Moulsham Times - June 2023

MoulshamTimes

Welcome to the June edition.

There is lots going on this month; it’s certainly worth checking out the event listings in our sister magazine, The City Times

We have recently had Concrete Canvas, so do check out the art work around the city. We think it is a great idea and really brightens up the city.

Our winners were at Creamfields last weekend, and we’re so glad the weather was good for the event!

The next edition will be out from June 29th. Do please contact us for pricing on advertising and distribution and we can send you a detailed price list.

Regards

Paul

Advertising & Editorial Paul Mclean 01245 262082/07595 949701

paul@moulshamtimes.com

Disclaimer:

It’s Your Magazines Ltd. Reg Co No. 12080535. Printed by Warners (Midlands) PLC.

Chelmsford - By Vicky Ford MP

I continue to focus on delivering infrastructure in Chelmsford. I recently visited Beaulieu Station where work is continuing at pace and the station remains on track to complete by the end of 2025. Once open, this will reduce the number of people driving into Chelmsford station and help reduce traffic in central Chelmsford.

There is one more weekend of closure of the track, after that there will be weekend services until the August bank holiday when another major phase will commence. Another piece of work will need to take place in central Chelmsford near the viaduct over Parkway - this is to enable the signalling for the new station.

industry heads on matters affecting the industry nationally.

Finally, Moulsham residents who live near the Essex County Cricket Ground may be delighted to hear that the major international cricket series hosted in Chelmsford between Bangladesh and Ireland was a huge success. Thank you to everyone who made our visitors so welcome.

As ever, if I can help with an issue or a problem do get in touch by email on vicky.ford.mp@parliament.uk.

Greater Anglia have now completed the upgrade of all the trains and carriages on services to Chelmsford. This means our train service is now much more reliable. A new summer rail timetable has now started in Chelmsford including more trains in the morning peak hours when the average gap between trains is 8 minutes. The 07.09, 07.27, 07.51 and 07.58 are likely to be the least busy and the 08.28 is a Chelmsford starter.

I am also keeping a close eye on the buses. It was excellent news to hear that the £2 bus fare cap has been extended until the end of this October - you can get all the way to Southend or Stansted for just a couple of quid. I will be meeting First Bus Essex shortly, so please do email me if you have any recent feedback on services.

I know many residents would like to see an increase in GP capacity. The first cohort of doctors will be graduating from our new Medical School in just a few weeks, many of them have told me they intend to stay working in our local area. Works on expanding Sutherland Lodge and the new Beaulieu Medical Centre are due to commence shortly. I will continue to press for improvements to our local GP capacity.

I continue to support local businesses and it was good to meet with many traders and shops in the High Street area. Online shopping has caused a reduction in footfall in high streets across the country, although central Chelmsford is performing much better than most other town and city centres. Do please support your local shops. The insurance sector is a major employer in Chelmsford, providing over 3,000 jobs and many of Chelmsford’s commuters also work in insurance. I recently visited QBE in Chelmsford and am working with

Mr and Mrs B had spent 10 years improving and extending their property, but after living in it for a while they realised that the kitchen was too small and poorly designed. They have 2 older daughters who are at university but visit regularly. They both love to cook and were hoping to reignite their passion for preparing meals from scratch. They lived within a 10 minute walk of the Regal showroom, and after reading some of their online reviews decided to pay Regal a visit.

Mr and Mrs B loved the modern handleless look but didn’t want the space to look too clinical. The existing layout wasn’t working for them, so they asked for some advice from Regal’s Senior Designer, John Martin, to achieve the best positioning possible.

They entertain a lot, so a seating area near their bifold doors which lead to the garden was to be incorporated into the design, possibly with a bar area. They had also requested an island, but wanted this to also double up as a sink and dishwashing area. As they sometimes work from home, they asked for a kettle tap to be included - not just for hot drinks but to speed up

cookery times when preparing banquets for their friends.

They invited a designer around to look at the project and quickly concluded the best option would be to relocate the kitchen to the other side of the room and the inspired decision to block in the two windows really gave the kitchen the dimensions it needed.

They opted for Schuller cabinets in white gloss with contrasting concrete fascias. The peninsula serves as both the wet area, including essential Quooker tap, and with the raised coordinating concrete top as a breakfast bar.

The bespoke drinks area strategically positioned near the back door, ready for barbeque season, includes two NEFF wine chillers and an additional rinsing sink. Twin NEFF double ovens and a Flexinduction hob allow the customer to ‘cook up a storm’.

The finishing touch of 60 square metres of Pisa polished porcelain tiles completes the modern look. Mr and Mrs B explained that the brief to bring the kitchen forward to the next generation was surpassed.

Regal Kitchens Showroom is situated at 2 Navigation Road, CM2 6HX and open 7 days per week between 10am and 4pm.

From Zero to Ultramarathon: An Accessible Guide to Becomming a Runner - By

Chris

at Forté Physical Health

The act of running is one of the most human things we do. The capacity to run long distances has been with us since our ancestors chased prey across ancient savannas. And, it still lives within us today.

I am about to run my first-ever 100-mile ultramarathon. Throughout my journey, running has brought me joy, and it has taught me a lot about myself. As an osteopath, I love helping people get into running to help improve their fitness and wellbeing... if they want to, of course!

The thought of running a marathon or beyond might seem slightly daunting (or somewhat insane!), but it all starts by gradually building distance and fitness. That’s what this article is about - how to take your first steps in running and how to keep moving forward.

Getting into running can seem intimidating at first. But there is no need to worry; it doesn’t have to be a marathon from the get-go. That’s where the Couch to 5K app comes into the picture. This brilliant application slowly eases you into the world of running over a nine-week plan, turning couch potatoes into 5K runners. It’s a programme that starts with a mix of walking and running, gradually increasing the running component until you’re comfortably covering 5 kilometers. Think of it as a virtual coach that gently nudges you to progress at your own pace.

I honestly think that going from no running to being able to run 5k consistently is the hardest part of the running journey. It’s where you have to build new habits and it requires a little willpower. By the end of the 9 weeks though, you will feel much more confident, and it will feel completely normal to don your running trainers a few times a week. In fact, you will probably start to miss it on the days you don’t go!

As you go through your Couch to 5K journey, don’t forget the importance of strength exercises. They’re vital in improving your running performance and preventing injuries. Here are a few exercises you should include in your routine:

Lunges: Start standing straight, then step forward with one foot until your leg reaches a 90-degree angle. Your rear knee should remain parallel to the ground, and your front knee should push as far forwards as is comfortable. It can go over the toes if you like and is pain-free (it’s a myth that it shouldn’t be). Push back up to the starting position and repeat with the other leg.

Squats: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, then lower your body as far as you can comfortably by pushing your hips back and bending your knees. Your weight should be on your heels. Push yourself back to the start position and repeat.

Planks: Start in a push-up position but rest on your forearms instead of your hands. Your body should form a straight line from your shoulders to your ankles. Engage your core and hold this position for as long as you can while maintaining good posture. I also like to add movement to my planks by wiggling my hips.

Glute Bridges: Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Push through your heels to lift your hips off the floor while keeping your back straight. Hold at the top for a second, then lower back down and repeat. Do these single-leg if they feel too easy pushing through two feet.

Each of these exercises targets different muscle groups that are important for running. Lunges and squats develop your quads,

hamstrings, and glutes - these are the powerhouses of your stride. Planks are fantastic for strengthening your core, an often overlooked but crucial part of maintaining good running form. Finally, glute bridges help strengthen your posterior chain, providing stability and power in each step.

Running is more than just a physical activity; it’s a journey, an ongoing process of personal growth. As you lace up your running shoes and step out the door for the first time, you’re not just working on your body. You’re cultivating discipline, resilience, and a sense of achievement.

I’m as baffled as anyone by the idea of running my first 100-mile ultramarathon. But don’t get overwhelmed by that thought. Just remember how it all begins: with a single step.

