Moulsham Times - January 2023

Enjoy an extensive one to one tutorial of your new Neff appliances* within the comfort of your own home. Our home economist provides you with a hands-on experience and shows what your new appliances are capable of across a delicious three course meal.

Hi readers,

Welcome to the January edition... Happy New Year to you all!

2023 is Moulsham Times’ 10th birthday. The first issue was in January 2013, and although I didn’t start the magazine, I was involved in the early issues as a writer, and then we took over in May 2013 for issue 5.

The first issue had only 16 pages, but the mag has grown and evolved over those 10 years, with many different writers joining for a time and then moving on - we thank them all! A big thank you as well to all of the advertisers and delivery people. A special mention to one advertiser though, as apart from the online editions during lockdowns, Shaun at McCartney Sales and Lettings has been on the back page of every single issue! The next edition

Chandler Materials is your one-stop shop for your next project. Whether it’s a new build, renovation or maintaining a property, we’ve got everything you need to do the job.

Wide range of materials – from bricks and blocks to drainage, weatherboarding to windows and doors Chandler has you covered.

Local display area – visit our Chelmsford site to view our extensive range with over 8,000 products in stock.

Award-winning experts – our friendly on-site team who have gained recognition from across the builders’ merchants sector are on hand to help.

Trust a local company supplying quality building materials to the trade and public for over 70 years.

Pop in to 91 Widford Road, Chelmsford CM2 8SY Visit us at www.chandlermaterials.co.uk Call us on 01245 352650

Chelmsford - By Vicky Ford MP

They say you wait ages for a London bus and then three arrive at once. This week before Christmas brought three bits of very good news for Chelmsford.

I was over the moon to get the news that the contract for Beaulieu Park Station has been signed between Essex County Council, Network Rail and the construction company. Local residents tell me that they were first promised a new station over 40 years ago - now it is firmly on track and construction will start in the coming weeks. The new station will mean fewer people driving into central Chelmsford and will help to reduce congestion throughout central areas.

I have been working on delivering the station ever since I was first elected five years ago. Unlike previous designs for the station, crucially, the plans for Beaulieu Park Station will incorporate a passing loop so that fast trains will be able to overtake stopping services at Chelmsford. This means the entire Great Eastern Main Line will be more resilient and more trains will be able to run to Colchester, Ipswich and Norwich as well as stations like Clacton and Braintree. Hence it has been supported by MPs all across the East.

This has all been made possible by a £250 million grant from the Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund which will go towards the station and the new North East Bypass.

A second bit of good news was that St John Payne School is one of 239 schools to have been selected this week for the Government’s School Rebuilding Programme. This programme will rebuild or refurbish buildings at 400 primary, secondary and specialist schools, and the work is expected to be completed in the next three to five years. I popped into St John Payne School to meet with the sixth form politics students this week. What a thoughtful bunch of young people.

McColl’s branch is due to close in January. If you know anyone who may be interested in hosting the Post Office, please do contact me or local councillor Rob Gisby.

I have also been contacted by a number of Chelmsford residents who are very concerned about the planning application to convert the Back Inn Time property into residential flats. This is a much loved and unique Chelmsford establishment and it would be a great shame to lose it. I visited Back Inn Time to discuss the situation with staff and have asked for a meeting with the planning team at Chelmsford City Council to see what more can be done.

In Westminster, I called on the Foreign Secretary to proscribe the Russian Wagner Group as a terrorist organisation. The Wagner Group of mercenaries has been implicated in many war crimes in Ukraine as well as many other countries, including a recent massacre in Mali. I am told that if they are considered a terrorist organisation it may make it much harder for them to recruit.

MPs have also been voting on new changes to planning laws. I am pleased that some of the amendments that I had supported have made it into the legislation, including proposals to make it easier to develop brownfield rather than greenfield land, give local authorities the powers to tackle land banking and enable the development of onshore wind farms where they have local support.

It was also an honour to meet His Majesty King Charles III when he visited Parliament in the middle of December. The King unveiled a plaque to commemorate where the Queen had lay in state in Westminster Hall. He also unveiled two beautiful bronze statues which had been given by members of the House of Commons and House of Lords to Her late Majesty to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee.

Local Charity Plays it’s Part in a Challenging Economic Climate

Essex based charity Essex Dementia Care has once again frozen prices charged for services in their annual review.

Senior Manager, Kelly Bleasdale says, “It has been a very tough time for everyone over the past two years. Individuals, businesses, and charities have all struggled to survive covid.

“Having successfully navigated these challenges, we are now facing the fastest growing rate of inflation for 20 years, currently 10.1%, forecast to rise as high as 18% in 2023.

“Against this backdrop, our clients might have been expecting a price increase, but our board of trustees have decided not to implement one at this time. We want to continue on our mission to help as many people as possible by keeping prices for our activity based dementia care as affordable as possible.

I also visited the Medical School at Anglia Ruskin University to meet the medical students. The first year of students are due to graduate next March and will be the first cohort of new doctors from any of the new medical schools announced by the Government in 2017. I was delighted to hear how much the students have enjoyed being based in Chelmsford and their placements in Broomfield, Basildon and Southend Hospitals.

Across the country, the average attrition of rate of medical schools is around 8%, but only 3% of those who have started studying medicine in Chelmsford have left the course. Many of the students told me that they would like to stay working in Essex when they qualify as doctors. What excellent news for our local NHS.

Locally, I have continued to have a number of meetings to try to find a new host for the Post Office counter in Moulsham Lodge, as the

“Obviously, our own overheads will be affected by price increases, however, as an extremely well-run charity we will continue to put exceptional effort into fundraising. This will be the third consecutive year that we have held our prices, and we are happy to be able to play a small part in helping people in this challenging economic climate.

“We will continue to offer a high standard of service at prices that clients and loved ones can afford.”

Essex Dementia Care is a small charity helping people with dementia continue to live active and fulfilling lives. Activity-based care is offered either in a group setting or on a 1-2-1 basis and loved ones and families are also offered support through the different stages of the journey.

For more details or to arrange a free Taster Day, please call 01245 363 789 or visit the website at www.essexdementiacare.org.uk.

Regal Kitchens - Case Study

Mr and Mrs W had already had their extension plans approved when they started trawling the internet for local kitchen design and supply companies who might be able to help with their project. They are both young professionals and were looking for someone who could project-manage their installation. After reading some of the glowing reviews left online by previous customers, they decided to visit the Regal showroom to gather some ideas.

The designer spent some time with the clients to plan the perfect layout as well as looking at different storage ideas and space-saving solutions. The clients were looking forward to having a large openplan space to host dinner parties with family and friends. Once the design of the kitchen was finalised, they then moved onto colour and product choices.

The clients were torn between two colours initially, but the designer suggested having a two-tone colour scheme to give more character to the room. They chose Anthracite painted timber doors on the island and Grey Mist for the rest of the kitchen. This was teamed with Noble Carrara quartz worktops which added brightness and luxury to this already amazing kitchen.

To make use of the space they had available, designer Stacey recommended they include a large corner larder with some pull-out storage solutions to help them house all of their cookery and baking equipment and keep it all nearby for ease when preparing meals. They also decided to use the large corner larder to house smaller appliances to keep the worktops clear.

A full set of NEFF appliances was provided to help the customers cook up a storm when they entertain. The placement of the pull-out bins directly under the island, which is their main working space,

The clients wanted to incorporate a seating area within the kitchen itself. After seeing a bespoke wooden addition to an island we have in the showroom, it was decided to add this similar detail to their island and the result is stunning.

To find out how Regal can transform your kitchen, contact their showroom on 01245 351 151. www.regalkitchens.co.uk

makes cooking preparation and clearing away easy and no longer a chore. A Pro 3 Flex Quooker tap was installed, as the clients work from home a lot, meaning making tea and coffee could now be very quick on busy days.

How to Strength Train (If You Do Zero Strength Training) - By Chris at Forté Physical Health

I have been an osteopath for fifteen years, and throughout that time I have made a significant change in how I think about rehab, recovery and health.

