Project (www.theperformersproject.co.uk), was also a world record attempt to get the greatest number of dancers all dancing the same routine at the same time in hundreds of different

All the dancers have been working hard to learn the routine in classes over the past couple of months but it was the first time they had tapped altogether on Sunday morning. ‘There was a real buzz on the morning during the warmup and then when performing the routine with all the performers really enjoying the experience’ said Jean Hunter.

Tap is a really fun way to keep fit for everyone whatever their age, fitness level or experience. You are never too old to unleash your inner Fred or Ginger! If you would like to try tap, either as a new skill or perhaps taking it up again after learning as a child, why not come along to a class. Classes are informal and fun, and take place once a week. Please contact Jean at footwork@blueyonder.co.uk.

As for the world record attempt – all the information from groups across the UK is still being verified. More news in the next edition!

Soundstock – a Festival For Family and Community Soundstock is a brand new festival, taking place in Chelmsford next year. It aims to provide a family-focused music, comedy and entertainment event as well as raise vital funds and awareness for Essex Air Ambulance, CCR and Stanley’s Heroes.

The two-day music and comedy event will be held on the weekend of 2nd and 3rd May 2015. Aimed directly at families, it will offer plenty of activities for children to enjoy, including The Magic SOUNDAbout - a designated area (suitable for children up to 12 years of age) providing inflatables, rides, arts & craft and entertainment.

As well as providing a truly family-focused event, Soundstock has also been set up to support a number of great local causes: Essex Air Ambulance - a charity providing free life-saving helicopter emergency medical service for the critically ill and injured.

CCR – a not-for-profit community radio station, which is entirely run by volunteers and aims to provide a voice and platform for the city of Chelmsford.

Stanley’s Heroes - set up by Rob and Laura Newman to provide their 2-year-old son, who has been diagnosed with Congenital Muscular Dystrophy, with equipment and aids in order to help him live a better than basic life.

The festival was created and is being run by record label Ingenious Rock and will be supported by partners Ellis Catering and The Laughing Pod Comedy Club. CCR and Essex Air Ambulance will also be involved in the event.

Soundstock has already got some great names in the entertainment

field lined-up to appear. Music acts confirmed so far include former X-factor contestants Next of Kin as well as Toyah, Ultimate Eagles, Johnny Cash Roadshow and The Simon & Garfunkel Story.

Comedians set to appear include Patrick Monahan, who will be compere over the whole weekend, as well as Katherine Ryan, Chris Turner, Marlon Davis and Paul McCaffrey.

Ingenious Rock’s Sharon Alford said: “Soundstock is aimed directly at families, in order to provide a great day out, with music and entertainment”.

“It is also very much a community event and as such will be keen to support local talent”. Soundstock are offering an opportunity for local music acts to appear on the main stage of the festival in May – with a Battle of the Bands competition taking place at The Bassment Bar in early 2015.

To kick off ticket sales, Soundstock will be holding a launch party on Friday 28th November at The Bassment, where for one time only, tickets to the festival will be available to buy at a reduced price. The event starts at 8pm, is free entry and will include entertainment on the night from Joe Dolman Calgary Official and All At Sea. For further information and updates: www.facebook.com/Soundstockfestival Twitter: @SoundStockFest www.soundstockfestival.com http://www.essexairambulance.uk.com/ http://chelmsfordcommunityradio.com/ https://www.facebook.com/stanleysheroes

New Shop For Writtle - Home Kit

Home kit opened its doors for trading on 21st November. It is a furniture and homewares shop based on The Green in Writtle. An online shop will follow soon in early 2015.

Home kit sells a range of furniture, old and new, homewares, textiles, ceramics, accessories, things for children and jewellery. Featuring a mixture of contemporary European brands, including Scandinavian brands and a selection of products from smaller designer makers from the UK and Europe too.

You never know what treasures you might find. Not only do they stock homewares from Scandinavian brands such as House of Rym, Klippan and Darling Clementine. There are also goods from smaller UK based designer makers such as Tom Pigeon and Ruth Pullan Leather. There are also naturally produced candles and fair trade, ethically produced toys. Plus lots lots more!

