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5 e g Pa our e s Se For fer f O
Essex Delta Blues Day March 10th (see page 23)
Issue Number 61 - March 2018
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MT Welcome
f, are ors for staf ed. n n o t g s C O’ lookin intere f i y t us entl curr contac se plea
Hi readers, Welcome to the March edition. This month, Nick has his Essex Delta Blues Day on 10th March at the Bassment - and it is all in aid of charity. Remember too that the clocks go forward this month - spring is on its way at last!
Saint Patrick’s Day 2018 brings you a full weekend of sport and entertainment at O’Connors!
Enjoy your month. Regards
Friday 16th March (11:00-Midnight)
Paul & Nick
Deadlines for the April edition: Articles - 14th March Print ready art work - 22nd March
it’s your media Ltd
Advertising Nick Garner 07970 206682 ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk
Special lunch menu covering all your Irish favourites including homemade Irish stew. Food served 12:00-14:30 Saturday 17th March (11:00-01:00) pac A sport packed day showing all the live football matches and Six Nations Rugby throughout the day, followed by live music from Winston and the Lads to have you dancing into the night. Sunday 18th (12:30-Midnight) Live music from Matt Buckle, 8pm onwards.
Editorial Paul Mclean 07595 949701 editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk
Disclaimer: It’s Your Media Ltd publish the Moulsham Times. The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of It’s Your Media Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the prior written permission of It’s Your Media Ltd. Reg Co No. 09154871. Printed by Printwize.
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MT Therapy - by Chelmsford Therapy Rooms Hi everyone, Jenny here. I’m taking a slightly different slant with today’s article. Rather than talking about a specific type of therapy or ‘issue’, I’m writing about mental health, mindset and personal development in general.
I just got back from an amazing Expo called The Best You. It was all about personal and professional development but also improving the world in general by everyone looking after themselves, each other, the environment etc. The tag line for the event was ‘arrive with questions and leave with answers’. There were workshops on everything from healthy eating, fitness, motivation, mindset, how to set and achieve goals and lots and lots of other areas! The Best You corporation is owned by Bernardo Moya, an editor/ author/publisher/TV producer/CEO of NLP Life Training. He has been a leader in the personal and professional development industry for over a decade due to his experience in the self-help industry, entrepreneurial mindset and many longstanding collaborations with leaders in the personal development industry, including individuals such as Paul McKenna and Richard Bandler. He is passionate about motivating people to live their best lives, as well as ensuring they leave a positive legacy and help look after the planet. The event was held this year at Olympia and was split into various areas. Upstairs in the third floor auditorium was the main stage featuring such speakers as Paul McKenna (hypnotherapist and life coach), Jason Vale (the ‘juice master!’ specialist in health, addiction and juicing), Mirela Sula (founder of Global Woman magazine with a background in psychology, counselling, coaching, journalism, womens’ rights and training) and Eric Ho (an entrepreneur who dropped out of college at 19 and now speaks internationally about his business success as well as balancing this with spiritual wellbeing) and many more. On the first floor there were the following sections offering relevant workshops and exhibitors: A Better World: How to create and live in a better world for all of us looking at lots of factors including environmental and personal issues. Best For Business: How to make your business successful, but also what is the definition of success to you? Ie, not just making lots of money. Empowering Women: Not just from a business perspective but a personal one too; whether that’s looking at self esteem, confidence, or your own personal soul journey. Health and Lifestyle: Nutrition, fitness, motivation, mindset; everything that contributes to your health and how you live your life for the best you. Inspiration Zone: This is the practical area looking at overcoming phobias and improving esteem and generally having a jolly good time! Workshops: This area included salsa dancing, singing, pole dancing, phobia cures and photo shoots to boost esteem. Life and Work Balance: Exactly what it says on the tin - how to balance life and work to live a happier more fulfilled life. Mindfulness and Wellbeing: Looking at changing mindset, getting in touch with yourself and healing anything that might be holding you back. Passion to Profit: Got a business idea? This section has workshops and exhibitors that show you how to make your business idea profitable! Wealth and Riches: For those that already have a business, how to make your business more profitable and what to do with that profit ie, creating a ‘money mindset’, learning money management etc. Yoga and Meditation Room: Different types of yoga and meditation for those that want to try it out or expand their horizons.
your favourite author if they were there. I went to this event last year, and honestly it was life changing. Last year was more about business for me, this year was more about personal stuff and I wanted to focus on my own development as an individual. I saw some people I recognised from last year so that was nice (I’m hoping to make contact again via the wonder of social media so I can keep in touch). I wanted to write about this Expo because I know that many people out there might have an interest in psychology or personal development or counselling but perhaps feel a little lost and don’t know where to start. Going to something like this, an Expo where most of the exhibitors and people speaking at the workshops have been through dramatic and sometimes terrible things in their lives and have come out of it and want to share their stories, might be a good start for anyone feeling a bit lost. Your ticket in gives you access to all of the workshops - you don’t have to sign up to anything either. It costs more to go and see the speakers on the main stage, but you can sometimes find that there are offers on, so keep your eyes peeled! If anyone is interested in going next year, remember the website www.thebestyouexpo.com and keep an eye out for the dates for next year’s event! If anyone is interested in seeing a therapist, at Chelmsford Therapy Rooms we have a range of therapists that can help with a multitude of issues. We offer many therapies from hypnotherapy to counselling to nutrition. Please see the website www.chelmsfordtherapyrooms. co.uk or you can email info@chelmsfordtherapyrooms.co.uk or call 0330 100 5162. Chelmsford Therapy Rooms is owned and run by Jenny Hartill, an integrative counsellor and hypnotherapist, who is happy to answer any questions!
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Vicky Ford the MP for Chelmsford
Ensuring that we have infrastructure fit for the future is key. In the past, new houses have been built, but the road improvements to support the growing population have not kept pace. Last week we got the good news that Chelmsford will be receiving £5.7 million funding from the Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund. This will go towards roads to support the Chelmer Waterside development.
Essex County Council have also bid for funds to go towards building a new train station at Beaulieu Park and the long awaited Chelmsford NE Bypass. We will hear about these bids in the next few months. I was very pleased to recently chair a meeting about the new station with train experts and the local councils. £2.9m is now being invested to draw up the very detailed plans and design of the station and track. Many people wrote to me about how upset they were to see a TV programme showing recycled plastics from Chelmsford going into a landfill in China. May I assure you this is not normal. The council do a good job and much of the time our recycled plastics are put to good use. However, it is important that we all try to reduce our use of plastics. I’ve been encouraging my MP colleagues to join a Give Up Plastic for Lent campaign. We have each agreed to take part in different challenges to reduce our use of plastics during the 40 days in the run up to Easter. I will be using a refillable coffee cup and trying to cut down on other single-use plastics. We will also be on the lookout for products which are overly packaged and encouraging supermarkets and producers to reduce packaging where possible. Do look out for tweets and updates on the hashtag #GiveUpPlasticForLent and feel free to join in - If we each make a small change, the cumulative effect can be massive!
On the subject of waste, last week I joined a small group of parliamentarians leading work on new laws to tackle litter thrown out of car windows. The changes will allow local authorities to issue fines to people throwing rubbish out of vehicles. Be warned - the fines come in from April 1st and could be up to £100 - so don’t toss your trash, put it in the bin! As always, I am interested in your views, do get in touch by emailing me at vicky.ford.mp@parliament.uk.
Quiz Time
Are You Being Served? - by John Theedom What was the name of the characters played by the following actors? 1. Mollie Sugden 2. Frank Thornton 3. John Inman 4. Wendy Richards 5. Nicholas Smith 6. Trevor Bannister 7. Arthur Brough 8. Harold Bennett 9. Larry Martin 10. Arthur English 11. James Hayter 12. Alfie Bass 13. Mike Berry (Answers on page 31)
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From County Hall - by Cllr Dick Madden At last we are moving steadily towards spring - and our community gardens are beginning to blossom, bring on the sun.
