Moulsham Times February 2014

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Issue Number 14 - February 2014

MT Welcome

Welcome to the February edition of the Moulsham Times.

This month we welcome many new advertisers, please take time to view what they offer.

We would love your letters! What is going on in your area? What would you like to see changed? What neeeds addressing? Dick writes this month about potholes, is your street particularly bad, let us know? Write to letters@ moulshamtimes.com.

Carol is taking a break from writing this month but will return in March with her column.

There is lots going on this month with the Winter Beer & Cider Festival and also a new column from the museum who will be telling us a little about their exhibits and exhibitions.

Oh and look out for our new van and give Nick a wave while he is out on his travels.

Regards Paul & Nick

The Lemon Tree Cafe Com

Drinks for e in to the lunc earl grey, h green tea or a warm drin peppermint k! & many others Mocha Italia coffee Marimba hot chocolate

FOOD Homemade soups Jacket potatoes with a range of fillings homemade veg quiche homemadeveg lasagne toasted sandwiches ciabattas homemade cakes  gluten free cakes

Open 8am-5pm Mon - Sat 34F Moulsham Street

Trinovantes RFC – A View from the Blindside

I suppose I ought to start by wishing you all a very Happy New Year as I failed miserably to get anything written for the December and January issues. So Happy New Year to all you ‘Moulshamites’.

By the time you read this the RBS 6 Nations will have kicked off and I trust you are all looking forward to the annual battle for supremacy in Europe as much as I am. History tells us that in the year after a Lions tour, France generally do pretty well in the 6N so it will be interesting to see whether they can break Wales’ recent stranglehold on the title and record a first championship win in 4 years. Elsewhere Ireland have a new coach in the shape of Joe Schmidt and it will be interesting to see how the Irish fare under his guidance and whether they can deliver performances that match the level they achieved against New Zealand in the autumn. Time will tell.

In so far as Trinovantes RFC is concerned it has been a quiet couple of months on the playing front, which, given the number of injuries we have among us is probably no bad thing. At the time of writing we have no fewer than 8 players out injured but the good news is that nearly all of them are anticipating returning to training in the next few weeks. We have 7 fixtures arranged for the remainder of the season and they commence in February. Our aim is to play 2 matches a month for the remainder of the season.

Some of our players have been turning out for our partner club, Witham RUFC and we hope that some of Witham’s players will return the favour when we recommence on the pitch. As ever we are short of players so can I again appeal to any of you who have ever thought about either returning to play rugby, maybe you played at school or at college, or those who have always thought that you would like to give rugby a try (awful pun I know) but have never quite got around to it. I’ve said it before and make no apology for repeating it again, we are a very definitely a social club and can accommodate just about anybody who wants to give the game a try. We hold joint training sessions with Witham at Spa Road every Tuesday evening and will shortly be resurrecting our weekend training sessions in Central Park. The latter are mainly non-contact sessions where we concentrate on handling skills. If nothing else it is an excellent aerobic work-out and there is no pressure on anyone attending to actually join the club. Keep an eye out for announcements on this either through our Facebook page Trinovantes RFC, our club website at http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/ trinovantesrufc/ or follow us on Twitter @TrinovantesRFC. If none of that appeals then you can get hold of me, John Foley on 07711 820312 or our Deputy Chairman Ben Muir on 07769 294302.

Looking to the future we have some interesting plans to expand our activities and become even more of a community club. These plans include hosting a 10 a side tournament in the late spring/ early summer and starting up a touch rugby team. This will include facilities for girls and women to take part and as I mentioned previously it provides a great aerobic workout. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the concept of touch rugby it is a fast, simple and exciting game which promotes the fundamental rugby skills of running, handling, evasion and support play without the fear of getting hurt.

As ever we are looking for new players and the contacts for the club, should you be interested in coming to play or just train with us are: myself, John Foley (07711 820312) or Ben Muir (07769 294302) give either of us a call or text one of us. Alternatively you can tweet @TrinovantesRFC, email trinovantesrfc@gmail.com, look us up on Facebook under Trinovantes RFC or you can log on to pitchero.com/clubs/trinovantesrufc and leave a message.

From the

House

by Simon Burns MP Visteon

An issue that I have been very involved with for almost three years is a classic situation regarding a group of constituents in Chelmsford - but also in other parts of Essex - who have a very rough deal with regards to their company pensions and the Ford Motor Company.

Visteon was a global automobile component operation which worked for Ford Motor Company for many years and in June 2000 it was spun off from Ford in an effort to reduce the supply chain costs. However despite this “spin off” Visteon still remained dependent on Ford for over 90% of its business and all of the employees who moved from Ford to Visteon were given no new contacts.

Ford even said to them that “your acquired pension will be protected”. However this was not the case as people who worked for Visteon had their pensions slashed by a huge 45%. In some cases employees who had worked for Ford for 30 years and for Visteon for only 3 months still had their pensions cut.

In response to this scandalous misrepresentation of employees, I and my colleagues have been trying to bring this matter to light and to help those who have been affected by the pension cuts. We have been lobbying Ford and there has been a debate in Westminster Hall and before Christmas we had a debate on the floor of the House of Commons in which I called upon Ford to do the decent thing, the morally right thing, and restore those pensions to the people who should never have had them taken away from them in the first place.

Along with my colleagues I will continue to lobby a positive outcome as Ford has an obligation towards its former employees because despite all of its claims Visteon was Ford’s global parts manufacture.

Please send us your letters.

Is there anything in the Moulsham area that needs addressing?

Email us at: editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

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MT Therapy

Loss and grief is something we all have to deal with in life at some point. Some people are better at dealing with loss than others, there are various reasons for this but one thing I’ve noticed is that when people understand the loss process they seem to be able to deal with it better. I think this is because sometimes it’s very helpful to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and also knowing that what you’re going through is normal and being able to recognise and identify with the emotional and behavioural symptoms is beneficial.

Loss and grief is essentially the same thing because we grieve for what we lost. If you think about it there are many things you’ve probably lost in your life, not just losing a loved one when they pass away but also loss of relationships (a break up, a friend or family member moving away), a loss of a habit (stopping smoking, drinking), loss of possessions (mobile phone, handbag), you can practically lose anything!

The difference is how connected we have felt with the thing or person we have lost. In my experience self esteem plays a role as well, those with more self esteem seem to deal with loss better than those with lower esteem. I think this is because self esteem relates to the amount of belief you have in yourself, the more belief you have the more likely it is you’ll believe that you will be ok. This isn’t necessarily a conscious belief, it’s more a subconscious one.

There is a process we all go through to cope with grief.

Sometimes this is referred to as the 5 stages of grief, personally I prefer the grief curve because you can place yourself on the curve and see where you’re headed next as well as the end of the curve where you reach resolution. Below is an example of the grief curve:

Usually the most difficult thing to deal with is the first reaction: shock. Many of us don’t like change, we like to feel comfortable in our environment and know where we are because this gives us a feeling of security. That first burst of shock can rock your world and suddenly make you feel very insecure indeed! This can also lead to a feeling of panic, especially if for example a property has been broken into. Not only do you feel violated at the fact someone has been in your property, you would also feel very insecure knowing they’ve been through your private possessions.

Next we have denial or a feeling of numbness. The grief curve gives options because there are different situations in which we feel grief, for example if someone has suddenly died you may be more likely to feel a sense of denial, especially if you just spoke to the person recently. If you’ve been burgled you may be more likely to feel numb, denial might be less likely here because you can immediately see what has happened, a feeling of numbness is your subconscious’s way of protecting you.

