Moulsham Times January 2016

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Issue Number 37 - January 2016

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MT Welcome

Welcome to the January issue of Moulsham Times. Here we are starting our fourth year in 2016 with a bang.

Due to public demand we are now growing from 7,000 to 9,000 copies. Now delivering to Tile Kiln and more homes in the Moulsham Lodge area. We would like to welcome all our new readers and hope that you like what you read.

We always want to hear from our readers! You may have a letter or want to write for us on a regular basis.

If you are interested in contributing please do not hesitate to contact us, our details are below.

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So, How Was It for You?

UK shoppers spent £3.3bn online over the four days from Black Friday (November 27th) to Cyber Monday (November 30th), according to the latest data from Experian-IMRG. As an independent retailer, did you pocket a share of that spend? If so, was this on account of taking part or standing apart from the media frenzy? How was it for you?

Broadly speaking, there was a sense among many independent fashion retailers that - while they may not be especially enamoured with the prospect of sacrificing margins during the key selling season - they did not wish to ‘miss out’. One womenswear retailer, who started Black Friday promotions at the start of the week, said: “There’s a feeling that everyone wants to make the most of this week.”

them’: “We offer fantastic customer service and a level of advice which our customers really appreciate. The choice of product online is vast, so our customers come to us for something in addition to that. In the case of our male shoppers, they want a personal service with straight-forward, honest advice in a relaxed environment.”

Chelmsford is increasingly a London-commuter city with a lot of shoppers spending their hard-earned money in their home town at the weekend. A particular trait of male shoppers - not wishing to generalise - as observed by retailers, is that ‘looking good’ is a priority but that researching how to achieve this is not. Hence the niche in the market for attentive, customer-service led indies who deliver the goods, the expertise and the sartorial advice.

Of course, the independent retailers’ USP is their independence, and their views and standpoints vary widely. A significant number of retailers I spoke to told me they had resisted the pressure to discount and had enjoyed the peak in footfall nonetheless. As ever, these sales decisions are a gamble and the shrewdest retailer will assess his/her own needs and circumstances and develop a strategy accordingly.

A recent poll conducted by N Brown’s menswear business, Jacamo, found that 57% of men in the UK feel ‘overlooked’ by the high street retailers who are too focused on womenswear. This is another topic for another day, but in the meantime, consider that those retailers who are attentive to men - the group which continues to reside on the more comfortable side of the gender pay gap - are targeting an underserved and oft-neglected demographic. The result can only be good for all parties: More opportunities for great fashion independents and more happy and well-dressed men!

Once such member of this ‘résistance movement’ is Number Six, the directional fashion store on Can Bridge Way. Having celebrated its 1st birthday on 20th November, the contemporary boutique, which sells menswear and womenswear, experienced an “erratic” but “really strong” weekend, without resorting to Black Friday promotions.

Melissa Wheeler is a freelance fashion writer, fashion PR and also the retail columnist for the Fashion Association of Britain (FAB), a trade association which provides support and business services to independent retailers. Alongside her fashion PR business, Melissa contributes to fashion industry trade titles.

So, as a retailer operating in an increasingly price-focused marketplace, how do you compete? I spoke to Sam Hamblin, Menswear Manager at Number Six, who summarised the point neatly.

If you don’t want to ‘join them in discounting, then you need to ‘beat

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From County Hall by Cllr Dick Madden 2016, a good year we hope. Could England football team win the Euros? Will we open Shire Hall? Will we get our first 20mph zone in our area? Questions, questions...

What I do know at County Hall is that following the December Government Spending Review, in the areas I represent - Adults and Children - we have to look at saving more monies to ensure our front-line services continue to support the most vulnerable in our communities. What does that mean? Simply, Essex County Council will, over the next five years, receive less money from the government and so we plan to become self-sustainable by about 2020. To do this we may attain some of the business rates, but it will still not be enough to ensure children at risk and the older members of our families needs are met. So we have to look at other ways of providing our county services more effective and financially efficient. I will keep you informed of this progress over the coming months.

I do hope you all had a happy and healthy Christmas and New Year. In the Madden household we were swamped by the seven grandchildren who were all well behaved, especially Phoebe, who appeared at her school’s Nativity play in a leading role as Mary. Being the first of many generations of my wife’s and my family’s to have a leading part in any play brought great praise to her, but at seven years she was not phased by it - wonderful.

Before and after Christmas, the matter causing most debate for me is the public consultation that finishes in January 2016 regarding a proposal for a Public Spaces Protection order, allowing city council officials to fine homeless people in our city centre who are displaying anti-social behaviour and also have accommodation available to them. The PSPO only prohibits rough sleeping in specific circumstances. To be prohibited, it must result in anti-social behaviour - and accommodation must be available to the person.

Anti-social behaviour arising from rough sleeping is a recurring problem in the city centre. Many of the problems arise from individuals who are not homeless, or who have refused appropriate accommodation. The purpose of this part of the PSPO is to help individuals into accommodation and to manage the root cause of the problems that result in rough sleeping and/or begging. This is one tool in a host of initiatives to help rough sleepers to engage with the right agencies and get assistance.

Part of the Public Spaces Protection Order prohibits rough sleeping where it is resulting in anti-social behaviour and accommodation is available to them. The order is designed to tackle anti-social

behaviour displayed by some rough sleepers; for example, harassment and aggression. In the council’s experience, these individuals do not easily engage with agencies that are there to help and assist them including providing them with accommodation.

Therefore, the PSPO is one tool designed to tackle this behaviour which we know residents find worrying and unpleasant. The majority of rough sleepers will not breach the PSPO as they are not involved in anti-social behaviour.

I have received views for the proposed order and from those against.

What I will state is that I will seek the results of the consultation period and consider what is the best for all of our community in our area.

BE SAFE Dick Madden

The Gospel According

to Caroline For some people, as soon as Christmas is over they are planning something else. Often New Year sparks aspirations of being a ‘new you’, perhaps a new job, new relationship, or the desire to be a size smaller. We may think that these things will bring about a radical change in our overly busy and hectic lives. As Christians, the New Year brings the celebration of Epiphany, when the Three Kings visited Jesus. The dictionary definition of Epiphany is: ‘A moment of sudden and great revelation or realization’. Perhaps we need to take a more childlike view and not worry so much about the past and what the future may hold, but exist in the moment.

Put down our phones and tablets, and revel in each other how we are and where we are now. Savour the moments; a conversation, a smile, a laugh, a hug or a kiss. These can bring about far greater revelations than losing that elusive 7lbs will ever do.

To find out what exciting things are happening at Christ Church, visit our website: www.christchurchchelmsfordurc.org.uk.

Caroline Brown, Church Family and Community Worker, Christ Church United Reformed Church.

From The House by Sir Simon Burns MP - Chelmsford Museum As we lead our increasingly busy lives, we can quite often forget the history of the area where we live and work. Chelmsford has a rich history largely dominated by its status as the ‘birthplace of radio’.

I was, therefore, delighted to read recently that Chelmsford Museum has received initial support from the National Lottery, via the Heritage Lottery Fund, for its £2m Chelmsford City Centred project.

The project will see the renovation of older displays at the Oaklands Park museum, here in the heart of Old Moulsham, and the provision of a café for visitors. The award from the Heritage Lottery Fund of £76,500 has been made as part of the initial support to help the museum progress its plans and apply for a full grant later this year.

Museums have an extremely important role to play in preserving the history and culture of our great country. 40 million people a year visit our national museums and galleries every year. There are approximately 2,500 museums across the country from national museums, local authority museums, university museums, independent museums, historic properties and heritage sites and regimental museums and armouries - the choice is endless and there really is something for everyone. The government firmly believes it is important that children experience culture at an early age and museums are a fantastic way to do this.

I welcome the local investment here in Chelmsford and look forward to seeing the continued growth of the museum.

Chelmsford Museum is open Monday - Saturday between 10am and 5pm (closed on Fridays during term time) and on Sundays from 1 4pm. If you would like more information about the museum, you can visit www.chelmsford.gov.uk/museums.

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Enjoy Exercise Responsibly Over the years, life has certainly got physically easier, an obvious example is shopping. My grandparent’s generation were used to shopping on the high street visiting many different shops to get their groceries. My parent’s generation had it easier by doing their shopping all under one roof in a supermarket and nowadays it seems many of my generation feel personally affronted if they have to actually go to the shops, opting to do it all online instead.

lose fat and maintain your muscle mass. How you do this is to reduce your calories appropriately whilst maintaining a relatively high protein intake and combine this with resistance training.

WHY ARE YOU BANGING ON ABOUT SHOPPING I HEAR YOU CRY? Well the point I am getting at is that over the years we have become increasingly used to absolving ourselves of many of our basic responsibilities, instead, opting to get others to do stuff for us and getting someone else to do our shopping is just the tip of the iceberg! Heck, remember back to doing your homework in your school days. I’m sure like me you’d have spent many an hour in the library. Nowadays you don’t even have to do that, all you have to do is look on your phone and all of the answers are there in seconds - no hassle, no fuss, no effort!

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Matt

YOU ONLY TRAIN FOR 1 HOUR PER DAY, WHAT YOU GONNA DO WITH THE OTHER 23?

Now, in the new year, in your quest to lose weight, I’m sure many of you will begin a new exercise regime. For some of you this will involve joining a gym, for others it may involve using the services of personal trainer. Whatever method you choose, do not absolve yourself of your responsibilities. Training (whether it is in a gym or with a personal trainer) will only take up one hour of the day, you’re still responsible for how much you eat and how much activity you do in the other 23 hours!

If you would like more detailed advice about how to set your appropriate calorie intake or help with designing a balanced resistance training please do not hesitate to get in touch.

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Strictly Star at Kids & Koffee Kids & Koffee recently had a visit from Santa and two donkeys, one of which had recently been on Strictly Come Dancing, as one of the donkeys had appeared with Jeremy Vine on a feature about Blackpool!

