Keep It Local Magazine - Basildon - April 2021 Edition

PLEASE MENTION YOUR LOCAL MAGAZINE WHEN CONTACTING THE ADVERTISERS & REMEMBER TO ‘KEEP IT LOCAL’ April 2021

It

20,000 Homes Monthly • 01268 330 271

Bye Bye

STILL OFFERING OUR SERVICES IN COMPLIANCE WITH GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES. KEEPING CUSTOMERS SAFE

back pain

Turn to page 3 for our offer...

Basildon | Billericay | Wickford | Langdon Hills

SPECIALIST INSTALLERS & SERVICE ENGINEERS IN ALL FORMS OF DOUBLE GLAZING, TRIPLE GLAZING, UPVC, ALUMINIUM & HARD WOOD WINDOWS, DOORS & CONSERVATORIES!

WINDOWS | DOORS | INSTALLATION | REPAIRS BEFORE

We are complying with Governm ent COVID 19 Guidelines

COMPOSITE DOORS

AFTER

BAY WINDOWS BEFORE

BEFORE

AFTER

MISTED UNITS

AFTER

AFTER

FRENCH DOORS

BEFORE

FAMILY RUN BUSINESS PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 25 YEARS We specialise in everything windows, doors & conservatory's. From repairing or replacing window handles, locks, hinges, misted or broken glass, adjusting windows or doors, replacing letterboxes, door knockers and panels. To supplying and replacing windows, doors and conservatory's including bi-fold doors. We provide a 10 year guarantee on windows, doors and conservatories that we fully supply and fit and we provide a 5 year

guarantee with any glass units we supply and replace for you.

Whether its replacing a single handle, upgrading security or increasing the insulative value of your existing double glazing to completely replacing the entire double or triple glazing system. We are equally well placed to advice which direction is best to go in, and can give an honest opinion to whether repair or replacement will be the best option.

WE PROVIDE FREE OF CHARGE NO OBLIGATION QUOTES

CONTACT US ON 01268-527112 8AM TO 8PM

Hi there, Welcome to our April edition

It's April already, and things are slowly getting back to nearly normal. Shops will be opening soon along with Gyms and Pubs and Restaurants.

Your Local small Businesses have taken a hit financially over the last 12 months so once they re open, please please try to use them. For a lot of Businesses, April and May could be make or break so please shop locally and get yourself down your local pub for a well earned drink.

We hope that all the little ones have a fantastic Easter, they've also been through a lot and I'm sure they've earned some Chocolate. I'm sure you're all looking forward to them meeting up with their friends for a catch up.

This month we have a new puzzle for anyone who loves a challenge. Reminds me very much of a popular Phone App Puzzle Game. The Masyu are going to become a regular feature so get practising before they get too difficult.

GUTTER CLEARANCE

March's Quiz Winner was Janet Hudson from Russell Close, Laindon who won a Winnie the Pooh DVD. Well done to all those who got the correct answer.Congratulations!

In the kids quiz this month your little one has the chance to win a Hey Duggee DVD Boxset. Don’t forget you have to be in it to win it!

Codewords page 6 Crossword page 16 Letterlogic page 22

If you would like to advertise with us, the last day to get your advert in is 15th April. We can design your ad for Free and a Month’s Advertising to 20,000 homes costs from as little as £45. You can contact us on 01268 330271 or email at sales@keepitlocal.marketing

Hey Duggee Quiz page 24

We do not vet our advertisers and take no responsibility for anyone who advertises in our magazines.

April Fools! page 48

Please stop by and like our Facebook page (Essex Business & Leisure Ltd)

Keeping it local

Sarah

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Complying with Government COVID 19 Guidelines

Complying with Government COVID 19 Guidelines

Bye Bye

STILL OFFERING OUR SERVICES IN COMPLIANCE WITH GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES. KEEPING CUSTOMERS SAFE

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With this advert.

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Puzzles Sponsored by

SUDOKU PAGE E A S Y

6 4 1 8

H A R D

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---------------------------------------------- PLEASE QUOTE THIS MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS -------------------------------------------- 5

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

­

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FACE COVERING MUST BE WORN IN THE WAREHOUSE

EVERYTHING UNDER ONE ROOF!