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Questioning the situation is a natural progression, why did this happen? What have you /they done to deserve this?

We question things to find a better understanding, it’s the minds way of trying to come to terms with events so we can move on. But we’re not done yet!

It’s normal to feel anger or guilt as a reaction to loss. Anger comes from fear, so you may be angry at the situation or the person that’s left you but actually you’re afraid of the next step: the feeling of loneliness. Guilt is a common one, especially in those that question whether there was anything they could have done to prevent the situation. This is where people start “what iffing” – for example: “what if I hadn’t asked the person to go out for milk? Maybe they wouldn’t have been run over…” “What if we hadn’t gone out tonight, maybe we wouldn’t have been burgled?” etc...

Now we reach the bottom of the curve, this is the lowest you’re likely to feel, so a feeling of depression/loneliness sets in. You may also feel ill more often as this is a common side effect of depression. This is the bit where you wonder whether this awful feeling of being low will ever end. Will you ever be happy again? Will you ever be bothered about life again? The answer is (hopefully) yes, but we have to climb back up the curve first…

There are re-entry troubles because you have to leave behind the depression. Sometimes people get used to the depression, it can be easier to hide away from the world than move on and struggle back into life and it’s ups and downs. Now you’re struggling to get your foot on that first step, but once you have, the next bits are much more enjoyable…

Hope is next, you begin to find that you want to feel better which makes you hopeful for the future. Perhaps you begin to make plans, looking forward to the future. This leads onto the next step, acceptance. If you’re able to make plans for the future, that would indicate you’ve begun to accept the events of the past. Sometimes this phase can last a while, it’s hard to accept something that’s painful but once you have you can move on. Acceptance and moving on may be at the top of the curve, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still have feelings of guilt. It’s hard to move on from a loss, the key is not to push yourself.

Something very important to remember: the grief curve is not a process that is set in stone. You can move up and down the curve like a yo-yo, everyone deals with things differently and each situation is different. Problems with loss occur when the person is stuck at a certain point or they yo-yo between two points constantly. You must give yourself time, sometimes support groups where people have been through something similar can be of a great help as you may identify with people in your situation and they can give the right kind of support.

I hope this has been of help, next time I’ll write about depression and the physical, emotional and behavioural effects.

Jenny Hartill - Cloud9 Counselling and Hypnotherapy www.counsellinginchelmsford.co.uk - 07528822928

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we are playing on the centre stage alongside greats like Jefferson Starship, Dr Feelgood and Wilko Johnson to name but a few. If you are lucky and have got this edition quickly we are playing at the Ale House on Sat 1st Feb where we will have our new album on sale for the first time.

February already and so much has been going on. I though January would be quiet but no, with Asylum having and all day punk event with 10 acts playing on Sat 18 which by all accounts was amazing. That night saw Shakey hold the Chelmsford heat of Undiscovered at the Globe this was a great acoustic event and very tight but the winner was Jarred Lee closely followed by Rosin O’Hagan, Sound Mirrors and Mr Jones. Jarred will go to the semi finals that will be held at the Cramphorn Theatre Chelmsford in March.Tickets are £4 in advance from the theatre box office. The event is hosted by Shakster Records and there will be a special guest yet to be announced.

Sadly this edition has come out too early to report on Bad influence and our trip, by Jamie Williams and the Roots Collective to the Great British Rock and Blues Festival where

Chelmsford Museum

I do hope that , as residents of Old Moulsham, you will know of your museum in Oaklands Park, and may even have visited. We have been at Oaklands since Empire Day 1930, although the museum was first founded in the front parlour of Chelmsford Gaol in 1835! The important news for you is that admission is still free, so it won’t cost you a penny to come in and have a look. The Museum doubled in size in January 2010 with the opening of the new extension.This houses the all new Essex Regiment Museum, a temporary exhibition room, an education/meeting room which you can hire, and Bright Sparks – our interactive look at Marconi, Hoffmann, Crompton and Chelmsford’s other industries.

The House was built in 1865 for the local brewer, Fred Wells, and was designed in the Italianate style by one of Jon Pertwee’s ancestors to resemble Osbourne House, Queen Victoria’s residence on the Isle of Wight. The Park is also a lovely oasis and kids will enjoy the two brand new playgrounds.

So if you aren’t yet tempted to visit, how about this? Until 21st April, our temporary exhibition is all about Dukes Nightclub!

People of all ages and backgrounds are coming in to immerse themselves in a bit of disco reminiscence. We’ve got the original sofas, tables and chairs, the front reception desk, glitter ball, posters and banners, and even the carpet (though it doesn’t squelch underfoot, sorry about that!). And whilst stocks last, you can take away your very own Dukes pen and Platinum Card.

Have a look at us at www.chelmsford.gov.uk/museums or phone 01245 605700. Perhaps in future editions of the Moulsham Times, I can introduce you to some of our best loved and little known exhibits.

By Nick Wickenden

To find out what’s on in Chelmsford, please pick up a copy of Chelmsford The City Times. The next edition is available February 14th.

I have two gigs in Chelmsford firstly on Thursday 6th Feb at Evoke two greats from the 80s do a double headliner with China Crisis and Ex Simple Minds. Then on Wednesday 19th Feb it is Blues in the City at the Bassment. This month we have two Essex greats who both played at my festival last September with Richard Townend playing solo and warming up for the Broadstairs Blues Bash the following weekend, which we are opening on the Friday (always a great festival). The headline this month is the great Blues Consortium who played to a packed out Orange Tree audience at my festival and are a must to see as is Richard.

Remember there is live music most nights of the week somewhere in Chelmsford and places you can join in as well with open mics at the Woolpack on the last Sunday of the month starts about 8pm and the Black Bull on the 2nd Tuesday of every month starts about 8.30pm.

So let’s hope we see you out there supporting great live music as without you supporting it we will loose it.

Keep it Live! - Nick Garner www.bluesinthecity.co.uk

MT Gardening Isn’t the weather mild at the moment? With it plants don’t know whether they’re coming or going! Never mind, for me this is a perfect time to check out all my containers on the patio and those secreted around the garden. Remember, pots, troughs and wall containers can really add a dash of excitement at this time year – you have perfect control over what you plant into them, but you do have to care for them more than a conventionally planted shrub, tree or perennial.

Gardening with containers is an increasingly popular, versatile type of gardening suitable for in or outdoors. Containers may be used to enliven buildings and areas of hard landscaping, provide seasonal change, or offer a growing environment to suit plants that grow well in conditions that can’t be offered in the garden.

Containers are a good way to experiment with planting combinations, can provide an instant effect, and may be rearranged to give dynamic interest to specific areas, either to disguise or as a focal point.

soil based and part peat reduced compost; the former giving support and anchorage to taller plants and the latter for its light weight.

At this time of year it is crucial that there is free flow of water through the growing media and an ability to drain freely to avoid potential rotting of root systems and or cracking of pots due to frost heave. Raise the pot off the ground by standing on bricks or ceramic ‘feet’.

For me I’m looking at spring interest planting at the moment!

Why not try evergreens such as Hedera helix ‘Silver Queen’ as a good foil for other plants and Bergenia cordifolia has the bonus of early spring flowers. Crocus, daffodil and tulips are colourful and may be planted – check out your good garden centres for potted versions available now.

Polyanthusand pansies are inexpensive and flower over a long period. Lastly, try attractive stems of Salix babylonica var. pekinensis ‘Tortuosa’ and Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ to provide an interesting vertical feature.

