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MT Welcome
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Welcome to the November edition of the Moulsham Times. Amy, who has been writing for us since July 2013 when she was 10 years old, sadly has had to stop her contributions to concentrate on her studies. We want to thank her on yours and our behalf for all the wonderful articles and we wish her luck in the future and hope we see her name in lights. We have two gigs for you within the next month, we have the Dylan Project on 11th November and Who’s Next on 3rd December (see the adverts on pages 19 and 23). If you have any ideas for the magazine please email us. One of our readers suggested we add some life hacks in to the magazine, which we have done this month. Thank you to the reader who suggested this! Don’t forget that the clocks go back Sunday, 30th October... Regards Paul & Nick
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MT Therapy by Jenny Hartill Following on from my last article, today I’m discussing when and why to seek therapy. I see lots and lots of different issues in my therapy practice and I read a very disturbing article the other week about a person that believed they weren’t ‘sick enough’ to seek therapy. Let me tell you, this is absolutely not the case. It is part of human nature to think, to feel, to process, to experience behaviours and to be faced with the consequences of these behaviours, be those good or bad. The main issue that seems to affect people is actually reaching out to a therapist. Unfortunately we are still experiencing stigma in terms of mental health, although I want to let you in on a little secret...
Believe me, I’ve had many a client come to therapy reporting how difficult it was to reach out in the first place. However, it wasn’t what everyone else might think that bothered them. The main barrier to them seeking therapy was themselves. They were worried they were ‘being silly’, or simply found it difficult to admit that they wanted and needed therapy in the first place. Some lack the belief that they can ever feel better, but eventually decide they might as well try. Some clients might say ‘hell - what have I got to lose if I already feel so naff? At least I tried!’ Once they overcame their barrier, and saw a glimmer of light rather than the murky depths of their negative thoughts and emotions, they actually went for it - and mostly those that receive therapy then go on to be a massive advocate of it because of how much better they then feel themselves. So, when and why do you seek counselling? Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be ‘completely messed up’ to see a counsellor. We therapists treat clients that come to us simply feeling ‘a little off’ - the client doesn’t know why, but something just doesn’t feel ‘right’. We help them to explore what feeling right might mean to them and how we can help them reach their goal. A client may come to therapy simply because they haven’t reached the goals in their life that they wanted to, or they feel disheartened somewhat, fed up etc. Other reasons may include a trauma or change in circumstances, so for example a client may have just lost a loved one, moved house, changed job etc and feel they need someone to talk to to help them process things. On the opposite end of the scale, we counsellors of course do help clients that are afflicted with what is generally seen as more severe psychological and emotional issues. For example, severe depression, anxiety disorders, panic disorders, self harm, eating disorders, the list goes on and on. But I wanted to tell you what is the most common symptom that I see and treat in my therapy room; this is something that every one of us will likely suffer from at some stage in our lives and most people unfortunately battle with it instead of seeking help so they can learn coping techniques so deal with it effectively. People of Chelmsford I give you... Overthinking. Round and round and round we go, when we’ll stop nobody knows, we’ll start again we know for sure, ’cause round and round and round we go... Sound familiar? Overthinking comes in many different forms, here are a few examples: • • • • • • •
Random thoughts about anything and everything - sometimes they may be extreme or just not make sense. Obsessing over something in particular. Questioning yourself or anything/anyone else. Being negative or self critical. ‘Mind reading’ what other people might be thinking. Overthinking and analysing situations, what could have happened, what did happen, picking situations and sometimes people and their reactions apart. Trying to predict the future - over analysing and thinking about what could happen.
•
Scenario building, sometimes realistic sometimes not.
I haven’t met anyone in my life ever, through therapy or in my personal life, that hasn’t over thought something at some point. Counsellors see many types of people that seek therapy. Counselling is there for anyone and everyone that wants it. If something is bothering you, or you want to make a change in your life, or just want to be happier - counsellors are absolutely on board and will do everything we can to help you in a non-judgemental, safe and secure environment. We will not judge you, I’ve met many a client that was worried that I wouldn’t like them - in the therapy room we help you with your issues on a professional level. We are not here to be your friend - we will of course be friendly (we’re still human you know!) but we are here to help you in the best way we can, we will not judge you, we will not tell you what a ‘terrible person’ you are or that you are ‘pathetic’ or any other of those negative thoughts and feelings swimming around in your head right now! Also, private therapists work differently to NHS therapists. On the NHS, as far as I am aware (from what I have been told by fellow therapists and those that have had therapy on the NHS) firstly there is a massive waiting list and secondly you are only given a certain number of sessions. This is so that they can treat as many people as possible. The problem with this is that sometimes 6 sessions is only just enough to get to know your therapist and feel comfortable talking to them, never mind feeling any better! It depends of course on the issue, but private therapists have much more autonomy and can tailor your sessions the best they can to help you as quickly as possible. So, ask yourself this. Would you rather stay as you are, or talk to someone to see if you could feel better and happier? We are here for you no matter what your issue. That first appointment, or even picking up the phone to make that first appointment, might feel like the most difficult thing you will do - but it does get better from there! You just need to get the ball rolling. And if you think you don’t have time or can’t afford it etc - look at your schedule and your finances. Could you have a therapy session once per week - is there nowhere in your week where you have 50 minutes available? Is there anyone that could help you make the time? Could you shift a few things round to make time for you? You are worth it after all! If anybody needs therapy or is thinking about pursuing therapy, you can go to my company website, www.chelmsfordtherapyrooms.co.uk, where we have lots of therapists trained in various fields that can help with a variety of issues.
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From County Hall by Cllr Dick Madden
I have provided below the position of the proposed change in waste collection that will happen after Christmas and the New Year. Please read carefully and see the rationale for the proposed changes, of which I support. If you have a view which you want to share with the Chelmsford City Council then contact me on my email at dick. madden@chelmsford.gov.uk and I can pass on your thoughts. Please read below carefully. Chelmsford City Council has proposed changes to the way that waste is collected in Chelmsford. The council provides one of the most comprehensive recycling and waste collection services in the country, with high satisfaction ratings from residents. Recycling is becoming even more accessible for all residents with improved recycling collections, including food waste collections, being rolled out to flats and apartments. However, there is still much to be done in terms of waste reduction. Only 45 per cent of households regularly use the separate food waste collection, meaning that we still throw 9,500 tonnes of food in our black bins each year. Food waste that is recycled is taken to a treatment facility where it is turned into two useful products: a nutrient for crops and a biogas which is used to generate heat and electricity. When buried in a landfill site, food waste releases methane as it rots. Methane is a greenhouse gas which is hazardous to human health and is around 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide. An in-depth review of recycling and collection services, both in Chelmsford and elsewhere in the country, has been carried out over the past two years. Following this assessment, a decision on the frequency of black bin collections is to be made by the council’s cabinet. It is proposed that, from late January 2017 onwards, black bins will be collected once every two weeks rather than once every week. This is already undertaken by 70 per cent of authorities in England, including in neighbouring Colchester and Maldon. This would enable a stronger focus on the weekly collection of food waste and other recycling. Recycling of other waste such as paper, cardboard, bottles and cans is already collected every two weeks. Councillor Janette Potter, Cabinet Member for Waste Management & Recycling, said: “The proposal is about changing the way that Chelmsford disposes of its waste. If the recommendation is agreed, residents will be able to have their food waste collected weekly, while
general waste can be placed in the black bin for bi-weekly collection. “It is a hygienic, cost-effective system with the potential to increase the amount of waste that we recycle as well as providing the best value for money for Council Tax payers. We will of course ensure that residents are kept up-to-date on the decision and on any changes that may need to be made to the way they use the service.” Councillor John Galley, Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “Adjusting the frequency of black bin collections to fortnightly would result in a cost reduction of £470,000 per year. In addition, vehicle replacement costs of £600,000 that would otherwise be incurred can be avoided. This is a significant saving and reflects value for Council Tax payers’ money. Black bin waste disposal is paid for by Essex County Council at £105 per tonne, so if residual waste from Chelmsford is cut by 1,000 tonnes (3%), this would save taxpayers countywide £105,000 per year. “Given the current financial constraints that the council faces, the money saved would help to maintain essential services and reduce any further spending cuts. It will also make an important contribution to the council’s requirement that it will need to ensure a balanced budget in future years.” At the end of this October I will be heading off to Holland on a Battlefield Tour to Arnhem Bridge with my mate Browny to study the history of Operation Market Garden. Many of you will know the cinema film made about this battle in the 2nd World War called A Bridge too Far. Browny has got the boiled sweets and I have the waterproofs - hope the weather is not too cruel. After crossing the bridge too far I return to Chelmsford - and within hours I have to set of for China, yes China. I am travelling to China representing Essex County Council regarding the area I am accountable for, as Cabinet Member for Adults and Children. I will be in China for one week, at no expense to you or any resident of Essex. China authorities are financing my visit to explore with me the work of Essex Adult and Children’s Social Care and compare the social and health care they provide to their citizens. I am looking forward to the visit, in particular representing yourselves and all residents of our county. I will update you as to how the visit progressed on my return to Chelmsford. BE SAFE
From The House by Sir Simon Burns Celebrating the success of Rio 2016 Although some time has passed since the Olympics in August and the Paralympics in September, it’s important we don’t forget the achievements of Olympians and Paralympians and ensure that the sporting legacy of Rio 2016 can be sustained over the next four years.