On the subject of animals, there have been new arrivals in the garden!

Baby rabbits!

During my career, luckily I’ve only had a few clients who’ve struggled to lose fat, but the one thing they had in common was that they absolved themselves of their responsibilities. During our sessions together they would train hard and have lots of fun, but away from the training they would never stick to the physical activity and caloriereducing nutrition targets we had agreed together.

SHERLOCK HOLMES! They’d often come to me bemoaning the fact that that had done loads of physical activity and really reduced the amount of food they had eaten, yet had still had not lost any weight. It didn’t take Sherlock Holmes to work out that they weren’t being entirely truthful!

After all, if you use more calories than you consume, you will, over time, lose fat as the body starts to use its fat stores as energy. In short, these clients of mine were massively over estimating how many calories they burnt each day and massively underestimating how many calories they consumed, which incidentally is a common theme among individuals who struggle to lose weight.

IF THIS WEREN’T THE CASE NO-ONE WOULD EVER DIE OF STARVATION! Now please bear in mind here that weight loss is not linear. If you’re definitely in a calorie deficit (you are using more calories than you are consuming) you will definitely start to lose weight, now you might not lose weight at the same rate each week, but over time you will definitely lose weight, there are no two ways about it. If this didn’t happen (and please don’t think I’m being flippant about the subject) no-one would ever die of hunger and starvation.

LOSE FAT, NOT MUSCLE Lastly, when it comes to weight loss, what you should actually try to do is www.moulshamtimes.com

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MT Gardening

The Non-Stop Gardener! Make time for decorating, composting and pruning.

Shopping for your garden and the gardens of others is very rewarding. I have found that there is always plenty to do at this time of year. Decorating, composting and planting - as well as shopping will fill up your time.

1. Clean up the garden this time of year. Compost everything that is less than an inch in diameter. Mix dead material with green material and your compost will break down faster.

2. Test all your lights before you put them up. There is nothing more frustrating than having spent hours putting up holiday lights only to find that the string in the middle does not work.

3. Prune everything using the ‘worst first’ rule. Cut out dead and diseased branches first. Remove all stubs unless you want to hang your sleigh reins on them. After the initial clean-up, thin back shrubs, small trees and hedges to the size you want them.

Be careful not to leave holes unless you are vista pruning.

5. Give plant gifts. Often people who do not garden can be inspired by a gift of an easy-to-grow plant. A miniature Christmas tree, moth orchid, Amaryllis, a jade plant or ivy topiary all make rewarding and long-lasting gifts. My first plant was a spider plant that my nursery teacher had us propagate.

6. Give gardener gifts. A tool bucket with a seat, bulb planter or kneepads all help make garden work easier. Tools wear out so you might check first and then buy shears, trowels, cultivators or a weeder.

7. Protect frost tender plants. Cover plants with hessian/straw and then plastic. The two-layer method seems to keep them warm enough to fend off anything but a deep freeze.

8. Buy poinsettias and camellias now. You can also find bare-root roses/shrubs and trees in nurseries at this time of the year.

Do a little homework on the varieties by searching the web for plants or looking in your garden books.

9. Don’t forget bulbs and corms. There are so many to still plant.

Better still buy some lovely scented types like paperwhites.

10. Enjoy yourself, you’ve earned it!

And finally…

If you have a holiday plant, such as a poinsettia, chrysanthemum, Christmas pepper, Christmas begonia, orchid or the like, you can enjoy its colour for several weeks if you give it the right kind of care.

4. Gather greens for the swags, wreaths, garlands and table decorations. Collect cedar, fir, pine, juniper, spruce, cypress and holly. You can condition them by immersing them overnight outside in a big tub of water. Buy wreath frames, floral tape and wire at your local craft store or florist. Have a decorating party!

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Good care starts with remembering that your plant probably grew up in the greenhouse and has only been out of that greenhouse for a short time. Your house might be a big change for it. For example, light is important. Poor light will cause leaves to drop off. You can prevent this if you put the plant where it will get some morning sun.

You’ll needs to keep the house at a fairly constant temperature. Most flowering plants will do best in temperatures from 65 to 70 degrees.

Some plants will even like being a little cooler.

When it comes to watering your plant, you will need to keep it just slightly moist. Most houseplants tend to do better if the soil is slightly on the dry side rather than on the wet side. Over watering makes leaves drop off.

It’s not easy to control the humidity in your house, but plants grow best where the humidity is greatest - usually in the kitchen. Sometimes you can help improve the humidity around a plant by putting the plant on a pebble filled saucer with water just below the base of the pot, but not touching it.

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.

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Chelmsford: City Heritage and Future The city council has published its vision for Chelmsford’s future up to 2036. It is estimated that around 14,000 new homes will be needed to meet housing needs and 900 additional jobs annually will be required to sustain the city’s economy. The Issues and Options Consultations Document runs to 87 pages plus appendices.

Chelmsford Civic Society has invited Derek Stebbing, the city council’s Planning Policy Manager, to outline the proposed planning strategy as set out in the Local Plan. There will be an opportunity for questions and discussion. This will take place at Anglia Ruskin University’s Rivermead Campus at 7.30pm on Tuesday 12th January 2016. There is a charge for attendance.

The Civic Society believes that a sustainable future for Chelmsford must involve respect for the city’s heritage. The society was instrumental in emphasising the importance of saving Hylands House and securing restoration of the Heritage Triangle: the Anne Knight Building in Duke Street, the former Marconi offices in New Street and - of course - Shire Hall. The society led a successful effort to retain the strapline ‘Chelmsford Birthplace of Radio’ on the city’s new roads signs. Chelmsford Remembers, the society’s World War 1 commemoration project, was financed through a successful bid from the Heritage Lottery’s Then and Now fund.

Accordingly, the society and the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) held a workshop for Chelmsford residents interested in exploring what a heritage strategy would mean for the city during the Ideas Festival in October. Those attending heard six people working to conserve Chelmsford’s history for the future. However, though Chelmsford has a long, rich industrial history, many participants felt that local heritage had been neglected in past years. Joanna Massie of the RSA gave details of the recent Heritage Index. This had been compiled

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by the RSA and the Heritage Lottery Fund. The index revealed which areas of the United Kingdom could make better use of their heritage buildings, archives, open spaces and the like. Local authority districts were ranked according to the extent of their heritage assets but also measuring activities, such as museum attendance, rates of volunteering and investment in local heritage organisations.

Chelmsford’s ranking placed the city in the bottom 22% - at 255 out of 325 places in England. However, Chelmsford did perform much better in the indices measuring industrial heritage, parks and open spaces - at the top 38% and 39% of places respectively.

The workshop led to the establishment of a Heritage Strategy group that will meet to plan a coherent vision for Chelmsford’s heritage.

They will also consider the possibilities for a Chelmsford bid to become the UK City of Culture in 2021. Saruhan Mosler, of Writtle College, will host a meeting for this purpose at 9.15am on Thursday 19th January 2016. This will take place at the college. This event will be led by the RSA’s Joanna Massie and Changing Chelmsford’s Barry Shaw. Those who attended the workshop on 29th October will be invited automatically. Others wishing to participate will be most welcome and are asked to get in touch with me by email.

Any Chelmsford residents interested in finding out more about the meeting on 12th January about the Local Plan, or the meeting on 19th January discussing Heritage Strategy, should contact me at mnoble3211@yahoo.com.

Malcolm Noble Chairman Chelmsford Civic Society RSA Heritage Ambassador for the East of England

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Quiz Time Comedy Duos Name the other one (answers on page 31) 1. Alexander Armstrong

11. Victoria Wood

2. Eric Morecambe

12. Ronnie Barker

3. Harry Enfield

13. Gareth Hale

4. David Baddiel

14. Peter Cook

5. David Mitchell

15. Vic Reeves

6. Bud Flanaghan

16. Hugh Dennis

7. Stan Laurel

17. Les Dennis

8. Sid Little

18. Mike Winters

9. Tommy Cannon

19. Jimmy Jewel

10. Dawn French

20. Sue Perkins

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January 6th 2016 4pm-6pm Christchurch United Reformed Church 164 New London Road, Chelmsford, CM2 0AW Come along to this new exciting joint project run by Christchurch URC and St John’s Church of England. Have fun and join in as a family learning more about Jesus and the Bible through creative craft and play.

Contact Caroline Brown, Church Family and Community worker at familyandcommunity164@gmail.com Mobile No. 07711 701652 A light meal will be provided DONATIONS WILL BE WELCOME

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MT Baking by Alison Motley

Scones are always popular, whether plain and slathered in jam and cream, or fruited and spread with butter. They are quick to make and require only basic ingredients, so a good scone recipe is always worth having in your baking repertoire.

I love a savoury scone as much as a sweet one and these cheese and onion scones are no exception. They taste divine warm out of the oven with lots of butter, or left to cool and spread with cream cheese or filled with a slice of ham and some chutney. The onion and paprika just adds a little extra something and elevates these above a regular cheese scone.

I tried several different types of cheese for these scones and decided the Red Leicester was my favourite. The flavour went well with the onion, the cheese melted well and the baked scone was a great colour, but obviously you could use any number of alternatives Caerphilly, Lancashire and mature Cheddar would all work well, or try a combination of two. I do recommend you buy a good quality British cheese so you don’t end up with a bland scone, and don’t be stingy with the cheese!

I find the easiest way to prepare the onion is to grate it, but if the thought of that brings water to your eyes (literally!), then chopping it finely will do. Feel free to use paprika or cayenne pepper for this recipe, or you could use ¼ teaspoon of chilli powder or dried chilli flakes instead.

Though not difficult to make, there are a few things that will help make your scones light, fluffy and tasty. Seasoning is essential in a scone mix, whether sweet or savoury, so always add a pinch of salt.

