Moulsham Times - December 2022

MoulshamTimes

Hi readers,

Welcome to the last edition of 2022... The year has flown by!

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our advertisers (both old and new) for advertising with us this year, all our writers; again some old and some new (and we have a couple of new ones in this magazine and the City Times for the new year), all our delivery people who make sure that you get your copy come snow, rain or shine, and of course all of you readers. Without you the magazine would not exist.

The next edition will be out from January 5th . We are fairly well booked up regarding front pages, with the next available slot now being July 2023, but we are always able to place adverts inside the magazine.

We wish you all a happy festive season and New Year!

Regards

Paul

Advertising & Editorial

Paul Mclean 01245 262082/07595 949701 paul@moulshamtimes.com

Disclaimer:

Chelmsford - By Vicky Ford MP

I have enjoyed visiting some of Chelmsford’s schools over the last few weeks, including a visit to Moulsham Junior School to hear the views of staff and students. I also was honoured to meet Head Girl, Maisie, who is determined to make a positive difference. Maisie told me of her plans to leave a legacy of positive role models for the younger year groups. Great work Maisie! Before the recent Autumn Statement I was one of 21 Conservative MPs who wrote to the Chancellor urging him to increase school funding, and I am very pleased that schools, as well as the NHS, will receive additional funding.

They showed me their glass and bottle covers that are freely available to prevent drink spiking, and informed me how they will recharge phones, walk women to the taxi rank and give free water to anyone who asks. I was pleased to hear that regular training is provided to all staff and a safe room is available for anyone who needs it. Over forty CCTV cameras now monitor the club so that any incidents can be investigated.

Prolonged heavy rainfall on the upper reaches of the Rivers Chelmer, Wid and Can at the same time could lead to significant flooding. I have been pressing for an improvement in Chelmsford flood defences for as long as I have been the MP. I recently met with officials from the Environment Agency and Chelmsford City Council to discuss plans to improve our flood resilience. At the meeting, we were shown how advanced computer modelling means it is now possible to take a holistic view of how several different interventions would work together to reduce the risk of flooding. I am urging both the City Council and the Environment Agency to work faster.

As ever, if you require my help please do email me at vicky.ford.mp@ parliament.uk.

Set Yourself a Physical Challenge for 2023

Challenges are a great way to jump-start your fitness for several reasons. Booking an event, registering for a competition, or signing up for a challenge creates accountability and provides motivation to train regularly. Without something looming at a fixed date in the future, it’s much easier to put off getting fit until tomorrow. With a challenge you make a commitment to doing the thing and putting in the work to prepare yourself.

It was great to join elderly residents for lunch at the excellent Age Concern centre, Cottage Place, in Moulsham and I had a warm welcome at the open days for both the Chelmsford Mosque and the Royal Air Force Association just off Moulsham Street. In New London Road the coaches from Reed in Partnership told me about the work they are doing support many individuals to find employment opportunities.

On Remembrance Sunday I joined the people from across Chelmsford to take part in a moving service with the laying of wreaths at our war memorial. It was particularly moving to see so many young people taking part in the service and parade.

Chelmsford boasts an incredibly vibrant nightlife. Recently, I visited Popworld to learn about how they are working to keep their customers safe. Every Friday and Saturday night a welfare officer is present for people who need help, as well as ten door staff, of whom at least one is always a woman.

Once you have registered, share it with your friends, family and colleagues - maybe even ask them to join you. Talking about it and getting others involved gets you excited about the journey while building more commitment, motivation and accountability. The training you do for the challenge will establish the habit of doing regular physical activity. Once you’ve got the ball rolling and you’ve crushed the event, make sure you have a plan to keep the habit of training going. You can do this by making a plan to repeat next year or set a new goal to work towards.

Why not register for the Couch to CrossFitter Challenge at CrossFit CM2? You’ll learn all the movements with a group of new starters under the guidance of our experienced coaches. We’ll measure your fitness at the beginning of the challenge and then test you again after 2 months of training. This allows you to see how the various aspects of health, strength and fitness have progressed. You’ll get unlimited access to over 40 weekly classes so you’ll have flexibility of when to train. Individual support from our coaches will keep you on track and provide advice on nutrition if necessary.

The great thing about becoming a CrossFitter is that you become part of a fellowship that has affiliates all over the world. You’ll also have the fitness and confidence to tackle any challenge you want in the future. Whether that be an obstacle race, an open water swim, or a local CrossFit competition, you’ll be ready! Check out the full details at: www.crossfitcm2.com/couch-to-crossfitter-challenge.

www.crossfitcm2.com

When Mr and Mrs H saw a plot of land in Ramsden Bellhouse, It was love at first sight. They knew that with their vision, some luck and the right professional people, that the site could be transformed into their perfect home. With that image in mind, they set about selecting the products and companies that could be trusted to translate the dream into reality.

The brief was clear: a full set of appliances, generous storage, a huge island and bold colours.

As entertaining is so important to the couple, it was decided that two NEFF Slide & Hide 71-litre ovens, as well as two combination oven-microwaves and a big flex-induction hob on the island, would

ensure that large scale events are easily catered for. The cooling and dishwashing could be fully integrated so as not to interfere with the flow of the kitchen. And a Quooker hot tap means no more waiting for a kettle to boil.

Bold blue furniture gives a vibrant, energetic and youthful feel to the room and crisp, clean, white quartz surfaces top it beautifully. The 9-foot island promises plenty of accessible worktops for any amount of guests. There is also the addition of the wraparound breakfast bar in a timber finish, warming the look of the room and complimenting perfectly the herringbone floor.

Mr and Mrs H had a dream for their forever-home and have thanked Regal for, not only meeting but exceeding their expectations; they say that the company truly lived up to it’s pledge of ‘Client is King’.

To help any clients planning a kitchen renovation in 2023, Regal Kitchens will be hosting a LIVE NEFF cooking demonstration day between 10am and 4pm on Saturday 10th December. All customers whether existing, new or potential are all welcome to come along and sample freshly prepared food and enjoy complimentary drinks, along with expert advice from our friendly staff on the latest NEFF products and kitchen innovations. Everyone attending will be given a chance to enter our free prize draw to win kitchen equipment worth hundreds of pounds, plus everyone leaves with a goody bag with contents worth around £20.

The showroom in Navigation Road has many working NEFF appliances, working Quooker kettle taps and 15 kitchen displays, featuring timeless, elegant and cutting edge design.

For more information about the upcoming event, contact emma@ regalkitchens.net, or call 01245 351 151.

Regal Kitchens showroom in Chelmsford is open 10am - 4pm 7 days per week.

www.regalkitchens.co.uk

MT Health: The Only Three Reasons Runners Get Injured - By Chris at Forté Physical Health

In my experience as an osteopath and biomechanics geek, there are only three reasons runners get injured. Once you know what they are, you should be able to build a plan to keep yourself injury-free and running happy.

First up, we have a lack of strength. Weak things break, so if you want to be a runner and have longevity in the sport, you must do resistance training a couple of times a week. I know many runners find strength training boring, but I like to link it in my mind to my running. I’m currently training for a mountain ultramarathon, so each time I step into the gym, I call it my ‘mountain legs workout’. I imagine running up those super steep hills, and I use it as motivation to squeeze out extra reps of squats, lunges and all the accessory movements I use.

If you are a road runner, you can get away with basic strength training that targets the legs, hips and core. Improving your overall strength with fundamental movements like squats, lunges and plank variations will help protect your joints as you increase the intensity or volume.

If you are someone who likes to do trail running or mountain races, you need extra techniques to cope with all the random, twisting movements that can happen out in nature. I fell over so many times in my last mountain race, particularly on the downhills after it had been raining, so I was grateful for the strength that allowed my knees to cope with all the awkward twists.

Of course, running can get you stronger, especially when using hill sprints, but weights can give you a buffer of strength for when you are particularly fatigued, or the unexpected happens.

Next up, we have technique. I’m a big believer in that there is no such thing as the perfect technique. We each have our own signature running style, which is affected by our leg lengths, foot type, height and anomalies like scoliosis or pelvic asymmetries. We don’t all need to look the same when we run, but there are some core principles that everyone can benefit from.

In my clinic, I provide running assessments where I analyse technique. By far, the most common problem I see is overstriding where the landing leg reaches too far out in front. You can see if you are doing this by getting someone to film you from the side using the slow motion camera on your phone. Draw a plum line straight down from your centre of mass, behind your belly button, half-way between the front of your tummy and your back. Then draw a line out to where your foot strikes the floor. I have an app on my iPad that tells me that angle, and I’m generally looking for it to be less than 20 degrees, depending on the speed someone is running. If the person is running slower than 10-minutes per mile, I may even want it to be around 15 degrees.