It is just the place for some Christmas shopping and you will definitely find things you won’t find anywhere else. It really is well worth a visit.

The Home Kit shop is a collaboration between Roma Gillies and her two daughters, Charlotte De’Cort and Esther Copping. It truly is a ‘family affair’ with them each bringing something refreshing and unique.

Roma used to run a shop from the premises in the 90s and has spent many years working in interiors and has also supplied furniture for tv programmes.

Charlotte has a background in furniture and product design and plans to launch a range of home kit furniture next year.

She has also spent years restoring and dealing in midcentury furniture.

Esther’s ability for sourcing new and interesting products has been essential in order to give Home Kit its unique look.

Together they have worked on various projects sourcing vintage furniture and accessories for businesses, for example a tearoom in Berlin.

The Home Kit team’s ongoing search for new, interesting and beautiful products gives a good reason to visit regularly.

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Ami’s Diary

I was invited to Norwich for the VIP premier screening of a film I acted in called ‘Z-Listers’ but two of my friends had birthday parties that same weekend, so I decided to go to my friends’ parties instead.

I performed in my school show ‘Broadway at Baddow’ which was great fun. I danced to Hairspray and acted out a scene from Annie where the orphans sing It’s The Hard Knock Life. I played Molly and got bashed with pillows!

I went to see Rock of Ages the musical at Cliffs Pavilion in Southend and it was brilliant and I would definitely like to see it again.

I am going to see Peter Pan at the Civic Theatre on Christmas Eve which I am really looking forward to.

I have been rehearsing for my next Theatretrain show called Step Into Christmas in December. It was meant to be at the Palladium but it was double booked, so we’re performing at the Adelphi Theatre instead. I’m singing a duet of Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree which is going to be amazing with a choir backing us.

GROVE ROAD EVANGELICAL CHURCH ‘Bringing Good News to The Heart of Chelmsford‛ Warmly invite you to join us for our

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Mulled punch and mince pies will be served after the service ALL WELCOME

I am waiting to see if I have been cast in a couple of short films. They are unpaid but good experience.

We are situated just off Moulsham Street, behind Tesco Express

I am also going to a casting in London for a well known car commercial. The brief says there are lots of vignettes and I didn’t know what that meant. Apparently it means there are lots of miniscenes and they are casting lots of kids so I am hoping I get cast. The

filming is in December in London and one of the kids has to pretend to feel car sick which would be funny to act, so I am hoping to get that part. It is also good money if I am featured so that gives me even more reason to get it!

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Don’t forget we also sell all you need for your winter fire - coal, logs, kindling and lots of fireside accessories such as fire guards, buckets and companion sets.

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The Bush and Blair Approach to Exercise Hello and welcome to my inaugural contribution to the Moulsham Times. It is something I have been meaning to do for a while now but have only just found the time to do so!

so much time thinking about the pros and cons of each type of exercise, they become so paralysed by this information overload and end up doing nothing at all in fear of doing the wrong exercise.

With this in mind I have purposely steered away from making the article something akin to a Kate Winslet Oscar acceptance speech long, rambling and self-indulgent but deliberately opted for something more John Bercow-like - short and to the point!

This is where the Bush and Blair approach works just fine. Sometimes you just need to go out there and get on with it, to borrow Nike’s strap line - Just Do It! Choose an exercise you enjoy. If you like going for a long run go for a long run, forget that high intensity interval running leaves you with a potentially longer post exercise calorie burn. If you like spending time in the gym using the Smith Machine forget that free weights may be more functional. If you enjoy pounding the streets, go run the streets, forget that the treadmill may be kinder to your knees.

Exercise and politics are big interests of mine (not the two most obvious bed fellows I know!) which is why for my first article, I have combined the two.

Back in 2003, the US and UK’s invasion of Iraq certainly divided public opinion. Some of the British public whole-heartedly backed the invasion, in search of weapons of mass of destruction. Others vehemently detested it. Whatever view you take there can be little argument that neither Bush nor Blair spent much time planning for what was going to happen in Iraq once the invasion and subsequent war had reached its conclusion.

This lack of planning may not be a good way for a government to run its foreign policy, however it may be good way of designing your exercise programme!