For an why no y gardening tip tc Head o ontact Tom s Cole fF & Envir aculty for La , Colleg onment, Wr nd e, C ittle 3RR b helmsford, y post CM1 (in SAE) o r by em cluding a ail at cole@w rittle.a tom. c.uk

Good luck and happy gardening!

The choice of shape, style and material of containers helps to establish or reinforce the style of a garden. Plants tend to do better in larger containers where there are greater reserves of water and nutrients, and there is less temperature variation.

This year I’m having a real re-think about which containers I’m going to use and equally what type of plant to use. One of the keys to success is correct siting of your container; siting where they won’t be a tripping hazard, and where they can’t topple over. Consider securing containers to, or within, a permanent structure. Safe and convenient access for maintenance is essential. Place containers away from wind tunnels, for instance between buildings. Consider the effects of radiant heat from paving and buildings. This may help to over winter a plant of borderline tenderness, but will also increase evapotranspiration. Last, and by no means least, containers often look most effective when grouped together.

When it comes to growing media, the world is your oyster!

Specially formulated container composts contain controlled release fertilisers and water-retaining gels, but these may also be added to standard composts. Soil-less composts are lightweight, an important consideration for a balcony or roof terrace. Soil-less composts are difficult to re-wet if they dry out completely. Permanent plantings may benefit from soil-based composts, such as John Innes No. 3, which retain water and nutrients well, maintain their structure, and are easier to rewet. Heavier soil-based composts aid stability if growing tall plants which are prone to blowing over. I tend to use a blended 10

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15th Chelmsford Winter Beer & Cider Festival MEET, EAT, DRINK The Square and Compasses in Fuller Street want customers to Meet, Eat and Drink or should that be Meet, Drink and Eat? CAMRA agrees: so what do you think?

CAMRA, The Campaign for Real Ale Wants more people to try real cider real perry and of course real ale! our festivals give choice ever wider.

For our winter fest we have lots on sale of bitter, mild, porter and stout light ale, old ale, golden ale And winter warmers no doubt.

Come to King Edward Grammar School From February 19 to 22, sniff, sample but please don’t drool we have other customers too!

Buy your cards at the Door In units of £10:10p a square for clarity.

Around the site you can get more remainders can go to Charity.

The amazing choices of cider and perry range from dry, medium and sweet so there’s plenty to make you merry whether alone or with friends you meet.

Spend it all or get your money back.

We provide the Soft drinks Free but charity donation in the sack Would be nice to see!

Pyder made with juice of apple and pear is delicious and from Millwhites, or Gwynt Y Ddraig to compare.

We have many more delights!

Foreign beer, food and wine will be paid for with real cash don’t worry. all will be fine.

This festival will be a smash!

Also from Wales, Watkins Vintage Oak, Hallets National Treasure, Oak Age Whisky Cask, and rum cask for good measure.

More details see The Chelmsford Winter Beer and Cider Festival Advert in this issue and our website www. chelmsfordbeerandciderfestivals.org.uk

Cadogan Scrumpy Dry and Medium Their Perry and some from Butford.

Your taste buds will have no tedium so for choice choose Chelmsford!

By Claire Irons, cider rep for Chelmsford and Mid-Essex Camra.

To make Camra bar service slicker hand your beer card to our staff for them to strike, to pay quicker for your pint, third or half.

Date for your diary February 19th to 22nd At Kegs

FROM COUNTY HALL

by Cllr. Dick Madden

I write to you shortly into the new year of 2014. Christmas trees and all those decorations gone for another year but I gained something - half a stone in weight. I obviously enjoyed Christmas but am back at Slimming World, having in that past year lost nearly two stone I am back on the treadmill of a sensible diet. So be it but it was fun.

You will probably have heard by now that Essex County Council is set to raise its share of Council Tax by 1.49%, upping it for the first time in 4 years. This works out at 31p a week for the average Band D property, less than a pint of milk or a second class stamp. It is an increase of £16.19 a year, but with our launch of our energy switching scheme that can save you £100 to £130 a year, if you stick with us you are quids in.

As a result of this minimal rise, more support will be given to members of our community with physical and learning needs, our young people in youth services, and to develop more apprenticeship schemes also for our young people.

Some really good news for the community of Moulsham Lodge, though not fully finalised, the Police Commissioner has agreed that Essex County Council can purchase Moulsham Lodge Police Station and in turn, we at the County will facilitate Moulsham Lodge Community Group taking over and running the building as a Community Hub. There will no doubt be media articles about this good news which has taken over 18 months to complete, however we have got there in the end. I am particularly pleased for the Moulsham Lodge Community Group who have been exceedingly patient, of which I am really

grateful. Good luck for the future of this building.

I end with an appeal to all dog lovers, recently I have received a lot of correspondence from residents complaining about the amount of dog excrement on our local community pathways. Please, please when taking the dog for the necessary walks around our estates, in the event your dog ‘needs to go’, please can you ensure that any deposits are removed and if any dog litter bins are nearby please use them, if not, can you suitably dispose of it when you return home.

My final matter refers to a common feature in my articles and that is potholes. In view of the recent wet weather, on driving round our local roadways on the main roads and estate roads I note some new potholes of which I have reported to Essex County Council Highways. I again appeal to you that if you find a pothole near your home or during your journeys around our local area, you can report this yourself by contacting Essex County Council Highways using this link: https://secureweb1.essexcc.gov.uk/Highways/Report-ahighway-problem.aspx It would be a great help to me and will be dealt with quicker if you can report potholes direct, rather than waiting for me to find them or being told by yourselves.

BE SAFE - Dick Madden

Surprise! It’s St Valentine’s Day! By Bridget Metcalfe Smack bang in the middle of February is Valentine’s Day. It’s the day when you surprise your loved one with a card, flowers, chocolates, perfume, a meal out, champagne, a weekend away, a diamond ring, a cruise around the Caribbean islands, a trip to the moon…

Well, perhaps not. Although it’s wonderful to receive a card or a gift from a loved one, (or even from a secret admirer) sometimes the gifts may perhaps be a little predictable.

So, to make things a bit different this year, let’s consider a few other ideas. How about tickets to the cinema? There’s plenty of choice at Chelmsford’s Odeon. There are plenty of seats in the back row if you’re feeling so inclined.

Alternatively, to capture the whole essence of Valentine’s Day on the day itself, one of the most romantic movies ever, Brief Encounter, is showing at Chelmsford’s Civic Theatre. It stars Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard who made such a significant mark on the world of romance in this classic film.

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However, still searching for something different to suggest as a Valentine’s Day gift, I think this next idea tops them all.

Regular readers will know I travel around Chelmsford on my bicycle. Cycling my way through the park today, I was thinking about all those bicycles which are neglected and forgotten in garages and garden sheds all around the city.

In the days approaching Valentine’s Day you could secretly move all the cardboard boxes and garden furniture out of the way and uncover your loved one’s bicycle. Clean it up, polish it and check the tyres. You could add a new bell, a basket or panniers, or new lights. It needn’t cost the earth.

Imagine your loved one’s surprise and delight that you’ll have done something so thoughtful. If you both have a forgotten bike, that’s even better. You’ll be able to cycle out together along the many cycle paths which should give you a different perspective on where we live. Stop for coffee or something to eat and from the window admire your two bicycles romantically and securely chained together as you both plan the summer ahead on two wheels.