If pain or injury are holding you back, we can help in my clinic with our team of osteopaths and sports massage therapists. We all love to help people build their fitness routines to help their well-being. You can find out more here, fortephysicalhealth.co.uk

And until next time, have a healthy and happy week!

MT Gardening

What a fabulous month May is turning out to be. Gone are the frosts, hopefully. And on to a calm few weeks.

Hanging baskets and other related features, such as window boxes and mangers, are ideal for adding another dimension to the garden or interior setting. They are an effective way to introduce colour and can be used to brighten up porches, balconies, terraces and bare walls.

The most traditional planting schemes for hanging baskets is a mass of tender summer flowering plants such as fuchsia, lobelia and impatiens.

There are many other types of plants suitable for use in hanging baskets for all seasons and situations. Effective displays can be made using flowering bedding plants and shrubs, herbs and house plants as well as more specialist uses such as single plantings of orchids or the Christmas cactus Schlumbergera cvs

Of course there are many types of baskets:

• Plastic coated wire baskets allow for planting through the sides,

though drying out can be a problem.

• Solid plastic baskets do not allow for side planting but often have in-built reservoirs and drip trays, which make watering easy and prevent water and debris from falling to the ground.

• Willow baskets are aesthetically pleasing, and although the sides cannot be planted, they are usually plastic lined and therefore retain moisture.

• Wooden slatted baskets are ideal for single plantings of epiphytes such as orchids and bromeliads.

• Terracotta baskets are highly ornamental but may be damaged by frost in winter, are very heavy, and dry out quickly.

And many types of liners:

• Sphagnum moss is attractive and easy to use as it is flexible, making planting up in stages possible. The collection of sphagnum moss from the wild cause’s environmental damage to fragile peat bog habitats, but it is possible to purchase sphagnum moss that is guaranteed to have been harvested from managed sites.

• Super moss is a flexible plastic sheet, which is covered in a green moss-like wool material; it is easy to use and water retentive.

• Coconut fibre is woven together to make a mat, which lines the basket. Slits in the mat allow for side planting but the mats are free-draining and the basket is therefore prone to drying out.

• Foam liners are easy to use and hold water well but tend to be unsightly.

Potting Compost

The compost needs to be open, light and water retentive; planted baskets can become extremely heavy. Peat-based or coir-based compost with added controlled release fertilisers is ideal.

Watering and Drainage

Hanging baskets should be densely planted for the best results, this prevents the compost from drying out, especially in hot, dry weather when plants are transpiring at an increased rate.

Ways to improve water retention include:

• Placing a small circle of plastic sheeting or a plant saucer in the base of the basket before planting.

• Adding water-retaining gels to the compost (follow manufacturer’s instructions).

• Avoiding the use of free draining liners and baskets such as moss, coconut fibre and wire baskets.

• Installing an automatic drip watering system.

Care and Maintenance

Watering: Regular watering is essential for baskets. During hot windy weather watering may be required several times a day and is best done during early morning and in the evening to avoid scorch and excess evaporation.

Feeding: A controlled release balanced fertiliser can be added to the compost and this will reduce the need for additional feeding later on in the season. Additional fertiliser can be added as a liquid feed, such as tomato feed, which is high in potassium to promote flowering.

Dead heading: Pinching out dead and dying flower heads back to a leaf will promote more flowering and a bushy habit.

Pests and diseases: Hanging baskets are tightly planted and grow vigorously. This produces a lot of soft growth that can be prone to pests and diseases such as aphids and botrytis. Prompt pest control

and the removal of dead leaves and flowers to discourage fungal diseases are advisable.

Check out this RHS link to using hanging baskets: www.rhs.org.uk/ container-gardening/hanging-baskets.

Here are a few other tasks for the month of May: www.rhsplants. co.uk/rhs-monthly-jobs-may.

Here is a sneak preview of the month of June: www.rhs.org.uk/ advice/in-month/june.

Happy gardening!

For any gardening tips please contact Tom Cole, Horticultural Lecturer, Capel Manor College, Bullsmoor Lane, Enfield, Middlesex, EN1 4RR, or by email tomcole8@hotmail.com.

Deadlines for the July edition:

Articles - 16th June

Print-ready artwork - 22nd June

Nick Garner’s Music & Ramblings

June already, that means the summer will be slowly hotting up now... We recently had our elections and not much changed there, we have had the coronation as well and now we are approaching the festival and fête season. Concrete Canvas is happening now and I have seen a couple of installations being created in Moulsham Street which I think is greatit certainly helps to brighten up our city for all to enjoy. There are many more being created and you can get a map of where they are from the Art Place in Meadows.

Moulsham Street and the area around it is still pretty vibrant; most have a passion for the area just like we do as the residents of Old Moulsham, Moulsham Lodge and Tile Kiln, so let’s get behind our areas of the city!

We had temporary traffic lights at the crossroads by BBC Essex for a while which have now gone, but I think the timing of the lights needs to be looked at. When the lights from Writtle Road turn red almost immediately, the lights on New London Road change to green - no wonder we get so many accidents there. If you have any thoughts, we would love to hear them.

My biggest thing at present is trying to help save Hot Box, if you do not yet know, Hot Box is a not-for-profit venue in the railway arches by the bus and rail stations. Dave Hughes set this up as not just a grass roots music venue and bar, but also a place to help many peoplethey do a lot of diverse things, like on a Monday it is the chess club and on a Wednesday night it is the quiz night. See below for more about Hot Box who are fundraising to survive via www.crowdfunder. co.uk/p/hot-box-recovery-fund.

Who are Hot Box?

“Hot Box are a Community Interest Company, and Not for Profit Music Venue, and the only fulltime Music Venue left in Chelmsford. Artists come from all over the world to play here, we are truly a vibrant, welcoming and safe place to be. The onus is on us to cover all genres and musical/artistic disciplines to serve our community. As well as our cultural output we also run educational initiatives, from which participants have gone into employment and gained transferable industry standard skills. We also offer programming for marginalised groups within our community, this is integration at it’s best.

“We are not for profit, and pre-lockdown used to scrape through by the skin of our teeth, but now...

“The situation we are in: Post Covid we have found ourselves saddled with large debts which have had a severe impact on the events we can put on. On top of this, price increases have added further stresses.

“Nationally the music venue sector is in trouble; although grassroots music venues generate £500million of turnover annually, nationally we have £499million in costs leaving us with an average 0.2 per cent profit margin. There are 177,000 events happening, but that’s down 16.7 per cent. We used to do an average of 4.2 events per week at these venues, and we’re now down to 3.5 (Music Venue Trust 2022 Annual Report).

“It is easy to see why we are in trouble, 0.2% profit does not fund our 49% increase in rateable value, 12% increase in rent, rent arrears accumulated during Lockdown, repayments of bounce back loans, and VAT debt.

“How we will use the donations: To pay off some of the debt accrued during lockdown, to keep us going for the next 12 months.

“Please donate what you can afford to do so and help us survive these turbulent times. Any donations are truly appreciated. If you cannot afford to donate, then there are other ways you can help by popping down for a beer and sharing about us on social media. If you want to see first-hand what we do and discuss the scheme with us before deciding to donate, then we would be pleased to show you around.

“There are many worthy causes out there, we hope you will support ours. However, if you decide not to then we understand, but would ask that you share this with people in your circle that may be interested in supporting a not-for-profit music venue.”

The above information comes from the Hot Box Crowdfunding page. As Concrete Canvas comes to an end, we then start the Chelmsford Festival from the 1st June for thirty days - there are more details in the middle of this edition of the Moulsham Times

There is lots going on around us and not just in Chelmsford. I went to the Maldon mud race the other week where I had a lot of funthough I did not take part!

Music

I had the amazing Robbie McIntosh play with his full band at the Social Club. The next day he played as an acoustic duo at the Hot Box on the Saturday afternoon which went down a storm. Mim Grey opened for Robbie and she was so impressed that we have booked her with her full band to play in October (Mim is Sir Tom Jones favourite singer).