The entire nation came together to cheer on Team GB at the Rio Games and it was absolutely fantastic to see Great Britain come second in the medal table. This saw 67 medals in total, including 27 golds. This was 1 more gold medal than China and the first time we have placed ahead of them since China returned to the Olympics in 1984. Meanwhile in the Paralympics, Paralympic GB also came second in the medal table winning 147 medals - 27 more than their achievement at London 2012. 64 gold medals were secured in 11 different sports, which equalled the record set by China at the Beijing Paralympics in 2008.
We also have the notable achievement of being the first host country to increase its medal total at the Summer Olympics following the one it hosted. Team GB won two more Olympic medals in Rio than they had four years earlier in London. The sporting success of both Team GB and Paralympic GB has been the result of long term planning, boosted by the National Lottery funding received since its creation and the grants that the lottery has been able to offer sporting facilities - including here in Chelmsford, such as the grant of £2.35 million for the new athletic centre at Melbourne Park back in 2001. In Essex, lottery funding has supported numerous organisations, sporting and otherwise, in recent months. This includes Essex County Council, the Essex Slalom Squad, Writtle Parish Council, and South Woodham Ferrers Yacht Club.
In 2012, the nation was united around the success of our athletes and the Olympic and Paralympic motto: ‘Inspire a Generation’. Let’s ensure that after the success of Team GB in Rio that we are able to do so once again. 6 www.moulshamtimes.com
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MT Fitness
Shoulder Injuries and the Rotator Cuff The shoulder is a wonderfully complex piece of engineering surrounded by large muscles which help us to lift and throw and hang and swing - if you’re in to that sort of thing of course. It has more movement than any other joint, but that also makes it the most unstable. Underlying all the large muscles are the stabilisers - the guiders of movement. They call this group of muscles the rotator cuff. I like to think of the rotator cuff like a claw which wraps around the ball of the ball and socket joint. This claw coordinates and stabilises the shoulder movement. It’s worth noting now that there are 17 muscles which attach to the shoulder blade, but when it comes to injury, the rotator cuffs have a tough time and are the most common to be strained. Now some injuries happen suddenly, like a fall on an out-stretched hand, but most shoulder injuries happen because of consistent, cumulative damage.
Well this is slightly trickier to answer - in an article at least - because the answer will be different for all of you. It will depend on your age, your history, your lifestyle and how much you need your shoulders to do. Someone who has goals of pressing 100kg overhead will have a completely different set of exercises to those whose goals are to pick the grandchildren up without pain. Generally, it’s good to do some gentle, dynamic, weight-bearing exercise. A simple example of this would be to get into a press-up position but keep your elbows locked out. Now gently sway your bodyweight side to side. You’ll feel that when you go one way much more load goes through that same side shoulder, and then vice versa when you come back to the other side. What’s happening here is that your body is coordinating the muscles of the chest, the rotator cuff, the core muscles and even the hip muscles to stop you falling over. This integration of many muscular systems is the best way to train the shoulder, rather than isolate the muscle group. And if a press-up is too hard, just put your hands on the wall, walk your feet back a little and do the same thing. I hope that helps you understand the shoulder a little better. With a joint as complex as the shoulder, it’s difficult to be too specific in an article about the exercises to help you as effectively as possible and this is where seeing a professional can help. If you have any questions or would like to know more, get in touch at: chris@fortephysicalhealth.co.uk 01245 522360 www.fortephysicalhealth.co.uk
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Having a healthy shoulder is all about coordination and having those 17 muscles working together. Although it is essential that we try to exercise our shoulders to help prevent injury, what works for one person may not work for another because their strengths and weaknesses may be different to begin with.
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As a general rule, there are few basic do’s and don’ts. I’ll start with the easy bit - what to avoid: You’re more likely to have a shoulder injury if you have to spend lots of time using a keyboard, a mouse, or driving where your arms are out in front of your for long periods of time. This can tighten the muscles of the chest and weaken the muscles of the back making injury more likely. Stress can also tighten the upper back and lead to shoulder problems, so you need to be aware when stress is affecting you and practice some breathing techniques and mindfulness where you can consciously relax your upper back. So what can you do to prevent this? www.moulshamtimes.com
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Yet another thing to blame your parents for! By Matt Russell
I know it’s tough, but for a moment do a John Lennon, and by ‘do a John Lennon’ I don’t mean sod off to India and study transcendental meditation, I mean imagine. Imagine a just and fair world where each of us are born equal with the exact same potential for achieving whatever we want to. In this just and fair world the only barrier to us achieving success is the amount of hard work we are prepared to put in.
super responders and made dramatic improvements, whereas the bottom 10% were low responders who made very little improvement at all. The remaining 80% of people fall somewhere in-between the two extremes.
The trouble is we don’t live in a such a world. It would be great if we could all look like Arnold Schwarzenegger provided we trained hard enough, but we can’t and there’s no point pretending we can. Some people are simply high responders to exercise some are not.
Now, before you hold up the white flag and surrender on your plans of getting fitter because you think your parents dealt you a bad gene-hand, bear this in mind: Genetics do not account for 100% of a person’s physique, there are a number of other factors involved which you can control and just because your body is maybe genetically predisposed to store more body fat, it is not an excuse to deliberately let it do so. It just means you have to work harder than other people to overcome that problem, yet at the same time remain realistic about the limitations that our bodies impose.
It comes as no coincidence that myself and my two brothers barely need to train at all before appearing noticeably more muscular and athletic - and who do we have to thank for this? A large amount of gratitude must go to our parents. Old pictures of my dad show he had biceps that most bodybuilders would die for despite never actually going to the gym, and to this very day many people still marvel at the strength my mum displays when helping us out with the odd DIY construction project. My brothers and I were obviously very lucky to have inherited those strong genes from our parents, but some people are not so lucky… In one study which looked at muscle growth in people following the exact same resistance training programme, the high responders increased their muscle size by 50% with some of the low responders increasing their muscle size by a depressing 0%. This type of response isn’t just limited to muscle growth. A study of 1,000 people looking into the effects of training on stamina and endurance found that roughly the top 10% of the participants were
Not only does genetics play a large role in determining how much muscle you can build or how long and far you can run for, it also (amongst other things) plays a role in regulating how much fat you have and where about on the body you store it.
