Moulsham Times November 2015

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Issue Number 35 - November 2015

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MT Welcome

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Welcome to the November issue. Where has the year gone?

Off

After having a successful Blues in the City Festival, sadly that is the last of our music festivals this year now; fingers crossed for more next year!

All dry cleaning

Look out for details of The Rucksack Project on page 8 this month giving information on how to help the homeless of Chelmsford.

We have a gig this month - Katie Bradley and the Dave Ferra band on November 21st - at Chelmsford City Football Club.

See page 29 for details.

MT

Enjoy November!

Nick and Paul

it’s your media Ltd

Advertising Nick Garner 07970 206682 ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk

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Editorial Paul Mclean 07595 949701 editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

Disclaimer: It’s Your Media 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 Imagery UK.

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Hand-painted Christmas Baubles Baubles featuring Chelmsford available soon

Contemporary art gallery displaying a range of original art, limited edition prints, ceramics, jewellery, glass and gifts.

Expert in-house picture framing service.

43 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, CM2 0HY 01245 356728 art@ga art@gallery43.co.uk www.gallery43.co.uk 3

Courses in Furniture Restoration Our small and friendly workshop is a well equipped place to learn.

We are ideally situated in the pleasant riverside location behind Moulsham Mill - an historic water mill, which contains a craft centre, cafe and small businesses, all within a short walking distance of Chelmsford city centre. There is also ample onsite parking.

Courses can be tailored to your individual requirements and are offered to individuals, couples or small groups of up to 5 people.

Tuition is given by our two fully experienced and qualified tutors who will provide all course information materials (handouts etc) and the advice needed to complete your projects. We are a City & Guilds approved centre and some courses can lead to City & Guilds qualifications.

We run informal evening classes, day time courses and some weekend courses during the spring and summer months (see timetables).

If you have small items of your own furniture to be worked on, please bring them with you, or items can be provided in order that you learn the skills and techniques to fully restore them.

Courses include: • • • • • •

Furniture repair and restoration French polishing Upholstery Cane and sea-grass chair seating Box making Picture framing

These courses are summarised below: Furniture Restoration Fully restoring an item of furniture that may be broken, damaged or in need of repolishing or the surface just reviving to its former glory, is a wonderfully satisfying skill to learn.

Our course is designed to impart these skills and techniques in an informal manner, whereby you can learn at your own pace with no previous knowledge required. Accompanying notes and learning packages are supplied, as are all materials needed to complete your projects.

If you have any small items of furniture (small tables, chairs, boxes, writing slopes or tea caddies are perfect) then please bring them with you - or items to practise on can be provided.

The course includes: Repairing broken or loose joints, repairs to veneers, filling and disguising scratches and dents, reviving and repolishing surfaces, basic upholstery.

French Polishing This traditional art of polishing furniture is a time honoured skill which takes a long time to master. However, the techniques can be learnt quickly, giving you the skills to practise them at home.

You will learn the right way to fully strip or just clean the old surfaces, preparing them for the polishing process, then to apply the correct stain, before understanding and practising the processes involved in applying shellac based polishes, filling and disguising dents and scratches, and finishing with beeswax polishes to produce the beautiful, deep shine that only traditional polishing can produce.

All handouts, course information, and materials are included in the fee.

Upholstery Our upholstery course starts with a simple traditional drop-in seat and a modern upholstered stool. You will learn to use all the tools and equipment needed to complete your project. Course notes

accompany the practical skills - and you could progress to more advanced projects such as overstuffed and sprung armchairs.

This course can lead to City and Guild qualifications if you wish.

Chair Seating This course will teach you how to use cane to complete a traditional 6-way pattern caned seat - or you could learn to use the techniques of rush, or sea-grass seating to complete a chair or stool. All courses include course notes, hand outs and all the materials required for the project.

Please feel free to bring your own chairs to work on, or items can be provided for you to practise on.

Box Making A short course, involving some basic cabinet making, veneering, fitting and fixing of hardware and finishing to a small box (jewellery, trinket, etc) to your own design, to take home with you.

There are notes to accompany this course and all the tools, equipment, and materials are provided and included in the price.

The course includes: Designing, marking out and cutting of timber, gluing up and sanding, cutting and laying veneers, finishing with polish, oils, and wax and the lining out of interiors.

Picture Framing In completing this course, you will learn the skills of mounting and framing a picture of your choice. The cost includes use of all equipment, and all the materials necessary to complete your picture.

Chelmsford Community Gospel Choir Presents Have a Go at Gospel!

Love singing in the shower but want more? More volume, more excitement, more rhythm, more challenge? Chelmsford Community Gospel Choir is running free gospel workshops open to all.

Inspired by October’s World Mental Health Day, with the theme Dignity in Mental Health, we want to spread the news that group singing supports physical and mental health.

Dignity in Mental Health strikes a special chord for us as a community choir.

Gospel music began as the expression of dignity by black slaves. The power of its message and the strength of its rhythm influence popular music to this day. When we sing, we are showing dignity in ordinary but powerful ways and we want to share the dignity, fun and positivity that singing with others creates.

Have a Go at Gospel! is on every Thursday in November, from 7.00pm to 9.00pm at Meadgate Church, The Orchards, Mascalls Way, Great Baddow, Chelmsford, CM2 7NS. Our members are friendly, welcoming and warm-hearted. We all come from different backgrounds, ethnic origins and walks of life. We include women and men of all ages; some are christians, some have other faiths, some have none. What unites us all is our love of gospel music and our desire to entertain and inspire everyone in our local community with our sound.

So come along. Have a listen. Feel the beat. Join in - and find your voice.

To find out more about us, go to www.chelmsfordgospelchoir.com.

From County Hall by Cllr Dick Madden

Please can I start with a reminder: All those residents in Old Moulsham who received a letter from Essex County Council Highways regarding your views in developing a 20mph zone in your area, please make sure you respond and give your views; we would like as many of you to respond as possible. Thank you.

Whilst people may have spare rooms that they wish to offer, at this point we do not think there will be a need to host Syrian refugees in homes. However, if people do have a property that could be used to house refugees, please contact Chelmsford City Council Housing Department.

In response to residents asking me what we are doing locally in Chelmsford and in our county regarding the Syrian refugee crisis, I can confirm that representatives of all local councils in Essex, including Chelmsford City Council, have met at County Hall with representatives of Essex County Council plus members of the Home Office.

I end by noting the dark nights are moving in on us quickly; it’s now less than 50 days to Christmas. This year - again, as last year - look around your local area and if you are aware of an individual living on their own, consider offering them some Christmas spirit over the Christmas and New Year holiday period. Just a thought.

At this stage it will take several months for the process to be fully up and running, but the government expect that in time, roughly several hundred refugees will arrive in the UK each month.

It is not expected that unaccompanied children will arrive at the start of the programme and every effort will be made by the United Nations to reunite children with relatives or extended family.

Refugees will be granted a five year humanitarian protection visa, entitling them access to public funds and the labour market. It is likely that after 5 years they will be able to apply for permanent settlement in the UK.

I will keep you updated on this matter of Syrian refugees as and when I receive further information.

BE SAFE. Dick Madden

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Work the hours that suit you. If you are self-motivated, enthusiastic and want more from life, this could be for you.

Full training and support for a quick chat or more information contact Denise Randall.

Faith groups and the voluntary sector are being consulted in our county in order to ascertain what they can offer to assist in this process.

At this stage, if you want to get involved, the best way is to help refugees is to donate cash to humanitarian organisations or charities.

If you wish to make donations of clothes, books or toys etc, contact to Chelmsford Voluntary Services or to the British Red Cross.

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From The House by Sir Simon Burns MP - Trading Standards Recently I had a very informative meeting with the local Trading Standards team which is working very hard to protect consumers right across Essex.

I was staggered to learn that 48% of the population have been targeted by a scam and it is estimated that over £5 billion is lost each year by UK consumers to mass-marketed scams via phone and post.

New scams are being invented all the time and this makes the job of Trading Standards even harder.

For example, there are pensions scams which can be carried out via phone, mailing, text or email which are linked to promises of ‘free pensions reviews’, ‘legal loopholes’, or ‘one-off investment’.

There are investment scams, often called ‘boiler room scams’, because they use high pressure sales to urge residents to invest in shares, wine, minerals, carbon credits or overseas development.

There is also ‘phishing’ where fraudsters impersonate someone from a bank, the police or internet provider, to persuade the victim to provide information or transfer money.

So in view of the fact that so many people are vulnerable to such scams, what are the top tips?

Trading Standards advise that: • • • • • • •

•

If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.

If you have not bought a ticket - you cannot win a prize; eg lotteries and competitions.

You should never have to pay anything to win a prize, eg an administration fee.

You should never have to purchase goods to be entered into a competitions or prize draw.

If you are contacted out of the blue, be suspicious.

Never send money to someone you have not met.

Your bank will never attend your house to ask for your pin, payment card or cheque book telling you that you have been a victim of fraud - nor will they ask for your online banking password.

Genuine companies do not make unsolicited phone calls to help fix your computer.

Consumers can obtain advice and guidance in relation to scams or any other consumer issue from the Citizens Advice helpline, who handle calls for Trading Standards on 03454 040506, or can report scams to Action Fraud on 0300 1232040.

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7

I’m sure everyone has walked passed a homeless person sleeping on the streets on a cold winter’s day and thought how terrible it must be.

Some wonderful people give food and hot drinks and spare time to talk to the homeless person. Over many years I’ve had conversations with friends in Old Moulsham who would like to do more.

Returning home having travelled around the world for the previous 18 months, I was sure I wanted to be more involved in the Old Moulsham community and also see if I could help homeless people.

Within a week or so of being back in England, Brian, a good friend, told me he had to do so something straight away as winter was only a few months away, so we agreed there and then that we would do something. Over the following week or so we had conversations with other friends and Marion told us about the ‘Rucksack Project’.

A week later and we had decided to run the Rucksack Project in Chelmsford. A few more committed people joined us and on 9th October the project went live on Facebook.

