Moulsham Times January 2017

The Orange Tree

Lower Anchor Street

#EveryDayIsABeerFestival

MoulshamTimes The-OT.com

It’s Our 4th Birthday!!

Covering: Old Moulsham, Moulsham Lodge, Tile Kiln and surrounding area

Delivered to over 9000 homes and businesses monthly

Issue Number 49 - January 2017

! e l a S

now on.

UP TO

50% OFF Unwanted camera gear?* If you have ANY unwanted camera equipment, why not turn it into instant money in time to pick up a bargain?– it’s SO easy and fast!

Simply pop-in, call or e-mail, our experts in the Chelmsford shop for the best quote and friendly, knowledgeable advice.

High Chelmer Shopping Centre CHELMSFORD Essex CM1 1XB | 01245 255510 | chelmer@cameraworld.co.uk Also at: 14 Wells St (off Oxford St) LONDON W1T 3PB 020 7636 5005 | sales@cameraworld.co.uk

www.cameraworld.co.uk

Most brands considered. DSLR, Mirrorless and Top Compacts. 35mm and Medium Format. Auto and Manual Focus Lenses. Items must be in excellent condition and complete with relevant accessories. Subject to inspection. E. & O. E. Goods and delivery services subject to stock and availability. Prices subject to change. Pictures are for illustration purposes only. All prices include VAT@ 20%. E. & O.E.

*

MT Welcome Hi readers We hope you had a great festive season and that 2017 is going to be good to you and your loved ones.

We are now starting our fifth year with this edition of the Moulsham Times and I (Nick) would never have thought this would become such a big part of my/our lives when I started with Robert in January 2013 as a much smaller publication and then took it over with Paul from June that year. We grew the magazine in size to 32 pages and increased the distribution to 9,000 copies a month.

In October of 2013 we then launched the City Times - both magazines have grown and gone from strength to strength thanks to you and all of our contributors.

We are looking forward to 2017 and would love to hear from you with your thoughts and ideas and about anything that’s going on.

Regards Paul & Nick

it’s your media Ltd

Editorial Advertising Paul Mclean Nick Garner 07595 949701 07970 206682 ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

MJS CARPENTRY Local, experienced, fully insured reliable carpenter in Old Moulsham.

All Carpentry and building work undertaken such as: • Garden walls • Built in Units/cupboards • Kitchens • Doors • Hand cut roofs • Flat roof/tiled roof repairs and renews Contact for a free no obligation quote.

Home: 01245 675225 Mobile: 07794137516 Email: nsteel31@yahoo.co.uk

10% discount with this advert

Disclaimer: It’s Your Media Ltd publish the Moulsham Times. The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of It’s Your Media Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the prior written permission of It’s Your Media Ltd. Reg Co No. 09154871. Printed by Printwize.

Please call Michael on:

07976 693457 or email Info@m-specservices.co.uk

Electrical Installation & Maintenance M-Spec Services based in Chelmsford cater for all your electrical requirements, no job is too big or too small. You are always guaranteed a professional service at competitive rates.

• Smoke Alarm Installation • Fault Finding • CCTV & Fire Alarms • Fuseboard Upgrades • Access Control & Intercom Systems • Rewires • Test & Inspect Certification

Call Michael on

01245 830811 / 07976 693457 www.moulshamtimes.com

3

MT Therapy by Jenny Hartill So, it’s the end of December/ beginning of January and it’s that time of year again - New Year’s Resolutions! In this article I will look at some of the common resolutions people make and how counselling can help with them: I’ll Lose Weight!

This is probably one of the most common issues people present with in the new year. Those that have overindulged and then realised it’s rather more difficult to stop over indulging than they thought, sometimes come to the realisation that their weight issue may be more than just the festive season taking its toll. There is also a lot of guilt that usually presents with this, so clients are possibly feeling guilty over eating something ‘naughty’ or something they ‘didn’t need to eat’. Because January is such a long month and quite a bit of cash has gone on food and drink and then they’re on that guilt trip making them feel even worse, many people just think ‘enough is enough, I need to take control’.

January can feel like the longest month ever because of the merry-go-round of junk food versus guilt when they couldn’t justify spending the money on the food... and yet they did anyway. So, armed with their new pay cheque, they ask for help from a counsellor.

Counselling can be absolutely great for helping clients tackle weight loss issues, we look at your mindset, your beliefs around food and look to use various coping techniques to not only help you take control, but to tackle those underlying issues that have caused you to put the weight on in the first place. The festive season can be a real wake up call, counselling helps you remain awake to your weight issue, deal with it and move on to a better, healthier you!

I’ll Get over My Anxiety/Depression/Stress I have put these three issues under the same section because they all usually go together and definitely influence each other! For many people the festive season is less laughter and cheer and more stress and anxiety - leaving them feeling low and exhausted. I see this a lot, by the end of the festive season some people have simply come to the end of their tether and decided they have to learn how to deal with their mindset so that they can relax. Over-thinking is a common cause of anxiety, stress and depression. Whether it’s focusing on one or many things, clients come to me complaining that not only can they not stop thinking, but that their thoughts are negative, worrisome, random and even irrational. Of course the other problem that the festive season brings is that it can remind us of losses, of people who we wish were still with us. Or it reminds us of what we haven’t achieved as people boast about how great their year has been - or even the opposite, where other’s misery can also bring us down! The festive season brings out the best and worst in people, Counselling helps you deal with your anxiety/depression/stress using various methods and coping techniques so that you are better prepared for the future and can move on happier and more fulfilled.

I’ll Overcome My Phobias Another common New Year’s Resolution is to decide to get rid of a phobia. You can literally be phobic of anything, you can come to my practice and however silly you think your fear is I’ve probably treated it before and at the very least I will likely know of it! The festive season can often bring things to a head and cause people to decide once and for all they are not going through another experience where they feel embarrassed about their fear. Counselling helps you explore and overcome your phobia.

I’ll Kick My Habits Common New Year’s Resolutions are ‘I’ll Quit Smoking!’ or ‘I won’t drink so much alcohol!’ and then the next minute you’re freezing your butt off outside your local pub smoking a cigarette and downing a pint. Before I tackle these types of habits we have to look at why

you’re prepared to freeze your butt off to fill your lungs with acrid smoke that will kill you, and why you feel the need to drink so much after all the booze consumed over the festive period. Both counselling and hypnotherapy can help in various ways with these, but one thing is for sure - if you don’t truly want to quit, you won’t.

These are not just habits, they’re self defeating behaviours and we need to figure out why you feel the need to indulge in them in the first place. There’s a pay-off. We need to identify it, deal with it and then you can move on.

I’ll Sort My Relationship Issues I do take on many enquiries to do with relationships breaking down over, or just after, the festive period. Just as the divorce lawyers take soooooo many enquiries in February, so do us counsellors. We deal with couples seeking counselling, or individuals who are unhappy in their relationships. We also see people who are single and just can’t seem to find someone suitable and they start to wonder if there is something wrong with them! No matter what it is, counselling can help. We explore the issues in a safe, non judgemental environment.

You may be shocked at what you find out about your relationship patterns! In terms of couples counselling, it is common for us to see couples where one person wants to make a change more than the other. Do bear this in mind before contacting us, we will try to help you the best we can, but we cannot persuade anyone not to end - or to end - a relationship!

Just another note to end this article on. We do get a lot of enquiries from people who then do not respond to our response. Please check your voicemails and junk mail in case a counsellor has replied to your enquiry. Also, before you make an enquiry, try writing down a list of reasons you want counselling. Keep this with you as a boost to encourage you to make that first appointment - and potentially change your life forever. I genuinely don’t know where I would be if I hadn’t seen my counsellor all those years ago.

Happy New Year from all of us at Chelmsford Therapy Rooms!

If anyone is interested in seeing a therapist, I own and run Chelmsford Therapy Rooms. We have a range of therapists that can help with a multitude of issues. We offer many therapies from hypnotherapy to counselling to nutrition. Please see the website www.chelmsfordtherapyrooms.co.uk, or you can email info@ chelmsfordtherapyrooms.co.uk, or call 0330 100 5162.

Like Us On Facebook facebook.com/moulshamtimes

Follow Us On Twitter twitter.com/moulshamtimes

To advertise in either of our magazines please email ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk

Is your conservatory roof leaking?

Is it freezing in the winter and roasting in the summer?

Noisy when it rains?

A tapco UPVC lightweight slate roof is what you need making your old conservatory roof cool in the summer warm in the winter never leaks again and looks amazing!!! Save thousands of pounds with us!

• New roofs • Roof repairs • Soffits • Fascias • Guttering • Moss removal • Fibre glass flat roofing 01206 807 598 / 07506 367 774 www.roofservicesessex.com info@roofservicesessex.com

After

Before

Colchester based family run business Public Liability Insurance

All major credit cards accepted

Dr Lanka & Skin Sense GP Clinic team would like to invite you to celebrate the opening of their New Clinic in Chelmsford Councillor Linda Denston - Deputy Mayor & Sir Simon Burns MP (Chelmsford)

Save the Date - 21 January 2017 11am - 6pm Aesthetics Wrinkle Relaxing Injections Dermal Fillers Lip Fillers Acne Rx Chemical Peels Migraine Rx Hyperhydrosis Rx Private GP Family Planning IV Nutrition Slimming & Weight Loss Hair Loss Rx

Dr Souyma Lanka MBBS, MRCGP, DRCOG, DFFP, DCH Dr Lanka is a fully qualified GP and Aesthetic Doctor from a Surgical background. She has worked at the prestigious St Andrews Burns and Plastics unit at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford and completed her GP rotation in various Hospitals around the area. She is a Trainer for Sexual Health & Family Planning, training many Doctors & Nurses for the last 5yrs.