PROCRASTINATION IS THE ENEMY! I have lost count of the times people have asked me endless questions about what is the best form of exercise for them. Unfortunately they get way too bogged down and confused with the clever marketing surrounding the latest exercise craze.

They want to know whether they should be doing HIIT training, functional training, tabata training, kettle bells, battle ropes, fixed weights, machine weights, cross-fit, box-fit, or flippin’ whatsit! There are endless exercise modalities out there and it is not surprising that people suffer from what I call ‘paralysis by analysis’. They spend 28

Please do not get me wrong I am not saying that these training methods do not have their place in a well-rounded exercise plan but for the average person wanting to get fit or increase their activity, doing something, anything, is incredibly more beneficial than doing nothing at all. Within reason there are not many (if any) exercises that are more dangerous to the human body than doing no exercise at all.

So choose something you enjoy and go out there and enjoy it.

Exercise should be fun that way you are more likely to stick to it and do it for years to come as opposed to some people I see who train their backsides of doing stuff they absolutely hate. Sure it may be effective in terms of reaching their exercise goal but because they do not enjoy it, they cannot maintain it so any improvements are soon lost!

In short, choose an exercises you enjoy doing - You are much more likely to keep doing it!

Thanks for your time.

Matt. www.mlrpt.co.uk www.twitter.com/mlrpt www.facebook.com/mlrpt www.youtuce.com/mlrpt

www.moulshamtimes.com

Moulsham Lodge Community Trust by Mark Springett After a successful open day we are consolidating the many ideas and suggestions that people put up on our idea walls and next month we will share this with everyone. Suggestions for a name for the hub were also collected, with names also being suggested on our Facebook page, we have quite a job in choosing a name that will provide an identity that everyone will associate with our new community facility. We will be shortlisting to a smaller list soon and then running a poll on our Facebook page and web site www.mlct.org. uk, so keep a look out.

We will be decorating very soon to a very basic standard with the intention of providing some individuality in each of the rooms as we go through the year. One of the first projects will be to produce a community themed mural in the side entrance lobby and I have charged Moulsham High School with the task of designing and painting the mural which we hope will be done in partnership with

Dulux as part of their community grant scheme. If there any budding interior designers out there and would like to be involved in this ongoing project, please get in touch.

As a result of the open day we have some new committee members who have offered to bring their particular skills for the benefit of the community. Volunteers are the life blood of any community organisation so we recognise the time and commitment these people are giving to help us achieve our objectives, thank you to everyone so far that has offered their support and help.

Best Regards – Mark Springett – Chair MLCT www.mlct.org.uk – enquiries@mlct.org.uk – Mobile: 07411 808731 or text and I’ll call you back.

TOLC Story

Who founded The Original Laces Company?

The idea for the Original Laces Company was born late 2012 and the business was later founded early 2014 by Ian Bates of Maldon.

With a background in product and packaging, Bates has a good understanding of how to develop products and then take them to market. He formed PortaBrands (www.portabrands.com) in 2005 which invents and supplies patented drink and bottle carriers which can be easily branded. He successfully sold this company in 2010.

Why start making coloured shoelaces?

In October 2012, Bates bought a pair of Ted Baker tan brogues at London Heathrow Airport on his way to Hong Kong. They were supplied with two sets of laces including a light blue pair. The laces broke a few months later as is normal and he went in search of a replacement pair. He ended up importing them from Canada for about £17 and these laces are still going strong and have been machine washed several times.

designed its own coloured striped socks working with the renowned British sock makers, Tenderfoot.

Laces and sock gift-packs are currently being tested.

What are the business objectives?

To turn heads, make footwear more exciting and add coloured laces (and socks) to the fashion accessory repertoire and catwalk.

Business Moto?

Be bold. Be original. info@original-laces.co.uk www.original-laces.co.uk http://twitter.com/originallaces

He approached the manufacturer in Canada and a couple of UK-based producers, but neither could provide what was a required to offer a flexible, rapid, bespoke service where embossed/branded metal tipped aglets are hand-secured to the end of laces cord of varying lengths, colours and designs.