The founder of the Rucksack Project is Mathew White and these are his words: “One bitterly cold late November day, I was wandering around the centre of Bristol with the last £12 in my pocket, joining the crowds of Christmas shoppers in their trawl for the usual perfunctory gifts, when I stepped up out of an underpass and my eyes drew level with a cold looking homeless man looking lost among the legs of the well-dressed, warm people in their designer labeled clothes and carrying smart paper store bags walking blindly past them. This stark contrast really struck me given that it was ‘the season of good will’ and yet, these lost souls were ignored while people went about their shopping.

“I’d often popped into a store and picked up a bag of food items and given them to someone in the past, but I wanted to do more.

Like many people, I’d often thought about doing the Christmas soup kitchen thing, but had never taken that step - and then it struck me what I could do.

“I went to my local YMCA charity shop and explained that I wanted to get a rucksack and put in it a sleeping bag, a fleece, a hat, gloves, socks, underwear, a flask that I filled with hot soup, a spoon, some tins of food (with ring pulls) and anything else I could fit in it...

100,000 packs have been given out. The Rucksack Project in Chelmsford already has 230 people attending.

The Project in Chelmsford is being held on Saturday 14th November at the Methodist Church, Hall Street, between 12.00 - 5.00pm.

Please come along with a rucksack for a homeless person. You can join The Rucksack Project Chelmsford Facebook page for further details.

“Words cant express how grateful they were and that is the best damn present I could have given anyone that Christmas.”

Make a Rucksack Pack Making a rucksack pack couldn’t be easier! Go along to your local charity shops and talk to them about what you’re doing. You’ll often find they’re more than happy to either give you items toward a pack or cut the price by half. And remember, by buying items from charity shops, you are also supporting those charities in their fundraising!

The key things to include are: • A large rucksack • A sleeping bag • A woolly hat Saturda y1 • Gloves Novemb 4th • Scarf er at • Underwear the Met h odist • Socks Church, • A fleece Hall Street, • A Thermos flask 1 2 noon • A few tins of soup with - 5pm ringpulls (easy to open)

The Rucksack Project now has 25,000 followers and it’s estimated

By Dan Skeates

“They were amazing and they gave me two full sets for just £6 because they appreciated what I wanted to do. £4 for soup in the supermarket filled both flasks with soup and an extra tin.

“A lovely lady who happened to be in the shop overheard us and asked me to pick out some extra clothes to put in. They charged her just £5 for 4 fleece tops. Buying these items in various charity shops supports not only the homeless people receiving them, but also the great many charities out there raising funds for so many different causes.

“I added some extra food from my cupboard then took them into Bristol where I gave them to ‘Steve’ and his friends who were sleeping rough.

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Have You Ever Heard a Didgeridoo Played?

If you’ve ever heard a didgeridoo played live then you’ll know it’s sound - a drone reminiscent of a bee hive.

The didgeridoo (aka. yidaki and mago) is a traditional instrument of the indigenous people of Australia.

Authentic didgeridoos begin with a tree’s branch or trunk, most commonly eucalyptus. Termites hollow out the soft inner wood. Skilled and experienced people identify the branches with the potential for instruments. They’re then cleaned out, cut to length and finished off. Finished didgeridoos vary greatly in quality. Concert grade instruments fetch sums well into 4 figures - and this isn’t about looks, but rather the quality of the sound and craftsmanship.

There’s an abundance of non-traditional didgeridoos made from bamboo, plastic and cardboard. I’ve made numbers of these and they sound good. I’ve also enjoyed didgeridoos made from denim and cacti!

The didgeridoo is not only heard, there’s more to it than that. Our ears detect frequencies roughly between 20 and 20,000Hz but didgeridoos also emit frequencies below 20hz. This is where things get interesting, it’s the domain of brainwaves, specifically: •

•

•

Alpha (8 - 13Hz): Associated with sleep and light meditation. The frequency helps with relaxation and visualisation.

Theta (4 - 7Hz): Associated with sleep and deep meditation, the optimal range for deep thought and accessing the inner world. The frequency helps with learning and memory. ] Delta (0.5 - 5Hz): Associated with sleep and out of body experiences. This is the realm of healing and profoundly peaceful feelings.

It’s therefore not difficult to see why people find the sound difficult to describe. It’s more than an auditory experience.

It’s relaxing, peaceful, soothing, healing, dreamy and can be invigorating.

There are even credible claims about it alleviating snoring, sleep apnoea, asthma and more. Play a didgeridoo for a sustained period of time, like 30 minutes, and you experience a mood change.

The uninformed will say it’s due to depriving your brain of oxygen, others will say hyperventilating. The reality is better: Proper circular

breathing induces neither oxygen-deprivation nor hyper-ventilation.

I’ve been playing didgeridoo for almost 20 years. Around 3 years ago I began a regular didgeridoo class at the Ideas Hub (1 - 4 Market Square, Chelmsford). They’ve run almost every week since then and are still going strong, though these days I’m not the only teacher. My students are keen enthusiasts and it’s now a regular weekly ‘each one teach one’ session.

Sessions cost £9 (includes a complimentary cuppa) and are suited to complete beginners through to improvers. I have some didgeridoos freely available for them (and for sale), but do bring yours if you have one. I’ll have you droning in minutes and making other sounds soon after. Circular breathing needs practice but you’ll get lots of tips and exercises to get started. Some get it within an hour (though that’s unusual), more likely it’s weeks or months. Drop in to feel the vibes, Saturdays, 1 - 2pm, and have a chat afterwards.

If you’d like more information, contact either: hosts@ ideashubchelmsford.org (or call 07549 693 438) or email me: manoahsmiley@yahoo.co.uk.

One-to-one lessons are also available.

MT Gardening Plants for Free!

easily released from capsules. This week we’ll by ensuring that any loose material (chaff) is cleaned off to avoid rotting the seed and possibly causing damping off when we come to finally sown them.

This is a great time for collecting seed from the garden and it’s so much fun. Key to any success is that seed heads can ripen quickly, so you need to be careful in order to collect them before they ripen.

It takes usually two months from flower to seed production - so this is the time for most perennials.

This week we are going to collect fleshy fruits and berries. These will be mashed through a fine sieve and the pulp rinsed away under cold water. Seed will then be laid out to dry for a few days on paper sheets.

You’ll also need to take care that a small number of seed need to be collected when immature, such as that from the pot marigold (Calendula officinalis) and some produce berries that can be taken by hungry birds - eg, holly (Ilex aquifolium).

For most types, sowing can be delayed until a better time of year and if this is the case - or where you have surplus seed - storage is key.

The most important aspect to consider is that plants must be pest and disease free and vigorous. Also, usually only species ‘come true’ from seed, whereas cultivars (indicated by a part of their plant name in inverted commas; Fuchsia ‘Tom Thumb’) don’t. If you want a copy of these it is best to take stem cuttings at the correct time of the year.

Check out this super link on cuttings: www.rhs.org.uk/about-the-rhs/ publications/magazines/the-garden/2013-issues/april/Successfulcuttings.

At the end of the day, most seed germinates best when seed is sown as they ripen.

For the best results, collect seed on a dry day and as soon as the seed heads are ripe. I find that this is when capsules or pods turn from green to brown or red, but before they shed their contents.

Only this week with my Level 3 RHS Practical students, we collected a huge range of perennials from the grounds of Writtle College. We picked off seed heads mostly on their stalks or singly and popped them straight into paper bags, labelled and dated. They were transferred to trays in a warm cupboard. This ensures that the seed is

• Trees • Pruning • Hedge Trimming • Roots Removed • Topping • Rotovating • Turfing • Fencing • Garden Design • Decking • Patios • Block Paving • Drives • Tar & Shingle Property Maintenance • Roofing • Chimney Repairs • Building Work • Flat roofs • Guttering • Fascias & Soffits Free written quotes and advice 10 year guarantee on all work 25 years experieince

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Follow these simple steps to success: •

•

•

Pop seed in paper packets (labelled and dated) and place in an airtight container. Use silica gel in the container to remove excess moisture. Not removing excess moisture will lead to the seed viability dropping or may cause fungal disease or rotting.

Some of the larger seed must not be allowed to dry out as this can cause poor germination. This week we’ll be collecting oak seed and popping them into a plastic bag with damp vermiculite... Don’t forget to label!

Using a refrigerator set at 5°C (41°F) always works and can keep seed viable for many years.

Good luck and happy gardening!

For any gardening tips, contact Tom Cole, Head of Faculty for Land & Environment, Writtle College, Chelmsford, CM1 3RR by post (including a SAE) or by email at tom.cole@writtle.ac.uk.

Unit 1, The Paddocks, Highwood, Chelmsford, CM1 3PU 10

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Hear Waltham Singers in Chelmsford Cathedral Coming up in the next few weeks are two ideal opportunities to hear local mixed choir, Waltham Singers, in Chelmsford’s wonderful cathedral. On Saturday 21st November at 7.30pm, they will perform Mendelssohn’s popular oratorio, Elijah, which tells the ancient and dramatic story of the Prophet Elihah’s trials against the evil King Ahab and Queen Jezebel.

The story features death, famine, pagan god worship, lynching, fire and earthquakes - and Mendelssohn’s Elijah has the musical dynamics to convey all of this and more! It’s fast-paced, will be sung in English and accompanied by both professional orchestra and voice soloists. Elijah is popular for a reason and this really does promise to be one of the musical highlights of 2015.

On Tuesday 15th December at 7.30pm, Waltham Singers will also be performing at the annual Mencap Carol Concert. As is their style, this wonderful celebratory concert will include a mix of traditional well known carols sung alongside some lesser known - but no less compelling works, and with the proceeds going to the worthy Mencap cause, what more excuse do you need for some seasonal cheer?

Waltham Singers have a reputation for high-quality music and they’d love you to support them by coming to their concerts. More information can be found on walthamsingers.org.uk. Tickets are available via this website, or from Jenny Tait (01245 467588), from James Dace & Son Ltd (22 Broomfield Road, Chelmsford), from any choir member or on the door at each concert.

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11

Run Like Ussain Bolt!

Let me start off by saying I have been developing the speed of young athletes for many years now and during that time have been privileged enough to work with some very talented and committed individuals from the academy sides of many Premier League football clubs.