Live Demo’s & Short Talks Mini Consultations Free Skin & Hair Analysis Free registration for private GP

She is offering patients Private GP, Family Planning Services & a range of treatments to help minimise the appearance of Premature Skin Ageing, Skin Damage, Hyperpigmentation, Acne, Sun damage, Hair loss Rx & Weight loss Rx. She is also an authorised provider of Obagi Medical Skin Care & IV Nutrition.

42 New Street Chelmsford CM1 1PH

01245 206106 / 07954 303152

www.skinsensegpclinic.com

Exclusive Offers Cannap’es / Drinks Goodie Bags

From County Hall by Cllr Dick Madden

On behalf of Kathryn and myself I do hope you and your families had a wonderful, happy and healthy Christmas and now we enter into the New Year of 2017 - Happy New Year!

I have attached a photograph of Father Christmas and his elves at the Moulsham Lodge Community Centre Christmas Fair.

Residents said Father Christmas looked like me but it can’t be; it was the real Father Christmas!!!! What a great day, I spoke to Father Christmas and he had a great time meeting the many children and their families and I do especially hope the children got the presents that they asked for.

about the election over the coming months not only from myself but all candidates in our area. So enough of that, let us now progress through our winter and look forward to spring.

I am not sure what the weather will hold for us this winter but as usual I have stocked up our area with rock salt especially for our footpaths. The past few years have been quite mild and suggestions are it could be similar this year but if not, I have salt. So contact me if I can be of some assistance.

Oh by the way, in the Old Moulsham area, the 20mph zone is slowly progressing and we are now going into a formal consultation process when we again will receive letters from ECC Highways Department.

Please take the time to respond; yes I know it is taking time, but we will all get there eventually.

Please continue to communicate with me on not only ECC matters but Chelmsford City Council as well. Most of the time, with all your comments, we generally receive a positive return from both authorities. On occasions we don’t I will continue to explain the reasons why not.

BE SAFE Dick

The organisation that went into the event, especially from all the members of the Moulsham Lodge Community Trust and volunteers, was first class. Well done and on behalf of all the children, THANK YOU. I still can’t believe the real Father Christmas looks like me...

So we have entered the year 2017. I will continue to represent you all as your local County Councillor and in my role as Cabinet Member for Adults and Children for Essex County Council. This is until May this year when the election will take place for Essex County Council as always, every four years and it is my intention to stand again to be considered by you, if I am to represent you. You will hear more

Life T M Hack Paint the tops of keys with different colour nail varnish to identify different keys

From The House by Sir Simon Burns - Sale of Kittens In the weeks leading up to Christmas, I was inundated by justified letters and emails from constituents expressing concerns about kitten farming - a practice that I think is as dreadful as puppy farming.

I find it absolutely appalling that kittens are being sold sick and/or underage, flea or flu ridden, full of worms and with skin and eye diseases. Sadly, in many cases this poor level of welfare can result in significant heartache and veterinary bills for the buyer or the death of the kitten.

I raised this important issue with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and was very encouraged when the Secretary of State responded confirming that the Government is serious about improving the welfare of cats and dogs in both breeding establishments and at point of sale. The Government is now making helpful advice for potential buyers available on www.gov.uk and is exploring other ways in which similar information can reach people considering buying a cat or a dog.

I am pleased that the Government is currently reviewing the laws on the animal activities licensing scheme and in early 2016 consulted on a number of proposals including one to apply specific welfare

conditions to breeders of dogs and to pet vendors. This will mean that such activities will have to meet specific welfare standards in order to obtain a licence.

The standards will apply to all licensed breeders of dogs and vendors of pet animals irrespective if they are running a traditional high street pet shop or selling online from their home. I am greatly encouraged that a requirement is going to be put in place to ensure that animals are not sold at too young an age, which for cats is likely to be at or below 8 weeks. I think it is absolutely vital for this change to be implemented. It was one of the key commitments which those constituents who contacted me wanted to see and the fact that advice on the Government website will change to reflect that kittens should not be purchased if they are under eight weeks of age is very welcome news.

The Government has also said it proposes to remove the exemption which allows anyone in the business of selling kittens bred from the family pet pedigree cat to be exempt from requiring a licence to sell animals.

The UK has a justified reputation as being an animal loving country and I am very pleased that the Government is making these very important changes.

6 www.moulshamtimes.com

www.moulshamtimes.com

7

MT Fitness

5 Steps to a New you in the New Year - By Matt Russell

So, the new year is upon us and you’ve decided that this is the year that you really are going to get fit and lose the weight.

to your health. But we don’t live in an ideal world (if we did, I’d be Brad Pitt rather than just an exceptionally good lookalike) and many of us simply can’t train at the same level of intensity as an Olympian. So at the very least try to find some form of physical or sporting activity which you enjoy doing and aim to do it roughly 2-3 times per week - and if you could throw in some form of weight training too that would be a real bonus!

How are you going to go about it?

Well there are numerous ways, many of which have proved very successful with lots of my clients but on balance, the following method has proved to be the most fruitful and therefore the reason I want to share it with you.

1. Set Yourself a Target Just as a game of archery without a target proves futile, for many (not all) so does trying to lose weight without having a calorie target.

So how do you set yourself a target? Some experts recommend you base it on your current weight, others recommend you base it on your target weight - that is the weight you’d like to be in the future. Either way there are numerous apps out there that will do the maths for you! But if you do fancy yourself as a bit of a Carol Vorderman (minus the botox) a relatively quick and easy ‘estimate’, as recommended by leading nutrition expert Lyle McDonald, is 10-12 calories per day per 1lb of body weight.

Note that I highlighted the word ‘estimate’ because it is just that and will likely have to be adjusted. As with all methods of calorie estimation, be they done using an app or the method used above or something similar, they will probably have to be adjusted based on how you respond to the diet. For example, if you are extremely active you may have to increase the total, if you are really inactive or drastically overweight you’ll likely have to reduce the total. At the very least it’s a starting point from which to work from.

At this point, I would also recommend setting a macronutrient target, that is working out what percentage of the total daily calories should come from fats, proteins and carbohydrates, but I realise this may be a little too detailed, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me if you’d like some help with this. But as a simple guide try to get plenty of your calories from protein.

2. Act Like You’re a Nosy, Curtain Twitching Neighbour and Track Everything (Well at Least for a Couple of Weeks) Now that you’ve got a calorie target, spend the next few weeks tracking what you eat. Inspect food labels, weigh your food, work out portion sizes, in fact do whatever you can to make sure you become more aware of how many calories you are consuming and exactly where those calories are coming from.

4. Be Like Madonna and Holiday (Not Fall over at the Brit Awards, or Wear a Cone-Shaped Bra) As Madonna famously sung ‘if we took a holiday… it would be so nice’ and as we all know, a holiday is nice. But don’t worry I’m not suggesting that you book 2 weeks in Barbados, but I do recommend that 6-8 weeks into your diet you should book yourself a 1 week break away from it.

When you have your diet break don’t treat it as an ‘all-inclusive’ where you shovel food and drink down your old Gregory Peck (neck) with reckless abandon, but approach it as time where you can relax a little and treat yourself to a few extra treats here and there! Now I know this may seem counterintuitive to some, but taking a diet break allows you to relax and ready yourself psychologically for the further dieting that is to come.

5. Go Back to the Start and Repeat the Process After your diet break, revaluate your calorie target and get straight back on with your diet and training. After all, by virtue of the fact that you have been on a diet for at least the previous month and a half there should be less of you. That is, you should have lost weight and now be smaller in size than you were at the start of the diet, meaning you now require less calories each day. Once you’ve set yourself a new calorie target revaluate your exercise too. Could you increase this a little? And of course, don’t forget to plan yourself another diet break somewhere in the forthcoming weeks.

To book your free health and fitness assessment, or your free personal training session, or to book a place at my boot clamp class, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Matt matt@mlrpt.co.uk, www.mlrpt.co.uk, 07939 316 401, twitter.com/mlrpt, facebook.com/mlrpt.

Now I know this may seem about as much fun as a night out with Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg (don’t know who this fella is? Google him, he makes Michael Owen look like Keith Richards) but you won’t have to do it for long, just for a few weeks. From then you can begin to roughly guesstimate things based on your new found knowledge rather than measuring all the time.

3. Train Like an Olympian (Well Kind Of) In an ideal world you’d have the physical capacity, as well as the time, to begin training like an Olympian. That is, be able to do plenty of weight training and plenty of cardio without any repercussions www.moulshamtimes.com

8

O STEOPATHY & S PORTS M ASSAGE IN C ENTRAL C HELMSFORD We’re here to help...

Back Pain Sports Injuries Joint Pain Muscle Strains Sciatica & more...

Michelle Hancock Osteopath

01245 522 360

32 Rochford Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 0EF FREE PARKING

Tony Miller

Sports Massage Therapist

Chris Branch Osteopath

info@fortephysicalhealth.co.uk www.fortephysicalhealth.co.uk facebook.com/fortephysicalhealth

Low Back Pain – Effective vs Efficient Have you ever had that annoying thing happen where you do something the same way you always do it and then, ‘ping’ - your back goes?

‘How could that happen?’ you ask, ‘I do the same thing every day!’.

I hear this a lot in the clinic and every time I do, a little thought goes through my head: yes, your movements are effective, but are they efficient?

Being ‘effective’ means we get the job done. We pick up that box, we bend down and tie our shoe laces, we reach into that high cupboard and that’s all our brain cares about. We are what’s known as ‘task driven’. All we think about is the task at hand, but how our body does it goes under the radar - it’s ‘subconscious’. Well, that is until we’re in pain! Then suddenly it becomes very conscious!

However, to be ‘efficient’ means to do the task with clean movement, your body being an integrated whole. Efficient movement doesn’t put too much load on any one part, but uses ‘load sharing’ across all the muscles and joints.

If you sit in a coffee shop and gaze out the window, just take a peek at the people walking by. It doesn’t take a trained eye to see the difference between effective and efficient. Everyone is getting from A to B, so they are being effective, but some walk with pride and grace.

