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Issue Number 44 - August 2016
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MT Welcome
Hi readers
Welcome to the August edition - we hope you enjoy it. At long last summer seems to have arrived and the kids are now on holiday. Do remember to drink plenty of fluids and have the suntan lotion at the ready - and take care of your pets when it’s hot. We have had a lot of people coming up to us to say how much they enjoy our publications, so if you would like to write to us we would love to publish it; send your comments to editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk, or find us at www.facebook. com/moulshamtimes where you can like our page and leave a comment for us. Regards Paul & Nick
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‘MOJO’ Club Night on Bank Holiday Sunday 28th August @ the Bassment Intense Records, Chelmsford’s only independent record shop, are preparing for the latest instalment of their MOJO club night on Bank Holiday Sunday, 28th August, at the Bassment, If you haven’t been to the Bassment it really is an intimate affair, located underground with low ceilings and a capacity of 300, it is perfect to get up close and personal with your favourite artists. With many famous names having previously performed - including Mike Skinner, Craig Charles, DJ Zinc and Maverick Sabre - it was time for Intense to pull out all the stops. We can reveal that the next headline act will be music pioneer, artist and drum & bass icon, as well as being a DJ and actor, the one and only Goldie, MBE. If you are not familiar with the name, he is the guy with gold teeth, you may have seen him on the the big screen starring as the villain in the James Bond classic The World is Not Enough, Guy Ritchie’s Snatch, on Eastenders as Angel or reality TV shows Come Dine With Me, Big Brother and Strictly Come Dancing. In the early eighties, Goldie earned his name as a graffiti artist. Moving to the US in 1986, he was immersed in the subway art and hip hop culture of New York. In the early 90s Goldie returned to the UK where he discovered the underground rave scene. He embraced the culture and began producing under the name Rufige Kru and released two of the most important tracks of the time Darkrider and Terminator.
Quiz - Sporting Questions 1. Which club, founded in 1987, are the most successful club in English women’s football? 2. Which Scandinavian town hosted the 1994 Winter Olympics? 3. Which sports ball size was changed from 38mm to 40mm in 2000 to slow down the game? 4. In inches, how big is the diameter of a basketball hoop? 5. How many courts are there at Wimbledon that are used for qualifying and Championship matches? 6. In which city are the 2020 Summer Olympic Games scheduled to take place? 7. How many riders are there on a polo team? 8. Which football team have the nickname Bantams? 9. In which sport was Sir Henry Segrave a renowned name? 10. How many hoops are required according to the official rules of garden croquet? 11. What does BMX stand for? 12. In which year did Sir Roger Bannister run the first sub four minute mile? 13. In which city will you find Recreation Ground rugby stadium, commonly known as The Rec? 14. What is the highest possible score achievable by one player in a game of tenpin bowling? 15. Which darts player is known as The Crafty Cockney? 16. Who released her autobiography Between the Lines following her retirement in September 2012? 17. In golf, what is the name of the award presented to the winner of the British Open? 18. Which US baseball team is the Marlins? 19. At which racecourse is the Scottish Grand National held? 20. The Oval is the home of which county cricket club?
Answers on page 31
In 1994, Goldie oversaw the birth and growth of his drum & bass label and club night, Metalheadz, which today still dominates the dance floor and racks of record shops worldwide. The following year he landed a contract with Pete Tong’s label and released the critically acclaimed debut album Timeless. Over the next 2 decades Goldie continued to preach his gospel of music and art, bringing through new artists on his label, producing, DJing, acting and exhibiting his art. Goldie’s contribution to the British music industry was recognised in February this year as he was awarded an MBE by the Prince of Wales. On the night, Goldie will be accompanied by old time friend and resident at Metalheadz, MC GQ. Consistency and adaptability have kept GQ at the top of the MC ranks and has made him partner to pretty much all of the top flight DJs. Supporting the headline acts are the local DJ Illuminati, DJs Hyjack & Cage from Subway DNB, DJ Knuck from Vinyl Rhythms, residents Cypher & Gibbo and Steve LP fresh from winning the D&B Arena & Hospital Records DJ competitions. Hosting proceedings are MOJO resident Indica and from Mayan Audio, Nuklear MC. Purchasing a ticket in advance at £12 is recommended as £15 tickets will be limited on the door, so take advantage of the early-bird deal while it’s available. You can grab a ticket at Intense Records under the arches along Viaduct Road, or online from deftickets.co.uk. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT INTENSE RECORDS: 01245 347 372, www.intenserecords.co.uk BASSMENT BAR & CLUB 16 Wells St, Chelmsford CM1 1HZ (Opposite Chelmsford bus station)
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From County Hall by Cllr Dick Madden
Well, the decision has been made to leave Europe and the journey to that destination is underway. We have a new Prime Minister, a new Chancellor, a new Home Secretary and a new Foreign Secretary. I am optimistic that as a result of the referendum our new national team will over a period of time deliver policies and make decisions that will put Great Britain in an even stronger position it finds itself now.
BE SAFE. Dick Madden
Summer is now here. I can confirm that based on the barbeque we have had today with some of our children, grandchildren and family friends. Also, Kathryn has got the fan out to circulate the warm air - a sure sign of summer. So many of you will be going on your summer holidays; please be sure to share your holiday times with your neighbours so we can all support each other in looking after each others properties. In the month of August each year life at County Hall slows down. I have had a particularly challenging past year as monies from Central Government were reduced and I was required to make some difficult decisions in adult and children services in my role as Cabinet Member for these areas. However, I will continue to not only represent you locally but all the residents of Essex in the areas that Essex County Council will continue to spend your money on to support the most vulnerable adults and children in our county. I will rest and recharge my batteries and after a holiday return to the interesting continuing changing political landscape. I know I have mentioned this previously, but do go down to the city centre and see the end stages of the John Lewis store and its surrounding retail and entertainment area - all to be opened soon. In addition, the restaurant area in High Chelmer also nearing completion. I believe it is a very exciting time for all of us. Enjoy the summer,
From The House by Sir Simon Burns - Angling Recently I had a very useful meeting with Chelmsford members of the Angling Trust and local anglers at the lake in Central Park. They raised with me the problems they are facing as a result of people illegally fishing, both on the lake in Central Park and the rivers in and around Chelmsford.
statistics which provides the evidence to increase resources in trying to tackle this problem.
Fishing illegally and poaching is an offence under the 1968 Theft Act and seems to be a growing problem in the area.
Whilst responsibility may ultimately lie with anglers, there is a duty on us all to report any suspicious activity - activity which is illegal. The more information that can be provided allows the agencies trying to combat the problem to identify hotspots where they can focus their efforts.
The Angling Trust and the Environment Agency have been working for some time to tackle the problems and I have been in correspondence with them to try and seek greater co-operation to tackle the problem with organisations like Essex Police and the Fisheries Enforcement Service. The Fisheries Enforcement Service is a government funded partnership, which has been set up between the Angling Trust and Environment Agency and in conjunction with UK National Wildlife Crime Unit, working to raise awareness of this issue and to educate and empower anglers. Crucial to this partnership working is providing the police with briefings to help them tackle the issue.
Under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act (1975), the Environment Agency’s fisheries inspectors are authorised to act with the powers of a constable when responding to reports of illegal fishing and poaching and this provides an extra defence in trying to prevent incidents.
Illegal fishing activities can be reported to the Environment Agency Incident Helpline by calling 0800 807 060. The helpline is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Across the Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk area, last year 226 successful prosecutions were concluded and as a result 22 cautions were issued and 40 warning letters were sent for fisheries offences.
Fishing/angling has long been an extremely popular hobby and I very much hope that those who enjoy doing so locally will be able to continue for many years to come without having to encounter these It is absolutely vital for anglers to report incidents, as it is these sorts of problems. 6 www.moulshamtimes.com
The Gospel According to Caroline I have been very privileged over the last few years to travel to many exciting places, including Vatican City, Venice, Kenya and India. And now I am preparing to have a week relaxing in the sunshine by the pool and the beach. Travel can be exciting and exhilarating - and sometimes a bit scary. We see amazing things and immerse ourselves in different cultures with different food and different people. Sometimes though we need to travel just to get away and take time out and enjoy the things that we love whether that be by being active or by vegetating on a sun lounger. You do not need to get on a plane to escape though, many wonders and pleasures can be enjoyed just a walk or short trip away. Time for ourselves, family and those we care about is key to our personal happiness and recognising that we need that time too is important to our overall well-being. Wherever he went sharing his ministry, people demanded so much from Jesus and he too had to take time out to sit in a garden or the desert and talk to God, his father. He knew to keep doing what he did for others well, he had to rest and replenish himself. Whatever you do this summer holidays I hope you find sunshine and happiness in all that you do. To find out what exciting things are happening at Christ Church, visit our Facebook page - Christ Church URC Chelmsford. Caroline Brown, Church Family and Community Worker, Christ Church United Reformed Church.