When it comes to our physical body, I used to put a lot of emphasis on flexibility, but the research that has come out in recent years has shifted my focus much more towards getting my patients strong instead.

Being strong is the thing that helps prevent injury and overcome pain more quickly. Strength helps us throughout the day, allowing us to use our bodies in wonderful ways and have fun hobbies.

However, many of the patients I treat do zero strength training, and they don’t know where to start. If you already lift weights, do calisthenics or go to the gym a few days a week, you’re probably already fine. This article is for people who currently don’t do any strength training at all but would like to start.

Firstly, if you aren’t doing any strength training, this is a great opportunity! The most critical stage of any habit is going from ‘zero to one’. Getting started is hard, but it’s also where the biggest opportunity for progress is. You can improve quickly in the early days if you’re training smart, which becomes addictive.

Although the rate of progress slows down eventually, lean into the early wins, and this will help you fall in love with the process.

One quick side note before we get into the ‘how’: What we are talking about here is getting strong, not getting muscly. Sure, you may change shape a little as you get stronger, but you won’t get bulky with what I am advising today. Getting big like a bodybuilder is a really hard thing to do and requires a different training stimulus to what we are talking about here, so there’s no need to worry.

With this in mind, thankfully it is quite simple to get stronger in a way that can improve our overall well-being. The research tells us that we don’t need to do that much work at all; just one to three sets per movement pattern performed one to three times a week can get us stronger.

What does this mean? At the lower end of the spectrum, if you performed just one working set per movement pattern in just one workout a week, the research suggests you will gain a measurable improvement in your strength in just a few weeks.

Although this is what the research tells us, it’s not usually what I advise. Research can help guide our decisions in practice, but the real world is different to a controlled study. The biggest difference is that people have much more fun if they progress faster, and are therefore more likely to stick to the habit.

I advise you to move up the spectrum of work slightly and do three sets per body part at least two days per week. This will make more progress, and although it requires more effort, I find having a better structure makes it easier for the habit to become ingrained in your week.

To keep the workouts simple, I like to break human movement down into just three movement patterns (this is where I start, and we can add more further down the line). We humans push stuff, we pull stuff, and we bend our legs. In the gym, that translates to a pressing movement like a bench press or a shoulder press, a pull like a lat pull-down, and a leg movement like a squat or lunge variation.

Putting that into a workout, you would warm up, which involves doing something to raise your body temperature; this could be a row, bike, or a gentle jog. Then you would do a warm up set of your first exercise

before doing your three working sets (I’ll get to this in a minute!). Between each set, have a 90-second rest to let your muscles recover.

Once you have done this, move on to the next two movements, each with a warm up set and three working sets. After your three sets of three exercises, you can have a little stretch and finish there. The whole workout should take somewhere between 25 and 40 minutes.

What did I mean by ‘working sets’? Well, this is where the magic happens. You don’t get stronger just by going through the motions; you get stronger by doing something hard. Your warm up set of each movement should feel relatively easy, and it’s designed to wake up your muscles and nervous system ready for the work ahead. You don’t push to your limit, and you stop moving even though it feels like you could do more repetitions. The ‘working sets’ are different; you need to keep doing repetitions until it feels really difficult, like you can’t do any more reps at all.

In exercise science, there is a phrase known as Relative Perceived Exertion (RPE), which is the subjective measure of ‘how hard do I think I am working?’. In order to get stronger, you need your working sets to have an RPE of 9/10 or 10/10.

By doing this workout two or more times a week, with three hard sets of a press, a pull and a leg movement, you will notice improvements in your strength and overall well-being in just a few weeks - from my perspective as an osteopath, you will be less prone to injury, and you will recover fast from existing injuries.

If, however, pain and injury are holding you back, we can help in my clinic. We also like to discuss lifestyle factors, not just to get you out of pain but to live a healthy life with well-being as a priority.

If you want to learn more, go to fortephysicalhealth.co.uk, or you can say ‘hi’ at info@fortephysicalhealth.co.uk.

Until next time, have a healthy and happy month!

MT Gardening

It’s been an interesting month for gardeners this year! The month started well with plenty of sunshine, a little rain and a few lovely bright sunny days… then just leading up to mid-month the snow and freezing temperatures were with us. In such conditions as the latter, there’s no point worrying overly about the garden, however, I did get the chance to do a few jobs, such as:

1. Where snow had accumulated on a few key plants and hedges, I did carefully remove to take the weight issue away. With hedges, too much weight from snow can cause the top growth to be crushed. With any further impact not visible until spring, such as die back, for example. It is worth pointing out that snow is a good insulator, and I only remove or lesson its weight where required.

2. Clearing paths carefully for the safety of myself and others. This is especially worthwhile where smooth stone has been used - it can be very slippery.

Just prior to the freeze, I had managed to take a few hardwood stem cuttings. Where it has been freezing, I’ll now leave this activity until

February/March, where I can combine pruning and propagation of the arisings. I’ll report back about these activities this next year.

Hardwood cuttings are stem cuttings taken from the current season’s growth that have become woody. They are taken in the dormant season and are primarily used for deciduous plants, although some evergreen plants can be propagated in this way. The stems should be of pencil thickness.

Plants that can be propagated in this manner include Cornus alba (dogwood), Salix alba (white willow), Rosa rugosa (Ramanas rose), Sambucus spp. (elder) and many bush fruit such as Ribes spp. (gooseberries and currants). As with other vegetative propagation methods viruses can be transferred when preparing cuttings.

Make Sure You Have the Following: Secateurs are generally used to trim hardwood cuttings to length. A spade will be needed to make the slit trench. Dibbers are used to insert the hardwood cuttings into pots. Plus, all hardwood cuttings should be treated with a high strength rooting hormone to enhance the production of root initials. Rooting hormones may also contain fungicides, which reduce the chance of fungal infection.

Simple Steps to Success

• Select pencil-thick material in the dormant season.

• Make a sloping cut just above the proposed top bud.

• Cut horizontally to 15 - 23cm in length, dip in rooting hormone.

• Dig a trench. Sand or grit can be placed in the bottom of the trench to improve drainage.

• Place the cutting in the trench and firm back the soil. Label and date.

The rooted cuttings can be lifted the following autumn and lined out to grow on. Or cuttings may also be inserted into longtoms and then placed in a cold frame or polytunnel. Alternatively, they can be inserted directly into free draining soil or compost in a cold frame. Check out this more in depth look at hardwood stem cuttings from the RHS: www.rhs.org.uk/propagation/hardwood-cuttings.

If you are looking for plans in January, here are a few tasks to get prepared for: www.gardenersworld.com/what-to-do-now-january.

Happy gardening!

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

Hogs in a Slumber - By

The temperature in Chelmsford most definitely dropped in December. As we are inside with the heating on and cocooned in our teddy bear throws, we often forget that some animals have no choice but to stay outside in these harsh conditions. My uncle recently told me of a hedgehog that makes it’s way across his front lawn, so I thought I would look into what these tiny balls of spikes get up to when the unpredictable British winter hits.

Many hedgehogs will hibernate in the winter, but it isn’t quite as simple as finding a quiet dark hole and snoozing the day away. When in hibernation, the breathing rate and heart rate of the animals decrease, and their body temperature lowers. Hedgehogs usually have a heartbeat of 190 beats per minute, but when they are hibernating, it can decrease to just 20 beats. Bodies are clever things and if the space around the hibernating hedgehog becomes so cold that it is dangerous, their bodies will wake them up. To make sure they have enough food reserves for the winter, autumn is a key season where hedgehogs eat as much as they can. Beetles, earthworms and caterpillars are full of energy, and a nutritious snack! They also use this time to find a spot to hibernate through the winter (called a hibernaculum), making use of any materials they can find, like dead leaves, feathers, sticks. Dependant on the temperature, some hedgehogs might still be out in December, as hibernation can happen between the months of October to April.

