Thorpe bay feb 2014

Thorpe Bay

February 2014

ORACLE Thorpe Bay at a glance Est. Sept 2005. Circulation 5,100

Oracle Competition

WIN! Two people dine at the Southend Holiday Inn's 1935 Rooftop Restaurant & Bar - Value ÂŁ60

Local Issues

Boris Island - Resurrection of an old idea

Travel Expert

Elephant Hills Thailand adventure

Recipe Page

Creamy Chicken Gratin

Oracle Exclusive Vouchers See page 11

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FEBRUARY 2014

10% OFF TAKEAWAY ON COLLECTION ONLY

Thorpe Bay

OR ACLE

publisher’s letter

T

his month Oracle has some great ideas, offers and information, something for everyone. Jim Worsdale takes the stand again and has written this month’s local issues on the not so new idea of Boris Island. Visit Thailand’s Elephant Hills with Melanie Williams or perhaps interior design is your thing, read about some style secrets from Samantha Gundy…….and lots more!

Another fabulous competition this month that offers two lucky people the chance to dine either for lunch or dinner at the Southend Holiday Inn’s 1935 Rooftop Restaurant & Bar to the value of £60 (food only). This restaurant is the only rooftop restaurant and bar in Essex and offers traditional food with a modern twist.

You will be able to experience the panoramic views of London Southend airport and the surrounding Essex countryside. For further information on the restaurant and bar please visit their website on www.hisouthend.com

SPECIAL VALENTINE’S NIGHT

Finest Bangladeshi and Indian Cuisine 84/86 West Road, Shoeburyness, Essex SS3 9DS

To enter please send your contact details to: Oracle/1935 Rooftop Restaurant & Bar, 39 Alexandra Street, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS1 1BW or email info@oraclepublications.co.uk closing date 25th February 2014.

Good Luck!

01702 294721 /293989

Emma Wynne-Morgan Publisher

01702 393838

Open 7 days a week

39 Alexandra Street, Southend, Essex SS1 1BW

www.oraclepublications.co.uk info@oraclepublications.co.uk

www.twitter.com/oracle_essex www.facebook.com/oraclepublications

12-3pm & 6-12pm

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Printed by EVONPRINT, Small Dole, Sussex 01273 494631 FEBRUARY 2014

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ORACLE PLUMBING & HEATING

contents Local Issues Boris Island - resurrection of an old idea

by Jim Worsdale

9/10

Oracle Exclusive Vouchers Great offers

11

How to gym and bear it Hair & Beauty by Craig Smith

16

! BOILER SERVICING & BREAKDOWN

Style Secrets Oracle Interiors by Sam Gundy

22

! ALL ASPECTS OF PLUMBING & HEATING

Good News for 2014 Car Industry Oracle Motoring by Danielle Wheeler

28

! BEAT ANY REASONABLE QUOTES

Elephant Hills Thailand Adventure Oracle Travel by Melanie Williams

36

Creamy Chicken Gratin Judy's Recipe Page

40

The Joy of Cycling Oracle Sport

46

Explore Scouting Syd Halfacre

52

Sudoku Diary Dates Useful Numbers Advertisers Index

56 62 64 70

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INCL. FULL BATHROOM INSTALLATIONS

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rest Try TB aura Y nt fo C r lun ch

Advertorial

More than just a yacht club E

ver dreamt of learning to sail? Can you Lunchtime membership is available at an annual cost of just £29.50 single or £51.00 a already sail or windsurf, or kite surf? couple (Tuesday – Friday 11:30 / 2:30) and also Here at TBYC our setting is perfect. Right on the includes Friday night dining.

Estuary with the very best sailing area on our Oracle Offer doorstep and breathtaking views from our club If you would like to visit our club for lunch, just rooms and large balcony. Our facilities are second to none with ample boat storage and bring this advert with you and, with up to 3 car parking for our members. We also provide friends, we will offer you an honorary 1 day FREE sailing tuition to members who wish to lunchtime membership. join one of our structured sailing courses.

With all this you would think that we are just for Members dining with stunning views adult sailors.