Looking to extend your property?
By Mike Otter
Adding an extension may seem daunting but with the right advice you can gain the extra space that you want whilst increasing the value of your home. Key to achieving success is establishing what works best for you, your property and your budget.
At GPO Designs we'll guide you at each step in the development process from the capturing of initial ideas, the production and refinement of plans and through the planning and building control stages. Understanding a design from conventional line drawings can be difficult which is why we work with a three dimensional design system and produce colour visuals as standard -see examples of previous jobs at our Facebook page www.facebook.com/GPODesigns.
GPO DESIGNS Planning for your property Drawings and Building Plans for Planning Permission and Building Regulations: ♦ Extensions ♦ New Builds ♦ Garage Conversions ♦ Loft Conversions ♦ Barn Conversions
Our design service starts with a consultation at your property where we discuss and help to develop your ideas. Measurements and photographs are then taken to allow us to draw up detailed plans. We communicate with you throughout the design process and only once you are completely happy with the design will we then submit the plans to the Local Authority for approval. We produce plans and details for planning permission, permitted development and building regulations applications. Our aim is to provide a high quality service at the best possible price. We offer fixed rates for our services and these can be found on our website: www.gpodesigns.co.uk. So if you are looking to build a new house, add an extension or a garden room, or if you want a loft, garage or barn conversion, call Mike or George for a free no obligation quote on 01245 835855, or visit our website for further details of our full range of services. We offer daytime, weekend or evening appointments to suit you. www.moulshamtimes.com
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MT Fitness
Prolapsed Discs - What You Need to Know
I started trying to write an article explaining all you need to know about all types of back pain and... I failed miserably! So I thought I’d start a mini series explaining some of the most common problems individually, how to prevent them and how to treat them. This will be much easier! We’ll start off with disc problems.
The Discs Our discs are the cushions that sit between our vertebra and they are made of tough fibres on the outside - called the annulus - and then a jelly-like substance on the inside - called the nucleus. You may have heard of a slipped disc, or a prolapsed disc, and this is where the jelly works its way through the tough outer fibres and into the surrounding spinal canal. Not good. It can press on the sciatic nerve which causes pain running down the leg. Causes Although the final straw can happen in a single moment in time, the build-up to a disc strain normally takes months or years of poor use. The problem is, we don’t have any pain sensors inside the disc so we can’t feel the problem building up. Then all of a sudden, we may bend awkwardly and the final bit pushes through and we’re in pain. Common causes of this process are: Poor posture Poor lifting technique Weakness in the hips and core Inflexibility in the hips and spine How to prevent it: Knowing the causes makes preventing it much easier, because we just do the opposite! Look after your posture - don’t sit for too long and be mindful if you are slouching. Concentrate when you lift - believe it or not, it’s often the light things that catch people out! If something’s heavy, you have to concentrate, but if it’s light it’s all too easy to rush. Don’t forget to be mindful when picking those little things up off the floor too. You should factor in some gentle exercise in your week aimed at improving the core strength and flexibility. Your osteopath can help you with this.
which does not make things worse. Conclusion As with all things in health, prevention is much better than cure, so please take action after reading this, even if you don’t have problems. Think about your posture, both when sitting, and also when more active. Spend some time each week keeping yourself strong and flexible, and ask for help from an expert if you need it. If you have had a disc problem, your trusty osteopath can help you recover, and get you back to living the life you want to live. If you have any questions, please get in touch. chris@fortephyscialhealth.co.uk 01245 522 360 www.facebook.com/fortephysicalhealth
How to Treat It If you are unfortunate enough to have had a disc strain or prolapse, the good news is that in most cases they recover fully with the right rehab. In some cases, they need an operation but this is a small percentage. In the cases that don’t need an op, the treatment generally consists of gentle massage, mobilisation (where the back is moved and stretched without clicking it), and in some cases manipulation is helpful, although this is less common with disc problems. Your osteopath would also be aiming to introduce gentle exercise as quickly as possible, but it would follow the strict rule of ‘it must not cause pain’. Exercise creates a nourishing ‘pump’ in the back which can flush out waste (like inflammation) and draw in nutrients, but the exercise must be specific to the individual and performed at a level www.moulshamtimes.com
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The 50 Shades of Grey Approach to Exercise!
Just as Ana, the main protagonist in 50 Shades of Grey, seems to get gratification from experiencing varying amounts of physical pain in the bedroom department, it would appear that many people have this same approach to exercise. Just the other day I overheard a woman who had clearly not long finished an exercise class say to her friend: “It was excellent, we did 500 squats and 500 sit-ups… twice. It hurt like mad but I loved it.” (As a slight aside, why on earth an obviously out of shape, unconditioned woman was doing 500 repetitions of any single exercise is beyond me, but that’s a post for another day). And this no pain no gain approach to exercise isn’t just confined to the woman in question. Go to any gym and you’ll likely see a muscle-bound body builder screaming like a parent on sports day desperately cajoling their training partner to chase the burn in the hope that this burning sensation (caused by the accumulation of waste products) will lead them to their fitness goals in double-quick time. But what does the research say? Do you have to chase this pain to reach your goals? An extensive review of the scientific literature showed that there is some evidence that muscle damage caused by exercise can help make that muscle grow larger. However, on the other hand there is evidence to show that muscle growth can occur in the absence of muscle damage. It is just that muscle damage may well enhance muscle development further. Great, so if you smash your body to oblivion in every session and make sure you damage to your muscles you’ll get the quickest results?
Not quite, evidence seems to show that too much damage may interfere with the processes which cause your muscles to grow. Not only that but excessive damage and pain can impair your ability to train in the first place. For example, if a training session that you did three days previous was that hard that it leaves your whole body in pain (feeling as battered as a student’s liver during freshers’ week) it will of course leave you unable to train. And this inability to train will have a detrimental effect on your muscle growth! So how much damage should you aim for? On balance, current research indicates that training in a way that causes a moderate amount of damage - not too much, not too little - would be most appropriate for maximizing muscle growth. Perhaps we should approach muscle damage in the same way as we approach our wine intake: If you don’t have any at all you’re regarded as a bit of a killjoy, if you have too much you’re seen as p****head and having just the right amount leaves you the life and soul of a party! However, bear in mind that the majority of studies have been carried out on novice gym goers, it is possible that muscle damage may be more important for building muscle in highly trained individuals… Perhaps! To book your free trial session, or for any fitness and nutrition advice please do not hesitate to get in touch. Thanks for reading. Matt matt@mlrpt.co.uk www.mlrpt.co.uk 07939 316 401 www.twitter.com/mlrpt www.facebook.com/mlrpt www.twitter.com/mlrpt
O STEOPATHY & S PORTS M ASSAGE IN C ENTRAL C HELMSFORD We’re here to help... Back Pain Sports Injuries Joint Pain Muscle Strains Sciatica & more... Michelle Hancock Osteopath
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MT Gardening
Goodness, as I write this, it’s hot out there! Having watered already earlier today, I’m at it again - especially with my tomatoes, peppers and fruit bushes. Best to water first thing and again at the end of the day, hopefully standing pots in saucers or trays to try and keep as much water around the base of the pot. I usually water at the end of the day as this is great for reducing evaporation. However, if a plant looks like it’s wilting and suffering from drought in the day, then water it immediately.
the garden to conserve water? For those of you enjoying yourselves away from home, it’s worth investing in an automatic watering system with a timer and adjust it to take hot and dry weather into account. I’d also move container plants into the shade if you are going away on holiday and no-one is watering your plants - your plants will thank you for it. If you’ve got trees and shrubs that have been planted in the last couple of years on lawns or in areas of rough grass, create a circle of clear earth around them - this must be kept clear as grass will prevent essential moisture getting through. Mulching with bark or compost will help. Elsewhere in the garden consider cutting back early flowering plants such as foxgloves, snapdragons, lupins and penstemons as they go over. Cut back just those sections of the flower spike that have faded, taking care to leave any secondary laterals that may be growing - you may get a second flush of flowers. Other plants worth doing this to are those lovely fragrant catmints, hardy geraniums and any hellebore that escaped an early prune. With hellebores, as you cut back flower spikes take a look at the base of the plant for seedlings. Don’t lift them now, come back in the autumn and pop them on into 9cm pots using a soil based compost such as John Innes Potting Compost No. 2. Grow them on by the back of the house, in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse and planting out next spring.