Thanks for reading. To book your free trial personal training session, or to book a place at my bootcamp class, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Matt matt@mlrpt.co.uk www.mlrpt.co.uk 07939316401 www.twitter.com/mlrpt www.facebook.com/mlrpt www.twitter.com/mlrpt
O STEOPATHY & S PORTS M ASSAGE IN C ENTRAL C HELMSFORD We’re here to help... Back Pain Sports Injuries Joint Pain Muscle Strains Sciatica & more... Michelle Hancock Osteopath
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MT Gardening Autumn is well and truly here and there are loads of jobs to do in the garden over the next coming weeks. This will involve you getting fitter than ever before with all that leaf clearing and digging! Before you pop out and put beds to rest or tease out any thatch on your lawn, give a thought for those tender salad vegetables such as tomatoes and chilli peppers. I’m just about to harvest and clear away the cordon toms this weekend. They’ve been super this year even though at times watering and feeding has been a challenge... Remember all that hot weather and as a result, constant watering and weekly feeding regimes? I decided to go away for the weekend and even though I thought I’d covered all possibilities, I hadn’t envisaged heady temperature and humidity issues during late August and early September. The result was blossom end rot, a disorder due to erratic watering leading to poor uptake of calcium. This is an essential element for the plant as it helps build cell walls. A lack of it can cause a very distinctive browning to the end of the fruit which can impact on tomatoes and pepper quality. Nonetheless, a super year with bumper crops.
plant and also provide much needed shoots which could be used as cuttings to further increase stock. None will go back out until mid to late May. Once I’ve cleared plants, I’m ready to provide some much needed maintenance to the patio area by cleaning and tidying up the remaining tubs. All debris is composted and tubs top dressed with fresh compost appropriate to plant need. I also take the opportunity to add spring colour in the form of bulbs and corms such as dwarf Narcissus ‘Minnow’ and crocus. Your local garden centre will have loads on offer to tempt you! Finally, any perennials that are looking tired should be cut back and spent tops composted. Leave grasses and any interesting perennials with decorative seed heads for the birds to enjoy over the winter months; cut these down mid to late February next year.
Next, the tomato plants will now be composted. However, the peppers will be kept as they are tender perennials. I treat them like I would treat Pelargoniums cvs., fuchsia and Heliotrope arborescens (cherry pie flower) by bringing them into a cool greenhouse and letting them dry gradually reducing watering to a minimum. Next spring they’ll all be potted on and cut back hard around March. This will invigorate the
Happy gardening - and take the time to visit a local garden near you. Ever so slightly biased, but I do love to visit RHS Garden Hyde Hall over in Rettendon. Give them a call to check out any events/activities on 0845 265 8071. For any gardening tips contact Tom Cole, Senior Horticultural Lecturer, Writtle College, Chelmsford, CM1 3RR by post (including a SAE), or by email at tom.cole@writtle.ac.uk.
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Santa is coming to Eleflora
Santa will be in his grotto from Friday November 18th 2016 and would love to meet the good Boys and Girls of Chelmsford. While the children see Father Christmas, why not take a look at our Christmas Trees, Wreaths and decorations we have to offer. Children’s rides, Hot Chocolate, Mince Pies, Mulled Wine and Santa may even bring his reindeers £10.00 Per Child Gifts for all children. To book your childs place Call: 01245 231074 Email: sales@eleflora.co.uk Web: www.eleflora.co.uk
A donation of £1.00 from every child entry will be made to Children’s Cancer UK www.moulshamtimes.com
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Rotary Links with Hyde Hall for Polio Campaign
With World Polio Day on 24th October the latest idea to raise awareness of this crippling and often fatal disease was an association with RHS to plant purple crocus corms called Purple4Polio. You may well wonder at the significance of such a project. This goes back several years when our local Rotary clubs introduced a campaign called Purple Pinkie. This was based on the fact that when mass immunisation days are carried out in the developing countries, the little finger - the pinkie - is painted with a purple dye to show that the child has had the vaccine. This is administered by a few drops through the mouth and not by needle so it is quick and painless.
Purple Pinkie was adopted by Rotary clubs nationally and a subsequent campaign called Focus on the Crocus was instigated. Once again the idea was to highlight the purple dye and so the crocuses selected were purple. There were purple crocus plantings throughout the country, including Central Park in Chelmsford and every year in the spring there is a vibrant purple carpet. Although it could be accused of reinventing the wheel the most recent project, Purple4Polio, develops the same theme of planting purple crocus corms. The thinking behind the change of name is to ensure that the general public - and Rotarians as well - realise it is not quite the same as what has occurred before. The approach is different this time because of the involvement of RHS. Over 5 million purple crocuses have been grown by RHS and purchased at advantageous rates by the national body of Rotary before being distributed around the country. These will be planted not just in RHS gardens but in parks, roundabouts, schools and other suitable places by keen Rotarians. We are fortunate here in Essex in having Hyde Hall on our doorstep, so 30,000 corms are in the process of being planted there and will be completed by the time
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this magazine comes out. In addition, the Rotary Club of Chelmsford Rivermead has reached agreement with Anglia Ruskin University for a further planting day in the university grounds. There are five Rotary clubs in Chelmsford and the other four all got their hands dirty at Hyde Hall and were supported by a few other Rotary clubs from slightly further afield. Once they bloom, there will be a wonderful display and a reminder that we are very close to seeing the last case of polio in the world. In Chelmsford we are very proud that we still administer the Purple Pinkie website (www.purplepinkie.org) and I regularly receive donations or requests for information from all around the world. It shows that young people who have never come across polio still appreciate how fortunate they are in these countries and still want to help rid the world of the final few cases. Worryingly, whilst Nigeria was declared polio free a year ago, there have been three new cases this year and so it has been removed from the list of polio free countries. So it just goes to show how easily the polio virus could get a fresh foothold if we don’t complete the task now. A few startling statistics: When Rotary embarked on its End Polio Campaign there were 1,000 new cases every single day - 365,000 cases per year. This year to date there has been just 24, so we are very close. If you would like information about this campaign or, indeed, how Rotary makes a difference to others and how it could enrich your own life, then visit www.rotary1240.org, or better still give me a call on 01245 260 349. I will be more than pleased to chat. Stan Keller
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MT Baking by Alison Motley
What a series The Great British Bake Off has been this year. Amidst collapsing gingerbread churches, unbelievably fiddly Tudor jumblies, botanical showstopper cakes and the odd soggy bottom, we’ve had the shock announcement that the programme is defecting to Channel 4. Following that, we learnt that Mel and Sue would not be taking their fabulous baking puns and innuendo to Channel 4 and then the icing on the cake (sorry, I couldn’t resist) was the inevitable news that the queen of the tent herself, Mary Berry, had hung up her Bake Off apron for the last time. So, in homage to all things GBBO, I thought I would take a look at some of my favourite great British bakes. The British Isles has always had a rich heritage of baking. Some, like the Victoria sandwich or the crumpet, have become everyday items and are eaten throughout the country. Others, like the Yorkshire curd tart or singing hinny, are hardly known outside a small geographical area. Regional bakes such as Cornish saffron cake, Manchester tart, Yorkshire rascals, Chorley cakes and Lincolnshire plum bread, are still popular in their respective areas. As a nation we all enjoy Scottish shortbread, English muffins, Welsh cakes and Irish soda bread. Most of us love a slice of Dundee or Madeira cake and what is nicer - or more British - than a freshly baked cream tea, regardless of whether you like it the Devonshire (cream then jam) or the Cornish (jam before cream) way? For savoury lovers, there are sausage rolls, numerous types of pasties and the good old pork pie. Admittedly, these are all generally on a meat and pastry theme, but we also have a fantastic range of breads and rolls whether it’s a bap, a bloomer or a bun. So after a lot of thought (and just a little bit of tasting!) here is what I reckon are the top ten best of British bakes: 1. Bakewell tart or Bakewell pudding? Either way, the combination of pastry, jam and almond can’t be beaten. 2. Lemon drizzle cake. Fluffy sponge soaked with sharp lemon juice and topped with a sweet crunchy icing, what’s not to like? 3. Egg custards - how can something so simple and plain taste so good? 4. Cornish pasties. The only savoury entry in my top ten but the best meat and pastry combo in my opinion. 5. Lardy cake. A rich bread dough made with scarily unhealthy amounts of lard and sugar, which I guess is why it tastes so good! 6. Apple crumble. Tart apple and a sweet crispy topping and for me, it has to be served with single cream, not custard.