Lots of people put out food and a shelter for hedgehogs that help them greatly, as their numbers are slowly decreasing. Since 2000 the number of rural hedgehogs has halved, which is a sad and worrying statistic. Some supermarkets do their own versions of hedgehog food, but they can also eat plain meat based cat food which is full of protein. Bread or milk is not something they should really have as it can lead to diarrhoea and dehydration. Shelters can be made out of anything as simple as a compost heap, a hedge, or a pile of logs, but if you are lighting a fire, you should check underneath just to make

Holly Lucking

sure that a hedgehog has not made it a new home. The same applies when forking out a compost heap - it is best to always assume a hedgehog is in there. The most important features of a hibernation spot are that they are dry, sheltered and are closely packed to stop predators such as badgers and foxes from finding them. So don’t worry if you haven’t seen your regular little hedgehog for a while, as they are probably having very sweet dreams about the upcoming warmth of spring (aren’t we all!).

Sadly this is Holly’s last article for the Moulsham Times, we would like to thank her for all her great articles and the photos that went with them.

If you have an interest in wildlife and would like to write for the Moulsham Times, please email paul@moulshamtimes.com.

Chelmsford Museum Opens Innovative Exhibition Celebrating BBC Centenary

Don’t miss Chelmsford Museum’s exhibition celebrating the BBC’s centenary and Writtle’s pivotal role in broadcasting history.

The museum collaborated with interdisciplinary artist Sian Fan and with Chelmsford’s talented local artists to explore the history of the UK’s first public radio broadcasts. Forecast22 - Broadcasting Across the Ether features an interactive website with digital artwork and a physical exhibition at the museum.

The UK’s first weekly radio show was broadcast on 14th February 1922 from a former military hut in Writtle, using the call sign 2MT or ‘Two Emma Toc’. The experimental, irreverent shows proved to be so popular with audiences that they led to the creation of the BBC on

18th October 1922.

The Writtle Hut has been part of Chelmsford Museum’s collections since the 1990s, but it is too large to be displayed at the museum in Oaklands Park and so is held in storage at Sandford Mill. To celebrate the centenary of these broadcasts, Chelmsford Museum commissioned Sian to refresh the history of the hut using modern technology. The project marks the first time the museum has collaborated with an artist to share part of its collections in this way.

Sian scanned the hut and its contents using LiDAR scanning technology. The resulting 3D scans present a grainy, almost ghostlike reconstruction of the hut, reminiscent of the static-laden, fragmented quality of the original broadcasts. The virtual reconstruction is available to explore on forecast22.com, allowing people from all over the world to engage in minute detail with this important part of the museum’s Marconi collection.

The supporting exhibition is on show at Chelmsford Museum until 12th March 2023 and the forecast22.com website will be live until 14th October 2023.

Join Chelmsford Museum this year to learn more about this remarkable history. There will be a Radio Club in collaboration with Chelmsford Community Radio for ages 7 to 14 years, plus opportunities to hear more about the technology used in digital artwork creation.

Visit www.chelmsford.gov.uk/museums/whats-on for the latest events.

No doubt you will have come across the term Veganuary, where someone gives embracing veganism a go for the month of January.

Well, as you know all our products are cruelty-free, but many of our stock is vegan as well. This means that no ingredients in the manufacturer are derived of animal origin and tested on animals.

We felt when opening our shop to have items that were easily accessible to customers without them having to read through ingredients and searching the manufacturer’s website. We have already done it for you so you can shop in confidence. We have a full list in our shop of our vegan-friendly products including: wrapping paper, greetings cards, reed diffusers, car perfumes, candles, wax melts, jewellery, silicon straws, hair and body products and more.

So whether you are searching for particular vegan items for home and self, or happy that’s its an added bonus to your shopping, we are sure we can help with your shopping needs throughout the year.

Happy New Year for 2023 from Inlustris Gifts.

New City Voices are Back!

The concert, held at St Luke’s Church Moulsham Lodge, was dedicated to the memory of former choir member Geoff Ereira who sadly passed away in 2020.

Since forming as a choir in 2015, New City Voices has raised funds for a variety of charities such as Sanctus, Helping Hands Essex, MIND, Moulsham Lodge Community Trust and CHESS to name a few.

We warmly welcome new members to join New City Voices and we meet on Thursdays at Moulsham Infants School, Princes Road, Chelmsford. Registration is at 7.45pm and singing begins at 8pm and we finish by 9.30pm.

Performing at their first concert since lockdown, New City Voices choir raised £769.12 for the British Heart Foundation.

Our next event is a street sing on Sunday 5th February 2023 at 11am in High Chelmer shopping precinct, Chelmsford, where we will sing and collect funds for Chelmsford Food Bank.

Fun at Widford Lodge

The second half of the autumn term always flies by in a flurry of activity - there is always so much going on and it is such an exciting time for us all. We have been on a variety of trips, events and sporting activities.

Year 5 have visited Harry Potter World to take part in a writing workshop and Year 4 went to Felsted School to see a wonderful production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. In addition, the whole school have been to the pantomime at The Queen’s Theatre in Hornchurch to see Sleeping Beauty

In our local community, we have enjoyed another trip to Oaklands museum where Curator Caroline taught us all about life in the Stone Age. The children got to look at and handle some of the artefacts.

dibbers and planted over 3,000 plug plants, which will grow and add to the diversity of planting in this area, hopefully attracting more wildlife and birds.

It was wonderful to be able to host our carol service at Chelmsford Cathedral again this year, this is always a highlight of the year and did not disappoint. Thank you to all the staff at Chelmsford Cathedral who help make events like this possible.

Year 6, as part of their geography work, went on a walk along the river, starting at the River Cam near the Old Chelmsfordians and ending at the River Chelmer near the Army and Navy. The children observed different points along the river as they went. They were lucky the weather was fine as this was a rather long walk! Year 6 also enjoyed a production of Goodnight Mr Tom at the Old Court Theatre.

We also collected gift vouchers for the Little Edi Foundation Christmas gift appeal, which we happily handed over in November, which gave the team at Little Edi time to distribute to local families before Christmas. Our Headteacher Miss Cole also attended the Little Edi awards afternoon where we were delighted to be awarded Most Supportive School. We look forward to continuing to support this wonderful charity in the new year.

Our Chair of the School Council kindly donated a rose which we planted to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II. It was a very moving planting ceremony and a lovely tribute to the late Queen.

Recently, Years 3 to 6 all spent time at John Shennon playing field with Love your Chelmsford helping to plant. This was cancelled previously due to the ground being too hard. The children used

Year 1 visited the residents at Miami House to sing to the residents (above), walking there in the snow in their costumes! The children dressed up, sang songs, read poems and danced, which was enjoyed by all.

And finally, in the snow the whole school took part in the Reindeer Run. We raised money for Farleigh Hospice and although a little restricted by the snowy conditions, we were still able to raise £1,642.50 for this good cause. We are looking forward to more fun in the new year.

Gift vouchers collected for Little Edi Foundation Christmas gift appeal

We planted a rose to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II

Theatre Re-Opening, Women’s Safety Charter And Witches Memorial - By Cllr Marie Goldman

Welcome to 2023! A new year and a new beginning. So here are a few of the new things to take a look at in 2023, and wishing you a very happy and successful new year.

A Newly Refurbished Theatre

Part of my cabinet member portfolio at Chelmsford city is looking after Chelmsford’s cultural offerings. This includes things like festivals, museums and of course, our theatre. I’m sure most of you will know that we’ve been refurbishing our theatre over the past few months, and I’m delighted to say that it will be reopening to the public in January. I can’t wait for everyone to see the beautiful new front of house that we have created. We want the theatre to be Chelmsford’s cultural living room - a place to relax in and enjoy all day long, not just at performance time. All three bars have now been completely revamped, with perhaps the biggest transformation happening in the balcony bar, where back of house offices have been knocked out to create a much wider and welcoming space, including a recessed bar with plenty of space for serving and enjoying the pre-show and interval atmosphere.

There are new toilets throughout, including new baby changing facilities and a new disabled toilet. There will be a stairlift making it much easier for wheelchair users to access the main bar, and the whole of the main foyer has been refurbished to create a bigger, brighter space. Finally, a Studio Bar has been created to serve light refreshments throughout the day (theatre schedules permitting), and an outside seating area to make the most of the sunshine (when it finally finds its way back to us).