We then had Take It Easy playing their American rock covers that the audience really enjoyed with so many up and dancing. We then had a couple of weeks off where I went to various shows as I have to get my live music fix. I went to Barleylands and the Colchester Arts Centre, but sadly not to the Blur show. We returned with Who’s Next, and as ever they were great as were the local band who opened for them, Age Of Discovery. Check out our adverts in here for what we have coming up this month, as not only do we have our shows at the Social Club, we also have a couple of shows at Hot Box too.

We have been busy filling up the end of the year and we are just waiting on a couple to confirm for us, then we are full at both the Social Club and Hot Box for 2023 - we are now already starting to book for 2024.

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

You can get tickets for all our shows in Chelmsford from Intense Records, Hopsters and Chelmsford 4Good - please pay cash in person when you buy your tickets. 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 the advance price on entry to the show rather than the walk-up price.

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

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

I couldn’t do anything other than start off this month’s article with a huge THANK YOU to everyone who supported me and my Liberal Democrat colleagues in May’s local elections.

An enormous amount of effort goes into elections - from writing, producing and delivering leaflets, to knocking on doors and talking to residents. Thank you to everyone who got involved in the process.

And that’s just the campaigners. We mustn’t forget the council workers who face the daunting logistical challenge at every election of ensuring that ballot papers are prepared, poll cards are sent out, queries are dealt with, polling stations are sourced, set up and staffed, and then, crucially, votes are counted accurately and diligently. It’s no exaggeration to say that democracy simply wouldn’t work without the immense effort they put in, often unseen to the general public, but vital. A very big thank you goes to them.

And then, dear reader and voter, there’s you. Thank you to everyone who took the time to come out and vote. Sadly, turnout in local elections is nearly always very low. This year, across the Chelmsford district the turnout was 32.33%. Some years, it’s been even lower than that. It’s only usually when local elections coincide with a General Election that the turnout is much higher. I find that quite surprising. While Westminster undoubtedly gets the lion’s share of television coverage - and it’s certainly full of intrigue and (disappointingly) scandal - arguably it’s activities tend to affect our daily lives far less than local government.

Local government is about whether your bins are collected on time, whether your parks are well maintained, are there enough cultural activities: Is there enough housing being built in the right places and - I hesitate even to mention it - are your potholes being repaired quickly enough? All of these cause daily concerns when they aren’t being done well, and yet so few people come out to vote to change them.

But thank you so much to everyone who did use their vote on 4th May. Watching the ballot papers being unfolded and put into piles at the count is extremely rewarding. It makes every door knocked on in the cold and the rain worth it. It makes me glad that I climbed that extra flight of stairs to deliver a leaflet to the flat on the very top floor, over and over and over again, to keep voters informed about what’s going on.

I’d also like to say thank you to the other candidates who put themselves forward in these elections. There are parts of the country where councillors have been elected unopposed. I think that’s a travesty - but it goes to show just how difficult it can be to find enough people to get involved in local democracy. So thank you to everyone who took part, including those from parties other than my own.

Goldman

We may not agree on policies, but we certainly agree on the importance of providing voters with a choice.

My Liberal Democrat colleagues and I are extremely grateful and humbled to have been chosen by you to represent our wonderful area. We know, of course, that not everyone voted for us - but we have been elected to serve you all. We take that honour very seriously and that’s exactly what we’ll be doing over the next four years.

If you’d like to keep tabs on what we’re getting up to, one of the ways you can do that is by following our social media pages. While we try to keep you updated by posting in local community groups, some of them won’t let us post (sadly, some of the admins let their opposing political ideology get in the way), so please do follow the accounts listed below so that you don’t miss out on what’s going on:

Marie Goldman

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarieGoldmanLD. Twitter: twitter.com/mariecgoldman. Instagram: www.instagram.com/mariecgoldman.

Lib Dem Councillors for Moulsham & Central Facebook: www.facebook.com/ LDCouncillorsForMoulshamAndCentral.

Chelmsford Liberal Democrats Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChelmsLibDems. Twitter: twitter.com/ChelmsLibDems. Instagram: www.instagram.com/chelmslibdems/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChelmsfordLibDems.

And finally, you can contact the Chelmsford City Council ward councillors for Moulsham & Central using the email addresses below: Charlene Adutwim: charlene.adutwim@chelmsfordlibdems.org.uk. Marie Goldman: marie.goldman@chelmsfordlibdems.org.uk. Graham Pooley: graham.pooley@chelmsfordlibdems.org.uk.

Thank you so much for placing your trust in me and my Lib Dem colleagues. We will continue to work hard all year round to make our city greener, fairer and more connected.

Keep well and enjoy the warmer weather.

Cllr Marie Goldman

Deputy Leader, Chelmsford City Council Ward councillor for Moulsham & Central Essex County Councillor for Chelmsford Central Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Chelmsford

Missing - This beauty came out right after the deadline for last month, so it’s already on Netflix. No, seriously.

There’s a fairly modest repertoire of films that take place entirely through webcams and desktops, the main one that popped into mind for me was Unfriended. This film was a dramatic improvement.

Crime thrillers must be fast-paced, well-researched and constantly intriguing and this did all of the above - and if I may say, completely against my prejudgement. I expected it to lean heavily on its gimmick, but I’d say this might be your smartest choice for Netflix films at the moment.

83/100

Evil Dead Rise - I saw this twice, so there is your first clue. Horrors lately have earned their bread by being quite abstract and artsy, either that or they’re considered cheap and mediocre. It is a huge relief to see that the slightly more basic style of horror can still flourish.

My summary is that Evil Dead Rise is the perfect sensory experience. It looked fantastic and was superbly acted by villains and victims alike. It also used music and general sound extremely well, keeping that vice-grip of dread on its audience.

I would put it down as a must-see if you catch it before it leaves your cinema or when it arrives on stream,

87/100

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry - Not all films translate all that well from paper to the projector. If I’m honest this put up a hell of a fight though. The bottom line is that not enough happens to warrant me staring at a long walk for hours.Genuinely heartfelt and clever considering those drawbacks at times.

45/100

Polite Society - Was rooting for this film quite early on for its style. It sort of turned an everyday set of circumstances into Mortal Kombat. Instantly interested.

Unfortunately, after a while the story unravelled and I just knew what was going the happen. Literally watched the script loom ahead of me after around 20 mins in. The thing is that great filmmaking and stuntwork never dwindled but the story ALWAYS comes first. A similar drawback to Rye Lane in my opinion.

43/100

Infinity Pool - I was late to this one because we sometimes just don’t get showings at Odeon. This was one of those whacky abstract horrors I was talking about. My pet peeve. Although not so much with this one. Yes, it’s overly artsy and quick to resort to nudity and weird gore, but such a world was convincing because of the acting.

You probably know the name Mia Goth fairly well by now, but she is one of the best in the business at the moment. She plays the seductive, manipulative psychopath so fantastically. Alexander Skarsgaard also did a phenomenal job. I think it was probably those two that kept me very engaged with quite a strange story.

79/100

Big George Foreman - Okay maaaybe I’ve been spoiled by some really good biopics in recent years, because this one didn’t really have faults but then it just hit me that I was really only watching someone’s life story.

Nothing went above a simmer and I just wasn’t that bothered.

Something that would have made a great documentary but it really just never did anything special with the acting, cinematography or camerawork. Just decent to be honest, but only worth it if you’re a fan of the boxer.

35/100

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 - About as good as the modern superhero movie can get. The events were a bit basic but the background story was emotional and well-delivered. It had the benefit of characters that are loved already but it did a marvelous job even considering.

Quite a simple one to review because I just agree with what most people are saying and that it’s a big hit from Marvel.

81/100

Are you there God? It’s me, Margaret - Coming-of-age films aren’t really my cuppa but this avoided most of the things I thought it could be. It was about a group of 11-year-old girls approaching their ‘changes’ but it was surprisingly funny and hit some serious points rather well. It felt like it was written to be respected by the older audience rather than just being cheap and rushed. Pleasantly surprised but not blown away.