Preheating the baking tray whilst you preheat the oven is a helpful little tip as this ensures the scones rise well. Don’t worry about greasing the baking tray as it’s not necessary. Always sieve the flour as this adds air and helps the scones rise and make sure your butter is cold straight from the fridge so you can rub it into the flour without it melting. The most important tip I can give you is not to over handle the dough as this will produce a hard dry scone. Instead, be gentle with the dough and only knead it softly until it comes together.

Personally, I think you get the best combination of flavour and fluffiness by using buttermilk to bake scones. Its acidity reacts with the baking powder to make the scones rise, but it’s not always easy to find and can be quite expensive. It’s far more convenient to use milk as most of us have that at home - and this is where my last tip comes in handy. I say ‘my tip’ but it’s actually one that was passed on to me by a brilliant baker who makes fantastic scones and has done so for years. If you don’t have buttermilk, ‘sour’ your milk by heating it until it is warm (but not hot), add a squeeze of lemon juice and leave

it to cool. As it cools it will thicken slightly and this will work just as well as buttermilk in the recipe. Ideally, use full fat milk, but if you only have semi-skimmed or skimmed that’s fine.

I hope you will give these scones a try. Once you have made them a couple of times it is very easy to swap the flavours and ingredients around and come up with new combinations. Do let me know if you have any creative scone recipes of your own. Happy baking!

Makes 12 • • • • • • • • •

175ml milk Squeeze of lemon juice 350g self-raising flour 1 teaspoon baking powder Pinch of salt half a teaspoon paprika or cayenne pepper 75g cold butter, cubed 150g Red Leicester cheese, grated 1 large onion, grated or finely diced

1. Preheat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7 and put a baking tray in the oven to heat up.

2. Heat the milk in a microwave for 30 seconds, and then add a squeeze of lemon juice. Leave to thicken and cool slightly.

3. Sieve the flour and baking powder into a large bowl, add the salt and paprika and stir together.

4. Add the chopped butter and rub in with your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

5. Add the grated onion and two thirds of the grated cheese and stir together.

6. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and pour in the milk and lemon juice mixture. Using a large round ended knife or a metal spoon bring the mixture together to form a soft dough.

7. Turn the dough out gently onto a lightly floured surface, flour your hands and knead softly just until the dough is smooth, do not over handle it or the scones will be hard.

8. With your hands gently flatten the dough until its approximately 4-5cm deep.

9. Using a 5cm plain cutter, dip the cutter in flour and then cut out each scone.

10. Place the scones on the preheated baking tray and sprinkle over the remaining grated cheese.

11. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until risen and golden.

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.

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

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

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

Kerala, known as the land of spices, is a state on the south west of India’s tropical Malabar coast. Along with the abundance of its own produce - coconut, rice, cinnamon and ginger - each Keralan region has its own distinct use of spices and flavours influenced throughout history by European seafaring traders. As it occupies six hundred miles of Arabian Sea coastline, it boasts some of the best seafood on the planet. Correct, I have access to Wikipedia.

Its cuisine has been growing in popularity in the UK, giving life to a number of chains such as Rasa and The Kerala Group that now occupy some of the high end areas of London like Mayfair and Clerkenwell.

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

Zorba the Greek, the African food of Flavorz and now Live Dosa. In many ways Live Dosa reminds me of Zorba’s in that it’s a family affair where a tight budget doesn’t stop them from bringing the very best of their food, warmth, culture and hospitality, because for them, the experience and authenticity is all that counts. When Fazila does finally take over the world, one thing is guaranteed, we’ll all eat well.

Welcome to the city, Live Dosa.

NEW YEAR, NEW MENU! Be the first one to try some of the new dishes even before they are put on the menu!

Introdcuing Chef’s Taster Plate, a delectable selection of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Available only for a limited period from 26th to 31st January 2016. £19.99 per person.

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

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

Every dish we tasted was a new experience and nothing disappointed. Live Dosa is not just a curry fanatic’s paradise, it’s a food lovers one. Originally occupying a small corner of the High Chelmer indoor market, owners Fazila and Ajikumar moved their dream of bringing authentic Keralan food into a permanent setting on Duke Street. The west end of Chelmsford is stealthily becoming the cosmopolitan side of town and home to some hidden gems like www.moulshamtimes.com

Try a bottle of Indian wine with 20% off regular price on valid production of this advert.

(Only one coupon per table, photocopies not accepted. Offer only valid with taster plate).

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Essex Rock Histories: Ian Dury by John Power Ian Dury’s rock persona was of a Jack the Lad Essex boy, and nobody much bothered to challenge the legend that he was from good old working class Dagenham, but the truth was not so simple. He was actually born in the (then middle class) Middlesex suburb of Harrow during World War II to a mother who was a health visitor and a father who was a bus driver (and later a chauffeur) in 1942.

When his parents split up after the war, Ian’s mum went to live with her sisters in Cranham, near Upminster and a few more miles from Dagenham. On his mother’s side, the sisters had come from a 189 acre estate in the north west of Eire’s County Donegal. Although Ian came to prominence in the punk rock era, he was anything but a punk, as his birth date reveals, and he had already had a successful career teaching art.

Ian started school at Upminster Infants School, but at the tender age of seven tragedy struck when he went swimming at a pool in Southend and contracted polio. This led to 18 months in hospital at Braintree, and when he re-emerged with leg callipers, it was to attend a school for the disabled until 1954. After that, he moved to the residential Royal Grammar School in High Wycombe. These tough regimes did much to harden Ian’s personality, and his devil-may-care outlook with cockney pretensions served to put a shell around any feelings he had about his disability. His interests in music and art were soon in evidence and served as a means of expression for his rebellious nature, as highly accurate portraits of the likes of Elvis Presley and Gene Vincent poured out of his pencil.

In 1958, he gained a place at Walthamstow School of Art, where his fellow trendy rebels included Viv Stanshall, later to be front man for the Bonzo Dog Do Dah Band - which explains a lot about Ian’s sense of humour. Stanshall was another Essex man who had lived in Leigh-on-Sea and attended Southend High School. After a couple of the three years of the course, Peter Blake became one of their tutors. Blake was a founder of the pop art movement and was on the same level as Ian in his choice of popular icons and he encouraged students to follow their own preoccupations, rather than push them into the (then current) fashion for abstract art, or to follow academic representational work traditions. When Ian enrolled at the Royal College of Art for another three years of study for a masters degree, Blake again appeared as a tutor there, just as pop art was beginning to find public acceptance. At the time of his graduation, Ian married his first wife Betty Rathmell, who graduated in the same year in 1966. It was Peter Blake who got them their first home in Chiswick, and found illustration work for Ian, who also taught at Luton College of Further Technology and then Canterbury School of Art. Someone told me he had done a teaching practice in Billericay, which was where he got the idea for the song Billericay Dickie, but the date they gave was 1973 and he was already an established teacher by then, so if the story was true then it would have been some six years earlier.

He certainly had started taking a practical interest in music and played in jam sessions at the Royal College while there with people I knew who had started their studies at Colchester School of Art. In 1971 Ian formed the band Kilburn and the Highroads as vocalist and co-writer with pianist Russell Hardy. Students from Canterbury were co-opted into the group in the shape of Keith Lucas on guitar and bassist Humphrey Ocean. They were very popular in the pub rock era and got a recording contract in 1974, but disbanded in 1975.

Ian then found another writing partner in Chaz Jankel, who had been in a group called Byzantium. The duo were joined by Charley Charles on drums, Stormin’ Norman Wall-Roy on bass, and the saxophonist from the Kilburns, Davey Payne. Stiff Records were next to Ian’s manager’s office and this led to them cutting a single Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll/Razzle in My Pocket followed by the album New Boots and Panties. They took off on the 1977 Stiff Records Live Stiffs tour augmented by Johnny Turnball on guitar and Mickey Gallager, who had been in a version of The Animals, on keyboards and they

were christened The Blockheads. Also on the tour bus were Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Wreckless Eric, and Larry Wallis, who had been in a later line-up of The Pink Fairies. Ian and the Blockheads took off as the unexpected stars of the shows. Ian’s early love of jazz showed with the inclusion of Davey Payne’s sax in the line-up and its subsequent effect on the group’s sound at a time when guitar groups were dominating the punk scene. The New Boots... album continued to sell and the song of the same name, coupled with What a Waste, was a top ten hit in 1978, as was Reasons to Be Cheerful, Part 3, while Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick made it to number one in 1979.

An album called Do It Yourself also became a best seller, with a choice of 30 variations of the album sleeve to choose from.

Chas Jankel left in 1980 to go solo and was replaced for a while

by Wilko Johnson from Dr Feelgood. A single called Laughter c/w Superman’s Big Sister was their last offering from Stiff Records before they disbanded in 1981. But it wasn’t long before Ian was back - this time on Polydor with an album called Lord Upminster and the not wholly well received by the politically correct, Spasticus Autisticus. He was reunited with Jankel in 1984 for the album 4000 Weeks’ Holiday and with a new band called The Music Students.

Later in the ‘80s, Ian diversified more into film and stage work but continued to write with Jankel and Mickey Gallager resulting in Serious Money and their own musical Apples. In 1990 Ian reunited with The Blockheads to do benefit gigs for Charley Charles, who was dying of cancer. The new drummer, Steve Monti, produced another album for them called Warts ‘n’ Audience (live) and the 1992 album, The Bus Driver’s Prayer and Other Stories, recalling his father’s early profession. In 1995 he returned from the US unwell and was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, but responded well after surgery and started doing charity work in Zambia for Unicef. In 1998 Mr Lovepants, his first album for 17 years, was well received but he was again diagnosed with cancer.