Whatever you decide to do for Valentine’s Day you could end the weekend listening to the radio. You’ll find me on BBC Essex every Sunday evening at 6 o’clock. Email me at bridget@bbc. co.uk and I’ll dedicate a record to your loved one! The perfect end to a romantic weekend. Happy Valentine’s Day!

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MT Cookery

After the Christmas and New Year break with the Heineken Cup in full swing, not that Quins are going to be any part of the party, and the Six Nations starting in February the Orange Tree is the place for rugby beers. Also the second half of the Aviva Premiership makes it a fascinating beginning to 2014.

With only eight weeks till Cheltenham it is getting very exciting.

If you have never been to Cheltenham, walking through the gates with Cleeve Hill in the background it is sight to behold.

All roads lead to the second Tuesday in March..

Just a dish that will make you think of a sunnier climate…..

Lamb and Apricot Tagine For something a little bit earthy, comforting with mild spices this dish brings it all. If you are not ok with apricots, you can replace them with cranberries, sour cherries or figs instead.

Serves 6.

Ingredients.

2 tbsp rape seed oil.

1 onion chopped.

600g (1lb 5oz) boneless lamb (fillet) cut into bite size pieces. ½ tsp coriander.

1 cinnamon stick. ½ tsp ground ginger.

6 cloves (ground in pestle and mortar). ½ tsp turmeric.

Salt and freshly ground black pepper.

12 apricots (dried).

2 tbsp honey.

Chopped coriander to garnish.

Couscous, rice, or a salad will complement this dish.

By Andy Starling

150g white or chestnut. mushrooms sliced.

1 medium onion finely sliced.

75 ml red wine.

150 ml crème fraiche.

1 tsp paprika.

A pinch of nutmeg.

Small bunch of flat-leaf parsley chopped.

1. Place mixed dried wild mushrooms in a bowl and cover with hot water and soak for 20mins, squeeze dry and chop.

2. Melt butter in frying pan and fry onions over a low-medium heat until soft but not coloured. Add the fresh and re-hydrated mushrooms, paprika and cook until soft (about 10mins).

3. Add the red wine and cook for 2mins.

4. Season with salt and freshly milled black pepper.

5. Stir in the crème fraiche and nutmeg and serve immediately, garnish with the chopped parsley. Serve with rice, linguine, or crusty bread and a glass of your favourite red wine..

Hopefully you will enjoy..

Andy..

1. Heat oil in a casserole pan with a lid, add the onions and lamb, and cook until the lamb is brown all over. It is best to cook in batches otherwise the lamb will stew.

2. Add the coriander, cinnamon stick, ginger, cloves, and turmeric and stir to mix in with the lamb and onion, cook for 1-2 minutes stirring continuously. Pour in enough water to cover the lamb and add salt and pepper to taste. Be careful with salt, you can add but you cannot take it away.

3. Bring to a simmer then cover the pan with a lid, or if you have a tagine warm in oven and add mixture to it. Put in oven at 170C for 1 ½ hrs. Add the apricots and cook for a further 30 minutes or until the lamb is very tender. You may have to add more water if it looks on the dry side.

4. Remove the lid and stir in the honey, back in the oven for another 10 minutes to reduce the liquid to a sauce like consistency. Check the seasoning, and add the coriander then serve with either couscous, rice or salad..

Now for the veggies out there..

Mushroom Stroganoff for 2.

25g butter.

25g pack mixed dried wild mushrooms.

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hy ver, w Xmas o our oven at y not tre clean! to a

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MT Business

THE HUNNABALL FAMILY FUNERAL GROUP

The Hunnaball Family Funeral Group is a family-owned business with 10 outlets in Essex and Suffolk.

Started by Trevor and Melanie Hunnaball in 1983, the company is now the largest independent funeral company in East Anglia, and the other directors are their children Saul Chris and Polly.

Innovative yet traditional, their professionalism and style are unique to the profession. Their ‘Ladies in Hats’, distinctive silver fleet and modern funeral homes enhance their reputation as the region’s premier funeral service.

As a family business they are dedicated to providing the very best of care for bereaved families, and to serving their local communities.

ST JOHN’S HOUSE St John’s House in Wood Lane is opposite the former St John’s Hospital. After a complete renovation and refurbishment, St John’s House is now a fully equipped funeral home. The spacious premises offer full facilities, including family suites, a chapel of rest, bright and stylish reception areas and an impressive memorial showroom.

You are always assured of a friendly welcome from our caring professional team, who are here to guide you through every step of arranging a funeral. Traditional or modern, religious or non-religious, ‘green’ or woodland burial, we offer a personalised service to suit your individual choice. From a single red rose to a Victorian horse-drawn hearse, we believe that every funeral should be a personal and memorable occasion – a celebration of life for a loved one, and we know it’s the little details that make a funeral special.

AFTER THE FUNERAL We understand that grieving doesn’t end at the funeral ceremony, and we are here to offer ongoing support through this difficult time in your journey through bereavement.

Our Friendship Group, led by Helen Rendell is held on the first Wednesday of every month at the Church of the Spirit, Forest Drive. Helen runs our Chelmsford branch, and as a former 16

midwife is very well known in the local community. She has worked in the funeral profession for many years, and she is passionate about helping people. Anyone who has suffered a bereavement, whether recently or not is very welcome to attend the Friendship Group. Please contact Helen on 01245 290909 for full details.

We hold annual ‘Light a Candle’ Services of Remembrance, and during December you can ‘Name a Star’ on our Christmas Tree in memory of a loved one.

PLANNING AHEAD When is the best time to arrange a funeral? Now might be the best time, to save the financial and emotional stress to your family at a time when they are suffering a loss.

We have a wide choice of funeral plans, and expert advisors to help you choose what best suits your wishes and your budget.

IFA Firm Rated Top in Essex

Chelmsford based financial advice firm Fairey Associates Ltd has been rated the Best Independent Financial Advice Firm in Essex by consumer ratings site VouchedFor.co.uk.

The firm, which specialises in Independent Financial Advice, secured the award thanks to the support of its clients who posted positive ratings and reviews about the excellent service they’d received on VouchedFor.co.uk.

A delighted Ed Fairey (Managing Director) of Fairey Associates explained: “winning the award for being the Best IFA Firm in Essex means a great deal. There are nearly two thousand advisers on the VouchedFor website, so to be identified as the best in the region means a lot. We’re really proud as it reinforces our reputation for giving only the highest quality financial advice.”

Independent Financial Advisers offer impartial advice and can assist you in achieving your financial goals, be that moving house, saving for your children’s education or planning for retirement. However understanding how an adviser can help, and finding an adviser you can trust, is a big decision.

Comments Adam Price, Founder of VouchedFor: “we’d like to congratulate Fairey Associates on being rated the Best IFA Firm in Essex. Prior to VouchedFor, which features IFAs along with client reviews, it was hard for people to know who to trust with their finances. People in Essex now know that they have a well rated IFA firm on the doorstep.”

But isn’t financial advice the realm of the wealthy? Statistics from VouchedFor indicate that 48%* of IFAs offer advice to individuals with any level of wealth. So, if you don’t have a financial plan in place, there is no reason not to act now. The sooner you start planning your financial future, the more likely it is that you’ll achieve your goals.

If you’d like to know more about financial advice and for tips on securing your finances, take a look at vouchedfor.co.uk/blogs or www.faireyassociates.co.uk. *VouchedFor.co.uk January 15th 2014 based on 1700 IFAs.