I’m extremely proud of this investment by the Lib Dem-run Chelmsford City Council into what was a tired, under-utilised and under-performing (pardon the pun) council asset. This new lease of life is aimed at attracting new performances and new audiences into our theatre, bringing much needed footfall and revenue into our city - not just for the council, but also for surrounding businesses. We also want to encourage cultural growth, something that is vital to help make our city an even better place to live.

The new programme of shows and events is now available. Check it out here: www.chelmsfordtheatre.co.uk.

Witches Memorial

Towards the end of 2022, I was very pleased to take part in a ceremony to plant a tree and unveil an interpretative plaque in Admirals Park as a memorial to all the people - predominantly

women, but some men, too - who were tried, convicted and executed on suspicion of witchcraft, right here in Chelmsford.

The location was chosen because of its proximity to South Primrose Hill, where many of the executions took place. Stop by and have a look if you’re out for a stroll that way.

Women’s Safety Charter

Hopefully you will have already seen the launch of the Women’s Safety Charter, which is a new initiative stemming from a partnership of Chelmsford City Council, Chelmsford For You, and independent consultant and local resident, Karen Whybro, who has been campaigning on women’s safety issues after the Sarah Everard case in 2021. The charter wants to get local businesses signed up to make five key pledges aimed at making women feel safe in our city. You can find out more about the initiative on the City Council’s website here: citylife.chelmsford.gov.uk/2022/11/25/chelmsfordlaunches-womens-safety-charter.

Finally, I just wanted to thank you all for continuing to read my column. Local residents often tell me that they enjoy hearing from me about what’s going on in our city. Please do let me know if there is anything specific you would like to hear more about. As always, you can contact me here: marie.goldman@chelmsfordlibdems.org.uk. Keep well and warm and best wishes for 2023.

Marie

Cllr Marie Goldman Deputy Leader, Chelmsford City Council City Councillor for Moulsham & Central County Councillor for Chelmsford Central Liberal Democrat

Another year gone and a new one ahead. Welcome all; let’s hope it’s a good one as we can do with it for sure! The year that has passed has been tough to say the least - in more ways than one I think you will agree. I for one have had plenty going on. We also have lost many friends in the past year - those who we had come to love and those who were famous.

Let’s be positive for 2023, as we could all do with a good year. This should go for our politicians as well, as we have local elections here in Chelmsford in May. Here in Chelmsford the Fling and 3foot People festivals are returning which is great. I wonder how many other new festivals will appear as well, as this seems to be the trend around the country. This is one of the reasons I stop putting shows on from mid-July to the end of August - there are just so many festivals going on all over the place! To be honest, I do go to quite a few as well - it’s my time to escape in my caravan and see some festivals and some of my gig buddies.

You may have noticed that we have had some snow quite recently and it has been rather cold for a while - then it suddenly got warmer and wet. Looking ahead on my weather app as I write this in late December, it looks like we are going to keep some of this milder weather for now. What is going on? If this is not global warming I don’t what is - I have been around for over 69 years now and never known a year with so many extremes in the weather, not that l can remember anyway.

I am writing this article just before Christmas because of the printers shutting down for the festive season. So I hope you have all had a good time and that you remembered those less fortunate than ourselves. As is normal for me, I only send and give cards to my immediate family and then I donate what I would normally spend elsewhere to a local charity.

We have a big year ahead; there is the coronation of King Charles taking place for one thing. And at last they are also going ahead with the building of the new railway station in Chelmsford - about time, but why is it going to take so long I ask myself? Let’s hope we do not get any strikes over it. The past year has been turbulent with so many disputes going on. I can see their point, but why make us ordinary people suffer for it? In the long run it is us who will pay for it anyway.

Music

Here we are then, right at the end of another year. I have now finished for this year and I really must thank all of my wonderful team - and of course all at the Chelmsford Social Club for allowing us to put our shows on with them; the great staff make it a joy to do.

We have had on the whole a very good year we think. Sadly we had to cancel or postpone a couple of shows mainly due to covid, but looking forward, hopefully 2023 will be better and we hope that the public will have more confidence to come and attend shows. We are starting to see this already with people buying tickets now for some of the shows we have booked for the coming year. I am hearing from many artists and promoters that they too are also thinking that the coming year will be better (it needs to be). We cannot afford to lose any more venues, we all know that.

I see that what was the Civic and Cramphorn Theatres are at long last reopening as well - as the Chelmsford Theatre. I know that we and Hot Box are hoping we can all work together so as to make Chelmsford a place that people will want to come to. We hope to inspire the people of Chelmsford to want to come out to the shows that we are all putting on.

I have had my last show at the Social Club for 2022, which featured our own Connor Selby. The show was deservedly well attended as Connor and his band are world class - and that is not just me saying that. Slim Chance played the week before (Ronnie Lane of the Small Faces and Faces band) in London and had Chris and Mick Jagger attend - Chris is playing for us on Friday 28th April. Also at the gig was Rumer, who sang with them, and Ralph McTell was there as well to enjoy the show along with Mick.

The other Sunday I ventured over the water to Greenwich to see Dennis Greaves (of Nine Below Zero) jam at the Pelton Arms (it was the day of the World Cup Final) - thankfully the jam started after the match and was great fun. l got up to play on a few numbers blowing my harmonicas with Dennis and the band. I have found myself out playing my harmonicas a few times recently... Meanwhile, when at home I am busy playing and writing on my guitar.

I am currently busy booking more acts for the Social Club and Hot Box, so please keep your ears and eyes open and also see my advert in this magazine to find out who has been booked and confirmed so far for 2023 at Chelmsford Social Club.

Before I go, I must say well done to those who put the Enlightened event on at Hylands House. Paul and I went along to it. I went last year too, but this year was magical and fantastic - very well done all! I have also heard a lot of good feedback on the event from others.

The last thing for me to say is that I hope you all have a fantastic 2023 that is healthy and happy for you all - and remember to pick up The City Times for the free What’s On guide to start planning the year ahead.

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

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

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

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

I have been to a few events over the past month, a couple at Hot Box and also at the Barleylands Blues Club. I also had the One Tree Hillbillies play at The Orange Tree. I am now waiting to see what happens there after Adam Nelson leaving. There will be a new landlord and/or landlady in place soon, so lets hope they don’t alter the winning formula that is already in place there.

MT History: 2022; An Historical Year? - By Henri Lewi

The year had barely begun when in late February we witnessed the first European war since the end of World War II with the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. This has resulted in a full scale war between the two countries. Ukraine itself was a fully independent country that had held democratic elections and had applied for membership to both the European Union and the NATO military alliance prior to the invasion. Some will say that the Yugoslavian or Balkan conflict that lasted from 1991 until 2001 was the first European conflict, but this was in fact an internecine and ethnic war between the semiindependent states that had constituted the Yugoslav Republic. The outcome of the 10-year conflict was the break up of Yugoslavia into its constituent republics of Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, BosniaHerzegovina, Kosovo and North Macedonia, which are all now recognized by the UN as independent countries, and who with the exception of Serbia, are either members of the European Union or have applied for membership.

The current war in Ukraine shows no signs of ending and could in the next few months involve greater commitment to the Ukrainian cause by both the European Community and the NATO alliance. As winter approaches, the war is taking on aspects of the Eastern Front battles that were last seen during World War II between 1941-1944.

This calendar year of 2022 will also be long remembered as a historic year in the UK. A year in which the established leadership and the monarchy changed in an abrupt and unexpected manner. In the space of two months, the United Kingdom had three prime ministers, two of whom resigned their posts and were replaced by an unelected political leader. Whilst these multiple transitions of power were constitutionally acceptable, this was however an event not seen for 200 years, when the imposition of three prime ministers in one year last occurred in 1827. In that year the newly elected prime minister, George Canning, died of pneumonia just 119 days into his office. Canning himself had replaced the previous prime minister, Lord Liverpool, in April 1827 and he himself was followed in

In 2022 the prime ministerial roll call was Boris Johnson who resigned, followed by Liz Truss who again resigned after less than 7 weeks in office to be replaced by the current prime minister. In the midst of this political turmoil the monarch, Elizabeth II after 70 years on the British throne, died and was followed by her son King Charles III. The passing of the monarch whilst a regular phenomenon in British history, was in this case a unique historical moment, as the late monarch who had reigned for 70 years was the longest serving monarch in British history. It was estimated that greater than 90% of the British population had been born after the Queen’s accession in 1952.