His first wife had found the marriage difficult to cope with between domestic band practices and frequent absenses on tour while she was trying to raise two children and the couple had parted, but remained good friends. In ‘98 he married again, when he had his cancer diagnosis, to girlfriend Sophy Tilson, the daughter of another successful pop painter and constructionist of relief images, Joe Tilson. Sophy too was a sculptress and RCA graduate. They had two more children.

1999 saw him again working for Unicef, this time in Sri Lanka. He did three sell-out gigs and a small tour but was too ill to finish an album he was working on, which was left to be finished by Chaz Jankel, with the unlikely teaming of Robbie Williams, who had been in Sri Lanka with Ian. His final gig was in February 2000, in an event entitled New Boots and Panto with Kirsty MacColl at the London Palladium. He died in the March of that year. The Blockheads have continued to perform to keep Ian’s songs alive.

If you wish to advertise in this magazine or Chelmsford the City Times, please email: ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk The Moulsham Times is now delivered to over 9,000 homes and businesses including Tile Kiln.

Winter Sale Starts Sunday 27th December

e Fre l a Loc ery iv Del

Music and Blues in the City by Nick Garner A very happy New Year to you all and a warm welcome to our new readers in Tile Kiln and the rest of Moulsham Lodge! I am Nick Garner, one of the magazine’s publishers, I also run Blues in the City as well as being a partner in It’s Your Music.

My passion is live music and helping it to grow in our city. If you know of any live events, please let us know because we run a free listing in our Chelmsford The City Times - this is not just for music, but for any kind of event that is open to the public. Just send information to editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk. Please remember, the magazine comes out the nearest Friday to the 15th of the month and we need the information by the beginning of the month for inclusion.

What a great year 2015 was for live music in our city and I for one am looking forward to 2016 as I hope you are! The band I am in, Jamie Williams and the Roots Collective, played a great show at the Ale House where we had the place rocking as is the title of our latest CD, Live ‘n’ Kickin at the Brasenose Arms, which is officially released on 30th January. Visit our website for more information about us: www.jwroots.co.uk.

Saturday 29th January

The Rollin’ Clones £13 in adv £15 on the door

Sunday 28th February

An Evening with Benny Gallagher £25 adv only

Friday 13th March

Class of 76 + Headline Maniacs £10 in adv £12 on the door

includes a 3 course meal

Blues in the City ended 2015 at The Bassment with a great show, we had Mississippi MacDonald and the Cottonmouth Kings play the whole night and all who were there would agree I am sure that it was a night to remember - they will be back in 2016. We start 2016 on Wednesday 13th January with two good friends, Martin McNeill and Ramon Goose. They will play separately before joining together on stage. This is going to be fantastic, as these two are both amazing.

At the Clarets Bar, Chelmsford City Football Club, Salerno Way, Chelmsford, CM1 2EH Tickets from CCFC call Chelsea 01245 290959 The Hop Beer Shop Moulsham Street. CM2 0LD Intense Records, Viaduct Road, CM1 1TS Or search We Got Tickets www.wegottickets.com

Blues in the City runs regular shows and it is all about Blues Booze Rock and Roots, which is our strap-line. Once every month on a Wednesday, we are at The Bassment in Wells Street near Chelmsford’s rail and bus stations. We also have a few one day

18 www.moulshamtimes.com

festivals; the next being the Essex Delta Blues Day on Saturday 12th March with 18 acts playing non-stop for 12 hours on two stages. We run a number of other one day specials all at The Bassment, as well as a three day festival at the end of September which is hosted in various venues across the city.

We have lots to look forward to this year; at Chelmsford City Football Club we are lining up some great acts to play, starting with The Rollin’ Clones on Friday 29th January (see the advert in the magazine). We also have Benny Gallagher of Gallagher and Lyle fame on Sunday 28th February. He will play the hits and tell stories of their years writing for The Beatles’ Apple record label and so much more. The event will include a three-course meal.

Then on Saturday 19th March, we have Headline Maniac who are Simon, Dipster and Chris from Eddie and the Hot Rods, they are described as ‘rising from the banks of the Thames delta, a tsunami of sound, a kick ass piece of pure rock’n’roll thuggery!!’ - welcome to the world of Headline Maniac. Also playing is Class of 76, which is Barrie Masters (vocals), Steve Nicol (drums), Russ Strutter (bass) and Nigel Bennett (guitar) - just look at the pedigree of these guys; all members have enjoyed successful careers with bands such as Eddie and the Hot Rods, Johnny Thunders, Wilko Johnson, Love Affair, The Inmates, The Members and The Vibrators.

Friday 22nd April we have The Blow Monkeys, who are still the original line-up including of course, Dr Robert. They will be playing all of the hits and lots more. Supporting is a great local band, Sportsday. On Friday 13th May we have the legendary Animals playing for us who still have founding member John Steel on drums and Mickey Gallagher who took over on keyboards in 1965 from Alan Price, he is also the keyboard player for The Blockheads and played with Paul McCartney and The Clash among others. The band also features Danny Handley (guitar and vocals) who sounds like a young Eric Burdon, as well as Scott Whitley, known as the king of slap bass, who has also played with Big Country.

Then on Saturday 18th June we have the legendry Chris Farlowe with the Norman Beaker band. So we think the first six months are looking great at the football club and we hope you agree.

There are also lots of other great venues and events that go on throughout the year including at the Civic and Cramphorn theatres and the council’s great event, The Fling, the 3foot People Festival and CITYdiversions. Then of course, you have Asylum who put on a great and diverse selection of music and run a few festivals throughout the year, The Ale House who put on a good selection of live music and The Bassment, who provide different styles of live music and club nights with top DJs playing every week. There is also The Fleece who put mainly covers acts on and run the Bay Day Festival. Then across town in Old Moulsham you have The Star and Garter who have live music every Friday and Saturday and a jam every Sunday afternoon. You also have The Black Horse and The Bay Horse, and round the corner The Woolpack also has live bands and events, including an open mic night on the last Sunday of the month and on the first Sunday is GC’s Jazz Club while on the second Sunday, an Irish music night. There are also other events going on across the city - to find what is going on pick up our Chelmsford The City Times which has a What’s On guide in it.

One thing I am campaigning for is a large venue to put us on the map, this would be a multi-use venue that could hopefully accommodate around three thousand people and would have a number of different independent units all around it. I will say more about this in future issues but thoughts are that this could work and be of benefit for the city as a whole, bringing new people to our city and seeing what a good place it is.

That is it for now so please go and see a live performance, whether musical, theatrical, or dance - without you we will lose it. www.bluesinthecity.co.uk www.facebook.com/ bluesinthecitychelmsford www.itsyourmusic.co.uk

Friday 22nd April

The Blow Monkeys

Friday 13th May

The Animals £20 in adv £23 on the door

Saturday 18th June

support Sportsday

£20 in adv £23 on the door

Chris Farlowe & the Norman Beaker Band £15 in adv £18 on the door

At the Clarets Bar, Chelmsford City Football Club, Salerno Way, Chelmsford, CM1 2EH Tickets from CCFC call Chelsea 01245 290959 The Hop Beer Shop Moulsham Street. CM2 0LD Intense Records, Viaduct Road, CM1 1TS Or search We Got Tickets www.wegottickets.com

MT Therapy by Jenny Hartill

Before I begin this article I have an exciting announcement to make! I have recently launched Chelmsford Therapy Rooms, so if you are a therapist or newly qualified individual please visit www.chelmsfordtherapyrooms. co.uk - there are photos of the room on the website but if you would like to arrange a viewing you are more than welcome to come along and have a look! (Admittedly I am no photographer!) Our rates are very good and the room is located just a minute or so walk from the railway station and the bus station.

The online booking and payment system means that you have easy access to book the room at any time and maintain complete autonomy! If you are a student, please note I do not offer student placements but you can book the room as long as you can provide proof of supervision.

Now, to carry on my article about Carl Jung and his personality typing!

In total Jung had 8 personality types. These were made up of 4 ‘functions’ teamed with one of his two attitudes. The functions are as follows: • • • •

Feeling: How a person understands the value of conscious activity.

Thinking: Allows the person to understand the meaning of things - it is logical and requires careful mental activity.

Sensation: How someone knows they know something exists.

Intuition: Knowing something without conscious understanding of where that knowledge comes from (‘gut feeling’).

If we now team these up with the attitudes discussed previously, we get his 8 personality types, I have also included the types of areas these personality types may work in because this is one of the common uses of personality testing and typing, for example at interview stage where personality typing is used to see if the candidate will fit into the company on a social and business level (I have experience of this, although I never heard the results - they just said I ‘wouldn’t be a good fit for the company’ - charming!): •

•

•

•

•

•

•

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Extroverted Feeling: The value of things is based on objective fact, opinions are formed based on socially accepted values and majority beliefs. Comfortable in social situations this personality type is often found in politics, business and sales (I include myself as this personality type).

Introverted Feeling: The value of things is judged on subjective ideas and beliefs they have established internally. Often social norms of thinking are opposed and dominant attitudes ignored, therefore this personality type has been known to thrive in such careers as an art critic.

Extroverted Thinking: Understanding is based on a mixture of concrete ideas formed by the person and abstract ideas passed on to them by others. This personality type can be found in the research sciences and mathematics.

Introverted Thinking: Understanding is based on interpreting information in a subjective and creative way and based on interpretations formed by internal understanding. This personality type can be found in philosophers and theoretical scientists.

Extroverted Sensing: Perception of the world is not coloured by any pre-existing beliefs - they see the world as it really is. This personality type can be found in jobs that require objective review for example wine tasting or proof reading.

Introverted Sensing: Perception of the world is through subjective attitudes, they rarely see something for what it is, making sense of their environment is achieved through internal reflection. This personality type can often be found in the arts for example as a portrait painter or in classical music.