The three most common mistakes I have witnessed during this time are highlighted below. To be honest, I have a whole load more I coulda, woulda, shoulda included but I wanted to keep the article quite light hearted and not too technical. With that in mind, please enjoy and don’t hesitate to get in touch and book your free trial session!

1. NOT ALLOWING ENOUGH RECOVERY TIME BETWEEN ACTIVITIES All too often I see coaches asking their athletes to perform repetition after repetition of sprints safe in the knowledge that practice makes perfect. The sad truth is that performing lots of repeated sprints will not improve speed at all as the body needs time to recover between runs. If the body does not have adequate recovery time, waste products begin to accumulate and the session soon descends into a conditioning session as opposed to a speed session. As a rough guide (and I do stress this a rough guide) I work on a work/rest ratio of 1:5 or 1:6. So if a particular drill takes 5 seconds to complete, the athlete will then have a rest of at least 30 seconds or so (if not longer) before performing again.

2. THE OVERUSE OR OVER EMPHASIS ON SPEED LADDERS Now don’t get me wrong, I use speed ladders regularly and they have proved very successful, particularly at improving running technique and also at cutting down on ground contact time (the length of time that each foot is in contact with the ground). But my biggest bugbear comes when I see coaches spending too much focusing on drills which bear more relevance to Riverdance than any sporting movement. Not only that, but if the ladders are too long, they can actually distort natural stride length. Have a look next time you see someone using a speed ladder, by the time they are nearing the end of it, having built up plenty of momentum, they actually end up cutting the stride length so that in fits within the spaces of the ladder and looks like they are stuttering as opposed to anything akin to running. To combat these issues I keep most of my ladder drills pretty basic and do not get caught up in getting my athletes to perform fancy drills. I also use a range of different length ladders with many being just 4, 5 or 6 rungs in length.

Thanks for reading, and please get in touch to book your free trial session!

Matt. matt@mlrpt.co.uk 07939 316 401 www.mlrpt.co.uk

Tapping for Children in Need On Sunday 15th November, dancers will be putting on their tap shoes and tapping for Children in Need, taking part in the 2015 Tapathon.

Organised by the Performers Project, the Tapathon is now in its 5th year and has raised tens of thousands of pounds for Children in Need.

In 2014 just over 7000 tappers from across the UK took part.

This year the mission is to smash the world record for the greatest number of dancers tapping the same routine at the same time in multiple venues, while raising money for Children in Need and having a lot of fun along the way.

Among them will be tappers from Footwork Dance School based in Old Moulsham. The Footwork tappers will be joining forces with dancers from Kelvedon Dance Studio at the V Dance Studio at SpringHealth.

Rehearsals are well underway learning this year’s routine to Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson with Bruno Mars.

To find out more about the Tapathon or to find out about how to join a class or group, contact Jean Hunter at: www.dancejeanious.com.

3. FOCUSING ON LEAD LEG QUICKNESS I often hear coaches telling their athletes to get their feet down quick, which seems to make perfect sense. After all we want to be moving fast and it is a cue I use myself from time to time if I see an athlete spending too much time ‘in the air’. However it can make some athletes ‘wheel spin’, in that their feet are ‘turning over’ really quickly but they are not actually moving any real distance. To counter act this I ask my athletes to lift the knee of their lead leg just a little higher (whilst leaning forward) so that the stance leg or back leg reaches triple extension (a straight leg) or at least somewhere closer to it.

4. EXPECTING YOUNG ATHLETES TO BECOME SUPERSTARS. Yes, I know I said 3 most common mistakes, but I thought I’d slip in a fourth - and perhaps it’s the biggest mistake of all...

From time to time some coaches expect their athletes to become Olympic and world champions. Heck, for that to happen they’d probably have to be on drugs. (Note that I included the word probably in the previous sentence just to ward off any possible legal action from the ever decreasing number of current or former Olympic and world champions who have not either failed a drug test or been implicated in a drug scandal). But seriously though, expecting massive improvements in speed is a recipe for disaster.

Yes speed training, if done correctly, will boost performance but it won’t make a slow athlete a world beater. Yes it will make them faster - a lot faster - but it won’t make them the next Ussain Bolt!

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Quiz Time - General Knowlege (Answers on Page 31) Firstly apologies for an error in last month’s answers: The Peculiar People’s Chapel is in Grove Road, not Hall Street.

1. What is triskaidekaphobia?

2. What were the names of Keith Harris’s dummies?

3. Which year did University Challenge start?

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

We are working with Chelmsford Talking Newspaper to have the Moulsham Times recorded each month.

You will be able to listen to a copy on our website or use their cassette or usb stick service.

4. What happens at Hyde Hall?

5. What is Akimbo?

6. What fruit is used to make Perry?

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

7. What does an Apiarist do?

8. What are Elvers?

9. Wyatt **** - US lawman in Wild West?

10. Where on your body is your tubercle?

11. Bridget Jones star - Renee *********?

12. What is a contusion?

13. What is Pi? 14. What is the last letter of the Greek alphabet?

15. How many pints are there in a gallon?

16. What is Nacre?

17. Which US boxer is connected to grilles?

18. Give another name for a large orange gourd 19. Which country makes the Alfa Romeo car?

20. In which sea is the island of Malta?

21. What is the opposite of Arctic?

22. How many players are there in a hockey team?

23. What is cochineal?

24. What is The Angel of The North?

25. Who was the old lady in Coronation Street who wore a hairnet?

By John Theedom www.moulshamtimes.com

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MT Baking by Alison Motley

This month I thought I’d talk about pastry, an area of baking that fills some people with fear, but it really shouldn’t. It’s easy to buy ready made pastry, which is great when you are too busy or tired to make your own, but there is nothing like giving home made pastry a go.

You can’t beat the taste and texture of buttery home made pastry, and the sense of achievement when it comes out of the oven - risen, golden and crisp - is well worth the effort.

Shortcrust is the easiest pastry to master and is great for savoury and sweet pies and tarts. Rough puff and flaky are still easy if a little more time consuming, and their light flaky layers are ideal for sausage rolls, cream slices and Eccles cakes. ‘Proper’ puff is the holy grail of pastry making. It requires man-handling a whole block of butter and a few hours in the kitchen but the result - layer upon layer of puffed golden pastry is second to none. If you’re a novice pastry maker, start with shortcrust and work your way up.

To reduce the pastry fear factor there are 5 simple rules to stick to that will ensure that you have pastry you are proud of. The only pastry these rules don’t apply to are choux and hot water crust, both of which are made by completely different methods.

Rule 1 is to keep everything cold - the kitchen, the fat, the water and your hands if possible! Fat should be used straight from the fridge, and water should be chilled - I keep a bottle of water in the fridge just for pastry. If you tend to have hot hands, run them under cold water first and then dry them, or consider buying a wire pastry cutter for rubbing the fat into the flour - you won’t be able to use this for flaky or puff pastry, but it works really well for shortcrust and can also be used for crumbles and rubbed in method cakes. Some bakers swear by chilling the flour in the fridge first too - my fridge isn’t really big enough, but by all means give it a go.

Rule 2 is to measure everything carefully, as ratios are extremely important in pastry making. Too much water produces a sticky dough resulting in rock hard pastry, too much fat and your pastry will be greasy and soft.

Rule 3 is not to over handle the pastry - gentle rolling is the order of the day. The less you handle the dough, the crisper the pastry.

Rule 4 is to make sure your oven is preheated and at the correct temperature, because pastry needs to go into a hot oven. To prevent the dreaded ‘soggy bottom’ effect, use a metal pie or tart dish and slide this onto a preheated baking tray.

Last but not least, give the dough a chance to relax and chill out (literally!) for 30 minutes in the fridge after you have made it - and chill your prepared pastry again for a good 20 minutes before baking.

This will prevent the pastry shrinking when it goes in the oven and gives you time to make a cuppa!

I haven’t given a recipe for pastry here as there are tons to choose from. Instead search for one that you find easy to understand, allow yourself plenty of time and give it a go. Alternatively, pop to the shops and grab a packet of ready-made, I certainly won’t judge you.

These individual pies are simple to make and even simpler to eat and would be great to hand round warm at a bonfire party. I used rough puff (homemade in case you’re wondering) but shortcrust or flaky would work just as well.

Toffee Apple Hand Pies (Makes approx. 6 depending on size...)

500g pastry, chilled 3 large apples, peeled, cored and chopped 50g butter 1 tablespoon Demerara sugar 1 teaspoon mixed spice 50g sultanas 50g toffee 40g flaked almonds 1 egg, beaten Icing sugar (optional) 1. Melt butter in a small pan, add apple, sugar and spices and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes until softened. Leave to cool.

2. Meanwhile, toast the flaked almonds in a dry frying pan over a low heat until just starting to colour. Remove from the heat immediately and mix into the apple.

3. Using a rolling pin break the toffee into small fragments and add to the apple with the sultanas and mix together.

4. Roll the pastry on a lightly floured surface to the thickness of a £1 coin. Cut out an equal number of discs using a cookie cutter or by cutting round a jar.

5. Spoon the apple mixture into the centre of half of the pastry discs. Brush the edges of these discs with beaten egg.

6. Top each pie with an empty pastry disc and press down the edges with a fork to seal.

7. Preheat oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6.

8. Chill the pies for 20 minutes.

9. Brush the pies with beaten egg and make 3 small slashes in the top of each with a knife.

10. Transfer pies to a baking tray and bake for 20 minutes until golden. Sprinkle with icing sugar.

I would love to hear from readers with anything baking related!

Drop me an email at motleybakes@aol.com, or take a look at www. motleybakes.co.uk.

Teaching Children How to Cook Could Be the Answer to a Healthier Lifestyle

At the beginning of this year, Public Health England reported that one in three children in the UK are now overweight, while one in five is obese. The lack of exercise and availability of convenience foods and takeaways has led to a growing concern about unhealthy weight gain in our children that is shared

by PM David Cameron, who has recruited TV chef Jamie Oliver to help draw up plans for an offensive against child obesity.