Using the right amount of water is the most important aspect of a plant’s survival in dry conditions. Bear in mind that it is not just hot weather that can cause soil to dry out, windy weather can also have a detrimental effect. Try to avoid watering plant leaves in direct sunlight because they can become scorched, particularly when they have hairy foliage. Why not (if you haven’t already) install a water butt in
Lastly, Be Safe in the Sun It’s not only plants that can start to flag in dry weather, if you are working in the garden in hot conditions it is important to take the following precautions:
• • • •
Wear suntan lotion or sun block and top up often. Work in the shade, if possible, out of direct sunlight. Wear a hat or headscarf - they’re all the rage at the moment. Take regular breaks and have frequent (non-alcoholic) drinks.
Good luck and happy gardening! For any gardening tips contact Tom Cole, Senior Horticultural Lecturer, Writtle College, Chelmsford, CM1 3RR by post (including a SAE) or by email at tom.cole@writtle.ac.uk. 10
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Live Music Coming Up in 2016 at Chelmsford City FC Friday 29th July - Noasis
Doors 8pm
Tickets £13 in advance and £15 on the door. Noasis is the definitive tribute band to Manchester's five piece super group Oasis. Since their formation in 2006 and with over 600 performances to date Noasis has justly earned its reputation. Noasis performed six songs Live in The Queen Vic for a 2015 Christmas episode of Eastenders.
Friday 23rd September The Trembling Willburys
Doors 8pm
Tickets £12 in advance and £14 on the door. The Trembling Wilburys are one of the most acclaimed tribute bands in the UK, featuring a line-up of seven outstanding vocalists and musicians who play a wide variety of classic songs by rock super-group the Traveling Wilburys – plus solo hits by George Harrison/Beatles, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty & ELO.
Friday 21st October - The Jar Family
Doors 8pm
Tickets £12 in advance and £14 on the door. Hartlepool based The Jar Family are six individual songwriters and musicians, who decided that, rather than strive for success in isolation, they would join forces to pool their talent and create their ‘industrial folk’ sound. The Jar Family have entertained punters at more than 400 gigs
Friday 11th November - The Dylan Project with support from Big Joe Bone
Doors 7.45pm
Tickets £20 in advance and £24 on the door. Take four of Britain's most talented folk-rock musicians and a unique singer, add the repertoire of a genius, and you've got the recipe for a dream band. The musicians are PJ Wright, Gerry Conway, Phil Bond, Dave Pegg and Steve Gibbons.
Saturday 3rd December - Who’s Next
Tickets £13 in advance and £15 on the door. Who’s Next are the #1 live tribute to The Who. They capture a magical point in time when many believe that The Who were the greatest rock and roll band on earth. Who’s Next’s live show aims to recreate this period in the 1970s with the aid of authentic stage wear and instruments. Doors 8pm
At the Clarets Bar, Chelmsford City Football Club, Salerno Way, Chelmsford, CM1 2EH Tickets from CCFC call Chelsea 01245 290959 and from The Hop Beer Shop Moulsham Street. CM2 0LD and Intense Records, Viaduct Road, CM1 1TS Or search We Got Tickets - www.wegottickets.com
Keep a look out for more live music next year at www.itsyourmusic.co.uk www.moulshamtimes.com
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Rotary Sums Add Up
I am editor of the quarterly magazine, Rotary District 1240 News. Not exactly a snappy title but it does what it says on the label. It does contain lots of news and it is a journal about Rotary in District 1240 which basically covers all of Essex and a few fringe areas across the borders in East Herts and Havering. Whilst primarily aimed at members, it is also intended to whet the appetite of non-Rotarians so they may feel like getting involved themselves - much like the goal of this regular column.
As editor, I am sent articles about activities and projects undertaken by clubs throughout the district and it struck me as to what an incredible amount of money is donated to various charities. So I thought for my contribution this month to Chelmsford The City Times I would do the arithmetic to give some idea what our local Rotary clubs do achieve in a typical three month period. Using all my fingers and some of my toes I have arrived at a figure
of £207,554 - truly amazing. On top of this, some events, such as half marathons, also raise funds for the entrants’ chosen good causes, so this could amount to a further £300,000 for charity. Bear in mind too that not every club in the district lets me know what it is up to and not all distribute their funds at the same time. We have 60 clubs in total and the figure I have arrived at comes from just about half of them. Each club makes its own decisions as to which charities and good causes it supports, but to give you a flavour of where some of the money goes here is a representative sample: Young Carers, Computers for the Disabled, Women’s Aid, Sand Dams, Cancer Research, Girl Guides, Scouts, Havens Hospice, J’s Hospice, Farleigh Hospice, Essex Air Ambulance, Dementia UK, Polly Parrot Appeal, Army Benevolent Fund, polio eradication, SportsAid, First Step and Walk for Water. However, I am always at pains to point out that Rotary is not all about money - far from it and next month part two will give examples of non-fundraising activities benefiting local people and maybe part three will focus on the social side of being a Rotarian. If I have whetted your appetite as I set out to do and you would like to find out more about joining a Rotary club near you, then visit www. chelmsfordrotary1240.org, or give me a call on 01245 260 349. Stan Keller
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MT Baking by Alison Motley
Baking with kids is a great way to entertain them during the school holidays or on a rainy day. They get to learn some useful life skills whilst having fun and you get to spend some quality time with them. On top of that, you hopefully end up with something delicious you can eat together. These easy Afghan Biscuits from New Zealand are something you might like to have a go at. I have no idea why they are called Afghan Biscuits, and despite internet research and asking lots of kiwis I am none the wiser. If anyone does know please do enlighten me. They are probably the number one biscuit in New Zealand and far more popular than the more familiar Anzac. This is my mother-in-law’s recipe which she’s had for over 60 years and she doesn’t know how they got their name either! As she lives in New Zealand she is unlikely to read this so (dare I say it) if you think the little ones won’t go for the walnuts, you could top the biscuits with some lovely colourful sprinkles instead, which I’m sure would go down well. Whether you can then strictly call them Afghan Biscuits I have no idea! If you are baking with children here are a few things to bear in mind: Pick a recipe that is simple and fun, and something that they will actually enjoy eating - maybe now is not the time to make a vegetable tart... Choose something that is fairly forgiving, such as biscuits; kids can tend to be a little heavy handed, so save the delicate Swiss roll for when they are a little more experienced. Make something inexpensive so if it does all go horribly wrong you haven’t wasted that really expensive balsamic vinegar you bought on holiday in Italy! Expect a certain amount of mess, so clear the decks ahead of your baking session and prepare yourself for it mentally. Chuck on some old clothes or aprons and teach them to clear up as they go along. Expect it to take longer than it would if you were baking by yourself - it will. Get everything that you need out and ready to go so you are not rummaging in cupboards whilst trying to supervise little ones with messy hands. Obviously it’s important to be safe in the kitchen, so care is needed around hot ovens and sharp knives, hands need to be washed and all spills cleared up quickly. If the little ones are too little to safely reach the worktop, try setting everything out on the kitchen table. The most important thing is to have fun - even if the end result isn’t quite as good as you hoped, make the experience a positive one
and you may well spark a lifelong interest in baking and cooking. I have fond memories of baking with my mum and sister as a child, pummelling left over pastry into jam tarts. I’m sure this is part of the reason why I love baking now. Happy baking! Afghan Biscuits (makes 20) Biscuits 200g butter, softened 100g caster sugar 150g self-raising flour 3 tablespoons cocoa 35g cornflakes (approximately 1 and a half cups) Chocolate Icing 100g icing sugar 1 tablespoon cocoa 1/ 4 teaspoon soft butter 1/ 4 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/ 2 tablespoon water (approx.) Walnut halves/pieces to decorate (or sprinkles) 1. Preheat oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4 and lightly grease two baking trays. 2. Tip the cornflakes into a bowl and crush slightly with the end of a rolling pin. (They do not need to be like crumbs, but just broken up). Put to one side. 3. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar with a wooden spoon until pale and fluffy. 4. Sift in the flour and cocoa and add the crushed cornflakes. Beat together until well combined. 5. Using a tablespoon as a measure, scoop out the biscuit mixture and place well apart on the baking trays. 6. Bake for approximately 15 minutes until firm and just starting to brown around the edges. 7. Remove biscuits onto a wire rack to cool. 8. Meanwhile to make the icing, sift the icing sugar and cocoa into a bowl. 9. Mix the vanilla with the water and gradually add to the icing sugar, beating well after each addition. Once the icing is smooth and glossy but still quite stiff, add the soft butter and beat well until the icing is soft, creamy and spreadable. 10. Spoon a small amount of icing onto each biscuit and spread out with the back of the spoon. 11. Top with a walnut half/piece and leave icing to set. I would love to hear from readers with anything baking related. Drop me an email at motleybakes@aol.com or take a look at www. motleybakes.co.uk.