Who is more at risk of injury?

How do we become more efficient? Well, we need to stretch and strengthen ourselves to cope with the life we live. We need to think about our posture, particularly when at the computer or on our phones - this is a modern phenomenon which evolution hasn’t prepared us for! We need to move regularly, so our bodies don’t lose what they once had.

If you do struggle with pain, seeking advice from an expert can help you identify the weaknesses and show you the path to efficient movement.

If you have any questions, please get in touch at chris@fortephysicalhealth.co.uk, or at facebook.com/fortephysicalhealth. We love to chat!

Have a healthy month!

MT Gardening

What with the weather being so mild at the moment, it’s best to take stock of the range of gardening jobs to do over the next few months.

For me, I’m going to concentrate on moving plants to better locations and plugging gaps with new perennials under-planted with bulbs to extend the season. This is such a quick win. If you’ve got deciduous perennials it is also worth under-planting these with bulbs - not right up to the trunk, but just within the canopy. Here are a few other suggestions to keep you busy…

Tidying up in Readiness for the Christmas Break!

Remove decaying plants and leaves from ponds. Gather up leaves and store them for next year’s compost. Make holes in a plastic sack and fill with leaves, adding a little water if very dry. Tuck away out of sight until next autumn when the leaf mould will have broken down.

When you are doing this, if you find leaves from beneath your roses which have had black spot, these should be incinerated to control future disease spread.

Tidy messy areas of the garden when everything has died back and revealed where attention is needed. It’s also an excellent time to think of what to do with any gaps that may appeal, such as fresh planting, use of bedding etc Clean cold frame glass and greenhouse windows; light levels are low

enough without added grime. This will set you up nicely for the next growing season, or it gives you some extra space to place recently sown perennials for over-wintering.

Wash out pots and seed trays then sort by size so you’re ready and organised for spring sowing.

Remove bindweed by digging up plants to untangle their roots - it’s a perfect time to deal with this pest growing through herbaceous perennials. The classic bright white roots of this creeper are easy to see and can be striped out with not much trouble.

Clean out bird nesting boxes - wear gloves to avoid any parasites there are some great news ones to be found in your garden centres plus don’t forget insect houses to add to corners of the garden.

Loads of wildlife use them, from bees to lacewings!

After stormy weather, check for broken branches and stems and prune back to healthy wood to prevent further damage.

Lightly prune roses to prevent wind rock. Simply cut back the whole plant - if a modern bush rose - by a third to half. Proper pruning will continue around February/March.

Resist pruning hydrangeas - the dead flowers will protect bulbs from the frost. Absolutely true for the ‘mop’ headed types; Hydrangea macrophylla and also the wall subspecies, petiolaris. Also the frosted flower heads look really attractive.

This is also an ideal time to prune soft fruits such as gooseberries, currants and cane types, although this can be completed anytime now through to bud burst in the spring. And although Christmas is behind us now you could still treat yourself to a fabulous book that I use: RHS Pruning and Training, the definitive practical guide to pruning and training.

Plant new hedges. Work compost and bonemeal or a similar slowrelease fertiliser into the soil to ensure they establish well.

Plant bare-root and container-grown trees and bare-root roses. Check that you aren’t planting too deeply, no deeper than the pot you buy it in or where the nursery mark is (when plants are removed from soil as bare rooted there will be a colour change just above the root system, known as the ‘nursery mark’).

Happy festivities 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.

Old Moulsham Open Gardens - 18th June 2017

Our Open Gardens events are a lovely way to show off your garden to visitors, bring the local community together and raise vital funds for Farleigh Hospice at the same time. A wide variety of gardens help make this event, so it doesn’t matter if your garden is big or small.

If you or your neighbours would like to participate, please contact Debbie de Boltz on either 01245 457 352, or email debbie.de.boltz@ farleighhospice.org.

10

Remember to tell our advertisers you saw their advert in the MT

www.moulshamtimes.com

GREAT NEW OFFERS BEST SERVICE • 8 WHEEL GRABS AND TIPPER LORRIES • ALL SIZE SKIPS AVAILABLE OPENING TIMES: MONDAY – FRIDAY 7AM – 5PM SATURDAY 8AM – 1PM

CALL 01245 248049 If you need Fresh Flowers, Sundries or Plants Eleflora is where you need to go.

Located on the Widford Industrial Estate in Chelmsford we have all you’ll need.

All our flowers are brought fresh from the Dutch auction on a daily basis.

Tel - 01245 231074

Web shop - www.eleflora.co.uk Email - sales@eleflora.co.uk Visit - 15-17 Russell Way, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 3AA www.moulshamtimes.com

11

Music and Blues in the City by Nick Garner Another year gone and its now hello 2017, so let the music begin!

I ended the year with some fun. We had our show at the football club with Who’s Next and the Jam Project, which was a fantastic night. If you pick up a copy of the City Times you can read my review of that show as well as the last Blues in the City show of 2016.

I have just had a great little break in Ghent in Belgium with Jan and my mate Dave who showed us all around the city and the bars and the wonderful Christmas market. The city has so much history that Dave knows all about and we know we have to go back to see more.

Through a musical friend of mine I was put in touch with a booking agent, Tineke, who lives in Ghent. Tineke invited us to an acoustic jam session in one of the bars. We turned up and the place was packed. Tineke and I recognised each other through Facebook and she invited us to join them which we did. This was a high standard of playing - double bass and guitar and vocals to start. I was standing at the bar and thought, there is a trumpet playing - and turned around to look, and it was the guy on guitar using his voice. He was great and had a great singing voice as well. They were then joined by another guitarist and singer, all acoustic and all young and wow can they play and sing. Tineke asked if I had harmonicas with me (of course I did!) and I was invited to join them. I played on two songs and had a great time. They then, seemingly out of nowhere, produced a piano and another young guy (19) got on it with a harmonica and played a few tunes. We had a great time and they were all so welcoming. We cannot wait to return.

So now to look forward to 2017. Blues in the City will for most of the year be on a Thursday night and already most of the gigs are booked.

We have lots of amazing acts and quite a few new ones for you as well. We kick off at the Bassment on Saturday 7th January where we will be showcasing two of our brightest young talents and their amazing bands. Ths will be a double header show with 19 year old Connor Selby, who has won a scholarship to Berklee College of Music and is rated as number one in the world.

also done for Blues in the City. I am not sure that I will do my Blues in the City festival this year, or at least not in the same way that I have in the past. We have a few ideas for 2017 and want live music and culture to be part of Chelmsford, to put Chelmsford on the map for more than just V Festival. To make Chelmsford the place to come to for a good cultural experience (if you have any thoughts or ideas, do not hesitate to contact me).

I am sure you are all aware of the great music venues we have from the pubs to the clubs and theatres and the football club, and if you know of anything going on that the public can attend (whether it’s paid for entry or free) do let us know and we will list it in our What’s On guide in the City Times. For the February/March edition we need to know by the end of January (for events taking place between Friday 17th February to Sunday 19th March). All the dates are in the City Times. Send your info to editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk.

We look forward to seeing you and hearing from you throughout the year, in what is now the beginning of our fifth year with this edition of the Moulsham Times.

Remember, if you play and are not in a band or are playing solo, there are lots of open mics and jams happening all over the county, so go out and give it a go and enjoy. They are also great events to just go and watch as you never know who may turn up, just like at the Bassment Blues Jam, when Suzi Quatro not only played, she also sat and took the door money as well.

As ever, without you coming out to watch and support all the live music we may lose it.

Keep up to date with Blues in the City at www.bluesinthecity.co.uk, www.facebook.com/bluesinthecitychelmsford, Twitter @BluesintheCity1.

Also playing will be 20 year old Joe Anderton, who took himself out of music college to form his band to just get out there and play. Both are great songwriters and amazing guitarists with good voices and have surrounded themselves with great musicians, so come and see them play live and see what all the hype is about and it is only £5 entry from 8pm.

On Thursday 19th January we open our new Thursday nights with a bang - Peter Davidson & Infinite Blue. Peter is an American who lives in Paris and has an amazing top flight UK band. Supporting we have LaVendore Rogue, a duo who are none other than Joel Fisk (multi best guitarist nominated player) and Jo Jo Burgess on vocals - they are fab and if you have not seen them you should do.

On Saturday 28th January we kick off the at the Chelmsford City Football Club with a blues/soul double header with Rebecca Downes, winner of Best Female Vocals and Best Emerging Artist in the British Blues Awards 2016. She will have her full band with her too. Coheadlining with her is the Dove & Boweevil Band who have been multi award nominated for the last couple of years. The two women in these two bands have two of the greatest voices I know of and they are two of the best bands I know of as well. I promise you, you will not be disappointed and they will have you up and dancing I am sure.

The rest of 2017 at the football club is looking good as well, with some great acts lined up already, such as Zoot Money and his Big Roll Band, Fresh Cream and Pete Brown, The Hot Red Chilli Peppers, Supersonic 70s, The Kast off Kinks (who are three ex members of the Kinks), Doctor Feelgood, Limehouse Lizzie, Los Pacaminos (featuring Paul Young) and Who’s Next. So only one left to confirm and that is 2017 full.

As you can see, we have planned and booked ahead, just as I have 12

www.moulshamtimes.com

MT Baking by Alison Motley

This Month It’s All About Doughnuts!

You can’t beat a freshly cooked doughnut. Ok, so they’re not the healthiest thing on the planet being deep fried and sugary and all, but whether ring, yum-yum or cruller shaped and filled with jam, custard or apple, a doughnut is a wonderful thing.

I’ve not yet found a doughnut I haven’t liked. When I was a growing up our local bakery sold enormous doughnut rings studded with tons of dried fruit and generously coated in sugar and cinnamon. They were dense and always slightly over cooked, but they were my favourite.

We lovingly called them ‘half hour doughnuts’ in our family as that’s how long it took to eat one!