Made in Britain and in a Garden Shed – Really?

Yes – production takes place in the garden shed which keeps costs tightly under control. The metal aglets are applied individually by hand using a machine called a hand punch. This secures the metal aglets to the laces cord or ribbon. A small amount of special glue is also applied which is resistant to water and extreme temperatures (-30° to +130°). Belt and braces for sure, but there is an assumption that some customers will want to clean their laces in a washing machine.

What’s so special about bespoke shoelaces?

Laces can be so boring, but when you add colour, embossed metal aglets in different finishes, make them properly from decent materials and present them beautifully, they become visual art, a great fashion accessory as well as an unusual gift or promotional item. Maybe a pair of colour laces with matching socks? Even better. In fact, TOLC has just

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MoulshamFirst is Changing – We Are Consulting on Setting up a Trust.

MoulshamFirst (MF) has been in place for several years as an informal organisation attempting to speak on behalf of Old Moulsham and engaging with key agencies like the city council and Essex Police.

Old Mousham – like the city centre (and other areas of Chelmsford) – does not have a local council (that is, a parish or town council), Therefore it is important that we have a more organised organisation that will ensure that the voices of Old Moulsham and the city centre are heard by the powers that be. To this end, MF has set up a working group to explore setting up a charitable trust to promote the wellbeing of the communities across the area and it will report back to a public meeting on Tuesday 9 December – 7pm at the Princes Road site of Chelmsford College (with grateful thanks to the principal of the college for enabling us to meet there).

The working group considered the kinds of focus a community organisation would have, reflecting the activities of MoulshamFirst over the past few years, and aspirations for the community.

Key needs, matters and objectives were discussed and the following emerged: • Need for a coherent and recognised voice from a non-parished area.

• Need for a recognised and strong forum for the communities across Old Moulsham and city centre.

• Immediate issues of community facilities and how the Hall Street old Marconi building may provide a way forward (we need a community facility to preserve history, and for space for community initiatives and start-ups).

• Immediate issues of 20 mph zones, licensing and planning matters, antisocial behaviour and crime and disorder matters (including Neighbourhood Watches).

• Working with key partners: city council, county council and police.

• Enable coherent/effective engagement on behalf of the local communities with other organisations and community groups such as Chelmsford Civic Society and Changing Chelmsford and not to lose sight of the local agenda.

From this discussion, the following objectives emerged – to contribute to and promote for all communities across Old Moulsham

Nipper’s Bench, Plaque and Charity Nipper’s funeral donations raised over £700 for charity, which added to the incredible amount raised at The Anchor of around £4000, is a very generous response for a genuinely ‘one off’ guy. I am sure he would be proud of everyone’s dontaions.

The Anchor are placing a plaque behind the bar and a bench outside the pub which at the time of going to print was due to be installed. As it is Christmas I thought it would be apt to share a photograph I took of Nipper at the Moulsham Street Christmas lights event last year which was in last December’s MT.

and Chelmsford city centre by promoting: • Community safety, health and well being.

• Educational activities for all citizenship and community development the arts.

• The protection of the environment – (a) built/made environment (planning issues, streets and footpaths, street lighting, etc). (b) natural environment (open spaces, parks, waterways, etc.) social and ethnic cohesion.

There are various forms of charitable/trust organisation, and under recent legislation the recommendation is for one of two options as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO): a. An Association – where there is a committee of trustees and a wider formal membership, there are various models to explore b. A Foundation – with a governing committee of trustees; there are various models for this too, but essentially membership is group of trustees who govern the organisation (but who would consult the wider community on issues).

Whether (a) or (b) is a matter for further discussion/consultation. As a CIO the organisation will register with the Charities Commission (but not Companies House) and trustees will have limited (nominal) liability for the organisation’s debts or liabilities – probably £1 per trustee.

Eligible participants could be defined as residents with the postcodes within the ward boundary – whether or not a more formal membership arrangement would be defined, such as with an association CIO. There’s much to discuss and consult on – this is an opener. Please let us have your views: email moulshamfirst@btinternet.com, or use Facebook/moulsham.first and if you read this in time, come to our meeting on 9th December.

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