There is plenty online written about foot-strike. Some say forefoot, some say mid-foot, and others say to never land on your heel. The research that makes the most sense to me says not to worry too much about what part of your foot lands first, but you shouldn’t have your foot land too far out in front. This is because of Newton’s law of motion; action equals reaction. You are a mass with forward momentum, and if you land your foot way out in front, you are met with an equal and opposite force bouncing back into your knees, hips, and back. When your foot lands more underneath you, however, Newtonian laws propel you forwards - the reaction gives you forward momentum for free! This improves your efficiency and reduces the risk of injury because the forces are better balanced as they bounce up through your body.

There are a few other principles to pay attention to, but that will have

to be for another day, because now we are onto our last point; the training plan.

Most people do most of their training at a too high intensity. Here is a typical story: A runner doesn’t have much time, so they want each run to be the best it can be. They put their trainers on and go for a 20-minute blast. It’s great fun, and they work up a sweat, feeling great by the end of it. They manage to squeeze in two more runs in the week, but they have to wedge them between work and family commitments, so they are also 20-minute runs at a high intensity. Gradually, this person will find that they can’t hit their runs as hard as they used to. It’s confusing to them, so they run even harder to regain their recent fitness. Not only does this not work, but they get injured! They have to rest for 6-weeks to let the injury recover, and they lose much of the fitness they built up. Back to square one, demoralised.

I hear this story all the time, and it is a phenomenon known as Aerobic Deficiency Syndrome. This strange sounding condition is caused by too much training at a high intensity and neglecting the aerobic system.

This topic can get super geeky very quickly, so I’ll try my best to explain it well. If you have a running watch, you may have noticed that your heart rate gets put into zones. There are different ways to categorise the zones, but most use a 5-zone system. In this model, zones 1 and 2 are your aerobic zones, and to avoid aerobic deficiency syndrome you need to do most of your training in these zones. If you don’t have a watch, another way you can find this zone is to run at a pace where you can breathe in and out through your nose or talk in full paragraphs.

This style of running is very counter-intuitive. If you have never tried it, it will feel embarrassingly slow the first time you do! But it does get faster, I promise. Gradually, your aerobic metabolism becomes much more efficient at delivering energy to your muscles, and you can run much faster at the same intensity. This feels like magic! When you drop a 10-minute mile in zone 2 down to below an 8-minute mile, and it still feels super easy, it’s a joy.

Running in higher intensities is helpful for the development of fasttwitch fibres, your strength and your anaerobic conditioning, but too much running in zones 3,4 or 5 is poison and will eventually injure you.

The other training plan mistake is to build up your volume too quickly. The general rule is to add 10% of mileage a week. This allows your tendons, ligaments and connective tissues to build up a tolerance to your running.

There is much more to say on all three of these topics, so you may want to follow my YouTube channel by searching ‘@ChrisBranch’ where I share more ideas to help you run injury-free.

And if you need any specific questions, we can help in my clinic here: fortephysicalhealth.co.uk.

Until next time, have a healthy and happy month!

MT Gardening

Hasn’t the autumn colour been absolutely fabulous this year? The maples, oaks and beech have been spectacular. I was passing by Writtle University College the other day and the scarlet and red oaks were shining out across the front lawns, as was the Ginkgo biloba (maidenhair tree) up the main drive, with its lovely golden-yellow foliage. As all the leaves are now practically down, don’t forget to collect up and make up your leaf mould. Check out this link www.rhs. org.uk/soil-composts-mulches/leaf-mould.

Between mid November through to the end of February - leaf fall and bud burst in the spring - is a perfect time to prune unrestricted ‘pip’ fruits such as apples and pears - and if you haven’t down so already, any soft fruits such as gooseberries and currants.

When pruning unrestricted tree fruits such apples or pear forms, it is essential to first establish whether it is a tip bearer or a spur bearer. This can best be found out by consulting a reference book. If the cultivar is unknown, send the fruit to a specialist centre for analysis, or observe the fruiting habits.

Pruning Spur Bearers

Eg, Apple Cultivars Such as ‘Egremont Russet’ and ‘Winter Gem’. Prune back all laterals to between two to six buds from their base (depending on vigour). The leader should be shortened by about a third.

Pruning Tip Bearers

Apple cultivars such as ‘lrish Peach’ and ‘Cornish Gilliflower’. Lightly trim excessively long laterals but keep pruning to a minimum,

focusing on thinning out any overcrowded laterals.

This is a super link with simple steps to success when pruning tree fruit www.rhs. org.uk/fruit/apples/ pruning-made-easy.

This is also an ideal time to remove any woolly aphid, which can also lead to knobby swellings on apple that should be removed if possible at pruning time.

Blackcurrants fruit best on strong stems formed the previous year, and pruning takes place in winter (November-December) by removing a third of the stems that have fruited, which are dark in colour. Do not remove the strong stems produced that season which are paler in colour as these will bear fruit next year. Prune out low lying branches and weak growth at ground level.

Aside from pruning, this is the perfect time to plant. Why not consider planting blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum)? Blueberries are soft fruit and can be considered as a type of bush fruit. Blueberries must have acid (pH 4.0-5.5), and moist but well-drained, soil with a high organic content to succeed and should never be subjected to drought. A small range of cultivars are available and all are suitable for growing in containers.

‘Spartan’ AGM: Very hardy, early to mid-season, ‘Spartan’ bears large fruits with a sweet, tangy flavour. To crop well, this cultivar needs another blueberry cultivar nearby.

‘Duke’ AGM: Stocky bushes produce good yields of medium to large fruit of excellent flavour. ‘Duke’ flowers late but crops early so is especially good for northern areas where the growing season is short. It is partly self-fertile.

Blueberries ripen from mid summer and crop through to late summer depending on the variety. They should be picked when soft, blueblack in colour and with a waxy bloom. Pick over the plants several times as not all the fruit ripens at the same time. The fruit can be kept for a few days after harvesting or up to three weeks in the fridge. Blueberries can also be frozen.

Happy gardening.

For any gardening tips, please contact Tom Cole, Horticultural Lecturer, Capel Manor College, Bullsmoor Lane, Enfield, Middlesex, EN1 4RR or by email tom.cole@capel.ac.uk.

On the First Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me... - By Holly Lucking

Christmas is very nearly upon us, and I know one or two of us found ourselves humming along to Mariah Carey a month too soon... There were so many options for what to do in this article, as many animals relate to Christmas one way or another around the world. Reindeers in the North Pole, robins with their seasonal feathers splashed across cards, and many animals, including the famous donkey, that are included in most nativity sets. I decided though to go to an old Christmas classic, The Twelve Days of Christmas, which includes its fair share of birds - including swans, geese, french hens, turtle doves, calling birds, and a partridge. This shows that the original composer probably had a particular fondness for birds. The earliest known publication of the song was in the late 18th century, though many versions have been sung and the song has changed over the years. To get you in the festive spirit, I will tell you just a little something about some of the animals mentioned in this song.

The first bird spoken of, and repeated the most throughout the song, is a partridge. This could either be referring to the red-legged partridge or the grey partridge. The former was introduced to England in 1770s and is still a common bird found in the UK, but the latter unfortunately is now endangered in Britain due mainly to habitat loss.

Turtle doves funnily enough have nothing to do with turtles, they are so called for the ‘turr-turr’ noise they make. They breed in Eurasia and North Africa before flying south in the winter for a milder climate. Unfortunately, since 1996, this species has been classed as vulnerable on the IUCN red list of threatened species.

Calling birds are mentioned in the song but there are no specific species with such a name, so it is hard to distinguish which bird is the subject of this gift, but some believe that they are referring to

the blackbird. In one version of the song, they are called ‘colly birds’ which was Old English for blackbirds. These popular UK garden residents are omnivores and change their diet depending on the season. In the spring/summer months they will feed mostly on invertebrates and worms, whereas when the daylight hours get shorter and the autumn/winter months approach, they turn to a diet of fruit and berries.

Finally, we have the seventh gift of ‘swans a-swimming’. Mute swans were partly domesticated in England and were considered to belong to the Crown. They were particularly valuable in the Middle Ages and regularly traded, with owners required to put unique nicks into their beaks to tell them apart. An annual swanupping (which used to be ceremonial but is now important for wildlife conservation) takes place on the River Thames, where cygnets are weighed and measured and checked for any injuries. Depending on parentage, they are ringed with identification numbers that show their ownership, but all Crown birds are left unmarked. Technically, the King owns any unmarked swan a-swimming up the Thames!