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Quest for Kerouac Part 2

By John Power The city of Denver itself was Neal Cassady’s stomping ground, and presented quite a contrast to Boulder. In the 80s it still had its skid row element and Mexican and black quarters.

Although Neal had grown up on skid row, in flop houses with his alchoholic dad, the old haunts had been demolished.

Larimer Street, beyond 20th St., still had a strong Mexican presence and drunks passed out on the sidewalks, but it did have a hippie cop to deal with problems. Neal, not an educated man, wrote down his experiences of growing up there in ‘the First Third’ with his long unbroken sentences faithfully written down by Ginsberg. Kerouac said that he evolved his spontaneous prose form of writing from Neal.

There were also many letters, including a lost one rumoured to be 40,000 words, but Ginsberg said it was less. His main place in Beat history is as Kerouac’s side-kick, driver, and character of the early Beat novels. But he did get a second, psychedelic, incarnation as the driver of Ken Kesey’s bus, ‘Further’ recounted in Tom Wolfe’s ‘Electric Kool Aid Acid Test, and Kesey’s own write up of his Prankster’s archives. Chris compares Jack’s portrayal of Neal’s second wife, and mother of his children, the glamorous blond Carolyn, ‘Camille’ in ‘On the Road’, ‘Marilyn’ for John Clellon Holmes, to Neal’s, and discusses their menage a trois, where Jack found a family situation he couldn’t in other relationships. When Carolyn was the deserted wife and Neal continued to play the field, Jack didn’t seem to care until he too became emotionally involved.

In the last week of his life it was Carolyn who told Neal to go to Mexico to avoid US law, as he was on the run again. He was found dead there of a heart attack due to exhaustion and his, and many other driver’s, favourite drug-amphetamines.

Las Vegas reminded Chris of Tangiers: full of pimps and hustlers. With no natural reason to be there, it was the ideal setting for the Fear and Loathing of Hunter S. Thompson’s novel. They sped through Nevada and the San Joachim Valley to California, stopped near to San Jose airport to ring Carolyn for directions, and headed on to Los Gatos, and the spacious suburban bungalow with a library and photo archive at the back, that was Carolyn’s home. It was the same house that she had shared with Neal and made Jack a guest in. Chris’ quest found fulfilment on that porch, in the footsteps of his heroes. Carolyn had studied Theatre at uni and was also an accomplished painter: quite the chalk to Neal’s cheese.

There Chris was able to view letters from Jack, confessions from Neal, critiques of John Clellon Holmes on Jazz, and letters from Ginsberg and Carl Soloman. These were copies, as the originals had been acquired by the University of Texas.

Carolyn’s hospitality was such that they made camp there and went off to explore San Francisco.

The obvious place to go was City Lights Bookshop, so that is what they did. The store is twinned with Shakespeare and Co. on the left bank of Paris. Its owner was at the Sorbonne with Lawrence Ferlingetti when he did his PhD. there. The Parisienne shop has been a stopping off point for several Beats when in Europe. Lawrence has been a painter and film maker as well as writer and publisher. French Symbolist writers like Rimbaud, Mallarme and Baudelaire share the shelves with Beats and Avant Garde writers. The City Lights shop stays open until midnight and hosts regular readings.

The basement is where the press rolled off the early books 18

of poetry, although the printing has since spread beyond the confines of the shop. It was the west coast Beat mecca.

Ferlingetti, like Burroughs was older than the rest of the Beats, and never part of the New York scene. The occasional City Lights Journal was the 1963 west coast answer to the Evergreen Review, started in 57. Chris had a long interview with Lawrence, and was bemused that the Popularist Manifesto had been published in Leicester, his adopted home town.

In San Fran, you just have to visit Haight Ashbury, where the Beats morphed into hippies. There Chris found Michael McClure’s house, famous for his erotic literature of adventures with his wife, and the experimental sound poetry of ‘Ghost Tantras’, yet who was anti Tantra in the form of Guru Trungpa, who had told Ginsberg to cut his hair and shave his beard, amongst other dubious activities. He counted Dylan and Jim Morrison amongst the new generation of poets as his friends.

He was delighted to tell Chris that they’d arrived in time for the first Old Hippie Festival, with Country Joe Macdonald, a parade, and many poets and performers. They went to check out the North Beach Bohemia first and by chance ran into Richard Braughtigan, hungover from a party and drinking with sailors in conditions likely to lead them to worse ones the following day. At the gig bikers, hippies, earth mothers and Vietnam veterans rubbed shoulders, and McClure introduced Chris to a clown, that was Wavy Gravy, the second incarnation of Hugh Romney, compere at Woodstock’s legendary festival.

As the gig was winding up they ran into an anti vivisection rally, and with further luck on their side Gary Snyder and Wendall Berry were amongst the speakers. So with nothing pre-arranged Chris got to meet the man who Kerouac built his book, the ‘Dharma Bums’ around. Gary Snyder, although red eyed and jet lagged was happy to answer questions put to him

by Chris. When he could have luxuriated in the Beat celebrity created by Jack’s follow up to ‘On the Road’ in 1956 Gary set off for Japan to be ordained as a Zen monk, putting Beat study of oriental religions into serious practice. A country boy from Oregon, when he returned to the Summer of Love in 67 he soon found his place as a backwoods man of the emerging eco movement, with spiritual credentials from travels to India, with wife Jo-anne Kieger as well as his trip to Japan. His fellow Reed College students had included Lew Welch, who had shared his interests in tribalism and Philip Whalen, who followed him in serious Zen study. Chris also got to visit Iron Door bar and relive other scenes of Beat history, and then headed back to Carolyn’s bungalow and found the lights down and Heather asleep.

Chris decided not to visit Kerouac’s grave, but before they left for the home journey Carolyn gave him Neal’s ashes to hold.

Some had gone to be interred at Jack’s grave.

After the travelogue Chris wrote further profiles of the main Beat protagonists in ‘Quest’ which includes a brief meeting with Gregory Corso, sheepishly entering with Chris a Long Beach bar, one of the many he’d been banned from because of previous drunken escapades. The interview had been missed from from the previous story line, but Chris had written an article for ‘Face’ Magazine in which he described the meeting in more detail. Also he did include a postscript about

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going to a Corso Reading in Cambridge England. Gregory, originally a young Italian street kid, was a late arriver to the Beat group in New York thanks to Allen Ginsberg. Famous for his drunken mayhem he was equally well known for the precision and art of his poetry. ‘Gasoline’ was his first poetry book, and there were five more, as well as a Parsienne novel.

Not a great output, but an electric live act by all accounts!

Chris had actually left Kerouac to be a character in other Beat bios as he drew them into the narrative of the book until the analytical last third of ‘Quest’. In that latter analysis he draws out many esoteric points about the author. The story will be well known to fans of Beat literature, but briefly Kerouac is a French name that tells us of his forebears’ origins. He was a good enough footballer to win a scholarship to New York’s Columbia University, but did not finish his degree. He spent a while in the merchant navy, but continued to write in his own innovative style, and his friends made in New York and later the west coast, mentioned above, became the hub of Beat literature. His early adventures with Neal Cassady, on the road, display the 40-50s pre-Women’s Liberation macho heterosexual attitude to women. Yet there was a tender side to his nature which seems to have failed to find a place in his unsuccessful marriages. The hedonism which filled his life and which ultimately took it, when as a successful author he could drink a bottle of brandy per day, would not have been easy for any woman to put up with. His relationship with Carolyn continued at a distance to within a few months of his death: a long drunken midnight phone call did not appeal to Carolyn in lieu of sleep and she had to tell him so. Two later attempts that night went unanswered. That was the last time they spoke.