Extroverted Intuitive: The meanings of things are understood through ‘subliminally perceived objective fact’ rather than incoming sensory information. They rely on hunches and gut

•

feelings, outside sensory information is often ignored. This personality type can be found in inventors (the sort that ‘have a stroke of genius’ before inventing something profound).

Introverted Intuitive: The meanings of things are derived from their own internal motivations even if these are not completely understood and through unconscious subjective ideas about the world. This personality type is often found in mystics, surrealistic artists and religious fanatics.

Jung approached personality and personality types from the clinical psychoanalysis perspective, hence he collaborated with Sigmund Freud. Jung and Freud were concerned with discovering and developing and extending knowledge about the human mind and how it works. They were also very good friends until they disagreed on their theories and fell out. Some would say this is an example of the complexity of the subject, but when, even among collaborators, there is plenty of room for disagreement, surely two intelligent psychology theorists can agree to disagree on certain things?

Perhaps their personality types intervened and were just too different to reach a compromise! In psychoanalysis, it is important for the analyst to understand ‘where the person is coming from’. Logically, if the analyst can interpret what’s going on, then he/she is better able to suggest how the situation might be improved. As with any scientific/analytical discipline, if one has some sort of interpretive framework or model, then one can far more easily identify features and characteristics. Jung’s work was often focused on developing analytical models - beyond simply being a psycho-analyst.

Modern psychometrics has benefited directly from the analytical models that Jung developed for psycho-analysis, hence one can now easily find a number of personality tests to test what career you’re best suited for on the internet (I use Human Metrics), but it is possible to extract some deeper therapeutic knowledge and selfawareness from the theories and ideas which underpin the models.

Jung believed, and I agree with him, that there is enormous value in deepening understanding of ourselves as people, and Jung’s ideas help many people to achieve this. Jung developed his concepts of ‘psychological types’ in order to improve this understanding. For example, Jung saw that improving awareness and acceptance of the four functions (feeling, thinking, sensation, intuition) within ourselves - whether as conscious or unconscious elements - is important for developing a healthy existence, or as we may say today, ‘creating a better life balance’.

Opposite to this, repression of any of the functions, by oneself or by another person or pressure, is unhelpful and unhealthy, and leads to problems that surface sooner or later, one way or another.

We also see evidence of people’s unconscious mind reverting from unconscious to conscious behaviour when they are under the influence of alcohol or significant stress. Ironically, some of Jung’s other theories are complex and have an inherent mysticism about them and therefore have received limited acceptance within mainstream psychology. However, referring back to my earlier comment about the link between the repression of the four functions and alcoholism and stress, it was a conversation with Carl Jung that led to the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous and the 12 step programs. Jung advised a chronic alcoholic known only as Roland H. He reportedly said to Ronald: “I can only recommend that you place yourself in the religious atmosphere of your own choice, that you recognise your own hopelessness, and that you cast yourself upon whatever God you think there is. The lightning of the transforming experience may then strike you.” This advice worked where no psychological, religious, or medical therapy had previously succeeded and this advice was shared with one of the founders of AA, Bill Watson.

So as you can see, Carl Jung had an important impact on some of the fundamental ways in which we treat various issues, from addiction to finding a job. He also recognised the importance of the spiritual aspect of human nature.

If I can be of any help or if anyone has any questions, please feel free to contact me via my website: www.cloud9-therapy.co.uk.

www.moulshamtimes.com

The Secret Power of Choice by Mark Roberts Over the past two months I have discussed how personal power and a developed self-awareness are key to achieving success in your life.

This month I am building on the theme by introducing the ‘power of choice’. I would recommend that you read this in conjunction with the previous articles.

I am not seeking here to enter the philosophical debate about whether you truly have freedom of choice, but rather to discuss the pragmatic impact of how you exercise choice in your daily life. This is often overlooked and yet it exists in every aspect of your life, every waking second of every day. As you will discover, choice is an important and powerful tool in your success toolkit; like self-awareness, it should be considered as a foundation stone underpinning personal power.

Constant choice-making Whilst getting on with your-day-to-day business, you are most likely unaware of the myriad of choices that you are making in virtually every moment. The reason for this is simple: You are often responding to situations unconsciously, through habitual behaviour patterns; in layman’s terms - acting on auto-pilot. If you have read any of my previous articles, you will know where this can lead. Acting on auto-pilot can seriously backfire if your subconscious mind has misinterpreted the situation. Remember, we are all constant choicemakers, but not always conscious choice-makers.

From the smallest situations to the really big ones, you are constantly making choices. I am sure you could identify a multitude of occasions in your day when you made conscious decisions and, if you reflect carefully, you will almost certainly uncover incidents when you made decisions on auto-pilot - the reflection is worth the effort! The

important point to remember is this: Every decision that you made, consciously or unconsciously was an exercise of your choice.

It wasn’t my fault!

Have you ever heard yourself say something like this: “I had no choice in the matter; (he/she/circumstances) made me (say/do/ act) in that way - it was totally not my fault that I (became angry/ shouted/screamed or enter your own typical reaction in stressful circumstances here)”? Does any of this sound familiar to you? I feel certain that you will recognise the type of situation I have described, because it is so common - I have said and done these things myself!

It is important to understand that nobody else is responsible for the choices that you make. It is of course true that you cannot always control the circumstances in which you find yourself, but it is always your choice how you respond. To believe otherwise is to give up your power to others and admit that you have no control over yourself. The truth is that it is easy to blame others, covering your own behaviour, to be seen in a better light.

The choices that you make carve out the path that you take. Every situation confronts you with a variety of options and the choices that you make will take you down particular path. Every choice will have an impact, big, or small and each choice will slowly but surely create your future reality. Choice truly is the ‘secret power’, because it creates and predicts your perception of reality every second. Knowing this, you can take control and make informed and better choices; choices that will propel you to the success you desire.

To your success in the new year…

For more about Mark Roberts, visit his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/intelligentlifestrategies.

Wine Corner

Hi everyone. I hope you all had a great Christmas and found some nice fizzy wine to bring in the New Year. I hope that 2016 brings you all you wish for. Just a thought, 2016 is a leap year; i’ve just realised that over my working life I worked about 10 February the 29ths and not once did I get paid for it! That’s nearly half a month’s pay! Bit cheeky if you ask me.

This month, following on from Shirley’s article from last month, I thought that I would look at some of the sparkling wines available.

I know it would have been better before the festive season, but I’m sure that you will find something to celebrate soon.

Firstly, of course Champagne. I read recently that Champagne is not the biggest seller in the UK now. Although we still buy about £250 million worth per year. It is, generally, more expensive than other sparkling wines. You will remember that in the EU, only wine from the Champagne area in northern France can be called this. You will pay around £20 for a reasonable bottle, or less if you can spot an offer.

Other producers in France can use the same double fermentation processes and call it methode traditionnelle.

So what are these other upstarts? One of the most popular at the moment is made from Italy’s Prosecco grape. This is the one outselling Champagne, the Italian sparkling wine from the Glera grape, but is also produced, blending other grapes including Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio. The sparkling wine is called Spumante, but they also produce semi-sparkling, Firzzani, and still, Tranquillo, (in very small quantities). Not surprisingly, the name Prosecco comes from from the village where the grapes probably originated, in north eastern Italy. The production method (Metodo Italiano) differs to that used for Champagne as it uses stainless steel tanks for the second fermentation, rather than it taking place in the bottle. If you want to do ‘posh’ then the Superior is the one for you. Prosecco has a fruity taste and generally, apart from the Superior, should be consumed within 3 years. You can sometimes get a bottle for less than £7.

Spain produces Cava, mainly in Catalonia in the north east, about £7 again. Like Champagne, the production process - champenoise traditional method - must be used and is protected. Only wines produced like this and from specific areas here can be called Cava.

Back to France, the Loire Valley produces some lovely sparkling wines and these taste very much like Champagne. These are described as Cremant. In fact, these wines are produced all over France, with the Alsace region as the largest producer. They are produced using the traditional method like Champagne. A great alternative to the real thing.

We must not forget England and Wales. Very well respected in the wine world. There are over 450 vineyards in England and Wales covering about 4,500 acres. Sparkling wines are mainly produced in southern England using the champagne method, where the soil is very similar to that in north eastern France. We are fairly late comers to winemaking, only really taking off in the 1950s. English sparkling wines are made from a variety of grapes including Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, like Champagne. Most vineyards encourage visitors and tastings, with wine tours of several winerys available. Just a reminder; wine from England and Wales can be called just that, but if British wine is on the label, the wine can come from any part of the world, shipped to the UK in tanks and filled into bottles here.

Often, sparkling wines are just bubbly versions of popular still wines.

These can be like Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, Pinot Noir from Australia, lovely Chardonnay from Chile and Pinot Grigio from Italy, and all these will generally be easier on the pocket.

I have been thinking about the phrases people use and wondering how they stand up to examination. Take the phrase ‘it’s not a million miles from here’. Now I think that means it is not far away, but surely if it were a million miles away, it would be in space well past the 22

moon, Very odd. My dad used to suggest that someone was ‘daft as a brush’. What I need to know is who devised the IQ test for household cleaning equipment and how the test was done. I don’t know why it should have been singled out, most unfair if you ask me. I was reading something recently about what a well known actress was quoted as saying that she had ‘laughed like a drain’. So, armed with a statistically calculated sample size (26 drains in Moulsham for 98% accuracy of the results plus or minus 2%) I started to search for drains. At each one, I knelt down to listen. Do you know what? Not one of them was even gurgling let alone giggling!

Conclusion: Sorry, drains do not laugh. Yet another one, I think attributed to an ex football manager - ‘early doors’ when referring to the first stages in a match. Again, what on earth is all about? What does a late door look like? I don’t know...

Wines from Eastern Europe are worth a look. Romania produces a range including Pinot Noir, Riesling and a fruity red, Feteasca Neagra.