The continuing popularity of doughnuts has spawned a whole range of new styles and flavours. Why have jam when you can have hibiscus or pistachio and rose? How about artisan sourdough doughnuts or savoury bacon and cheese doughnuts? You can even get a doughnut burger or a doughnut taco - a step too far perhaps! And of course there are the hybrids - cronuts or doughssants (a cross between croissants and doughnuts), duffins (muffins and doughnuts) and macaronuts (macarons and doughnuts).

Doughnuts, or something very similar, are found all around the world.

The most familiar are probably the Spanish or Mexican churros, piped tubes of doughnut traditionally served dipped in a rich hot chocolate.

There are the sophisticated French beignets dusted with icing sugar, and the wiggly Indian jalebi, soaked in sugar syrup flavoured with saffron and cardamom.

In the Netherlands, New Year’s Eve is celebrated with oliebollen (literally ‘oil balls’) - small round doughnuts often studded with fruit and spiced with cinnamon, whilst in Greece tiny loukamades soaked in honey syrup are popular.

Then there are the German Berliners, the Polish pączki, the South African koeksisters and the Moroccan sfenj.

I could go on, and on, and on, but then I wouldn’t have room for a recipe so I had better stop here. I’d love to hear from anyone that has a much loved or unusual doughnut recipe from around the world.

Closer to home and little known outside of the Channel Island of Jersey is the Jersey Wonder - semi sweet twists of egg enriched

dough. Tradition dictated that these should only be cooked as the tide went out as frying them on an incoming tide would result in the cooking oil over flowing the pan! They are less sweet and denser than traditional doughnuts and are never filled with jam or coated in sugar.

On paper they sound quite plain and ordinary but are surprisingly tasty and addictive. Happy baking!

Jersey Wonders (Makes approx. 12) 225g self-raising flour 75g caster sugar 35g cold butter, cubed 2 eggs, lightly beaten Vegetable oil for frying (preferably sunflower or corn oil) 1. Sieve the flour into a large bowl, add the sugar and stir together.

2. Rub the cubed butter into the flour with your fingertips.

3. Add the beaten eggs to the flour and stir well until the dough comes together.

4. With floured hands, knead the dough for a couple of minutes and then divide it into approximately 12 golf ball sized shapes.

5. Place the dough balls on a lightly floured tray and cover with a damp tea towel placed over a couple of upturned mugs to keep it from touching the dough. Leave in a warm room for 2 hours.

6. After 2 hours, roll each ball into an oblong approximately 5cm by 10cm. With a sharp knife make a slit in the centre of each oblong and then twist the top end of the oblong through the slit.

7. Fill a large deep pan half full with vegetable oil. If you have a sugar thermometer, heat the oil to 180C. If you don’t have a thermometer test the temperature of the oil by frying a cube of bread. If it turns golden brown in 1 minute the oil is hot enough.

8. Gently drop two to three Jersey Wonders in at a time. Fry for 2 minutes on each side until golden brown. Carefully remove from the oil and drain on kitchen paper.

Like all doughnuts, Jersey Wonders are best eaten fresh, but these keep surprisingly well in an airtight tin and can be freshened up by popping in the microwave for 10 seconds.

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.

www.moulshamtimes.com

15

Traveller’s Tales: India by John Power Having had my appetite for world travel whetted in the American Mid-West and also having teamed up with a new partner who also enjoyed travelling the world, by 1997 it seemed time to consolidate the connection I had had with India for nearly 30 years. When many of my contemporaries had hit the overland hippie trail to India in the sixties and seventies, I was personally embroiled in a world of nappies and divorce which dominated finances for years to come. I had established instead a correspondence with two British ex-pats living in India, initially by subscribing to a magazine produced by one of them - a Scot called John Spiers who lived in Kerala, South India. Apart from the philosophical content of the magazine, John also taught me serious (as opposed to tabloid) astrology. One of the magazine’s contributors was a Londoner, known to the locals in Gujarat, North West India where he lived, as Dadaji Mahendranath.

He eventually went on to teach me the techniques of tantrik yoga.

By the time of our first Indian trip, both John and Dadaji were dead, so visiting either part of the sub-continent wasn’t going to yield a meeting with either person. I had in any event met Dadaji in London when he returned for a few months, about ten years before he died.

I had painted portraits of both characters and so our mission on the trip was to deliver the one of John to the Narayana Guru Ashram where he had lived in Kerala.

Any first visit to India is bound to yield a fair degree of culture shock to travellers. The first experience of that will be Indian roads, where the law is that the largest prevails. That usually means trucks but you are equally likely to encounter elephants. Both are given great respect as elephants are holy animals to hindus. That is also the case with cows, which are free to roam between the already chaotic and very overcrowded roads. Cars are of limited design, usually old English makes by firms who have sold the jigs for their making to Indian companies. The Morris Oxford is most common and threewheeled tuk-tuks are commonly used as taxis or as small commercial vehicles. Scooters and motorbikes are plentiful and whole families can be seen on them - the man driving, woman on pillion, kiddy between them and often dogs on footplates of scooters. The concept of overloading other goods seems completely absent on push bikes and most other vehicles. For a westerner the impression is that you are taking your life into your own hands when travelling these roads.

This is especially true on coastal roads servicing ports, but much less hair-raising once you get up into the picturesque hills. At least the lorries are highly decorated unlike our plain functional variety, and all part of the colourful outlook of Indians. Their belief in re-incarnation generally seems to make Indians less worried about the safety of their lives. Another example is bamboo poles lashed with rope which they use as scaffolding. Health and safety has made few inroads into Indian working practices.

The capital of Kerala State is Trivandranum, or to give it its full name Thiruvanthapurnam - anglicised for obvious reasons. The capital is not what you would expect from such a title, as stone buildings due to climate and resulting algae, soon become patchy black in discolouration. Bamboo and improvised shacks fill the gaps between the more pemanent looking buildings as dwellings for the population.

The dominant building is that of the god, Lord Siva, built in the Dravidian style of sharply rising heavily sculpted pyramids which vary from the Northerly Aryan style. The algae discolouration makes the temple look run down but sculptural repairs make it clear it is well maintained. The bamboo scaffold climbing masons must feel like mountaineers. In all likelihood it was all colourfully painted once, as is the norm, but monsoons and tropical storms have long since weathered this away.

The gatehouse bears a central image of Ganesh, Siva’s elephantheaded son, and the whole edifice is richly painted at a height that does not require scaffold monkey tricks to put on new coats of paint. In the courtyard craftsmen carve souvenir size sculptures and trinket sellers ply their wares. In the evening we were treated to a performance by a quartet of sitar and tabla drum musicians in the hotel restaurant.

During a day dominated by jet lag we were given an excursion to Periyar Wildlife Park, the centre of which is an artificial lake used as a reservoir, so numerous dead trees rose up out of the water. The ferries (used to take visitors along the lake to view wild elephants and their young, wild boar and a variety of bird life) had seen better days and the familiar feeling of taking our lives into our hands returned.

Jet lag soon overtook me as I fell asleep and ceased to think about drowning.

The following day saw us heading for the railway station en route to the spice growing regions of the Cardomon Hills (we’d call them mountains). On the eastern side, in Tamil Nadu, they are known as the Niligiri Hills. We were told that we were in First Class, but no westerner would recognise this dignification, with hard seats and worn décor. Hawkers wandered through carriages offering Indian snacks to those brave enough to face the hygiene regime and threat of Delhi belly. The views of cottages nestled in semi jungle or open paddy fields were picturesque. On arrival at the station we boarded a minibus with a few others and with relief found the roads less busy as we headed into the hills.

We were heading for a town called Munnar, but en route stopped for lunch again to musical accompaniment, this time by flute, Krishna’s favourite instrument, before carrying on to a tree house hotel. Young children were coming out of school and all asked us for biros for school work, a request often made as we travelled. So if you’re planing a trip, go prepared with these as gifts. We also enountered migrant workers from Tamil Nadu who walked many miles to do picking and back again at night. The following day we saw fruit, spice, cocoa and rubber taping plantations. As we went higher we were surrounded by tea plantations of bushes that stretched for miles while ladies toiled all day as music was blared across the fields to lessen their leaf picking labours. While stopping for a tea break, we saw a young couple building a new house. The guide said the ground had to be exorcised as the previous dwelling was lived in by an old witch.

In Munnar it was a very colourful time as a festival was in progress.

Hindus need little excuse to have a festival. This one centred on a hilltop temple dedicated to Morugan, second son of Siva and the Goddess Parvati. We investigated the temple the following day through shutters, as the edifice was locked with no priest in residence, but we could clearly see a vast array of mythological murals. In the evening we realised we were running short of money and were told that there was a hotel elsewhere in town which would cash travellers cheques, so set of in the dark amidst the crowds milling around, presumably for the festival. No luck finding the hotel, but we provided the curious locals with entertainment wondering why we were wandering about at that hour. The nearer the equator you get the more equal day and night are, so its usually dark by 7 pm, with no street lighting.

Our own hotel overlooked tin shacks that were people’s homes and that gave us an uncomfortable feeling about the stark contrasts created by the caste system, even though it is supposedly illegal now. The following day we pushed further up into the hills to another wildlife sanctuary, home to a tiny species of deer called the Niligiri thar, and did manage to spot one through binoculars. Near the top of the hills we could see a freak of nature in the distance, called Elephant Mountain, where a huge natural image of the front view an elephant can amazingly be discerned.

From Munnar our route, after a visit to a bank, was back down more quiet mountain roads through picturesque scenery to the coast and to the again crazy roads that led to the ancient port of Cochin which has been the centre of international spice trade since before the Romans. Enormous ancient wooden cantilevers operating fishing nets fill one side of the dock and are the legacy of Chinese engineering of a bygone age. The port is also home to a group of surprising immigrants, or rather refugees, from biblical times. A Jewish quarter was established by those fleeing one of their

enslavements, that by King Nebucadrezzar of Babylon. There is also a church dedicated to apostle St Peter who was said to have gone there to evangelise after the crucifixtion, and established what is now known as Thomas christianity. Later churches were built by the Portuguese during their colonial occupation, which included Goa further to the north on this west coast. On our first evening we were treated to the costume dance and drama of a Kathakali performance.