7. Battenberg cake. A pretty combination of contrasting coloured sponges, apricot jam and a thin layer of marzipan. 8. Chelsea bun. Baked the traditional way, which means no icing and no glace cherries. 9. Treacle tart. About as unhealthy as the lardy cake but equally good! 10. Cottage loaf. It may just be humble white bread but the sight of a freshly baked 2-tiered cottage loaf always makes me smile. Happy baking! Mini Bakewell Tarts Makes approximately 12 Tart Cases: 250g shortcrust pastry Filling: 6 teaspoons raspberry, blackcurrant or cherry jam 50g semolina 50g ground almonds 125g caster sugar 1 large egg, beaten 75g butter, melted ¼ teaspoon almond extract 25g flaked almonds 1. Preheat oven to 180C/Fan 160C/Gas 4 and lightly grease a shallow 12-hole bun tray. 2. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface and cut 12 circles slightly larger than the diameter of each hole. Line the bun tin with the pastry circles and chill in the fridge whilst you make the filling. 3. To make the filling, beat together the semolina, ground almonds, sugar, egg, butter and almond extract in a large bowl until combined. 4. Remove the bun tray from the fridge and spread half a teaspoon of jam over each tart case. Divide the almond filling between each tart and sprinkle a little of the flaked almonds over each tart. 5. Bake the tarts for 15-20 minutes until golden brown and risen. 6. Leave the tarts to cool in the tray for a few minutes, then remove onto a wire rack to cool completely. 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.
We love to try new things and travel the world and so have combined both of these in our shop. Who doesn’t love a nice beer or a lovely drink on a holiday?? Once you’re back home all that’s left are the memories, BUT being able to get the drink you had that time brings back all the good moments!! Now you are able to always dive in or even go on a new adventure by trying the great variety of beers and spirits we have from over 30 different countries. Of course we love our British beers and spirits as well, so we decided to make a lovely mixture so everyone can find something to enjoy. For our cocktail lovers we supply the spirits and 24 syrups to mix it all up with. Opening the shop is a big adventure for us and we hope that you all will come to join us on it. We would be very happy to see you at 10 Wells Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1HZ.
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Traveller’s Tales: The American Mid West: Native American by John Power Apart from a school trip as a teenager, I’d never been out of the British Isles until I was 40. With the expense that goes with having young kids, holidays tended to be the bucket and spade variety, but when my father, Ted, married again at the age of 73 and moved to the US a new chapter began in my life. My parents had long separated and after my mother died, five years later my father was technically free to marry again. He didn’t intend to do that but aged 72 he was contacted by an old girlfriend from before World War II who he had lost contact with during the time of conflict. Alice had married a GI after the war and first gone to New York with her husband and gradually moved west to a place called Colorado Springs 60 miles south-west of Denver, the state capital of Colorado. When she came to England to visit relatives she had, by this time, outlived two husbands. She wrote to Ted’s employers from wartime and they traced him for her through pension records. So she got in touch, Ted visited her in London, then went to the States, came back, settled up his business and went back to live in in Colorado. As they were both retired and I was still working, at first they visited over here, but as what could have been a fairytale began to turn into a nightmare, it was me who had to do the travelling. The altitude of the Rocky Mountains did not agree with Ted’s lifestyle change as the air is thinner there. Denver is known as Mile High City as that is how far above sea level it is. At first he got emphysema and then, with less oxygen to feed his brain, Altzeimer’s disease began to take hold. Fortunately, as I was working as an art teacher, the school summer holidays provided a good opportunity for family visits, although it did begin with an initiation by fire when it came to airlines: My first (ever) flight was coming in from Germany to Heathrow and running four hours late. So when it arrived in New York it was even later and I’d missed my connecting flight to Denver. The airline put myself and fellow passengers with the same problem up in a hotel, the Hilton, which was not as grand as the name suggests except for the $50 charge to connect the phone to the room (balance refundable). At first I rang Colorado Springs and found myself talking to a workman fixing Alice’s roof. He said she had gone to Denver to meet her stepson off of a plane (me), but although she was stopping at my stepbrother Mike’s family home, he didn’t know the phone number. The next bright idea was to ring England where I had two lodgers staying in my house and where I thought Alice and Ted might ring. After a while they rang back to say that they had rung Denver Airport. The airport wouldn’t announce the message about the onward flight details over the PA, but did use it to ask for Alice and Ted to go to an office where the message was given to them. So after scant sleep in the City That Never Sleeps and breakfast, I found myself with other passengers on the Kennedy Airport Hilton minibus - complete with bullet holes in the side panels - en route to La Guardia Airport where the re-arranged flight was to leave from. The journey was certainly an eye-opener; not the high-rise heaven that tourists see, but rather the sort of neighbourhoods that TV cops speed through chasing criminals at breakneck speed. The most open air apartment I saw was under a flyover, on a roundabout by a second hand furniture warehouse. Next to the warehouse was a dump of unsaleable furniture, and an enterprising hobo had taken from it a carpet and a three-piece-suite to the roundabout and arranged it like a living room and lay asleep on the settee at 10am as we drove past. As he was doing no harm (and maybe even was a tourist attraction) the police hadn’t bothered to annoy him with vagrancy charges. The second leg of the flight journey managed to go without any further hitches and to my amazement I found Alice and Ted waiting to greet me at the gate at Denver Airport that afternoon. Mike and his wife Lynne lived in a suburb of Denver called Lakewood (big enough to have its own postal town status) in a bungalow half above ground and half at cellar level for heat considerations, with a decent size garden. So there was plenty of room for me as well as Ted and Alice. After dinner Mike drove me up into the mountains to discuss Ted’s future. Mike had the idea of getting him back to England so that he could benefit from all the NHS contributions he had paid into the system. When I returned to England to research
such matters, I found that Margaret Thatcher had counterwise been inspired by the American private medicine system and set up a system that expected people to spend their savings and assets to a low level before getting any benefit from their contributions - and only when all was spent did full benefits kick in (it’s got worse since).
As he had not paid into US health insurance Ted was between stools. Mike had failed to discus his ideas with Alice and she had no intention of letting him return to England and would instead prefer to spend their savings and pensions for his support. The car that Mike and I were in had come to a stop at Buffalo Bill’s grave as the sun was setting and lights came on all over Denver as far as the eye could see, from horizon to horizon of the plains. I asked Mike where Denver stood in the league of city sizes in the States and he said “about 15th...”! The following day when Alice drove Ted and myself to Colorado Springs we passed the equivalent to West Point Military Academy as we drove into town, the USAF Airforce Academy on the plains and up to the mountains. The mountains also boasted the world’s highest cog railway up Pike’s Peak, named after old time soldier Zebulon Pike. The town had grown up as a military town near the airbase. Most noticeable in this connection were the aerial masts on top of the ironically named Cheyanne Mountain, which no Native American would be proud of: A hollowed out peak with all the spy monitors of the Cold War along with many of the missiles to be launched in the event of nuclear war. Mrs Thatcher had visited the complex while I was on my first visit. Newshounds found an Englishman to interview about this for local TV. He said: “I came all this way to get away from her and she follows me here.” I knew how he felt. Alice’s bungalow was a similar layout to Mike’s with two levels, but more old Western style with ample land waiting to be gobbled up by developers and plenty of room for me as well as her and Ted. In the mountains above the town was Ute Pass, an old Indian trail that the Ute Indians had established as they followed the buffalo migration from the plains up into the mountains and on to Utah, that bears the Indian name. Cheyanne, Arapaho and Commanche roamed the local plains too. While Lakota Sioux tribes (who took on and defeated General Custer when he attacked a far bigger settlement than he expected at Greasy Grass - or the Little Bighorn as the white incomers called it), Blackfeet, Crow, Pawnee and other tribes roamed farther north in Dakota and Wyoming. The sites of the largest one-time Indian reservations are South of Colorado and neighbouring states of New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. With mainly Pueblo tribes like the Navajo, Hopi, Zuni and Apache, with the Utes mostly in Utah, and some in Southern Colorado. All have been forced into farming on poor desert soil since their freedom to roam and hunt has been lost. It was the plains Indians who suffered most in the clash of cultures that ruined their way of life, as greed for mineral wealth and enclosure of land enforced by the army created the holocaust of 100,000,000 native lives lost - even the Nazis did not surpass this. There is a wealth of rock dwelling remains on the fringes of the mountains from who are called the Anaszsi, the Ancient Ones. Rock is a longer lasting building material than teepees, wikiups and mud brick buildings. Often these dwellings were in cliff overhangs for defensive purposes. As my interests did not cover Micky Mouse or hambugers, there was clearly plenty to explore - but more of that in part 2.
