Chelmsford The City Times September/October 2015

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Blues in the City Festival 2nd - 4th October Page 28 Including: Boreham, Broomfield, Danbury, Great Baddow, Maldon, South Woodham Ferrers, The Walthams and Writtle 10000 copies distributed monthly

Issue Number 24: 18th September - 15th October 2015

The

CT Welcome Welcome to the September/October edition.

This month we have yet another competition for you (page 20) with a chance to win a pair of tickets to see Andy Hamilton live at the Civic Theatre on 17th October.

October/November Issue Deadlines: Artwork - 8th Oct Articles - 2nd Oct

Early in October is the Blues in the City Festival (see page 29 for the details).

Also this month, we can look forward to CITYdiversions in Chelmsford city centre and also in South Woodham Ferrers.

We hope you enjoy reading the magazine.

Regards Paul & Nick

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk www.moulshamtimes.com

Advertising Editorial Nick Garner Paul Mclean 07970 206682 07595 949701 ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk editorial@itsyourmedia. co.uk

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CT Fashion -

Edit Your Wardrobe for Autumn

It is officially autumn! Hopefully we will see a few more sunny days this September, but there is definitely a chill in the air, so it may be time to put away those maxi dresses and sandals and think about editing the wardrobe for the new season. Not all of your summer clothes will have to be packed away - I will show you what you can utilise until the cold weather sets in; this is called ‘transitional dressing’ which simply means dressing from one season to the next.

How To Edit Your Wardrobe

Step One To do this properly, you will need a bit of spare time.

Take all, (yes all) of your clothes out of your wardrobe and place them on your bed.

Step Two Now take any really summery items like beach dresses, maxis, lightweight summer dresses or shorts and put them in zip-up or vacuum bags and store them anywhere you have room. Do the same with your summer sandals, flip flops etc. Keep tea dresses or jersey dresses, medium weight trousers, some camis or vest tops and t-shirts. Anything you don’t think you will wear next summer, be brave and give it to charity (when you start to think about your summer wardrobe next year, it will be an easier process).

Step Three While you’re at it, check that you clothes still fit. There’s no point in hanging on to size 26 jeans if you are a 30, or hanging onto that jumper that could double up as a tent. However, if you feel like keeping them ‘just in case’ put them aside and try them on again in a couple of months, if they still don’t fit, then you know what to do.

Step Four Put back the items you wear a lot, it might be jeans, boyfriend shirts, cardis, favourite dresses or t-shirts. These are now the building blocks of your autumn wardrobe.

Step Five Take a look for the classics; the leather jacket, the denim jacket, the classic white shirt, the denim skirt, the coloured knit or cardi, the autumn blazer, the tea dress or jersey dress.

Step Six Add the classics to your building blocks and you are starting to build an autumn wardrobe. Anything left in your wardrobe - whether summer or autumn - that you didn’t wear this year or last year, should probably go to charity.

boyfriend shirt plus a leather jacket.

Denim pencil skirt with tights and pumps to wear with a fine knit. coloured cardi and blazer on top.

Denim pencil skirt, with white classic shirt (tucked in) with leather jacket or blazer tights and ankle boots.

You get the idea - experiment and have fun!

To ensure you keep your new wardrobe in order, follow these tips: • • •

Buy some clothes organisers, which fit inside your wardrobe.

If you find holes in knitwear, you could have moths, buy some Cedarwood moth repelling balls, place them in fabric bags and hang between your clothes.

Invest in some wood hangers - they keep the shape of clothes better than the alternative, or just buy them for your tailored pieces.

Hopefully this has inspired you to make a start yourself, but if you require further assistance with your autumn wardrobe, do please enquire about my wardrobe planning sessions.

Emma Smith is a style advisor and lives in Chelmsford. She offers personal shopping and wardrobe planning.

Email: emma@emmasmith.co.uk Website: www.emmasmith.co.uk

Barker Willis Interiors

presents a beautiful alternative to conservatory blinds A cho i of 9 ce colo 0 urs

Step Seven Assess your wardrobe, you will see a theme: Apart from your building blocks and the classics, have you got too many black tops, too many pairs of jeans, but no skirts or day dresses? Are there lots of neutral colours, but no brights? Or maybe there are no prints? Now’s the time to pinpoint what your wardrobe is lacking, make a mental note and keep your eyes peeled when out shopping.

Step Eight Create some outfits with your building blocks and the classics and add some accessories like patterned scarves. Mix together pieces to make different looks. Lay them out on the floor and take photos with your phone. This gives you a visual record to refer to.

Some Ideas for Autumn Outfits Tea dress with a coloured cardi and tights and ankle boots.

Tea dress with denim jacket over leggings with flat pumps.

Tea dress with blazer with tights, to wear with brogues or loafers.

Your favourite skinny jeans with ankle boots and your favourite t-shirt with blazer and patterned scarf.

Your favourite skinny jeans, your favourite t-shirt, a boyfriend shirt and a leather jacket plus Converse trainers.

Denim pencil skirt, tights with ankle boots, your fave t-shirt and a

Creating a comfortable sun filled room during the day and elegant warm room by night.

Call us now for a free survey/quote!

t D u s a nt t s 01245 408213/ resi -static 07766 695520 i ant bric clive@barkerwillis.co.uk a f www.barkerwillis.co.uk

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The Flatulating Climate by Simon Culleton

In an attempt to reduce my carbon footprint (stay with me now), I came across one quirky statistic that highlights the wastefulness of modern life: 30% of products that an average person owns will never be used to the end of their life-span, some of these will actually out-live the person that bought them. That’s everything from TVs to computers, carpets to curtains, even the clothes you wear, right down to your underwear, that will remain in perfect order ready for use when we are not. Maybe they will be given to charity, handed down to living members of the family, (I want the flat screen) even treasured by a grieving loved one as a cherished memento, (perhaps not the underwear.)

Yet it does go to show just how wasteful and careless our lives have become; every seven weeks we throw away our own body weight in rubbish and rarely use things to their full. The average person will get through eight cars in their lifetime (If you are on your eighth don’t bother cleaning it), yet two cars would suffice and most of us replace our clothes due to fashion, not through wear and tear. The average woman owns £350 worth of clothes that she will never wear - and the average man owns a t-shirt that he would always wear if you’d let him. So it is possible to reduce our carbon footprint just by being unfashionable and driving around in an old car, well at least that’s my excuse.

The term ‘carbon footprint’ was first used in 2007 as a conscience pricking calculation as to our daily use and abuse of the world’s dwindling resources. It was hoped this would help to reduce burning of fossil fuels with their harmful C02 emissions - the primary cause of global warming, not that there is much evidence of it this summer.

Methane is also a contributor to global warming with much of it coming from none other than excess flatulence, mainly from cows.

Last year Ireland’s Ministry of Agriculture concluded that the dairy and beef industry accounted for 30% of the countries greenhouse gas emissions. Australia also conducted a similar study into the

methane gas emissions from some of it’s 1.2 million wild camels (that’s a ripper mate). In the UK we even went as far as to debate the subject of ‘wind breaking’ in the House of Lords, (I wish I was making this up). Lord Viscount Simon (no relation) commented on the effects of human emissions on global warming as a result of the over consumption of baked beans - the UK being the largest consumer with a staggering 1.5 million cans sold per day. Baroness Verma agreed stating that “we need to moderate our behaviour”. I’m sure her speech would have received a standing ovation were it not for the fear of standing may have caused many of the Lords to add to the problem.

Yet there are still many less drastic ways for us to reduce our carbon footprint, with many helpful websites to guide us on waste management, sometimes quite literally with choice advice such as: ‘only flush the toilet when necessary’ (I can’t remember flushing when not necessary) and ‘using recyclable toilet paper is the way to go.’ There is even a catchy rhyme to help us remember: ‘If it’s wee let it be, if it’s brown flush it down’. I’d like to add another one: ‘If it’s stuck, you’re out of luck’.

Though don’t be put off If you are finding it difficult to reduce your carbon footprint, because you can always ‘offset it’, that is to say, to do something good to the planet to make up for the bad. For example, if you fly to Australia (without the Ashes) you will create 2 tonnes per person of damaging C02, which according to an offset calculator amounts to £42 which you can now contribute to the replanting of sustainable forests. There are other more easier ways to reduce your carbon footprint, such as shopping with ‘bags for life’ (I lost mine) and dutifully recycling all of your tin cans and wine bottles every week - if you dare let the neighbours see how much you drink.

At the very least you could wear your old clothes a for a bit longer and remember if you are eating baked beans, try to moderate your behaviour.

Simon@limepad.com

Goldies Special Open Day Planned for October 17th A charity that has music and singing at its heart and is brightening the lives of older people across the Braintree area, has a special open day planned for October 17 to get people singing and smiling.

Golden-Oldies was started eight years ago in the West Country by choir leader and musician, Grenville Jones. From small beginnings with Grenville leading the first four daytime singing and activity sessions himself in sheltered housing community rooms, the work of ‘Goldies’, as it has become known, has made remarkable progress.

Hayward and the Rev Sheila Fernandes for their support in setting up the sessions at St Paul’s Braintree and St Stephen’s Harlow. The Salvation Army in Chelmsford have also given great backing.

Grenville explains: “I was delighted when we were approached by Greenfields who were enthusiastic about bringing songs and smiles to their residents. By the end of this year we will have 6 sessions with Greenfields as well as 4 sessions in partnership with local churches across Essex. We plan many more in the months ahead.”

“Looking ahead, we have a major event coming up on Saturday October 17. This will be a BIG SING at St Paul’s Church in Braintree when we will bring together many of the older people who attend the sessions and also offer a warm welcome to any member of the public to come along that day to discover just what the Goldies fun atmosphere is all about.

Former Anglican Minister Rob Cadman leads the Goldies programme in Essex. Rob lives in Braintree with his wife Jan and two dogs, but was formerly an Anglican Minister in Westcliff-on-Sea.

“Admission is free and the day runs from 2pm - 5pm. Come and join us, there will be lots of singing, tea and cakes and our special guests will be the Braintree Male Voice Choir.