70/100

Book Club: The Next Chapter - I didn’t even know there was an original, never heard any soul talking about it. It was so so samey and consequently so so boring. A group of people (usually 4) go on holiday and somehow set the place alight (metaphorically).

The biggest surprise however is that the feel-good cap off at the end, which is usually as naff as anything in these films, was genuinely nailed. Quite odd for a snoozefest but there you go.

18/100

Love Again - This would have honestly been an above-average romcom. The premise was quite interesting, the comedy was respectable and the male lead was quite charismatic. Even Celine Dion was pretty good at acting.

See if you can read that back and spot the ‘but’... The leads had really mediocre chemistry and I think that came from Priyanka Chopra being quite average at acting, and it sort of made the whole thing forgettable. Shame.

41/100

Hypnotic - I laughed so much so thank you. Unfortunately, though this was not a comedy at all. Funny bad films aren’t the very worst films, they just have certain moments that are so cringy that you can’t believe it was voted through into the final product.

The premise was cool and I actually enjoyed watching things develop, especially as William Fichtner was the villain. However you realise after not long that the rules of this world didn’t have so much as a mind map to refer to, the logic was all over the place.

The thing is though I just have to reserve the possibility that there’s a huge demographic of viewers that will still happily enjoy stuff like this, despite it being messy.

34/100

Fast X - It’s like all the other films I guess. Cars do things that a batmobile couldn’t and you have lead characters with clauses in their contracts that say they are not allowed to lose fights. What do you expect the film to be like?

Well, that wasn’t rhetorical, because the answer is mindless, borderline intolerable but with some glimpses of enjoyment. The hands-on-end factor of this was that Jason Momoa was phenomenal as a villain but you just can’t rely on that.

38/100

henrygodfreyevans@gmail.com

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Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary is nestled in 40 acres of lovely Essex countryside and has been providing lifetime care and rehabilitation for horses, ponies, donkeys, goats and sheep for 40 years. The sanctuary looks after over 150 animals that have been the victims of physical and mental abuse.

The sanctuary was set up in 1983 by founder Sue Burton and her friend Patricia Bacon, after seeing the plight of the horses on Rainham Marshes, where over 100 horses were left on the bleak marshland. As the water inlets flooded, they became cut off, resulting in 13 horses dying in the most awful conditions. Soon after this Sue and Patricia met Remus, a horse who was found in a dreadful state, stolen and starving, he had been tied to a lamppost for 13 days. Sadly, his suffering was so bad, he had to be put to sleep. The Sanctuary takes its name from Remus.

“Over the years we have witnessed terrible cruelty and suffering, many of those sights we can never unsee, but we are proud to have reached our 40th year and have been able to help, rescue, save and rehabilitate so many animals but there is still so much work to be done.” Sue Burton says.

It is heartbreaking to see animals who have been badly abused and neglected. Sadly, the sanctuary has many dreadful stories, such as that of Alfie, Mason and Heidi who were found tethered by their necks to the ground at only 8 weeks old. They were in a terrible condition despite being such babies. They had awful hacking coughs and discharge. Sadly, help didn’t arrive in time for poor Alfie, as he died not long after we took him in, but the veterinary and nursing care saved Heidi and Mason who now live happily at the Sanctuary.

The sanctuary is totally funded by public donations from events, membership and fundraising initiatives, relying on this income to cover the 450K yearly running costs.

You can keep an eye on their website and social media pages for updates on forthcoming events and fundraisers, such as their Remus 40th Anniversary Fundraising Challenge.

You can also visit the Sanctuary on their popular Open Days which are on the first Sunday of the month May - October, or you can make a donation by post to Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary, Little Farm, Buttsbury, Ingatestone CM4 9NZ or by card on 01277 356 191.

Hello everyone. Well, sun’s out, shorts are on. Must be summerfor the next couple of days at least! I hope you are all feeling ‘summery’ (is that a word?).

It’s June and the year is flying by, too quickly for my liking. As I get older, the time seems to go more and more quickly. I thought it was an age thing, but my grandchildren tell me they feel the same. I guess it’s just the pace of life these days.

I am a little disappointed at the moment. The football team I follow, Southampton, have just been relegated from the Premier League. If you don’t follow football, I guess you’re saying two things. Who cares, and why do you follow a team that is 120 miles from Essex? Well, for the first one, I have been a Saints fan since the late 1960s, and since then we have been up and down the leagues and have just one major trophy. The 1976 FA Cup Final no less! As a fan you have to take the rough with the smooth and realise that Saturday afternoons will not be the same next season. Never mind, I am a Saints fan because I was born there and lived there for some years before moving up north to Essex.

I see that the shopping trolley saving the person down the well advert is still on. I have decided it is a bit unrealistic, as there are no pieces of paper or bits of leftover food in the trolley. Most unusual these days!

I have been thinking lately (I know, too much time on my hands) about some questions I would like to know the answers to...

Is It Acceptable to Use Bathroom Cleaner in the Kitchen?

When I go to a supermarket ‘cleaning products’ aisle, I am confronted by an array of different sprays, what’s all that about? So confusing. Surely a spray cleaner is a spray that cleans. Why so many? Other annoying things are the product locations. Croutons! If I were placing these on shelves, I would put them near the soups, or the salad ingredients. But no, I have yet to find them.

Why Do Expensive Cars Have Indicators That Don’t Work?

Why do some drivers ignore the lane closure warning signs at roadworks, normally given 800 metres ahead and try to cut in just before the obstruction? I know it’s childish of me, but I find it very annoying.

I am attending bridge lessons (the card game not the river crossings). I have only been to three so far, so I’m still a bit confused. I have played card games ever since I was a child, and generally seem to get on OK. I particularly enjoy cribbage but, well, bridge is in a different league.

For those who don’t know, there are a load of rules and procedures that come into play before you get to the actual game. The first challenge is how to hold 13 cards in your hand! The game is played by 4 players, split into two partners. So far, I have ‘played’ 4 games and still don’t really feel I am in control. The people who run it are very knowledgable and patient. At my age though, it seems difficult to grasp and remember everything. Oh well, I hope I stick it out and don’t think it’s a bridge too far...

Recently, Countdown presenter Susie Dent published her list of phrases that people hate. Obviously peoples examples may differ. Things like starting an answer with ‘So’. For example, when

contestants on quiz shows are asked what they do for a job they answer, ‘So, I work in a supermarket’ So what? What about ‘I’m not going to lie to you’? Why would I think they would? It implies to me that they were thinking about doing exactly that. I wanted to reach out. Why not ‘I would like to talk to you.’ Television interviewees who insist on saying ‘like’ or ‘you know’ (that one was mine not hers).

We seem to be adopting words or sayings from the US, saying ‘HEY’ instead of hello when meeting someone. Perhaps it’s because they are more used to talking to a smart speaker, ‘HEY GOOGLE, what is the weather like today?’

As I said last month: ‘Hey, so, like, you know, we’re going to hell in a handcart!

A short animal story. There is a video available showing a cat using its paw to change the temperature on a ‘smart’ central heating thermostat. That could cost a fortune until you found out. I think, to stop it, you shouldn’t put a piece of furniture next to the said thermostat. The cat won’t be able to reach it then.

My son and his family have a Dalmatian puppy, Dotty. Being a young dog, she is very active and it seems, quite intelligent. They recently sent us a video of her watching the film 101 Dalmatians and she is barking like mad at the screen. I guess she’s telling them how much she is enjoying the film. Hilarious.

Bin End Chuckles

Humans are so primitive, they eat more bananas than monkeys. Well, I’ve never eaten a monkey...

I rang BT and said ‘I want to report a nuisance caller’ They said ‘Oh no, not you again...’

Keep well and safe, enjoy the summer sun.