Wine growing and wine making started in the mid thirteenth century, so they must know what they are doing by now!

In Georgia, some wines are matured in stone jars called Kvevris (sometimes called qvevri), that are buried in the earth for several months.

Hungary produces the sweet white wine, Tokaji and the old favourite red Bulls Blood. This was one of the first red wines that I sampled years ago - quite heavy and probably not the best one to cut your wine tasting teeth.

The range includes Cabernet Sauvignon from Bulgaria, Shiraz from Macedonia and popular Merlot from Romania.

Bin end chuckles.

My internet is so slow, I think it would be quicker to pick up the phone to ask Google silly questions.

Talking about my suggestion to improve my productivity, my manager at work asked me who is the stupid one, you or me? I replied that everyone knows that you don’t employ idiots.

Keep calm and carry on drinking (in moderation).

New Year NEW CAREER? Chose when you work - Full time or part-time (School hours)

Or maybe it is just a little for the EXTRA things...

Denise Randall – Forever Business Owner – 07782273634 www.therisegroup.co.uk Forever is a member of the DSA. It is illegal for a promoter or a participant in a trading scheme to persuade anyone to make a payment by promising benefits from getting others to join a scheme.

www.moulshamtimes.com

Rotary in the Christmas Spirit There are five Rotary clubs in the city of Chelmsford who often work together on local projects, and this was the case for Chelmsford city’s Christmas Lights switch on, which took place on Sunday 22nd November. Rotarians manned the annual mulled wine and mince pie stand in the city centre and warmed passers by with hot drinks and good cheer.

The weather was just about perfect and with hot chocolate, fruit punch and chocolate chip cookies also on sale, £1,400 was raised for the mayor’s charity, which this year is the YMCA. A cheque for this amount was presented to Mayor Paul Hutchinson at a breakfast meeting on Wednesday 9th December, where again members from all five clubs were in attendance and the mayor was visibly and pleasantly surprised as the money was totally unexpected. In fact, he was there in the capacity of principal speaker at the Rotary club of Chelmsford Rivermead’s president, Mabel Butcher’s special meeting - giving an insight into the history and workings of the mayor’s office and was joined by seventy guests who got up early for a 7.15am start. For many of us, that is far too early on a regular basis so it is fortunate that other clubs meet at lunchtime or evening, so everyone is catered for.

07936 198651 Letters

Dear Moulsham Times, Please could you publish this press release for us.

Group Launched to Fight Council’s Proposals - Planning February Civic Centre Demonstration.

Nevertheless, on a one-off basis, we all enjoyed a champagne breakfast, good company and an interesting address by the mayor and it was the perfect opportunity to present the cheque just before Christmas. It was a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas supporting those in the community who are less fortunate and ensuring that they have a special day. The actual cheque was handed over by David Cope, a member of Chelmsford Phoenix Rotary club, who led the organisation of the event and who has got the logistics down to a fine art.

This is just one example of Rotary making a contribution to life and well-being in Chelmsford and plans are in hand for us to take over an unused shop near the library for a week commencing on the 22nd February, which is coincidentally World Rotary Week - more details will appear soon. This shop will give you the chance to talk to Rotarians and get a feel for the range of opportunities to give something back, whilst deriving an enormous amount of satisfaction - and making lots of new friends.

You don’t need to wait for February. If you would like to find out more about Rotary, then visit www.chelmsfordrotary1240.org, or simply pick up the phone and give me a call during office hours - 01245 260349. I will be delighted to share my thoughts on what Rotary achieves and the benefits that I get out of it.

With best wishes for a happy New Year.

Stan Keller www.moulshamtimes.com

The ‘Homelessness is Not a Crime’ (HINAC) campaign group was launched yesterday evening at the city centre’s Thomas Mildmay pub, to campaign against the city council’s plans to fine homeless people for sleeping rough. The launch meeting brought together a diverse group of people, and the campaign is planning a demonstration before the full council meeting on the 24th February. Protesters will meet at 6pm at the end of the High Street in front of the Shire Hall and march on the Civic Centre before lobbying councillors. The demonstration will also deliver the group’s paper petition, which currently consists of nearly 2,000 signatures.

“We are planning for this to be the biggest protest march that Chelmsford has seen for a number of years,” said HINAC spokesperson, Andy Abbott. “We believe it will be, based on our experiences collecting signatures in the High Street against the proposals, where hundreds sign every hour we are there. The people of Chelmsford have a very clear and overwhelming message for the city council: Homelessness is not a crime.”

The group is also encouraging people to respond to the council’s current consultation on the Public Space Protection Order proposals.

Details on how to do this can be found on the council’s website (www. chelmsford.gov.uk/pspo), and all submissions must be made by 8th January. The campaigners are also planning a public meeting for late January, and will be petitioning in the High Street (near Lloyds Bank) again on Saturday between 12-2pm. For further details of the campaign’s activities, people can find and follow the group on Facebook - ‘Homelessness is not a crime: Chelmsford’.

Thanks HINAC

23

MT Charity - Crimestoppers CRIMESTOPPERS AND THE ESSEX POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER REACHING OUT TO THE ELDERLY COMMUNITY

Elder abuse has been thrown in the spot light in recent years - with investigations in to elder care revealing shocking abuses of trust.

In 2013/14 there were 104,050 cases nationally in which concern was raised about the abuse of an adult - 63 per cent of these involved victims of the age of 65.

Elder abuse is a problem in the UK It can be physical, emotional, financial or a case of neglect - and it can happen anywhere, whether it’s the victim’s own home, a care home, a hospice or sheltered accommodation.

It’s an issue that we all want to see stamped out, but not everyone feels comfortable reporting it, that could be because the abuser is a friend or relative or someone who should be in a position of trust.

But we have been trying to break down the barriers and believe that anonymous reporting may be the key to encourage more to speak up.

In February this year, Crimestoppers joined forces with the Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, Nick Alston, to tackle the issue.

Together they launched a trial of the first ever anonymous reporting line for elder abuse - 0800 032 7644.

If it’s a success, they hope to see it rolled out across the country in the future.

The number was officially launched on February 26th at the Age Concern Day Centre in Chelmsford by Crimestoppers CEO Mark Hallas, and Nick Alston.

Mark Hallas, Crimestoppers CEO: “We all have a duty to protect our elderly community and this should involve speaking out if there is any suspicion that they are suffering abuse.

“It’s not always easy to report an issue like this, especially if the perpetrators are known to the victims. This is why an independent reporting line that people can call safely, securely and anonymously is so important.”

Nick Alston, Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex: “Over the last couple of years, both locally and nationally, there have been a number of disturbing cases of abuse in care homes. However the abuse of elderly people is not just confined to care homes. It also, shockingly, can occur within the home.

includes alleged physical abuse as well as financial, abuse and neglect. It also refers to incidents in a variety of locations, from the victim’s own home to care homes and sheltered housing.

Simon Hart, Independent Chair of the Essex Safeguarding Adult Board said: “Elderly abuse is a concern in the UK. It is a key priority of the board that people are able to access advice and support when they need it, especially in times of crisis.”

Ian Gilbert, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s Executive Councillor for Community Development, said: “We must do all we can to protect our most vulnerable residents from any risk of harm, so we welcome this extra dedicated way to help people report any wrong-doing or abuse.”

About Crimestoppers Crimestoppers is an independent charity which helps the police to solve crimes, making communities safer. It does this by operating the 24/7 telephone number 0800 555 111, which people can ring to pass on information about crimes anonymously. They can also use the giving information form via the website: www.crimestoppers-uk. org.

• •

•

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Around 14 people are arrested and charged every day as a result of information given to Crimestoppers.

Since Crimestoppers began in 1988, it has received over 1.6 million pieces of actionable information, resulting in over 132,000 arrests and charges. Over £131 million worth of goods has been recovered and over £325 million worth of drugs has been seized.

In 2005, Crimestoppers launched the UK’s Most Wanted on its website, which allows the public to view images of criminals and pass on vital information about their whereabouts. It has been highly successful with over 3,300 arrests to date.

Crimestoppers UK was founded by Lord Ashcroft, KCMG PC, Chairman of Trustees. In 1988, he launched Crimestoppers in the Metropolitan Police area. Crimestoppers’ ‘call to action’ is built on a three-way partnership between the business community, the police and the media.

Live 27th January 2016 8.30pm Entry £5 Proceeds to

“Elder abuse - like child abuse and online grooming - is one of the hidden harms plaguing our communities.

“I feel passionately that we must start to uncover these hidden harms and this anonymous phone line is just one way both to draw attention to the problem and, more importantly, to start to offer a solution to elder abuse.”

The line, which is being funded by Essex PCC, is manned by Crimestoppers call handlers, who pass on information to the relevant Safeguarding Adults Board. Information is also passed to the police if a crime is thought to have taken place.

To date, they have received a number of pieces of information that have been passed on to the relevant authorities. The information

48/49 Viaduct Road, Chelmsford

The Power of Outrageous Expression (Helene Musso) by John Power When Helene asked me to write a review of her book it seemed like a daunting task, because it is a book written mostly for women about how to develop their self-confidence. However, as I began to read it, I realised that our backgrounds in teaching had given us a lot in common. When I first met Helene, maybe ten years ago, she was teaching drama at Harlow College and I was at Chelmsford College, teaching art. I also worked for a mental health charity, as my degree had been in art and psychology. The arts and psychology obviously have a great bearing the subject of Helene’s book.

We are all brought up in our own education to be square pegs for square holes, apart from in whatever arts our schools have included in the curriculum. There we are given an opportunity, if we have the right kind of teachers, to express our individuality, and many of us find we are round pegs who aren’t going to fit into society’s plans for us as a workforce and have plans of our own. In the arts, there is very little need for competition: there are many ways of doing things, but in maths, 1 plus 1 always has to add up to 2. Creative maths in any great sense is not a possibility. In the outgoing world of creativity almost anything is possible. We don’t need to be the same as others. We are all unique, and that is one of the main points Helene is putting across. She wants to coax her clients out of the shell that life has put around them to become themselves, and confident to be that way.