Further manic roads took us next Alleppy on the edge of the lagoons and canals where rice boats once plied their trade. The same boats have more recently been taken over for tourists to hire, along with a pilot and chef. We only took a short trip to an island resort to find there was no bar on the island without another walk in the dark without made up roads. The scenery and native homes were spectacular, but the lack of cold lager was an omission of some import, as was the lack of air conditioning in the ornate teak cabins that made it impossible to sleep because of the heat and us too weary to appreciate the further wildlife of the area in the morning haze.

The following day we split from friends who chose to go to the beach resort of Varkala, which is fast becoming a hippie hangout like Goa, while we and a few others headed for the beaches of Kovalam further south.

At the hotel in Kovalam another culture shock awaited us in the shape of Marxist posters opposite the building. Kerala is an elected communist state - one of two in India. If we tired of the hotel food there was plenty more choice in the numerous beach bars, which again mimic Goa’s beaches. They could be better for lighting too, being equipped with lamps and bottled gas cookers. Mains electricity was rationed and often the hotel was plunged into darkness for an hour or so and had to depend on lamps and candles too. The hotel pool had a submarinal bar on the customers’ side and provided a good way of keeping cool, sitting on a stool up to your waist in water drinking cold lager. The beach was functional too, lined with long dug-out boats, as tiny children well accustomed to the gigantic waves from the Arabian Sea swam fearlessly. Lighthouse Beach, named

Looking to extend your property?

By Mike Otter

Adding an extension may seem daunting but with the right advice you can gain the extra space that you want whilst increasing the value of your home.

Key to achieving success is establishing what works best for you, your property and your budget.

At GPO Designs we'll guide you at each step in the development process from the capturing of initial ideas, the production and refinement of plans and through the planning and building control stages. Understanding a design from conventional line drawings can be difficult which is why we work with a three dimensional design system and produce colour visuals as standard -see examples of previous jobs at our Facebook page www.facebook.com/GPODesigns.

for obvious reasons, was a more built-up resort with souvenir shops and plumbed-in cafes and bars just the other side of a rocky outcrop but easily accessible for more variety of choice. As we wandered the area we also found the post office to post John Spiers portrait to the ashram. We could hear explosions as we walked, which turned out to be rock blasting. Lorries brought the rock to the roadside, where men with sledgehammers reduced the pieces to smaller rocks, while ladies under woven palm leaf shades used hammers to reduce them to shingle to surface the road.

Brenda (my partner) worked as a road traffic engineer at that time.

The ladies seemed to sense a certain inequity to their kind of road engineering and a western one that enabled flights to far of beach resorts! Our walks made us miss an excursion to Cape Cormorin, India’s most southerly tip before Sri Lanka to go to another festival, but there was everywhere much of interest, so we didn’t feel we’d missed out, before we had to face the crazy roads again to Trivandranum Airport. Things may have changed there since 1997 but with my observations of rural India, I doubt it.

Museum Art Exhibition Open to all-comers, the exhibition opened to the public on Saturday

3rd December at the Chelmsford and Essex Museum in Oaklands Park and will remain open well into 2017, so if you were wondering what to do in the new year, come along and see.

It was 1977 when I staged my first exhibition at the museum, which gave me confidence to organize several more throughout my working life. It was nice to be asked to help judge and advise on hanging the work of this exhibition, which contains a wealth of skillfully crafted landscapes, still lifes, figure and animal paintings as well as inventive abstract designs, preview opened by Essex sculptor John Doubleday on Friday 2nd December.

I hope that it likewise helps those exhibiting to continue with their work and to be able to show it. By John Power

GPO DESIGNS Planning for your property Drawings and Building Plans for Planning Permission and Building Regulations: ♦ Extensions ♦ New Builds ♦ Garage Conversions ♦ Loft Conversions ♦ Barn Conversions

Our design service starts with a consultation at your property where we discuss and help to develop your ideas.

Measurements and photographs are then taken to allow us to draw up detailed plans. We communicate with you throughout the design process and only once you are completely happy with the design will we then submit the plans to the Local Authority for approval. We produce plans and details for planning permission, permitted development and building regulations applications.

Our aim is to provide a high quality service at the best possible price. We offer fixed rates for our services and these can be found on our website: www.gpodesigns.co.uk. So if you are looking to build a new house, add an extension or a garden room, or if you want a loft, garage or barn conversion, call Mike or George for a free no obligation quote on 01245 835855, or visit our website for further details of our full range of services. We offer daytime, weekend or evening appointments to suit you.

Our Artists Impressions help you to see what's possible

■ Daytime, Weekend or Evening Appointments to suit you `

 01245 835855

www.gpodesigns.co.uk 8 Willow Grove, South Woodham Ferrers.

■ Fast Track Service ■ Free Advice

Childrens Quiz (Answers on Page 31) 1. In The Simpsons, what are the names of Bart’s sisters?

2. Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?

3. What food makes up 99% of a giant panda’s diet?

4. What are female elephants called?

5. True or false - cats spend an average of 13 to 14 hours a day sleeping...

6. How many legs does a spider have?

7. Which country gave us the words shampoo and pyjamas?

8. Which is taller, the Eiffel Tower or the Statue of Liberty?

9. What is a group of lions called?

11. What is Harry Potter’s middle name?

12. How many years are there in a millennium?

13. What is the name of the fairy in Peter Pan? 14. What does water turn in to when it freezes?

15. Who runs the chocolate factory in Roald Dahl’s book?

16. What town do the Simpsons live in?

17. What is 8 x 8?

18. What is 6 x 3?

19. Which metal is heavier, silver or gold?

20. Which star is nearest to Earth?

10. Singer Justin Bieber was born in which country?

Family Friendly Jokes What did one wall say to the other wall?

I’ll meet you at the corner!

What do you call a pig that knows karate?

A pork chop!

What animal needs to wear a wig?

A bald eagle!

Why do bees have sticky hair?

Because they use honey combs!

18 www.moulshamtimes.com

Spot Nine differences (answers on page 30)

Nobody Needs a Coach

You may think that having a title stating that nobody needs a coach is rather contradictory, especially when it is coming from a coach. You might expect me to be pushing something a bit more sales-like; something to attract more clients. Well of course it is always nice to have more clients, but the truth is that coaching isn’t for everybody. It is a big commitment and I only want to work with committed clients who are ready to succeed in their transformation. Coaching should be truly transformational, because when a great coach is working with a motivated and totally committed client, amazing things can happen.

Potential clients often ask about the coaching models that I will use and how this would be applied in a coaching relationship. It is a great question and I fully understand why it is asked, but if you have ever considered coaching and carried out any research into what it is, you may be a little surprised by my response to this.

I tell people that I do not use a templated coaching model or have a specific, pre-formatted agenda. I tell them that if I was to coach them, they would be the agenda, they would be my focus - everything that I provide as their coach would derive from them. I explain how they are unique and that there isn’t a coaching model in existence that could possibly cater for each and every person.

I also tell them, truthfully, that coaching cannot easily be explained; it can never adequately be sold through an explanation. Coaching needs to be experienced to be fully appreciated and that is when the magic can happen.

Coaching must be transformational, anything less than that is motivational hype with short-term effects. Consider the sales-talk that convinced you to buy that new car - it sounded fantastic when the salesman was regaling you with its beautiful looks, fuel economy and other features. Remember when you were viewing it through those rose-tinted glasses in the showroom and listening to the sales-talk?

You convinced yourself that you not only wanted it but you positively needed it. How long was it before the hype wore off as you gradually incorporated the car into your life and normality resumed? Coaching must never be like that, it should be unforgettable and resonate long into your future.

A good coach will want to know every aspect of your desired goals.

An excellent coach will dig deep into your goals to establish the goal behind the goal - the force that is driving the desire for coaching. A masterful coach will challenge your view of the world and your place within it. They will challenge you to raise your personal awareness and your awareness of others around you. A masterful coach will help you to show up differently enabling you to view your world through different lenses. When you view tyour world differently your world changes around you. You will able to do things that previously seemed impossible.

I have found that success in coaching depends upon a combination of factors: A good coaching relationship, committed and motivated clients and of course, skilful coaching.

You may be asking yourself why, if you are already so committed and motivated, you would want to engage a coach? The answer to this question is in the title of the article: Nobody needs a coach.

The reason for this is that personal coaching is an option, a lifestyle choice and commitment and motivation are not always enough.

A personal coach is not there to be your friend, they are there to challenge you and your view of what is possible for you. Your coach is there to ask you questions that no one else would dare to ask. Your coach is there to challenge you every step of the way until you achieve the transformation you desire.

Before you even consider engaging a personal coach, you will need to be sure that you are ready for the commitment it requires. If you are ready to make that choice and you find the right coach, I am certain that you will never look back.

To your success…

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

You may be thinking that you only want to be coached around one aspect of your life or work. Something that needs tweaking a little bit, not a life transformation! This is fine and not unusual and there are coaches out there who cater for every type of situation. You will always be able to find a coach that works in your area of interest.

As a coach, I am interested in engaging with clients at a more profound level and It has been my experience that people who show up for coaching with one objective invariably have underlying desires that may not be immediately apparent. There is invariably a ‘goal behind the goal.’ I am interested in uncovering that hidden treasure, because that is where the magic of transformation lies.

Coaching is undoubtedly a special relationship between client and coach and it is a relationship like no other. It is not therapy, or counselling and it is not just a motivational speech. It is a transformational relationship, for both parties.

Coaching can rarely be sold as a product, it needs be experienced to appreciate its magic. Whenever I am talking to a prospective client and asked what coaching involves I may invite them to experience coaching in real-time, so they can really appreciate the benefits first hand. This also provides an opportunity to establish whether we would be a ‘good fit’ as coach and client.