Alarmed by these statistics and the potential health issues caused by obesity, alongside a passion for eating healthy food, preparing food in healthy ways, and a strong belief that ‘we are what we eat’, Essex based Christine Durrant founded Chelmsford’s Taste Buddies Cooking School for primary school children. Experience has shown her that learning to cook not only improves a child’s recognition of healthier foods, but if they have prepared something they are unfamiliar with, they are more likely to want to eat it, or at least try it.

Christine appreciates that for many families, the pressures of modern living means parents have less time to spend cooking meals for the family at home and even less time to cook with their children. This has led to our children having a lack of basic food knowledge.

It may seem unbelievable, but a recent British survey found that almost a third of the country’s primary school children thought cheese was made from plants and a quarter thought fish fingers came from chicken or pigs.

The poll, conducted by the British Nutrition Foundation, surveyed about 27,500 children aged between five and sixteen years and found there was also some confusion about where pasta and bread came from. ‘A third of five-to-eight-year-olds believe that pasta and bread are made from meat’, reported the BBC. As well as increasing food knowledge and helping to create healthy eating habits, cooking with children has other associated benefits. One of the most satisfying things to see at the Taste Buddies activities is an improvement in a child’s self-confidence and self-esteem by preparing and cooking something themselves of which they are really proud.

Christine says: “If you think about it, cooking requires hands-on use of maths concepts, planning, thinking, and time management.

Without realising it, the children are sometimes having a history, geography and science lesson too!”

Taste Buddies’ activities are delivered in a professional kitchen in Chelmsford with a 5/5 rating for hygiene and provides a safe and fun environment where the children are encouraged to develop their creativity. This can be through one of their half-day Half-Term Workshops, After School Workshops and Holiday Clubs from one to five days duration, or through having a Cooking Birthday Party with a number of different themes to choose from, both savoury and sweet.

Christine says: “There will always be a place in our activities for sweet treats, but it’s about balance. I believe that by raising awareness in children of the food they eat and where the ingredients come from as well as preparing and cooking them, they will utimately take a greater interest in their diet and eating healthily.” www.moulshamtimes.com

Whilst Taste Buddies cooking workshops and clubs focus on good food and hands-on cooking, together with informative teaching, they also want those attending their various activities to have plenty of fun too. This is never more present than in their popular half-term workshops, ‘Batty about Halloween’ and ‘Crackers about Christmas’ where the children produce a variety of seasonal treats.

The facilitators of the cooking school’s activities are all DBS checked and some are trained primary school teachers. It is in this environment that Taste Buddies work hard to give the children an appreciation of good food and the benefits of using fresh ingredients, which could be the answer to a healthier lifestyle, not only preparing them for the future, but also helping them to develop a valuable life skill. www.tastebuddiescookingschool.co.uk Unit 4 Eckersley Road (Off Regina Road), Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1SL Tel: 01787 238327/07748 637784 Email: tastebuddies@mail.com 15

A Shot in the Arm for Tailor-made Trading

Local councils will be given control of business rates in a complete overhaul of the system, chancellor George Osborne has revealed.

Speaking at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester this month, Osborne said councils will be allowed to retain the £26billion raised through tax each year and will be able to set their own rates. Under the current system, councils collect business rates and send them to Whitehall. Central government takes a cut and then redistributes the rest back to local authorities.

Speaking to fashion indies across the country, I am all too aware that this has been a major grievance for them in some of the country’s most affluent and active communities. Not only is the method of calculating business rates antiquated and no longer fit for purpose, but the money gathered doesn’t even stay in the local community.

Many retailers in Chelmsford’s thriving independent retail scene will welcome the news that the money they pay will, at the very least, return to their community and hopefully be put to good use.

Retailing has never been an easy option but the fashion sector especially faces a number of challenges, not least the production of fast-fashion, the impact which online trading has had on customer loyalty and the expectation of a discount throughout the season.

The discount culture is a hot topic and one on which I delivered a presentation to buyers during last August’s trade show season in London.

With Chelmsford’s Bond Street shopping centre now on the horizon, there has never been a better time for small retailers to pay attention to that magic ingredient when it comes to competing in the retail marketplace.

Many of the most successful retailers I speak to cite a point of difference as the key to retaining market share. What reason are you giving your customer to buy that tweed jacket from you, rather than from the high street multiple who is offering the same item, or a comparable one, at a 20% discount? Added value, customer service, well sourced rarities and quality investment pieces are all the well worn phrases which constitute an indies’ arsenal in tackling the publicly owned retail giants.

My work with the Fashion Association of Britain (FAB) has unearthed some truths about the retail success stories in the UK. One of these nuggets of wisdom is that indies do not generally thrive in isolation.

Interdependence and campaigns, such as the Norwich Lanes or St Albans Fashion Week, testify to how a united group of retailers - from both sides of the public/private divide - can benefit mutually be working together. A case in point is Sunday trading - a topic which elicits varied reactions! Irrespective of where you stand on the issue, the truth is that a spectacular shop which is open to trade on a Sunday is only as good as the street’s footfall. Ergo, if six retailers are open, then there is a greater pull on customers to spend time there.

Moulsham Street is a stellar example of how retailers can benefit from pulling in the same direction and bringing some continuity to their trading.

Let’s hope that this localised approach to business rates marks the start of more local collaboration and results in more tailor-made trading for the CM district.

Melissa Wheeler is a freelance fashion writer, fashion PR and also the retail columnist for the Fashion Association of Britain (FAB).

Alongside her fashion PR business, Melissa contributes to fashion industry trade titles on behalf of retailers and brands alike. @MelissavWheeler www.melissawheeler.co.uk melissavwheeler@gmail.co.uk

Experience the Feel Good Factor Did you know there are many lions in Essex? Not just in cage number 27 at Colchester Zoo either, they run wild in Chelmsford too. Chelmsford Lions Club is part of the Worldwide organisation, Lions International, whose motto, ‘we serve’ roughly translates as ‘we volunteer’. The club is open to all community-minded people at any stage in their lives who may be looking to broaden their social lives and get involved in an exciting range of community and charity projects. The idea of the club is simple - to have an amazing time while helping others, with much of the fundraising done around social activities. The club has no political or religious affiliations and is simply there for all to enjoy - and of course, we have a busy social calendar of events too.

Chelmsford Lions meet twice a month, once for a business meeting (sometimes down the pub) and again for a social, which could be a meal out, snooker, bowling or anything else the members fancy trying (a brewery trip is planned for the new year). Additionally, there are many other events going on which include those organised by other Lions clubs, such as beer festivals, quizzes or the club’s annual birthday parties (or ‘charters’), or the club’s own events, such as our sell-out Night of Magic, held in the summer.

Chelmsford Lions Club was originally formed in 1969 and rapidly became involved in the local community, raising funds to support mainly local causes and providing hands on services to those in need, in the way of transport, gardening and decorating. Nowadays, the club is probably best known in Chelmsford for the ‘carol sleigh’, on which Father Christmas visits the residential areas of the city and the city centre, spreading festive cheer while collecting for a range of good causes. Since its beginnings in 1980, the sleigh has raised more than £125,000 and given pleasure to many thousands of children. It has become a bit of a local institution since its humble beginnings on the back of a trailer in 1980. During door-to-door collections it is not unusual for people to say ‘I remember you coming round when I was a child’. This year, we will be revealing a new sleigh, so keep an eye out from early December onwards.

More recently we’ve been forging ties with other local organisations and events, supporting them in a number of ways to meet their needs.

Three members headed to Brecon Beacons in the summer for three days worth of mountain biking, canoeing and gorge walking in aid of the

British Red Cross. Pleshey village celebrated its connection with the signing of the Magna Carta in the summer and Lions were there helping make the weekend a success. We have also been involved in race marshalling a number local events, including the Js Hospice Marathon and Cycle for J’s, and the Race for Business for Age UK. Far from just being a local club however, Chelmsford Lions is a part of the largest service organisation in the world. Lions International has clubs in more than 208 countries across the world and 1.35 million volunteers. Among its many achievements since its formation in 1917 in Chicago, USA, the Lions have been responsible for introducing the white stick, the universally recognised aid used by the blind. Clubs also contribute towards the Lions Clubs International Foundation, an aid agency that is at the forefront of major disasters, including the recent Nepal earthquakes. A Lions supported charity, Sightsavers, has just been featured on Channel 4’s Hidden World programme showing how their work throughout Africa and India has changed the lifes of countless people with curable blindness. Great work that perhaps the organisation should roar louder about. There is a huge amount of satisfaction knowing that you are part of a fantastic organisation that has made such a difference to so many lives throughout the world.

The club is always keen to encourage community-minded people to come along and join in our fun. Recently badged-up member Andrea Cooper explains: “My children are both now at school, so Lions came along just at the right time for me. The carol float at Christmas is my favourite event as it is such a heart-warming experience, as people were so pleased to see us and gave so generously. I really enjoyed our recent wine tasting social evening and have been made to feel really welcome”.

If you fancy joining in with our hectic social calendar, taking an active part in your local community while helping others in need, Lions is the club for you. See www.chelmsfordlionsclub.org.uk, find us on Facebook under Chelmsfordlionsclub, or contact Tracey on 07940 718821, or Dave on 01245 354755 for more information.

£799

Essex Rock Histories: Eddie and the Hot Rods by John Power As if Canvey Island hadn’t already done enough for rock music by producing Dr Feelgood, there was more to come when Barrie Masters changed his name to ‘Eddie’ and guitarist Dave Higgs - who had been in a band with Lee Brilleaux called The Fix - gathered a group around him that they called The Hot Rods. The rest of the lineup originally consisted of a second guitarist, Pete Wall, with Rob Steel on bass and Steve Nicol on drums - in 1975 they played R&B covers much like the Feelgoods had to begin with, but that soon developed into the fast paced high energy sound that they became famous for.

and the boys set of on European tours, four US tours and a host of English gigs and festival appearances. In the US, the band have been thought of as punks since their first stateside tour and in 2009 they produced the New York Live album. Their early pub rock days are acknowledged as an influence on punk - despite the early punch up with the Sex Pistols. In 2012 they backed Status Quo on tour. Sadly Dave Higgs died in 2013 of multiple cancers. In May 2014 there was a memorial gig for him with Warren Kennedy taking his place alongside Masters, Gray, Nicol and Douglas.