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INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP

You qualify for Individual Membership if you belong to specific employment groups – please visit www.costco.co.uk/join for details. To join Costco and start saving please provide your employee ID card or current pay slip to prove your employment, PLUS one piece of photographic identification. The annual membership fee for Standard Individual Membership is £28 ex VAT (£33.60 inc VAT).

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SHOP SAFELY AND SECURELY AT COSTCO Costco is firmly committed to helping protect the health and safety of our members and employees and to serving our communities in accordance with COVID secure guidelines. All of our warehouse locations are open to serve you, with additional protocols in place to maintain a safe and secure shopping environment.

www.costco.co.uk/covid-updates for furtherTO information ---------------------------------------------- Visit PLEASE QUOTE THIS MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING ADVERTS -------------------------------------------- 7

8 ----------------------------------------------- TO ADVERTISE PLEASE CALL 01268 330271 FOR MORE DETAILS ---------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------- PLEASE QUOTE THIS MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS -------------------------------------------- 9

Cheddar Cheese Crackers 150g cheddar cheese, 130g butter, pinch of salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 250g spelt flour / plain flour 8 tablespoons cold water

Method

20 Min Prep 25 Min Cook

1

In a bowl of an electric mixer add all the ingredients except the water, beat using the pedal attachment until well incorporated and a nice crumble is formed. Add the water as the machine is running on low speed and beat until a soft dough is formed. Warp the dough in cling film and keep in the fridge for half an hour.

2

Preheat the oven to 180c and line two trays with parchment paper.

3

Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface, using a rolling pin, flatten the dough onto a square shape. Cut, using a knife or a pizza cutter and place each cut onto your prepared trays and lightly prick the crackers using a fork. Bake for 13 minutes or until golden on top.

Leave to cool then serve.

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GET YOUR CAR READY FOR LIFE BACK ON THE ROAD. At Fairfield Billericay

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---------------------------------------------- PLEASE QUOTE THIS MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS -------------------------------------------- 15

ACROSS

C R O S S W O R D

1 Agile, lithe (4) 4 Inferior cut of meat (5-3) 8 Devour, guzzle (6) 9 Rough, stormy (6) 10 ___-detached, a house (4) 11 Sailing (8) 13 ___ Loren, Italian actress (6) 15 ___ Hemmingway, author (6) 17 Dormer window (8) 20 Large brass instrument (4) 21 Poppycock (6) 23 Cared for, tended (6) 24 Distress, trouble (8) 25 Children's board game (4)

DOWN

2 Directory of names and numbers (5,4) 3 Rude, noisy, aggressive (informal) (7) 4 Dingy, sleazy (5) 5 Salvage (7) 6 Spectre (5) 7 Brief sleep (3) 12 Epistaxis (9) 14 Saintly, virtuous (7) 16 Instinctive, innate (7) 18 Even, equal (5) 19 Forceps-like tool (5) 22 Branch of the armed services (Abbr) (3)

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LETTERLOGIC

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-------------------------------------------- PLEASE QUOTE THIS MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS -------------------------------------------- 23

Ki dz Quiz!

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24 -------------------------------------------- TO ADVERTISE PLEASE CALL 01268 330271 FOR MORE DETAILS -------------------------------------------------

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--------------------------------------------PLEASE QUOTE THIS MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS -------------------------------------------- 25 NOW VISIT

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www.directbuildingandheating.co.uk 26 --------------------------------------------- TO ADVERTISE PLEASE CALL 01268 330271 FOR MORE DETAILS --------------------------------------------------

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If you see condensation in your windows just visit our website or give us a call on 0800 61 21 118. We will send out our highly experienced engineers for a free no obligation quote. A Cloudy2Clear quote takes on average no longer than 20 minutes. Once the quote is completed, we will sit down with you and explain the problem and tell you

how we can fix it. With years of experience Cloudy2Clear have a Cloudy2Clear wealth of knowledge GUARANTEE All and are recognised as a Which Trusted Customers That An Trader, plus our Average Quote Will work is backed by Take No Longer an industry leading Than 20 MINS!!!