Additionally, the Lionesses aka the women’s English football team, won the UEFA Women’s Championship for the first time and became the first UK national team to win a major trophy since the men’s World Cup win in 1966.

August 1827 by Frederick John Robinson, better known as Viscount Goderich.

Hello all, and happy New Year! I hope you were able to enjoy your Christmas. I wish you all a happy and prosperous 2023.

Wow, 2023 - it only seems like yesterday that we were all worried whether our computers would crash because of the start of the 21st century. As usual, ‘experts’ were spreading their doom and gloom predictions, and like so many similar, nothing untoward happened and a few people made lots of money ensuring the so called bug did not bring the world to a halt. How many ‘experts’ owned computer software companies I wonder? Am I cynical or what? Anyway, now we face the new year and we will see what it brings...

When I retired some years ago, I remember thinking how much time I will have to spend doing things I didn’t have time to do while I was working. Well, I know this annoys many younger people still at work, but how did we get time to go?

I have had a quick look at my activities for December so far - I was quite surprised... It included days delivering magazines, hours in the car queuing on the A12, the Army and Navy (at all routes), queues getting out of supermarkets, queuing in supermarkets where some customers at the tills seem to be totally unaware that there are other people in the store. One example is those who want to pack their bags in a particular manner, need to chat to the staff, and other annoying activities, like seemingly being surprised that they have to pay for their items, and start searching for the purse or wallet after they have finished packing. Well that’s my moan of the month done.

TV advertisers are at it again. I have to ask, why do professional footballers advertise mens’ razors? Are they the only people who have stubble, or is it so that they need to look good on the close ups of them writhing on the pitch during televised matches? I ask myself, would I buy that razor because a bloke who plays football uses one? I don’t think so, especially if he doesn’t even play for the team I support. I would love to know how much they get paid! I still can’t get over the fact that (it has been reported) one daytime television host was getting over £1 million for advertising a well known company buying secondhand cars. Shocking!

Here’s a poem about the time of year:

Christmas has come, now it is gone, No more TV Christmas repeats on, No more Morecambe and Wise, But here’s the surprise Del Boy is still on Dave+1.

No more lovely crackers to pull, Our brains are absolutely full Of really bad cracker jokes Must be written by blokes Makes Jonny’s bin enders sound cool.

New Year’s parties made me think I’m never going to have another drink, Spent most of the time in a chair, Head forward, eyes a stare, Its not just the gin that is pink.

Resolutions have all been made, Much less food and drink I’m afraid It’s not a real problem As I will never keep ‘em Where are the bar staff that need to be paid?

Bin End Chuckles (Thanks Again to John and to My Grandson, Dexter Who Told Me One Last Week) My girlfriend says we must have a chat about my immature behaviour... Like that’s going to happen in the conker season!

A farmer tells his sheepdog to round the sheep up. When he gets back the farmer asks: “how many do we have?”. The sheepdog replies: “20”. “I thought we only had 17” the farmer said. The sheepdog replies, “You told me to round them up!”

Happy New Year to you all!

As I write this, the temperature has gone up to double figures. Apparently though, weather warnings are in place for the rest of the week. This was mentioned by a member of the breakdown service on the radio who was giving advice about how to drive in these conditions. If there is heavy rain, he said, put your headlights on, slow down and allow at least twice the normal distance between you and the vehicle in front, he said. Take extra care if there is surface water or ice on the road surface, he said. Now, I was thinking that this was a bit ‘stating the blinking obvious’. That was before I had several trips up and down the A12 recently. Obviously not blinking obvious to some Essex drivers. On a day of very heavy rain and strong winds, cars were travelling at speed, going through deep puddles they couldn’t see and splashing water over every other vehicle nearby. On other trips, not many seemed to be aware that the temperature was below freezing. Drive with your headlights on, he had said. Not no lights, side lights or just daylight running lights, like at least 30% of drivers seemed to think is acceptable. Nightmare...

Happy New Year to all. Here at McCartney Sales & Lettings we look forward to assisting the people of Chelmsford for our 31st year, since opening in 1992.

The people of Chelmsford and the country have, in the last few years, experienced challenging factors, from COVID-19 to world events causing significant impact to living costs for all of us. The rental

market too has seen changes with a rise in rental figures across the board and an overall drop in property availability. Now into 2023 it is predicted that this will continue in the first part of the year and possibly beyond. The market does, however, have a substantial number of tenants looking for properties with numerous properties that could have been let multiple times over.

Below is our 8 step guide to the process of letting your property.

Step 1 - Make Your Property Look Its Best

Presenting to rent:

• Be objective: Don’t overlook flaws just because you don’t mind them, tenants may not like the property for that one reason.

• Reduce clutter - ensure to get rid of everything but the bare essentials.

• Outside and inside of the property: If the property is freshly decorated and there is fresh paintwork and it is well cared for in and out, it will 100% make an amazing first impression.

• The modern look: By attracting tenants, it is always crucial to keep the property light and neutral - ensure windows are clean and decoration has been used with light colours.

Step 2

- Get a Valuation from McCartney

If you want a professional opinion on where to set your asking rent, get in touch with us and we will carry out a free valuation, without any obligation, to use our services for lettings or management.

Step 3 - Find Your Tenants

If you decide you would like us to let your property, give us a call and we will be sure to keep you in touch with one of our team.

Our experienced team will be the ones who you will be dealing with, they know the area in and out, it is their job to know everything about your rental. Our team will be in touch with you throughout each step of the way, they will call you when somebody is interested, they will also inform you on any information viewers have said about the property.

We will advertise your property by putting it on the market and on all major property portals, including our website, making it available for potential tenants to see. Your property will also be promoted to our extensive list of registered applicants.

Step 4

- Get the Paperwork Done

When you’ve agreed on your tenants and they have agreed to move in, the next step is then the paperwork. This is done before the tenancy agreement can start. We will take care of this and send you the documents of your potential tenants for you to come to a final decision.

We then name the status of your property from ‘available’ to ‘let agreed’, after that, the applicants will be thoroughly checked through our referencing agency to check and ensure they are the right tenants for you. If there are any problems on behalf of the tenant’s request of the property, we will be sure to ask you first before doing anything.

Step 5 - The Tenancy Agreement and Check-in Inspection

Then, we will draw up a tenancy agreement which will be the contract, which then sets out exactly what the terms of your contract are with your tenant, including any special requirements you have/ expect from your tenants. We will be sure to send you a copy of this agreement, if you request, for you to look at - and make sure your tenant signs it.

Finally, the inventory records are consistent and we ensure to keep track of the contents and condition of your property, at the point when your tenants move in. Moreover, at the end of the tenancy, we will ensure to carry out another inspection to check that nothing is missing or damaged.

Step 6 - Organising for Required Certification and Relevant Alarms to Be Completed

Prior to the tenancy starting, there are certain certification along with smoke and CO2 alarms required where applicable. With a list of trusted tradesmen, we can organise for these to be carried out and at competitive costs.

Step 7 - Taking a Deposit and Moving In Before the tenancy starts, we will collect a holding deposit and the first rent payment on your behalf. Then, as soon as this money clears your tenants can then move in.

We will cut spare keys and give tenants a key in case of any problems or emergencies.

Letting your property is now over and you are now a landlord.

Step 8 - McCartney Management With our management service, you can sit back and leave it to us to look after your property. From being the tenants contact source, to inspections of your property and collection of the monthly rent, through to end of tenancy duties, we have it all in hand.

01245 266 980 www.mccartneyestateagents.co.uk lettings@mccartneyestateagents.co.uk 152 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2

January - The Best Month for Gifting to Yourself

- By Erica

Wishing and sending you all some wonderful positivity for the new year. We are engulfed in it all right now with plenty to share from within the Hummingbird Pilates studio in Writtle! Typically at this time of year, there are bundles of motivation bubbles flying around in the fitness world, which I’d argue makes January one of the most exciting months of the year. After an eventful December with snow, strikes, covid, cold snap energy bills, gifting to all, it seems no better time than to gift back to yourself.