Later in 1975, they gained themselves a residency in Kensington thanks to their Feelgood friends, they then got a joint residency at the Nashville. By the end of ‘75 they had been signed by Island Records.

The band had been joined by Lew Lewis and Paul Gray replaced Rob Steel on bass as they became well established on the lively pub rock circuit. Punk rock was just around the corner and they were supported at the Marquee by The Sex Pistols, who already regarded them as old fashioned. The gig ended up in a fight, with the Hot Rods’ equipment getting trashed. Later, pub rock was credited as the precursor of punk, but these were early days for a new generation of rockers. The Marquee Club management were not so fast to change horses and gave them a fortnightly residency alternating with AC/DC, which produced an EP (extended play 45 disc), Live at the Marquee and a single, Teenage Depression, became a Top 20 hit.

2015, and the original(ish) lineup - minus the late Dave Higgs, but including Graeme Douglas - reformed to play the a memorial gig on Canvey Island, in honour of Dave Higgs and this led to the idea for that lineup to do a small tour of key venues for the 40th Anniversary (also in honour of Dave Higgs) whose place in the lineup was to be taken by Richard Hogarth. The regular lineup remains Barrie Masters, Simon Bowles, Ian Dean, Richard Hogarth and Chris Taylor. There have been twenty other members over the years, who have created eight studio albums, five live albums, ten compilations, fourteen singles, and two EPs.

The Teenage Depression LP also made it into the album charts. Then came another EP in 1977, Live at the Speed of Sound, on which Graeme Douglas (from The Kursaal Flyers) played live on one track and improvised spontaneous overdubs on the other tracks. From then on Graeme became the second guitarist with Higgs, although not without contractual problems with CBS, who he had signed with as a member of the Kursaals.

In 1977, the year of the punk explosion, the group took their high energy pub rock to the Rainbow Theatre where they headlined, and played five consecutive nights at the Marquee Club. They also toured the US for a month with The Ramones and Talking Heads and recorded with Rob Tyner of the MC5 (Rob Tyner and the Hot Rods) while they were there.

Graeme Douglas penned a top ten hit for them - Do Anything You Wanna Do - in the summer of ‘77 in time for the Reading Festival and before a November/December US tour. They released a very successful album, Life On The Line, in the same year. The group had their name shortened to The Rods by mistake or without consultation by their record company for the Do Anything You Wanna Do single, and many DJs thought it was a separate group. They split with Island Records in 1979 and were then signed to EMI by the end of that year for an album they called Fish and Chips. Paul Gray left in 1980 to join punk outfit, The Damned and was briefly replaced by Tony Cranney before they split up in 1981... For the first time.

At first after 1981, Barrie Masters joined The Inmates and Steve Nicol joined One the Juggler. In 1984 Barrie and Steve reformed the Hot Rods with Tony Cranney back on bass and a new guitarist in the shape of Warren Kennedy. That lineup produced a single, Fought for You and a mini live LP, One Story Town... They split up again in’85.

In 1992 Masters, Higgs, Nicol and Gray reformed for a European tour.

Then Higgs was replaced by Steve Walway, who had been playing with Dr Feelgood. Gorden Russell, also from the Feelgoods and Mick Rodgers from Manfred Mann’s Earth Band briefly became members.

In 1994 they recorded the album, Gasoline Days, but it wasn’t released until 1996. Several more band member changes followed, with ‘Madman’ Keyo and Jess Phillip taking turns in the lineup.

By 2005 all the pub rockers were bald or grey, with beer bellies and punks had reached a similar age, but the group rode a wave of nostalgia as they embarked on a 30th Anniversary Tour. They also released the Better Late than Never album and a still energetic Eddie

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Christ Church - New London Road

Exciting things are happening at Christ Church in New London Road; a Light Party (an alternative to Halloween) on October 31st, a Christmas card session on November 21st, making cards for local residents, and a film afternoon on December 21st. So why are all these events happening? Well, the church recently appointed a family and community Worker - Caroline Brown. This was made possible by a bequest from Irene Underhill who died in 2014, aged 104.

Throughout her life, Irene devoted much of her time to helping young people at Christ Church. Now Caroline is going to carry on that work with today’s youngsters and their families. You see, God really does answer prayer.

On Sunday 25th October Caroline took part in a special church service to commission her in her new role. She will also work with other churches in the Moulsham area, in particular, St John’s and Our Lady Immaculate.

Even more events are planned for 2016, including Messy Church with food, games and activities - and yes, sometimes it gets pretty messy.

To join in, or find out more about Christ Church, contact them on 01245 354529, or follow them on Facebook - they’d love to hear your comments.

www.moulshamtimes.com

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MT Therapy by Jenny Hartill

Last time I wrote about the father of psychology, Sigmund Freud and his work in the area of psychodynamic theory. This month I’ll introduce you all to - in my opinion - one of the most interesting figures in psychology. Although she also claimed to work in the same area as Freud (psychodynamic), this was heavily disputed by some psychotherapists - namely Anna Freud (yep, Sigmund Freud’s daughter) leading to something very interesting happening during WW2 - The Controversial Discussions. These were a protracted series of ‘Scientific Meetings’ of the British Psychoanalytical Society which took place between October 1942 and February 1944 between the Viennese school and the supporters of Melanie Klein.

They led to a tripartite division of training in the society after the war with the three groups of Kleinians, Anna Freudians and the Middle (or, later Independent) Group. In these sessions the differences between ‘classical’ Freudian analysis and newer Kleinian theory were argued with considerable vehemence. The Freudian side was principally represented by Anna Freud, who was resistant to the revisions of theory and method proposed by Klein as a result of her work as an analyst of young children. These three groups still exist today and to be honest after reading some of Klein’s theory when I was training, I can see why Anna Freud was so concerned about Klein’s work. I will explain some of Klein’s theory but I warn you, some of this stuff really isn’t for the faint hearted so i’ve been very picky about what I’ve included. I wrote last week about Freud’s psychosexual stages, well Klein took this to a whole different level.

I’ve read her work and frankly, I’d pay very good money to go back in time and be a fly on the wall at the Controversial Discussions.

Pretty much everything Klein wrote about to do with child psychology, Klein linked to sex. I mean, seriously, the most mundane or sweet and innocent thing a child said to her she linked to sex. I actually did some research into Klein’s life myself because I remember thinking that nobody links psychology and kids to sex this much unless there’s something pretty extraordinary going on in their life. I wasn’t disappointed. Here’s a quick run down: She was youngest of four children. Her much loved elder sister died at the age of eight when Klein was four. Klein’s brother also died and she was made to feel responsible for her brother’s death.

Her academic studies were interrupted by marriage and children. Her marriage failed therefore she was a divorced young woman in the early 20th century. This was not a good look back then.

Her son died in a climbing accident that may have been a suicide.

Her daughter, whom Klein had analysed as a child, (now a well known psychoanalyst called Melitta Schmideberg), fought her openly in the British Psychoanalytical Society. Her daughter’s analyst at the time, Edward Glover, also openly challenged Klein in the British Society meetings.

Mother and daughter were not reconciled before Klein’s death, and Schmideberg did not attend Klein’s funeral.

As a divorced woman whose academic qualifications did not even include a bachelor’s degree, Klein was a visible iconoclast within a profession dominated by male physicians.

Taking the last point, when I was researching Klein I did wonder at times whether some of her theories were designed to cause a stir. If you want to do your own research go ahead, Melanie Klein is absolutely fascinating, although I recommend that you prepare yourself before reading some of her early work. She was pretty out there...

Anyway, lets have a look at a theory she is renowned for because she is considered a co-founder. This is Object Relations Theory. Enjoy:

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Klein describes the child’s psyche as being etched harshly and defiantly - ruthlessly acquisitive in it’s thrust for survival, fiercely propelled by bodily life and oral impulses to extract all life giving energy and sustenance able to give from the mother. Klein developed Object Relations Theory concentrating on early relationships (primarily in the family) and the client’s issues relating to intimacy, identity and dependency. The object refers to a person. Relations refers to the interpersonal relationships and suggests it is the residues of past relationships that affect a person in the present.

Klein said we are relationship seeking organisms rather than just pleasure seeking as Freud suggested.

She believed in observing children as well as treating them, she was much more about using psychoanalysis as a preventative therapy rather than just curative, so she believed in observing and interpreting children’s behaviour because it would give us a good indication of the relationship issues that they may suffer from in the future - but if treated now may be prevented. For example, she believed her son suffered with intellectual inhibition (slow at learning things but not through lack of intelligence) and she wanted to prevent later pathology from this by making him aware and treating him asap.

Below is a brief outline of the main concepts in Object Relations Theory: Object: A person, usually the mother, that is the target of relational human needs in a person’s development, a part object is a part of a person so for example the breast. An external object is an ‘actual’ object, so a place or thing the client has emotional investment in - for example, a favourite teddy bear. An internal object is a memory, idea or fantasy about a person, place or thing. Their representation of something.

Representation: The way the client owns or possesses the object.

Introjection/Internalisation: internalising good things develops ego strength for the infant. Internalising bad things causes anxiety and fear.

Self: The internal image, how you see yourself.

Self-Representation: How you see yourself in relation to others.

Self-Object: Distinction between the object and the self is blurred, this is due to loss of boundaries.

Object Constancy: Maintaining a lasting relationship with a person (object) or rejecting any replacement for them.

Splitting: An object cannot be seen as both good and bad, so the client (child) will split the object into good or bad and concentrate on one of them.

Self-Psychology: The client deals with objects as if they were part of the self or the object performs an essential function of the self.

Narcissism plays a central role in this type of thinking because one of the symptoms of narcissism is that they would have problems distinguishing the self from others and a lack of psychological awareness.