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Cloudy2Clear also replace faulty locks handles and hinges on all windows and doors.

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T N M A R S U N Z E

E N T B T I D N W T

H E X E X A N B N I

A O F P L B A G U K

T N M A R S U N Z E

E N T B T I D N W T

H E X E X A N B N I

Eggs Flowers Hunt Parade Spring Sunday

Word-finder Solution

F T R T Y Z O G M Y

Shan-

Basket Bonnet Bunny Chicks Chocolate Decorate Easter A O F P L B A G U K

Alec

R B S F L O W E R S

R B S F L O W E R S

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O U E G G S C W D A

O U E G G S C W D A

Whose Egg? Answers

Huw

C P A R A D E O N B

C P A R A D E O N B

The 6-year-old girl has a green egg.

Huw has a red egg and is older than Alec.

Ayah is 5-years-old and her egg isn't yellow.

E G E H U N T V H P

E G E H U N T V H P

The kids are aged 5, 6, 7 and 8

D Q C H I C K S Q C

D Q C H I C K S Q C

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Hoe! Hoe! Hoe!

Following on from last month’s list of essential garden tools for beginners I thought I’d explain about the humble hoe. When I first started gardening, I didn’t really understand how to use one. There are a couple of varieties of hoe and they are used in different ways, and they really are your friend at this time of year.

The hoe is actually one of the most ancient garden tools and came before the plough.

It’s mentioned in Egyptian art, the Code of Hammurabi and in the Bible.

The reason spring is a great time to put your hoe to good use is because right now is when the annual weeds (the ones that self-seed freely and pop up all over the place every year) have started to germinate.

The aim when hoeing, aim to sever the top growth from the roots, just below the soil surface, then leave it in the sun to dry out and die. Hoeing is best done when the soil is dry as this creates a ‘dust mulch’ which inhibits the germination of new weeds.

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I prefer a hoe with a long handle because it’s better for preventing back pain. I also have a short-handled hoe known as an ‘onion hoe’ for closely planted areas. A shorted handle gives more control, so you don’t damage your prized plants.

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It’s important to note that hoeing only kills the annual weeds, not the deep-rooted perennial weeds, those need to be dug up by hand.

There is also a tool called a Dutch hoe. This is used by sweeping it smoothly over the soil so that the surface is just ‘brushed’. If used correctly it slices the tops from the weeds.

It’s actually simple to use but you do need to practice your technique. Slice the tops of weeds by bringing the hoe towards you, altering the angle to accommodate slopes. When you turn over a Dutch hoe you can use it to make a shallow trench called a seed drill to sow larger seeds, like peas into. Larger seeds are better because they need to be covered well.

Your hoes need to be kept sharp and well maintained for maximum effectiveness. I use a metal file to both clean and sharpen, but you can buy sharpening stones reasonably cheaply and they are easy to use.

Happy gardening

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De-Clutter If you can’t lay your hands-on items quickly because they’re buried under piles of junk; if you’re constantly ‘stuff-shifting’ - moving things from one pile to a new ‘temporary’ pile; if you find yourself thinking, “I can’t throw this away, it might come in useful one day,” you’re probably a clutter victim.

A decade ago, Californian blogger Dave Bruno set himself the year-long experimental task of reducing his belongings to just 100 items. When his experiment concluded he found he wanted to keep living by his new rules, preferring simplicity to consumerism. His book is worth seeking out.

Since then, whole movement has developed around the aim of a simpler, more minimalistic lifestyle.

If you’re ready to de-clutter, then we have a few simple tips. If you feel you need help, there are experts in de-cluttering who will guide you through the process of letting go.

De-cluttering Tips Deal with one room at a time The task will seem less daunting. Stick with that room until it’s finished.

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Choose a nice day Take the room contents outside. Psychologically it’s easier to sort and let go if you’re one step removed. It’s also less likely that the clutter will make it back inside.