I can’t quite believe we are already in our summer term, time really does fly. We rounded off the spring term with a fabulous concert held at Christ Church, this is always a wonderful event and showcases the musical talents of the children. We had performances from both the Junior and Senior Choirs, the Rock Band, Orchestra, Violins as well as some fabulous solo performances. Our thanks go to the team at Christ Church for their support with this event.

Keeping with the musical theme, two of our Form 6 students held a charity busk at the school gates, it certainly woke everyone up as they arrived in the morning! They raised £340 which was donated to The Amazing Aiden charity.

The Miami House Knitter Natter group kindly donated some lovely Easter bunnies for us to raffle, we ran a Name the Bunnies competition and were delighted to raise £242, which at the request of the group was donated to the NSPCC.

We celebrated Earth Day this year raising awareness of global issues, but we also like to focus on our local environment and the little things we can all do that collectively can make a big difference. We have planted lots of seeds, ensuring we used peat free compost, these are now on window ledges around the school while we wait for them to germinate. We have created more insect hotels and put up more bird boxes in the wildlife area, this is now thriving with all manner

of minibeasts, and some newts have also been spotted around the vegetable garden. An area of lawn has been set aside for No Mow May and the gardening clubs have been planting pots and containers which are looking lovely. We are looking forward to receiving a greenhouse soon, which has been kindly donated by our current Form 6 students.

Form 6 students also visited our friends at Miami House to help with some planting. They have planted seeds, bulb and plants which was a wonderful morning.

Our Reception students are studying the life cycle of butterflies. We currently have caterpillars and we look forward to seeing them released as butterflies later in the term.

We have also been learning about all the things we can be mindful of like not littering, deciding to walk to school when possible and if it is necessary to drive not to sit with the engine running. This topic also ties in with the Eco Award, one of our kind neighbours created and gave this to us, this is presented annually to the class that has made the biggest contribution or come up with a new environmental initiative.

The whole school has celebrated the King’s Coronation. Everyone wore red, white and blue and there was a range of creative activities, such as crown making, a wonderful lunch provided by our catering team which included the choice of a crown cupcake or trifle for dessert. The Reception children also had their own afternoon tea (juice) and made themselves some jam sandwiches. At the end of the day the children all received a commemorative coin as a memento of this wonderful occasion, thanks to the supportive Parent Committee.

Grove Road Evangelical Church

The Bible teaches us two key principles that we have to live by if we want to get along well with God and with each other.

What are those two principles? “The most important one… is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’”

As we look at the job many of our politicians are doing at the moment, we might sometimes be tempted to wish that, or to pray that, the world could be a better place! We want to change the world. Both history and experience tell us, though, that we can’t have a better world unless we have better people in it first! We have to recognise that if we want a world changed for the better, it must start with me being better.

Better in what way? Yes, we love our neighbours as much as we love

ourselves. That’s a necessity. But, says Jesus, there is an even more vital principle for how we live if we are going to be better people: I must love God with 100% of who I am for 100% of the time. To get a better world, we must start with becoming a better me. And a better me can only happen when I am in a proper relationship with God. We are a group of Christians who recognise that we need to become better people, and that this can only come through the transforming power of Jesus Christ. Come and join us on a Sunday morning at 11 o’clock and explore with us how to become better people through faith in Jesus.

Philip Loose, Senior Pastor

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

www.grecuk.co.uk

pastor@grecuk.co.uk

MT History: The Essex Car - By Henri Lewi

When we here in Essex discuss Essex cars, we automatically think of the large range of automobiles produced by the Ford Dagenham plant, which have included the Ford Anglia, Ford Popular, Zephyr (so beloved by our parents and grandparents), and more latterly the Escort, Sierra, and Fiesta, that have all became synonymous with the county of Essex. The Dagenham plant, which operated as a carmanufacturing factory between between 1931 and 2002, produced over 10 million cars in that time. Following its cessation as a car manufacturing plant in 2002 signing off with the Ford Fiesta, the Dagenham factory continued to manufacture engines for Ford cars built in other plants around the world.

Over the years many of the mass produced Ford cars became a feature of Essex life, most notably the White Ford Escort XR3i Convertible, the Ford Sierra and Ford Mondeo, the latter underpinning the political expression ‘Mondeo Man’ which became interchangeable with that of ‘Essex Man’ so often used by the politicians in the late 1980s and 1990s. On our TV screens, Jimmy Nail, who seeking out ‘truth and Justice’ drove his sapphire black ‘Cossie’ around Northeast England in the TV series Spender, immortalising the Sierra Cosworth; and who can ever forget the Ford Cortina, or the Ford Capri - labelled as ‘the car you always promised yourself.’ The 3 litre Capri appeared front and centre in The Professionals, as it was driven at high speed by Bodie (played by the late great Lewis Collins), and don’t forget the Ford Consul 3000 GT described as ‘a fast, spacious, comfortable, all-independently-sprung, 3-litre V6 saloon’ so beloved by The Sweeney (well on TV anyway).

Ford acknowledged the important role played by Dagenham in its manufacturing capability, when in 1966 it named its newly developed V4 and V6 engines as the ‘Ford Essex V4 and V6 Engines’ when between 1966 and 1988 both of these units powered the Ford Capri, Granada and Ford Transit Vans as well as various versions of the Independently produced TVR sport cars.

What few people realise was that ‘The Essex’ was a car manufactured between 1918 and 1933 in the US, initially by the Essex Motor Company a subsidiary of the Hudson Motor Company of Detroit for US domestic use only. Initially built by the independent The Essex Motor Company in 1918, the company had been quickly bought out by the emerging Hudson Motor Company in 1919, which continued to manufacture the car under its original Essex name until 1933, when it was redesigned and renamed as firstly The Essex-Terraplane and then purely as The Terraplane. The EssexTerraplane with its 8-cylinder engine was claimed to have the highest horsepower to weight ratio of any car in the world; and because of its speed, power, and discreet appearance, this car proved extremely popular with many of the most notorious gangsters of the

day including John Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson, but was not the car used by Bonnie and Clyde, which was in fact a 1934 Ford V8, specifically, the Model 40B Fordor Deluxe Sedan, with leather seats. Produced initially as a four-seater canvas topped touring car, The Essex proved extremely popular in the US and with the introduction of a solid roofed sedan in 1922. The car became an important addition to the range of cheaper cars becoming increasingly available to the US domestic market. Much of the popularity and success of The Essex was due to its appeal, reliability, handling and affordability, and by 1925 the Essex line of cars was the number three-purchased automobile in the US behind Ford and Chevrolet.

By 1934 the ‘Essex Car’ and its name had disappeared as the Hudson Motor Car Company continued to manufacture cars under its own name until its merger with Nash to become the American Motors Corporation, this auto company continued to evolve and underwent a number of name changes, until it was finally merged into the Chrysler Corporation in 1990.

The Essex Car can still however be bought today, but only at auction, with a range of prices (in dollars) from $20,000 to $100,000, depending on the age, model and condition - A true piece of Essex heritage!

Concrete Canvas in Progress

Lynn Excell, part way through an Open Reach box in Moulsham Street

Looking for a Venue?

St Luke’s, Moulsham Lodge could be just right for you... Great facilities for children’s parties, family occasions, fundraising events and concerts.

Ideally situated on Gloucester Avenue opposite the shops, with plenty of available parking, ramp access and disabled toilet, St Luke’s has a well-fitted kitchen and three separate spaces to accommodate small or large groups, including seated events which can accommodate up to 100 people.

Regular bookings also accepted, so if you are looking to start up a new venture (exercise class, craft group, etc) St Luke’s might just be the perfect place for you to begin.

For more information, have a look at our website: www.stlukemoulsham.co.uk/hall-hire

For availability and bookings, please contact: 01245 600 225 stlukesmoulshamhallhire@gmail.com

CCR Latest News

Chelmsford Community Radio is pleased to share details of their Radio Drama Festival which is supported by the Essex County Council Arts and Cultural Fund.

The Essex County Council Arts and Cultural fund has been designed to help organisations and practitioners to deliver a broad and exciting range of work and activity to engage with and bring residents together.