A few items below to update you on from County Hall. Chelmsford Library Family Hub Essex Libraries have secured funding from two major funding streams to develop an innovative, inspirational children and young people’s space within Chelmsford Library. Essex Libraries are working in partnership with Essex County Council’s Child and Family Wellbeing Services and their contracted delivery partners Barnardo’s and Virgin Care Limited. The new space will enable library staff and Family Hub health and childcare professionals to work together, ensuring the community have access to a full range of services which support children’s learning, health, wellbeing and cultural enrichment. In the new space, the library and Family Hub staff will work together to deliver reading for pleasure, arts and culture and health and wellbeing activities. Staff from the services will share some activities and add value to others, for example a speech and language therapist on hand after rhyme times for parents who need advice about a child’s speech development. The space will include: • An early years area. • Health and wellbeing zone for families. • Reading for pleasure supporting children’s early and developing literacy. • Chill out zone and a young adult area. • Performance space. • Kitchen space. • Private space for small groups or 1-2-1s. • Sensory spaces. Outcomes of the project: • Emphasis on celebrating reading and literacy. • Supporting health and wellbeing and healthier happier lives from prenatal advice to support for the promotion and development of ‘Reading Well Shelf help for young people’ • Information and advice for families on parenting and health issues. • Improving access to learning and digital literacy, helping everyone achieve their full potential. • Developing our own cultural offer for children including defining a performance area and creating an inviting space for community participation. • Supporting children’s learning and development as they grow through baby gym, rhyme times to Summer Reading Challenge and arts and cultural activities. • Skills development for parents and ways into work via the Family Hub partnership with Adult Community Learning and library service online learning courses supporting ways into employment. Essex Teaching Awards The Essex Teaching Awards was held on 8th February. This event celebrates excellence in education and highlights the outstanding work of teachers and other staff in the county’s schools. I was very proud to see Moulsham Junior School highly commended 4 times at the award ceremony under the following categories: • • •
Primary School Teacher of the Year. The SEN team at the school were highly commended under the Team of the Year category. Two teachers were highly commended for the Student Choice award.
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Moulsham Lodge Housing Scheme The below Essex County Council press release is a good news story for the now demolished Community Centre that was situated in Waltham Glen, Moulsham Lodge. It talks about how the community have benefited from the old police station, where I worked in the 1990s. Essex Housing has started work on a 26-home regeneration of taxpayer-owned land that has been empty for 12 years. Work has started on 15 two-bed and 11 one-bed apartments, eight of which will be affordable, on land in Waltham Glen, off Gloucester Avenue, Chelmsford. Essex County Council, in collaboration with Essex Police and the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, has been working with the Moulsham Lodge Community Trust (MLCT) to find the group a permanent home ever since its community centre in Waltham Glen closed in 2005. In March last year, the council bought a former police station nearby before handing a long-term lease to MLCT, putting an end to years of uncertainty and freeing up the Waltham Glen site for redevelopment. Cllr Sue Lissimore, cabinet member responsible for housing, said: “This is a wonderful example of how Essex Housing is striving to build the homes our county so desperately needs, while regenerating a taxpayer-owned site that has lain empty for 12 years. “We don’t want to see public sector land drifting into disrepair. So this is a fantastic solution that has not only safeguarded the long-term future of this important community hub, but also freed up surplus land for more homes which in turn will boost the economy.” Builders aim to complete the work by summer next year, with apartments on sale from early 2019. Cllr Mark Springett, a Chelmsford City Councillor and CEO and Chairman of MLCT, said: “This is a welcome end to years of uncertainty, both for the vacant site and for the community organisation that rose from the ashes of the derelict and demolished community building. “With the final signatures still wet on our 99 year lease, it is perhaps poetic that the redevelopment of the old site has started in the same month. “Residents were very complimentary of the development in the consultation and I’m pleased affordable housing is included, which is such an important addition when house prices here are well above the national average.” From my perspective, this development has only been achieved by ECC, Office of the Police Commissioner and in particular all the committee of the Moulsham Lodge Community Trust, which Cllr Mark Springett chairman of. Well done to all, ‘working together trusting each other for the good of our Community,’ BE SAFE Dick
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MT Health
Frozen Shoulder: The Hows and Whys
Our shoulder is the most mobile joint in our body. A remnant from our tree swinging ancestors, now it’s a joint that enables us to use our dextrous hands as the brilliant tools that they are.
If our shoulder is out of action, life suddenly becomes quite hard! Manipulating the space around us with our hands becomes much more difficult and we realise that our shoulder plays a role in pretty much everything we do. Even laying on them when we sleep can become a problem! One of the more debilitating shoulder injuries is the so called ‘frozen shoulder’. All the joints in our body have a bag around them called the capsule which holds in the fluid. The capsule of the shoulder has folds in it like a curtain so that when we reach our arms overhead the capsule can stretch. In a frozen shoulder, the folds become sticky and inflamed and can be incredibly painful when you reach up. Movement becomes limited and the hand can barely be lifted above waist height. Frozen shoulders mostly occur between the ages of 45 to 60 and are more common in women than in men, but this is just a guide because I have seen them in many demographics. They normally come on after an injury like a fall or an unexpected reach, like catching a falling glass, for example. What normally happens is that the shoulder aches for a bit after the incident which the patient thinks is normal, but then it continues to tighten up over the next few weeks and doesn’t seem to improve. The really interesting thing about frozen shoulder is the link with the mind. This was summarised beautifully by one of my mentors when he said simply: “animals don’t get frozen shoulders”. When we look at the difference in the stress response of humans and other animals, it’s got nothing to do with the chemistry that goes on in our body - that’s the same. The major difference is the time we suffer for. Animals fight, prey, chase, run, but then they go back to their life. Humans have bills, relationships, colleagues and rush hour traffic to contend with and our stress response can last months or years.
of saying slow down. Take note of the stressors in your life and see if you can minimise them. Maybe there’s a conversation you need to have with a loved one, or you may need to ask for help in your work or you might be doing everything for everyone else but not have any ‘me time’. This may sound strange, that there is such a strong correlation between stress and frozen shoulders, and I have yet to find an example where this isn’t true. If you have a frozen shoulder, firstly deal with the mechanics by seeing a specialist who can tell you what phase you’re in and give the correct exercises for your stage of the injury. But you also need to look after your mind. Take time each day to relax - mindfulness meditation is the best form of this using an app like Headspace. Ask yourself: ‘what is my body trying to tell me?’ because if you are honest and really listen, you will know the answer. If you need help with a frozen shoulder and want to take a holistic view, get in touch at info@fortephysicalhealth.co.uk, or you can call on 01245 522 360 - we are here to help. Have a healthy month!
Life T M Hack Run out of charging space? Most TVs now have a USB socket!