Coaching should never be considered an easy choice, it is a holistic process and your coach will dig deeply into your life and experiences.

20

www.moulshamtimes.com

Give me an upgrade - by Felson Guitars A good way of giving new life to a guitar or bass is to customise it.

This is suitable for an instrument where you are happy with how it feels to play, but it is somehow lacking in sound or presence.

Replacement pickups can transform a guitar or bass. Changing some cheap pickups for some quality ones will almost certainly give you a better and fuller sound. Try Seymour Duncan or DiMarzio for a vintage or rock tone or EMG for a more ‘metal’ sounding pickup.

You could take this one stage further and replace your mass produced pickups with handmade scatter wound pickups costing around £200 for a set. Before Gibson and Fender automated their pickup production they would have hand wound them. This caused the copper wire to build up on the pickup bobbins in a random pattern unlike the evenly wound machine ones and many people think the early pickups sounded better.

Active circuits are another good way to improve your sound, particularly in basses. Active pre-amps boost the volume and the tone controls of your guitar or bass and so give you a wider spectrum of sound. Active circuits have now got so small that you can often fit them in under the scratch-plate (including the battery) without the need to rout holes into the body.

Installing or replacing pickups onto acoustic instruments is a good way to add an acoustic element to your stage set. There has never been more choice either. An under-saddle pickup can be fitted easily many now have the pre amp attached to the end pin jack, so only one hole is needed to fit one. Sound-hole pickups are a very good way to amplify your acoustic and also sound amazing (less brittle and glassy sounding than some under-saddle systems).

Changing the plastic top-nut for a bone, brass or graphite one will give any guitar or bass more focus and improve the sustain of the

notes. A bone or graphite saddle improves acoustic instruments as well.

If you feel you want to personalise the look of your guitar, there is also a huge choice of replacement pickup covers, knobs, scratch-plates, transfers and hardware. Music shops (in the high street or online) will give you plenty of ideas about price and what is available.

Another way of personalising the look is to have it resprayed or have a ‘relic’ finish - but that will not be cheap if it is to be done well.

Most of these options will be cheaper than purchasing a new instrument and you get to choose your preferred parts. So why not decide what you want to change and give it an upgrade?

Deadlines for the February edition Articles - 20th January Print ready art work - 26th January

Life T M Hack

Use a heat rub, the type you would rub on sore muscles, to help loosen a frozen lock

Wine Corner

Hello everyone, I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and I wish you a happy and prosperous 2017. As I write this, the weather is unseasonably warm - so much so that I think we had days colder than this in July in Scotland. So next year, I think we will holiday in December!

This month I am starting with the changes to labels on French wine.

I noticed recently that some were a bit different, so I had a look to see what has happened. The changes I am talking about are in the descriptions of the appellation, which is the legally defined system of identifying where the grapes were grown.

In 2010, Vin de France replaced Vin de Table (table wine) which is the lowest category. With the old category, the label did not show the grape variety or the vintage. This is no longer the case. Another important fact to note is that although this is the lowest category, some growers may meet the criteria for higher category wines but have broken the appellation rules by, for example, growing grapes that are not permitted in that area. In these cases the wine will be of better quality than some of the traditional Vin de France.

Indication Geographique Protegee (IGP) has replaced Vin de Pays since 2012. These are wines that are made from any grape and are mainly blends from a number of different areas.

Appellation d’Origine Protegee (AOP) is essentially the old AOC. Most other countries have grading systems, and even in France different regions have variations. In Burgundy for example, the highest level is Grand Cru but only about 2% of the vineyards are classified as this. Premier Cru is the next level and shows the village and vineyard on the label. Those wines with village on the label, Macon village for example, is wine from a number of different villages. Grand and Premier Cru are applied to Champagne as well.

Oh no, I’ve been thinking again. I wonder about professional footballers; a lot of them are paid a fortune, but whenever I see a training session on television, everyone in a tracksuit top has their initials on the front. Is it that they cannot remember who their manager or team mates are, or cannot remember their own name and need a clue?

Me and technology don’t get on. I have an iPhone, but it generally just gets me in trouble. The other day we had a leak in a pipe under the sink. I bought a couple of items that I was assured would do the trick, to no avail. Plumbing and me don’t get on either, so I phoned the insurance company. I explained the problem, yes it is covered she said. Everything was going along smoothly until she said, ‘after the bleep, put in the 16 digit card number.’ I then take about twenty seconds to find the key pad and start pressing the keys. Oops gone wrong. How do I go back and change a number? I don’t know what to press, unfortunately the call gets cancelled. Phone them again, but just as I am telling the computerised voice my policy number, the landline rings. It is my new friend from the insurance company. Sorry I lost your call, shall we try again, OK, after the bleep, enter your 16... etc. It took me three separate phone calls before I managed to get it right! Moral of the story, just because you have a smart phone it doesn’t mean you’re smart, especially if you even struggle to make a phone call on it! By the way, the plumber came later in the day and the pipe is fixed.

result of scientific studies.

I have been looking at some hangover cures from around the world. Just for interest mind, I am not suggesting you should try most of them.

The Scots go for a big fry up the following day.

What better, after all the drinking the night before, than a good greasy cooked breakfast?

Australia go for the Vegemite (Marmite) on toast. Well, pretty harmless so far!

Norwegians like to use Lutefisk, dried cod that has been soaked in lye (a liquid metal hydroxide). Don’t fancy that!

The French? Onion soup, bread and cheese. A bit more strange is the cure from Haiti, where they stick thirteen pins in the cork from the bottle that the alcohol was in. Can’t see that one working and I would probably end up pricking my finger. Mind you, that may take my thoughts away from the headache.

What about trying the Mongolian cure, a glass of tomato juice (so far so good) with a pickled sheep’s eyeball in it? I think I would rather have the headache...

If you go to Hungary, you may be offered a cure by a friendly native of that country - but be warned, it will be sparrow droppings in brandy.

Well kingfisher droppings maybe, but sparrow? I don’t think so, very down market.

The good old Romans may have had a big contribution to wine making but when it came to hangover cures, not so good, as they ate a deep fried canary. Headache gone and they could whistle lovely tunes (not really, I made that bit up).

Be careful, in Italy their favourite is dried bulls’ ‘bits’ - also not to my taste.

Finally one I could cope with. In a lot of African countries you will be offered a mixture of clotted cream, dark rum, spiced rum, cream liqueur and whole cream. Well, get the wine out, along with a ticket to Africa!

Bin end chuckles: I do hate it when people get sayings wrong. It’s not rocket surgery.

If you want a successful relationship, find someone who likes the same thermostat setting as you.

Keep calm and carry on drinking (in moderation).

I guess that, at this time of year, some of us may end up with a hangover or two, so I thought that I would see what I could discover about the various remedies.

£29 9

The obvious one is drink plenty of water - not surprising as it is dehydration that is the main cause of what we call a hangover.

One step along from that is caffeine-free soda. A bit less known is ginger or peppermint tea - or what about asparagus as long as it is in season? You could try banana and pretzels or perhaps the age old coffee and aspirin. They are all supposed to have been found as the 22

www.moulshamtimes.com

www.moulshamtimes.com

23

Rotary - What do Rotarians Do? Rotary has a bit of an image problem.

The average man or woman in the street doesn’t know what Rotarians do as a rule, but around the Christmas period there is almost an expectation that you will see members out in force doing all sorts of wonderful activities to benefit the local community.

In High Chelmer you will see Rotarians from the Chelmsford Phoenix Rotary Club, augmented by a few hardy souls from other local clubs, singing their hearts out to entertain the shoppers and raising a few pounds in the process. This has been going on for a few years and whilst no-one pretends they are the Treorchy Male Voice Choir, it does bring cheer and smiles to the public.

Chelmsford Rotary Club and treated to a drink and ice cream during the interval.

Chelmer Bridge Club visits Broomfield Hospital on Christmas Day and takes on some menial tasks so the nurses can have respite, and it also really does make a difference to sick patients who have to be spending Christmas away from family.

The five clubs in Chelmsford were also much in evidence at a concert by young people at Chelmsford Cathedral in December which also featured children with learning difficulties who were absolutely wonderful. The New Year’s Day concert at the Cathedral is also being organised by Chelmer Bridge on 2nd January and the audience will be entertained by The Essex Youth Orchestra and The Essex Youth Chamber Choir. Rotary is always helping to promote our local talent.

In addition to the above, Rotarians will have visited schools with Rotary connections. There is a part of Rotary called Rotakids and this is for 7 -11 year olds. The children are so enthusiastic and they learn that there are many less fortunate people in the world and so they have campaigns to help such as collecting books or spectacles to be sent overseas. For older children (12-18) there is Interact and it is astonishing how caring these students can be - these are probably going to be the Rotarians of the future.

You too can be a Rotarian of the future but you can do it now. If you would like to put something back into the community and make a whole lot of new friends on the way, why not give me a call or visit www.chelmsfordrotary1240.org? It may be the best decision you make this year.

Hope you all had a good Christmas and have a healthy and peaceful New Year.

Come rain or shine you will see Rotarians from Chelmsford clubs standing outside supermarkets and the railway station giving cheery greetings to shoppers and commuters whilst holding a collection tin in aid of local good causes. When the lights were turned on in the High Street, once again you could find Rotarians manning the mulled wine and mince pies stall to warm parents with their excited children - and there were soft drinks available too.

Stan Keller 01245 260 349

Some areas away from Chelmsford will see a Rotary Christmas float and again the youngsters really look forward to seeing Santa and perhaps we can investigate ways of increasing coverage.