Whether as resolution or not, let’s make January about embracing self-love, care and nourishing the body and mind! Although there is no one-size-fits-all with exercise and well-being, pilates is definitely about giving love to yourself. We all have days where you feel like your energy could conquer Everest, but other days where you just need to find your breath - so at Hummingbird Yoga and Pilates (www.hummingbirdpilates.co.uk) we strive to provide something for everyone. Options include small group (8-person max) Gentle Pilates, which is great for general achey tightness. Or maybe a class with challenging fun to tone and strengthen, or something on Zoom, perhaps a personal 1-2-1 pilates session, and even a good deep soothing massage in our cute treatment room. Our mix of traditional and pilates-influenced movement in our classes gives variety between lovely, slow, centring breathing of a Cat Cow, to some more fun, core challenges that might take a few tries to perfect. See more examples below.

I always check for injuries, whether a minor niggle or something more acute, knees, hips or shoulders... Problems with these joints are common and can be worked around in pilates classes. Pilates is the most recommended form of exercise for rehabilitation, as its simple methods safely target major joints to help mobilise stiffness, reducing common causes of pain, and help you relax, treating both your body and mind.

All class levels begin creating whole body mobility, either standing, seated or sometimes on all fours, but with time to breathe properly and relax your mind, especially important as it is easy to carry tension in neck and shoulders from shallow breathing without realising. Then to follow you’ll find a wonderful mix of the below.

To Relax and Calm the Mind with Full Breathing We Have a Cat Stretch

A real pilates classic. On all fours on hands and knees, we inhale deeply, looking forward, allowing the front of the ribs to expand and hollow the lower back. On exhale we tuck the chin to the chest, arch the back to the ceiling and fully expel all breathe from the chest. Each movement works in really soothing natural harmony with how the whole of our spines love moving.

For a Giggle and Fun We Have Rolling like a Ball

The seal variation: Sound affects optional! Sitting with feet tucked in front of you, knees dropped out wide, wrap hands around ankles and begin by tucking your tailbone under until you naturally roll backwards. Maintaining a constant curve in the back, through to your shoulders is a must so you can roll straight back upright again! Clapping the soles of your feet together, between each roll, like a seal, fulfils the fun brief!

We Always Include Something for Achy Shoulders or Back

Bow and Arrow Rotation - opening the chest and resetting shoulder posture. Standing, sitting or kneeling (you choose) begin both arms out in front of the chest, reaching into fingers, pull back your right elbow, turn chest and head to face right, keeping left arm still. The idea emulates an arrow pulling in a bow, then release the arm and repeat the other arm.

An Energetic Flexibility Challenge

Foulds

(to the ceiling or high as able) above hips. Note: this is not for beginners. Legs ideally are straight but you may need a slight bend. With an inhale lower the right leg towards the floor then return immediately back up, lower the left leg towards the floor then immediately back up, on exhale repeat the same per leg creating two scissoring leg actions per breath.

At Hummingbird Pilates and Yoga, based at Reeds Farm in Writtle, we don’t expect any experience - just a willingness to try. We offer classes for total novices to the well-seasoned, with options for you to join us in studio, or to opt for an interractive Zoom class from wherever you are. If you would like to see our schedule, or chat about getting started to treat your body and mind, search ‘Hummingbird Pilates & Yoga Writtle’, or visit www.hummingbirdpilates.co.uk. You can email us at info@hummingbirdpilatesyoga.co.uk or even choose a good old fashioned call on 01245 422 556.

I hope to see you on the mat soon!

Erica xx

Is Scissors

Laying on your back, arms to your sides, bring legs up to 90 degrees

Well a big Happy New Year to all the Moulsham Times readers. We hope you had a lovely Christmas and, like us, have much to look forward to for 2023.

Thank you to everyone in the Chelmsford community who have listened in or supported us in some way over the last 12 months.

We don’t want to give too much away at this point, but we can say that we have some great projects in the pipeline as well as some new presenters joining us. Do keep an eye on our social media feeds for more details.

www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com

MT Finance - Investors Can Be

Optimistic as We Enter 2023

There are good reasons why investors can be optimistic that 2023 will be better than 2022. In 2022, almost everything that could go wrong did.

In 2022 we watched with sadness as war broke out in Ukraine, the European gas and wider energy markets went into upheaval, and inflation continued to mount on both sides of the Atlantic. Central banks awoke late to put up interest rates consistently to try to bring price rises back down.

China continued with extensive COVID-19 lockdowns, slowing its growth and disrupting global supply chains. Whilst there will still be some overhang from all these factors next year, markets now understand them better - and have priced much of the bad news into valuations already.

The good news going into 2023 is that the main central banks of the west have now taken the inflation threat seriously - and have changed their policies markedly. Inflation looks as if it has peaked in the US and will soon be on the way down on the European side of the Atlantic as well.

Inflation to Fall

The price of oil and some other commodities are significantly lower than the peak levels reached this summer, as a bit more balance has come into markets. The central banks are predicting substantial inflation falls, and this time they may be right after bad misreadings in 2021. As inflation comes under better control, so investors will look forward to a pause in interest rates and start to think about recovery. Bonds had an unusually large fall for much of this year, and this was because high inflation undermines the fixed rate of income return (or coupon) which a bond provides. Bond prices move inversely to interest rates, so when rates go up, bonds will suffer. The main central banks had to end their extraordinary support for bonds which we had witnessed after the 2007-8 financial crisis and again as a result of the pandemic, unwinding their large bond buying programmes.

As 2023 approaches, the Federal Reserve (Fed) and the Bank of England are selling bonds back to the market, whilst the European Central Bank (ECB) is allowing some of the bonds it owns to be repaid without reinvesting all the proceeds. Now that US Treasury yields are more than 4% at the short end and closer to 4% for longer dated bonds, these can once again be considered a sensible investment opportunity for lower-risk and balanced portfolios.

Buying into European bonds offering a negative yield never looked like a great idea during the peak periods of central bank bond buying, as the main purpose of lending money to a government is to earn some interest on the transaction. We expect bonds to play a bigger role for investors in 2023, with the chance to buy in at more attractive yields than have been available in recent years. The idea of a balanced share and bond portfolio was under a lot of pressure and criticism all the time bonds offered little or no income return.

A Difficult Year Priced-in?

Equities too have taken a hit, as people have worried about economic slowdowns and possible recessions. It is true this year has seen some strength in oil shares on the back of a surge in crude and gas prices, and defence companies have also performed well given the

prospect of ongoing geopolitical conflict. Meanwhile, most sectors faced share price markdowns. Companies often have borrowings which will be more expensive to service if they are on variable rates, or more costly to refinance when they fall due for repayment. Inflation first allowed companies to raise their prices and, in many cases, to widen margins whilst supply was interrupted or limited. Now we enter the period when the companies have to meet their rising bills for energy, wages and salaries and general inflation in costs - at a time when turnover growth is slowing, and prices are coming under more pressure. Next year is likely to see weaker profits from many companies, with some experiencing severe margin pressures and losses as the downturns lengthen.

Markets are aware of some of this news and have marked down the growth sectors that did so well up to 2021 to reflect anticipated disappointment with results.

Reasons for Optimism

However, markets look ahead. This means 2023 should be the year when investor interests and sentiment moves on from the downturns and recessions that are widely forecast for the year, to the likely recovery in 2024 and beyond. There should be opportunities to buy into great brands and good companies at favourable prices as we live through the early downturn, ahead of the improvements to come thereafter.

We will be living through the continuing digital revolution, with robotics raising business productivity and beginning to help with managing the home. We will have a constant need for more cybersecurity and plenty of improved software. High streets will continue to evolve into leisure and entertainment centres with more goods being sold online. Governments will press on with their green revolutions, creating plenty more opportunity in everything from solar panels to wind turbines and from extra electricity grid capacity to more batteries.