The link between our mind and our body is still not fully understood by science, but there is certainly a known correlation with problems like frozen shoulder and stress. With this in mind (excuse the pun), what do we do about it? Well, frozen shoulders have three phases known as ‘freezing, frozen and thawing’ which relate to what is happening to the capsule and how much inflammation there is. The rehab and exercises needed in each phase are different, so it’s important to have a clear diagnosis and make sure you are not doing something that will exacerbate the problem. I also speak to my patients about managing lifestyle stress. Our body can’t speak to us in words, just symptoms, and something like a frozen shoulder can be our body’s way 8
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MT Gardening We’ve been busy at Writtle University College over the last few weeks splitting herbaceous perennials, seed sowing and taking hardwood cuttings of deciduous shrubs. They’re really straightforward tasks that will see your garden burgeoning with all types of growth by the summer. Regarding hardwood cuttings, my 2nd year Level 3 BTEC students have been busying themselves with pruning coloured stemmed shrubs such as dogwoods and willows. All last year’s growth has been cut down hard to just above old growth, this ensures the that colour is maximised. The arising are then used to produce 20 - 25cm long pencil-thickness cuttings, the bases of which have a flat cut and the bottom side scored to increase the area for rooting. The top of the cutting is left with a sloping cut away from the top bud of the cutting. As heat isn’t an issue, cuttings are pushed into the ground by around ¾ after dipping the base of the cutting into rooting hormone powder. They’ll root in around 3-4 months, but don’t be tempted to lift and
plant out until the autumn. If space is limited, plunge small groups of cuttings into troughs or deep pots of a suitable seed/cutting compost. For those of you with perennials that have outgrown their space, this is a perfect time to lift clumps up, split and divide them and compost any parts that are past their best. This is a great technique for increasing your stock, moving around to other areas or actually giving away to friends and family - they’ll love you for it! The students went one further and actually split plants right down to their individual rooted sections and potted them up. These will be used for plant sales later in the month. Other key jobs for now • Complete apple and pear pruning; not forgetting any soft fruits. • As soon as growth occurs on fruit apply a general feed and mulch. • Continue to sow hardy annuals such as pot marigold or honesty for summer colour. • Spruce up decoratively planted containers - feed and top dress. If you’re interested in developing your theory or practical horticultural skills as a keen amateur, or someone wishing to pursue a change in career why not contact us for more information? For RHS Level 2 Certificate in Practical Horticulture, email christina. lavelle@writtle.ac.uk for information on availability of days and times. For RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Horticulture (1 year, day release), RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth, Propagation & Development (September - February), RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Garden Planning, Establishment and Maintenance, and for RHS Level 3 Certificate in Practical Horticulture, email tom.cole@writtle.ac.uk for information on availability of days and times. For those looking for higher education options why not come to the next University Experience Days? Ideal for prospective students wanting a taste of what life is like when studying with us at Writtle University College! Our next one is Wednesday 7th March. During the day you will experience university life by participating in taster workshops with other students alongside our expert course leaders. You will also get the chance to tour our excellent facilities and meet current students! Go to www.writtle.ac.uk/HE-Open-Day for more information. Happy gardening. For any gardening tips contact Tom Cole, Horticultural Lecturer, Writtle College, Chelmsford, CM1 3RR by post (including a SAE) or by email at tom.cole@writtle.ac.uk.
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Music and Blues & Roots in the City - by Nick Garner Chelmsford Arts and Cultural Festival The plans for the festival are really taking shape now and the arts side of it is looking fantastic. We have the support of some top artists for this. I know the classical side of things is also taking shape well with Gareth Bennett (Music Minister at Christ Church URC) working in association with the Maldon Festival.The dance side is also growing and getting sorted out as well as the musical side that myself and Tony Morrison (Eastern Roots) are involved with.
We plan to kick the whole festival off with a parade on Saturday 23rd June from Moulsham Street to the Bowl in Bond Street where we will have a stage set up and a market for crafts and street food and much more. There will be circus displays, story tellers, street artists, choirs, dancers, bands and lots more and we plan to carry this on into the evening (weather permitting of course!) and through to the Sunday. During the week there will be lunchtime concerts and lots of different things popping up in High Chelmer and the Meadows and all across the city. The museum will be working with us as well with a selection of art and science events. We are planning to have events going on in the evenings while also encouraging you to go to Maldon and enjoy the Maldon Festival events. On the Saturday of the second weekend there will be the Sounds of Essex in Central Park, which is run by the council and is for the young musicians up to eighteen years old from Essex schools to showcase their talent. It will include music of all types, and we are very excited that they want to be part of the festival. The Sunday will see the River Festival return along with the Dragon Boat Racing. There will be all sorts of stalls and lots of other activities going on along with these events to mark the end of the first Chelmsford Arts and Cultural Festival. Suzi Quatro is going to be our patron and has given us this message: “I have been living near Chelmsford since 1980. I love it here because there is a perfect balance between peace and quiet and activity you choose! It’s about time people realized that this city (I can remember when it wasn’t a city), has art and culture in every corner. I am proud to be part of this community and proud to support this festival”. Suzi Quatro (Essex girl via Detroit!) We have some important meetings over the next couple of weeks that could make a big difference to the festival - we will keep you updated of course. Festival Sponsors We are looking for sponsors of all types from individuals to the big corporates. If you would like to get a sponsorship pack to see what we will offer in return for your support, then please send an email to contact@chelmsfordaacf.org, or give me a call on 07970 206 682.
Piper opening the evening and going down a storm. Next up was JFK Blue, who I had seen play in London some months before. They were new then and were pretty good, but at this gig in Chelmsford they blew us all away - all the acts on the night thrilled everyone who was there. We have a lot coming up in March starting on the 10th at the Bassment with the fourth Essex Delta Blues Day. The full listing you can find in this and the City Times magazine. Once again all eighteen acts are playing for free with all monies raised going to CHESS the Chelmsford Homeless charity. Tickets are just £10 in advance, and the music runs non-stop from noon to midnight on two stages. You will get a wristband so you can come and go as you please - and you are also welcome to bring food into the Bassment. Details of the tickets can be found on the advert in this magazine. We are back in the Bassment on Thursday 15th March with three artists returning for your enjoyment. Opening the evening will be Martin McNeill playing his bottleneck blues for you, then we have Ben Tyzack (The Spikedrivers) with Guy Totora playing one of their rare duo shows. The next day at Chelmsford City FC sees the farewell tour of 60s legends The Pretty Things, still with founding members Phil May (vocals) and Dick Taylor (guitar). It has to be said they were one of the most influential bands across the decades and this is sadly the farewell tour for them. Opening the night is my band Jamie Williams and the Roots Collective, and we are signed to the same record label as The Pretty Things (3M’s Music) and will be launching our first album on this label entitled Diff’rent Gravy, which will be played in its entirety. As well as having the album available there will also be a beer specially brewed for us by Round Tower Brewery, and this will available in bottle and on draught. For info on all the above and future events you can find details in the adverts in this edition of the magazine and in the City Times. As ever there is lots of other great live music which you will find in Chelmsford at places like the UB (United Brethren), the Fleece, the Bassment, the Star and Garter, the Bay Horse, the Black Horse and the Woolpack - and don’t forget with St Patrick’s Day on 17th March there will be special events at the UB, O’Connor’s and the RE Club and there will be more for sure. As ever, please do try to come out and support the great live scene we have in Essex, because if you do not we may lose it.
Music We had our first night of the year at the football club with Spencer M Taylor (a local lad from Old Moulsham) opening the night playing solo acoustic material. He is a great songwriter with a great voice watch out for him playing around the area. The Jam Project were the headline act and they of course played all of The Jam’s well known songs - and they do it very well, the audience loved both acts.
For more information on all of the above and more see the links below and pick up a copy of the City Times and go to the What’s On page to see what else in happening in your area. If you go to our Facebook pages, look at our ‘events’ tabs where you can see who is playing and preview the up-and-coming acts.
www.bluesinthecity.co.uk www.facebook.com/bluesinthecitychelmsford Twitter: @BluesintheCity1 www.itsyourmusic.co.uk www.facebook.com/itsyourmusic Twitter: @itsyourmusic The Arts and Cultural email: contact@chelmsfordaacf.org At the Bassment for my second show of the year we had Danny Boy 12 www.moulshamtimes.com
Could You Open Your Garden This Summer to Raise Money for Farleigh Hospice? On Sunday 3rd June 2018 Farleigh Hospice will be organising an Open Gardens event in Old Moulsham thanks to the support of the local residents. We already have a number of committed gardens but would like to encourage a few more people to consider opening
their garden this summer. Choosing to open your garden is a commitment but a very worthwhile experience, many of our gardeners enjoy it so much that they open their garden year after year. Gardens of all shapes and sizes are welcome - big or small, wild or landscaped. It is simply a lovely way to show off your garden to visitors, all while raising vital funds for Farleigh Hospice. In 2017, the Open Gardens events raised over £30,000. With the continued support of the mid Essex community, we are hopeful that this year’s events will be even more successful. Farleigh Hospice provides care to people affected by life limiting illnesses across mid Essex. We help patients to live as actively as possible from the point of diagnosis to the end of their life by providing physical and emotional care, free of charge. We rely on the support of the local community to contribute to the £16,039 it costs to provide our services each day. For more information on Old Moulsham Open Gardens or to register your interest, please contact Debbie de Boltz on 01245 457 352 or email debbie.de.boltz@farleighhospice.org.