It’s not all fundraising although this is an important aspect. For example, money collected will pay for the pantomime visit to see Jack and The Beanstalk at the Civic Theatre when around 40 elderly residents in Chelmsford will be taken there and back by members of

Life T M Hack For potential eBay bargains use a site that searches out mispelled listings, like www.baycrazy.com or www.goofbid.com

07936 198651

NEW IN TOWN

CITY

BOW L

CHE AP B OW £3.2L I N G PE 5 RG

AM

E

CHELMSFORD 10 LANES OF TEN-PIN BOWLING 12 CHAMPIONSHIP SNOOKER TABLES

6 POOL TABLES THE LONG BAR & HENRI’S GRILL AFFORDABLE FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT HALF THE PRICE OF OTHER LOCAL BOWLING CENTRES FAMILY DINING @ HENRI’S GRILL, BAR SNACKS, CHILDREN’S MENUS, BREAKFASTS, SUNDAY LUNCHES SEE WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS LOCATED ON RIVERMEAD IND ESTATE, HEAD FOR ANGLIA RUSKIN UNIVERSITY BISHOP HALL LANE

www.chelmsfordcitybowl.co.uk find us

Call on 01245 258 117

The Gospel According to Caroline

January brings Epiphany, which is a christian festival commemorated on January 6th.

It falls on the twelfth day after Christmas and for some denominations signals the conclusion of the Christmas season. Though many different cultural and denominational customs are practiced, in general, the feast celebrates the manifestation of God to the world in the form of human flesh through Jesus Christ, his Son. The word epiphany means ‘appearance’, or ‘revelation’ and is commonly linked with the visit of the wise men to the Christ child (Matthew 2:112). We all tend to take stock after Christmas and make resolutions to make changes. We assess our lives and often come up with our own sense of revelation. Though in reality, how many of these ideals last; perhaps instead we should think small.

I found these words which I feel we would all do well to heed: If you want 2017 to be your year...

• • • • • • • • •

Don’t sit on the couch and wait for it.

Go out. Make a change. Smile more. Be excited. Do new things.

Throw away what you have been hoarding. Unfollow negative people on social media.

Go to bed early.

Wake up early.

Don’t gossip.

Show more gratitude.

Do things that challenge you.

Be brave.

(From Lessonslearnedinlife.com)

A network of trusted and reliable retired police officers who provide high quality handyman services to families, individuals and businesses in Essex QUALIFIED ELECTRICAL WORKS, LIGHT FITTINGS, SOCKETS, CURTAINS, BLINDS, SHELVES, PICTURES, FLAT-PACK, PAINTING, DECORATING, WALLPAPER, DRIPPING TAPS, TILING, PLASTER REPAIR, KITCHEN FIT, GENERAL CARPENTRY, CARPENT GUTTERS, DRAINS, LAWNS, HEDGES, FENCING, JET WASH & ALL OTHER ODD JOBS

0800 255 0 255 trustinblue.com

To find out what we exciting things are happening at Christ Church, visit our website www.christchurchchelmsfordurc.org.uk, or our Facebook page at Christ Church URC Chelmsford, or our partner church St John’s, Moulsham Street at www.stjohnsmoulsham.org.uk.

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

Quiz by John Theedom (Answers on page 31) 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

What is echolalia?

What sort of animal is a havanese?

What are you doing if you scud?

What is the term for a group of unicorns?

What is an EMOJI? What is the meaning of WD40?

What is the term for a baby rat?

What was the Skylon?

What is Mr Bean’s real name?

Who was the first woman to serve as an MP in the Houses of Parliament?

11. What is a rowan?

12. Approximately where in the world is the Island of Sumatra?

13. What is meant by the term ‘non sequitur’?

14. On a snooker table, where is baulk?

15. Which animal is referred to as talpine?

16. What was Max Factor’s real name?

17. What is a group of giraffes called?

18. Which year was the world’s first motor cycle made?

19. What was the name of Britain’s first socialist MP?

20.

21.

22.

23.

Where on your body is the thinnest skin?

What is a Mesa?

Where will you find a Scut?

What was boxer Muhammad Ali’s original name?

24. What would you use a besom for?

25. What is Hilary Clinton’s middle name?

26. What is a mote?

27. What type of animal is a Golden Lion Tamarin?

28. Which year did The Channel Tunnel break through?

29. On which radio station will you hear Sadie 9?

30. Which sport plays 20/20 games?

31. Give another name for the delphinium.

32. Where do Babushka dolls come from?

33. Who would wear a ‘Sam Brown Belt’?

34. What is a gurdwara?

35. What is equinox?

36. What is an omnium?

37. What or where is a rialto?

38. Who lives in an apiary?

39. Which year did The Berlin Wall come down?

40. What is wasabi?

Moulsham

Plumbing & Heating

We undertake all aspects of Plumbing & Heating large and small jobs.

• Bathrooms • Boilers • Landlord Certificates

01245 290206 / 07891 600008 35 years experience

Free quotations

When enquiring please quote "M&S VOUCHER”

www.moulshamtimes.com

Remember to tell our advertisers you saw their advert in the MT

27

All About Moulsham Lodge & Tile Kiln

Moulsham Lodge Community Trust

Our Breakfast with Santa and Santa’s Grotto was a great success with both sittings for breakfast completely sold out. Our initial idea was to provide an opportunity to meet Santa which included the rest of the family and at an affordable cost. With this being the first year we’ve tried this and on quite a large scale too, we were a bit nervous that everything would go to plan, but by and large it did. We’ve had lots of great feedback so far and based on this will probably repeat it again next year with some slight modifications - possibly over two days incorporating breakfasts, lunch and afternoon tea. Below are a couple of photos from the day.

The photo with the big Co-op cheque was us cashing in all the loyalty points you have earned us over the last couple of years. Our intention is to use this towards our big Christmas Day Dinner - thank you for using our Co-op Community Cards and if anyone would like one please get in touch.

Looking towards next year’s big annual event, the Community Fun Day, we haven’t quite decided when this will be, except that it will be before the school summer break. The format will be slightly different, as we want to encourage all the local organisations to take part in the day. The date should be agreed before the next Moulsham Times, so keep a look out. www.mlct.org.uk, email enquiries@mlct.org.uk, phone - 07411 808 731 (text for ringback).

Life T M Hack Remove bobbles from winter sweaters with a cheap razor Place screwed up newspaper inside wet shoes to help them dry quicker

Cllr Mark Springett - Moulsham Lodge Ward Political cooperation seems to be something we rarely see in national politics, except when national security or global issues pose an immediate and obvious threat to the people of the UK. Cooperation at a local level may seem equally as stubborn as our colleagues in Westminster and sometimes I do feel this is the case, where in my view an obvious benefit to the people of Chelmsford is thwarted through a desire just to to make sure the public sees that we are ‘different’.

In Moulsham Lodge the level of cooperation between Conservative Cllr Dick Madden (Essex County Councillor for Moulsham and Moulsham Lodge) and myself as a Lib Dem is something that is sometimes frowned upon by our local party colleagues for obvious reasons. Once a month on the first Saturday of the month you can come to our councillors surgery (between 11am and 12 noon at St Luke’s Church) also attended by Cllr Freda Mountain and occasionally Cllr Jude Deakin. It’s a chance for you to discuss pretty much anything from overgrown hedges to BREXIT, mostly though it’s potholes, parking and what’s happening with the Mazda Garage.

I know from the comments that we have received that residents appreciate our mutual relationship, even if they are a little surprised seeing us together.

28

Cllr Madden and I have been working together on a number of projects, but mostly Moulsham Lodge Community Trust as it has the potential to provide a number of wide ranging benefits to our local community. Currently our focus is on the long term lease of the Community Station. With the Community Station still in police ownership the legal complications need considerable navigation, so help achieving this needs a level of cooperation beyond your normal friendly political alliances. With access to officers both at county and city level we have at least the same level of visibility of the issues that need to be addressed.

We rarely discuss politics as we primarily focus on very local problems, some we can help with some we can not. We both appreciate that most people are not bothered by which political colour you are wearing as they just want someone to help. If you ever need help or have a question, please get in touch. If i can’t help - I might know a man who can...

I do hope you had a pleasant Christmas and enjoyed the New Year celebrations. All the best Mark.

Email mark.springett@chelmsford.gov.uk, mobile/text 07411 808 731, Twitter: @markspringett, and Facebook.

Remember to tell our advertisers you saw their advert in the MT

www.moulshamtimes.com

New Year, New Website?

Web sites from £299 web sites | business cards | flyers | 01245 262082

Tile Kiln Corner by Linda Mascot

It was with sadness that I heard earlier this month that Rev Canon Carol Smith of St Luke’s and St John’s Churches will be moving on to pastures new after Christmas. Carol has been a good friend and a great supporter of our local community for the past 9 years and I asked her about her time here, what she felt her greatest achievement was and how her role had changed over the years: “My husband, Brian and I moved into St Luke’s Vicarage on Moulsham Lodge in the autumn of 2007 in readiness for my taking up the role of Church of England Vicar of St Luke’s from 1st November.

We had moved from Epping where I served as a curate (trainee vicar) for just over three years. I was attracted to St Luke’s for a variety of reasons, not least its location in the heart of the community, which makes it central to all that goes on here. It’s two halls in constant use by various community groups and the Moulsham and Mildmay Schools make it a vibrant and buzzy place to serve the people of Moulsham Lodge with Tile Kiln.

“From the outset, I had a sneaking suspicion that the regular hall users at St Luke’s had little contact with the church - just the other side of the partition which separates it from the small hall. So in 2008, with the backing of church members, we launched the first Community Fun Day which brought everyone together and on the same day, we had some very successful Quiz & Fish and Chip Supper evenings, run by Brian.

“Over the years, the Community Fun Day has become a regular annual event, which with the birth of the Moulsham Lodge Community Trust (MLCT) is now run by the community for the community, with MLCT and St Luke’s working together.