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Essex Rock Histories: The Prodigy by John Power The Prodigy are basically a Braintree band with Keith Flint coming from Chelmsford. The electronic, alternative dance/rave group began out of the work of one man: Liam Howlett (keyboards and writer), who was joined in 1990 by singer and dancer Keith Flint and Leeroy Thornhill, dancer and occasional keyboardist who was with the group until 2000 when he left ‘...for the sake of his mental health.’ The group has at later times also included a girl dancer, Sharkey and after Leeroy, Maxim; verbal linkman and singer. Howlett named the group after the Moog Prodigy synthesiser.
Sonisphere festival. 2015 brought a new album The Day is My Enemy as the result of years of studio activity. To promote it, they released a single, Wild Frontier, and played five festivals with Public Enemy, who must look a bit tame in comparison at their present ‘young and tender’ ages.
The Prodigy’s first single was in 1991, and called What Evil Lurks. The group’s first gig, with Howlett, Flint and Thornhill, was at the the Four Aces in Dalston in the East End of London. The single, Charly came later in 1991 and reached number 3 in the singles charts. Charly was a veiled reference to cocaine - and there would be other references to E (ecstasy) and speed (amphetamines). This was followed by Everybody in the Place which featured in their only ‘live’ TV appearance (as opposed to videos), on the programme Dance Energy. Their first album Experience was released in 1992, from which five singles were extrapolated. The second album was Music for the Jilted Generation in 1993, after which Jim Davies joined the line-up on guitar, but was later replaced by Gizz Butt for three years.
Keith Flint bought a country pub and restaurant in Pleshey in 2015 and now plays the eccentric country squire, riding around the village and countryside on a horse, walking his dogs and going fishing. So the boy who fed the animals in the biology shed at Chelmsford’s Boswells School now has his own collection of beasties.
The single, Firestarter reached number 1 in the charts in 1996 and saw them firmly established by the principle of being controversial, and therefore noticed - a principle that marked their career. It was followed by the third album, The Fat of the Land, in 1997, which featured in their appearance at Glastonbury Festival. This was less of a rave sound with more punk and dance elements, but still with a fierce electronic beat and sound. Smack My Bitch Up was the next single to stir up controversy - not just because the title annoyed feminist and anti-domestic violence lobbies, but also as an alternative meaning suggesting that ‘smack’ was heroin and about injecting a girlfriend. The group denied these interpretations, and offered less offensive meanings, which were not convincingly received. The accompanying video featured violence, drugs and sex. This was limited to late night airplay but won them the 1998 MTV video award for the song. The album it featured on was withdrawn from record store shelves, but only after 20 weeks of controversy after release. In 1999 Dirtchamber Sessions Vol. 1 was released, followed by Gizz Butt leaving the band and then Leeroy Thornhill. More controversy followed in 2002 with the release of the single Baby’s Got a Temper, with a lyric about the date rape drug rohypnol - and it flopped. The video featured scantily clad milk maids. That year also saw Howlett mary Natalie Appleton from All Saints. Their son was born in 2004 - the year that the group’s fourth album, Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned, was released. Various remixes were available on the Internet, and over 5,000 sold. Singles from it were Memphis Bells and Girls. It made number 1 in the charts in the first week of release. In 2005 they went retro, with a compilation Their Law The Singles 1990 - 2005, with a video to promote it shot in Romford Market. In 2008 The first two (remastered) albums were re-released. But by 2006 they were back on form again and released new material in the shape of’ Invaders Must Die with Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters as guest, along with three of the original band members out on tour and another Glastonbury appearance. In 2011 it was all down to video, with World’s on Fire - a DVD and CD of live performances released. 2012 saw them headlining the Download Festival, and issuing remixes of old albums. In 2014 they played Knebworth
Over the years they have sold 25,000,000 records worldwide, won the best Brit Dance award twice, 3 MTV awards, 2 Kerrang! awards, 5 MTV Euro Awards, and had 2 Grammy nominations.
Leeroy bought Terling Windmill and turned it into a recording studio; I used to teach him at Notley High School. He was a nice kid, I’m so glad he survived it all!
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Essex Classic Vehicle Show Sunday 18th September Castle Park, Colchester, CO1 1UG 10.30am - 4.30pm Whether you are a classic car enthusiast or a vintage motorbike fanatic, the Essex Classic Vehicle Show is the perfect event for any petrolheads and is the only event of its type to be hitting Castle Park this summer. The event, which is being held in Castle Park, Colchester on Sunday 18th September, is being organised by local charity Headway Essex alongside the Charity Classic Vehicle Club and the Chelmer Valley Car Meet and will raise vital funds so that Headway can continue their work in the local community. In addition to the estimated 200 vehicles that will be coming to the park, there is a schedule of arena events including vehicle shows and demonstrations. The event will also feature craft and gift stalls, food stalls, a drinks tent and children’s entertainment. Entry for spectators is £3 for adults and £2 for concessions. For further information on bringing your vehicle along please visit www.headwayessex.org.uk. If you are interested in having a stall at this event please contact Headway Essex by emailing fundriaising@headwayessex.org.uk, or calling 01206 547 616.
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Music and Blues in the City by Nick Garner There has been plenty going on this last month and if you get a copy of the latest Chelmsford the City Times you can read my reviews for our Blues & Roots stage at The Fling and the special night at the Bassment with Gregg Sutton. Jamie Williams & the Roots Collective have been really busy, we played The Fling as well as festivals in Norfolk and Worcester and many other gigs in between. August sees more of the same - we are on a roll right now and loving it. By all accounts Brownstock and Bay Days were great and of course we have the big one coming up in August with V at Hylands Park.
play the likes of before, getting a standing ovation - as did the band at the end of the evening. A night that I and those who were there will not easily forget. Coming up on Wednesday 17th August, we have Bex Marshall who is not seen very often in the UK these days as she spends a lot of time in America and Europe where they love her. So we are very lucky that she has agreed to come and play for us. Support on the night is Ben Buddy Slack, who some of you will know as the front man of Blind Dead McJones. This is just a small solo project Ben is doing, so we very happy to have him playing as well (see the advert for full details). At the football club we are having a break in August and then return on September 23rd with the Trembling Wilburys - the number one tribute act to the Travelling Wilburys and a must see. Confirmed for February 24th 2017 is the legend that is Zoot Money and his band. Zoot played the Corn Exchange many times back in the sixties as Zoot Money and the Big Roll Band. Lots of people have asked us if we would put him on, so we have. There is plenty more going on around Chelmsford music wise, just check out the What’s On guide in the Chelmsford The City Times for the listings. As I always, say please do go out and support live music as without you doing that we will lose it - and that would make the world a much sadder place.
Happnin’ Boy at Bay Days at the Golden Fleece The end of September is not really that far off now and sees the arrival of my sixth Blues in the City Festival, which seems amazing to me and again I am thrilled with the line-up. I am so lucky to have so many people want to come and play and help raise monies for a good cause - which is again the Remus Horse Sanctuary. I will tell you more about the line-up, venues and sponsors in the next issue.