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The Mid Essex Osteoporosis Support Group
The Mid Essex Osteoporosis Support Group invites you to a talk by Sonya Stephenson who is a specialist nurse practitioner and service developer for our area. Sonya works for The National Osteoporosis Society. This event will take place on 7th March 2018 at 2.30pm. Sonya is going to talk about the medications available to help with osteoporosis and the length of time that you can take them without taking a rest from the medication. She will also be enlightening us about vertebral fractures. Sonya is very experienced and knowledgeable and we are lucky to have her to explain these aspects of the condition. She will also host a Question and Answer session for anyone with particular queries. The venue for this meeting is at the Springfield Room, Springfield Parish Centre, St Augustine’s Way, Chelmsford, CM1 6GX. Admission is £2.00 and includes tea or coffee and biscuits. Doors open at 2.15pm and a committee member will be available to guide you to the meeting room. For further information please contact Pat on 01245 251780. We look forward to meeting you.
MT Baking - by Bev Matthews Fillet Steak with Salsa Verde and Leak and Potato Gratin With spring upon us, fingers crossed we can say goodbye to a very long and cold winter, is it just me or does winter seem to get colder and longer every year!? Now we can start to enjoy the wonderful fresh flavours of spring. Usually when I think of spring I think of roast lamb and all the trimmings, however for this month’s recipe I couldn’t resist this stunning dinner party dish of fillet steak with leak and potato gratin and a fresh and zingy salsa verde. The great thing about this recipe is that it includes a few staples that once you’ve mastered, you can mix and match with other ingredients. For example, the salsa verde is a great way to liven up almost any dish, such as a beautiful rack of lamb or a simple roasted salmon. The leek and potato gratin would also make a lovely vegetarian dish with added vegetables such as sweet potato and spinach. Method (The day before...) To make the leek and potato gratin: 1. Peel your potatoes, then using a mandolin thinly slice the potatoes and place in a pan of cold water to stop them from discolouring. The slices should be approx. 1mm thick.
2. Thinly slice the leeks and add to a pan with some butter and the garlic. Cook on a low heat for 5 minutes or so until they are soft. Then add the double cream to the pan and immediately turn off the heat. 3. Drain the sliced potatoes and add them to the pan with the double cream and leeks. 4. Now it’s time to layer up your potatoes in a baking dish - the best way to do this is with your hands! You want each potato to be coated in the creamy leek mixture. Keep layering the potatoes evenly in the dish until you have used them all. 5. Cover the dish with baking paper and then foil and bake in the oven at 180oC for 45-60 minutes. Check that the potatoes are soft and cooked before placing a heavy dish on top of the them to press them down (keep the baking parchment and foil in place). Leave to cool in the fridge overnight. On the day: 6. Take the baking parchment and foil off the potatoes, top with grated cheese and bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes at 180oC. 7. To make the salsa verde, put all the herbs in a food processor with the capers, chilli, lime juice, salt and 8 tablespoons of rapeseed or vegetable oil. Blitz until you have a chunky sauce, add more oil if you need it to be looser. 8. To cook the perfect fillet steak (medium rare in my opinion!), take the steaks out of the fridge an hour before you are ready to cook. Rub oil on each steak and season with salt and pepper. Put the steaks in a smoking hot pan then leave them alone for a few minutes, this will help to get some of that lovely caramelisation on the steaks which means flavour! Cook the steaks for 2 minutes on each side, at this point you want to get as much colour on the steaks as possible. Add a knob of butter and baste the steaks with the butter, then put the pan in the oven at 180oC (as long as it’s oven proof) for 4-5 minutes depending on the thickness of the steak. If you have a meat thermometer use my temperature chart to cook the steak just as you like it. Put the steaks on a cool plate or chopping board and let them rest for at least 10 minutes before serving. 9. Serve with vegetables of your choice. I like to blanch asparagus and tenderstem broccoli for 2 minutes then roast in the oven for 10 minutes with some garlic, chilli and olive oil. 10. Enjoy with a lovely glass of red! To find out more about me or Perfect Day Caterers, visit www. perfectdaycaterers.co.uk or email me beverley@perfectdaycaterers. co.uk, I’d love to hear from you!
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Christ Church
Mothers, Sundays, and Honour This month we honour our mothers on their special day, 11th March. It has been known as Mothering Sunday at least as far back as the sixteenth century. Then it was the practice for people to visit their ‘mother church’, usually the cathedral or the church in which they had been baptised. Traditionally, servants were given the day off to attend to this ritual, and many would take the opportunity to visit their mothers and to take them presents.
As the practice of visiting ‘mother church’ declined, so the practice of pampering mum on this special day (also known as Refreshment Sunday or Rose Sunday) has evolved. Some, encouraged by the greetings card industry, refer to this Sunday as Mother’s Day, but this is incorrect. Mother’s Day is a secular American invention with a different history, usually celebrated in May. The counterpart Father’s Day does have a religious history, but this has now been swamped in commercialism by the greetings card industry amongst others. Sorry dads!) Perhaps the most notable passage in the Bible, the Ten Commandments, has this famous phrase as its third adjuration: ‘Honour your father and your mother…’ (Exodus 20: v12a). This may present little problem to those brought up in a loving home and who have had a happy childhood, but what of those who spent their childhoods in a broken home, or with parents (especially a mother) who suffered a crippling disease or severe mental health problems, or who perhaps had no home at all and might not even know their mother? I speak with feeling on this, since my mother died young of a cruel addictive disease. Those of us in this situation can find Mothering Sunday especially difficult.
- not to worship, to indulge, to ‘tread on eggshells’ - or even to love. I honour my mother by remembering that (amongst other things) I inherited my musical talent from her and that, first and foremost, she gave me life. Literally, I would not be here but for her. One could also say that this honouring is enlightened self-interest too. Looking at the expansion of this commandment, it reads: ‘Honour your father and your mother… that it may go well with you in the land where the Lord your God is placing you.’ (Deuteronomy 5:v16). Gareth Bennett Music Minister Christ Church URC For details about what happens at Christ Church please visit www. christchurchchelmsfordurc.org.uk, or follow on Facebook or Twitter.
Save this Date! On Saturday 10th March at 10am at the Keene Hall, Galleywood, the Inner Wheel Club of Chelmsford Mildmay will be holding their Spring Shoe Sale. In association with Hotfooted Shoes there will be an opportunity to purchase superb new spring shoes, summer sandals and lovely handbags. Also on sale will be a selection of ladies clothing and crafted jewellery. This will also be the first chance for you to buy our new recipe book compiled by our members, and also to enjoy some of the cakes from the book together with fresh tea and coffee. Do come along and help us raise funds for a local charity, Barrow Farm Riding for the Disabled.
It is important to remember that the commandment is to ‘honour’
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As a school, we are proud to have many very talented individuals within our community and try to embrace this by giving children the opportunity to enter as many diverse competitions and events as possible.
Earlier this term, on Wednesday 31st January a team of four pupils, one from each year group, represented our school in a general knowledge quiz at Perryfields Junior School against six other teams from local schools. The team was selected after all pupils took part in a selection quiz, with the top scorer from each year group being chosen. Our team (pictured left) consisted of Toby (Year 6), Ben (Year 5), Ivar (Year 4) and Jasper (Year 3). The team had a session before the quiz to meet one another, get used to working as a team and try out tactics! Family members were in attendance to support and encourage and the team finished a very respectable second place behind Westlands Primary School. It was a great battle and the lead swapped between Westlands and Moulsham several times during the competition. It was a nail biting final round, with Moulsham Being pipped at the post on the last question. The teams all displayed excellent sportsmanship throughout the competition and our team members were fantastic ambassadors for the school. They were commended on their excellent general knowledge by the quiz master. Well done to all and best wishes to the Westlands team who progress to the next round of the competition. Marie Staley Headteacher
Sing out the Winter Blues with Local Choir! Chelmsford Community Gospel Choir invites you to sing into spring.
Why sing? Because unlike the gym, it’s all gain and no pain - no need for tough resolutions. Singing provides gentle physical exercise and learning songs and connecting with others is good for the mind. Who are we? Our choir attracts women and men of all ages, some with a faith and some without. What unites us is our love of uplifting melodies and soulful sounds. What’s special about us? We’re amateurs - ordinary people. Our director, CeCelia Wickham Anderson, brings out the best in us! Where can you find us? We meet every Thursday from 7 to 9pm at Meadgate Church, The Orchards, near Meadgate Primary School, Mascalls Way, Great Baddow, Chelmsford, CM2 7NS. To find out more, go to www.chelmsfordgospelchoir.com. Come along, have a go, and sing the winter blues goodbye!