Sort everything into three piles Label them dump, donate, and keep. Be realistic: if the item in question hasn’t been used for over a year it is unlikely you will ever use it.

Deal with the dump and donate piles Do this before anything comes back into the house. It’s much harder to mess up your good work if the stuff is physically gone.

Replace everything that remains The maxim ‘A place for everything and everything in its place’ is a good one. House small items in clear plastic boxes and store them in cupboards or wardrobes.

Now you’re done instigate a one thing in: one thing out rule. It will make you think twice about acquiring something if you know something else has to go.

Finally, once a week, take two bags and go through your home. One bag is for rubbish, the other for items in the wrong place. When you’ve finished throw the rubbish away and replace the misplaced items.

Follow these small steps and you too can declutter your life.

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E X A M P L E

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Masyu is a charming but sophisticated puzzle where you are required to “string” black and white “pearls” with a line that forms a continuous loop. The string can only be horizontal or vertical. On unmarked cells the line that is the string can enter and exit in any two of the four sides of a cell. The trick and the trouble starts when the pearls are adjacent to one another. There are two rules according to the colour of the pearl:

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Be Social, Be Safe

How safe are your online interactions?

It’s easy to share our lives with the world today. It only takes a few clicks to share those special moments with family and friends.

Social media has been a lifeline for many during the pandemic. But the Information we share may end up being available to a far wider group than our immediate social circle, and with hundreds of millions of users online, unfortunately some of these people may have sinister agendas.

By sharing information about our lives, we offer potential criminals the opportunity to gather useful information about us. Even information which seems harmless may be a useful to criminals looking to perpetrate a scam.

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Remember these five tips: Friendships When accepting friend requests be cautious.

Do you know whether their profile is real, or could it be fake?

Manage your privacy settings Only share information with people in your network. Check the settings regularly in case there are any changes.

Never divulge personal information Be suspicious of anyone who asks you for your information that may be used to identify you, such as a social security number.

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Close old accounts Don’t risk leaving personal data in an old account. Close accounts that you don’t use and delete as much personal information from them as possible.

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Hard Times

You probably know that water can be rated 'hard' or 'soft’, but do you know what those terms actually mean.

Water has varying levels of hardness based on calcium carbonate concentration. Water with less than 60 mg/L of calcium carbonate is considered soft, 61-120 mg/L is moderately hard, 121-180 mg/L is hard, and above 180 mg/L is deemed very hard.

The water from your tap is safe to drink whether it's hard or soft. Hard water may even have a few health benefits by fulfilling your dietary needs of essential minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. But while hard water is safe to ingest, the effect of hard water on hair and skin can be s different story. Hard water can leave behind a slight film making skin and hair feel less clean to the touch. It might cause dandruff in your hair and irritate skin problems such as eczema.

Washing clothes with hard water can cause the clothing fabric to break down more quickly over time, leave spots on dishes, and residue on your work surfaces and shower screens.

Over time mineral build-up in your pipes may cause them to clog, and you'll likely see buildup on shower heads and taps.

A water softener solves these problems by processing the hard water to turn it into soft water. Water enters the softener and passes into the resin or media tank where it goes

through a simple process that removes calcium, magnesium carbonate and manganese, leaving only soft water to exit the softener and be used around your home.

Plumbing a good water softener into your household supply is an investment for your home. It will eliminate the limescale caused by minerals which build up and leave that white powdery residue which clogs shower heads and pipework, makes surfaces appear dirty and reduces the efficiency of your appliances.

Often, we don’t think about our appliances until they break down. The most common reason for early appliance failure is limescale build-up which corrodes the heating elements of your kettle, washing machine, dishwasher, coffee machine and heating system. By removing the limescale, you start to protect your appliances, they work better, live longer, and cost you less money over time.

Another benefit is no stains and marks on dishes, glasses, and pans. Your bathroom remains clean and shiny too with less scrubbing and harsh chemicals. You need less detergent in your washing machine and less salt in your dishwasher. Shampoo, soap, and conditioners will also last longer.