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Robbie McIntosh & Wilson at the Bassment Wednesday 13th July saw the return of one of the world’s greatest guitarists, Robbie McIntosh, who just a few days before playing at the Bassment had been playing with Louise Goffin in Hyde Park - and a couple of days before that with Carline Carter in Switzerland. This time Robbie opened the night playing his own songs. He also asked to me join them on the harmonica which was an honour. After he completed his set with the band he joined the band Wilson on stage. Wilson consists of Robbie’s best mate Steve Wilson, who is also his bass player. Steve is on acoustic guitar and lead vocals and Robbie is the special guest when he is available. The magical thing about this band is the four piece harmonies - it made me think of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and The Eagles. The stories Steve tells are often very funny, Robbie also plays a couple of solos like I have never heard him 18 www.moulshamtimes.com
A Big Walk for The Wee Man 2 It’s nearly 2 years since Nipper sadly left us. Last year we celebrated his life with the hugely successful A Big Walk for The Wee Man, which raised a great deal of money for Help For Heroes - a charity that was very close to Nipper’s heart and one which he dedicated a lot of time and effort to. So this year we have decided to host A Big Walk for The Wee Man 2. This year we will be raising money for Nipper’s other designated charity, The Royal British Legion. The walk will take place on Saturday 13th August with a coach leaving The Anchor in Moulsham Street at 8.15am. We will be taking the same route as last year, starting from Heybridge Basin on to the picturesque Papermill Lock (where you can join us if you want, as it is half way through). After a short break we will then contunue along the canal back to The Anchor for a ‘relaxing’ afternoon with a BBQ and the impressive band Adrenalin in the evening. Anybody interested in taking part in this year’s walk should either pop into The Anchor or alternatively call Charlie on 01245 250 865. If you are unable to do the walk, it would still be great to see you in the evening to join in the celebrations of the Wee Man’s life and help us to raise money for such a great charity. A just giving page has been set up: www.justgiving.com/awalkfortheweeone2.
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MT Therapy by Jenny Hartill
This month I’m writing about a totally different type of counselling - couples counselling. Through working for Essex Mediation as well as in my own private practice, I do see a lot of couples coming for help. This type of counselling is different because although personal issues may crop up, mostly relationship counselling is about communication between the couple. Ethics and wider social implications are extremely important in couples counselling because the therapist must bear in mind the individuals environment, culture, personality disorders and any other prevailing mental health issues. When learning about counselling couples, we had to learn about different ‘relationship theories’ - this means theories about human interaction and how and why we interact in certain ways. So today I’m going to give you a snapshot of one of those theories: Social Exchange Theory. Just as a side note, when I meet a couple I don’t start quoting these theories. Couples counselling is mostly about communication, and I do have a couple of techniques I use to help couples improve their relationships that don’t necessarily come strictly from any theories. I’m providing some background theories so you can see what some counsellors will study and then further on, in later articles, you can see how I have interpreted this information to form my own practice style. I don’t know many counsellors that follow these theories to the letter; considering the diversity of the human race and our personalities that would be considerably difficult! Anyway, back to Social Exchange Theory: Put forward by Thibaut and Kelley in 1959, Social Exchange Theory says that all human relationships are formed by the use of a subjective cost-benefit analysis and the comparison of alternatives. The theory has roots in economics, psychology and sociology. The basic concepts addressed in Social Exchange Theory are: cost, benefit, outcome, comparison level, satisfaction and dependence. Put simply: Costs generally consist of sacrifices of time, money, or lost opportunities. Benefits include things such as material or financial gains, social status, and emotional comforts. Outcome is defined to be the difference between the benefits and the costs. Some simple equations can demonstrate how this theory explains aspects of relationships: OUTCOME = BENEFITS – COSTS SATISFACTION = OUTCOME – COMPARISON LEVEL DEPENDENCE = OUTCOME – COMPARISON LEVEL OF ALTERNATIVES The concepts of rewards and costs involved in Social Exchange Theory were borrowed from behavioural psychology and resources were borrowed from economics in terms of when the theory refers to the foundation of the relationship: Rewards and resources refer to the benefits incurred in a relationship. Rewards are defined as the pleasures, satisfactions, and gratifications a person enjoys from the relationship. Resources refer to any commodities (material or symbolic - like exchanging gifts for example) that can be conveyed through interaction between the individuals involved in the relationship and give one person the capacity to reward another. The costs of social exchange relationships can involve punishments experienced, the energy invested in a relationship, or rewards not gained as a result of engaging in one behaviour or course of action rather than another. The concept of Comparison Level (CL) was developed by Thibaut and 20
Kelley to explain the contributions that previous experiences and expectations make to the determination of how satisfied an individual is with a relationship. This is extremely important to any therapist dealing with couples counselling because individuals come to their relationships with an awareness of what they perceive as ‘normal’ for relationships that have been formed as a result of previous experiences. The Comparison Level is influenced by this information and therefore reflects: a. What individuals feel is deserved and realistically obtainable within relationships. b. What individuals feel is important for them to experience within a relationship. When the outcomes derived from a relationship exceed the Comparison Level, global assessments of a relationship are likely to be high meaning future relationships may have to live up to the individuals expectations. According to exchange theorists, satisfaction with a relationship alone does not determine the likelihood that a relationship will continue. Thibaut and Kelley (1959) developed the concept of Comparison Level of Alternatives (CLalt), defined as the lowest level of outcome a person will accept from a relationship in light of available alternatives, this helps the individual to decide ‘do I stay or do I go?’ The CLalt is an individual’s assessment of the outcomes available in an alternative to the present relationship. When the outcomes available elsewhere exceed those available in the current relationship, the likelihood increases that person will leave the relationship. Hence, staying in or leaving a relationship is not simply a matter of how rewarding that relationship is. In other words, how likely is the individual to believe that the grass is greener? This again is a very important point for the therapist to consider in couples counselling. An example here might be a couple where one partner is a ‘serial adulterer’ - this person could be constantly perceiving alternative relationships as better than the current relationship and so they constantly look for and engage in alternative relationships. The counsellor would have to help the couple be understanding towards each others perceptions of what they actually need to gain satisfaction from a relationship and also therefore look at what they perceive as ‘normal’ in a relationship. The therapist would have to bear in mind ethics and social implications, especially if dealing with a couple where one partner may not know the full extent to the others infidelity or if there are children involved who may or may not be aware of the situation. In this instance, Social Exchange Theory could help me as a counsellor to help the couple understand where they are coming from in terms of how and why they form relationships and what they perceive as satisfactory or not from both sides. But what if the couple remain in the relationship only because they feel there is a lack of an alternative? Although this doesn’t happen that often, as mostly my couples do genuinely want to be together, this is a scenario that can happen and Social Exchange Theory once again has something to say about that too... If anyone needs any counselling or hypnotherapy you can visit my website www.cloud9-therapy.co.uk for more information.