Life T M Hack Break your bananas up from the bunch and they will keep longer!
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How Is Your Work-Life Balance? By Mark Roberts The idea there should be a balance between work and private life is not new and was considered as early as 350BCE by the philosopher Aristotle. In contemporary life it is a familiar concept, and sometimes cited in a negative tone when life and work get too hectic or overwhelming.
A search of the Internet reveals numerous articles discussing work-life balance ranging from academic research to self-help tips on how to achieve a better balance. But what does it really mean? Is it tangible, or is it just a mythical concept? Without wishing to step on the toes of academics, my interpretation from a grassroots perspective is that it is more or less about recognising the need for a healthy relationship between the professional and the private aspects of life. It’s another way of referencing a desire to lead a healthy and happy lifestyle. In this article, to avoid confusion, I am suggesting that lifestyle and work-life balance are interchangeable terms. From the available tips, many (if not most) are loaded with the assumption that an improved work-life balance means less work and more play. This probably makes sense on the surface; let’s face it, we all want more fun and family time, don’t we? On the other hand, is that just what we think we want, or is it simply a utopian ideal of how life should be? Our work ethic has changed remarkably over the past few decades. During the hedonistic 1980s the world developed a ‘work-hard playhard mentality.’ As the 1990s arrived the economic bubble burst, leading to a recession in 1992. Recovery didn’t really commence until the late 1990s into the early 2000s. It’s likely that this seesaw economy had a big impact on how we viewed the work-life relationship. The noughties saw the beginning of new ideas about work. The workforce started to recognise the benefits of having more free time and employers brought in flexible working policies to accommodate this. Every employee now has the right to ask for flexible working and employers have a legal duty to consider those requests. the workforce was gradually being lured into the idea that a healthier work-life relationship was available to them. It’s clearly a benefit that flexible working is potentially available to all employees and for many, a godsend. Many families now rely on flexible working to manage their lifestyles; particularly when balancing working life with the family, children and all the responsibilities that ensue. Do those things actually achieve a better lifestyle? Sure, it evidently allows a degree of flexibility in managing day-to-day life-work stuff, but you still have go to work to pay the bills. This means time away from the family whatever way you look at it and therefore it’s likely to have an impact on your private life. When you substitute the term ‘lifestyle’ instead of work-life balance, it somehow changes the quality of the meaning. It seems to imply a more relaxed way of living that probably involves less work. I believe this is how most people perceive the meaning of work-life balance. The advance and growth of technology has increased the opportunities for flexible working, allowing many more employees to work from home. Home working has allowed some businesses to reduce overheads by shedding large and expensive work spaces. An employer-employee win-win solution you may think. This type of flexible working is becoming increasingly popular, but be warned as there can also be downsides for the employee. For example, it can be easy for the lines to become blurred between work and home life with the expectation that employees will work on their email inbox out of hours! 20
From research, the work-life balance dialogue seems to be heavily biased towards the ‘less work, more play’ ideal. Not surprising you may think - we all want to work less right? From my own experience and from the related experiences of colleagues who retired from professional life around the same time as me, I can say with some confidence that less work is not necessarily the answer to a great lifestyle. Some people love their work and the camaraderie that develops between colleagues; ironic I guess, but work can sometimes be a retreat from a stressful home life. For many, the goal of achieving an ideal work-life balance is either a myth, or simply misunderstood. It’s easy to believe that less work and more play will guarantee a great lifestyle and therefore more happiness, but the reality can be different; some may find that more free time can equal loneliness and boredom. So, What to Do? 1. Start by working out what kind of lifestyle you want or need. If you want to spend more quality time with your family, work out how that time would be spent. Remember, unplanned time can easily lead to time wasted. 2. Discuss your concerns with the family and work out what they want too; it’s not just about you! When you’ve worked this out, consider your options. Would flexible working suit your needs? If yes, plan out a pattern that would work for you and your employer, then make the request. 3. Once you’ve worked this out, look at your work-life and assess whether flexible working would enable you to achieve your goals. If yes, approach your employer and see what changes are possible in your work environment. Details on flexible working are available on the ACAS website www.acas.org.uk. 4. Would a career change work for you, or have you considered setting up your own business? There’s plenty of business help out there and a search of the Internet will turn up a plethora of career coaches. Food for thought? Go create… For more about Mark Roberts, visit his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/intelligentlifestrategies.
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Wine Corner
Hello all. Bloomin’ cold at the moment, a bit of snow and low temperatures. Let’s hope we see an improvement soon. We are away in Kent next week, so it may be a bit nippy at night, have to keep the heating on! Or maybe have a tot or two... A friend of mine has suggested that he may make a contribution to this column. He can be a bit grumpy to suit his name, Jonny Moanalot. He will be talking about things that get on his nerves, in a light-hearted way of course. I thought it may help him to get things off his chest and become a bit more chirpy when we meet for a pint now and again. His section is called Whine Corner...! We start this month with supermarkets. It really gets on my nerves when products are moved around to different locations. You just get used to the mushrooms being near the potatoes (no I don’t know why either) then as soon as you like, they’re no longer there. Last time I found them near the soft fresh fruit section. Some celebrity chefs like to suggest strange recipes these days, I was reading just recently that someone had a made a Cadbury chocolate egg pizza! This led me to think that they moved the mushrooms because someone somewhere had suggested that we should try a strawberry, raspberry, blackberry and mushroom fruit salad. I decided against that, but suddenly thought that a fruit salad, excluding the mushrooms, would be nice. Got a good variety and went off to search for the fresh cream - and with my recent experience, went straight to the washing and cleaning aisle for the cream. I do sometimes think that they say to the staff: “Here, put these loaves of bread where you can find a space, somebody will find them”. To be fair, I guess the best thing to do when you can’t find something, is to ask a staff member. In all honesty, they have never let me down and sometimes feel so sorry for me they take me to the location. But if I admitted that, what would I have to moan about? Incidentally, I was feeling a bit hungry the other day and went into a little restaurant. I asked that they go through what they had and the bloke started to explain all about what he had, how many of each, how much, how he made them... he went on and on for ages. Then I realised, it was a waffle café! Other Jonny here. Paraguay is a country in South America and is almost smack in the middle of the continent. It is known as the heart of South America and is home to just over 7 million people. From a wine perspective, missionaries (the Romans never got that far) planted European vines about five hundred years ago. Production stalled and halted later, but in 1908 a German wine grower planted new vines and the industry was kick started. Now it is quite a thriving industry. Having said that, they produce (in tons) .08% of the top producer Chile, so you may actually have to visit the country to get a bottle of their wine - might turn out to be a bit expensive!
found it interesting that the UN would be involved, but then realised that there was a need to revive industry in the country, and I was also more impressed that some of the revenues from the now growing wine production are being used to rebuild churches and other religious buildings in that country. Many were destroyed during the conflict and it’s great to see the money being used in that way. It has also had an impact on the people, as some who were fighting against each other are now working together in the revival of the wines. Absolutely brilliant! The programme also mentioned wine from Syria. Apparently, it is very good and worth a try. Guess what? Romans were the first to plant grapes in the area - what on earth would us wine lovers do without the Romans!? Now they produce all the normal favourites, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah in the reds, and Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc in the whites. Worth a look the next time you have friends round for a tipple. Shirley Sharaz has been to Goa in India and tasted a couple of that country’s wines. She said the reds were very good and the whites most acceptable. Modern wine making was started in the early 1980s, in Goa as it happens. A company called The Tonia Group imported French vines and started to produce locally, producing several of the well know grapes like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir amongst them. Although a massive country, the right combination of climate and terroir (the earth) is only found in a few areas. I have been reading that in 2017 wine production has dropped, and apparently this is mainly due to severe frosts hitting Italy and France. Since these are nearly always the top two producers in the world, perhaps it explains the result. Spain was also hit so that means the top three were all affected. This distorts the result a little because these three countries have the biggest outputs. All in all, I guess that means that they will use this as an excuse to put up wine prices. Incidentally, in terms of wine production, China is creeping up the table and is now 8th. Just one more thing from Jonny Moanalot... Do you ever use the self checkout? I try to but somehow they have programmed them to recognise me. As I approach, I’m sure I hear a little voice say ‘it’s Jonny, get ready with the red light’. I scan the first simple item, a tub of spread, put it on the scale then the red light comes on. ‘Help is coming’ it utters. How does it know? I look round and the only member of staff is helping someone else, so not only is the voice extremely annoying, it tells lies. Anyway, they come along and wave that little gadget thing at the machine and it clears. Why don’t they let us have one of those? Then we wouldn’t have to bother them. A simple solution I think...