Rob is delighted about the tremendous response and enthusiasm that has been shown towards the charity in Essex and together with Grenville, hopes to develop Goldies’ work further across the county in the months and years ahead.

“Braintree Lions have added their brilliant help with a donation towards our community transport costs for the day.”

The charity now runs over 130 daytime sessions across England and Wales and last year, in partnership with Greenfields Community Housing, started new daytime groups in and around the Braintree area.

Full details of Goldies can be found at: www.golden-oldies.org.uk.

Rob Cadman said: “Goldies is for everyone and we have a fantastic time at all of the sessions. I am particularly grateful to the Rev Sarah Page 6

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that are clump forming tend to CT Gardening by Tom Cole Plants fall into this category and there are

Plants for Free!

It’s nearly time to split up all those perennials that have either outgrown their space, or have become a little dead in the centre. So for all those plants that tend to die down in late October, the best method to use is division as it’s fast and reliable. After dividing, each propagule should have an established root and stem system and will often have fully functioning leaves as well. This allows for rapid establishment and development of the new plant, which therefore requires only minimal care and attention. All plants produced in this way are genetically identical to the parent plant. The only key disadvantage of this method is that only a few plants can be produced from the parent plant at any one time and diseases such as viruses can be passed on.

loads that you may have in your garden.

If you’ve got grasses - Asters, sweetly scented Phlox, Chrysanthemums, Rudbeckias for example - these respond really well from splitting and dividing and enable you to produce new plants for yourself and all your friends and family. Check out this site for more information: www.rhs.org.uk/advice/ profile?PID=363.

Herbaceous perennials can be divided to increase stock or to rejuvenate old plants. The best time to propagate by this method is during the dormant season just after leaf fall or prior to bud burst. The parent plant selected for propagation should be healthy, vigorous, pest and disease free and true to type.

Divided propagules can either be planted directly into the final planting position - for example, when dividing plants in the herbaceous border or placed in pots or containers to establish as container grown plants.

If you are using containers, the type of pot will vary according to the size of the propagule taken. Small propagules (for example Aster spp.) can be lined out in a seed tray while larger specimens like Hosta spp. can be potted directly into large 2 litre pots. Hygiene is

important to prevent the spread of fungal diseases. Always ensure that pots and containers are washed in disinfectant and left to dry prior to use.

Much of the process is carried out using hands to gently tease the parent plant apart. For me, I tend to use an old propagation knife to cut off propagules from the parent plant and it also helps when dividing delicate subjects.

In the garden, large clumps can be divided using a pair of border forks back to back. Hand forks can be used in the same way for smaller plants. Either way, once the plant has been lifted from the ground, forks are pushed into the clump so that the tines are interlocked, then push handles together and the clump splits into two halves. Keep doing this until you have all the plants you require.

Summer is here don’t delay call today!

If you’re interested in plant propagation why not sign up for one of our practical Saturday classes on the 26th September? Follow this link for further information and booking details: www.writtle.ac.uk/PlantPropagation-Autumn.

Good luck and happy gardening!

For any gardening tips contact: Tom Cole, Head Horticultural Lecturer, Writtle College, Chelmsford, CM1 3RR by post (including a SAE) or by email at: tom.cole@writtle.ac.uk.

Page 8 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Halloween at Hylands ‘All That We See or Seem Is but a Dream Within a Dream’ Edgar Allen Poe

On Saturday 31st October, you are invited to Hylands House and gardens for two eerie events; a mini monster’s adventure in the misty outdoors and a grown-up’s gathering, firmly behind locked doors.

The Hallows’ Day event, for smaller children (and accompanied adults) starts at 4pm with a fantastical array of themed entertainment, rides and activities on the back lawn, a lanternlit trail of tricks and treats in the disPleasure Gardens and an unnervingly immersive tour of the house. This special Hallows’ Day ends with a wonderful firework display.

Then Hallows’ Eve, for a limited number of adults (and big kids) begins at 8pm and takes place entirely inside abandoned rooms of Hylands House.

Behind each door is something unsettling, unpleasant or plain peculiar as dozens of characters take your hand, attached or not, on a tour of the darkest parts of this building and your soul. This unique Hallows’ Eve gathering has a late demise with a Disco of the Dead included.

Both events will serve-up weird walkabout performances, creative hands-on workshops, fearless fire shows and phantasmagorical face-painting.

The finest caterers will tantalise and delight your taste buds with their food and drink, including alcohol for adults only.

Young and old, the alive and kicking, the dead and undead, are all invited to dress up according to the Halloween tradition delightfully dedicated to the departed. There will be awards for the best.

Tickets for Halloween at Hylands are on sale now - from £10 for the Hallows’ Day and from £13 for the Hallows’ Eve. They can be purchased via www.chelmsford.gov.uk/allhallowseve, or by calling 01245 606505. There are also limited VIP tickets available for exclusive activity at Hallows’ Eve. Keep up-to-date with the event and ‘like’ Halloween at Hylands on Facebook or follow @CultEventsTeam on Twitter.

Produced by the Cultural Events Team at Chelmsford City Council.

The unearthly transformation of Hylands House is devised by international artists from Essex, Joanna Peacock and Mike Dodsworth. Halloween at Hylands is kindly supported by Meadows Shopping Centre, High Chelmer Shopping Centre, The Printing Place, The City Times, Event Sound & Light and BBC Essex. With thanks to Astral Design, East 15 Acting School and the Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts.

Regal Kitchens Receives Endorsement from Which?

Award winning Regal Kitchens have again demonstrated their commitment to quality by receiving the coveted Which? Trusted Trader endorsement.

The Which? vetting process includes a company inspection and existing customer satisfaction checks, both of which demonstrated Regal’s ability to deliver on their promises.

Regal continues to go from strength to strength by putting the best interests of their customers at the centre of all that they do. In a recent survey, they found that 60% of their new customers came from referrals from their previous customers.

Managing Director, John Martin said: “We are delighted that Which? has endorsed our company as they are well known for recommending only the very the best.”

If you’d like further information regarding Regal’s products and services, please contact the team on: 01245 351151.

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CT Cooking

by John Jacobs

Welcome to the September edition of Chelmsford the City Times cooking column.

Back from your hols? Sandy toes, sun stroke and mild dysentery are over now for another year. I ‘staycationed’, hoping for a window of opportunity to pitch a tent in the forests of Suffolk and barbecue my heart out.

Sat idly in my back-wrenching, pound store camping chair, I mused on how far Chelmsford has come in terms of new and outstanding bars and restaurants. Like most pseudo-perfectionists, I’m never happy until I can find some small thread to tug on, unravelling any possibility of contentment. My thoughts turned to what was missing.

Our city streets are filled with the usual suspects, most recently Taco Bell and this month YO! Sushi submitted plans for its presence on the high street. If you’re not familiar with the global franchise, their outlets are decked like overly sanitised dental surgeries where small plates of beautifully presented food pass before you on a conveyor belt, Generation Game style. Each dish colourful and desirable making you want to keep trying until you’ve collected the entire set.

I’m aware of the Pokémon analogy.

Yes I love sashimi and all its forms and yes it appeals to the latent snob in me, but will it make me want to pull out my phone, start snapping pictures and immediately texting friends that if they don’t eat here in the next five minutes, they will have wasted their lives in pointless frippery? Unlikely. So I hit on it: What we’re missing as a city is a ‘concept’.

Autumn Tomato Chutney As the colder season nears, we think of preserving the fruit and vegetables grown over the summer months. If, like me you have a glut of tomatoes and don’t want to see them furring up in the fridge, here’s a very simple and spicy preserve to use up most fruit left over.

Ingredients ½ kilo ripe tomatoes ½ kilo cooking apples (peeled and chopped) 1 large onion (chopped) 250g mixed dried fruit 150g brown sugar 1 tbsp mixed spice ½ tbsp chilli powder ½ tbsp ground ginger 200ml white wine vinegar Really simple, put the lot in a big pan and gently bring to a simmer.

Leave uncovered and cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Once cooled, transfer the mix to a sterilized jar and seal carefully so as not to allow in any air. Have a great month.

£799

I received an invite from the head chef of new restaurant, The Cells.

It’s a ‘concept’ the blurb read. My heart sank. Inevitably when handed a menu, I will be asked ‘can I explain our concept to you?’

No, you may not. Restaurants have a very simple concept. You give me a menu, I choose what I want to eat, the rest is pretty much redundant. Should I suffer head trauma between stages one and two, I will motion to you with whatever limb still works to come and explain how ordering food operates. Until then, let’s assume I’m still a relatively highly functioning person.

No need for explanations at The Cells though. Nothing subtle, the concept punches you square in the face. Housed in an old magistrates court building, each dining area is built into one of the prisoner lock ups and each cell is decked out in its own uniquely forbidding fashion. Staff dressed in orange jumpsuits are overseen by the key jangling head warden in her severe Prisoner Cell Block H uniform. The street food menu is inexpensive and perfectly executed.

The bar is well stocked and the cocktails are high octane. A really unique and fun place to start an evening.

CT

Sadly, where in Chelmsford could we possibly find a court house, right in the city centre, lying vacant wasting golden opportunities for development?

Page 10 www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Autumn Beers by Simon Tippler of roundtowerbrewery.co.uk

As autumn is approaches, you will start to see some autumn styled beers on the horizon. The most obvious of these are green hop beers. Obviously all hops are green, however almost all the hops used by brewers have been dried and stored so they can be used all year round. This is a practice that has been going on for years and is the reason that there are lots of oast houses scattered around the country, but mainly in Kent where the majority of British hops have been grown for generations. However, at this time of year the hop harvest is in full swing and fresh hops are available for brewers to use. The part of the hops that are of interest to the brewers are the oils that are found in the hop flowers. The oils, if boiled for an

hour, give beer it bitterness and also, if boiled for a short period, the lovely hop flavour to balance the malt from the grain. Although the oils are preserved through the drying process, they go through some changes. So at this time of year with the abundant fresh hops, brewers are able to use them to make beer which has a more complex and layered flavour profile from the hops. So look out for green hop beers from breweries whose beers you normally enjoy and see if you can notice the difference.