Object Relations Theory states that although the self that is formed from our early relationships is not set in stone and can be modified (with therapy and a lot of effort!), our basic tendency is to seek out others that will reaffirm our early self-object relationships. The more traumatic our early experiences are, the more resistant we are to change. Klein refers to our ‘life play’ where the summary has been written in our early years and we are still seeking ‘co-stars’ to play the necessary roles. Therefore dysfunctional behaviour is also seen as a way of resolving early dramas by ‘acting them out’.

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

www.moulshamtimes.com

Success and Personal Power

If you have been reading my articles over the past months, you will recognise that coaching is very much about creating successful change. Success, as you know comes in all shapes and sizes and there are many intervening factors that can determine your levels of achievement. This month, I am going to discuss one of the most important factors that can govern your chances of achieving success - personal power.

When you think about the word ‘power’ what kind of things come to your mind? Power means different things to different people, but it will often conjure up negative images of dominance, or aggression and of course, the other sides of those coins - fear and inferiority. It is quite easy to view power in a negative way, but it should be remembered that power can also be positive and used for the good.

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Personal power is good power. I define it as the degree of influence and control you believe you have over your life circumstances. It is an internal matter, based upon your levels of self-confidence and competence. It defines your ability to master yourself, your inner existence, through growing levels of self-awareness. With growth comes selfmastery, allowing you to live your life on your terms. it is not coercive, manipulative, or fear-based. It is not about controlling others.

Personal power is natural and gracious; it provides you with the knowledge that you always have a degree of choice - the power to choose the right path for you.

Personal power is also very much an attitude, providing an innate sense of wellness and self-reliance. For those of you who already access your personal power, it is probably not something that you give too much thought to, because it feels like a natural internal wellspring of resourcefulness. If, on the other hand, you have negative feelings about your life circumstances or maybe you feel constantly angry or frustrated about life, then it may be time to take steps to claim that which is rightfully yours.

The first step is recognising that things can be different. If you are feeling any of the negative feelings described above, or perhaps you are experiencing a sense of feeling trapped, or maybe you just want to rev up your existing internal resources, then the time to start reclaiming what is rightfully yours is now!

Over the coming months I will be showing you how you can STOP living your life with uncertainty and fear and START living with more freedom and choice than you ever believed possible. It all starts with self-awareness, which will be the topic of my next article. For those of you that would like to get a head start, make a habit of doing the following exercise at the end of every day:

In a quiet moment just before you go to sleep, review your day from start to finish. Make a mental note of how your day went. Focus particularly on any decisions, or choices that you made and any strong emotions that you experienced. Do not judge yourself on them, just review and consider them - then let them go! More on this next month.

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

07936 198651

Wine Corner

Hello everybody, hope you are OK, I won’t mention the weather today.

Dark mornings on the way though, walking to the paper shop today and the outside lights started to go on. A sure sign that winter is close.

Shirley Shiraz has been writing for me again. This time in the north east of France bordering Belgium, in the departments of Aube, Ardennes, Haute-Marne and Marne.

“We arrived at the Hotel Le Magny in the village of Ricey (Les Riceys includes three villages Ricey-Bas, Ricey-Haute-Rive and Ricey-Haut) on a bright sunny evening and met the rest of our group. Our guide, Mark, gave us a short talk about the area. He explained that in the 1970s it was discovered that the soil in the region was particularly good for growing the grapes used in champagne making. Small farmers started planting vineyards and generally sold the juice they produced to the larger vineyards further north. However, they realised they could actually make champagne themselves so they started

their own labels. The vineyards in this area are small, but they do produce very good champagne.

“The next morning, we walked to the village of Gye-Sur-Seine and met Jean Josselin. It was slightly unusual, as Jean’s family has been producing champagne since 1854. He explained they grow three grape varieties - Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay.

We toured his premises and he explained the various stages of the process: After harvest, the first fermentation takes place, this is the alcoholic fermentation when the grape juice turns into wine. The second fermentation takes place around February time and this is the malolactic fermentation - this changes malic acid into lactic acid and avoids the wine transforming inside the bottle and adds complexity to the wine. Before the bottling in June or July, he makes three rackings where they slowly turn the bottle to eliminate any deposits and filter the wine. This process is all mechanised now, using gyropalettes and 504 bottles are turned at once.

“After 8 - 10 days, the sediment has slid down into the neck of the bottle; this is called riddling. The next process is disgorging, which involves the champagne bottle being kept upside down while the neck is frozen in an ice-salt bath. The cap is then removed and the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas forces out the frozen wine containing the plug of frozen wine, leaving clear champagne.

“At this point the dosage (a mixture of white wine, brandy and sugar) is added to adjust the sweetness level and fill up the bottle. The bottle is then corked and the cork wired down to secure the high internal pressure of the carbon dioxide.

value!

“I had never realised that Champagne was made from red grapes, although Pinot Noir does have white juice. I also now know that Blanc de Blanc (literally white wine from white grapes) is made purely from Chardonnay.

If you are ever in this region, I would recommend a visit to Jean Josselin, I am sure you won’t be disappointed!”

Jonny here, I have been, you know... thinking again. I watch a lot of quizzes on television and on one of them, they ask questions and often the host explains that we will wait until after the commercial break before we know the outcome. All the audience sigh, but surely they don’t have to watch commercials in the studio do they, so what difference does it make to them? On another show after the first round, one couple are eliminated, so at the end of the first round they disappear. How do they clear them out so quickly, where do they go, is it painful? I don’t know. Lastly, I presume the chasers on the Chase are well paid. How come they can only afford one suit of clothes?

“Unfortunately, the next day it was pouring with rain, so our morning walk was cancelled. We did, however, visit the Eglise Saint JeanBaptiste in Chaource instead. Part of the church dates back to the 12th century, with the remaining part being 16th century. I am not particularly interested in churches, but this one was exceptional and well worth a visit, especially the Chapel of the Sepulchre which has an outstanding sculpture of the entombment of Jesus.

“We then continued our trip by visiting Roland Chardin in AvireyLingey for a further champagne tasting. He showed us around his domaine and how some processes took place before mechanisation. It was extremely interesting and very obvious how labour intensive the old processes were! Again, the champagne was extremely good and very good value for money.

“The visit to Roland Chardin concluded the champagne part of our trip and the next day we moved on to the Chablis region”.

Bin end conundrum (for a change).

You are on a long walk and get lost. On approaching a fork in the road, you are wondering which road to take when you spot two locals standing by the fork. You ask which way you should go and they explain that you should be careful as one always tells the truth and the other always tells lies, but they would not tell which was which.

You are only allowed one question (by the way, like all of these things, I have no clue why this is the case)! What question could you ask to ensure that you definitely find out which fork to take? Answer on page 30.

“Jean Josselin makes seven dfferent varieties of champagne, of which we sampled four. His Cuvee Des Jeans has won a gold medal from des Vignerons Independants 2012 and other awards both Keep calm and carry on drinking (in moderation). national and international and at €16.60 a bottle is exceptional 22

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Rotary a Week of Contrasts

There is a tremendous range of events and projects with which Rotary is engaged and this was amply highlighted this past week for me when I was personally involved with two totally different offerings.

On Monday I presented a cheque for £1150 to Lancaster School.

The money was raised through the Big Quiz I organised in the summer, but what with gathering in the proceeds and school holidays, this was the earliest opportunity to pass over the cash.

Lancaster School is a special needs school caring for children between the ages of 14 and 19 who suffer from very severe disabilities. Some are in wheelchairs, some have neurological impairments and some have complex physical and medical conditions, but they and their parents and siblings get on with their lives. The staff at the school are fantastic. I don’t know how they do it and it is a humbling experience.

As part of the cheque ceremony the head teacher, Melanie Hall, organised a karaoke session which was led by individual pupils whilst several more joined in with dancing to the music. It was just wonderful to see the joy on the faces of all the children. The money raised will go towards the school’s garden which helps learning about plants and wildlife, so will be a valuable asset.

I have written previously about Thriftwood School which caters for youngsters with learning difficulties in Chelmsford. This was, in fact, the largest ever project undertaken by Rotarians in the district raising some £70,000 for equipment in the new college. Rotary gets as much pleasure as the children, teachers and families when we know we are helping to improve the lives of these children so brilliantly cared for by the schools.

The contrasting project last week took place on Friday when the Rotary Club of Chelmsford organised a jazz night at the King Edward VI Grammar School in Chelmsford. This featured the Peter Long Quartet - and you don’t have to be a jazz fan to admire the musicianship of this band. KEGS’ school hall was transformed into a cosy jazz club and everyone had an enjoyable evening.

The purpose of the event was once again to raise funds for Rotary supported charities. Whilst final figures are not available as yet, we do know that many people in Chelmsford will benefit - and the pantomime season will soon be upon us, so some of the money will be used to give local elderly people a treat at the Civic Theatre.

This is just one week - but it gives a flavour of what Rotary is all about. We are always on the lookout for new members who are community minded and would like to get involved.

To find out more about Rotary, both locally and further afield, visit www.chelmsfordrotary1240.org, or phone me for a chat on 01245 260349.

Best wishes - Stan Keller www.moulshamtimes.com

23

MT Charity - Chelmsford Community Transport Chelmsford Community Transport is a charitable organisation that has been operating since 1996 and currently has 1382 members. The service is open to all residents in Chelmsford and provides transport, including hospital trips to help less mobile people get out and about in the local area. All journeys must start and ideally finish within the district of Chelmsford and they cover most kinds of journey, including shopping, social, recreational and medical, subject to availability. The services aim to overcome transport barriers and enable everyone to participate more fully in society.

Services Hospital Transport that members book in advance and use for free with their bus pass.

A range of door to door transport services designed particularly for people who find it very difficult or impossible to use public transport by reason of age, disability, social or rural exclusion.

Chelmsford Community Transport offer minibus hire which is open to voluntary and community groups needing accessible transport.

Groups can hire our vehicles for an annual fee of £20 and additional mileage costs.

A fleet of six Mercedes wheelchair accessible minibuses is operated and there are also 30 volunteer drivers who use their own 4-door saloon cars on a daily basis from Monday to Friday, 9 - 5pm.

Members pay an annual membership fee and a small contribution based on a sliding scale to be paid for each journey, usually with a minimum of two days’ notice. A quarterly newsletter is also distributed and regular excursions for members are organised, such as trips to Bluewater, dance nights and visits to garden centres.