Would you like to have lunch in a superb But you’d be wrong. We are a very family location with great food cooked by our oriented club with over 300 cadets who take an excellent chef? active part in all the club activities. They also We are not just all about sailing. We also have a enjoy regular sail training and a fantastic Cadet large number of lunchtime members who enjoy Week. All our activities are supported by our panoramic sea views and hospitality at very enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers. reasonable prices.

For further details, visit our website at In Scott Wooldridge, we have an innovative new www.tbyc.org or phone the secretary on 01702 chef who provides us with fantastic lunchtime 587563 fare together with regular evening dining and also a very popular Sunday carvery. Scott learned his trade in the armed forces and, following a successful period with the Olympic Logistical team, joined us last September. He has quickly become a very valuable member of the 115 Thorpe Bay Gardens, SS1 3NW TBYC team. www.tbyc.org

Thorpe Bay Yacht Club

O

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FEBRUARY 2014

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Your Stove is waiting for you!

Photo for illustration purposes only

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FEBRUARY 2014

Local Issues

Boris Island - resurrection of an old idea I

have been searching among old papers and documents, in a collection gathered through a long lifetime as a journalist and well into retirement, for references to airports in Southend and in our county. And I have unearthed some real surprises I now share with Oracle readers.

For long before the Stobart group bought Southend Airport and developed it into today’s much expanded, much in demand and still growing hub; long before London Mayor Boris Johnson began his campaign for an island airport in the Thames and, even, ahead of the highly controversial proposal of the early 1960s for a Maplin airport, our neighbourhoods and our county were eyed for such development.

78 years ago investigation commissioned Way back in 1936 -- yes, some 78 years or so ago – Essex County Council commissioned an investigation and report into future aviation needs or possibilities. A London-based firm of consultants, Norman & Dawbarn, produced a substantial document entitled Air Planning in the County of Essex, dealing with “the new science of aeronautics” and hoping that it “may make some lasting contribution to the correct planning of air facilities in a county destined to play an important role in the future of English flying.”

FEBRUARY 2014

Listed as existing, or as sites already selected those almost eight decades ago, were Ashingdon, Southend, Burnham-on-Crouch, Chelmsford, Clacton, Colchester, Abridge, Broxbourne, Stapleford, Ilford and Fairlop Plain.

The report stressed: “The development of air transportation is at present at such an early stage that it is difficult to form any reasoned estimate of the future air needs of the population of Essex.

Position of greatest importance “It is clear, however, that in addition to the local requirements the county occupies a position of the greatest importance as an approach sector to the Metropolis. The Fairlop site may be developed as one of the major London air terminals, while we believe that the Thames Estuary may also one day become a base for large marine aircraft.”

Well, as we have known since the late 1960s, the Thames Estuary was very much a target of dreamers, planners and politicians, as the site for London’s major new airport – not for large marine airliners, of course, but for jetliners in the worldwide network.

Long before the current speculation of a “Boris Island” in the Thames, somewhere off the Isle of Grain, there was much debate and loud fanfares of publicity or opposition to the idea of an airport out

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on the Maplin Sands, with a possible monorail link

to the capital and a vast new highway cutting across Essex, below the Crouch and linking to London.

That particular dream or nightmare ended when the Government of the day, headed by Ted Heath, cancelled the Maplin project and the idea of Stansted as London’s third international airport, after Heathrow and Gatwick, became reality.

Manmade island still visible From Foulness Island and from east Shoebury, where the Thames opens its wide mouth to the North Sea, the manmade island created to test tidal flows ahead of any massive development out on the sands, can be seen still on clear days. It remains as a monument to a scheme that many so gratefully saw killed-off – or a reminder of what might have been, to those who saw Maplin airport as a much more acceptable proposition than Stansted.

Some 30 years prior to the decision to expand Stansted and abandon possible development of airports at Maplin and elsewhere; long before Southend Airport would boom in its popularity of today, Air Planning in the County of Essex recommended a series of Class 1 airports “to satisfy the needs of main airline traffic as far as we are able to foresee them,” and Class II airports for restricted, more localised use.

The Class I recommendations were for Fairlop Plain, Colchester and Southend, with reserved sites at Chelmsford and Bishops Stortford. Some became pie in the sky.