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Music and Blues in the City by Nick Garner So much has been happening since the last Moulsham Times and I have written about it all in the latest edition of the City Times, which you can find in supermarkets and other places in and around Chelmsford. With that in mind, I will touch briefly on the gigs we had.
My Blues in the City Festival was fantastic and if you caught any of it I am sure you will probably agree. I must thank Jan, who I could not do it without, as well as all the helpers and artists who played and of course, the venues for hosting - and all of you who came and enjoyed and supported the festival. We do not have a total yet for our chosen charity, the Remus Horse Sanctuary, but when we do we will let you know. Paul and myself and Chelmsford City FC put on the Trembling Wilburys. They were fantastic and went down really well and we had a packed house who were up and dancing and having a great time. This is a great venue for live music, so do give it a go - you can find adverts in this magazine for what we have coming up. Jamie Williams launched his solo album at the Bassment and we played it in its entirety. It was a great night that went down really well, with most of the people who played on the album playing on the night - it worked really well with trumpet and cello and all. We have all said we would love to do it again sometime, so watch this space. The other Wednesday we had top songwriter and musician Boo Hewerdine at the Bassment. He has a great voice and plays guitar really well as well as writing memorable songs like Patience of Angels - a big hit for Eddi Reader. He is also a very funny man having also done some stand up in the past. Boo was joined by Rob Peters on snare drum and vocals and also adding to the comedy of the night. The support was Jamie Williams on guitar and vocals, Kev ‘The Rock’ Warner on bass and myself on harmonicas. We had a lot of fun and the audience seemed to enjoy the whole night, which was fantastic. There are a few gigs coming up that I am involved with and you can
find the adverts in this publication. At Chelmsford City FC on the 11th November we have the Dylan Project, a ‘supergroup’ with Steve Gibbons, Dave Pegg, Gerry Conway, PJ Wright and Phil Bond who will be playing Bob Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde album in its entirety on the night as it is now 50 years old, along with some of Dylan’s other hits. This is also the first gig of the tour and they only play a few shows every year so do not miss out. It is said that this is the band Bob Dylan would have loved to have had behind him. Supporting we have the wonderful Big Joe Bone playing a mix of blues and bluegrass, who if you have not seen before we know you will enjoy. At the Bassment on Wednesday 16th November we have the Robin Bibi band. Robin played for us at the festival with his band a couple of years ago and also as a duo at the Bassment. They are a really great and entertaining band who have played with some top musicians over the years. Supporting them will be our very own Joe Anderton playing a rare solo acoustic set. There are two other shows worth mentioning that are coming up just as the December edition comes out. At Chelmsford FC on Friday 3rd December, we have Who’s Next, who have been called the number one tribute to The Who. They will be supported by The Jam Project. Back at the Bassment on the 7th December will be Richard and Valerie Hayes of Bad Influence, with support from Mississippi MacDonald. There is lots going on in and around Chelmsford all of the time with places like Intense Records holding regular record fairs at the Ale House once a month on a Saturday - if you have not been you should. The Bassment has regular live music nights with different genres, such as Shakey Sessions, Americana and jazz funk nights and not forgetting the monthly Blues Jam on the first Thursday of each month. They often have special guest DJs also, such as Dave Rowntree of Blur. There’s also Asylum, which host a variety of nights from acoustic to punk and metal, with acts coming from all around the world to play. Not to forget all the pubs like the Star and Garter, the Black Horse, The Ale House and the Fleece who all put on regular live music. There are lots of other places putting on live music and open mic and jam nights in and around our city. You can find out much of what is going on each month by looking in the City Times. To be kept up to date with everything happening, pick up your free copy of the City Times today or go online at www.issuu.com/ itsyourmedia. As ever, please do try to come out and support the live music scene, if you do not - we may lose it. www.bluesinthecity.co.uk www.facebook.com/bluesinthecitychelmsford twitter @BluesintheCity1 www.itsyourmusic.co.uk www.facebook.com/itsyourmusic twitter @itsyourmusic
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What Do You Believe About Yourself? By Mark Roberts Do you ever sit and dream about your future, or maybe hanker after something that you really want to do or maybe always wanted to do? You’re just really into it, putting together a plan in your head, wallowing in the glory of your success. Then you have that reality check and reluctantly come to the conclusion that it just can’t be done, because there is a major hurdle standing in your way preventing you from taking action, holding you back?
You settle on the understanding that such dreams are only available to others; those who have the necessary qualifications, upbringing, or money. You don’t believe that you’re up to it - and it just isn’t possible for someone with your background. The notion is hastily shuffled off to the recesses of your mind, dismissed for what it really is - wishful thinking, a fantasy moment. So you consign it to the mental waste zone of ‘if only’, where it sits in waiting until it resurfaces at some point in the future. When it returns - and it always does - often during a moment of quiet reflection, it catches you unawares with full force. Once again you turn it over in your mind and reconsider the fantasy, soaking up the possibilities, re-living the dream. Then you mentally recall your last conversation with yourself and remember why you abandoned the idea. You realise that nothing has changed and you once again consign it to your mental recycling bin. Why does this happen? Well, it happens because the barrier blocking you from taking action is linked to your own personal belief system: In short, that barrier is you - you are getting in your own way! From the moment you are born, you begin to create and develop your own personal belief system. Of course, as an infant you have no way of rationalising the things that are going on around you; the things you hear, see and experience. You do however soak them all up and they get filed for later reference. You begin to develop your understanding of the immediate world that surrounds you and your place in it. As time goes by in your early years, before school, your experiences are reinforced by similar ones, providing further evidence that your understanding is correct, simultaneously corroborating what you believe about your world. As you grow and mature, so does your knowledge of the world around you and you have new and more complex experiences. You will also
be subject to received wisdom from your parents, teachers and other authorities, which will continue to develop your personal belief system about who you are and where you fit in to the great scheme of things. You will continue to subconsciously develop your personal belief system throughout your lifetime, through further experiences, your association with others and shared ideas, Intuitive personal insights and a plethora of other influences. Importantly however, over the years you will have developed a great number of core and seemingly immovable beliefs about yourself. These will not only include strong beliefs about your identity, your place in the world and society generally, but also what you believe is possible for you: Here lies the crux of the issue… When you bring this all back to your dreams you can begin to understand why you may never get started on them. Some of your core beliefs may be holding you back, particularly if you have a background that has set you up for more moderate expectations in life - you may just not believe in yourself enough. You may not believe that you are worthy of such success. You don’t even think about making a start. So what can you do about it? Well, it is worth taking stock of your strongly held beliefs and reassess them. Perhaps some of them are a bit out of date and no longer relevant to who you have now become. Beliefs are very closely linked to your core values, which are the principles that guide you through your life. It is worth noting that it can be helpful to identify your core values and what they mean to you. A review of your values and beliefs will bring you much greater personal awareness. With awareness you will develop an understanding that maybe things can be different for you and this will open the door to greater possibilities. There are plenty of personal developments books on the market that will tell you how easy it is to change long-held beliefs with a few simple mental practices. Neurolinguistic programming (NLP) techniques and hypnotherapy can be of valuable assistance in making changes and there is no harm in trying them. In fact, I recommend it - whatever works for you is good! My personal view is that belief systems can often be stubborn and resist change. This is because they are so deeply ingrained having been developed over a lifetime. Shifting beliefs often requires a more direct approach. Because your beliefs have been established through experiences and other influences and reinforced over time, a direct approach can help in challenging those beliefs that are currently limiting you. By directly challenging your belief system through action, you have an opportunity to prove that they may not true for you any longer. This is achieved by taking step-by-step action to counter them. A coach will help you to identify your core values and any limiting beliefs that you hold. Coaching will help you to identify your long-held dream more fully, adding both colour and texture and putting legs on them by identifying the action required - a step-by-step action. In no time you will be overcoming your limiting beliefs and forming new and more helpful ones. You will soon be believing something new about your capabilities and your place in the world. to your success…
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Wine Corner
Hello all, I hope the cold weather has not come as too much of a surprise. I have to wear a coat when I walk to get the daily paper now - only a couple of weeks ago it was shorts and a tee shirt. Anyway, winter is officially here. As I walked to the paper shop this morning, I was triggering outside lights! Shirley Shiraz has been on one of her trips again, but this time to the Amalfi coast in Italy, where she tasted some lovely wines, but only from small vineyards that do not generally export. What she did find, however, was an artisian-liquor workshop. It is a business that has been in the same family for ages and they produce a range of fruit products using secret recipes. One of my favourites is limoncello, which is made from, well, lemons. It is very sweet and very drinkable! They also make liquors from other fruits and even walnuts and herbs. I would have to taste those before buying any, I think. Shirley visited a wine area called Campina in southern Italy. It was only introduced as a DOC in 1995 and is centred around three coastal villages, Furore, Ravello and Tramonti. Red Costa d’Amalfi wine can only be called riserva if it comes from these villages. With limited production of the wines in the area, marketing opportunities are there for more well known grape varieties like Merlot, Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon, all of which could be grown in the type of soil found here.