The other style of beer that is beginning to be seen at this time of year is a pumpkin beers, mainly pioneered by American breweries where pumpkins hold a special place at this time of year. Pumpkin beers usually have extra spices added. One that you might see is Stingy Jack by Beavertown which is made with nutmeg, clove, cardamom, cinnamon and ginger.

Maldon’s Smallest Pub Opens!

Maldon’s new micropub opened its door for the first time on September 1st. The Maldon Brewing Company has spent a year planning and fitting out this former high street shop to create the Farmers Yard. It is a 400 year old grade II listed building and with seating for 12 on custom made settles and room for a few standing, this must surely be the cosiest pub in the area. It is the place for good beer and good conversation.

Nigel and Mike Farmer, a father and son team, have embraced the concepts defined by the Micropub Association which define a micropub as ‘a small free house which listens to its customers, mainly serves cask ales, promotes conversation, shuns all forms of electronic entertainment and dabbles in traditional pub snacks’.

They, with pub manager Annie Janes-Fraser, look forward to welcoming the mature and discerning drinker into the Farmers Yard.

The Maldon Brewing Company’s ales feature highly with their complete bottled range available to drink on the premises or take away. The bottles are complemented by a minimum of 4 draught

ales straight from cask in the purpose built cold room. There is a rotation of three of the brewery’s beers, including all their monthly specials, but there is also a guest ale from another Essex brewery. The Yard also offers draught farmhouse cider from Marshwood Vale Cider in Dorset and a small selection of wine. There are plans to extend the range on offer to include Belgian, American and innovative beers from leading UK microbreweries.

Farmers Yard can be found at 140 High Street Maldon and is open Monday to Friday from: 11am - 2pm and 5 - 9pm, Saturday: 11am 9pm and Sunday: 12 - 9pm.

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What’s On In Chelmsford September

Friday 18th Asylum - First Order + Reckless Caution + Mutari Bassment - Shakey’s Sessions: Guilt Coins + The March Fleet + Eyelid Movies + Paul Woodley Civic - Andy Parsons: Live and Unleashed - But Naturally Curious Fleece - Grounds for Divorce Old Court Theatre - The Ghost Train Saturday 19th Asheldam & Dengie Village Hall - live music: The May’s 40th Anniversary Asylum - Tokyo Taboo + The Shards + The English Curse + Gary Smith Bassment - Saturday’s Alright For Dancin’ Chelmsford City Centre - CITYdiversions CCFC Away: Maidenhead United v Chelmsford City FC Civic - Dreaming of Kate - A Tribute to Kate Bush County Hotel - Murder Mystery Dinner Fleece - Stereo Jack Lion Inn - Late Summer Ball in aid of Farleigh Hospice Old Court Theatre - The Ghost Train Star & Garter - Thirsty Work Sunday 20th Chelmsford City FC - Pie Face + Salvation Jayne (4pm) Civic - New music workshop and master class History of Moulsham Street Walk (2pm - Ideas Hub) South Woodham Ferrers - CITYdiversions Monday 21st Chelmsford Film Club Like Father, Like Son (PG) Tuesday 22nd Civic - Sister Act Wednesday 23rd Asylum - Descent from Aten + Tearing Down the Skyline + Our Hands in Ruin + I, The Illusionist Bassment - Rock ‘n’ Roll Bingo Civic - Sister Act Civic - Lunchtime Concert Thurday 24th Bassment - Crushed Beaks + Muertos + Sportsday Central Park - 3 Foot People Party Civic - Sister Act Fleece - Quiz night Friday 25th Asylum - Mystified + The Last of Us + Lost Revelation Bassment - Machine Gun Men + Shooty and the Bang + Make Love + Chris Mears and friends Central Park - 3 Foot People Party Central Park - The Fling Family Cabaret Chelmsford City FC - Sport of Kings Raceday Civic - Sister Act Cramphorn - How The Koala Learnt To Hug Fleece - Blow Star & Garter - Rewind Saturday 26th Asylum - Walk in Coma + White Raven Down + Howling Black Soul Page 12

Saturday 26th (cont) Bassment - Club Static - Michelle Stodart (The Magic Numbers) + The Goat Roper Rodeo Band + David J Harvey Central Park - 3 Foot People Party Central Park - The Fling Family Caberet Civic - Sister Act Cramphorn - How The Koala Learnt To Hug Fleece - The Strides Hylands - All ABout Dogs Star & Garter - Stony Road Sunday 27th Civic - Belly Dance Odyssey (7.30pm) Fleece - The Bluebird Sessions Hylands - All About Dogs Tuesday 29th Civic - Chris Ramsey – All Growed Up Wednesday 30th Bassment - Live indie rock Civic - Lunchtime Concert

October

Thursday 1st Fleece - Quiz night Friday 2nd Bassment - New Town Kings + guests Chelmsford Social Club - Blues in The City - Split Whiskers + Will Johns + Roadhouse Cramphorn Jenny Eclair – How to Be a Middle Aged Woman (Without Going Insane) SOLD OUT Fleece - The Rising Saturday 3rd Ale House - Dove & Boweevil (3pm) Asheldham & Dengie Village Hall - The Dengie Hillbillies Asylum - Run Over Dogs + Puma Danger + Midnight Barbers CCFC Home: Chelmsford City FC v Oxford City Chelmsford City FC - Grandparents Day Chelmsford Social Club - Blues in the City - Robbie McIntosh + Slack Alice + Rosco Levee & the Southern Slide (doors 6.15pm) Civic - The Sensational 60s Experience Cramphorn - Essex Poetry Festival Evoke - FIght For Alexia II Fleece - Beggar Star & Garter - Howling Matt (12.15pm) Star & Garter - Storm Two Brewers - Joel Fisk & The Breakdown (4.15pm) Woolpack - Jack Hutchinson Band (1.30pm) Sunday 4th Ale House - Mumbo Jumbo (3.45pm) Ale House - Delta Groove (6.30pm) Black Bull - Karena K (5.15pm) Black Bull - Malaya Blue (8.30pm) Chelmsford City FC - Toy Fair Cricketers - Ben Smith (12.15pm) Star & Garter - Katie Bradley (1.30pm) Woolpack - The Sharpees (2.30pm) Woolpack - GC’s Jazz Club - Johny Withers, Vibraphone with the Neale Ridding Trio (8.30pm)

Please note, all events are subject to change. Please visit the relevant websites or Facebook pages for more details

Monday 5th Cramphorn - Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage Of Figaro) Tuesday 6th Cramphorn - Force Majeure (15) Wednesday 7th Bassment - Jazz Funk with very special guest Cramphorn - Lunchtime Concert Civic - An Audience with Lesley Garrett Thursday 8th Bassment - Acoustic Underground Cramphorn - The Importance Of Being Earnest Fleece - Quiz Night Friday 9th Asylum - Butterfly McQueen + Raynes + Chased by Karma Bassment - Electric Jam: Paolo Morena and friends Civic - Rob Beckett: Mouth Of The South Cramphorn - Only Fools and Boycie - The New Show SOLD OUT Fleece - The Super Unknown Star & Garter - GT 40s Saturday 10th Asylum - Sophie Lancaster Foundation Fundraiser: Born to Destruct + The MacGregors + The Tickturds + Apple Shift + more Bassment - ICYMI - Midnight Barbers + Wayde Civic - Cinderella - presented by Ballet Cymru Cramphorn - Far From The Madding Crowd (12A) Fleece - Joker Keene Hall, Galleywood Chelmsford Mildmay Inner Wheel Shoe Sale (10am - 12pm) Life Church - Chelmsford Community Gospel Choir Star & Garter - The Rednotes Sunday 11th Civic - The Hollywood Special Effects Show Cramphorn - Chelmsford Jazz Club Cramphorn - Giselle Monday 12th Civic - Dr Hook featuring Ray Sawyer Tuesday 13th Chelmsford Film Club - Slow West (15) Wednesday 14th Bassment - Blues in the City - Wille and the Bandits + Martin McNeill Civic - An Evening with Russell Watson (SOLD OUT)Cramphorn Lunchtime Concert Thursday 15th Asylum - Acoustic Night Bassment - Mother’s Jam + Counties + guests Fleece - Quiz Night Friday 16th Asylum - See You in Reno + Barora Bassment - Shakey’s Sessions: Kloq + guests Cramphorn - Beverly Craven, live in concert Fleece - Sax on Fire

KEGS - Rotary Jazz Night: Peter Long Quartet tickets from Chelmsford Rotary or Civic Theatre (£13) Saturday 17th Asylum - Scar City + Frowser + TemperMental Bassment - Saturday’s Alright for Dancin’ CCFC Away: Basingstoke Town v Chelmsford City FC Civic - Andy Hamilton: Change Management Cramphorn - Clouds Of Sils Maria (15) Fleece - Red Leaf & Captain Fleecey’s Birthday Star & Garter - Kopykattz All listings are subject to change. Please check the venue’s web site in case of alteration.

Please send your events to editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk. The next edition will cover between October 16th - 15th November.

Please send us your events for the next edition (for events between 18th September and October 18th) to: editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

CT Business bestofchelmsford

sponsored by:

It’s easy to argue that Chelmsford city is now the most dynamic area in Essex.

It’s the city status that’s helped, of course, but it’s also about the people and businesses and the community.

An example is our very own Chelmsford Community Radio station which will broadcast on FM in early 2016. A great achievement by the volunteers who are its backbone. It’s the community which makes the place and it’s the people who volunteer their time, money and effort to help Chelmsford be a better place.

There’s also the businesses who provide financial, resources and advisory support to so many worthy causes. There’s a good mix of community and business.

Without people who help by donating their time and money to those who are less fortunate, the city would be much the poorer. Yet it’s easy to overlook the contribution they make. Very often they are in the background just getting on with helping others.

So we’d like to say a big thanks to the volunteers of Chelmsford.