Focus on Christmas Shopping Christmas @

Intense

Christmas Gift Ideas

With people of all ages getting back in to vinyl, this will be one of the most popular gifts this year. If you don’t know what to get that special person, then we are here to help - or we also sell vouchers so they can come and choose for themselves. For those looking to start their collection or upgrade, we will be stocking a range of turntables and speaker packages from leading brands, starting from just £189 and including a free selection of vinyl.

Used Vinyl! Buy and Sell!

We now boast a vast secondhand section with some classic albums from the 60s, 70s, 80s up to the present day, from favourites like The Beatles, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and many more. We have thousands now across all styles from rock to funk, soul, disco and more. It’s a vinyl diggers treasure chest!

We are always on the hunt for more as well, so give us a bell and we can pop round or just bring them in.

Intense Records, 33/34 Viaduct Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1TS

01245 347 372 www.intenserecords. com

Focus on Christmas Shopping

Have Yourself a Very Eco Christmas!

At Inlustris Gifts all our products are eco friendly, cruelty free and sustainably sourced, so you can shop with confidence. Our gorgeous greeting cards and wrapping paper are fully recyclable and the cards are in corn starch wrapping, so no nasty single-use plastic to throw away. We have a lovely selection of stunning locally handmade and Fairtrade decorations, including papier-mâché baubles, felt decorations, button decorations, ceramic pieces and more.

Fancy making your own crackers this year? Each kit has enough components to make 6 crackers with slim card, perfect for the little artists in the family to design unique artwork, paper hats, snaps and terrible jokes.

Don’t buy boring chemical filled products for the men this year, we stock gents products from Norse, Rugged Nature, and Scottish Fine Soaps - they all smell fantastic, work well, and have no nasty hidden ingredients.

Looking to give jewellery as a gift? We have gorgeous ranges in silver, gold, gemstone, crystal, pewter, tagua nut, acai berry and more.

We also have luxurious body products; candles, reed diffusers, wax melts and so much more. Let’s not forget that we also stock items from fabulously talented local makers with statement cushions, jewellery and ceramic products.

Still not sure what to get? Pop in to the store for a chat.

Widford Lodge in the Local Community

What an exciting start to the new academic year we have had. Our new starters in Reception have settled in well and have been lucky enough to go on their first school trip, visiting Lathcoats Farm where Farmer Phillip taught them all about apples, they saw the machinery used at the farm and how the apples are stored. The children were then able to pick their own apples and try some of the fresh apple juice.

The children were able to bring the apples picked back to school and sell to the other students. All the money raised was then donated to a charity chosen by Farmer Phillip.

The Form 1 students went on a visit to Oaklands Museum to learn about toys from the past. The museum curator, Caroline, led a wonderful workshop and showed the children the old toys and explained how they worked and the material they were made from and how they differ from modern toys. The children had a lot of fun playing with the spinning tops, and upon returning to school made their own cup and ball toy.

Forms 1 to 6 went for an activity day to Danbury Outdoors, they all had great fun doing a range of activities, including aerial trekking,

Santa’s 2022 Sleigh Ride through Chelmsford, Courtesy of the Lions Club

Preparations are well underway for Santa’s annual sleigh ride for charity by the Chelmsford Lions Club in support of eleven local charities. The sleigh, accompanied by music and bells, will visit residential areas of Chelmsford for 17 nights from 2nd December to 21st December, after which Santa is busy with wrapping parcels, feeding the reindeer and getting down chimneys. Santa and his elves was also at the recent Chelmsford City Centre Christmas light switch on event on Sunday 20th November. They will also be collecting with the guide dogs on 10th December and outside Tesco on 23rd December.

Santa on the sleigh will be accompanied by elves collecting for local charities, including Barrow Farm Riding for the Disabled, CHESS Homeless charity, and Families in Focus. Donations to these and other worthy local causes can be given on the night or via the Lions website at www.chelmsfordlionsclub.org.uk. Full details of the locations around the city that Santa will be visiting each evening are also available on the website.

Andrea Cooper, President of the Chelmsford Lions Club said: “We’re delighted to be able to bring Christmas cheer to the people of Chelmsford, particularly in these tough times. Every year so many people say that it makes their Christmas and that they remember us coming around when they were kids, so it’s great to keep up the tradition and spread a little joy.”

archery, and a variety of obstacle courses. A great day was had by all and a big thank you to the Danbury Outdoors Team who make days like this possible and such fun.

The children also donated items to Chelmsford Food Bank for harvest festival and had a special Assembly.

We have also been working with The Little Edi Foundation again to support families in the Chelmsford area.The children have donated coats, and we are now currently collecting for their Christmas appeal. Gift tags have been place on the trees for the children to take and buy the requested gift for Christmas.

We had lovely weather for a Macmillan cake sale recently and raised £759! We are now all looking forward to another exciting term at Widford Lodge.

Oaklands Community ProjectA HUGE Thanks to the Team of Volunteers!

During half term, I was privileged to be part of a team of parents who built Oaktopia - an incredible tree house in the playground of Oaklands Infant School. A massive thanks is owed to Christopher Jakubowski, the amazing designer and dad to Olivia and Maia. As well as spending countless hours planning, sourcing materials and creating the design, he gave up his time to be on-site every day during construction.

We were also lucky enough to have Simon Abery, dad to Jessica and owner of ATS Landscapes, join us on-site with his digger to assist with the build, as well as Steve Weller, dad to Amelie, who spent long hours putting the design into CAD helping dodge construction pitfalls. Huge thanks to everyone involved with this fantastic build: Dave Hart, Will Roberts, Craig Mackenzie, Emily Klose, Nathan Griffiths, Jill Townsend, Clive Armitage, Nick Pettifer, Adam West, Louise Griffiths, Abbi Osbiston, Natasha Ganda, Sarah Fernandez-Grandon, Ed Olive, Sam Gibb-Cohen, Adelina Arbones, Clare Watts, Hayley Namock, Jo Moore, Dave Moore, Sarah Hart, Sayra Khatun, Ben McFarlane, Sara Moore, Jo Grendall and of course our young helpers who loved being a part of it.

With positive energy and attention to detail, we were able to bring Chris’s vision to life, coming together with a sense of community to build a better future for our children. Look out for more updates from our school in the coming months!

Thanks, Susan Sorlie, School Governor and Co-Chair of Parents and Friends of Oaklands Infant School!

Van Diemans Road, Flood Aleviation and Womens Night-Time Survey - By

Cllr Marie Goldman

Season’s greetings! I’m not quite sure how it’s December already. Somehow, 2022 has whizzed past and we’re already at the end of it. I hope you’re all doing well and are able to look forward to the festive season. I do love Christmas - but I have to admit I’m really not a fan of these short days and long, dark nights; I love it when the days start getting longer again, which thankfully seems to happen quite quickly after Christmas.

There are a few things to update you on this month, so here goes:

Van Diemans Road Layout Changes

At the beginning of November, Essex Highways held two online meetings for local residents of Van Diemans Road and neighbouring streets to discuss the latest proposals for this road, its junction with Lady Lane, as well as possible implications for other roads in relation to the Army & Navy Sustainable Transport Package, which I have mentioned before in this column.

Briefly, there is a proposal to change Van Diemans Road from two lanes to one lane northbound (towards the Army & Navy), to add a new segregated cycle path on the west side of the road, and to improve the ability for cyclists and pedestrians to cross the road at the end of Lady Lane.

While the proposals have not yet been finalised, you can see and read about the latest ideas on the dedicated Army & Navy website page here: bit.ly/ANSTP.

Gloucester Avenue Pedestrian Crossing

As much as I don’t like to have to report unpleasant news, I’m afraid I have to tell you that Essex County Council have been unable to find a suitable location for a pedestrian crossing anywhere between Brian Close and Longstomps Avenue on Gloucester Avenue. The reasons for this is a mixture of the huge cost that would be involved in relocating the BT infrastructure that’s hidden below the pavement, as well as the large number of dropped kerbs in front of residents’ houses, meaning there’s not enough space for a crossing.

I’m very disappointed not to be able to take this any further, but I thought it important to let you know that I’ve tried very hard to find a solution. In the meantime, my Lib Dem colleagues and I are arranging training for a community Speed Watch group. If you would like to be involved in that, please let me know.