Flight of fancy - Boris Island If a similar investigation and report was made today, about the tomorrow of aviation directly affecting us here in the county of Essex we so love, especially here in Southend borough, what on earth – or above earth – might we be in for?

Well, if London Mayor Boris Johnson and his supporters have their way, if their dream is no flight of fancy, there will indeed be an island airport in the Thames upriver from us.

Good thing? Bad thing? Debate will go on and on, that’s one thing for sure.

by Jim Worsdale

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FEBRUARY 2014

Open Day Saturday 8th March from 2pm until 4pm

See how we go further

NURSERY | LOWER | UPPER t 01702 582340

www.thorpehallschool.co.uk

stage due to the amount of dance routines.

Each scene included a large production number with all chorus and main dancers.This meant that around 60 performers would be featuring in the routine! Musically the show was outstanding; the 16 piece show band (many of them students at the school) gave a rendition of the score in a professional and extremely lively manner.

However, all the professional production values of the West End are nothing without the performers and I’m so pleased to say that once again the school has proved itself to be overflowing with talent. A cast of 70 students worked tirelessly to win the audience over with some gutsy and great performances, belting out Manilow classics with remarkable energy and musicality.The acting was a joy too, moving from fine comic timing to moments of real emotive drama. The dance routines by all the cast were slick and professionally executed. There was so much talent in fact that two casts were used across the five nights, with actors swapping main roles and no performance suffering as a result.

For some of the leads this was to be their debut performance having never performed in any The show was put together in only 12 weeks and school productions previously. rehearsals were extremely hard going and demanding on all performers; however, the entire cast rose to the occasion. The show was absolutely outstanding and all credit should be given to both casts who were wonderful and extremely professional throughout all rehearsals and shows! The entire crew, cast, band and production team all worked incredibly well together and should all be extremely proud of what they achieved in such a short space of time.

Here’s looking forward to Shoeburyness High School’s next production, in 2014!!

O

Sarah Oddy SPH Theatre Arts

Shoeburyness High School 01702 292286 Ext. 181 karenstock@shoeburyness.southend.sch.uk extendedschools@shoeburyness.southend.sch.uk

www.shoeburynesshigh.co.uk/community/extendedschools FEBRUARY 2014

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ACTIVE PIER FIT Every week 26th Feb - 19th Mar 2014 12:30 - 14:30 Southend Pier, Western Esplanade A healthy fitness walk along the pier to the Royal Pavilion, take part in a fun, lively exercise session, enjoy a cuppa and then walk or take the train back. Walk both ways £1.00 / Walk & ride Concessions £2.00/ Adults £3.50 To book your place contact Active Life: 07740 626226 www.activelife.uk.com DEMENTIA SUPPORT Tues 11th Feb 10-12, Thurs 13th Feb 2-4, Sat 15th Feb 10-11. Kent Elmes Library Specialist staff will be answering questions and offering advice about memory problems, services and help.

READING CHALLENGES AT THE LIBRARY A new initiative to get the nation reading!

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useful numbers ADVICE & HELPLINES Child Protection Citizens Advice Crime Prevention Crimestoppers Cruse Bereavement Care Pier & Foreshore Inspectors Drugs, Alcohol & Substance Misuse HARP National Drugs Freephone Samaritans Southend Talking Newspaper Victim Support Group Southend Council Civic Centre Jobcentre Southend

ANIMAL WELFARE

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Downes & Prtnrs, Veterinary Surgeon RSPCA Rochford

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POLICE SERVICES 24 hour Emergency Number 01702 430696 Southend Police Station (24 hours a day) 0300 3334444 Thorpe Ward Neighbourhood Specialist Officer Warren Lamb 07976 325346 Marine Police 01268 775533 Thames Coastguard 01255 675518