His brief flirtation with Buddhism, activated by Snyder, Whalen and Ginsberg was short lived, as he lapsed back into catholicism. The solitude of fire-watching, to meditate and write didn’t suit; he needed bright lights, big cities, and travelit was all too clear. If getting famous had been a rough road with the critics-who found Beats as welcome as the hippies did the punk shakeup-fame was even harder to deal with, as the critics became more public, on such new technology as television, and a bloated slurring drunk did nothing to popularise the Beats or himself.

His books were his children and they were being attacked by all and sundry. So, with failed relationships and an ageing, widowed, mother to look after he retired to the house he had bought for her from royalties, only to be in a catholic straight jacket of Memere’s making that had Allen Ginsberg, and his ‘dirty poetry’ banned from the house, as were drugs, after Neals’ ‘two joints bust’, and while phone calls were censored by the matriarch. In that environment he was left to become right wing and renounce hippie outgrowth in the counter-culture he had helped create. Until near the end he denied parenthood of his daughter by his second marriage until they met, and he told her to use his name. Despite all his failings his output was staggering: 23 books

between 1950 and 83 got into print. The foremost chronicler of his generation, the spontaneous prose he developed is at its best listened to being read, as the jazz rhythms of the age reveal themselves.

Chelmsford The City Times will be available on 14th February

Rotary - Oh What a Line Up, Oh What a Show!

It’s the time of year when Rotarians’ minds turn to Rotary’s February anniversary.

The first Rotary Club was formed when attorney Paul Harris called together a meeting of three business acquaintances in downtown Chicago on 23 February 1905. From those small beginnings Rotary has become the largest service organisation in the world with over 34,282 clubs and over 1.2 million members worldwide. The anniversary is a time for all to concentrate simultaneously on local and international projects.

In recent years the focus for Chelmsford Rotarians has been to raise awareness and funds to End Polio Now. Since making the pledge in 1985 to eradicate polio - its most ambitious programme to date - Rotary in partnership with health agencies has brought the number of cases of polio down by 99 percent. Where there were 350,000 new cases of the disease every year, there were just over one thousand by the end of 2010. This last one percent must be wiped out to make sure no child falls prey to this paralysing and sometimes fatal illness. In 2014, just three countries remain endemic with the polio virus - Nigeria, Afghanistan & Pakistan.

inspiring and joyous kids of Dance 21, featuring brilliant performers with Down’s Syndrome.

Sitara’s Turkish/Egyptian belly dancers, from Leigh-on-Sea, make a welcome return, and Chelmsford Gospel Choir and the wonderful Funky Voices (all 80 of them!) will raise their voices and the audience’s spirits.

The performance starts at 4pm, and tickets are on sale for £10 at the Civic Theatre box office (01245 606505).One not to miss! It’s a great combination of showcasing local talent in our own community and at the same time ensuring that any profits go to support Rotary causes. http://www. chelmsfordrotary1240.org.

There will be a number of events in February but one stands out: Chelmsford’s Community Variety Showcase returns to the Civic Theatre on Sunday 16 February. Now in its third year, the show is organised by the combined Rotary Clubs of Chelmsford and brings together hundreds of amateur performers from the City and nearby towns for a lively two-hour performance.

A wide range of talents will be on display, including graceful belly dancers, solo singers, jugglers, jazz dancers of all ages and two great choirs.

Chelmsford Community Radio host Hal MacLean will be introducing guitarist and singer Amanda Maahs, groups like Stagecoach (a local school for aspiring young singers, twitter.com/ actors and dancers). moulshamtimes Gemstarz (aged 3 – 10 years), Footwork Dance School and the associated,

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View online at

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One day Holiday Bible Club

One day Holiday Bible Club at Ebenezer Baptist Church, New London Road, Chelmsford - Friday 21st February 2014 - 9.45am to 3pm. Stories,crafts and games.

Cost two pounds per child, bring packed lunch.

To book please contact Karen on 01245 352241 or email skhlm@ talktalk.net.

Chelmsford Jewish Communtiy If you’re Jewish come and meet us!

We have services and celebrate festivals. We have joyous socials with lovely food.

We cater for various degrees of Judaism and members partners, whether Jewish or not, are always welcome.

We’ve been in Chelmsford for close on forty years.

Isn’t it about time you saw what a friendly group we are? Phone Harrry - 01245 475444

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Wine Corner

Hi all. I guess we are all back in the old routine after the Christmas break. This month we will start in southern France.

Languedoc-Roussillon is the region on the northern coast of the Mediterranean Sea and borders Catalonia in northern Spain. The wine growing areas are generally in the northern parts of the area. The first vineyards, thought to be amongst the oldest in France, were planted in about the 5th century, near the coast at Narbonne which is a lovely town. The monks must have been away touring at the time because it was the Greeks who were involved for a change. The region is the largest in France both in terms of vineyard area and production.

During both world wars, Languedoc was responsible for providing the daily wine rations for the French soldiers. Lucky I was not around then, I may have been tempted to enlist.

Poor old Tommies just got water I expect. A lot of the wines are designated vin de pays, but labelled to include the area, like vin de pays d’Oc. There are some appellations, Minervois, Corbieres and Fitou for example. Most have a very distinct flavour. Many of the popular grapes are grown here, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon reds and Sauvignon blanc and Chardonnay whites. It is also another area that produces sparkling wines, Cremant de Limoux for example, using the traditional method, which you may remember, is Champagne but cannot be called by that name.

The wines from the area are quite freely available in the UK, and often they are at the cheaper end of the price range.

Cabernet Franc and my favourite Malbec, were introduced, so they have a good range. All of the Chilean wine regions are valleys, so look out for that on the label as you glance along the shelves. Be careful though, because some other countries do use the term as well.

Bin end chuckles: As I got home the other day, the phone was ringing. I picked it up and said “who’s speaking?” The voice on the other end said “you are!”

I got caught in traffic on the A12 recently. When I got to the scene of the incident I asked a policeman what had happened. He replied “unfortunately a van load of tortoises collided with a van load of terrapins, it was a turtle disaster” Keep calm and carry on drinking, in moderation.

Remember Blues in the City at The Bassment 19th February www.bluesinthecity.co.uk

If you ever get a chance to go to the area, there is the medieval fortified town of Carcassonne, which I guess fans of rugby will recognise. They are fond of rugby in the region, even the smallest of villages have pitches. The town is a World Heritage site and is definitely worth a visit. It has been restored and when walking inside the walls amongst the little shops, it feels exactly how people would have lived in the middle ages, except for the prices of course. At night the walls are illuminated outside, resulting in a spectacular display.

Fantastic.

Incidentally, I was in the supermarket the other day buying some dog food. The person behind me tried to start a conversation. She asked if I had a dog. Now, with all the dog food in my basket, the chances were that I had, but I was in a mischievous mood so I said no, I’m trying the dog food diet again. I added that I probably shouldn’t, because I ended up in hospital last time, but I had lost 2 stone before I woke up in intensive care with tubes coming out of everywhere. I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and the way that it works is to load your pockets with dog food nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The food is nutritionally complete and it works well, so I was trying it again.

All doors conform fully to EU safety directives

Oh dear she said , did you end up in intensive care because the dog food poisoned you. No I said I stepped of the curb to sniff an Irish Setter and got hit by a car!