Flood Alleviation Measures

For a number of years Chelmsford City Council has been working with the Environment Agency to try to find a way to alleviate the flood risks in Chelmsford City Centre, potentially affecting lots of homes and businesses in this area, including in Old Moulsham. A previous scheme at Margaretting has now been discounted by the Environment Agency, and talks are progressing between the City Council and the Environment Agency to find alternative options. These are likely to be in the form of a number of smaller measures, rather than one single large intervention. I think that’s a much better approach, especially as it mitigates the risk of a single point of failure. As the project moves forward, I’ll try to keep you up to date.

Women’s Night-Time Safety Survey

Essex County Council has teamed up with the University of Essex to lead a research project about women’s safety at night. The online survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and is open until Sunday 18th December. Find out more here: bit.ly/ECCWNTSS.

I hope you all manage to have a lovely festive break. See you in 2023!

Wishing you all lots of sparkles and mistletoe.

Marie

Cllr Marie Goldman marie.goldman@chelmsfordlibdems.org.uk

Deputy Leader, Chelmsford City Council City Councillor for Moulsham & Central County Councillor for Chelmsford Central Liberal

Democrat

Nick Garner’s Music & Ramblings

I knew we needed rain but I am not sure we needed as much as we have been having recently! It seems we go from one extreme to another with our weather, although the temperature has been mild, it is starting to get colder now. The one saving grace has been not to have had my heating on quite so much. Let’s hope that continues.

We had our celebration for the life of the wonderful Claire Hamlin on Sunday 30th October, and it exceeded all our expectations in all ways. The music was amazing, the attendance was great - and we raised just over £2,000 for Farleigh Hospice and the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity, which amazed and thrilled us all. I am sure Claire would have been proud too, with her friends having travelled from far and wide to join in this celebration of life.

Christmas is getting nearer now, and it’s a busy time for many. We will just need to see what we can all afford this year with so many cost increases. Let us not forget those more unfortunate though, some without a roof over them and also those who are on their own - this is quite a long holiday and many might be alone and find the Christmas season sad. So please, if you know of someone or have a neighbour in such a situation, do look in on them to see that they are ok and not too cold, and that they have food to eat - the same for many of the homeless at this time of year.

We now have a third city in our county of Essex, as Colchester has officially become the 76th city in the United Kingdom. Although often known as the first city with its Roman history. The first in our county was actually Chelmsford, then Southend - and now Colchester; could Essex get any more I wonder?

I now hear that it’s official that The Range is coming to Chelmsford. The Range will be taking over most of the old Debenhams store in the high street next year. It is good to hear, lets hope it helps to keep our High Street alive - I think there is nothing better than going into a shop to see and feel the goods rather than just buying them online. I hope we see many more businesses opening. We also have the best pizzas in the UK (according to the award-winning Taste Of Italy in Duke Street in the bus station). This is a small family-run business who won Best Independent Pizza Restaurant in the Pasta and Pizza Association Awards, beating all the other contestants in the UK. If you like pizza we can certainly recommend it to you.

All the Christmas lights seem to be on now in the run up to Christmas. I have to ask though, why do they have to use such loud fireworks?

We went to Hylands Park to the preview of Enlightened the other evening and we were both really impressed - we thought it would be like last year but it certainly wasn’t. I would say that this is a great thing to take the younger members of the family to. We both really enjoyed it.

Covid is still with us, but thankfully it is greatly reduced. I am hearing of far fewer people testing positive, although when they do they are mostly still isolating, which I think reduces the chance of spreading it further. I have had all my jabs now for covid as well as the flu. So far this autumn as we now head into winter, I have only had a cold which seems to have been doing the rounds.

We do hope that you all keep well and enjoy your festive season with

those that you want to be with. As I said before, please do not forget those who are on their own at this time of year.

Music

We received some very sad news the other day when we heard that Wilko Johnson had passed away at just 75 years old. Although they had said he should have died some 9 years before, but he defied them and just carried on until almost the end still playing gigs. I was privileged to put him on twice in 2013 and must say both shows were amazing. Some of you may have been at the EVOKE gig which sold out - sadly, we had to turn some 200 people away on the night.

I have been to Southend twice recently for gigs. The first was to see Bellowhead at Cliffs Pavilion, and what a great show by an amazing band - so pleased that I went. The next gig was a Sunday night at the Cricketers in Southend to see Rosco Wilson and friends - the friends being non other than Rosalie Cunningham on bass, Dave Woodcock on keys and Darren Jones on drums, with Rosco on guitar and lead vocals. It was certainly a very entertaining afternoon. They played covers in a way you have probably not heard before, and a great Beatles’ medley too. At The Orange Tree, we had Clare Shorthouse and Alex Hearn who were also joined by Josh Graham. Those who were there know just how good this gig was.

Sadly we had to reschedule a couple of the social club gigs to next year, but we are definitely going ahead with everything from now on with just two shows left for 2022. We have Slim Chance and The Ugly Guys, and then Connor Selby. We then return on Friday 20th January with Nine Below Zero. So far, we have confirmed 17 shows and have plenty more that we are just waiting to firm up for you for 2023.

We also have The One Tree Hillbillies playing The Orange Tree on Monday 12th December from 8.30pm, and I can highly recommend this as a fun entertaining night for you all.

I have gone mad (though some would say I have been for many years) and gone and got myself a newer PA - big enough for about 2,000 people. I have also added to my lighting too, so we hope that your overall experience will be even better when you attend one of the shows at the Chelmsford Social Club.

If you have anything that you think that could be of interest to our readers for either publication, then please let us know by emailing editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk - maybe you know of an event or have a topic of interest. Or have you done anything unusual this year or are you planning something? If so, we want to know about it! And maybe you know of someone who may wish to advertise with us. If you do, please ask them to contact ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk, and we can send over the full details.

You can get tickets for all our shows in Chelmsford from Intense Records, Hopsters and Chelmsford 4Good - please remember to pay cash in person. Tickets are also available online from www. wegottickets.com/BlackFrogPresents, or via our ticket hotline at no extra charge - call or text 07508 496 411 and you can then pay at the advance price on entry to the show rather than the walk-in price.

For all Black Frog Presents gig updates and information, please visit www.linktr.ee/BlackFrogPresents, or scan the QR code on my poster in this magazine.

It would be fantastic if you could share our magazines the City Times and Moulsham Times for us. We continue to publish both magazines online as well at www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia.

It just remains for me to wish you all a lovely and festive Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

Hello everyone, I hope you are all OK and enjoying the fairly mild weather. The only thing is, when the temperature starts to really drop soon it’s going to seem even colder. The year marches on and as I predicted last month, it is now dark at five o’clock. Such accuracy in forecasting officially makes me an ‘expert’.

A couple of things caught my attention recently. The first being the report that someone threw eggs at King Charles. I’m still having trouble getting used to calling him that. Anyway, my point is, where were all the security staff when this happened? These projectiles could have been anything and nobody lifted a finger to stop them. The person stood next to the King was in a very smart uniform - I don’t know why they were there, but they swiftly moved aside rather than step in to protect the King, presumably to avoid a costly dry cleaning bill.

though. One shows a bloke trying to ride a skateboard, but he keeps falling off. Now, I do know how difficult skateboarding is from bitter experience. When they were first popular, I watched the children rushing round the pavements in our close. It looked easy. Wrong! However, going back to the advert, what has this got to do with Christmas. As the great Terry Wogan used to say, ‘is it me?’

Recently, I experienced the good and bad in human nature. I was driving a van along the outside lane of White Hart Lane, when the engine just stopped. I put on the hazards and tried to think what to do. I was causing an obstruction and decided I would have to get the van off the road, but it was on a slight incline and I couldn’t move it. I stood at the back of the van, hoping that someone would stop and help a pensioner. Unfortunately nobody could be bothered. Suddenly a chap appeared at my window, He had seen my plight while walking along the road and realised I was in trouble. He quickly took control and we - well he - pushed the van to the safety of Starbucks in Springfield. Hero number one. Next heroes... As we struggled to get the car in a parking space, two of the Starbucks crew appeared to help us. I had to leave the van overnight and spoke to the staff about it. They were fantastic, making sure I was OK and making all the necessary arrangements to leave the van. Next morning I went back to recover it and was immediately asked if I had sorted recovery. During the long wait, they offered me a drink several times and came out to see that I was OK. Great job Starbucks crew. Your employers and parents should be proud of you. Thank you too to my ‘van pushing’ saviour. I am a great believer in karma, so I am sure these acts of kindness will result in good things for them soon.

Bin End Chuckles (Great, as Usual John)

I’ve called my pet termite Clint... Clint eats wood!

The perpetrator was apprehended by police and appeared in court. I note that they were punished to the full extend of the law and banned from having eggs on their person, except those they were going to eat! I can just see it now, at a later date being stopped by the police and searched using the pat down method and ending up with a pocket full of uncooked scrambled eggs!