There will be good growth-oriented businesses for equity investors to add to their portfolios as we move through the darker, colder days of this winter’s energy crunch, rising borrowing costs and economic downturn. Hopefully this gives readers some welcome Christmas cheer, and from all at Charles Stanley, we wish you and your families a very happy Christmas and New Year.

Graham Austin, Chartered FCSI Investment Director

Graham.Austin@charles-stanley.co.uk 0207 149 6696

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

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

Let’s Celebrate! - By Ola Adamolekun

So, 2022 is but a distant memory, and this is the time of the year that we all start to make resolutions. I think that gyms have their busiest month of the year in January - they’re rammed with people trying to get fit.

In December 2022, I started working with a life coach - every coach needs a coach! One of the things I’m trying to work through is my irrational fear of failure. By the end of the first session, my coach had pointed out all the things I’d achieved in 2022. This article is a celebration of those achievements, I’m not being bigheaded but if I don’t big up myself who else is going to do it?

Actually, I started 2022 by getting covid! I was meant to start my new job as a Health and Wellbeing Coach with Uttlesford Health in January, but I didn’t start till February. I’m still working there and loving it.

My circuit class, Wellfit, moved to bigger premises and each member of the group made great strives to meet their fitness/health goals - these ladies are my inspiration. Being a coach gives you the opportunity to celebrate other people’s achievements - double win!

I’d really been struggling to finish my personal training course, but in August 2022 I finally finished. Shout out to my middle son for being a willing case study client. Soon after that I launched myself as a mobile PT.

Work was going really well, and in September I attended a cooking course called Let’s Cook. The relevance of this course has become apparent now due to the cost of living crisis. It was all about teaching people to cook good, healthy, but affordable meals - especially useful when you’re short of cash.

Also in September, I started speaking with the head of girls PE at Great Baddow High School about delivering a talk to the students on their Elite Sport Support Programme and their parents. This was both exciting and scary at the same time. Secondary school kids are not my forté, but it went really well. The parents are real heroes. Some of them drive for miles just to get the kids to and from training. Kudos to the kids as well - they are really committed. It’s minus 8 degrees outside as I write this and some of the swimmers have already trained, as they start at 5am and again after school. That’s real commitment.

As I write, we’re into December and the year is hurtling to an end, so I’m starting to look forward to 2023. I’ll be rounding the year off by being a guest on Chelmsford Community Radio. If you’re reading this in January, you’ll be able to listen back to the podcast.

So, what are my plans for next year? You’ll have stay tuned but I’ve got something starting in January which I’ll share later on in the year. I’d like to say thanks to Moulsham Times for letting me write these articles and sharing my adventures. And a big thanks to everyone that reads them. Happy New Year to you all!

The Singing Chef

Happy New Year to you all! Here’s a recipe to use any chocolate that you may have leftover from Christmas to make some delicious gooey, chewy chewy cookies.

Please please accept my apologies for my last recipe. I’ve got quite a bit of stick for my tomato ketchup recipe for the Christmas edition and I’m sorry! I hope you can forgive me by making these incredible cookies!

singing lessons to people of all ages and abilities. You can email Sarah at sarahmtfood@gmail.com, or search for ‘Sarah Beth Vocal Coaching’ on Facebook.

Anyway, I know it’s now January and many of us may have overindulged, but however healthy you feel you need to be after Christmas, we must still not waste food - especially chocolate, so this recipe can keep on going for a little bit longer and the dough can also be frozen in a log shape and cooked at a later date.

Ingredients

150g sugar and 150g butter (creamed together). One egg.

A pinch of baking powder. 200g of plain flour.

A splash of vanilla and 2 tablespoons of cocoa.

Method

Add, mix and fold together with about 200g of your leftover chocolate. Then bake for 10 minutes at 180 degrees and leave to cool on a wire rack.

Be warned, they’re quite delicate until they cool so be careful with them. Enjoy!

Sarah is a singing and vocal coach based in Chelmsford and offers

We hope you had a good Christmas and welcomed the New Year in with family and friends.

Here at MLCT we do recognise that there may be people feeling isolated and lonely during this period of time. With this in mind a few of our regulars got together in between the two big days here at the Community Station, even though we were officially actually closed. We do have a regular friendship group that anyone is welcome to come along to on a Tuesday morning between 10am and 12 noon, anything goes and they either sit and chat or sometimes do some crafts or even go for a walk. Come along and join in - the Copper Pot Café has always got coffee and cakes which is a good excuse to come along anyway.

In December, we held our biggest fundraising event of the year - Breakfast With Santa, where Santa meets the children in his grotto and families and friends come along and enjoy a cooked breakfast.

MLCT would like to thank all of the volunteers who helped over the weekend - we simply couldn’t do it without you! Above are two

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

An Update from Moulsham Lodge Ward -

I hope that you and your families had a brilliant Christmas and have enjoyed a break from school, work and routine. A big thank you to all the everybody who has made Christmas for the community - be it decorating your home, looking after our neighbours and the community groups and volunteers who have put on events like the Santa sleighs.

I’ve mentioned the Chelmsford Litter Wombles before in these articles - they are a group of amazing volunteers who spend a little of their time, as and when they can, to pick up litter around Chelmsford and leave these areas looking nicer and environmentally better than they found them. I’ve done several informal picks now with the kiddos and contacted a local retailer or two when their area is looking grotty or creating litter and had great results.

Of course, it’s great to leave places nicer than we find them and satisfying to clear a grot spot, but it’s also great for the soul to just get outside and get active - and if you want to team up, there is every chance someone will happily come to join you and it can be social too. Indeed, it was lovely to get together with several of the litter wombles for a catch up and drink before Christmas. If you’re aware of any local grot spots for litter, let me know and I’ll speak to the council where needed or see if we can organise a local pick. You can find Chelmsford Litter Wombles on Facebook by searching ‘@Chelmsford Litter Wombles’.

On moving more - as many of us decide to do each new year - I wanted to mention Active Essex. Active Essex celebrates the fact that everyone can enjoy the huge benefits of moving more which has a positive impact on your health and well-being, which is especially important when we know January can often be a tough time. This

By Councillor Rob Gisby

could involve anything - even litter picking! More information at www. activeessex.org.

As I have mentioned previously, and you may have seen in my recent letter, Vicky Ford and I have been having various conversations with different local businesses to see if we can find a new host business for the Post Office Counter. McColl’s is closing in early January 2023, so if you are a local business owner or have any suggestions, please do let me know. I am sorry to see this closure and for the staff who have been a focus point for the community for so long. I will update you with any information as and when I am able.

Finally, a word on Chelmsford Theatres. Like many families, we were disappointed by the cancellation of this year’s pantomime as a result of the hugely overrunning and over-budget refurbishment of our theatre - a review group has been set up to understand how things have gone so wrong. I’m further disappointed and frustrated to see that the council have now decided, quite disrespectfully in my view, to remove The Cramphorn name and association from the theatre which came about from the bequest of Alderman TJD Cramphorn, six-time mayor of Chelmsford who generously left part of his estate to the council ‘to enhance the dignity of the county town’.

You can get in touch with me via Chelmsford City Council, through my Facebook page (Cllr Rob Gisby) or via Chelmsford Conservative Association. Please do reach out - I look forward to hearing from you.

Wishing you a happy and healthy 2023.

Stay safe, keep well, be kind.

Cllr Rob Gisby Conservative Ward Councillor for Moulsham Lodge

pictures of the teams from both days, and a picture of Santa Claus with Mrs Claus in the grotto below. Keep a look out around October next year for tickets to 2023’s event. See you all soon.

included.

Mark Neville is the Dementia Friendly Community Co-ordinator for the Alzheimer’s Society. He is going to present Dementia Awareness Training at Tile Kiln Church, Robin Way, CM2 8AU, on Monday 20th February 2023 in the evening. The event is open to anyone who is interested in learning more about this disability. There is no charge and no booking required - just turn up. The start time has not yet been decided, but if you are interested and want further details, and to confirm the start time, please contact admin@tilekilnchurch.org.uk.