The Chelmsford Radio Drama Festival in the city starts off with workshops with participants being sourced via the Chelmsford City Council Local Cultural Education Partnership. These workshops each produce a Radio Drama piece which is added to a selection of other community sourced pieces or those with local connections and showcased the first week of June during the listening sessions. The listening sessions happen in various venues around Chelmsford and South Woodham Ferrers. They are free to attend with an optional donation towards Chelmsford Community Radio.

Impala Films - the team behind the Haunted Audio Drama Podcast - are writing two bespoke pieces just for the festival, one for an ‘in the dark’ listening session at Chelmsford Escape Rooms and one for a special live performance at the Essex Records Office. There is also a Radio Drama Writers session with the support of expert Robin Brooks leading to a final live performance of the finished piece at Anglia Ruskin University.

For details of the bookable sessions please visit www.eventbrite. com/cc/chelmsford-radio-drama-festival-2023-2102769.

www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com

Edward Bear Baby and Toddler Group

Hello everyone, I am Reverend Suzanne McAllister from St Luke’s Church, on Gloucester Avenue opposite the shops.

I would like to tell you about our Edward Bear Baby and Toddler Group that we have every Wednesday afternoon, during term time, from 1.15pm - 2.30pm.

This group has been meeting at church for over twenty years and is for babies, toddlers and preschool children and their carers. We provide some free playtime with lots of toys, a snack time for the children and a drink for the adults too. We also have an activities table where we provide puzzles, playdough and crafts for the children. Parents stay for the whole time, and we have helpers who provide snacks and drinks. Near the end of the session we have song time and a short prayer before we go home. The cost is £1.50 per family, and payment can be by cash or card.

We aim to provide a relaxed atmosphere where parents, grandparents and carers can meet and the children can have some fun. The photos will hopefully give you an idea of how we set up the church so everyone can play and chat. So if you have children under school age, doesn’t matter how little they are we would love to see you on a Wednesday afternoon during term-time! It’s a wonderful way to meet others with children in the area.

We especially wanted to promote Edward Bear Baby and Toddler Group during this month of June because it’s the National Month of Prayer for Toddler Groups and the theme this year is ‘Welcome One, Welcome All’, which is exactly what we do!

If you have any questions about the group, you can contact me by email (moulshamchurches@gmail.com) or phone (07780 442 317) or send us a message via our Facebook page (search: @Stlukesmoulshamlodge). You can also take a look at our website at www.stlukemoulsham.co.uk/edward-bear-baby-and-toddler-group.

See you soon!

Reverend Suzanne McAllister St Luke’s Church - Associate Priest

Defeating Type 2 Diabetes One Session at a Time - By Ola Adamolekun

A while back, I wrote an article about diabetes type 2 (TD2) and gave a few pointers on how to live better or to avoid getting TD2. Nearly 18 months on, I thought it would be a good idea to write a follow up article.

In my day job as a Health and Wellbeing Coach with the NHS, most of my patients are pre-diabetic. What does this mean? Being prediabetic means that your blood sugar is high but not high enough for you to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. You won’t have any symptoms; however, a simple blood test can detect pre-diabetes. At the surgeries where I work, most of the time when a patient comes in for a blood test, the HBA1C test is always done as a precaution.

The HBA1C test is a simple blood test that measures your average blood glucose (sugar) levels for the last two to three months. Okay, I know this isn’t the most glamorous topic, however, it’s quite important. The reason I’m writing this article is that I’ve started delivering the National Diabetes Prevention Programme (NDPP). This is a 43-week programme for people with pre-diabetes. You can be referred by your GP if you have a HBA1C score of between 42 and 47mmol/mol (mmol/mol is the unit of measurement).

You learn about movement and food, also about behaviour change. This is the key to success for any lifestyle change. If you don’t know why you behave the way you do, then how will you know how to change? It’s not about any one diet or exercise programme, it’s about breaking bad habits and making new ones.

I’m teaching a few different groups and each one is different. I have one with some real techies who get excited by algorithms that work out what their daily calorie intake should be, as well as those who are a bit wary of technology, but they still find ways to cope. We have group discussions around our barriers to change.

The most common barrier always seems to around movement - aka exercise. People come up with so many reasons why they can’t do it, but there is always a way. I’ve got a couple of cabbies in my groups who find movement difficult, so the group suggestion was to get out of the cab and walk round it between fares. Now, I thought they’d never do it but one of them came back and reported that he had been walking around his cab. He got a few funny looks, but he persevered because he didn’t want to let his group down. Now, that’s the power of the group - we all hold each other accountable.

Anyway, I just thought I’d share a few thoughts. I’ll let you know how it’s going periodically and hopefully we’ll be able to kick pre-diabetes into touch one session at a time! By the way, if you are concerned about pre-diabetes and live in Essex, please speak to your surgery, they may be able to refer you to the NDPP and you might get to meet me!

www.beencouragedwellness.co.uk www.facebook.com/BeEncouragedBeStrong

The programme teaches people how to make simple lifestyle changes that will prevent them from getting T2D. A few months ago, I wrote about how good it is for friends to exercise together or in groups. Well, this programme validates that article! One of the main benefits of the programme is the way the groups share their experiences, this benefits everyone.

MT Finance - Save, Spend or Pay Down Debt

When dealing with a lump sum, unexpected or not, it’s sometimes hard to know where to use it; with a higher cost of living, what is the best course of action?

The rising cost of living is something we are all unfortunately too familiar with, given high inflation across a range of services and goods. The higher cost of essentials means disposable income is falling for many and it has consequences for longer term financial resilience. If you receive a lump sum payment - an NHS lump sum for some workers has been recently suggested for instance - you will likely have several competing priorities for that money.

It all depends on your personal circumstances. I’ll try my best to help you along the way with some of those key questions. For example: In the current economic environment is it wise to put a lump sum of cash into savings?

Would the money be better invested, for instance in funds or company shares? Or is it worth putting the whole amount into a pension and letting it build up over time?

Some of the ways people come into lump sums of money include:

• Inheritance or gifts.

• Redundancy payment from work.

• Withdrawing from a pension.

• Divorce.

• Property sale (or downsizing).

Considerations around making best use of a lump sum:

1. Pay off debt

A central foundation of a healthy financial position is keeping debt under control. It could be an option to pay off any debt with a lump sum payment. You may have heard the terms ‘good debt’ and ‘bad debt’.

Good debt might be a low-cost mortgage, investing in yourself through a student loan or borrowing to build a successful business. It’s debt that ultimately improves your financial position. Bad debt on the other hand is a drain with no financial benefit - expensive personal loans, overdrafts, and credit cards for instance. These should be repaid as soon as possible.

It is easier to take on debt these days with Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) options online. If you do use these, keep careful track, and ensure you minimise interest as much as possible. Typically, you get a set interest-free period with payment only taken from your account on an agreed date if you decide to keep the items. After that Buy Now Pay Later becomes ‘Buy Now Pay More’, so think carefully before using these services, especially if you’re considering them to cope with the increased cost of living. Find out more about BNPL on the government’s MoneyHelper website.

Meanwhile, mortgage debt should also be kept under control and an appropriate repayment plan should be in place if it is an interest only mortgage rather than a repayment mortgage where you pay back both interest and capital.

2. Save up an emergency fund

Once your house is in order in terms of debt, you can put other parts of your financial plan into place. A lump sum could help you build a reserve of readily available cash to draw on in the event of an emergency - often called a ‘rainy-day fund’.

Sometimes life throws you a curveball, and a sudden event such as a boiler breakdown or essential car repair can broadside your finances. Having a fund to draw on give you confidence you can deal with issues that arise.

There is no prescriptive size for a rainy-day fund. Three to six months’ income is often referred to as a rule of thumb, but it depends on lots of variables such as job security, whether you have dependents and

generally to what extent you think your life is futureproofed. Some people aspire to a sizeable amount to give them full confidence, even though sitting on lots of cash is generally inefficient as interest is generally not enough to keep up with the cost of living.