Coming up on 6th October there’s the Planning For Retirement Fair at Hylands House.

This is a free event organised by Fairey Associates, a leading local firm of Independent Financial Advisers and Chelmsford Centre Supporting Voluntary Action.

It will be well worth attending so book your place now - don’t miss this. You can find out more by visiting: www. faireyassociates.co.uk/retirement-fair-2015.html.

Our newest business members are Tees Law, a long established firm of solicitors based at Stonebridge Walk and Ascension Global Recruitment, with their office in Bond Street. Both are at the heart of the city. Check out their business pages on thebestofchelmsford by going to: www.thebestof.co.uk/chelmsford.

Finally, don’t forget to pay us a visit to see what’s happening in Chelmsford and the surrounding areas, also take a look at offers from local businesses. It’s all about our local community and how to keep up with things and get involved.

Charity Boxing Match 3rd October @ Evoke Night Club in Aid of Alexia

On Saturday 3rd October, Fight-For.com are hosting a charity boxing night in aid of a local girl who has many disabilities. We are aiming to raise £5000 to help her to walk through specialist physiotherapy!

This is no ordinary boxing match though - we have set a 10 week challenge to become a boxer from complete novice. These brave guys and girls have been training very hard with blood sweat and tears, although this is nothing compared to Alexia’s daily struggle.

Please come and support us; it’s going to be a great night and lots of fun!

Tickets are £28 available in advance or on the door.

For more info visit: Fight-For.com or email: fightfor@mail.com. For advanced tickets call Scott on 07912 857 671.

Make, Do and Mend - a Crafty Reinvention by Linda McNeill This month was a very EXCITING month for me because as a self-confessed lover of all things crafty, I got to meet and chat to the amazingly enterprising Hannah Elgie, of Make, Do and Mend, the awesome home of craft right here in Chelmsford.

For those of you that are not familiar with Make, Do and Mend, it is a little gem of a workshop tucked away along Navigation Road. If you are even the tiniest bit crafty or have a hankering to become so, this is the place for you. Hannah has created a wonderful space with sewing machine stations along one wall, large tables to gather round and get creative in the centre and an array of quirky crafts on display throughout the shop for you to be inspired by. Make, Do and Mend host a huge array of workshops week in week out, which just get you itching to start creating. At the time of writing, MD&M have FORTY different workshops listed on their website ranging from children’s sewing classes - making a PE bag and pencil case all ready for the start of term - to crochet, dressmaking, book binding and even a course on how to sew your own knickers! Amazing!

As always, I was very interested to learn more about how Hannah had created such an innovative and quirky enterprise. Hannah moved to Chelmsford in 2009 to be with her now husband, Joe. At this stage she was working in London and found herself quite isolated as she knew no-one in Chelmsford. “In a bid to try and find new local like-minded friends I started a knitting club at the Cherry On Top cafe. I had been sitting in there knitting one day and got chatting to some fellow knitters on the next table.

I asked if they would be interested in joining a knitting club - they were! I then got some flyers printed and put them in independent shops to promote the knitting club.

Nine people came along to the first meeting, ranging from a young girl of 15 to a woman in her early 70s. The next month 12 people came. I knew I was on to something!”

Hannah helped her fellow knitters to improve their skills and absolutely loved it. “At this stage I had a pipe dream - I loved the idea of opening a shop and teaching people how to make things.”

I was very intrigued to find out why Hannah became so passionate about ‘making’ and how she had become a talented craftswoman herself. “It is all down to my mum - she taught me everything I know! My mum and I have been sewing for as long as I can remember. Mum would make clothes for herself and me and I would always want in on it! I have always loved it. As I got older my mum taught me how to make clothes and to knit. My mum is my ‘go to’ for all things crafty.” Hannah is also a very talented photographer - she completed a degree in photography at the University of Westminster in which she achieved first class honours.

Hannah’s knitting club was a great success and it fed into her dream of opening a shop of her own. At the same time her job in London was coming to a close. She had been working for a local charity doing creative projects in community settings with young people. As budgets were being cut, her job was increasingly under threat and this proved to be the motivation Hannah needed.

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Hannah had become friends with the owner of a vintage shop on Moulsham Street. She offered Hannah the opportunity to use the back of her shop as a base. “It was right in the middle of recession and I had no money, but I decided to go for it anyway!” This was the autumn of 2011, by the time January came, the shop was ready. “I bought loads of second hand sewing machines and furniture and my first workshop was Crochet Granny Squares in February 2011.

Make, Do and Mend was almost a pop-up shop at this point. It was so exciting to be realising my dream!” This arrangement was an excellent starting point for Hannah, but by July 2011 she had found her own premises on Navigation Road and this has been Make, Do and Mend’s home ever since. Setting the shop up was very much a family affair with Hannah’s husband Joe fitting the shop, helping build the website and design the logo. Her parents have also been incredibly supportive, regularly caring for her young daughter.

It is hard to describe the quiet passion Hannah clearly has for her business - it means a huge amount to her on so many levels. When I was chatting to Hannah she likened the shop to another child - she conceived the idea, created it and has been nurturing it every since.

Hannah’s dad is a retired vicar and part of her motivation in setting up Make, Do and Mend came from a desire to create a community locally, as she just wasn’t part of one in Chelmsford. “A wonderful community has sprung up through the Make, Do and Mend network and it does remind me of my dad’s church community in many ways - my crafty handouts are like the order of service and knitting club is like the service itself!” I loved this comparison!

I was interested to know about the challenges Hannah has faced along the way while establishing her business. “I’m a big worrier, I am constantly thinking, will it work? Will people come? Time management has also been a steep learning curve - there is so much to organise all the time. I had no experience at all of running a business so I have very much had to learn on the job.” Despite this she has clearly learned on the job very successfully! Make, Do and Mend won the Essex Enterprising Business Award in 2012. “I have never done anything like this before - never even owned a business, so to get an award was completely bonkers! The judge said it was no contest from the start, he was blown away by my business.” Make, Do and Mend were also awarded 2nd place in the customer service category last year so are continuing to impress.

crochet classes and some of the sewing classes herself.

What about the knitting club? Wonderfully, the knitting club is still thriving and now takes place at Make, Do and Mend on a Wednesday evening from 7 - 10pm. A sewing club has also been established and runs on Tuesday morning from 10am - 1pm. “The clubs cost £5 and you get tea and biscuits and chat! Everyone brings their own project and cracks on with it in the company of others. The clubs are well attended - everyone is really friendly and welcoming. We always welcome new members!” They also host a club exclusively for men, The Moustachio Club. This is a club for gentlemanly pursuits and ‘men time’ - it takes place on the first Tuesday of the month 7 - 9pm.

So what is next for Make, Do and Mend? Hannah certainly has a number of things in the pipeline. She has been approached to be in the Palm Court Area of the Knitting and Stitching Show from October 7th - 11th, where she will be running knitting and crocheting workshops. This is a very prestigious event and she was thrilled to be asked. As for the shop: “We are certainly not sitting still and just being a ‘shop’, we are always changing and evolving. We are very responsive to demand and always open to more ideas. We only have a small haberdashery and materials available at the moment and I would like to extend this. I would also like to offer more high level workshops. If anyone has a skill they would like to learn or a great idea for a workshop - please get in touch!”

It was a real pleasure to talk to Hannah - what a brave and talented girl! It takes huge courage to pursue a dream and enormous hard work to realise it. We are a lucky city to have some a wonderful shop in our midst. Go and check it out for yourself!

Make, Do and Mend is located at 94 Byron Road and you can also find out about their array of classes on their website: www. makedoandmend.com.

If you would like to be featured in my column please get in touch at: linda@bunintheovenbirthing.co.uk.

Hannah’s innovative business has also caught the eye of publishers and a TV company. She was commissioned to write a book on crochet in 2013 which has since been published and she was featured on Super Scrimpers series 2 and 3. Not bad for a girl who just used to treat crafting as a hobby!

I asked Hannah to explain how Make, Do and Mend works. “We run a huge number of workshops, most of which are ‘one-offs’. The idea is that you come, you make and then you leave with the product.

However, the most important aspect is that you have learnt a new skill - you go home knowing how to reproduce.” Hannah sees Make, Do and Mend as more than this though: “We offer the time and the space for someone to do something different. If you are a busy parent or grandparent, coming here is giving yourself the gift of time.

You can have some headspace and learn something new.”

I would certainly concur with this. I attended a workshop last year at MD&M called Drawing in Stitches. The workshop was calming and exciting all at the same time and most of all it was FUN! The workshops are designed to cater for all levels of skill (and none!) and for all budgets. They have recently started doing one-hour and two-hour courses for those who are short of time. These are also very affordable. There is a maximum of 6 - 8 people per class so crafters get lots of personal attention. Hannah has 12 freelance people teaching the workshops and she teaches many of the knitting and www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

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CT History

Chelmsford City Council has a number of policy statements relating to heritage. The town centre action plan of 2008 has a core policy 8 that refers to ’protecting areas of natural and built heritage and of archaeological importance’. The council is working on an updated local plan which will shape the future of our city to 2036. On 29th October, the Civic Society is holding an all day workshop, as part of the Chelmsford Ideas Festival, to determine what might be the main points of a heritage strategy for our city.

I had none of this in mind when on 12th August, I set out to visit Fraserburgh with a friend David Stimpson. Fraserburgh is a very long way from Chelmsford - a drive of 571 miles to the north east coast of Scotland. My purpose was to investigate my family history. In 1696 there were just six families, all with the surname Noble, living in the fishing village of Broadsea. This is situated a little way along the coast from Fraserburgh and close to the Moray Firth. Broadsea is now a conservation area consisting largely of terraced granite built cottages. The Noble surname has long been associated with the north eastern coast of Scotland. My great great grandfather, Alexander Noble, left Broadsea for Aberdeen in 1834. He settled in Footdee, a fishing village close to the mouth of the River Dee. Henceforth, there were members of the family living both in Broadsea and Footdee. As with so many families though, World War II disrupted this continuity of life. My father set off for war in 1939, serving as a royal engineer with the ill-fated 51St Highland Division in France and later in the Burma campaign. After the war, he married and settled in the Scottish Borders, thus breaking a centuries old link with the north eastern coast.