Sue Urch, a well-known resident of Tile Kiln and all-round fabulous lady, has raised £900 for Alzeimer’s Research and explained how and why: “This year I decided to make up two Christmas hampers to raise money for charity. My lovely dad Colin Marshall was a true gentleman, a man who couldn’t do enough to help anyone in need until he developed dementia. The change we saw was heartbreaking. He started with memory loss, but also developed a loss of speech.

“My dad always whistled or sang a tune - that’s how we found him up or down the supermarket aisles! He became a silent, sometimes agitated man. My dad loved Christmas, so this is when I want to remember him most, at his happiest. A perfect time to give to research for this awful disease of the brain, so I bought items to the value of £60 and divided them into two hampers which I sold raffle tickets to win. My youngest son Craig suggested I put a message on Facebook to my friends, as well as take the hampers in to Springfield Hospital where I work to raise funds. The generosity of friends, family and patients was astounding, with donations from

family as far away as Newcastle-upon-Tyne rolling in. A total amount of £900 was raised which was amazing, but the story didn’t end there. One hamper was won by a patient at Springfield Hospital who wanted her hamper to be given to the staff in the outpatients department as a treat.

“The other was won by my husband’s cousin, Peter Corcoran, who called me and asked for his to be donated to someone who had had a hard time this year and would really benefit from a treat. This has been passed on to a young family who suffered bereavement and have had a really difficult year and who were overwhelmed with such a kind gesture from a stranger.

“The season of goodwill still exists, we have some generous, kind people among us.

“Thank you to everyone who made this happen. In memory of my Dad and all those friends and family who have suffered or are suffering from this awful disease.”

What a heart-warming story. There really are some kind and generous people in our community. Thanks so much to Sue for sharing her story and raising so much money for Alzheimer’s.

A very happy and healthy new year to all of you. mascotlinda@gmail.com

Sometimes, life gets in the way. The plans are made, the decisions taken, and then, suddenly, something happens that changes everything.

I was thinking this through when we had that snow a week or two before Christmas. Snow in the UK seems to disrupt everything. It changes the nature of the day somehow, even if you’ve still got to go to work or school, or run the same errands. The world is aglow for a little while (until the it all turns to sludge) and things go at a slightly slower pace.

It is easy to get frustrated at this overnight change, but there is something in taking such days as a gift. There is a givenness in such days. We did not choose it, we did not plan for it, but the snow has been given to us. Accepting the givenness of the day is to recognise the day as a gift.

Christians seek to recognise each day as a gift from God. The Bible tells us that God knows every single one of our days before we’re even born. And he gives us each one as a gift. The gift of time is something that we fail to recognise all too often.

I don’t know what the days hold for you at the start of this new year. You might have some idea - but even then, there’ll be surprises

along the way. But I do know the one who holds all of your days in his hands. And you can know him too. Did you know that? Christian faith is about rich, true, life-giving relationship with God himself! (I tell you because sometimes people think it’s about rules, but that’s wrong, it’s about relationship).

God loves to give good gifts, and his grace is available to all who ask. With God there is always room for surprise. Like the surprise we’ve just celebrated: who’d have thought that God would come to earth, be born as a human? Sounds ridiculous! But believed by Christians around the world, and all the way down through history. Jesus Christ, Son of God, is God’s ultimate gift to humanity. His ultimate gift to you. I wonder, have you ever slowed down long enough to think that God might be giving you the gift of his love and grace on this very day? At the start of this new year, stop for a moment - I think God’s got a gift for you.

Tim Goodall Pastor, Tile Kiln Church

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

This month I am featuring support and fundraising stories for Dementia Awareness which affects or has affected many families, mine

Quiz Time - By John Theedom

What can be a bet or a boat?

What are fronds?

Who, where or what is sibyl?

What is enteritis?

What is the origin of the word eiderdown?

What is a chignon?

What does the word Glebe mean as in Glebe Road?

How many branches are HSBC closing nationally?

Which colour belt is the highest in karate?

If somebody is being mendacious, what are they doing?

Who played Compo in Last of the Summer Wine? Of New Zealand’s two main islands, which is the larger, North or South?

Who, where or what is impi?

What was the real name of the English wrestler Big Daddy?

Which musical instrument did Louis Armstrong play when he wasn’t singing?

How many colours are there on the flag of Norway?

What is the full real name of grime artist Stormzy?

Which MP has the nickname Baroness Bra?

How much is the choker which was worn by Diana and is now worn by Kate, worth?

Who was a female member of the Fleetwood Mac group who died recently?

MP Matt Hancock represents which UK constituency?

A 19 year old undergraduate has died after being bitten by which animal?

23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.

What type of creature is the 190 year old Johnathan?

Is parsley an annual, biennial or a perennial plant?

Football boots have interchangeable studs. The studs for wet slippery surfaces are aluminium, what are they for hard ground?

What are the scientists who study volcanoes called?

Which British PM said: ‘A week is a long time in politics’?

Which 2 elements make up water?

Where was the original Harris tweed spun and woven?

What is the usual occupation of the Irish leprechaun?

What was Tina Turner’s birth name?

Which legendary British singer was awarded the OBE by the Queen on his 40th birthday in 1980?

Which drink has been known as Dutch Courage and Mother’s Ruin?

What distance is an Olympic marathon?

What is the difference between the vaulting horse in men’s and women’s events?

Which day of the week is the Muslim sabbath? Bamboo grows in the forests of China, but they are not trees, what are they?

What is the Hindu Kush?

What are Oxford bags?

By which nickname was French designer Gabrielle Chanel always known?

(Answers on pages 31)

Volunteer at Broomfield Hospital Broomfield Hospital has lots of volunteer roles available, all of which offer the chance to make a real difference to the lives of patients, their loved ones, and to hardworking NHS staff.

Roles include helping in wards, at mealtimes, in the gardens, at help desks, at the breast clinic, on chemotherapy wards, and in physical therapy.

Helpline and befriending volunteers - Farleigh Hospice

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

Help a young person at risk of homelessness Nightstop provides same-day emergency accommodation to those aged 16 - 25 who are at risk of becoming homeless. Volunteers are needed to offer a safe, warm bedroom for just one to two nights while longer-term accommodation is arranged. The young people are carefully screened, and volunteers are fully reimbursed for their costs. The people needing help are often scared teenagers who just need a hot meal and a kind word.

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

Bookkeeper/Treasurer at St Luke’s Church, Moulsham St Luke’s requires a Treasurer who can maintain a simple Excel spreadsheet of payments and receipts.

Anyone interested in this post would be supported by the current Treasurer and the PCC, and can become more involved should they wish to.

Knit and crochet for good causes! - ladies’ knitting group in Great Baddow Are you a keen knitter? Or have you always wanted to learn? We are welcoming volunteers to join a new ladies’ only knitting group at Hamptons Sport & Leisure Centre in Great Baddow.

The group includes experienced knitters, complete beginners, refugees, older people, and ladies who’ve dealt with difficult circumstances or sad times. Over lots of coffee and cake we chat, create, laugh, and make things for good causes!

Group Support Volunteer for young families - HomeStart Essex Becoming a parent can be an incredibly isolating experience. It can feel overwhelming, and like you’re doing everything wrong.

HomeStart run face-to-face and online well-being groups to provide young parents with coping mechanisms, build friendships and peer support, talk openly in a non-judgmental environment, and improve their mental health. Kind, empathetic volunteers are needed to help run these.

Punt Leaves of a fern Fortune teller Intestinal inflamation Down from the Eider duck Hair twisted into a knot Land belonging to a clergyman 114 Black Lying, avoiding the truth Bill Owen South Island A body of Zulu warriors Shirley Crabtree

15. 16. 17. 18. 19 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27.

Trumpet Three, red, white and blue Michael Ebenezer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr Baroness Michelle Mone £12,000,000 Christine McVie West Suffolk Spider A great tortoise in Seychelles Biennial Rubber Volcanologists Harold Wilson

28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.

Hydrogen and oxygen

Outer Hebrides Shoemaker Annie Mae Bullock Cliff Richard Gin 42.195km, 26miles 385 yards The heights, mens 135cms, womens 120cms Friday Grass A mountain range Wide-legged trousers Coco