PUBLIC SERVICES

CLUBS & ASSOCIATIONS Belfairs Mixed Bowling 475766 Burges Estate Residents Association (BERA) 588662 Carers Forum 393933 Charles Dicken’s Fellowship 588069 Cockleshell Clog Morris 479622 Essex Handicrafts Association 479622 Essex Society for Family History 522992 Lower Thames Rowing Club 482205 Prittlewell Bowls Club 612476 Southchurch Park Croquet Club 303957 Southend Blind Welfare Association 342131 Southend Cardiac Support Group 309042 / 293469 Southend Photographic Society 332491 Southend Rugby Club 546682 Southend Golf Club 473206 The English Speaking Union 588069 Thorpe Bay Bowling Club 582074 Thorpe Bay Bridge Club 616145 Thorpe Bay Floral Arrangement Group 585350 Thorpe Bay Lawn Tennis Club 585245 Thorpe Bay Yacht Club 587563 Thorpe Hall Golf Club 582205 Scout Groups Southend, Thorpe Bay & Shoeburyness 587647 Actorcrats (Amateur Dramatics) 306506 Thorpe Bay Art Group 294321 St Augustine's Church 587597 Stone Masons & Dry Stone Wallers 292867 Southend Chess Club Steve Wedlock (Club Secretary) 345902 Southend-on-Sea Lions Club 582828 Thames Estuary Lacemakers 475460

Central Library 215011 Southend High Street Post office 391063 Bournes Green Post Office 582241 Traveline 0871 200 2233 Arriva Southend 08701 201088 First 01268 525251 National Express 08705 80 80 80 Odeon Cinema 0871 2244007 SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen Families Association) 463113

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HOSPITALS & HEALTH Primary Care Trust Southend General Hospital

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LOCAL MP James Duddridge (Con)

01702 616135

PHARMACIES Bansal Pharmacy 587500 178 The Broadway Mon-Fri 9-6.30 pm / Sat 9-1pm Howells & Brooks 582658 The Broadway Mon-Fri 9-6.30 pm / Sat 9-5.30 pm Closed 1-2 pm Wed+Sat.

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Thorpe Bay

ORACLE Index to advertisers ACCOUNTANTS Taylors Chartered Accountants 11 Wilkins Kennedy 54 AERIALS & SATELLITES 1st South East Aerials 67 39 Essex Digital Services AIRPORT TRANSFER Air & Back 66 ANTIQUE CLOCKS 62 It's About Time BARBERS Head Hunters 49 BATHROOMS Better Life Bathrooms 18 BATHROOMS AND PLUMBING JCA Merchants 26 BLINDS Worth & Co 44 BUILDERS AJ Property 15 BKB Groundswork 55 Fairfield Builders 27 GMH Renovations 56 BICYCLE HELMENTS Hardnutz 46 BLOCK PAVING Brooks Paving 68 CAR DEALERSHIP Essex Auto Group 43 CAR LEASING Planet Leasing 28 CARERS & NURSES Choices Healthcare 25 CARPENTRY & JOINERY John Sorrell 55 CARPETS Gainsborough Carpets 23 Trade Carpets 5 CARPET & OVEN CLEANING Clemclean 19 Gates Services 41 CHIROPODIST Arthur Partington 68 CLADDING Essex Cladding 14 CLEANING Maid in Essex 33 SLJ Domestic Cleaning 21 COMMERCIAL/DOMESTIC PLUMBING & HEATING Essex Maintenance 65 COMPUTERS Computopia 65 CONFERENCE & BANQUETING CENTRE The Lawn 37 CONSERVATORIES BJ Davis 42 DECORATING Mk Decor 21 DOUBLE GLAZING REPAIR Cloudy 2 Clear 32 DRIVEWAYS Ryan Homes LTD 12 EDUCATION Shoebury High School 60/61 St. Hilda's School 2 Thorpe Hall School 72

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Thorpe Bay

February 2014

Thorpe Bay at a glance Est. Sept 2005. Circulation 5,100

Oracle Competition

Leigh, Chalkwell & Southend Conservation Area Est. Oct 2006. Circulation 6,700

Oracle Competition

WIN!Two people dine at the Southend Holiday Inn's 1935 Rooftop Restaurant & Bar - Value £60

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Boris Island - Resurrection of an old idea Elephant Hills Thailand adventure

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February 2014

ORACLE ORACLE WIN! Two people dine at the Southend Holiday Inn's 1935 Rooftop Restaurant & Bar - Value £60

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Reach over 29,000 readership in Leigh, Chalkwell, Southend Conservation Area & Thorpe Bay hungry for your business Call for a Media Pack or visit www.oraclepublications.co.uk To advertise in ORACLE call 01702 393838 All rights reserved. No part of Oracle Publications UK Ltd. may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means either wholly or in part without prior permission of the publisher. Oracle Publications UK Ltd. is editorially autonomous and the opinions expressed are not those of the publisher unless expressly stated.