Finally, over a period of time, your softened water will remove scale from the inside of your water pipes, hot water cylinders and shower heads…we all know how expensive an emergency plumber is, so arrange for a nonemergency plumber to fit a water softener instead and start enjoying the benefits.

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April Fools!

The origins of April Fools’ Day are lost way back in time but like many traditions it probably has a number of historical roots.

There was certainly a Roman festival called Hilaria which took place around the time of the spring equinox. There was also a Medieval ‘Feast of Fools’ although that took place at the beginning of the year.

Throughout history there seems to be a tradition of transgressing boundaries during such celebrations: whether male and female, low class and high class, religious piety and impiety, people have enjoyed straddling society’s boundaries.

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The most popular theory about the ‘modern’ April Fools’ Day is that it began to take shape in late 16th century France. At that time, there was a switch to the Gregorian Calendar under Charles IX. Prior to this there had been a New Year’s week (March 25thApril1st), and under the Gregorian system, New Year’s Day fell on January 1st.

As with any change (shhh no-one mention Brexit) there was some resistance, and many people stubbornly refused to accept the new system, continuing to celebrate New Year on April 1st.

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These people were ridiculed and labelled ‘fools’ by the general populace and were often the butt of jokes and pranks. They were known as poisson d’avril, or April fish, possibly because a naïve young fish is easily caught.

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Activate!

The National Child Measurement Programme for England (NCMP) includes nearly all children in reception year (aged 4-5) and year 6 (aged 10-11).

According to their statistics 10% of reception age children are obese (not just overweight) and this figure rises to around 20% by year 6.

We’ve spent a year with kids not being in school, and for the most part not being allowed out to play so experts expect this figure to rise. The scientific advice is that children should engage in 60 minutes of physical activity each day and encouraging them to become more active now will help them maintain a healthy weight, improve their general fitness and wellbeing and reduce the risks of serious health problems in the future.

So, what can we do when activities are still restricted?

Be the Example - Children will model the behaviour of their parents. If they see you are active, they are more likely to be active.

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A Good Read Bridgerton: The Duke & I

Ah, the Regency Era. The world of Jane Austen, elegant women dressed in the sumptuous fashions of the era, and dashing young men, all navigating a world of parties and courtship. Julia Quinn drops us into this intriguing world in her bestselling novel Bridgerton: The Duke & I, the first in the series. Most people will know it through its highly successful adaptation on Netflix, but the original source material is well worth reading.

We are introduced to the Bridgerton family with their 8 children (all named alphabetically). Mrs Bridgerton is eager to find a husband for her eldest daughter, Daphne, and it would appear that all of British high society – known as the ton – is lapping up the latest gossip. At one of many balls she attends, Daphne meets the rather irascible Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings. The two form an unlikely friendship and, since neither of them is interested in marriage, they agree to a fake courtship, in the hope of avoiding advances from prospective husbands and wives.

But can it really work? And are they really so averse to marriage?

One of the charms of this novel is that you are reminded that no matter what era we are born into, we are all basically navigating the same pitfalls in life. Enjoy the ride!

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Magic Dragon Have you ever seen the fruit in the photo and wondered, ‘What is that? How would I even begin to eat it?

Starting with the ‘what?’, it’s a Dragon Fruit, sometimes called a pitahaya or even a strawberry pear.

A ripe fruit has bright red/pink, evenly coloured skin that gives slightly when squeezed, like a ripe mango or avocado. To eat it you cut it in half using a sharp knife to reveal the sweet seed-speckled pulp, which you scoop out with a spoon.

Dragon fruit is low in calories but packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and fibre. It’s also high in beneficial plant compounds like polyphenols, carotenoids and betacyanins which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies suggest that diets high in antioxidants are key to helping prevent chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis. Dietary fibre is important for gut health and Dragon fruits also contain prebiotics which help promote good gut bacteria.

Dragon contains more magnesium than most fruits. One Dragon fruit provides 18% of your recommended daily intake. Magnesium is present in every one of our cells and is integral to 600 important bodily biochemical chemical reactions including the breakdown of food into energy, muscle contraction and bone formation.

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