Helene looks at the polar connotations of ‘outrageous’ and what different outlooks put on them: “That’s dreadful, how outrageous,” or with a positive spin: “That’s outrageously good, why didn’t I think of that?” Which one sounds to you like a drama teacher talking? You have to have confidence to go on stage to perform in front of other people, so who could be better to coach people to regain their mojo and express themselves with confidence than a person experienced in the dramatic arts?

fun of them rather than panic. Grab a nap if you can rather that risk mistakes through working when over tired. Relaxation is yoga too!

Take little steps when learning, don’t try to run before you can walk.

Rest, play, breathe, move, eat healthily, and don’t judge yourself against the way others do things.

Practice: If you’ve ever heard someone learning to play violin you’ll know what this is all about. You’d certainly know if it was too early to go on stage and perform... Only when you are confident should you try. But you do have to ‘take risks’ as you come out of your shell, you can’t stay there for ever - but gently does it. Safety before big risks.

Move at your own pace, not others’, as you expand your horizons.

Fun: That can be passive, like people watching. Make work fun. You’ll enjoy it more if you can. Dancing is good exercise and fun, and after a few drinks no one is taking notes on what you do. Learn from young children and you’ll stay young. Dream.

Your own extraordinary story. You may think its boring as it was the one you went through it, but with a bit of thought you can pick out the parts that make it an interesting story. Write your own eulogy. How would you like to be remembered? If not like that, get on and make it interesting!

Helene’s book is full of games to put over points she is making, and anecdotes of people’s transformations, along with stories by her clients, filled with praise, saying how her courses have brought about change. And of course it has to be said, as many of these stories do, that her very personality exudes confidence and charm without any stodgy authoritarianism, and that has to be her finest asset. What you see is what you get.

You can purchase Helene Musso’s book, The Power of Outrageous Expression, on Amazon.co.uk. If you would like to have it signed, do contact her at beconfident@helenemusso.co.uk, helenemusso. co.uk or phone her on 07875 627 485. For Helene’s courses, go to to helenemusso.co.uk/courses. Thank you!

So how do you start? Helene proposes five key elements: Be Yourself, Be Kind to Yourself, Practice, Have Fun, Discover your Own Extraordinary Story.

So the first stage is going to be self searching: What is my unique identity, and how can I bring it out so that I work to my strengths?

Simple things like a name change; maybe a nickname you picked up that is more about your real persona than what it says on your birth certificate. Mannerisms: Watch yourself, even do a short video.

What quirks do you have? Don’t censor them, use them, they are what makes you what you are. People watch others. You may find more mannerisms you’d like to adopt. We learn by imitation. You see, you like it, you do it. Practice it alone and only you will notice yourself, then in public as your confidence grows. When you are involved in a situation that worries you, slow down and take deep breaths to give yourself more clarity of mind; that’s yoga. Turn a ‘problem’ into a ‘challenge’ or ‘opportunity’. But don’t try this without preparing, to be in authority you have to be an authority. Helene doesn’t mention dress, perhaps as women have less restraints when being themselves, but if you want to feel comfortable, wear what feels comfortable to you not what you think people want you to wear.

Uniforms breed robots, and we’re not talking about corporate identity here!

Be kind to yourself, don’t struggle with words you find difficult, find simpler synonyms. Admit weaknesses, don’t pretend to be good at things you havn’t yet mastered. When things are going badly teach yourself to roll through the wobble, we all make mistakes so make

Chelmsford City Council is consulting the public on a new Local Plan. This document will guide the growth and development across Chelmsford City Council’s area up to 2036. During this joint meeting with RSA Derek Stebbing, Planning Policy Manager, will lead us in discussion on the new Local Plan.

The plan envisages around 14,000 new homes and nearly 900 new jobs to sustain the City’s economy. At the ‘City Making’ workshop in October, Matthew Taylor, CEO of the RSA, challenged us to think about the kind of economy and culture we would like. The Civic Society’s response to the consultation has to be submitted by 21st January.

Kid’s Page by Alexander Aged 7.

SNOW LEOPARD TIMMY the

INVESTIGATING PEOPLE AND PLACES ACROSS ESSEX

MOUNTFITCHET CASTLE

Welcome to Timmy the Snow Leopard’s page.

This time Timmy has visited Stansted Mount<itchet Castle in Essex.

Stansted Mout<itchet is the only wooden Motte and Bailey castle and village to be reconstructed on its original site anywhere in the world.

Timmy made friends with a sheep at the castle and will be visiting again in 2016. nnn

Here are some facts about Stansted Mount<itchet Castle:

1. The original castle was build by the Normans in 1066.

2. There are more than 80,000

toys, books and games in the toy museum.

3. If you look carefully you

might <ind some dinosaurs hidden in the woods. Watch out!

Mount<itchet Castle was built in 1066. It is an open-air museum based in Stansted, Essex.

There are lots of animals roaming around including chickens, ducks, sheep, goats and deer. The castle shows you what it was like in Norman times around Doomesday.

You can do jousting there on a pretend wooden horse.

There are lots of things here from the olden days like a battering ram and also a toy museum with lots of old toys like those your parents used to play with.

If you want to look at Mount<itchet Castle get an adult to show you the website http://www.mount<itchetcastle.com. The castle will open in March 2016 when the weather is a bit better. e

ng adi

r for s k n Tha e pag

my

er d an x e Al tor Edi 7 Age

Ami’s Diary

The documentary about my agency that is going to be on Channel 4 was meant to be on TV in October, but it was delayed until December and it has now been delayed until January as they are still filming. I hope I make it to the final cut after waiting this long!

The Theatretrain group I have attended on Saturday mornings since I was seven years old is now going to offer Performing Arts exams through RSL (Rockschool Limited). What I really like is that the examiners come to our centre and judge us while we are performing in a group, which I think is better as we are used to performing shows as a group, so it won’t feel so much like an exam. We can take graded Performance Arts Awards which are internationally recognised and can gain UCAS points which will help me when I apply to East 15 Performing Arts School.

Funnies Today a man knocked on my door and asked for a small donation towards the local swimming pool. I gave him a glass of water.

I changed my password to ‘incorrect’. So whenever I forget what it is, the computer will say: “Your password is incorrect...”

What do you call a bear with no teeth?

A gummy bear!

A sandwich walks into a bar. The barman says: “Sorry, we don’t serve food in here...”

Why do hummingbirds hum?

Because they don’t know the words!

I’m still waiting to hear if I have been successful in a role for the two self-tape auditions that I did, which is frustrating.

Last year, I applied for a role in a feature film, but the filming was delayed. The director contacted me recently to see if I am interested in auditioning for a role in his new feature film which is shooting next year. So it just goes to show that even though one part may not happen, there may be something good in the future.

Although I am looking forward to Christmas, I can’t wait until next year for two reasons: Firstly, I am going to be choosing my options at school; my first choice is going to be drama and then I am going to take whatever fits around that. I am also really excited, as secondly, I am going on a school trip to Italy where we are going to see Mount Versuvius, tour Pompeii and go on a boat ride around the Isle of Capri.

What goes up but never comes down?

Your age!

What looks like half a donkey.

The other half of a donkey!

What do you call a boomerang that doesn’t work?

A stick!

Intersting Facts (All sourced from the internet)

Chionophobia is the fear of snow.

In 1607-08, Londoners held their first frost fair on the frozen over River Thames.

Average snowflakes fall at 3.1mph.

Ten inches of snow melts down to only one inch of water.

A New Zealand insect, called the weta, freezes completely solid during winter. When the temperature goes up, it resumes its business.

Around 12% of Earth’s land surface is covered in snow and ice.

Some animals possess the amazing ability to turn white during the winter - the arctic fox, arctic hare, ptarmigan, barren-ground caribou, and ermine all change colors.

2-4-1

Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm last entry 4pm

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entry throughout January!

All snowflakes have 6 sides.

The coldest temperature ever recorded was -123°C at Vostok Station in Antarctica in 1983.

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27

Moulsham Lodge Communtiy Trust embark on a classic from Simon & Garfunkel, Bridge Over Troubled Water and then a more upbeat song first recorded in 1941, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. So if you would like to come along and start these songs afresh with us, just contact us below or just turn up at St Luke’s church on a Thursday from 8pm to 9.30pm.

There was a meeting to progress our Wildlife Day on the 23rd March with lots of ideas, including some on bats, hedgehogs, birds, ponds, bees and wildlife friendly gardens plus much more. We hope to include talks covering all these - there may even be some real live animals and insects!

Some projects we hope to progress with in the new year: A running club, a cycling club, a computer coding club, surfing (the web) for beginners, photography competitions and an annual exhibition (open to all), Question Time format debates, cooking made easy, a video/ tv channel (including some live stuff) plus much more.

Our Christmas Market and Santa’s Grotto were a great success and as you can see from these photos, Santa and his elves had a wonderful grotto for their visit to Moulsham Lodge. Lots of children wrote a letter to Santa with all their wishes for Christmas; we just hope Santa managed to write a letter back to them all before Christmas, as he had so many to reply to!

Hopefully next year we will have more stalls, including some outdoor food stalls and possibly a carol concert by our choir, New City Voices.

Speaking of which, the choir have a number of performances next year which we’ll let you know about in the next edition of MT. We have been practicing some new songs since you last saw us, including Patience and Greatest Day by Take That and we are just about to

By the time you read this you will have eaten all the turkey and munched all the mince pies, so from all at MLCT have a Happy New Year.