inhabitants and it is bordered by Italy (hence the Ribolla link) Austria, Hungry and Croatia if that helps. I still haven’t got a clue. Although Slovene is the official language, Slavic, Hungarian Romance and Germanic are also spoken by some of the population. It must be very confusing with all those languages, I find it difficult to follow some of the local accents in the UK, let alone trying any one of five languages! As with so many countries, it was occupied by the Romans who, as usual, had an influence in wine making when they turned up. Wine was produced well before then, though. The country is said to be the home of the oldest grapevine and today there are over 28,000 wineries, 75% of which produce white wines. The main wine regions are the Padravje, including the Drava Valley, Posavje, with the Lower Sava Valley and Primorska (Primorje) where you find Slovenian Litterol where most of the red wine is produced. There are about 80 million litres produced each year and I read that most of that production is consumed domestically. Seems they like their own wine. Much like wines in western Germany, a lot of the vines are grown on slopes and therefore have to be harvested manually, not an easy job!
Not surprisingly, the Romans had a hand in the wine making in the area.
I have researched the availability of these wines and they are available in the UK, with the premium brands at quite high prices. It is definitely worth keeping a look out for these wines and waiting for a bargain.
The area’s most prolific grape is Aglianico, derived from the Greek grape, Hellenic. The wines made from these grapes are very suitable for keeping.
There are lots of caravan sites in the country and I am going to investigate a holiday in the near future and maybe visit a few vineyards!
Is anyone else becoming increasingly confused over some of the television programmes on at the moment? There are three crime series on each week and I struggle to follow them. One, The Missing, keeps going back into the past, one minute it’s 2016, then is switches to 2014, then back to 2016. All this is complicated by a detective who keeps remembering stuff from another case. Good television, but I think I am feeling my age. I have to record these episodes so that I can watch them the next day and keep rewinding when I get lost. Good TV though. I was especially confused with two other series, Paranoid and The Level. During the first week of the series I could not understand why one minute the lead detective was suffering from panic attacks, but in the next programme, he was OK. It turns out that it’s two brothers playing different characters in each one. Now, I am sure that they are not twins, but they do look very alike. Well they may not if you saw them together... You know what I mean. Talk about confusing. Not only do I have to try to follow the plot, I also get the characters mixed up. Again, both well written and interesting, but I am beginning to think the production companies are out to confuse me! It’s working...
Bin end chuckes
This week we popped over to Calais to stock up. What a mistake that was. Having got over there and finished our shopping, we got stranded because of an electrical fault in the tunnel. We were delayed for six hours and got home at 11.15pm. The things I do for a bottle of cheap wine! Back to the wine. I visited one of the large wine merchants in the city for a tasting evening. Lots of lovely wines to taste. One was especially nice, a Sauvignon Ribolla Gialla blend from Slovenia. The latter is an Italian grape grown in the northeast of that country, but also grown in Slovenia. The grape is thought to have originated in Greece, in the 13th century, so I guess that’s not a New World grape. In the 19th century the grapes were affected by phylloxera, a pest that feeds on the roots and leaves of vines and destroys them. This resulted in a massive reduction of the Ribolla grape. It was not until early in the 21st century that production was increased and resulted in a popular grape. Lovely. Slovenia is in Central Europe, and I have got to say I get a bit mixed up with the counties around there. There are just over 2 million 22
I can keep secrets, it’s the people who I tell who don’t seem able to. Keep calm and carry on drinking (in moderation).
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Saturday 3rd December 2016 At Chelmsford City Football Club, Salerno Way, Chelmsford, CM1 2EH - Doors 7.30pm
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It was around this time last year that the first Rucksack Project event took place in Chelmsford. Friends and I worked hard spreading the word around Chelmsford, encouraging members of the community to fill a rucksack with a sleeping bag, warm clothes and items that would help a homeless person throughout the winter. It was Saturday 14th November at midday when we opened the doors at The Methodist Church in Hall Street and people started coming in with rucksacks. It wasn’t long before the hall was crowded with members of the community constantly streaming in with rucksacks and homeless people having a cuppa and choosing a rucksack to take away. It was nonstop all afternoon as we watched the pile of rucksacks grow and grow.
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By the end of the day we had about 300 rucksacks full of items, this far exceeded our expectations and proved how, when galvanised, what a wonderful and generous community we have in Chelmsford. On the day, we handed out over 20 rucksacks to homeless people and over the following weeks and months we helped many more. We personally distributed many rucksacks in the city and made friends with many homeless people and had some wonderful comments of appreciation. It’s not only the warm clothes that a homeless person gets, it’s knowing that so many people in Chelmsford care enough to make an effort to show it. Due to the amazing response, we were able to help homeless people in Colchester, Maldon, Enfield, Harlow, Braintree, Southend and Basildon. In Chelmsford, Sanctus played a big part giving rucksacks out to many homeless people who visit there daily to get warm food in a dry environment. Everybody involved in The Rucksack Project has made a difference, so from the organisers, we thank you all. As the nights draw in it’s getting colder outside and we’re running The Rucksack Project Chelmsford again this year at the same place, The Methodist Church in Hall Street just off Moulsham Street. The doors will open at midday on 3rd December and we welcome everyone to come along with a rucksack full of items that will benefit a homeless person. This is a community project and we welcome you to stay and help out or relax and have a cuppa and a chat. We are looking for help making a cup of tea and welcoming people as they arrive, or helping get the rucksacks to storage as the event comes to a close at 5pm. As most of the organisers live in Old Moulsham it would be great if we had storage in the area, if you can help, please contact us. The Rucksack Project Facebook page is www.facebook.com/ TheRucksackProjectChelmsford, please visit us there, this is where you’ll see the link to The Rucksack Project Chelmsford Event; like and share the page and event and let us know if you can help in any way. We look forward to meeting you on 3rd December.
By mid-afternoon we realised the enormity of the situation - where were we going to store so many rucksacks? Abid, the owner of Sofia, the Turkish restaurant on Springfield Road, came to the rescue. He let us store all of the rucksacks there all year. A big thank you to Abid who showed what a great community spirt he has.
From the organisers - a big thank you for making this community project an amazing success, let’s see if we can surpass the 300 rucksacks total this year. Dan
The Gospel According to Caroline Most of us like to have things to look forward to and enjoy surprises and marking big moments in our lives. As seasons change it can often cause us to reflect, or spur us on to try something new. As spring turns to summer and then to autumn, we can feel the need to change. With the approach of November many of us will be enjoying bonfire and fireworks displays at home, or in our local area. We ‘oohh’ and ‘aahh’ at the magnificent displays as they explode into the dark sky into a myriad of bright colours and loud bangs.