I intended to find out what I could about the history of the Noble families, starting with a visit to the Fraserburgh Heritage Centre. This was established by the local Heritage Society in 1998, to display the story of the town. On visiting the society’s website, I discovered that Fraserburgh had an important Marconi connection. The Chelmsford Civic Society views the Marconi heritage as central to our city’s identity. Accordingly, I resolved to investigate and possible links between Marconi’s work in Chelmsford and his activities in Fraserburgh. I am grateful to Tim Winder, who has been researching Marconi for over 30 years (and will be speaking at the Chelmsford Ideas Festival on 21st October) and to the Marconi Heritage Group, for providing me with a detailed brief prior to my driving north. The Fraserburgh Heritage Society arranged for me to be met by George Pirie who would be my guide at the centre.

Marconi Connects How a man of great renown Came to build for wireless telegraphy A station in Broadsea Farm In that town where Nobles dwell And Dukes parade the street The very mainstay of their life Is a handsome fishing fleet The Nobles referred to are the fishing families of Broadsea and not the local nobility.

I was fortunate, in addition to meeting George Pirie, to have a word with Ian Watson a Director of the Heritage Society and Barbara Buchan who showed me records of families living in Broadsea during the 19th century. Barbara’s grandfather had been responsible for security at Marconi’s signal station. George Pirie told me that the society would be happy to establish a connection with Chelmsford’s Civic Society and Marconi Heritage Group. I would also be possible to lend Marconi artefacts for exhibition in Chelmsford.

In 2010, the Changing Chelmsford summer proceedings, entitled How Bold is your vision? identified three buildings comprising the Heritage Triangle. They were Anne Knight, Shire Hall and Marconi in New Street.

All have been restored but with the exception of the former Marconi offices in New Street, we await decisions on future use. The Civic Society hopes to devise a broader strategy for the protection of our heritage and thereby influence decisions taken by the city and county councils. The society also seeks to raise awareness of the city’s heritage among residents and visitors alike.

Booking for the Heritage Strategy workshop is through the Ideas Festival website: www.changingchelmsford.org.

The event will take place on Thursday 29th October between 10am and 3pm in the Council Chamber, Civic Centre, Duke Street.

Malcolm Noble - Chairman: Chelmsford Civic Society.

Guglielmo Marconi had come to England in 1896 and was granted the world’s first patent for a system of wireless telegraphy. His factory was located initially in Chelmsford’s Hall Street in 1899. Marconi met Sir William Preece, Engineer in Chief at the General Post Office. Preece recommended George Kemp from the GPO as a suitable person to assist in finding a suitable site for an experimental wireless telegraphy station. Marconi wanted one roughly half way between the planned station at Plodhu in Cornwall and both Norway and Iceland. Kemp chose Broadsea Farm close to Kinnaird Head. The stations made possible shore to ship communication for North Sea fishing vessels.

There is a tableau in the Heritage Centre, showing Marconi and Kemp against a background of Broadsea village.

George Pirie gave me a fascinating introduction to the Marconi display at the Heritage Centre. Its centrepiece is a replica ‘Marconi Shack’ representing his wireless station. The artefacts that it contains a menu card for a dinner held in Marconi’s honour, on the occasion of his visit on 27th April 1904, given by ‘The Provost, Magistrates and Councillors’. There were eight toasts followed by ‘God Save the King’. The Provost proposed the health of ‘our distinguished guest’ and Marconi gave the reply. Marconi had visited the town previously in 1903. The Fraserburgh Herald published a poem to mark the occasion: The Marconi Station at Broadsea Just listen to our story Page 18

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www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk Page 19

Hypnotherapy by Jenny Hartill

Today I will carry on discussing anxiety.

The spectrum of anxiety includes mild/generalised (‘free-floating’) anxiety, anxiety attacks through to severe phobic reactions. There are various causes of anxiety: Severe stress, a series of negative experiences building up to severe anxiety, fear of fear (you could have a fear you will panic in a certain situation). You can learn to feel anxious in certain situations from someone else, for example: A parent being openly anxious about getting rid of a spider could pass this anxiety onto their children. Anxiety is a manifestation of an underlying issue and the best way to get rid of the anxiety is firstly to learn some coping mechanisms and importantly to deal with the underlying disturbance. Anxiety can have it’s roots in a traumatic event, from childhood maybe, but a client may or may not be aware of this event or be able to recall it. A severe past trauma can also cause a phobia.

Some people are more susceptible to anxiety than others. Over time, the subconscious can start linking other situations that are similar to the one that causes anxiety and this can cause people to experience anxiety and not know the cause. For example, a driver that is involved in an accident may then feel anxious when they start driving again. This is the subconscious linking the physical symptoms of the crash with the action of driving. This means that anxiety is an avoidance mechanism used by the subconscious to ensure you avoid dangerous situations. When I am contracted by private medical companies, usually the type of client that will be sent to me is someone who has been in some sort of accident and they are suffering from anxiety as a result. Sometimes it’s a specific fear (like crossing the road if they were knocked down) and sometimes it’s a general anxiety - this usually forms because

the person is feeling vulnerable as a result of the accident and they can’t shake the feeling of being ‘in danger’.

like there are lots of different types of phobia. You could be anxious or phobic about anything!

Because of the feelings it creates, anxiety is a cyclical process (see below).

Some of the common anxieties I see in practice are here: Generalised anxiety disorder: Characterised by a feeling of anxiety all the time.

Social anxiety: Characterised by a general anxiety around people or fear of people.

Panic disorder: Characterised by recurring panic attacks causing a series of intense episodes of extreme anxiety during panic attacks. It may also include significant behavioural changes lasting at least a month and ongoing worry about the implications or concern about having other attacks. The latter are called anticipatory attacks.

Because of this cyclical process, anxiety can be a pre-curser to depression. When someone feels anxiety all the time this is called General Anxiety Disorder, it can be a debilitating condition leading to other symptoms such as panic attacks. A panic attack is out of control anxiety and can come on for no apparent reason, they can be triggered by your subconscious recognising and linking a situation to something it sees as threatening from a learned experience and they are typically characterised by several symptoms (as discussed last month).

Panic attacks can last from 5 minutes to 2 hours, but however long it feels like a lifetime. Panic attacks can be a common symptom when dealing with phobias. If your subconscious wanted to tell you something was an extreme danger, a very good way to do this is to make you panic so you run away from the situation or fight it off.

There are lots of different types of anxiety

Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder characterised by anxiety in situations where the sufferer perceives the environment to be dangerous, uncomfortable or unsafe. These situations can include wide-open spaces, uncontrollable social situations, unfamiliar places, shopping malls, airports and bridges.

It is a sub-set of panic disorder because of the fear of having panic attacks in above mentioned environments.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterised by feeling the need to check things repeatedly, have certain thoughts repeatedly, or feeling the need to perform certain routines repeatedly. People are unable to control either the thoughts or the activities. Common activities include hand washing, counting of things, and checking to see if a door is locked. Some may have difficulty throwing things out (hoarding). It is linked to anxiety because of the fear of what will happen if they do not complete the task.

For more information on hypnosis or counselling you can go to my website at: www.cloud9-therapy.co.uk.

Competition Time A Chance to Win a Pair of Tickets to See Andy Hamilton at the Civic 17th October In his 60 years on this planet, comedy writer and performer, Andy Hamilton, has experienced many changes. For instance, he was once a 6’4” tall professional basketball player, until a tree fell on him. But, of course, change is an inescapable part of the human condition. Why? Is that fair? Some changes are good, some bad. Why can’t they be more clearly labelled? How did we end up working longer hours? Where did all the sparrows go? If you’re feeling flustered because of flux, Andy will teach you how to cope with the changes we have seen and the changes yet Photo by Steve Ullathorne to come. Contains mild peril.

During the past few years, Andy and his writing partner, Guy Jenkin, have co-created, written and directed the hit BBC 1 sitcom, Outnumbered and the acclaimed 2014 UK feature film, What We

Did on Our Holiday. Their impressive back catalogue also includes Channel 4’s Drop The Dead Donkey.

Andy is also renowned for his long-running BBC Radio 4 sitcom, Old Harry’s Game and as a panel regular on The News Quiz and I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue. He also pops up from time to time on TV shows such as Have I Got News For You and QI. Question: What is the surname of the family in Outnumbered?

A: Jones | B: Bride | C: Brockman Please email your answer to: comp@itsyourmedia.co.uk along with your phone number. Your email address will be added to our online magazine mailing list unless you state ‘opt out’ in your email. Closing date for entries is October 9th.

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Keep in Touch with Essex Police

Contacting the police in an emergency was traditionally done through the 999 telephone number, while more recently the introduction of the 101 number for non-emergency inquiries has offered even more opportunity to engage with the police.

Essex Police has always considered new ways to improve public engagement and social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, are providing a hugely popular service. Anybody following the police on Twitter or ‘liking’ the Facebook page will be able to interact with the force, help with public appeals and keep up-to-date with the latest investigations and campaigns, while there is also a wide selection of videos available on the YouTube channel. Users of Instagram can also follow Essex Police to see the latest images of police work in action.

Recent success stories of public support through social media include tracking down missing people, reuniting people with stolen property and identifying criminals. Essex Police would like to thank everybody who has helped in any way to share our appeals.

Essex Community Messaging (ECM) is the latest tool to allow the public to keep in touch with the police, and the free-to-use service is already proving an invaluable addition. Subscribers can choose to receive messages via text, email or voicemail, with information sent directly from local police officers. Find out more at www.essex.police.uk/ecm and select the area that you want to hear about and the topics that interest you most.