Charity CEO, Evelyn Mochrie, explains: “This vital service is a lifeline to our members and we rely heavily on volunteers and funding to continue to offer independence and dignity to those who would otherwise feel isolated and lonely within their own homes.

“Overall, demand for community transport is expected to rise, due to the growth in the population of older people and changes to the supply of patient transport services within Chelmsford. This is why it is even more important we keep this service available. Without volunteer drivers, in particular minibus drivers, we would not be able to offer the amount of journeys that we currently do.”

Why volunteer?

You may be between jobs, recently retired or just have a morning or afternoon to spare once a week; whatever your reason - volunteering is fun!

You get to feel great about yourself, do something incredibly useful and meet and interact with new groups of people you might never have met! We are always keen to recruit new volunteers, including office staff, event assistants and particularly regular or ad-hoc minibus drivers.

To be a minibus driver you will need to have a category D1 on your clean driving licence and be willing to undergo training on the vehicle, which looks excellent on a CV! We will also need a current CRB check and out of pocket expenses will be paid to you.

If just five people offered just one day a week, one additional minibus could be regularly operated, which would mean many more journeys being completed per week.

That means many more mobile people out and about in Chelmsford, continuing to enjoy their activities and socialising, regardless of the difficulties that can sometimes prevent them from carrying out their normal routines.

Phyllis Choppen is a member of Chelmsford Community Transport: “It is a lifeline to so many senior citizens. The service it provides gives us a degree of independence, a sense that we are still out there in the real world and not just sitting at home vegetating, dependant on lifts from others.”

Chelmsford Community Transport also relies on volunteers who use their own transport. Volunteers should have their own 4-door car and be able to give their time preferably one day a week - hours are flexible. You need to be fit enough to give help to the members, have a clean driving licence and also undertake a CRB check. Expenses are paid per mile and full training is given.

Fundraising CCT could not operate without funding from Essex County Council, Chelmsford City Council and regular donations from our sponsor, Caring Direct, but they still need more funds to keep the service running.

Clair Dade, Marketing & Events Assistant, is planning a fantastic programme of events that all members of the public can participate in. “We have a range of fundraising events lined up for the new year that we hope Chelmsford residents will enjoy getting involved in and be excited to attend. Keep checking our website and Facebook page as new events will be added regularly; we will also be expanding events and excursions exclusively for CCT members.”

If you would like to volunteer for this vital service, then please contact CCT on 01245 477789.

Community Transport Bookings - 01245 477750 Hospital Transport Bookings - 01245 477700 Email - info@chelmsfordct.org Website - www.chelmsfordct.org

Deadlines for the November edition Articles - 13th November Print ready art work - 19th November

To write us a letter please email: editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk We would like to hear about charity fundraisers, pot holes, dodgy pavements, speeding vehicles or anything you feel the community needs to be aware of!

Chelmsford’s Family Favourite Pantomime, Aladdin, Flies into Civic Theatre This December Wednesday 2nd December 2015 - Sunday 3rd January 2016 at the Civic Theatre Thousands of Essex residents can prepare for another exciting pantomime season in Chelmsford, thanks to Chelmsford City Theatres, as the family favourite story of Aladdin will be kicking off on Wednesday 2nd December 2015 and running until Sunday 3rd January 2016 at the Civic Theatre.

Created by production company One From The Heart in association with Chelmsford City Theatres, Aladdin already looks set to overtake the huge success of last year’s pantomime, Peter Pan, which had sold out by its opening night.

The magical family pantomime will take excited audiences of all ages on a thrilling and mystical carpet ride to lands far away in an adventure the whole family can enjoy. Chelmsford City Theatres have pulled out all the stops to make this year’s production better than ever before, providing audiences with the perfect Christmas treat to celebrate the family festivities. They will meet the unforgettable genie, the larger than life Widow Twankey and the sons Aladdin and Wishee Washee before helping Aladdin steal the heart of beautiful princess Jasmine and fend off the evil Abanazer.

A high quality cast of professional actors will bring this traditional pantomime to life with sing-along songs, glitzy costumes, hilarious jokes and amazing dance routines. The cast includes last year’s Peter Pan, Samuel Parker, as Wishee Washee, Liam Ross-Mills as Aladdin, Gabriela Gregorian as Jasmine and last year’s hilarious Smee, Neal Wright, as the genie. Speaking of his upcoming role, Neal Wright said: “I can’t wait to come back to Chelmsford for another amazing year of pantomime!”

Chelmsford City Theatres have been working with One From The Heart since 2007 on their annual pantomimes and going from strength to strength, with Peter Pan in 2014 being the most successful so far. With ticket sales for Aladdin already looking set to sell out in record time, bookers are urged to act quickly to avoid disappointment.

Tickets for Aladdin are £21.00, with concessions at £18.00 and family tickets at £68.00. Groups over 10 can go for £18.00 each plus 1 in 10 free, with children under the age of 2 able to go for free.

To book tickets, contact the box office on 01245 606505 or visit: www.chelmsford.gov.uk/aladdin.

Woolpack Winners

The Woolpack won the Sun Newspaper’s ‘Flower Power’ competition for their hanging baskets on the front of the pub.

They were searching to find the best dressed eating and drinking establishments in the country.

Ami’s Diary

I went to see One Direction at the O2 which was amazing. They had technical difficulties so Harry started making jokes which was funny.

Jamie Lawson was the supporting artist and he was brilliant, so I would like to see him if he does his own concert.

I was contacted by a production company to be a regular presenter on a YouTube channel. I was really excited as it would be filming at the YouTube studios in London every other weekend. But then I was told it would be at 1pm on a Saturday, so I had to make a decision on whether I wanted to miss Theatretrain every other weekend - which I don’t want to do, so I decided to turn down the job. They are still really keen for me to do it, so are going to let me know if they can change the filming schedule in future.

I was shortlisted for the main role in a feature film that is going to be filmed in Norfolk next year. I was then contacted to say that they want me to send a self-audition tape to the writer and director. I have to learn and perform a monologue which has been written by the writer of the film. Then if I am successful, I will go to Norwich for a faceto-face audition with them.

I have completed another self-audition tape for a feature film based on Joan of Arc, but a modern-day version. I had to learn a monologue of my choice that is appropriate to the age and role of the part I am auditioning for. I picked a piece from Mean Girls played by Tina Fey who was in The Muppets Most Wanted which I was in too, so I hope that will bring me luck. I will find out in December if I am through to the next stage of auditions.

Funnies What do you get when you cross a tyrannosaurus rex with fireworks?

Dino-mite!

I dressed my dog up as a cat for Halloween. Now he won’t come when I call him!

I’m good at firework displays. I’ve got a flare for it!

Why can’t you say a joke while standing on ice?

Because it might crack up!

Why did the orange stop in the middle of the hill?

It ran out of juice!

What do postal workers do when they’re mad?

They stamp their feet!

How do locomotives hear?

Through the engineers!

What did the painter say to the wall?

I’ve got you covered!

What’s the tallest building in the world?

The library - because it has the most stories!

Where does Friday come before Monday?

In the dictionary!

Facts About Essex (All sourced from the internet) Manningtree is Britain’s smallest town... Whilst Tiptree is the UK’s largest village.

Essex is one of the few places in the world where the ‘Little Scarlet’ strawberry is grown; the perfect variant for jam making.

Chelmsford has the second smallest cathedral in England.

The first crocodile to be brought to the UK was in 1701

by Richard Bradley, who kept it in the lake and grounds of his home in Braintree.

Danbury Common has the largest adder population in the UK. www.moulshamtimes.com

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27

St Cedd’s School Welcomes Alumni Throughout the Years St Cedd’s School opened its doors last Saturday for the first ever alumni event, welcoming former staff members and ex-pupils with the opportunity to see the growth of the school over the past 84 years.

Music Institute in Brighton to study music.

In addition to the performances, the visitors enjoyed an informative speech from Head, Dr Pamela Edmonds, and from Mr David Thompson, Chair of Governors, as well as a tour around the new site on New London Road. On display were old archived photographs, school books and children’s work - and some even spotted their own writings and drawings.

The occasion celebrated the high standards of the school from the past to the present day, with one guest having attended the school in the 1930s.

Dr Pamela Edmonds, Head of St Cedd’s School, said: “It was a great pleasure to meet such an array of people connected with the school - one even representing the first cohort and others who are more recent ex-pupils, current and recent parents who are Old St Ceddians and former school staff. It was evident that returning to St Cedd’s School engendered feelings of familiarity with the traditions and ethos that are still apparent, as we cherish our motto of ‘Hold Fast That Which Is Good’. The event illustrated our rich history and strong ties with the local community, and how important it is to keep in touch with those who have contributed to the school since it opened, whether as a pupil, a member of staff or a parent.”

One guest, Miss Jane Ashley, who was one of the very first pupils to attend St Cedd’s School in the 1930s, as well as returning later as a teacher, said: “It was lovely to return to St Cedd’s School and see the new site.”

Mr Matthew Clarke, Deputy Head and main organiser of the event, said: “We would like to thank all those who came along, including our sponsors Edmund Carr, Birkett Long and Savills. We hope they enjoyed themselves, learnt something new about the school and maybe even met some old friends. It is our aim to continue similar events for the Old St Ceddians Association in the future.”

Along with the opportunity to meet old friends, the event featured a variety of musical performances for piano, violin, oboe, flute and voice. The musicians included current pupils as well as Murray Lawson, 17, who previously attended St Cedd’s School and has recently accepted a prestigious place at the British and Irish Modern

Star & Garter

Live music every weekend 9pm - Close October Sat 31st Halloween Party Fishing for Robots

November Sat 7th Andy Robinson Band Fri 13th Solar 9

November Sat 14th 7786

Punk & Scar

Sat 21st Monkies Wedding Scar Sca

Every 2nd Thursday Mojo Moon

Rock & Indie Covers

Free Pool Every Monday Open Mic Sunday Jam Session Every Sunday 2pm - 6pm All Welcome Great Choice of Real Ales and Ciders Opening Hours Sun -Thurs 12pm-11pm Fri - Sat- 12pm-12am

159 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford CM2 0LD - 01245 600009 28

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Music and Blues in the City by Nick Garner Wow, we are nearing the festive month already and the Moulsham Times will be three years old in December.