Back to the wine. Chile produces some lovely wines. It is one of the oldest “new world” wine producers, starting in the 16th century when it was colonised by the Spanish. In the 19th century, French wine varieties, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, 22

MT

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MT Charity

Families In Focus

Families InFocus (Essex) is an active and vibrant parent led independent charity offering free specialist advice, information and support to any local family with a child or young person with any disability or special need. Set up in 1996 and based in Mildmay Road they now have over 4,000 families on their books and provide in-depth support to over 900 different local families each year. They understand the distressing emotions, frustrations and challenges that parents and carers can face in bringing up their special child.

If you have some time to offer and would like to support the work of the charity and make new friends, why not think about volunteering? Opportunities include:-

Their small team of highly skilled and experienced Family Support Advisers provide an outreach service (one to one support, telephone advice, home visits, attending school and other meetings). Staff, trustees and volunteers are all trained in working with children with disabilities and have a positive attitude to helping parents and carers overcome challenges.

With an enviable record of making a real difference to children and families the charity’s work is growing each year. The telephone helpline dealt with over 4,000 calls last year up by 15% on the previous year. Support includes help with education issues to ensure the child receives appropriate support or additional resources in the classroom, on-going emotional support, help with obtaining disability related benefits for the child to help with extra costs, and preparing for and attending appeals and tribunals (both education and benefits).

• Organising a small fundraising event to raise much-needed funds.

• Ad hoc assistance eg. stuffing envelopes and helping at fundraising events from time to time.

• Assisting in supporting parents, for those with more experience of disability (training will be given).

• And for anyone with dressmaking skills, there is a special project too.

For more information on how you can help the work of Families InFocus (Essex), please contact Janet Doghan on 01245 353575 or email janet@familiesinfocusessex.org.uk.

For many, the charity is a real lifeline, summed up by one parent who said “Families InFocus made me feel I was no longer alone. They gave me hope”.

The charity runs a weekly activity club at Chelmsford Sports and Athletics Centre and drop-ins across the county where parents/carers can meet, relax and enjoy some pampering and much more. “Having the chance for family time together where everyone can relax and not worry about what others think – invaluable”. (parent) At any one time Families InFocus (Essex) is providing support, advice and information to over 500 local families who are struggling to cope with the challenges of supporting their child or young person with special needs. Services cost in the region of £250,000pa and the charity needs to bring in around £200 per day in fundraising activities, donations and legacies just to keep going.

The good news is that they receive terrific support from private individuals and businesses. Could you help Families in Focus (Essex) too? If so, they would love to hear from you.

Here are some ideas you might like to consider:Sponsorship for the newsletter which goes out three times a year to over 4,200 families and professionals throughout Essex.

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Ami’s Diary After such a busy December performing, I was glad to have a rest over Christmas!

One of my presents was a soap making kit from my grandparents who thought I could expand my ‘Ami’s Candles’ business to make soaps as well as candles.

I have received the script and songs and I’d really like to be cast as the cat who wants to eat Ugly but it’s one of the lead roles so I know I need to work hard to make sure my audition goes well. Fingers crossed.

I think I’m going to have a busy year. I’ve been cast in another film. It is a sequel to another film I was cast in last year but I couldn’t make the filming dates so I’m glad I have the opportunity to make up for it. It’s not being filmed until April or May this year but should be fun.

A film I acted in called ‘The Boy With a Camera For a Face‘ had its UK premiere in London on 12th January, but I wasn’t able to see it as it was shown with other films and so you had to be over 18 to get tickets. I’m hoping that I will be able to see it on DVD. I went to the cinema and saw a poster advertising the Muppets… Most Wanted! movie. It’s due to be released in the UK at the end of March, so I’m getting excited now. I just hope I’m in it or I’m going to be very disappointed having waited so long to see it.

I’m preparing for my Theatretrain auditions at the moment.

We are going to be performing Honk! which is a musical adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen story The Ugly Duckling.

The Wonderful Wizard of OZ (Offspringers) Not long to go now. The children enjoyed the fun and games and the movie night, that was organised for them before the Christmas break. The directors are full of energy. Now it’s time for the hard work (and fun of course) the atmosphere is charged with nervous excitement as they have been told to come back with “no scripts”. The read -hrough goes amazingly well and the children can see how well they have done so far and what they need to work on. Next they will be refining what they have learned. We’ve just been told that the matinee has sold out already and Friday and Saturday night are selling fast.

You know the show is very near when the chaperone lists are being prepared and the photos for the brochure will be taken soon.

Leonie, the wardrobe mistress, tells me that it is a lot of hard work to make all the children’s costumes as there aren’t any places to go and hire that many for the children. I recall her saying that there were 82 costumes for this show. She has made many of the costumes already including the principle characters. Leonie and her team do a fabulous job and the children always look wonderful.

I spoke to some of the children to find out how they think the show is going and how they are feeling. Here are some of the following reactions: the older children that play the OZ Lady, Jitterbugs and Farm Hand said “This is a classic show with so many favourite well known tunes that we love singing. As the

songs are familiar they are easier to learn. “The characters are also very familiar so, we can play them better”. “What keeps our interest is that the theatre script is slightly different from the movie version and really interesting”.

They said that they are enjoying the show. They are particularly looking forward to the publicity day event to be held on Wednesday 19th February, half term week. They really enjoy handing out flyers and singing show songs for the public, as it is really a fun day where all their friends and family can come along and show their support. I look forward to letting the readers know how that goes so please look out for the next edition.

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MT Community The success of the choir is amazing, about 60 people have shown an interest and we currently have around 50 singers turning up on a regular basis. The first two songs that the choir are learning are “Skyfall” from the James Bond movie and “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”, which you might remember was the band Tears for Fears. The choir is open to everyone with no rehearsals, just turn up and sing in your best shower voice. Every Thursday 8.00pm till 9.30pm, please come a bit earlier to check in. Contact details below.

Another initiative MLCT have brokered is the setting up of the Youth Club in the Youth Building just off Gloucester Avenue, entrance is from the path next to John Shennan down towards the High School. The youth club runs every Thursday from late afternoon to early evening 5.30pm to 7.30pm at a cost of £2 – The children pretty much decide what activities they want to take part in, which could be from full on drama to just chilling with a video. If your child is interested please contact Craig

Old Moulsham Needs You!

As we know – and Moulsham Times celebrates this – there’s lots going for Old Moulsham and lots that is good. Let’s continue to celebrate this – there’s lots to love about Old Moulsham – we love Old Moulsham! But if we are to sustain these strengths we can’t take them for granted. If each and every one of us spent say 15 minutes a week to check out our website and make comment via Facebook or Twitter then there would be a lot of buzz. We’re doing more on website but would like contributions from you. We’d love constructive comments, check us out …www.moulshamfirst.org.uk.

Remember, if we don’t keep vigilant, we could see increases in graffiti and more litter in the streets and other nuisances. We can tackle these by contacting the relevant authorities details are given on the website. For example, Love Clean Streets is an organisation which receives photo shots via iPhones or equivalent with locations and requests the relevant authorities to take action against graffiti or other street problems. Our website provides the link, or check it out now on http:// lovecleanstreets.org.

MF Neighbourhood Watch works with the police and City Council, and we’re keeping alert to concerns about burglaries.