Some of us, even those who have held a strong faith for many years, still look for tangible signs to show us that God is there for us and with us. However, the reality is that what we often feel is a loving, quiet sense of peace. Few would confess to witnessing thunderbolt moments or having visible signs. So if you are at the beginning of your faith journey or a seasoned traveller, do not feel you have failed if you do not experience that. Instead remember that it is less important how God speaks to us than that we do with what He says. The gospel is a gentle voice of love, grace and mercy, of peace, pardon and righteousness. Be ready to listen and hear His still quiet voice in the calmness of the everyday. To find out what we exciting things are happening at Christ Church, visit our Facebook page: Christ Church URC Chelmsford, or our website: www.christchurchchelmsfordurc.org.uk. We also organise activities with St John’s, Moulsham Street and information can be found at: www.stjohnsmoulsham.org.uk.
At The Anchor This November November 5th Fireworks Night with BBQ November 12th 80s Night Fancy Dress Disco Night Prize for the best costume 151 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, CM2 0LD Phone: 01245 250865
Caroline Brown, Church Family and Community Worker, Christ Church United Reformed Church.
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The two images are similar but there are 10 differences, can you find them all. Answers page 31.
Ami’s Diary I started writing Ami’s Diary over 3 years ago. At that time, I had completed my first professional paid job as a voiceover artist for Ben 10, had auditioned for the West End and just been filmed in the Muppets Most Wanted with Kermit the Frog. I had acted in several short films, completed various modelling assignments and featured in three music videos.
Since then, I’ve seen myself appear on the cinema screen and TV, I’ve performed on stage at several theatres, including the O2, Royal Albert Hall and the Adelphi with Theatretrain, I’ve started high school and joined the Weston School of Dance. I’ve acted as a zombie in special FX makeup and appeared on the Tiny Tots Talent Agency which was on Channel 4 this year. I missed out on a couple of big breaks - one was when I was pencilled in to act in the film In the Heart of the Sea with Chris Hemsworth, which was directed by Ron Howard. The other was when I was nearly cast as Susan in Swallows and Amazons, which was shown at the cinema this year. I know not many actors get their big break. I hope one day I do. But for now, I really need to concentrate on working hard for my GCSEs, rehearse for several shows I’m performing in and pass my dance exams. I’ve got so much I want to do well at, that I have decided that this will be the last article I write for the Moulsham Times. I’ve really enjoyed writing it and I hope everyone has enjoyed reading it too. If my big break comes, I’ll let you know - or maybe you’ll recognise me walking the red carpet, but for now I’d just like to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported me on my journey so far…
Family Friendly Jokes What did the frog order at the diner? French flies and a Diet Croak! What animal can jump higher than a house? Any animal - a house can’t jump! What do you get when you cross a parrot and a centipede? A walkie-talkie! What nails do carpenters hate hammering? Fingernails! What runs but never walks? Water! What kind of button can’t be bought from a tailor? A belly button! Why are horses such lousy dancers? They have two left feet! What do camels have that no other animal has? Baby camels!
We would like to thank Ami for all her articles over the last 3+ years and wish her best of luck for the future!
Random Facts About Firework Night The earliest documentation of fireworks dates back to 7th century; they were invented more than 2,000 years ago in China. China is the largest manufacturer and exporter of fireworks in the world. 90% of all fireworks originate from here. The first recorded fireworks in England were at the wedding of King Henry VII in 1486. The largest firework rocket is 13kg and was produced and launched in Portugal in 2010. Queen Elizabeth was so fascinated with fireworks that she created an honorary title, Fire Master of England, for the individual who created the best fireworks. The word for firework in Japanese, ‘hanabi’, www.moulshamtimes.com
which actually means ‘fire-flower’. A rocket can reach speeds of 150mph, however the shell can reach as high as 200 metres. A sparkler burns at a temperature over 15 times the boiling point of water. Three sparklers burning together generate the same heat as a blowtorch. When your sparkler goes out, put it in a bucket of water. France uses fireworks to celebrate Bastille Day and celebrate storming the prison of Bastille. At first fireworks were only orange and white. In the Middle Ages new colours were achieved by adding different salts. The hardest colour to create is blue.
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27
All About Moulsham Lodge & Tile Kiln
Cllr Mark Springett - Moulsham Lodge Ward
No. 45 Bus Have you seen this poster? No neither have a lot of people around Essex and it has major implications for the No. 45 bus. Essex County Council ran a Local Bus Network Review Consultation which ran from the 4th August to the 28th September, but unfortunately for us it wasn’t advertised very thoroughly in Moulsham Lodge. The proposal is that the last scheduled bus Monday through to - and including - Saturday is removed, this means the last bus into the city is 21.30 and the last bus home to Moulsham Lodge is 22.17. This will have a significant effect on for instance, people attending an evening performance at the Civic Theatre who will no longer be able to catch a bus home. I have entered into dialogue with Essex County Council and will report back next month with any feedback.
raised the issue at senior levels and we are awaiting a reply (16th October) - Essex County Council cannot easily find a replacement and the position has been advertised for a while now. There has been sporadic cover from a mobile unit, but this is far from satisfactory and we have made it quite clear to the powers that be that we are extremely concerned and this needs to be addressed quickly. Hopefully by the time this goes to print we will have a solution. Recycling - Bin Collections I know Cllr Dick Madden has mentioned it this month but there has been a lot of activity on social media concerning the proposed fortnightly changes to the black bin collections and predictably, it has mostly been unpopular. Chelmsford households still generate one of the highest rates of residual waste in the country, in fact I believe we are in the top ten worst councils for residual waste. My main concern will be large households, will even the largest black bins be enough? At tomorrow’s Cabinet meeting (18th October) I will be voicing my concerns as the Shadow Cabinet member for the Lib Dems for Waste & Parks. I’ll report back next month. Incidentally if you have Twitter, any issues on Moulsham Lodge just tweet me or just include ‘Moulsham Lodge’ in the tweet. I have a tool which picks up anything mentioned about Moulsham Lodge. Thanks, Mark Find me on Twitter (@markspringett), or on Facebook www.facebook. com/Cllr.Mark.Springett. Email mark.springett@chelmsford.gov.uk and phone 07411 808 731 (txt for callback).
2nd Chelmsford Girls’ and Boys’ Brigade
It’s now been several weeks since we started back after the summer break. The session started with a fun autumn based evening for the 5-11 year olds on the first Tuesday back and a get together of the 11-18s who were at our annual camp in the summer to watch the camp video on the first Friday back. We were also joined by our friends at 7th Chelmsford BB, Springfield, who had camped with us. Each group has been doing exciting things since then, ranging from baking, clay making, marble painting and building a trebuchet to organising a successful money raising barn dance. The older boys (11-18) have also had a weekend camp at Skreens Park. We are really pleased that all sections have increased their numbers and there is a lively 20 or so girls and boys on a Tuesday evening. It’s lovely to see them all. Meanwhile, the No. 45 is still having significant reliability issues, especially at peak times where on occasion two buses in a row have not turned up. This has severe implications for people turning up for work late and students being late for school. If you are affected by bus issues please please complain as they all add up to form a view for the Traffic Commissioner, because if you remember, First Buses have been reprimanded by the Commissioner for their poor performance, so any evidence of continuing issues needs to be reported. If you have a Twitter account then complain via Twitter - big organisations don’t like public complaints. Their Twitter account is @FirstEssex make sure you put ‘No. 45’ and ‘Moulsham Lodge’ in your tweet, that way I can pick up all of these issues and present it as evidence. Thanks. Crossing Patrol - Gloucester Avenue Parents have contacted me and I have become aware of issues on social media concerning the lack of a crossing patrol on Gloucester Avenue, this is a very dangerous road where we have speeding problems as well. I have contacted our County Councillor who has 28
On the first Sunday in the month we have our monthly Church Parades and the next one in November is our enrolment service where we officially welcome all our new members and renew our promises for the year ahead.