3. Lump sum investments

Investing puts your money to work, potentially growing your lump sum over time. But investments may fall as well as rise. That’s why it’s wise to wait until you’ve paid off any expensive debts and saved up a rainy-day fund before investing.

When your finances are in shape, a lump sum investment can be a viable way to build up a larger pot of money over time. Many people enjoy building up their knowledge over time, researching company shares and trading to make an income - but you don’t need to be an expert to invest. By investing in a fund, you are spreading your money and risk across dozens of different companies, either managed by an expert or designed to track an index.

Be sure to use appropriate tax ‘wrappers’ for your investing goals such as a pension for retirement, ISAs for earlier access and Junior ISAs for children. By placing your money into ISAs, you can save money and make your investments work harder for you. You won’t pay capital gains tax on any profits and there’s no tax on dividends from shares or the income earned on bonds.

4. Deposit a lump sum into your pension

Another way to protect your lump sum from tax is by contributing to a personal pension. If you aren’t paying into a pension currently, it’s worth considering, especially if a comfortable retirement is one of your long-term life goals. When you contribute to your personal pension such as a SIPP, the government adds money (see prior articles on this). This is called ‘tax relief’ and it is the key advantage of using a pension.

Do bear in mind, however, that you won’t be able to access your money in a pension until you are at retirement age. Presently this is 55 for personal pensions but it is set to rise to 57 from 6th April 2028.

Is Now a Good Time to Invest?

The cost-of-living crisis and recent volatility in the banking sector has led many of us to ask: ‘is it a good time to invest?’ The truth is no one can predict the direction of share prices or markets reliably in the short term. However, if you adopt a long-term mind set and allow your investments to compound over many years then you stand a good chance of making money and beating inflation. In fact, investing when the headlines are negative can often mean buying in at depressed prices and reaping better returns in the long run compared with when things seem buoyant.

If you are concerned about the risks of investing a lump sum in one go, gradually feeding money into investments is an option. By investing regularly in stages, you end up buying more shares or units when prices become cheaper and fewer when they become more expensive. If you keep buying as the market falls you could, over time, smooth returns, and even turn volatility to your advantage; though there are still risks and as with all investments, you could get back less than you put in.

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.

Charles Stanley is not a tax adviser. 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.

The Singing Chef

Happy June everybody! As most of you know I am now running the kitchen at O’Connors on Hall Street (just off Moulsham Street). I’m sorry I keep mentioning it, but I’ve nothing else to talk about, as some of you will know starting a new buisiness is all encompassing!

I had a chance meeting here with two wonderful ladies who worked here many moons ago and one of them was the chef. Back in the day the kitchen was thriving! Obviously I had to sit at their table and take notes and what I got was... Irish food and a week day roast! So off I went into development mode and created a few new menu options, one of which I am doing to share with you now.

Separate into sausage size portions. Dredge in flour, egg and breadcrumbs. Pop into the fridge for 30 minutes to firm. Deep fry for about 4-5 mins at 200oC or until the desired colour.

Enjoy with honey mustard or mayo, or 4 teaspons of mayo, ½ tsp mustard, or 1 teaspoon honey, or a splash of cider vinegar.

Or come have one of mine! Mention ‘the Singing Chef’ to get 20% off any menu Item for the whole of June!

Sarah is a singing and vocal coach based in Chelmsford and offers singing lessons to people of all ages and abilities. She has a brand new website at www.chelmsfordvocalcoach.co.uk, or you can email her at sarahmtfood@gmail.com. Sarah is also the chef at Nanny Wilson’s Kitchen in O’Connors in Hall Street.

I’ve made a classic Irish dinner of colcannon and ham into something that can be served in a basket (one of the requirements by the landlord here).

Colcannon and Ham Croquette

Ingredients

750g Maris piper potatoes mashed.

100g Chedder.

100g chopped ham.

Handful of chopped spring onions.

2 egg yolks (save the whites for dredging).

Table spoon each of mustard and flour. Season as required with salt and pepper.

Method

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl untill all mixture forms a nice firm ball.

Wellbeing Day - 24th June

This event is all about your physical and mental wellbeing. We all lead such busy lives these days that sometimes we forget about our own wellbeing, so here at MLCT we have invited and put together a range of organisations and professionals that look after our wellbeing and can offer you expert advice. The event starts at 10am and finishes at 3pm and the Copper Pot Café will be open as usual.

Men’s Shed, the first official meeting of interested ‘shedders’, will be on the 9th June! We will be discussing what sort of projects shedders are interesting in making and a few the MLCT have in mind to benefit the Community Station and the Copper Pot Café. Chelmsford Council for Voluntary Service (Chelmsford CVS) & Chandler who are our local builders merchant are supporting us with this new initiative. There will be a table at the Wellbeing Day as well so if you can’t make the 9th, there will be someone around then to chat to.

Our seated exercise class started with a room full of keen participants. They have even migrated to the marquee as the weather has been so nice. Running weekly on a Thursday at 10.30am, you can always bring a friend and enjoy a treat afterwards at The Copper Pot Café.

An Update from Moulsham Lodge Ward - By Ashley Thompson & Simon Goldman

On May 4th, Simon Goldman and I were delighted to be elected as your new Liberal Democrat Councillors for Moulsham Lodge Ward. A HUGE THANK YOU to all those who put their trust in us at the ballot box. We will represent all the residents of Moulsham Lodge as best we can.

Across the city more widely, we were both pleased to be part of a Lib Dem team which retained control of the council, and increased our number of councillors from 30 to 33.

But really, for us here in Moulsham Lodge, the hard work is only just beginning.

As part of our campaign, we promised to tackle the speeding issues which plague residents on Gloucester Avenue. We held a Speedwatch training session on Friday 26th May, training up volunteers at the Copper Pot Café. There’s still time to get involved; if you want to help the community and wish to be trained up, please contact us on the email address below.

We are also continuing to personally assist with the ongoing tree planting at John Shennan Field, which the Lib Dems saved from being sold off for development in 2019 and which we are totally committed to keeping as a vital green lung in our area. There are so many people that volunteer to help maintain John Shennan, but we always need more. Can you spare any time? Keep an eye out for the next date the parks team will be there.

Behind-the-scenes work continues to explore ways to return Post Office services to Moulsham Lodge, following the recent closure of the Gloucester Avenue Post Office.

Since we have been elected on the 4th May we have carried out the following casework:

• Helped the residents from the Waltham Glen flats regarding the rubbish collection and lack of bins.

• Investigated extending the yellow lines on the corner of Gloucester Avenue by the Copper Pot, to protect the corner and to stop vehicles parking here.

• Speaking to residents about planting more trees in the neighbourhood.

Watch out to for upcoming councillor surgeries and regular drop-ins at The Copperpot café and follow Simon on Facebook (search: ‘Simon Goldman - Chelmsford’) where news and events will be updated on a regular basis - especially as the admins of the Neighbourhood Watch community page won’t allow us to join the group for some reason!

For any local issues, please do get in touch any time: ashley.thompson@chelmsfordlibdems.org.uk simon.goldman@chelmsfordlibdems.org.uk

or follow us on the following platforms: Chelmsford Liberal Democrats

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChelmsLibDems/ Twitter: twitter.com/ChelmsLibDems

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChelmsfordLibDems

Instagram: chelmslibdems

Thank you so much to all who voted for me in the Chelmsford City Council elections, I am looking forward to another four years representing my community of Goat Hall Ward as your councillor.

Congratulations to Hazel Clark, local resident, community campaigner and friend, who joins me in Goat Hall Ward as my fellow councillor. Please don’t hesitate to contact either of us if you have an issue that needs resolving.

I’m honoured to have been elected as Mayor of Chelmsford at a meeting of the City Council on 25th May, with my Deputy Mayor Cllr Jude Deakin, to represent this great city. My charity for the year is the YMCA, watch out for fundraising events for this worthy cause. I see the great work they do supporting families and young people and look forward to working with them this year - for more information see their website www.ymcaessex.org.uk.