I am not a fan of so called ‘reality’ programmes, and the one where ‘celebrities’ are put through a series of trials until they are voted out by viewers is among my least favourites. I don’t watch these, but am fairly up to date, as whovever is responsible for producing the news programmes seems to think that people who participate in these programmes are ‘newsworthy’. After all the problems round the world are reported, it is deemed that the latest celebrity to be parachuted into the jungle is something I would be interested in. Well, no! Although maybe I am the mug, as it has been reported that participants are being paid £250,000 or more. Perhaps they have got it right, not me.

Animal stories continue to be of interest. It was reported recently that a dog got lost whilst out for its walk after being frightened by fireworks. Very sad for the owners, but incredibly, the animal turned up at the local police station. It found its way in the door and sat in reception and was given a bowl of water by officers. Its owners’ name and phone number were on its collar, so they were able to trace them and reunite them. How lovely. Now the amazing thing about this story is not that the dog had the ability to find the local police station, but that it was actually open! Bow ‘Wow’.

I am hoping that by the time you read this our UK teams will have been doing well in football’s World Cup. Sport, in general, lifts the mood of the country, whether you are a fan or not. At the moment there are many sporting events being played. and in so many we are doing well. I often think that we as a nation tend to play down our successes, so good luck to them all and that they cheer us all up.

I see the big retailers are back with their Christmas adverts. You know, the ones that cost a fortune to produce and put on television. I am still on a different wavelength to some of the producers

What do you call 2 spiders that have recently married? Newly webs... Have a lovely Christmas and all the best for 2023... As D:Ream once sang, ‘things can only get better’!

Stay safe and well

MT History: Royal Anglian Way - By Henri Lewi

On the rock in Gibraltar there is a footpath that runs from the Ape’s Den down to St Michael’s Cave, which was refurbished by the 2nd Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment in the late 1960s, and currently named The Royal Anglian Way.

This homage to the Royal Anglian Regiment references its past history in Gibraltar, when the 56th West Essex Regiment played an important role in the defence of Gibraltar during the Great Siege of Gibraltar which lasted from June 1779 to February 1783 and is recorded as the longest siege endured by British forces to date.

During the War of the Spanish Succession of 1701-1714, an AngloDutch force took Gibraltar in 1704 from the Spanish kingdom. Finally at the end of the war, the ensuing Peace Treaty of Utrecht of 1713 assigned Gibraltar to Great Britain, in whose hands it has remained to this day as a British overseas territory. This is a particular form of territorial ownership and whilst Gibraltar has its own government elected for a four-year period, the head of state is the current monarch, King Charles III, represented by the Governor of Gibraltar.

The 56th West Essex has a direct lineage to today’s Anglian Regiment having undergone numerous amalgamations and name changes, firstly as the Second Battalion of the Essex Regiment when it was amalgamated with our own local 44th East Essex Regiment in 1881. By 1958, the Essex Regiment was incorporated into the 3rd East Anglian Regiment and then again in 1964 with the other two East Anglian regiments to form the Royal Anglian Regiment, with the lineage and honours of the Essex Regiment being continued by the 1st Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment.

The original regiment, the 56th Regiment of Foot, had been transferred to Gibraltar for garrison duty and was in place when in 1779 Spain and France entered the War of American Independence on the side of the American ‘United Colonies’. Spain’s specific aim was to regain Gibraltar from British rule, and as a result laid siege

to the colony by naval blockade between June 1779 and February 1783. Despite the Spanish blockade, the Royal Navy was able to supply the colony. A final ‘grand assault’ in September 1782 involving over 60,000 Franco-Spanish troops and more than 50 ships of the line, failed to take Gibraltar from the British. During the siege - which lasted three years, seven months and 12 days - the 56th Regiment of Foot served with distinction until it was relieved and returned to England in October 1783 and renamed the 56th West Essex, receiving the Battle Honour ‘Gibraltar’.

Grove Road Evangelical Church

Not long now till Christmas! In the few days left, I wonder how many will ask this simple question: What is Christmas really all about? For many people, it seems Christmas is going to be a time for not having to go to work, or for getting drunk, or for spending a lot more money than is actually in the bank account, or for meeting up with family and friends. Some of those things seem good, others, such as getting drunk or overspending, might seem less good!

What if there was another answer, the real answer to the question ‘What is Christmas really all about’? There’s a clue in the word ‘Christmas’: Christ. And although it gets used as an expletive far too often, it’s actually the name - well, the title - of the person who is the only real reason for celebrating Christmas. His name is Jesus and that title, Christ, means the person appointed by God to be king over everything. He was sent by God 2,000 years ago to be the king who will rescue us from the mess we have so often made of our own lives and of the whole world.

If you want to discover more about the real meaning of Christmas,

and the blessing that awaits everyone who welcomes Jesus into their life, please visit our website and follow the link, ‘The Real Meaning of Christmas’. There you will find the times when we meet together and where our church is located. Please come and visit us over Christmas so that you can discover the real meaning of Christmas for yourself.

Our Carol Service will be Sunday December 18th at 11am, and Christmas Day Service at 10.30am.

On behalf of our church, I wish you all a Christmas full of peace, joy and hope through faith in Jesus Christ.

Philip Loose, Senior Pastor

Grove Road Evangelical Church (Behind Tesco Express, Moulsham Street)

www.grecuk.co.uk

pastor@grecuk.co.uk

Pilates - The Perfect Prezzie, for One or Two - By Erica Foulds

I am asked so often, ‘where do I start in the journey to looking after my body?’, ‘what if I have some what neglected myself for too long?’, ‘what if its too late to make changes?’ and ‘my lower back pain has been there for years, is it too complicated or engrained to help my pain?’.

Well, firstly there is no perfect time and no one-size-fits-all exercise routine, but it is absolutely never too late to make positive changes when it comes to the health of your joints and back. When it comes to finding a form of exercise that is good for the body and mind and perfect for an absolute beginner who is a novice to the concept of a ‘stretching exercise’ - and even those who have never been able to touch their toes (even ankles) - there is a stand out choice.

With finding a type of well-being exercise which can burn with intensity yet at the same time is amazing for funny knees, tight hips, rounded shoulders and niggly lower backs, you can’t go wrong with pilates. Approaching exercise with problematic joints that feel a bit rusty and with longer-standing pain, it is important to work with a well qualified and experienced teacher. At Hummingbird Pilates Yoga in Writtle we hold group classes or 1-2-1 and 2-2-1 sessions with some top instructors. The studio is run by a leading physiotherapist too, and between us we have several decades of experience.

If you are a regular reader of my articles, you will have seen me discussing the roots of pilates, its principles, and the man himself Mr Joseph Pilates who was a physical therapist responsible for creating this wonderful dynamic, injury-safe form of movement which is now used by physiotherapists worldwide, and other rehabilitation clinicians, as a foundation for whole body strength and wellness.

Where do you start? This year I’ve seen a big rise in 2-2-1 sessions. Not only can you come and try with your friend or favourite person, but its also a great way to split the cost yet still get the benefit of a totally tailored session. You also don’t have to commit to anything long term, you can pay as you go.

A personalised private session for two means 60 minutes catering for your specific needs. This proved a great way for one of my clients this year to come back to exercise after a tough year recovering from a stroke. Not only did she want to get back to exercising safely but wanted her husband to be with her during sessions, as her speech was still up and down. However, we then discovered pilates was exactly what he needed to compliment his love of playing golf! 2-2-1

sessions do not mean you both have to do the same exercisesbeing at different levels of experience is fine. At Hummingbird we have a full size reformer in our pilates studio, and this has proved very popular for combo mat and reformer pilates within a one hour session.

If you have a loved one, a family member, or maybe a friend that is in need of a jump start in the health direction, why not give the gift of pilates this Christmas? Or maybe you deserve a treat yourself, to end the year on a positive endorphin boost? Gifting a group class block or a 100% personalised 1-2-1 or 2-2-1 pilates session from us at Hummingbird Pilates is a perfect and easy gift to give. You can even use session credit for our popular online Zoom classes. This not only saves petrol costs, but Zoom classes could be perfect for those who don’t live near to us here in Chelmsford.

We offer 3 levels of class, gentle: for total beginners, no experience and maybe an injury or two. Mixed level: for those who want steady pace but happy to be given some more challenging options, and our intermediate level for those who have some pilates under their belt and want a workout. All studio classes are 8 person max, and all classes work on whole body focus, mixing strength, posture work, flexibility and joint mobility - and your first month is £45 for unlimited classes!