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A Perspective on Fear by Mark Roberts In last month’s article I discussed five major hurdles that clients often face when they set out on the path to achieve their goals. FEAR was one of the five and I committed to leaving it to a separate article, because in my experience, it is the most common cause of failure through giving up. We all experience fear in some form throughout life and it rears its head in multifarious ways. Man’s greatest fear is death and it is learnt at a tender age that death is the destiny of all things that live. The fear of death springs from loss and that which is unknown - every fear that you will ever experience springs from that original fear of death and loss. Fear is always about loss! Because fear is within universal experience it has been widely written about by psychologists, philosophers, spiritual leaders et al. Fear is endemic throughout mankind and impacts humanity at every level of life. It can arise when least expected and quite often when things are going well. It can rear its head, striking at your very confidence, as your mind conjures up novel ways to scupper success through fearful thinking. Because of this it is definitely worthy of further consideration. The good news is that most of the day-to-day things that give rise to fear, never come to fruition; the human mind is brilliant at catastrophizing. The mind is capable of this because it has collected a great store of knowledge about what could, or might happen. The subconscious mind sneakily searches for possibilities that match your circumstances, then throws them up in to your conscious mind for you to worry about. What happens next of course will depend entirely upon your personal resilience. Fear can dominate your existence if you let it, so it needs to be put into perspective. It is of course a vital response in situations of life and death and in such cases, it arises as a welcome warning. In most situations however, the fear that you experience does not require a life and death response, but it can nevertheless reveal itself in many other forms, such as anxiety, stress, worry, shyness, loss of confidence and possibly phobias. In severe cases, responses can become chronic and life-limiting. It is clear that fear has its place as a form of protection and I certainly wouldn’t want to discourage that. The problem with fear though, is that it can generate unhelpful responses in other situations; responses that can hold you back from taking the action required to move you closer to your goals. In severe cases it can have a paralysing effect on activity, as it consumes your conscious mind with what could go wrong and the subsequent losses that in your mind at least, will naturally follow. This type of response holds you back from achievement, preventing you from living the life you truly desire and deserve. Developing Strategies If you want to move forward and turn your dreams into reality, then it is essential that you learn to manage your responses to fearful situations. It is only fair to point out that most ventures in life come with a degree of risk and a good starting point would be to assess your current aversion to risk, financial or otherwise. This requires a high degree of honesty - with yourself. Next, it is important to develop some fear-coping
strategies. I have suggested my favourites below. It is important to reflect on the fear experienced in a given situation, to assess whether your response was appropriate - you will often find that the fearful response was not proportionate to the circumstances. This knowledge will help you to move forward should you decide to have another go. When you do achieve successes, this will strengthen your resolve in similar situations. It can help if you do not try to focus on achieving the whole goal in one fell swoop. For some, the size of the task ahead can be enough to send fearful thinking into overdrive, which can lead to failure. Instead, break the goal down into manageable steps that are less daunting. As you achieve success in each step, your fearful thinking will gradually diminish. If you have ever tried suppressing or escaping your fears, by putting yourself in a state of denial, you will probably have discovered that this still prevents you from moving forward with your goals and that despite your efforts, your fears still remain; they can lurk under the surface, waiting to catch you out at a time when you least expect it. A better method is to face your fears in an open and honest way by developing mindfulness… The spiritual leader and writer, Thich Nhat Hanh, suggests that you invite your fears up into your consciousness at regular intervals, to examine them fully and clearly, without judgement, finding their source. When you discover the source of your fears you may find that you are acting on out-of-date information. For example, some of your fears may be linked to childhood experiences and insecurities that are no longer valid. This will provide you with the opportunity to talk to your younger self and tell her that you are no longer a child, that you are now fully grown and self-supporting. You can let your younger self know that it is ok to let go of the fears causing your insecurities, as they are no longer serving you. For more on this technique see Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm - Thich Nhat Hanh (2012). To your success… For more about Mark Roberts, visit his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/intelligentlifestrategies.
Wine Corner
Hello everyone, I hope you are well. I am writing this month from bonny, well, sunny... no, rainy - yes, Scotland. We are near Nairn on the east coast of the country for ten days and we are yet to see too much sun. The locals tell me it’s nice here in the summer though! We travelled the 600 odd miles here with a stop in York; a lovely city with lots to see. Luckily we brought some French and Italian wine with us, as the local stuff is not too prevalent. There are vineyards in Yorkshire, but not many in Scotland. Might visit a distillery though, there are several quite close by. This month I will start with Portugal. I won’t mention the football, oh dear, too late. As with many wine growing countries in Europe, we can thank the Romans for developing vine growing after the Phoenicians brought in grapes and wine making techniques from the Middle East around the 10th century BC. The Romans planted vines on the banks of the river Douro. This wine growing area, along with Pico Island, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Portuguese wines became even more popular with the British during centuries of disputes with France and other European countries. The good old Portuguese kept us going throughout that time. Many years later in the second half of the 17th century, the first fortified wines were produced. Now of course, the country is famous for it’s Port. They started shipping wine to England in the 12th century and later in 1386 the two countries signed a treaty reducing tariffs on Portuguese wines to give them preference over French, where the tariffs were higher (maybe this is where the bad feeling between us started - they would have been upset about this for sure!). For years afterwards, Portugal was know for Port and Madeira which was very popular in the British colonies. Moving on to more recent times, I can remember drinking Mateus Rosé from that funny shaped bottle. I think this, along with German Hock, were a very common first wine drinking experience of many people. With its entry into the (then) Common Market in 1986, the Portuguese received massive grants to improve their vineyards and wine making techniques. Now most of its wine is of Portuguese origin and they don’t produce much of the common grapes like Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, or Pinot noir to name but a few. Just mentioning our little holiday for a moment, today we went to Elgin just down the road from Nairn. Now most people have heard of the Elgin Marbles, but not so many know that they are not marbles (large round balls), but statues. They are no longer kept in the town, but in London. What even fewer people know (so it is said) is that when this move was suggested some years ago there was a lot of discussion as to whether this would be the right thing to do. They decided to have a referendum. Just two simple options; should these historic statues be moved to London for more people to see, or should they stay in Elgin? Well, they voted to move them. So they had voted to lose their marbles. Hang on, that seems a little familiar...
Anyway, that’s enough politics. We found a nice restaurant in nearby Nairn. Overlooking the Moray Firth, it has lovely views and a list of 150 single malts on sale. A booklet listing each one shows the aroma, that is what you should be able to smell, the taste and what they call the finish, which is what you can taste after drinking. It also shows the cost per glass, the most expensive being the Balvenie Tun 1509 batch no. 2 (try asking for that after a few drams) at £36.90. A bit out of my price range, I must say. I would get two litre bottles of blended stuff for that. Another trip was to Dufftown, known as the whisky capital of the world, where there are nine, yes nine, distilleries. I guess the most well known one being Glenfiddich, which started in 1886. It was the first to actively sell it’s product in the UK and export markets as a single malt (as opposed to a blend), and the first to welcome visitors forty years ago. There is also the Dufftown distillery opened in 1896 by two Liverpudlians. We travelled 11 miles on a private railway line from Keith, that’s the town named after the clan Keith, not as it turns out, after the local butcher in the high street. It was a lovely trip through the countryside with lots to see. When we arrived at the station I was a bit disappointed that we were a fair walk from the town centre, so we just had lunch in an old railway carriage and then went back on the train. We did return though - in the car - and I popped into the Glenfiddich distillery for a look round. The guided tour lasts about one and a half hours and I didn’t have time for that. I took a look in the shop and wished I had won the lottery last week. There were loads of bottles of whisky for sale, ranging from the normal single malt to one from the Balvenie distillery at £26,750 for a bottle. That would be about £1,200 quid a glass retail! Looks like I should have tried the £36 one from Nairn after all. By the way, I have never seen so many speed camera signs as there are here but I have not seen any actual cameras. I think they got a job lot cheap then realised they couldn’t afford the cameras. Back to the wine: The country produces a large variety of grapes, including Alvarinho, a white grown in Spain as well as north west Portugal, Arinto/Pederna described as a full bodied white and a range of reds including Tinta Roriz/Aragones. So why not try something different when you next have your friends to dinner? Bin end chuckles. My idea of a balanced diet is a glass of wine, in each hand. Do you know what’s fun about being sober? Nothing! Keep calm and keep drinking (in moderation)
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Circus Fun and Fitness For All Ages Several years ago, Chelmsford girl, Diana Entwistle ran away to join the circus. Then, she came back and brought the circus with her! Now Chelmsford has its very own circus school situated at the Ideas Hub in High Chelmer where she offers lessons to all ages. Diana explained what it is all about; “I have been performing across the world for several years now and after completing my last world tour I decided that I wanted to share my passion for aerial arts and open my own circus school in my home town”.
Circus arts have lots of benefits, these activities can increase muscle strength in the whole body, improve flexibility and enhance coordination. Tension built up in the muscles and joints during our daily lives can be released and circus activities enable decompression of the spine, releasing pressure between the vertebrae, which aids posture in both sitting and standing. Circus skills require concentration, perseverance, patience, timing, tracking skills, gross and fine motor coordination - on top of that they are really fun!’ Although Diana said that she has loved her years of performing, she is actually a bit of an academic with a PhD in sports science, a degree in biology and sports therapy and qualifications as a figure skating instructor, gym instructor, Pilates teacher, aerial teacher, yoga teacher, sports therapist and nutritionist and she looking forwards to the mental and physical challenges of teaching as well as the challenges of running a business. For children aged four to twelve there is Little Stars Circus which offers classes with a syllabus to enable them to develop their skills in aerial arts including aerial hoop, silks and trapeze. The children also have time to develop their ground based activities including juggling, tightrope walking and diablo. The children can gain certificates for their achievements and have a short performance around Christmas to show their parents what they have learnt. For the under fours there is a baby circus which offers a fun introduction to circus for children from their first steps to 4 year olds and their grown-ups! Through imagination, games and physical activities children will learn about movement, listening, communication, coordination and creativity. This parent and child class teaches fabric climbing, acro balancing, mat tumbling, tightrope walking, juggling, hula-hooping and trapeze swinging. Each week has a different skill focus which develops the child’s fine and gross motor skills, body control, balance, hand/eye co-ordination, strength and mobility. Children learn at their own pace, in a fun atmosphere. Teenagers can join in classes to ‘get fit like a circus artist’, aerial fitness is total body fitness and encourages the development of strength, endurance, flexibility and promotes a healthy body image for young people. For teenagers, learning circus arts can provide a sense of achievement and boosted self-esteem. It can be a great confidence builder. Basic skills can be learned very quickly and most people will find that they can suddenly do something that they previously thought ‘impossible’. Once the ‘impossible’ has been achieved, they may then have a different outlook on life where they believe in their abilities to achieve what they thought was out of reach. When students can get up and perform successfully for others their self-esteem soars.