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Explore Scouting E

xciting news! a new form of Scouting is to start in Thorpe Bay.

The Mariners Sea Explorer Scout Unit will be starting in the area. Explorer Scouting is the fourth section of Scouting after Beavers, Cubs and Scouts. It is open to boys and girls aged 13½ to 18 years and run as a District section with 5 other units in the town.

The Unit may be new but the leaders are not with over 30 years’ experience running a similar unit in Wakering. Explorer Scouting offers young people an enhanced programme from the Scouting experience.

As an older section we are able to offer an exciting water based programme, ranging from Kayaking and Sailing to trips involving Rafting. An example will be the yearly international Expedition, in 2014 this will be to Slovenia where will be enjoying White Water Rafting as well as Canyoning and Hydrospeed – all carried out by qualified instructors or activity providers.

With experience comes reward and we will support the young people to gain nationally recognised qualifications such as BCU or RYA. Of course with an exciting adventure comes planning and that’s where the weekly programme comes in….

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T H O R P E B AY O R A C L E

We will be providing our young members the opportunity to gain valuable life skills such as team-working, responsibility, programme management, budgeting etc to make the programme a success - this will be through our weekly programme of events and camps.

These events will vary from adventure activities such as climbing, hikes or caving or themed fun evenings such as pancake day, but also craft evenings or guest speakers and visits.

The programme will also place an importance on environmental and international themed events as well as relate to our location in the town.

Explorer Scouting offers a progressive award scheme that compliments the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme – the core elements skill, physical recreation, service and expedition being cornerstones of our programme.

The Unit will be meeting at the Methodist Church Hall, The Broadway, Thorpe Bay, SS1 3HQ on Tuesdays between 8.00 and 9.30pm.

Syd IJ Halfacre Asst Explorer Scout Leader

07841 493066 syd.halfacre@bbcel.co.uk

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A little corner of an English Heaven Savour a drink and good company at the award-winning, traditional, Angel Inn, Free House. at North Shoebury Enjoy the west-facing, beer-garden and extensive views across ripening cornfields. Thatched roof, flagstone floor, exposed timbers, wide range of Real Ales, good wines and excellent food.

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At the Copacabana!

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hoeburyness High School has a fantastic reputation for musical productions and this year’s Copacabana was certainly no exception.The cast and crew set up camp in the school’s hall (complete with orchestra pit, raked seating and scaffolding) for five nights of outstanding entertainment, playing to packed audiences.

Copacabana was the first‘jukebox’musical with an original story based around Barry Manilow’s songs. Copacabana presents the story of Lola through the eyes of Stephen, a present day aspiring songwriter. He dreams up Lola who arrives in New York with show biz aspirations.

Tony, a bartender (that looks extremely like Stephen), falls in love with Lola and helps her become a Copa girl.

The show was reviewed by Tessa Davies from the National Operatic & Dramatic Society.

The production has since been nominated for ‘Best Youth Production’ and James Cohen who played Tony in the production was nominated for ‘Best Young Performer’. The school will find out in April if we have been successful in winning the title, so fingers crossed!! Tessa described the show: “This was an outstanding performance by a cast of young people who demonstrated that there is a good future in the Performing Arts for many of them”.

The set and costumes were a stunning feature of the artistic design, with light boards helping to indicate scenes, tasteful, colourful and effective costumes and pyrotechnics which had the audience jumping! The ever-reliable technical crew of Alex Baldwin and Simon Hughes kept the lighting and sound perfect throughout. I must confess that, as I embarked on directing this production, I never realised how challenging this production would be to

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Oracle Sport

The Joy of Cycling W hat is there not to love about riding a bicycle? It’s therapeutic, healthy, environmentally friendly, exhilarating, sociable and of course great fun. Here in Southend, there are various routes to suit all types of cyclists, from the recreational riders to the fitness freaks.