Feel free to contact us to discuss any queries you may have about starting your pilates journey. Find us on Facebook or Instagram by searching ‘@hummingbirdpilatesyoga’ or ‘Hummingbird Pilates & Yoga Writtle’. Email us at info@hummingbirdpilatesyoga.co.uk, or just use the good old phone and call us on 01245 422 556 and ask for Erica. See you on the mat!

Erica x

MT Finance - How to Buy International Shares

Broaden your investment horizons with thousands of international shares across major overseas markets.

When it comes to building your investment portfolio, it is generally a good idea to spread your portfolio around the world. The UK has some great companies, but international shares can offer something different, whether it is excellence in certain sectors, or thematic exposure you want to reflect in your portfolio.

In the UK, we have a mature, diverse stock market but it is lacking in certain areas. There are not any major technology firms, and it is biased to certain sectors such as oil and banks. No country has all the ‘best’ companies, so investing internationally helps to maximise opportunity and spread risk.

The US, for instance, makes up over half of the global stock market. It is the world’s biggest economy and home to many of the world’s largest companies. It is an important, major component in any diversified portfolio. Yet there can be additional risks when investing overseas, notably currency movements. When the pound strengthens it can water down returns from overseas assets, but when it is weak it can boost values.

How Do I Buy International Shares?

There are a range of online platforms that provide this service, including our own Charles Stanley Direct service (www.charlesstanley.co.uk/services/invest/diy/direct-investment). In selecting an online portal, it is important to compare costs, the availability of investments, as well as ensuring it is a reputable and established provider, who can offer the desired level of service.

Why Buy Individual Shares?

Lots of investors enjoy researching and choosing their own shares. It is more hands-on and it can be more interesting than picking funds, but it tends to be higher risk. When you invest in a single company, all of your money is at stake should that business fail. Even the most promising or well established companies can come unstuck or experience misfortune, so you will want to ensure you are sufficiently diversified across lots of companies in different sectors.

If you cannot afford to lose your investment, investing in a single company might not be for you. You should make sure you understand the companies you are investing in, their specific risks, and make sure any shares you own are held as part of a diversified portfolio. In contrast, funds such as unit trusts, investment trusts and ETFs (exchange-traded funds) help do the job of diversification for you. They spread your money across multiple companies, and sometimes geographies too, which requires less monitoring.

For other investors who like the convenience of funds, shares can add a personal touch on top - a central pillar of funds with some shares on the side for more interest and involvement. Buying shares allows you to truly tailor your portfolio to the companies and themes you are interested in.

Preparing to Buy Shares

When you buy shares, you should research the company thoroughly, and this is something we do on a daily basis for clients who entrust us to make decisions on their behalf. Understanding how a company is doing, its opportunities and risks, is important. You should also consider the condition of its balance sheet to assess how robust or vulnerable it might be to a deterioration in trading conditions. Finally, calculating its valuation relative to the market, its peers and its own history can help establish whether you are buying in at a fair price.

This will be hard work if you want to do it properly and create a diverse portfolio that works well. Not everyone wants to spend their spare time scouring company accounts, following industry developments, and assessing key metrics. But for those who have

the necessary time, aptitude and enthusiasm, it can be exceptionally rewarding, both intellectually and financially.

In contrast, uninformed investing in shares, especially short-term trading, is akin to gambling. There may be nothing wrong in that provided it is money the individual can afford to lose - but certainly not so if the sums involved are life changing.

Considerations in Purchasing Direct Shares

Be aware of the costs:

Alongside dealing charges there are other things to consider. A small levy, SDRT (Stamp Duty Reserve Tax), is automatically charged at 0.5% when you buy UK shares electronically, but this ‘stamp duty’ is not paid on overseas share purchases. Additionally, be aware of the ‘spread’ between the buying and selling prices of a share. This can vary, with smaller, less frequently traded stocks typically having a wider spread. This is effectively a cost as if you immediately sold a share that you purchased then you would get a lower sale price. …and any tax on dividends or growth.

If you hold shares outside of a tax protected wrapper like an ISA or SIPP, then you pay tax on dividend income from shares. International shares, or income from them, may be subject to certain taxes levied by the tax authority in their country of origin. There may be another type of tax called capital gains tax to pay on any profits you realise from selling shares and other investments. You get an annual capital gains tax allowance (currently £12,300) before any capital gains tax is due.

Think about What You Are Trying to Achieve

Decide on your strategy at the outset. Sometimes investors make the mistake of ‘dabbling’; that is building a portfolio on an adhoc basis and ending up with a mishmash of different shares in different sectors. Some are also overly concentrated into just a few companies or sectors. Consider whether you are looking for income or growth, and which sectors or markets to prioritise for your research. You will also need to consider what level of risk you are willing to take.

Monitor Your Holdings

Keep up to date on the news flow from the companies you hold so you can be sure you are making informed decisions. Pay attention to valuations but do not get hung up on them. Ratios such as price-toearnings can help but shares are usually expensive or cheap for a reason!

While shares should be considered as a long-term investment, set a sensible timeframe to review your portfolio regularly. This will depend on the type of investor you are, but every six months is a sensible minimum. Unlike funds, which generally require less monitoring, individual shares often need closer attention. Whether a holding has gone up or down should not cloud your judgement. Consider whether you would still buy it at today’s price. If not, consider whether it is time to sell it and replace it with something you have a higher conviction in.

Get Your Diversification Right

Not putting all your eggs in one basket is very important and a prudent approach should have at least 15 to 20 shares as a minimum, and ideally encompass a spread of sectors and geographies. Otherwise, you could be overly reliant on a small number of holdings. It is also important not to over-diversify and end up spreading yourself too thinly in terms of keeping up to date on company news.

Keep a note of why you bought a stock each time you do so. This will help you analyse whether it has met your expectations when you review it. Always ask yourself what might go wrong for the company and cause the share price to fall. It is all too easy to focus on the potential and ignore the risks. All companies face challenges and focusing on these helps avoid getting carried away with an exciting story.

Be wary of published ‘tips’, especially for smaller companies. Sometimes a share price goes up just because a tip has been published in a newspaper or it has gathered a following online. If so, you will be paying a higher price because of this factor.

Graham Austin, Chartered FCSI Investment Director Graham.Austin@charles-stanley.co.uk

0207 149 6696

The value of investments can fall as well as rise. Investors may

get back less than invested. Past performance is not a reliable guide to future returns. The information in this article is for general information purposes and is not a trading recommendation. Nothing in this article should be construed as personal advice based on your circumstances. No news or research item is a personal recommendation to deal.

Charles Stanley & Co. Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered office: 55 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 3AS.

Friends that Train Together...

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By Ola Adamolekun

I belong to a small group at my gym/club, and we have 2 sessions a week with our trainer. At most, there are 4 people in the group. Some of the things I do when I’m in a session seem so much harder when I’m on my own and I’ve often wondered why. This article is me trying to work this out.

There is so much negative energy around peer pressure. A lot of time, when we’re with our peers, there is so much pressure to conform, and most of the time this can be negative.

People seem to be so much more confident when they’re in a crowd. We eat more, drink more and generally do more of the stuff we don’t do when we’re alone.

Is there a positive side to peer pressure and if so, what’s it called?

I’m gonna call it ‘group encouragement’. I find that in my small group sessions, everyone is so encouraging to each other and we feed off each other’s energy. We complement each and we learn from each other’s examples.

If I could bottle the environment or energy in my small group, then I’d be rich! There is definitely something about training in a group. That got me thinking; what if you were training in a group with 2-3 friends... You play together, you may work together, so why not train together? Just imagine it - you get all dolled up to go the gym to workout with your best friends. How cool is that!?

And it doesn’t just have to friends - it could be your partner or your spouse. Imagine how encouraging (or even sexy) it would be watching your spouse/partner get fit. Okay, I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I’ve seen it and it’s sooooo cool!

Anyway, back to the subject of small group training. I run small group sessions and I think they really work. I think people definitely feed off each other, and as a trainer, I’m motivated by the successes of my group - I feel like a proud parent when one of my members reaches their goal. I’ve been known to jump around like a mad woman (actually some think that I am a mad woman anyway!) to celebrate my clients’ success - it makes all the hard work worthwhile.