The key to improved self-esteem is the realisation of one’s self worth, and this is obtainable from the applause of an audience or peer. Being able to do impressive things improves a participant’s confidence in themself. The fact that other people will also find the skills impressive increases confidence and self-esteem even further. Self-esteem and self-confidence can increase dramatically through non-competitive learning and the continual success of achieving a new trick, which reinforces internal success mechanisms. Persistence and perseverance are developed in all circus arts, when you juggle, you will drop the ball multiple times. This helps foster an understanding that mistakes and failures are just a part of life and a part of the road to success. All of a sudden, drops/mistakes do not matter and participants learn to enjoy the road to success. There are also classes for adults to learn aerial arts which is an amazing way to get toned and trim. As the body weight is taken off the ground with aerial activities they are low impact, so injuries to the joints are less likely than weight bearing exercise such as running. However, they are no less intense than floor based activities, for example, while taking part in aerial when you turn yourself upside down once, this is equivalent to doing 20 sit ups, multiply that up over a session of aerial and this provides a very tough workout. Participating in these activities can burn between 300 and 400 calories per hour and, with experience and increased intensity of exercise, even greater energy expenditures can be achieved. Not only that, but the increased muscle mass that accompanies their frequent participation, increases metabolic rate, so even at rest more calories are burned. This makes aerial a great form of exercise to aid weight loss or to maintain a healthy body weight. Adults can also take part in aerial yoga, which is sometimes called anti-gravity yoga, and offers participants the chance to perform traditional yoga poses, Pilates exercises and dance movements with the use of a fabric hammock suspended just off the ground. Some of the most basic poses involve simple stretches while sitting on the hammock, while other poses progress to hanging upside down and holding your thighs, ankles or feet for support and balance. There are aerial yoga classes for senior and adults available. Classes are available most days of the week in the custom built circus rig at the Ideas Hub and most classes have a maximum of six participants, (four for aerial yoga), to allow everyone to get the attention they need to develop their skills. For more information come in to the Ideas Hub and say ‘hello’ or email Diana at littlestarscircus@ mail.com www.littlestarscircus.co.uk
A Unique Theatre Show Comes to the Marconi Club A unique theatre show comes to the Marconi Club Theatre at Beehive Lane, Chelmsford on Saturday 1st October as part of its nationwide tour: The Mind & Spirit Experience, featuring the world’s top international regressionist, Tony Rae, who invites members of the audience to come up on stage to discover who they were in a former life. Taking people back to their previous lives - some as far as 3,000 BC - they may change sex, or talk in a foreign language unknown to them, enthralling the audience with details and facts revealed about their past lives and how our previous existence shaped our present lives today. Tony has appeared on many television and radio shows throughout the world and has regressed many famous celebrities including James Hewitt, John Stapleton and Richard and Judy to name just a few. You can have the chance to find out who you were on October 1st. Also appearing in the first half of the show is the top medium Rod Beech, connecting with the spirit world with messages for the audience. Rod - who is famous in America for appearing at the prestigious Golden Gate Centre in San Francisco, Las Vegas and other cities - brings his uncanny gift to England on this nationwide tour. He has given thousands of messages to people in over 600 locations, with many returning visits from people amazed at his accuracy. Working with the world of spirits he provides proof and evidence beyond doubt to the recipients that our loved ones and friends are all around. Doors open at 7.00pm, show starts at 7.30pm. Free parking. Limited tickets available: £15.50 from Marconi Theatre 01245 269 422. www.wegottickets.com or Ticket Office 01279 815 464.
Spot the dog faces - there are 20 to find - answers on page 31
Ami’s Diary
I performed with Theatretrain at the Thameside Theatre in Grays. Our show was Neverland and I played John, which was one of the main roles. For most of the show, I wore striped pyjamas and a top hat. It’s the 8th show that I have performed with Theatretrain and it went really well. I also performed scenes from Mamma Mia with The Weston School of Dance and I played the part of Donna which was fun as she is the mum.
I attended an Achievement Awards evening at school and I was awarded an Attainment Award for Design Technology which I am very proud of. I am starting my GCSEs in September and I am able to do the options I picked - which is geography, art and drama, so I am happy. Over a year ago, I went to a casting for a film but I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone the name of the film, but now it is being released, I can say that it is Swallows and Amazons. I just missed out on playing the part of Susan but I did get down to the last three girls and I got on with the casting director really well and she said she would consider me for future projects, so maybe something will come up soon. But I am disappointed that it is being released on my birthday, as it would have been amazing to be walking the red carpet on my birthday. For the filming that I’m doing as a ‘Kreepa’, I was asked to watch a film called 28 Days Later to see how the zombies move fast. It was an 18 certificate film but I didn’t think it was scary at all as I have had the special FX make-up and seen how the prosthetics are made to look so real. I’m hoping it goes well as I might then be asked to return and do some more filming for the series.
Family Friendly Jokes Who designed Noah’s ark? An ark-itect! What did Noah do while spending time on the ark? He fished, but he didn’t catch much. He only had two worms! Why were the early days of history called the dark ages? Because there were so many knights! Why did Arthur have a round table So no one could corner him! What was King Arthur’s favourite game? Knights and crosses! Why did the knight run about shouting for a tin opener? He had a bee in his suit of armour! Where did knights learn to slay dragons? At knight school!
Random Facts Only 2% of Earth’s population naturally has green eyes.
Broccoli is the only vegetable that is also a flower.
Your nose can remember 50,000 different scents.
Antarctica is the only continent with no owls.
Children have more taste buds than adults. Strawberries contain more vitamin C than oranges. A full moon is nine times brighter than a half moon. Lemons are more acidic than vinegar.
Kangaroos can’t walk backwards. Frogs cannot swallow with their eyes open. Africa is divided into more countries than any other continent. Squirrels lose more than half of the nuts they hide.
A koi fish named Hanoko lived for 225 years.
On average, a laptop uses half as much energy as a desktop computer.
The first color photograph was taken in 1861.
The human brain is about 80% water.
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All About Moulsham Lodge
Moulsham Lodge Community Trust
The recent MLCT volunteer evening went well and it looks like we may well be able to start opening the Copper Pot Café on a regular basis thanks to some volunteers who came along. Volunteers will have to undergo training on food hygiene before they can start.
Contact: enquiries@mlct.org.uk, Twitter: @MLCTStation, www.mlct. org.uk, 07411 8098 731.
If anyone else would like to get involved with the Copper Pot, please get in touch. The days and times that it will be open will be confirmed in the next edition of the Moulsham Times and on social media as well as our main noticeboard out the front of the Community Station. If you remember, the name and logo of the Copper Pot Café was created by Max Sharp. In the picture below, the Mayor of Chelmsford Paul Hutchinson unveiled Max’s picture at our annual fun day in 2015. The Mayor is seen talking to Max about his clever design of a teapot in the shape of a policemen’s helmet - a reference to the former police station. We will be looking to find a permanent location for the picture once we confirm possible internal alterations.
Other volunteer news is that the youth projects that we are looking to provide will be supported by Essex County Council. The possibility of youth clubs and other hobby interest groups being run by MLCT are only bound by the number of volunteers that will be available. Do you have a particular skill that our youngsters would be interested in?
Cllr Mark Springett - Moulsham Lodge Ward Wednesday the 13th July saw the latest Full Council and the date in the calendar in which I have to present my report as chair of Overview and Scrutiny for the previous year. We discuss and review many subjects and last year they ranged from taxi provision, health and safety, tourism, council tax, freedom of information, tenancy strategy and many more.
I picked one from each range that deservs a mention.