Mark Springett: 01245 351040 or 07411 808731 Email: mark.springett@ mlct.org.uk Twitter: @mlcccouk Two elves - trustees, Jo Westram and Lauren Smith

Cllr Mark Springett - Moulsham Lodge Ward

This is my first article and hopefully one of many that I hope to write in order to keep you informed about City Hall matters, whereas Cllr Dick Madden will keep you up to date about County Hall goings on, with our MP Sir Simon Burns giving you his views from Westminster. What I hope to achieve is to convey the differences between county and city councils and what both those authorities are responsible for. This is important to you when reporting potholes or when the rubbish hasn’t been collected, as these and many other subjects are covered by different local authorities or councils. I also hope to encourage you to take more interest in local politics without being overtly political myself!

My wife and I became involved in a local campaign group wanting to save the community centre at the bottom of my road, initially I was a little ambivalent about it, but on seeing the support it received at a public meeting we offered to help the campaign, I initially set up the website and created an online survey. This group progressed into a core team, most of which are still part of the trust today, we then obtained a grant which allowed us to pay for professional help in establishing the group as a Not For Profit company. Somewhere along this journey I was asked whether I would consider standing for election by the local Liberal Democrat group. I had never considered any career in politics up until that point, so it was a bit of a shock to be asked. My main concern about being a city councillor was having the time to do it while working full time, but with some convincing I was assured it was possible, one big factor was that Chelmsford City Council hold their meetings in the evenings so there was no reason to miss work. So it was through my community involvement and experiences that I was noticed, from there I had to go through the process from selection to election, which was a fairly stressful process for a newcomer to politics. I’ve now been a councillor for just over four years, in that time, I’ve met some amazing and interesting people.

Firstly, I thought I would introduce myself and how I came to be a local city councillor. I’ve lived in Chelmsford since I was about 7 and have now lived in Moulsham Lodge for around 29 years. I’m married with two grown up daughters, both of whom went through all three of the Moulsham Schools. I myself went to Hylands Comprehensive School on the Westlands estate and then a bit later graduated from Anglia Ruskin University. I started out working for Ransome Hoffmann & Pollard (RHP), the ball bearing manufacturers, and then moved to Next month I’ll talk about the city council calendar and how you Marconi Radar just before I got married. I now work as a bid manager can have your say, I’ll also tell you about some of the differences at SELEX-ES in Basildon; I guess I’ve now been working for Marconi in responsibility between the county council and city council and for as long as I’ve been married. Perhaps I’ll talk about our industrial hopefully I’ll try and include some light-hearted moments from my job history at some point as it’s changed so much over the years. as a city councillor. Tweet me: @markspringett 28

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National Iyengar Yoga Day Saturday 16th January 2016 On Saturday 16th January 2016, yoga teachers across the country will be offering free classes and holding events to celebrate National Iyengar Yoga Day. Named after BKS Iyengar, one of the key figures credited with bringing yoga to the west, Iyengar yoga is the world’s most widely practised method of yoga. National Iyengar Yoga Day is an opportunity for people of all ages and levels of fitness to discover the benefits of Iyengar yoga for themselves.

BKS Iyengar (14th December 1918 - 20th August 2014) was a visionary Indian teacher who recognised the benefits of yoga and determined to make it widely accessible. His international bestseller Light On Yoga published in 1966, is still considered an essential guide to yoga postures today. BKS Iyengar’s legacy is Iyengar yoga, an internationally standardised method of teaching popular with students everywhere from Rejkjavik and Rio, to Beijing and Boston.

Characterised by precision, teachers of Iyengar yoga practice and study for a minimum of five years before they can instruct students.

This rigorous training has made Iyengar yoga one of the most trusted and widely practised forms of yoga in the world. Come and try it for yourself on National Iyengar Yoga Day, Saturday 16th January 2016!  In the words of the Chair of the Iyengar Yoga Association (UK), Emma Pinchin: “On National Iyengar Yoga Day we will celebrate the life’s work of one of the most influential world figures of recent times as he would have wanted us to - by practising yoga!”

Find classes and events in your local area on the Iyengar Yoga Association (UK) website: iyengaryoga.org.uk and see local press for details.

www.moulshamtimes.com

29

How the Magazine Was Started People ask how the Moulsham Times, and then later the City Times, were started. Well here is the story behind the magazines.

as a hobby and others writing about their trade, and without them we would not have a magazine.”

Nick and Paul cannot take full credit, as the first few Moulsham Times editions and the initial idea were from a guy named Robert.

Soon after they took over the Moulsham Times, they realised there was potential for a magazine in the same style to cover all of Chelmsford and further afield. Chelmsford the City Times was born!

Nick says: “We have great support from our advertisers and many of them felt the City Times would be beneficial to their business. We already had a successful product to show potential advertisers in the Moulsham Times, which made it easier than the early days the Moulsham magazine.”

Nick met Robert at the Chelmsford Business Showcase in November of 2012 at the university. They got talking and Robert explained his idea and Nick being from a sales background in both furniture, studio and art pottery, antiques sales and then in marketing and fundraising (within two local charities) offered to assist with the sales of advertising space and offer a few ideas for articles and writers.

Paul began by writing some history articles (as he was already friends with Nick) so both have been involved in the magazine from the beginning in their own way.

Robert had other commitments and was no longer able to publish the Moulsham Times, so in the first instance suggested Nick may wish to take it over. Nick spoke with Paul and they both agreed they could certainly try as it was a well received and informative magazine that readers seemed to enjoy.

So in May 2013 with some regular advertiser slots already sold, Paul and Nick had two weeks to create the next edition. This was a tough job and a very steep learning curve as although experienced in photo editing and graphic software, Paul had never laid out a magazine and Nick had never had 100% responsibility for the whole magazine production, printing and delivery. But they did it and within a couple of editions they increased the size of the magazine to 32 pages and also increased the delivery area. They advertised in the magazine for some further local writers and gained some new advertisers.

Paul said: “We are so grateful for our writers writing each month, they all have their own reasons for writing, some being retired and writing

Running the magazines has given the guys the contacts to branch out in to other areas, including music which has always been Nick’s passion - he has been involved with music for the last 45 years, both playing, promoting and in various other ways. Paul says: “We work closely with various sections of the city council and these relationships gave us the opportunity to work with the cultural events team and gain a stage at The Fling Festival.”

Since running a stage for the last two years, they have also run a stage at Brownstock Festival as well as putting on monthly gigs with Chelmsford City Football Club (read more about the up and coming events for the next 6 months in Nick’s monthly article). Nick says: “I have a lot of great connections in the music industry and it is great to bring some of them to Chelmsford.” Nick is also the founder of Blues in the City which he started in 2011. He now runs a regular monthly night and a few one day festivals at The Bassment and a three day festival which takes place in various venues across the city. He also plays harmonica with Jamie Williams and the Roots Collective.

They have now invested in a PA system for these events and for hiring to others for small to large events and hope to expand this over the next 12 months.

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Highwood Property Maintenance

Moulsham Reflexology

All aspects of roofing undertaken, Give reflexology a try. A safe natural therapy Chimney repairs. gutters cleaned to help the body re-balance and heal itself. and repaired from £39, facias & New to Lema Hair at 176 Moulsham Street. soffits renewal and cleaning service, conservatories, driveways & patios 30 minute taster sessions £15 (feet or hand).

20% off first one hour appointment (£30). cleaned. Painting, decorating For more details email me, Sandra via: & landscaping. info@moulshamreflexology.co.uk info@moulshamreflexolog Call for a free quote.

Or call: 01245 257100 / 07857229184 01245 422712/07711 606561

Advertise in this section for just £20 + VAT per issue

Auto Services

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

ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk SCRUFTS K9 DOG GROOMING & ALL THINGS CANINE UNIT 7 BEEHIVE BUSINESS CENTRE BEEHIVE LANE CHELMSFORD CM2 9TE 0333 121 2559 INFO@SCRUFTSK9.CO.UK www.scruftsk9.co.uk FREE FOOD DELIVERY TO YOUR DOOR LARGE RANGE OF HANDMADE HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS AND SHAMPOOS

Quiz Answers 1. Ben Miller 2. Ernie Wise 3. Paul Whitehouse 4. Frank Skinner 5. Robert Webb 6. Chesney Allen 7. Oliver Hardy 8. Eddie Large 9. Bobby Ball 10. Jennifer Saunders

11. Julie Walters 12. Ronnie Corbett 13. Norman Pace 14. Dudley Moore 15. Bob Mortimer 16. Steve Punt 17. Dustin Gee 18. Bernie Winters 19. Ben Warriss 20. Mel Giedroyc

Deadlines for the February edition Articles - 15th January Print ready art work - 21st January

www.moulshamtimes.com

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

Do you know someone who is blind or partiallysited who would like a talking version of the Moulsham Times?

We are working with Chelmsford Talking Newspaper to have the Moulsham Times recorded each month. You will be able to listen to a copy at soundcloud.com or use their usb stick service.

Please email us at editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk if you or someone you know is interested.

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NEW YEAR – NEW HOME 2016 PROMISES TO BE ANOTHER EXCITING YEAR IN THE CHELMSFORD HOUSING MARKET FOR A FREE PROFESSIONAL VALUATION CALL 01245 266980 New Writtle Street £299,995

Gloucester Avenue £310,000

Crossways £315,000

SOLD STC SIMILAR REQUIRED Victorian terrace house Two double bedrooms Attractive rear garden Off road parking

Roman Road £315,000

• Victorian cottage • Two double bedrooms • Loft room • Many original features

• Extended family house • Four bedrooms • Approx 50ft rear garden • Off street parking

Spacious semi-detached house Three bedrooms Detached garage Off street parking

Chelmerton Avenue £435,000

The Lions £825,000

Spacious semi-detached house Three bedrooms Attractive rear garden • No onward chain

Brand new detached house Four bedrooms 10 year build zone warranty Immediate occupation