First to say we were very sad to have had to cancel the Creedence Clearwater Revived with the 60’s Project concert at the Chelmsford City Football Club on the 31st October. It was due to the ill health of some Creedence band members and we wish them a speedy recovery. Hopefully we can reschedule the show for 2016.

two stages, so it will be non-stop. Tickets can be purchased in person from me or from the Bassment and the Hop Beer Shop - they are £15 in advance or online at www.wegottickets.com (search Blues in the City). You maybe able to get a ticket on the day which will be £18. You will be given a wrist band so you can come and go as you please. We will again have keg ale from Round Tower Brewery for you to enjoy.

The acts, in order of appearance are: Back Porch, Rum Honey, Big Joe Bone, Stony Road Blues Band, Del Bromham, Fran McGillivray Band, Nicky Moore & Danny Kyle and finally, the John Verity Band.

To find out more about all the Blues in the City events go to www. facebook.com/bluesinthecitychelmsford, or www.bluesinthecity. co.uk. For the football club event, go to www.facebook.com/ itsyourmusic.

Please do not forget that the Bassment hosts lots of different live music, including a superb Blues Jam on the first Thursday of every month. You will also find lots of great live music at the Star and Garter in Moulsham Street, the Woolpack in Mildmay Road, Asylum and the Ale House both in Viaduct Street and the Fleece in Duke Street. There other venues across the city putting on a variety of different music and events, so get your free copy of Chelmsford the City Times to find out what’s on where and when.

Last month saw a packed Bassment for Blues in the City, with the amazing Wille & the Bandits supported by Martin McNeill. Both acts played amazing sets and everyone, including the acts, went away smiling. We look forward to booking them for 2016, maybe for the festival this time.

This month we have another special night lined up for the Bassment on Wednesday 25th November, when we have two members of two the best acts in the UK together - Guy Tortora of the Guy Tortora Band and Ben Tyzack of the Spike Drivers. They are two great guitarists and singers and Guy also plays some harmonica as well. This is always going to be a show worth seeing and with Howlin’ Smurf supporting and just £5 to get in, it is a mid-week must we think.

On Saturday 21st November, it’s Your Music with Chelmsford City Football Club have Katie Bradley with the Dave Ferra Blues Band playing. Katie won the best British Blues songwriter with her friend Dudley Ross, and was runner up to the best British female blues singer. She has also been shortlisted down to the last four (out of two hundred) to represent the UK in the Great European Blues Challenge 2016. Katie is also a great harmonica player. Dave Ferra is much respected guitarist, singer and harmonica player and along with his superb rhythm section, will make this a great night.

Support is from local much respected singer songwriter Jamie Williams with me on harmonicas playing one of our rare duo sets.

Tickets for Katie Bradley with the Dave Ferra Blues Band plus Jamie Williams and Nick Garner are £8 in advance and can be purchased in person from the Clarets Bar at the football club and from the Hop Beer Shop in Moulsham Street. They can also be obtained online from www.wegottickets.com (search Katie Bradley). There will be a mini bus service from the back of Barista in Railway Street - it will be there between 7 and 7.15pm and will return after the show.

Cost is £1 each way.

We have another special one day festival, The Bassment Blues Day, on Saturday 28th November from 2pm to 11pm. Yup it’s another great marathon event with eight amazing acts from across the UK playing on www.moulshamtimes.com

29

Volatile Descent: A Detective Carter Mystery by JR Blake - Part 11 Last time, we saw DC Reid burst into the hospital room ready to arrest his suspect, unfortunately he didn’t see another person lurking behind the door - that person now has their arm around his neck and a knife to his throat...

“Now daddy, where were we?” David Thomas turned to face his daughter who was brandishing a knife to DC Reid’s neck, and said: “You make a better receptionist than you would a murderer...”

“Oh come on daddy, I’m only doing this for your own good! You’ll be so much happier when all this is over - how we’ll deal with the police officer though I don’t know...

Just then, DCI Maslow arrived with DI Carter and DS Carter. The receptionist dragged DC Reid further into the room. DI Carter sarcastically said: “Well, this is a sticky situation. I never had you down as the violent type Miss….?”

“That’s Miss Thomas, David Thomas’s daughter - am I right Mr Thomas?” DS Carter said. David Thomas nodded. DCI Maslow was clearly shocked: “You have a daughter???” Again, David Thomas nodded. Remaining her usual calm, collected self she asked her wrestled colleague: “Reid, what did the university tell you?” Reid answered through struggled breath…

“That Mr Thomas here... did a degree in engineering... and... one of his work placements was with the army... studying explosives.

After he allegedly... tried to blow himself up... he was sent to counselling... They can’t tell me what was said... in the sessions though... that’s... confidential...”

DS Carter turned to David Thomas: “It was an accident, wasn’t it, Ben’s death?” David Thomas nodded.

Miss Thomas screamed “Of course it wasn’t! That idiot tried to turn my dad! Dad was defending himself! He had to throw him off that cliff!” DS Carter decided to try to explain things... Give DI Carter chance to work his magic…

“Let me see if I have this right Mr Thomas. You were in love with Ben. He wasn’t in love with you but he was homosexual. You had an argument on the cliff and he fell. When you got back to uni’, you were so distraught you decided to try to suppress who you really were so you had a relationship with a woman. When you found out she was pregnant - this, on top of your grief for Ben, was too much.

I’m thinking maybe the army lads cottoned on to the fact you’re gay and that was the last straw, so you tried to ‘accidentally’ kill yourself. Am I right so far?” David nodded. DCI Maslow was stood in shock. DI Carter was inching slowly, unnoticed, towards Miss Thomas. DS Carter continued...

“After counselling you came here, back to your roots. Everything was fine until your daughter turned up. Nobody here knew your situation, you probably told her some cock and bull story about you being a useless man and that’s why you left her mum?” David Thomas nodded. DI Carter was making good progress, mainly because Miss Thomas’ attention was fixed on DS Carter after hearing her name... “...and she said she believed you, didn’t she? At first - and then your mate Steve turned up. When John told DCI Maslow over the phone that Steve had mentioned the night you all went camping to him, that wasn’t the first time you’d heard that was it David? When you mentioned to myself and DI Carter that Steve could prove what really happened out there, all those years ago out on the cliffs…

You weren’t talking about Ben’s death were you? You were talking about what Steve had gone to speak with John here about. You were talking about the fact Steve had proof that you made a move

on Ben…” “RUBBISH!!! COMPLETE RUBBISH! HE NEVER WOULD, HE’S MY DAD!!” Miss Thomas was screaming and so DI Carter took his chance and grabbed her, tackled her to the floor, and had her in a set of handcuffs in under 8 seconds. DS Carter continued…

“You knew this because Steve and John met in your hotel restaurant, hence Miss Thomas here mentioned it because she was hoping it would lead to yourself being a suspect. You see, David, you’ve been led astray somewhat by your charming daughter. Unfortunately for you, your guilt has lead you to do some astonishing, very out of character things. Hasn’t it David?” David Thomas nodded.

“You thought getting rid of Steve would be it, right? What did she say to you to make you murder your friend of 30 years?”

“Lots of things…” David Thomas trailed off.

“I’ll bet she did. I’ll also bet she planned most of it too, right? And she gave you the old napkin to use? You see David, that was her way of linking everything - to you. She doesn’t care about you as much as she makes out. She’s planted all sorts to make sure it comes back to you in the end. This is all about revenge and she’s used your guilt over all these years to do it. You used your engineering skills to make the land mine, you let Steve and John hold their meeting in your restaurant at her suggestion I’ll bet.

Luckily for you David we can link your daughter to this because when raiding the old B&B you all stayed in, we found that she dropped a little something for us to find there too…” DS Carter held up the napkin with the 30 year old embossed logo... “Shame ‘Pretty in Pink’ isn’t quite your shade of lipstick though David. Can you think of someone who would wear that shade though?” Everyone looked at Miss Thomas. David was stunned.

“You planted this? To frame me? After everything?” He then became silent, exhausted from all the stress and the guilt. He couldn’t take anymore. He was happy to go with the police and tell them everything. It was over.

As everyone was being led out of the room DCI Maslow decided to stay with his now one legged friend John. DI Carter said to DS Carter, “Well that was a job well done Erin. How about we try that meal again? I could murder a bottle of Merlot…”

“Actually that sounds like a good idea” DS Carter replied, just relieved all this was over. “Let’s just try a different restaurant though, OK?” “Sounds like a plan Erin.” “...and less of the murdering of the wine. We’ll just quaff the stuff instead..” DI Carter grinned at his ex wife and she grinned back.

THE END

Answer to Jonny’s Question Ask either of them the question: “if I were to ask your friend which fork to take, what would he say?” Then take the other one. Just to explain, if you are asking the one that tells lies he will say the wrong one and if you ask the other one he will truthfully tell you what the liar would say.

To write us a letter or send a quiz, please email us at: editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

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Phobia of the No 13 Orville the Duck and Cuddles the Monkey September 21st, 1962 It is an RHS garden Hands on hips Pears Keeps bees Young eels Ear Under your nose Zellweger Bruising 3.1416 (ratio of diameter to circumference)

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Omega Eight Mother of pearl George Foreman Pumpkin Italy Mediterranean Antarctic Eleven Crushed beetles, used to make carmine dye 24. Statue at Low Eighton, Gateshead 25. Ena Sharples (Violet Carson)

Please note due to the printers closing for Christmas holidays the January 2016 Moulsham Times will be with you a few days later than usual.

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Semi-detached house Three bedrooms 100ft rear garden • No onward chain

Moulsham Drive £439,995

Semi detached house Four bedrooms South facing rear garden Off street parking Albion Court £99,995

Retirement apartment One bedroom Residents parking No onward chain Moulsham Barn £364,500

Terrace House Two bedrooms Conservatory Courtyard style garden