There is currently a lot of concern over a spate of phone and on-line frauds – again, check this out on the website. Here’s a summary from the latest Neighbourhood Watch Newsletter for Chelmsford: if you receive unsolicited (or ‘cold’) calls (which might be from quite legitimate companies) trying to sell you something you don’t want or need; or calls from individuals or criminal organisations trying to defraud you, i.e. ‘telephone scams’ – JUST HANG UP. Sometimes they will be when you pick up the phone and there is nobody there, i.e. ‘silent calls’. If you have a ‘caller display’ phone, you may see ‘Private Number’, ‘Number Unavailable’, or ‘International Call’.

Sometimes you might see what appears to be a UK number 28

Moulsham Lodge Community Trust by Mark Springett

Gough on 01245 355677 or email craig.gough@chelmsfordymca.co.uk.

Our partnership with Springhealth gives MLCT the opportunity to provide local organisations with space for holding anything from events (eg quiz nights) to society meetings. If you have a local organisation that needs space during the day or evening please get in touch to discuss your requirements.

The future for the MLCT is looking great and as we develop our initiatives and connections with other local organisations we will be the hub for reaching out to the community. Look out for some exciting news soon where MLCT have been working for a very long time to bring our own facility right back to the heart of the community.

Contact: Mark Springett on 01245 351040 or 07411 808731 or email enquiries@mlct.org.uk.

– but this may be a front, so beware. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to stop all these calls, but there are a few things you can do to at least ensure you don’t receive so many (such as the Telephone Preference Service) or that you don’t get fooled into parting with personal information such as bank details.

Always avoid getting into a conversation with the callers and do not give out any information regarding your circumstances.

Check out the website for more information.

Another kind of scam is when someone purporting to be from the police (usually another Force such as from London) phones you and says that they have arrested persons and have found they are in possession of your banking/credit cards. They go on to request details of the cards and pin numbers – they also request that the cards are put into an envelope which will be collected shortly by a courier. The conversation continues and informs that you should call your bank. The caller keeps the line open so when you think you’ve got through to your bank the fraudsters are able to ‘confirm’ the information as ‘correct’. So, NEVER GIVE OUT YOUR PIN NUMBER OR BANK DETAILS to anyone. If you do receive one of these calls, do not immediately call back but where possible use a mobile phone or a neighbour’s phone to contact your bank – or even call in on your bank in person if you can. No police force or bank would contact you requesting pin numbers and bank details. Nor would they ever request your card(s) and send couriers to collect. If you think you have received one of these calls, and inadvertently provided your personal details ensure you alert your bank that your personal details may be breached and a block should be put on the accounts. Also report it to the police by calling 101. In an emergency ALWAYS DIAL 999.

There are similar and other scams via email on the internet – many of them may appear very plausible – again, NEVER DIVULGE PERSONAL INFORMATION, log-on codes, pins, or, passwords. Beware of using links given in emails.

There’s much more on the Neighbourhood Watch website – www.chelmsfordneighbourhoodwatch.org.uk – and you’ll find links to helpful web-pages.

Contact us on info@moulshamfirst.org.uk.

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The New City Girls WI

After six months’ of planning, Monday 13th January saw the launch meeting of Chelmsford’s newest WI: The New City Girls.

The meeting took place at The Cricketers, Moulsham Street, where the back room was reserved for the proceedings. We expected about 45 women to come along. On the cold, wet, January night, women were queuing around the block to come in! Committee members headed outside to take details from people so that they could move inside as quickly as possible.

People remained in great spirits, despite the dreary conditions, excited to find out what was on offer. The Cricketers came to our rescue allowing us to take over the whole pub, which was filled to bursting by 150 women!

The evening involved a talk from two representatives of the Federation of Essex WI. They gave details of the Federation’s history, its modern-day set-up and about the kind of work in which they get involved. Following various votes to agree the name of the new WI, to confirm the president and the committee, the New City Girls’ president, Thea Gaunt, signed the Constitution and we became an official WI! Thea Gaunt spoke about the reasons and motivation behind the set-up of the New City Girls and presented the 2014 programme of events.

The committee was overwhelmed by the response from people who were so enthusiastic about the new group and the interest has just grown over the days following the meeting!

We are all still buzzing with excitement.

2014. It will be a comedy night: Everything I Always Wanted to Know About Sex! We are trying to find the right venue with a bar, still central and large enough to hold all who wish to join us!

We are also setting up various sub-groups to focus on more specific interests, such as a running-group, a craft-group, book-club, walking-group and a wine-tasting group. We received a number of great suggestions on the night, which we are collating and working through. More news to follow on these too!

We will be emailing our first newsletter this week. It will go to all of those who signed up at our first meeting. If you have not received an email by the end of the week, please get in touch; we did have an interesting variety of handwriting to decipher! Also, please get in touch if you would like to join our email list but did not attend the first meeting.

The New City Girls WI promises to be a fun, dynamic, varied and supportive group of women! To find out more, please email: NewCityGirlsWI@live.com, tweet: @NewCityGirlsWI or visit our Facebook page.

Scrap Metal Recycling

Our next meeting is to be held on Monday, 10th February

ces t Pri ed” s e “B rante Gua

Metal Recycling

01245 512230

01245 512230 Call All Types Of Metal Accepted Today • Ferrous Metals • Non Ferrous Metals • Shearing • Frag Feed - ( Light Iron ) • Constructional • Cast Iron • Copper • Lead • Brass • And Many More

Our New Opening Times Monday - 7am - 5pm Tuesday - 7am - 7pm Wednesday - 7am - 5pm Thursday - 7am - 7pm Friday - 7am - 5pm

Mid Essex Recycling Centre, Essex Regiment Way, Chelmsford, Essex, CM3 3PZ

“Metal Recycling For Our Generation”

www.dunmowmetalrecycling.com 29

The month of February is named after the Latin name “februum“, which means “purification” but is probably best known for having the least number of days in the calendar.

Whilst this may seem obvious, it also means that it is a favourite month for planning short term goals. I know someone who decides each year to change their eating patterns, cutting out something in order to eat more healthily, because it can be managed for just 28 days.

This got me thinking as to the benefits of short-term goals.

In the current economic climate, it can be very frustrating to try and work with plans and forecasts over very long periods of time, and talk of double and triple dip recession can leave many feeling that change can only happen very slowly. Goals for your personal or work life can seem quite daunting as it may take a great deal of time to be able to see any quantitative results.

However, there are many benefits from taking much smaller steps in a bigger overall plan. Whether your goals are personal, or work orientated, it can often be worth considering just how many small steps you can manage, rather than face the daunting task of too big a plan making you give up before you start.

I often hear the phrase “take one day at a time”. This is a valid point, provided that you also give value to each day that has already happened. The great thing about planning a shortterm goal is that every day you are closer to achieving your goal, and the finish line is much closer than would otherwise be possible.

As independent traders in Moulsham Street, we have to work with short, medium and long-term goals. It is quite tricky to watch for, and respond to trends and so-called “fashions”, whether this is in food retail, furnishings or fireplaces! But we also have the advantage of often smaller staff levels, and a smaller group can implement change much more quickly if this is required. We can set short term goals, achieve them quickly, and get great results.

February is also an “in-between” month, almost a pause between winter and spring. In fact both January and February were the last months to be added to the Roman calendar, as winter was considered to be a monthless season, not really much of anything! If January has been a time of hastily made (and often broken) resolutions, then maybe February is a really good time to take stock of what short-term goals are actually practical and possible for you, make a plan, and stick to it. After all, you could see results in just 28 days!

The Moulsham Times is printed by www.graphic-impressions.co.uk

Advertising Nick Garner 07970 206682 ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk

Editorial Paul Mclean 07595 949701 editorial@itsyourmeida.co.uk

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

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