Bin End Chuckles Last month I mentioned The Wine Show on Channel 5, and a recent They say we shouldn’t snack at night, so why does the fridge have a episode had an interesting item about wine growing in Bosnia. As light? usual the good old monks were in at the start producing wine for religious purposes a long time ago, and grapes were grown for many I got stopped by the police the other day. He bent down to my window years afterwards. Unfortunately, the war in the early 90s effectively and said “papers...” I said, “scissors, so I win”. On reflection, I would stopped all production. Since then the United Nations worked with not do that again. the local wine growers to reintroduce wine making, sometimes having to clear mines from the vineyards before they could be cultivated. I Keep calm and carry on drinking, in moderation. 22 www.moulshamtimes.com
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three of whom were female and one male. It is the first time for many years that a male vocalist has taken part. They similarly had a maximum of ten minutes each and sang a mixture of classical, traditional and modern songs. Two of the competitors only sang in English while the other two both chose English, German and Italian songs. They all sang without scores or texts, which cannot be easy when you are singing in a language that is not your native tongue. The standard was again very high.
Rotary Gets Behind Youth Competitions in Chelmsford Is It All a Lie? was the question posed by one of the teams taking part in the Chelmsford heat of the Rotary Youth Speaks at Hylands School on the evening of January 18th. Youth Speaks is a competition for teams of three school students divided into two age categories, Intermediate (11-13) and Senior (1417). Each team consists of a chairperson, a speaker and a proposer of the vote of thanks. The chairperson has two minutes to introduce the team and the subject. The speaker has six minutes to speak on the subject, after which a designated questioner asks a single question. The proposer of the vote of thanks then has two minutes to propose the vote of thanks to the speaker. Finally, the chairperson wraps up. Teams can speak on topics of their own choice. They have to give the titles of their talks in advance, but these aren’t always a reliable guide to the subjects they are going to tackle, which can cause problems for questioners trying to prepare beforehand. We started with the Intermediate 1 team, whose topic was Why There Should Be More Girls in Science. This did actually reflect the views the speaker put forward. Among other things, she pointed to the advances to which women had contributed to science in the past. Intermediate 2 was the team that asked Is It All a Lie? The speaker questioned the reality of the world in which we live. Are we actually living in a computer simulation? It reminded me of a 1960s science fiction book in which the protagonists gradually discover that they are characters in a computer program.
After all the competitors had performed, we paused for refreshments while the adjudicators debated between themselves. When all came back together, the adjudicators commented generally on the performances they had heard and addressed a few constructive remarks to each competitor before announcing the winners. They were the flautist Lottie Anstee and the vocalist Abbie Ward. Both will now go through to the District Final on February 24th. Last year Abbie made her way through to the National Final, and we wish our local girls every success as they compete against schools from all over the country. Youth Speak and Young Musician are just two of several youth competitions organised by Rotary each year and are just an example of the way Rotarians engage with local young people. If you have any experience of working with students, then your local Rotary club would be delighted to hear from you. You may help organising the event or offer to be an adjudicator. There are so many ways to connect with Rotary. As an ongoing connection with young local musicians, the Rotary Club of Chelmsford is holding a Jazz Night in Writtle Sports and Social Club on Friday 20th April featuring the Essex Youth Jazz Sextet. This promises to be a wonderful evening of entertainment open to the public. See the flyer on this page for details of how to buy tickets, or simply call me for details on any aspect of joining Rotary. Stan Keller 01245 260 349
The topic chosen by Senior 1 was Has Our Obsession with Celebrity Gone Too Far? Their own answer was what you might expect from the question. They weren’t happy with the high figures some celebrities can command. Senior 2 asked Hoodie or Goodie? arguing that adults look down on teenagers unfairly and should lay aside their prejudices. The speaker claimed that our brains don’t mature until we are around thirty, which is alarming when you consider that most of us got married in our twenties (in my generation anyway). The two winning teams were Intermediate 2, who now go forward to the District Intermediate Final in County Hall on March 7th, and Senior 2, will be competing in the District Senior Final a week later. Another of our competitions is Rotary Young Musician and this was held on the Friday January 12th at St Cedd’s School who kindly allow us to use their hall and piano for this occasion each year. The Mayor and Mayoress attended. There must have been around 60 people present. We only invited entries from those who have gained distinctions in specific musical classes at the annual Chelmsford Competitive Festival of Music, Speech and Drama. This year we invited 13 young people to take part divided between instrumentalists and vocalists. Their ages ranged from 12 to 17. Lots were drawn for the order of performance. We had pieces from a flautist, guitarist, pianists and a trumpeter, and each person was asked to perform for not more than ten minutes. They played a variety of classical and modern pieces. All the performances were of a very high standard, giving the two adjudicators a difficult job. They were followed by the four vocalists, 24 www.moulshamtimes.com
Post World War II Women Writers on the Road to Equality: 1. Joanne Kyger - by John Power The early rumblings for female equality that England witnessed in the early twentieth century as the Suffragette movement, were also echoed in some parts of the US and this continued between world wars in the roaring ‘20s and ‘30s, but really took off in the ‘50s and ‘60s.
took his zen seriously and soon got clued in to the spiritual dimension of the beats. Joanne’s trip with Gary became a spiritual journey of exploration for her too. She adopted Buddhism as a way of life in later years.