Consider the seafront cycle path which stretches for 6 traffic free, invigorating miles from Shoebury to Chalkwell and of all the places available for refreshment along the way. At the Chalkwell end you could padlock the bike and take a stroll along the towpath to Old Leigh for cockles and a pint. At the Shoebury end you could lock the bike, buy an ice cream at ‘Uncle Toms’ and wander along the sea path to East Beach.

For a more energetic ride why not try some of the hills in Leigh which will definitely test the lungs and the legs. Reach the top of Belton Way starting at Leigh Station and the rewards are a fabulous view across the Estuary and a thunderous descent back to sea level.

For a more leisurely, rural ride, the lanes of Barling are traffic free, flat and panoramic. On the loop past the church and around Mucking Hall Road you will have more chance of being honked at by a farmyard goose than an impatient driver.

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T H O R P E B AY O R A C L E

The health benefits associated with riding your bike regularly are enormous. It can help in losing weight, sleeping more deeply, improving mental agility and beating illness. It’s a low impact type of exercise so is easier on joints than running and is also an efficient way of building cardiovascular fitness.

Consider this…The next time you need to pop around the corner to the convenience store or to collect your takeaway, ditch the car keys and think bike! You only need a basket on the front or a ruck sack for your goodies and you won’t be chucking dirty carbon monoxide into the air.

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Cloudy2Clear Windows – Service With A Smile!

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Many tradespeople have struggled since last year and I honestly feel that during the good times a minority perhaps didn’t focus on customer care as much as they should have done. We make sure we turn up when we say we will, do the job the customer requires and leave their house as clean as a whistle. I often get comments back from customers on how they really didn’t expect that sort of service which, in a way, is very sad for the service industry as a whole.’

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factor in his success.‘The truth is that it’s not just the personal satisfaction that I get from doing a good job but also it makes good business sense. I get a huge amount of business from friends and family of people I’ve done work for,

which just goes to show how much a little bit of effort is appreciated.’

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recipe of the month In the Kitchen with Judy Barden

Good knob of butter 2 leeks, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves crushed 2 tbsp plain flour 500g/1 lb 2oz cooked chicken (could use leftover roast chicken), shredded 25g fresh parsley finely chopped 200ml double cream 200ml chicken stock Method: 1. Put the potatoes in a pan of cold salted water, bring to the boil and simmer for 1 minute. Drain well and leave to one side 2. Meanwhile, heat the oil and butter in a pan and gently fry the leeks for 10 minutes until soft. Add the garlic and cook for a further 30 seconds. Add the flour and cook for a further minute and then add the stock and cream, stirring until you get a creamy sauce. Stir through the shredded chicken and the parsley and season well.

3. Preheat the oven to 180c/fan 160/gas.

Creamy Chicken Gratin Serves 4

T

his is one of those family dinners that you make on a budget and the original recipe was using leftovers from Sunday lunch. It is much cheaper to buy a large chicken and roast it and then the next day use the meat. However for quickness you can also buy a ready cooked chicken. If you need to make up the weight just add some thick pieces of ham, it is just as nice. Enjoy!

4. Tip the mixture into a 2 litre gratin or lasagne type dish and then roughly top with pieces of potato. Brush the potatoes with a little extra oil and then sprinkle with a little salt and pepper. Bake in the oven for 50-60 minutes until bubbling and golden.

O

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T H O R P E B AY O R A C L E

21

Oracle Interior Design

Style Secrets I

love to shop, that’s no secret. Like most women I love shoes and clothes but I’m far more passionate about Interiors. This month I will share with you some of my secret shopping destinations a few of which you may be surprised with but I promise they will not disappoint you! Any style, any budget, you can achieve high end style without breaking a sweat or busting your bank balance!

1.

BHS - Yes indeed, always been a bit of a star with their lighting, worth checking out. They really keep abreast of latest trends and deliver great lighting at amazing prices.

2.

H&M Home online. In true H&M style their homeware is amazingly affordable and really well designed. I am a sucker for a Chevron or a Stripe and in beautiful bright zingy colours. I’ve just filled up a basket online with cushions and towels Get them before I do!

excited about having them here in London. It’s well priced and the staff are really friendly and helpful. It is without doubt my new favourite place to shop for homeware.