I am pleased to announce that my chaplain for the year will be Youth & Community Pastor and good friend James Bell of Tile Kiln Church who many people will know from his work with local young people.

My theme for the year ties in with my charity and is Bright Futures, focusing on supporting young people, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds, to become confident, successful and happy adults.

Please get in touch:

linda.mascot@chelmsford.gov.uk hazel.clark@chelmsford.gov.uk

Longest Day

As the days start to stretch towards the longest day of the year, we are experiencing more and more time in the light. Also we are starting to experience the first true signs of summer as temperatures start to rise to T-shirt only weather levels and our social calendars start filling up.

Summer is a time when we typically think about family gatherings or socials with friends, when we can once again spend more time outside enjoying the weather, good company and of course the odd BBQ and drink in the sun. Some are looking forward to what will be a well-earned rest from studies and exams, and for others a time of rejuvenation before new adventures begin. But even if we are not in those groups enjoying the end of a chapter in education, we can all look forward to the refreshment we experience as summer beckons our annual leave break.

Somehow Things Always Seem Better When the Sun Shines!

As a church we have just celebrated Pentecost, a time when we are reminded of how Jesus, the Son of God, shone in the lives of his disciples through the sending of His Holy Spirit, the Spirit of light, life and love.

In the same way we experience better feelings and times as the sun shines on our lives, nourishing us with vitamin D, so too can we know an energising refreshment from the Son of God as Jesus shines his

love and light into our lives. Just as the light of day enables us to see clearly and feel warmth so too the light of the Holy Spirit illuminates our path helping us through life’s challenges and joys.

As we all journey through life’s challenges and joys as a community, my hope and prayer is that we can all share together in these experiences and know the unity experienced by the early disciples, as they journeyed together, with the Holy Spirit guiding and empowering them, as a community.

This summer, we at Tile Kiln Church, would love to welcome you all to our Community Day on the 9th of July from 11am to 2pm. There will be lots of fun food and laughter for everyone. Hope to see you there!

Pastor James Bell www. tilekilnchurch.org.uk

Quiz Time - All About Essex

Which Essex town is named after a spice?

True or false - in 1905 the Thames at Southend froze.

How long is Southend Pier; 0.84 miles, 1.34 miles or 1.64 miles?

How long is the Essex coastline, 175 miles, 255 miles or 350 miles?

Which Essex location is famous for jam?

Which Essex town is famous for sea salt?

What does TOWIE stand for?

Which world famous opera star sang from Marconi New Street over 100 years ago?

Which supermarket was located where Primark is in the High Chelmer shopping centre?

When did Chelmsford become a city?

Which 1966 world cup star was raised in Chelmsford?

Hylands House has been used in TV, along which other famous house?

Which is the smallest Anglican Cathedral in England?

Who had Beaulieu Palace built?

Where in Chelmsford is Island of Mesopotamia?

Which motor manufacturer has had its UK head quarters in Warley?

Where does the name Amstrad come from?

Romford Greyhound track once hosted a race for cheetahs, cats or ferrets?

Who is to have said ‘the dullest and most stupid place on earth’ about Chelmsford?

Who created Silver End?

Which shop was originally in the location of where Wilkos in Chelmsford is now?

Where was the only known Roman chariot racing arena located in the UK?

Much of which sitcom was filmed at Warners Holiday Camp in Dovercourt?

Which famos ship was built in Harwich?

How many acres is the Lakeside shopping complex - 100, 150 or 200?

Saffron Walden is home to the worlds largest landscaped what?

Which motorway passes through Harlow?

Which american states also have a Braintree? What are Guglielmo Marconi’s two middle names?

When was Chelmsford’s Shire Hall completed?

Maldon’s first rail line ended where?

Which Essex and England cricketer played for Maldon Cricket Club?

Which Turner Prize winning artist was born in Bicknacre?

Which band playing Wembley this year hailed from Colchester?

Where was Depeche Mode formed?

Which attraction is located in the grounds of Stanway Hall?

Which singer and voice judge was born in Witham?

Which track-based sport took place on Galleywood Common?

Which island of Essex can be cut off by road at high tide?

Ex-Marconi employee and hovercraft inventer Sir Christopher Cockerell lived for over 10 years in which village?

Quiz answers this month all sourced from the internet

Thanks to Paul who sent in theses Coronation photos. There were three events held in Moulsham Drive so we covered the entire road!

Incidentally, some of the residents were alive at the time of the coronation for Queen Elizabeth II. We also managed to raise just over £300 with our raffle and cake competition for the Chelmsford Food Bank.

Join us in Chelmsford High Street for this year’s VOLFEST! Be it a day, a month or a lifetime commitment, whatever time and energy you can freely give has the potential to change someone’s life. Chelmsford CVS are thrilled to announce that on Thursday 8th June we will again be celebrating #VolunteersWeek by taking over Chelmsford High Street for VOLFEST 2023.

Over 30 local charities will be coming together to showcase their efforts and promote their services in a festival of all the good that can come of our community working together. Come and join us for a day of feel good activities, live music, food and fun!

Community is a work of heart and you’ll be able to see first-hand some of the wonderful ways in which charities and volunteers support our city and find out how you and your loved ones can access that help.

The last VOLFEST in 2022 was an incredible success; Lorraine Jarvis from the CVS said: “There was the most amazing incredible atmosphere in the High Street, people chatting to the stalls, to each other, and finding out how all the local organisations that showcasing could benefit them. Volunteering really is life enhancing, it was an amazing day!”

Do come down on the 8th to find out more and help us celebrate all things community. More information the event can be found here: chelmsfordcvs.org.uk/volfest.

Follow the event on Twitter by searching ‘@ChelmsfordCVS’ and using the hashtag #VOLFEST and #VolunteersWeek.

An Amazing True Story Authored by Local Man Chris Constatino

An incredible life story that is focused on his bipolar disorder and the wild consequences of this illness.

Order a copy of the book - it just might be that it could be a best seller with a film made from it! You will also be ale to see videos on the website that sets the tone of the book. Please visit www.finewinegunsandangels.co.uk. For every copy sold, £2 will be donated to mental illness charities.

Chris Constantino, born Spyros Constantinos in East London in 1971, has led a life that’s far from ordinary. From experiencing multiple traumatic events in childhood, including being kidnapped and witnessing armed robbery and a car accident, to losing both his parents in a tragic accident at age 14.

Chris has lived through more than most. After being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and psychosis, likely stemming from the car accident.

Chris lived in Los Angeles, worked in timeshare sales and was a holiday rep on the Greek island of Corfu. He also turned over millions of pounds in failed wine investment schemes and was involved with gangsters in Spain that ultimately defrauded him.

Chris experienced wild parties and met celebrities while living in Marbella, but also struggled with addiction.

He spent four years in prison for an apparent crime he didn’t even

know he had committed.

This incredible memoir tells the true story of Chris Constantino’s life, from the highs to the lows and everything in between.

Chris believes that his own personal Amazing Grace Is that he has been visited by 3 angels on 3 occasions with messages from God that he is instructed to inform the world of.

Don’t miss out on this amazing story: visit www.finewine-gunsandangels.co.uk to order your copy. The first 300 copies will be personally signed by Chris.

Answers

Dame

Tesco

2012

Sir Geoff Hurst

The White House (in The Crown)

Derby Cathedral

Henry VIII

In the city centre between the Rivers Can and Chelmer

Ford

Alan Michael Sugar Trading Cheetah racing

Charles Dickens

Francis Henry Crittall, for his window factory workers

Waitrose

Colchester

Hi De Hi

The Mayflower 200 Turf maze

M11

Massachusetts and Vermont

Giovanni Maria

1791

Witham

Sir Alastair Cook

Sir Grayson Perry

Blur

Basildon

Colchester Zoo

Olly Murs

Horse racing

Mersea Island Danbury