Much thanks must be given to the literary and multicultural revolution that came to be known as the Beat Generation and its writers ‘beat’ by the monolithic ‘Great Society’ and it’s militaristic outlook. Here liberated women played key roles, not only as characters in the writings of such authors as Jack Kerouac, and John Clellon Holmes, but increasingly as writers in their own right. Meeting this development was a similar reaction to established religion which broadened its outlook to view and practice oriental philosophies as seen in the writings of Allen Ginsberg, Gary Snyder and Philip Whalen, also reflected again in Kerouac’s novels chronicling changing social attitudes. The part that women played in this cultural revolution in meeting chauvanistic attitudes prevalent up to the ‘60s was a major factor in establishing what became known as Women’s Liberation, as beat(niks) morphed into hipsters and then hippies. So over the next few issues I intend to concentrate on the part women writers and muses played in transforming social values in the US, which not only crossed the Atlantic, but eventually made themselves felt worldwide. Indeed, Essex can even boast a writer that is included in beat anthologies in the shape of Denise Levertov, who was born in Ilford in 1923. After WWII and the hospital work that occupied her alongside her poetry, she married American writer Mitchell Goodman and moved to the States. There she published her poetry, became acquainted with leading American poets, took a head-on stand against misogynist attitudes to women in the arts, sided with anti-Vietnam War protestors in her work, and eventually became a lecturer in three successive universities. Leaving Denise to one side for the moment, I felt that sequentially it would be best to begin with the work of Joanne Kyger, as she played such an important role the early years of the life of Gary Snyder, who I wrote about at length last month. An established poet in her own right in the San Francisco literary scene by 1960, at the age of 26 Joanne took on an extra dimension in Beat Generation history when she accompanied Gary Snyder to Japan and then India where they met up with Allen Ginsberg and Peter Orlovsky. She had arrived in ‘frisco in 1957 and became part of Robert Duncan’s literary circle. Snyder had sprung to readers’ attention as part of the West Coast scene when Jack Kerouac brought Gary’s mountain man and Zen presence to the fore by casting him as Japhy Ryder, hero of his second published novel Dharma Bums. Instead of hanging around to capitalise on literary status, Gary decided to take his zen to the most serious level and sail to Japan and study with the masters at the Zen Institute of Kyoto. As she had been in a relationship with Gary, Joanne decided to go with him. Her travel diaries, published as Strange Big Moon, provides a chronicle of those four important years away from the US. Oddly, in Kerouac’s rendition of the story preceding Snyder’s departure, albeit as a novel, Dharma Bums, leaves Gary’s ‘favourite girl’, Psyche (ie Joanne) at the docks as he heads off to Japan. This can easily be seen as the chauvanism of the time, where it would not be seen in character for a woman to embark on such a spiritual quest at that time, and it is left as a hermetic venture for Gary alone. Yet later Joanne formed an early feminine voice in the beat movement where all the leading protagonists had been men, while women like Lu Anne Cassady may have played a part in roles within the novels but did not at first contribute to the writing of the growing literature. Joanne was a bosom buddy of Philip Whalen, who also
Joanne has written poems about history, natural history, climate and the lives of friends, amongst a wide ranging group of subjects. She taught at the New College of San Francisco on poetics programmes, and at the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She has 18 books to her credit, edited Bolinas Hearsay News, ran workshops, took part in poetry readings, promoted environmental issues and encouraged younger writers. In 2006 she was given the Lifetime Achievement from Small Press Traffic. Just as Joanne was a character in Kerouac’s Dharma Bums before establishing herself fully as an author in her own right, we will find that Carolyn Cassady appears as a character, Camille, in Kerouac’s first published novel On the Road before chronicling her own version of events that that book was based on, and beyond, published as Off the Road, a shortened version of Heartbeat which was made into a Hollywood movie. She also lectured worldwide on the beat era, while Neal Cassady’s other wife, Lu Anne Cassady, was Kerouac’s other muse for the character Marylou in On the Road. Carolyn also appears as Evelyn Pomeray, in Kerouac’s Big Sur, Desolation Angels, Visions of Cody and Book of Dreams. In John Clellon Holmes’ Go, she is Marilyn. Other writers you can expect to read of in the next few weeks are Diane Di Prima, Lenore Kandel, Joyce Johnson (one of Kerouac’s girlfriends who became a high profile magazine editor as well as an author), Joan Vollmer (who was William Burroughs’ wife), Hettie Jones, Joanna McClure (wife of Michael McClure), Elise Cowen (one of Allen Ginsberg’s rare girlfriends and a poet), Edie Kerouac-Parker and Joan HavertyKerouac (Jack’s two wives), Jan Kerouac (his daughter) and two latterday academic historians of the era, as well as writers in their own right, Ann Charters and Anne Waldman.
Resounding Good Across the Board for Chelmsford College
Students, apprentices and staff are celebrating at Chelmsford College today after receiving the official Ofsted report which grades the college as ‘good’ in their recent inspection. The inspection took place between Tuesday 12th December and Friday 15th December. Education providers are monitored regularly to ensure the standards of teaching and training remain high. Nine Ofsted inspectors interviewed groups and individuals and observed lessons and tutorials in college and in a range of workplaces. Selfassessment reports, development plans and the previous inspection report were all taken into account. The inspection resulted in Chelmsford College being graded as ‘good’ unanimously across the board. The report shared several key findings, including praise for a good focus on the craft of teaching, support available to students with significant anxiety to enable them to grow in independence and confidence, a strong work ethic, high attendance rates, high inclusivity, meaningful work experience and additional qualifications recognised by industry. The report supported FE Week recently ranking the college at top of the national league table for 16 to 18 learner progression, meaning that almost all Chelmsford College students and apprentices progress into meaningful employment or further study. Andy Sparks, Principal of Chelmsford College says: “The Ofsted inspection represented an opportunity for our collective hard work to be formally recognised and to propel us towards our goal of ‘outstanding’. We are delighted to be acknowledged for high quality leadership, management and innovative teaching.” Caroline Williams, Deputy Principal of Chelmsford College says: “Ofsted has validated our college’s success. It has highlighted our student and apprentices’ success and acknowledged the care we are proud to have in place to nurture and unlock our students’ potential.” The pass rate for 16 to 18 year olds at Chelmsford College was 95% last year and for learners aged 19 and over it was 97%. Approximately one third of students who joined college from school without their English and Maths GCSEs, achieved grades A* - C in English and Maths (which is the equivalent to the reformed 4 - 9). This reflects the national rate for resits. Almost 45% of students leave school without their English and Maths GCSE qualifications. The Ofsted report also recognised the high levels of inclusivity, sense www.moulshamtimes.com
of community and respect at the college. Last year, Chelmsford College received recognition from the Cabinet Office, being awarded ‘Champion College’ status for their work in an Active Citizens programme. Marco Iciek, Director of Learner Development and Inclusion says: “Life beyond college in modern Britain is so much more than qualifications. We’re really happy the report has recognised the support we provide for students and apprentices to achieve their full potential academically and that we prepare them for work, citizenship and adulthood.” Andy Sparks says: “Overall we couldn’t be happier with this report. It recognises the areas we have strived to improve upon and acknowledges the high standards we’ve come to expect. We intend to develop our excellent teaching practices further and continue our support programmes to ensure we care for every individual student and apprentice to the best of our ability.” Chelmsford College has around 3,500 students and their focus is on ‘learning a living’. There are currently staff vacancies available if you would like to join a winning team. For more information please visit: www.chelmsford.college/hs2rdh. The Ofsted report is available here: www.chelmsford.ac.uk/ our-college/ofsted.asp. For more information please visit www. chelmsford.ac.uk or follow on Facebook/ChelmsfordCollege and on Twitter @ChelmsfordCol.
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All About Moulsham Lodge & Tile Kiln Moulsham Lodge Community Trust The Coffee Pot had it’s first birthday recently and the Coffee Potters, as they are affectionately known, celebrated with a couple of cakes (see the picture right for the wonderful cake made by Michaela Maidwell). Held every Tuesday morning between 10am and 12 noon, it provides a place to catch up with friends over a cuppa and a bit of cake. Sometimes we have specialists who come in to talk about their particular projects and these can range from the museum to public health issues.
Our second toilet has finally been commissioned and is now ready for use. Alison, one of our volunteers, agreed to do the official ribbon cutting for the occasion. Unfortunately Alison is moving away and won’t be around to volunteer in the future. Everyone at MLCT would like to wish her well in her new home and thank her very much for all of her help during the time she volunteered.
time for the trust.
Litter Pick: Lorna, one of our trustees, organised a local litter pick (see pics) being fed up with the litter in and around LIDL and Princes Road. They collected several bags which Chelmsford City Council helped dispose of. We will be doing some more litter picks in the future, so if you are interested get in touch. Choir: New City Voices held their choir social recently with some choir members providing some of the entertainment for the evening. (see pic). We have a winter and summer social event and encourage members to do a turn. This year we will be performing at the Mayor’s annual Civic or Community Dinner at Hylands House, and later on this year we will again be performing with Pink Floyd tribute band, Any Colour You Like. Interested? No auditions, you don’t have to read music. Do you sing in the shower? If yes then this is for you, so get in touch! enquiries@mlct.org.uk.