I know Christmas is just round the corner and then it will be the mad rush to join a gym or other fitness programme in January. But before you rush out and spend your money, just think - how much better would this be if you joined with a bunch of friends? Or even better, get a trainer to work specifically with you and your friends. It would

definitely beat sweating alone on a treadmill. Play together, train together!

www.beencouragedwellness.co.uk

www.facebook.com/BeEncouragedBeStrong

CCR Latest NewsAwards

We had a lovely time at the Community Radio Awards on the 19th November. Our youngest presenter Daisy Barker triumphed by winning a Bronze in the Young Person under 25 category. Last years pantomime, Untitled, was awarded a certificate for reaching the top five of entries in the Arts and Creative Radio category.

With another Christmas just around the corner, do make sure you are following us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (search ‘@ chelmsfordcr’) for details of our dual-broadcast line-up with Hospital Radio Chelmsford, including this years radio pantomime, Frankenstein

Once again we will be running the Audio Advent Calendar which helps raise funds for the mayor’s chosen charities. If you would like to support this and would like more information on sponsoring a door, please do get in touch with us.

In Other News...

We are pleased to reveal that we are partnering with the lovely people at Chelmsford Museum to run a brand new Radio Club for ages 7-14. Over five Saturdays from the start of the new year, join our expert radio trainers as they take you through the process of getting into radio production, script writing, interviewing and even some performing.

Learn new skills inspired by Chelmsford’s famous history as the original innovators of radio broadcast, which resulted in the birth of the BBC. Places for the Radio Club will cost £45 per child for all sessions, please keep an eye on www.chelmsford.gov.uk/museums/ whats-on, as further details and booking information will be posted here shortly.

www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com

The Singing Chef

Hey guys, happy Christmas to you all.. Remember to check in on everyone you can, and keep super safe. I’m really really into Christmas (I do a full Christmas dinner in summer every year because I can’t wait 12 months).

I would love to share a Christmas recipe with you this month, but I figured you have got enough of that on the TV, in other magazines, books and family recipes... Enjoy it all and do not hold back (unless your doctor told you too!).

I have a serious problem with the price of ketchup at the moment! This incredible condiment is borderline impossible to live without in our house and there is NO WAY I am spending what stores are asking me to pay for it this year!

In this house, we can’t really get on with the ‘own brand’ ones we have tried. Our palates are too refined my darlings! Yes, I am still talking about tomato sauce...

The solution is that I’ve decided to make my own, and let me tell you it is sooooo special and such amazing value. It’s also without preservatives and you can control your spice, salt and sugar measures.

Because there no preservatives, you can only really keep this ketchup in a pre-boiled jar for 3 weeks in the fridge, but it can be frozen for up to 6 months and then used within a week.

Just please try it, and then try again changing the ingredients to your own taste - then you will be happy. Let’s face it, we’re going to get through loads of this stuff in party season anyway!

Let’s start a homemade ketchup revolution, it will no longer be embarrassing for anyone to ever offer or ask for ketchup again because it will all be homemade and every family will have their own recipie that gets passed down. I can dream can’t I? You’d best put the saving towards more chips to mop it up with...

Ingredients

• 500ml of passata

• 1 heaped tablespoon tomato purée

• 3 tablespoons brown sugar

• 3 tablespoons cider vinegar

• 1 teaspoon each onion and garlic powder

• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1 bay leaf

• Salt and pepper to taste

Method

Whisk together and bring to the boil slowly, keep whisking intermittently whilst reducing until you get the right texture. The recipe is simple but it does take a little care and attention. Keep tasting and adjust seasoning to your taste.

Reduce to a third, then place in jars and cool. Leave in fridge to cool and enjoy.

Store in airtight containers.

Maybe add mayo, lemon and cayenne for a Marie Rose Sauce and create a retro prawn cocktail. Or add mustard, pickles, raw onion and sweetcorn for an incredible burger relish.

Sarah is a singing and vocal coach based in Chelmsford and offers singing lessons to people of all ages and abilities. You can email Sarah at sarahmtfood@gmail.com, or search for ‘Sarah Beth Vocal Coaching’ on Facebook.

It’s fast approaching that time of the year when not only Santa is busy, but so are the volunteers at the Community Station, who will be providing 200 breakfasts so everyone can enjoy breakfast with the man himself! This event is really popular with both young and old (no I am not talking about Santa but he is getting on a bit!)

The Community Station and MLCT tries to make his visit different and unique every year, and our elves start working early every year to make it the best experience we can. This ticketed event took 3 days to sell out, which means we are hopefully getting it right.

Our first Home-Made With Love Christmas Fayre (pictured) was a huge success and has pushed up our thermometer nearer to the top. The thermometer displays the fundraising for our New Door Fund. Everyone enjoyed the atmosphere and the unusual crafts to purchase. Next year... Maybe?

The Christmas Fayre allows for small local independent businesses who make all their own products, an affordable space to showcase their creations. If we do it again next year we will also showcase each business on our website and social media channels and an interview

on our Community TV Channel, so if you are interested, please get in touch as places will be limited, although we may decide to hold it on more than one Saturday if interest is high.

New City Voices (NCV) Christmas Concert

NCV will be holding a Christmas concert on Sunday the 4th of December at 3pm to really get us in the mood for the holiday season. Tickets are £10 for adults and £5 for children. Tickets are available either online at our website below or from The Copper Pot Café at the Community Station.

www.mlct.org.uk enquiries@mlct.org.uk 07434 678 999

An Update from Moulsham Lodge Ward - By Councillor Rob Gisby

So here we are - my last article before the festive season kicks in... I say that, but my kiddos have been asking Alexa most mornings before school how many sleeps until Christmas, so the countdown is definitely on!

It was lovely to join so many Chelmsfordians who came out in force in some very wet rain to see the Chelmsford Christmas Light Switch On in November - we got absolutely soaked but it was a great atmosphere and luckily the rain broke for long enough to be able to enjoy the fireworks too! Well done also to those who received community awards up on the stage before the switch on.

I mentioned last month the sad passing of the Mayor of Chelmsford Cllr John Galley, for whom a really well attended Service of Celebration was held at Chelmsford Cathedral on the 8th November.

Following this, and in a respectfully low-key ceremony quirkily entitled Mayor Making, we met as Cllr Sue Dobson, the previous Deputy Mayor, takes on the role of Mayor supported by Cllr Bob Massey as her deputy for the remainder of the busy mayoral year which will extend though into May and to the coronation of King Charles III, where we will no doubt see many local events and celebrations.

For the last few years I have promoted the Farleigh Hospice Christmas Tree Collection service in January, which raises funds for their amazing work. I will do so again this year, but I noticed they have also made a shout-out for volunteers and large vans who could assist with collection of Christmas trees from around Chelmsford on the 6th , 7th and 8th January. If you think you could help, please get in touch with them at fundraising@farleighhospice.org.

No doubt you’re aware by now that Morrisons, the parent company of McColls, has announced rationalisation of its stores which will see the closure of the McColls shop in the ward. We don’t want to see the loss of any retailer, but with the Post Office hosted inside the shop, this is of special importance to our area. Closure has been held until after Christmas, but I wasted no time in contacting our local MP as soon as I was aware of the news, raising concern about this. There are a number of formal processes which McColls and the Post Office are going through and at the time of writing, I have a date in the diary meeting with our MP and representatives, including from the Post Office, to understand options to try to ensure we maintain a Post Office presence in the ward. I will of course update as I can.

Last month I mentioned the return of the Halloween event Ravenskull Manor to Lime Walk. This year, they raised an impressive sum for Farleigh Hospice and I’d like to extend thanks and congratulations to all involved in making this happen with such enthusiasm.

Lastly, St Lukes Church has a calendar of events on the run up to Christmas (which can be found on their website or social media), including a Christmas Craft and Community Carol Service on the 4th December for 2pm-5pm. This will no doubt be a lovely event to really kick start the festivities of the season.

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, I do wish you a safe and happy festive season and the opportunity to meet with friends and family. You can get in touch with me via Chelmsford City Council, through my Facebook page (Cllr Rob Gisby) or via Chelmsford Conservative Association. Please do reach out - I look forward to hearing from you.

Stay safe, keep well, be kind.

Cllr Rob Gisby Conservative Ward Councillor for Moulsham Lodge

Tile Kiln Corner - By Cllr Linda Mascot

I’m delighted to report that the Tile Kiln community now has a multi-use adult and child defibrillator fixed to the outside of Tile Kiln Church next to the main door. If you need to use it please dial 999 immediately and they will give you the code for access as it is locked. Once the box is opened and switched on, the machine will give voice prompts to enable the user to operate it.

Liz Parker Chair of the Church Preschool Management Committee told me: “The church is very grateful to councillors Jude Deakin and Linda Mascot for their help to obtain an ECC locality fund grant that enabled us to buy it. We are also thankful for the members of the local community who attended the Platinum Jubilee street party and gave towards the cost of installing the defibrillator.