As well as using digital media to engage with the public, you can always speak directly to police officers, and there will be plenty of

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opportunity to discuss issues and concerns at the upcoming local community meetings, while your local PCSO will be holding regular ‘Street Meets’ throughout the borough. For more information on times and dates of these meetings, see the Chelmsford section of the Essex police website: www.essex. police.uk/chelmsford. www.facebook.com/essexpoliceuk @essexpoliceuk instagram.com/essexpoliceuk youtube.com/essexpoliceuk

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Slow it Down to Make Fast Gains by Keith Porter

There’s all sorts of ways to mix up a workout. You might change the number of reps or sets that you do.

You might change the exercise that you use to work a particular muscle group. Or you might even change something less obvious like the amount of rest you take between sets. When we’re talking about variables in a workout, it’s a helluva list.

Lately, I’ve been experimenting with one variable in particular - tempo.

In my case, while I’ve been using the tried and tested strength moves that I’ve had as my staples for years, I’ve been doing the moves at a much slower pace - to dramatic effect.

Slow it down You see, slowing down a move makes it considerably harder. On my bench press for example, whereas I can normally quite comfortably lift 80KG, slowing it down (in this case, counting five seconds to lower the bar and then five seconds to raise it), I am failing after six reps at 62KG. In fact, had it not been for the safety bars on the power rack at Live Simple HQ, I may well still be pinned beneath the bar!

So why is it so much harder? Well, when you slow things down, your muscles lose all the momentum and recoil that can help when you’re lifting something heavy. And that means more parts of your muscle are engaged, you’re working harder even though the weight is the same, and you’re making more ‘micro-tears’ in your muscles - which all leads to bigger gains.

If you’re going to try this in the gym to attempt to put on muscle, there’s a few other things that you’ll need to consider. First, you need to eat a lot. And I mean a lot. You should never be hungry. Second, as your muscles start to grow, you’ll need to give them more time to recover, which means you’ll be working out less than you think.

Personally, I’ve noticed a big difference in the past month. I’m struggling to squeeze into my regular t-shirts, I feel stronger and workouts have become much more intense. If you want to give this type of training ago (which I would only recommend if you’re used to training in general) then Body By Science by Doug McGuff and The Four Hour Body by Tim Ferriss are two resources that will fill in the blanks. Good luck!

If you’re interested in personal training, drop me a line at: keith@ liveasimplelife.co.uk.

Switching off to Switch on by Kellie Jones

We always shut on bank holidays, this stems from a time when business was hard and it was our only day of rest with no sign of a holiday for a few years.

Now business is good but we still allow ourselves those few days a year to enjoy knowing we are shut and free from worry and responsibility for 24 hours. This last bank holiday was no exception and whilst my very hard working business partner was on holiday in Majorca, I booked myself on a Yoga Beauty Brunch half day indulgence and finished it off with a gong bath, (or sound healing session for those of you who are thinking ‘what the hell is that?’). Both of these events enforced no phones, social media, tv or other information overload devices, in other words, switching off. The real beauty of this recent event though was that I made the decision out of an act of self-love to continue to feel so switched on. It wasn’t because I felt stressed or emotionally and physically exhausted, it was purely to top up the good work I’ve been doing, yay!

this encouraged you to start coming to us, but more so I just hope the world can experience this: “When we emerge from our meditation session, we carry some of the stillness and silence of our practice with us, allowing us to be more creative, compassionate, centered, and loving to ourselves and everyone we encounter...” Deepak Chopra, MD. To find out more about what you can do to switch off, sign up for our newsletter here: www.hummingbirdyoga. co.uk.

So what have I been doing and why does it help? Number one without a shadow of a doubt is meditation, without which, I doubt number 2 - nurturing myself with whatever I sense that I am needing - would be happening. The decision to practise regular mindfulness has become easier and easier due to the undeniable benefits. I just don’t want to go back to how I was feeling before and that’s it. I am by nature someone who, as anyone who knows me already knows, likes to 01245 280283 | 01279 428569 | Redcross.org.uk/bheequipment support local events as much as possible, but due to this I can end up wearing myself out by trying to fit in too much or feeling guilty if I don’t attend. But although I didn’t enjoy waking up to this fact, most of those I support don’t really care if I’m there or not. What I have enjoyed is the freedom of deciding what I really love to do most and choosing what will feed my energy, not drain it.

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

During the harshest times of owning Hummingbird, some unnecessary

Looking for a more rewarding job or career – one that will reward YOU too?

bills had to go and one of the first for me was the tv, newspapers and trash magazines. I cannot recommend this enough, how on earth did I have room for all that bad news? As a business owner it is also necessary that I use social media and therefore cannot escape all that is out there and I would be shallow if I stayed completely in the dark, but at least I can filter what I choose to see. I mostly choose to read, follow and listen to all things good and positive, so even with the horrors that Syria is experiencing, I am endeavouring to focus on what good can be done to help alleviate the bad news.

So yes we do meditation classes at Hummingbird and I’d be thrilled if

Full training and support for a quick chat or more information contact Denise Randall. www.therisegroup.co.uk - Fb/deniserandall – denise@therisegroup.co.uk Tel: 0778 2273634 Independent Distributor of Forever Living Products Aloe Vera Drinking Gels, Supplements, Skincare and Personal Care Products Forever Living Products, Longbridge Manor, Warwick. CV34 6RB, members of the Direct Selling Association It is illegal for a promoter or a participant in a trading scheme to persuade anyone to make a payment by promising benefits from getting others to join a scheme. Do not be misled by claims that high earnings are easily achieved.

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Rotary Still Working Behind the UK Flood Scenes

We often hear about disasters in far off lands, whether they be tsunamis, hurricanes, floods, or even man-made catastrophes, but I am sure we can all remember the awful floods we had in this country back at the beginning of 2014.

Hard to believe, but after the floods on the Somerset Levels and along the Thames, Rotary is still working very hard to alleviate the damage caused to the property of the people living in those areas.

When the floods first occurred, Rotary had to build from scratch. Now that the dust has settled, or should I say the waters have subsided, the national committee of Rotary has instigated a flood disaster fund solely for use in the UK so when the next flood does occur, money will be available instantly to help people in immediate need. The livelihoods of so many ordinary people were ruined by the flooding.

Farmers lost their crops, their animals starved, many people lost jobs in addition to prized possessions and it was Rotary that stepped up with hands-on assistance. But we all learn from experience and next time we will be ready even before disaster proportions are reached.

Rotary’s work continues. There are still families who have not returned to their homes, families still requiring our assistance and one club is still providing much-needed respite breaks for families for whom distress has become overwhelming.

If you would like to add your skills to help people, then why not join a Rotary club? There are five in Chelmsford alone and each one would make you very welcome as a large part of being a Rotarian is the social life it offers. Visit: www.chelmsfordrotary1240.org to find out more, or give me a call on 01245 260 349 during office hours.

Along with the Somerset Community Foundation, Rotary is one of two respite organisations still left, and affected families are pleased that we are still active in the areas. Our approvals committee continues to authorise donations where required and where vetting has proven the case and our small committee is still operating. Carpets are being fitted, we have prevented a house from collapsing and we have just ordered mattresses for a family with no sleeping arrangements.

Stan Keller

We have a warehouse which stores goods destined as donations.

The county council warehouse closed some months ago; unless we opened a substitute, the donated goods would have been lost - and that would have been a mini disaster in itself!

We are storing resilience packs. They consist of flood prevention kits so that next time, households can either prevent a minor flood in their homes, or buy time while they prepare to evacuate. These packs are currently being issued to homes in previously flooded areas. We have instructed Rotary club presidents that if they have flood-prone homes in their area - anywhere in the districts concerned - they can distribute these packs. Just make contact with the central office to make arrangements.

Over £150,000 was donated to the relief fund thanks to clubs all over the UK in their successful and selfless collections. Essex clubs made generous contributions (some of us can remember the floods in Canvey Island when we would have been glad of such outside help) and there is approximately £40,000 remaining in the fund and we expect that there will be a balance of some £20,000 at the end of the relief stage. Subject to donors’ consent, Rotary shall retain that for contingency planning for the next time a disaster occurs and Rotary is again called upon.

Because of our success - for that is the view of the county councils, relevant agencies and our clients - it is inevitable that Rotary will be called upon on the occasion of the next disaster. It is a simple fact; we are represented on the planning boards of Somerset, Wilts and Dorset County Councils and we shall be placed on standby on future occasions. Similarly in Oxfordshire our services are in demand for our expertise in handling such disasters and our ability to move quickly.

There is a very able group of Rotarians building our contingency plans which we shall announce for consultation and adoption in the coming months. The objective will be two-fold: To maximise our effectiveness, and to protect participating Rotarians.

Derek Acorah Needs No Introduction Derek Acorah needs no introduction. As the pioneer for spiritualism and mediumship on television, he is arguably the world’s most renowned spirit medium having performed to many hundreds of thousands of people in theatres throughout the UK.

Derek’s television career dates back over fifteen years, to when he became the first medium ever to perform live on air without the benefit of an edit suite on a weekly basis, bringing hope and comfort to the viewing public. So why not come along and see for yourself and maybe meet Derek afterwards?

Derek is coming to Chelmsford for the first time and appearing at the Marconi Club Theatre on Friday 2nd October 2015 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £20.50 and can be obtained from the Marconi Club on 01245 269422 or online at: www.wegottickets.com.

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk

Page 25

Wildlife Corner by Nick Green

August did boast some hot days, but typically for this spring and summer most days were overcast and the last week certainly saw some deluges. I therefore can’t report too many insect sightings with temperatures not reaching 20 degrees centigrade too often but I did see speckled woods and meadow browns in my garden - and bees swarming to lavender plants and buddleias. Alas, the potential painted lady invasion did not materialise due to the adverse weather conditions.

We can but hope that the government uses common sense and does not vote for or support the use of nerve-agent pesticides (neonicotinoids) and takes all measures to reduce the use of all pesticides on bee-pollinated crops.

The lake in Central Park hosts the usual mallards, coots and moorhens. The drake mallards are now moulting out and will soon be in their usual plumage with bottle green coloured heads.