If you would like to get in touch and help out, please let us know as we have lots of fun along the way, and you would join at an exciting
Cllr Mark Springett - Moulsham Lodge Ward
Potholes: Yes this never ending saga of potholes is not going away. One recurring one near St Luke’s Church got right down to the reinforcing steel grid as you can see from the photo below. Please keep reporting them, although they are now discouraging multiple reporting of the same pothole on the Essex County Council website. Baddow Bus Gate: I attended the public meeting with ECC Cllr Bentley. Well, I was in the queue outside waiting patiently in the cold, along with another 200 people. The meeting was sensibly, but frustratingly, cancelled so as to give everyone a chance to have their say at a bigger venue. I’ve been through the ECC report produced as a result of so many consultation responses and have comments on
every single page. Their arguments are weak and recommendations based on what I believe to be a flawed model which predicts traffic flow following the changes. I look forward to challenging Cllr Bentley at a reconvened meeting at a date yet to be announced. John Shennan, as I unfortunately predicted, it is still in the Draft Local Plan. This means a developer could come along and put a planning application in the system for up to 200 houses. I know that this was always going to be a real risk, so to mitigate the potential of 200 houses I made some suggestions that have made it into the draft plan for the site. Effectively, I made suggestions for an alternative to just housing. It now includes community facilities, a doctors’ surgery, a day nursery and assisted living. Now this doesn’t mean we’ll get them, or the houses that will be needed to fun a community facility, but it presents a better solution which will benefit the local community as a whole. I still have my doubts as to whether the site is even suitable for building, being that it was a refuse site for many years and that heavy metals and lots of unknown materials were dumped there and are still there. I’ll keep my ear to the ground and update you if anything changes. On a more personal note I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. It was a total shock as I went to the doctor with concerns about something completely unrelated. I had none of the expected symptoms, don’t smoke, don’t drink too much and am only slightly overweight, so I don’t fit the normal profile. I’m now researching lots of things that could make it better or even reverse it. What’s more I don’t even like chocolate! mark.springett@chelmsford.gov.uk 07411 808 731 @markspringett (on Twitter or Facebook)
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Tile Kiln Corner by Linda Mascot
On Saturday 3rd February The Clay Pigeon pub in Robin Way, Tile Kiln, held a bingo night raising £960.10 for local charity The Little Edi Foundation. Edi stands for ‘Enable, Dream, Inspire’ and was set up in response to the poverty seen by a team of volunteers in the rural areas of Romania.
Initially the charity was involved in providing shoeboxes to the poorest children in the villages of Gilau and Pioen. Now in it’s 5th year, 800 shoeboxes are sent to babies and young people from 0-17 years old. Local volunteers now also fundraise for food-bags, clothing and household help such as stoves for heating and cooking, repairs to windows, putting in water supplies, toilets and showers.
Full and part-time bar staff required at the Queens Head Please call us or drop your cv in to us!
The Queen’s Head, 30 Lower Anchor Street Chelmsford, CM2 0AS 01245 265181 www.queensheadchelmsford.co.uk Last year the charity took 5 young people from Chelmsford on a fully sponsored trip to Romania to volunteer, and on 26th March they will be holding an Information Evening to showcase the foundation especially the youth projects - at Tile Kiln Church, Robin Way at 7pm (to include a ploughmans supper). To book a place, receive more information and to make a donation, email: littleedifoundation@ gmail.com or on Facebook : The Little Edi Foundation.
Kate and Andy at the Clay Pigeon continue to support the local community and have other events planned, the proceeds from the bingo night will help fund the shoebox project this year. From Thursday 8th March, pie, mash and liquor will be served at their regular Cockney Night from 4-8pm. To book, and for details of other upcoming events, ring 01245 358 971. mascotlinda@gmail.com Twitter: @lindamascot www.moulshamtimes.com
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Bangernomics. Does It Work in Australia Too? By Simon Inglis A couple of months ago I wrote of the bargain basement C Class I’d seemed to have picked up last year. At the time of writing this car has cost me about $2,000 (£1,100) plus one oil service ($330). For that I got the Australian delivery base model putting out just 95 kilowatts when it was new. With almost 220,000 kilometres on the clock this is not a pristine example; it’s life among Sydney and Adelaide carparks is evident in the little dings on the body, yet at 6 paces it is a smart enough looking car. In addition it came with a long history and a folder of rather pricey invoices, I suspect making it a once cherished vehicle. In Australia roads aren’t salted anywhere I believe, yet where we live in Western Victoria there is indeed a severe climate. Winter nights will regularly drop below zero from May until November, then the summer can fry an egg. In fact as a new resident in this part of Australia, I’m learning just how odd the climate is. On Australia Day, January 26th, we witnessed the daytime mercury rise to 40 degrees celcius. For two nights we all ‘camped’ in the lounge under a struggling airconditioner supplemented with 2 standing fans. Just 5 days later the overnight temperature struggled to just 5 degrees and we had the heating on. So, it’s with little wonder that I see so many cars of all models around town with sun faded bodywork, especially the roof. Given the brutal winter to follow in a couple of months it’s also little wonder that many cars are rotty. Yet this is by no means the case in other parts of the country. Australia is both sunburnt and frozen whatever the stereotype! What I’m really trying to achieve is safety and value on a depreciating, or near worthless ‘asset’ on a strict budget. Power had little importance, rather something a bit refined, safe and hopefully economical and reliable enough to handle the large country mileage to Melbourne (200km one way) and Adelaide (500km westward). Having recently returned after living in Blighty, purchasing a home and schooling a child, expensive cars were just not on our radar. The little C180 is a test as to whether ‘bangernomics’ can work in a country renowned for seemingly silly car prices. How silly? Try $3,000 for a 20 year old Honda Accord or $10,000 plus for a 10 year old 3 Series. There are many reasons for this from higher than European specifications on base models (ie my C Class) to a general longevity not seen in other markets. A drier climate generally means vehicles should last longer. I can repeat that cheaper fuel and far cheaper insurance (from previous articles) truly does even out ownership costs over time. In Australia however, some European cars can suffer catastrophic depreciation. My little car, standard in this country with a full compliment of 8 airbags, stability control, brake assistance as well as a leather gear lever, some real door leather, a decent 5-speed auto box and upgraded headlamps, has a slight edge on the basic taxis once popular in its country of design. So regarding bangernomics I do have a bargain. Add to that I can run it on Australia’s cheap 91RON fuel as it was tuned and sold here as a ‘bargain Benz’ when new. An excellent motorway capped strictly to 110kph also ensures mostly unstressed driving conditions (on the vehicle - not the driver). So in some ways this is a very complete car. Since August last year it has covered near 10,000kms, from heavy city driving to our more common long distance gentle commute. Problems? A new set of front tyres due: yet I’m not silly - there is no such thing as a ‘cheap Mercedes’ thus time will tell how ‘cheap’ our little car really is.
As I’ve inferred, bangernomics doesn’t really work in Australia unless one takes some risks. We have other cars should the Merc implode and I’d never have bought it were it our only vehicle. Nor should it be if you’re bereft of car knowledge - and in particular on that blight of modernity; complex electronic systems. Yet it’s a risk I took. Scanning the local classifieds I do see post-2000 Mercedes, BMW and Audi’s bigger cars for smaller money money than the base models as in the UK. An S Class or 10 year old 7 Series as in the UK is almost unsellable in Australia. Fancy a fully loaded BMW 7 for less than a Hyundai Elantra? Certainly less than that 3 Series. This used car market seems to be propped up by boringly bland cars so even I am not so silly as to trade the little Merc for an even more complex but supposedly prestigious older S Class. Reliability does rule and I understand that completely when I am stuck at 99kph behind a white refrigerator with wheels. In England I tended to run one ‘good’ car, or a work car, and a socalled banger workhorse. So, in a time of enormous family expenses I’m applying the same down under. Frankly, if I get 2 years and 40,000 kilometres out of the Merc I’ll be chuffed! Will my experiment work? Last weekend the old girl carried us safely to the charming Great Ocean Road village of Port Fairy, an old whaling settlement on the Victorian coast now acclaimed ‘The World’s Most Livable Community.’ Now fast losing its whaling and fishing heritage in the face of furious development, organic icecream shops and gentrified gourmet pubs, it still made for a lovely day out.
The homeward journey included a visit to an extinct volcano and a drive through the track among the craters dotted with ostriches walking among cars and picnicers. As the summer day drew long, we turned for home only to find our C road had been closed. Our phone’s all but flat, foolishly having taken no paper maps but luckily having brimmed the tank, we needed to head toward the city of Ballarat in order to find our bearings! Once home, 2 hours later than expected, we’d travelled over 500 kilometres with all the electrics and airconditioning battling the Aussie sun. The ‘little banger Merc’? With such days out with our young son, our photographs and the unexpected delights such as passing through an Irish settlers village let alone Tower Hill volcano, it’s probably already paid for itself... As time passes I think any car becomes a part of our family. We will always remember it in photos, in the places we visited and with whom we were with. As for resale value, frankly in a very good way - I don’t care!
30 www.moulshamtimes.com
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