Meeting the target: The number of working days lost due to sickness. We are by all accounts significantly better than the public sector average of 8.1, achieving 6.71. It deserves a mention because this has implications throughout the council’s delivery of services and how effective the council is at doing the job. If we were less efficient, council tax could well increase!
I thought I would give you a flavour of what was in my report, as this committee really is a channel for public involvement where we can consider and review anything the council delivers and is responsible for.
Not Meeting the target: Number of households living in temporary accommodation. The out-turn for this target of 200 was 249, a rise of 96 over the previous year AND unfortunately, we expect this to increase next year. These are challenging times, but the council are looking at initiatives for people facing this particular problem.
We review key performance indicators as part of our work programme. Each performance indicator measures the progress made in terms of achieving council priorities against the councils Corporate Plan. Targets are set annually based on national and local criteria.
There is not room here to cover the whole report, so I will dedicate next month to our Safer Chelmsford Partnership and how it is helping to keep Chelmsford safer. I did promise a piece on my new role as Shadow Cabinet for Information Technology, but with this being such a new role I will save it for later this year.
Now it would take an exceptional council to meet all their targets, and Chelmsford City Council certainly does not. The annual report shows we met and were above the target in 14 out of 20 - and that in 6 cases it was significantly below target.
Just a reminder, I hold a surgery once a month on the first Saturday of every month at St Luke’s Church between 11am and 12 noon.
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Contact me: mark.springett@chelmsford.gov.uk, 07411 808 731. I’m also on Twitter and Facebook.
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Tile Kiln Corner by Linda Mascot Last month, I was delighted to hear that ‘Superwoman’ Jenny Brown who lives in Moulsham Lodge was recognised for the contribution she makes to her local community by being awarded the prestigious Carer of the Year Award from Essex County Council. This was richly deserved for all the charity work that she does. Jenny is Chair of the Moulsham Lodge and Tile Kiln Community Care Group, as well as being a fellow trustee of the Moulsham Lodge Community Trust (running a monthly knitting group) and volunteering at the local Farleigh Hospice shop. Last year Jenny organised a very successful Wellness of Women Day (WOW for short) at the Community Station in Moulsham Lodge which was very well attended and provided information from health professionals in a fun way. I’m sure it’s the first time an (ex) police station
has been adorned with bras of all shapes and sizes! Jenny has been a member of the Care Group for the past 20 years and helps coordinate local volunteers by working with local hospitals, GPs and social services to supplement existing care and offer short term emergency practical support, such as driving people to medical appointments, dentists and opticians, visiting sick relatives, shopping, collecting prescriptions and befriending local people who feel lonely and isolated. Jenny said: “Users can be anyone from a six month old baby needing treatment in a London hospital to elderly and infirm residents being cared for in their own homes.” This local lifeline is funded entirely by donations and as with many local organisations is keen to secure more volunteers - can you help this vital service carry on with the invaluable work that they do and that many local people benefit from? If you have an occasional hour to spare and can can offer skills such as administrative, nursing, befriending, counselling etc please contact Jenny who commented: “If you can spare a little time once a week or once a year it would be greatly appreciated. If the load is shared, it’s much easier for us to continue to offer our support to all who need it. Due to an ageing community on both estates, there is an increased need for our service and we desperately want to continue to support our neighbours.” If you can help in any way, please contact jennymbrown@tiscali.co.uk or phone 01245 250 129. mascotlinda@gmail.com Twitter: @lindamascot
The 2nd Chelmsford Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade The 2nd Chelmsford Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade companies in Moulsham Lodge have been doing fun activities over the last 6 weeks as part of their summer sessions on Tuesdays and Fridays. On Tuesday evenings, the Girls’ Brigade N:Vestigate girls (aged 5-8), N:Gage girls (aged 8-11) and Boys’ Brigade Anchor boys (aged 5-8) have taken part in a sports evening, a craft evening, ten pin bowling and had a go at FootGolf plus a final evening at Hylands Park. The older girls groups, N:Counter (aged 11-14) and N:Spire (aged 14-18) have done similar evenings and joined together with the younger groups for ten pin bowling and Hylands Park. Due to the exceptionally wet weather and diabolical traffic on the day of the Footgolf, they didn’t get to do this activity but it will be planned in for a future date! On Friday evenings, the Boys’ Brigade Company section (11-18) have also been out and about to Chignal St James to do archery, FootGolf, a Battalion Cross Country/Tug of War competition at Hylands with other BB companies in the area and a go-kart evening at Hylands. The session ended with the annual awards evening for all sections and included a farewell to one of the officers (and previous Captain), Mr Peter Robb, who retired from the company after a whopping 48 years of service. We are always on the look out for new members, so please contact us if you know of a youngster who would be interested in joining us. www.moulshamtimes.com
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Take Great Holiday Photos I’ll whisper it quietly so as not to tempt fate but... it looks like summer might have finally arrived! Most of you will be looking forward to some well deserved time away from the daily grind. Whether you are staying in the British Isles or jetting off to more exotic lands, the chances are that you will be packing your camera ready to capture some magical memories. So if you are looking to capture more than ‘hot dog legs’ and sangria-featured selfies, here are few tips for taking holiday photos you will want to view again and again.
Be selective - even if you have spent the last 12 months looking forward to snapping away on holiday, try to slow down and be more discerning about what you photograph. Not only will this lead to stronger images, it will also mean you have time to enjoy the holiday with your friends and family. I hope these tips will help you to get some great holiday photos. Wherever you are jetting off to, have a safe journey... and don’t forget your camera! Look the opposite way - one thing that puts me off taking a photo more than anything, is seeing everyone else taking the same shot (usually of a famous landmark that has also been photographed professionally numerous times). Try looking around for alternative views in the area or take a photo of everyone taking the photo. Just don’t be an iPhone in a row of 20 iPhones! Photograph the local people - whether you ask their permission to take their photo beforehand or approach them after the shot is taken, photographing people is a perfect opportunity to strike up conversations and learn more about the area. Travel photography is all about capturing different cultures and ways of life and this applies as much in the UK as it does when travelling abroad. For example, staying in a local fishing village? Ask to photograph one of the fishermen. Look for colourful characters and people that you wouldn’t get to meet on your normal daily commute. Details details details - everyone loves a landscape, whether golden beaches or emerald hills and valleys, but photo collections work best when there is variety. The texture of a palm tree’s bark, the worn tread on your hiking boots or the exotic fruit perched on top of your favourite cocktail add interest to your holiday album (and allow you to show off a range of photographic skills).
Ross Willsher is a social and commercial photographer based in Chelmsford and covering the wider Essex area. He has a passion for capturing the individuality of families, personalities and businesses across the county. www.rosswillsherphotography.co.uk www.rosswillshercommercialphotography.co.uk info@rosswillsherphotography.co.uk
Marconi Exhibition The recent Marconi Exhibition has been loaned to the forthcoming Sandford Mill Open Days which take place on the 6th and 7th August, Saturday 10th September (Heritage Open Days) and Sunday 23rd October (The Ideas Festival). All welcome!
Deadlines for the September edition Articles - 19th August Print ready art work - 25th August
Cartoonist/illustrator Colin Blundell - local cartoonist/illustrator for hire. Comic strips designed, kids bedrooms, personalised cards, books illustrated, prints ad cards for sale at The Ideas Hub. Contact: 07742 078 590.
Highwood Property Maintenance
All aspects of roofing undertaken, Chimney repairs. gutters cleaned and repaired from £39, facias & soffits renewal and cleaning service, conservatories, driveways & patios cleaned. Painting, decorating & landscaping. Call for a free quote. 01245 422712/07711 606561
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Call 01245 252439
The headstone cleaning and grave tending service for those who need a little extra help. Call James 07518 343287 www.essexgravecare.co.uk
A well established local garage based in the heart of Chelmsford for all your motoring needs.
42 Milmay Rd, Chelmsford CM2 0DZ Tel: 01245 262869
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Local Blind Lady Requires Escort
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Quiz Answers 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Arsenal (ladies) Lillehammer Table tennis 18 19 Tokyo 4 Bradford City Motor Racing (also held land and water speed records simultaneously) 10. 6 11. Bicycle Motocross 12. 1954 13. Bath 14. 300 15. Eric Bristow 16. Victoria Pendleton 17. Claret jug 18. Miami 19. Ayr 20. Surrey
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