Hawkmoths are a fascinating species and I always think it is a good day when I see one - I recently managed to identify a lime hawkmoth caterpillar crossing my path in Kings Road. Hummingbird hawkmoths are a scarce, but annual visitor to Essex from north Africa and the Mediterranean. They use their long proboscis (tongue) to feed on nectar in tubular flowers - to encourage this species to visit your garden try planting red valerian, buddleia, phlox, jasmine and petunia which are all insect-friendly plants generally. Most records occur between April and September and larval food plants include lady’s bedstraw, hedge bedstraw and wild madder. According to The Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland (Waring & Townsend 2003), a sighting is regarded as good luck in Italy and Malta and a small swarm was noted over the English Channel on D Day in 1944!

Recent Essex Wildlife news

The most noteworthy August bird news included a great white egret at Abberton Reservoir from 20th into September. The reservoir also hosted a juvenile white-winged black tern on 30th and a long-staying osprey from 7th into September, plus good records of spotted redshank, black-necked grebe and Hummingbird Hawkmoth, copyright Jeff Delve garganey. A Caspian tern paid a short visit to Holland Haven Country Park on the 1st and a black stork flew over Landguard Point, Suffolk and briefly landed at Clacton on 28th.

Essex wildlife clubs include: Essex Birdwatching Society: www.ebws.org.uk RSPB: www.rspb.org.uk/groups/chelmsford Essex Field Club: www.essexfieldclub.org.uk Essex Wildlife Trust: www.essexwt.org.uk/get-involved/local-groups/ chelmsford

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The First Essex Industrial Heritage Fair The industrial landscape of Essex like that of many parts of the United Kingdom has changed considerably in recent years, as many traditional factories and industrial sites have closed and familiar buildings have been either converted to new uses or demolished. However, while this has been happening there has been a growing recognition of the need to respect this industrial heritage and adequately to record structures, preserve documents and when possible retain important buildings and their contents for future generations to appreciate. It is this which has led the Essex Industrial Archaeology Group (EIAG) to organise the first Essex Industrial Heritage Fair which is being held at Braintree District Museum on Saturday 10th October. This event is also a contribution to the 2015 European Year of Industrial and Technical Heritage, a main aim of which is to raise awareness while promoting contacts and cooperation of industrial associations and volunteers across borders (see www. industrialheritage2015.eu).

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On this day, representatives from more than 20 Essex societies, museums and sites, along with a number of national organisations, will be presenting displays about their activities. These are wide ranging, so if you have an interest in topics such as mills, maltings, woodworking, bricks and brickmaking, textiles and forms of transport - whether road, rail or maritime - then this event is VISIT OUR NEWLY REFURBISHED SHOWROOM IN THE MEADOWS for you. Take the opportunity to see what SHOPPING CENTRE the heritage of Essex’s industrial past has OR AT 6 SUFFOLK DRIVE, DUKES PARK IND EST, CHELMSFORD, CM2 6UN to offer, speak to the individuals involved with it and gather ideas for individual, Tel: 01245 450259 www.priestbrothers.co.uk family, group or school visits. Chelmsford email: info@priestbrothers.co.uk is justly proud of its industrial past and www.twitter.com/priestbros www.facebook.com/Priest.Brothers.Furniture so staff from Chelmsford Museum will be at the event to promote the city and its industrial collections. The Marconi Heritage Group will also be attending to raise awareness of its activities.

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In addition to the various industrial stands at the fair, there will be a series of 20 minute talks during the day on topics as varied as the Braintree Silk Industry, Bays and Says, the Industries of Thurrock, Water Supply, and the European Route of Industrial Heritage. Admission to the Industrial Heritage Fair and talks is free, so why not pay a visit between 10.00am and 4.00pm and have an interesting and enjoyable day? Braintree itself also has much to offer in its industrial and other buildings including the displays in the Braintree District Museum.

Sandford Mill: In the meantime, whet your appetite for industrial heritage by visiting Sandford Mill on 27th September, when Science Discovery Day is focused on the themes of light and astronomy, with an Astrodome, Live radio transmission by CARS and more (www.chelmsford.gov.uk/sandfordmill).

Love Your Museum, be a Friend: www.friendschelmsmuseums. btck

What Woman Doesn’t Like Shoes and Handbags?!

It is a known fact that most women love shoes and handbags, so if you fit the brief read on.

The Inner Wheel Club of Chelmsford Mildmay will be holding one of their twice yearly shoe sales at Keene Hall, Galleywood on 10th October between 10am and 12noon. We will have the latest winter styles of shoes and boots, plus lovely leather handbags from Hotfooted Shoes, ladies clothes, Christmas gift ideas, handmade jewellery and greetings cards. There will also be coffee and our delicious homemade cakes if you need a break from shopping.

All the profits made at this event will go to our charity, which this year is City of Chelmsford Mencap. Do come along and join us and help support a local charity.

www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk If you know a CLEAN joke email editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

Page 27

CT CHARITY

Remus Horse Sanctuary

Help Create a Sustainable Future for Remus

Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary needs our help in order to be able to exist beyond the hand-to-mouth existence it presently leads. As a result, we’re delighted to support Remus via our Blues In The City 3-day festival this year.

that debt by turning a blind eye to the thousands that die each year, alone, afraid and in agony. These animals are born to die. There are so many that even the people who breed them every year don’t want them and will try to give them away, dump them or just leave them to die.”

There’s never a dull or quiet day at Remus and the 16 staff and 30 volunteers work tirelessly to ensure the animals are cared for well into their old age. Created by Sue Burton in 1983, the sanctuary has continued to grow and now offers a home to over 200 animals including horses, donkeys, sheep, goats, cows - and cats! They also have 30 horses in foster homes throughout Essex and one in France.

All of the animals are victims of physical or mental abuse, as a result of ignorance or malicious intent. The animals are their prime concern and treated with the utmost respect.

Over the last year, Remus has struggled to deal with the increase in calls, which is no longer restricted to the winter months. They’re also receiving an increase in the number of elderly equines that they are being asked to home and these animals are often in dire condition as their owners don’t recognise the needs of the older horse.

Remus’ animals are never euthanased for reasons of age or infirmity alone. Nothing is spared to give them every chance to thrive into old age. Remus say ‘this is their time!’ They are fed, watered, cared for and loved. They receive regular veterinary and farrier attention as required and the benefit of holistic therapies. In fact, Remus has an extremely synergistic approach to the care of their animals with a combination of species-specific veterinary surgeons, a farrier, nutritionists and holistic care practitioners all working together to ensure the welfare and well-being of the animals. Over recent years they have also introduced enrichment for the animals, using toys, mirrors and games etc to enhance their lives and/or environment.

Remus’ Role Within the Community In addition to hosting a variety of events throughout the year such as open days, dog shows, afternoon teas, an annual educational seminar and complimentary therapy workshops, Remus continue to run their Ponies in the Community Scheme, where they take two ponies to homes, hospices, and schools. Not with a view to making money, but just to put a little back into the local community. People love seeing and meeting the animals and Remus receive lots of positive feedback from the institutions saying how much their visit helps people in need.

Among the many animals caught up in the crisis that Remus have dealt with just this year is Dolly, who had spent over 20 years tethered to the ground never being free to run, roll or to interact with friends - and Dante, who was dumped at their gates at only 8 weeks old, not knowing what food or bedding was. Remus almost lost him as he was so ill and weak, however, with much nursing care and veterinary attention he pulled through and is now doing very well.

Within a week of him arriving, Skye was also dumped and she was so ill and weak that despite their very best efforts, they could not save her and had to have her put to sleep. Milo was a miniature horse and despite making initial progress when he first arrived, sadly he went rapidly downhill and Remus lost him too. These animals often arrive so far gone that all they can do is give them somewhere warm and dry to die where, for the first time, they know comfort, kindness and love.

Ways You Can Help Visit the sanctuary’s website and you’ll find numerous ways you can assist, from volunteering to fundraising, becoming a member or sponsoring an animal for as little as £2 per month. Remus are also active on Facebook and Twitter. Find out more via the Remus website at: www.remussanctuary.org.

We often forget the important part Remus plays in the wider community, contributing over £400,000 to the local economy, supporting local businesses. They provide work placements for school, vet and university students, educate, and do an immense amount of welfare work, including taking hay and water out to horses in need and rescuing animals when necessary.

Equine Welfare Crisis - Born to Die The biggest issue at present for the Sanctuary is the equine crisis in the UK. Thousands of horses are left to die and suffer and its not uncommon to find fields covered in bones and carcasses. Sue Burton says: “The greatness of our country was borne on the backs of these graceful, intelligent and brave creatures and now the country repays Page 28 To be our charity of the month please email editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

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Blues in the City Festival Special: 2nd - 4th October Blues in the City Festival 5 from Friday 2nd October to Sunday 4th October is almost upon us. Yes, it has been five years since I started putting this on and I find it quite surprising really that I am still doing it but hey, what else would I do with my time?

The charity for this year is the wonderful Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary and animal centre, that provides care and rehabilitation for 200 horses, ponies, donkeys, cows, sheep and cats in the heart of the Essex countryside. All of our profits go to charity and we do not make anything ourselves as we are not-for-profit festival.

It costs in excess of £400,000 to run the sanctuary every year, which is funded solely by donations, and with your help we can give these animals the best possible care so they can eventually be re-homed or enjoy a home for life at the sanctuary.

If you have never visited them it is well worth popping along.

You can find out more about them and their open days at: www. remussanctuary.org.

Now I must let you know about my great sponsors as without them we could not put the festival on. AD BLY Construction Ltd do the ground works on some of Chelmsford’s big new builds, including the new John Lewis site.

Then we have SeaBro Ltd, who are scaffold contractors from Southend. If you look at their client list you will see that they are a large well respected company. Find out more at: www.seabro.com.

We also have A&M Tiling from Chelmsford in Rainsford Road. A&M Tiling is a family run business which was established in 1977, their reputation is built solely on recommendations and customer service.

They pride themselves on their friendly, honest and professional advice and their staff are qualified to assist you on all aspects of your tiling needs: www.amtiling.co.uk.