4. Marks & Spencer - Doing some great pieces of furniture in collaboration with some talented designers. Not too keen on their website but if you know what to look for they have some very design forward pieces on offer.

5.

Anthropologie. They are the bigger more grown up Sister of Urban Outfitters. Some quirky pieces from Hooks and Handles to Towels and bedding. This is also a lovely inspirational space to shop in.

Happy Shopping Samantha Gundy

3.

West elm London. If you haven’t yet heard of West elm I invite you to check out their website and their facebook page. Their website has just launched but I urge you to visit their store, it’s really luxurious and inspiring.

Their styling is second to none and I am really

22

T H O R P E B AY O R A C L E

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27

Oracle Motoring

Good News for 2014 Car Industry.

I

n 2013 the UK car sales reached their best since 2007 with a 23.76% rise in December alone. This marks the 22nd successive month of increase. A growing economy, rising confidence levels and a strong new and used market point to a promising 2014.

New buyers have been tempted by attractive financing deals with three quarters of sales to private buyers involving finance packages.The success of the Personal Car Plan offered by car manufacturers has been a major success story of 2013. This reduces the number of personal bank loans being taken out to pay for vehicles. Dealerships are now selling finance where half of the price is paid over 36 months and the remaining half is cleared by a final balloon payment at the end of the three years.

Average payouts of £3000 Analysts have suggested that sales have been driven by refunds from mis-sold payment protection insurance policies, with average payouts reaching about £3000.

The expansion of Jaguar Land Rover and Bentley has helped the economy by creating thousands of new jobs in the UK.

28

T H O R P E B AY O R A C L E

Fleet sales should begin to benefit from administrative costs as we see the abolishment of the tax disk, due to the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency moving its’ services online.

Best year since 2007 In recent years sales have contrastingly tumbled throughout the rest of Europe. ‘With its best year since a pre-recession 2007, the UK car market has helped stimulate the country’s economic recovery.’ – Said Mike Hawes, the chief executive of SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders).

There have been good predictions for the fleet sector over the coming 12 months. The vehicle rental and leasing industry has been forecasted a strong year with predicted growth in almost every area of the vehicle rental and leasing industry sector.

O

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Oracle Hair & Beauty

How to gym and bear it A

s you read this, my Grateful Heads colleague Joe Tonge and I will be trekking to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, to raise £8000 for the Southend Cystic Fibrosis Association. So, looking good whilst exercising was foremost on my mind when writing this month’s column!

Hitting the gym is great for your figure, but it can affect your skin and hair. Here’s my run down of the best tips for getting fit and looking great.

Sport a Braided High Bun - for the perfect post gym hair do, create a high ponytail using a hair band, then braid the tail and twist it into a bun. After you're done exercising, blast the damp bun dry and then unleash the waves. Also use a humidity blocker to eliminate frizz and save your hairstyle post-gym.

Pin your hair back off your face, or wear a sweatband – this prevents sweat getting trapped on your forehead which can lead to spots.

Avoid Makeup – it clogs pores by not allowing your skin to breathe naturally during workouts. If you absolutely cannot survive without it, use mineral based products are they aren’t as heavy on the skin and allow it to function more naturally.

B.Y.O.T. (Bring Your Own Towel) - Using the same towel to dry your face during an exercise session that you’ve also used to wipe down sweaty workout equipment can transfer another person’s bacteria to your skin. To avoid issues with your complexion, bring a soft clean towel, and use it exclusively for your face.

Wear Loose Attire – Close-fitting lycra can chafe and occasionally causes skin infections.

Wearing loose clothing helps to wick away sweat, so that it doesn’t stick to your skin. Cleaning out your kit bag and washing your gym clothes every day helps to keep you feeling fresh and body confident.

Hydrate - Drinking plenty of water before you workout is as important as taking fluid on board during it, as you will boost the flushing out of toxins and maintain great-looking, healthy skin. It is also a superb way to increase circulation, which helps your hair – and you – to shine.

Apply a Leave-In Conditioner - Going for a swim? Make sure to apply a leave-in conditioner afterwards, to protect your hair from chlorine damage.

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