“In 2013 when Moulsham St John’s Vicar moved away from the area, my responsibilities increased and I became Vicar of the Moulsham Churches. although each remains distinctive and each serves their particular parish, they now do some things together in a wider church grouping. I’ve also been involved in chaplaincy to the workplace in Chelmsford. Since 2008 I’ve been visiting County Hall as Chaplain to Essex County Council, which has also included being chaplain to the www.moulshamtimes.com

Chairman of Council. As a voluntary member of ECC’s Occupational Health Department, I’ve had the privilege of meeting and serving a great many people - both councillors and employees - and provided a confidential listening ear. This has included offering prayers before Full Council meetings, taking part in the annual Remembrance Service and leading the Carol Service, which is held annually in the chapel at County Hall.

“To my great surprise, I was made an Honorary Canon of Chelmsford Cathedral in 2013, which again extended my ability to reach more people as this has involved me a little in the cathedral’s ministry and outreach to the people of Chelmsford in times of great change.

“I have enjoyed writing occasional articles for the Moulsham Times - and this will be my last appearance in the Moulsham Times as God has called me to a new ministry in the Canterbury Diocese: I’ve been appointed as Vicar of St Martin-in-Herne with St Peter’s Greenhill in Kent, so we will be moving in early January.

“We have both enjoyed our nine and a bit years in Chelmsford and shall miss the activities we’ve been involved in as well as the friends we’ve made, but this is the way of church ministers so as my season here draws to an end, God is already calling someone else to be the next Vicar of the Moulshams. I would say to them: Come. It’s a great place to be, to live and to serve - and the people are wonderful, too!”

Thank you Carol for all you’ve done in your time here and I echo your sentiments to your parishioners: “I wish you all well and say ‘bye for now; it’s been great knowing you, take care”. mascotlinda@gmail.com Twitter: @lindamascot 29

Motoring by Simon Inglis It’s been a while since I last lived in Australia so one of my first jobs was to find a car or two. I’d recently offloaded our cars in the UK, one especially for a painfully low last minute price. I recalled only too well Australia’s notoriously high used car prices and I wanted pretty much what we’d owned in the UK. Pretty soon we had purchased a runabout, a 1989 Mercedes 260E replete with working electrics, climate control and a sunroof for AUD1,200, including a new Clarion stereo, new battery and 3 months registration - or ‘tax.’ We have had the old solid Merc now over 4 months, but it will need serious investment if we keep it long term as it is getting rather smokey.

Many Australian states do not require an annual MOT-type test.

South Australia, where we bought the old Merc, does not. While our model isn’t in its prime it is mostly rust free and while an ad-hoc emissions test would likely result in an expensive fail, the car is worth more in parts alone.

More recently we bought an old Saab estate with a ridiculously complex used car warranty procedure (a generally universally unpleasant topic?!), we paid $4,000 (£2,000-2,500 depandant on the current dire state of pound sterling. With a decent Saab history but age-related faults, it’ll likely cost another $1-2,000 to put right.

Having said that, this was a top-of-the-range Aero with heated and ventilated seats and genuine - not decorative - roof rails among its myriad of gadgets.

rating of 91RON, 95 and 98. Most newer cars are recommended to 95 or 98 and this narrows the price differential again with the UK. 91 can be bought recently for under $1, but while most modern ECUs will adjust, it’s not recommended running a car on it long-term.

Certainly a turbo-charged car, again surprisingly more prevalent as the traditional big sixes and V8s are slowly becoming obsolete, will prefer 95 or 98RON. Count on about $1.20 a litre then add in the vast distances.

In my few months back, I’ve recently noticed my servicing costs and like many expenses I’m struggling to understand just why Britain is so expensive. Yes a service, as per utilities or a train ticket, is just so much cheaper. Turn pounds to dollars and you’re in ballpark territory.

Yet salaries are very much higher here in the old colony. Minimum wages are $17-19 per hour, add double or even triple time, then add a holiday leave loading of 17.5%. Yes perhaps Australia is the only country in which one can be paid more to go on holiday than to work.

Taxation is slightly higher but it is very hard to justify £60 per hour for a local garage when staff in Australia earn more than their English counterparts but labour rates outside dealerships average $60-80 per hour. Are parts more expensive? I did think so just 6 months ago, but with the advent of eBay and other suppliers we now live in a global economy meaning an old Mercedes costs pretty much on par with a new model - and yes any Merc will be dearer than a Mazda but the latter are not cheap either.

A few other curiosities I’m still working on include corrosion. It’s fair to assume most of Australia has a kinder climate than the UK, yet here in the Central Highlands of Victoria it is properly cold and wet. As we enter November we are still experiencing morning ice, rain on most days and we’ve had sleet. Next May to August we’ll get snow. Yet the roads are not salted, negating the safety variations somewhat there are far more cats eyes at night and reflective ‘Snow/Ice’ warnings on all roads. Yet I’m comparing costs and while there is corrosion, cars do simply last longer in all of Australia.

On a very basic level I believe this why they cost a bit more to buy (there are genuine exceptions however!), but there are other factors that are equalizers. I wrote about this very topic some time back from Britain, while many factors remain the same in my argument that costs even out over say 4 years; if you do plan to buy and keep an older car this is the country to use and do it. For British motoring enthusiasts Australia presents a veritable goldmine of interesting good quality cars well worth a look for a serious collector. Perhaps a topic for another month as I’ll start my own barn find tour in the warmer months!

The more relaxed roadworthy legislation doesn’t seem to make much difference in safety statistics but that’s also a topic for another time!

For now, yes used car costs are about equal all things considered.

From KIA to Mercedes. Yet if you’re headed this way the individual vagaries are worth a note.

Spot the difference answers

Adding significantly cheaper insurance (approximately $700 a year for both cars with the usual excesses but an agreed value) and registration which in this country includes compulsory Third Party Insurance (a great explanation for the high prices we pay for UK car insurance?) which amounts to between $7-800 per annum dependent on state. Adding fuel? I did think that was cheap but is it? Petrol is much more prevalent than diesel, yet in recent years diesel cars have become much more common down under so every petrol sation should have diesel pumps, again at a slight premium to petrol. Fuel is of good quality, refined locally but with an octane

Highwood Roofing & Maintenance

We are offering a free roof check before winter Guttering, broken tiles, chimneys etc...

Gutter cleaning, new facias, all exterior painting Anything from a broken tile to a new roof. 10 year guarantee on all works!

NO JOB TOO SMALL We are a local family run business with 30 years experience!

20% Discount when you mention Moulsham Times

Ring us for free advice or a no obligation quotation.

01245 422712 07711 606561

Quiz Answers 1. The urge to copy someone’s voice exactly 2. A breed of dog 3. Move very quickly 4. A Blessing 5. Sign language using various symbols 6. Water displacement after the 40th time of trying 7. Kitten 8. One of the exhibits at the 1951 Exhibition on The South Bank of the Thames 9. Rowan Atkinson 10. Lady Astor 11. A tree 12. Indonesia 13. An argument that doesn’t follow 14. Opposite the black ball end 15. Mole 16. Maksymilian Faktorowicz 17. A tower www.moulshamtimes.com

Grave Care

Advertise in this section for just £20 + VAT per issue ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk

The headstone cleaning and grave tending service for those who need a little extra help.

Call James 07518 343287 www.essexgravecare.co.uk NA CS

Re g

ist

er

ed

From £45 • Fully Insured

Call 0800 112 3600 07918 708626

www.stephenschimneysweep.co.uk

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

18. 1860, powered by steam 19. James Keir Hardy in 1892 20. Your eyelids 21. Table or flat land 22. Short tail of a rabbit 23. Cassius Clay 24. Sweeping 25. Robin 26. A tiny speck 27. Monkey 28. December 1st 1990 29. BBC Essex 30. Cricket 31. Larkspur 32. Russia 33. An army officer 34. A Sikh church 35. When day and night are equal 36. A cycling event 37. A market place or exchange 38. Bees 39. 3rd October 1989 40. Hot relish

• New roofs • Fascias • Roof repairs • Guttering • Soffits • Moss removal • Fibre glass flat roofing

01206 807 598 / 07506 367 774 www.roofservicesessex.com

Childrens Quiz Answers 1. Lisa and Maggie 2. Spongebob SquarePants 3. Bamboo 4. Cows 5. True 6. 8 7. India 8. The Eiffel Tower (320m tall) is taller than the Statue of Liberty (93m tall) 9. A pride 10. Canada 11. James 12. 1,000 13. Tinkerbell 14. Ice 15. Willy Wonka 16. Springfield 17. 64 18. 18 19. Gold 20. The Sun

31

5

Discreet / Low Key Marketing

As an owner, how could our “discreet marketing' benefit you?

“I don't want to put my property on the market because I have not seen anything I would want to buy”. This statement is a true reflection of our industry at the moment and that is why we are selling so many properties on a discreet basis.

Amazingl Amazingly, over 10% of our properties are sold or let without being advertised. Some transactions happen so quickly we do not have time to advertise. In other cases our clients ask us to sell or let their property discreetly.

INVISIBLE BUT EFFECTIVE That is how we describe our discreet marketing services to our clients.

There are many reasons why sellers wish to sell discreetly and indeed why a some buyers wish to buy discreetly too. It does not adversely affect the sale price. Good buyers appreciate the special opportunity of being alerted to discreetly marketed properties and are happy to pay the right price.Many buyers given this opportunity are also happy to wait and allow a seller time to find their next purchase. This creates an excellent environment for the seller as they can search with confidence, having had the minimum of fuss selling.

WE DON'T RELY ON THE INTERNET TO SELL OUR CLIENTS PROPERTIES One of our greatest strengths is that we don't rely on the internet to sell our clients' properties. We talk to buyers and sellers and get to know their needs and requirements intimately. As such, when we are asked to conduct discreet marketing for a client, we can match the right people to the right property.

DO NOT JUST RELY ON SEACHING ONLINE BUT REGISTER WITH US. A different dimension to moving home. Discreet marketing brings a new dimension to selling and buying, removing some of your effort.

Please feel free to give the sale o office a call to discuss further.