Life T M Hack
Don’t burn yourself when lighting candles. Light a stick of spaghetti and light the wick with it.
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Moulsham Lodge Community Trust Breakfast with Santa - Santa’s Grotto & Christmas Craft Market
in our heated marquee, so come along and pick up a few gifts for Christmas. We will also be selling mince pies with a complimentary mulled wine along with other refreshments all day. Santa’s grotto will be from 12.30 - 4pm, so please come and visit us and have a magical time. Our Macmillan Coffee Morning was a great success, thank you for coming along and helping us raise just under £300. This month saw The Community Station become the filming location for Jordan Gray’s new single Platinum, the first single released under her own name and her first official release since appearing on The Voice UK. We wish her every success and remember, watch out for the video - the release date is 25th November.
Come and have breakfast with Santa on Saturday 3rd December and enjoy a cooked or continental breakfast as well, all children will receive a present from Santa (included in the price) - choose from 2 time slots, 9am or 10.30am. Each slot is an hour long and Santa will come and visit each child and have a chat along with the elves serving breakfast and playing with the children. It will be in our decorated fixed marquee which will be heated as well. Bookings via the website, www.mlct.org.uk. Prices are £5 per person.
Contact: enquiries@mlct.org.uk, www.mlct.org.uk, 07411 808 731 or search for us on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram.
We will also have our much loved Santa’s Grotto back again for the second year. Come and write your letter to Santa in the elves’ workshop with the help of Santa’s elves (because only they know the magic address!) and then go in and visit Santa, all for £3. Or if you have a tiny one who can’t write a letter, it’s £1.50 to just go and see Santa himself. As well as Santa’s Grotto, we will be hosting a Christmas Craft Market
Tile Kiln Corner by Linda Mascot
Every other Friday at Tile Kiln Church, Robin Way, a group of dedicated volunteers headed up by Mary Wood serve a 2 course home cooked meal to around 80 elderly, local residents from nearby Moulsham Lodge and Tile Kiln. I’ve seen first hand the support and friendship offered as my 85 year old mum has been going for the past 4 years since my dad was diagnosed with dementia and then moved into a specialist care home. She had made new friends and really enjoys listening to a variety of speakers and singing some familiar hymns. If you are on your own or know someone who is and would like more information, please ring Mary on 07780 334 664.
Mary Wood and Pat Starr at Food on Friday at Tile Kiln Church Mascotlinda@gmail.com Twitter: @lindamascot www.moulshamtimes.com
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Jack Petchey Foundation recognises young people in Chelmsford and Maldon for amazing achievements An amazing 87 young people from schools and clubs across Chelmsford and Maldon came together to receive prestigious Jack Petchey Foundation Achievement Awards presented at the Civic Theatre, Chelmsford on Thursday 13th October.
The event honoured Achievement Award winners aged 11-25 who received medallions to go with their framed certificate and a cheque for £250 each, already presented. They were nominated by their peers and leaders, winning awards for a variety of achievements big and small but always for doing their best. In addition, five adults were also celebrated with Leader Awards who have demonstrated in an outstanding way an ability to motivate young people. They received a medallion and a framed certificate. Youth organisations and schools in Chelmsford and Maldon have received funding of £596,418 from the Jack Petchey Foundation since funding started in 2007. Councillor Patricia Hughes, Mayor of Chelmsford said: “It was wonderful to be part of this evening’s celebrations and to see the positive contributions made by so many schools in Chelmsford and Maldon. I was impressed with the number of young people working and supporting their local communities, just as Sir Jack wanted. “Everyone should be very proud of these young people and what they have achieved. Well done everyone who won an award, it is an amazing achievement.” Winners included Ashlea Lacey, aged 16, who attends Plume School in Maldon. Ashlea is a role model for others combining academic success with a love of sport and music. She is a member of the school band and performs regularly in concerts and in the community. Outside of school she has been awarded the Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award and successfully completed a RYA Sailing Certificate Level 3. In a volunteer capacity Ashlea has become a Youth Health Champion and International Ambassador. Known for her caring attitude among her peer group and her teachers, she also mentors at the local Fellowship Afloat Charitable Trust. There, she helps younger students who have not have had many opportunities. Ashlea decided to spend her £250 Jack Petchey Foundation Achievement Award on a music workshop for Key Stage 3 students. For further information contact Plume School’s Jack Petchey Foundation Co-ordinator, Brian Collen at b.collen@plume.essex.sch. uk, or on 01621 854 681. Annabel Sweeney, aged 11, goes to Chelmsford County High School in Chelmsford. Annabel has shown unerring support of fundraising during the refugee crisis. She has even taken an active part during unsocial hours helping to ready a caravan that was provided to unaccompanied migrant children in Calais. Annabel has decided to split her £250 Jack Petchey Foundation Achievement Award between her school’s technology and chemistry departments. Having spoken to the relevant subject leaders, Annabel decided that money for technology should be used to purchase a new sewing machine supporting students in their years 7-11 textiles work. The money for chemistry will be used to purchase new molecular modelling kits, which will benefit students across all year groups. For further information contact Chelmsford County High School’s Jack Petchey Foundation Co-ordinator, Stephen Lawlor at slawlor@cchs. essex.sch.uk or on 01245 352 592. Millie Morgan, aged 16, is a student at Moulsham High School in Chelmsford. Millie has spent the last three years fundraising and assisting at the Little Edi Foundation which supports disadvantaged
communities in Romania. She has even volunteered in Romania in her holiday time, helping children and families trying to improve their conditions. Millie decided to spend her £250 Jack Petchey Foundation Achievement Award on equipment and resources for her school. For further information contact Moulsham High School’s Jack Petchey Foundation Co-ordinator, Susan Bacon at sbacon@moulshamhigh.org or on 01245 260 101. Colin State, aged 13, attends Chelmer Valley High School in Chelmsford. Colin State was described by his school as ‘a real star’. He has been learning piano and reached Grade 4 whilst also winning medals in national ballroom dancing competitions. Working hard in school and he has started doing a German GCSE through supported self study and at the same time is incredibly supportive of his sister, who has learning difficulties and has been ill recently. Colin decided to spend her £250 Jack Petchey Foundation Achievement Award on equipment and resources for his school. For further information contact Chelmer Valley High School’s Jack Petchey Foundation Co-ordinator, Ben Storey at bstorey@chelmer. essex.sch.uk or on 01245 440 232. Ben Stotter, aged 17, goes to Columbus School & College in Chelmsford which supports students with special needs. Ben has been really engaging with community learning and had a real interest in the subject of rambling. He has started to recognise and learn signs out in the local community to help keep him and his friends safe and has started to take the lead when walking in more familiar areas. Ben also took part in his first ever educational visit with Columbus to Tenerife and overcame his biggest fear of heights at the water park. Ben decided to spend his £250 Jack Petchey Foundation Achievement Award on equipment and resources for his school. For further information contact Columbus School & College’s Jack Petchey Foundation Co-ordinator, Tracey Plane at tplane@ columbusschoolandcollege.org or 01245 258 667. Charlotte Harris, aged 13, is part of Maldon Sharks Swimming Club. Charlotte is a great club member and is always showing encouragement to her peers and inspiring the younger swimmers. The dedication Charlotte has shown in her training has enabled her to enter the Essex Group Championships in several events for the last four years and this year went on to compete in her first regional swimming championships. Charlotte is also the Girls Swimming Captain for Great Baddow High School and competes in regular swimming galas. Charlotte decided to reward her club by using the £250 Jack Petchey Foundation Achievement Award on a late summer barbeque. For further information contact the club’s Jack Petchey Foundation Co-ordinator, Mrs Kulwinder Chahil at kkchahil@aol.com or on 07515 542 565. Sir Jack founded the Jack Petchey Foundation in 1999 to recognise the positive contributions young people make to society and to support them in achieving their potential. Since then it has provided support to a wide range of 2,000 initiatives supporting young people across London and Essex and has reached a milestone investing £100m. Sir Jack Petchey CBE aged 91, said: “I am passionate about our awards scheme which enables young people to be recognised, valued and rewarded for their achievements and positive contributions to society.”
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