“Jude and Linda came to see the machine when it was first installed and took the opportunity to have a photograph taken with the manager of the Fledgelings Preschool, Karen Smith, two of the children, William and Kobe, myself, and leaders from the Life Boosting group that meets at the church, Janet Kernick and David Shephard.”

The church shares its building with Fledgelings Preschool for various activities during the week:

• TK Toddlers on a Monday.

• Drop-In coffee morning on a Wednesday.

• Food on Friday lunch club and Life Boosting for seniors on alternate Fridays.

• On a Friday evening The Link youth club for 11-16s starts at 7pm.

This Christmas you will be made very welcome to join Tile Kiln Church in the following Christmas activities:

• Christingle Service on Sunday 11th December at 4pm - especially suitable for families.

• Carol Service on Sunday 18th December at 7pm, followed by refreshments.

• Christmas Day service at 10.30am, preceded by refreshments.

For more information about any of these activities, please email admin@tilekilnchurch.org.uk.

mascotlinda@gmail.com

Jesus’ Cost-of-living Christmas

I heard Martin Lewis (he of Money Saving Expert fame) recently argue that we should all have a pre-Christmas agreement when it comes to presents: who we should and shouldn’t buy for... Cousins? Nieces and nephews? Uncles and aunts..?

His reasoning is that we buy things that people don’t want because we feel we have to, not because we want to demonstrate our love. In fact, there are many different ways that we can show how much we love our family and friends that don’t involve gift buying.

This is much more crucial amidst the current cost of living crisis. Because it’s true, isn’t it? There are different ways of showing love, and each one of us receives love differently too. Perhaps the ultimate expression of love is to give of ourselves wholly and fully to another - to replace pride with humility and selfishness with self-giving and selflessness (there’s something of that in this year’s John Lewis Christmas ad).

And whilst Christmas has been hijacked by this relentless pursuit of present buying, in every Christian church across the country you’ll hear a different tune being played. It’s so different, it might be hard to hear amidst the clamour for food, fun, alcohol, family - and this year,

football.

It’s the tune of God himself loving the world so much, that his Son, Jesus Christ, turns up as a human, a baby boy. Selfless love was the motivation for Jesus’ desire to be born into this world that is full of darkness and selfishness and evil.

Jesus knew what it would cost him. For Jesus, the cost of living was to die, cruelly, horribly, on a Roman death apparatus; a wooden cross. He was born for you, he died for you. He gave himself fully, selflessly, wholly, to rescue us all from sin and evil, and from death, too. His offer really is forgiveness and new life - a proper, bodily, pain and fear and hurt free life after death.

Want to know more? Pop along on a Sunday at 10.30am. Or join us for one of our Christmas services:

• Christingle - Sunday 11th December, 4pm.

• Carol service - Sunday 18th December, 8pm.

• Christmas Day, 10.30am.

Tim Goodall, Pastor, Tile Kiln Church

tim.goodall@tilekilnchurch.org.uk YouTube: tinyurl.com/y24qlkvx www.facebook.com/tilekilnchurch www.tilekilnchurch.org.uk

Quiz Time - By John Theedom

Which is the most bashed railway bridge in Britain?

What is the nickname of the darts player Gerwyn Price?

Which aircraft company is doing away with passports for air travel?

Steve Jobs’ Birkenstock sandals were sold at auction for how much?

A recent film was made about Maurice Flitcroft, but why did he make the news in the 1970s?

Who had a number 1 hit on the UK singles chart in 1979 with Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick?

Who was the longest reigning king of England?

What does SAS stand for?

In which year was the breathalyser first introduced to the UK?

What are ‘dolly’, ‘dimmer’ and ‘rocker’?

What can be electric or jellied?

In which country is Mount Everest?

What does ‘Anno Domini’ mean?

Which game starts with a bully?

Which breed of dog does not have a pink tongue?

Which stone is used in a snooker table?

What colour are Princess of Wales roses?

What sort of club is the Royal Ancient?

What is February’s birthstone?

Where does a blenny live?

Which country is immediately south of Belgium?

Pink gin is flavoured with what?

From which language does the word bravado originate?

Who is Popeye’s rival?

Who is the patron saint of Wales?

The electricity in our homes is how many volts?

In art, what are the 3 primary colours?

What is the opposite of neap tide?

A type of crocus produces which yellow spice flavouring?

What is a salary paid to a clergyman called? In heraldry, what is ‘or’?

How many pints are there in a quart?

What is a sheep-shank?

What is the royal residence in Norfolk?

Which row of a computer or typewriter contains the letter ’X’?

What name is given to a thin Mexican pancake?

What does Genghis Khan mean?

What is the olfactory sense?

What card game can you ‘peg out’ in?

Belonophobia is the fear of what?

(Answers on pages 30 & 31)

Drivers for elderly peoples’ Lunch Club - Great Baddow

Can you spare a couple of hours on your Tuesday lunch break? Are you kind, patient, and able to drive? We need cheerful, helpful volunteers with their own car to safely drive elderly people to and from a weekly lunch club in Great Baddow, Chelmsford.

Bookkeeper/treasurer at St Luke’s Church, Moulsham

St Luke’s requires a treasurer who can maintain a simple Excel spreadsheet of payments and receipts. Anyone interested in this post would be supported by the current treasurer and the PCC, and can become more involved should they wish to.

Knit and crochet for good causes! - Ladies’ knitting group in Great Baddow

Are you a keen knitter? Or have you always wanted to learn how? We are welcoming volunteers to join a new ladies’ only knitting group at Hamptons Sport and Leisure Centre in Great Baddow. The group includes experienced knitters, complete beginners, refugees, older people, and ladies who’ve dealt with difficult circumstances or sad times. Over lots of coffee and cake we chat, create, laugh, and make things for good causes!

Winter Warm Welcome library volunteer

We are looking for volunteers who can welcome customers into Chelmsford library and explain what we have to offer, and help run our activities and community tea events that provide customers a safe and warm environment in which they can stay this winter.

Helpline and befriending volunteers – Farleigh Hospice

Farleigh Helpers is a brand new online and telephone support and befriending service which will be based from home and supported by volunteers. The service will provide support to patients, families and clients known to Farleigh as well as helping others in the community who may be ill, lonely, isolated or bereaved.

Trustees needed

Trustees play a crucial role in guiding charities, helping make plans and decisions, and making sure they stay on track. It is a fantastic opportunity to make real difference to the organisation you volunteer for. You don’t need prior experience, just enthusiasm and dedication. Trustee meetings are usually just 4 times a year, so this is a great role for people with busy lives who still want to help.

Essex Skeptics in the Pub

An Evening with Author Rob Hutton

Rob is a freelance journalist and the author of three books. Two of his books - Romps, Tots & Boffins and Would They Lie to You? - are about journalism and politics. His third which he will talk about on Wednesday 14th December, is Agent JackThe True Story of MI5’s Secret Nazi Hunter. This is the tale of MI5’s creation and exploitation of a network of British fascists, people who were willing to risk death by hanging by spying for Germany during the Second World War. It was run by a bank clerk from Epsom.

Formerly with the Mirror and the Financial Times, most recently Rob spent almost two decades covering the British government for Bloomberg News. He is now a parliamentary sketchwriter for the Critic

Rob will be at The Woolpack (23 Mildmay Road, Chelmsford CM2 0DN) on Wednesday, 14th December to talk about how he found the story, and the mistakes he made while researching it. He will then answer all your questions - whether about Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, the cast of characters who govern us, or his book.

Essex Skeptics in the Pub is part of a global non-profit network dedicated to raising public awareness of what is going on around us, be it in science, politics, history, journalism and the examination of extraordinary claims of all types. Our motto is Think While You Drink (and have a good time).

Please search Facebook for Essex Skeptics in the Pub. essexskeptics.co.uk

Answers

Stonea Road Bridge near Manea Cambridgeshire, Hit 33 times in 12 months

‘Iceman’

BA

£183,636

He entered the British Open Golf championships depite having never played on a golf coarse

Ian Drury and the Blockheads

King George III

Special Air Service

1967

Types of switches

Eels

Nepal

‘In the Year of Our Lord’

Field hockey

Chow

Slate (for the bed)

White with cream centres

Golf

Amethyst

On the sea bed

France

Agnostura bitters

Spanish

Bluto and later Brutus

St David

230 volts

Red, yellow and blue

Spring tide

Saffron

Stipend Gold

Two

A knot

Sandringham

Bottom Tortilla

Universal ruler

Smell

Cribbage Needles

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