Sign Masters provide our banners and t-shirts for the festival and provide high quality, bespoke design, manufacture and installation services to ensure effective signage and branding schemes for retail outlets, offices, restaurants, hotels and entertainment venues. http://www.signmastersltd.com Then there is Recognition Express, who have kindly provided our badges this year. If you’re a business or organisation looking for a promotional expert in and around the Essex area - they can help.

Take a look at their products and services pages for our full range of capabilities at: www.re-essex.co.uk.

Without Event Sound and Light we would not have a show at the Social Club, so thank you for providing us with a great sound rig that is always the best. I cannot recommend them highly enough, whether you have a small party or want to put on a massive event, these guys will fulfil all your needs with an excellent stress-free service: www. eventsoundandlight.com.

To find out more about the bands, google them or go to our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/bluesinthecitychelmsford.

I do not have enough space to tell you about all the great acts playing, but if you visit the website and go to the festival info page you will find video links to all of the acts playing this year.

We start on Friday 2nd October at the Chelmsford Social Club (at the rear of Tesco Springfield Road) where the doors open at 6.30pm with three great acts playing. First, Split Whiskers, then Will Johns and we finish the night with Roadhouse. This is one of the paid-for events and costs just £15 for the one night or £25 for a two night ticket.

Saturday we start in the pubs and these are all free to enter. First is Howlin’ Mat at the Star & Garter in Moulsham Street, then the Jack Hutchinson Band at the Woolpack in Mildmay Road and on to The Dove & Boweevil Band at the Ale House in Viaduct Street. We finish the pubs with Joel Fisk & the Breakdown at the Two Brewers in Springfield Road. Then it is off to the Social Club again and £15 entry with doors opening at 6.15pm where we start with Rosco Levee & the Southern Slide - a great band - then it’s the legendry Cliff Stocker’s Slack Alice who have been around since 1973 and are still going strong. The headline of the festival and the night is the great Robbie McIntosh Band. What can I say, Robbie is guitarist to the stars; he has played for Paul McCartney, The Pretenders, John Mayer, Norah Jones and is currently with Tom Jones and Mark Knopfler - and with a band that has just as good a pedigree.

Sunday is the last day and is all pub-based and free to enter. We start with Ben Smith at the Cricketers in Moulsham Street, then its Katie Bradley at the Star and Garter and then The Sharpees at the Woolpack. Next it’s across town for Mumbo-Jumbo at the Ale House then it’s Karena K at the Black Bull in Rainsford Road and then back to the Ale House for Delta Groove. Finally it is party time, as we close with the great Malaya Blue back at the Black Bull.

Many of this year’s acts have been nominated for the British Blues Awards and two are shortlisted to represent the UK in the great European Blues Challenge in 2016. They are all playing at greatly reduced rates for us, as you would normally find most of the acts playing in larger venues or at festivals, but they all want to play for us and help support our chosen charity.

Chelmer Web Design look after our website. If you are looking for a website look no further than here, as they are the best and most competitive around: www.chelmerwebdesign.com.

Round Tower Brewery are our only brewer in Chelmsford and always come up with a great beer specially brewed for the festival: www. roundtowerbrewery.co.uk.

It’s Your Media: Well, I am only half of this so my big thanks to Paul for allowing me so much space to promote my events in our magazines Chelmsford The City Times and the Moulsham Times.

Now to the bands and venues which are all listed in the adverts with timings. I must thank all of the venues for putting on the acts and supporting us once again. I also have to thank all of volunteers, including sound and stage crew - and Jan who also puts up with me without her, I could not do it.

Tickets for the Social Club nights are £15 each or £25 for the two nights; they are available from the Hop Beer Shop in Moulsham Street, or the Ale House, or from me or at any of my events. If you visit our website (www.bluesinthecity.co.uk) you can follow the online ticket link.

So it’s now full steam ahead and no looking back - let’s have a great and successful festival with lots of great live music and let’s hope we raise lots of money for the Remus Horse Sanctuary.

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Stargazing with Mark Willis August/September - All About Pluto!

New Moon - On September 13 and October 13 there will be a new Moon. This means the skies will be extra dark which is a great opportunity to see deep space objects.

September: Andromeda: Our nearest neighbouring galaxy which lies a mere 2 million light years distant from us. If, in 2015, an alien on a planet in the Andromeda galaxy has a super telescope which can see Earth, they would see Earth as it was in the Pleistocene epoch.

Humans had just started to evolve!

September 19: Look at the Moon, at 20:00 (BST) - you will see what appears to be a bright star. It is not a star, it’s Saturn. It will barely have got dark and the Moon and Saturn will be fairly close to the horizon.

September 28: Lunar eclipse at 02:51 - when the Moon is full and Earth is directly between the Sun and the Moon, the Moon grows darker. Once you get used to the low light the Moon appears to be a

red colour.

October 4 to November 14: Orionids Meteor Shower will be on display . Usual observation techniques apply. Forget telescopes, binoculars.

Instead lie back in a deck chair looking north. Around the middle of this period you can expect between 15 and 30 meteors per hour.

October 8: Looking east over a few early mornings, you will see a very impressive display; the Moon, Venus, Mars and Jupiter will be very close together. These will be quite bright and this will help to spot real planets very easily and impress your friends! Cool, eh?

Mark Willis presents Willis Wireless every Monday at 7pm on Chelmsford Community Radio.

Website: www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com, tweet me: @WillisWireless. Email: mark.willis@chelmsfordcommunityradio.com.

Say Goodbye to Travel Troubles

UTTLESFORD Community Travel is here to help you get out and about and make the most of this lovely part of Essex.

We provide services to the residents of Uttlesford who find it difficult to access normal public transport; the over 60s, the disabled and those who are rurally isolated. All drivers are DBS checked. Registration costs just £10 per year for individuals.

Book-a-Ride This is our door-to-door service where we use our easily recognised green minibuses, which are specially designed for us and driven by our fully trained drivers. All of our minibuses are wheelchair accessible.

• • • • • •

Do you want to go shopping or to the hairdresser, or to visit friends or go to the garden centre?

Each journey costs £3 for the first 2 miles and then 80p per mile up to 15 miles.

If you are travelling more than 15 miles, ring the office for a price.

You pay the driver on the day.

If you have an escort they pay just £2 each way.

You can book your journey no less than 48 hours in advance.

Hospital Cars We provide this service for those who have difficulty getting to hospital appointments, both locally and further away, by matching requests for transport with a volunteer driver who lives near you.

Chelmsford Community Gospel Choir Celebrates the Matriarchs of Gospel Music

Chelmsford Community Gospel Choir presents Women of Gospel on Saturday 10th October at 7:30pm at Life Church (Elim), Hall Street, Chelmsford. Our fifth annual concert celebrates gospel’s most prolific female artists and will be a great night for anyone - with or without faith - who loves soulful, uplifting music.

Our concert coincides with World Mental Health Day and this year’s theme, Dignity in Mental Health, strikes a special chord for us as a community choir. Gospel music began as the expression of dignity by black slaves. The power of its message and rhythm influences popular music to this day. When we sing, we are sharing dignity in ordinary but powerful ways.

So how can our choir contribute to the mental wellbeing of people in We can arrange for a driver to collect you, take you to your appointment Essex? and bring you home.

Come and hear us. Our concert on Saturday 10th October will be a celebration of soulful sounds and profound lyrics.

The driver will ring you the day before the appointment to confirm.

You will pay the driver - all of them are volunteers - 45p per mile for Have a go yourself. Come to our Find Your Voice workshops and each journey, which is measured from his/her home address. experience the positive power of singing in a group. Free and open to all every Thursday in November from 7 - 9pm at Meadgate Church, Group Booking The Orchards, Mascalls Way, Great Baddow, Chelmsford, CM2 7NS. Groups are able to hire our buses (maximum 15 seats) for all sorts Just turn up and enjoy! of outings with one of our drivers, or you may choose to use your own driver who would need to be trained by us. Group registration costs just Work with Us £20 per year. Outings regularly undertaken by our groups include: If you support people with mental health issues in and around Chelmsford, get in touch. We offer workshops that encourage • Trips to the coast everyone to take part.

• Places of interest • Theatre trips Book us. We love sharing our sound at special occasions: fundraisers, • Garden centres weddings, birthdays, musical events and church services.

• Lunches, afternoon teas • Regular group meetings Join Us • School trips We are a friendly bunch with an open door for anyone who wants to • sing. We meet every Thursday from 7 - 9pm at The Orchards. To find Buses are also available for hire at weekends and evenings. out more about us, visit: www.chelmsfordgospelchoir.com.

Page 30 If you would like to advertise with us please email ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk

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Great Baddow and Galleywood U3A

Family Friendly Funnies

I would like to introduce you to the Great Baddow and Galleywood U3A. We are an association for anyone retired or semi-retired and we offer special interest groups for you Why do golfer carry 2 pairs of socks?

In case they get a hole in one! to join from arts and crafts to rambling! Our yearly costs for members are £12 a year.

If you are at a loose end, then contact Alan, our membership secretary, at: mrghound@ gmail.com or groups’ co-ordinator: linda.warner811@gmail.com and we will be pleased to give you any information you may need. We have a monthly meeting on the second Wednesday of the month at 2.15pm at Great Baddow United Reform Church with very varied speakers - if you would like to try this as your starting point, please let us know.

What shirt do you wear when you are golfing?

A tee shirt!

We would be very happy to hear about your hobby or interest and if you would like to form a group for like-minds we could advise you all along the way regarding this.

How do you stop squirrels playing football in the garden?

Hide the ball, it drives them nuts!

Why did a footballer take a piece of rope onto the pitch?

He was the skipper!

Why not give us a try? You won’t regret it!

Page 31

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The answer is very simple; we have all heard the phrase “AS SAFE AS HOUSES” and it is very true.

The property market consistently out performs most other investments, is low risk giving an income often over 5% in the Chelmsford area as well as capital growth (usually all improvements and maintenance are tax deductable).

With mortgages for first time buyers harder to obtain, tenants are staying for longer periods in rented accomodation resulting in fewer properties becoming available and therefore rents continuing to rise.

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